Post by alecs on Jun 11, 2023 17:43:32 GMT -8
Wranglers 38, Strike Force 36
6/11/23 --
SAN DIEGO, CA - In a game carrying significant Western Conference playoff implications, the Northern Arizona Wranglers traveled to Pechanga Arena on Sunday night in an attempt to stave off the Strike Force for the fourth place spot in the Conference. In a grueling and tough contest, the Wranglers successfully retained the #4 seed, defeating the Strike Force by a narrow 38-36 margin.
The Wranglers began the game with the ball and embarked on a seven-play scoring drive. Jarrod Ware Jr., who was activated off injured reserve this week, took a one-yard rush in for the game's opening score. Nate Davis and the Strike Force required just two plays to equalize, with Carlos Thompson the recipient of a wide-open 29-yard pass. On Northern Arizona's second possession, Garrett Kettle had a pass intercepted by San Diego DB David Tolentino Jr. The Strike Force would take the lead three plays later, again with Carlos Thompson on a 19-yard pass from Davis. That gave San Diego a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Northern Arizona responded on its next possession, with Kettle converting a one-yard QB keeper. But newly acquired kicker Conor Mangan rang the extra point attempt off the left upright, so the game stayed at 14-13 San Diego. The Wranglers defense would make its first impactful play of the game, with Kishawn Walker intecepting an ill-advised pass from Davis which he threw across his body. The ensuing drive would see the Wranglers take it inside of the one-minute warning. After a rushing touchdown by Ware Jr. was overturned by an offensive holding call, the Wranglers settled for a 21-yard field goal from Mangan to take a 16-14 lead. San Diego would get one last chance with seconds left to take the lead, but Kevin Goessling rang the right goalpost on a 45-yard field goal attempt. The Wranglers would take that 16-14 lead into the locker room halfway through the game.
San Diego received the second half kickoff, and reclaimed the lead in just three plays. Marques "Hoodie" Rodgers got his hands on a beautiful pass from Davis and took it 36 yards to the house. The Wranglers' next drive would be another grinding effort, and on a 3rd-and-Goal from the Strike Force nine yard line, Kettle found Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman for a clutch passing touchdown. That same connection would strike again on the two-point conversion to give Northern Arizona a 24-21 advantage. Another costly turnover would set San Diego back on its next possession, with Walker intercepting Davis on a deep pass for his second interception of the game. The Wranglers took possession of the ball, looking to add to its lead as the third quarter expired.
Three plays into the fourth quarter, Kettle took in his second rushing touchdown of the game from nine yards out. San Diego needed just four plays for its response. Rodgers and Davis would connect once more, this time from 31 yards out, to trim the lead back to three points. The Wranglers found an immediate response on a Kettle screen pass to Ware Jr., who took a wide open pass 25 yards for the score. Mangan would miss another extra point - this time off the right post - which kept the game at a nine-point margin. The ensuing kickoff would dribble into the back of the endzone, and after officials initially ruled that Thompson had made it out of the endzone for San Diego, a Wrangler challenge would successfully overturn the call into a rouge awarded to Northern Arizona, which increased the Wrangler lead to 38-28. The Strike Force would eventually find the endzone on a 14-yard pass from Davis to Kentrez Bell, and Carlos Thompson caught a successful two-point conversion to bring San Diego within two points. The Wranglers went into clock-killing mode on the next possession, forcing San Diego to use all three of its timeouts. The deciding play of the game came on 4th-and-3 from San Diego's 13-yard line, and Kettle threw a completion to Chiaokhiao-Bowman, just eluding the swatting arm of Lawrence White IV. The play was good for a first down, and Northern Arizona knelt out the rest of the clock from there to finalize the 38-36 victory.
Garrett Kettle was the driving force for Northern Arizona in the win. As a passer, he went 16-of-23 for 145 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also contributed 16 carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns as a rusher. Jarrod Ware Jr. rushed seven times for 11 yards and a score and caught all eight of his targets for 61 yards and another touchdown. Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman was targeted ten times and caught six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. He also added 17 more yards on his two rushing attempts and accounted for the Wranglers' lone two-point conversion. Sheldon Augustine turned six total offensive touches into 30 yards, and Kishawn Walker came up with both Wrangler interceptions.
For San Diego, Nate Davis completed 18 of his 26 pass attempts for 240 yards, with five touchdowns and two interceptions in the defeat. He spread the wealth equally between his three top receivers, as Carlos Thompson (5/62/2 on 7 targets), Marques Rodgers (5/102/2 on 6 targets), and Kentrez Bell (5/62/1 on 10 targets) each ended the game with five catches. RB Eddie Vander did not record a carry, but did catch all three of his targets for 14 yards.
This game completes the season series sweep for Northern Arizona, two games to none. The teams met earlier in the season on April 16th, with the Wranglers defeating the Strike Force 48-9 in that one. The Wranglers also remain perfect in the all-time series and improve their franchise record versus San Diego to 4-0. The Wranglers have now opened a two-game lead for fourth place in the West over each of Duke City, San Diego, and Vegas, each of whom 4-7 with four games left to play. Northern Arizona remains one-half game back of Tucson for the third seed and one game behind the Bay Area Panthers and Arizona Rattlers, both with identical 7-4 records.
The Wranglers will host the Frisco Fighters in a heavyweight inter-conference showdown on Saturday June 17, with kickoff scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The Strike Force will visit the Tucson Sugar Skulls on Saturday June 17, for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
6/11/23 --
SAN DIEGO, CA - In a game carrying significant Western Conference playoff implications, the Northern Arizona Wranglers traveled to Pechanga Arena on Sunday night in an attempt to stave off the Strike Force for the fourth place spot in the Conference. In a grueling and tough contest, the Wranglers successfully retained the #4 seed, defeating the Strike Force by a narrow 38-36 margin.
The Wranglers began the game with the ball and embarked on a seven-play scoring drive. Jarrod Ware Jr., who was activated off injured reserve this week, took a one-yard rush in for the game's opening score. Nate Davis and the Strike Force required just two plays to equalize, with Carlos Thompson the recipient of a wide-open 29-yard pass. On Northern Arizona's second possession, Garrett Kettle had a pass intercepted by San Diego DB David Tolentino Jr. The Strike Force would take the lead three plays later, again with Carlos Thompson on a 19-yard pass from Davis. That gave San Diego a 14-7 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Northern Arizona responded on its next possession, with Kettle converting a one-yard QB keeper. But newly acquired kicker Conor Mangan rang the extra point attempt off the left upright, so the game stayed at 14-13 San Diego. The Wranglers defense would make its first impactful play of the game, with Kishawn Walker intecepting an ill-advised pass from Davis which he threw across his body. The ensuing drive would see the Wranglers take it inside of the one-minute warning. After a rushing touchdown by Ware Jr. was overturned by an offensive holding call, the Wranglers settled for a 21-yard field goal from Mangan to take a 16-14 lead. San Diego would get one last chance with seconds left to take the lead, but Kevin Goessling rang the right goalpost on a 45-yard field goal attempt. The Wranglers would take that 16-14 lead into the locker room halfway through the game.
San Diego received the second half kickoff, and reclaimed the lead in just three plays. Marques "Hoodie" Rodgers got his hands on a beautiful pass from Davis and took it 36 yards to the house. The Wranglers' next drive would be another grinding effort, and on a 3rd-and-Goal from the Strike Force nine yard line, Kettle found Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman for a clutch passing touchdown. That same connection would strike again on the two-point conversion to give Northern Arizona a 24-21 advantage. Another costly turnover would set San Diego back on its next possession, with Walker intercepting Davis on a deep pass for his second interception of the game. The Wranglers took possession of the ball, looking to add to its lead as the third quarter expired.
Three plays into the fourth quarter, Kettle took in his second rushing touchdown of the game from nine yards out. San Diego needed just four plays for its response. Rodgers and Davis would connect once more, this time from 31 yards out, to trim the lead back to three points. The Wranglers found an immediate response on a Kettle screen pass to Ware Jr., who took a wide open pass 25 yards for the score. Mangan would miss another extra point - this time off the right post - which kept the game at a nine-point margin. The ensuing kickoff would dribble into the back of the endzone, and after officials initially ruled that Thompson had made it out of the endzone for San Diego, a Wrangler challenge would successfully overturn the call into a rouge awarded to Northern Arizona, which increased the Wrangler lead to 38-28. The Strike Force would eventually find the endzone on a 14-yard pass from Davis to Kentrez Bell, and Carlos Thompson caught a successful two-point conversion to bring San Diego within two points. The Wranglers went into clock-killing mode on the next possession, forcing San Diego to use all three of its timeouts. The deciding play of the game came on 4th-and-3 from San Diego's 13-yard line, and Kettle threw a completion to Chiaokhiao-Bowman, just eluding the swatting arm of Lawrence White IV. The play was good for a first down, and Northern Arizona knelt out the rest of the clock from there to finalize the 38-36 victory.
Garrett Kettle was the driving force for Northern Arizona in the win. As a passer, he went 16-of-23 for 145 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also contributed 16 carries for 71 yards and two touchdowns as a rusher. Jarrod Ware Jr. rushed seven times for 11 yards and a score and caught all eight of his targets for 61 yards and another touchdown. Ramaud Chiaokhiao-Bowman was targeted ten times and caught six passes for 65 yards and a touchdown. He also added 17 more yards on his two rushing attempts and accounted for the Wranglers' lone two-point conversion. Sheldon Augustine turned six total offensive touches into 30 yards, and Kishawn Walker came up with both Wrangler interceptions.
For San Diego, Nate Davis completed 18 of his 26 pass attempts for 240 yards, with five touchdowns and two interceptions in the defeat. He spread the wealth equally between his three top receivers, as Carlos Thompson (5/62/2 on 7 targets), Marques Rodgers (5/102/2 on 6 targets), and Kentrez Bell (5/62/1 on 10 targets) each ended the game with five catches. RB Eddie Vander did not record a carry, but did catch all three of his targets for 14 yards.
This game completes the season series sweep for Northern Arizona, two games to none. The teams met earlier in the season on April 16th, with the Wranglers defeating the Strike Force 48-9 in that one. The Wranglers also remain perfect in the all-time series and improve their franchise record versus San Diego to 4-0. The Wranglers have now opened a two-game lead for fourth place in the West over each of Duke City, San Diego, and Vegas, each of whom 4-7 with four games left to play. Northern Arizona remains one-half game back of Tucson for the third seed and one game behind the Bay Area Panthers and Arizona Rattlers, both with identical 7-4 records.
The Wranglers will host the Frisco Fighters in a heavyweight inter-conference showdown on Saturday June 17, with kickoff scheduled for 6:05 p.m. The Strike Force will visit the Tucson Sugar Skulls on Saturday June 17, for a 6:05 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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