Vegas Remains IIFL's Only Undefeated Team with Win against San Diego
May 13, 2024 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Vegas Knight Hawks News Release
HENDERSON, Nev. - The Vegas Knight Hawks defeated the San Diego Strike Force at Lee's Family Forum on Friday night 68-64. Vegas is now 7-0 on the year. Antonio Wimbush led the offensive explosion with four touchdowns.
The game started fast, as Ja'Rome Johnson found Quentin Randolph streaking to the endzone for a one-handed grab. San Diego's first drive ended on the goal line when Bryce Hampton caught his league-leading fifth interception of the season, tied with Frisco's Lionell McConnell. On the subsequent drive, Antonio Wimbush walked into the endzone, giving the Knight Hawks a two-score lead. San Diego's Chance Bell put the Strike Force on the board with a rushing touchdown, but the Vegas special team's unit came up big by blocking the PAT.
Vegas began the second quarter with Johnson throwing to a leaping Caleb Holley in the back of the endzone, regaining the two-score lead. San Diego answered right back on their first play of the quarter when Nate Davis found Isaah Crocker in the corner of the endzone. After pin-balling off all eight Strike Force defenders, Wimbush bowled in for his second rushing touchdown of the night. The two-score lead did not last long, as San Diego's Elijah Lilly returned the kickoff for a touchdown. The PAT was fumbled on the snap, leaning the score as 27-20 Vegas. Vegas' next offensive position ended in disaster when Johnson threw a pick-six. San Diego missed the PAT, and the Knight Hawks held onto a one-point lead. In the waning seconds of the first half, Johnson extended a play with his legs before tossing the ball to Wimbush in the endzone. San Diego missed a last-second field goal attempt, and both teams headed into the locker rooms with the score reading 34-26.
Both offenses opened the half by trading blows, each scoring a touchdown. The back-and-forth action continued as San Diego drove down and made it a one-point game. The trend of receivers running the ball in to score continued when CJ Windham recorded his first touchdown of the game. Davis notched another passing touchdown, this time to Jordan Kress. Malik Honeycutt ended the third quarter by intercepting the two-point attempt.
With 15 minutes left to play, Vegas held a narrow one-point lead. Johnson extended the lead with his legs, giving the Knight Hawks an eight-point lead. The following kickoff saw San Diego take it to the house, but the failed two-point attempt left the score 54-52. With neither team relenting, both teams traded touchdowns, making the score 61-58. Both teams went back and forth as the clock wound down, and the Vegas offense took the field with 45 seconds left on the clock, down by four points. With the help of an untimely Strike Force penalty, Vegas ran out the remaining seconds and secured the victory. The Vegas Knight Hawks are the only undefeated team in the IFL with a 7-0 record.
Vegas will take the field at Lee's Family Forum on Saturday, June 1, at 8:05 p.m. CT. Click here for tickets.
• Discuss this story on the Indoor Football League message board...
Indoor Football League Stories from May 13, 2024
- Rattlers Win Second Straight After Week Nine Victory against Sugar Skulls - Arizona Rattlers
- Iowa Wins Second Straight After Upset Win against Massachusetts - Iowa Barnstormers
- The Blizzard Bounce Back in Week Nine with a Win against Tulsa - Green Bay Blizzard
- Vegas Remains IIFL's Only Undefeated Team with Win against San Diego - Vegas Knight Hawks
- Quad City Top Sioux Falls, Winning Their Third Game of the Season - Quad City Steamwheelers
- Celebrate 515 Day with the Iowa Barnstormers - Iowa Barnstormers
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.
