By Stephen Ur –
The Massachusetts Pirates kick off their 2023 season as they will host the Green Bay Blizzard at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA on Sunday afternoon. The 2023 season will be the Pirates fifth and theri third in the Indoor Football League.
They will be lead by new head coach Mark Stoute, who brings many years of experience as a head coach, coaching the Cedar Rapids Titans from 2012-2016. He was named Coach of the Year in 2013. He also served as the Pirates offensive coordinator in 2022.
Joining Stoute this year is former Pirates head coach Anthony Payton and former Richmond/West Virginia Roughriders head coach Mook Zimmerman, who will serve as the offensive coordinator and defensive line coach respectively. Zimmerman won two titles as the coach of the Roughriders.
Also returning to the Pirates will be quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, who has been with the team for the last few seasons. He will have his top receiver back, as well, as Thomas Owens returns to the Pirates for another season. Issac Zico, Javon Durante and Darren Carrington II also return to spice up the offense.
On the other side of the ball, the Pirates are bringing back defensive backs Aarion Maxey-Penton and Harlan Miller, who was a key player to the Pirates’ defense in 2022. Maxey-Penton led the team with 72 tackles and also led the league in interceptions with seven.
When it comes to newcomers, the team is excited to have running back Jimmie Peterson join the crew. Peterson, a two-time FCS All-American at Bethune-Cookman University, has spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals and BC Lions of the Canadian Football League [CFL].
The season will run from March 26 through July 15.
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