Final Score : Rhein Fire 20 - 21 Scottish Claymores
In their first home opener since their inaugural season in 1995, the Claymores played their opening game at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Scotland. The difference from 1995 though was that the Claymores came out on top.
Rhein took an early lead through Kenny Bynum's 3 yard run which Manny Burgsmuller converted to give a 7-0 lead. For the rest of the half, both offenses puttered about trying to get in synch but it was the defense which was made to look good until after the half.
The excellent punting of Chicago Bears allocate Chris Dolan created the Claymores first score of the season. A huge, long, booming punt was fumbled by the Fire returned allowing Claymores lineback Matt Finkes to pounce on the ball and run 8 yards to the endzone. Former Monarchs kicker Rob Hart booted the extra point to tie the game at 7.
The German team responded 6 minutes later after a Claymores turnover with a 19 yard strike by New York Giants QB Mike Cherry to Kez McCorvey and a Burgsmuller PAT made the lead 14-7.
Yet again, Dameyune Craig and the Claymores offense failed to move up the field and the Fire took over deep in their own territory. However, Mike Cherry threw up a long pass to Dialleo Burks which he caught burning Claymores D-back Denorse Mosley for the 69 yard touchdown.
Surprisingly, Manny Burgsmuller messed up the PAT attempt in what proved to be a critical kick of the game. The Fire lead 20-7, a lead of 13.
Determined and running out of time, QB Craig moved the Claymores up the field with a quick series of passes for first down yardage culminating in a 29 yard pass to Yo Murphy for the score. Rob Hart successfully converted the PAT to bring the Claymores to within one score : 20-14.
With the momentum now well and truly on their side, the Claymores D held the Fire's seemingly potent offense and forced the punt.
With little over 4 minutes remaining on the clock, Auburn hero Dameyune Craig steadily moved the team up the field to within striking distance of the endzone. The Claymores has 1st and goal at the 6 thanks to a Personal Foul on Al Wilson of the Fire. Craig threw incomplete twice, once through the hands of Yo Murphy. Third down; once again incomplete.
Fourth down, just over a minute remaining. 6 yards left. Craig rolls out then, with no open receivers heads for the endzone himself and makes it. Touchdown Scotland! Rob Hart's critical extra point gave Scotland the lead for the first and only time in the game.
On the resulting series after the kickoff, the Claymores D held tight forcing the Fire to go 3 and out. Murrayfield erupted as it became clear the Claymores had won.
Comments
Despite the win, there is plenty of room for improvement and a lot of work to do for the Claymores. The running game is in dire need of a boost, I would like to see Emory Smith and Ben Snell given the chance to do something since it seems that Jesse Haynes didn't create much at halfback. However, Jamie Reader at fullback looks like and exciting potential and had a good game both blocking and carrying the ball.
The Claymores offense only really moved when Craig threw the ball but a number of passes went straight through the hands of receivers. Easily catchable balls were dropped with TE Jamara Bell being the primary offender! Bell did redeem himself with some good catches in the final couple of drives. It is, however, Craig's immense scrambling ability that kept the Claymores in this one though.
The Secondary looks as if it need to work on sticking to their man a little bit after Joey Eloms and Denorse Mosley were burned on successive Fire TD passes.
Punter Chris Dolan looks to be a lifesaver! His punting is exceptional. Not since the times of Wayne Lammle have we seen such good punting. High, long and booming punts allowing the special teams unit to get right under the ball and pressure the returner as Matt Finkes did on the Claymores first score.
So, overall an average performance. I see a lot of potential with this group, if the receivers get their timing together and the running game becomes solid we have a good offense and the defense was solid apart from two slips on the TD passes. With a few more weeks to get to know each other (a longer training camp would solve this and yes, I know that's not possible) this team could really come together and challenge for a World Bowl spot.
The one point victory marked the second season in succession that the Claymores have opened with a single point game and the fourth time in 5 years that the Claymores opener has been decided by 3 points or less. For the record, the Claymores are 3-2 on opening day.
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
RHEIN 7 0 7 6 20
CLAYMORES 0 0 7 14 21 4TH QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: RHE - TD, KENNY BYNUM 2 YD RUN (MANFRED BURGSMULLER
KICK), 2:29. RHEIN 7-0
2ND QUARTER: NONE
3RD QUARTER: SCO - TD, MATT FINKES 8 YD FUMBLE RETURN (ROB HART KICK),
7:03. RHEIN 7, CLAYMORES 7
RHE - TD, KEZ MCCORVEY 19 YD PASS FROM MIKE CHERRY
(MANFRED BURGSMULLER KICK), 13:01. RHEIN 14-7
4TH QUARTER: RHE - TD, DIALLEO BURKS 76 YD PASS FROM MIKE CHERRY
(PAT FAILED) 1:08. RHEIN 20-7
SCO - TD, YO MURPHY 29 YD PASS FROM DAMEYUNE CRAIG
(ROB HART KICK), 6:30. RHEIN 20-14
SCO - TD, DAMEYUNE CRAIG 6 YD RUN (ROB HART KICK), 13:39
SCOTLAND 21-20
TEAM STATISTICS
RHE SCO
-------- --------
FIRST DOWNS 8 23
Rushing 1 5
Passing 5 13
Penalty 2 5
3RD-DOWN EFFICIENCY 2-10 4-14
4TH-DOWN EFFICIENCY 0-1 1-2
TOTAL NET YARDS 256 301
Total plays 42 70
Average gain 6.1 4.3
NET YARDS RUSHING 41 79
Rushes 21 30
Average per rush 2.0 2.6
NET YARDS PASSING 215 222
Completed-attempted 9-19 22-40
Yards per pass 10.2 5.6
Sacked-yards lost 2-17 0-0
Had intercepted 0 1
PUNTS-AVERAGE 6-39.3 6-47.7
RETURN YARDAGE 126 72
Punts-returns 5-35 3-10
Kickoffs-returns 4-91 4-62
Interceptions-returns 1-0 0-0
PENALTIES-YARDS 8-48 5-40
FUMBLES-LOST 1-1 2-0
TIME OF POSSESSION 22:16 37:44
PLAYER STATISTICSMissed field goals: Rhein (Manfred Burgsmuller 33); Claymores (Rob Hart 40).
Rhein rushing: Derrick Clark 8-22, Kenny Bynum 10-13, Mike Cherry 3-6.
Claymores rushing: Jesse Haynes 10-32, Dameyune Craig 8-31, Ben Snell 5-13, Jamie Reader 7-3.
Rhein passing: Mike Cherry 9-19 for 232 yards, 0 INT, 2 TD.
Claymores passing: Dameyune Craig 22-40 for 222 yards, 1 INT, 1 TD.
Rhein receiving: Dialleo Burks 5-196, Larry Ryans 2-9, Kez Mccorvey 1-19, Kenny Bynum 1-8.
Claymores receiving: Donald Sellers 6-83, Yo Murphy 4-59, Jamie Reader 3-24, Shon Bell 3-15, Jesse Haynes 3-9, Scott Couper 2-22, Kevin Drake 1-10.
ATTENDANCE : 9,086