Pirates Defeat Iowa 36-22 Presented by Steward Health
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WORCESTER, MA – Massachusetts rookie quarterback Mike Glass ran for a touchdown and passed for four more as the Pirates defeated the Iowa Barnstormers 36-22 at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center. With the victory the defending champions of the Indoor Football League moved to 4-1 on the season and secured first place in the Eastern Conference while Iowa fell to 3-2.
Iowa grabbed a quick lead scoring on the second play of the game as quarterback Darius-James Peterson avoided a sack and raced 43 for a touchdown. Gabriel Rui added a 27-yard field goal to increase the lead to 10-0 before Pirates’ kicker Craig Peterson got Massachusetts on the board with a 36-yarder as the quarter ended.
Rui’s second field goal of the night from 27-yards increased the lead in the second quarter before Glass drove the Pirates 26 yards in five plays. On second and goal from the one, Glass sneaked into the end zone for his first professional touchdown to close the score to 13-9. Iowa called on Rui on its next possession as he added another 27-yarder and with 1:08 remaining in the half the Barnstormers led 16-9.
Glass showed that he belonged as with 60 seconds left in the half, he engineered a two-play, 35-yard drive that culminated with a 28-yard strike to Thomas Owens. For Glass it was his first TD pass as a pro and the half ended with the game tied at 16.
In the third quarter, after Rui missed a 47-yard field goal attempt, the Pirates took their first lead of the game as Glass found Isaac Zico with a perfect pass in the corner of the end zone from 13 yards out for a 22-16 advantage. The Massachusetts defense then forced Iowa to turn the ball over on downs as Claudell Louis sacked Peterson on fourth and two at the 19. Three plays later it was Glass teaming up with Owens again, this time from 21 yards out and the Pirates led 28-16 after three.
In the final quarter the Pirates’ defense intercepted Peterson on three straight possessions. Defensive back Khalid Wooten deflected a pass that was picked off by Lukas Denis ending a drive on fourth and goal at the one as the quarter began. After Iowa blocked a 44-yard three point try by the Pirates, Denis ruined the next Iowa possession with his second interception of the game and third of the season. That led to another missed field goal by Peterson of Massachusetts, but Aarion Maxey-Penton picked up his new teammate with his third interception of the season as he returned the turnover 22-yards to the nine. On second and goal from the four, Glass scrambled and threw a shovel pass to Darren Carrington for the final Pirates’ score of the night. He then hit Carrington with a two-point conversion pass and Massachusetts led 36-16 with 48 seconds to play.
The Barnstormers tacked on one last score as Peterson found Dom McNeil from 16-yards out for the 36-22 final score.
Glass was the Pirates leading rusher with 34 yards on 13 carries with one rushing touchdown. He finished the game 13 of 24 passing for 146 yards and four touchdowns. Owens was his leading receiver with five receptions for 77 yards and two scores. Denis and Maxey-Penton led the Pirates’ defense with 11 tackles each. Massachusetts added three sacks from Da’Sean Downey, Claudell Louis and a combined effort from Koby Quansah and Jamiyus Pittman.
For Iowa Peterson was the top rusher in the game with 100 yards on 11 carries. He was also 13 of 29 passing for 136 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. His top target was McNeil who had seven catches for 55 yards and a score. Defensively, linebacker Ian McBorrough had six tackles including one for a loss.
Up next for the Pirates will be the Vegas Knight Hawks on Sunday, May 1 at 1:05 eastern at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center.
The 2021 United Bowl Champions; Massachusetts Pirates are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL). The Pirates play all home games at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center located at 50 Foster St. Worcester, MA, 01608. For more information on the Massachusetts Pirates please call (508)452-MASS (6277), email contact@masspiratesfootball.com or visit 
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