Week 13 Preview
Published on July 18, 2021 under Indoor Football League (IFL)
Massachusetts Pirates News Release
WORCESTER, MA -ÃÂ This Sunday afternoon at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center, one of the Indoor Football Leagues' marquee matchups of the 2021 season will take place when the 7-1 Arizona Rattlers meet the 6-3 Massachusetts Pirates. The Rattlers and Pirates are currently the hottest teams in the IFL as Arizona has a six-game winning streak while the Pirates have reeled off three-straight. Game time is set for 1:05 pm.
The Rattlers are in first place in the IFL with their only loss coming in their second game of the season; a 50-46 setback to the Sioux Falls Storm. Arizona's latest victory was last Saturday night over Northern Arizona 62-19. In that game the Rattlers scored 21 unanswered points in the first quarter and coasted the rest of the way. Quarterback Drew Powell was 10 of 13 passing for 106 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. Powell was the team's leading rusher with 42 yards on four carries. Nick LaSane also carried the ball six times for 25 yards and a touchdown. Jarrod Harrington was the leading receiver with four receptions for 51 yards and a score. Two of Jeremiah Harris' three receptions went for touchdowns as he finished with 44 receiving yards.
The Pirates are looking to extend their winning streak to four games coming off a 43-38 win over the Bismarck Bucks. Much like the two previous victories that were achieved at the horn with kicker Josh Gable making walk-off field goals, the win over Bismarck was also decided on the final play of the game, but this time it was defensive back Santos Ramirez breaking up a pass intended for Mike Carrigan as time expired to secure the "W."
Massachusetts was led by quarterback Alejandro Bennifield as he threw five touchdown passes and ran for another. Bennifield was 12 of 20 for 214 yards with one interception. He was also the Pirates leading rusher with 19 yards on six carries. Thomas Owens led all receivers with eight receptions for 147 yards and three touchdowns.
The Pirates, who are currently in fourth place in the IFL standings, have not lost since June 12 when the Frisco Fighters defeated Massachusetts at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center 40-33.
This will be the first meeting between the two franchises, as well as head coaches Kevin Guy of Arizona and Patrick Pass of the Pirates. Guy, who is also the Rattlers President and General Manager, is the second winningest indoor football coach of all time with a record of 218-72. This is his 12th season as head coach and he's led Arizona to seven championship games in the last nine years, winning four titles (three in the Arena Football League and one in the IFL).
This is the first season for Patrick Pass in the IFL with the Pirates. The three-time Super Bowl Champion running back/fullback with the New England Patriots was a seventh-round draft pick by the Pats in 2000 from the University of Georgia. In 79 NFL games, Pass rushed 128 times for 526 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 66 receptions for 570 yards and a score.
The Pirates continue to have the best defense in the IFL allowing just 32.7 points per game. Massachusetts allows a league best 4.1 yards per play, defends the pass better than any other IFL team giving up just 114.9 yards per game and has the best defense on third downs as opponents have a conversion rate of 30%. The Pirates are second against the rush allowing 55.3 yards per game and rank second yielding 170.2 total yards per contest.
Massachusetts will need the effort that has produced those stats thus far as Arizona has the top scoring offense in the IFL averaging 50.6 points per game. The Rattlers are also the top rushing team leading every category with 994 rushing yards, average 5.6 yards per carry, have scored 37 rushing touchdowns and average 124.3 rushing yards per game. They also average a league best 263.3 total yards per contest. The Pirates are ninth in the league in scoring at 37.3 points per game.
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