Post by DiamondThief on Sept 4, 2021 18:59:48 GMT -8
Pirates 43, Fighters 22
9/4/21 --
WORCESTER, MA - Defense wins not only championships; it wins semifinals matchups as well.
The Massachusetts Pirates defense forced three turnovers in the first half and never looked back as they earned a trip to the United Bowl in their first year in the Indoor Football League with a 43-22 win over the Frisco Fighters tonight at the DCU Center.
The Pirates moved from the National Arena League to the IFL prior to this season. It will be the first appearance in an indoor football championship game in their three-year history. This is just the Pirates third season of competing in the sport.
Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield addressed the Pirates road to the United Bowl following the game. "It took a lot of dedication; a lot of preparation," he said "We've been through a lot this season, but it brought us closer all season and we've just been producing."
Massachusetts awaits the winner of the other semifinal between the Duke City Gladiators and Arizona Rattlers. That game is taking place on September 5 at 3:05 p.m. (PDT). If Duke City wins, the Pirates will host the Gladiators in the United Bowl. Should Arizona win, the Pirates would go to Phoenix for the United Bowl The Pirates defeated the Rattlers in the only meeting between the teams this season with a strong defensive effort, 68-44. Massachusetts did not meet Duke City during the regular season.
The Pirates and Fighters split their two games during the regular season, with the road team winning each contest.
2021 Regular Season Head to Head
June 12 - Fighters 40, Pirates (H) 33
July 2 - Pirates 38, Fighters (H) 37
Frisco scored on it's opening drive when Jerrod Heard ran a bootleg around the right side for four yards. After a missed 33-yard field goal from Garrett Hartley of the Pirates, the Fighters were pinned deep in their own territory. Heard's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and into the hands of Harlan Miller, who returned it seven yards into the end zone. Hartley's extra point was no good, leaving the Fighters with a 7-6 lead which lasted through the end of the first quarter.
The Fighters were stalled on their next drive, settling for a 43-yard field goal try from Kristov Martinez. The kick went just wide right. With the Pirates once again pinned in their own end zone, Bennifield was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety for the Fighters. Frisco turned it over on downs on its next possession. Justin Stockton's nine-yard run gave the Pirates their first lead of the game midway through the second quarter. After Khalid Wooten recovered a Fighters fumble, the Pirates capitalized on Bennifield's 11-yard touchdown to Laquvionte Gonzalez. With the Fighters driving in Massachusetts territory, Malik Henry was intercepted by Santos Ramirez, giving the Pirates the ball back at their own 11. They drove down and capitalized on the turnover with a 24-yard field goal from Hartley. The Pirates led 23-9 at halftime.
Massachusetts added to the lead with Bennifield's eight-yard pass to Thomas Owens at the 11:27 mark of the third quarter. Frisco struck back with a five-yard screen pass to Felton to pull the Fighters to within two scores at 30-16 midway through the quarter. The Pirates responded with a sustained drive capped by a three-yard run up the middle from Justin Stockton. The Fighters scored late in the quarter on Henry's 19-yard pass to Heard.
The Pirates extended their lead to 43-22 on Bennifleid's three-yard touchdown strike to Owens early in the fourth. The Fighters turned the ball over on downs, though on a questionable call. On fourth down, Henry hit Manny Arceneaux who was tackled in the open field, but appeared to extend to gain the first down. The original spot was the Massachusetts 14 yard line, but the spot was changed making it short of a first down. Per IFL rules, the spot was not reviewable, awarding the Pirates with the ball. The Pirates ran some time off the clock.
"It feels great; it's what we've been working for," Bennifield said. "It's what we've been setting out to do since camp and now we're here. We've just got to win one more game."
Bennifield tossed a trio of touchdown passes; two to Owens. Felton rushed for a touchdown and caught another for Frisco. Hartley replaced injured Pirates' kicker Josh Gable, who is out due to injury. Hartley earned a championship ring as a member of the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.
Click for the complete SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
9/4/21 --
WORCESTER, MA - Defense wins not only championships; it wins semifinals matchups as well.
The Massachusetts Pirates defense forced three turnovers in the first half and never looked back as they earned a trip to the United Bowl in their first year in the Indoor Football League with a 43-22 win over the Frisco Fighters tonight at the DCU Center.
The Pirates moved from the National Arena League to the IFL prior to this season. It will be the first appearance in an indoor football championship game in their three-year history. This is just the Pirates third season of competing in the sport.
Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield addressed the Pirates road to the United Bowl following the game. "It took a lot of dedication; a lot of preparation," he said "We've been through a lot this season, but it brought us closer all season and we've just been producing."
Massachusetts awaits the winner of the other semifinal between the Duke City Gladiators and Arizona Rattlers. That game is taking place on September 5 at 3:05 p.m. (PDT). If Duke City wins, the Pirates will host the Gladiators in the United Bowl. Should Arizona win, the Pirates would go to Phoenix for the United Bowl The Pirates defeated the Rattlers in the only meeting between the teams this season with a strong defensive effort, 68-44. Massachusetts did not meet Duke City during the regular season.
The Pirates and Fighters split their two games during the regular season, with the road team winning each contest.
2021 Regular Season Head to Head
June 12 - Fighters 40, Pirates (H) 33
July 2 - Pirates 38, Fighters (H) 37
Frisco scored on it's opening drive when Jerrod Heard ran a bootleg around the right side for four yards. After a missed 33-yard field goal from Garrett Hartley of the Pirates, the Fighters were pinned deep in their own territory. Heard's pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and into the hands of Harlan Miller, who returned it seven yards into the end zone. Hartley's extra point was no good, leaving the Fighters with a 7-6 lead which lasted through the end of the first quarter.
The Fighters were stalled on their next drive, settling for a 43-yard field goal try from Kristov Martinez. The kick went just wide right. With the Pirates once again pinned in their own end zone, Bennifield was called for intentional grounding in the end zone, resulting in a safety for the Fighters. Frisco turned it over on downs on its next possession. Justin Stockton's nine-yard run gave the Pirates their first lead of the game midway through the second quarter. After Khalid Wooten recovered a Fighters fumble, the Pirates capitalized on Bennifield's 11-yard touchdown to Laquvionte Gonzalez. With the Fighters driving in Massachusetts territory, Malik Henry was intercepted by Santos Ramirez, giving the Pirates the ball back at their own 11. They drove down and capitalized on the turnover with a 24-yard field goal from Hartley. The Pirates led 23-9 at halftime.
Massachusetts added to the lead with Bennifield's eight-yard pass to Thomas Owens at the 11:27 mark of the third quarter. Frisco struck back with a five-yard screen pass to Felton to pull the Fighters to within two scores at 30-16 midway through the quarter. The Pirates responded with a sustained drive capped by a three-yard run up the middle from Justin Stockton. The Fighters scored late in the quarter on Henry's 19-yard pass to Heard.
The Pirates extended their lead to 43-22 on Bennifleid's three-yard touchdown strike to Owens early in the fourth. The Fighters turned the ball over on downs, though on a questionable call. On fourth down, Henry hit Manny Arceneaux who was tackled in the open field, but appeared to extend to gain the first down. The original spot was the Massachusetts 14 yard line, but the spot was changed making it short of a first down. Per IFL rules, the spot was not reviewable, awarding the Pirates with the ball. The Pirates ran some time off the clock.
"It feels great; it's what we've been working for," Bennifield said. "It's what we've been setting out to do since camp and now we're here. We've just got to win one more game."
Bennifield tossed a trio of touchdown passes; two to Owens. Felton rushed for a touchdown and caught another for Frisco. Hartley replaced injured Pirates' kicker Josh Gable, who is out due to injury. Hartley earned a championship ring as a member of the New Orleans Saints in Super Bowl XLIV.
Click for the complete SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
The United Bowl which will be televised and streamed live on Stadium. The Stadium network also is available in some areas via cable channels or through digital UHF antennas. Check your local provider or channel availability. SCtoC will present a comprehensive preview of the United Bowl. Unlike the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs, our preview will be posted on our Indoor Football League board (the previous previews this season have been hosted on the board of the home team).
- ANM
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