San Diego, CA
Defense, clutch finish lead Arizona Rattlers to season’s biggest win at San Diego
Irate Arizona Rattlers coach Kevin Guy after win over Duke City
“We should have won by three or four touchdowns,” Kevin Guy said, after Rattlers beat Duke City in the final minute.
The Arizona Rattlers returned two interceptions for touchdowns, converted a key fourth down in the last minute and watched kicker Conor Mangan miss two field goals in the last two minutes to escape the San Diego Strike Force with a 47-46 victory Saturday night at Pechanga Arena.
“We played as bad on offense as I have seen in 15 years,” coach Kevin Guy said. “We have to coach better and we have to play better. We scored on defense twice tonight. I was almost ready to bring our defensive players over to play on offense.”
Dalton Sneed threw three touchdown passes, including a 7-yard pass to Isaiah Huston which turned out to be the game-winner with 16 seconds left. Dawson Evitts’ extra point broke a 46-46 tie.
But the Rattlers needed Mangan to miss a 30-yard field goal try as time expired to get to 7-4 on the season and seize fourth place in the Indoor Football League Western Conference by themselves.
The Strike Force (6-5) had a chance to score late in the first half, after Nate Davis drove his team to the Rattlers’ 5 with three seconds left.
But he overthrew his pass in the end zone, and Jarmaine Doubs Jr. intercepted five yards deep in the end zone and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown that gave the Rattlers a 34-21 lead at the break.
Sneed was intercepted three times, including the first play of the game that the Strike Force cashed in with an early 7-0 lead.
San Diego could have taken a nine-point lead with less than two minutes to play, but Mangan hooked a 28-yard field goal try.
In the final minute, Sneed’s 14-yard pass to Huston on fourth-and-6 gave the Rattlers a first down at 7. On the next play, Sneed went right back to Huston for his first TD. This was Huston’s first game back since early in the season when he suffered an injury.
Davis, who burned the Rattlers early in the season in a 55-45 win in Glendale, passed for 144 yards and four TDs but was picked off three times.
Winfrey’s interception late in the first half came right after CJ Odom fumbled the ball away into the end zone on a first-down run from the 2.
That led to Sneed’s 13-yard scoring pass to Corey Reed Jr. with 16 seconds left and a 27-21 lead. The point-after attempt was blocked.
“We found a way to win and we kept our poise,” Guy said. “We executed when we had to. I don’t want to take anything away from San Diego. They are a very good football team.
“We converted some fourth downs on the last drive. It’s a little different when there’s pressure to make those kids. I thought Huston gave us some great minutes when he was in the game.”
The Rattlers had eight stops in the game. They’ve won six of their last seven games and are only a half-game behind the Vegas Knight Hawks (7-3) and the Northern Arizona Wranglers (7-3) in the Western Conference. The Bay Area Panthers lead the conference at 9-1.
The Rattlers are back home Saturday night at 6:05 to play the Wranglers at Desert Diamond Arena.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
San Diego, CA
Gas prices soar nearly another dime overnight
On Thursday, the average price of a gallon of self-serve regular gasoline in San Diego County recorded its largest increase since Sept. 28, 2023, rising 8.7 cents to $4.894, its highest amount since Nov. 13.
The average price has increased 15 consecutive days, rising 28.7 cents, including 7 cents on Wednesday, according to figures from the AAA and Oil Price Information Service. It is 22.4 cents more than one week ago, 38.6 cents higher than one month ago and 14.5 cents greater than one year ago.
The average price has dropped $1.541 since rising to a record $6.435 on Oct. 5, 2022.
“Gas prices are rising primarily due to a recent surge in crude oil following strikes on Iran by the U.S. and Israel,” Kandace Redd, the Automobile Club of Southern California’s senior public affairs specialist, told City News Service. “Any conflict with Iran can send oil prices higher, as Iran is a major oil producer and about a fifth of the oil consumed globally travels through the Strait of Hormuz between Iran and Oman.
“Gas prices are increasing because of seasonal factors too. Refineries are beginning the switch to more expensive summer-blend fuel, and demand is picking up as we head into the spring break season with more people on the road.”
The national average price rose 5.3 cents to $3.251, its highest amount since Sept. 11, 2024. It has risen five consecutive days, increasing 26.9 cents, including 8.9 cents on Wednesday.
The national average price is 26.8 cents more than one week ago, 36 cents higher than one month ago and 14.4 cents greater than one year ago. It has dropped $1.765 since rising to a record $5.016 on June 14, 2022.
San Diego, CA
UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance
UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)
San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST
BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.
The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.
The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.
San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.
The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.
TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.
Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.
Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
San Diego, CA
Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.
The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.
Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.
Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.
The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.
As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.
The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.
Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”
Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
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