Standings 2008
| Team | PCT |
|---|---|
| Sussex Thunder | 0.700 |
| Southern Sundevils | 0.600 |
| Kent Exiles | 0.600 |
| Oxford Saints | 0.450 |
| Ipswich Cardinals | 0.444 |
| Norwich Devils | 0.150 |
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Willie puts Saints back in playoff race
Running back Willie Long racked up 127 yards and a touchdown for the Saints as they beat the Ipswich Cardinals to put themselves back in the hunt for a playoff place.
Oxford made the long journey north, knowing that they had to come home with a victory to stand any chance of post season action.
The Saint's 'Pain Train' defence took to the field first. After their mauling last time out against the Kent Exiles, the D was keen to make a statement that they were back to their brutal best. The return from injury of starting CB's Karl Sears and Marvin Reyes (both missing from the Kent game) proved to be a massive boost for the Saints.
The Saints shut down Ipswich on the first drive with a big stop from veteran Paul Harbour and a batted down pass from Graham Cribbes. The Saints Offence was unable to move the ball against a strong Cardinal defence and after a couple of changes of possession the Saints had the ball again on their own 40 yard line.
Some powerful running from Chris Taylor and Bryan Myers took the ball deep into Cardinal territory. With the ball on the 20 yard line, QB Jay Taylor pitched the ball to Willie Long on a sweep right. An electrifying, jinking run from Long saw him evade a number of would be tacklers and out sprint the rest into the end zone for the go ahead score. Long then blasted into the end zone for a 2 point conversion & an 8-0 lead.
The following kick off saw Oxford opened up for the second time (on a kick off) in as many games. The Cardinals return man fielded the ball and sprinted down the sideline towards the Saints end zone, a last gasp tackle saved a touchdown, but Ipswich still had the ball inside the Saints' 10 yard line.
The Saints' D held firm and a big hit from LB Ian Harry pushed the Cardinals back, forcing them to go for a short field goal. Ben Green stepped up and nailed it for the Cardinals, Saints led 8-3 to end the 1st quarter.
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The 2nd quarter saw the game heat up. Oxford's Jay Taylor led his team downfield with a couple of quick passes to WR's Pete Cleaver & Ki Lewis. Long ripped off a couple more runs for good gains to set Oxford up on the Ipswich 9 yard line.
With the Cardinal D now heavily keying on Long, Taylor rolled out and found a wide open Pete Cleaver in the end zone for the score, Newman missed the PAT, Saints led 14-3.
The Saints D quickly shut the Cardinals down, giving the Saints the ball back inside the Cardinal half. The Cardinals were by now finding it hard to cope with the running game of the Saints. The sweetness & pain punch of Long and Taylor was proving to hot to handle for a tiring Cardinal D.
The Saints drove down to the 20 yard line and were looking comfortable when disaster struck. Jay Taylor threw a wayward pass into the Cardinal end zone, where it was picked off by a grateful defender. The Ipswich offence took over and on the very next play QB Petersen found Byron Johnson with a short pass. Johnson out sprinted the Saints D and raced up the sidelines for a 62 yard score, in front of an ecstatic home crowd.
Green tagged on the extra point & Ipswich were back in the game, Saints led 14-10.
With only 2 minutes left in the half the Saints took the kick off and went straight into their hurry up offence. Taylor quickly led the offence downfield with some impressive quick hitting plays to set up Newman for a 22 yard field goal attempt. Newman slotted it with ease & the Saints had the half time lead 17-10.
The 2nd half saw the Saints receive the kick off. Ben Saunders fielded the kick off and turned on the after burners, Saunders scorched up the middle of the field behind huge blocks from Tex Johnson & Stuart Cribbes, with just 1 man to beat for an electrifying score, Saunders was just caught by the Ipswich safety man deep, deep, deep in Ipswich territory.
The Saints were in prime position to stretch their lead when another wayward pass was picked off by a Cardinal DB who sprinted back up the Oxford sideline for what looked to be a certain score. Pete Cleaver managed to get in front of the return man, forcing him inside where he was nailed by man mountain Tom Beauchamp, saving a certain score.
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Pinned inside their own 15 yard line, the Saints D did the rest. Two big hits in the Cardinal backfield from Ben Tolley halted any hopes of an assault on the Oxford End zone. The remainder of the 3rd quarter was dominated by both teams' defences.
The 4th quarter saw Oxford increase their lead. Preston Perkins intercepted a Cardinal pass to set up the Oxford O in midfield. Star man Willie Long ripped off another high speed run, evading tacklers and sprinting down the sidelines for a 42 yard run. Chris Taylor bulldozed his way into the end zone from a yard out to score for the Saints, Newman missed the PAT, Oxford led 23-10.
The Oxford D dominated the remainder of the game, a big sack from Matthew Richards and a fumble recovery from Tolley ended any hopes of a consolation score for Ipswich.
The Saints next game is away to Sussex Thunder on 6th July. Another must win game for the Saints.
Published: 24-06-2008 by Andrew Day