American Football Wirral & Chester - 25th May 2009 4:02pm
Nighthawks 20-43 Mustangs
Sunday May 3rd 2009
Report from Nighthawks Web Site
The Merseyside Nighthawks made the journey across the Pennines looking to enter division 1 with a bang, however not all went to plan in their first game following promotion, losing to a well-drilled Doncaster Mustangs.
The Nighthawks got off to a bad start when a short kick into the wind was recovered by the Mustangs giving them excellent field position for their first drive of the day. Doncaster came out passing, but as was the pattern for the day, struggled to complete and the Nighthawks
defence was able to force a quick 3 and out. The Mustangs responded in kind, and when the long snap sailed out of the endzone, the nighthawks found themselves 2-0 down. The Mustangs made good use of their ground game from the ensuing kick off, and were able to find the endzone through RB Joey Fabrizio, converting the extra point to take a 9-0 lead. The Nighthawks offence looked to make headway now, and after a kick return to midfield, were able to move the chains for the first time through Mike Banks. The promising drive stalled however, when safety Nick Tomaszowski made his first of 2 interceptions on the day, again giving the Mustangs a short field to work with. They converted again, this time with Paul McIntosh finding the gap in the defence to extend their lead to 15-0.
The Nighthawks offence started to click in the second quarter, and hit back fast when QB Tim Parr found Joe Black down the sideline, who outpaced the secondary for a 49 yard score. The conversion was tacked on leaving the score at 15-8. The remainder of the quarter did not go as well for the Nighthawks, as the Mustangs were able to turn turnovers into points, with Joey Fabrizio again doing the damage, adding a further 2 touchdowns, and giving the Doncaster side a 29-8 halftime lead.
Merseyside started off the second half with the ball, and a renewed purpose it seemed. Behind strong blocking, Mike Banks was able to duke his way into the red zone. A pass interference call on Joe Black in the endzone put the ball on the 1 yard line, where Parr made no mistake, and connected with WR Andy Dyson to make the score 29-14. The Nighthawks defence also looked to have stepped up in the second period, and halted a Mustang drive when Fabrizio was brought down short on 4th down. Needing to score, the Nighthawks themselves went for it on 4th down, and it paid off when WR Jason Elliott made a great adjustment to retrieve the ball on a tipped pass. The Mustangs resolve strengthened as they neared their own goal-line, and eventually forced the turnover on downs.
As the 4th quarter started, the Nighthawks paid for miss tackles as Fabrizio was able to break free and take the ball inside the 5 yard line, before a TD saving tackle from Nighthawks game MVP, Dave Eldridge. The Mustangs were no to be denied though, as Paul McIntosh again found a gap to extend the lead to 36-14. Things got worse for the Nighthawks, when later in the 4th, a blocked punt was returned by Martin Pepper for the score. It was the Nighthawks who were to have the last say though, as Andy Dyson, now under centre, found slot man Rory Mansfield inside the 5 yard line, where Jay Grocott found the endzone for his first ever Nighthawks touchdown, leaving the final score 43-20.
In the end it was a baptism of fire into division 1 football for the Nighthawks, but they look to come out of the loss a stronger side.
Head Coach Gary Lee said "There were mistakes made that need to be ironed out, so we know there is more to come from us. There were also some bright spots including a defensive backfield that gave up only 45 yards through the air, and the offensive line, which didn't give up a sack and provided a great platform for our running game."
It doesn't get any easier for the Nighthawks, with their next game away at former Premier team, the East Kilbride Pirates, who won their season opener in convincing fashion, but with 3 weeks to prepare, the 'Hawks look to step up to the challenge.
Sunday May 3rd 2009
Report from Nighthawks Web Site
The Merseyside Nighthawks made the journey across the Pennines looking to enter division 1 with a bang, however not all went to plan in their first game following promotion, losing to a well-drilled Doncaster Mustangs.
The Nighthawks got off to a bad start when a short kick into the wind was recovered by the Mustangs giving them excellent field position for their first drive of the day. Doncaster came out passing, but as was the pattern for the day, struggled to complete and the Nighthawks
defence was able to force a quick 3 and out. The Mustangs responded in kind, and when the long snap sailed out of the endzone, the nighthawks found themselves 2-0 down. The Mustangs made good use of their ground game from the ensuing kick off, and were able to find the endzone through RB Joey Fabrizio, converting the extra point to take a 9-0 lead. The Nighthawks offence looked to make headway now, and after a kick return to midfield, were able to move the chains for the first time through Mike Banks. The promising drive stalled however, when safety Nick Tomaszowski made his first of 2 interceptions on the day, again giving the Mustangs a short field to work with. They converted again, this time with Paul McIntosh finding the gap in the defence to extend their lead to 15-0.
The Nighthawks offence started to click in the second quarter, and hit back fast when QB Tim Parr found Joe Black down the sideline, who outpaced the secondary for a 49 yard score. The conversion was tacked on leaving the score at 15-8. The remainder of the quarter did not go as well for the Nighthawks, as the Mustangs were able to turn turnovers into points, with Joey Fabrizio again doing the damage, adding a further 2 touchdowns, and giving the Doncaster side a 29-8 halftime lead.
Merseyside started off the second half with the ball, and a renewed purpose it seemed. Behind strong blocking, Mike Banks was able to duke his way into the red zone. A pass interference call on Joe Black in the endzone put the ball on the 1 yard line, where Parr made no mistake, and connected with WR Andy Dyson to make the score 29-14. The Nighthawks defence also looked to have stepped up in the second period, and halted a Mustang drive when Fabrizio was brought down short on 4th down. Needing to score, the Nighthawks themselves went for it on 4th down, and it paid off when WR Jason Elliott made a great adjustment to retrieve the ball on a tipped pass. The Mustangs resolve strengthened as they neared their own goal-line, and eventually forced the turnover on downs.
As the 4th quarter started, the Nighthawks paid for miss tackles as Fabrizio was able to break free and take the ball inside the 5 yard line, before a TD saving tackle from Nighthawks game MVP, Dave Eldridge. The Mustangs were no to be denied though, as Paul McIntosh again found a gap to extend the lead to 36-14. Things got worse for the Nighthawks, when later in the 4th, a blocked punt was returned by Martin Pepper for the score. It was the Nighthawks who were to have the last say though, as Andy Dyson, now under centre, found slot man Rory Mansfield inside the 5 yard line, where Jay Grocott found the endzone for his first ever Nighthawks touchdown, leaving the final score 43-20.
In the end it was a baptism of fire into division 1 football for the Nighthawks, but they look to come out of the loss a stronger side.
Head Coach Gary Lee said "There were mistakes made that need to be ironed out, so we know there is more to come from us. There were also some bright spots including a defensive backfield that gave up only 45 yards through the air, and the offensive line, which didn't give up a sack and provided a great platform for our running game."
It doesn't get any easier for the Nighthawks, with their next game away at former Premier team, the East Kilbride Pirates, who won their season opener in convincing fashion, but with 3 weeks to prepare, the 'Hawks look to step up to the challenge.