LIONS SHOOT DOWN OUTLAWS

Quarterback Dan Kelen and his Sydney Uni posse shot down the Penrith City Outlaws 46-21 in their 5th round showdown at UWS Nepean Hockey Field on Saturday night. 

For the third game in a row, the Lions went behind early.  A well executed play-action bootleg pass got the Outlaws to the 9 yard line and halfback Stuart Etchell rammed the ball into the endzone on 4th and Goal from the 1 yard line.  However, the Lions roared straight back, Liam Erby slicing in from 1 yard out after he and backfield partner Matt Croasdaile had carried the ball 42 yards on the ground on the Lions first drive.  After an athletic one-handed interception from Leigh Louey-Gung, the Lions took the ball all the way again, receiver James Shine getting behind the coverage for a 28 yard touchdown reception.  Brad Ryals caught the corner pattern for 2 points and a 14-7 lead.  On the ensuing kick-off, freshman cornerback Nick Millar both stripped the ball and recovered the fumble and the Lions were in again on a 13 yard pass from Kelen to Matt Freeman to make it 20-7. 

The Lions defence was stout against the run, but a roughing the passer penalty unnecessarily prolonged an Outlaws drive.  Although the Outlaws needed 4 downs from close range, Etchell bulled into the endzone to bring the score back to 20-13.  The Lions response was all Brad Ryals.  Ryals took the opening kick-off return 36 yards to the Outlaws 29 yard line and then beat his defender to the ball and a 29 yard touchdown pass on the first play of the drive.  The Lions defence forced the Outlaws three and out and then Leigh Louey-Gung partially blocked the punt to hand the ball back to the offence one last time inside the last two minutes.  Kelen worked the clock, the key play being a 30 yard pass to Erby down to the 14 yard line.  With 16 seconds left in the half, Kelen found Freeman in the endzone for the TD and a 33-13 half-time lead. 

The Lions received the second half kick-off and methodically drove the field for a touchdown, Erby slicing in from 5 yards and a 39-13 lead after strong running from Croasdaile.  Chady Aoun recovered a fumble on the next Outlaws possession, but the Lions were forced to punt for the first time in the match after Kelen was sacked on third down.  The Outlaws thought they had struck back after completing a 59 yard pass down to the 9 yard line, but Ken Autterson recovered a fumble on the very next play to snuff out the drive.  After exchanging possessions, the Lions offence regained its rhythm.  Freshmen receivers Mark Samarasinghe and Raj Kumar and freshman running back Jeremy Paske all contributed big plays on the drive, but it was Matt Croasdaile who finished it off with a 7 yard run to the endzone.  Matt Freeman kicked the PAT for a 46-13 scoreline.  The officials had been running a fast clock for the second half, but there was still time for the Outlaws to find the endzone with a pass on the last play of the game to bring the final score back to 46-21 with the 2 point conversion.     

Sydney Uni Lions 46 def. Penrith City Outlaws 21

20 October 2007

UWS Hockey Field, Kingswood

1Q PC:  Etchell 1 yd TD run.  PAT                          0:7

1Q SU:  Erby 1 yd TD run. Erby PAT failed                  6:7

1Q SU:  Shine 28 yd TD pass from Kelen. Ryals 2pt pass    14:7

2Q SU:  Freeman 13 yd TD pass from Kelen. Erby PAT failed 20:7

2Q PC:  Etchell 2 yd TD run. PAT failed                   20:13

2Q SU:  Ryals 29 yd TD pass from Kelen.  Erby PAT failed  26:13

2Q SU:  Freeman 5 yd TD pass from Kelen.  Erby PAT        33:13

3Q SU:  Erby 5 yd TD run. Erby PAT failed                 39:13

4Q SU:  Croasdaile 7 yd TD run.  Freeman PAT              46:13

4Q PC:  20 yd TD pass.  2pt run                           46:21