.png)
The road has been kind to the Vegas Knight Hawks, most recently it saw the team post a franchise-record in points while hoping to right the ship.
Vegas demolished the San Diego Strike Force, 68-23, Saturday, May 14 from Pechanga Arena in San Diego.
These two teams will play again Saturday, June 11 from The Dollar Loan Center.
Coming into the game, the Knight Hawks had lost four of their last five games.
Vegas now has a 4-5 overall record with a 3-2 mark on the road.
However, the team will now return home for a matchup against the Duke City Gladiators Saturday, May 21.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. from The Dollar Loan Center.
Prior to the start of this one, Vegas came into the contest last in the IFL in scoring at about 30 points per game.
The team more than doubled that output in this lopsided victory that produced three-touchdown days for multiple wide receivers.
Wide receiver Kasey Allison had three, the first of which came despite a defensive pass interference penalty in the first quarter.
In fact, Allison’s touchdown grab was the third first quarter touchdown pass for quarterback Jerod Evans, who would eventually finish with six, tying his career-high.
Allison’s second touchdown snag came in the second quarter off the heels of a turnover to put Vegas up 35-14 on San Diego.
His third and final score came in the fourth quarter and would also serve as the final touchdown of the game for Evans.
Allison caught three passes for 64 yards and three touchdowns.
Wide receiver Dez Epps scored all three of his touchdowns in the first half, with two coming off passes from Evans.
One came midway through the first while the other came late in the second but he also returned a kickoff for a touchdown early in the second quarter.
He finished with 35 yards on three receptions and three overall touchdowns.
Wide receiver Jeff Ejekam also caught a touchdown pass from Evans, who finished with 179 passing yards on 13-of-19 passing with six touchdowns to zero interceptions.
Evans would leave the game early in the fourth quarter in favor of backup quarterback Cameron Dukes, who would score a rushing touchdown in his short outing.
Running back Jordan Cronkite also scored a touchdown on the ground in the third quarter before ending his night with 24 rushing yards on seven carries and that lone score.
While the season numbers didn’t lean in favor of the offense, it was quite the opposite for the team’s defense, entering as a top-3 defense.
Moreover, the team is 4-1 now when allowing two or more turnovers, forcing four in this one.
San Diego did not get its first offensive possession until more than halfway into the first quarter after scoring a touchdown on a kickoff.
That drive ended with a blocked field goal that would turn into a safety for the Knight Hawks.
Defensive tackle Kai Higgins also added to his league-leading tackle-for-loss stats with a sack on the drive.
Coming in, he was tied for first in the league with eight solo tackles for loss. He was also tied for second in total tackles-for-loss with nine.
In the second quarter, defensive back Mister Harriel snatched his second interception of the season.
His pick set up the second touchdown for Allison.
Harriel finished with three tackles and one interception.
Former UNLV standout Jericho Flowers had himself a day, recording two interceptions. Both of his interceptions came in the third quarter with the latter being returned all the way back for a touchdown.
Flowers finished with three tackles, one for a loss and two interceptions totaling about 70 return yards.
There would have been four interceptions as a team but Kyree McLean had one overturned in the third quarter due to a penalty.
Some things did go in favor of the defense, including a second quarter Strike Force fumble that was overturned after being challenged by head coach Mike Davis.