CHEETAHS OUTPACED BY SPRINTER SAM
14 July 2009
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One play can no more define a season, than one man can define a team.
However, this received wisdom was turned on its head when Bedfordshire Blue Raiders travelled to Watford Cheetahs on Sunday.
The Blue Raiders were on the back foot and, if not reeling, certainly wobbling, for the first time since game one of the season. Watford had just overturned a fourteen point deficit with a 61 yard passing TD followed by a two point conversion to tie the game at 14-14 deep in the fourth quarter.
A decent kick-off return and run on first down set up second down at the Blue Raiders 39 yard line, what happened next will surely go down in the annals of Blue Raider history. QB Nigel Mansfield dropped back and let fly towards WR Sam Kilbey, the ball looked under-thrown as the DB turned for an apparent interception, before he could make the play Kilbey, refusing to give up, threw his arm up and somehow between this action and the DB’s helmet the ball flew straight up in the air (See image above). Kilbey grabbed the ball at the Watford 40, sidestepped the Safety at the 30 and sprinted into the end zone for the winning TD, Fullback Andy Peat putting an exclamation mark on the victory with the two point conversion.
One play defining the Blue Raiders’ season, one man defining Blue Raiders’ refusal to give in, one man defining a team.
What went before was a tremendous “blood and thunder” game of football.
Blue Raiders were first to score when a long punt return by Safety Matt Johnson set them up close to the Watford goal line in the first quarter. Some typically forthright running eventually set them up at the four yard line when Mansfield’s first TD pass of the day was snagged by WB Liam Cooke followed by Peat’s first 2 point conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Early in the second quarter they looked to extend their lead, but a resilient goal line stand by the Watford defense resulted in the ball being turned over on downs at the 2 yard line. However following two near safeties as their QB scrambled under pressure in the end zone Watford were forced to punt and on the next play Mansfield floated what many assumed was a 25 yard TD pass to WR Matt Smith, however, excellent positioning by the official correctly determined that the receiver’s knees were down at the half yard line. All this did was delay the inevitable as RB Enrique Alonzo ploughed through behind the O-Line for the score and a 14-0 lead.
Late in the half Watford finally started to gain some offensive traction with effective running and passing, eventually a stalled Blue Raider drive and a long punt return put Watford in scoring position. Some phenomenal clock management allowed Watford to run three plays in the final five seconds culminating in a deft TD pass to the back corner of the end zone. The failed two point conversion left the half time score 14-6.
The third quarter was scoreless, but not through the want of trying from both teams as neither could make a decisive break, then came those back to back 61 yard touchdowns and the chance for one man and one play to define a team’s season so far.
Bedfordshire Head Coach, Chris Wallis, said “Sam made a huge play. The Corner did well and Sam took advantage of some good fortune, but he still had a lot to do to score.
We had a very close game with Watford earlier in the season and they have certainly improved since then. It was a good test of character and I’m pleased we got through it.
A part from one drive in the first half our defense was excellent as usual. But the offence should have capitalized more on the opportunities they were given and this is something we really need to improve on. We moved the ball better in the second half but I feel we should have put the game out of reach earlier in the game.”
QB Nigel Mansfield threw for 114 yards and two TD’s while RB Michael Wilson powered for 95 yards from 29 carries. On defense LB John Murphy recorded 13 tackles and fellow LB Jim Plagmann recovered two Watford fumbles.
The Blue Raiders now have two weeks of practice to prepare for their tough trip to Colchester on the 2nd August.
Although the season has begun, the Blue Raiders are still looking to recruit new players and ‘Sideline Assistants’ to help out on Game days. For more information about joining the Blue Raiders, or any aspect of American Football in the UK, contact Head Coach Chris Wallis on 01353 720008, via email at bedsgridiron@aol.com or via the team’s web site: www.bedfordshireblueraiders.com
Game Report and images provided by Kevin Gedny, the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders official Team Photographer: www.kevingedny.co.uk
Picture courtesy of Kevin Gedny, Official Photographer of the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders. This photo and many others available for purchase - visit Kevin's site: www.kevingednyphotography.co.uk
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