Post by Monika on Mar 25, 2023 20:22:24 GMT -8
Gladiators 43, Wranglers 35
3/25/23 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - In what turned out to be a bit of a back-and-forth battle in the second half, a last-minute touchdown and a deuce propelled the Duke City Gladiators claimed the 43-35 season-opening win over the Northern Arizona Wranglers tonight at Findlay Toyota Center.
The Gladiators open the season with the road win and now stand at 1-0 on the season, the defending champion Wranglers fall to 0-1 on the season. The teams meet one more time this season, on May 27 at Rio Rancho Events Center about 30 miles northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The contest was somewhat unorthodox as there was a deuce by both teams, and at one point, featured an unconventional score of 21-2. The game also featured a blocked field goal by both teams from each team.
Northern Arizona got on the board before a second rolled off the clock when Brandon Fischer turned the opening kickoff into a deuce. Due to a rule change over the offseason by the IFL, a deuce may be attempted at any point during a game rather than just inside the last minute of each half. Duke City found the end zone first with a 12-yard pass from Nate Davis four-and-a-half minutes into the opening quarter. After the Wranglers turned the ball over on downs, Davis connected with Brown for the second time; this one on a nine-yard score. The Wranglers attempted a 38-yard field goal from Fischer, but it was blocked and returned 23 yards by Mason Newton for another Gladiators. Duke City led 21-2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wranglers scored their first touchdown of the season when Garrett Kettle tossed a three-yard touchdown to the left side early in the second quarter. The Gladiators then scored on a five-yard strike from Davis to Greg Dent, Jr. The Wranglers drove into the red zone, but the ball was fumbled and recovered at their three-yard line by Jeremy Lewis of the Gladiators. The Wranglers' defense forced a turnover on downs and the offense capitalized with a 10-yard run from Kettle. Northern Arizona's defense forced another turnover on downs, but the Kettle was intercepted in the end zone with 10 seconds left. Duke City's Ernesto Lacayo attempted a 61-yard field goal on the last play of the half, but it was blocked and recovered by Armonti Carey. The Gladiators led 27-21 at the half.
Northern Arizona took its first lead of the game when Kettle rushed for a 11-yard score up the middle. The Wranglers got the ball back via a fumble recovery, but Fischer's long field goal went wide left. Northern Arizona led 28-27 at the end of three.
James Harden's one-yard run, along with Davis' two-point conversion, put the Gladiators up by a touchdown early in the fourth. Dexter Reese intercepted Kettle's tipped pass on the next possession to put Duke City's offense back in business. However, the Wrangler's defense had other ideas as they forced a turnover on downs at their own 11 with 6:35 remaining. The Wranglers tied it on Kettle's two-yard pass to Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman over the middle with 58.4 seconds left. The Wranglers attempted an onside kick and it was recovered by Chiaokhiao-Bowman, but the ball did not go to 10 yards, so Duke City had the ball at the Wranglers' nine-yard-line. The Gladiators re-took the lead when Davis found Xavier Amey in the back of the end zone for six yards. Lacayo's extra point was blocked, but he went on to hit a deuce on the ensuing kickoff. On the final play of the game, Kettle was intercepted in the end zone by Reese.
Davis finished 19 of 26 for 198 yards 198 yards, four scoring throws and no interceptions. Brown hauled in seven throws for game highs of 87 yards and two touchdowns, while Amey had six grabs for 46 yards and a score. Dexter Reese tallied eight tackles and a pair of interceptions, while Jason Serda had eight tackles and a sack. Roderick Chapman added a pick.
Kettle, who replace starter Nick Watson in the first quarter, went 12 of 26 for 85 yards with two touchdowns and three picks. He also rushed for 108 yards and two scores off 17 carries. Jarrod Ware, Jr. caught eight passes for 55 yards, and Chiaokhiao-Bowman had one of two touchdown catches for the Wranglers. Dorian Walker led the defense with six tackles, while Tramond Lofton recorded 5.5 tackles and a sack. Theo Majette also tallied a sack.
The Wranglers had 202 total yards to the Gladiators' 185. Duke City's advantage came in the passing game, while Northern Arizona out-rushed the visitors, 117 yards to three. It was an essentially clean game as the Gladiators were penalized six times for 37 yards and the Wranglers were flagged five times for 30 yards.
The Gladiators will host the Frisco Fighters on April 1 for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff. The Wranglers will be at home on April 1 to face the Vegas Knight Hawks with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. All times noted are pacific time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
3/25/23 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - In what turned out to be a bit of a back-and-forth battle in the second half, a last-minute touchdown and a deuce propelled the Duke City Gladiators claimed the 43-35 season-opening win over the Northern Arizona Wranglers tonight at Findlay Toyota Center.
The Gladiators open the season with the road win and now stand at 1-0 on the season, the defending champion Wranglers fall to 0-1 on the season. The teams meet one more time this season, on May 27 at Rio Rancho Events Center about 30 miles northwest of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The contest was somewhat unorthodox as there was a deuce by both teams, and at one point, featured an unconventional score of 21-2. The game also featured a blocked field goal by both teams from each team.
Northern Arizona got on the board before a second rolled off the clock when Brandon Fischer turned the opening kickoff into a deuce. Due to a rule change over the offseason by the IFL, a deuce may be attempted at any point during a game rather than just inside the last minute of each half. Duke City found the end zone first with a 12-yard pass from Nate Davis four-and-a-half minutes into the opening quarter. After the Wranglers turned the ball over on downs, Davis connected with Brown for the second time; this one on a nine-yard score. The Wranglers attempted a 38-yard field goal from Fischer, but it was blocked and returned 23 yards by Mason Newton for another Gladiators. Duke City led 21-2 at the end of the first quarter.
The Wranglers scored their first touchdown of the season when Garrett Kettle tossed a three-yard touchdown to the left side early in the second quarter. The Gladiators then scored on a five-yard strike from Davis to Greg Dent, Jr. The Wranglers drove into the red zone, but the ball was fumbled and recovered at their three-yard line by Jeremy Lewis of the Gladiators. The Wranglers' defense forced a turnover on downs and the offense capitalized with a 10-yard run from Kettle. Northern Arizona's defense forced another turnover on downs, but the Kettle was intercepted in the end zone with 10 seconds left. Duke City's Ernesto Lacayo attempted a 61-yard field goal on the last play of the half, but it was blocked and recovered by Armonti Carey. The Gladiators led 27-21 at the half.
Northern Arizona took its first lead of the game when Kettle rushed for a 11-yard score up the middle. The Wranglers got the ball back via a fumble recovery, but Fischer's long field goal went wide left. Northern Arizona led 28-27 at the end of three.
James Harden's one-yard run, along with Davis' two-point conversion, put the Gladiators up by a touchdown early in the fourth. Dexter Reese intercepted Kettle's tipped pass on the next possession to put Duke City's offense back in business. However, the Wrangler's defense had other ideas as they forced a turnover on downs at their own 11 with 6:35 remaining. The Wranglers tied it on Kettle's two-yard pass to Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman over the middle with 58.4 seconds left. The Wranglers attempted an onside kick and it was recovered by Chiaokhiao-Bowman, but the ball did not go to 10 yards, so Duke City had the ball at the Wranglers' nine-yard-line. The Gladiators re-took the lead when Davis found Xavier Amey in the back of the end zone for six yards. Lacayo's extra point was blocked, but he went on to hit a deuce on the ensuing kickoff. On the final play of the game, Kettle was intercepted in the end zone by Reese.
Davis finished 19 of 26 for 198 yards 198 yards, four scoring throws and no interceptions. Brown hauled in seven throws for game highs of 87 yards and two touchdowns, while Amey had six grabs for 46 yards and a score. Dexter Reese tallied eight tackles and a pair of interceptions, while Jason Serda had eight tackles and a sack. Roderick Chapman added a pick.
Kettle, who replace starter Nick Watson in the first quarter, went 12 of 26 for 85 yards with two touchdowns and three picks. He also rushed for 108 yards and two scores off 17 carries. Jarrod Ware, Jr. caught eight passes for 55 yards, and Chiaokhiao-Bowman had one of two touchdown catches for the Wranglers. Dorian Walker led the defense with six tackles, while Tramond Lofton recorded 5.5 tackles and a sack. Theo Majette also tallied a sack.
The Wranglers had 202 total yards to the Gladiators' 185. Duke City's advantage came in the passing game, while Northern Arizona out-rushed the visitors, 117 yards to three. It was an essentially clean game as the Gladiators were penalized six times for 37 yards and the Wranglers were flagged five times for 30 yards.
The Gladiators will host the Frisco Fighters on April 1 for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff. The Wranglers will be at home on April 1 to face the Vegas Knight Hawks with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. All times noted are pacific time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL 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.
- MMM
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