IFL Massachusetts Pirates

Pirates Host Bucks

Published on May 27, 2022 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release


WORCESTER, MA - The Massachusetts Pirates will look to continue their winning ways at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center on Saturday night when they face the Bismarck Bucks at 7:05. The Pirates are sporting a 6-3 record which is the fourth best in the Indoor Football League. The Bucks are currently 3-7 and have lost five straight games. The Pirates are 4-0 All-Time against Bismarck, including a playoff victory last season.

The Last Time Out:

The Pirates pulled out a 43-42 come-from-behind victory over the Sioux Falls Storm at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center. The Pirates led 30-21 at halftime, but failed to score in the third quarter and trailed the Storm 35-30 early in the final quarter. Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield scored on a one-yard run to put Massachusetts out front, 36-35, but Storm QB Dalton Sneed answered with a two-yard keeper and Sioux Falls led 42-36 with 3:38 to play. Bennifield led his team down the field, but was injured as he was sacked by Undraez Lilly with 33 seconds to play. Pirates back-up quarterback Mike Glass III came on for two plays; the second was an eight-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Owens with six seconds to play to tie the game. Craig Peterson kicked the point after for a 43-42 lead. Storm kicker Sawyer Petre attempted a 50-yard field goal to win the contest but missed it wide left as time expired.

Bennifield finished the night 19 of 23 for 208 yards with four touchdowns. Five Pirates had receptions including Isaac Zico who had seven catches for 60 yards and a score. Owens had five receptions for 56 yards and two touchdowns while Darren Carrington added three for 48 yards and two scores. Deddrick Thomas led the Massachusetts ground game with eight carries for 32 yards. Defensively, DB Lukas Denis had six tackles as did linebacker Reggie Floyd.

The Bismarck Bucks lost on the road in Moline, IL to the Quad City Steamwheelers 47-44. The Bucks led at halftime 31-26, but gave up 21 straight points in the second half before scoring with 2:14 remaining to draw within three points. QB Jayru Campbell was 11 of 16 passing for 111 yards and four touchdowns. He also had two rushing. Wide receiver Alexis Rosario had four receptions for 49 yards and two scores. Edward Vander led the Bucks rushing attack with 10 carries for 33 yards. Defensive back Jamal Hicks had 11 tackles and one tackle for a loss.

The Last Meeting: April 10, 2022.

Massachusetts Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield had a career day completing 19 of 29 passes for 262 yards and six touchdowns as the defending champions of the Indoor Football League defeated the Bucks 54-43 at the Bismarck Event Center. It was a close game throughout. Bismarck had a chance to win the game in the final 21 seconds, starting at its own 12-yard line. Campbell was pressured by the Pirates Theo Majette as he rolled right and his off- balance pass was intercepted by Lukas Denis who raced into the end zone for a "pick six" and Massachusetts escaped with a 54-43 victory.

For Bennifield, his 262 yards passing and six passing touchdowns were both individual records eclipsing his totals of 12 of 20 for 214 yards and five passing touchdowns against Bismarck last season at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center. Bennifield was also the Pirates' leading rusher with eight carries for 20 yards.

Pirates' receiver Thomas Owens was his top target with eight receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. Defensively Khalid Wooten and Koby Quansah each had six tackles.

For the Bucks, Campbell was the top rusher with 56 yards on 14 attempts and a score. He was also 12 of 21 for 161 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. Jeff Branch made eight tackles on the day for Bismarck.

Team Stats:

The Pirates are scoring 39.3 points per game while allowing 36.9. The Bucks average 34.9 points per game while giving up 40.5. Bismarck is number three in the league against the run giving up 61.0 rushing yards per game. They also have the third best third down conversion rate defensively, holding opponents to an average of 29.9%.

Massachusetts has the fourth best passing offense in the IFL averaging 146.8 yards per game while the Bucks are 12th in pass defense, allowing 155.7 passing yards per outing.

Players to Watch: (IFL Ranking)

Bucks quarterback Jayru Campbell has 69 carries (6th) for 314 yards (7th) with 11 touchdowns (6th) He also averages 4.6 yards per carry (9th) and 34.9 yards per game (8th)

Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield is 112 (3rd) of 168 (5th) for 1,227 yards (4th) for a completion percentage of 66.7% (2nd) with 26 touchdowns (6th) and six interceptions (5th). Bennifield is fifth with 1,423 total yards, averaging 177.8 per game (4th).

Jayru Campbell of the Bucks is 75 (9th) of 142 (8th) for 814 yards (8th) with a completion percentage of 46.1 (9th). He also has 13 touchdowns (9th) and seven interceptions (3rd). Campbell averages 90.4 passing yards per game (9th). Campbell ranks ninth in total yards with 1,128 for an average of 125.3 per game (10th)

Massachusetts wideout Thomas Owens has 39 receptions (3rd) for 500 yards (2nd) with 14 touchdowns (2nd). Owens averages 4.3 receptions per game (6th) along with 12.8 yards per catch (6th) and 55.5 receiving yards per game (5th). Owens is also fifth in the IFL averaging 10.0 points per game.

Pirates' returner Isaac Zico has 22 returns (7th) for 368 yards (7th) for an average of 16.7 yards per return Zico is sixth with 81.7 all-purpose yards per game. Rob Brown of the Bucks has 35 returns (3rd) for 648 yards (3rd) for an average of 18.5 (7th) per return.

Pirates' kicker Craig Peterson leads the IFL making 75% of his field goals (6 of 8). Chase Abaugh of the Bucks ranks 8th making 36% of his three pointers.

Aarion Maxey-Penton of the Pirates is first in the IFL with 4 interceptions, 13 passes broken up and 17 passes defended. Teammate Lukas Denis is third in the league with three interceptions along with Ramon Morris of the Bucks. Morris is tied for second with two forced fumbles and Jamal Hicks of Bismarck is tied for first with two forced fumbles.

The Coaches:

This is the second time Pirates' head coach Rayshaun Kizer will face the Bucks Rod Miller, but the two know each other very well. Miller was the defensive coordinator in 2013 for the Philadelphia Soul in the Arena Football League where Kizer was a defensive back. The pair were together again in 2016 in the China Arena Football League with the Qingdao Clipper where Kizer played for Miller who was the head coach. In 2019, Kizer joined Miller's staff in Bismarck as defensive coordinator, defensive backs and special teams coach.

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Indoor Football League Stories from May 27, 2022


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