Sydney Uni American Football Club

The conditions could not have been any more different from the first time the Sydney University Lions played the Northwestern Predators this season, but the result was almost exactly the same. The last time these two sides met was on a dark and stormy Pennant Hills night. Lighting flashed over the hockey field as rain poured down on the players without remorse. This time the setting was much more pleasant. A beautiful sunny afternoon at Woy Woy Oval, where a cloudless sky hovered over lush grass and a cool sea breeze swept over the field. The score in the rain: Lions 50 – Preds 0. On a glorious late spring day: 48 – 0.

Converging on a special teams tackle

On that rainy night, the final score did not fully represent how tense a match it had been. With only an 8 point lead at the half, it wasn’t until a big third quarter that the Lions had some breathing space. The rematch looked to have a similar tension to it when both offenses were forced to punt after three unsuccessful plays.

It would be the Lions defense that made the first big impact. Two plays into the Predators next drive their quarterback rolled right and tried to hit a reciever running an out route. The pass was snapped out of the air by linebacker Nick Olive who returned the pick inside the Predators 10. The Lions offense was quick to capitalise . Quarterback Kiernan Dorney threw to Danny Kelen in the flats, and with the help of two great blocks from Marc Biedenkapp and Harry Granger – and an extremely generous defender whose tackle propelled Kelen towards the goal line – the Lions were in for six.

Kelen pulling in another catch

The Dorney – Kelen combo looked dangerous again on the Lions next possession. The QB hitting the receiver in space, and Kelen shedding one would be tackler and eventually run down after a 25 yard gain. However, Dorney was flushed from the pocket on the next play and his pass to the endzone ended up in Predators hands. Amazingly – after 154 passing attenpts – this was the Australian quarterback’s first interception of the season.

The Lions would not be denied for long. Taking posession of the ball they soon drove behind the running of Alex Watson and the sturdy blocking of Carbury, Thode, Gifford, Lawrence and Allen. From 3 yards out Dorney handed the ball to Watson who powered over to double the Lions lead.

Alex Watson trotting like a pony into the end zone

Sydney University defense had not wavered in this period – and they would not all game. The Preds were well aware that a tough running game alone would not be enough to pierce the Lions defence, and they were prepared to take their shots down field. The Uni defensive backs were equal to the task. Kevin Trinh knocked away a potential home run ball on the Predators second possession. On the drive following the Lions turnover the Preds looked sure to have a first down completion when Suren Wickramasinghe showed some mad hops and slapped away the ball.

Kevin Trinh patrolling the airways

The Predators ground game would occassionally gash the Uni front six for good gains, but they were unable to string together positive plays and effectively drive the ball. Joseph Lim – as is frequently the case – was at the centre of the defensive effort. Flanked by Nicolai “The Terminator” Hansen and Nick “The Guvner” Olive, 7 yard gains were occassionally allowed, but they were never repeated.

Nicolai in Beast Mode

The Predators biggest offensive threat was the running and passing of their quarterback, who was unlucky to have a number of passes that hit the hands of his receivers only to end up in the dirt. He also looked dangerous when rolling out. However, he was kept in check by linemen Mitch Haney and Jamie Alferez who, after a couple of outside runs by the QB, fiercely maintained their containment responsibilities. An Alferez sack was a fitting end to the first half, in which the Lions defenders had adjusted their focus and then exerted their power.

Nowhere to run against this group of fiends

Such contain was needed as the pressure from the interior linemen was intense. Chady Aoun’s motor never gave out on a hot day, and Michael Rigney was a dominantly disruptive force in the trenches. Rigney was barely contained by frequent double teams, and caused havoc when left one on one. He ended up with one sack, but his impact could not be conveyed by stats alone, with constant pursuit of the ball and physical play.

There was almost nowhere to go with the ball for the Preds offense. Even when their QB bought time with his legs, excellent coverage in the flats by Leigh Louey Gung and Mathieu Bertrand did not allow an easy completion. The result was a shut out by the defence (their sixth of the year) with the only time the Predators had possession in the Lions half being when a Preds punt was accidently touched by a Lion and recovered by the Predators coverage unit.

It was a thoroughly dominant display by the Lions defenders, one which defensive coordinator Ryan Wonser can be proud.

Given the weight of possession, the Lions offense quickly shook off their uneven start to the game and asserted their own dominance. Liam Erby, who had played linebacker when last the Lions and Preds met, took full advantage of the ball in his hands. The versatile running back carried the ball inside and outside, caught screens and ran draws and generally smashed and danced his way to over 100 yards of offense and 2 touchdowns. Erby’s scores occured on either side of the half, and were themselves sandwiched by two touchdowns by Liam Erby. All five rushing touchdowns on the day came from short yardage situations, and all but Watson’s came at the end of long drives. The normally quickfire Lions offense was showing the ability to ground it out, and with three healthy and talented runningbacks, this can’t be welcome news for potential playoff opponents.

The Predators were gashed by Demolition Erby

That is not to say that Sydney University stayed away from the pass. Dorney found 9 different receivers on the day and it seemed like each wanted the opportunity to show off their skills. Mike Sander and Harry Granger both made tough catches to maintain drives, and Tristan Cauhepe – playing for the first time this season after suffering an injury representing Australia at the World Cup – made a signature acrobatic grab of his own. Sam Darcy was the standout in the talented receiving corps, not only making great catches, but also swerving past defenders once the ball was in his hands.

Sam Darcy again proving why he is considered one of the premiere receivers in the league

The prettiest play of the day was a rainbow thrown by Dorney to Darcy after a perfectly executed playaction fake in the second quarter. It also encapsulated the offenses performance as a whole. The dominance of the run game drawing in the defenders, the offensive line allowing time in the pocket, the perfect pass by Dorney and the sure hands of the receiver all combining for a touchdown.

It was a scarily efficient performance by a Lions side that is looking towards a rematch with the Seahawks and the chance close out a perfect regular season. On a day when offensive lineman Dave Allen played his 200th game for the club (read more about that here), his teammates could not have marked the occassion with a more thorough performance.