The Fishers Freight have spent the past several weeks finding themselves on the wrong side of close games.

Sunday night in Glendale, Arizona, they finally found a way to finish one.

Facing an Arizona Rattlers team that had been unbeaten at home and entered the game as an 8.5-point favorite, the Freight battled through a tough, physical Indoor Football League contest and escaped with a 37-36 victory, ending a five-game losing streak and moving their season record to 6-6.

It was the kind of game the Freight had been searching for during their recent slide. Neither team was able to build much separation, and both squads had opportunities to take control. Instead, the game came down to the final seconds.

Arizona kicker Mathew Cook had a chance to win it for the Rattlers, but his 26-yard field goal attempt had the distance and sailed wide right as time ran out. The miss preserved the Fishers win and gave the Freight a badly needed boost in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Both kickers had their struggles during the night, but Freight kicker Calum Sutherland provided an important difference by connecting on two deuces — two-point kicks through the uprights on kickoffs.

Quarterback Felix Harper once again helped keep Fishers in the game with his combination of accurate passing and timely running. His ability to stay composed under pressure proved critical in a back-and-forth contest that featured momentum swings, physical play and key penalties on both sides.

The Freight appeared to come up with a major defensive play when they intercepted a pass in the end zone, but the turnover was wiped out by a penalty. Later, Arizona was threatening near the goal line before a holding call pushed the Rattlers backward and forced the final field goal attempt by Cook.

After the game, Freight Coach Dixie Wooten said his team earned the win because the players “played together.” He also credited Harper for showing poise in difficult situations.

The victory keeps Fishers very much alive in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Tulsa and Orlando are both 6-5, while Quad City stands at 5-7. The final two playoff spots in the East are likely to be decided over the closing weeks of the regular season among those teams.

The path will not be easy.

Fishers returns home Saturday to face Iowa at the Fishers Event Center. The Freight then travel to Green Bay for a third meeting this season with the Blizzard, head to Moline to face Quad City, and close the regular season at home against Orlando.

Iowa has only one win this season, but the Freight are not in a position to overlook anyone. If Fishers wants to stay in the playoff hunt, Saturday’s home game against the Barnstormers becomes another critical test.

After weeks of close losses, the Freight finally made the plays needed to win one. Now they must show they can build on it.