Fighters Take Flight in Bismarck
Published on July 15, 2021 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Frisco Fighters News Release
FRISCO, Texas - The Frisco Fighters (6-1) are headed to North Dakota to face the Bismarck Bucks (5-5) on Friday, July 16 at 6:05 p.m. CT for the first time in franchise history.
The Fighters are coming off a close win at home, 42-35, against the Barnstormers. The team is no stranger to close games - all of Frisco's games have ended in a one-score margin. In a game of inches, the Fighters are learning the secret to coming out on top.
"Executing," said head coach Clint Dolezel. "In the last basically four to five minutes of the game, both offense and defense have to be on the same page. Defensively we're trying to get the ball back - you can't have penalties on third and fourth down. On the offensive side, it's just taking care of the football and using the clock and using our timeouts wisely."
The Fighters are currently ranked No. 2 in the league and are 4-0 on the road. With six games left until the end of regular season, the Fighters are entering the second half of the season with playoffs in mind.
"We've been pretty good on the road, it's nice to just get back out there with the 'us against the world' mentality. Each win we get is getting us closer to the end and to the playoffs," said Dolezel.
This week, the team has been preparing to face Bismarck's dynamic offense, which has lots of moving parts. The Bucks are coming off their second loss in a row and looking to get their sixth win of the season. They recently signed two new quarterbacks - Caleb Lewis, LSU alum and formerly with the Duke City Gladiators, and Kelly Bryant from the University of Missouri. In his first game with the Bucks, Lewis threw for 154 yards with four passing touchdowns and one on the ground. Wide receiver JT Stokes is another offensive weapon, who has 445 receiving yards along with 12 receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown on the season.
Defensively, the Bucks play a lot of man coverage. Defensive back Malik Duncan is a key player who is tied for second in the league in tackles for loss (8.5). On the season, he has 16 solo tackles and 30 total tackles. Defensive back Deion Carter is another dynamic player with 33 solo tackles, 43 total tackles, eight pass breakups, and three forced fumbles this season.
The Fighters continue to utilize a dual quarterback system with Jonathan Bane as the starter and Jerrod Heard as the running option. Last game, Heard ran in a key touchdown with 0:03 left on the clock to secure the win, earning his second Player of the Game honors. The two quarterbacks have a combined 1,273 of total offensive yards (passing, rushing, and receiving) on the year. running back DeMarcus Felton has scored 13 touchdowns on the ground and two in the air for a total of 353 yards this season. Felton is tied for the second-most rushing touchdowns in the league and tied for first in the IFL with the longest run of the season (44 yards).
Defensive lineman Charles Williams continues to show out on the defensive front. He leads the league in sacks (6.5) and is second in the league in tackles for loss per game with 1.07. On the season, Williams has 20 total tackles, three pass breakups, three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and three blocked kicks. Defensive back Joel Dullary has returned after sitting out three games with an injury. In four games, Dullary recorded 11 solo tackles, 17 total tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups. Last week against the Barnstormers, Dullary was the second leading tackler on the team with five total tackles and one pass breakup on his return.
The Fighters are back home at Comerica Center on Saturday, July 24 at 7:05 p.m. CT as they take on the Northern Arizona Wranglers. Live stream the game on the IFL's YouTube channel or tune into KHYI 95.3 to hear Dave Barnett call the game.
Indoor Football League Stories from July 15, 2021
- Pirates Look to Rattle Arizona - Massachusetts Pirates
- Shock to Hold Pep Rally - Spokane Shock
- Week 13 Previews - IFL
- Fighters Take Flight in Bismarck - Frisco Fighters
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