|
South Yorkshire Mustangs
27 Staffordshire Surge 24
Chris Swinbourne's 75
yard punt return for a touchdown with less than 2 minutes left secured the
South Yorkshire Mustangs their third win of the 2008 season, and with it,
ensured survival in BAFL 1. Described by Head Coach Andy Patel as a
'captain's performance', Swinbourne produced a magnificent jinking run to evade
the Surge defenders and send the Mustangs sideline into rapture.
Things could have been so
different however as the Mustangs started uncharacteristically slowly, with
Paul Farrar giving up an interception early in the game to set up the
Staffordshire Surge with their first 6 points of the day as quarterback Richard
Large connected with his tight end in the endzone. The Mustangs fought back
and drew level, close to the end of the first quarter with a scintillating 27
yard run from Paul McIntosh.
Both teams traded
possession in the second quarter until Large found another receiver in the
endzone to take the Surge up 12-6 with less than two minutes to play in the
half. Quarterback Farrar was not to be outdone and skilfully masterminded
a methodical drive down the field culminating in a 21 yard grab from Paul Oates
as time expired in the half. All extra points were missed in the first
half so the teams went in tied up at 12-12.
The second half started
poorly for the Mustangs. In the entire third quarter they managed just
one offensive play, which resulted in a fumble. Added
to that was an onside kick from the Surge which the Mustangs were unable to
gather in, leaving the Staffordshire outfit with possession. Both
opportunities to score were taken by Large and at the end of the third quarter;
the Northern Conference bottom team were looking favourites to get their first
win of the season.
They say though that in
times of adversity a team shows it's true colours. Going into the final
quarter 24-12 down, Andy Patel gave one last rallying call, and after gathering
his forces, set about deconstructing the impetrenatable wall that had been the
Surge defense for most of the afternoon. Behind the power running of
Brian Long, refreshed and revitalised after a 6 month break from football,
the Mustangs were able to march down the field before, on third and long, Paul
Farrar came up with the play of the season and probably his greatest moment on
the football field. After faking the hand off to Long, Farrar rolled
right. Henry McSorley and tight end Rob Wigget were covered so 'Faz' had
to improvise and moved back to the left. With Matt Bate leading the way,
the sideline were screaming for the Mustangs quarterback to run for the first
down but Farrar saw a bigger prize on offer and lofted a sublime pass
towards the corner of the endzone, where Paul Oates made a leaping grab to score.
Brain Long added two extra points and the Mustangs were back in it at
24-20...but there were just minutes remaining.
The Mustangs defense then
upped a gear and forced the Surge into a three and out. The Surge set up
to punt and after a good kick seemed to be rolling dead, most of their punting
unit had decided the play was over and it would be up to their defense to
hold out for victory. The Mustangs and Swinbourne in particular had other
ideas. Picking up the rolling ball, number 56 spotted a gap and headed
off down the left sideline, breaking a couple of tackles before a foot race for
the line. An escort of blockers saw the Mustangs captain home and after
Henry McSorley had added the extra point the victory was complete when the
Mustangs defense held firm once again.
An epic encounter,
finished with an epic play - what a game!