Post by DiamondThief on Mar 29, 2024 17:58:26 GMT -8
Pirates 49, Storm 41
3/29/24 --
LOWELL, MA - Alejandro Bennifield completed over 90 percent of his passes and tossed five touchdowns as the Massachusetts Pirates fended off the the pesky Sioux Falls Storm tonight at Tsongas Center, 49-41.
With the win, the Pirates move to a perfect 3-0 on the season and 2-0 at home. They sit alone atop the Eastern Conference standings. The Storm fell to 0-2 with both losses coming on the road. The teams play once more, on April 27 at Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota. The game is being put on as a special event this season by the Dakota Bucks, who are dormant this season while they work to comply with North Dakota workers compensation requirements.
In the history of the series between the teams, The Pirates now lead 3-2 with records of 2-0 at home and 1-2 at Sioux Falls (those records include the playoffs). The Storm knocked the Pirates out of the first round of the playoffs last year with a thrilling 42-39 win in South Dakota.
The Pirates struck on the opening drive of the game when Jimmie Robinson rushed around the left side and into the end zone from five yards out. The Storm came right back as quarterback Billy Hall took the snap and rushed cleanly around the left side for the two-yard score. On Massachusetts' next play, a snap went over Alejandro Bennifield's head and into the end zone. He fell on it, but Sioux Falls claimed the safety. The Storm turned the ball over on downs with just over three minutes left in the opening quarter. Bennifield then found Thomas Owens in the back right corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Pirates the lead. The Storm came right back when Hall threw long to Kentrez Bell for a 39-yard touchdown. The Storm led 16-14 at the end of the opening quarter.
Massachusetts retook the lead as Bennifield pitched the ball to his right to Robinson who scampered the eight yards for the touchdown. Hall bootlegged three yards around the left side and dove in for another Storm score. Bennifield found Robinson for a three-yard touchdown toss. The duo then connected on the two-point conversion to give the Pirates a five-point lead with 12 seconds left in the first half. They led 28-23 at halftime.
The Storm received the opening kickoff, but they were unable to convert on a field goal try from Dean Sarris. The Pirates took advantage of the situation with a 45-yard touchdown bomb from Bennifield to Isaac Zico. The Storm came back, scoring on a 12-yard touchdown toss from Hall to Xavier Jackson. Bennifield brought the Pirates back with a nine-yard scoring strike to Zico on the right side. The Pirates led 42-29 at the end of the third quarter.
Sioux Falls wasted no time getting on the board in the fourth quarter. Hall's 10-yard touchdown pass to Jackson drew the Storm to within a touchdown. With the Pirates driving, Bennifield fumbled and was recovered by Amin Black of the Storm. The possession was short-lived though as the Storm turned over the ball on downs. The Pirates increased their lead to 49-35 on Bennifield's six-yard touchdown pass to the right side to Owens midway through the fourth. Hall's three-yard run to the left side pulled the Storm to within eight points with a little over five minutes remaining. The Storm had a chance to score in the final minute, but they turned the ball over on downs in Fighters' territory.
Bennifield completed 15 of 16 passes for 173 yards to go with his five touchdowns (to four different receivers). He also rushed for 36 yards. Robinson scored two touchdowns on the ground and another through the air. Zico caught four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, while Owens hauled in three passes for 46 yards and two scores. Calvin Bundage paced the defense with 10 tackles, while Devin Hafford added seven. Kevin Thurman recorded a sack.
Hall went 11 of 17 for 179 yards with three touchdowns and no picks. He rushed for 36 yards and three scores. Bell had three receptions for 70 yards and a touchdowns, while Jackson caught four balls for 41 yards and a pair of scored out of the backfield. Black and Isaiah Blackmon had a sack apiece.
The Storm accumulated 246 yards to 206 for the Pirates. The difference came primarily in the rushing game with a 33-yard edge. Sioux Falls was penalized seven times for 67 yards while Massachusetts was flagged five times for 61 yards.
Both teams are on a bye in week 4. The Pirates will host the Iowa Barnstormers on April 12 with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. The Storm are at home to host the Tulsa Oilers on April 14 for a 1:05 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.
3/29/24 --
LOWELL, MA - Alejandro Bennifield completed over 90 percent of his passes and tossed five touchdowns as the Massachusetts Pirates fended off the the pesky Sioux Falls Storm tonight at Tsongas Center, 49-41.
With the win, the Pirates move to a perfect 3-0 on the season and 2-0 at home. They sit alone atop the Eastern Conference standings. The Storm fell to 0-2 with both losses coming on the road. The teams play once more, on April 27 at Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota. The game is being put on as a special event this season by the Dakota Bucks, who are dormant this season while they work to comply with North Dakota workers compensation requirements.
In the history of the series between the teams, The Pirates now lead 3-2 with records of 2-0 at home and 1-2 at Sioux Falls (those records include the playoffs). The Storm knocked the Pirates out of the first round of the playoffs last year with a thrilling 42-39 win in South Dakota.
The Pirates struck on the opening drive of the game when Jimmie Robinson rushed around the left side and into the end zone from five yards out. The Storm came right back as quarterback Billy Hall took the snap and rushed cleanly around the left side for the two-yard score. On Massachusetts' next play, a snap went over Alejandro Bennifield's head and into the end zone. He fell on it, but Sioux Falls claimed the safety. The Storm turned the ball over on downs with just over three minutes left in the opening quarter. Bennifield then found Thomas Owens in the back right corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Pirates the lead. The Storm came right back when Hall threw long to Kentrez Bell for a 39-yard touchdown. The Storm led 16-14 at the end of the opening quarter.
Massachusetts retook the lead as Bennifield pitched the ball to his right to Robinson who scampered the eight yards for the touchdown. Hall bootlegged three yards around the left side and dove in for another Storm score. Bennifield found Robinson for a three-yard touchdown toss. The duo then connected on the two-point conversion to give the Pirates a five-point lead with 12 seconds left in the first half. They led 28-23 at halftime.
The Storm received the opening kickoff, but they were unable to convert on a field goal try from Dean Sarris. The Pirates took advantage of the situation with a 45-yard touchdown bomb from Bennifield to Isaac Zico. The Storm came back, scoring on a 12-yard touchdown toss from Hall to Xavier Jackson. Bennifield brought the Pirates back with a nine-yard scoring strike to Zico on the right side. The Pirates led 42-29 at the end of the third quarter.
Sioux Falls wasted no time getting on the board in the fourth quarter. Hall's 10-yard touchdown pass to Jackson drew the Storm to within a touchdown. With the Pirates driving, Bennifield fumbled and was recovered by Amin Black of the Storm. The possession was short-lived though as the Storm turned over the ball on downs. The Pirates increased their lead to 49-35 on Bennifield's six-yard touchdown pass to the right side to Owens midway through the fourth. Hall's three-yard run to the left side pulled the Storm to within eight points with a little over five minutes remaining. The Storm had a chance to score in the final minute, but they turned the ball over on downs in Fighters' territory.
Bennifield completed 15 of 16 passes for 173 yards to go with his five touchdowns (to four different receivers). He also rushed for 36 yards. Robinson scored two touchdowns on the ground and another through the air. Zico caught four passes for 61 yards and a touchdown, while Owens hauled in three passes for 46 yards and two scores. Calvin Bundage paced the defense with 10 tackles, while Devin Hafford added seven. Kevin Thurman recorded a sack.
Hall went 11 of 17 for 179 yards with three touchdowns and no picks. He rushed for 36 yards and three scores. Bell had three receptions for 70 yards and a touchdowns, while Jackson caught four balls for 41 yards and a pair of scored out of the backfield. Black and Isaiah Blackmon had a sack apiece.
The Storm accumulated 246 yards to 206 for the Pirates. The difference came primarily in the rushing game with a 33-yard edge. Sioux Falls was penalized seven times for 67 yards while Massachusetts was flagged five times for 61 yards.
Both teams are on a bye in week 4. The Pirates will host the Iowa Barnstormers on April 12 with kickoff set for 4:05 p.m. The Storm are at home to host the Tulsa Oilers on April 14 for a 1:05 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.
-ANM
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