Pirates Earn Tenth Win
July 10, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
SAN JOSE, CA - Pirates quarterback Taz Wilson ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more as Massachusetts ran its record to 10-5 on the season with a 44-28 victory over the Bay Area Panthers. With the win, the defending champions of the Indoor Football League wrap up the second seed in the Eastern Division for the upcoming playoffs.
The defeat was the 14th consecutive loss for the Panthers who fell to 1-14 on the season, yet they did not give up the lead in this game until the third quarter.
Quarterback Isaac Hurd made his first IFL start and got the Panthers off to a seven-nothing lead as he engineered a four-play 35-yard drive. Hurd connected with Daniel Crowell Jr. with a 19-yard touchdown pass with Stevie Artigue adding the extra point.
The Pirates answered with a five-play 26-yard drive with quarterback Taz Wilson carrying it in from a yard out. Josh Gable's point after tied the game at seven all with 7:33 remaining in the quarter.
Bay Area was unfazed as it used its running game to regain the lead. The Panthers kept the ball on the ground for six of the next seven plays to get into the end zone. Duane Gary carried the ball three times including the final 11 yards to make the score 14-7.
Both teams would score on the last possession of the quarter. On first down, Wilson went deep down the middle to Darren Carrington who slipped behind the coverage and then laid out for a 30-yard touchdown catch with one second remaining on the clock. Gable's extra point however was blocked by Brandon Dabney and recovered by Freddie Gaines who returned it for a two-point score and the quarter ended with Bay Area out front 16-13.
The teams started the second quarter exchanging fumbles. On second and 11 on the Pirates 19, Ivan McLennan forced Hurd to fumble and the ball was recovered by Ezekiel Rose. Two plays later, Wilson returned the favor in the red zone as the ball was recovered at the one by linebacker Ja'Vari Anderson. The Panthers converted the turnover into points as Hurd teamed up with Crowell Jr. for the second time with a 16-yard strike. The point after was no good making the score 22-13.
Massachusetts added a 38-yard field goal by Gable just before halftime and went into the locker room trailing 22-16.
In the third quarter the Pirates refocused and turned the game around. On the first play from scrimmage, running back Deddrick Thomas scored on a 29-yard run and with the point after, Massachusetts had its first lead of the game at 23-22.
The Pirates defense turned Bay Area over on downs, giving their offense the ball back at midfield. Wilson ran twice. The second run saw him score from 12 yards out and Massachusetts led 30-22. Bay Area would not back down. Hurd went deep to Dre'Sonte Dorton with a 34-yard touchdown pass. Hurd attempted to tie the game on a two-point conversion play, but was stopped, leaving the Panthers down by two with 4:20 remaining in the quarter.
The Bay Area defense did its part as Nick Brassell intercepted Wilson in the end zone as the quarter came to a close.
The fourth quarter began with Artigue missing his second field goal of the night as his 46-yard attempt went wide left.
The Pirates then went on a four-play, 45-yard drive with Wilson shoveling an eight-yard pass to Jalin Marshall for his first touchdown with Massachusetts. The Pirates led 37-28 with 8:34 to play.
The Massachusetts defense turned the Panthers over on downs again and the Pirates offense only needed to advance the ball 17-yards for a score. Thomas ran for 16 of those yards and Wilson capped it off with a one-yard plunge for the game's final points, making the score 44-28.
The Pirates ended the game with Aarion Maxey-Penton picking off Hurd for his sixth interception of the season.
The Pirates have ensured a home playoff game marking the third time in the four-year history of the franchise that Massachusetts will open its postseason run with a home game.
The Pirates will finish the regular season on Saturday night at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center against the San Diego Strike Force with kickoff set for 7:05.
Indoor Football League Stories from July 10, 2022
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