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Lancashire Wolverines
13 Merseyside Nighthawks 32
The Merseyside Nighthawks
and the Lancashire Wolverines clashed at Birkenhead Park, with the Nighthawks
needing to win to leapfrog their opponents into pole position in BAFL 2 North.
Despite trailing 6-7 at the half, Merseyside scored 26 second half points to go
top of the table.
The Nighthawks received the opening kickoff and looked to establish the running
game through power back Barry Murphy, who picked on 12 yards on his first
carry. After the teams exchanged punts, the Nighthawks looked to be putting
together a promising drive after Murphy picked up another first down on the
ground, but Ryan Billington recovered a fumble to give the Wolverines the ball
on their own 30. Lancashire also seemed to be starting with the ground game,
and hence seemed to catch the Nighthawks on the back foot when quarterback John
Peachey found receiver Iain Pearson in stride for a 45 yard scoring strike. The
extra point was successfully converted and Lancashire held a 7-0 lead.
The Merseyside offensive line continued to open holes for running back Murphy,
who made gains of 15 and 10 yards, but penalties put paid to the drive and the
punt put the Wolverines back on their own 20.
Running back Chris Littler immediately ripped off a 13 yard gain, but the
Nighthawks defense stepped up to force a punt. Nighthawk ball again, but
progress was hard for both teams, with Merseyside deciding to go for a
quarterback sneak on fourth down deep within their own half. They successfully
moved the chains, but were forced to punt at the start of the second quarter.
The caginess continued, a Steven Parry sack coupled with a 6 yard tackle for
loss by linebacker John Allison kept the pressure on Lancashire, it was the
Wolverines who were able to put the next drive together, another Pearson catch
and good running by Jay Douglas moved them down the pitch, and Douglas seemed
certain to add to the score before Andy
Richardson was able to force a fumble, recovered by fellow safety Gaz Kay on
the Mersey 4 yard line.
Merseyside were looking to reduce the arrears before the break and brought
speed back Mike Banks into the fray. Quarterback Tim Parr found receiver Graham
Warby for 18 yards and the Nighthawks looked to be building nicely, but the
drive was fumbled away, linebacker Adam Purcell pouncing on the loose ball for
the Wolverines, giving them a first and 10 from the Mersey 29.
Once again, the Nighthawks defense found themselves under pressure, and once
again they rose to the occasion, safety Richardson reading the quarterback to
intercept him and return the ball to the Mersey 19.
The Nighthawks offense knew this was their last opportunity to score before the
break, and a 23 yard gain from Banks saw them on the Wolverines 23 with 44
seconds to go. Parr went to the air, finding Andy Dyson at the 4 before finding
tight end Jason Elliott in the endzone for the score. Murphy was stopped on the
2 point conversion, and at the break the score was 6-7 Wolverines.
Nighthawks looked to build on this momentum going in to the second half, and
defensive end Sean Mooney ensured they got off to a great start by recovering a
fumble in Wolverine territory. Murphy and Banks went to work and steadily drove
the Nighthawks down the field, Banks finishing off the drive with a 14 yard
touchdown scoring run. Tight end Elliott was on hand to reel in the 2 pointer
and the Nighthawks led 14-7.
Lancashire were a hair short when going for a fourth down conversion, and Banks
and Murphy moved the Hawks once more, together with a nice catch and dodge by
Elliott. The drive ended in a punt, but special teams maven Brian Walters was
able to down the ball on the Lancashire 1 yard line. The Wolverines seemed to
feel the pressure as the running back fumbled the handoff in the endzone and,
although he recovered it himself, the Nighthawks had a score lead at 16-7. The
third quarter ended in a flurry of flags, with Nighthawks defensive end Mark
Brunson ejected for illegal use of the helmet.
The fourth quarter saw Lancashire knocking on the door, and quarterback Peachey
went up top to Pearson, who was able to bring in the catch to reduce the
arrears to 16-13. The extra point was no good, but a Mersey flag meant a
retake. This was blocked and, to add to insult to injury, David Mears was
ejected for the Wolverines for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Rather than try to defend their narrow lead, the Nighthawks continued to play
aggressively, and this paid off when Dyson not only managed to haul in Parr's
pass, but also had the presence of mind to stretch the ball over the line for
the score. Banks tacked on the 2 and the score was 24-13.
Lancashire were forced to the air as they bid to reduce the deficit and, three
incompletions later, it was Nighthawks ball again. Banks rushed for 9 yards,
before bamboozling the last man on his way to a 41 yard score, Elliott again
added the 2 and the Nighthawks led 32-13.
Greg Adam had an 11 yard reception and Littler added 9 more on the ground
before linebacker Lee Crank forced a fumble with a huge hit and Richardson was on the spot yet again to
scoop the ball up, though Tony Stephenson immediately returned the favour by
recovering a fumble for Lancashire. The Wolverines had first and goal from the
Mersey 9, but were unable to convert as a fourth down hit by Eldridge stopped
Pearson coming down with the ball. The last act was part two of a father/son
combo, Dean Kay rushing for 26 yards, and the Nighthawks celebrated a merited,
and crucial, victory.