Too Hot To Handle
Posted on November 13, 2010
Mac Shine looks upfield for yards
Sydney Uni powered away from the West Sydney Pirates in the second half to win 45-14 in hot conditions at Revesby on Saturday. The win confirms the Lions as the form team of the GNSW competition and gives them a shot at an undefeated regular season with only one more round before the playoffs.
However, it was the Pirates who were first on the scoreboard, taking the opening drive of the game 85 yards for a touchdown. The Lions forced the Pirates into 4th and 4 on the 34 yard line, but the Pirates responded with a pitch play to their halfback, who broke containment and raced away down the sideline for a touchdown.
The Lions responded with a thirteen play drive of their own, Liam Erby moving the ball on the ground and Kiernan Dorney keeping the chains moving with high percentage throws. Dorney picked up the longest gainer in the drive – 22 yards – on the ground before handing off to Erby for a 3 yard touchdown to even the score at 7-7.
The Lions’ defence forced the Pirates to go three and out on their next possession and got the ball back for the offence at half-way after a short punt. The offence needed only three plays to take full advantage, Liam Erby powering his way through a number of tacklers on route to a 48 yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead.
The Pirates were able to tie up the score on their next series, driving the field and scoring on a 21 yard throw after the Pirates quarterback was given time to extend a play and find a receiver on a double cut.
The Lions wasted no time in hitting back, Dorney converting on third down with a pass to receiver Marc Biedenkapp and then, on the next play, finding Biedenkapp again for a 32 yard touchdown pass to push the score out to 21-14.
The Lions got another stop on defence and gave the ball back to the offence in great field position on the Pirates’ 24 yard line after getting good pressure on the punter.
The Lions drove down to the 10 yard line but missed with a third down pass and settled for a field goal, Liam Erby guiding the ball through for a 24-14 lead.
David Thode (66), Aaron Carbury and Alex Watson (40) clear the way for Liam Erby
The Pirates had time enough for a final drive inside the last two minutes and threatened to score before cornerback Kevin Trinh came up with a key interception. Trinh reacted well to a hook and go pattern to have inside position and take away the deep ball at the goal line. The half ended with the Lions ahead 24-14.
Sydney Uni had first use of the ball in the second half and made it count. On the third play of the drive, Dorney aired it out to Biedenkapp, who beat his man and ran under the ball for a 59 yard touchdown. The score pushed the Uni lead out to 31-14 and increased the pressure on the Pirates offence.
On 3rd and 8 on the Pirates’ next drive, a different type of pressure produced a big play. The Lions’ pass rush pressured the Pirates’ quarterback into an early throw as a screen was developing and an alert Tau Saipaia held the interception chance.
Chris Noble brings the heat
The Lions offence then chewed up the clock and overcame 45 yards of penalties on the next drive to score a decisive touchdown. The Lions put the ball in the endzone three times in the drive and were finally forced to convert on 4th and 21 from the 28 yard line in order to score. No matter, as Dorney found Kyle Kazarian for 24 yards on the key fourth down conversion before handing off to Matt Croasdaile for a 4 yard touchdown and a 38-14 lead.
The Lions defence was warming to its work in the heat and sacked the Pirates’ quarterback on second down to force the Pirates to punt without picking up a first down.
Piotr Milewski uses his head to beat the heat
The Lions again pieced together a long drive but, this time, were unable to overcome another holding penalty and turned the ball over on the Pirates’ 16 yard line after failing to convert on 4th and 5. The drive featured 4 receptions from fast improving freshman receiver Yoon Sun Yoo.
The Lions’ defence was getting stronger as the game wore on and, this time, safety Mitchell Haney finished the Pirates’ next drive with a sack and strip for a turnover. Linebacker Chris Noble had a chance to scoop the ball but it was left to Haney to recover the fumble from his position on the ground after a couple of unkind bounces.
Kiernan Dorney completed 75% of his throws in passing for 202 yards
Matt Croasdaile finished the scoring, handling the ball three times to cover the 35 yards to the endzone and raise the score to 45-14. The defence sent the Pirates three and out one last time and the Lions were on the move with Kazarian at quarterback when time ran out.
The win confirmed the Lions as the top seed for the playoffs and showcased their all-round strength against a likely playoff opponent. In the end, Sydney Uni – not the weather – was just too hot for the PIrates to handle.
Kyle Kazarian picked up key yards at quarterback and receiver, including 24 yards on a 4th and 21 to set up a key score
Marc Biedenkapp took 7 catches for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns