Post by alecs on Jun 30, 2024 7:24:40 GMT -8
Strike Force 57, Wranglers 43
6/29/24 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - Two provisional playoff teams engaged in battle on Saturday night at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona. The Wranglers, entering tonight ranked third in the Western Conference at eight wins and four losses, hosted the fourth-ranked Strike Force in a game with pivotal playoff implications. It marked the final stop for the Strike Force on their season-long three game road trip. San Diego would complete that stretch unblemished, as key plays on both sides of the football drove the Strike Force to an impressive 57-43 victory over a Wrangler team that had entered this evening winners in four of their last five games.
This game started out fast, with the Wranglers scoring first just moments into the game on a chunk play, a 40-yard touchdown pass from Josh Jones to RZ McCorker. Two plays later, the Strike Force would equal that effort with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis to Arthur Jackson III. Northern Arizona pulled back in front with a seven-play touchdown drive, with Jones taking a one-yard keeper across the goal line. The lead would stay at six after Axel Perez booted the PAT off the left goalpost, but he would immediately make up for that with a perfect kickoff, which San Diego failed to take out of the endzone. Normally a rouge, the play was ultimately ruled a safety for the Wranglers due to an illegal block penalty against San Diego took place in the endzone. And in a crazier twist, the ensuing kickoff to the Wranglers would be fumbled by McCorker and recovered by San Diego. So the Strike Force held possession of the ball at the end of the first quarter, staring down an eight-point deficit.
San Diego would capitalize on the sudden special teams blunder, with Rudy Johnson rushing in a six-yard touchdown. Connor "Dropkick" Mangan would then tie the game with a successful drop kick on the point-after. The Wranglers recovered with a fairly quick scoring drive ending with a three-yard rush by receiver John Maldonado. The Strike Force answered Maldonado's score with Jackson's second receiving touchdown of the contest from 22 yards out. Northern Arizona would be forced into settling for a 33-yard field goal attempt by Perez on their next possession, but Perez pushed it wide right, giving San Diego another chance at some points before the end of the half. With 30 seconds to go, Jackson completed his hat-trick with a 13-yard pass from Davis, which gave the Strike Force a 29-22 halftime advantage.
Beginning the second half with the ball, San Diego sought to add to the seven-point lead. They got just that - with the usual suspect Jackson bringing in an 11-yard receiving touchdown. Northern Arizona would get a touchdown to close the gap, with an eight-yard pass from Jones to David Elder. Shortly after, Johnson helped San Diego get back in front by double-digits with a nine-yard receiving score from Davis. Again, the Wranglers punched back with a 15-yard pass from Jones to Maldonado. At the end of the third, San Diego stayed on top 43-36.
The Wranglers starting the final quarter by forcing San Diego into a fourth-down attempt, and they would capitalize when Travion Banks intercepted a deep pass from Davis, giving Northern Arizona a shot at an equalizing scoring drive. But their efforts got thwarted by a close call on the field on a run by Elder. After review, the ruling was that he lost possession of the ball, with direct recovery by Kishawn Walker of San Diego. And sure enough, there to haunt the Wranglers for a fifth time on the evening, was Arthur Jackson III on the receiving end of a 14-yard touchdown pass from Davis. The Wranglers were at least able to block the extra point attempt, holding their deficit at 13 points. The home side was able to cut the lead back to one possession with a nine-yard pass from Jones to Kobay White. San Diego, however, was not finished, entrusting their star receiver to add to his career-best performance. Jackson hauled in touchdown number six from ten yards out on a one-handed catch, and Mangan's second converted drop kick gave San Diego a 14-point lead. The Wranglers attempted for a quick score for a last-gasp comeback bid, but a fourth down pass from Jones fell incomplete. San Diego took over on downs, knelt out the clock, and got out of Prescott Valley with the 57-43 win.
Nate Davis put in another clinical performance tonight, completing 19 of 26 pass attempts for 211 yards, with seven touchdowns to just one interception. Arthur Jackson was no-doubt the man of the evening, with ten catches for 162 yards and six touchdowns. Rudy Johnson rushed and caught for a touchdown, while Elijah Lilly came down with six catches for 38 yards. Tariq Thompson was the team leader in tackles at 7.5, while Ja'Quan Artis recorded a sack and forced fumble, and Kishawn Walker recorded an interception.
Joshua Jones was solid despite the loss, completing 18 of 27 passes for 204 yards, with four touchdowns and one interception, adding nine carries for 48 yards and an additional score. John Maldonado had six catches for 72 yards and a receiving touchdown, paired with a rushing touchdown. RZ McCorker (4/69/1), David Elder (6/36/1), and Kobay White (2/27/1) also had receiving touchdowns for the Wranglers tonight. Gurvan Hall Jr. recorded five tackles, Kalen Hicks recorded a sack, and Travion Banks got his hands on an interception.
Northern Arizona held the total yardage advantage tonight, outgaining San Diego 263 to 215. The Wranglers were a minus-two on the turnover margin, with three turnovers compared to the Strike Force's one. This was a fairly clean game on the officiating front, with both teams flagged just three times, costing the Strike Force 26 yards and the Wranglers 17.
The Strike Force also complete a season series sweep of the Wranglers with tonight's win, after having won the prior matchup back on May 11 in Pechanga Arena, 54-45. All-time, Northern Arizona still holds a four games to two advantage over their California-based foes.
Now standing at third in the West, the Strike Force (9-5) will host the Vegas Knight Hawks (9-4) on Saturday July 6 in a potential two-versus-three preview, with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. Dropping outside the cutoff line in fifth place, the Wranglers (8-5) will try to climb back into playoff position in a visit with the one-seeded Bay Area Panthers (11-2) on Sunday July 7, set 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 --
PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ - Two provisional playoff teams engaged in battle on Saturday night at Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona. The Wranglers, entering tonight ranked third in the Western Conference at eight wins and four losses, hosted the fourth-ranked Strike Force in a game with pivotal playoff implications. It marked the final stop for the Strike Force on their season-long three game road trip. San Diego would complete that stretch unblemished, as key plays on both sides of the football drove the Strike Force to an impressive 57-43 victory over a Wrangler team that had entered this evening winners in four of their last five games.
This game started out fast, with the Wranglers scoring first just moments into the game on a chunk play, a 40-yard touchdown pass from Josh Jones to RZ McCorker. Two plays later, the Strike Force would equal that effort with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Nate Davis to Arthur Jackson III. Northern Arizona pulled back in front with a seven-play touchdown drive, with Jones taking a one-yard keeper across the goal line. The lead would stay at six after Axel Perez booted the PAT off the left goalpost, but he would immediately make up for that with a perfect kickoff, which San Diego failed to take out of the endzone. Normally a rouge, the play was ultimately ruled a safety for the Wranglers due to an illegal block penalty against San Diego took place in the endzone. And in a crazier twist, the ensuing kickoff to the Wranglers would be fumbled by McCorker and recovered by San Diego. So the Strike Force held possession of the ball at the end of the first quarter, staring down an eight-point deficit.
San Diego would capitalize on the sudden special teams blunder, with Rudy Johnson rushing in a six-yard touchdown. Connor "Dropkick" Mangan would then tie the game with a successful drop kick on the point-after. The Wranglers recovered with a fairly quick scoring drive ending with a three-yard rush by receiver John Maldonado. The Strike Force answered Maldonado's score with Jackson's second receiving touchdown of the contest from 22 yards out. Northern Arizona would be forced into settling for a 33-yard field goal attempt by Perez on their next possession, but Perez pushed it wide right, giving San Diego another chance at some points before the end of the half. With 30 seconds to go, Jackson completed his hat-trick with a 13-yard pass from Davis, which gave the Strike Force a 29-22 halftime advantage.
Beginning the second half with the ball, San Diego sought to add to the seven-point lead. They got just that - with the usual suspect Jackson bringing in an 11-yard receiving touchdown. Northern Arizona would get a touchdown to close the gap, with an eight-yard pass from Jones to David Elder. Shortly after, Johnson helped San Diego get back in front by double-digits with a nine-yard receiving score from Davis. Again, the Wranglers punched back with a 15-yard pass from Jones to Maldonado. At the end of the third, San Diego stayed on top 43-36.
The Wranglers starting the final quarter by forcing San Diego into a fourth-down attempt, and they would capitalize when Travion Banks intercepted a deep pass from Davis, giving Northern Arizona a shot at an equalizing scoring drive. But their efforts got thwarted by a close call on the field on a run by Elder. After review, the ruling was that he lost possession of the ball, with direct recovery by Kishawn Walker of San Diego. And sure enough, there to haunt the Wranglers for a fifth time on the evening, was Arthur Jackson III on the receiving end of a 14-yard touchdown pass from Davis. The Wranglers were at least able to block the extra point attempt, holding their deficit at 13 points. The home side was able to cut the lead back to one possession with a nine-yard pass from Jones to Kobay White. San Diego, however, was not finished, entrusting their star receiver to add to his career-best performance. Jackson hauled in touchdown number six from ten yards out on a one-handed catch, and Mangan's second converted drop kick gave San Diego a 14-point lead. The Wranglers attempted for a quick score for a last-gasp comeback bid, but a fourth down pass from Jones fell incomplete. San Diego took over on downs, knelt out the clock, and got out of Prescott Valley with the 57-43 win.
Nate Davis put in another clinical performance tonight, completing 19 of 26 pass attempts for 211 yards, with seven touchdowns to just one interception. Arthur Jackson was no-doubt the man of the evening, with ten catches for 162 yards and six touchdowns. Rudy Johnson rushed and caught for a touchdown, while Elijah Lilly came down with six catches for 38 yards. Tariq Thompson was the team leader in tackles at 7.5, while Ja'Quan Artis recorded a sack and forced fumble, and Kishawn Walker recorded an interception.
Joshua Jones was solid despite the loss, completing 18 of 27 passes for 204 yards, with four touchdowns and one interception, adding nine carries for 48 yards and an additional score. John Maldonado had six catches for 72 yards and a receiving touchdown, paired with a rushing touchdown. RZ McCorker (4/69/1), David Elder (6/36/1), and Kobay White (2/27/1) also had receiving touchdowns for the Wranglers tonight. Gurvan Hall Jr. recorded five tackles, Kalen Hicks recorded a sack, and Travion Banks got his hands on an interception.
Northern Arizona held the total yardage advantage tonight, outgaining San Diego 263 to 215. The Wranglers were a minus-two on the turnover margin, with three turnovers compared to the Strike Force's one. This was a fairly clean game on the officiating front, with both teams flagged just three times, costing the Strike Force 26 yards and the Wranglers 17.
The Strike Force also complete a season series sweep of the Wranglers with tonight's win, after having won the prior matchup back on May 11 in Pechanga Arena, 54-45. All-time, Northern Arizona still holds a four games to two advantage over their California-based foes.
Now standing at third in the West, the Strike Force (9-5) will host the Vegas Knight Hawks (9-4) on Saturday July 6 in a potential two-versus-three preview, with kickoff set for 6:05 p.m. Dropping outside the cutoff line in fifth place, the Wranglers (8-5) will try to climb back into playoff position in a visit with the one-seeded Bay Area Panthers (11-2) on Sunday July 7, set 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.
-AS