Late Field Goal Helps Green Bay Beat the Pirates, 36-33

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Back at Tsongas Center on Saturday afternoon, the Massachusetts Pirates (6-5) played host to the Green Bay Blizzards (9-2). These two teams met back in week two of the season with the Pirates getting the win on the road. Since then, the Pirates have been dealing with injuries, especially to their offense. The quarterback position has been a target of the injury bug. In Massachusetts’ last four games, the offense has averaged 36.3 points a game. That ranks them as the third-lowest offense in the league over those games. Their defense has been another story holding teams to 38.1 points a game, and 187.1 yards a game. Some offense from the home team would be a great sight.

Taking the opening kickoff, the Pirates scored the game’s first points. A seven-yard TD pass from Connor Degenhardt to Isaac Zico gave the Pirates a 7-0 lead. The Blizzard’s first drive showed some promise until it stalled at the Pirates 5-yard line. It would force Green Bay to kick a FG which they covered to make the score 7-3 Massachusetts with 3:49 left in the first. The second drive for the Pirates did not go nearly as well. Degenhardt’s pass was intercepted at the Green Bay one-yard line. The very first offense play from the Blizzard resulted in a safety. Defensive lineman Guy Thomas sacked Green Bay QB Max Meylor in the endzone. The Pirates took a 9-3 lead with them to the second quarter.

The Pirates’ first drive of the second quarter ended in downs. Green Bay had a chance to get back into the game. The Pirates’ defense did their job forcing a FG attempt of 38 yards that was no good. Massachusetts got the ball back with 10:47 left in the half. The Pirates got a big pass completion from Degenhardt to Zico (5 catches for 35 yards and a score). It set up the offense at the Blizzard 9-yard line. On the very next play, RB Jimmy Robinson took a handoff and went right, broke a tackle, and took it into the endzone for a Massachusetts touchdown from 9 yards out. The extra point was no good, the score was now 15-3 Pirates.

Green Bay came right back when they took the ensuing kickoff and returned it for a touchdown. Andre Williams took the kick and made his way down the left sidelines for the score. With four minutes left it was now a 15-10 Pirates lead. For the second time in the half, Degenhardt was picked off. He threw into double coverage and was intercepted by Ravarius Rivers.

With under two minutes left in the half, Green Bay had a chance to take a lead into the locker room. A pass interference call against the Pirates put the ball at the Mass 10-yard line. Green Bay would take advantage as Meylor found Harry Ballard III in the back of the endzone for a Blizzard touchdown and a 17-15 lead after the extra point with 14 seconds left in the half. After a good return by Zico, the Pirates had a chance with 04 seconds left. They decided to try a FG from 39-yards out. The kick by Calum Sutherland was blocked by Blizzard DB Rivers and the first half came to an end with Green Bay leading 17-15.

In the first half, the Pirates had 109 yards of total offense. Green Bay, on the other hand, was at 61 yards of total offense. The Pirates kicked off to start the third quarter and Green Bay took it and went down the field. The key play was a pass completion from Meylor to Ballard III. It would result in a TD run by EJ Burgess of 1 yard. The kick was no good and Green Bay now had a 23-15 lead with 11:22 left in the third quarter.

The Pirates, with some help from a Blizzard defense that was called for illegal defense twice, scored on a TD run from backup QB Qunic Patterson from 2 yards out but the try for two failed. The Pirates were back to within two at 23-21 with 5:45 left in the third. The Mass defense held forcing a 57-yard FG that was no good as it hit the jumbotron. The Pirates got the ball back at their own 20 with less than three minutes left. After three runs by Robinson of 6, 16, and three yards, Patterson came in and ran the ball into the endzone from 3 yards out. The kick was no good. With 17 seconds left in the quarter, the Pirates were back in front 27-23. The quarter came to an end with Massachusetts in front.

The fourth quarter started with Green Bay taking the lead back on a 27-yard TD pass from Meylor to Ballard III (5 catches for 69 yards, two TDs). The kick was good and Green Bay was back in front 30-27 with 12:50 left. Ballard III had two touchdowns in the afternoon. With the Pirates now using two QBs the offense was moving the ball at will. They scored again on Patterson’s 3-yard TD run. The key play was a screen pass from Degenhardt (18-of-25, 117 yards, 1 TD) to Robinson (148 all purpose yards, 114 on the ground, 34 through the air) in the left flat that went for 27-yards. Massachusetts was up 33-30 with 9:34 left in the game. Green Bay tied the game with an Andrew Mevis 19-yard FG. The game was 33-33 with 5:47 left.

The Pirates put themselves in scoring position, with runs of 13 and 4 yards from Robinson. There was a pass completion to Tyler Hudson of 8 yards from Degenhardt. With the ball on the GB 4-yard line with 1:26 left. However a fourth down pass was thrown poorly by Patterson. Green Bay had the ball with 1:17 left. Both teams now had no timeouts left. Meylor (14-of-21, 157 yards, 2 TD) completed two passes, one of 17 yards and the other for 9 to Lowell Patron (5 catches for 50 yards) to set up a 36-yard FG by Mevis which was good. With three seconds left Green Bay had a 36-33 lead. Green Bay would seal the win as they covered the ensuing kickoff.

Next Saturday night the Pirates are back at Tsongas Center to host San Antonio at 7 PM.

See the game below: