Post by DiamondThief on Sept 12, 2021 18:05:59 GMT -8
Pirates 37, Rattlers 34 - OT
(SCtoC photo by Gary Royall)
9/12/21 --
PHOENIX, AZ - A Super Bowl Champion becomes an IFL champion with a clutch kick.
Garrett Hartley, who was a member of the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl XLIV championship team, nailed a 31-yard field goal in overtime to propel the Massachusetts Pirates to a 37-34 win in the 2021 United Bowl tonight over the host Arizona Rattlers at the Footprint Center.
Hartley's kick came after a missed attempt late in the fourth quarter which could have won it in regulation. It was the first championship for the Pirates in their three-season history.
The Rattlers were making their third appearance in four seasons in the United Bowl. The Rattlers' 2019 trip to the United Bowl ended with a 56-53 loss to the Sioux Falls Storm in the semifinals. The Storm ended up winning the United Bowl that year. They defeated the Storm in the 2017 United Bowl, 50-41.
The Rattlers met the Pirates just once this season, losing to Massachusetts by a 68-44 tally. The Pirates' defense all but stifled Arizona in the first half, opening up a 32-14 halftime lead. They held on in the second half to capture the win. The Pirates played their first year in the IFL after two seasons in the National Arena League.
Arizona took the opening kickoff and drove into Massachusetts territory only to be thwarted with Drew Powell's pass to the goal line was tipped and intercepted by Santos Ramirez of the Pirates. Massachusetts capitalized with a five-yard run around the right side midway into the opening quarter. After a Rattlers turnover on downs, the Pirates got the ball back, but Alejandro Bennifield's bomb into the end zone was intercepted by Dillon Winfrey. The Pirates held a slim 7-6 lead at the end of one.
Winfrey recorded his second pick of the game, intercepting Bennifield and returning the ball to midfield early in the second quarter. But, on the Rattlers' first play from scrimmage, Powell was picked off by Aarion Maxey-Penton to give the Pirates the ball back. They once again capitalized when Bennifield for a score around the left side for 13 yards. The Rattlers answered with a one-yard plunge into the end zone. They went for a two-point conversion on a double-reverse with running back Nick LaSane finding a wide-open Powell on the right side to tie the game at 14 apiece with 55 seconds left in the quarter. The Pirates took the lead as time expired with a 31-yard field goal from Garrett Hartley.
Bennifield gave the Pirates a 24-14 lead midway through the third quarter, but the Rattlers came back on the next play with Powell's 38-yard touchdown bomb to Jamal Miles. Massachusetts took a 27-21 lead with a 25-yard field goal from Hartley with 15 seconds left in the quarter.
Powell's three-yard run tied the game with 8:56 left in the fourth. but his counterpart in Bennifled responded with a one-yard run of his own and the Pirates were back up by a touchdown. Arizona turned it over on downs. and the Pirates attempted to go up by 10 with a 36-yard fiield goal from Hartley, but the try was blocked and returned by the Rattlers and returned to the three-yard line. Powell's three-run tied the game at 34-34 with 10 seconds left. Massachusetts attempt to win the game with a 42-yard field goal by Hartley, but the kick went wide left.
The Rattlers had the ball first in overtime, but fumbled with the Pirates recovering. Massachusetts drove into Rattlers territory and won on Hartley's 31-yarder.
Bennifleid finished 10 of 23 for 83 yards and a touchdown through the air, but gained 60 yards on the ground with a pair of touchdowns. Stockton rushed for 60 yards and a score. Owens' three catches for 41 yards and a touchdown led the team. Martrell Spaight led the Pirates' defense with six total tackles. Santos Ramirez and Aarion Maxey-Penton had interceptions of Powell.
Powell went nine of 16 for 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed for 71 yards and three scores. Jamal Miles and Braxton Haley were the only receivers to catch a pass from Powell, with both catching a touchdown pass. Rickey Wyatt, Jr. let the Rattlers defense with eight total tackles, while Winfrey had sice total tackles and two interceptions.
(SCtoC photo by Gary Royall)
9/12/21 --
PHOENIX, AZ - A Super Bowl Champion becomes an IFL champion with a clutch kick.
Garrett Hartley, who was a member of the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl XLIV championship team, nailed a 31-yard field goal in overtime to propel the Massachusetts Pirates to a 37-34 win in the 2021 United Bowl tonight over the host Arizona Rattlers at the Footprint Center.
Hartley's kick came after a missed attempt late in the fourth quarter which could have won it in regulation. It was the first championship for the Pirates in their three-season history.
The Rattlers were making their third appearance in four seasons in the United Bowl. The Rattlers' 2019 trip to the United Bowl ended with a 56-53 loss to the Sioux Falls Storm in the semifinals. The Storm ended up winning the United Bowl that year. They defeated the Storm in the 2017 United Bowl, 50-41.
The Rattlers met the Pirates just once this season, losing to Massachusetts by a 68-44 tally. The Pirates' defense all but stifled Arizona in the first half, opening up a 32-14 halftime lead. They held on in the second half to capture the win. The Pirates played their first year in the IFL after two seasons in the National Arena League.
Arizona took the opening kickoff and drove into Massachusetts territory only to be thwarted with Drew Powell's pass to the goal line was tipped and intercepted by Santos Ramirez of the Pirates. Massachusetts capitalized with a five-yard run around the right side midway into the opening quarter. After a Rattlers turnover on downs, the Pirates got the ball back, but Alejandro Bennifield's bomb into the end zone was intercepted by Dillon Winfrey. The Pirates held a slim 7-6 lead at the end of one.
Winfrey recorded his second pick of the game, intercepting Bennifield and returning the ball to midfield early in the second quarter. But, on the Rattlers' first play from scrimmage, Powell was picked off by Aarion Maxey-Penton to give the Pirates the ball back. They once again capitalized when Bennifield for a score around the left side for 13 yards. The Rattlers answered with a one-yard plunge into the end zone. They went for a two-point conversion on a double-reverse with running back Nick LaSane finding a wide-open Powell on the right side to tie the game at 14 apiece with 55 seconds left in the quarter. The Pirates took the lead as time expired with a 31-yard field goal from Garrett Hartley.
Bennifield gave the Pirates a 24-14 lead midway through the third quarter, but the Rattlers came back on the next play with Powell's 38-yard touchdown bomb to Jamal Miles. Massachusetts took a 27-21 lead with a 25-yard field goal from Hartley with 15 seconds left in the quarter.
Powell's three-yard run tied the game with 8:56 left in the fourth. but his counterpart in Bennifled responded with a one-yard run of his own and the Pirates were back up by a touchdown. Arizona turned it over on downs. and the Pirates attempted to go up by 10 with a 36-yard fiield goal from Hartley, but the try was blocked and returned by the Rattlers and returned to the three-yard line. Powell's three-run tied the game at 34-34 with 10 seconds left. Massachusetts attempt to win the game with a 42-yard field goal by Hartley, but the kick went wide left.
The Rattlers had the ball first in overtime, but fumbled with the Pirates recovering. Massachusetts drove into Rattlers territory and won on Hartley's 31-yarder.
Bennifleid finished 10 of 23 for 83 yards and a touchdown through the air, but gained 60 yards on the ground with a pair of touchdowns. Stockton rushed for 60 yards and a score. Owens' three catches for 41 yards and a touchdown led the team. Martrell Spaight led the Pirates' defense with six total tackles. Santos Ramirez and Aarion Maxey-Penton had interceptions of Powell.
Powell went nine of 16 for 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also rushed for 71 yards and three scores. Jamal Miles and Braxton Haley were the only receivers to catch a pass from Powell, with both catching a touchdown pass. Rickey Wyatt, Jr. let the Rattlers defense with eight total tackles, while Winfrey had sice total tackles and two interceptions.
The United Bowl was televised and streamed live on Stadium and was streamed on Youtube. The Stadium network also is available in some areas via cable channels or through digital UHF antennas. Click for the complete SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
- ANM
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