JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Six games, six wins and another statement victory.
The San Diego Strike Force continued their march toward the postseason Sunday, holding off the Jacksonville Sharks 62-55 in a matchup between two of the Indoor Football League’s top teams to improve to 10-2 — the team’s sixth straight victory — and maintain their place atop the Western Conference.
Already playoff-bound after clinching a berth last week, the Strike Force passed another regular-season test by traveling across the country and defeating a Jacksonville team that entered the contest with a 9-3 record.
San Diego never trailed but repeatedly had to answer as the Sharks mounted comeback attempts throughout the second half.
The Strike Force built a 41-27 lead late in the second quarter before Jacksonville scored in the final minute to trim the deficit to 41-34 at halftime.
The Sharks carried that momentum into the third quarter, pulling even at 41-41. Jacksonville later tied the game again at 48-48, but each time the Strike Force delivered an answer.
A touchdown drive late in the third quarter, followed by another scoring march early in the fourth, helped San Diego regain control at 62-48. Jacksonville added a late touchdown but could get no closer as the Strike Force secured their sixth consecutive victory.
The offensive attack was paced by veteran quarterback Nate Davis and running back Edward Vander.
Davis completed 14 of 18 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns, while Vander accounted for 127 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. The veteran rushed for 78 yards and two scores on 21 carries while adding five receptions for 49 yards and another touchdown.
Shane Hooks chipped in three catches for 53 yards and a touchdown, while Dallas Daniels added a 16-yard scoring reception.
Defensively, Caleb Streat and Devin Hafford each intercepted Jacksonville quarterback Sammy Edwards, helping preserve the one-possession victory.
The win was the latest example of a Strike Force team that believes it is better equipped for a championship run than the squad that reached the Indoor Football League Western Conference title game a season ago.
“This team is more talented in a lot of ways, and we’re healthier in some areas,” veteran kicker Ernesto Lacayo said. “Every year, part of an organization getting better is recruiting really well and bringing in guys who can contribute in more ways than one.”
Head coach Taylor Genuser pointed to a productive offseason that blended continuity with an infusion of new talent.
“We seem very recharged this offseason,” Genuser said. “We brought a lot of guys back, but we also added a lot of really good players. Some have played elsewhere, but a lot of these guys are young, and their first exposure to the indoor game is with us. We like those young players because we’re teaching them how to play our version of the game.”
That growth has been evident on both sides of the ball.
Genuser highlighted defensive lineman Adam Anderson and offensive lineman Ivory Scott as two offseason additions who have helped elevate the team.
“Adam is a game changer,” Genuser said of the former University of Georgia standout. “With his pass-rush ability, his run-stopping ability, his length and athleticism, he’s just a force. He’s still learning the game because he’s a rookie, but he’s definitely a difference-maker.”
“Ivory is our left guard, and he’s a mauler who really brings physicality. We lost both of our guards to the CFL last year, and Ivory came over from Quad City and stepped right in. He’s played really well for us, and I think he’s good enough to earn a shot at the next level.”
Lacayo also credited Davis’s continued excellence at 39.
“They used the word ‘vintage’ on T.V. broadcasts, and that’s exactly what he is,” Lacayo said. “It’s amazing to watch a guy of his caliber work the way he does day in and day out. Once he’s done, it’s a generation of great arena football that people may never see again.”
The next test comes July 6, when the Arizona Rattlers visit Frontwave Arena.
