Pirates Offense Dominated Despite Starting Three Different Quarterbacks

By: Jake Ignaszewski Pirates Insider August 26, 2022

The most important position on a football field was a revolving door for the Massachusetts Pirates due to multiple injuries but the team still found a way to have success on offense. Despite featuring three different starting quarterbacks throughout the 2022 season and the team still played at a high level, which helped them finish with the fourth-best offense in the league. Alejandro Bennifield, Mike Glass III and Taz Wilson all split time under center and helped successfully lead the offense.

Last year's United Bowl MVP, Alejandro Bennifield began the season as the starter and looked to replicate his impressive first season as the starting quarterback after he led the Pirates to a championship. Bennifield started the season strong and after the first 4 games, he led the majority of the offensive statistics and was selected the Week 6 Offensive Player of the Week after throwing six touchdowns in Bismarck.

The 6'1", 210lb QB was sidelined multiple times throughout the season and missed a total of six games, and was replaced by Mike Glass and later in the season by Taz Wilson. Even though Bennifield only appeared in 10 games, the Tennessee Chattanooga product tallied 1,382 passing yards (9th in IFL) and completed 65.3 completion percentage (6th in IFL) with 28 touchdown passes (8th in IFL) and 5 interceptions.

Mike Glass III was the backup quarterback going into the season but had the opportunity to fill in for Bennifield multiple times throughout the season. Glass started two games throughout the season facing the Iowa Barnstormers in Week 7 and the Bismarck Bucks in Week 12. The Eastern Michigan product won both contests he started under center and also found ways to come up clutch two games to win the game during the final seconds.

Glass made heroic effects during back-to-back weeks against the Sioux Falls Storm and Bismarck Bucks. Against Sioux Falls, Glass replaced Bennifield after an injury on the final drive and threw a game-tying touchdown to Darren Carrington to lead the Pirates to a win. The next week when Glass started, the same scenario presented itself, and the Glass/Carrington duo connected once again to win the game. The 6'0", 210 lbs QB played seven total games completing 56.9% of his passes, threw for 361 yards with 8 touchdowns and 2 picks. Glass was a dual-threat under center attempting to scramble 37 times for 130 yards and scored twice.

Taz Wilson stepped up for the Pirates going into Week 13 against Duke City when the team had placed both Bennifield and Glass on short-term IR and had to sign Wilson as an emergency quarterback a few days before game day. Wilson came to Massachusetts with IFL experience under his belt at the beginning of the 2021 season for the Bismarck Bucks and Sioux Falls Storm.

The 6'4", 230lb QB produced immediately for the Pirates and looked very comfortable in the Pirates offense for the five games he started. His most impressive performance was during his return to Sioux Falls in Week 16 when he put up a record-breaking performance scoring nine total touchdowns with seven through the air and two on the ground. Wilson broke the Pirates All-Time single-game touchdown record and helped the offense score the most points since joining the IFL with 69. This impressive performance also helped him be selected for the Co-Offensive Player of the Week for that week.

Overall, Wilson helped the Pirates win games necessary games at the end of the season which led them to clinch the fourth consecutive playoff berth for the organization. The native of Ridgeville, S.C. finished the season completing 60% of his passes and threw for 827 yards with 17 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.

For any team, it's difficult to win games and stay competitive when the starting quarterback goes down, but when even the backup is sidelined, that when it's critical to have an intelligent General Manager and coaching staff. Luckily the Pirates had both during the 2022 season to help the team have consistency under center.