Rattlers defense shuts down Chupacabras; Arizona advances to IFL Cup championship (Photos Included)
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Arizona Rattlers made a statement in the opening game of the inaugural IFL Cup on Monday, forcing six turnovers and rolling past the New Mexico City Chupacabras 61-15.
“Our defense played well, and I thought we did some really good things today,” Rattlers Head Coach Kevin Guy told Arena Insider after the team recorded five interceptions and one fumble recovery. “[The Chupacabras] were kind of giving us the same formation, so it was easy to adjust.”
Arizona jumped ahead early when defensive back Corey Reed Jr. returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. Kicker Matthew Cook followed with a deuce on the ensuing kickoff to put the Rattlers up 9-0.
The Chupacabras quickly responded with a touchdown on the next possession, though they missed the extra point, and added a deuce on the ensuing kickoff. It was New Mexico City’s only score of the first half, as the Rattlers went on a 33-0 run and led 42-8 at the end of the second quarter.
The Rattlers will play the Las Vegas Knight Hawks in the Cup championship game Sunday. The Knight Hawks defeated the Orlando Pirates 77-33 in the second game of the series Monday night. The Chupacabras will play the Pirates in the third-place game.
The Cup series, nicknamed the “Indoor War,” drew dozens of visitors to the center of the first floor of the American Dream Mall. Many purchased tickets for the games, with seating available in bleachers directly near the field and on the second and third floors. Regular mallgoers were still able to get a quick glimpse of the action as they walked past the field, which was surrounded by stores.
This was the second 50-yard football game held inside the mall. The first was the now-defunct Arena Football League’s Arena Bowl championship game in 2024, which was played at the venue as a neutral-site game.
“We wanted to bring something that really put us on the map,” Jared Widman, president of the IFL Business Division, said. “This league and this venue may have a long history together as we go down the road.”
Widman is optimistic about the continued growth of the league and believes the new partnership with the mall will help elevate it further.
“The fans love it, and the social reaction that we’re getting has been fantastic,” Widman said. “[American Dream officials] want as much indoor football as they can get. As the major league of indoor football, this venue is somewhere where we want to be, and we want to do this year after year. So someone’s going to have a chance to come back and defend the Cup.
“We’re absolutely thrilled with what we have so far.”
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