Sydney Uni American Football Club

On a hot Revesby afternoon, the Sydney University Lions caught fire in 
the third quarter to put what was a competitive game at half time out of
 reach of the Sutherland Seahawks.

RB Alex Watson is a load to bring down

In a commanding third period performance, Lions quarterback Kiernan
 Dorney ran for two touchdowns and threw for another (giving him three of 
each for the day), essentially ending the contest with a quarter
 remaining to play.

A fired up Dorney after running into the endzone

After kicking off, Sydney Uni’s defense made a typically stingy
 defensive stop forcing an early Seahawks punt. Dorney then got the 
offense off to a good start; capping the opening possession with a
 scoring run.

The Lions defense was then equally impressive when saftey Ben Barnes 
intercepted the Seahawks quarterback on Sutherland’s second possession.
 However, Sydney Uni’s offense was unable able to capitalise on the 
excellent field position as they turned the ball over on downs inside 
the Sutherland redzone and gave the ‘Hawks a chance to drive. It was not
 wasted. Sutherland’s halfback rattled off a couple of solid gains, and a
 particularly ill disciplined play saw the Lions give up thirty yards in
 penalties. Within range of the endzone, the Seahawks went deep and their
 wide receiver successfully came back for a (tactically?) underthrown fly
route and brought the score to 7-6. It remained that way after an
 unsuccessful PAT.

The ever dangerous Barnes with ball in hand

The Lions offense then responded. Driving the ball from their own 
territory, they found themselves at the Seahawks twelve yard line.
 Starting running back, Liam Erby, (who’d spent his last match playing
 defensive end) showed his versatility by splitting out to slot receiver 
and catching a lofted Dorney pass in the endzone.

Erby had a strong game on the ground

Sydney University’s defense would also rebound on the next drive,
 halting the Seahawks progress with linebacker Nicolai Hansen making a 
key 4th down tackle. In what can only be described as sweltering 
conditions, the Lions defenders dug in time and time again to stop the 
Sutherland attack. It would not be until late in the fourth quarter -
with a very short field to defend – that they would concede points 
again.

Lim (56) and Hansen (8) were disruptive.

The second quarter saw very few points scored. Both the Uni and 
Sutherland offenses turned the ball over on downs – the latter after a
long, time-consuming drive that left less than 2 minutes on the clock.
 It was more than enough time for Dorney to find receiver Sam Darcy on a
 screen pass which the young pass-catcher took 37 yards to the Seahawks
’ ten. Dorney then found Marc Biedenkapp on a curl in the endzone to give 
the Lions a 20-6 lead at the half.

Stacking the box won't save you from the Lions' ground assault

In last season’s corresponding fixture, it was the third quarter that 
made all the difference in what had been a tight encounter. On that 
night Sutherland had the ball and a chance to tie the game early in the
 second half, when Joe Lim sacked the quarterback, forced a fumble and
 recovered the ball in one fell swoop. It sparked a flurry of Lions’ 
touchdowns and the game was over by the fourth. Lim was again at the
 centre of a dominating Lions defensive effort that stuffed, stifled,
 swatted and swooped on anything the Seahawks had to offer.

Panda Lim with Louey-Gung showing veteran savvy

The Sydney University attack was just as imposing. Taking the kickoff
 and driving from their own 16, it took ten plays to reach the endzone 
with Dorney breaking the plane for his second score. The Lions’ QB would
 score his third on Uni’s next possession, running behind an offensive
 line that was in the midst of a superb effort against a stacked
 defensive box. The highlight of the drive was a sublime catch by 
Biedenkapp, whose one-handed sideline grab would have been all over
 Sportscenter……if ESPN cared about the NSWGFL.

Beautiful to watch, punishing to play: The Lions' offensive line

After the Lions defenders dived on a loose ball on the ensuing drive, 
the deluge of points continued. A day of solid running was the perfect
 set up for a play action pass from Dorney to Harry Granger, whose 
brilliant leaping catch emphasized the talent level of the Lions crew of
 young playmakers.

Granger with a freakish catch

At 42-6, the starters were pulled from the game, but the results
 remained the same. Another throttled Seahawks drive gave the ball back 
to Sydney Uni where a tip-toe catch by Mike Sander and excellent running
 by Liam Erby saw the young running back find the endzone before the
 end of the quarter.

Hugh and Mike celebrating in the endzone

The Lions defense was unfortunate to concede a late touchdown after
back-up QB Daniel Kelen was stripped of the ball inside the Institute’s ten. However, 
not long after, the Lions were driving again. An Anthony Sinton catch 
took the ball inside the 5 where Kelen repeated his redzone fumbling
 trick. This time it happily rolled into the endzone where it was dived 
on by offensive lineman Ben Cloyd. It was an early birthday present for
 Cloyd and his first touchdown……ever.

Jungstedt with a textbook stop. Pure viking power

Sydney Uni’s defense had to have the last word though. With the Seahawks
 looking for a consolation touchdown, Lion’s cornerback Andy Eisold – who
 had played a sensational game – plucked an endzone-bound pass out of the air to seal the victory.

The Silent Assassin Eisold strikes again

The win moved Sydney University to a perfect 6-0 record, and set the
stage for their Week 8 showdown with cross-town rivals UTS.

Fat kids getting in on the celebratory fun after Granger's sublime catch