Scottish Claymores - American Football in Scotland

Time runs out for the Claymores

Scottish Claymores 13
Frankfurt Galaxy 15
Attendance 9,017, Hampden Park, Glasgow

TIME ran out for the Scottish Claymores at Hampden Park today as Jack Bicknell's team went down 15-13 to Frankfurt Galaxy and dropped to 1-5 at the bottom on the NFL Europe League standings, all but eliminating the Scots from contention for World Bowl XII in Germany next month.

 
Rob Hart hits his record setting field goal
The Claymores now have to win all of their remaining four games, secure the head-to-head points differential in games against Berlin, Amsterdam and Frankfurt next week, and hope that the league-leading Berlin Thunder and Frankfurt win the rest of their matches with the exception of their meetings with the Scots.

An outside bet - but mathematically, not an impossibility.

The Claymores had to secure a win against a strong Galaxy team to realistically stay in touch with the chasing pack of teams now narrowing the gap on league leaders Berlin and Frankfurt after Thunder lost out narrowly to Cologne Centurions 28-27 on Saturday night.

But despite fourth quarter heroics from Kansas City Chiefs allocate Herb Haygood, who electrified the Claymores support Dante Hall style with a 95-yard kickoff return for touchdown to keep the Claymores in the game 15-13 behind in the fourth quarter, it was Frankfurt who controlled the clock and held on to win thanks to five field goal strikes  from former Bundesliga soccer star Kleinmann.

Kleinmann's winning kicks all but eclipsed the efforts of Claymores' kicker Rob Hart, who set a new points scoring record in NFL Europe, surpassing former Barcelona Dragons kicker Jesus Angoy's mark of 329 with a 43-yard field goal in the second quarter.

 
Scott Couper congratulates the new leading scorer in NFL Europe history
Afterwards, head coach Jack Bicknell conceded it would now be very difficult for the Claymores to make it to the World Bowl, saying: "Our whole football team is hurting right now. The frustrating thing is that we have been playing better. I thought we would come back late like we did last weekend, but Galaxy were able to control the clock.

"I couldn't have asked more of our players. We matched Galaxy for a large part of the game but just couldn't get the result we so desperately needed today. I have now got to make sure our team sticks together over the next four weeks and continues to play like professionals.

"We have our work cut out for us over the next four weeks but I'd be shocked if this team does not play right until the end. I know they will."

The Claymores defense set the tone at the start of the game with defensive end Cedric Scott blocking Mike Barr's punt attempt to set the Scots offense up at Frankfurt's 13-yard line.

The Claymores could not capitalise with a touchdown but Rob Hart did equal Jesus Angoy's long-standing league-highest scoring record hitting a 24-yard field goal to give Scotland a 3-0 lead with four minutes gone.

The defense stepped up on Frankfurt's next drive after quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan moved his team to the Claymores five on 16 and 48-yard connections to wide receiver Drew Haddad. O'Sullivan went for the endzone on the next play, but James Lewis was there to pick off the New Orleans Saints passer in the Scots endzone.

 
Skip Hicks stuggles for extra yardage
The Claymores defense held again this time with safety Thomas Wright almost picking off O'Sullivan, but disaster struck for returner Ian Smart on the punt as he muffed his return handing possession back to Frankfurt at the Claymores 24.

Two plays later, O'Sullivan threw a four-yard touchdown strike to full back Corey McIntyre who crossed over into the Claymores endzone untouched. Uncharacteristically, Kleinmann missed the PAT, but Galaxy still held a 6-3 lead at the start of the second quarter.

Curt Anes moved the Claymores back into scoring range with big gains to Scott Couper, Haygood and tight end Marcus Helfman on the Scots next possession. The drive stalled but allowed Hart to claim the new league points record when he hit a 43-yard field goal with 7:50 remaining in the second quarter to tie the scores at 6-6.

Galaxy looked dangerous on their next drive with quarterback Kirk Famer moving them deep into Claymores territory. But again the Scots defense held firm and Frankfurt had to settle for a 32-yard field goal from Kleinmann to take a 9-6 lead into the half-time break.

Jamie Rheem added to the Galaxy lead at the start of the second half with a 41-yard field goal for a 12-6 advantage.

The Claymores defense tried to ignite the Scots again with Jimmy McClain sacking O'Sullivan, but once more disaster on special teams plagued Claymores as Smart muffed his second punt return of the day at the end of the third quarter gifting possession to Frankfurt as the Scots 45.

Durrand Roundtree stopped O'Sullivan in his tracks sacking the quarterback on Galaxy's next possession with Damien Gregory and Alan Harper also bringing the Frankfurt passer down.

Frankfurt further extended their lead to 15-6 when Rheem converted another 41-yard field goal with 7:07 to play in the game.

 
Herb Haygood sees nothing but grass ahead of him
The Claymores now needed two scores to get back on top. And the Claymores fans were rewarded for their support when Kansas City Chief Haygood took a page out of Dante Hall's playbook to run the restart kick all the way back to the Galaxy endzone on a 95-yard return for touchdown. Hart was good with the extra point and the Scots were back in the game 15-13 down with just under seven minutes to play.

The clock then became the enemy for the Claymores as O'Sullivan moved his team downfield eating up time and completing a controversial pass to Jason Willis to put Frankfurt on the Scots eight yard line with two minutes remaining which allowed Galaxy to run out the game as winners.

Bicknell paid tribute to the Claymores fans, saying: "Our fans have been great all season. They were the main reason why Galaxy had so many delay of game and offsides penalties. Unfortunately, we really have not done nearly enough to get them excited. We have to find a way to make that happen. They are great fans and we really appreciate their support."



09 May, 04 | 10:23 pm

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