Knights Win Season Opener

Scoring

Q2
7-0 Knights: John McDermott, 4 yard reception from Adam Devenney. PAT Good (Paul McKillop)
Q4
14-0 Knights: Paul McKillop, 52 yard reception from Adam Devenney. PAT Good (Paul McKillop)
14-8 Trojans: Chris McKeown, 56 yard reception from James McKelvey. 2XP Good (Erin Wagner)

Video Highlights

Game Photos

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Game Report

Game Report by the Carrickfergus Knights:

Sunday saw a showdown between the IAFL North Division rivals Carrickfergus Knights and Belfast Trojans to open both teams’ 2010 seasons.

The game got under way with the visiting Trojans kicking off, giving the ball and early control to the Knights, yet Defense was to dominate the entire first period and much of the game.

Both teams traded punts on their opening drives and an unsettled Knights offence were forced to kick the ball away three more times, despite fumble recoveries on both Special Teams and Defence by #48 George Brand and #68 Conor Beckett.

Strong pressure by the Trojan Linebackers forced a fumble on the Knights’ succeeding drive and gave them the ball in good field position. However, the Carrick D maintained their dogged aggression and DE Mark Hunter popped the ball free for CB Killian Poland to recover and run it back 14 yards. A penalty on the visitors was tacked on to the end of the fumble return and took the ball down to their own 10 yard line. Two plays later #14 Adam Devenney found wide out JB McDermott on the left side of the end zone to open the scoring. #86 Paul McKillop converted the PAT to make it 7-0

The Trojans returned the following kick off out to the 30 yard line where their offence took over and recorded the game’s first 1st down, although Defence kept a firm hold and both sides traded punts once more.

With a matter of seconds left in the half, the Belfast team failed on a 4th and 6 yard attempt with Carrick DE Arron McNaughton getting a sack for a seven yard loss. The Knights lined up for a long field goal but the ball brushed past the outside of the left upright to leave it 7-0 at half time.

The traveling Trojans took the ball to start the second half and, after both teams opening possession ended again in punts, the visitors put together a 60 yard drive, most of it on one breakaway run by RB #39 Erin Wagner. But the Trojans failed once more on 4th down with Knights CB Ciaran Watson batting down the crucial pass in the end zone.

Carrick took over on their own 11, running and passing out to the 29 and on the fifth play of the series QB Devenney hooked up with WR Paul McKillop who broke a tackle and burned up field for a 52 yard score. McKillop’s second catch of the drive put the home team ahead 13-0 and he had enough juice left in the tank to kick the extra point.

After the ensuing kick return to the 36 yard line, the Trojans broke their own big pass play of 56 yards when a tipped pass by #35 Chris Annette fell into the waiting hands of a Trojan receiver. RB Erin Wagner then bundled in for a 2 point conversion to increase the excitement in the 4th quarter with the score at 14-8.

Knights’ rookie HB John Wright took a lot of punishment all day from the Trojans LB corps but kept improving with each drive. It showed on the following series with three of his runs, back to back, going for a total of 28 yards but the offence stalled after a ten yard holding penalty resulted in a punting situation.

The call on the kick was a touchback, so Belfast started on their own 20. With both teams sharing penalties and emotions running high, the Trojans churned down the field converting a 4th down and going all the way to the Knights’ 12 yard line in a marathon 15 plays that ate up the clock. Yet another 4th down loomed for the Trojans, with very little time left on the clock, as the Carrick D stiffened and the visitors sent their hopes up in a pass to the back corner of the end zone where CB Killian Poland stepped in front of the ball and batted it to safety.

QB Adam Devenney knelt out the clock on the 12 yard line giving the Knights a tough, tough victory in an arduous divisional bruiser.

Knights’ game MVPs were awarded to rookie HB John Wright on Offence for an unremitting debut performance and CB Killian Poland who governs the corner ruthlessly on D.

Photos By Ariane Boudias (on Flickr)

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