PIRATES FALL TO KNIGHT HAWKS
WORCESTER, MA – Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield ran for three touchdowns and passed for two more, but it was not enough as the Vegas Knight Hawks defeated Massachusetts 46-44 at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center. The win by Vegas (3-4) halted their three-game losing streak and stopped the Pirates (4-2) nine game home winning streak dating back to last season.
The game started off well for Massachusetts as they took the opening kickoff and drove 47 yards in five plays with Bennifield scoring on a three-yard run for a seven-nothing lead. The Knight Hawks were not phased as returner Desmond Epps took the kick 43 yards to set up a first and goal at the two. On the next play, quarterback Jerod Evans, making his first start for Vegas, connected with wide out Jordan McCray for a score. A missed extra point by Nolan Kohorst kept the score at 7-6 Pirates.
After a Pirates 19-yard field goal by Craig Peterson, the Knight Hawks came right back with Evans hitting running back Elad Covaliu with a 13-yard strike and the first quarter ended with Vegas up 12-10.
The seesaw affair continued as Johnathon Johnson of Massachusetts pulled in his first touchdown reception of the season, catching a 28-yard pass from Bennifield for a 17-12 advantage. Vegas responded with an eight-play 44-yard drive with Evans running the final nine yards to reclaim the lead at 19-17.
The scoring was far from over in the half as Bennifield scored on a one-yard run, Evans notched a 12-yard TD and the Pirates went to the locker room with a 30-25 lead as running back Deedrick Thomas scored his first touchdown for Massachusetts with an 11-yard run.
The third quarter belonged to Vegas as they held the Pirates scoreless while finding the end zone twice. Covaliu grabbed his second TD pass of the game from Evans on a 19-yard catch and run and McCray added his second of the afternoon, pulling in a four-yard strike and after three quarters, the Knight Hawks led 39-30.
The Pirates came back with eight points to open the final quarter. Bennifield drove the team 30 yards in seven plays and connected with Isaac Zico on third and goal from the five for a score. His two-point conversion pass to Thomas Owens left the Pirates down by a point at 39-38.
Evans and the Knight Hawks didn’t flinch. Evans drove his team 45 yards in three plays for the winning margin as he found the end zone on a 15-yard scamper with 9:27 to play to make the score 46-38. The Pirates took one last shot starting on their own 15-yard line. Bennifield completed four passes in a drive that covered 35 yards in seven plays. On third and goal from the one, the Pirates’ QB scored his third rushing touchdown of the game. Going for the tie, Bennifield’s two-point pass attempt was broken up, leaving Massachusetts down by two. Vegas ran out the clock for the 46-44 victory.
For the Pirates, Thomas was the leading rusher with seven carries for 33 yards and a touchdown. Bennifield added 21 yards on seven attempts and three scores. The Pirates’ QB was 15 of 21 for 172 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His leading receivers were Darren Carrington who had five receptions for 59 yards, Zico with four catches for 48 yards and a TD and Johnson who added three receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown. Defensively Koby Quansah had nine tackles.
For Vegas, Evans was the leading rusher with eight carries for 39 yards and three touchdowns. He finished 18 of 25 passing for 203 yards and four scores without an interception. McCray was his top target with six catches for 32 yards and two scores. KD Cannon had five receptions for 61 yards and Epps contributed with four catches for 68 yards. Kalen Hicks led the Knight Hawks defense with nine tackles.
The Pirates will now embark on a two-game road trip to San Diego to face the Strike Force and then will take on the Arizona Rattlers before returning home to Phoenix Field and the DCU Center on Saturday May 21 to play the Sioux Falls Storm at 7:05 pm.