Posted in:
Oxford Saints,
BAFL 1
By Andrew Day
May 5, 2008 - 12:15:07 PM
Sussex Thunder 10-0 Oxford Saints
The Oxford Saints first game on their brand new pitch
ended in defeat on Sunday at the hands of the Sussex Thunder. In a game totally
dominated by both team’s defenses it was the Thunder who came up with the one
and only good offensive play of the game to claim victory.
The Saints took the opening kick off in front of a
large home crowd and proceeded to go three and out, a pattern that would
continue for the Saints offense all game. After a booming punt from Adam
Newman,
Sussex
took the ball on their own 20 yard line. On the second play of the game for the
Thunder offense, Saints linebacker Andrew ‘Snake’ Day pounced on a loose
football to set the
Oxford
offense up in great field position. The
Sussex
defense however, were in no mood to give up anything and quickly shut down the
Saints attack. The Thunder got the ball back and this time it was in Saints
territory. A quick pass from quarterback Eber Kington saw the Thunder inside
the Saints 20 yard line. The next play Kington connected with A. Clarke in the
Oxford
endzone for the go ahead score, Percival slotted the point after and
Sussex
were up 7-0. Both defenses dominated for the remainder of the first half.
The second half saw
Oxford’s
defense at its marauding best. Time and time again the defense shut down the
Thunder offense. The bad news for
Oxford
was that the Thunder defense was in equally as devastating form. Late in the third
quarter
Oxford
had the ball inside their own half and were looking to mount a drive to tie the
scores when disaster struck. Saints quarterback Jay Taylor put the ball in the
air, looking for tight end Tony Bennett, the wayward Taylor pass sailed
straight into the arms of a welcome Thunder defender who raced all the way back
to the Saints 4 yard line. The Saints defense stood firm. Ian Harry and Tyler
Kamish both batting down passes in the endzone to deny the Thunder a second
touchdown. The Thunder were eventually forced to go for a field goal and up
stepped top kicker Percival who had no problem slotting the kick home from 26
yards to give the Thunder a 10 – 0 lead.
The final quarter was more of the same from both teams,
both defenses well on top. Saints defensive line in particular was in menacing
form.
Paul
Harbour
and Adam Newman both making key stops with Newman and Lee Hutton both sacking
Thunder’s Kington for big losses. New boy Ben Tolley had a big fourth quarter
with 4 unassisted tackles and a batted down pass. Preston Perkins and Marvin
Reyes both intercepted passes with Hutton also recovering a fumble, all in the fourth.
The Saints offense however could not capitalize on any of the turnovers and the
Thunder saw the game out to win 10 – 0.
The Saints next game is away to
Southern
Sundevils on May 18th, now a must win game for the
Saints.
