Strike Force victory over Chupacabras

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - As the famous saying goes, "Home is where the heart is." For the New Mexico Chupacabras, that mantra rang true, as the team played its first game at Tingley Coliseum since April 11th, going against the San Diego Strike Force on Sunday evening. San Diego held second place in the Western Conference standings with six wins and two losses entering today's game, while the Chupacabras had hopes set on ending a five-game losing streak with a stunning upset.

New Mexico had the look and feel of an entirely different squad that fizzled out during the IFL Cup showcase in New Jersey in the middle of the month, as the Chupacabras put together an amazing start and scored the game's first 19 points. Ill-timed mistakes over the course of the final three quarters added up to be too much to overcome. A Strike Force team showed the resolve that an experienced, championship-caliber team possesses. In the end, San Diego completed its rally and improved to a record of 7-2 on the season, thanks to today's 55-45 win over New Mexico.

The Chupacabras scored on their opening drive, which was keyed by a pair of third down conversions, the latter of which was an eight-yard touchdown pass from Donovan Porterie to Arthur Jackson. New Mexico's defense disrupted three straight passes from former Duke City Gladiator Nate Davis to force a turnover on downs on San Diego's first drive of the game. The Chupacabra offense found paydirt four plays later on a six-yard rush by La'james White, with the ensuing point after kick by Ben Derby blocked. The first quarter ended shortly after, with San Diego seeking its first points of the game and New Mexico off to a quick 13-point lead.

The inaccuracy issues plagued Davis again, with another set of four incompletions stalling the Strike Force's drive well inside their own territory. New Mexico's scoring play that followed was one of the more creatively improvised plays seen across the league this season. White, taking the direct snap from shotgun, looked to be stopped short of the goal line, but he alertly pitched out a lateral to Wesley Bowers, who typically plays the linebacker position on defense but was on the field as an additional blocker for the designed run. Bowers then took the ball into the endzone from there on what goes down as a two-yard touchdown rush. The two-point try got halted, keeping the Chupacabra lead at 19 points. Facing a surprising three-possession deficit, the Strike Force would find the endzone with their third possession of the game, with Davis delivering a 21-yard lob pass to running back Tyrell Greene Jr.

New Mexico's first mishap on offense saw Porterie throw an endzone-bound pass into tight coverage, with the interception by Elijah Reed returned out to midfield for the game's first takeaway by either team. On the very next play, Davis found Dallas Daniels on a beautifully run hitch-and-go route for a 25-yard touchdown pass, shaving New Mexico's lead down to five points. Porterie responded nicely with another touchdown pass inside the one-minute warning, finding Jackson for his second receiving touchdown of the game from five yards out. Porterie, however, picked up a taunting unsportsmanlike penalty after that scoring play. The 15-yard penalty, coupled with the supple time remaining on the clock, was more than enough for the Strike Force to add another touchdown, with Davis looking the way of Jalen Sample for a 15-yard touchdown pass with about ten seconds on the clock. More disaster struck the Chupacabras, a critical mistake by Porterie, who threw an interception to Devin Hafford, who returned it for a touchdown and gave the Strike Force their first lead of the game, and the visitors would carry that 28-26 advantage into the locker room at halftime.

San Diego's opening possession of the second half needed just one play, with Davis going deep once again on a 25-yard touchdown pass, which was caught by Cole Blackman. The lead stayed at eight points after Ernesto Lacayo's extra point hit the right post. Lacayo made up for that miss with a deuce on the opening kickoff, but the Chupacabras stayed within striking distance on a 22-yard pass from Porterie to C.J. Jefferson, with Derby's point after pushed wide right. After a Chupacabra defensive stand was overturned by a successful challenge for illegal defense, the Strike Force took that second chance and ran Greene into the endzone for a four-yard touchdown rush, but Lacayo again missed the mark with the point after. New Mexico drove into San Diego territory upon expiration of the third quarter clock, with the score 42-32 favoring San Diego.

After converting a fourth and five to begin the quarter, Porterie rolled left and stepped up in the pocket to find Jackson for a four-yard touchdown pass, the latter's third touchdown reception of the game. San Diego also had to convert a fourth down to keep their next possession alive, but found another over the top touchdown pass with Blackman the recipient of a 23-yard pass from Davis. The Strike Force came up short on the two-point try, holding their lead at nine points. The Chupacabras stayed close in pursuit, with Porterie finding Jefferson on a nifty 20-yard touchdown pass which saw Jefferson elude tacklers and the near wall on his way to the endzone. Derby's extra point kick missed wide left, with the Chupacabras down by three. San Diego spent its next possession working methodically down the field, scoring again inside the one minute warning on a three-yard run by reserve quarterback Kiael Kelly. With time winding down, Porterie fired a prayer towards the endzone in the direction of Jackson, but the pass was intercepted by Reed, with the latter securing his second pick of the game. San Diego successfully ran the remainder of the game clock to finalize their win over New Mexico by a 55 to 45 final.

Nate Davis completed 13 of 27 pass attempts for 201 yards, with five touchdowns and no interceptions to pace the comeback win for the Strike Force. Tyrell Greene Jr., making another start for the injured Edward Vander, caught three passes for 57 yards and a touchdown. Both of Cole Blackman's receptions went for touchdowns and totaled 48 yards. Jalen Sample caught five passes for 57 yards and a touchdown, while Dallas Daniels added a 25-yard touchdown reception on his lone catch of the ballgame. The Strike Force defense produced three interceptions today, two by Elijah Reed and another by Devin Hafford that went for a touchdown.

Donovan Porterie made his first start of the season tonight, completing 18 passes out of 32 attempts for 213 yards, with five touchdowns and three interceptions. La'james White rushed 12 times for 13 yards and a touchdown while adding four receptions for 33 yards. Former Strike Force receiver Arthur Jackson was Porterie's favorite target tonight, securing eight receptions for 66 yards and three touchdowns. C.J. Jefferson caught three passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns. Wesley Bowers, usually the lynchpin of the Chupacabra defense, scored an offensive touchdown tonight on the wacky lateral play during the second quarter. Defensive backs Cam Bright and Jacious Clark made their respective parks with multiple pass breakups each.

San Diego's clean sheet offensively of no giveaways, in tandem with their trio of interceptions, contributed to a plus-three mark in turnover margin on the night. The Chupacabras also found themselves on the short end in terms of penalties as well, flagged seven times for 50 yards during the game. In comparison, the Strike Force were whistled just three times for 12 yards.

In what is technically the current iteration of the all-time series, the Strike Force log win number one versus the Chupacabras. For those who include the Strike Force's prior record against the Duke City Gladiators from 2022 to 2024, San Diego now possesses a four games to two series advantage. The Chupacabras' next chance to even the score this season will take place at San Diego on July 18.

Next week, the Chupacabras (1-8) will battle the Tucson Sugar Skulls (3-6) for the third time this season. That game will take place in Tucson on Sunday June 7, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. After the Strike Force return following a Week 13 bye, they will be back in action on Sunday June 14, when their visit the Northern Arizona Wranglers (1-8) for a 1 p.m. kickoff. Times listed are pacific daylight time.

Both games, as well as all IFL games this season, will be available on the IFL's broadcast and streaming platforms. Sports Coast to Coast will present previews of those, and all, games this season. Those previews will be posted on the board of the home team in each game on the site.