Post by alecs on Jun 17, 2023 15:22:52 GMT -8
Panthers 56, Knight Hawks 41
6/17/23 --
HENDERSON, NV - The Bay Area Panthers entered Saturday's afternoon showdown looking to retain the number one seed in the Western Conference, going up against the Vegas Knight Hawks at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV. The Panthers engineered a practically perfect offensive outing, scoring a touchdown on their first eight possessions, to spoil the home finale for Vegas. The game resulted in a 56-41 road win for the Panthers over the Knight Hawks.
The Panthers began the game with the football, and after a return into Vegas territory, Dalton Sneed immediately found Nih-jer Jackson in the right corner of the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Aedan Johnson's extra point attempt sailed wide right, holding Bay Area's lead to 6-0. On the first possession for the Knight Hawks, the Panthers defense forced a 4th-and-15 scenario. Stevie Artigue could not get a clean attempt at the field goal due to a botched snap, which resulted in the Knight Hawks turning the ball over on downs. Three plays later, Justin Rankin introduced himself to the score sheet on a 13-yard run. Johnson again missed the extra point, this time wide to the left. Vegas would get the response they needed, with their second possession ending in a seven-yard scramble for Da'Quan Neal's first score of the game. Artigue's extra point was good, ending the first quarter with Bay Area ahead 12-7.
Bay Area's third touchdown of the contest would come five plays into the second quarter, courtesy of Dalton Sneed bruising his way to a 16-yard rushing score. A successful two-point conversion pass from Sneed to Jackson would close out the drive. The next Knight Hawk drive would be decided on another 4th-and-long situation, and an underneath pass from Neal to Jonathan Johnson fell four yards short of the endzone. Bay Area took possession of the ball after that stand, and Sneed uncorked a 46-yard touchdown pass to J.T. Stokes. Sneed would carry in the resulting two-point conversion to expand Bay Area's lead to 28-7. Vegas responded with a score with a six-yard pass from Neal to Davonte Sapp-Lynch to trim the deficit to 14 points. The Panthers' next possession would take up all but 12 seconds of the remaining time in the first half, and Rankin took a read-option toss for a two-yard score on a 4th-and-goal play. A last-gasp deep pass for Vegas came up empty to close the half, with Bay Area convincingly ahead 35-14 midway through the game.
The Knight Hawks received the ball to start the second half, and found the endzone on another six-yard run from Neal. Bay Area's offense was able to pick up right where it left off the first half, and Rankin completed his hat trick with a four-yard rushing TD. Vegas would strike again on its next turn with the ball, with Neal finding Caleb Holley for a nine-yard touchdown pass. After a successful onside kick attempt, Neal went right back to Holley, who made a fantastic grab for a score, good for a 46-yard touchdown pass. Suddenly, Vegas clawed their way back to within one-score, and rode that momentum through the end of the third quarter despite still trailing 42-34.
Bay Area made it seven-for-seven on its offensive efficiency, with Sneed rushing for a seven-yard score on a QB keeper. Holley was able to secure his third touchdown catch in as many drives with a seven-yard connection from Neal. A second attempted onside kick by Vegas was recovered by Bay Area, and it was Stokes who provided a one-yard rushing touchdown to put the Panthers back ahead by 15. Vegas would take the ball inside the Panthers five-yard line, but on a 4th-and-2 play, Neal could not connect with Quentin Randolph, which resulted in a turnover on downs. After a defensive pass interference penalty awarded the Panthers an automatic first down inside the one-minute warning, the Panthers took a knee and finalized its 56-41 triumph.
Dalton Sneed attempted just ten passes on the afternoon, completing six of them for 97 yards, two touchdowns, and no interception. He chipped in another pair of touchdowns on nine carries for 40 yards as well. Justin Rankin continued his MVP-caliber season with a 17-carry, 95-yard, and three touchdown effort and also added a six yard catch on his lone target. J.T. Stokes led Panthers receivers with three catches on five targets for 62 yards and a score, while Nih-jer Jackson caught two of four targets for 29 yards and a score.
Da'Quan Neal returned from injury and completed 15 of 30 passes for 178 yards and four touchdowns, with zero interceptions. Neal also led the team with nine carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Caleb Holley had himself a day despite the loss, with eight catches on 15 targets for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Quentin Randolph was held to four catches for 40 scoreless yards on seven targets.
The win completes the season series sweep for the Panthers over the Knight Hawks, after defeating Vegas 62-44 in Week 8. The all-time series is now tied at two games apiece after Vegas swept Bay Area last season. Regardless of the remaining outcomes of this week's games, Bay Area will retain the provisional number one-seed in the Western Conference in improving their record to 8-4. Vegas will retain the seventh and last place in the conference, while tumbling to a record of 4-8.
The Panthers will be on the road to take on the Frisco Fighters on Saturday June 24 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Knight Hawks will visit the Duke City Gladiators on Saturday June 24 at 5:05 p.m. All times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
6/17/23 --
HENDERSON, NV - The Bay Area Panthers entered Saturday's afternoon showdown looking to retain the number one seed in the Western Conference, going up against the Vegas Knight Hawks at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson, NV. The Panthers engineered a practically perfect offensive outing, scoring a touchdown on their first eight possessions, to spoil the home finale for Vegas. The game resulted in a 56-41 road win for the Panthers over the Knight Hawks.
The Panthers began the game with the football, and after a return into Vegas territory, Dalton Sneed immediately found Nih-jer Jackson in the right corner of the endzone for a 21-yard touchdown pass. Aedan Johnson's extra point attempt sailed wide right, holding Bay Area's lead to 6-0. On the first possession for the Knight Hawks, the Panthers defense forced a 4th-and-15 scenario. Stevie Artigue could not get a clean attempt at the field goal due to a botched snap, which resulted in the Knight Hawks turning the ball over on downs. Three plays later, Justin Rankin introduced himself to the score sheet on a 13-yard run. Johnson again missed the extra point, this time wide to the left. Vegas would get the response they needed, with their second possession ending in a seven-yard scramble for Da'Quan Neal's first score of the game. Artigue's extra point was good, ending the first quarter with Bay Area ahead 12-7.
Bay Area's third touchdown of the contest would come five plays into the second quarter, courtesy of Dalton Sneed bruising his way to a 16-yard rushing score. A successful two-point conversion pass from Sneed to Jackson would close out the drive. The next Knight Hawk drive would be decided on another 4th-and-long situation, and an underneath pass from Neal to Jonathan Johnson fell four yards short of the endzone. Bay Area took possession of the ball after that stand, and Sneed uncorked a 46-yard touchdown pass to J.T. Stokes. Sneed would carry in the resulting two-point conversion to expand Bay Area's lead to 28-7. Vegas responded with a score with a six-yard pass from Neal to Davonte Sapp-Lynch to trim the deficit to 14 points. The Panthers' next possession would take up all but 12 seconds of the remaining time in the first half, and Rankin took a read-option toss for a two-yard score on a 4th-and-goal play. A last-gasp deep pass for Vegas came up empty to close the half, with Bay Area convincingly ahead 35-14 midway through the game.
The Knight Hawks received the ball to start the second half, and found the endzone on another six-yard run from Neal. Bay Area's offense was able to pick up right where it left off the first half, and Rankin completed his hat trick with a four-yard rushing TD. Vegas would strike again on its next turn with the ball, with Neal finding Caleb Holley for a nine-yard touchdown pass. After a successful onside kick attempt, Neal went right back to Holley, who made a fantastic grab for a score, good for a 46-yard touchdown pass. Suddenly, Vegas clawed their way back to within one-score, and rode that momentum through the end of the third quarter despite still trailing 42-34.
Bay Area made it seven-for-seven on its offensive efficiency, with Sneed rushing for a seven-yard score on a QB keeper. Holley was able to secure his third touchdown catch in as many drives with a seven-yard connection from Neal. A second attempted onside kick by Vegas was recovered by Bay Area, and it was Stokes who provided a one-yard rushing touchdown to put the Panthers back ahead by 15. Vegas would take the ball inside the Panthers five-yard line, but on a 4th-and-2 play, Neal could not connect with Quentin Randolph, which resulted in a turnover on downs. After a defensive pass interference penalty awarded the Panthers an automatic first down inside the one-minute warning, the Panthers took a knee and finalized its 56-41 triumph.
Dalton Sneed attempted just ten passes on the afternoon, completing six of them for 97 yards, two touchdowns, and no interception. He chipped in another pair of touchdowns on nine carries for 40 yards as well. Justin Rankin continued his MVP-caliber season with a 17-carry, 95-yard, and three touchdown effort and also added a six yard catch on his lone target. J.T. Stokes led Panthers receivers with three catches on five targets for 62 yards and a score, while Nih-jer Jackson caught two of four targets for 29 yards and a score.
Da'Quan Neal returned from injury and completed 15 of 30 passes for 178 yards and four touchdowns, with zero interceptions. Neal also led the team with nine carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Caleb Holley had himself a day despite the loss, with eight catches on 15 targets for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Quentin Randolph was held to four catches for 40 scoreless yards on seven targets.
The win completes the season series sweep for the Panthers over the Knight Hawks, after defeating Vegas 62-44 in Week 8. The all-time series is now tied at two games apiece after Vegas swept Bay Area last season. Regardless of the remaining outcomes of this week's games, Bay Area will retain the provisional number one-seed in the Western Conference in improving their record to 8-4. Vegas will retain the seventh and last place in the conference, while tumbling to a record of 4-8.
The Panthers will be on the road to take on the Frisco Fighters on Saturday June 24 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Knight Hawks will visit the Duke City Gladiators on Saturday June 24 at 5:05 p.m. 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.