Post by Monika on Jun 15, 2024 20:17:11 GMT -8
Knight Hawks 53, Gladiators 39
6/15/24 --
RIO RANCHO, NM - The Vegas Knight Hawks looked like the same squad who started the season 7-0 as they stepped on the gas early and never let up as they stopped the Duke City Gladiators tonight at Rio Rancho Events center tonight by a 53-39 margin.
The Knight Hawks snapped a three-game skid and maintained their hold of second place in the Western Conference. They stand at 8-3 and are now a game and a half back of the Bay Area Panthers, who play the San Diego Strike Force tomorrow. The Gladiators drop to 1-9 and are in last place in the conference.
Vegas completes the season sweep of Duke City. The Knight Hawks won the first matchup on on April 27, 42-27, at Henderson, Nevada. The Knight Hawks also took a 3-2 in the historical series against the Gladiators.
Vegas received the opening kickoff, but were forced into a turnover on downs by the Gladiators defense. Hassan Rogers fumbled on the Gladiators first possession and the ball was recovered by the Knight Hawks. On the ensuing possession, the Knight Hawks scored on a touchdown run. They followed that up with a deuce from Kevin Macias on the kickoff. The Knight Hawks defense forced Ernesto Lacayo into a 61-yard field goal try, but it went into the stands, effectively turning it into a punt. The Knight Hawks led 9-0 at the end of one quarter.
Macias attempted a 36-yard field goal, but it sailed wide right. The Gladiators got on the scoreboard with a two-yard run around the left guard from Devanaire Concliffe over halfway into the second quarter. Vegas extended its lead with a two-yard scoring run around the left guard from Taurean Taylor. Duke City was driving in Vegas territory when Javin Kilgo was intercepted by Darius Williams of the Knight Hawks. Vegas took advantage of the turnover with a 20-yard touchdown toss from Ja'Rome Johnson to Caleb Holley in the back left corner of the end zone. Duke City was once again driving, but Kilgo was intercepted by James Ceasar of the Knight Hawks with 11 seconds remaining. Macias attempted a 40-yard field goal as time expired, but the ball sailed wide to the left. Vegas went into halftime with a 23-6 lead.
Duke City cut into the deficit with a five-yard scamper up the middle from Concliffe. The Gladiators tried an onside kick, but it was caught by CJ Windham of the Knight Hawks to give Vegas the ball at the Gladiators 13. Holley's two-yard run around the right side into the end zone extended the Knight Hawks' lead to 30-12 with 8:17 remaining in the third. New Mexico native Jordan Byrd scored on an eight-yard run around the left side, but the two-point conversion try pass went incomplete. Johnson scampered across the field, left to right and into the end zone to extend Vegas' lead to 19 points. Rogers then tossed a 45-yard touchdown bomb to Tamorrion Terry, who came to the Gladiators via a trade with the Jacksonville Sharks two weeks ago. The Knight Hawks took a 37-25 lead into the final quarter.
Taylor made it a three-possession game with a 10-yard run around the left side. Byrd pulled the Gladiators closer with a two-yard scoring run up the middle midway through the fourth. Johnson rushed for a two-yard score to all but ice the game with just over three minutes remaining. Rogers found Terry for a 30-yard touchdown bomb in the right side of the end zone. Rogers' run for the two-point conversion pulled Duke City to within two with 2:04 remaining. The Gladiators' Joe Powell recovered the onside kick which gave Duke City the ball back at their own 17-yard line. The Duke City elation was short-lived as Rogers was sacked in the end zone for a safety by Vegas' Lorenzo Hernandez. Quentin Randolph caught Ernesto Lacayo's onside kick attempt which gave the Knight Hawks a chance to run out the clock.
Vegas snapped a three-game losing streak as Johnson once again played solid. For Duke City, this was Rogers' first-ever indoor game and he gained well-over 100 yards rushing on the ground. He and Byrd were signed over the past week.
The Gladiators will host the Bay Area Panthers on June 22 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Knight Hawks will host the Arizona Rattlers on June 22 with kickoff set for 6:05 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.
6/15/24 --
RIO RANCHO, NM - The Vegas Knight Hawks looked like the same squad who started the season 7-0 as they stepped on the gas early and never let up as they stopped the Duke City Gladiators tonight at Rio Rancho Events center tonight by a 53-39 margin.
The Knight Hawks snapped a three-game skid and maintained their hold of second place in the Western Conference. They stand at 8-3 and are now a game and a half back of the Bay Area Panthers, who play the San Diego Strike Force tomorrow. The Gladiators drop to 1-9 and are in last place in the conference.
Vegas completes the season sweep of Duke City. The Knight Hawks won the first matchup on on April 27, 42-27, at Henderson, Nevada. The Knight Hawks also took a 3-2 in the historical series against the Gladiators.
Vegas received the opening kickoff, but were forced into a turnover on downs by the Gladiators defense. Hassan Rogers fumbled on the Gladiators first possession and the ball was recovered by the Knight Hawks. On the ensuing possession, the Knight Hawks scored on a touchdown run. They followed that up with a deuce from Kevin Macias on the kickoff. The Knight Hawks defense forced Ernesto Lacayo into a 61-yard field goal try, but it went into the stands, effectively turning it into a punt. The Knight Hawks led 9-0 at the end of one quarter.
Macias attempted a 36-yard field goal, but it sailed wide right. The Gladiators got on the scoreboard with a two-yard run around the left guard from Devanaire Concliffe over halfway into the second quarter. Vegas extended its lead with a two-yard scoring run around the left guard from Taurean Taylor. Duke City was driving in Vegas territory when Javin Kilgo was intercepted by Darius Williams of the Knight Hawks. Vegas took advantage of the turnover with a 20-yard touchdown toss from Ja'Rome Johnson to Caleb Holley in the back left corner of the end zone. Duke City was once again driving, but Kilgo was intercepted by James Ceasar of the Knight Hawks with 11 seconds remaining. Macias attempted a 40-yard field goal as time expired, but the ball sailed wide to the left. Vegas went into halftime with a 23-6 lead.
Duke City cut into the deficit with a five-yard scamper up the middle from Concliffe. The Gladiators tried an onside kick, but it was caught by CJ Windham of the Knight Hawks to give Vegas the ball at the Gladiators 13. Holley's two-yard run around the right side into the end zone extended the Knight Hawks' lead to 30-12 with 8:17 remaining in the third. New Mexico native Jordan Byrd scored on an eight-yard run around the left side, but the two-point conversion try pass went incomplete. Johnson scampered across the field, left to right and into the end zone to extend Vegas' lead to 19 points. Rogers then tossed a 45-yard touchdown bomb to Tamorrion Terry, who came to the Gladiators via a trade with the Jacksonville Sharks two weeks ago. The Knight Hawks took a 37-25 lead into the final quarter.
Taylor made it a three-possession game with a 10-yard run around the left side. Byrd pulled the Gladiators closer with a two-yard scoring run up the middle midway through the fourth. Johnson rushed for a two-yard score to all but ice the game with just over three minutes remaining. Rogers found Terry for a 30-yard touchdown bomb in the right side of the end zone. Rogers' run for the two-point conversion pulled Duke City to within two with 2:04 remaining. The Gladiators' Joe Powell recovered the onside kick which gave Duke City the ball back at their own 17-yard line. The Duke City elation was short-lived as Rogers was sacked in the end zone for a safety by Vegas' Lorenzo Hernandez. Quentin Randolph caught Ernesto Lacayo's onside kick attempt which gave the Knight Hawks a chance to run out the clock.
Vegas snapped a three-game losing streak as Johnson once again played solid. For Duke City, this was Rogers' first-ever indoor game and he gained well-over 100 yards rushing on the ground. He and Byrd were signed over the past week.
The Gladiators will host the Bay Area Panthers on June 22 for a 5:05 p.m. kickoff. The Knight Hawks will host the Arizona Rattlers on June 22 with kickoff set for 6:05 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