Former Chandler star Kyree Woods sets Rattlers record with 4 interceptions in rout of Duke City in IFL playoffs

Dillion Winfrey had his Indoor Football League-leading 11th interception in the first half.

But he was ready to become rookie Kyree Woods' agent Sunday night after the former Chandler High defensive back set a Rattlers record with four interceptions in a 53-14 IFL first-round rout of the Duke City Gladiators before 7,200 at Footprint Center.

"It's my time to advocate," Winfrey said. "I'm his agent right now.

"I don't know if we got somebody working at Wendy's or something. But he need a burger or something named after him. Call it the Woody burger. That's amazing."

Woods, who had a knee injury later in his San Diego State career that derailed any NFL dream, was at a loss for words when it came to his turn at the post-game interview podium.

"I think two (interceptions) was the most I ever had," Woods said. "It was unbelievable. It felt good to have my teammates hyping me up.

"It felt like I was dreaming at one point."

All of Woods' interceptions were spectacular, one outdoing the next. On his last two, in the final quarter, he went over the wall after intercepting the pass, then dived in front of a receiver to pick off the pass.

It was the most interceptions in an IFL game since 2017.

"He's bought in," coach Kevin Guy said of Woods. "When you buy in and you're coachable, it's up to you to execute and you're going to have a lot of success.

"He's had a great attitude all year. He always has that great smile from ear to ear going. He's solid. He's a solid human being, not just a great football player."

Guy had to pull two red challenge flags in the first half when the Gladiators (8-9) were going back and forth with the Rattlers in the first quarter. He won both challenges, and the Rattlers finished the half with a flourish.

Duke City was inches away from tying the game at 21 with less than a minute left in the first half.

The Rattlers held, then scored 17 straight points in the final 45 seconds to put away the Gladiators.

This performance sets up next Saturday's 6:05 p.m., West Division championship showdown at Footprint Center against the Northern Arizona Wranglers, which beat Tucson on Saturday for their first playoff win.

The Rattlers (14-3) and NAZ (13-4) split their two regular-season games, each winning at home.

"They had some guys out the last time we played them," Guy said. "They're back in the lineup now. They're well-coached. I've been battling Les Moss and Rob Keefe for years in the Arena Football League and now in the IFL. Rod Windsor was a player for us and coached with us for three or four years. I'm glad to see him having success. But all the friendship ends when we go to war next week here."

The Gladiators looked to take the momentum heading into halftime with the ball on the Rattlers' 1. But, on fourth down, Ramone Atkins fumbled the snap.

Quarterback Drew Powell gave the Gladiators another chance to tie before halftime after fumbling the ball away at midfield with 2:07 left.

But two plays later, Atkins' pass went through Jared Elmore's hands and into the hands of Dillion Winfrey for his 11th interception this season.

Powell threw a perfect pass behind two defenders into the end zone that Braxton Haley caught for a 41-yard score and a 28-14 lead with 45 seconds left.

Then, Isaiah Huston, who returned the opening kickoff 45 yards to set up the Rattlers' first score, recovered the onside kick. Running back Shannon Brooks took a screen pass and ran 41 yards for another Rattlers TD and a 35-14 lead with 32.7 seconds left.

Kyree Woods then made a remarkable interception in the corner of the end zone with 20 seconds left, leading to Ernesto Lacayo's second-long 48-yard field goal as the half expired. Woods intercepted three more passes in the second half, as the Rattlers' defense shut down the Gladiators since the opening quarter.

On the verge of being tied late in the, the Rattlers remarkably had a 38-14 lead.

The Rattlers outscored the Gladiators 24-0 in the second quarter and finished 39-0 run after Brooks scored his third touchdown.

Powell threw for 175 yards and five TDs, completing 11 of 14 passes in the first three quarters.

Atkins was just 8 of 20 with two interceptions and two TDs and a sack in the first three quarters.

"I'm a fan," Powell said. "The biggest part of the game was watching the defense make plays. I'm proud of those guys. They practice hard every week paying attention to details. I love watching those guys."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kyree Woods sets Rattlers record with 4 INTs in IFL playoff win