Pirates Pummel Barnstormers, Extend Home Win Streak to Five
ORLANDO, FL - The Pirates continued their winning ways at home, defeating the Barnstormers 50-7 on Saturday at the Kia Center. Orlando (6-4) improved their home record to 5-0, tying Jacksonville for the second-best home record in the IFL Eastern Conference, while Iowa (1-9) saw their losing streak slide to four consecutive defeats.
By: Michael Muela
The Pirates needed just three plays to score on their opening possession, as running back Pooka Williams took the first two carries for a combined 30 yards, and the drive was capped off by quarterback Paxton DeLaurent's one-yard rushing score. The two-point conversion try from receiver Ja'hki Douglas failed, and Orlando led 6-0 after nearly two minutes of action. Looking to respond, Iowa QB Dante Aviles-Santos led a five-minute drive, completing just one-of-four passes for three yards, and RB David Elder could only tack on four yards on his lone carry. Aviles-Santos recovered his own fumble, and the drive stalled after just 13 yards on seven plays, ending with kicker Jonah Edwards' field goal try from 16 yards out getting blocked by defensive lineman Mike Mason. Orlando's ensuing drive resulted without a score as a 41-yard FG attempt was no good. As the first quarter came drawing to a close, the Pirates offense padded the lead thanks to a 13-yard connection from DeLaurent to receiver Isaiah McKoy for a TD, and the first frame ended with the Pirates leading 12-0.
With Iowa desperately needing a score to stay in the game, Aviles-Santos fired a pass to the end zone into double coverage, where defensive back Corrion Ballard leaped to haul in the interception. Two minutes later, DeLaurent fired his second TD pass, finding Teo Redding wide open in the back left corner of the zone and Orlando led 19-0 with 10 minutes to play in the first half. Now trailing by three scores, Iowa faced a third-and-goal situation. After recovering his own fumble for the second time, Aviles-Santos rifled a pass toward the sideline that was picked off by DB Leon O'Neal, returning the ball 29 yards to the six-yard-line. Following a seven-yard sack from the Barnstormers defense and a seven-yard rush from Pooka Williams, DeLaurent connected with Thomas Owens for his third TD pass of the first half. Kicker Alejandro Mata converted the point-after-try, and Orlando's lead grew to 26-0. On the next series, David Elder capped a five-play drive with a one-yard rushing TD, scoring Iowa's only points of the game. With only 20 seconds remaining in the half, DeLaurent completed three consecutive passes, the latter finding Williams for a 15-yard TD. Mata's PAT was good, and the Pirates entered the locker room leading 33-7 after two quarters.
On the opening series of the second half, the Pirates defense intercepted Aviles-Santos for the third time, as DJ Daniel ran it back 14 yards to the Barnstormers 18. Backup QB James Blackman would enter the game, and on his first play, found paydirt with an 18-yard rushing TD. In a flash, the Pirates led 40-7. After forcing a turnover on downs, the Pirates offense struck again, as Blackman connected with Williams for a 23-yard score, and the lead ballooned to 47-7. Aviles-Santos would again fumble two plays later, recovered by Orlando's Deonte Anderson, and the final stanza began with the Pirates leading by 40.
Blackman's lone mistake of the afternoon came on fourth-and-goal, firing a pass that was picked off by Richie Coffey III at the goal line. The Barnstormers offense would march down the field, putting together an 11-play, 30-yard drive lasting almost seven-and-a-half. However, the drive stalled as Kobe Gatson fumbled the ball and linebacker Jay Pearson recovered for the Pirates defense. The Orlando offense would run the clock, elapsing nearly five minutes of game time, resulting with Mata converting a 26-yard FG try, extending the lead to 50-7, and that was that.
The Pirates dominated, holding the advantage in third down efficiency (60%-17%), fourth down efficiency (100%-75%), total yards (276-169) and turnovers forced (5-1). The Pirates trailed in time of possession (33:26-26:34) and committed seven penalties for 49 yards to Iowa's one penalty for nine yards.
For the Pirates, Paxton DeLaurent finished the game a perfect eight-of-eight passing for 84 yards with three TD passes, adding a rushing TD to go along with two rush yards on three carries. James Blackman was six-of-eight for 56 yards with a TD and an INT, adding a rush TD and 17 yards on two carries. Pooka Williams led all players with 90 yards on nine rush attempts, adding a pair of TDs and 56 yards on five receptions to lead all players. Teo Redding, Isaiah McKoy and Thomas Owens also pulled down TD grabs, with Redding tallying 41 yards on three receptions, McKoy making two catches for 25 yards, and Owens adding five yards on two catches. The defensive unit was led by the secondary with DJ Daniel, Leon O'Neal and Corrion Ballard each reeling in an interception, and O'Neal was the tackles leader (8 solo, 11 total). Jay Pearson added a pair of sacks, with Hector Johnson and newly-signed Devonte O'Malley adding 0.5 sacks. Pearson and Deonte Anderson each added a fumble recovery.
For the Barnstormers, Dante Aviles-Santos struggled, completing seven-of-18 passes for 66 yards with three INTs. Backup QB Kobe Gatson went two-of-two for 17 yards. David Elder ran 17 times tallying 63 yards and a score on the ground. Demonte Martin led the Iowa receiving unit with 30 yards on three receptions. Trenton McGhee and Jahkari Larmond led the defense with six total tackles each, Larmond added 1.5 sacks, while Richie Coffey registered the only INT.
The Pirates will head to the BOK Center to take on the Tulsa Oilers on Saturday, June 13th at 8:00 p.m. EDT, looking for their seventh victory of the season.
This press release is the property of the Orlando Pirates and may not be republished in full without attribution.
About the Orlando Pirates: The 2021 United Bowl National Champions and 2-time Eastern Conference Champions, Orlando Pirates, are members of the Indoor Football League (IFL) and play their home games at the KIA Center in Orlando, Florida. For 2026 ticket information for Orlando Pirates, please email contact@orlandopirates.com, or visit www.orlandopirates.com
Follow the Pirates on social media with the following official links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goOrlandoPirates
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mass.pirates/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orlandopirates/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@go_orlandopirates
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OrlandoPiratesFootball
About the Indoor Football League (IFL): The IFL is the longest-running indoor football league with 14 teams based in cities across the country. For additional information, please email info@goifl.com or visit the league website at https://goifl.com
Follow the IFL on social media with the following official links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IFLIndoorFootballLeague/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indoorfootballleague/
X: https://x.com/IndoorFL