SAU POP WARNER LEAGUE
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 2004

Highland Wildcats 20 Clyde Valley Hawks 8

The Highland Wildcats completed the double on Sunday winning both the League and the SAU Championship Bowl by beating the Clyde Valley Falcons 20 points to 6 in Inverness.

The SAU Pop Warner League was won last week by the Highland Wildcats and this Sunday saw the top two teams contest for the Scottish Athletic Union Bowl. The Pop Warner League is a 9 a-side junior kitted American Football league.

The first Wildcats drive ended when a pass from quarterback James Pyke was picked off at the 50 yard line however a stonewall Wildcats defence held the Falcons forcing them to punt but a muffed catch by the returner and some quick thinking by the Falcons enabled them to recover the ball on the Wildcats 20 yard line.

Again the Wildcats defence showed its strength as the Falcons quarterback was constantly pressured with Dougie Prentice knocking the ball from his hand.

The Wildcats persistence paid off when they forced a fumble and David Bull recovered the ball for the Highland team. The Wildcats next drive saw a change of QB with Pyke unable to throw because on an injury to his hand, Kenny Mackay stepped in but a couple of fumbles on the first two plays and a 7 yard pass to tight-end Angus Mackintosh meant that the Wildcats had to punt the ball away.

As the rain became heavier the temperature dropped and with playing conditions worsening as the game progressed, it became a three way battle between the two teams and the elements.

The Falcons next possession was short lived when linebacker James Pyke picked off a pass from the Falcons quarterback, David Orr. Mackay then led the Wildcats offence up the field first with a dive play to Chris Gordon for 7 yards then to James Pyke for 5 yards and again to Gordon for 8 yards and then to Pyke on a sweep for 7 yards Gordon added another 7 yards on a dive, Liam Mackenzie drove up the middle for ten yards, Pyke then added 5 more yards.

The first quarter ended with the Wildcats 15 yards short of the Falcons endzone. The Highland sideline then erupted as Chris Gordon finished the drive as he swept into the endzone to open the scoring, the touchdown was converted by Gordon as the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.

The Falcons were quick to strike back on their first play of their next drive when William Winter ducked and dived 55 yards for a touchdown and added the conversion to tie the game.

The Wildcats offense was again halted, and the Falcons took possesion on their own 40 yard line but some aggressive blitzing and tackling forced the Falcons back to their own 20 yard line where they had to punt, but the punt was blocked by Kirk Flett and recovered on the Falcons 1 yard line by James Pyke.

The Wildcats offence then came on and Pyke with a full back dive secured the lead for the Wildcats. The Wildcats defence continued to apply pressure and again it paid off when strong safety Angus Mackintosh picked off a wayward pass.

The Wildcats looked like they had extended their lead when Pyke again found himself in the endzone but the play was brought back because the chains that are used to measure the 10 yards were not set up.

The Falcons defence held firm and recovered a Wildcats fumble to stop the Highland team from adding to their score.

The third quarter saw the Wildcats defence shut down the Falcons offence, leaving the Wildcats offence to steadily move the ball up field, however the Falcons defence managed to hold them back from scoring.

The fourth quarter showed the Wildcats strength as they continued to dominate with their defence and the offence added a further 6 points on a sweep play to Pyke making the final score Highland Wildcats 20 Clyde Valley Hawks 8.

As the final whistle blew the Highland Wildcats sideline went wild as the team realised they had completed the double. SAU President Juan Renau presented the Highland Wildcats headcoach, Robbie Paulin, first, with the SAU Pop Warner trophy and then the SAU Bowl.

The Highland Wildcats are one of the teams that come under the banner of the Inverness Blitz Academy of American Football who will be holding their awards ceremony on Sunday 31st October in Inverness College starting at 12:30. Contact 01463 242431 for details

PIC AND REPORT -INVERNESS BLITZ