Backup QB Harrington Steps up in 62-57 Win over San Antonio
May 6, 2024 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Frisco Fighters News Release
SAN ANTONIO - A serendipitous start gave way to a quarterback quandary.
By accounting for six scores - three passing and as many rushing, the Fighters' Larry Harrington stepped up after reigning Indoor Football League MVP TJ Edwards departed with an injury. Frisco avenged last week's loss, defeating the San Antonio Gunslingers on the road, 62-57.
Off the bat, the Fighters (5-1) snatched a possession on Bryce Crawford's line-drive opening kick, which ricocheted off a San Antonio up man and was recovered by Frisco. Edwards cashed in, capping off the Fighters' initial march with a three-yard quarterback keeper.
Two plays from scrimmage later, San Antonio's Sam Castronova linked up with NyQuan Murray for a 33-yard air strike, which kicker TC Stevens followed with a deuce. Frisco then turned the ball over on downs and Castronova and Murray soon connected for a six-yard score to get the second frame underway.
Harrington, the understudy, entered the contest and punched it in from two yards out to finish off a four-play, 30-yard drive shortly after. Later in the second quarter, his five-yard connection with Phazione McClurge answered Castronova's seven-yard touchdown pass to DJ Myers 5:42 earlier.
With Charles Williams draped around him, Castronova managed to fling a five-yard pass to Austin Upshaw with 32 seconds to go in the first half. Harrington dumped it off to Martez Carter, who skittered in for a 23-yard reply 24 ticks later. Harrington's ensuing two-point conversion surge evened matters prior to the midway point.
McClurge climbed over the Gunslingers' Clifton Duck to grab his second touchdown reception of the night, a 21-yard effort on a 4th-and-6 with 3:37 gone by in the third quarter. Solomon Wise's sack of Castronova put the Fighters in good position to make a stop after that, but San Antonio's signal-caller floated a 30-yard aerial to Myers on 4th-and-18.
On 4th-and-goal from the four-yard line, Harrington feigned a pitch to Carter, rolled to his left, and bailed back to his right to barrel in and push Frisco ahead once again. Castronova punched back 1:18 into the fourth quarter, wheeling in from two yards out to help make it 43-43.
Lionell McConnell made a pair of impact plays after that, returning the following kickoff for a touchdown and picking off a hurried Castronova pass off a botched extra-point attempt and taking that back for two points.
The hosts were trying to level things at 50 points after Castronova rumbled in from short-yardage to tie it up once more. Stevens' second deuce of the night kept the Gunslingers (2-4) within a point.
Harrington cushioned his side's lead with a six-yard ground score with 6:05 to play, then Castronova scampered in once more - a four-yarder with 50 seconds left. Ethan Caselberry thwarted his delivery to Myers on the two-point attempt that would've tied it up, Crawford added a long field goal with 23 seconds remaining, and McClurge intercepted Castronova's last-gasp attempt to seal the win.
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