Pirates Defeat Knight Hawks 49-28
Published on June 11, 2023 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Orlando Pirates News Release
WORCESTER, MA - The Pirates aimed to keep their undefeated home record as they hosted the 4-6 Vegas Knight Hawks at the DCU Center this week. Riding a three-game win streak, the Pirates looked to take sole possession of second place in the eastern conference and did so with a victory.
The Pirates started their first drive and immediately got to work. After some short gains by running back Jimmie Robinson, Anthony Russo would throw deep for wide receiver Isaac Zico. Unfortunately, Russo was hit as he threw the ball and was intercepted by Knight Hawks defensive back Kalan Hicks. The interception would be brought well inside Pirates territory before wide receiver Darren Carrington made an elite defensive play, stripping the ball from Hicks, ending in a Pirates recovery. They'd make good on their second chance with a Carrington touchdown. Josh Gable converted the first PAT of the game, and the Pirates took a 7-0 lead.
The Knight Hawks started their first drive at the six-yard line. The drive would be long, featuring short passes from quarterback Joe Mancuso, and gains from running back Davonte Sapp-Lynch. Pirates corner Leon O'Neal Jr would stop the Knight Hawks offense in their tracks late, breaking up several passes intended for Caleb Holley and Quentin Randolph. The Knight Hawks would settle for the field goal try from Stevie Artigue, however, Pirates defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose would block the attempt. O'Neal Jr would recover, setting up the Pirates offense with first and goal. Jimmie Robinson would cash in this opportunity with a one-yard touchdown putting the Pirates up 14-0 after the successful Gable PAT.
The Knight Hawks would take the ensuing drive into the second quarter. Starting at their own 20-yard line, Joe Mancuso conducted a five-play drive, which featured great gains by Davonte Sapp-Lynch, moving the chains consistently. Facing fourth and one inside Pirates territory, the Knight Hawks scored their first touchdown of the night with a Quentin Randolph reception. Artigue would convert the PAT, and the Knight Hawks got on the board down 14-7 early in the second quarter.
The Pirates' offense went right back to work as Russo found his groove. Zico and Carrington would make huge gains of nine and 16 getting the Pirates inside the Knight Hawks 10 yard-line. Robinson would score his second touchdown of the night, but Gable's run of perfection lately would be stumped here as he missed the PAT. The Pirates remained up on the scoreboard with a 20-7 lead halfway through the second quarter.
Vegas' offense would not go down without a fight, as Joe Mancuso conducted yet another long, and effective scoring drive, finding Quentin Randolph and Davonte Sapp-Lynch for big-time gains. Despite Pirates defensive back Kiante Northington's best efforts and multiple pass breakups, the Knight Hawks found themselves at the Pirates five and Mancuso would scramble into the endzone on second and two. Artigue's PAT attempt was good, closing the Pirates' lead to 20-14 with 4:13 left in the half.
The Pirates would open up the next drive sloppy. After taking a sack on the first play, and a Thomas Owens drop, they'd face third and 17. Thankfully, for the Pirates, Isaac Zico would get a long gain of 11, and Owens would redeem himself with a big gain on fourth and six. Unfortunately for them, the defense came alive and stopped the Pirates, protecting their goal line. Gable would make the field goal, putting the Pirates up 23-14 with 51 seconds left. The Knight Hawks would close with some momentum as Davonte Sapp-Lynch carried the offense to the Pirates' 20-yard line. From there, Joe Mancuso would launch a deep ball to Jonathan Johnson who scored the touchdown. Artigue's PAT would make this game 23-21 headed into halftime.
Vegas started with the football in the third quarter and immediately began moving the chains. After two conversions, they'd face fourth and eight due to a sack from Pirates linebacker Terrance Smith. On fourth down, Mancuso would fire deep for Caleb Holley but miss. The Pirates would take over at midfield and after a 15-yard gain from Robinson, Russo would hand off to Carrington who would score his first rushing touchdown on the season. They went for two but failed, stretching their lead to 29-20 with 8:21 left in the third.
The Knight Hawks opened at midfield after Gable's missed deuce attempt and would once again drive the football down the field with a great ground attack from Sapp-Lynch and Mancuso. Later, facing fourth down, Mancuso would throw off his back foot and the ball would fall short of Randolph, landing perfectly in Northington's hands for the interception. Off of the turnover, the Pirates would get some help from a taunting penalty on the Knight Hawks. After driving to third and one from the Knight Hawks nine, Robinson would score another rushing touchdown. Putting the Pirates up 35-21 after Gable's successful PAT.
Mancuso wouldn't close the third quarter without getting some points on the board, conducting a four-play drive. After Randolph made an acrobatic third-down catch, Mancuso would throw a strike to Caleb Holley in the endzone to put the Knight Hawks within a touchdown. After Artigue's PAT, the Pirates' lead was shrunk to 35-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Pirates would dominate the fourth quarter, converting third and 16 via Russo to Carrington, quickly followed by Robinson scoring his fourth touchdown on the opening drive. After Gable's PAT, the lead was back up to 42-28 with 11:09 in regulation. The Knight Hawks were overwhelmed, and it was visible on the following drive after several penalties would push them back. After a Smith pass-deflection and a delay of game penalty, the Vegas offense faced second and 25. Mancuso would be strip-sacked on the play, with Pirates defensive lineman Trevon Young recovering the fumble - the third turnover of the day for Vegas.
Taking over at the Knight Hawks' 14-yard line, the Pirates would hand off to Robinson and let him do the rest, scoring yet again from five yards out for his fifth rushing touchdown of the day. After Gable's PAT, the Pirates would go up 49-28 with 4:14 left in the game.
Knight Hawks wide receiver Johnson would be thrust into quarterback duties to close the game. Opening at midfield, Davonte Sapp-Lynch would take the handoff and rush well into the Pirates' territory. But on second and goal from the 11, Randolph would throw a fade to the corner and get intercepted by Stephen Roberts, icing the game. Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield would do the honors of closing the game out, as the Pirates beat the Knight Hawks 49-28. Behind Jimmie Robinson's five touchdowns and the defense's four turnovers, the Pirates improve to 8-3, and second in the eastern conference. They'll head into the bye week on a four-game win streak, with a home date against the Tulsa Oilers in two weeks.
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