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Swashbucklers Defeat Knoxville Nighhawks 53-51

May 19, 2012 - Professional Indoor Football League (PIFL)
Louisiana Swashbucklers News Release


LAKE CHARLES LA. - In what looked to be a third consecutive last minute loss, the Louisiana Swashbucklers survive a scare from the Knoxville Nighthawks near the end of the game to come out with a 53-51 victory. The win brings the Bucs to 4-5 on the season while Knoxville drops to 1-8. Each win and loss in the home stretch of the season for teams in the Professional Indoor Football League has postseason implications for who makes it in and what the seeding will be when the regular season comes to an end next month.

It looked like Knoxville was going to run the table on the Swashbucklers when they scored first on a 26 yard field goal four minutes into the game. But Louisiana scored just a few minutes later on a 25 yard pass from quarterback Freddie Harrison to wide receiver Sammy Knight. The two teams would exchange possessions with no scoring though with five minutes left in the first period Nighthawks quarterback Willie Copeland connected with wideout Ryan Schuck. It looked like the Hawks were heading to the endzone when a Copeland pass was intercepted by Bucs defensive back Damien Huren upon which he carried it back for 50 yards. However, a personal foul penalty against Louisiana pushed the ball back. Shortly thereafter running back Kendrick Perry plowed into the endzone and gave the Bucs a 14-3 lead to end the first.

In the second Copeland went to work as he connected a pass to Ryan McDaniel. A few series later the Swashbucklers scored when Perry made it to the six yard line and on the ensuing play punched it in from four yards. Now it was 21-10 with 12 minutes left. Most of the second quarter passed on before Harrison threw a laser to Knight and pushed the ball into the endzone from six yards out. Two minutes later Copeland connected to Cedric Jones who was wide open with no coverage. Another exchange of scores occurred when Harrison threw a bomb to Immanuel Friddle that covered 46 yards. Knoxville came right back on a Copeland to Jones short scoring pass. They used effective clock management on that drive and though it ended with a touchdown a two-point conversion attempt was botched. Louisiana kicker Blake Bercegeay nailed a 35 yard field goal as timed expired in the first half. The scoreboard read 34-24 Swashbucklers with a rather commanding lead.

After intermission the second half started with the Bucs attempting an onside kick. Though it failed it did not hurt Louisiana's performance as Perry once again found daylight and took the ball in for a score. Five minutes after that scoring drive Louisiana was flagged for pass interference while Knoxville had possession. Though the Hawks were heading for the endzone their attempt to score was negated by a penalty against them. It was only a brief delay though as Jones eventually found

paydirt on a two-yard run. Knoxville would later threaten again when defensive back Ginkiachi Ibe intercepted a Harrison pass in the endzone. The Nighthawks drove the ball and once again Jones scored for his team on a 28 yard scoring catch from Copeland. Now Knoxville was putting a scare into Louisiana with the scoreboard showing 44-38 with three minutes left in the third. The quarter would end on this score.

The fourth period would be decisive and thrilling. A 30 yard field goal from Bercegeay put the Swashbucklers 47-38 with 13 minutes showing on the clock. Again after two minutes Copeland found McDaniel on a 24 yard touchdown connection. Now it was 47-45 with the Bucs holding a slim lead. Later Knoxville took the lead from Louisiana as Copeland nailed a short yardage pass to Schuck. Another two-point conversion attempt failed. It was now 51-47 Nighthawks with seven minutes displayed on the game clock.

The game was decided three minutes afterwards when Harrison found Knight in the secondary and took the ball to the one-yard line. A couple of plays later Knight was able to punch it in. A Swashbucklers two-point conversion try was unsuccessful. The Bucs were able to maintain a defensive stand against Knoxville that held the score of 53-51 in Louisiana's favor until the end of the game.

After a break for the Memorial Day weekend the Swashbucklers will take on the Columbus Lions in the Smuggler's Den on Saturday, June 2nd.



Professional Indoor Football League Stories from May 19, 2012


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