Post by alecs on May 19, 2024 17:31:56 GMT -8
Strike Force 47, Gladiators 21
5/19/24 --
SAN DIEGO, CA -
The final game of Week 10 pitted the Duke City Gladiators in the arena against the San Diego Strike Force on Sunday night at Pechanga Arena, marking the second matchup of the season between the two squads. In a game marked by shutdown defense, particularly in the second half, the Strike Force improved their record to 5-3 on the season, forcing five Gladiator turnovers en route to a 47-21 triumph which also keeps Duke City winless thus far.
The start was initially promising for the Gladiators, who drew first blood with a 21-yard touchdown scramble by Joey Mancuso. Then, the scrappy Gladiators recovered a surprise onside kick attempt to steal a possession in their favor. The Strike Force defense responded well, though, forcing fourth down and halting the Gladiator drive, taking over after a field goal attempt of 51 yards by Ernesto Lacayo was partially blocked. San Diego would promptly tie the game with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis to Elijah Lilly. Another standout defensive play from the Strike Force would follow, as a Mancuso endzone-bound pass attempt was intercepted by Justic'e King. Following the takeaway, San Diego drove up the field, with the first quarter ending at a stalemate, with each team sitting on seven points.
San Diego would hop out to the lead on an outside pitch, with Chance Bell rushing the rock in for a three-yard score. The PAT was missed by Aedan Johnson, though. The Gladiators got a much-needed score to re-take the lead when Mancuso tossed a four-yard touchdown to Devanaire Concliffe. Midway through the quarter, a four-yard handoff to Travon Van would award the lead back to San Diego. In another strike of defensive dominance, pressure up front forced Mancuso in dealing his second interception of the contest, finding the hands of newly signed Tariq Thompson, who took it 20 yards for a pick-six. Duke City would find redemption inside the one minute warning, with Mancuso completing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Tyron Laughinghouse. The Strike Force got one more chance before the end of the half but could not add to their lead, which stood at 27-21 as both teams entered the locker room.
After a failed onside kick attempt by the Gladiators started the second half, San Diego added to its lead with a three-yard keeper from Davis. Duke City could not muster points in response, as their next drive stalled when they came up short on a fourth and two run. An admirable effort from the Gladiator defense gave them new life, forcing a 20-yard field goal miss by Johnson, whose kick clanked off the left post. The offense would again fall short, going three and out and seeing a 60-plus yard field goal attempt from Lacayo sail out of bounds over the near side wall. The third quarter would end shortly after, with the Strike Force ahead 34 to 21.
An eight-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Jordan Kress extended the Strike Force lead to 20 points. More disaster for Mancuso ensued, as his third interception of the game went to Atoa Fox of the Strike Force. Duke City would get a bit of a break, though, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Warren Thomas. It would be another interception from Mancuso to thwart that ensuing opportunity, though, with Ty'Korian Brown getting his hands under a tipped ball before it hit the turf, marking the fourth takeaway of the evening by the Strike Force defense. Davis wasted little time in delivering the coup de grace, uncorking a 41-yard touchdown pass to Lilly with just moments left on the game clock. In a somewhat fitting ending to the game, the final drive from Duke City ended with a muffed handoff between Mancuso and Concliffe resulting in a lost fumble recovered by Brown, who moments prior had an interception on Mancuso. As the final whistle blew, San Diego stood victorious over the visiting Gladiators, 47-21.
Nate Davis guided the Strike Force victory with 19 completions on 34 passes for 230 yards, accounting for three touchdowns through the air as well as a four-yard touchdown rush. Travon Van (6/10/1) and Chance Bell (5/4/1) also had rushing touchdowns for San Diego. Jordan Kress paced the receiving group with seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, while Elijah Lilly added a pair of receiving touchdowns totaling 64 yards. Ty'Korian Brown co-led the Strike Force with five tackles and added a forced fumble recovery and interception. Tariq Thompson, Justic'e King, and Atoa Fox also had an interception each.
Joey Mancuso had an outing to forget, completing 16 of 29 passes for 123 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. As a rusher, he logged two carries for 17 yards and a touchdown. Jeff Carr led the Gladiators with 20 yards on seven rush attempts and added two catches for 17 yards. Devanaire Concliffe logged eight catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Tyron Laughinghouse had the other receiving touchdown on two catches for 22 yards. Aaron Jackson and Kam Prewitt each had five tackles to lead Duke City, and Warren Thomas recovered a fumble for the Gladiator defense.
San Diego completes the two-game sweep of the Gladiators (32-26 win in Week 2 at Rio Rancho Events Center), with this meeting the final one between the two teams for the 2024 season, barring a potential playoff meeting. The Strike Force also take a three games to two lead in the all-time series.
The Gladiators (0-7) are still in pursuit of a first win and will visit the Arizona Rattlers (4-4) on Saturday May 25 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. The Strike Force (5-3) will host the Frisco Fighters (6-2) on Sunday May 26 for a 3:05 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.
5/19/24 --
SAN DIEGO, CA -
The final game of Week 10 pitted the Duke City Gladiators in the arena against the San Diego Strike Force on Sunday night at Pechanga Arena, marking the second matchup of the season between the two squads. In a game marked by shutdown defense, particularly in the second half, the Strike Force improved their record to 5-3 on the season, forcing five Gladiator turnovers en route to a 47-21 triumph which also keeps Duke City winless thus far.
The start was initially promising for the Gladiators, who drew first blood with a 21-yard touchdown scramble by Joey Mancuso. Then, the scrappy Gladiators recovered a surprise onside kick attempt to steal a possession in their favor. The Strike Force defense responded well, though, forcing fourth down and halting the Gladiator drive, taking over after a field goal attempt of 51 yards by Ernesto Lacayo was partially blocked. San Diego would promptly tie the game with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis to Elijah Lilly. Another standout defensive play from the Strike Force would follow, as a Mancuso endzone-bound pass attempt was intercepted by Justic'e King. Following the takeaway, San Diego drove up the field, with the first quarter ending at a stalemate, with each team sitting on seven points.
San Diego would hop out to the lead on an outside pitch, with Chance Bell rushing the rock in for a three-yard score. The PAT was missed by Aedan Johnson, though. The Gladiators got a much-needed score to re-take the lead when Mancuso tossed a four-yard touchdown to Devanaire Concliffe. Midway through the quarter, a four-yard handoff to Travon Van would award the lead back to San Diego. In another strike of defensive dominance, pressure up front forced Mancuso in dealing his second interception of the contest, finding the hands of newly signed Tariq Thompson, who took it 20 yards for a pick-six. Duke City would find redemption inside the one minute warning, with Mancuso completing a seven-yard touchdown pass to Tyron Laughinghouse. The Strike Force got one more chance before the end of the half but could not add to their lead, which stood at 27-21 as both teams entered the locker room.
After a failed onside kick attempt by the Gladiators started the second half, San Diego added to its lead with a three-yard keeper from Davis. Duke City could not muster points in response, as their next drive stalled when they came up short on a fourth and two run. An admirable effort from the Gladiator defense gave them new life, forcing a 20-yard field goal miss by Johnson, whose kick clanked off the left post. The offense would again fall short, going three and out and seeing a 60-plus yard field goal attempt from Lacayo sail out of bounds over the near side wall. The third quarter would end shortly after, with the Strike Force ahead 34 to 21.
An eight-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Jordan Kress extended the Strike Force lead to 20 points. More disaster for Mancuso ensued, as his third interception of the game went to Atoa Fox of the Strike Force. Duke City would get a bit of a break, though, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Warren Thomas. It would be another interception from Mancuso to thwart that ensuing opportunity, though, with Ty'Korian Brown getting his hands under a tipped ball before it hit the turf, marking the fourth takeaway of the evening by the Strike Force defense. Davis wasted little time in delivering the coup de grace, uncorking a 41-yard touchdown pass to Lilly with just moments left on the game clock. In a somewhat fitting ending to the game, the final drive from Duke City ended with a muffed handoff between Mancuso and Concliffe resulting in a lost fumble recovered by Brown, who moments prior had an interception on Mancuso. As the final whistle blew, San Diego stood victorious over the visiting Gladiators, 47-21.
Nate Davis guided the Strike Force victory with 19 completions on 34 passes for 230 yards, accounting for three touchdowns through the air as well as a four-yard touchdown rush. Travon Van (6/10/1) and Chance Bell (5/4/1) also had rushing touchdowns for San Diego. Jordan Kress paced the receiving group with seven catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, while Elijah Lilly added a pair of receiving touchdowns totaling 64 yards. Ty'Korian Brown co-led the Strike Force with five tackles and added a forced fumble recovery and interception. Tariq Thompson, Justic'e King, and Atoa Fox also had an interception each.
Joey Mancuso had an outing to forget, completing 16 of 29 passes for 123 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. As a rusher, he logged two carries for 17 yards and a touchdown. Jeff Carr led the Gladiators with 20 yards on seven rush attempts and added two catches for 17 yards. Devanaire Concliffe logged eight catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, and Tyron Laughinghouse had the other receiving touchdown on two catches for 22 yards. Aaron Jackson and Kam Prewitt each had five tackles to lead Duke City, and Warren Thomas recovered a fumble for the Gladiator defense.
San Diego completes the two-game sweep of the Gladiators (32-26 win in Week 2 at Rio Rancho Events Center), with this meeting the final one between the two teams for the 2024 season, barring a potential playoff meeting. The Strike Force also take a three games to two lead in the all-time series.
The Gladiators (0-7) are still in pursuit of a first win and will visit the Arizona Rattlers (4-4) on Saturday May 25 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. The Strike Force (5-3) will host the Frisco Fighters (6-2) on Sunday May 26 for a 3:05 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.
-AS
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