Post by DiamondThief on Jul 18, 2021 11:56:24 GMT -8
Pirates 68, Rattlers 44
7/18/21 --
WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates put together a complete game in all three phases and shocked the Arizona Rattlers today at DCU Center, 68-44.
The Pirates win their fourth straight and improve to 7-3 on the season. The Rattlers fell to 7-2 and saw their six-game winning streak snapped. This was the first-ever meeting between the teams and the only time they play one another this season.
The Rattlers scored on their opening possession with a six-yard pass from Drew Powell to Troy Pelletier. After they forced the Pirates to turn over the ball on downs, Massachusetts' Chucky Williams recovered a Powell fumble. The Pirates responded with a 12-yard touchdown run from Justin Stockton. Alejandro Bennifield's run for the two-point conversion put the Pirates up 8-7 at the end of one quarter.
Arizona took a 14-8 lead four minutes into the second quarter. Then, the Pirates scored three unanswered touchdowns to close out the quarter. The first game when Laquvionte Gonzalez returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown. Bennifield threw to Dontez Byrd for the two-point conversion. After a turnover on downs, the Bennifield plunged in from a yard out and then hit Thomas Owens for the two-pointer. Harlan Miller of the Pirates recovered an onside squib kick. They capitalized with a 30-yard strike from Bennifield to Gonzales and followed it up with another two-point conversion pass to Owens. The Pirates led 32-14 at the end of the first half.
The Pirates added to their lead on the opening drive of the third quarter when Bennifield found Owens for a 10-yard touchdown. Powell's 21-yard run drew the Rattlers to within 38-20 at the 10:52 mark. The Pirates scored on a 32-yard pass from Bennifield to Byrd before Powell once again drew the Rattlers closer with a four-yard run. Bennifield scored on a one-yard run to make the score 54-28.
Powell found Jarrod Harrington for a 13-yard score, but Massachusetts came right back with a one-yard run from Justin Stockton and the Pirates were up 60-36 with 10:36 remaining. Jeremiah Harris' four-yard touchdown pass from Powell narrowed the Rattlers' deficit to 16 points before Bennifield tossed a 15-yard touchdown strike to Byrd, giving the Pirates their final margin of victory.
Bennifield threw for four touchdowns and ran for another two. Massachusetts, playing without kicker Josh Gable who was out with an injury, converted seven of nine two-point conversion attempts. Backup quarterback Sean Brackett handled the kickoff duties for the Pirates in Gable's absence.
The Rattlers will host the Sioux Falls Storm on June 24 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. The Pirates have a bye next week, but will be back in action on July 31 when they visit the Spokane Shock at 7:05 p.m. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for the complete SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
7/18/21 --
WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates put together a complete game in all three phases and shocked the Arizona Rattlers today at DCU Center, 68-44.
The Pirates win their fourth straight and improve to 7-3 on the season. The Rattlers fell to 7-2 and saw their six-game winning streak snapped. This was the first-ever meeting between the teams and the only time they play one another this season.
The Rattlers scored on their opening possession with a six-yard pass from Drew Powell to Troy Pelletier. After they forced the Pirates to turn over the ball on downs, Massachusetts' Chucky Williams recovered a Powell fumble. The Pirates responded with a 12-yard touchdown run from Justin Stockton. Alejandro Bennifield's run for the two-point conversion put the Pirates up 8-7 at the end of one quarter.
Arizona took a 14-8 lead four minutes into the second quarter. Then, the Pirates scored three unanswered touchdowns to close out the quarter. The first game when Laquvionte Gonzalez returned the ensuing kickoff 57 yards for a touchdown. Bennifield threw to Dontez Byrd for the two-point conversion. After a turnover on downs, the Bennifield plunged in from a yard out and then hit Thomas Owens for the two-pointer. Harlan Miller of the Pirates recovered an onside squib kick. They capitalized with a 30-yard strike from Bennifield to Gonzales and followed it up with another two-point conversion pass to Owens. The Pirates led 32-14 at the end of the first half.
The Pirates added to their lead on the opening drive of the third quarter when Bennifield found Owens for a 10-yard touchdown. Powell's 21-yard run drew the Rattlers to within 38-20 at the 10:52 mark. The Pirates scored on a 32-yard pass from Bennifield to Byrd before Powell once again drew the Rattlers closer with a four-yard run. Bennifield scored on a one-yard run to make the score 54-28.
Powell found Jarrod Harrington for a 13-yard score, but Massachusetts came right back with a one-yard run from Justin Stockton and the Pirates were up 60-36 with 10:36 remaining. Jeremiah Harris' four-yard touchdown pass from Powell narrowed the Rattlers' deficit to 16 points before Bennifield tossed a 15-yard touchdown strike to Byrd, giving the Pirates their final margin of victory.
Bennifield threw for four touchdowns and ran for another two. Massachusetts, playing without kicker Josh Gable who was out with an injury, converted seven of nine two-point conversion attempts. Backup quarterback Sean Brackett handled the kickoff duties for the Pirates in Gable's absence.
The Rattlers will host the Sioux Falls Storm on June 24 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. The Pirates have a bye next week, but will be back in action on July 31 when they visit the Spokane Shock at 7:05 p.m. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for the complete 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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