Falcons end Titans perfect record
The Leicester Falcons travelled to Manchester today and put an end to the Titans perfect record for 2009 knocking them out of the playoffs to end any hopes of a Britbowl appearance.
The first half started with a long Titans drive which saw them take seven minutes off the clock but, unable to penetrate the Falcons defence, the Titans settled for a Ryan Farrell field goal.
Leicester managed to move the ball downfield on the ground in response but did not pierce the Titans defence until the second quarter when the Falcons Timi Dada broke through to score on a 21 yard run. The point after was no good but they led 6-3. It was to turn out to be Timi Dada’s day as he continually exposed the injury ravaged Titans secondary with most of the starters watching from the stands.
After a blocked field goal attempt by Farrell, Alan Mead found Chris Heap, his favourite touchdown target this season, for six to take the lead back at 9-6 but the point after was again no good. The Falcons Andy Hill capitalised on another huge Timi Dada run to score and again regain the lead that the Falcons would never to lose again, finishing the first half with a 3 point lead at 12 - 9.
The second half began with the Falcons returning the kick off into the end zone only to have it called back for a block in the back. The Falcons then scored from the first play from scrimmage of the second half to extend the lead to 18 - 9. The Titans could do nothing with the next drive and the Falcons once again drove downfield to score and complete the point after taking the score to 25 - 9.
The Titans found their last flourish on a day that was not to be theirs with a long pass from Mead to Adam Simms for a touchdown on possibly Simms’ best performance for the Titans, to take the score to 25 – 15. The score gave the Titans hope going into the fourth quarter but this was to be extinguished by two touchdowns from the Falcons and the failure of the Titans to complete passes in spite of some excellent play by Mead, Simms and Heap.
The game was decided by the Titans inability to move the ball on the ground today meaning that despite some excellent pass protection and excellent play by the receiving corps, QB Mead was unable to utilise the full array of weapons at his disposal making defending a much easier job for the Falcons. Missing running backs Ricky Whittle and Antony Bingham also reduced the Titans backfield to just three backs on the day. Defensively, the line produced some excellent penetration breaking through the Falcons much feted line all day long to catch the runners in the backfield on several occasions and forcing the Falcons QB to scramble desperately. But their inability to shut down the passing game due to injuries to Jonasz Bala, Martin Fitzpatrick and a case of food poisoning for Jeremy Walker, left the Titans secondary with a lack of pace and energy,
allowing the Falcons to do something all other teams have failed to do against the Titans all season long, move the ball. This was clearly not destined to be the Titans day.