by Mick Morninghoff

LOWELL – The Massachusetts Pirates continue their three-game road trip on Saturday night at 8:05 eastern when they face the Sioux Falls Storm at the Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota. The 4-1 Pirates have the second best record in the Eastern Conference, coming off their first loss of the season while the Storm is last in the conference at 0-4.

The Series: The Pirates are 3-2 all-time against the Storm. Massachusetts won the first meeting this season at the Tsongas Center to snap a two-game losing streak vs. Sioux Falls. The Storm defeated the Pirates in South Dakota in the final regular season game of the 2023 season and then bested Massachusetts in the first round of the Indoor Football League Playoffs. The Pirates won both meetings in 2022.

The Last Time Out: Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifled ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more, but it was not enough as the Quad City Steamwheelers handed Massachusetts its first loss of the season 54-43 at the Vibrant Arena at The Mark.

Photo courtesy James Thomas

Down 14-0, The Pirates got on the scoreboard on their first possession of the second quarter as Bennifield hit Thomas Owens with a nine-yard strike for six. For Owens it was his 75th career touchdown and 70th touchdown reception.

The Pirates defense then rose to the occasion as Eugene Ford intercepted Steamwheelers quarterback Judd Erickson. For Ford it was his fourth interception of the season. Seven plays later it was Bennifield scoring on a fourth and goal from the one and with 5:10 left in the half to make it 16-13 Quad City. The Pirates would trail 23-16 at the break.

The Pirates took the second half kickoff and quickly tied the game as Bennifleld scored his second rushing touchdown of the night from nine yards out, but Massachusetts would never lead as the Steamwheelers kept the Pirates at arms length the rest of the way.

Bennifield finished the game 14 of 23 passing for 147 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran six times for 39 yards and three scores. Jimmie Robinson, who ended the game with 156 all-purpose yards, ran seven times for 38 yards and added one six-yard reception. He also had 112 yards on kick returns.

Owens was the Pirates leading receiver with six catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. Teo Redding added four catches for 35 yards and a score. On defense Calvin Bundage led Massachusetts with seven tackles, with one for a loss and assisted on two others.

Edward Vander of Quad City was the game’s leading rusher with 92 yards on ten carries and three touchdowns.

The Storm were beaten by the Green Bay Blizzard last week on the road at the Resch Center 48-35. Sioux Falls trailed 21-14 at the half and despite Billy Hall completing 15 24 passes for 159 yards with four touchdowns to four different receivers, the Storm still wound up on the short end. Hall was also the game’s leading rusher with 79 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown. Elijah Reed led the Sioux Falls defense with three tackles and ten assists. He also recovered a fumble and broke up two passes.

The Last Meeting: The Pirates defeated the  Storm 49 to 41 at the Tsongas Center on May 29. Massachusetts quarterback Alejandro Bennifeild was 15 of 16 passing for 173 yards and five touchdowns. Thomas Owens caught two of those scores for his first two touchdowns of the season. Running back Jimmie Robinson scored three times on runs of five and eight yards while adding a four-yard TD grab. Defensively, linebacker Calvin Bundage recorded ten tackles and forced a fumble while defensive back Eugene Ford batted away two passes on the game’s final drive to preserve the win for Massachusetts.

Team Stats: Offensively the Pirates are eighth in the Indoor Football League averaging 43.2 points per game. Massachusetts averages 223.8 yards on offense (7th) rushing for 98.2 yards per contest (5th) and passing for 125.6 (11th). The Pirates are converting on fourth down at a rate of 53.8 percent (7th). Defensively Massachusetts is fourth allowing 37.0 points per game. They rank third overall yielding 192.2 yards per game, 57.6 rushing (7th) and 124.6 yards passing (7th). The Pirates also have five sacks (5th).

The Storm has been scoring at a rate of 37.0 points per contest (13th). Their output of 203.8 yards per game ranks tenth with 91 yards rushing (7th) and 112.8 yards passing (11th). Sioux Falls is 0 for 5 on field goal attempts and has just converted once on fourth down (1 of 9) which is last in the league. The Sioux Falls defense is 14th giving up 47.8 points per game. They allow 228.0 total yards (11th) with just 64.8 rushing (2nd) but 163.3 passing (14th). They have just one sack.

Players to Watch: Pirates running back Tavion Thomas is second in the IFL averaging 69.5 yards per game. In two outings this year Thomas has rushed 28 times for 139 yards (10th) with four touchdowns. He averages 5.0 yards per carry (10th). Teammate Jimmie Robinson is seventh in the league averaging 58.3 yards per game. Robinson has carried 53 times (2nd) for 233 yards (2nd) for an average of 4.4 per rush with two touchdowns. Robinson is second in the IFL with an average of 147.3 all-purpose yards per game.

Storm quarterback Billy Hall is eighth in the IFL in rushing with an average of 57.8 yards per game. He has 49 carries (3rd) for 231 yards (3rd), gaining 4.4 yards per rush with six touchdowns (9th). Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield is sixth in the IFL with seven rushing touchdowns. He has carried 29 times for 105 yards in five games.

When it comes to passing, Bennifield is second in yards with 644 and touchdowns with 15. He is 58 (3rd) of 91 (3rd) with a completion percentage of 63.7 percent and averaged 128.0 yards per game (10th) He has been intercepted three times. His efficiency rating is 171.0 (9th).

Hall of Sioux Falls has played in four games this year and is 42 (8th) of 68 (9th) for 489 yards (7th) with nine touchdowns (8th) and two interceptions. He averages 122.3 yards per game with an efficiency rating of 160.0. Hall is completing 61.8 percent of his passes. Hall ranks fifth in total offense with an average of 180.0 yards per game.

Photo courtesy James Thomas

Pirates wide receiver Isaac Zico has put up impressive numbers through the first five games. He has 17 receptions (6th) for 232 yards (4th) with five touchdowns (7th). He averages 3.4 receptions per game and 46.4 yards per contest. Teo Redding of the Pirates is tenth with 16 receptions. He has 171 receiving yards, four touchdowns and averages 34.2 receiving yards per game.

Kentrez Bell leads the Storm with 14 receptions for 201 yards with three scores. He averages 14.4 yards per catch and 50.3 yards per game.

Three of the top kick returners in the IFL will be on the field on Saturday. Jimmie Robinson of the Pirates is eighth in the league averaging 20.1 yards per return while Bryson Denley is ninth at 20.0 per runback and teammate Camron Harrell is tenth at 19.9.

Defensively the Storm have three of the top six tacklers in the league. Amin Black averages 8.0 tackles per game (2nd) while Elijah Reed posts 7.0 (5th) and Jalen James 6.4 per contest (6th). Black and Calvin Bundage of the Pirates both have 24 total tackles which rank them in the top ten. Black also has four tackles for a loss which is tenth in the league as is his 1.33 tackles for a loss per game. Bundage has 2.5 sacks which ties him for fifth most in IFL.

Pirates defensive back Eugene Ford leads the IFL with four interceptions and in passes defended with 11. His average of 2.20 passes defended per game is third in the league. He has also broken up seven passes which ranks second.