Post by DiamondThief on Jun 29, 2024 22:15:17 GMT -8
Panthers 37, Knight Hawks 35
6/29/24 --
HENDERSON, NV - It was a defensive battle, but the Bay Area Panthers did just enough to get past the Vegas Knight Hawks by a tally of 37-35 to clinch a playoff berth tonight at Lee's Family Forum.
The win keeps the Panthers in first place in the Western Conference with an IFL-best 11-2 record. They punched their ticket to the postseason for the second consecutive season. They also avenged their 62-43 loss to the Knight Hawks in San Jose on May 4. Vegas falls to 9-4 and remains in second place in the conference, though just above the San Diego Strike Force and Arizona Rattlers by a half game following tonight's slate of action.
The top four teams in each conference reach the IFL playoffs. The win ties the overall series between the teams at 3-3 with each team holding 2-1 records on the road.
Felix Harper, starting in place of Daquan Neal, got the Panthers on the board first with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Williams. The Knight Hawks got on the board later in the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown from Ja'Rome Johnson to CJ Windham. Bay Area led 7-6 at the end of the opening quarter.
The second quarter started out belonging to the Panthers. Harper found JT Stokes for a 14-yard touchdown toss 10 seconds into the second quarter. Harper's eight-yard rush with just under 10 minutes to go put the Panthers up 21-6. They added to that lead when Harper found Stokes for a 21-yard score at the 3:22 mark. Vegas started making its comeback. Johnson found Justin Collins for a five-yard score with 49 seconds left. The Knight Hawks got the ball back and scored just 23 seconds later when Johnson hit Collins for a 25-yard touchdown. The Panthers extended their lead with a 25-yard field goal from Stevie Artigue as time expired in the half. They took a 31-20 lead into halftime.
Macias' 33-yard field goal was the lone score of the third and pulled the Knight Hawks to within eight points, leading to a Panthers' 31-23 lead by the end of the third.
Johnson rushed for a one-yard score which pulled Vegas to within two points (the two-point conversation failed) early in the fourth. Shane Simpson's one-yard burst up the middle with 8:09 left put the Panthers up by eight. Johnson tossed a 24-yard touchdown to Windham and the contest was at two points. After the Knight Hawks recovered a fumble by Stokes deep in their own territory, they had one chance left. They drove to midfield and on fourth down, Macias' 40-yard field goal to take the lead sailed wide left.
Harper completed 15 of 20 passes for 169 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He also gained 67 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown. Simpson added eight rushes for 58 yards and a score. Joshua Tomas had six catches for 67 yards, while Stokes hauled in three passes for 41 yards and two scores. Antwon Kincade had 10 tackles to lead the Panthers' defense and B.J. Taufalele recorded a sack.
Johnson went 13 of 20 for 145 yards with four touchdowns and no picks. He rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown as well. Collins' two touchdowns came along with five receptions for 59 yards. Windham had three catches for 35 yards and his two scores. Bryce Hampton's 6.5 tackles and interception paced the Knight Hawks' defense. Jaylen Alexander and Kory Woodruff each had a sack.
The Panthers gained 288 yards in total offense to 209 for the Knight Hawks. Most of that game in the running game where they outgained the Knight Hawks by 52 yards. They also had an edge of 25 yards in the passing game. Bay Area committed 12 penalties for a whipping 177 yards, while Vegas was flagged seven times for 44 yards.
The Knight Hawks will visit the San Diego Strike Force on July 6 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. The Panthers will host the Northern Arizona Wranglers on July 7 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. 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.
6/29/24 --
HENDERSON, NV - It was a defensive battle, but the Bay Area Panthers did just enough to get past the Vegas Knight Hawks by a tally of 37-35 to clinch a playoff berth tonight at Lee's Family Forum.
The win keeps the Panthers in first place in the Western Conference with an IFL-best 11-2 record. They punched their ticket to the postseason for the second consecutive season. They also avenged their 62-43 loss to the Knight Hawks in San Jose on May 4. Vegas falls to 9-4 and remains in second place in the conference, though just above the San Diego Strike Force and Arizona Rattlers by a half game following tonight's slate of action.
The top four teams in each conference reach the IFL playoffs. The win ties the overall series between the teams at 3-3 with each team holding 2-1 records on the road.
Felix Harper, starting in place of Daquan Neal, got the Panthers on the board first with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Williams. The Knight Hawks got on the board later in the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown from Ja'Rome Johnson to CJ Windham. Bay Area led 7-6 at the end of the opening quarter.
The second quarter started out belonging to the Panthers. Harper found JT Stokes for a 14-yard touchdown toss 10 seconds into the second quarter. Harper's eight-yard rush with just under 10 minutes to go put the Panthers up 21-6. They added to that lead when Harper found Stokes for a 21-yard score at the 3:22 mark. Vegas started making its comeback. Johnson found Justin Collins for a five-yard score with 49 seconds left. The Knight Hawks got the ball back and scored just 23 seconds later when Johnson hit Collins for a 25-yard touchdown. The Panthers extended their lead with a 25-yard field goal from Stevie Artigue as time expired in the half. They took a 31-20 lead into halftime.
Macias' 33-yard field goal was the lone score of the third and pulled the Knight Hawks to within eight points, leading to a Panthers' 31-23 lead by the end of the third.
Johnson rushed for a one-yard score which pulled Vegas to within two points (the two-point conversation failed) early in the fourth. Shane Simpson's one-yard burst up the middle with 8:09 left put the Panthers up by eight. Johnson tossed a 24-yard touchdown to Windham and the contest was at two points. After the Knight Hawks recovered a fumble by Stokes deep in their own territory, they had one chance left. They drove to midfield and on fourth down, Macias' 40-yard field goal to take the lead sailed wide left.
Harper completed 15 of 20 passes for 169 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He also gained 67 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown. Simpson added eight rushes for 58 yards and a score. Joshua Tomas had six catches for 67 yards, while Stokes hauled in three passes for 41 yards and two scores. Antwon Kincade had 10 tackles to lead the Panthers' defense and B.J. Taufalele recorded a sack.
Johnson went 13 of 20 for 145 yards with four touchdowns and no picks. He rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown as well. Collins' two touchdowns came along with five receptions for 59 yards. Windham had three catches for 35 yards and his two scores. Bryce Hampton's 6.5 tackles and interception paced the Knight Hawks' defense. Jaylen Alexander and Kory Woodruff each had a sack.
The Panthers gained 288 yards in total offense to 209 for the Knight Hawks. Most of that game in the running game where they outgained the Knight Hawks by 52 yards. They also had an edge of 25 yards in the passing game. Bay Area committed 12 penalties for a whipping 177 yards, while Vegas was flagged seven times for 44 yards.
The Knight Hawks will visit the San Diego Strike Force on July 6 with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. The Panthers will host the Northern Arizona Wranglers on July 7 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. 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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