By Stephen Ur –
The Massachusetts Pirates were in Frisco, TX to face off against the Frisco Fighters at the Comerica Center on Saturday night. They were looking to advance to the Eastern Conference Championship to take on the Green Bay Blizzard and a shot at the 2024 Indoor Football League National Championship Game in Henderson, NV.
Despite most of the first half being closely contested, a pick-six from Lionel McDonnell made the score 27-14 with 1:55 left in the half. Both teams would exchange scores in the final two minutes and the Fighters led 34-20 at halftime.
They extended their lead to 36-20 on a deuce to start the second half and led by 14 in the fourth before the Pirates made a comeback and led 53-50 after a deuce of their own by Henry Nell with just 2:37 left.
A fourth down stop with 13 seconds left would seal the win for the Pirates, who are headed to their second IFL semifinal in franchise history. The last time they reached the Eastern Conference Championship, they won United Bowl XII in 2021.
Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield finished with 152 passing yards, 17 rushing yards and six total touchdowns – five passing and one rushing – in the win.
The Pirates will now face off against the Green Bay Blizzard in the Eastern Conference Championship in Green Bay, WI on Friday night. Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. CT.