The Massachusetts Pirates are set to take on the San Diego Strike Force on Saturday, July 16, at 7 pm at DCU Center in Worcester. This should be an easier matchup for a Pirates team that has won five of their last seven games. The San Diego Strike Force have really struggled this year and have an abysmal 3-12 record. The Strike Force have lost eight of their last nine games. The Massachusetts Pirates currently have a 10-5 record. They have clinched the second seed in the Eastern Conference and home-field advantage in the first round of the IFL playoffs after a win on Saturday against the Bay Area Panthers in San Jose, California.
The Frisco Fighters have clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference and appear to be a force going into the playoffs. As for the Western Conference, the Arizona Rattlers have clinched the top seed, and the Northern Arizona Wranglers have clinched the second seed in the playoffs. These two teams look like real contenders heading into the playoffs.
The key to the Massachusetts Pirates offense is getting wide receiver Thomas Owens going. Owens has the second most receiving yards and receiving touchdowns in the IFL, and figures to play a pivotal role for the Pirates offense. The Pirates need to strike first against a Strike Force defense that has given up the second most points per game in the IFL. The Pirates also need a good performance from their defense that has given up the fourth fewest points per game this season. This really should be a routine win for the Massachusetts Pirates to get prepared for the IFL playoffs.