18th April 2004
IAFL
Belfast Bulls 20-12 Dublin Dragons
Venue: Danny
Blanchflower Sports Grounds, Belfast.
SCORERS:
1st Quarter: BEL: Gareth
Millar 10yd run (0-6).
2nd Quarter: BEL: Jeroen Egge safety (0-8).
3rd Quarter: DUB: Dave Wheeler 13yd run
(6-8).
4th Quarter: BEL: Kris Donaghy 35yd pass
from Kevin Downs (6-14); DUB: Dave Wheeler 58yd pass from Rob Olwill (12-14);
BEL: Kevin Downs 1yd run (12-20).
The
Belfast Bulls defeated the Dublin Dragons in a close and entertaining encounter
in Belfast. The Bulls started off the first quarter on offense, but were stopped
by a Matt Quinn interception of Belfast quarterback Kevin Downs. After failing
to get a first down, the Dragons fumbled the snap on the ensuing punt which the
Bulls recovered on the Dragons 10 yard line. The Bulls scored on the very next
play with a 10 yard run by Gareth Millar. The Bulls moved the ball effectively
in the second quarter through running backs Millar and Kris Donaghy and passes
from Kevin Downs to Chris McKeown, but the Dragons defense, led by Franck Hupke
and Alan Connolly held firm. However, the Bulls defense led by defensive linemen
Jeroen Egge and Garry O'Brien and linebacker Erin Wagner shut down the Dragons
inside running game. Egge, a former full time professional in NFL Europe with
the Amsterdam Admirals who also starred at Duke University in the USA,
capitalized on the Bulls defensive dominance by scoring a safety (2pts) after
sacking Dragons quarterback Rob Olwill in the Dragons endzone just before
halftime.
The
Dragons got back into the game in the third quarter. They drove downfield,
gaining a couple of first downs through Dave Wheeler and a reception by wide
receiver Robert Popciobotartepelus. Wheeler brought the Dragons within 2 points
of the Bulls towards the end of the quarter with a 13 yard touchdown run. The
Dragons fumbled the ball at midfield on their next possession and early in the
fourth quarter, Kris Donaghy caught a short pass from Kevin Downs and converted
it into a 35 yard touchdown. The Dragons came back at the Bulls, scoring a
touchdown on their next possession, with a spectacular 58 yard catch and run by
Dave Wheeler. Throughout the remainder of the fourth quarter, the Bulls offense
began to control the game through running backs Millar and Donaghy. After
getting into scoring range with a catch by receiver Rui DaCosta, they sealed
victory late in the quarter with a 1 yard touchdown run by quarterback Kevin
Downs
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