The Fishers Freight were four seconds away from one of their biggest road wins of the season Saturday night. Instead, they return home trying to stop a two-game slide.
Fishers fell to the Orlando Pirates 60-57 at Kia Center after Orlando quarterback Paxton DeLaurent found Teo Redding for the game-winning touchdown with four seconds remaining. The loss dropped the Freight to 5-3 after a 5-1 start. Orlando improved to 4-2.
The game had all the makings of an indoor football shootout from the start. Jaiden Roe intercepted Orlando’s opening possession, and Felix Harper later connected with Dominic Roberto for a Fishers touchdown. Orlando answered throughout the first half, including a Thomas Owens touchdown just before halftime.
Fishers continued to trade blows in the second half. JT Stokes opened the half with a quick score, Roe added an end-zone interception, and Roberto remained a key offensive spark. Calum Sutherland also helped swing momentum with his second deuce of the game.
But Orlando had the final answer. After Fishers moved ahead 57-54 late, the Pirates drove for the winning score, handing the Freight a painful road loss in a game that could matter later in the Eastern Conference race.
Fishers will try to regroup Saturday, May 16, when the Jacksonville Sharks visit Fishers Event Center for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Jacksonville enters the matchup as one of the hottest teams in the IFL. The Sharks improved to 5-1 Sunday with a 41-34 comeback win over Tulsa, their fourth straight victory. Jacksonville’s defense made the decisive stop on the final play, while quarterback Sammy Edwards had two rushing touchdowns and linebacker Michael Moore finished with 13 tackles and three tackles for loss.
The matchup gives Fishers little room for mistakes. Jacksonville has been winning close games, while the Freight have now dropped two straight tight contests, including a 57-52 home loss to Green Bay before the Orlando defeat.
Saturday’s game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Fishers Event Center and is listed for streaming on Yahoo Sports.