Carrickfergus Knights 36-14 DCU Saints
April 23rd, 2006 | | Game Reports
Scorers:
1st Quarter:
CAR – David Antuna safety (2-0).
DCU – David McMahon 69yd run (2-6).
CAR – Paul McKillop 17yd pass from Adam Deveney + 1xpt (9-6).
2nd Quarter:
CAR – Ian McIlroy 24yd pass from Deveney (15-6).
DCU – Sean Whelan 71yd pass from Conor Buggle + Buggle 2xpt (15-14).
3rd Quarter:
CAR – Darren Montgomery 2yd run + McKillop 1xpt (22-14).
4th Quarter:
CAR – Adam Deveney 8yd run + McKillop 1xpt (29-14).
CAR – David Wright 67yd run + McKillop 1xpt (36-14).
The Carrickfergus Knights won on the road against the DCU Saints thanks to an impressive
second half performance following a close first half. Three second half touchdowns and
a couple of turnovers were the difference between the two teams. The Knights offense
controlled the second half with some of long possessions which kept the Saints tiring
defense on the field for long periods.
The Knights defense opened the scoring when linebacker David Antuna tackled a Saints
ball carrier in his own endzone for a 2 point safety. The Saints responded straight
away with rookie running back David McMahon scoring on a 69 yard breakaway run –
his 5th touchdown in only 3 games. The Knights got their first touchdown of the game
late in the opening quarter when quarterback Adam Deveney connected with receiver
Paul McKillop for a 17 yard touchdown pass which was converted. An interception in
the DCU half by Knights linebacker Mark Harris gave the Knights a scoring opportunity early in the second quarter, however, they missed a field goal on 4th down. The Knights defense kept the DCU offense at bay on the next DCU possession and their offense responded with a 24 yard touchdown pass from Deveney to Ian McIlroy to give them a 15-6 lead. The Saints responded with another long touchdown. Quarterback Conor Buggle threw a long pass to receiver Sean Whelan who, after fighting to catch the ball, broke free for a 71 yard touchdown. Buggles conversion made it a 15-14 game at half time.
The second half started off as a defensive affair with both teams being forced to punt.
DCU safety Scott Quigley and linebacker Guillaume Boutroix helped stop the Knights offense
and linebackers Spencer McDowell and Mark Harris played well for the Knights. As time went by, the Knights offense began to control the game and they scored on a 2 yard run by Darren Montgomery late in the quarter after having put together a long drive which ate up a lot of clock time. The Knights got a break on the ensuing kick-off which they recovered following a muff by the Saints return unit. They then extended their lead thanks to an 8yd touchdown run by Quarterback Deveney. The Knights defense got their second turnover of the game on DCU’s next possession when Derek Dempsey got an interception on the Saints 15 yard line to give the Knights the ball in scoring range. However, the Saints defense played well preventing them from scoring. The Knights put victory beyond doubt on their next possession when running back David Wright broke free for a 67 yard touchdown run. DCU then went to the air in an effort to score quickly, but the Knights defense held and their offense then ran out the clock to win
the game.
Dublin City Marshals 45-41 DCU Saints
April 9th, 2006 | | Game Reports
Scorers:
1st Quarter:
DCU: David McMahon 29yd run (0-6);
DCM: Darien Bell 65yd run + Jess Palmer 1zpt (7-6);
DCM: Darien Bell 49yd pass from Seth Larson + Palmer 2xpt (15-6);
DCU: Willie Coyne 90 yd kick off return + Declan O’Donoghue 1xpt (15-13);
DCM: Jess Palmer 80yd int return (21-13).
2nd Quarter:
DCM: Jess Palmer 41yd pass from Seth Larson (27-13);
DCM: Steven Travers 36yd pass from Larson, Mark Davey 2xpt (35-13).
3rd Quarter: DCU: David McMahon 14yd run (35-19):
DCM: Defensive safety (37-19);
DCM: David O’Neill 27yd pass from Larson + 2xpt (45-19);
DCU: David McMahon 23yd run + 2xpt (45-17).
4th Quarter:
DCU: David McMahon 7yd run + Conor Buggle 2xpt (45-35);
DCU: Conor Buggle 21yd run (45-41).
The Dublin City Marshals and DCU Saints, the IAFL’s two newcomers, served up a spectacular offensive game to spectators at ALSAA today.
Both teams scored 6 touchdowns each, 5 of which were scored in the first quarter alone. The top performers for each side included Marshal’s
receivers Darien Bell and Jess Palmer who each scored 2 touchdowns and Saints running back David McMahon who scored 4 rushing touchdowns.
Each of these players was playing their first ever IAFL game.
The Saints scored first through a 29 yard run from McMahon early in the first quarter, but it was the Marshals who had the best of the first half.
Darien Bell replied to the DCU score by taking a handoff from quarterback Seth Larson and taking it 65 yards to the endzone for a breakaway score.
After stopping the Saints on their next drive, Bell quickly got on the scoreboard again by breaking free and catching a 49 yard touchdown pass from
Larson. DCU replied immediately when kick returner Willie Coyne caught the ensuing kick-off and returned it 90 yards for a touchdown. After stopping
the Marshals on their next possession, the Saints threw and interception which Jess Palmer, also playing safety returned 80 yards for a Marshals touchdown.
The Marshals seemed to dominate the second quarter, with defenders Jason Havens and John Collins shutting down the Saints running game. Their offense
remained in full swing with Seth Larson throwing two more touchdown passes – a 41 yarder to Jess Palmer and a 36 yarder to Steven Travers to give the Marshals
what seemed like a comfortable 35-13 lead at half-time.
DCU picked up the pace on offense in the second half with McMahon and quarterback Conor Buggle managing to move their offense more effectively.
The Saints scored early in a third quarter thanks to a 14 yard run by McMahon. On the Saints next drive, the Marshals pinned them back on their own
goal line with a punt then scored a defensive safety by tackling the Saints in their own endzone. The Marshals offense then capitalised on the good
play of their defense by putting together another scoring drive after receiving the free kick after safety. David O’Neill scored on a 27 yard pass from
Larson and the conversion gave the Marshals a 26 point lead with just over a quarter left to play. However, the Saints slowly crawled back into the game
as their defense, led by Darrin O’Toole and Neil Callanan figured out how to stall the Marshals potent offense. Running back David McMahon scored two
rushing touchdowns to bring the Saints back in range of the Marshals. With only 1:19 left to play, quarterback Buggle scored on a 21 yard scramble to make
it a one score game. The Saints attempted an on-side kick, but it was recovered by the Marshals. Darien Bell capped a fine first day out in the IAFL with a
crucial first down reception which enabled the Marshals to run out the remaining time and win their debut game in the league.