Semifinal Preview - #3 Fighters at #2 Pirates

[Nevadanut]

#3 Frisco Fighters at #2 Massachusetts Pirates



What: The second and third seeds clash with a ticket to the United Bowl on the line.
When: Saturday, September 4 at 5 p.m. pacific (8 p.m. eastern).
Where: DCU Center; Worcester, Massachusetts.
Video Stream: Stadium.
2021 Head to Head: June 12 - Fighters 40, Pirates (H) 33. July 2 - Pirates 38, Fighters (H) 37.
Overall Head to Head: Tied 1-1 (Each team has won on the road).
SCtoC Logo: Created by David

The Fighters finished the regular season at 10-3 overall and 5-2 on the road. They are coming off a 44-33 home win over the Spokane Shock in the first round of the playoffs on August 28. The Pirates finished the regular season at 11-3 and 4-2 at home. They are coming off a 44-19 home win over the Bismarck Bucks in the first round of the playoffs on August 28.

Frisco Fighters


Fighters running back Demarcus Felton. (SCtoC photo by Gary Royall)

2021 ROSTER
# - name (pos)
1 - Josh Crockett (WR)
2 - Khalil Williams (DB)
3 - Damarcus Wilson (DB)
4 - Sir'Veil Ford (DB/LB)
5 - Sione Teuhema (LB)
6 - Mark Munson (WR)
7 - Cameron "Cam" Hilton (DB)
8 - Byron Edwards (DB)
9 - Bryce Wilkerson (WR)
11 - Charles Williams (DL)
13 - Jerrod Heard (QB)
14 - Marques Rodgers (WR)
16 - Malik Henry (QB)
21 - Alonzo Turner Jr. (DB)
22 - Joel Dullary (DB)
23 - Tre Harvey (LB)
24 - Trey Caldwell (DB)
25 - Demarcus Felton (RB)
32 - Jonathan Gray (RB)
55 - Damian Love (OL)
58 - Donald Louis (DL)
59 - Jacques Boudreaux (LB)
64 - Jocquell "Joc" Johnson (OL)
70 - Rob Castaneda (OL)
75 - Chris Taylor (OL)
77 - Maea Teuhema (OL)
81 - Octayvius Miles (WR)
84 - Manny Arceneaux (WR)
89 - Kristov Martinez (K)
95 - Tyrell Thompson (DL)
99 - Malcolm Goines (DL)

Short Term IR
1 - Chris Sanders-McCollum (WR)
81 - Lance Evans (WR)
N/A - J’Vontez "Snoop" Blackmon (DB)
N/A - Jared Rayburn (WR)

RTR
N/A - Javahn Ferguson (LB)
N/A - Kaleb Fossum (WR)
N/A - Kavontae Turpin (WR)

Coaching Staff
Clint Dolezel - Head Coach
Dan Raudabaugh - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach
Dave Ewart - Assistant Head Coach
James Romain - Defensive Backs
Bobby Bounds - Running Backs/Linebackers Coach
Bobby Olive - Wide Receivers Coach

Roster information is compiled by SCtoC staff, based on all available and verifiable information. The above rosters are subject to change and is presented here merely as a basic guide for following the game.

Massachusetts Pirates


Pirates linebacker Quentin Gause. (Photo by Steve Lanava/Worcester Telegram & Gazette)

2021 ROSTER
# - name (pos)
2 - Khalid Wooten (DB)
3 - Chucky Williams (DB)
4 - Martez Carter (RB)
5 - Ahmad Dixon (DB)
6 - Laquvionte Gonzalez (WR)
7 - Darren Carrington II (WR)
8 - Garrett Hartley (K)
9 - Santos Ramirez (DB)
10 - Sean Brackett (QB)
11 - Aarion Maxey-Penton (DB)
14 - Dontez Byrd (WR)
15 - Alejandro Bennifield (QB)
17 - Marquis Young (RB)
23 - Justin Stockton (RB)
24 - Martrell Spaight (LB)
27 - Harlan Miller (DB)
50 - Quentin Gause (LB)
55 - Tavarus Dantzler (LB)
64 - Jordan McCray (OL)
65 - Jared Thomas (OL)
73 - Kendall Baker (OL)
74 - Marquis Lucas (OL)
77 - Chasz Wright (OL)
81 - Thomas Owens (WR)
82 - Juston Christian (WR)
91 - Toby Johnson (DL)
92 - Da’Sean Downey (DL)
96 - T.J. Barnes (DL)
97 - Youhanna Ghaifan (DL)
98 - Vantrell McMillan (DL)
99 - J.D. Griggs (DL)

Short Term IR
1 - Mardy Gilyard (WR)
16 - Josh Gable (K)

Transfer
8 - Ali Mourtada (K) [CFL - Winnipeg Blue Bombers]
N/A - Reggie Howard (DL) [CFL - Edmonton Elks]

RTR
N/A - Akrum Wadley (RB)

Coaching Staff
Patrick Pass - Head Coach
Rayshaun Kizer - Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach
Bones Bagaunte - Offensive Coordinator & Wide Receivers Coach
Rob Orell - Offensive Line Coach
William Croom - Running Backs Coach & Assistant Special Teams Coordinator
Gerald "Jerry" Snay - Special Teams Coordinator, Linebackers & Defensive Line Coach
Billy Savary - Coaching Assistant
Don Williams - Coaching Assistant

Roster information is compiled by SCtoC staff, based on all available and verifiable information. The above rosters are subject to change and is presented here merely as a basic guide for following the game.

Breakdown

FIGHTERS
Frisco comes into this game as an expansion team looking to make its impact on the IFL. They may be in the Fighters' first season, but their coach has a championship pedigree. Clint Dolezel led the Philadelphia Soul to ArenaBowl titles in 2016 and 2017. He moved over to the Fighters after the 2019 season when the AFL filed for bankruptcy and folded. The Fighters won their first five games of the season and ended up with the third seed with a 10-3 record. They turned back the Spokane Shock last week with some opportunistic play in the second half. Frisco split the season series with the Pirates with a pair of games which were each decided by no less than a touchdown. Demarcus Felton rushed for 64 yards and two scores to lead the Fighters to the 44-33 win. Malik Henry is the starter for the Fighters at quarterback. He comes in completing 55 percent of his passes with eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Felton averaged 39 rushing yards per game to go along with 20 touchdowns in the regular season. Backup quarterback Jerrod Heard is utilized as a rusher and receiver, and had 12 touchdown catches. Mark Munson leds the team with 10 scoring catches, and Bryce Wilkerson and Manny Arceneaux will also see targets in this one. Khalil Williams and Charles Williams come in with 51 and 49 tackles respectively, and Charles Williams had a league-high 11 sacks on the year during the season.

PIRATES
Despite being the second seed, Massachusetts remains the hottest team in the IFL. Including last week's first round win over the Bismarck Bucks, the Pirates have won nine straight after going 3-3 to start the regular season. The only teams to have defeated the Pirates this year are to the Spokane Shock in a comeback win at him, and to their very opponent this week in the Fighters on June 12 at Worcester. In fact, that loss to the Fighters was the last time they ended up on the wrong side of the score. This promises to be one of the closer games this season. Against the Bucks last week in the first round, Alejandro Bennifield threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, and Thomas Owens hauled in a pair of scores in a commanding 44-19 win. Bennifield appeared in all 15 of the team's games this season; starting 14 of them (including the playoff win. He completed 55 percent of his passes for 37 touchdowns and eight interceptions and has rushed for 16 touchdowns during the regular season. Justin Stockton averaged nearly 36 yards per game with nine scores on the ground. Owens was second in the league with 65.1 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns. Dontez Byrd and Laquvionte Gonzalez compliment Owens in the receiving game. Santos Ramirez led the defense with 84 tackles, and Harlan Miller has 57 tackles and five interceptions during the regular season. Da'Sean Downey had four sacks.

Note: Statistics included in the Breakdown are official statistics from the Indoor Football League at goifl.com.

Elsewhere in the Semifinals



#5 Duke City Gladiators at #1 Arizona Rattlers
Sunday, September 5 at 3:05 p.m. pacific/Arizona (6:05 p.m. eastern)
Footprint Center; Phoenix, Arizona

IFL Playoff Bracket



Final IFL Regular Season Standings



Helpful Links

IFL
Indoor Football League 2021 Schedule
Indoor Football League 2021 Franchise Index
2019 Indoor Football League Awards
SCtoC IFL 2019 Golden Helmet Awards
Indoor Football League Rules
IFL Franchise Index

INDIVIDUAL TEAM SCHEDULES
Arizona Rattlers
Bismarck Bucks
Duke City Gladiators
Frisco Fighters
Green Bay Blizzard
Iowa Barnstormers
Louisville Xtreme
Massachusetts Pirates
Northern Arizona Wranglers
Sioux Falls Storm
Spokane Shock
Tucson Sugar Skulls

INDIVIDUAL TEAM VITAL STATISTICS
Arizona Rattlers
Bismarck Bucks
Duke City Gladiators
Frisco Fighters
Green Bay Blizzard
Iowa Barnstormers
Louisville Xtreme
Massachusetts Pirates
Northern Arizona Wranglers
Sioux Falls Storm
Spokane Shock
Tucson Sugar Skulls

IFL Team Venues

Arizona Rattlers - Footprint Center; Phoenix, Arizona
Bismarck Bucks - Bismarck Event Center; Bismarck, North Dakota
Duke City Gladiators - Rio Rancho Events Center; Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Frisco Fighters - Comerica Center; Frisco, Texas
Green Bay Blizzard - Resch Center; Green Bay, Wisconsin
Iowa Barnstormers- Wells Fargo Arena; Des Moines, Iowa
Louisville Xtreme - KFC Yum! Center; Louisville, Kentucky
Massachusetts Pirates - DCU Center; Worcester, Massachusetts
Northern Arizona Wranglers - Findlay Toyota Center; Prescott Valley, Arizona
Sioux Falls Storm - Denny Sanford Premier Center; Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Spokane Shock - Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena; Spokane, Washington
Tucson Sugar Skulls - Tucson Convention Center; Tucson, Arizona

IFL Geographical 2021 League Map




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[Monika]

2021 Indoor Football League All-IFL Teams



9/3/21 - The Indoor Football League has announced its selections for 2021 All-IFL First and Second Teams.

Click here for the complete breakdown and lists of players honored.
   

[DiamondThief]

Kickoff is coming up in just minutes. Get your snacks and drinks ready. This one promises to be a wild ride!

[DiamondThief]

Touchdown Fighters. Jerrod Heard 4 yard run. Kristov Martinez kick.

Fighters - 7
Pirates - 0

8:21, 1st

[DiamondThief]

Touchdown Pirates. Harlan Miller 7 interception return. Garrett Hartley kick failed (wide right).

Fighters - 7
Pirates - 6

0:42, 1st

[DiamondThief]

End 1st

Fighters - 7
Pirates - 6

[DiamondThief]

Safety Fighters. Alejandro Bennifield called for intentional grounding in end zone.

Fighters - 9
Pirates - 6

12:27, 2nd

[DiamondThief]

Touchdown Pirates. Justin Stockton 9 yard run. Garrett Hartley kick

Fighters - 9
Pirates - 13

7:38, 2nd

[DiamondThief]

Touchdown Pirates. Laquvionte Gonzalez 11 yard pass from Alejandro Bennifield. Garrett Hartley kick.

Fighters - 9
Pirates - 20

5:39, 2nd

[DiamondThief]

Three turnovers forced by the Pirates defense and we're only at the one-minute warning of the first half.

[DiamondThief]

FG Pirates. Garrett Hartley 24 yards.

Fighters - 9
Pirates - 23

0:00, 2nd

[DiamondThief]

Halftime

Fighters - 9   
Pirates - 23   

Pirates to receive 2nd half kickoff.
    

[DiamondThief]

Touchdown Pirates. Thomas Owens 8 yard pass from Alejandro Bennifield. Garrett Hartley kick.

Fighters - 9
Pirates - 30

11:27, 3rd

[DiamondThief]

Touchdown Fighters. Demarcus Felton 5 yard pass from Alejandro Bennifield. Kristov Martinez kick.

Fighters - 16
Pirates - 30

6:30, 3rd

[DiamondThief]

Touchdown Pirates. Justin Stockton 3 yard run. Garrett Hartley kick.

Fighters - 16
Pirates - 37

2:47, 3rd

[DiamondThief]

Touchdown Fighters. Jerrod Heard 19 yard pass from Malik Henry. Kristov Martinez kick failed.

Fighters - 22
Pirates - 37

0:26, 3rd

[DiamondThief]

End 3rd

Fighters - 22
Pirates - 37

Pirates with the ball.

[DiamondThief]

Touchdown Pirates. Thomas Owens 2 yard pass from Alejandro Bennifield. Garrett Hartley kick failed (wide left).

Fighters - 22
Pirates - 43

14:03, 4th

[DiamondThief]

Final

Fighters - 22
Pirates - 37

Recap