Massachusetts Pirates Defeat Green Bay Blizzard 51-28 in Indoor Football League Eastern Conference Championship Game
By Stephen Ur –
The Massachusetts Pirates were on the road for their second playoff game as they took on the Green Bay Blizzard in the 2024 Indoor Football League Eastern Conference Championship Game at the Reisch Center in Green Bay, WI. The Pirates were coming off a 53-50 win over the Frisco Fighters in the first round.
Quarterback Alejandro Bennifield took the ball into the end zone himself for the first score of the game. After the Blizzard tied the game at 7, Bennifield threw his first touchdown of the night to Teo Redding to make it a 14-7 game.
Running back Jimmie Robinson got into the end zone for the first time following a Green fumble, extending the Pirates lead to 20-7. Bennifield’s second touchdown pass, this one to Thomas Owens, made it a 26-7 game. A Matt Elam pick-six extended the Pirates lead to 34-7 before Green Bay scored before the end of the half to make it 34-14 after two quarters.
The Pirates would also score the first score of the second half and defense only allowed 14 more points while Robinson put the game away in the final two minutes as the Pirates defeated the Blizzard by a final score of 51-28. They will play in their second championship in four seasons.
They now await the winner of the 2024 Indoor Football League Western Conference Championship Game between the Arizona Rattlers and San Diego Strike Force. That game will be played Monday night at the Desert Diamond Arena in Phoenix, AZ. Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. CT.
