Frisco Fighters win home opener over Tulsa Oilers 35-13 to start IFL season 2-0

The 2023 Indoor Football League week 2 kicked off in Frisco, TX and the Frisco Fighters came into the game with a 1-0 record after beating the Green Bay Blizzard 76 to 30 in week 1. The opponent on Friday night was the Tulsa Oilers, which are making history as the first professional sports team coming out of the city of Tulsa, OK. The Oilers did not have a game in week 1 and expected to compete in their first ever game in franchise history. Frisco Fighters honored College Football Hall of Fame inductee and three-time Super Bowl champion, Russell Maryland as their honorary captain and to do the coin toss. Dallas-Ft. Worth fans gave Russell a standing ovation as his 3 Super Bowl victories all came with the Dallas Cowboys. The Indoor Football league has been growing over several years, and Frisco Fighters want to build on the success of last year when they won 15 games and only lost 3. They maintained 8 wins and 1 loss conference record before losing in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

On the kickoff of the 2023 season, Fighters’ kick returner, Charles Haeden, returned a 52-yard touchdown return to make the Comerica Center electrify with energy. With a missed extra point, Fighters’ took the lead early in the game and never looked back. Tulsa Oilers put together a drive that resulted in a field goal to cut the lead 6-3. Frisco did not let up. A 42-yard field goal extended the lead 9 to 3 for Frisco Fighters. Former TCU running back, Ed Wesley, scored a 1-yard touchdown run to extend the lead 16-3, missed extra point, at the end of the first quarter. The Fighters’ defense was not to be penetrated in the first half, stopping the Oilers offense and retaining the ball for the offense lead to another score. Wesley scored a 6-yard touchdown run to end the half with a 22 to 6 lead (another missed extra point).

The second half of the game began with Tulsa converting on a 21-yard field goal to cut the lead 22 to 6. Frisco capitalized on good field goal position making a 26-yard field goal 25 to 6. Oilers showed resiliency with a 31-yard touchdown reception by Joshua Crockett to end the third quarter, 25 to 13. Fighters’ would not be denied. Frisco scored 10 unanswered points (1-yard touchdown QB sneak, T.J. Edwards and a 46-yard field goal) to end the game 35 to 13.

Frisco Fighters stay undefeated with this win and travel on the road to face Duke City Gladiators in week 3. Tulsa Oilers have the bye week in week 3, but travel to Duke City Gladiators in week 4.