SIOUX FALLS, SD - The Sioux Falls Storm Indoor Football Team hits the road for a second consecutive week to battle the Massachusetts Pirates in search of their first win of the 2024 Indoor Football League season. The Storm suffered a Week 1 overtime road loss (38-32) against the Quad City Steamwheelers last week in Moline, Illinois. The Pirates enter the weekend with a 2-0 record after a road win over Green Bay (44-40) and a home win over Jacksonville (26-21).

THE SERIES HISTORY
The Sioux Falls Storm and Massachusetts Pirates will meet for the 5th time in the rivalries history on Friday night. The Pirates secured wins in both meetings during the 2022 season, including a 43-42 win on May 21st, 2022. That game was the first ever meeting between the two teams, and was played in Worcester, MA. Tonight's game will be the first meeting between these two IFL oppenents inside the Tsonga Center in Lowell, MA.

The Storm secured two wins over the Pirates during the 2023 season, with both victories coming at home. In fact, the Storm won both matchups against Massachusetts in back-to-back weeks, with the Storm securing a spot in the IFL Playoffs after a 62-59 home win on July 15th. Sioux Falls followed that up with a 1st round playoff victory over the pirates on July 22nd inside the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.

SCOUTING THE MASSACHUSETTS PIRATES
The Massachusetts Pirates finished the 2023 Indoor Football League Season with a 9-7 record, including a 7-4 record against Eastern Conference opponents. The Pirates advanced to the IFL Playoffs, but suffered a 1st round road loss to the Sioux Falls Storm.

The Pirates Offense ranked 4th in the IFL in points per game (50.0) last season and 5th in the league in touchdowns (109).

The Pirates Defense ranked 8th in the IFL last season in points allowed (47.6).

Running back Jimmie Robinson returns to the Pirates for the 2024 season after finishing last seasons campaign as the 2nd best rusher in the IFL averaging 63.9 yards per game. His 28 rushing TDs last season were tied for 4th most in the IFL.

Wide Receiver Isaac Zico returns this season and will be the top receiving threat for the Pirates. Zico finished the 2023 IFL season ranking 4th in the IFL in receiving yards per game (63.0). Zico's 21 receving TDs were 5th most in the league last season.

Former Sioux Falls Storm DB Eugene Ford joins the Pirates defense in 2023. Ford finished the year tied for the league lead in INTs (8) and helps a Pirates defense that finished the 2023 season with just 10 total interceptions as a team.

SCOUTING THE SIOUX FALLS STORM
The Sioux Falls Storm finished the 2023 Indoor Football League season with a 11-7 record and an Eastern Conference Championship title.

The Storm lost to the Bay Area Panthers in the IFL National Championship game in what turned out to be the final game in the Hall of Fame careers of legendary Head Coach Kurtiss Riggs and Quarterback Lorenzo Brown Jr.

The Storm offense ranked 4th in the IFL last season in touchdowns (121) and 7th in points per game (46.4).
 
QB Lorenzo Brown Jr. was the top offensive threat, finishing 3rd in the IFL in rushing touchdowns (33) and tied for 4th in passing touchdowns (48).

The Storm signed a pair of IFL backup quarterbacks to compete for the starting job this season, with former Vegas Knight Hawks QB Billy Hall and former Tucson Sugar Skulls QB Dylan Vanboxel competing for the job.

Running back Xavier Jackson returns for his 2nd season in a Storm uniform after scoring 14 rushing TDs and 6 receiving TD's during his rookie season.

The Storm reloaded at the Wide Receiver position with the addition of ALL-IFL receiver Kentrez Bell, who finished the year leading the IFL with 1,092 receiving yards.

GAME NOTES

• Defensive Back Cam Harrell scored the Storm's first touchdown of the 2024 Indoor Football League season last week on the Road against the Quad City Steamwheelers. It was a pick-six on the goalline that was taken the length of the field for the score.
   
• Quarterback Billy Hall earned the week 1 start over Quad City and will start again this week on the road against the Massachusetts Pirates. Hall finished his first IFL start going 8-for-14 for 88 yards and a TD. The speedy QB also ran the ball 14 times for 58 yards and a rushing score.
   
• Defensive End Daijon Emory had a nice game in his first start with the Sioux Falls Storm. The former Green Bay Blizzard defender recorded three tackles agains the Quad City Steamwheelers last week. He added a pair of tackles for loss and two pass breakups to his stat line.
   
• Linebacker Amin Black was also impressive in the Storm's Week 1 road loss. The former Villanova standout led the Storm with 9 total tackles (4 solo). Black also had a tackle for loss last week and recorded one hit on the QB.
   
• Storm Defensive Back Laronji Vason-McCoy had 8 tackles (6 solo) in the Week 1 matchup against Quad City. Vason-McCoy was one of the top defenders in the IFL last season ranking 3^rd in the IFL in total tackles (99.5) and 2^nd in the league in solo tackles (84). His 5.5 tackles per game average landed him in the top-10 in the league overall during the 2023 season.

ROAD GAME WATCH PARTY
The Sioux Falls Storm are encouraging fans to attend the Week 2 Watch Party this Friday night at Blue Rock Bar & Grill in Sioux Falls, SD. Fans will gather in the Tailgate room starting at 5:30 PM CT, with the game scheduled to kickoff at 6:05 PM. The live stream will be displayed on the tv screens in the dining room area and will include audio to enhance the gameday experience. Fans who did not pick up their 2024 Season Ticket Packages will have the opportunity to claim their tickets at the Watch Party until the conclusion of the game. 

LOCATION: Blue Rock Bar & Grill - 4021 Bobhalla Dr, Sioux Falls, SD 57107