the Frisco Fighters dashed the Green Bay Blizzard’s postseason hopes Saturday evening, controlling most of the IFL’s Game of the Week in a 38-20 home victory.
The visiting team got on the scoreboard first, finding the end-zone on its opening series, but Frisco pulled out to a 24-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
Yielding its lowest point total of the season—and notching four total interceptions, the Fighters’ defense wouldn’t allow the Blizzard back within less than 11 points. The victory sets up a bout at Arizona next weekend that will decide home-field advantage in the league’s playoff.
Ranked second in the IFL standings, the Fighters are on a three-game win streak. With last weekend’s victory over Spokane, the team clinched a home game for the first round of playoffs. The Fighters are in contention to claim first place in the league and need to win their next two regular season games to do so.
last week, Malik Henry made his second professional start at quarterback, completing 16-of-27 passes for 194 passing yards and three touchdowns through the air. This performance earned him Frisco’s Player of the Game and the IFL’s Offensive Player of the Week honors. Fighters head coach Clint Dolezel describes Henry as a smart player with a great release. Wide receiver Manny Arceneaux also stood out on offense with two touchdown snags and a score on the ground. The Fighters entered halftime with a 24-point lead.
“The Blizzard are very good at what they do,” said Dolezel. “They run a lot of zone on defense; they’ve been doing it for years and they make it tough. The throwing lanes are very small, so you better get them in there on time. They’ve got a solid pass rush up front, and offensively they’ll run the ball, but that’s not their main focus. They’re more of a team that likes to throw the football, which is unusual for this game, so we’ve got to be on our Ps and Qs on secondary this week.”
Last weekend, Frisco’s secondary also clicked, resulting in three interceptions – one being a pick six by linebacker Tre Harvey in his debut with the team. Defensive backs DaMarcus Wilson and Cam Hilton picked off passes in the first two drives of the game. This week, coach Dolezel will be focused on not only starting the game strong but finishing strong as well.
Still in the hunt for a playoff spot, Green Bay came to Texas in hopes to secure a playoff seed. The Blizzard’s defense is fourth in the league in the least average points allowed per game. The offense has 689 rushing and 1468 passing yards on the season.
The Fighters final game takes place in Arizona as they take on the Arizona Rattlers on August 21, 2021 at 6:05pm (MST).
The IFL Game of the Week can be seen live on Stadium on most cable and satellite systems in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, including Channel 47 on AT&T U-verse TV, DISH Network, and DirecTV, Channel 24 on Charter Spectrum, and Channel 99 on Grande Communications. It can also be seen worldwide on Stadium’s streaming app and at www.watchstadium.com. Also stream the game on the IFL’s YouTube channel or tune into KHYI 95.3 to hear Dave Barnett call the game.
Frisco Fighters website
FaceBook page
