IFL Massachusetts Pirates

Pirates Face Rattlers in Saturday Showdown

Published on May 13, 2022 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release


WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates, the defending champions of the Indoor Football League, will return to the site of their first-ever title, when they face the Arizona Rattlers at the Phoenix Suns Arena on Saturday night with the kickoff slated for 9:05 eastern time.

The Pirates enter the game with a 5-2 record, coming off an impressive 51-30 victory on Monday over the San Diego Strike Force. Arizona sports the best record in the IFL at 6-1, but lost its last game to the Tucson Sugar Skulls, 74-63 last Saturday. This will be the third meeting all-time between the two clubs. The Pirates won both match-ups last season.

The Last Time Out:

Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield threw three touchdown passes and ran for two scores in Massachusetts 51-30 victory over San Diego. Bennifield finished the game 11 of 15 for 101 yards with three touchdowns and an interception.Running back Deddrick Thomas was the Pirates leading rusher with eight carries for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Isaac Zico caught five passes for 57 yards and a score while wideout Thomas Owens had a pair of touchdown receptions, posting three receptions for 27 yards. Linebacker Naashon Hughes led the defense with nine tackles while Aarion Maxey-Penton and Khalid Wooten added interceptions.

Rattlers quarterback Drew Powell had an impressive showing in the 74-63 setback vs. Tucson. Powell was 16 of 28 passing for 203 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran ten times for 81 yards and four scores. His top target was Braxton Haley who had five receptions for 96 yards and two touchdowns. The Rattlers defense had three sacks in the game and linebacker Sal Brightwell had seven tackles to lead Arizona.

The Last Meeting:

Garrett Hartley kicked a game winning 31-yard field goal in overtime as the Pirates defeated the Rattlers 37-34 to win the United Bowl claiming the 2021 Indoor Football League Championship in Phoenix.

Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield was the game's Most Valuable Player as he was 10 of 23 passing for 83 yards and a touchdown (with two interceptions) and he was also the Pirates' leading rusher with 56 yards on ten carries with two scores.

The Pirates never trailed in the game but the final 19 seconds were more like a Hollywood script. With Massachusetts leading 34-27, Hartey attempted to give the Pirates a few final points, but his 36-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Lamar Mady and returned by Nick D'Avonzo to the Pirates three-yard line. Two plays later Rattlers quarterback Drew Powell was into the endzone from three yards out and with the point after the game was tied at 34 with ten seconds to play. The Pirates had one more chance to win it in regulation but a 42-yard field goal try by Hartley was no good and the game headed to overtime.

The Rattlers had the ball first and drove to the Pirates two. On second and goal Khalid Wooten forced Powell to fumble into the endzone where Aaron Maxey-Penton recovered.

After the Pirates failed to advance past the Arizona 17, they called on Hartley once again. The former Super Bowl Champion with the New Orleans Saints became an IFL Champ along with the rest of his teammates as his 31-yard attempt sailed through the uprights for the victory.

The Pirates, considered to be more of a passing team, out gained the leagues' top rushing offense, running for 111 yards on 26 attempts with three rushing touchdowns. Arizona actually out-passed the Pirates as Powell was nine of 16 for 136 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Powell was also the games leading rusher with 74 yards on 18 carries with three scores.

Team Stats:

The Pirates are scoring 40.3 points per game while Arizona averages 55.1 points per contest. The Rattlers average 256.3 yards per game which lead the IFL. Massachusetts is currently third averaging 150.0 passing yards a night while Arizona ranks just ahead of the Pirates averaging 160.0 passing yards.

On defense, two of the league's best will be on display as Massachusetts ranks fourth allowing 33.0 points per game while the Rattlers are third in the IFL giving up 31.6 points per night. The Pirates are second in the IFL with 13 sacks while Arizona quarterbacks have been sacked 16 times, second most in the league.

Players to Watch:

Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield is third in the IFL averaging 156.0 passing yards per game. This season he is 87 of 135 (60%) for

Rattlers QB Drew Powell is tied for first in the league with 26 touchdown passes. His numbers are 87 of 131 (66.4%) for 1029 yards and six interceptions. Powell is also third in the rushing averaging 39.7 yards per game with 39 carries for 278 yards and six touchdowns. He leads the IFL with 186.7 yards of total offense per contest.

Pirates wide receiver Thomas Owens is fifth in the league with 31 receptions and fourth with 408 receiving yards. His 11 touchdowns rank him second. Owens is fourth in the IFL with 58.2 receiving yards per game, seventh with 13.1 yards per catch and fourth with 4.42 receptions per game. Braxton Haley of Arizona is fifth in the league with 382 receiving yards and in average yards per catch with 15.3. He ranks sixth with 54.6 receiving yards per game and is tenth with 25 receptions.

Two of the top returners will be on the field as Isaac Zico of Massachusetts ranks seventh with 17.3 yards per return with 328 yards (8th) in 19 attempts. Zico ranks eighth with 87.7 all purpose yards per contest. Jamal Miles of the Rattlers has two touchdowns returns in 2022 which ties him for most in the IFL. In 23 tries he has 440 yards (3rd) for an average of 19.1 yards per attempt (3rd). Miles is tops in the league averaging 134.8 all purpose yards per game.

Defensive Leaders:

Arizona defensive back Davontae Merriweather is eighth in the league with 51 tackles. Rattlers Linebacker Treyvon Williams ranks fifth with 7.5 tackles for a loss. Williams is tied with the Pirates Claudell Louis of the Pirates for fifth in the IFL with three sacks. Da'Sean Downey of the Pirates is ninth with 2.5 on the year.

Pirates defensive back Aaron Maxey-Penton is second in the league with four interceptions and 12 passes defended. Lukas Denis of the Pirates is currently sixth with three interceptions. Kyree Woods of Arizona has four picks on the season while Dillion Winfrey has defended 10 passes, tying him for fourth in the league and teammate Brandon Ezell is tied for fifth with eight.

The Coaches:

Rayshaun Kizer is in his first season as Head Coach of the Pirates. He is also the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. During the 2021 season, Coach Kizer was the mastermind behind the IFL's best defense and developed a unit that had five players listed on the All-IFL team. In 17 games, Kizer's defense held opponents to a league-best 31.6 points per game, and led the league in eight other defensive categories.

Kevin Guy is in his 13th season as the Head Coach of Arizona and is currently President of the Rattlers. Guy was awarded the 2021 Indoor Football League Executive of the Year, Coach of the Year and Franchise of the Year awards. It marked the first time an individual has won the Executive of the Year and Coach of the Year. With Guy at the helm, the Rattlers have appeared in eight championship games in the last 10 years, including winning four championships.

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