30th May 2004
IAFL Allstars 2-52 John
Carroll University
Venue: Greystones RFC.
SCORERS:
1st Quarter: JCU: Aaron Taylor 1yd run (0-6); JCU: Rob Pratus 3yd pass
from Spence, Goodrich 1xpt (0-13); JCU: Matt Kehoe 10yd run, Goodrich 1xpt
(0-20); JCU: Jim Fink 15 yd int return (0-26).
2nd Quarter: JCU: Matt Matteucci 16yd pass from Troy (0-32).
3rd Quarter: Pete Bernini pass from Spence, Goodrich 1xpt (0-39); IRL:
Safety - Ken Hudson/Liam Ryan (2-39); JCU: Stephen Spence 5yd run (2-45).
4th Quarter: JCU: Jeff Johnston 1 yd run, Goodrich 1xpt (2-52).
REPORT:
John Carroll University of Ohio
won the Celtic Classic with a comfortable 52-2 victory over Ireland (IAFL
Allstars) in front of a large crowd at Greystones RFC. However, the big winner
was Irish football - this was the first time the Ireland has fielded a
representative squad since the reformation of the IAFL in 2001 and the first
time Ireland has played against a US college team. The John Carroll University
Blue Streaks are the best team ever to play against domestic opposition in
Ireland. Playing against players who practice daily was a big step up in
standard for the IAFL players and coupled with the fact that this is the first
time the team was playing together meant that this was always going to be a
difficult fixture for Ireland, however, the team performed admirably.
John Carroll opened the scoring
early when the got a first an goal on their first play from scrimmage. 21 stone
full back Aaron Taylor punched in the first touchdown from 1 yard out and a Bill
Goodrich extra point made the score 7-0. A turnover gave John Carroll the ball
in the Ireland half after the kick-off and the Blue Streaks capitalized with Rob
Pratus scoring on a 3 yard pass from Stephen Spence. Ireland failed to move the
ball on their next possession and John Carroll drove into scoring rang and Matt
Kehoe scored on a 10 yard run. John Carroll got a lucky break on Ireland's next
possession when a tipped pass from Kevin Downs was intercepted by Jim Fink and
returned for a touchdown. Ireland finished the first quarter on a high when Dave
Wheeler took a hand off on his own 2 yard line and broke free on a 70 yard run
to give Ireland the ball in scoring range. However, Ireland failed to covert a
4th down on the John Carroll 10 yard line early in the second quarter. Ireland's
good spell continued during the second quarter when Mark Helferty intercepted
John Carroll's Paul Troy at mid field to give Ireland back the ball. Again
Ireland picked up some yardage, but failed to convert on 4th down in the John
Carroll half. John Carroll finished the half well, when after picking up a
couple of first downs on the ground through running back Nick Cerni, Matt
Matteucci scored on a 16 yard touchdown pass from Paul Troy to go in 32-0 ahead
at the half.
John Carroll came out strong in
the third quarter, scoring on their first possession with a 9 yard pass from
Spence to Pete Bernini. Ireland then began to move the ball through the air from
deep inside their own half with 2 passes from Rob Olwill to Robert
Popciobobartepelus and another to Patrick Ryan. After reaching the John Carroll
37 yard opted to punt on fourth down. John Carroll ran the ball out to the 20
yard line before Ireland's Liam Ryan intercepted the Blue Streaks quarterback,
Stephen Spence to give Ireland the ball on the John Carroll 38 yard line.
Ireland moved the ball through Dave Wheeler and another catch from Patrick Ryan
before again failing to convert a 4th down in scoring range. However, Ireland
got on the scoreboard 2 plays later when a combination of Ken Hudson and Liam
Ryan, assisted by Steve Harrison tackled John Carroll's Matt Matteucci in his
own endzone to score a 2 point safety. John Carroll got the ball back on
Ireland's next ensuing possession when Greg Deja intercepted Olwill on the 35
yard line. John Carroll scored shortly afterwards with a 5 yard bootleg by
Stephen Spence.
Ireland came back into the game
in the fourth quarter, moving the ball through fullback Adam Culvertey and
passes from Olwill to Marcus Naylor and Dave Wheeler. However the John Carroll
defense held strong and their offense scored the final touchdown of the game - a
1 yard run by running back Jeff Johnston to make the final score 52-2 in favour
of John Carroll. John Carroll Head Coach Regis Scafe was then presented the
Celtic Classic Trophy. After the game, Global Football representative Jim Lyall,
happy with the organization and attendance at the fixture, asked the IAFL if he
could bring another college team over in 2005 for a second Celtic Classic.
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