GLASS III LEADS PIRATES TO VICTORY IN FINAL SECONDS
WORCESTER, MA - For the second consecutive week, Pirates back-up quarterback Mike Glass III threw a touchdown pass in the closing seconds to lead Massachusetts to victory. Last week he connected with wideout Thomas Owens with six second remaining to defeat Sioux Falls. This week he found Darren Carrington II in the left corner of the end zone with nine seconds to play to lead the Pirates to a 28-25 win over the Bismarck Bucks at Phoenix Field at the DCU Center. The win gives the Pirates a 7-3 record this season while the Bucks fall to 3-8, Bismarck has now lost six consecutive games.
Glass III, making his second career start in place of injured quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, was 13 of 23 passing for 150 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and he was also the game’s leading rusher with 12 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown.
A low scoring first quarter set the tone for the game. The Bucks scored on the games’ opening drive as kicker Chase Allbaugh connected on a 25-yard field goal. The Pirates came right back to grab the lead as Glass III guided Massachusetts on an eight-play, 49-yard drive. Owens ran in his second rushing touchdown of the season from three yards to put the home team up 6-3.
The lead would change hands three more times in the second quarter as after Gerod Holliman’s second interception of the season, Bucks quarterback Jayru Campbell went deep to Alexis Rosario, 39-yards for a touchdown to give Bismarck a 9-6 advantage.
Glass III and the Pirates would answer with a five play, 31-yard drive as the QB scored on a one-yard sneak to give Massachusetts a 13-9 lead with 50 seconds remaining in the half. That was just enough time for Campbell to run 18 yards to the Pirates 12-yard line. Two plays later he took it into the end zone from two yards out and the Bucks led 15-13 at halftime.
The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter. Massachusetts scored on its first possession of the second half as Glass III marched the Pirates 45 yards in seven plays. His four-yard pass to running back Deddrick Thomas and point after by kicker Craig Peterson gave the Pirates a 20-15 lead, but it took Bismarck just five plays to go back out front as Campbell found Edgar Allen Poe Jr. with a seven-yard scoring strike. The quarter ended with the Bucks leading 22-20.
In the final quarter both teams turned the ball over on their first possessions. Pirates’ defensive back Khalid Wooten intercepted a Campbell pass in the end zone to end a scoring threat. Then as Massachusetts approached midfield, Bismarck’s Jeff Branch stripped Glass III who was attempting to pass and the fumble was recovered by Jamal Hicks on the Bucks 24-yard line with 7:05 to play. The Massachusetts defense would hold Bismarck to a field goal as Allbaugh connected on a 24-yarder for a 25-20 lead with 1:09 left on the clock
That was more than enough time for Glass III to work his magic for the second straight week. From his own 18-yard line, Glass III moved the Pirates into position to win the game with an 18-yard pass to Carrington II and with a ten-yard toss to Owens to set up a first and goal at the four. Glass III then feathered a pass to Carrington II who pulled it in to give the Pirates a 26-25 advantage with nine seconds remaining. Glass III then ran in a two-point conversion for a three-point lead.
On the game’s final play Allbaugh attempted a 58-yard field goal to tie the contest, but it sailed wide left, giving the Pirates the 28-25 victory.
The Pirates’ leading receiver was Carrington II with six receptions for 70 yards and a score. Owens chipped in with four catches for 32 yards and a touchdown. Defensive back Cheatham Norrils led the home team with seven tackles and broke up one pass. Wooten had the only turnover with an interception.
For the Bucks, Campbell was 12 of 23 for 101 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Campbell also ran four times for a team-high 24 yards and a touchdown. His top target was Rosario with five receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown. Rob Brown added four catches for 32 yards. The Bismarck defense was led by Hicks who was in on 11 tackles while also forcing and recovering a fumble. Holliman had four tackles and an interception while Ch’aim Smith had four tackles and recovered a fumble as well.
The win was the 40th in the history of the Massachusetts franchise. The Pirates are now 5-0 all-time against Bismarck. The Pirates will travel to Albuquerque, NM to face the Duke City Gladiators next week before returning home on June 11 against the Green Bay Blizzard.