Post by DiamondThief on Mar 31, 2024 17:41:24 GMT -8
Knight Hawks 39, Sharks 33
3/31/24 --
HENDERSON, NV - Ja'Rome Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and the Vegas Knight Hawks defense held off a potential late rally, to come away with a 39-33 win over the Jacksonville Sharks at Dollar Loan Center.
The win propels Vegas to a perfect 2-0 record atop the Western Conference standings and gives the team a win in it's home opener. The Knight Hawks defeated the Arizona Rattlers last week, 45-43, at Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks fall to 0-2 on the young IFL season with both of their losses coming on the road. Jacksonville will host the defending champion Bay Area Panthers next week for its home opener.
This was the first-ever meeting between the teams as the Sharks moved over to the IFL from the National Arena League over the off season. This meeting was the first of two between the teams this season as the Knight Hawks visit the Sharks in just three weeks; on April 20.
Vegas scored the only points in the opening quarter when Johnson rushed in for a four-yard score. Kevin Marcias, who nailed the game-winning 33-yard field goal last week against the Rattlers, hit the point-after try and the Knight Hawks held a 7-0 lead after one.
Jacksonville got on the board three minutes into the second quarter when Frankie Onate hit a 25-yard field goal. Onate followed up the kick with a deuce to make the score 7-5; more typical of a game of baseball than one of football. Johnson's 11-yard touchdown to Caleb Holley extended the Knight Hawks' lead midway through the quarter. The Sharks narrowed the lead to 12 points on Blount's 20-yard touchdown strike to Kamrin Solomon. The Knight Hawks came right back on a 10-yard run from Taurean Taylor. Macias added a 17-yard field goal as time expired in the quarter and the Knight Hawks were up 24-12 heading into intermission.
Macias kicked off into the end zone and the coverage team prevented the ball from being returned out of the end zone, resulting in a rouge for Vegas. After the Knight Hawks forced the Sharks into a 60-yard field goal try (generally considered a punt by IFL standards), the Knight Hawks struck four minutes into the third quarter on a nine-yard touchdown toss from Johnson to Holley. The Sharks responded with a 11-yard touchdown toss from Blount to Solomon late in the quarter.
The Sharks pulled to within a six when Logan Wright found the end zone on a run from two yards out. Taylor's four-yard touchdown run three minutes later put the Knight Hawks up 39-26. Blount hit Solomon for a six-yard score with 49 seconds left, but the Sharks were unable to complete the comeback as Vegas ran the clock down to all zeroes.
Johnson completed nine of 18 passes for 83 yards to add to his two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed nine times for 46 yards and his score. Taylor accumulated 43 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns. Quentin Randolph hauled in five passes for 57 yards, while Holley added four receptions of 28 yards to his two receiving scores. Roderick Chapman's seven tackles led a team-effort oriented defense. Bryce Hampton intercepted two passes and Makel Calhoun recorded a sack.
Blount finished 13 of 27 for 167 yards, three touchdowns and two picks. Wright added 23 rushing yards to his touchdown. Solomon provided a big bright spot for the Sharks Offense with seven catches for 84 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Harrison Poole had nine total tackles and Caleb Ham added eight for the Sharks defense.
Vegas outgained Jacksonville by just a dozen total yards. The Knight Hawks were stronger in the running game with 68-yard edge, while the Sharks had a 65-yard advantage in receiving yards. The teams were penalized heavily in the game with Jacksonville being flagged 11 times for 53 yards and Vegas being flagged nine times for 74 yards.
The Sharks will welcome the defending IFL champion Bay Area Panthers on April 6 with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. The Knight Hawks are on a bye in week 4, but will be back in action on April 12 when they host the San Antonio Gunslingers for a 7:05 p.m. kickoff. 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.
3/31/24 --
HENDERSON, NV - Ja'Rome Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and the Vegas Knight Hawks defense held off a potential late rally, to come away with a 39-33 win over the Jacksonville Sharks at Dollar Loan Center.
The win propels Vegas to a perfect 2-0 record atop the Western Conference standings and gives the team a win in it's home opener. The Knight Hawks defeated the Arizona Rattlers last week, 45-43, at Glendale, Arizona. The Sharks fall to 0-2 on the young IFL season with both of their losses coming on the road. Jacksonville will host the defending champion Bay Area Panthers next week for its home opener.
This was the first-ever meeting between the teams as the Sharks moved over to the IFL from the National Arena League over the off season. This meeting was the first of two between the teams this season as the Knight Hawks visit the Sharks in just three weeks; on April 20.
Vegas scored the only points in the opening quarter when Johnson rushed in for a four-yard score. Kevin Marcias, who nailed the game-winning 33-yard field goal last week against the Rattlers, hit the point-after try and the Knight Hawks held a 7-0 lead after one.
Jacksonville got on the board three minutes into the second quarter when Frankie Onate hit a 25-yard field goal. Onate followed up the kick with a deuce to make the score 7-5; more typical of a game of baseball than one of football. Johnson's 11-yard touchdown to Caleb Holley extended the Knight Hawks' lead midway through the quarter. The Sharks narrowed the lead to 12 points on Blount's 20-yard touchdown strike to Kamrin Solomon. The Knight Hawks came right back on a 10-yard run from Taurean Taylor. Macias added a 17-yard field goal as time expired in the quarter and the Knight Hawks were up 24-12 heading into intermission.
Macias kicked off into the end zone and the coverage team prevented the ball from being returned out of the end zone, resulting in a rouge for Vegas. After the Knight Hawks forced the Sharks into a 60-yard field goal try (generally considered a punt by IFL standards), the Knight Hawks struck four minutes into the third quarter on a nine-yard touchdown toss from Johnson to Holley. The Sharks responded with a 11-yard touchdown toss from Blount to Solomon late in the quarter.
The Sharks pulled to within a six when Logan Wright found the end zone on a run from two yards out. Taylor's four-yard touchdown run three minutes later put the Knight Hawks up 39-26. Blount hit Solomon for a six-yard score with 49 seconds left, but the Sharks were unable to complete the comeback as Vegas ran the clock down to all zeroes.
Johnson completed nine of 18 passes for 83 yards to add to his two touchdowns and no interceptions. He also rushed nine times for 46 yards and his score. Taylor accumulated 43 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns. Quentin Randolph hauled in five passes for 57 yards, while Holley added four receptions of 28 yards to his two receiving scores. Roderick Chapman's seven tackles led a team-effort oriented defense. Bryce Hampton intercepted two passes and Makel Calhoun recorded a sack.
Blount finished 13 of 27 for 167 yards, three touchdowns and two picks. Wright added 23 rushing yards to his touchdown. Solomon provided a big bright spot for the Sharks Offense with seven catches for 84 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Harrison Poole had nine total tackles and Caleb Ham added eight for the Sharks defense.
Vegas outgained Jacksonville by just a dozen total yards. The Knight Hawks were stronger in the running game with 68-yard edge, while the Sharks had a 65-yard advantage in receiving yards. The teams were penalized heavily in the game with Jacksonville being flagged 11 times for 53 yards and Vegas being flagged nine times for 74 yards.
The Sharks will welcome the defending IFL champion Bay Area Panthers on April 6 with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. The Knight Hawks are on a bye in week 4, but will be back in action on April 12 when they host the San Antonio Gunslingers for a 7:05 p.m. kickoff. 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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