The Rattlers host their first home game against the Vegas Knight Hawks in their new home, Desert Diamond Arena. The Rattlers and Knight Hawks battled in a tightly contested, back-and-forth game. Arizona ultimately fell short, losing to the Knight Hawks by a final score of 45-43. 

First Half

The Arizona Rattlers took possession of the ball at the beginning of the game. However, during their first return, a penalty flag was thrown for holding by Vegas player number 12. This led to the ball being returned, despite the initial excitement of what seemed like a touchdown by the Rattlers with just a few seconds from the start. 

The Rattlers managed to score a touchdown on their first drive, thanks to a 20-yard pass from Garrett Kettle to Isaiah Huston. The momentum continued as Kettle handed off the ball to Jamal Miles for another touchdown. The team was off to a strong start in the game.

As the game progressed, the Rattlers found themselves in the red zone but had to settle for a field goal after three unsuccessful attempts. However, they did not let this setback deter them, and with just 31 seconds left in the second quarter, they were able to recover a fumble on their own 15-yard line. 

The first half ended with the Rattlers opting for another field goal, showcasing their ability to capitalize on opportunities even in challenging situations. The team's strategic plays and determination were evident throughout the game, setting the tone for an exciting match ahead.

SECOND HALF

At the beginning of the quarter, the Rattlers' defensive linemen tackled the Knight Hawks QB for a second down. Lorenzo Brown, who was making his first game debut, started off the Rattlers' possession for the quarter. Despite being sacked initially, Brown handed the ball to Miles, who scored a touchdown. Evitts successfully kicked the ball, putting the Rattlers ahead by 7 points. 

With 8 minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the quarter, the Rattlers led 30-23. The Knight Hawks managed to score a touchdown on a QB rush but missed the extra point, resulting in a score of 29-30. Brown completed a pass to Glen Gibbons Jr for a first down. Shannon Brooks carried the ball on the third down and scored a touchdown. Evitts' kick was successful, adding another 7 points to the Rattlers' score. Vegas managed to score twice, but their attempt at a 2-point conversion on the second touchdown was unsuccessful due to Dillion Winfrey's QB sack. At the end of the third quarter, the Rattlers were still leading with a score of 37-35.

In the fourth quarter, Vegas took the lead. With 5 minutes remaining, Winfrey blocked a pass intended for a Knight Hawk touchdown. Vegas then attempted a field goal but missed completely. With the 1-minute warning, the Rattlers were still trailing by 5 points. Brown attempted a pass to Glen Gibbons Jr, but it was incomplete. However, a flag was thrown on the play for roughing the passer-by the Knight Hawks' defense. With 53 seconds left in the game, Brown passed to Gibbons, who was being covered by one defender, for a comeback touchdown, putting the Rattlers ahead by 1 point with a score of 43-42. With just 10 seconds remaining, Vegas attempted a pass for a first down, but it was incomplete. They pushed for a locked fourth down, but another incomplete pass sealed their fate. 

Arizona decided to call a timeout with only 3.5 seconds remaining on the clock. Following the brief pause in play, Vegas still had a crucial kick to make. Knight Hawks kick was executed, leading to a final score of 45-43 in favor of Vegas.