Arizona coach livid after Strike Force scores as clock expires, stuns Rattlers

The San Diego Strike Force scored as time expired, stunning the Arizona Rattlers late Monday night in Glendale, Ariz., to advance to the Indoor Football League’s Western Conference finals.

Arthur Jackson III caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis as time expired to tie the game at 48. Ernesto Lacayo’s ensuing PAT gave San Diego a 49-48 victory.

The Strike Force will take on the Vegas Knight Hawks on Friday night for a spot in the IFL championship game.

San Diego drove the length of the field in the final 41 seconds, without any timeouts, to pull off the win. But it was the final play that had Rattlers coach Kevin Guy steaming. Officials threw a flag as Davis received the snap, and Guy believed San Diego had committed a false start. After a lengthy review, officials ruled that the Rattlers were in an illegal defense, there was no false start and the touchdown stood.

In his postgame news conference, Guy said he would be firing his arena’s clock and replay managers. “They’ll never work for me again,” he said, according to The Arizona Republic.

“It just seems like we always get screwed at home at the end,” he added, per The Republic. “I don’t really give a (expletive) if the league fines me or not. I don’t care. I’m so tired of the referees being a part of the game. I’m so freaking tired. He threw a flag for a false start, then they go and pick it up. We thought the clock ran out.”

Davis finished with 163 passing yards and five touchdowns. Edward Vander rushed 13 times for 64 yards and two scores. Three of Jackson’s four catches went for touchdowns.