Pirates Win Third Straight, Defeat Rival Frisco 72-58
June 4, 2023 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
The toughest task all season for the Massachusetts Pirates loomed at their front door Saturday night, as the 6-3 Pirates hosted the 8-1 Frisco Fighters at the DCU Center. The Fighters defeated the Pirates back in mid-April, but that was in Frisco. The Pirates came into Saturday night's game at a perfect 4-0 on the season at home in Worcester.
It was the Pirates getting on the board first, in a game that would see plenty of trips to the end zone. Quarterback Anthony Russo found wide receiver Thomas Owens on the first drive of the game. Owens broke the initial tackle, then dove into the end zone for the score. The drive took just three plays and the Pirates were off and running with a 6-0 lead following a missed PAT by kicker Josh Gable.
The lead lasted less than 15 seconds as on the ensuing kickoff, Fighters wide receiver Charles Headen took his fourth kick return of the season all the way for a touchdown. Kicker Bryce Crawford made the PAT and the Fighters led 7-6 early in the game. Before the Pirates got the ball back however, Bryce Crawford converted a deuce on the following kickoff to extend Frisco's lead to 9-6.
This would be where the game opened up, as on the first play of the Pirates' drive Russo found wide receiver Isaac Zico wide open, who sidestepped the only Fighter in the area and ran in for a 45-yard touchdown. This was Russo's second touchdown pass in as many drives. Josh Gable would make the PAT, giving the Pirates a 13-9 lead.
On the next possession, the Pirates looked to get their first defensive stop of the game, as they forced the Fighters to a fourth down and goal. However, Frisco quarterback TJ Edwards used his legs to run into the end zone. Crawford would make the PAT, giving the Fighters a 16-13 lead.
Russo and company would be back at it almost immediately on offense. Russo found a wide open Darren Carrington in the back of the end zone on third down after a fake on a toss sweep opened up the defense. Following the touchdown, the Pirates went for the two-point conversion and were unsuccessful, giving them a 19-16 lead, which they would take into the second quarter.
For the majority of the first half it was the Martez Carter show as he carried a heavy load on offense for the Fighters. The Frisco running back would go untouched on a handoff and roll into the end zone to swiftly give the Fighters back the lead. Crawford made the PAT, and the score was now 23-19 in favor of Frisco.
Russo and Zico would connect for a second time in as many quarters as Russo fired a pass on an in route on the very next possession. Zico caught the pass, broke four tackles, and somersaulted into the end zone. Josh Gable would convert on the PAT, giving the Pirates a 26-23 lead. The Pirates would then surprise the Fighters on the following play, as Gable converted a deuce on the kickoff to give the Pirates a 28-23 lead. That would be Gable's first deuce of the season.
The Fighters would again respond very quickly as TJ Edwards was able to find wide receiver Jerminic Smith immediately after Frisco had a touchdown waved off for a penalty. Bryce Crawford made his PAT, and the Fighters would take a 30-28 lead.
On the ensuing drive, Josh Gable would capitalize on a short field goal after the Pirates were unable to get the ball into the end zone, giving them a 31-30 lead. This would be the first time during the game that the Pirates would not score a touchdown on a drive. On the following kickoff, Gable would hit another deuce, extending the Pirates lead to 33-30.
Charles Headen, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown earlier in the game for the Fighters, was able to sneak away from the Pirates defense again on the following drive, as he was unmarked and made the catch on a curl route. He would then break a tackle and walk into the end zone for the touchdown, his second of the game. Frisco went for two and didn't get it, giving them a 36-33 lead.
Right before the half, Russo threw to Carrington again who went up high to make the catch with a defender draped all over him. It would be Carrington's second touchdown of the game. The Pirates would go for the two-point conversion and get it, extending their new lead to 41-36. On the following kickoff, Josh Gable continued to shine with his right foot, as he converted his third deuce of the game, extending the Pirates' lead to 43-36. The Pirates would take that lead into halftime.
Gable was not done shining though, as he kicked off the second half by converting a deuce for the fourth time in the game. That gave the Pirates a 45-36 lead to start the half.
On the opening drive of the half, TJ Edwards would take a quarterback keeper into the end zone, his second rushing touchdown of the game. Bryce Crawford connected on the PAT, cutting the Pirates lead to two with a score of 45-43.
But for every score Frisco had, The Pirates had an answer. On the next drive, Thomas Owens would go up and catch a perfectly thrown ball from Anthony Russo for the touchdown, his second of the game. Gable's PAT would be blocked, but the Pirates now had a 51-43 lead.
On third and three of the next Frisco drive, TJ Edwards would again take a quarterback keeper to the left side and make his way into the end zone for his third rushing touchdown of the game. The Fighters went for two to try and tie the game, but were stopped by the Pirates defense. Due to the stop, the Pirates still held a two point lead of 51-49.
The first defensive stop of the night would come with 2:45 left in the third quarter. Frisco's Shaq Bond made a diving interception on a pass from Anthony Russo, his first and only costly mistake of the night. The third quarter would end and the Fighters would turn that turnover into the first points of the fourth quarter when Bryce Crawford connected on a field goal with just over 12 minutes left in regulation, giving his team a 52-51 lead.
However, the Pirates would have an answer once again, as Russo threw his seventh touchdown of the night. The pass was caught by Thomas Owens in the end zone. That would be Owens' third touchdown of the game. After the Owens touchdown, The Pirates would go for two, but were unable to convert. They now led 57-52. On the following kickoff, Josh Gable would continue his best performance of the season, when he would convert yet another deuce for the fifth time on the night extending the Pirates' lead to 59-52.
The Pirates' defense was unable to get a stop the entire game up until this point, but their first one was massive. It came with just over six minutes left to play in regulation when linebacker Calvin Bundage intercepted a pass from TJ Edwards on fourth down, setting up the Pirates with a chance to put the game away.
Off the turnover, Russo threw his eighth touchdown pass of the night to Jimmie Robinson who took a swing pass out of the backfield, ducking under a would-be tackler, and running in for the score. Josh Gable made the PAT once again, and the Pirates now led 66-52 with just over three minutes left in the game.
The Fighters would answer on their next drive when TJ Edwards would take another quarterback keeper into the end zone, his fourth rushing touchdown of the game, making the score 66-58 due to Bryce Crawford missing the PAT. However, after an onside kick recovery by the Pirates on the following kickoff, Jimmie Robinson would score his second touchdown of the game. He took the handoff from Russo and ran in from nine yards out. The Pirates' lead was now 72-58 with just under a minute left.
Frisco's fate would be officially sealed when TJ Edwards would throw an interception to Pirates defensive back Chris Ingram. The Pirates were able to defeat the Fighters 72-58 and move to 7-3 on the season. They have won three games in a row and improve to a perfect 5-0 at home. They will return home next Saturday to take on the Vegas Knight Hawks.
With the win, the Pirates move into a tie for second place in the East with Quad City, and sit a game behind the Fighters for first place.
Indoor Football League Stories from June 4, 2023
- Tulsa Loses Heartbreaker in San Diego - Tulsa Oilers
- Rattlers Defeat Wranglers on Road in Double-Overtime - Arizona Rattlers
- Pirates Win Third Straight, Defeat Rival Frisco 72-58 - Massachusetts Pirates
- Skulls Secure Comeback Road Win in Vegas - Tucson Sugar Skulls
- Wranglers Drop Heartbreaking Thriller In Double Overtime To Arizona Rattlers, 63-62 - Northern Arizona Wranglers
- Panthers Beat Duke City for Third Straight Win - Bay Area Panthers
- Pirates Defeat Fighters 72-58 - Massachusetts Pirates
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