Pirates Face Storm Saturday
May 18, 2022 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates begin the second half of the 2022 Indoor Football League Season on Saturday night at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center when they host the Sioux Fall Storm for the first time ever at 7:05. The Pirates are 5-3 at the midway point which gives them the fourth best record in the IFL. Massachusetts is second in the Eastern Conference while the Storm are in fifth place with a 4-4 record.
The Last Time Out:
The Pirates suffered their third loss of the season in Phoenix, in a 59-29 setback against the Arizona Rattlers. Massachusetts trailed 21-13 in the second quarter, but Arizona scored on three straight possessions, which included a "pick-six" and a fumble return for a touchdown and never looked back.
Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield was six of ten passing for 83 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. His top receivers were Thomas Owens who had two receptions for 36 yards and a touchdown and Isaac Zizo who caught three passes for 21 yards and a score. Running back Deddrick Thomas rushed four times for 33 yards while Bennifield carried six times for 14 yards and a touchdown. Defensively Khalid Wooten led the way with four tackles.
The Storm saw a two-game winning streak snapped at the hands of the Frisco Fighters, 57-39.
Trailing in the second quarter, Storm running back Nate Chavious scored on a five-yard TD run to tie the game. Frisco led 23-20 at the half, but Chavious ran back the second half kickoff 53 yards to give Sioux Falls its only lead of the game at 26-23.
Dalton Sneed got the start at quarterback for Sioux Falls, completing 14-of-24 passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns. He was sacked five times in the game. Chavious ran seven times for 25 yards and a touchdown. Aaron Dilworth had nine receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown and Donnie Corley had three catches for 35 yards and a score. Carlos Thompson Jr., Famous Hasty, Paris Taylor and Ta'Corian Darden each had five tackles. Mike Alvarez had two stops and an interception. Sawyer Petre struggled on field goals, going 2-of-5.
Team Stats:
The Pirates are scoring 38.9 points per game while allowing 36.3. Sioux Falls is averaging 37.8 points an outing and yielding 39.8. The running and passing stats for both teams are similar. Massachusetts is rushing for 61.6 yards per game and passing for 141.0. The Storm rushes for 62.1 yards per contest and throws for another 143.0. The Pirates have 13 sacks this season. Sioux Falls quarterbacks have been sacked six times in 2022.
Players to Watch: (League Ranking)
Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield has completed 93 passes (4th) in 145 attempts (5th) for 1019 yards (6th) with 22 touchdowns (6th) and six interceptions (3rd). His 1,097 yards of total offense rank him sixth in the IFL as he averages 156.7 yards per game (8th).
Massachusetts wideout Thomas Owens has 34 receptions (4th) for 444 yards (3rd) with 12 touchdowns (2nd). Owens averages 13 yards per reception (9th), 4.25 receptions per game (8th) and 55.5 yards per catch (4th). Owens is also fifth in scoring averaging 10.0 points per game. Carlos Thompson Jr. of the Storm has 20 receptions for 354 yards (10th) with seven touchdowns and averages 50.6 yards per game (6th).
Storm running back Nate Chavious has carried 84 times (4th) for 316 yards (4th) for an average of 39.5 yards per game (4th) with 12 touchdowns (3rd). He also ranked second in all-purpose yards with 112.9 per game.
As a kick returner Chavious has 23 returns (5th) for 436 yards (5th) with a touchdown and averages 19 yards per return (5th). Pirates return man Isaac Zico has 22 returns (7th) for 386 yards (8th) for an average of 16.7 yards per return (8th). Zico also ranks sixth with 84.4 all-purpose yards per game.
Defensively, Linebacker Marquis Hendrix of Sioux Falls is third in the league averaging 7.7 tackles and is second in the IFL with 2.5 sacks per game. Fellow linebacker Undraez Lilly has 4.5 sacks on the season (2nd). Pirates lineman Claudell Louis had three sacks which places him ninth.
Massachusetts defensive back Aarion Maxey-Penton is first in the IFL with four interceptions and is second with 12 passes defended. Teammate Lukas Dennis ranks in the top ten with three interceptions along with Ta'Corian Darden of Sioux Falls. Storm defensive back Famus Hasty is tired for third with 11 passes defended this season.
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.
A native of Euclid, Ohio, Kizer played his college ball at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio. In 2007 he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets. He went on to have two stints in the Canadian Football League and a stellar career in arena ball in the AF2 and AFL. Playing for Orlando in 2011, Kizer set an Arena Football League single-season record with 16 interceptions.
Storm Head Coach Kurtiss Riggs played for the Sioux Falls Cobras from 2000 through 2001. In 2002 he was the offensive coordinator for the re-named Storm before moving to head coach in 2003. A four-time Coach of the Year (including awards in the NIFL, the UIF and IFL) his teams have won 11 championships. Riggs has an all-time record of 250-56. He is currently in his 18th season with Sioux Falls. Riggs was inducted into the Indoor Football League's Hall of Fame class in 2021.
The 2021 United Bowl Champions; Massachusetts Pirates are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Pirates play all home games at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center located at 50 Foster St. Worcester, MA, 01608. For more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508)452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit http://www.masspiratesfootball.com. For 2022 season, half-season, luxury, or group ticket packages please call 508-452-MASS (6277) or visit www.masspiratesfootball.com/tickets. Follow the Pirates on Facebook via Facebook.com/MAPirates, Instagram @mass.pirates, and Twitter @mass_pirates.
Defensively, Linebacker Marquis Hendrix of Sioux Falls is third in the league averaging 7.7 tackles and is second in the IFL with 2.5 sacks per game. Fellow linebacker Undraez Lilly has 4.5 sacks on the season (2nd). Pirates lineman Claudell Louis had three sacks which places him ninth.
Massachusetts defensive back Aarion Maxey-Penton is first in the IFL with four interceptions and is second with 12 passes defended. Teammate Lukas Dennis ranks in the top ten with three interceptions along with Ta'Corian Darden of Sioux Falls. Storm defensive back Famus Hasty is tired for third with 11 passes defended this season.
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.
A native of Euclid, Ohio, Kizer played his college ball at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio. In 2007 he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Jets. He went on to have two stints in the Canadian Football League and a stellar career in arena ball in the AF2 and AFL. Playing for Orlando in 2011, Kizer set an Arena Football League single-season record with 16 interceptions.
Storm Head Coach Kurtiss Riggs played for the Sioux Falls Cobras from 2000 through 2001. In 2002 he was the offensive coordinator for the re-named Storm before moving to head coach in 2003. A four-time Coach of the Year (including awards in the NIFL, the UIF and IFL) his teams have won 11 championships. Riggs has an all-time record of 250-56. He is currently in his 18th season with Sioux Falls. Riggs was inducted into the Indoor Football League's Hall of Fame class in 2021.
The 2021 United Bowl Champions; Massachusetts Pirates are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Pirates play all home games at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center located at 50 Foster St. Worcester, MA, 01608. For more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508)452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit http://www.masspiratesfootball.com?mc_cid=7111953e6c&mc_eid=UNIQID . For 2022 season, half-season, luxury, or group ticket packages please call 508-452-MASS (6277) or visit www.masspiratesfootball.com/tickets. Follow the Pirates on Facebook via Facebook.com/MAPirates, Instagram @mass.pirates, and Twitter @mass_pirates.
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