Post by alecs on May 27, 2023 20:42:16 GMT -8
Pirates 54, Oilers 48
5/27/23 --
TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Oilers hosted the Massachusetts Pirates on Saturday night at the BOK Center, seeking their second win of the season - and first home win in franchise history. Led by another strong showing from quarterback Anthony Russo, the Pirates denied the Oilers that chance, prevailing in a back-and-forth affair by a score of 54-48.
The Pirates won the coin toss and elected to receive the first possession of the game. One play was all they needed to cash in on that decision, as Isaac Zico was on the receiving end of a 22-yard touchdown pass from Russo. Tulsa faced a 4th-and-2 from the Pirates six-yard line on their opening possession, and Jo-El Shaw broke a tackle on his run for a six-yard house call to tie the game up. The next Pirates drive took just three plays, bookended by Russo's nine-yard pass to Thomas Owens. The Oilers responded to that with a two-play drive - the game-tying score provided by Vincent Espinoza's 16-yard pass to a wide-open Jonathan Nance. Massachusetts would hold the ball for the remainder of the quarter on their next drive and re-gain the lead on Jimmie Robinson's one-yard touchdown run off a jet sweep. Five first-quarter possessions, and five combined touchdowns between the two teams, as the Pirates led 21-14 through one quarter.
Tulsa's drive covered ten plays and ended with a four-yard touchdown pass from Espinoza to Joshua Crockett. Jeremy Reynolds missed the PAT wide right to keep the Pirates in front, 21-20. The Oilers defense would make its first big play of the game, an interception of a pass from Russo by Kevin Moore to give the Oilers an opportunity to take their first lead of the game. They could not, as Espinoza threw a one-on-one ball intended for Crockett that was intercepted on an exceptional one-handed effort by Harlan Miller. The Pirates would be able to make points off that takeaway, with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Russo to Zico. Massachusetts went for two and succeeded with a Russo pass to Darren Carrington. Inside the one-minute warning, the Oilers cut into the lead once again, with Tre Harvey taking in a four-yard touchdown run. With just seconds remaining in the half, the Pirates would drive up the field to the Tulsa 13-yard line, where Josh Gable was able to boot through a 28-yard field goal as the first half expired. With his kick, Gable gave the Pirates a 32-27 halftime lead.
Down by five, Tulsa took aim at earning their first lead of the game when the third quarter began. They got it with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Espinoza to Alexis Rosario - again on a 4th down conversion. Reynolds would again boot the extra point wide of the mark, so Tulsa's lead stayed 33-32. The Pirates would face a 4th down of their own deep in Tulsa territory, and Russo overthrew Carrington out of the corner of the endzone, leaving the Pirates empty on their possession. That gave Tulsa an opportunity, up one and with the ball, to expand upon their lead. Forced into a 4th-and-13 due to a false start penalty, Reynolds attempted a 43-yard field goal that missed just short off the crossbar. That defensive stand gave the Pirates life, and would hit a home run play on a 31-yard pass from Russo to Zico, giving the Pirates receiver his third score of the contest. A pass from Russo to Robinson on the two-point conversion gave the Pirates a 40-33 lead after 45 minutes of play.
Espinoza would begin the fourth quarter with a six-yard toss to Rosario for the game-tying touchdown. Tulsa's defense would get its hands on another Russo pass for an interception, this time Jordan Jones came up with the pick. But again, the Oilers failed to capitalize, going four-and-out, with Reynolds' field goal attempt from 45 yards missing wide to the left. The Pirates took possession and ran another efficient offensive drive. The scoring play was a checkdown pass from Russo to Robinson that went for eight yards on the scoresheet. Gable would miss his first kick of the night wide right on the PAT, leaving the Pirates with a 46-40 lead. Tulsa attempted to catch Massachusetts off-guard with a razzle-dazzle trick play, but it ended up as a Shaw interception by Chris Ingram in the endzone. Again, the Pirates went the length of the field and scored on a four-yard keeper from Russo. The Pirates attempted for another two-point conversion, and got it with another Russo to Carrington pass. The Oilers, needing two scores inside of the one-minute warning, got one with Espinoza finding Crockett for a seven-yard touchdown pass. Reynolds had his PAT blocked by the Pirates, but would make up for that and then some with a deuce on the kickoff to breathe some life into the Oilers' upset bid. Now trailing 54-48, Tulsa just needed one defensive stop to give themselves a shot at the win. The Pirates were able to get the critical first down, though, and knelt down the rest of the way to secure the six-point victory.
In leading the Pirates to victory, Anthony Russo connected on 20-of-26 passing attempts for 213 yards, with 5 touchdowns against two interceptions. He added a touchdown of seven carries for seven yards. Jimmie Robinson carried the rock ten times for 57 yards and a touchdown, bringing in all four of his passing game targets for 35 yards and another touchdown. Isaac Zico led Massachusetts in receiving, bringing in nine of 11 targets for 111 yards and three touchdown. Darren Carrington was targeted eight times, securing five catches for 44 scoreless yards.
Vincent Espinoza ended the game 20-of-32 passing, totaling 198 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions, with ten yards on four carries as well. Jo-El Shaw led the Oilers in rushing, with five carries for 37 yards and a touchdown, with one catch for 15 yards on five targets. Joshua Crockett caught seven of 11 targets for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Alexis Rosario also had a pair of touchdown catches, catching all three of his targets for 31 yards.
The win for the Pirates is their second in a row - and fourth in their last five - and makes them 6-3 on the season. That is good for third place in the East, a half game behind Quad City (7-3) for the second spot. Meanwhile for the Oilers, the loss brings them to 1-8, tied with Iowa for last in the Eastern Conference.
This was the first meeting between the two foes in franchise history. One more regular season meeting remains - the reverse fixture taking place in Worcester on Saturday June 24th in Week 15 action.
The Pirates will host the Eastern Conference leading Frisco Fighters on Saturday June 3 with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. The Oilers will head west to San Diego to face the Strike Force in the first-ever meeting between the teams on Sunday June 4. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. in that one. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
5/27/23 --
TULSA, OK - The Tulsa Oilers hosted the Massachusetts Pirates on Saturday night at the BOK Center, seeking their second win of the season - and first home win in franchise history. Led by another strong showing from quarterback Anthony Russo, the Pirates denied the Oilers that chance, prevailing in a back-and-forth affair by a score of 54-48.
The Pirates won the coin toss and elected to receive the first possession of the game. One play was all they needed to cash in on that decision, as Isaac Zico was on the receiving end of a 22-yard touchdown pass from Russo. Tulsa faced a 4th-and-2 from the Pirates six-yard line on their opening possession, and Jo-El Shaw broke a tackle on his run for a six-yard house call to tie the game up. The next Pirates drive took just three plays, bookended by Russo's nine-yard pass to Thomas Owens. The Oilers responded to that with a two-play drive - the game-tying score provided by Vincent Espinoza's 16-yard pass to a wide-open Jonathan Nance. Massachusetts would hold the ball for the remainder of the quarter on their next drive and re-gain the lead on Jimmie Robinson's one-yard touchdown run off a jet sweep. Five first-quarter possessions, and five combined touchdowns between the two teams, as the Pirates led 21-14 through one quarter.
Tulsa's drive covered ten plays and ended with a four-yard touchdown pass from Espinoza to Joshua Crockett. Jeremy Reynolds missed the PAT wide right to keep the Pirates in front, 21-20. The Oilers defense would make its first big play of the game, an interception of a pass from Russo by Kevin Moore to give the Oilers an opportunity to take their first lead of the game. They could not, as Espinoza threw a one-on-one ball intended for Crockett that was intercepted on an exceptional one-handed effort by Harlan Miller. The Pirates would be able to make points off that takeaway, with a nine-yard touchdown pass from Russo to Zico. Massachusetts went for two and succeeded with a Russo pass to Darren Carrington. Inside the one-minute warning, the Oilers cut into the lead once again, with Tre Harvey taking in a four-yard touchdown run. With just seconds remaining in the half, the Pirates would drive up the field to the Tulsa 13-yard line, where Josh Gable was able to boot through a 28-yard field goal as the first half expired. With his kick, Gable gave the Pirates a 32-27 halftime lead.
Down by five, Tulsa took aim at earning their first lead of the game when the third quarter began. They got it with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Espinoza to Alexis Rosario - again on a 4th down conversion. Reynolds would again boot the extra point wide of the mark, so Tulsa's lead stayed 33-32. The Pirates would face a 4th down of their own deep in Tulsa territory, and Russo overthrew Carrington out of the corner of the endzone, leaving the Pirates empty on their possession. That gave Tulsa an opportunity, up one and with the ball, to expand upon their lead. Forced into a 4th-and-13 due to a false start penalty, Reynolds attempted a 43-yard field goal that missed just short off the crossbar. That defensive stand gave the Pirates life, and would hit a home run play on a 31-yard pass from Russo to Zico, giving the Pirates receiver his third score of the contest. A pass from Russo to Robinson on the two-point conversion gave the Pirates a 40-33 lead after 45 minutes of play.
Espinoza would begin the fourth quarter with a six-yard toss to Rosario for the game-tying touchdown. Tulsa's defense would get its hands on another Russo pass for an interception, this time Jordan Jones came up with the pick. But again, the Oilers failed to capitalize, going four-and-out, with Reynolds' field goal attempt from 45 yards missing wide to the left. The Pirates took possession and ran another efficient offensive drive. The scoring play was a checkdown pass from Russo to Robinson that went for eight yards on the scoresheet. Gable would miss his first kick of the night wide right on the PAT, leaving the Pirates with a 46-40 lead. Tulsa attempted to catch Massachusetts off-guard with a razzle-dazzle trick play, but it ended up as a Shaw interception by Chris Ingram in the endzone. Again, the Pirates went the length of the field and scored on a four-yard keeper from Russo. The Pirates attempted for another two-point conversion, and got it with another Russo to Carrington pass. The Oilers, needing two scores inside of the one-minute warning, got one with Espinoza finding Crockett for a seven-yard touchdown pass. Reynolds had his PAT blocked by the Pirates, but would make up for that and then some with a deuce on the kickoff to breathe some life into the Oilers' upset bid. Now trailing 54-48, Tulsa just needed one defensive stop to give themselves a shot at the win. The Pirates were able to get the critical first down, though, and knelt down the rest of the way to secure the six-point victory.
In leading the Pirates to victory, Anthony Russo connected on 20-of-26 passing attempts for 213 yards, with 5 touchdowns against two interceptions. He added a touchdown of seven carries for seven yards. Jimmie Robinson carried the rock ten times for 57 yards and a touchdown, bringing in all four of his passing game targets for 35 yards and another touchdown. Isaac Zico led Massachusetts in receiving, bringing in nine of 11 targets for 111 yards and three touchdown. Darren Carrington was targeted eight times, securing five catches for 44 scoreless yards.
Vincent Espinoza ended the game 20-of-32 passing, totaling 198 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions, with ten yards on four carries as well. Jo-El Shaw led the Oilers in rushing, with five carries for 37 yards and a touchdown, with one catch for 15 yards on five targets. Joshua Crockett caught seven of 11 targets for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Alexis Rosario also had a pair of touchdown catches, catching all three of his targets for 31 yards.
The win for the Pirates is their second in a row - and fourth in their last five - and makes them 6-3 on the season. That is good for third place in the East, a half game behind Quad City (7-3) for the second spot. Meanwhile for the Oilers, the loss brings them to 1-8, tied with Iowa for last in the Eastern Conference.
This was the first meeting between the two foes in franchise history. One more regular season meeting remains - the reverse fixture taking place in Worcester on Saturday June 24th in Week 15 action.
The Pirates will host the Eastern Conference leading Frisco Fighters on Saturday June 3 with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. The Oilers will head west to San Diego to face the Strike Force in the first-ever meeting between the teams on Sunday June 4. Kickoff is set for 3:05 p.m. in that one. 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.
- AS
To share this post on social media, please go to the right side of the page (the top of the page on the mobile site) to the social media icons and choose which social media site(s) to share the thread. To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.