By RJ “The Bullish Brahma” Reid
Introduction
It is Week 19 of the Indoor Football League (IFL), the last week of the season and the 8-7 San Antonio Gunslingers host the 10-5 Arizona Rattlers. Here’s what you need to know:
When?
Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 06:05pm CT.
Where?
Freman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas.
Gameday Weather
The Gunslingers will be doing their first tailgate of the season outside for their “Outlaw” theme. It’s going to be a hot one for those interested in attending this fun event. The forecast calls for 82 degrees, partly cloudy with an 18% chance of rain and 10 miler per hour winds. If you are going, please make sure you stay in the shade as much as possible and hydrate.
History
This is the first game between the two teams.
Playoff Scenario
While San Antonio has been eliminated from playoff contention, they can play spoiler for the Rattlers. If the Gunslingers beat the Rattlers and the Northern Arizona Wranglers defeat the Duke City Gladiators, then the Rattlers are eliminated from the playoffs and the Wranglers take the last spot.
Keys to Victory
The Arizona Rattlers are a legacy franchise in the IFL and one of the most successful teams since they joined the league. San Antonio cannot let that aura around the Rattlers “rattle” them. This shouldn’t be a problem as the stakes for the Gunslingers are low compared to what Arizona has on their plate. In sports, there is nothing more dangerous than a team that has nothing to play for, and San Antonio is by far and away the best team NOT making the playoffs. The Rattlers will have their hands full in this game.
Sam Castronova needs to continue to be the MVP of the team. He has carried this team on his very capable shoulders all year long, and the Gunslingers need him to do it one more time. The offense is nearly unstoppable, and they will need to fire on all cylinders against this formidable foe.
If the Gunslingers can establish an effective running game, that will go a long way to the Gunslingers sealing the victory. Since their defense has been so porous all year long, the key will be to keep the offense on the field as long as possible and keep the defense off the field. To accomplish this, the Gunslingers will need to run the ball. This will maintain ball possession, eat clock and keep our defense on the sidelines, preventing Arizona from doing as much damage as they can.
Predictions
Let’s look at how my predictions from last week fared:
-The Gunslingers will score on every possession.
Incorrect.
-The Gunslingers will force at least one turnover on downs.
Incorrect. They did force two turnovers, but not on downs.
-The Gunslingers will score at least two rushing touchdowns.
Correct, the Gunslingers recorded 5 rushing touchdowns.
-The Gunslingers will record at least one sack.
Incorrect.
Week 18 results: 1-3.
Overall results: 24-46.
-And now my predictions for this week, hopefully I’ll be a “straightshooter”:
-The Gunslingers will score a touchdown on their 4th possession.
-Sam Castronova will complete at least 70% of his passes.
-The Rattlers will average under 3.5 yards per rush.
-The defense will allow under 250 yards of total offense.
Final Thoughts
While the Gunslingers are out of the playoffs, the good news is that they are guaranteed to finish the season with at least a .500 record and still have a lot to play for. Knocking out an established and very successful franchise such as the Rattlers from playoff contention will be extremely satisfying for the Gunslingers. While San Antonio fell short of their goal of making the playoffs, they should be proud of what they have established here as a franchise and have a very strong foundations to build upon and the fan base should also be proud of this team. The offense was a juggernaut all season long, but it was the defense that was the Achilles heel for the team. Coach Tom Menas mentioned in his weekly coaches show “Branded” that there will be a complete defense overhaul during the off season. If the Gunslingers can keep the coaching staff and the offensive core intact and do that overhaul on defensive, this team will be extremely scary next season. This is easier said than done, as there is always high turnover in the indoor/arena football world. Players and coaches move around so much, and consistency can be hard to come by. This is especially true for San Antonio as their assistant coaches are former head coaches and can easily become head coaches somewhere else quickly. In Gunslingers Nation, they have built an environment that encourages players to remain and foster loyalty, so perhaps that environment will entice players and coaches to remain for another year. Again, if San Antonio can keep that consistency on offensive and retool their defense, this team will be a reckoning force to deal with for years to come.