NOTES
The Vegas Knight Hawks are approaching this Week 5 matchup well rested and well read on their opponents, the San Antonio Gunslingers. Coming off their first bye week of 2024, the undefeated Knight Hawks seek to extend their winning streak to three when they take the field Friday night. The Gunslingers, who have started their season 0-2, will instead look to secure their first win of the year.
The Knight Hawks' offensive success stems from their offensive line consistently and emphatically winning the battles up front. Kevin Toote centers the line with Moses Mallory and Kory Woodruff on his flanks. This group has conceded just one sack (for a loss of 12 yards) this season, third-best in the IFL. They will have their hands full against the Gunslingers defense, in particular defensive lineman, Shomari Wallace, who tallied seven tackles in his first IFL game.
Makel Calhoun leads Vegas's defense through the first two games of the season. His 12.5 tackles lead the Knight Hawks and rank 14th in the IFL. He has additionally recorded two sacks this season, averaging a loss of 1.50 yards per game, fifth-best in the league. Ronald Collins will make his season debut on Friday after being activated from short-term IR. Last season with Tucson, Collins earned 19.5 tackles and two sacks in seven games. He will look to bolster the defensive front as Maurice Jackson heads to the short-term IR.
OPPOSITION UPDATE
The San Antonio Gunslingers, along with the Jacksonville Sharks, are one of two new teams to the Indoor Football League in 2024. San Antonio has started its 2024 campaign with back-to-back losses against the San Diego Strike Force and Northern Arizona Wranglers.
Despite their record, Vegas should prepare for a strong showing from San Antonio this weekend. In the team's first two games of the season, Gunslingers quarterback Sam Castronova threw for 338 yards and nine touchdowns, behind only the Pirates, Gladiators, and Strike Force offensively. His QB-efficiency rating of 200 puts him firmly atop the quarterback leaderboard this season. Castronova's top target this season has been Nyquan Murray, who leads his team with three touchdown catches and 79 yards.
Defensively, San Antonio's Gio Vonne Sanders leads San Antonio's defensive units with 6.5 tackles and two pass breakups. Defensive lineman Shomari Wallace debuted last week and earned seven tackles, including 1.5 in the backfield. Vegas quarterback Ja'Rome Johnson's dual-threat ability (424 all-purpose yards through two games) has made opposing defenses respect both the run and the pass-game. They will need to find that success once again to get a victory against what is becoming a desperate San Antonio team.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Fans are encouraged to watch the game on SSSEN on broadcast channel 5.2, cable channel 125 and YouTubeTV. Fans can also stream the game on YouTube or listen to it on KRLV 920 AM. Ben Wilson will return for his third season as the broadcast voice of the Knight Hawks. FOX5's Mariah Janos returns as the broadcast's sideline reporter.
TICKETS
Tickets are still available for the Vegas Knight Hawks contest against San Antonio on Friday at 7 p.m. PT. There will be a $2 beer and margarita special at select bars around the concourse. Click here to purchase the special offer.
