2024 Championship
The 2024 IFL National Championship served as the championship game of the Indoor Football League season and delivered a decisive conclusion to the year. Played on August 17, 2024, at Lee's Family Forum, the Western Conference champion Arizona Rattlers defeated the Eastern Conference champion Massachusetts Pirates, 53–16, in front of 1,977 fans.
The matchup served as a rematch of the 2021 United Bowl, and the victory secured Arizona’s second IFL championship, their first since 2017, and the seventh championship overall in franchise history. The game also marked the conclusion of a three-year partnership between the IFL and Lee’s Family Forum as host of the National Championship and was televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.
Game Recap
After 23 weeks of the 2024 IFL season, a new champion was crowned as Arizona controlled the contest from the opening kickoff to the final whistle. The Rattlers, entering as the No. 3 seed with a 14–5 record, faced a No. 3 seeded Massachusetts squad that finished 10–9, but the game quickly tilted in Arizona’s favor.
Arizona leaned heavily on a dominant rushing attack, finishing with 193 rushing yards on 26 carries, averaging 7.4 yards per rush. Quarterback Dalton Sneed complemented the ground game by completing 10 of 15 passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns, both to Jamal Miles, while also adding 68 rushing yards and a touchdown. The engine of the offense, however, was running back Shannon Brooks, who carried the ball 13 times for 69 yards and three rushing touchdowns.
Arizona’s defense delivered a near-perfect performance. The Rattlers held Massachusetts out of the end zone on eight of its 10 offensive possessions, consistently disrupting the Pirates’ rhythm and controlling field position throughout the game.
Massachusetts entered the championship after consecutive 50-plus-point performances, but struggled to generate offense against Arizona’s defense. Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield finished 11 of 30 for 127 yards and a touchdown, adding 34 rushing yards. Running back Jimmie Robinson was limited to 42 yards and a score on 10 carries. A scoreless first half proved costly, as the Pirates entered halftime trailing 29–0. While Massachusetts found the end zone twice in the second half, the deficit was too large to overcome.
Defensive back Davontae Merriweather was named IFL National Championship MVP after a dominant showing that included three interceptions, three tackles, and a pass breakup, delivering the most impactful individual performance of the game.
The championship capped a complete team effort for Arizona and marked the return of the Rattlers to the top of the league. With the victory, Arizona closed the 2024 season as IFL National Champions, adding another banner to one of the most accomplished franchises in indoor football history.