Box Score The Vegas Knight Hawks recorded their first win in their first game of the 2024 season against the Arizona Rattlers, 45-43, Sunday afternoon at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
 
FIRST QUARTER
The Vegas Knight Hawks took the field in Glendale, debuting their new all-white uniforms, and hoping to play spoiler as the Rattlers celebrated their first game in their new arena. Ja'Rome Johnson got the call as the starting quarterback.
 
The game started with a bang as Arizona returned the opening kickoff to the house, only to be called back on a penalty. After converting on fourth down, the Rattlers found the endzone on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Kettle to Isaiah Houston.
 
Midway through the quarter, Johnson took the ball himself 40 yards to the Rattlers' five-yard line. The Arizona defense stood tall and forced a VKH field goal attempt. After Kevin Macias kicked the ball through the uprights, the score at the end of the first was 7-3 in favor of Arizona.
 
SECOND QUARTER
The second quarter began with an excellent goal line stand by the Knight Hawks defense. This led to another Arizona field goal and the score became 10-3 Rattlers. Following Roderick Chapman's 29-yard kickoff return, Johnson recorded his first touchdown in a Vegas uniform and the score knotted up at 10.
 
The subsequent Arizona drive was a rocky one as the Knight Hawks defensive line made life difficult for Kettle. Keeping the ball on the ground, Arizona regained the lead with a Jamal Miles touchdown run.
 
The Knight Hawks did not wait to respond as Johnson broke two sets of Arizona ankles before shoveling the ball to CJ Windham for a 30-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt was fumbled on the snap, and Arizona held onto the lead, 17-16.
 
More stout performances on the goal line forced the final two Arizona drives of the half to end with close range field goal attempts making the halftime score 23-16.
 
THIRD QUARTER
Vegas received the ball to start the second half and made the most of the possession with a Caleb Holley 25-yard touchdown catch to tie the game at 23 a piece.
 
On Arizona's first possession of the half, Lorenzo Brown Jr. took over the quarterback duties. On Brown's second play of the game, Makel Calhoun laid the lumber and recorded his first sack of 2024. Shortly thereafter Miles ran it in from 10 yards out and Arizona regained the lead.
 
Keeping the action going, Johnson used his legs to record another touchdown run, the extra point attempt was wide right, and Arizona kept a one-point lead. Soon after, Shannon Brooks increased the Rattlers' lead to eight with a one-yard run.
 
Vegas' next possession ended quickly as Johnson showed off the arm with a 36-yard pass to Randolph to cut the deficit to two points.
 
On the final play of the quarter, Brown fumbled the ball, Jerry Garner recovered, and he muscled the ball 10 more yards with Brown on his back.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
Johnson wasted no time at the start of the fourth and strutted into the endzone to give the Knight Hawks their first lead of the game, 42-37.
 
Brown and the Rattlers then worked their way deep into Vegas territory only to head off in disappointment after a James Cesar interception. Vegas then put together a slow and methodical drive; however, it ended with a field goal attempt going wide right.
 
Coming back with a slow rolling drive of their own, Arizona regained the lead on a Brown to Glen Gibbons pass, however they failed to convert on the two-point attempt and held a one-point lead.
 
The Knight Hawks worked their way down the field to set up a Macias field goal try with three seconds left on the clock. Arizona called a timeout to try to ice the attempt, but the 32-yard attempt was sent down the middle.
 
Vegas comes out on top of a thrilling game and accomplished their missions of being 1-0 after every game and spoiling the Rattlers home opener celebration. Johnson finished with 295 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns. Maurice Jackson finished with two-and-a-half sacks while Calhoun left Glendale with eight tackles.
 
UP NEXT
Tickets are still available for the Vegas Knight Hawks Opening Knight on March 31, where the team will take on the Jacksonville Sharks at 3 p.m. PT. Up to three kids 12 and under get in free with each adult ticket purchased and can take part in the pregame egg hunt! Click here to purchase the special offer.