Post by DiamondThief on Apr 27, 2024 18:02:23 GMT -8
Knight Hawks 42, Gladiators 27
4/27/24 --
HENDERSON, NV - The Vegas Knight Hawks didn't make it pretty, but their defense came up big as they defeated the Duke City Gladiators tonight at Lee's Family Forum, 42-27.
The Knight Hawks move to a perfect 5-0 with the win and guarantee themselves at least a share of the top spot on the Western Conference standings following this week's slate of action. The Gladiators are on the other end of the spectrum as they fell to 0-5.
This is the first of two matchups between the teams as they meet up again on June 15 at Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The Knight Hawks now lead the overall series 3-1, including a 2-0 mark at home against the Gladiators.
Ja'Rome Johnson got the ball rolling with a touchdown scamper on the first drive of the game. The Knight Hawks added a rouge on the ensuing kickoff to go up 8-0 early. The Vegas defense forced a 63-yard field goal by the Gladiators, which was returned 47 yards to the house by Jericho Flowers for a Knight Hawks' score. The Gladiators drove deep into Vegas territory, but Alphonso Howard's pass to the end zone was intercepted by the Knight Hawks' James Ceasar. Duke City's Malik McDowell returned the favor, intercepting Johnson and returning the pick eight yards to put the Gladiators on the board. The Gladiators Ernesto Lacayo attempted an onside kick that was recovered by teammate Kam Prewitt recovered. The jubilation was short lived, however, when Jonathan Johnson intercepted the tipped pass for the Knight Hawks. Ja'Rome Johnson, scrambling right, threw back across his body and found Quentin Randolph across the middle for a 15-yard touchdown. The Knight Hawks led 21-7 after one quarter of play.
Duke City cut the lead to a touchdown when with Howard hit Devanaire Concliffe for a 17-yard touchdown up the middle. Lacayo aimed for the deuce on the ensuing kickoff, but just missed to the right. The Gladiators tied the game on Howard's 27-yard pass to Gregory Dent, Jr. with 4:32 left in the second quarter. Jorge Reyna came in for Ja'Rome Johnson for Vegas' last drive of the half and hit Caleb Holley wide open in the left side of the end zone for a one-yard touchdown. Lacayo nailed a 31-yard field goal as time expired and Vegas took a 28-24 lead into the break.
The Gladiators had a chance to narrow their deficit to one, but they were forced to settle for a 20-yard field goal try from Lacayo. The snap was high and the kick sailed to the right of the goalpost. Kevin Macias' 32-yard field goal try went wide left and the third quarter remained scoreless to the 2:48 mark. The score remained 28-24 going into the fourth quarter.
The teams traded possessions until Howard fumbled deep in Vegas territory. The scoring drought was broken when Reyna found Holley in the left corner of the end zone for a 12-yard score to put the Knight Hawks up 35-24 with 9:51 remaining. The Gladiators responded with a 30-yard field goal from Lacayo with 6:26 left. The Knight Hawks made it a two-possession game less than three minutes later on Reyna's three-yard touchdown to Randolph. The Gladiators attempted a comeback, but were forced to turn the ball over on downs with 1:11 remaining.
Reyna finished seven of nine for 62 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Holley caught five balls for 51 yards and Randolph had three catches for 21 yards. Both receivers had two touchdowns each. Makel Calhoun finished with 11 tackles and two sacks to pace the Vegas defense.
In his first-ever IFL action, Howard completed 11 of 25 passes for 138 yards with two touchdowns and two picks. He also rushed for 38 yards off 13 carries. Tyron Laughinghouse led all receivers with five receptions for 52 yards. McDowell had 4.5 tackles and an interception to pace the Duke City defense.
The Gladiators finished with 174 yards to 144 for the Knight Hawks. The major difference came in a 46-yard edge in the passing game. Vegas rushed for 16 more yards than Duke City. The Gladiators were penalized 11 times for 74 yards, while the Knight Hawks were flagged six times for 45 yards.
The Knight Hawks will visit the Bay Area Panthers on May 4 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. After a bye next week, the Gunslingers will host the San Antonio Gunslingers on May 11 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. 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.
4/27/24 --
HENDERSON, NV - The Vegas Knight Hawks didn't make it pretty, but their defense came up big as they defeated the Duke City Gladiators tonight at Lee's Family Forum, 42-27.
The Knight Hawks move to a perfect 5-0 with the win and guarantee themselves at least a share of the top spot on the Western Conference standings following this week's slate of action. The Gladiators are on the other end of the spectrum as they fell to 0-5.
This is the first of two matchups between the teams as they meet up again on June 15 at Rio Rancho, New Mexico. The Knight Hawks now lead the overall series 3-1, including a 2-0 mark at home against the Gladiators.
Ja'Rome Johnson got the ball rolling with a touchdown scamper on the first drive of the game. The Knight Hawks added a rouge on the ensuing kickoff to go up 8-0 early. The Vegas defense forced a 63-yard field goal by the Gladiators, which was returned 47 yards to the house by Jericho Flowers for a Knight Hawks' score. The Gladiators drove deep into Vegas territory, but Alphonso Howard's pass to the end zone was intercepted by the Knight Hawks' James Ceasar. Duke City's Malik McDowell returned the favor, intercepting Johnson and returning the pick eight yards to put the Gladiators on the board. The Gladiators Ernesto Lacayo attempted an onside kick that was recovered by teammate Kam Prewitt recovered. The jubilation was short lived, however, when Jonathan Johnson intercepted the tipped pass for the Knight Hawks. Ja'Rome Johnson, scrambling right, threw back across his body and found Quentin Randolph across the middle for a 15-yard touchdown. The Knight Hawks led 21-7 after one quarter of play.
Duke City cut the lead to a touchdown when with Howard hit Devanaire Concliffe for a 17-yard touchdown up the middle. Lacayo aimed for the deuce on the ensuing kickoff, but just missed to the right. The Gladiators tied the game on Howard's 27-yard pass to Gregory Dent, Jr. with 4:32 left in the second quarter. Jorge Reyna came in for Ja'Rome Johnson for Vegas' last drive of the half and hit Caleb Holley wide open in the left side of the end zone for a one-yard touchdown. Lacayo nailed a 31-yard field goal as time expired and Vegas took a 28-24 lead into the break.
The Gladiators had a chance to narrow their deficit to one, but they were forced to settle for a 20-yard field goal try from Lacayo. The snap was high and the kick sailed to the right of the goalpost. Kevin Macias' 32-yard field goal try went wide left and the third quarter remained scoreless to the 2:48 mark. The score remained 28-24 going into the fourth quarter.
The teams traded possessions until Howard fumbled deep in Vegas territory. The scoring drought was broken when Reyna found Holley in the left corner of the end zone for a 12-yard score to put the Knight Hawks up 35-24 with 9:51 remaining. The Gladiators responded with a 30-yard field goal from Lacayo with 6:26 left. The Knight Hawks made it a two-possession game less than three minutes later on Reyna's three-yard touchdown to Randolph. The Gladiators attempted a comeback, but were forced to turn the ball over on downs with 1:11 remaining.
Reyna finished seven of nine for 62 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Holley caught five balls for 51 yards and Randolph had three catches for 21 yards. Both receivers had two touchdowns each. Makel Calhoun finished with 11 tackles and two sacks to pace the Vegas defense.
In his first-ever IFL action, Howard completed 11 of 25 passes for 138 yards with two touchdowns and two picks. He also rushed for 38 yards off 13 carries. Tyron Laughinghouse led all receivers with five receptions for 52 yards. McDowell had 4.5 tackles and an interception to pace the Duke City defense.
The Gladiators finished with 174 yards to 144 for the Knight Hawks. The major difference came in a 46-yard edge in the passing game. Vegas rushed for 16 more yards than Duke City. The Gladiators were penalized 11 times for 74 yards, while the Knight Hawks were flagged six times for 45 yards.
The Knight Hawks will visit the Bay Area Panthers on May 4 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. After a bye next week, the Gunslingers will host the San Antonio Gunslingers on May 11 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. 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
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.