Sussex Thunder 16 Kent
Exiles 12
In yet another tight game between the two local rivals,
the Thunder guaranteed themselves a place in the play offs, and at the same
time eliminating Kent from post season action. In a game that went right to the
wire, the Thunder twice came from behind, with the winning score coming less
than two minutes from the end.
Neither side were able to break the deadlock in the first
quarter, both teams moving the ball with some success but the defenses holding
firm. The home side made the breakthrough in the second quarter when quarterback
Aaron Griffiths found Richard McHugh in the endzone, the extra point was
blocked and the Exiles went in at half-time with a 6-0 advantage.
Whatever was said on the Thunder sideline during the break
certainly worked, as on the first play of the second half, linebacker Chris
Percival burst through the Kent defense, Griffiths scrambled back into the endzone
trying to avoid the sack, but as he was about to levelled by defensive end Ant
Morrison, the quarterback threw the ball away to concede a two point safety. It
wasn’t long before the Thunder took the lead, strong running by Chris Lampey
and Pete Nameth, the key play on the drive being a 15 yard run by Paul Robinson
on third and thirteen, took the Thunder into scoring range and Sharif Omar
reeled in a pinpoint pass from Kington, with Percival converting the point
after, the Thunder now led 9-6.
Sussex now seemed to hold the upper hand, but in games
between these two you can never tell, and Kent struck back to regain the lead
midway through the fourth quarter when Griffiths linked up with McHugh again.
After an exchange of possessions, the Thunder knew they
had to score on their next drive or all hopes of the play offs would be gone.
Kington, showing why he has been called into the Great Britain squad, led his
troops downfield, to the Exiles 18 yard line, from where he faked a handoff to
his right and ran to his left, completely fooling the Exiles defense, a couple
of great blocks cleared the path and he sprinted into the endzone untouched,
Percival again kicked the extra point attempt, and the Thunder led 16-12.
With less than two minutes left in the game, the Exiles had
to go to the air; their first attempt fell incomplete. Next play, as Griffiths
tried to find an open receiver, his pass was intercepted by linebacker Adrian
Teague, who returned the ball deep into Exiles territory to seal a hard fought
win.
Head Coach Len Scott commented after the game, “At
half-time, I just told the team I was not worried about the score, I knew we
could win the game. In the second half we were mentally the stronger side and
it showed on that last scoring drive. We ground it out, without being at our
best and got what we deserved”.
The Thunder now play the Southern Sundevils next Sunday
with the winner taking the Southern Conference Title and home field advantage
into the play offs. The game is at Thunder Field, Bewbush Leisure Centre in
Crawley, kick-off at 2.30pm.