Box Score Frisco, TX - Massachusetts wide receiver
Thomas Owens reached 80 career touchdowns and went over 500 points with a pair of touchdown receptions and a two-point conversion, but it was not enough as the Frisco Fighters defeated the Pirates 52-48 at the Comerica Center.
The Pirates (6-4) got off to a fast start with
Jimmie Robinson taking the opening kickoff 40 yards to the Frisco 10-yard line. After an
Alejandro Bennifield nine-yard pass to
Teo Redding, it was Robinson scoring his 11th touchdown of the season from a yard out. Calum Sutherland added the point after for a 7-0 lead.
The Pirates defense held the Fighters, forcing Bryce Crawford to attempt a 44-yard field goal which was no good. Massachusetts then took 5:30 off the clock with a seven-play, 45-yard drive that ended with
Thomas Owens catching a 17-yard touchdown pass for a 13-0 lead with 4:37 remaining in the first quarter.
The Pirates defense stepped up again as
Guy Thomas tackled Martez Carter for a two-yard loss and
Cyrus Fagan defended a TJ Edwards pass for Devon McCoy to turn the Fighters over on downs and the quarter came to a close.
In the second quarter Massachusetts drove to the Frisco ten, but on third down Charles Williams stripped Bennifield and recovered the fumble. Four plays and 20 yards later, it was Jimmy Smith scoring on a ten-yard run to make the score 13-7.
The Fighters added a 39-yard field goal from Crawford with 51 seconds left in the half, that left plenty of time for a Massachusetts 2-play drive with Bennifield connecting with Robinson for 24 yards to set up a first and goal at the one. Robinson then rushed for his second score of the night. The Pirates led 19-10 with 31 seconds before halftime. The Fighters responded with Edwards hitting Cole Blackman with a 14-yard strike for the last points of the half making it 19-17 Massachusetts.
The third quarter saw the lead change hands four times. Frisco grabbed its first lead of the game on its first possession as Edwards raced 36 yards for a touchdown and a 24-19 advantage. The Pirates went back out front as Robinson notched his third touchdown of the night on a four-yard run, but the Fighters Carter punched one in from three yards out to reclaim the lead at 31-26. The last points of the quarter were scored by Robinson on a four-yard scamper as Massachusetts was up 33-31.
In the final frame the Fighters went back out front as Edwards two-yard run staked Frisco to a 38-33 lead. After a defensive stop the Fighters padded their lead as Edwards found Blackman from 26 yards out for his second touchdown of the night and a 45-33 lead.
The Pirates kept it close as
Isaac Zico caught a 30-yard TD pass from Bennifield as the Pirates trailed by six. Frisco then scored on its sixth straight possession with an eight-yard touchdown catch by Richard Turner from Edwards giving the Fighters a 12-point cushion.
The Pirates were not finished as Bennifield engineered a five-play, 25-yard drive for a score with Owens catching a three-yard pass for his 80th career touchdown which also gave him 500 career points. He added a two-point conversion reception, but that is where the scoring ended. Frisco ran out the clock for the 52-48 victory.
Owens finished the game with four receptions for 32 yards with two touchdowns and a two-point conversion to give him 502 points in his Pirates career. Zico had seven catches for 72 yards and a score while Robinson added seven receptions for 52 yards. Robinson led the Pirates rushing attack with 52 yards on 11 carries and four touchdowns. He added a pair of kick returns for 52 yards giving him 157 all-purpose yards for the game. Bennifield was 21 of 30 passing for 184 yards and three scores.
Defensively,
Guy Thomas had three tackles including one for a loss and a sack.
Devin Hafford led Massachusetts with four and a half tackles with one for a loss.
For Frisco, Edwards was the game's leading rusher with 68 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns. He was also 10 of 16 passing for 114 yards and three scores. His top target was Blackman with five receptions for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Royce See led the Fighters' defense with eight tackles.
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.
