Post by alecs on Jun 2, 2024 5:28:12 GMT -8
Wranglers 58, Knight Hawks 52
6/1/24 --
HENDERSON, NV - A matchup of two provisional Western Conference playoff teams highlighted Saturday night at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, with the host Knight Hawks welcoming in the Northern Arizona Wranglers. In a fast-paced shootout, the Wranglers would come away with a strong road upset to make it four straight wins, and send the Knight Hawks to a second consecutive loss, with a 58 to 52 final score.
The game began with a turnover, as a pass from Jorge Reyna on the first play from scrimmage was intercepted by Kevin Hyde of the Wranglers. Joshua Jones wasted no time making the home team pay, taking a ten-yard keeper in for a rushing touchdown. Vegas recovered nearly immediately, though, with Reyna going deep to Caleb Holley for a 38-yard touchdown pass, but a missed PAT by Kevin Macias would keep them down one. The Knight Hawks would then keep Northern Arizona out of the endzone, forcing them into a field goal attempt that Axel Perez knocked through from 18 yards. Vegas would then re-gain the lead just before the end of the quarter on a Reyna three-yard rush, giving the Knight Hawks a three-point lead heading into the second quarter.
The Wranglers hopped back out in front on a six-yard rush from Kobay White two minutes into the new frame. The Knight Hawks later countered that with a three-yard rush from Quentin Randolph, but another missed PAT from Macias kept the score line 19-17. Another Wrangler drive would be kept short of the endzone, calling out Perez for another short field goal of 19 yards to put the visitors ahead by a point. With 13 seconds remaining in the half, a one-yard sneak from Reyna, followed by a successful two-point conversion by way of "The Philly Special" put the Knight Hawks ahead by seven. Northern Arizona attempted a 40-yard field goal from Perez to beat the buzzer, but his effort pulled wide left. With 30 minutes left to play, Vegas held a 27-20 advantage.
To open the second half, Northern Arizona started with the ball and immediately found paydirt, with Jones tossing a gem to RZ McCorker for a 27-yard touchdown to tie the game. Vegas did get a response touchdown of their own, with Wimbush pounding the rock in for a five-yard score. A third missed extra point from Macias again would keep his team down by a point. David Elder would help the Wranglers regain the lea with a two-yard rush to make it 34-33. The Knight Hawks struck quickly to rip the lead right back, with a 20-yard connection from Reyna to Randolph. Despite Macias missing his fourth extra point of the evening, the Knight Hawks possessed a five-point lead with one quarter remaining.
Jones provided the four-yard rushing score early in the fourth, and a successful drop kick from Perez extended the Wrangler lead to three points. A solid defensive effort from Northern Arizona would coerce Vegas into trying a short field goal attempt to draw level. Macias calmly booted the attempt through to make it a fresh game at 42 apiece. A quick 29-yard touchdown pass from Jones to John Maldonado was followed by a second successful drop kick by Perez, which made it an eight-point cushion for the Wranglers. With the Knight Hawks facing a pivotal fourth and goal at the Wrangler two-yard line at the one-minute warning, the home team came up clutch, with Reyna tossing a completion in the endzone to C.J. Windham for a two-yard score. The ensuing two-point conversion for the tie would also turn up successful on a pass from Reyna to Caleb Holley. Vegas would then complete the "Ten-Point Play" trifecta, as Macias kicked a deuce on the ensuing kickoff to put the Knight Hawks ahead by two. Northern Arizona would match that clutch factor with a masterful endgame drive, re-gaining the lead with 14 seconds left with a six-yard rush by Jones and a third drop-kick by Perez. Needing a quick 29 yards in 11 seconds, a trio of deep passes from Reyna failed to connect, and the Wranglers prevailed 58-52.
Joshua Jones had another strong game for the surging Wranglers, completion 14 of 26 pass attempts for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, adding seven carries for 40 yards and three touchdowns. John Maldonado hauled in five receptions for 85 yards and a score, while Kobay White made four catches for 46 yards and added a rushing touchdown. Malik Sonnier paced the defense with nine tackles, Kalen Hicks and Tramond Lofton split a sack apiece, and Kevin Hyde accounted for the only takeaway of the contest by either team with his interception.
Filling in for an unavailable Ja'rome Johnson, Jorge Reyna dealt 11 completions on 16 attempts for 171 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, to go along with 16 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Antonio Wimbush rushed 15 times for 60 yards and a touchdown, with two catches for 11 additional yards. Caleb Holley led Vegas in receiving yards, with two catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Bryce Hampton led the Knight Hawks with 5.5 tackles in the loss.
Both teams moved the ball at will, with Vegas outgaining Northern Arizona 303 to 264 in total offense. Reyna's first quarter interception was the only turnover of the evening, as the Wranglers kept a clean sheet in that department. Discipline played a big part in tonight's surprising result, as the Knight Hawks were flagged six times for 115 yards, and the Wranglers just four times for 16 yards.
The Wranglers continue to dominate the all-time series between the two clubs, with this win adding to their tally which now stands at a 5-1 advantage. The next opportunity to add to that will be during the penultimate week of the season on Saturday July 13, with the return match scheduled in Prescott Valley.
Next week, the Knight Hawks (7-2) will visit the Sioux Falls Storm (2-7) in an inter-conference clash on Saturday June 8 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. After a bye next week, the Wranglers (7-3) are back in action in Week 14 when they visit the Arizona Rattlers (6-4) for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff on Saturday June 15. 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.
6/1/24 --
HENDERSON, NV - A matchup of two provisional Western Conference playoff teams highlighted Saturday night at Lee's Family Forum in Henderson, with the host Knight Hawks welcoming in the Northern Arizona Wranglers. In a fast-paced shootout, the Wranglers would come away with a strong road upset to make it four straight wins, and send the Knight Hawks to a second consecutive loss, with a 58 to 52 final score.
The game began with a turnover, as a pass from Jorge Reyna on the first play from scrimmage was intercepted by Kevin Hyde of the Wranglers. Joshua Jones wasted no time making the home team pay, taking a ten-yard keeper in for a rushing touchdown. Vegas recovered nearly immediately, though, with Reyna going deep to Caleb Holley for a 38-yard touchdown pass, but a missed PAT by Kevin Macias would keep them down one. The Knight Hawks would then keep Northern Arizona out of the endzone, forcing them into a field goal attempt that Axel Perez knocked through from 18 yards. Vegas would then re-gain the lead just before the end of the quarter on a Reyna three-yard rush, giving the Knight Hawks a three-point lead heading into the second quarter.
The Wranglers hopped back out in front on a six-yard rush from Kobay White two minutes into the new frame. The Knight Hawks later countered that with a three-yard rush from Quentin Randolph, but another missed PAT from Macias kept the score line 19-17. Another Wrangler drive would be kept short of the endzone, calling out Perez for another short field goal of 19 yards to put the visitors ahead by a point. With 13 seconds remaining in the half, a one-yard sneak from Reyna, followed by a successful two-point conversion by way of "The Philly Special" put the Knight Hawks ahead by seven. Northern Arizona attempted a 40-yard field goal from Perez to beat the buzzer, but his effort pulled wide left. With 30 minutes left to play, Vegas held a 27-20 advantage.
To open the second half, Northern Arizona started with the ball and immediately found paydirt, with Jones tossing a gem to RZ McCorker for a 27-yard touchdown to tie the game. Vegas did get a response touchdown of their own, with Wimbush pounding the rock in for a five-yard score. A third missed extra point from Macias again would keep his team down by a point. David Elder would help the Wranglers regain the lea with a two-yard rush to make it 34-33. The Knight Hawks struck quickly to rip the lead right back, with a 20-yard connection from Reyna to Randolph. Despite Macias missing his fourth extra point of the evening, the Knight Hawks possessed a five-point lead with one quarter remaining.
Jones provided the four-yard rushing score early in the fourth, and a successful drop kick from Perez extended the Wrangler lead to three points. A solid defensive effort from Northern Arizona would coerce Vegas into trying a short field goal attempt to draw level. Macias calmly booted the attempt through to make it a fresh game at 42 apiece. A quick 29-yard touchdown pass from Jones to John Maldonado was followed by a second successful drop kick by Perez, which made it an eight-point cushion for the Wranglers. With the Knight Hawks facing a pivotal fourth and goal at the Wrangler two-yard line at the one-minute warning, the home team came up clutch, with Reyna tossing a completion in the endzone to C.J. Windham for a two-yard score. The ensuing two-point conversion for the tie would also turn up successful on a pass from Reyna to Caleb Holley. Vegas would then complete the "Ten-Point Play" trifecta, as Macias kicked a deuce on the ensuing kickoff to put the Knight Hawks ahead by two. Northern Arizona would match that clutch factor with a masterful endgame drive, re-gaining the lead with 14 seconds left with a six-yard rush by Jones and a third drop-kick by Perez. Needing a quick 29 yards in 11 seconds, a trio of deep passes from Reyna failed to connect, and the Wranglers prevailed 58-52.
Joshua Jones had another strong game for the surging Wranglers, completion 14 of 26 pass attempts for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, adding seven carries for 40 yards and three touchdowns. John Maldonado hauled in five receptions for 85 yards and a score, while Kobay White made four catches for 46 yards and added a rushing touchdown. Malik Sonnier paced the defense with nine tackles, Kalen Hicks and Tramond Lofton split a sack apiece, and Kevin Hyde accounted for the only takeaway of the contest by either team with his interception.
Filling in for an unavailable Ja'rome Johnson, Jorge Reyna dealt 11 completions on 16 attempts for 171 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, to go along with 16 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Antonio Wimbush rushed 15 times for 60 yards and a touchdown, with two catches for 11 additional yards. Caleb Holley led Vegas in receiving yards, with two catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Bryce Hampton led the Knight Hawks with 5.5 tackles in the loss.
Both teams moved the ball at will, with Vegas outgaining Northern Arizona 303 to 264 in total offense. Reyna's first quarter interception was the only turnover of the evening, as the Wranglers kept a clean sheet in that department. Discipline played a big part in tonight's surprising result, as the Knight Hawks were flagged six times for 115 yards, and the Wranglers just four times for 16 yards.
The Wranglers continue to dominate the all-time series between the two clubs, with this win adding to their tally which now stands at a 5-1 advantage. The next opportunity to add to that will be during the penultimate week of the season on Saturday July 13, with the return match scheduled in Prescott Valley.
Next week, the Knight Hawks (7-2) will visit the Sioux Falls Storm (2-7) in an inter-conference clash on Saturday June 8 with kickoff set for 5:05 p.m. After a bye next week, the Wranglers (7-3) are back in action in Week 14 when they visit the Arizona Rattlers (6-4) for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff on Saturday June 15. 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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