Blitz USA Trip is a Success
The Inverness side arrived at their villa in Emerald Lake in Florida’s Oseola County with a few days to spare before their first practice. This allowed time to stock up on American Football equipment and accessories in the local sports shops and take in a few theme parks. Sunday, 25 February saw the Buccaneers travel to Bear Creek Recreation complex where they received a warm welcome from their host team. There, surrounded by some impressive sporting facilities including a 5000 seater Highschool American Football stadium, Baseball field complete with stands for fans and beach volleyball area, the Scots took to the field for a practice and scrimmage game against a local side, the 49ers. The Inverness campaign kicked of on the 27th of February against the Denn John Dragons. This team from Denn John Middle School just off America’s Highway 192 had gone unbeaten in 2006 and had an impressive lineup with three players having competed in the major youth American Football event, the Pop Warner Super Bowl in Disney’s Wide World of Sports. The game was played in the blistering heat which made things difficult for the Scottish side. Denn John were victorious at the end of the game 35 – 14. The Dragons started on offense and a well organised Buccaneers defence led by Middle Linebacker Craig Findlay were unable to prevent the Dragons from scoring. The extra point was incomplete and the Buccaneers started their first drive. They drove forward with a long run from Andrew Skinner. At this point Coach Robbie Paulin called his first Time Out to regroup with his team and let the team take on some water. The Inverness side then tried a long pass which was intercepted by the Dragons. Denn John took this opportunity to further their lead with another quick Touchdown. However the Bucs prevented them from scoring the extra point. The Buccaneers then got their 2nd drive of the game. QB Owen Moir threw a pin point pass to Lewis Warburton who made a great catch and sprinted to get 1st down. The Buccaneers continued their drive but on 4th down Robbie Chisholm was stopped just short and the Dragons regained possession. Inverness continued to play strong on defence and another important tackle from Craig Findlay won his side possession. The Buccaneers started their drive with another Skinner run for 1st down and soon after he weaved his way threw the Dragons defense to score his sides 1st Touchdown of the game. Lewis Warburton then converted the extra point with a quick pass from Moir. The Buccaneers were full of energy after scoring as the defense took to the field. Denn John drove forward and just before half time scored another Touchdown and converted the extra point. The score at halftime was 25 – 7 to the Dragons. The Buccaneers started the 2nd half on Offense and drove down field but were eventually stopped and the ball turned over to the Dragons. The heat proved to much for the Inverness side who are used to the cold and wet Highland weather and Denn John scored again. The Dragons again missed the extra point. Exhausted by this time Andrew Skinner still gained yards and got 1st down with a long run. QB Owen Moir lifted his side as he re-assured them they were still in the game. Unfortunately, the Buccaneers lost the ball and the Dragons began to drive up field again to score another 7 points. However the Buccaneers picked themselves up and Andrew Skinner made a dazzling run to gain some vital yards for his team. Robbie Chisholm made a catch from QB Owen Moir just short of the endzone. This was followed by a touchdown from Andrew Skinner, his second of the game. Skinner then converted the extra point to add to his already impressive stats. On the Dragons next drive they threw a number of incomplete passes and the Buccaneers soon had the ball back. Buccaneers Centre, Scott Macdonald made a catch near the end of the half which was followed by a long run from Skinner, which was stopped just short of the endzone. The whistle blew to end the game which was closer than the score line tells. Andrew Skinner received Most Valuable Player. After the game the teams exchanged gifts including some Inverness Area Sports Council polo shirts who supported the Blitz USA Trip. The Denn John Dragons returned the gesture by giving the Bucs players their old uniforms from the previous season. There were a few days before the next lot of games for the Scottish side. The team was treated to some more Florida Theme parks and an Arena Football game. This indoor version of American Football sees plenty of fast paced and hard-hitting action. The Bucs received a great welcome from the Tampa Bay Storm and were shown around the stadium and allowed onto the field pre game to meet one of the players. On the 3rd of March 2007 the Inverness Buccaneers played their 2nd game of their tour in the U.S. Unlike their first there was a cold wind blowing which gave a little taste of home conditions for the Highland side. The Bear Creek 49ers who had been playing together for over 4 years stood in the Buccaneers way of their 1st win in their tour. The Buccaneers won the game with a clear lead 8 – 31. The 49ers started the game and drove down field but failed to get 1st down and the Buccaneers gained possession. Andrew Skinner made a couple of good runs before Owen Moir threw a pass over the top which Skinner caught and ran for the Touchdown. Calum Matheson then scored his first extra point of the game. The 49ers got the ball for their 2nd drive of the game. This drive was stopped short when Buccaneer’s defender Craig Findlay made a interception, which he ran back and scored for his side. The extra point was no good. Not before long the Buccaneers had possession again. Robbie Chisholm did well for his side gaining 20 yards before Skinner ran the rest of the field to score again. Matheson then converted another extra point. The 49ers drove forward on offense but a tackle by Moir stopped them in their tracks. Bear Creek then threw long but Robbie Chisholm was in the right place at the right time to make the interception right on Half Time. At Half Time the score was 0 – 19 to the Buccaneers. Inverness started on offense in the 2nd half. Chisholm made a run and was stopped just short of 1st down but a short ‘dump play’ won 1st down. Shortly after Moir ran it home for the Touchdown. The 49ers made a saving interception from the extra point and ran all the way to score 2 points with a deuce. Moir then made an interception but there was a flag on the field and the referee called it back for a repeat of down. The 49ers failed to take advantage of this opportunity and the Buccaneers offence was back on the field. Skinner, Findlay and Lewis Warburton all made runs on this drive before Calum Matheson scored the Touchdown. They then failed to score the extra point. The Buccaneers defence was strong towards the end but the 49ers kept digging away and got some consolation at the end by scoring a late Touchdown. The final score was
8 – 31 to the Inverness Buccaneers. Craig Findlay was awarded MVP
for the Buccaneers. WORDS AND PICTURES INVERNESS BLITZ |
