Post by DiamondThief on Apr 15, 2023 12:04:12 GMT -8
Fighters 56, Pirates 39
4/15/23 --
FRISCO, TX - Saturday night provided a titanic clash between the last two remaining undefeated teams in the Eastern Conference. In the end, it was the Fighters who kept their perfect record intact, defeating the Massachusetts Pirates by a score of 56-39 at Comerica Center.
Frisco set the tone by forcing a four-and-out on Massachusetts’ first drive of the game, getting a hand on a 54-yard field goal attempt by Josh Gable to keep the game scoreless. It took Frisco just three plays to capitalize, as TJ Edwards found an open Phazione McClurge for a 20-yard touchdown to give the Fighters the early 7-0 advantage. The Pirates would string together a game-tying drive, with RB Jimmie Robinson plunging in for a one-yard score to level the game. On Frisco’s next possession, TJ Edwards would score on a one-yard run, and the first quarter ended with Frisco ahead 14-7.
The Pirates would again answer with a touchdown of their own, with Anthony Russo and Thomas Owens connecting for a five-yard TD pass. The Fighters offense would strike once more on their next possession, with a two-yard rushing score from Jimmy Smith. Bryce Crawford would miss the PAT, but would more than make up for it with a successful deuce attempt on the ensuing kickoff, opening Frisco’s lead to 22-14. The Pirates had yet another answer, with Anthony Russo finding a diving Darren Carrington for a 19-yard TD score (a play which was originally ruled down by contact at the two-yard line before Massachusetts successfully challenged the play). The Pirates went for two to tie the game, but Anthony Russo’s pass sailed past two Pirates receivers. With the score 22-20, Frisco would look to add to their lead inside the one-minute warning. They would indeed do so, with TJ Edwards tossing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jerminic Smith with about 20 seconds to go in the half. Massachusetts would line up for a 35-yard field goal attempt to close out the half, which turned out to be a fake. The Fighters were able to hold the Pirates out of the endzone, and would carry a 29-20 halftime lead into the locker room.
Frisco would pick up the 2nd half exactly where they left off the first half, as Charles Headen would take the opening kickoff of the half all the way to the Pirates five-yard line, and TJ Edwards ran a touchdown in from two yards shortly after. Not to be outdone, Jimmie Robinson returned the following kickoff for a 51-yard touchdown, getting the score back to a one-possession game at 35-27. Frisco continued its hyper-efficient offensive ways with a four-play drive resulting in another two-yard rush from TJ Edwards. The Fighters would force another four-and-out and turn that into a five-yard TD run from Jimmy Smith. The Pirates would score with a four-play drive of their own, as Russo found Isaac Zico for a seven-yard TD pass. A two-point attempt was stuffed by Frisco, which kept the score 49-33 Frisco heading into the final frame.
TJ Edwards would once again find the endzone on a four-yard TD rush to elevate Frisco’s lead to 56-33. Desperate for a touchdown to stay in the game, the Pirates came up clutch, as Ricky Person ran in a three-yard score, his first as a pro. But another two-point attempt was halted by the Fighters to keep their lead at 56-39. With about five minutes left in the game, the Pirates defense came up with a 4th down stop after the Fighters scored touchdowns on each of their first eight possessions. The Pirates, however, would run out of time, as their final drive of the game ended with an unsuccessful Hail Mary pass on a 4th and 25. Frisco took over from that point, and took victory formation to seal the deal.
TJ Edwards was an unstoppable force in this game, completing 14-of-23 passes for 154 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions in the win. He took 11 carries and turned those into 40 additional yards and another four touchdowns. Jimmy Smith rushed six times for 32 yards and a pair of scores. Phazione McClurge was the Fighters’ leading receiver, hauling in seven of eight targets for 69 yards and a touchdown.
For the Pirates, Anthony Russo completed 17-of-33 passes, totaling 170 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, and also pitched in a 16-yard run. Jimmie Robinson carried six times for 17 yards and a touchdown and also had a 51-yard kick return touchdown. Darren Carrington caught 5 of his team-leading 10 targets for 69 yards and a touchdown, and completed a seven-yard pass on an Ill-fated fake field goal attempt.
For the Fighters, this win snapped a 3-game losing streak against the Pirates dating back to 2021 and advanced them to 4-0 in the 2023 campaign. The Pirates will walk away with their first loss of the season and tumble to 2-1. The two squads will meet one more time in the regular season on June 3, when the Fighters will travel to DCU Center to take on the Pirates in the reverse fixture.
Both teams are back in action next week. The Fighters will host the Arizona Rattlers on April 22 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m.. The Pirates will visit the Quad City Steamwheelers on April 22 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
4/15/23 --
FRISCO, TX - Saturday night provided a titanic clash between the last two remaining undefeated teams in the Eastern Conference. In the end, it was the Fighters who kept their perfect record intact, defeating the Massachusetts Pirates by a score of 56-39 at Comerica Center.
Frisco set the tone by forcing a four-and-out on Massachusetts’ first drive of the game, getting a hand on a 54-yard field goal attempt by Josh Gable to keep the game scoreless. It took Frisco just three plays to capitalize, as TJ Edwards found an open Phazione McClurge for a 20-yard touchdown to give the Fighters the early 7-0 advantage. The Pirates would string together a game-tying drive, with RB Jimmie Robinson plunging in for a one-yard score to level the game. On Frisco’s next possession, TJ Edwards would score on a one-yard run, and the first quarter ended with Frisco ahead 14-7.
The Pirates would again answer with a touchdown of their own, with Anthony Russo and Thomas Owens connecting for a five-yard TD pass. The Fighters offense would strike once more on their next possession, with a two-yard rushing score from Jimmy Smith. Bryce Crawford would miss the PAT, but would more than make up for it with a successful deuce attempt on the ensuing kickoff, opening Frisco’s lead to 22-14. The Pirates had yet another answer, with Anthony Russo finding a diving Darren Carrington for a 19-yard TD score (a play which was originally ruled down by contact at the two-yard line before Massachusetts successfully challenged the play). The Pirates went for two to tie the game, but Anthony Russo’s pass sailed past two Pirates receivers. With the score 22-20, Frisco would look to add to their lead inside the one-minute warning. They would indeed do so, with TJ Edwards tossing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jerminic Smith with about 20 seconds to go in the half. Massachusetts would line up for a 35-yard field goal attempt to close out the half, which turned out to be a fake. The Fighters were able to hold the Pirates out of the endzone, and would carry a 29-20 halftime lead into the locker room.
Frisco would pick up the 2nd half exactly where they left off the first half, as Charles Headen would take the opening kickoff of the half all the way to the Pirates five-yard line, and TJ Edwards ran a touchdown in from two yards shortly after. Not to be outdone, Jimmie Robinson returned the following kickoff for a 51-yard touchdown, getting the score back to a one-possession game at 35-27. Frisco continued its hyper-efficient offensive ways with a four-play drive resulting in another two-yard rush from TJ Edwards. The Fighters would force another four-and-out and turn that into a five-yard TD run from Jimmy Smith. The Pirates would score with a four-play drive of their own, as Russo found Isaac Zico for a seven-yard TD pass. A two-point attempt was stuffed by Frisco, which kept the score 49-33 Frisco heading into the final frame.
TJ Edwards would once again find the endzone on a four-yard TD rush to elevate Frisco’s lead to 56-33. Desperate for a touchdown to stay in the game, the Pirates came up clutch, as Ricky Person ran in a three-yard score, his first as a pro. But another two-point attempt was halted by the Fighters to keep their lead at 56-39. With about five minutes left in the game, the Pirates defense came up with a 4th down stop after the Fighters scored touchdowns on each of their first eight possessions. The Pirates, however, would run out of time, as their final drive of the game ended with an unsuccessful Hail Mary pass on a 4th and 25. Frisco took over from that point, and took victory formation to seal the deal.
TJ Edwards was an unstoppable force in this game, completing 14-of-23 passes for 154 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions in the win. He took 11 carries and turned those into 40 additional yards and another four touchdowns. Jimmy Smith rushed six times for 32 yards and a pair of scores. Phazione McClurge was the Fighters’ leading receiver, hauling in seven of eight targets for 69 yards and a touchdown.
For the Pirates, Anthony Russo completed 17-of-33 passes, totaling 170 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, and also pitched in a 16-yard run. Jimmie Robinson carried six times for 17 yards and a touchdown and also had a 51-yard kick return touchdown. Darren Carrington caught 5 of his team-leading 10 targets for 69 yards and a touchdown, and completed a seven-yard pass on an Ill-fated fake field goal attempt.
For the Fighters, this win snapped a 3-game losing streak against the Pirates dating back to 2021 and advanced them to 4-0 in the 2023 campaign. The Pirates will walk away with their first loss of the season and tumble to 2-1. The two squads will meet one more time in the regular season on June 3, when the Fighters will travel to DCU Center to take on the Pirates in the reverse fixture.
Both teams are back in action next week. The Fighters will host the Arizona Rattlers on April 22 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m.. The Pirates will visit the Quad City Steamwheelers on April 22 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. All times listed are pacific daylight 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.
- Content created by alecs
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