INDOOR FOOTBALL
Chupacabras drop season opener to Orlando
Sunday's game was the franchise's first under new ownership
Published
The Chupacabras came oh-so-close to making a statement in their season debut.
Despite a four-touchdown day from quarterback Ja鈥檙ome Johnson, New Mexico鈥檚 rebranded Indoor Football League team opened its season with a narrow 41-38 loss to the Orlando Pirates on Sunday at Tingley Coliseum.
The Chupacabras led 38-34 in the fourth quarter after Johnson (11-for-20, 158 yards) flipped a short pass to wide receiver C.J. Jefferson for their final score of the day. But the Pirates 鈥� most recently ranked fourth overall in the IFL鈥檚 weekly coaches poll 鈥� pulled back ahead off running back Pooka Williams鈥� short touchdown run with 3:18 remaining.
Chupacabras kicker Ben Derby's game-tying field goal attempt in the final minute hit one of Tingley鈥檚 decks and veered right of the goal posts, effectively sealing Orlando鈥檚 closer-than-expected win.
The Pirates were listed as a 5.5-point favorite entering Sunday's game.
鈥淭hey showed that they had heart,鈥� first-year Chupacabras head coach Kyle Moore-Brown said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 what I wanted. We can clean up the little things 鈥� I know I have a great football team 鈥� I鈥檓 proud of their fight, I鈥檓 proud of the effort that they gave out there.鈥�
The Chupacabras were led on the ground by La鈥檍ames White鈥檚 53 yards, the bulk of which came on his 45-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Chupacabras receiver Damon Street caught five passes for a game-high 104 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Johnson on multiple deep passes.
Street鈥檚 final catch set up the Chupacabras鈥� go-ahead score in the fourth quarter.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a dynamic player,鈥� Moore-Brown said. 鈥淎nd that鈥檚 one of the things that we got to do as an offense 鈥� get the ball in his hands a little more.鈥�
Pirates quarterback Paxton DeLaurent completed 17 of 20 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, adding 26 yards on the ground. The former Southeast Missouri State quarterback was a late addition to Orlando鈥檚 starting lineup after Taulia Tagovailoa 鈥� the Pirates鈥� preseason starter and brother of Atlanta Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa 鈥� was signed by the 近距离内射合集 Football League鈥檚 Houston Gamblers early Sunday.
Moore-Brown said news of DeLaurent鈥檚 spot start didn鈥檛 change anything for the Chupacabras.
鈥淭he quarterback, he鈥檚 a professional,鈥� he added. 鈥淢y assessment of it all is (it鈥檚) always the next man up. It鈥檚 the same thing with my guys.鈥�
Sunday marked the Chupacabras鈥� first game since the team was purchased by local businessmen Mike Fietz and Bob Pitre last summer. Formerly known as the Duke City Gladiators, the franchise did not participate in the IFL鈥檚 2025 season as Fietz and Pitre rebranded the team and hired coaches.
While an attendance estimate was not available, Fietz said the crowd was 鈥渢hinner鈥� than they hoped after distributing just under 3,500 tickets before Sunday.
鈥淭he crowd that we did have, they were into it,鈥� Fietz said. 鈥淭hey were loud and excitable. They showed what New Mexicans are about.鈥�
Sunday鈥檚 game also did not have a working clock on Tingley鈥檚 two video boards, leading to some confusion among fans in attendance.
鈥淭here鈥檚 just glitches, you know?鈥� Fietz said. 鈥淯ntil you get in a gameday situation, you don鈥檛 see it.鈥�
Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .
