The stage is set for the IFL National Championship game after the Massachusetts Pirates and the Arizona Rattlers earned the right to play in the final match of the 2024 IFL season by winning their respective conference championship games. Massachusetts went on the road to visit the Green Bay Blizzard, the top-seed in the Eastern Conference coming into the playoffs, and Massachusetts played well enough to upset the Blizzard. In the Western Conference final, the San Diego Strike Force traveled to face the Arizona Rattlers, and the Rattlers played a complete game to pick up a dominant win over the Strike Force.
The Pirates’ and Rattlers’ wins have set up the matchup for the IFL National Championship game, which will be played on Saturday, August 17th, at 4:05 pm EST. IFL fans can watch the game on the CBS Sports Network. It will be played at the Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, Nevada.
2024 IFL National Championship
Arizona Rattlers (13-5) vs. Massachusetts Pirates (10-8)
In addition to the IFL National Championship game, the IFL is beginning to celebrate the outstanding players in the IFL during the 2024 season. Recently, the IFL named the players selected for the Second Team All-IFL Offense and Second Team All-IFL Defense team, along with the IFL All-Rookie team.
Eastern Conference Final
Massachusetts Pirates (10-8) 51, Green Bay Blizzard (14-4) 28
The Massachusetts Pirates came into the Eastern Conference championship game with one of the most balanced teams in the IFL. Green Bay went into the championship game after posting one of the most impressive regular-season performances in the league. Massachusetts’ ability to be efficient and consistent on offense allowed the Pirates to make the Blizzard play for making mistakes on offense, and they were able to pull away from Green Bay in the second half to clinch a berth in the IFL National Championship game.
Pirates quarterback Alejandro Bennifield completed 10 out of 15 passes for 118 yards, resulting in three touchdowns, and did not throw any interceptions. In addition to Bennifield’s performance, the Massachusetts running back added 108 rushing yards and two additional touchdowns. For Green Bay, quarterback Max Meylor completed 19 out of 28 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns, but Meylor also threw two interceptions, which allowed the Pirates to pull ahead of the Blizzard and put the game away in the second half.
Western Conference Final
Arizona Rattlers (13-5) 58, San Diego Strike Force (11-7) 23
After starting the 2024 IFL season 1-4, the Arizona Rattlers earned their chance to play in the IFL National Championship with a dominant performance at home against the San Diego Strike Force. The Strike Force came into the game with one of the best passing offenses in the IFL, led by quarterback Nate Davis. Arizona’s defense did a great job of putting pressure on Davis. It made it difficult for him to get into a rhythm on offense by intercepting four of Davis’ passes and sacking the San Diego quarterback two times.
Offensively, the Rattlers quarterback Dalton Sneed returns to the IFL National Championship game after leading the Bay Area Panthers to the IFL National Championship in 2023. In the Western Conference final, Sneed completed 14 out of 18 passes for 159 yards and three passing touchdowns, and he added two more touchdowns running the ball. Arizona running back Shannon Brooks also contributed to the Arizona offense, running for 22 yards and a touchdown. For San Diego, quarterback Nate Davis struggled against the Rattler’s defense, completing 17 out of 38 passes for 179 yards, which resulted in two touchdowns. Davis’ downfall was due to throwing four interceptions, including an interception returned for a touchdown by the Rattlers to help Arizona pull away from the Strike Force in the second half.
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