Pirates Win Fourth in a Row, 58-37 Over Tulsa

Read Time:6 Minute, 22 Second

On Saturday night, at Tsongas Center, playoff implications were on the line as the Massachusetts Pirates (6-5, 6-3) hosted the Tulsa Oilers (7-5, 4-4). The Pirates were back at home for the first time since the beginning of June and have put together a three-game winning streak that has them thinking playoffs. The Oilers snapped a two-game losing streak last week over San Antonio, which has put them back in the playoff picture. Both teams needed this one to keep those thoughts alive.

The Oilers offense centers around QB TJ Edwards, who leads the league in rushing yards (560), rushing touchdowns (24), and is second in passing touchdowns (36). He was someone the Pirates’ defense would have to keep under control. So too would be WR Cole Blackman, who came into the game with 338 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Tulsa was facing a Massachusetts defense that was first in total yards allowed (199.5) and third in points allowed at 37.7 points per game. The defense had forced 10 interceptions, which was also third in the league. On offense, QB Kenji Bahar had thrown for 1,294 yards and 21 touchdowns. A night of offense was in store.

The Pirates won the toss and decided to start the game with the football and would turn the ball over on downs. After a missed field goal attempt, Tulsa’s first drive of the game started at their own 5-yard line. The Oilers would convert two third-down plays, but the drive would end with Edwards escaping a rush and finding Blavkman for the game’s first touchdown.. With four minutes left in the first quarter, Tulsa led 7-0. The Pirates’ second drive of the game started from their nine-yard line, and the quarter came to an end with Tulsa in front 7-0.

The second quarter got underway with the Pirates in Oilers territory at their 24-yard line. They had a fourth-and seven to complete to keep their drive alive. A Tulsa penalty made it a fourth and two from the Oilers 19 yard line, and Pooka Williams picked up the first down. Two plays later, Williams ran it up the middle and into the endzone for a three-yard score. The extra point was blocked. With 11:57 left in the half, Tulsa had a 7-6 lead. The next drive by Tulsa ended with the Pirates’ defense showing why they are one of the best in the league. A fourth-down stand gave the ball back to the offense with 8:51 left in the half. A big run of 18 yards by Williams brought them to midfield. A 12-yard completion from Behar to Owens had the Pirates at the Tulsa 12-yard line. Another Williams run of four yards had them at the Oilers’ 4-yard line. Williams took them to the 1-yard line. From there, Bahar, on a quarterback keeper, took the ball into the endzone to give Massachusetts the lead. The extra point was good, and with 2:58 left in the half, the Pirates were up 13-7.

With a minute left in the half, Tulsa was on the move at the Pirates’ 18-yard line. A pass completion from Edwards to Jerminic Smith of 16 yards had the ball at the Pirates’ 2-yard line. On the next play, Edwards scored on a jump pass from Blackman in the back of the endzone for his second TD pass of the game from two yards out. With 48 seconds left, Tulsa was back in front, 14-13. A pass completion to Williams, followed by a Williams run, had the ball at the Oilers’ 24-yard line with 29 seconds left. Williams was the featured player on this drive. He would handle the ball four times. The drive was finished off by a Bahar pass to Teo Redding on a crossing route over the middle from seven yards out. The Pirates went for two and got it as Bahar found Owens in the endzone to give the Pirates a 21-14 lead with five seconds left. On the last play of the half, Edwards tried a Hail Mary that was incomplete. The Pirates went to the locker room up 21-14.

Tulsa got the ball to start the third quarter. The Pirates’ defense came up with a stand that forced Tulsa to turn the ball over on downs. Massachusetts started at the Tulsa 11-yard line. An eight-yard TD pass from Bahar to Williams on the left sideline put the Pirates on the board. The extra point was good, and with 9:29 left in the third, Massachusetts was up 28-14. Bahar has thrown three TD passes. A sack of Edwards by Marquis Waters put Tulsa in a tough spot deep in its side of the field. A long field goal by Ross Moore never had a chance. Massachusetts got the ball back at their 20-yard line. Bahar then threw a 30-yard touchdown strike to McBride in the back left corner. The extra point was no good, and with 5:11 left in the third, it was now 34-14 Pirates. Edwards got away from the Pirates’ defense and ran it in from 9 yards out for a score. The extra point was good, and it was now 34-21 Pirates with 1:52 left in the third. A great kickoff return had the Pirates in business at the Tulsa 16-yard line. They would go to the fourth with the ball.

From Tulsa’s 21-yard line, the Pirates faced a 3rd and 15 to start the fourth. They would pick up seven of those yards on a pass completion to Williams on the right side. After a timeout by Massachusetts, they had a fourth and 8 from Tulsa 14. Josh Gabel tried a 31-yard FG that was good. It extended the Massachusetts lead to 37-21 with 14:10 left in the game. A great return by JuJu Augustine set up the Oilers at the Pirates’ 11-yard line. For the third time, the Pirates’ defense forced Tulsa to give the ball up on downs on a pass breakup. The very next play saw Bahar find Thomas Owens down the right sidelines for a Pirates touchdown. The play covered 40 yards. The extra point was good, and it was now a 44-21 Pirates lead with 10:18 left.

Tulsa scored on a seven-yard TD pass from Edwards to Joshua Crockett to make it a 44-29 game with 7:56 left. An onside kick was recovered by Owens, and the Pirates had the ball at the Tulsa 11-yard line. A Williams carry for five, and then two plays later, Bahar ran it in from 5 yards out for his second rushing score of the game. The extra point was good, and it was 51-2,9 Massachusetts with 4:54 left. A seven-yard TD pass from Edwards to Blackman was the third hookup for these two in the game. The two-point try was good, and with four minutes left, it was a 51-37 Pirates lead. An onside kick was again recovered by Owens, who this time took it in the endzone for a TD. The kick was good; it was now 58-37 Massachusetts with 2:59 to play.

The game came to a halt with 1:17 left when Oilers QB TJ Edwards was carted off the field after an injury. After several minutes, the game was completed with the Pirates winning 58-37.