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Essex Spartans 3 London Cobras 36
On the first play of the game quarterback Jerome Allen hit
a wide open Manny Mukoro who was unable to hold onto the ball for what would
have been a go ahead touchdown. This seemed to set the tone for the Cobras
early on.
Facing a tough Spartans defense who often lined up with 8
men in and around the line of scrimmage in order to stifle the Cobras running
game. After an exchange of punts the Cobras finally got on the board behind
some solid running and short passes when Kwabena Oteng took the ball in from
the 1 yard line. The point after attempt was successful putting the Cobras 8
points in front. With the Cobras defense not allowing a Spartan first down
until the second half, Jerome Allen was able to connect with wide receiver Will
Bryce for a 37 yard strike to extend the Cobras lead to 14-0, as the point
after attempt failed.
A stingy Spartans defense sacked Jerome Allen causing a fumble
in the Cobras half of the field. Cobras defense was determined to defend their
record of not conceding a point, managed to stop the Spartans offense and on
fourth and long the Spartans scored the only score of the quarter when they
converted a 40+ yard field goal, to narrow the gap.
The Cobras offense came out determined and on the first
drive of the second half, Jerome Allen completed a 72 yard scoring pass to wide
receiver Mark McGowan, Ariel Mofondo converted the 2 point conversion to make
the score 22-3. London finally took control of the game when on their next
possession as they marched over 60 yards down field for their fourth touchdown
of the day when Jerome Allen picked out tight end Matt Russell for a 12 yard
completion. The conversion attempt failed. On the following Spartans possession
the Cobras defense got the score they deserved when they pressured the Spartans
quarterback into fumbling the football, which Dominic Fevrier-McPherson scooped
up and returned 42 yard for the touchdown. The point after was good making the
score Cobras 36
Spartans 3
Late in the quarter, even though they were down the
Spartans never quit and the defense got their reward when the Cobras fumbled the
snap close to their goaline. On a third and goal and following some great play action
a wide open Spartan receiver failed to hang onto the football which would have
been the first touchdown conceded by the Cobras in their short history. On fourth
and goal the Cobras stepped up again stopping the Spartans running play and
turned the ball over on downs. With under 1 minute left in the game, the Cobras
ran out the clock.