Pirates Face Vegas on Sunday
Published on April 26, 2022 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
Massachusetts Pirates talk it over with the coach
(Massachusetts Pirates)
WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates will face the Vegas Knight Hawks for the first time ever, Sunday afternoon at 1:05 eastern on Phoenix Field at the DCU Center. This will be the first of six Western Conference opponents that the Pirates will play this season. The Pirates enter the game with a 4-1 record and are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference while Vegas is 2-4, sitting in fifth place in the Western Division and in the midst of a three-game losing streak.
Last Week:
The Pirates won their ninth consecutive game at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center dating back to last season, defeating the Iowa Barnstormers 36-22. Quarterback Mike Glass III (6'0", 210 lbs. Eastern Michigan) made his professional debut for the Pirates, filling in for quarterback Alejandro Bennifield who missed the entire week of practice due to covid related issues. Glass was the leading rusher with 13 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown. He finished the game 13 of 24 passing for 146 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. The Pirates trailed Iowa 10-3 after the first quarter, but tied the game at 16 with Glass hitting Thomas Owens with a 27-yard pass with just 25 seconds before the half.
In the second half, the Pirates defense intercepted Iowa QB Darius-James Peterson three times and held the Barnstormers to just six points. Lukas Denis had two of the picks while Aarion Maxey-Penton secured the other. Glass threw TD passes to Owens, Isaac Zico and Darren Carrington II. Owens finished with five receptions for 77 yards and two TDs while Zico added four catches for 53 yards and a score. Denis and Maxey-Penton led the Pirates' defense with 11 tackles each. Massachusetts added three sacks from Da'Sean Downey, Claudell Louis and a combined effort from Koby Quansah and Jamiyus Pittman.
The Knight Hawks lost in Green Bay 34-25. Vegas quarterback Kare Lyles left the game, suffering a leg injury early in the second quarter and was replaced by wide receiver Frank Brown. The Blizzard grabbed a 34-0 halftime lead enroute to its second consecutive victory. Brown led Vegas to 25 unanswered points in the second half and finished eight of 16 passing for 120 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Brown was the team's top rusher with 41 yards on nine carries. Running back Elad Covaliu ran 11 times for 22 yards and scored twice with a three-yard run and a 27-yard reception. Desmond Epps had four receptions for 64 yards with a 14-yard score and Nolan Kohorst added a 43-yard field goal. Defensive back Kalen Hicks led Vegas with six tackles and one pass broken up.
Team Stats:
The Pirates are scoring 37.4 points per game while allowing 31.0. Vegas averages 29.7 points per contest and gives up 35.8 per outing. Massachusetts ranks second in the Indoor Football League averaging 161.8 passing yards per game and defensively has the most sacks with 12 this season. Massachusetts tops the league with 16.8 first downs per game while Vegas allows the fewest at 11.3 per contest.
Players to Watch:
Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield is second in the IFL with 165.8 passing yards and 189.0 yards of total offense per game. He is currently fourth with 15 passing touchdowns. Wide receiver Thomas Owens is second in the IFL with an average of 75.0 receiving yards per game, 5.4 catches per game and nine touchdown receptions. Owens is third with 27 receptions, fourth in scoring with 12 points per game and tenth in all purpose yards with 80.0 per contest.
On defense for Massachusetts Aarion Maxey-Penton is third in the IFL with nine passes defended and second with 2.25 passes defended per game. He is also tied for second in the league with Lukas Denis with three interceptions along with three other players. Pirates defensive lineman Claudell Louis ranks ninth with four tackles for a loss and is fourth with three sacks. Da'Sean Downey of Massachusetts ranks eighth with two sacks.
For Vegas, defensive lineman Kai Higgins is second with eight tackles for a loss averaging 1.33 per game. Defensive lineman Izaah Burks ranks seventh with two sacks. Defensive back Mister Harriel, linebacker Gabe McCoy and Burks each rank in the top ten with one fumble recovery, while Harriel and McCoy have each forced a fumble.
On offense for the Knight Hawks, wideout Frank Brown is fifth with 22 receptions, ninth with 232 receiving yards and tenth in the league with five touchdown receptions.
The Head Coaches:
Rayshaun Kizer is in his first season as Head Coach of the Pirates. Last season he served as the Pirates Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator and Secondary Coach. In 2019 Kizer was the Defensive Coordinator, Defensive Backs Coach and Special Teams Coordinator with the Bismarck Bucks.
Mike Davis is in his first season with the Vegas Knight Hawks as Head Coach and General Manager. Previously, Davis served as the Defensive Line Coach for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts in 2020. From 2016-2019, he was the Manager of Player Personnel for the Saskatchewan RoughRiders. He also served as the Defensive Line Coach for the team during the 2019-20 season.
Before coaching in Canada, Davis had a six-year stretch as the head coach of the IFL's Nebraska Danger, which began in 2010. During that time, he led his team to three consecutive conference championships. Davis also spent five years in the Arena Football League and was Assistant General Manager of the Omaha Beef.
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 http://www.masspiratesfootball.com/tickets. Follow the Pirates on Facebook via Facebook.com/MAPirates, Instagram @mass.pirates, and Twitter @mass_pirates.
Images from this story
 Massachusetts Pirates make a tackle against the Iowa Barnstormers |
 Massachusetts Pirates talk it over with the coach |
Indoor Football League Stories from April 26, 2022
- Pirates Face Vegas on Sunday - Massachusetts Pirates
- Week Seven Coaches Poll Announced - IFL
- Game Preview: Barnstormers at Storm - Iowa Barnstormers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
