Post by DiamondThief on Mar 17, 2024 15:03:04 GMT -8
Pirates 44, Blizzard 40
3/17/24 --
GREEN BAY, WI - As they say, anything can happen in the Indoor Football League.
The Massachusetts Pirates scored 22 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarter as they rallied to claim a 44-40 victory over the Green Bay Blizzard today at the Resch Center. It was the season opener for both teams on an opening weekend featuring just two games. The Arizona Rattlers defeated the Northern Arizona Wranglers last night, 51-40 in the other week 1 contest. The Rattlers and Pirates' wins mean both games were won by the visiting teams.
At one point in the middle of the third quarter, the Pirates trailed 40-18. That's when they went on their run. Fueled by veterans quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, and wide receivers Isaac Zico and Thomas Owens, they outscored the Blizzard 22-0 in the last 21 minutes of game time en route to the win. The teams play again this season when Green Bay visits Massachusetts on June 9. Massachusetts now leads the overall series, 5-2 overall and 2-2 on the road.
The Pirates took the opening kick and drove down to the Green Bay one-yard line, but the Blizzard defense forced a turnover on downs to five their offense their first opportunity of the season. The Blizzard drove 48 yards and scored on a two-yard run to the short corner of the end zone on the right side to put his team up by a touchdown. Green Bay forced Massachusetts into a long field goal, but the play was broken up after a bad snap. Max Meylor's six-yard scramble up the middle and into the end zone put the Blizzard up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Massachusetts got on the board with a three-yard run around the left side from Alejandro Bennifield just over four minutes into the second quarter. Bennifield found Isaac Zico for the two-point conversion to make the score 14-8. Meylor's four-yard scoring run around the right guard extended the lead with just over six minutes left, but Devin Hafford returned the point-after try for a Pirates two-point conversion. Bennifield found Teo Redding for a nine-yard touchdown to pull the Pirates to within 20-16 with the quarter winding down. A 21-yard connection from Meylor to Jaylin Cagle to the one-yard line gave the Blizzard a first-and-goal with 21 seconds remaining. Meylor capitalized on the field position with a one-yard touchdown bootleg around the left guard to increase the Blizzard's lead. Josh Gable tried a 36-yard field goal as time expired, but it was wide left. Green Bay was up 27-16 heading into halftime.
The Blizzard extended their lead early in the third quarter on a five-yard toss from Meylor to Demetrius Moore. The Pirates responded with a one-yard plunge from Bennifield with 10:41 left in the third. Green Bay came back on the next play with a 37-yard bomb from Meylor to a wide open Lowell Patron. Bennifield once again pulled the Pirates closer with his five-yard scramble up the middle. The Blizzard took a 40-28 lead.
With Massachusetts driving, Bennifield's long pass down the right sideline was intercepted by Shawn Steele II of Green Bay. After a missed field goal from the Blizzard's Mason Laramie, the Pirates took over at their own five. They drew to within a single score when Bennifield found Zico in the back of the end zone. Bennifield's two-point conversion toss to Redding cut the Blizzard's lead to 40-36 with less than six minutes to go. Laramie was forced to attempt a 23-yard field goal, but pulled it wide left, giving Massachusetts back the ball with 2:35 remaining. The Pirates took their first lead of the game with 15 seconds left on Benefield's nine-yard strike to Zico. Bennnifield connected with Thomas Owens for a two-point conversion to make the score 44-40 with the Blizzard awaiting the kickoff. Cagle returned the kickoff to the Massachusetts 12-yard line with 10 seconds remaining. Meylor threw to the end zone, but his pass was picked off by Matt Elam of the Pirates.
Bennifield completed 13 of 24 passes for 111 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 28 yards and three scores in the win. Bennifield was the United Bowl MVP for the Pirates in 2021. Jimmie Robinson rushed 15 times for 76 yards, and caught three passes for 38 yards. Redding and Zico each caught five passes for 40 and 33 yards, respectively. Zico hauled in two touchdown catches and Redding had one. Hafford led the way for the defense with eight tackles. Elam added seven tackles to his interception to ice the game.
Meylor finished 14 of 21 for 143 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. He added 35 yards off 12 carries and three scores on the ground. Patron caught four passes for 52 yards and a touchdown, while Harry Ballard III had four grabs for 38 yards. Cynte Williams' 10 tackles led the way for the Blizzard defense. Ravarius Rivers added eight tackles and Steele had an interception.
Massachusetts gained 212 yards to 184 for Green Bay. The Blizzard had a 143-111 edge in passing yards and the Pirates had a 101-41 advantage in the ground game. Both teams were penalized six times; for 137 yards for the Pirates and 101 yards for the Blizzard.
The Blizzard are at home to take on the Iowa Barnstormers on May 23 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. After a bye next week, the Pirates will host the Sioux Falls Storm on May 29 with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. That will be the home opener at the first game for the Pirates at Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
3/17/24 --
GREEN BAY, WI - As they say, anything can happen in the Indoor Football League.
The Massachusetts Pirates scored 22 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarter as they rallied to claim a 44-40 victory over the Green Bay Blizzard today at the Resch Center. It was the season opener for both teams on an opening weekend featuring just two games. The Arizona Rattlers defeated the Northern Arizona Wranglers last night, 51-40 in the other week 1 contest. The Rattlers and Pirates' wins mean both games were won by the visiting teams.
At one point in the middle of the third quarter, the Pirates trailed 40-18. That's when they went on their run. Fueled by veterans quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, and wide receivers Isaac Zico and Thomas Owens, they outscored the Blizzard 22-0 in the last 21 minutes of game time en route to the win. The teams play again this season when Green Bay visits Massachusetts on June 9. Massachusetts now leads the overall series, 5-2 overall and 2-2 on the road.
The Pirates took the opening kick and drove down to the Green Bay one-yard line, but the Blizzard defense forced a turnover on downs to five their offense their first opportunity of the season. The Blizzard drove 48 yards and scored on a two-yard run to the short corner of the end zone on the right side to put his team up by a touchdown. Green Bay forced Massachusetts into a long field goal, but the play was broken up after a bad snap. Max Meylor's six-yard scramble up the middle and into the end zone put the Blizzard up 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Massachusetts got on the board with a three-yard run around the left side from Alejandro Bennifield just over four minutes into the second quarter. Bennifield found Isaac Zico for the two-point conversion to make the score 14-8. Meylor's four-yard scoring run around the right guard extended the lead with just over six minutes left, but Devin Hafford returned the point-after try for a Pirates two-point conversion. Bennifield found Teo Redding for a nine-yard touchdown to pull the Pirates to within 20-16 with the quarter winding down. A 21-yard connection from Meylor to Jaylin Cagle to the one-yard line gave the Blizzard a first-and-goal with 21 seconds remaining. Meylor capitalized on the field position with a one-yard touchdown bootleg around the left guard to increase the Blizzard's lead. Josh Gable tried a 36-yard field goal as time expired, but it was wide left. Green Bay was up 27-16 heading into halftime.
The Blizzard extended their lead early in the third quarter on a five-yard toss from Meylor to Demetrius Moore. The Pirates responded with a one-yard plunge from Bennifield with 10:41 left in the third. Green Bay came back on the next play with a 37-yard bomb from Meylor to a wide open Lowell Patron. Bennifield once again pulled the Pirates closer with his five-yard scramble up the middle. The Blizzard took a 40-28 lead.
With Massachusetts driving, Bennifield's long pass down the right sideline was intercepted by Shawn Steele II of Green Bay. After a missed field goal from the Blizzard's Mason Laramie, the Pirates took over at their own five. They drew to within a single score when Bennifield found Zico in the back of the end zone. Bennifield's two-point conversion toss to Redding cut the Blizzard's lead to 40-36 with less than six minutes to go. Laramie was forced to attempt a 23-yard field goal, but pulled it wide left, giving Massachusetts back the ball with 2:35 remaining. The Pirates took their first lead of the game with 15 seconds left on Benefield's nine-yard strike to Zico. Bennnifield connected with Thomas Owens for a two-point conversion to make the score 44-40 with the Blizzard awaiting the kickoff. Cagle returned the kickoff to the Massachusetts 12-yard line with 10 seconds remaining. Meylor threw to the end zone, but his pass was picked off by Matt Elam of the Pirates.
Bennifield completed 13 of 24 passes for 111 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 28 yards and three scores in the win. Bennifield was the United Bowl MVP for the Pirates in 2021. Jimmie Robinson rushed 15 times for 76 yards, and caught three passes for 38 yards. Redding and Zico each caught five passes for 40 and 33 yards, respectively. Zico hauled in two touchdown catches and Redding had one. Hafford led the way for the defense with eight tackles. Elam added seven tackles to his interception to ice the game.
Meylor finished 14 of 21 for 143 yards with two touchdowns and a pick. He added 35 yards off 12 carries and three scores on the ground. Patron caught four passes for 52 yards and a touchdown, while Harry Ballard III had four grabs for 38 yards. Cynte Williams' 10 tackles led the way for the Blizzard defense. Ravarius Rivers added eight tackles and Steele had an interception.
Massachusetts gained 212 yards to 184 for Green Bay. The Blizzard had a 143-111 edge in passing yards and the Pirates had a 101-41 advantage in the ground game. Both teams were penalized six times; for 137 yards for the Pirates and 101 yards for the Blizzard.
The Blizzard are at home to take on the Iowa Barnstormers on May 23 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. After a bye next week, the Pirates will host the Sioux Falls Storm on May 29 with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. That will be the home opener at the first game for the Pirates at Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. SCtoC will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
-ANM
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