By RJ “The Bullish Brahma” Reid
Introduction
In the northern city of Frisco, Texas, pilots were getting ready to take off. They began their pre-flight safety checklists. Control wheel lock – removed; ignition switch – off; avionics power switch – off; master switch – on; baggage door – check; rudder gust lock – removed; tail tie-down – disconnected. Down the checklist the pilots went, ensuring that their jets were ready for takeoff. Just as they were ready to take to the air, the tower came over the radio, in a full panic. “Abort, abort! Do NOT take off!” “Why?” the fighter pilots asked. “What’s going on?” “It’s not safe to take off,” tower responded, the fear in their voice clearly rising. “The Gunslingers are in town! We’re all doomed!”
To be continued in Week 8…
It is Week 7 of the Indoor Football League (IFL), and the 1-3 San Antonio Gunslingers go back on the road when they play the 4-0 Frisco Fighters in Frisco, Texas. Here’s what you need to know:
When?
Friday, April 26, 2024 @ 7:30pm CT.
Where?
Comerica Center, Frisco, Texas.
Gameday Weather
Obviously, this game is being played indoors, but if you are looking at hanging outside prior to the start of the game, the weather may not cooperate. The weather report calls for it to be 68 degrees, windy with scattered thunderstorms. Winds will be 20-30 miles per hour and there is a 40% chance of rain.
History
This is the first matchup between the two clubs.
Keys to Victory
First and foremost, the biggest key for San Antonio is keeping reining IFL Most Valuable Player from last year, quarterback TJ Edwards in check. He leads the league in rushing touchdowns with 14 along with 8 passing touchdowns. While his numbers seem to be down from last year at this point in the season, he is still a very dangerous threat, and with the Gunslingers having issues on defense, especially defending the run, this matchup could prove to be a nightmare for San Antonio.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle for San Antonio to overcome is Frisco’s defense. The Fighters give up the second least points, and the least yards per game. Additionally, they are tops in the league in rush defense. If Frisco has a weakness on defense, it is their pass defense which is 13th. If the Gunslingers have any hope of winning this game, this is what San Antonio will need to exploit, and it just happens to be that San Antonio possesses the best passing offense in the IFL. San Antonio’s rushing offense is anemic and Frisco’s rush defense is almost impossible to run on, so the Gunslingers will need to continue to do what they are doing best this year, and that is slinging the ball around.
The defense will need to make stops. The first three games, San Antonio struggled mightily stopping their opponents, and had to be perfect on offense. Against the Sugar Skulls, the defense really stepped up, especially the newcomers. They forced two turnovers and stopped Tucson on downs on another occasion. This allowed San Antonio to pull away as their offense continued doing their thing. San Antonio needs to replicate this performance against Frisco. Frisco’s offense is not as potent as San Antonio’s, so the defense just needs a couple of stops. Do this, and the Gunslingers may pull the upset.
Final Thoughts
The San Antonio Gunslingers are coming off their very first win in the IFL, dominating the Tucson Sugar Skulls from the beginning of the game. The Frisco Fighters, one of the most successful franchises since entering the league, kept their perfect season alive by defeating the Tulsa Oilers on the road. This is the first of three games between these two teams, and the first of a home-and-home. The Gunslingers have their work cut out for them, as Frisco boasts the best defense in the IFL. Conversely, the Gunslingers have the best offense in the league. In this matchup, we’ll see which give first, the unstoppable force or the immovable object. This should be an exciting matchup and one that any Gunslingers fan will not want to miss.