1 October 2010 - Inside American Football

MATCH REPORTS
10 & 0 Baby! - Again!
Manchester Titans 22 - Lancashire Wolverines 6
15th August 2010
The Manchester Titans have
matched last season’s amazing
accomplishment of going undefeated
in the regular season. The Titans have
again won all 10 of their games to
propel themselves into the play-offs as
favourites in the Northern section of
the BAFA Division 2.
To achieve the feat this time the Titans
had to travel to their local rivals the
Lancashire Wolverines who needed
a win to qualify for the playoffs. The
first game between the two teams was
a closely fought affair with the Titans
holding out for a 26-20 win.
Manchester received the opening kickoff
and behind the running of RB Nick
Copley drove 70 yards before QB Rik
Lowthion hit WR Will Kinghorn with
a 24 yard TD pass. Dave Barnett’s
extra point hit the post but the
Titans had a 6-0 lead they would not
relinquish.
The Wolverines put together a 62 yard
drive aided by a couple of penalties but
they faced a 3rd and 7 from the Titans
9 yard line when Safety Jon Homer
broke up a key pass. On 4th Down
Lancashire decided against a sure
field goal and went for the game-tying
touchdown but the pass fell incomplete
handing the ball back to Manchester.
The Titans picked up a couple of First
Downs on runs by RBs Niall Sweeney
and Ryan Farrell but Lowthion’s 3rd
Down pass was intercepted on the
Lancashire 36 yard line.
The Wolverines again moved the ball
into the Titans half but again they
faced a 4th down, this time from the
Manchester 25 yard line. Wolverines
QB launched a pass deep into the
endzone but it was knocked away
at the last second by the Titans Free
Safety Dave Barnett to end the first
quarter.
Manchester’s next possession also
ended in a Lowthion interception
but the Titans defense forced the
Wolverines into a 3 and out and they
were forced to punt the ball back to
Manchester. However an excellent
kick meant the Titans would be forced
34 Inside American Football - October 2010
to start on their own 2 yard line. But
Lowthion led the offense on a 12 play,
88 yard drive that featured 2 rushes
for 24 yards by RB Kenny Harrison,
a key 5 yard run on 3rd & 5 by RB
Ross Profit plus a 29 yard catch by
Kinghorn. The drive was finished off
by a 9 yard TD catch by WR Adam
Simms, his 12th TD of the season.
Sweeney added the 2 point conversion
and the Titans took at 14-0 lead.
With just 4 minutes remaining in
the 1st half the Wolverines tried
desperately to get themselves back
into the game but 2 sacks by DE Andy
“Gigantor” Burridge forced them into
a 4th and 18. They then attempted a
fake punt which was snuffed out by LB
Michael Smith and Jon Homer. With
less than a minute remaining the Titans
were unable to add to their score, and
the half ended with Manchester ahead
14-0.
Lancashire received the 2nd half kick
off and immediately drove 49 yards to
the Titans 8 yard line but again a great
defensive effort kept the Wolverines
out of the endzone and on 4th & 4 a
sack by DE Matt McCormack held
Lancashire scoreless. The Titans
Offense drove the ball into Wolverine
territory but Lowthion was sacked on
3rd down and they were forced to punt.
The Wolverine’s next possession was
ended by CB Martin Fitzpatrick’s
shoestring interception at the Titans 17
yard line. But the Titans were unable to
capitalise and on 4th and 10 attempted
to punt. However a low snap gave
punter Kinghorn no chance to get the
kick away and he was tackled short of
the first down marker.
Despite the good field position,
Lancashire failed to pick up a first
down and turned the ball over to the
Titans when a simple chance was
dropped on 4th down. A 23 yard run
by Copley moved the ball into the
Lancashire half when the 3rd quarter
ended with the Titans driving. TE
Chris Heap then collected 2 passes
from Lowthion, the latter a diving
catch in the endzone for a 17 yard
TD, Lowthion’s 3rd TD of the day.
Sweeney again added the 2PAT and the
Titans stretched the lead to 22-0.
With the Wolverines trying desperately
to get back into the game, the
Titans defense stepped up again
with Burridge and DE Phil Cowey
combining on a 4 yard loss on a screen
play and two excellent plays from CBs
Colin Boyle and Fitzpatrick. Firstly a
great solo tackle by Boyle stopped the
Lancashire QB when he had broken
containment and was scrambling for a
18 yard gain. Then Fitzpatrick stepped
up and stopped a sweep play for a 3
yard loss. On 3rd & 13 McCormack
recorded his 2nd sack which forced the
Wolverine’s to punt again.
Three runs by Profit and a 7 yard catch
by rookie receiver Ben Barker on 3rd
an 2 moved the ball into Lancashire
territory. But the drive stalled when
Lowthion’s 4th down pass fell
incomplete.
The Wolverine’s caught the Titans
defense napping with a misdirection
run that went 49 yards to score. But
the 2 point attempt was intercepted by
Boyle leaving the score 22-6 in favour
of Manchester.
Lancashire’s onside kick attempt was
recovered by LB Rob Bainbridge and
the Titans forced the Wolverines to use
their all time-outs as they attempted
to get the ball back from Manchester.
The Titans eventually were forced to
punt but with only enough time for
Lancashire to run a couple of plays
before the final whistle blew leaving
the Titan victorious 22-6.
Manchester end their season
undefeated with 10 wins for the 2nd
season running but this time they will
be focussing solely on winning their
play-off games for the right to play in
the Division 2 final at Worcester on
September 19th.
The Titans next game should be
against the West Coast Trojans at
Broughton Park on Sunday 5th
September in the first round of the
play-offs. Victory will see them play
in the semi-finals on the following
weekend.
... Manchester Titans Media