Gladiators snake bit by Rattlers, 57-34

RIO RANCHO – Scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions Sunday afternoon in the Rio Rancho Events Center, the visiting Arizona Rattlers never looked back, handing the host Duke City Gladiators a 57-34 setback, their third loss in a row.

The Gladiators (4-8) trailed 27-14 at halftime and then 31-22 heading into the final quarter.

Starting quarterback Charles McCullum was removed after throwing an interception and then fumbling the ball away the next time the Gladiators had it in the third period.

Demry Croft, who briefly replaced McCullum and scored Duke City’s second touchdown of the game, replaced McCullum again in the third quarter. He completed a long pass on his first play to get the Gladiators inside the 5, then took the ball into the end zone on a keeper for the third TD for the hosts. His run for a 2-point conversion was stopped.

By game’s end, McCullum had completed 5 of 14 passes for 61 yards, with a TD and an interception. Croft was 3 of 9 for 54 yards, with one TD pass and two rushing TDs.

The Ratters (8-4) dominated in the key stats: 19 first downs to seven for the Gladiators; 91 yards rushing for Arizona to 33 for Duke City; 192 passing yards for the Rattlers to 90 for Duke City; and the Rattlers were 3 of 6 on third down, while Duke City was just 1 of 9.

Duke City has three games left, all in the Rio Rancho Events Center: Saturday at 6:05 p.m. to face the Vegas Knight Hawks, and it’ll be First Responders Night. First Responders can get free admission by presenting their credentials at the box office.

After a bye week, Duke City is home July 8, also at 6:05, to meet the Tucson Sugar Skulls; and Sunday, July 16, at 3:05 to face the Bay Area Panthers.

The Gladiators beat Bay Area but lost to Vegas and Tucson in earlier meetings.