Knight Hawks lose on final play in IFL playoff debut — PHOTOS
The Knight Hawks thought they turned a corner defensively the past few weeks. That looked true during their first time under the bright playoff lights.
But a season filled with promise entering the Indoor Football League playoffs came down to the final play. And the Knights didn’t make it.
Arizona quarterback Dalton Sneed ran for a 2-yard touchdown as time expired, and the Knight Hawks lost their first playoff game 39-38 to the Rattlers on Saturday night at Lee’s Family Forum.
Sneed, a former UNLV quarterback, ran to his left toward the end zone wall and barreled over the goal line before defensive back Bryce Hampton could halt his momentum.
Sneed accounted for three touchdowns — two on the ground and one passing — to push the Rattlers into the Western Conference championship game against the San Diego Strike Force.
The Knight Hawks finished 11-6. They won 11 games combined in their first two seasons.
“We knew it was going to come down to the wire,” Knight Hawks coach Mike Davis said. “We just didn’t make enough plays at the end.”
Everything went well for the Knight Hawks in the first half.
They jumped to a 28-20 halftime lead with their high-powered offense leading the charge. Quarterback Ja’Rome Johnson, two days after being named the IFL’s Offensive Player of the Week for a fourth time, accounted for all four touchdowns in the first 30 minutes.
Johnson went 6-for-6 for 89 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 29 yards and two TDs.
But it was a different story in the second half.
Johnson was held to 1-of-5 passing and intercepted twice. The first came on the second play of the half, then off his back foot under pressure with 11:29 to play.
The Rattlers did a stellar job keeping Johnson’s running ability in check. He finished with 57 rushing yards, but his longest run was 14 yards.
The Knight Hawks finished with 111 rushing yards on 29 carries.
“We couldn’t get (their defense) settled,” Davis said. “We kind of knew they didn’t want to get into a track meet with us. They wanted to slow the game down.”
The Knight Hawks were outscored 19-3 in the fourth quarter, blowing a 35-20 lead.
Johnson injured his knee with about four minutes remaining when he hit an Arizona defender’s knee after a 9-yard gain. He returned for one play — resulting in Arizona being flagged for roughing the passer — but did not return after that hit.
Backup quarterback Jorge Reyna, who had not played since June 1, took Johnson’s place but went 0-for-2, including an incomplete pass on third-and-14.
Knight Hawks kicker Kevin Macias made a 35-yard field goal with 48 seconds left to make the score 38-33. Sneed then went 4-for-5 for 29 yards on the final drive.
“Any time we can hold someone under 40 points or something like that, it’s something to be proud of,” Knight Hawks linebacker Gabe McCoy said. “Our offense has been carrying us all year. We just had to do something for this team. We just came up short.”
For as much talent and star power as they possess, they learned — like all first-time playoff teams do — how tough it is to win in the postseason.
They learned that firsthand from a Rattlers team that is, arguably, the most decorated indoor/arena football team of all time.
Davis and his players agreed that a foundation has been set for the future. Being part of the first team in franchise history to reach the playoffs was a success.
They now look forward to what’s next.
“There’s only one way to go, and that’s up,” defensive lineman Maurice Jackson said. “We finally broke that threshold. I don’t see it going any other way.”
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.