Photo: 12 Joshua Jones threw for five touchdowns to lead the Wranglers to a 41-40 at Massachusetts
The Northern Arizona Wranglers held on to beat the Massachusetts Pirates 41-40 thanks to a Travion Banks pass interception in the final seconds in Lowell, Massachusetts.
Jimmy Robinson who rushed for five TDs started the scoring with an early rushing touchdown. The Wranglers tied it up on a pass from Joshua Jones to David Elder.
Robinson again scored from 3 yards out, and then the Wranglers tied the game again when Jones connected with receiver John Maldonado, closing out the first quarter with a 14-14 ballgame.
Massachusetts took the lead when Robinson scored for the third time, but the kick attempt missed keeping the score at 20-14.
There was just under five minutes left in the first half when Malik Sonnier recovered a Pirates fumble as Massachusetts threatened to go up two scores. The big turnover gave Northern Arizona the opportunity to even things up again.
Koby White went high and over the boards to score a touchdown on a pass from Jones. Perez added two with the drop kick and the Wranglers led 22-20.
Massachusetts scored to take the lead again after winning a coaches challenge. Robinson picked up his fourth touchdown, but the play was challenged by the Pirates after he was ruled down just outside the goal line, and an illegal procedure penalty. The two point attempt failed leaving the score 26-22 with thirty-five seconds left in the half.
Maldonado ran the ball into score on a jet sweep from four yards out A second dropkick by Perez hit the upright, but the Wranglers led 28-26 at the half.
Northern Arizona extended the lead on their opening possession in the third quarter to 34-26 when Maldonado scored his third touchdown pulling down a Jones pass as he went over the boards.
TR Redding pulled in a 37 yard pass that went off the hands of Hyde for the long touchdown. The two point play tied the game at 34. A turnover on downs by Northern Arizona opened the door for the Pirates to take the lead, but a big defensive stop by the Wranglers on a fourth down and goal play at the two, kept the score tied.
A gutsy play on fourth and one when Jones connected with White for a 23 yard touchdown pass. Perez added the traditional extra point for a 41-34 lead with just under eleven minutes left.
A second straight defensive stop by the NAZ defense gave the Wranglers the ball back at the Pirates 14 yard line. The Wranglers went on fourth down and one at the Massachusetts six and did not get it.
Robinson scored his fifth rushing touchdown from four yards out. The extra point attempt went just wide right after an illegal procedure penalty pushed the ball back an additional five yards, which made the difference.
Up 41-40, the Wranglers had the ball but failed to move it. Perez attempted a long 58 yard field goal but was well short. Massachusetts had the ball with just thirty-eight seconds left near midfield.
Dagenhardt kept the ball and went into a slide but took a big hit resulting in a personal foul penalty. The very next play, Travion Banks jumped the route and picked off the Dagenhardt pass sealing the win and a happy trip back to Arizona.
Jones threw for 215 yards and five touchdowns. Massachusetts relied heavily on Robinson who rushed for 81 yards on 17 carries with five touchdowns. The two Pirates quarterbacks Conn Dagenhardt and Alej Bennifield combined for 115 yards with a TD pass, and the game ending interception.
NAZ snaps a two game losing streak to improve to (5-3), while Massachusetts falls to (5-3), losing for the first time at home. The Wranglers will host Tucson on Saturday at 6:05 pm.
NORTHERN ARIZONA WRANGLERS 41, MASSACHUSETTS PIRATES 40
Quarters- 1 2 3 4 – T
Northern Arizona 14 14 6 7 – 41
Massachusetts 14 12 8 6 – 40
Scoring Summary
M-Robinson 14 yard run (Gable kick)
NAZ-Elder 6 yard pass from Jones (Perez kick)
M-Robinson 3 yard run (Gable kick)
NAZ-Maldonado 16 yard pass from Jones (Perez kick)
M-Robinson 21 yard run (Kick failed)
NAZ-White 32 yard pass from Jones (Perez dropkick)
M-Robinson 1 yard run (Pass failed)
NAZ-Maldonado 5 yard run (Kick failed)
NAZ-Maldonado 14 yard pass from Jones (Kick failed)
M-Redding 37 yard pass from Bergen Hardy (Owens pass from Benningfield)
NAZ-White 25 yard pass from Jones (Perez kick)
M-Robinson 4 yard run (Kick failed)
ATT:N/A
IFL STANDINGS
Western Conference W-L
Vegas 7-1
Bay Area 7-1
WRANGLERS 5-3
San Diego 5-3
Arizona 4-4
San Antonio 3-4
Tucson 2-5
Duke City 0-7
Eastern Conference W-L
Frisco 6-2
Green Bay 6-2
Massachusetts 5-3
Quad City 4-4
Tulsa 3-5
Iowa 2-6
Sioux Falls 2-6
Jacksonville 1-7
SCOREBOARD
Northern Arizona 41, Massachusetts 40
Bay Area 68, Arizona 52
Tucson 51, Vegas 50
San Diego 47, Duke City 21
Quad City 57, Iowa 55
Sioux Falls 52, Jacksonville 42
Green Bay 67, Frisco 38
San Antonio 54, Tulsa 43
