WHIPPING BOYS NO MORE    !!!!!!!!!

West Coast Trojans 20       Highland Wildcats 49

By Frank McGroarty - Editor Hot Iron: Scottish Gridiron Webzine

There was a time when officials from the British Youth American Football League billed the Inverness Blitz American Football Academy as the way forward in the development of American Football in Scotland.

With teams at Flag Junior and Youth Kitted and their school programmes, there was very little to contradict that statement – but there was something missing:   a successful senior team.

There were a number of young players coming through the ranks to senior level but there still was no presence in the British Senior League competitions – until now.

But after being the whipping boys in their debut season in the BAFL 2009, the senior division of the Inverness Blitz the Highland Wildcats are making their mark in the 2010 British American Football Community League in some style.

The “men in black” made the journey up north following a resounding 49-20 victory over former Scottish Division One Champions, West Coast Trojans at Renfrew’s King George V Playing Fields.

This more than sets up a mouth-watering return trip down south when they take on the Glasgow Tigers on June 27^th.

Fair play - that the Trojans, despite their home advantage, did come into the game on a blistering hot day minus a number of key players.

But there seems to be something about running backs up from up north.   First of all you had Lewis King, who turned in a star performance in his debut season in the British College League earlier this year.

Today enter Anthony Levy – another rusher from the North – North Dakota – who had the Trojans on the back foot on the first play of their second possession when he burned the turf with a super 40 yard touchdown run.

Then on the resulting point after conversion attempt, the signs were there that maybe this was going to be the Highlanders day when Scott Milligan’s kick was blocked, but the ball spiralled into the air, falling into the kickers’ hands and promptly took the ball home for a welcome two points.

The Trojans battled hard to get back into the game during the latter stages of the first period but were shooting themselves in the foot with needless penalties.

With no change in the scoring, the home side stepped up the ante at the start of the second period when Dave Pasnik pulled in a big catch to the Wildcats 9 yard line, but struggled to finish the drive off.

Time for the "Levy Express" to Take Off!!!!!!

The Wildcats Rusher weaved through with another great run, which was called back by the officials.

This appeared to give the Trojans the wake-up call that they needed on the next play when they forced a fumble which they recovered.

Unfortunately the home side struggled to get their offensive machine motoring up field – unlike their opposite numbers on the other side of the field.

They soon had the Trojans in trouble again when the unstoppable Levy turned on the speed, weaving through a mass of bodies, as slippery as a bar of soap, taking the ball home for another score, with James Pyke pulling in a 2 point catch for a 16-0 lead.

The visitors appeared to be running away with the game when Kenny Mackay fired a diagonal pass to Milligan, whose great determination eventually paid off, overpowering his marker for a touchdown.

They certainly were more than fired up for this one.

Then at the start of the third, Mackay connected with Darren Macdonald who crosses the line at the corner of the endzone for another six points, with Milligan splitting the uprights for a 29-0 lead.

Adjustments made by the Trojans appeared to be producing results with their offense starting to pose a serious threat to the Highland endzone, with Gary McNey at QB connecting with Receiver Tommy George – taking the ball to the Wildcats 32.

The home side stepped up the pressure and were just 3 yards from home, when McNey held on to the ball, falling over the goal line for a welcome first six points of the day.

Confidence was starting to build in the Trojans line up, but controversy kicked in on the next Wildcats drive when the ball was laid out to Levy who showed that as well as having a blistering turn of pace, showed that he had a strong arm as well – firing a long ball down the far side – which was ruled as a fair catch by the officials, but appeared to be struggling to control the ball.

That put the Trojans off their stride and they were soon in trouble again when turned in what was starting to become a trademark run, weaving through a mass of bodies and another terrific touchdown.

But the Trojans started to show their mettle at the start of the final quarter exposing an over hyped Wildcats side, who appeared to be more focussed on taking out the QB, but McNey used his experience and picked off a wide open Pasnik for another touchdown, with Ross Murray pulling in a 2 point conversion.

The Trojans continued to push forward, determined to reduce the deficit and McNey connected with Pasnik again to make it 35-20.

But any hopes of a Trojans making a dramatic comeback were eventually put to bed when Levy added another score for the Wildcats. 

This was a chalk and cheese display from the “Men in Black” compared to their campaign last year

Inverness then started to find a second wind and increased their lead when Liam MacKenzie got in the way of a McNey pass and returned the ball all the way to the Trojans 21 yard line.

Minutes later James Pyke powered through the middle from six yards out to make it 47 -20 to the visitors with another successful conversion kick to round a very successful day at the office.