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IFL Vegas Knight Hawks

Vegas Wins Home-Opener, Defeating the Sharks 39-33

April 1, 2024 - Indoor Football League (IFL)
Vegas Knight Hawks News Release


The Vegas Knight Hawks won their first home game of the season 39-33 Sunday afternoon against the Jacksonville Sharks at The Dollar Loan Center.

The Vegas Knight Hawks' first game against the Jacksonville Sharks began with the opening kick hitting the arena's ceiling, the first in a trend for this game. Ja'Rome Johnson and the Vegas offense came up short on 4th down at the Jacksonville 10-yard line on their opening drive. The Sharks' first possession of the game ended with a Bryce Hampton pick from a deflected pass.

After converting on 4th down the following drive, Johnson kept the ball on the ground, putting the Knight Hawks on the board first. Vegas' defense continues its effort from last week, not allowing anything on the ground.

The second quarter began where the first left off, as Jacksonville had a touchdown run called back on a false start penalty. On the subsequent play, Jackson Calhoun recorded his first sack of the afternoon. Jacksonville settled for a field goal, cutting the Vegas lead to 7-3.

The following kick off is sent through the uprights, giving Jacksonville a deuce, and making the score 7-5. After a drive that was full of penalties on both sides, Johnson recorded an 11-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Holley, raising their lead to nine points.

Jacksonville's Kamrin Solomon was swallowed up by a horde of Knight Hawks at their own 10-yard line on the ensuing kickoff. After starting with poor field position and having to extend plays with his legs, Blount threw his first touchdown pass of the game to Solomon. The Vegas lead was now 14-12.

For the second time, the kickoff hit the ceiling and Vegas started their next drive at midfield. The Knight Hawks fought their way downfield to the 12-yard line where Taurean Taylor got his first rushing score of the season.

Continuing the trend of unique kickoff results, Kevin Macias squibbed the following kick off a Jacksonville player's foot, and the ball was recovered by Quentin Randolph. The first half ended with Macias lining up for a chip-shot field goal, as the score heading into the break was 24-12 in favor of the home team.

With Jacksonville set to return the second-half kick, Macias once again squibbed the ball and after a favorable hop, the ball was downed in the endzone giving Vegas a rouge. This single point made the score 25-12. The Sharks began the drive at their own 15, as Calhoun got to Blount for the sack. Jacksonville settled for a field goal attempt. The attempt hit the scoreboard, and Vegas got back to work on offense.

Soon after, the Johnson to Holley connection gave the Knight Hawks another touchdown, extending the score to 32-12. Once again, Macias squibbed the kickoff and Jacksonville started on their 12-yard line. After a long, tedious drive, the Sharks made it to the Knight Hawks' 1-yard line before the crowd made itself known. The crowd forced two false start penalties before Blount found Solomon in the back of the endzone for a touchdown. The score now read 32-19 with Vegas on top.

On the last play of the third quarter, Johnson took a late hit on a scramble, and veteran QB Joe Mancuso came in for the Knight Hawks. After scoreless drives from each team, Jacksonville dropped the Vegas lead to single digits, as the score was now 32-26.

Following a Mancuso touchdown run that was called back on a penalty, Taylor and his linemen fought their way in for another rushing TD. Vegas put more distance between them and Jacksonville with a score that read 39-26.

Jacksonville took the ball right down the field on their next possession. Blount threw a contested pass into the endzone that was initially ruled a touchdown. However, after a challenge by coach Mike Davis, the ruling was overturned. On the following play, Bryce Hampton picked off Blount in the endzone for his second interception of the game.

On the second play of the drive, Mancuso gave up possession with a fumble. The Sharks proceeded to set themselves up for a first and goal from the Vegas 4-yard line. After two stops on the goal line, Jacksonville broke through and made the score 39-33 with 49 seconds left in the fourth.

Jacksonville's attempted onside kick ended up in the stands, setting Vegas up on the Sharks' 15-yard line. After three straight runs to burn Jacksonville's remaining timeouts, Mancuso took a knee to make the Knight Hawks 2-0 on the season.

UP NEXT

Vegas heads into their first bye week of the season before taking on the San Antonio Gunslingers on Friday, April 12, at 7 p.m. PT at The Stronghold. Tickets are still available here.



Indoor Football League Stories from April 1, 2024


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