MEYLOR SHINES IN RATTLERS DEBUT VS. STRIKE FORCE

The Arizona Rattlers beat the San Diego Strike Force at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, 49-27 to open their 2026 season.

This highly anticipated rematch followed last year's instant-classic playoff game, when San Diego beat Arizona 49-48 on a controversial no-call false start to end the Rattlers bid to repeat as IFL champions.

"These two teams don't like each other," Rattlers coach Kevin Guy said. "We went into the offseason feeling like we never got beat. We didn't get a chance to beat them."

To raise the stakes, last year's MVP QB Max Meylor made his Rattlers debut in front of a buzzing home crowd of 8,727.

Coming off a special 2025, Meylor picked up where he left off, hitting Arland Bruce for a 32-yard touchdown pass on a fly route to put the Rattlers up 7-0 with 13:02 in the first quarter.

Meylor dazzled in his first game with five total touchdowns, three in the air. He threw for 196 yards with an interception.

"I'm just so happy to be on this team," Meylor said. "It's a great organization and fan base."

The Strike Force were poised to tie the game on their opening 10-play drive but came up scoreless following a dropped pass in the end zone on an out route.

San Diego's rookie DB William Barber responded by picking off Meylor at Arizona's 22-yard line and setting up his team at the Rattlers' 6-yard line.

Strike Force QB and former NFL draft pick Nate Davis finished the job himself this time, punching it in for six on a 2-yard run to tie the game in the final 2:04 of the first quarter.

The back-and-forth affair continued, with Rattlers running back Ron Brown Jr. scoring his first touchdown of the season on a pitch to the outside to cap off a six-play, 40-yard drive and put Arizona up 14-7 with 11:05 left in the first half.

Twenty yards of Rattlers defensive penalties moved the Strike Force down the field to set up a 4-yard touchdown run by Nate Davis, who duped the entire Rattlers defense and swag-stepped into the end zone, giving San Diego a chance to tie the game with 3:59 in the second quarter. But Strike Force kicker Ernesto Lacayo dinged his extra point off the left upright, and Arizona held onto a 14-13 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Meylor ripped off a 36-yard touchdown run down the sideline, diving across the pylon for his second rushing TD of the game to put Arizona up 21-13 with 1:43 in the second quarter.

San Diego would turn the ball over on downs, and Arizona would tack on another touchdown on a 3-yard run by Arland Bruce to put the Rattlers in front 28-13.

The Rattlers rolled to a 49-27 opening-day victory. Meylor aired it out to his receivers in the second half. Trey Odoms-Dukes, Corey Reed Jr. and Bruce each had catches of 30-plus yards.

Strike Force QB Nate Davis went 14 of 26 for 160 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Justin Sample and Dallas Daniel caught touchdowns for San Diego.

Arizona moves to 1-0 and will hit the road to take on Fishers next Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. San Diego falls to 1-1 and is off next week but will return to action April 11 in Tucson to face the Sugar Skulls at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.