GLENDALE, AZ. — Special teams, special plays, and special players capped the night for the Arizona Rattlers as they ended their three-game losing streak, beating the Iowa Barnstormers 49-47. 

The Rattlers showcased their defensive chops in the first half, allowing the Barnstormers 14 points. Arizona took the lead immediately and never looked back, opting to receive after winning the coin toss. The Rattlers prepared for Dalton Sneed to suit up in tonight's affair, but head coach Kevin Guy opted for Garrett Kettle, replacing Lorenzo Brown Jr. The Barnstormers fired back quickly with a 23-yard yard strike to Quian Williams. Following that, the Rattlers wouldn't allow Iowa to score again until the final seconds of the second quarter. Kettle looked poised and sharp in the pocket, flashing his arm strength on the final drive of the first quarter. 

In the second quarter, the offensive line created a gaping hole as Shannon Brooks rushed in the end zone for his first touchdown of the night. Unlike their previous possession, the Barnstormers couldn't respond and missed a 51-yard field goal. With the Rattlers on the goal line, Kettle handed it off to Brooks, who pounded it in for his second touchdown. Kettle faked to Miles and ran into the end zone for his first rushing touchdown of the season. The Rattlers would head into the locker room with a 15-point lead. 

After failing to score for the majority of the first half, the Barnstormers came out of the locker room firing on all cylinders, cutting the lead to eight points. The Rattlers responded with a screen pass to Shannon Brooks, who continued his impressive performance at the Wells Fargo Arena. After stopping Iowa, Robert Washington rushed into the endzone, converting on fourth down. After being down 15 points, Iowa was in a single-possession game. On fourth down, coach Guy decided to gamble, as Jamal Miles scored on a fourth-down conversion. 

In response, Kyle King fired a 30-yard strike to Darren Wilson for the touchdown. The Barnstormers, after being down 15 points, were tied up. King rushed into the endzone, cutting the deficit to two points. Brooks, showcasing powerful running, rushed for a 46-yard touchdown to give the Rattlers a nine-point lead. After allowing the Barnstormers to cut the deficit to two points, the Rattlers converted on third down, effectively ending the game.

The Rattlers look to improve their 2-3 record, as they host the 0-3 Jacksonville Sharks at Desert Diamond Arena on Sunday, April 28, at 3:05 p.m. CT.