By: Mick Moninghoff
Pirates Broadcaster
March 18th, 2024

Green Bay, WI - Trailing Green Bay 40-22 in the third quarter, the Massachusetts Pirates scored 22 unanswered points to come back to defeat the Blizzard 44-40 in their Indoor Football League season opener at the Resch Center in Green Bay, WI on Sunday.

Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield engineered a four-play; 45-yard drive in 2:03 with the final play, a four-yard touchdown pass to Isaac Zico with just 15 seconds remaining in the game, giving Massachusetts its first lead of the day at 42-40. Bennifield added some insurance with a two-point conversion toss to Thomas Owens.

The Blizzard had one last chance, but on second and ten from the 12-yard line, quarterback Max Meylor's pass in the end zone was intercepted by Matt Elam to secure the Pirates victory.

The Blizzard (0-1) held a 27-16 halftime lead getting three rushing touchdowns from Meylor. Meylor led the Blizzard on the ground rushing for 35 yards on 12 carries with three scores.

Green Bay continued to dominate the game in the third quarter as Ravarius Rivers took the second half kickoff and returned it 37 yards to the one. Three plays later it was Meylor finding Demetrius Moore with a five-yard strike upping the score to 34-16. 

Running Back Jimmie Robinson tried to bring the Pirates (1-0) back as he took the following kickoff 29 yards to the Blizzard 21. He then ran 19-yards to the two. Bennifield finished the drive with a one-yard plunge, but his two-point run was thwarted leaving the Pirates trailing 34-22.

It took just one play for Green Bay to pad its lead. Meylor went deep to Lowell Patron Jr. connecting on a 37-yard toss to make it 40-22 as the point after was missed.

Bennifield, who rushed six times for 26 yards, notched his third rushing touchdown from six-yards out for the final points of the quarter as the point after was blocked, making the score 40-28.

The Blizzard had a chance to put the game away in the final quarter. Driving inside the ten, kicker Mason Laramie missed a 22-yard field goal. Later, an interception by Shawn Steel led to Laramie missing a 38-yard three point try. 

The Pirates came back as Bennifield hit Zico from five yards out and his two-point conversion completion to Teo Redding put the Pirates down by four points with 5:30 remaining. 

The Pirates defense would hold Green Bay scoreless in the final quarter as the Blizzard missed a 26-yard field goal attempt keeping the door open for the Pirates winning touchdown drive.

For Massachusetts Bennifield finished 13 of 24 passing for 111 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. His top receivers were Redding with five receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown, Zico with five catches for 33 yards and two scores and Robinson, who also had three grabs for 38 yards. Robinson added six carries for 26 yards and four kickoff returns for 87 yards for a total of 151 yards of total offense.

Defensively, the Pirates were led by Devin Hafford who had 5.5 tackles, two for a loss, and a two-point defensive score returning a fumbled extra point attempt. Matt Elam recorded five tackles, one for a loss and added an interception. Julius Turner also recorded two tackles for a loss. 

Meylor finished 14 of 21 passing for Green Bay for 143 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, Lowell Patron was his top receiver with four receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown. Cynet Willias had eight tackles with two for a loss. 

Massachusetts outgained Green Bay 210 to 184 offensive yards and out-rushed the Blizzard 99 yards to 41.

The Pirates will now return home to Lowell where they will play their first-ever home game in the Tsongas Center on Saturday, March 23 at 7:05 when they face the Jacksonville Sharks.


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.