Scoring
Q2
0-8 Trojans: #32 Dave Colvin, 66 yard punt return. 2XP, #15 Erik Shoquist, run. (8:26)
0-16 Trojans: #32 Dave Colvin, 40 yard run, following lateral from #81 Chris McKeown. 2XP, #15 Erick Shoquist, run. (2:33)
Q3
0-24 Trojans: #54 Mark McGrath, 54 kick return. 2XP, Austin Blackburn, run. (11:37)
0-30 Trojans: 83 Dave Steele, 10 yard reception from James McKelvey. 2XP no good. (2:31)
Q4
0-38 Trojans: #15 Erik Shoquist, 25 yard run. 2XP, #15 Erik Shoquist run. (1:21)
Game Report
Game Report by the Belfast Trojans
The second half of the doubleheader at Malone RFC saw the Belfast Trojans play in their first home game of the season against the Dublin Dragons. Both teams came into the game searching for their first victory of the season and the high stakes were reflected in a nervous and scoreless first quarter. The Trojans had the better of the opening exchanges with their defence shutting down the Dragons on several drives giving their offense good field position on consecutive drives. The Trojans offense was able to move the ball however both drives stalled inside the redzone.
The second quarter began with a Dragons drive that stalled after 3 consecutive sacks. Their punt on 4th down was fielded inside the Trojan half by debutant Dave Colvin. Colvin took the return down the right sideline, behind a number of blocks and into the endzone for a 66 yard TD return. This was the first Trojans special teams TD since their first play, in their very first game, 3 years ago. The Trojans tacked on 2 points via a run by Erik Shoquist.
The Dragons response on their next drive was to march downfield, however the drive stalled in the redzone and ended after a missed 30 yard field goal. The Trojans took over and moved the ball with inside runs from Shoquist and Colvin. On a first down play from midfield QB James McKelvey hit WR Chris McKeown in stride on a slant route. McKeown was quickly bottled up by several Dragons however before being brought to ground he lateralled the ball to Colvin who followed his blockers untouched into the endzone for a spectacular score. A Shoquist run gave the Trojans a 16-0 half-time lead.
The second half began with a second Trojans special teams score. A short kick was fielded by offensive lineman Mark McGrath and he rumbled down the right sideline and into the endzone for a 60 yard return. An Austen Blackburn run put the Trojans up 24-0. The Dragons continued to find it difficult to move the ball against a staunch Trojans defence and two sacks by LB Stuart Leckey ended another Dragons drive and gave the ball to the Trojans with decent field position. The Trojans moved the ball into the redzone with a mixture of inside runs and short passes. The drive was capped by a 10 yard TD pass from McKelvey to TE Dave Steele.
The 4th quarter was uneventful until Trojans LB Chris Weir intercepted a pass at midfield with under two minutes remaining. He looked like taking the return to the endzone however he was thwarted by a great recovery tackle by a Dragons player. With another short field to work with the Trojans offense wasted no time with Shoquist scoring a TD on a 25 yard run. Shoquist then added 2 points with another bruising run.
A final Dragons drive ended in a fumble which was recovered by the Trojans. The Trojans secured their first win with a kneel-down. The win gives the Trojans a much needed confidence boost ahead of their crunch divisional match-up against the Carrickfergus Knights next Sunday. The Dragons, who played tough iron-man football all game, left Belfast still searching for an elusive first victory in their return season to 11-a-side football.