Wranglers’ playoff hopes hit directly by attacking strength

Photo: 2 Kishawn Walker intercepts a pass intended for John Maldonado

Needing a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, the Northern Arizona Wranglers faced a motivated and inspired San Diego Strike Force team and lost 57-43 in Prescott Valley.

The loss drops Northern Arizona to fifth place in the Western Conference at (8-5), while Arizona and San Diego are at (9-5). The problem is that the Wranglers have lost both meetings with those two clubs and to make the playoffs they would need to be one game ahead of either of those teams.

Arizona still has to play San Antonio and Tucson, while San Diego has a more challenging schedule against the Western Division’s top two teams, Bay Area and Vegas. Then there are the Wranglers, who need to win at Bay Area on Sunday, then beat Vegas at home and close the regular season with a road win in Duke City.

On Saturday night, the Wranglers were already in a good position with a 15-7 lead, but three missed opportunities gave San Diego exactly what they needed to win.

The first goal came in the first quarter, right after a safety was made. The Wranglers dropped the free kick when Arsiah McCorker was hit in the middle of the field. The ball was recovered by kicker Mangan, who immediately gave the ball back to San Diego. The Strike Force finally tied the game in the second quarter.

Photo: Wrangler quarterback Josh Jones runs in the first half

The Wranglers came back with a long pass from Josh Jones to McCorker, which set up a three-yard touchdown run by John Maldonado for a 22-15 lead.

The second goal came when Strike Force quarterback Nate Davis fired a pass that was intercepted by Shamar Moreland, who took it 45 yards to the goal. A flag was waved and the referee called a blind side block penalty that not only cost the points but also gave the Wranglers the ball at their own 12-yard line. Two long passes that were thrown too far gave the ball back to San Diego with 4:40 left in the first half.

Davis hit Jackson a second time to tie the game with 3:35 left. The Strike Force continued to build on the energy of the tie as the Wranglers had to settle for a 38-yard field goal attempt that went wide right.

The Strike Force scored on another pass from Davis to Jackson at halftime to take a 29-22 lead. The half ended when a Wranglers pass was intercepted by former NAZ star player Kishawn Walker as Jones attempted to get the ball to Maldonado.

San Diego came back and scored a point early in the second half to take a 36-22 lead, and Northern Arizona had to chase the Strike Force from there on out.

From then on, San Diego stayed ahead by at least one possession and prevented NAZ from scoring another point in the final six minutes.

The strike force was led by quarterback Nate Davis, who was 19-28-1, 231 yards and seven touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions, one to Moreland and one to Travion Banks. Arthur Jackson had a field day, catching ten passes for 147 yards and six touchdowns. The Wranglers were led by Josh Jones, who was 19-29-1, 207 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Jones also led in rushing with 50 yards. John Maldonado caught six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown. Arsiah McCorker caught four for 69 yards and a touchdown. David Elder and Kobay White also caught touchdowns.

NAZ travels to the Bay Area for a game on Sunday at 3:05 p.m.

SAN DIEGO STRIKE FORCE 57, NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLER 43

Score after quarters: 1 2 3 4 – T

San Diego 7 22 14 14 – 57

Northern Arizona 15 7 14 7 – 43

Rating Summary

NAZ-McCorker 40-yard pass from Jones (Perez kick)

SD-Jackson 25-yard pass from Davis (Mangan kick)

NAZ-Jones 1-yard run (kick failed)

NAZ-Young Security

SD Johnson 6-yard run (Mangan drop kick)

NAZ-Maldonado 3-yard run (Perez kick)

SD-Jackson 20-yard pass from Davis (Mangan kick)

SD-Jackson 13-yard pass from Davis (Mangan kick)

SD-Jackson, 11-yard pass from Davis (Mangan kick)

NAZ-Elder 8-yard pass from Jones (kick from Perez)

SD Johnson 9-yard pass from Davis (Mangan kick)

NAZ-Maldonado 15-yard pass from Jones (Perez kick)

SD-Jackson 37-yard pass from Davis (kick blocked)

NAZ-White 9-yard pass from Jones (kick from Perez)

SD-Jackson 10-yard pass from Davis (Mangan Dropkick)

ATT:3.100

IFL TABLES

Western Conference WL

Bay Area 11-2

Vegas 9-4

Arizona 9-5

San Diego 9-5

WRANGLER8-5

San Antonio 6-7

Tucson 2-11

: Duke City 2-11

Eastern Conference WL

Green Bay 11-3

Frisco-11-3

Massachusetts 7-6

Quad City 6-6

5:9 against Tulsa

Iowa 4-9

Sioux Falls 3-10

Jacksonville 3-10

SCOREBOARD

San Diego 57, Northern Arizona 43

Arizona 55, Iowa 26

Bay Area 37, Vegas 35

Duke City 44, Tucson 32

Frisco 48, San Antonio 47

Green Bay 54, Tulsa 20

Jacksonville 36, Sioux Falls 28

SCHEDULE WEEK 17

Massachusetts in San Antonio, Saturday, 4:05 p.m.

Jacksonville, Iowa, Saturday, 5:05 p.m.

Sioux Falls in Quad City, Saturday, 5:05 p.m.

Vegas in San Diego, Saturday, 6:05 p.m.

Frisco in Duke City, Sunday, 2:05 p.m.

WRANGLERS in the Bay Area, Sunday, 3:05 p.m.

Tucson, Arizona, Sunday, 3:05 p.m.