The defending champion Massachusetts Pirates are entering the playoffs and look to win another championship. The second-seed Pirates are set to face off against the third-seed Quad City Steamwheelers in the first round of the IFL Eastern Conference playoffs at DCU Center in Worcester at 7 pm on Friday, July 22. This is win-or-go-home time for the Pirates, and they must win to keep their championship aspirations alive.
The Pirates are coming off a 43 point beat down against San Diego and are taking on a far superior opponent this week. If the Pirates manage to defeat the Steamwheelers, they will then face the top-seed Frisco Fighters or fourth-seed Iowa Barnstormers to decide who plays in the Dollar Loan Center IFL National Championship from the Eastern Conference. In the Western Conference, the top-seed Arizona Rattlers, two-seed Northern Arizona Wranglers, three-seed Tucson Sugar Skulls, and four-seed Duke City Gladiators will be battling it out for a chance to play in Dollar Loan Center IFL National Championship.
The Quad City Steamwheelers offense is led by dual threat superstar quarterback E.J. Hilliard. Hilliard averages the second most rushing yards per game and is throwing for the fifth most passing yards per game in the IFL. He is a major factor in the Steamwheelers success, and the Pirates defense led by star defensive back Aarion Maxey-Penton must slow him down. Superstar Pirates wide receiver Thomas “T.O.” Owens finished the regular season with the most receiving yards and second most receiving touchdowns in the IFL. He looks to continue to play a huge role in the Pirates offense this week, and in their quest to defend their championship title.