Post by DiamondThief on Jul 8, 2023 20:42:11 GMT -8
Wranglers 37, Pirates 32
7/8/23 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - The Northern Arizona Wranglers scored 37 unanswered points from late in the first quarter through the end of the third quarter as they moved one step closer to a playoff berth with a 37-32 win over the visiting Massachusetts Pirates at Findlay Toyota Center.
The Wranglers currently sit in fourth place in the Western Conference. Should they defeat the Arizona Rattlers next week, or should the San Diego Strike Force lose to the Bay Area Panthers on July 10 or to the Vegas Knight Hawks on July15, the Wranglers also will clinch their second playoff berth in franchise history.
Massachusetts, which has lost two straight, have clinched a playoff berth and can clinch the Eastern Conference's second spot with a win next week at the Sioux Falls Storm, or a Quad City Steamwheelers' loss to the Tulsa Oilers next week. The Pirates are tied with the Steamwheelers at 9-5 on the season.
This was only the second meeting between the teams this season. Overall, the teams are tied 1-1 with each team possessing 1-0 records at home.
Massachusetts struck first on Anthony Russo's 26-yard touchdown toss to Isaac Zico. The Pirates added to the lead when Jimmie Robinson's 20-yard run midway through the first quarter. Northern Arizona got on the board with a two-yard touchdown run from Nick Watson, starting in place of Garrett Kettle. After hitting the extra point, the Wranglers stopped the Pirates from advancing the ball out of the end zone resulting in a rouge.
On the Pirates' ensuing drive, Russo was sacked in the end zone by JaQuan Artis resulting in a safety. The Wranglers tacked on a 27-yard field goal from Conor Mangan. The Wranglers got the ball back and took their first lead with Watson hit Wisniewski for a nine-yard touchdown. Josh Gable attenpted a 23-yard field goal but the kick was blocked to end the half. Northern Arizona led 21-14 at the half.
A 32-yard run from Jarrod Ware, Jr. put the Wranglers up 29-14 early in the third. Northern Arizona increased its lead on Watson's six-yard touchdown pass to Glen Gibbons, Jr. as time expired in the quarter. The Wranglers led 37-14 heading into the fourth.
The Pirates stopped the bleeding with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Alejandro Bennifield to Zico two minutes into the fourth. Bennifield also found Zico for a two-point conversion before Gable nailed a deuce to complete the IFL version of a 10-point play. With just under three minutes remaining, Bennifield found Darren Carrington for a 32-yard score. The two-point conversion from Bennifield to Robinson was good, drawing the Pirates to within five points. The Wranglers were able to run out the clock to preserve the win.
Watson completed 14 of 27 passes for 109 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while rushing for 35 yards and another score. Ware carried 10 times for 63 yards and a touchdown. Wisniewski caught five passes for 55 yards to go along with his receiving touchdown to lead the receiving corps. Terik Miller's 4.5 tackles led the defense. Daniel Wright recorded an interception and Artis had a sack.
Russo finished six of 14 for 70 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Bennifield went three of five for 62 yards with two touchdowns and no picks. Robinson gained 20 yards off five carries to go along with his rushing score. Zico led all receivers with 69 yards off five catches and a pair of scores. Carrington added two grabs for 42 yards and a touchdown. Kenneth Durden and Darius Stills each had seven tackles to lead the defense. Lorenzo Hernandez added a sack and Momodou Mbye had an interception.
Northern Arizona gained 253 yards to 159 for Massachusetts. The Wranglers had a 108-yard advantage in the running game, while the pirates had a 14-yard edge through the air. The Wranglers were flagged five times for 64 yards and the Pirates were penalized four times for 24 yards.
Both of these teams are on the road to close out the regular season next week. The Pirates will visit the Sioux Falls Storm on July 15 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. The Wranglers will visit the Arizona Rattlers on July 15 for a 6:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time. Click for our complete 2023 IFL Schedule.
7/8/23 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - The Northern Arizona Wranglers scored 37 unanswered points from late in the first quarter through the end of the third quarter as they moved one step closer to a playoff berth with a 37-32 win over the visiting Massachusetts Pirates at Findlay Toyota Center.
The Wranglers currently sit in fourth place in the Western Conference. Should they defeat the Arizona Rattlers next week, or should the San Diego Strike Force lose to the Bay Area Panthers on July 10 or to the Vegas Knight Hawks on July15, the Wranglers also will clinch their second playoff berth in franchise history.
Massachusetts, which has lost two straight, have clinched a playoff berth and can clinch the Eastern Conference's second spot with a win next week at the Sioux Falls Storm, or a Quad City Steamwheelers' loss to the Tulsa Oilers next week. The Pirates are tied with the Steamwheelers at 9-5 on the season.
This was only the second meeting between the teams this season. Overall, the teams are tied 1-1 with each team possessing 1-0 records at home.
Massachusetts struck first on Anthony Russo's 26-yard touchdown toss to Isaac Zico. The Pirates added to the lead when Jimmie Robinson's 20-yard run midway through the first quarter. Northern Arizona got on the board with a two-yard touchdown run from Nick Watson, starting in place of Garrett Kettle. After hitting the extra point, the Wranglers stopped the Pirates from advancing the ball out of the end zone resulting in a rouge.
On the Pirates' ensuing drive, Russo was sacked in the end zone by JaQuan Artis resulting in a safety. The Wranglers tacked on a 27-yard field goal from Conor Mangan. The Wranglers got the ball back and took their first lead with Watson hit Wisniewski for a nine-yard touchdown. Josh Gable attenpted a 23-yard field goal but the kick was blocked to end the half. Northern Arizona led 21-14 at the half.
A 32-yard run from Jarrod Ware, Jr. put the Wranglers up 29-14 early in the third. Northern Arizona increased its lead on Watson's six-yard touchdown pass to Glen Gibbons, Jr. as time expired in the quarter. The Wranglers led 37-14 heading into the fourth.
The Pirates stopped the bleeding with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Alejandro Bennifield to Zico two minutes into the fourth. Bennifield also found Zico for a two-point conversion before Gable nailed a deuce to complete the IFL version of a 10-point play. With just under three minutes remaining, Bennifield found Darren Carrington for a 32-yard score. The two-point conversion from Bennifield to Robinson was good, drawing the Pirates to within five points. The Wranglers were able to run out the clock to preserve the win.
Watson completed 14 of 27 passes for 109 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while rushing for 35 yards and another score. Ware carried 10 times for 63 yards and a touchdown. Wisniewski caught five passes for 55 yards to go along with his receiving touchdown to lead the receiving corps. Terik Miller's 4.5 tackles led the defense. Daniel Wright recorded an interception and Artis had a sack.
Russo finished six of 14 for 70 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Bennifield went three of five for 62 yards with two touchdowns and no picks. Robinson gained 20 yards off five carries to go along with his rushing score. Zico led all receivers with 69 yards off five catches and a pair of scores. Carrington added two grabs for 42 yards and a touchdown. Kenneth Durden and Darius Stills each had seven tackles to lead the defense. Lorenzo Hernandez added a sack and Momodou Mbye had an interception.
Northern Arizona gained 253 yards to 159 for Massachusetts. The Wranglers had a 108-yard advantage in the running game, while the pirates had a 14-yard edge through the air. The Wranglers were flagged five times for 64 yards and the Pirates were penalized four times for 24 yards.
Both of these teams are on the road to close out the regular season next week. The Pirates will visit the Sioux Falls Storm on July 15 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. The Wranglers will visit the Arizona Rattlers on July 15 for a 6:05 p.m. 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.
- ANM
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.