Senators take Division Title
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Gateshead Senators
By Lynsey Richardson
Aug 23, 2006 - 4:41:00 AM
Gateshead Senators 40 Birmingham Bulls 10
Gateshead Senators won the BAFL Division One North title in fine style at the International Stadium on Sunday with a first victory over long time opponents the Birmingham Bulls.
Aggressive defense and controlled offence were the keys to this victory. The Senators got off to a great start when on the second play of the game cornerback Ross Elliott picked off Bulls quarterback Ennis and returned it 27yards for the score. Gary Marshall tacked on the extra point and the Senators led 7-0. Things got better for the home side when Pete Rogers booted a 38-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10. The Bulls were finding it difficult to move the ball against a fired up Senators 'D' and were force to punt away their next possession. Duncan French, on his way to a 120 yard rushing performance on the day, extended the Senators lead with an eight yard run following a long Senators' drive, the extra point made it 17-0. The Senators next drive stalled and they had to punt, but the kick pinned the Bulls back on their own five yard line and when running-back Kofi Campbell attempted to break out he was caught in the endzone by Matt Kidd for a two point safety. The home side were in control and ended the first quarter with a 19-point lead.
The Bulls fell further behind in the second quarter in bizarre circumstances when running-back Campbell was hit at his own 10-yard line. The wet ball came out of his hands like a bar of soap straight into the grateful arms of Senator's defensive tackle Rich Marshall who rumbled 18 yards for the score.
Quarterback Lee Fraser hit wide receiver Rich Green on a slant for the two points to extend the lead to 27 points at the half.
Senators received the kick-off in the second half and moved the ball but had to punt, the 'D' kept up the pressure and had Bulls quarterback Innis getting rid of the ball quicker than he would have liked. When the Senators got the ball back quarterback Fraser hit Rogers on a play action pass for a touchdown converted by Marshall for a 34-0 score line at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter the Bulls 'O' sprang to life and Innis connected with one of his wideouts for a touchdown following a long Bulls drive. Veteran running-back Paul Duncan blasted in the two pointer running over a defender on the goal line. The Senators took the kick and marched down the field and Fraser found Rogers again with a dart of a pass that the receiver took 25 yards for the score. Fraser dropped back for the two point attempt and under great pressure from Bulls defensive tackle Mark Connolly the ball popped up into the hands of a Bulls defender who ran the length of the field for a two point score to make the score 40 - 10 to the home team. This was a short lived relief for the Bulls as on their next possession on fourth down, a big hit from Senators LB Richard Nice forced a fumble at the Birmingham 20 yard line. The Senators recovered the ball and the offence took a knee to end the game and secure the divisional title for the
Senators.
This gives the Gateshead outfit a few weeks off and a bye to the BAFL semi-final, at home on September 10. Their opponents will be either the London Blitz or the East Kilbride Pirates, who play in the quarterfinals for the right to meet the Senators.
Gateshead Senators won the BAFL Division One North title in fine style at the International Stadium on Sunday with a first victory over long time opponents the Birmingham Bulls.
Duncan French posted 120 yards on the ground.
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Aggressive defense and controlled offence were the keys to this victory. The Senators got off to a great start when on the second play of the game cornerback Ross Elliott picked off Bulls quarterback Ennis and returned it 27yards for the score. Gary Marshall tacked on the extra point and the Senators led 7-0. Things got better for the home side when Pete Rogers booted a 38-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10. The Bulls were finding it difficult to move the ball against a fired up Senators 'D' and were force to punt away their next possession. Duncan French, on his way to a 120 yard rushing performance on the day, extended the Senators lead with an eight yard run following a long Senators' drive, the extra point made it 17-0. The Senators next drive stalled and they had to punt, but the kick pinned the Bulls back on their own five yard line and when running-back Kofi Campbell attempted to break out he was caught in the endzone by Matt Kidd for a two point safety. The home side were in control and ended the first quarter with a 19-point lead.
The Bulls fell further behind in the second quarter in bizarre circumstances when running-back Campbell was hit at his own 10-yard line. The wet ball came out of his hands like a bar of soap straight into the grateful arms of Senator's defensive tackle Rich Marshall who rumbled 18 yards for the score.
Lee Fraser
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Quarterback Lee Fraser hit wide receiver Rich Green on a slant for the two points to extend the lead to 27 points at the half.
Senators received the kick-off in the second half and moved the ball but had to punt, the 'D' kept up the pressure and had Bulls quarterback Innis getting rid of the ball quicker than he would have liked. When the Senators got the ball back quarterback Fraser hit Rogers on a play action pass for a touchdown converted by Marshall for a 34-0 score line at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter the Bulls 'O' sprang to life and Innis connected with one of his wideouts for a touchdown following a long Bulls drive. Veteran running-back Paul Duncan blasted in the two pointer running over a defender on the goal line. The Senators took the kick and marched down the field and Fraser found Rogers again with a dart of a pass that the receiver took 25 yards for the score. Fraser dropped back for the two point attempt and under great pressure from Bulls defensive tackle Mark Connolly the ball popped up into the hands of a Bulls defender who ran the length of the field for a two point score to make the score 40 - 10 to the home team. This was a short lived relief for the Bulls as on their next possession on fourth down, a big hit from Senators LB Richard Nice forced a fumble at the Birmingham 20 yard line. The Senators recovered the ball and the offence took a knee to end the game and secure the divisional title for the
Senators.
This gives the Gateshead outfit a few weeks off and a bye to the BAFL semi-final, at home on September 10. Their opponents will be either the London Blitz or the East Kilbride Pirates, who play in the quarterfinals for the right to meet the Senators.