An exciting back-and-forth game ended with the Tulsa Oilers indoor football team defeating the Massachusetts Pirates, 35-28, in overtime, Saturday night at the BOK Center. With the win, Tulsa’s record improved to 8-6, and the Oilers moved into fourth place in the Eastern Conference and a playoff spot. The Pirates dropped to 7-7, and to fifth place in the conference.

The Pirates scored on their first two drives of the game and quickly led 14-0. The first touchdown came on an eight-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kenji Bahar to Teo Redding. Josh Gable added the extra point as the Pirates led with 10:12 left in the first quarter.

The Oilers’ first drive ended when Sam Castronova, getting his first start at quarterback this season, threw a pass that was intercepted by DJ Daniel.

It took just four plays for the Pirates to score again. This time it was Bahar throwing a 17-yard touchdown pass to Thomas Owens to cap a 43-yard drive, making the score 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Following an interception by Tulsa’s Cedarius Doss, the Oilers scored on the ensuing drive, with Castronova connecting with Jerminic Smith to cut the Pirates’ lead to 14-7 with 5:30 left in the second quarter.

Massachusetts answered as Owens caught his second touchdown pass of the first half. Bahar found Owens on a 13-yard post route as the Pirates led 21-7 with 52 seconds left in the half.

With time ticking off the clock, Castronova carried the ball into the end zone from one yard out, with two seconds remaining, moving the Oilers within seven points at halftime, 21-14.

A scoreless third quarter began with the Oilers’ kicker, Ross Moore, missing a 47-yard field goal attempt.

The fourth quarter began with the Oilers on fourth and goal at the one-yard line. Castronova was pushed toward the goal line, but when it appeared he would be stopped, he tossed the ball into the end zone for Smith, but it fell incomplete. The Oilers challenged the call, claiming the Pirates had lined up and blitzed illegally. The challenge was upheld, and on the next play, Castronova was pushed over the goal line, and with the point after, the game was tied at 21-21 with 14:00 remaining in the game.

Massachusetts reclaimed its lead following a controversial roughing the kicker call on a missed field goal. Bahar carried the ball into the end zone from two yards out, giving the Pirates a 28-21 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Tulsa’s JuJu Augustine tied the game 28-28 with 4:02 remaining, diving from the three-yard line after snaring a swing pass from Castronova, and the game went to overtime.

Massachusetts began the overtime period with the ball. Bahar had his team poised from the four-yard line but threw an incomplete pass on fourth down.

Moore missed a field goal that could have won the game for the Oilers.

On Tulsa’s next possession, after Castronova bobbled the snap, he picked up the ball and connected with Augustine in the end zone to take the first lead in the extra period. A 15-yard penalty on the celebration was enforced on the kick, but Moore drained the extra point from midfield to put the Oilers ahead, for the first time in the game, 35-28.

Williams started off the final offensive drive with a five-yard run, but a bad snap set up third-and-long. Tre Harvey batted down Bahar’s attempt on the following play, setting up the final snap of the game. A Hail Mary attempt from Bahar was batted away by the Oilers and Tulsa had their first-ever overtime victory in team history.

Two regular-season games remain in the IFL season, but as of now, the Oilers are in sole possession of fourth place and a playoff berth.

Tulsa will host the Jacksonville Sharks for the final regular season home game this Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at the BOK Center.