IFL Recap Week One
March 19, 2024 - Indoor Football League (IFL) News Release
The IFL kicked off their 16th season this past weekend, and both games came down to the wire.
To kick off the 2024 IFL season, the Arizona Rattlers traveled to Prescott Valley in a repeat matchup of last year's first round of the playoffs. This time, with a different result.
After winning the 2023 Dollar Loan Center IFL National Championship MVP honors with Bay Area, Dalton Sneed joined the Rattlers, and continued his stellar play. In the first half alone, Sneed went 8/15 for 114 yards and three passing touchdowns - two of which being hauled in by Glen Gibbons Jr. Unfortunately, Sneed left the game with an undisclosed injury early in the third quarter, with Garret Kettle stepping up in Sneed's absence. Kettle finished the game 3/6 for 28 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Arizona was led by running back Shannon Brooks who rushed 13 times for 64 yards and three touchdowns.
On the opposing side, Northern Arizona began the game being led by quarterback duo Joshua Jones who went 6/13 for 36 yards through the air, while adding eight rushes for 40 yards and a score on the ground. Dillon Sterling-Cole took over in the third quarter and went 5/10 for 66 yards and a passing touchdown.
While the NAZ offense was inconsistent, the Special Teams brilliance of Arsiah McCorker kept the Wranglers close. McCorker had seven kick returns for 149 yards and two touchdowns. One of them he started eight-yards deep and took it the distance. Ultimately, the Northern Arizona Wranglers fell short in their opening matchup against the Rattlers 51-40.
In the second matchup of Week One, the Massachusetts Pirates traveled west to face off against the Green Bay Blizzard in what would be a highly contested matchup featuring stellar quarterback play.
Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield came out the gates ready. The fifth-year Pirates quarterback was 13/24 with 111 yards, three touchdowns through the air. On the ground, Bennifield added three more touchdowns on five rushes for 28 yards.
Alongside Bennifield, the Pirates offense was once again anchored by 2023 IFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Jimmie Robinson, who added 78 yards on the ground and 38 yards receiving.
For the Blizzard, they were led by quarterback Max Meylor, who completed 14/21, throwing for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Meylor also showed off his rushing ability by adding 12 rushes for 41 yards, and three touchdowns.
After Green Bay built an 18-point lead with under ten minutes left in the third quarter, the Pirates mounted a furious comeback. Massachusetts scored 22 unanswered points, included a touchdown with fifteen seconds left in the game, to steal the 44-40 victory in Green Bay.
Week Two features six matchups spread across four days, starting with the Sioux Falls Storm visiting the Quad City Steamwheelers on Friday night. That game is scheduled to kickoff at 7:05 p.m. CT. Find this and every game streaming live on YouTube or Caffeine.
Indoor Football League Stories from March 19, 2024
- IFL Coaches Poll - Week One - IFL
- IFL Recap Week One - IFL
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