Post by DiamondThief on May 2, 2021 18:56:38 GMT -8
Blizzard 40, Pirates 36
5/2/21 --
GREEN BAY, WI - Damion May's scrambling 23-yard pass to a leaping Kezlow Smith with 32.3 seconds left proved to be the difference as the Green Bay Blizzard rallied to defeat the Massachusetts Pirates, 40-36, tonight at the Resch Center.
The Blizzard rebounded from their season-opening loss to the Bismarck Bucks to move to 1-1 on the young Indoor Football League season. The Pirates, who topped the Louisville Xtreme last week, also now stand at 1-1.
The game itself was in question after a shooting last night at Oneida Hotel and Casino where the Pirates were staying. The team witnessed and helped keep other bystanders away from the incident in which three persons were killed (including the shooter) and one seriously injured. Following the incident, the team took a vote and decided to play the game. The start time of the game was bumped back from 3:05 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. to help with the accommodation.
A statement was made prior to the game by Blizzard owner Kathy Treankler and Pirates general manager Jawad Yatim regarding the incident, and observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims.
After stopping the Pirates' opening possession on downs, the Blizzard struck first with a 29-yard field goal from Henry Nell. The teams traded missed field goals before the Pirates took a 7-3 lead on the last play of the opening quarter when quarterback Alejandro Bennifield plunged into the end zone from a yard out.
Green Bay scored on the ensuing kickoff when Trevon Saunders returned the kick 55 yards for the score. Massachusetts came right back with a three-yard scramble by Bennifield to give the Pirates a 10-0 lead. Things got interesting in the final minute of the first half. Nell nailed a 41-yard field goal, then followed it up with a deuce. The deuce is a new rule adopted by the IFL where if the opening kickoff goes through the uprights, the kicking team is awarded two points. The Pirates were then deep in their own territory when a holding call in the end zone resulted in a safety and, suddenly, the Blizzard were up 17-10. After getting the ball back, Nell's 33-yard field goal gave the Blizzard a halftime advantage of 20-14.
The Blizzard extended the lead to 27-14 on Kerrion Moore's seven-yard rush in the end zone at 2:40 into the third quarter. The Pirates came back on Bennifield's 10-yard strike to Demarcus Ayers to cut the lead to 27-20. J.D. Griggs and Martrel Spaight sacked May in the end zone to narrow the score to 27-22. Massachusetts took a 28-27 lead on Bennifield's seven-yard run with one second remaining in the quarter.
At the 9:10 mark of the final quarter, Bennifield put the Pirates up 36-27 on a six-yard touchdown scramble. May's three-yard pass to IFL veteran Eric Thomas narrowed the Blizzard's deficit to 36-34 with 1:50 left. After holding the Pirates to a turnover on downs, the Blizzard took over; setting up May's game winner to Smith. The ball was actually fumbled, but May was able to pick it up, scramble to the left, and heave the ball to Smith, who left the air to make the catch before curling to his right to get into the end zone.
The Pirates dominated in the offensive game, accumulating 215 yards to the Blizzard's 79, including a 53-yard advantage in the receiving game and 45-yeard edge in the rushing game. A big difference in the game was the penalties where the Pirates were flagged nine times for 44 yards, and the Blizzard had just two for 10 yards. Neither team committed a turnover.
Aiken struggled in the first half before being replaced by May at the beginning of the third quarter. Though he struggled at the start, May finished five of 10 for 56 yards with a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed for 37 yards on five carries. Thomas, appearing in his first game with the Blizzard, caught five balls for 31 yards with a score. Momodou Mbye led the team with 11 tackles, and Dajon Emory had a sack.
Bennifield completed 16 of 26 throws for 139 yards with a touchdown toss, as well as four scores on the ground. Ayers had 41 yards off four grabs to go along with his touchdown snag. Justin Stockton rushed for 60 yards. Spaight had eight tackles with 1.5 sacks. Tavarus Dantzler had 2.5 sacks, and Toby Johnson added a sack.
The Pirates (1-1) will visit the Bismarck Bucks (1-0) on May 8. The Blizzard ((1-0) will host the Louisville Xtreme (0-1) on May 7. Click for the SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
5/2/21 --
GREEN BAY, WI - Damion May's scrambling 23-yard pass to a leaping Kezlow Smith with 32.3 seconds left proved to be the difference as the Green Bay Blizzard rallied to defeat the Massachusetts Pirates, 40-36, tonight at the Resch Center.
The Blizzard rebounded from their season-opening loss to the Bismarck Bucks to move to 1-1 on the young Indoor Football League season. The Pirates, who topped the Louisville Xtreme last week, also now stand at 1-1.
The game itself was in question after a shooting last night at Oneida Hotel and Casino where the Pirates were staying. The team witnessed and helped keep other bystanders away from the incident in which three persons were killed (including the shooter) and one seriously injured. Following the incident, the team took a vote and decided to play the game. The start time of the game was bumped back from 3:05 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. to help with the accommodation.
A statement was made prior to the game by Blizzard owner Kathy Treankler and Pirates general manager Jawad Yatim regarding the incident, and observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the victims.
After stopping the Pirates' opening possession on downs, the Blizzard struck first with a 29-yard field goal from Henry Nell. The teams traded missed field goals before the Pirates took a 7-3 lead on the last play of the opening quarter when quarterback Alejandro Bennifield plunged into the end zone from a yard out.
Green Bay scored on the ensuing kickoff when Trevon Saunders returned the kick 55 yards for the score. Massachusetts came right back with a three-yard scramble by Bennifield to give the Pirates a 10-0 lead. Things got interesting in the final minute of the first half. Nell nailed a 41-yard field goal, then followed it up with a deuce. The deuce is a new rule adopted by the IFL where if the opening kickoff goes through the uprights, the kicking team is awarded two points. The Pirates were then deep in their own territory when a holding call in the end zone resulted in a safety and, suddenly, the Blizzard were up 17-10. After getting the ball back, Nell's 33-yard field goal gave the Blizzard a halftime advantage of 20-14.
The Blizzard extended the lead to 27-14 on Kerrion Moore's seven-yard rush in the end zone at 2:40 into the third quarter. The Pirates came back on Bennifield's 10-yard strike to Demarcus Ayers to cut the lead to 27-20. J.D. Griggs and Martrel Spaight sacked May in the end zone to narrow the score to 27-22. Massachusetts took a 28-27 lead on Bennifield's seven-yard run with one second remaining in the quarter.
At the 9:10 mark of the final quarter, Bennifield put the Pirates up 36-27 on a six-yard touchdown scramble. May's three-yard pass to IFL veteran Eric Thomas narrowed the Blizzard's deficit to 36-34 with 1:50 left. After holding the Pirates to a turnover on downs, the Blizzard took over; setting up May's game winner to Smith. The ball was actually fumbled, but May was able to pick it up, scramble to the left, and heave the ball to Smith, who left the air to make the catch before curling to his right to get into the end zone.
The Pirates dominated in the offensive game, accumulating 215 yards to the Blizzard's 79, including a 53-yard advantage in the receiving game and 45-yeard edge in the rushing game. A big difference in the game was the penalties where the Pirates were flagged nine times for 44 yards, and the Blizzard had just two for 10 yards. Neither team committed a turnover.
Aiken struggled in the first half before being replaced by May at the beginning of the third quarter. Though he struggled at the start, May finished five of 10 for 56 yards with a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed for 37 yards on five carries. Thomas, appearing in his first game with the Blizzard, caught five balls for 31 yards with a score. Momodou Mbye led the team with 11 tackles, and Dajon Emory had a sack.
Bennifield completed 16 of 26 throws for 139 yards with a touchdown toss, as well as four scores on the ground. Ayers had 41 yards off four grabs to go along with his touchdown snag. Justin Stockton rushed for 60 yards. Spaight had eight tackles with 1.5 sacks. Tavarus Dantzler had 2.5 sacks, and Toby Johnson added a sack.
The Pirates (1-1) will visit the Bismarck Bucks (1-0) on May 8. The Blizzard ((1-0) will host the Louisville Xtreme (0-1) on May 7. Click for the SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL's Official YouTube Channel. 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.
- ANM
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