Photo courtesy James Thomas Photography
by Mick Morninghoff
LOWELL – The undefeated Massachusetts Pirates will put their 3-0 record on the line on Friday night at the Tsongas Center at 7:05 (eastern) when they host the winless Iowa Barnstormers (0-2).
The Series: The Pirates led the all-time series vs. Iowa three games to two.
The Last Time Out: The Pirates are coming off their first bye week of the season after defeating the Sioux Falls Storm 49 to 41 at the Tsongas Center. It was the team’s second consecutive home victory and ninth straight home win dating back to last season.
Pirates 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.
The Barnstormers have yet to play a home game this season. After losing their opener in Green Bay, 35-24, they fell to the Tulsa Oilers 39 to 31 last Saturday. Iowa trailed 22 to 3 at halftime but made a game of it by outscoring Tulsa 28 to 17 in the second half. Running back Rob Washington scored on a two-yard run with 2:50 to play and with a two-point conversion, Iowa cut the Oilers lead to eight points but could get no closer.
Washington finished with eight carries for 20 yards and a score. Darius Peterson was 13 of 25 passing for 198 yards and three touchdowns against two interceptions. Wideout Quian Williams had five catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson Fritz led the defense with 11.5 tackles including one for a loss. Quarterback Daniel Smith led Tulsa passing for 128 yards, completing 19 of 26 passes. On the ground he ran 11 times for 57 yards with three touchdowns.
The Last Meeting: May 13, 2023 – Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, IA: The Barnstormers jumped out to a 38-21 halftime lead and then outscored the Pirates 16-0 in the third quarter and cruised to a 73 to 43 victory. The 73 points were the most points ever scored on the Pirates in a game. The loss spoiled a career day for Pirates wide receiver Isaac Zico who had a career high of 14 receptions and 157 receiving yards along with one touchdown.
Pirates running back Kelvin Taylor rushed 19 times for 48 yards and three scores, but those totals were offset by the Barnstormers Antonio Wimbush who ran 14 times for 24 yards and three touchdowns and wideout Caleb Smith who had four receptions for 71 yards and three scores. Former Pirates kicker Gabriel Rui accounted for 19 points for Iowa with nine extra points, two field goals and a pair of “Deuces.”
Team Stats (Includes IFL Rankings): Massachusetts is averaging 39.7 points per game (9th) while allowing 34.0 (6th). Their 225.0 yards of offense per game ranks seventh while the defense yields 201.7 (8th). The Pirates rushing defense allows less than 50 yards per contest at 48.7 which is third in the IFL. The passing in this contest appears to be even. The Pirates throw the ball for 139 yards per contest (8th) compared to 136 for Iowa (9th).
The Barnstormers score 27.5 points per game (15th) and give up 37 points per night (7th). Their 222.5 yards of offense is just 2.5 behind the Pirates (8th) while they allow 185.0 (4th). Iowa rushes for a half yard more than Massachusetts on average (86.6) which is sixth in the IFL. Iowa’s passing defense is fourth in the league giving up just 105.5 yards per contest.
Massachusetts has the second most efficient offense in the league with a rating of 178.1 while Iowa is last at 105.6. The Pirates defensive efficiency rating is 146.6 (10th) compared to Iowa’s 105.3 (2nd). The Pirates offense converts on third down 46.2 percent of the time (7th) and 45.5 on fourth down (9th). Their defense stops opponents on third down tries at a rate of 36.8 percent (5th), while the opposition does a little better on fourth down converting at 37.5 percent (6th). Iowa’s opponents are successful 50% of the time on third down (13th) and on fourth down (11th).
Photo courtesy James Thomas Photography
Players to Watch (Includes IFL Rankings): Jimmie Robinson of the Pirates leads the IFL in rushing attempts with 46 and yards with 195 yards. He has two rushing touchdowns. He averages 4.2 yards per carry and 65.0 yards per game (4th). His total of 144.3 all-purpose yards per contest ranks him first. Rob Washington of Iowa has rushed 21 times for 81 yards (10th) and a touchdown. He averages 3.9 per carry and 40.5 yards per game. Quarterback Darius Peterson of the Barnstormers has rushed for 92 yards (8th) on 21 carries for 46.0 yards per game (6th). He averages 4.4 yards per carry and has three rushing touchdowns.
Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield of the Pirates is 38 (2nd) of 61 passing (3rd) completing 62.3% of his passes (9th). He leads the league with 425 passing yards and 12 touchdowns with two interceptions. He throws for 141.7 yards per game (5th) and has an efficiency rating of 179.2 (5th). Bennifield also averages 162.0 yards of total offense per game (9th).
Peterson of Iowa is eighth in the league throwing for 284 yards and fourth at 142 yards per game. He is 23 of 49 (46.9%) with three touchdowns and two interceptions.
His top receiver is Quian Williams who has seven catches for 86 yards with two scores. He averages 13.7 yards per catch, 3.5 per game with an average of 48 yards per game. He is also sixth with 188.0 yards of total offense per contest.
The Pirates have three of the top ten receivers in the league: Isaac Zico has 11 receptions (6th) for 144 yards (4th) with four touchdowns (T3rd). He averages 13.1 yards per catch and 48 receiving yards per game. Teo Redding also has 11 catches (7th) for 124 yards (7th) with three scores (7th). Redding averages 11.3 yards per catch and 41.3 yards per contest. Robinson has 11 receptions (8th) for 89 yards and two touchdowns and averages 8.1 yards per reception and 29.7 yards per game. Zico and Robinson have both scored 26 points this season. On special teams Robinson has returned seven kickoffs for 149 yards (4th) for an average of 21.3 yards per return (8th).
On defense the Pirates have three of the top ten tacklers in the iFL. Matt Elam has 15 (T7th) while Devon Hafford has posted 13.5 and Linebacker Calvin Bundage 13. Elam has three tackles for a loss (T5th) and Bundage has 1.5 sacks (8th). Defensive back Eugene Ford has defended five passes (T2nd)
Jefferson Fritz of Iowa leads the IFL averaging 10.5 tackles per game. His total of 21 tackles is second in the league.
Photo courtesy James Thomas Photography
Massachusetts Milestones: Alejandro Bennifield needs 10 passing yards for 4,000 in his career. He also needs four touchdown passes for 50 in his career. Jimmie Robinson needs two more touchdowns for 40. Isaac Zico is closing in on 35 career touchdowns and 2,000 career all-purpose yards. Zico has 34 career total TD’s and 1,995 career all-purpose yards. Thomas Owens needs one more touchdown for 75 all-time with the Pirates. A touchdown reception would be his 70th. Owens enters the game with 232 career receptions.
The Coaches: This is Rod Miller’s first season as Head Coach of the Massachusetts Pirates and he is the sixth Head Coach in the history of the franchise. He is also the Defensive Coordinator and Defensive Backs Coach. He is 3-0 leading the Pirates.
Miller was the Defensive Coordinator for the Vegas Knight Hawks last season. His last stint as head coach was in Bismarck from 2019 through 2022 before the Bucks suspended operations. Miller was also a head coach in the China Arena Football League with the Qingdao Clipper. Prior to that, he led the Omaha Beef, the Trenton Steel and the Laredo Rattlesnakes.
Dave Mogensen is in his third season with the Barnstormers. Mogensen served as the Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel for the Albany Empire of the National Arena League throughout the 2021 season, winning the NAL championship. He was the Offensive Coordinator for the Green Bay Blizzard during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. With the Blizzard, Mogensen contributed to player personnel and recruiting, helping to guide the team to their first playoff appearance in seven years.
In 2008 Mogensen was an Assistant Coach of the Milwaukee Bonecrushers of the Continental Indoor Football League. He then joined the Wisconsin Wolfpack, an expansion franchise, as Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator.
About the Massachusetts Pirates: The 2021 United Bowl Champions; Massachusetts Pirates are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL) and play their home games at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. For more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508)452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit http://www.masspiratesfootball.com. Follow the Pirates on Facebook via Facebook.com/MAPirates, Instagram @mass.pirates, and Twitter @mass_pirates.
