Arizona Rattlers take revamped roster into season opener vs. San Diego
· Yahoo Sports
About 80 percent of the roster is new, but it doesn't mean the Arizona Rattlers are rebuilding.
They never do, despite the annual talent turnover.
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Welcome to the 2026 version of the Indoor Football League team, led by new quarterback Max Meylor, as they meet a familiar foe in their season opener on Saturday, March 28, at 2 p.m. MST, when they take on the San Diego Strike Force at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Meylor led Green Bay to the IFL championship game last season.
The Rattlers, meanwhile, saw their season end in heartbreak last year, losing 49-48 to the Strike Force in last year's playoffs. It ended in controversy with coach and team president Kevin Guy filing a formal protest with the IFL, after San Diego won on a Nate Davis touchdown pass to Arthur Jackson III on the last play of the game.
Guy felt the officials blew the last call with three San Diego players in motion during the pre-snap and that a flag should have been thrown. The league acknowledged that the official made the wrong call, but there was no decision to give the Rattlers the win and advance them in the playoffs.
It took a while for Guy to get over it, if he's gotten over it at all. But it's a new season.
Two seasons ago, Arizona won its second IFL title since 2017.
This season, they'll pursue another title without quarterback Dalton Sneed and Meylor instead leading the offense. Former league MVP Drew Powell will be the backup.
"It's a new offense for him, so I felt the first half of training camp, there was a learning curve," Guy said about Meylor. "I thought the second half of camp, he's come on strong. I think also Drew has had a great camp. We feel good about our quarterback situation."
Other positions look strong as well.
The receivers room is stacked, led by Corey Reed Jr., who is in his third season with the Rattlers.
"We're going to be about six or seven strong there,'' Guy said. "I think it's the most intelligent group we've had since I've been here, in terms of install, picking it up as quickly as they did."
Reed is looking forward to the chemistry between himself and Meylor.
"This is the strongest, probably the fastest receiver group since I've been here," Reed said. "As far as the team, there's a lot of energy and a lot of competition."
Reed said Meylor quickly learned the Rattlers' playbook, and he feels Powell is just as capable.
"IFL, it's all similar," Meylor said. "Just the language. It's a different language and it's clicking."
San Diego (1-0) opened its season last week with a two-point win over Northern Arizona. Davis passed for 176 yards and two TDs.
"They know us pretty well, and we know them," Guy said. "We only have a one-game evaluation. Some of their vets didn't play in that first game. I'm sure they'll go all out against us and we'll see those guys.
"It's a one-year league. There's turnover on every team. Everybody sprinkles in some vets. It's about getting these guys to jell this time of year."
Rattlers 2026 schedule
(All times MST)
March 28: San Diego Strike Force, 2 p.m.
April 5: at Fishers Freight, 4:30 p.m.
April 11: San Antonio Gunslingers, 6 p.m.
April 19: at Northern Arizona Wranglers, 1 p.m.
April 25: Tulso Oilers, 6 p.m.
May 3: at Vegas Knight Hawks, 4:30 p.m.
May 10: Tucson Sugar Skulls, 5 p.m.
May 18: New Mexico Chupacabras, 10 a.m., American Dream Cup, in New Jersey
May 30: Northern Arizona Wranglers, 5 p.m.
June 14: Fishers Freight, 5:30 p.m.
June 20: at Tucson Sugar Skulls, 7 p.m.
June 27: New Mexico Chupacabras, 8 p.m.
Aug. 6: at San Diego Strike Force, 6 p.m.
Aug. 11: Tucson Sugar Skulls, 6 p.m.
Aug. 19: at San Antonio Gunslingers, 1 p.m.
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rattlers open 2026 IFL season at home vs. San Diego