On Sunday, August 3 the Vegas Knight Hawks will travel to San Jose, CA to take on the Bay Area Panthers in the first round of the 2025 IFL Playoffs. Bay Area won both games against Vegas in the regular season.
NOTES
The Vegas Knight Hawks are coming into the playoffs as one of the league's hottest teams, winning four of their last five contests. The lone loss coming to this week's opponent: The Bay Area Panthers, a 55-54 heartbreaker in San Jose on July 11. Since then, Vegas has rattled off two dominant wins over Northern Arizona and Tucson, winning each game by an average of 33 points.
The Knight Hawk offense is ranked second in the league, scoring an average of 47.8 points per game. This group is led by wide receiver
Quentin Randolph and running back
Antonio Wimbush. Randolph broke the franchise record for touchdown receptions in a single season last week, setting the new mark at 23. His 23 scores and 991 receiving yards both rank second in the league. Should Randolph record at least nine more receiving yards, he will be the first Knight Hawks player to eclipse the 1000-yard mark in a season. Wimbush has scored the second most points in the IFL this season with a total of 210. He has scored in all three facets of the game: 23 rushing, six receiving, and five kick-returns.
The Vegas defense also ranks second in the league, only allowing 38 points per game. The defense is led by defensive backs
James Ceasar and
Darius Williams. Ceasar is seventh in the league with 76 tackles and Williams is eighth with 72.5. Ceasar also leads Vegas in interceptions with four on the year. D-lineman
Claude Davis's five sacks lead the team.
OPPOSITION UPDATE:
The Bay Area Panthers finished with a league best record of 13-3 and are one of two teams to have finished with more than 10 wins, the other being Quad City. Of their three losses, only one came at the SAP Center. That was back in week 1 of the season in a 28-21 upset by the San Antonio Gunslingers.
The Panther offense ranks third in the league, right behind Vegas, scoring 46.7 points per game. Their offense is led by quarterback Josh Jones. He has 2050 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. Against Vegas, Jones averaged 128 passing yards and two touchdowns this season. Another weapon on the Panther offense is running back Joshua Tomas. He is seventh in the league with 584 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns.
Bay Area boasts the league's best defense, holding opponents to 35 points per game. This group is led by a strong secondary. Tyrese Wright leads his team and is fourth in the league in tackles with 86. Fellow defensive back, Trae Meadows leads the league in passes defended with 25 and is in a three-way tie for first in the league in interceptions with seven. Joining him in the tie for the most picks in the league is teammate Joe Foucha.
WATCH PARTY
WHEN: Sunday, August 3. Doors open at 4 p.m. PT, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. PT.
WHERE: Craggy Range at Lee's Family Forum
DETAILS: Join the Vegas Knight Hawks for their official watch party at Craggy Range! Enjoy free parking at Lee's Family Forum, giveaways and raffle prizes, and BOGO draft beers for VKH season ticket members and fans who wear VKH gear.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Fans can watch all Vegas Knight Hawk playoff games on The IFL Network and listen on 1230 The Game.
