Barnstormers Fall to Pirates
April 12, 2024 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Iowa Barnstormers News Release
DES MOINES, IA - The undefeated Massachusetts Pirates rocked the boat to cruise to a 54-29 victory.
The Barnstormers (0-3) headed to the east coast to the Bay State to battle the Massachusetts Pirates (4-0) in their third game of the season Friday night, but were plagued by penalties and turnovers that cost them their chance to get into the win column.
Iowa was able to get to the other side of the field to start the game, but a sack on quarterback Darius-James Peterson derailed the drive and an incompletion left the door open for Massachusetts. They capitalized.
Feeling fresh off of their bye week, the Pirates immediately sailed into the end zone in just one play as quarterback Alejandro Bennifield found wide open wide receiver Isaac Zico for a 37-yard touchdown.
The score didn't stay 7-0 long though. Wide receiver Quian Williams weaved his way through traffic to take the ensuing kickoff 52 yards to the end zone for the Barnstormers' first touchdown of the game to tie it.
While the Iowa defense created third and fourth down situations on the ensuing Massachusetts drive, the Pirates took advantage of penalties with a long drive down the field capped off when Bennifield took the ball into the end zone for a 5-yard rushing score.
A promising drive by the Barnstormers ended abruptly with a blocked field goal and with all of the momentum on their side, the Pirates scored again. Rookie running back Tavion Thomas found a wide-open lane down the middle and extended the lead 21-7.
Just when the Barnstormers needed to turn the tides, rookie defensive back Jefferson Fritz thought he had the game's first turnover. However, a review by the referees saw the nose of the football barely touch the turf to rule the catch incomplete. The Pirates mustered up a field goal before half to give them a 24-7 lead.
The Iowa defense was able to get a much-needed stop to open the third quarter, but another long return allowed Massachusetts to have good field position. Thomas scored his second touchdown of the day on an eight-yard run to push the lead to 30-7.
Head coach Dave Mogensen decided to make a change under center for the first time this season opting for rookie Kyle King who has never played in an Indoor Football League game. King gave the offense a spark, leading the team on a methodical 6-play drive that was capped off by a touchdown by running back Robert Washington.
The Pirates gave the Barnstormers a taste of their own medicine as on the very next play, Zico took the kickoff 52 yards to the end zone to bring the scoring gap back to 24 points at 38-14 midway through the third quarter.
Unphased by the bright lights, King led the team down the field once again and ran the ball into the goal himself for his first IFL touchdown.
Massachusetts also decided to make a change at quarterback, replacing Bennifield with rookie Connor Degenhardt who on his first drive threw to wide receiver Dallas Daniels for a 6-yard score.
With the game practically in hand not in favor of the Barnstormers down 45-21 with less than 10 minutes left in the game, Williams got some consolation with a 37-yard touchdown. However, the Pirates responded right away with a touchdown run from Thomas, his third of the game.
Massachusetts put the exclamation on its 54-29 win with a sack by defensive linemen Julius Turner and Guy Thomas resulting in a safety.
King ended his season debut leading the team with 47 passing yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. Williams led the receiving corps for the second time this season with 59 yards and a touchdown.
The Barnstormers will finally return to Des Moines for their home opener next weekend when they take on the Arizona Rattlers on Saturday April 20 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available now, visit www.theiowabarnstormers.com.
Indoor Football League Stories from April 12, 2024
- Barnstormers Fall to Pirates - Iowa Barnstormers
- Game Preview: Tulsa Oilers at Sioux Falls Storm - Tulsa Oilers
- Oilers Make Change at Kicker - Tulsa Oilers
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- IFL 2024 Week Five Preview - IFL
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