TROJANS GET OFF THE MARK

West Coast Trojans 27   Edinburgh Wolves 6

West Coast Trojans rediscovered their winning touch in their first home game of the season as well as creating some early season headaches for their East Coast opponents.

In what was a tense opening first quarter with both defenses battling hard to control the flow of the game, the stand-off continued right to the dying stages of the second period when the home side forced a 2 point safety and nicking a touchdown for an 8-0 half time lead.

Bud McFerren extended the Trojans lead early in the third quarter, but the visitors were starting to make their mark offensively when Stuart Galloway opened the account for the Wolves.

But their joy was short lived when Steve Mercer nailed a third touchdown for the “Red Brigade”, with Dave Pasnik nailing the conversion attempt.    Then Chris Lane clinched the final touchdown early in the fourth.

This was a big game for both teams in terms of the regular season with the Wolves having bounced back from their opening defeat against Highland Wildcats in week one with a victory in the return fixture two weeks later.

Whereas Trojans looking to get back into Division One after being relegated last year, got off to a very disappointing  start last week with new look side and an opening away defeat to the Clyde Valley Blackhawks.

So with a new squad, a moral boosting victory was essential in order to regain momentum in what was set to be a tough season for every team.

And it looked as if the Trojans were taking the game by the scruff of the neck with an impressive opening drive through big runs from Paisley Pyros backfields partnership, McFerren and Scott Little, bringing the home side to a few yards short of the goal line.

But with one big push into the endzone the home side surprisingly blew it when the Wolves defense killed the drive, forcing a fumble which was recovered by the visitors.

The Trojans then got a wakeup call on the first play of the Wolves drive with a big gain to their own 30 yard line, but the West Coast rear guard regrouped and the Wolves drive eventually stalled.

It looked as if the game was heading towards a defensive stalemate with neither side making a big impression on attack’ until Salim Ahmed rolled over the goal line but the Trojans got a break when the score was chalked off for an illegal procedure penalty.

The battle continued with no change in the scoring, till the latter stages of the second quarter.

Edinburgh were trying to mount a drive from inside their own redzone, under heavy pressure by the Trojans defense.

And a reverse move by the visitors collapsed around them with the ball falling inside their endzone, resulting in a two point safety for the Renfrew outfit.

Soon after, the Wolves still deep inside their half of the field, were desperately trying to give themselves some breathing space with seconds of the half remaining.

Then disaster struck with 2 seconds on the clock when under pressure, quarterback Allan Price fired a pass straight into the hands of Andy Neil who took the ball all the way back into the endzone for an 8-0 half time lead.

It was an ineffective opening drive by the Wolves in the third quarter where they had to turn over possession, handing the Trojans excellent field position.

Minutes later, the home side extended their lead when McFerren weaved through a mass of bodies for the second touchdown of the day.

But the Wolves finally got their offensive machine in gear when Galloway turned on the speed, breaking clear down the side all the way to the endzone for a welcome touchdown.

However any prospects of a comeback were quickly put to bed on the resulting kick off and a terrific return from McFerren that looked to have run out of steam ten yards from home.

But under pressure, the Trojans rusher managed to offload the ball to Steve Mercer, who continued the drive for another touchdown, which was converted by Dave Pasnik for a 21-6 lead.

The Trojans increased their lead in the fourth quarter, when the Wolves, deep in their own zone, found themselves in deep trouble when Chris Lang stripped the ball from Scott Hackett inside the endzone and brought it down for a touchdown.

The Wolves looked as if they were going to reduce the deficit when Galloway turned on the speed once again taking the ball all the way to the endzone, but once again the score was chalked off for a block in the back penalty, much to the anger of the Edinburgh side-lines.