Parker’s interception secures win, playoff spot for Rattlers

Marcus Parker’s interception at the 8-yard line with 50 seconds to play sealed Mojave’s 19-14 home win over Clark on Thursday.

The play also secured a playoff berth for the second straight season for the Rattlers (5-3, 3-1 Sunset).

Mojave drove 61 yards on eight plays with Ty Flanagan scoring on a 4-yard run with 4:11 to go for the 19-14 advantage.

Clark (3-5, 1-3) quickly drove the other way, moving the ball to the Mojave 11. But on third-and-5, Chargers quarterback Kareem Warren tried to force the ball to Marquice Stuart, and Parker stepped in for his second interception of the night.

Parker’s first interception ended a Clark drive near the goal line. The Chargers had driven to the Mojave 6, but Parker made a diving pick in the end zone on second-and-goal to end the drive. It was the second time Clark turned the ball over after driving inside the Mojave 10.

Mojave had its own turnover isses. The Rattlers lost three fumbles, including one that put the Chargers on the board.

After Parker’s first interception, Mojave had an early snap that got past quarterback Zack Arave. The ball bounded into the end zone, and Clark’s Edwin Centeno won the wrestling match for the ball and a touchdown to cut the Mojave lead to 13-7.

The Chargers took the lead on their next possession when Warren hit Clifton Smith with a 49-yard TD pass to make it 14-13 with 2:49 to go in the first half.

Flanagan finished with 110 yards on 14 carries, including a 46-yard TD scamper in the first quarter. Arave was 6-for-10 for 82 yards, including a 16-yard TD pass to Jaylon Delgado that put Mojave up 13-0 with 2:51 to go in the first quarter.