Nyqwan Murray and Ja'Vontae Douglas ignited a dominant 41-11 victory in the IFL Cup, combining for five touchdowns to dismantle the Chupacabras at the American Dream Mall.
Orlando Pirates quarterback Paxton DeLaurent found reliable targets in a pair of former Florida State wide receivers.
Seminole alums Nyqwan Murray and Ja'hki Douglas combined for nine receptions, 128 yards, and three touchdowns. The Pirates crushed the Chupacabras of New Mexico 41-11 in the consolation game of the first-ever IFL Cup on Sunday at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Murray led the Pirates' receivers with seven receptions for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Douglas, who recently signed with the Pirates, made three catches for 25 yards and a score. The two ex-Seminoles each recorded a rushing touchdown as well.
Murray, an Orlando native, has 502 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games this season in the Indoor Football League. He amassed 127 receptions for 1,854 yards and 12 touchdowns during his time at Florida State (2015-18).
DeLaurent completed 11-of-19 passes for 140 yards and three scores.
Murray’s first score came on a one-yard run in the first quarter to put Orlando up 6-0. DeLaurent then threw an eight-yard pass to Douglas and a five-yard dart to Murray, each for a touchdown to give the Pirates a 20-0 lead late in the second half.
New Mexico’s only score in the first half came on a field goal by Jamaal Bell.
The Pirates went into halftime leading 27-3 after a one-handed catch by Murray set up a rushing touchdown by Douglas.
Pirates head coach Rod Windsor said during his halftime interview that he gave Douglas check-down routes as a way to quickly integrate him into the Orlando offense on such short notice. Windsor told the sideline reporter that Douglas only had three practices between signing with the Pirates and playing in the IFL Cup.
“He just got here,” Windsor said, “so nice, easy stuff to get him going and make him complement the offense.”
New Mexico kicked off the second half with a short rushing touchdown by Donovan Porterie. Orlando retaliated with a long 35-yard touchdown pass from DeLaurent to Murray, furthering the Pirates' lead to 34-11 with eight minutes left in the third quarter.
The Pirates scored one more touchdown in the final minute of the game, an 11-yard pass from backup quarterback James Blackman to receiver Teo Redding, which was his only catch of the game.
The Pirates (5-3) return to action on May 30, as they travel to Tucson to take on the Sugar Skulls. The games can be watched on the Yahoo Sports Network.
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