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IFL Bay Area Panthers

Panthers Host Defending IFL Champion Northern Arizona

April 20, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bay Area Panthers News Release


SAN JOSE, Calif.-The Bay Area Panthers look to snap a two-game skid when they host the defending IFL champion Northern Arizona Wranglers at the SAP Center on Sunday.

The Panthers dropped to 1-2 after a 34-30 home loss to Tucson and trail the undefeated Sugar Skulls by two games in the Western Conference.

Bright spots in the loss were the overall improved play of special teams and a dramatic upgrade in field position along with a defense that came up with five stops.

However, the offense misfired on opportunities to break the game open early. With a chance to go up 19-0 late in the first half, Bay Area surrendered a blocked field goal with the Sugar Skulls taking advantage to cut the lead to 16-7 at the half.

Tucson found its rhythm on offense with a pair of touchdowns to cap a run of 21 straight points while the Panthers were held scoreless in the third period.

Newly acquired receiver Nih-jer Jackson caught a pair of fourth quarter TD passes from Dalton Sneed in his Panthers debut. He was on the bench the first three quarters still learning the system before being unleashed in the final period.

With a chance to regain the lead in the fourth, The Panthers came up short on a 4th and 1 with Sneed dragged for a one-yard loss with 5:41 remaining.

Northern Arizona takes a 2-1 record to the SAP Center after shutting down San Diego 48-9. First-year quarterback Garrett Kettle completed 9 of 11 passes for 183 yards and five touchdowns in the win-taken out of the blowout in the third quarter. Ryan Wisniewski caught five passes for 125 yards and five touchdowns.

The Wranglers defense surrendered the fewest points of any IFL team in a game this season. The previous low was 13 scored by expansion Tulsa in a Week 2 loss to Frisco.

Last season, the Wranglers won all three matchups: 40-29 in Week 2 in Prescott Valley, 65-34 in San Jose in Week 7 and 52-27 two weeks later at the Toyota Center.

Panthers QB Cory Murphy took an end-of-game snap in the third matchup when he was with Northern Arizona. Six members of the Wranglers defense from that game are now with Bay Area: Tevin Homer, Trae Meadows, Kenton Bartlett, Darin Hungerford, Bill Atkins and Marquise Bridges.



Indoor Football League Stories from April 20, 2023


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