FIGHTERS FILL SCOREBOARD IN FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TRIUMPH
MOLINE, Ill. – On away turf for the fourth time in five games, the Fighters erupted Saturday night, never trailing in a 68-51 victory against the Quad City Steamwheelers. It marks the second time this season that Frisco has set a new standard for its largest single-game output.
The Fighters (4-1) dented the scoreboard on each of their initial three series, with Blake Sims striking through the air twice and scampering for a touchdown also. They traded scores a couple of times with the host team during that span before Frisco opened a 23-point lead not long into the third frame.
Within the last minute of the first half, a chance provided by a Cam Hilton interception appeared to be going to waste after Sims drew a flag for intentional grounding deep in his own territory.
Two plays later, the Alabama product wheeled past the line to gain on fourth down and was escorted further down the field when Quad City (2-3) was called for unnecessary roughness near the tackle. Sims capitalized, running in from three yards out with 0:08 to go until halftime. Bryce Crawford added a deuce on the ensuing kickoff.
Justin Rankin surged in for a rushing touchdown less than three minutes out of the intermission. The Steamwheelers then put up 23 of the game’s next 30 points, pulling within one possession by the time the final period got underway.
Frisco’s Phillip Barnett hit paydirt twice and Rankin once in the last 15 minutes.
Crawford put together a mighty case for the IFL’s Special Teams Player of the Week honors by splitting the uprights on each of his nine extra point attempts. He connected on a late field goal for good measure.
Since bowing to Massachusetts in its opener, the Fighters have turned in three performances of at least 56 points. Frisco, who’s won four in a row, comes back home next Saturday for the second of a three-game season series with Duke City.