Post by DiamondThief on Mar 12, 2022 19:04:18 GMT -8
Pirates 30, Fighters 27
3/12/21 --
WORCHESTER, MA - It wasn't pretty, but the Massachusetts Pirates got the job done in the Indoor Football League season to emerge with a 30-27 win over the Frisco Fighters.
It was Josh Gable's 33-yard field goal as time expired which lifted the Pirates to the win. The game was a back-and-forth slug-fest marred with penalties as the defending champion Pirates extended their win streak to 12 games (including playoffs) dating back to last year.
The game marked the opening of the IFL's 2022 season. Commissioner Todd Tryon was on hand and in the booth for the entirety of Massachusetts' victory over Frisco.
Frisco struck first on an eight-yard run around the right on the second play from scrimmage. After a long missed field goal from the Pirates' Gable, the Fighters got the ball back, but turned it over on downs. The Pirates got on the board with a 31-yard field goal from Gable. Both teams stalled to end the quarter and the Fighters led 7-3 at the break.
After a penalty riddled beginning to the second quarter, Cedric Poole intercepted Massachusetts' Alejandro Bennifield. The Pirates got the ball right back when Aarion Maxey-Penton picked off Blake Sims' tipped pass. Frisco blocked Gable's 28-yard field goal and the Fighters were back in business, but Ricky Agauyo's field goal try was wide to the left. The Pirates took their first lead of the game on a six-yard toss across the middle. Gable's point after put Massachusetts up 10-7 with 54 seconds left in the first half. The Fighters answered 40 seconds later with a 22-yard touchdown toss from Blake Sims to Rankin.
Massachusetts tied the game at 13 with a 26-yard field goal from Gable. That would turn out to be all the scoring in the third.
Frisco drove down and scored on a 4-yard toss across the middle from Sims to Laquvionte Gonzalez. The Pirates countered with a 5-yard run from Bennifield. The Pirates stopped the Fighters on the next drive and took over at their own 17 yard line. The Pirates drove down and scored on a 10-yard strike from Bennifield to Dontrez Byrd with 4:30 left. Frisco tied the game once again with a 19-yard run from Rankin with just under two minutes left. The Pirates had one more possession and set up Gable for the game winner.
Bennifield tossed a pair of thouchdown passes and ran for another in the win. Rankin, who came over from the Bismarck Bucks during the offseason, scored once and the ground and once through the air for the Fighters.
Prior to the game, the Pirates were honored with a banner recognizing their 2021 United Bowl win, and championship rings were handed out to the players; three of whom now play for the Firghters.
The Fighters have a bye next weekend, but will be back in action on March 26 as they visit the Duke City Gladiators 6:05 p.m. After a pair of byes, the Pirates return to the field on April 3 as they host the Quad City Steamwheelers. Kickoff in that one is set for 10:05 a.m. All times mentioned are pacific time. Click for our SCtoC 2021 Indoor Football League schedule.
3/12/21 --
WORCHESTER, MA - It wasn't pretty, but the Massachusetts Pirates got the job done in the Indoor Football League season to emerge with a 30-27 win over the Frisco Fighters.
It was Josh Gable's 33-yard field goal as time expired which lifted the Pirates to the win. The game was a back-and-forth slug-fest marred with penalties as the defending champion Pirates extended their win streak to 12 games (including playoffs) dating back to last year.
The game marked the opening of the IFL's 2022 season. Commissioner Todd Tryon was on hand and in the booth for the entirety of Massachusetts' victory over Frisco.
Frisco struck first on an eight-yard run around the right on the second play from scrimmage. After a long missed field goal from the Pirates' Gable, the Fighters got the ball back, but turned it over on downs. The Pirates got on the board with a 31-yard field goal from Gable. Both teams stalled to end the quarter and the Fighters led 7-3 at the break.
After a penalty riddled beginning to the second quarter, Cedric Poole intercepted Massachusetts' Alejandro Bennifield. The Pirates got the ball right back when Aarion Maxey-Penton picked off Blake Sims' tipped pass. Frisco blocked Gable's 28-yard field goal and the Fighters were back in business, but Ricky Agauyo's field goal try was wide to the left. The Pirates took their first lead of the game on a six-yard toss across the middle. Gable's point after put Massachusetts up 10-7 with 54 seconds left in the first half. The Fighters answered 40 seconds later with a 22-yard touchdown toss from Blake Sims to Rankin.
Massachusetts tied the game at 13 with a 26-yard field goal from Gable. That would turn out to be all the scoring in the third.
Frisco drove down and scored on a 4-yard toss across the middle from Sims to Laquvionte Gonzalez. The Pirates countered with a 5-yard run from Bennifield. The Pirates stopped the Fighters on the next drive and took over at their own 17 yard line. The Pirates drove down and scored on a 10-yard strike from Bennifield to Dontrez Byrd with 4:30 left. Frisco tied the game once again with a 19-yard run from Rankin with just under two minutes left. The Pirates had one more possession and set up Gable for the game winner.
Bennifield tossed a pair of thouchdown passes and ran for another in the win. Rankin, who came over from the Bismarck Bucks during the offseason, scored once and the ground and once through the air for the Fighters.
Prior to the game, the Pirates were honored with a banner recognizing their 2021 United Bowl win, and championship rings were handed out to the players; three of whom now play for the Firghters.
The Fighters have a bye next weekend, but will be back in action on March 26 as they visit the Duke City Gladiators 6:05 p.m. After a pair of byes, the Pirates return to the field on April 3 as they host the Quad City Steamwheelers. Kickoff in that one is set for 10:05 a.m. All times mentioned are pacific time. Click for our 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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