Clansmen
win college cracker!
STIRLING CLANSMEN 30 GLASGOW
TIGERS 28
A late touchdown from Jon Sutherland saw Stirling
Clansmen regain their British College League Northern Conference
title in dramatic style, winning a 58 point thriller at Airthey
Castle.
The Tigers initially stormed ahead with a 22 -8
half time lead thanks to touchdowns from Matt McCusker, Kenny McPhail
and Andy Hall.
Then a touchdown from Stirling Receiver Carlos Yanes-Rocca
early in the second half was immediately cancelled out with a second
score from McPhail
But it was down to Sutherland, Clansmen Player Head
Coach (and Hot Iron’s Senior Player of the Year) to tame the
battling Tigers, reducing the deficit late in the third quarter
and to pull off the winning score with terrific fourth quarter run
into the end zone along with the crucial two points conversion.
The visitors came into this game with revenge very much on their
mind having previously lost their season opener 32-12 to the reigning
British Champions at Garscube Sports Centre.
And with a game that was a winner takes all match
in terms of the Northern Conference, confidence was high within
the Tigers camp having been undefeated in their previous four fixtures
as well as clocking up 144 unanswered points in their back to back
Glasgow Derby victories against the Caledonian Roughriders.
Things could not have started better for the visitors
early in the first quarter with Clansmen struggling to keep hold
of the ball and fumbling the ball away on the first play of their
second drive.
The visitors stepped up the pressure of the Stirling
defense. And on fourth down and goal, Quarterback McCusker used
his bulk and power to maximum effect bulldozing through the home
defence from a few yards out for the opening six points.
The Clansmen’s problems continued when they
fumbled away possession again.
Then a run from McCusker brought the Tigers back
inside Stirling territory, were Andy Hall then burned the turf
with a surging run up the middle taking the Tigers inside the
Stirling red zone.
The momentum swung dramatically back in the Clansmen’s
direction when a McCusker pass saw the ball come off a receiver’s
fingers into the hands of Yanes-Rocca who sprinted up field to
be stopped just short of the half way line.
Unfortunately Stirling could not capitalise on
the opportunity and had to punt the ball away.
A tough defensive stand from the home side resulted
in the Tigers punting the ball back to the Clansmen.
But Jeff Bryan returned the ball back to Glasgow’s
end zone for a 70 yard touchdown, with Sutherland running in the
2 point conversion to put the Clansmen 2 points in front.
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