Pirates Win Big over Knight Hawks
June 11, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
The Pirates aimed to keep their undefeated home record as they hosted the 4-6 Vegas Knight Hawks at the DCU Center this week. Riding a two-game win streak, the Pirates would love to take sole possession of second place in the eastern conference and could do so with a victory.
The Pirates started their first drive at their own yard line and immediately got to work. After some short gains by running back Jimmie Robinson, Anthony Russo would throw deep for wide receiver Isaac Zico. Unfortunately, Russo was hit as he threw the ball and was intercepted by Knight Hawks defensive back Kalan Hicks. The interception would be brought well inside Pirates territory before Pirates receiver Darren Carrington makes an elite defensive play, stripping the ball from Hicks and the Pirates recovered. They'd make good on their second chance with a Carrington touchdown. Josh Gable converted the first PAT of the game, and the Pirates recover taking the first 7-0 lead.
The Knight Hawks start their first drive at the six. It would be a long drive, featuring short passes from quarterback Joe Mancuso, and gains from running back Davonte Sapp-Lynch. Pirates corner Leon O'Neal Jr. would stop the Knight Hawks offense in their tracks late on this drive, breaking up several passes intended for Caleb Holley and Quentin Randolph. The Knight Hawks would settle for the field goal try from Stevie Artigue. Pirates defensive lineman Ezekiel Rose would block the attempt as O'Neal Jr. would recover, setting up the Pirates offense with first and goal. Jimmie Robinson would cash in this opportunity with a one-yard touchdown putting the Pirates up 14-0 after the successful Gable PAT.
The Knight Hawks would take the ensuing drive into the second quarter. Starting at their own 20-yard line, Joe Mancuso conducted a five-play drive, which featured some great gains by Davonte Sapp-Lynch moving the chains consistently. Facing fourth and one inside Pirates territory, the Knight Hawks scored their first touchdown of the night with a Quentin Randolph reception in the end zone. Stevie Artigue would convert the PAT, and the Knight Hawks got on the board down 14-7 early in the second quarter.
The Pirates' offense went right back to work as Russo found his groove. Zico and Carrington would make huge gains of nine and 16 getting the Pirates inside the Knight Hawks 10. Jimmie Robinson would score his second touchdown of the night, but Gable's run of perfection lately would be stumped here as he misses the PAT. The Pirates remain up on the scoreboard with a 20-7 lead halfway through the second quarter.
The Knight Hawks offense would not go down without a fight, as Joe Mancuso conducts yet another long, and effective scoring drive. Finding Quentin Randolph and Davonte Sapp-Lynch for big-time gains. Despite Kiante Northington's best efforts and multiple pass breakups, the
Knight Hawks found themselves at the Pirates five and Mancuso would scramble into the end zone on second and two. Stevie Artigue's PAT attempt is good, closing the Pirates' lead to 20-14 with 4:13 left in the half.
The Pirates would open up the next drive sloppy. After taking a sack on the first play, and a Thomas Owens drop, they'd face third and 17. Thankfully for the Pirates, Isaac Zico might just be the best receiver this season. He'd get a long gain of 11, and Owens would redeem himself with a big gain on fourth and six. Unfortunately for them, the defense came alive and stopped the Pirates from protecting their goal line. Gable would make the field goal, putting the Pirates up 23-14 with 51 seconds left. The Knight Hawks would close with some momentum as Davonte Sapp-Lynch carried the offense to the Pirates' 20-yard line. From there, Joe Mancuso would launch a deep ball to Jonathan Johnson who scores the touchdown. Artigue's PAT would make this game 23-21 headed into halftime.
The Knight Hawks started with the football in the third quarter and immediately started moving the chains. After two conversions they'd be facing fourth and eight after a sack from Terrance Smith earlier in the set of downs. On fourth down, Mancuso would fire deep for Caleb Holley but miss. The Pirates would take over at midfield and after a 15-yard gain from Jimmie Robinson, Russo would hand off to Darren Carrington who would score his first rushing touchdown on the season. They would go for two and fail, but the Pirates stretch their lead to 29-20 with 8:21 left in the third.
The Knight Hawks opened at midfield after Gable's missed deuce attempt, and would once again drive the football down the field with a great ground attack from Sapp-Lynch and Mancuso. But would face fourth down again. On the play, Mancuso would throw off his back foot, and the ball would fall short of Quentin Randolph, but perfect for Kiante Northington to get the interception. Off of the turnover, the Pirates would get some help from a taunting penalty on the Knight Hawks. After driving to third and one from the Knight Hawks nine, Jimmie Robinson would score another rushing touchdown. Putting the Pirates up 35-21 after Gable's successful PAT.
Joe Mancuso wouldn't close the third quarter without getting at least some points on the board and succeeded in doing so, conducting a four-play drive. After Quentin Randolph makes an acrobatic third-down catch, Mancuso would throw a strike to Caleb Holley in the end zone to put the Knight Hawks within a touchdown. After Artigue's PAT, the Pirates' lead was shrunk to 35-28 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Pirates would dominate the fourth quarter, converting third and 16 via Anthony Russo to Darren Carrington, and Jimmie Robinson scoring his fourth touchdown just on the opening drive. After Gable's PAT, the lead was back up to 42-28 with 11:09 in regulation. The Knight Hawks were overwhelmed, and it was visible on the following drive after several penalties would push them back. After a Terrence Smith pass-deflection and a delay of game penalty, the Knight Hawks offense faced second and 25. Mancuso would be strip-sacked on the play, with Trevon Young recovering the fumble. The third turnover of the day for Vegas.
Taking over at the Knight Hawks' 14-yard line, the Pirates would hand off to Jimmie Robinson and let him do the rest, as he scores from five yards out for his fifth rushing touchdown of the day. After Gable's PAT, the Pirates would go up 49-28 with 4:14 left in the game.
Knight Hawks wide receiver Quentin Johnson would be thrust into quarterback duties to close the game. Opening at midfield, Davonte Sapp-Lynch would take the handoff and rush well into the Pirates' territory. But on second and goal from the 11, Randolph would throw a fade to the corner and get intercepted by Stephen Roberts, icing the game. Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield would do the honors of closing this game out, as the Pirates beat the Knight Hawks 49-28. Behind Jimmie Robinson's five touchdowns and the defense's four turnovers, the Pirates improve to 8-3, and second in the eastern conference.
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