NFL Schools – Inverness Qualifiers
Throughout the day the players and spectators were kept entertained by the Highland Wildcat Cheerleading Squad who supported all teams and produced some exciting displays at half-time including the routine which saw them come second in the UK national cheerleading tournament in Blackpool earlier this year. The six teams were divided into 2 groups. The opening game in group ‘A’ brought the Culloden Academy Dragons up against tournament favourites Inverness Royal Academy Buccaneers. The Buccaneers, helped along with some great passes from quarterback Owen Moir, showed why they were favourites running out winners 48 – 13. The Bucs second game against the Culloden Academy Panthers also showed their dominance despite some fantastic running from Panthers player Louise Herd and a very brave and gritty performance from the rest of the team. In the final group A game the Dragons took advantage of the weakened Panthers squad with some great connections from QB Kyle Robertson to wide receiver and Mark Paulin, to book their spot in the 3rd/4th play-offs. Group B opened with the more experienced Charleston Academy Rockets going into a halftime break 14 – 0 up against the newly formed IRA Pirates. But after a team talk the Pirates came out firing and levelled the scoring at 14 all. With seconds remaining on the clock the Rockets drove down field but were held short and time expired. In the second game the Pirates faced the Glenurquhart High School Gladiators.
The Rockets went in at half-time 24-0 in the lead but the Gladiators never lost the will to keep going and were rewarded in the second half with 2 touchdowns leaving the Rockets with an almost impossible task, final score Charleston Academy Rockets 47 Glenurquhart High School Gladiators 12. The 3rd /4th place play-off was contested by the Charleston Academy Rockets and the Culloden Academy Dragons. Rockets got off to an early lead with a quick touchdown. This was answered by a touchdown catch by Dragons running back Darren Alan. The teams continued to pile on the points with the half time score being 22 – 18 to the Dragons. The Rockets took the lead quickly in the second half with a touchdown pass to Bobby Chisholm. The second half displayed great defense from both sides topped off with an Interception returned for a touchdown by Dragon’s player Duncan Straiton. Final score Dragons 36 Rockets 26. The final brought together the Inverness Royal Academy Buccaneers and the Inverness Royal Academy Pirates. The underdog Pirates got off to a great start with a touchdown from Mark Thompson. The Buccaneers quickly retaliated with an Andrew Skinner touchdown. The teams continued to exchange scores with some great passing from Pirates QB Lewis Kellacher. The second half saw the Buccaneers side begin to dominate with some great defensive stops including an interception from Scott MacDonald ran back for a touchdown. Buccaneers team captain Owen Moir caught two interceptions near the end of the game to seal the win for his side. The Pirates fought hard for one last score which saw Gavin Cameron pick the ball out of the air after it bounced off another Pirates players hands. Final score Buccaneers 49 – Pirates 19. The Buccaneers will now go down to represent the North of Scotland at the UK Bowl in Woodham, England and will compete to see which team will go on to play for the NFL European Schools Championship later in the year. PICS C/O INVERNESS BLITZ |
Inverness
hosted the northern qualifier for the NFL Schools American Flag Football
tournament on Saturday 5th May. Six teams contested for a place in the
UK Bowl final to be held in Woodham, England, with the winner of that
competition going onto represent the UK in Europe. 
The
Pirates showed no mercy as they racked up the points, winning 62 –6.
This left the Rockets knowing that they had to win by a 56-point margin
to secure their place in the final. 
