Friday

OK so the BBQ in the Meadows was rained out - but this is no problem! The Cheddars BBQ, brought all the way up from London, is set alight at 2300 hours outside the Cambridge as Chef Preston attends to the Fire! (Amazingly nobody was ill the following day from eating uncooked un-fresh food).

We had ribs. We had kebabs. We had wings. And the Pl@net ate them all!!!!!!

Saturday

Ralph and Thomas on the bus to Hampden showing no ill effects from the food the night before!

Amazingly the bus didn't get lost on the road to Hampden again, and once again we were victorious for it!

Game Report ...

Shout it from the tallest rooftop - "The Claymores are back in the World Bowl Baby!" Saturday’s thrilling 31-24 win practically assured that, but when the Galaxy knocked off the Dragons 14-8 on Sunday night, there were no need to worry about any Catalan chokes this year. We’re back in the Bowl after a 4-year absence, and will face a very tough Fire team in Frankfurt in 2 weeks. If it’s anything like Saturday’s game then it will be a close hard-hitting contest that goes down to the wire.

Danny Wuerffel was sacked 7 times by a relentless Scottish D

But back to last Saturday! After an early exchange of punts, the Claymores got things rolling behind the hot hand of Kevin Daft (who went 8 for 8 in the 1^st half) as he hit key passes of 20 yards to Don Sellers and 16 yards to Ricky Brady, before finding Sellers again in the end zone from 4 yards out to give the Claymores a 7-0 lead. A big 40 yard PI call on Cordell Taylor, got the Fire deep into Claymores territory on their next drive, and Danny Wuerffel cashed in by hitting, you guessed it, Kevin Drake in the end zone from 13 yards out to tie the game (well thanks to the help of the crossbar and the upright on Manny Burgsmuller's XP).

Ben Snell scores his 1^st TD as a Claymore to make it 14-7

Then the Hounds started making it Hell for the Fire QB’s. First Fire QB Matt Lytle, seeing some 2^nd quarter action, was dinged by Jon Hesse and Noel Scarlett on a scramble (he’ll know to slide next time) and had to leave the game. Wuerffel came in and was immediately sacked by Tom Tovo, forcing a punt from their end zone, which Damon Gibson returned to the Fire 37-yard line. Marcus Crandell, in for his 2^nd quarter work, hit Sellers for 17 yards and then Aaron Stecker burst 13 yards to the 2 yard line. On the next play Ben Snell crashed in for his first Claymores TD and the home team was up by 7 again.

Ricky Brady hauls in a 7 yard score from Kevin Daft

On the Fire’s next drive it was Wuerffel’s turn to get knocked around, as first he was sacked by Antonio Dingle, and then had to leave the game after completing his next pass. Matt Lytle staggered back in, but he was sacked by Jabbar Threats 2 plays later, and when Wuerffel came back on he too got sacked again, this time by Michael Mason, and the Fire had to punt.

Matt Lytle did his best Steve Young impression on Saturday, getting dinged up. He'll know to slide next time.

Any chance the Claymores had of extending their lead evaporated on their next drive when standout LB Jamie Baisley picked off Crandell in Fire territory. The 2 teams then exchanged punts inside the 2 minute warning and the Claymores went in at halftime with a 14-7 lead.

Kevin Drake thrived on the fan torments and had another great game

The Fire wasted no time in replying in the 3^rd quarter, with Wuerffel hitting Alonzo Johnson for gains of 27 and 23 yards before scrambling in himself from 10 yards. This time however the Fire's streak of 'jammy' extra points ended, when P Rodney Williams was unable to complete a pass when he was again forced to run after a bad sanp (he scored in 5 week off a similar situation).

Tom Tovo takes down Wuerffel

The Claymores D stepped up, after the offense punted on their next possession. Chris Ward sacked Wuerffel forcing a fumble that Jon Hesse recovered at the Claymores 46 yard line. However the Fire D stiffened once again, and this time it was the Claymores Special Teams that came to the fore when Jabbar Threats blocked Rodney Williams punt giving the Claymores possession at the Fire 13 yard line. Three plays later Kevin Daft hit Ricky Brady for a 7 yard score over the middle to make it 21-13.

Kevin Daft becomes the second #13 to take the Claymores to the World Bowl

The wheels look to be coming off the Fire, when Damon Gibson blasted Ontiwaun Carter on the ensuing kick return forcing a fumble that he recovered. But Daft was intercepted by Nick Ferguson in the end zone ending that threat. However the Claymores got the ball back seconds latrer when Fire WR Kendrick Nord was adjudged to have fumbled after a hit from Marcus Ray, and Jabbar Threats dived on the ball at the Fire 8 yard line. This time the Claymores managed to get some points, when Rob Hart connected on a 23 yard FG at the start of the 4^th quarter.

Coach Criner thanks the fans after the game

When the Claymores D holding firm again, they were in great position to run down the clock, but QB Marcus Crandell was unable to get off a play on 3^rd and 1, and he then couldn't convert the 3^rd and 6 when his pass fell incomplete. It seemed to be a turning point, as Stephen Fisher returned the punt 41 yards to the 17 yard line, and Kevin Drake hauled in a TD pass on the very next play (his 4^th against the Claymores this year). Kendrick Nord caught the 2-pointer and the Fire were only behind by 3.

Sulecio Sanford made the play of the game with his team record 80 yard punt return

Kevin Daft came back in on the Claymores next series, but could do nothing and another punt ensued - however the Claymores D held too and the Fire were forced to punt with 6 minutes left. However Damon Gibson fumbled when hit by Kevin Drake, and Jamie Baisley was there to dive on the loose ball at the Scotland 33 yard line. However the Hounds held firm, when Duane Hawthorne broke up a pass in the end zone and Peter Elezovic slotted a 39 yard FG to tie the game.

Rasheed Simmons celebrates after the game

Daft then led a promising drive, hitting Brady and Stecker for back to back 1^st downs, but the drive stalled at the Fire 25 yard line. Rob Hart was called on to try a season long 43 yard FG - but it was wide left with 1:38 left. Then it was time to release the leader of the hounds, Noel Scarlett whose key sack on Wuerffel ensured the Fire would have to punt. Sulecio Sanford fielded Rodney Williams punt at the 17 yard line, broke a couple of tackles and sprinted 80 yards down the left sideline, only to be denied a TD by a great tackle by S Chris Akins. But Fire could not stop Stecker, who bolted in on 2^nd down for his 11^th TD of the year to put the Claymores up 31-24 with 23 seconds left. The game was sealed when Marcus Ray picked off Wuerffel's Hail Mary pass as time ran out and the Claymores were heading back to the World Bowl!!!!!!

Marcus Ray sealed the win with an interception as time ran out

We're #1!!!

Stecker scoots in on 2^nd down with 23 seconds left, but no TD signal yet from the officials

Now there is, and the party can start!

Stecker gives the ball to Ricky Brady who gives it the big victory spike!

 WR Sulecio Sanford - What a special day. 2 punt returns for 96 yards (including the game breaking 80 yarder) and 4 kick returns for 121 yards. Named ST player of the week for 2^nd straight week.

 DE Jabbar Threats - Awesome day. 2 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and 1 blocked punt.

 S Marcus Ray - Forced a fumble, and made the game winning INT to go along with his 5 tackles.

 RB Ben Snell - While the Fire keyed on Steck, Snell ran hard again gaining 20 yards on just 4 carries including his first ever TD.

 TE Ricky Brady - Career high 8 catches for 64 yards and 1 TD. Made some clutch 3^rd down plays.

 CB Duane Hawthorne - 2 tackles, 2 pass defenses including key break up in end zone that held Fire to FG with Claymores leading 24-21.

 DT Noel Scarlett - 4 tackles, plus key sack on Wuerffel inside 2 minute warning.

 DE Tom Tovo - 4 tackles, 1 sack.

 DE Michael Mason - 3 tackles, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.

 LB Jon Hesse - 6 tackles to lead team and 1 fumble recovery.

 LB Matt Finkes - 5 tackles and helped hold Fire to 68 yards rushing.

 RB Aaron Stecker - Only 52 yards rushing as nobody wanted to block Jamie Baisley again - but game clinching TD was sheer determination!

The clown with the blue face is back again! Oh and Siran Stacy too - going back for his 2^nd World Bowl!

Party Bus going back! Well the looks of concern were not about events in Berlin, where the Thunder were on their way to an easy 28-15 win guaranteeing the Fire a World Bowl berth. Instead the looks of concern were that we were somehow on the M9!!!!! Yes we managed to somehow get lost on the road to Edinburgh - unbelievable!

The Thunder victory meant one of the wildest and best nights in the Cambridge ever! It was effectively the World Bowl pre-game party 2 weeks early!

Happy Birthday Dom Cheddar!

Any mad party is never complete without TWO renditions of "Follow the Leader"!

Unfortunately the noise level of the party was a concern to the authorities as the FBI (Fire Brothers Incognito) and CIA (Cheddars in Action) were called to the scene to sort things out! Thanks for the T-shirts guys!

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