Pirates Dominate Strike Force 60-17
July 17, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates scored on offense, defense and special teams as they defeated the San Diego Strike Force 60-17 at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center. The defending champions of the Indoor Football League finished the regular season with an 11-5 record and now will host a home playoff game as the second seed in the Eastern Division this coming Friday night at 7:05 eastern time. San Diego ends its season with a 3-13 record.
San Diego scored on the first play of the game as quarterback Jorge Reyna threw a 48-yard pass to Kris Lewis to make the score 7-0 as Aeden Johnson added the extra point. The Pirates, led by quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, making his first start since May 21 due to injury, led Massachusetts on a seven-play, 45-yard drive to tie the game as he scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak.
On the ensuing kickoff, Strike Force returner Ishmael Adams was tackled in the end zone by the Pirates Isaac Zico for a one point rouge score to give Massachusetts an 8-7 lead. San Diego answered with a 21-yard field goal by Johnson for a 10-8 advantage, but that would be the last time the Strike Force would lead in the game.
The Pirates began the second quarter with Bennifield throwing a six-yard touchdown pass to Jovon Durante to regain the lead at 15-10. After a defensive stop, the Pirates put together an extended 10-play, 24-yard drive that culminated with an 18-yard field goal by Josh Gable to make the score 18-10. The half ended with the Pirates up by eight as Johnson missed a 41-yard field goal as time expired.
The second half was all Massachusetts. Durante returned the opening kickoff 58 yards for a touchdown and the score was 25-10 Pirates. San Diego went four and out giving the Pirates a short field at the 15-yard line. Three plays later Bennifield scored his second rushing touchdown of the game on a four-yard scamper and Massachusetts was pulling away, 32-10.
The Strike Force scored its only points of the second half as Reyna capped an 11-play, 49-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to end the third quarter with the score reading 32-17.
In the final quarter, Pirates backup quarterback Mike Glass III relieved Bennifield and on his second play, threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Owens to widen the lead to 39-17.
Reyna then drove San Diego deep into Pirates territory, but on first and goal from the four, his pass in the end zone was intercepted by Aarion Maxey-Penton, who returned it 52 yards for a touchdown and a 45-17 advantage. For Maxey-Penton it was his league leading seventh interception of the season. It was his second"pick-six" of 2022 and his 12th interception all-time in the regular season which ties a team record.
The Pirates defense came up with its second interception of the game on the next possession as Debione Renfro picked off Reyna. Two plays later Pirates running back Lukas Denis was into the end zone from four yards out, making the score 51-17. The defense was not finished. Defensive lineman Jamiyus Pittman sacked Reyna in the end zone for a safety. The ensuing kickoff by Johnson was returned by Zico 48 yards for a touchdown to finish the scoring, giving the Pirates a 60-17 victory.
For Massachusetts, Bennifield finished the game 6 of 11 for 43 yards and a touchdown. Glass was just 1 of 1 with a 43-yard TD pass. Thomas Owens was the Pirates leading receiver with two catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. Durante added two catches for ten yards and posted 98 all-purpose yards with two kickoff returns totaling 88 yards. Jalin Marshall was the team's top rusher with 38 yards on five carries.
Defensively, Ezekiel Rose led all tacklers with eight, including one for a loss while Renfro added seven stops.
For San Diego, Reyna was 11 of 27 for 128 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown pass. He was also the leading rusher for the Strike Force with four carries for 23 yards and a score. Lewis was his top target with three receptions for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Linebacker DJ Morgan led the Strike Force with eight tackles including one for a loss.
Indoor Football League Stories from July 17, 2022
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- Pirates Dominate Strike Force 60-17 - Massachusetts Pirates
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