Pirates Game Notes & Transaction Update
June 27, 2019 - National Arena League (NAL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
Media
Local MA Radio - None
LIVE Streaming: NAL YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mOIjZU6ASU
For the Record
The Pirates are currently riding their longest winning streak in franchise history at four games. The Pirates are also over the .500 mark for the first time this season.
Pirates Transaction Update
The Pirates have signed defensive lineman Dequinton Osborne. Osborne played his college ball at Oklahoma State and signed professional contracts with Dallas and Denver of the National Football League and with Montreal of the Canadian Football League.
Last Week - Last Meeting
The Pirates defeated the Columbus Lions 59 to 50. Mardy Gilyard starred for the Pirates with 11 catches for 113 yards and four receiving touchdowns. Late in the contest, the Pirates gave the ball to Gilyard to run out the clock and he ran it all the way to the end zone for his fifth score of the game. Pirates quarterback Sean Brackett finished 25 of 37 for 273 yards and five touchdowns. Brackett also added one rushing TD. Defensively Lawrence Austin led the way with his sixth interception of the season as he returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. He also led Massachusetts with six tackles. In a losing effort Lions quarterback Luke Collis was impressive completing 21 of 43 passes for 305 yards and seven scores. Paris Mack was his top target with seven catches for 173 yards and four scores.
Series Record
The Pirates now lead all-time series vs. the Lions three games to two. This year the teams have split the first two game in the series with each winning on its home turf. The Lions won the opener 67-56. In 2018 the Pirates won both regular season games in the DCU Center with Sean Brackett hitting wide receiver Lavon Pearson in walk-off fashion. The lone Lions victory came in the Columbus Civic Center when kicker Tyler Rausa connected on a field goal at the final gun in a 63-62 victory. The teams also met in the first round of the National Arena League playoffs last season when the Lions upset the Pirates 50-36.
The Coaches
Anthony Payton (5-4) is in his first season as Pirates Head Coach. Payton was the offensive coordinator of the Pirates last season and is 1-1 vs. Columbus.
In 26 years of coaching this is Payton's first time as a head coach. His professional coaching resume includes stops as an offensive Coordinator in 2016 with Portland in the Arena Football League and in the Indoor Football League with Spokane in 2017. Prior he worked as a wide receivers coach with Louisville in the AF2 and also in the AFL with Las Vegas and Buffalo.
Jason Gibson is entering his 12th season as the Head Coach/Director of Football Operations of the Columbus Lions and is the only head coach in the history of the franchise. He is 2-3 all-time against the Pirates.
Offense vs. Defense
The Pirates are fifth in the NAL averaging 47 points per game while allowing 47 per contest, third best in the league. Columbus ranks fourth in the league, scoring 47.3 points per game and gives up 48.8 a night; fourth in the NAL.
Turnover Margin
The Pirates are now third in the league in turnover margin at 0. The Lions are behind in fifth at -5.
Individual League Leaders:
Sean Brackett
Pirates QB Sean Brackett leads the National Arena League in rushing touchdowns with nine on the season. His overall totals are 165 of 263 (62.7%) for 1,714 yards, 37 TD's and seven interceptions.
Quayvon Hicks
Pirates fullback Quayvon Hicks leads the league in rushing yards with 96. Hicks is also tied for the league lead in kickoff returns for touchdowns with one this season. His current numbers are 96 yards on 29 carries with four rushing touchdowns. He averages 12 yards per game and 3.3 per carry.
Mardy Gilyard
Gilyard leads the league in scoring with 23 total touchdowns (21 receiving and two rushing). He is also the NAL leader in TD receptions. Gilyard still holds the mark for best kickoff return average in the NAL at 25.6. Gilyard started the season as the Pirates kick returner and has gained 230 yards on nine returns. Gilyard's numbers are 51 receptions for 635 yards and 21 TD's.
Luke Collis
The Lions quarterback leads the NAL in total offensive plays (335), total offensive touchdowns (51), touchdown passes (48), pass attempts (320), completions (177), average passing yards per game (237.4), interceptions (14) and passing yards 2,137.
Currently Collis is 177 of 320 (55.3%) for 2,137 yards with 48 TD's and 14 interceptions.
Paris Mack
Lions' receiver Paris Mack leads the NAL in Yards Per Catch at 17.4 Mack's numbers are 49 receptions for 854 yards and 14 TD's.
Bones Bagaunte
The Lions kick returner leads the league with 15 total returns and 267 return yards.
Kyle Griswould
The Lions defensive back is tied for the league lead with two fumble recoveries.
NAL Team Leaders
Passing Efficiency & Completion Percentage
As a team the Pirates lead the NAL in Passing Efficiency with a rating of 106.3 and Completion Percentage (62.5%).
The Running Game
The Pirates have the number one rushing offense with 225 yards and an average of 25.0 per game. The Pirates gain 3.0 yards per carry which is best in the league, as is their total of 15 rushing TD's. Their 25 rushing first downs are number one in the NAL.
Defending the Run
The Pirates also defend the run better than any team in the league allowing just 1.2 yards per carry and 7.3 yards per game. They have allowed just 66 yards rushing which is also tops in the league.
Interception Return Average
Massachusetts Pirates 12.7 per return is first in the NAL
Fumble Return Average
Massachusetts Pirates 45.0 per fumble return is first in NAL. The Pirates also have 91 yards in fumble return yardage which ties them for first in the league with Columbus and Jacksonville.
Fumble Returns for TD
Massachusetts Pirates and Columbus Lions each have two, placing them in a three way tie for first. The Lions lead the league with three fumble recoveries and in fumble return yards (91).
Kickoff Returns
The Pirates are tied for first with one kick return for a TD.
Columbus tops the league with 21 kick returns for a total of 375 yards.
Passing Touchdowns and more
Columbus leads the league lead with 48 passing touchdowns. The Lions also top the NAL with 2,082 passing yards, an average of 231.3 passing yards per game, and 11.7 yards per completion.
Field Goals
Columbus leads the NAL with five made field goals (5 of 7) and in field goal percentage made at .71.4%.
Up Next
The Pirates will face the New York Streets on Friday, July 5 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY with kickoff set for 7:00 pm.
The Massachusetts Pirates are members of the National Arena League (NAL). The Pirates play all home games 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 www.masspiratesfootball.com. Single game tickets are available online at ticketmaster.com or the DCU Center Box Office. For group outings please call 508-452-MASS (6277). Follow the Pirates on Facebook at Facebook.com/MAPirates on Instagram @mass.pirates, as well as Twitter @mass_pirates.
National Arena League Stories from June 27, 2019
- Pirates Game Notes & Transaction Update - Massachusetts Pirates
- Pirates Sign Dequinton Osborne - Massachusetts Pirates
- 98.7 ESPN New York's Anita Marks Joins New York Streets Broadcast Team - New York Streets
- Jacksonville Faces Three Game Road Stretch - Jacksonville Sharks
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.
