Strike Force Stun Rattlers in Walk-Off Thriller, Advance to Western Conference Title Game

Photo Credit: Nicole Noel Photography

GLENDALE, AZ — In one of the most dramatic finishes of the 2025 Indoor Football League postseason, the 3-seed San Diego Strike Force (11-6) pulled off a stunning 49-48 walk-off victory over the 2-seed Arizona Rattlers (10-7) in the Western Conference Semifinal at the Desert Diamond Arena Monday night.

The game featured nine lead changes and a back-and-forth offensive showcase, but it was quarterback Nate Davis’ final-second touchdown pass to Arthur Jackson III — followed by Ernesto Lacayo’s 7th extra point of the game — that lifted San Diego to a win over the defending IFL champions.

Arizona opened the scoring early when Davis fumbled a snap in his own end zone, allowing Kevin Simes Jr. to recover for a touchdown. San Diego responded with a four-yard TD run from Edward Vander to tie it 7-7. Arizona retook the lead on a 5-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dalton Sneed.

The second quarter saw both teams trading scores. Davis connected with John Maldonado to even the game, but Sneed answered with another short rushing score. San Diego tied it again in highlight-reel fashion when a deflected pass off Dallas Daniels landed in the hands of Arthur Jackson III, who took it 27 yards for the score.

Jackson opened the third quarter with a 31-yard touchdown reception, breaking two tackles after the catch. Arizona’s Ron Brown Jr. tied it again with a nine-yard run, but the Strike Force regained control as Vander scored again, this time on a seven-yard screen pass. The Rattlers answered yet again, with Sneed threading a 19-yard touchdown to Corey Reed Jr. between two defenders to cut the lead to 35-34.

San Diego pushed ahead early in the fourth quarter as Vander scored his third touchdown of the night on a two-yard run, extending the lead to 42-34. Arizona clawed back with a two-yard run from Shannon Brooks, though the two-point conversion failed. The Rattlers then recovered a crucial onside kick and took their first lead since the third quarter on a 12-yard touchdown strike from Sneed to Isaiah Huston, making it 48-42.

With time expiring, Davis engineered one final drive, culminating in a two-yard touchdown pass to Jackson. Lacayo drilled the extra point to seal the walk-off win.

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The Strike Force now advances to the Western Conference Championship for the second straight season. They will face the 4-seed Vegas Knight Hawks (11-6) on Friday, August 8th at 7:05 p.m. PT. Due to venue conflicts in San Diego, the game will be held at the Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada.