Post by Monika on Mar 23, 2024 17:57:16 GMT -8
Pirates 26, Sharks 21
3/23/24 --
LOWELL, MA - Alejandro Bennifield threw four touchdowns to four different receivers and the Massachusetts Pirates' defense held the Jacksonville Sharks to just three scores as the Pirates came away with a 26-21 win at Tsongas Center tonight.
Massachusetts, which defeated the Green Bay Blizzard in their opener last week, move to 2-0 on the season with a single win at home and on the road. This was the first time the teams have met in the Indoor Football League, though the Sharks held a 5-1 overall record dating back to the days the teams were both in the National Arena league. The Pirates will visit the Sharks on June 22.
The game was the debut for the Sharks, which moved over from the NAL over the offseason. Jacksonville won three championships in that league with the most recent being last season. The Pirates moved to the IFL from the NAL prior to the 2021 season and promptly won their first championship as a franchise that year.
The Sharks took a bite out of the scoreboard first with a 22-yard touchdown rush from Logan Wright. That would prove to be the only score of the quarter, leaving the Sharks with a 7-0 lead heading into the second.
Massachusetts drew even early in the second quarter with Alejandro Bennifield's 35-yard bomb in the end zone to Isaac Zico. The Pirates took their first lead of the game with another touchdown bomb from Bennifield; this time of 30 years to Thomas Owens with 5:34 remaining in the first half. With the Pirates driving in their own territory, Bennifield was intercepted by the Sharks' Brion Murray, who returned it 12 for the tying score. The teams went into intermission locked even at 14-14.
Bennifield found Teo Redding for a 25-yard touchdown to start the second half. to put the Pirates back on top. They led 20-14 at the end of three quarters.
The Massachusetts scored again when Bennifield hit running back Jimmie Robinson for a six-yard scoring strike. The Sharks strike right back on a four-yard touchdown to the right front corner of the end zone from Conor Blount to Marquis McClain midway through the fourth quarter.
Bennifield completed 10 of 21 passes for 141 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. Redding led all receivers with three catches for 43 yards to go with his touchdown reception. Robinson rushed 16 times for 88 yards, and caught three balls for 35 yards and a score. Matt Elam led the Pirates' defense with eight tackles (all solo) and Calvin Bundage had 1.5 sacks.
Blount went 16 of 26 for 138 yards with a touchdown and two picks. Brian Smith caught six passes for 78 yards, and McClain had seven grabs for 45 yards and a touchdown. Harrison Poole's 11 tackles led all players, while Caleb Ham added eight.
Massachusetts accumulated a 225 yards to 192 advantage in total offense. The big difference was a 43-yard edge in the running game. The Pirates were penalized seven times for 74 yards while the Sharks were flagged three times for 40 yards.
The Pirates are back at home on March 29 for a 4:05 p.m. kickoff. The Sharks are on the road to battle the Vegas Knight Hawks on March 31 with kickoff set for 3:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
3/23/24 --
LOWELL, MA - Alejandro Bennifield threw four touchdowns to four different receivers and the Massachusetts Pirates' defense held the Jacksonville Sharks to just three scores as the Pirates came away with a 26-21 win at Tsongas Center tonight.
Massachusetts, which defeated the Green Bay Blizzard in their opener last week, move to 2-0 on the season with a single win at home and on the road. This was the first time the teams have met in the Indoor Football League, though the Sharks held a 5-1 overall record dating back to the days the teams were both in the National Arena league. The Pirates will visit the Sharks on June 22.
The game was the debut for the Sharks, which moved over from the NAL over the offseason. Jacksonville won three championships in that league with the most recent being last season. The Pirates moved to the IFL from the NAL prior to the 2021 season and promptly won their first championship as a franchise that year.
The Sharks took a bite out of the scoreboard first with a 22-yard touchdown rush from Logan Wright. That would prove to be the only score of the quarter, leaving the Sharks with a 7-0 lead heading into the second.
Massachusetts drew even early in the second quarter with Alejandro Bennifield's 35-yard bomb in the end zone to Isaac Zico. The Pirates took their first lead of the game with another touchdown bomb from Bennifield; this time of 30 years to Thomas Owens with 5:34 remaining in the first half. With the Pirates driving in their own territory, Bennifield was intercepted by the Sharks' Brion Murray, who returned it 12 for the tying score. The teams went into intermission locked even at 14-14.
Bennifield found Teo Redding for a 25-yard touchdown to start the second half. to put the Pirates back on top. They led 20-14 at the end of three quarters.
The Massachusetts scored again when Bennifield hit running back Jimmie Robinson for a six-yard scoring strike. The Sharks strike right back on a four-yard touchdown to the right front corner of the end zone from Conor Blount to Marquis McClain midway through the fourth quarter.
Bennifield completed 10 of 21 passes for 141 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. Redding led all receivers with three catches for 43 yards to go with his touchdown reception. Robinson rushed 16 times for 88 yards, and caught three balls for 35 yards and a score. Matt Elam led the Pirates' defense with eight tackles (all solo) and Calvin Bundage had 1.5 sacks.
Blount went 16 of 26 for 138 yards with a touchdown and two picks. Brian Smith caught six passes for 78 yards, and McClain had seven grabs for 45 yards and a touchdown. Harrison Poole's 11 tackles led all players, while Caleb Ham added eight.
Massachusetts accumulated a 225 yards to 192 advantage in total offense. The big difference was a 43-yard edge in the running game. The Pirates were penalized seven times for 74 yards while the Sharks were flagged three times for 40 yards.
The Pirates are back at home on March 29 for a 4:05 p.m. kickoff. The Sharks are on the road to battle the Vegas Knight Hawks on March 31 with kickoff set for 3:05 p.m. Times listed are pacific daylight time.
Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be streamed live on the IFL YouTube Channel and Caffeine TV IFL. 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. Click for our complete IFL 2024 Schedule.
-MMM
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