Post by alecs on Jun 4, 2023 17:36:39 GMT -8
Strike Force 56, Oilers 55
6/4/23 --
SAN DIEGO, CA - As the old adage goes in sports - "Close games tend to even out over time." The San Diego Strike Force, maligned early in the season by some heartbreaking last-second losses, were the beneficiaries of that proverb on Sunday Night at Pechanga Arena, taking a much needed victory over the expansion Tulsa Oilers by a score of 56 to 55.
San Diego got the ball first, and on a 3rd-and-10 from midfield, Nate Davis found his most reliable target, Kentrez Bell, for the game's first score on a 25-yard catch. The Oilers got the first counterpunch from Josh Crockett, hauling in a 24-yard pass from Andre Sale, who filled in at quarterback for the inactive Vinnie Espinoza. Jeremy Reynolds has his extra point blocked, however, so the Oilers still trailed 7-6. On a critical 4th-and-Goal on the next Strike Force possession, the ball went to Eddie Vander on a one-yard rush. Kevin Goessling also had his extra point blocked by the Tulsa defense. The Oilers raced down the field into the red zone as the first quarter closed, with the Strike Force leading 13-6.
Tulsa tied the game on the first play of the second quarter, with Jo-El Shaw finding paydirt on a two-yard run. San Diego would face 4th-and-1 once more, and broke the big play with a Vander 21-yard run on an outside pitch. Tulsa's special teams struck gold on the kickoff, with Jonathan Nance returning the kick 56 yards for another game-tying touchdown. San Diego, faced with another 4th-and-6, got a free play with the defense jumping offsides, and Davis capitalized with a 34-yard pass to Marques Rodgers to regain the lead. Just before the one-minute warning, Sale found Alexis Rosario for a 22-yard touchdown pass. The Strike Force answered quickly, with Davis finding Vander on a 17-yard catch-and-run touchdown for the 34-27 lead. On the next kickoff, Goessling booted the ball through the uprights for a deuce to build the San Diego lead to nine points. But Tulsa found yet another touchdown before the close of the half, on a one-yard QB Sneak by Sale. The Strike Force had just enough time to attempt a 38 yard field goal with Goessling, but he pushed it wide right, and the first half ended with San Diego holding a slim 36-34 advantage.
Tulsa received the second half kickoff and again got the better of San Diego's defense. The go-ahead touchdown came courtesy of a five-yard pass from Sale to Crockett. San Diego quickly snatched the lead back with Davis finding Rodgers for a three-yard score. The Strike Force went for two but the attempt came up empty, so San Diego's lead remained one point at 42-41. Another lengthy drive from the Oilers wound up in the endzone, on a trick play that saw running back Jo-El Shaw toss to Nance for the one-yard score. The Oilers led 48-42 after 45 minutes of play.
San Diego's first possession of the final quarter saw them get stymied by Tulsa's defense, with a 4th-and-13 pass failing to connect for the Strike Force. Tulsa took over possession, and kept their perfect streak on offense going. Their eighth touchdown as a team came from a 22-yard pass from Sale to Rosario, which extended the Oiler lead to 55-42. Needing a critical touchdown to keep pace, San Diego got just that, thanks to Davis hitting Vander on an eight-yard touchdown toss. Late in the fourth quarter, San Diego's defense finally got that elusive first stop, forcing a 63-yard field goal from Reynolds which came up short. On a clutch 3rd-and-8 play inside the one-minute warning, Davis found a heavily covered Rodgers for a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. Goessling was successful on his PAT to put San Diego up by 1. But time remained for the Oilers to strike up the field for a possible winning score. After advancing to San Diego's three yard line with five seconds on the clock, the Oilers put their fate on the right foot of Jeremy Reynolds for an 18-yard attempt to clinch their 2nd franchise victory. It was not meant to be, however, as Reynolds misfired wide right as time expired, allowing San Diego to survive the scare, and more importantly, come away with a pivotal victory. 56-55 stood as the final score.
Nate Davis turned in another strong outing for the Strike Force, completing 19-of-29 for 236 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions or turnovers. Eddie Vander was both the leading rusher and receiver for San Diego; nine carries for 42 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and nine catches on ten targets for 104 yards and two more touchdowns. Marques "Hoodie" Rodgers caught four of his seven targets for 58 yards and three touchdowns. Kentrez Bell saw 11 targets, securing six passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Despite the loss, Andre Sale impressed in his Oilers debut, filling in for Vinnie Espinoza (inactive) and dialing up 22 completions on 31 attempts for 286 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions or turnovers. He also added a touchdown on four carries for two yards. Jo-El Shaw accounted for two touchdowns, one rushing and one passing, and somehow wound up with a stat line of four carries for negative seven yards and the rushing touchdown. Alexis Rosario had nine catches on 11 targets for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Crockett also had two touchdowns on four catches for 44 yards (seven targets). Jonathan Nance caught five of seven targets for 67 yards and a touchdown and also contributed a kickoff return for a touchdown.
San Diego improves its record to 4-6, which ties them with Duke City and Vegas at the Western Conference cellar. But all three teams are just one game back of Northern Arizona for fourth place in the standings, and the Strike Force holds the three-way tiebreaker on superior conference record. Tulsa joins Iowa at 1-9 for worst record in the IFL, all but ending the Oilers' dreams for an inaugural season playoff berth. This was the first ever meeting between Tulsa and San Diego, and the only meeting between the two clubs this season.
The Oilers will host the Iowa Barnstormers, the only team they've defeated this season, on Saturday June 10 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. The Strike Force will be at home to battle the Northern Arizona Wranglers on Sunday June 11 for a 3:05 p.m. kickoff. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
6/4/23 --
SAN DIEGO, CA - As the old adage goes in sports - "Close games tend to even out over time." The San Diego Strike Force, maligned early in the season by some heartbreaking last-second losses, were the beneficiaries of that proverb on Sunday Night at Pechanga Arena, taking a much needed victory over the expansion Tulsa Oilers by a score of 56 to 55.
San Diego got the ball first, and on a 3rd-and-10 from midfield, Nate Davis found his most reliable target, Kentrez Bell, for the game's first score on a 25-yard catch. The Oilers got the first counterpunch from Josh Crockett, hauling in a 24-yard pass from Andre Sale, who filled in at quarterback for the inactive Vinnie Espinoza. Jeremy Reynolds has his extra point blocked, however, so the Oilers still trailed 7-6. On a critical 4th-and-Goal on the next Strike Force possession, the ball went to Eddie Vander on a one-yard rush. Kevin Goessling also had his extra point blocked by the Tulsa defense. The Oilers raced down the field into the red zone as the first quarter closed, with the Strike Force leading 13-6.
Tulsa tied the game on the first play of the second quarter, with Jo-El Shaw finding paydirt on a two-yard run. San Diego would face 4th-and-1 once more, and broke the big play with a Vander 21-yard run on an outside pitch. Tulsa's special teams struck gold on the kickoff, with Jonathan Nance returning the kick 56 yards for another game-tying touchdown. San Diego, faced with another 4th-and-6, got a free play with the defense jumping offsides, and Davis capitalized with a 34-yard pass to Marques Rodgers to regain the lead. Just before the one-minute warning, Sale found Alexis Rosario for a 22-yard touchdown pass. The Strike Force answered quickly, with Davis finding Vander on a 17-yard catch-and-run touchdown for the 34-27 lead. On the next kickoff, Goessling booted the ball through the uprights for a deuce to build the San Diego lead to nine points. But Tulsa found yet another touchdown before the close of the half, on a one-yard QB Sneak by Sale. The Strike Force had just enough time to attempt a 38 yard field goal with Goessling, but he pushed it wide right, and the first half ended with San Diego holding a slim 36-34 advantage.
Tulsa received the second half kickoff and again got the better of San Diego's defense. The go-ahead touchdown came courtesy of a five-yard pass from Sale to Crockett. San Diego quickly snatched the lead back with Davis finding Rodgers for a three-yard score. The Strike Force went for two but the attempt came up empty, so San Diego's lead remained one point at 42-41. Another lengthy drive from the Oilers wound up in the endzone, on a trick play that saw running back Jo-El Shaw toss to Nance for the one-yard score. The Oilers led 48-42 after 45 minutes of play.
San Diego's first possession of the final quarter saw them get stymied by Tulsa's defense, with a 4th-and-13 pass failing to connect for the Strike Force. Tulsa took over possession, and kept their perfect streak on offense going. Their eighth touchdown as a team came from a 22-yard pass from Sale to Rosario, which extended the Oiler lead to 55-42. Needing a critical touchdown to keep pace, San Diego got just that, thanks to Davis hitting Vander on an eight-yard touchdown toss. Late in the fourth quarter, San Diego's defense finally got that elusive first stop, forcing a 63-yard field goal from Reynolds which came up short. On a clutch 3rd-and-8 play inside the one-minute warning, Davis found a heavily covered Rodgers for a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. Goessling was successful on his PAT to put San Diego up by 1. But time remained for the Oilers to strike up the field for a possible winning score. After advancing to San Diego's three yard line with five seconds on the clock, the Oilers put their fate on the right foot of Jeremy Reynolds for an 18-yard attempt to clinch their 2nd franchise victory. It was not meant to be, however, as Reynolds misfired wide right as time expired, allowing San Diego to survive the scare, and more importantly, come away with a pivotal victory. 56-55 stood as the final score.
Nate Davis turned in another strong outing for the Strike Force, completing 19-of-29 for 236 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions or turnovers. Eddie Vander was both the leading rusher and receiver for San Diego; nine carries for 42 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, and nine catches on ten targets for 104 yards and two more touchdowns. Marques "Hoodie" Rodgers caught four of his seven targets for 58 yards and three touchdowns. Kentrez Bell saw 11 targets, securing six passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Despite the loss, Andre Sale impressed in his Oilers debut, filling in for Vinnie Espinoza (inactive) and dialing up 22 completions on 31 attempts for 286 yards, four touchdowns, and no interceptions or turnovers. He also added a touchdown on four carries for two yards. Jo-El Shaw accounted for two touchdowns, one rushing and one passing, and somehow wound up with a stat line of four carries for negative seven yards and the rushing touchdown. Alexis Rosario had nine catches on 11 targets for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Josh Crockett also had two touchdowns on four catches for 44 yards (seven targets). Jonathan Nance caught five of seven targets for 67 yards and a touchdown and also contributed a kickoff return for a touchdown.
San Diego improves its record to 4-6, which ties them with Duke City and Vegas at the Western Conference cellar. But all three teams are just one game back of Northern Arizona for fourth place in the standings, and the Strike Force holds the three-way tiebreaker on superior conference record. Tulsa joins Iowa at 1-9 for worst record in the IFL, all but ending the Oilers' dreams for an inaugural season playoff berth. This was the first ever meeting between Tulsa and San Diego, and the only meeting between the two clubs this season.
The Oilers will host the Iowa Barnstormers, the only team they've defeated this season, on Saturday June 10 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. The Strike Force will be at home to battle the Northern Arizona Wranglers on Sunday June 11 for a 3:05 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.
- AS
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