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IFL Bay Area Panthers

Panthers Beat Tucson 46-34 for First Playoff Victory

July 24, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bay Area Panthers News Release


SAN JOSE--In the first playoff game in franchise history, the Bay Area Panthers scored touchdowns in all three phases of the game on the way to a 46-34 win over the Tucson Sugar Skulls to advance to the Western Conference Championship game.

"It's huge but it's all about our coaching staff," said Offensive Coordinator Dixie Wooten. "We grind every day; we work hard every day; we work from morning until night. We expect this."

The Panthers (11-5) struck first when Tevaughn Grant scored his first professional touchdown on a 4-5-yard fumble return with a 10:02 to play in the first quarter.

"It's important not only for that game but other teams watching us," said Grant. "People have to see with this defense that we're bringing and ready to strike every single time."

After forcing a turnover on downs, the Panthers added on with Justin Rankin scoring from 10 yards out to cap a 2-play, 17-yard possession.

Following another stop, the Panthers expanded the lead when Dalton Sneed connected with Nih Jackson from five yards out and after the Sugar Skulls were tackled in the end zone on the ensuing kickoff for a one-point rouge, Bay Area led 22-0 after the first.

Tucson (9-7) sliced into the lead with quarterback Ramone Atkins scoring on a pair of short rushing scores-the second cut the lead to 22-13 with 35 seconds left in the half.

Bay Area countered when Marquise Bridges returned the kickoff 35 yards for a touchdown to boost the lead to 29-13 at the break. It was Bridges' first score since the state title game during his senior year of high school.

"That's always the plan to get the two-for-one possession game at the end of the half so that was big," said Bridges.

The Panthers expanded the advantage on the first possession of the third when Jackson caught his second TD pass from Sneed for a 36-13 edge with 13 minutes left in the period.

Tucson wasn't finished as Atkins connected three times to Carrington Thompson while the Panthers could muster a 35-yard field goal from Craig Peterson in the stretch as the Skulls cut the lead to 39-34 with 3:35 left.

But Rankin ended the suspense with a 4-yard run with 43 seconds left to cap a 6 play, 43 yard drive.

For Wooten, it was a chance to end the season of Tucson Head Coach Hurtis Chinn. The two are extremely close with a history that goes back to their days with the River City Rage in 2009. Chinn was Wooten's play caller with Tucson and was elevated to Head Coach after Wooten was fired following last season. The two speak almost daily.

"He's my brother but at the end of the day, someone's got to win and someone's got to lose. Like I told him good luck next season and I'm glad he's not telling me good luck next season."

One season after winning one game, the Panthers are one win away from playing for the IFL National Championship. Standing in the way is Northern Arizona after a stunning win in Phoenix against the top-seed Arizona Rattlers.

Defensive Coordinator Rob Keefe will face the team he coached for last season on the way to a championship.

"It's poetic, right?" said Keefe. "It's awesome coming down to this to be in the final four...they're going to be prepared because they know us well and we'll be prepared because we know them well. They're going to give they're all because they're fighters."

The Panthers and Wranglers split their regular season matchups and will play for a trip to Vegas next Saturday at 6:05 at the SAP Center. The Dollar Loan Center IFL National Championship will be the following Saturday, Aug. 5 in Henderson, Nev.



Indoor Football League Stories from July 24, 2023


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