Tulsa Oilers Football, proud member of the IFL, heads to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, to take on the Duke City Gladiators for their second game of the season. Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. CT, at Rio Rancho Events Center.
LAST TIME OUT The Oilers make Tulsa pro sports history by completing their first game in franchise history but come up short against the Fighters. Frisco started with fireworks, returning the opening kickoff for a 52-yard touchdown by wide receiver Charles Headen. Tulsa would respond with their first points in franchise history via a 23-yard field goal by Jeremy Reynolds with 6:38 left in the first quarter. Just over two minutes later, Frisco would record their first field goal of the game, responding to Tulsa with a 42-yard kick by Bryce Crawford. Frisco followed up at the very end of the first with a one-yard rushing score from Ed Wesley to make it 16-3 at the end of one quarter. The game would only see one touchdown in the second quarter as Ed Wesley picked up his second of the game with a 6-yard rush, making it 22-3 entering the half. The third quarter would begin with the Oilers kicking a 21-yard field goal via Reynolds to make the game 22-6 with 12:44 left in the quarter. Frisco kicker Crawford responded with a 26-yard field goal of his own with 8:58 remaining in the third to make it 25-6 Fighters. Tulsa would get its first touchdown in franchise history with 6:52 left in the third on a 31-yard pass over the middle from Giovanni Sanders to Joshua Crockett for the score, bringing the Oilers within a score of 25-13. Frisco would put up the final two scores of the game in the fourth quarter with a one-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback TJ Edwards and a 46-yard field goal by Crawford finishing the night with a final score of 35-13.
FOCUS AHEAD Despite a 35-13 loss on the road to the Frisco Fighters on March 24, the Oilers finally put the final piece of the puzzle together, getting on the field and playing their first game in franchise history. Tulsa fans had a chance to see the start of the journey of year one in the league, and with a bye week concluded, the coaching staff has had a chance to evaluate how to improve. Tulsa takes on a Duke City team who has had an impressive start offensively, beating the defending champs in the likes of Northern Arizona 43-35 and putting up a ton of points in a 60-55 loss to Frisco last weekend. The Oilers’ defense has proven to be sharp early after one game and will be tested on the road against the Gladiators. The Oilers have made a recent addition to the roster, signing quarterback Joshua Shim on 4/3/2023 out of the University of Windsor in Ontario, Canada. Shim attended Frisco’s camp before being released prior to the season's start.
HOW TO “THUMBS DOWN” DC The Gladiators look to bounce back after a tough loss on the road to Frisco. Duke City will host the Oilers in their home opener this year, as they have started the season on the road against the Wranglers and the Fighters. The Gladiators finished 5-3 at home last season. Averaging 49 points per game, the Oilers will have to prove they can continue their success on defense against a difficult offense to contain, led by quarterback Nate Davis, who has shown most of his production through the air, with all of his scores being passing touchdowns (8). When the Oilers have the ball, all players on the field will be looking to prove they can bounce back. The defense for Duke City is coming off of a game where the team gave up 60 points to Frisco, and the Oilers only scored 13 points in their debut. Limiting penalties on offense and taking advantage of the Gladiators’ defense early will be key in this matchup, as it is difficult to out-pace the Gladiators once on a roll. Duke City finds most of its production through the air. Limiting their passing game is critical.