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IFL Bay Area Panthers

Panthers Travel to Duke City for Regular Season Finale

July 14, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Bay Area Panthers News Release


Before taking the field at the Rio Rancho Events Center, the Panthers will know what's at stake in the final game of the regular season.

Bay Area heads to the weekend with an outside chance of the top seed in the West but needs some help. Trailing Arizona by a game, the Panthers need the Rattlers to fall at home to Northern Arizona before beating Duke City the next day to secure home field advantage through the conference playoffs.

In that scenario, both the Panthers and Rattlers would end the season at 10-5 but the tie-breaker would go to Bay Area by virtue of having a better conference winning percentage. If the Rattlers beat the Wranglers for a third time, then Arizona would get the top seed by winning its final seven games since a one-point loss at Vegas on May 13 in Drew Powell's return to the lineup.

The Panthers clinched a first-round game at home after a record-setting 75-40 win over San Diego on Monday. Bay Area set franchise records for points and rushing yards in the win with both receiver JT Stokes and Trae Meadows winning league player of the week awards.

In the first matchup with the Gladiators last month, the Panthers left the SAP Center with a 69-52 win in a game that was up for grabs late in the third quarter. Bay Area trailed three times in the first half but rallied and created separation when Imeek Watkins returned the second half kickoff 56 yards for a touchdown for a 42-31 lead. The Gladiators pulled within a single score three times before the Panthers pulled away with both Antwon Kincade and Meadows picking off Charles McCullum in the fourth to secure the win.

Justin Rankin set a team-record with 100 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Dalton Sneed went 9-11 passing for 103 yards and three scores. Bay Area set a team record with 167 yards on the ground.

In the tale of the tape, the Panthers are third in scoring at 52.4 points per game with Gladiators putting up 42.9 points, ranking 10th. Bay Area is fourth in scoring defense at 44.7 points per game with Duke City is 12th at 49.8 points per contest.

If numbers don't lie, the running game will be a huge factor just like the first meeting. The Gladiators have been gashed on the ground, last in the league in rushing defense while the Panthers are third in rushing offense at 96 yards a game. However, Bay Area's rushing attack has become more diverse with the emergence of Stokes carrying the football (three rushes for 46 yards and two scores against San Diego). Few teams can match the number of options in the running the game like the Panthers with Rankin, Sneed and Stokes. Rankin is second in rushing yards and tops among backs with rushing touchdowns with 33. Duke City can't load up on stopping Rankin and expect that to be enough to stop the Panthers from running the football.

With the Rattlers and Wranglers playing Saturday, both teams will know how much energy needs to expended to win. Duke City is expected to honor the game and compete at a high level if the Panthers are playing for the top seed. Bay Area would like to head to the playoffs with momentum before the first-round game at home on July 23.

Kickoff is set for 2:05 Pacific from Rio Rancho, New Mexico.



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