By RJ “The Bullish Brahma” Reid
Introduction
In the vast plains of Texas, the land stretches out as far as the eye can see. The people here live simple, quiet lives. Hard-working families pride themselves on being self-sufficient. One such lifestyle are wranglers, those employed to professionally handle livestock, but not all wranglers are honest, some have dark hearts with nothing but ill intentions. Cattle ranches are the lifeblood for many families in the rural country of Texas, but lurking in the shadows are certain wranglers who prey on others. One unfortunate family has been the victim of cattle thieves’ numerous times. Desperate to put an end to the significant loss of capital, they seek out the assistant of the heroic Gunslingers, a posse charged with the protection of those who cannot protect themselves. Their bounty: the villainous Wranglers from Northern Arizona.
It is Week 4 of the Indoor Football League (IFL), and the 0-1 San Antonio Gunslingers come home for the first time as members of the IFL when they face off against the 1-1 Northern Arizona Wranglers. Here’s what you need to know:
When?
Saturday, April 6, 2024 @ 06:05pm CST.
Where?
Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, Texas.
Gameday Weather
The game will be played indoor obviously, but for those who are interested in tailgating, it’s looking to be a decent evening in San Antonio. The weather report says it should be 76 degrees, overcast, with a 12% chance of rain with 16 mile per hour winds.
Gambling Lines
For those you like to live on the edge, the Wranglers are 2.5-point favorites and the over/under is 97.5.
History
This is the first matchup between the two clubs.
3 Keys to Victory
The Gunslingers defense needs to tighten things up. There were too many blown coverages against San Diego. San Diego wide receivers were too wide open, and our defense looked out of sorts. Strike Force quarterback Nate Davis threw for 9 touchdowns, that’s right, 9 touchdowns. The running defense was solid, as San Diego only gained 19 yards on the ground. You could argue that the lack of rushing yards was because San Antonio couldn’t stop the pass, and there was no need for San Diego to run the ball.
Speaking of the running game, ours needs to get going. The Gunslingers outrushed San Diego by a large margin, 68 yards to 19. However, when you factor in the fact that quarterback Sam Castronova ran for 64 of those 68 yards. Running back Keyshawn Harper was held in check, even though he did run for a touchdown.
Sam Castronova is legit and needs to replicate his sterling performance. He passed for 4 touchdowns and ran for four more. After starting a little shaky and his accuracy being a tad off, Castronova heated up as the game went along. He was mobile in the pocket, keeping plays alive and finding open receivers. Receiver Austin Upshaw was his favorite target as he caught a team leading five catches. Fan favorite Kali Rashaad did not disappoint as he had a team leading 62 yards of receiving and one touchdown. Castronova will need to continue his supremacy until our defense steps up.
Final Thoughts
The Gunslingers are coming off a thrilling last second shootout loss to the San Diego Strike Force in their first ever game in the IFL. The offense was clicking on all cylinders, but the defense had numerous blown coverages in the secondary. They gave up 9 passing touchdowns to the Strike Force and seemed a little confused. Last week, the Wranglers earned their first victory as they defeated the visiting Tucson Sugar Skulls. This will be Northern Arizona’s first road game of the season and they will face a Gunslingers squad who is looking to take out their frustrations on the next opponent. Unfortunately for Northern Arizona, they are the next opponent. This should prove to be a thrilling, intense battle on the field. Don’t blink, as you’ll probably miss the action. Gunz up, San Antonio!