IFL Week 1 of 2025 season Recap: Defenses Rise to Occasion
Image via X @IndoorFL
Week 1 of the IFL season is in the books, with three games played between Friday and Saturday.
The main storyline for the opening weekend was the defense’s performances, as none of the six teams that played scored more than 46 points. Tulsa and San Antonio combined for just 48 points in their matchup on Saturday.
Here’s a quick recap of each game and who the stars of those games were.
Jacksonville Sharks at Massachusetts Pirates
Image via X @IndoorFL
It was all smiles for the road team as the Jacksonville Sharks as they blew out the Pirates 46-25. Jacksonville’s defense took advantage of new indoor football quarterback Kenji Bahar’s inexperience in the league as they created multiple turnovers for the new-look Pirates offense. Sharks quarterback Kaleb Barker threw four touchdowns while former Pirates and current Sharks running Jimmie Robinson scored his first rushing touchdown with the team.
Massachusetts looked better in the second half offensively, with new running Pooka Williams scoring three touchdowns for the Pirates. Bahar threw a touchdown and rushed for another in the loss.
The Sharks are on an early-season bye. In Week 3, they will take on the Vegas Knight Hawks. Massachusetts will stay at home next week to face Quad City.
Green Bay Blizzard at Quad City Steamwheelers
Image via X @IndoorFL
In his debut as the starting quarterback for Quad City, Daquan Neal scored five touchdowns as he helped the Steamwheelers hold on to a 39-37 win. The Blizzard did have a 20-19 lead but could not hold on to it as Quad City scored after that and held on to the lead the rest of the game.
Green Bay quarterback Max Meylor scored three touchdowns, including a passing score with 11 seconds left, to bring the Blizzard within two points but failed to convert on the deuce. There was back-and-forth scoring between the two teams at the end as the Blizzard could not catch up to the Steamwheelers.
Quad City improves to a 1-0 record as they will play the Pirates on the road. The Blizzard will host their first home game of the season, facing the Iowa Barnstormers.
Tulsa Oilers at San Antonio Gunslingers
Image via X @IndoorFL
A much different-looking Tulsa Oilers team opened the season in style, defeating the San Antonio Gunslingers 28-20 in a defensive battle. New Oilers quarterback T.J. Edwards led the way with four total touchdowns. Tulsa linebacker Tre Harvey collected two interceptions in the second half to help with the win.
The Gunslingers were held to just eight second-half points. Quarterback Malik Henry threw two first-half touchdowns to Glen Gibbons during the loss.
Tulsa will be back on the road in two weeks to take on Fishers Freight. The Gunslingers will take a trip to California on Saturday to face the Bay Area Panthers.
