Massachusetts Pirates win 50-47 on a Josh Gable FG

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Looking for their first win of the season, the Massachusetts Pirates (1-2) were back at Tsongas Center on Saturday night, finishing up a three-game home stand that began the season. The opponent was Fisher Freight (1-2), who would defer the opening coin toss to the second half.

The Pirates took the opening kickoff and drove the ball downfield. They would finish the drive with a 1-yard QB sneak by Kenji Baher. The extra point was good, and it was 7-0 Massachusetts with 9:11 left in the first. It would take the Freight only four plays to score. The big play was a 32-yard keeper down the right sideline by QB Jiya Wright down to the Pirates’ 3-yard line. Two plays later, Wright would take it in from a yard out. The extra point was no good. With six minutes left, the Pirates were up 7-6. On the Pirates’ next drive, they had a 4th and 15 from their own 24-yard line. No problem as Baher threw a 26-yard TD pass to Teo Redding, who made the catch in the back of the endzone. The kick was good, and with 1:40 left in the first, the Pirates had a 14-6 lead. Just like that, the Freight scored on a kickoff return for a touchdown by Devin Hafford of 50 yards. This time, the kick was good, and with 31 seconds left, it was 14-13 Pirates.

A solid kickoff return of 25 yards by Thomas Owens set up Massachusetts in great field position at the Freight 10-yard line to begin the second quarter. Three plays later, Baher took it in from a yard out for his second rushing touchdown of the game. The extra point was good, and it was 21-13 Pirates with 13:12 left in the half. A kickoff return of 46 yards by Aaron Jackson set the Freight up at the Pirates’ 5-yard line. On the next play, Wright hit Shavarez Smith for a 5-yard TD pass. The pass was deflected, but Smith was able to catch it for the score. The kick was no good for the second time and the Pirates had a 21-19 lead with 11:35 left in the half.

Baher threw his first TD pass of the night to Isaiah Coulter, good for 9 yards. The kick was no good, and the Pirates now had a 27-19 lead with 9:15 left. On a 4th and 1 from the Pirates 11 yard line, Wright took it down the right side on a keeper to the Pirates’ 1-yard line. Two plays later, he finished it off with his second TD of the game. The Freight went for two and was stopped. With 3:32 left, it was 27-25 Pirates. The Pirates were driving once again as the half was coming to a close. With 55 seconds left, they had the ball at the Freight 3-yard line. For the third time on the night, Baher took it in from 3 yards out. The kick was no good, and with 53 seconds left, the Pirates had a 33-25 lead. The Pirates’ defense would make a stand on the Freight’s last drive of the half, and Massachusetts went to the locker room with a 33-25 lead.

The third quarter started with the Freight getting the opening kickoff. For the second time in the game, they returned it for a touchdown. Hafford took the kick in the back of his endzone and went straight up the middle for the score. The two-point try was no good. It was now 33-31 Pirates with 13:08 left in the third. The Freight defense stepped up and turned the Pirates over on downs. The Pirates’ defense returned the favor and turned the Freight over on downs. For the third straight series, the defense came up with a stop. This time it was the Freight. With 3:18 left, they had the ball at their own five. The first mistake of the night was made by the Freight. Wright’s pass was picked off by Sal Lupoli Jr. at the Freight 14-yard line. A pass interference call put the ball at the 2-yard line. Baher ran it in from two yards out for a rushing score. The kick was good, and the Pirates had a 40-31 lead with 15 seconds left in the quarter. A kick into the stands from the Pirates set up the Freight at the 25-yard line. It also ended the third quarter.

The Freight switched QBs as Keegan Shoemaker was now in the game. The change worked as Shoemaker found JT Stokes in the back of the endzone on the left side for a score. The kick was good, and the lead was now 40-38, Massachusetts, with 12:06 left in the game. A personal foul set the Pirates up at their own 20-yard line. Three plays later, Baher threw his second TD pass of the night to Thomas Owens on the left side for a 14-yard TD catch. The kick was good, and it was a 47-39 Pirates lead with 9:20 left.

A second kick out of bounds set the Freight up at their own 20-yard line, followed by a pass interference call that set the Freight up at the Massachusetts 15-yard line. The Pirates’ defense rose up and turned the Freight over on downs. With seven minutes left, they had the ball back at their own 9-yard line. The Freight defense came up with a big play as Baher’s pass was intercepted by Shawn Steele II. With two minutes left, the Freight had a chance. Shoemaker made it count with a 3-yard TD pass to Jordan Kress. The 2-point try was good, and with 56 seconds left, the game was tied at 47-47. The Pirates got the ball and started from their own 12-yard line.. A 37-yard pass completion from Baher to Pooka Williams in the left flat, where Williams went across the field from left to right and set up Massachusetts at the 5-yard line. With 26 seconds left, the Freight called a timeout. With a second left, the Pirates went for the game-winning field goal. Josh Gable attempted a 22-yard try, the kick was good, and the Pirates won the game 50-47.