The San Diego Strike Force are returning home to play their first game in the Pechanga Arena since March 28. They will take on the defending champion Massachusetts Pirates, who are off to a 4-2 start this season. They were 3-3 at this point in the year last season before going on an unprecedented run, winning 11 straight games to capture their first IFL championship in franchise history. San Diego comes in 2-4 on the season after a 38-28 road win over the Bismarck Bucks last week. This will be the first meeting all-time between these two franchises.
Keys to the Game:
Focus on the Captain
While a ship may only be as good as its crew, it's just as imperative that it has a steady captain. Pirates' quarterback Alejandro Bennifield has taken the wheel since he came to Massachusetts last season, and he hasn't let go. The former United Bowl MVP has put up impressive numbers so far this season, ranking third in the league in passing completion percentage (63.3), fourth in passing yards (835), fifth in passing touchdowns (17), second in average passing yards per game (167), and fifth in QB efficiency (163.5). He has also been solid on the ground, averaging 22.8 yards per game for a total of 114 yards on 34 attempts. He's racked up five rushing touchdowns as well. Bennifield's dynamic skills have led him to average the most yards of total offense per game (189.8) out of anyone in the IFL through eight weeks of the season. This offense goes where Bennifield goes, so San Diego will focus their efforts defensively on steering him off course.
Weather the Storm
Speaking of the crew, Massachusetts has one of the best defensive squads in the league. The Pirates are top-five statistically in total yards allowed and touchdowns allowed, and are top-ten in rushing yards allowed, passing yards allowed, average yards per play allowed, and average yards per game allowed. They've pillaged and plundered with the best of them, racking up the third most interceptions in the league (8) and the second most sacks (13). However, the Pirates did allow 241 yards of total offense last week and were unable to force any turnovers in a 46-44 loss to the Vegas Knight Hawks at home.
San Diego will look to replicate the Knight Hawks' performance offensively against a defense that loves to create chaos. Although the Strike Force struggled against defenses like this early in the year, quarterback Steve Cluley and the wide receiver corp have found a rhythm in the last couple games, averaging 46 points per game and around 150 passing yards per game in their last three matchups. San Diego's defense also looked much improved last week against Bismarck, forcing three turnovers and recording a couple of sacks. Don't be surprised if Monday's matchup turns into a low scoring trench battle. The tale of the tape is likely going to be the quarterbacks vs. the defenses in a pass-heavy game.
Go with the Tide
Momentum can play a major role in the success of a team over the course of a season; Massachusetts' run to the United Bowl last year is proof of that. This time last year is when that run began for the Pirates, and they would love for history to repeat itself as they look to go back-to-back in 2022. On a micro level, Massachusetts is sailing into San Diego after a tough two-point loss, which snapped a nine-game home winning streak that dated back to last season.
The Strike Force is coming off achieving a franchise milestone by picking up their second win of the season. San Diego went 1-13 in their inaugural season in 2019, then 1-0 in 2020 before the remainder of the season was canceled due to COVID. In short, San Diego wants to continue their upward trend, and a win on Monday would help them do so exponentially. A win at home against the defending champs to potentially push the team into a playoff spot in the Western Conference?
Huge.
Of course, the Pirates want to do what they can to help the tides shift back in their favor. A win on the road after losing for the first time at home in nine games would get the bad taste out and would prevent the start of a losing streak. It would also potentially push them back into first place in the Eastern Conference if the Frisco Fighters lose this week.
Kickoff is scheduled for 6:05 PM Pacific Time on Monday, May 9 at the Pechanga Sports Arena. You can watch it live on the IFL's YouTube channel, or better yet, you can watch the game in person and experience all the action up close. Get your tickets today!
