The season opened with the Claymores traveling to Berlin. Bizarrely this was the 1st time we had ever opened in Germany. Our previous road openers were in England (1996), Holland (1997) and Spain (1998). Although we had won 5 straight openers, they were all at home - so how would we fare away from Scotland?

The road can be a treacherous place. Especially when filled with marathon runners! An early difficulty on gameday was getting to our U-Bahn stop to take us to the stadium. Roy surveys the situation and wonders if he has suitable headgear for the task.

Preston decides a change of headgear and a cup of coffee is necessary before a real live game of frogger with a set of marathon runners.

And yes Graber the Chicken did eventually cross the road with him and they were on their way to the game.

Olympic Stadium is about 80% done. The structure is now all in place (unlike last year) with only the roof and seats on one side needing completion.

So hopefully in 2005 we'll be able to get behind our team bench, because as like last year we were stuck on the other side.

Lesley's 7th and newest helmet pin reminds us of the change in the league for 2004, with the Cologne Centurions taking the place of the Barcelona Dragons.

But the Dragons will not soon be forgotten, and you will see signs of them all season.

Week 12 has also been unofficially tagged on the schedule to allow fans to make their annual trip out to Sitges.

Of course the Dragons loss has been the Claymores gain as we are officially JACKED UP for 2004 with the addition of new coach Jack Bicknell.

But there are always other people in strange hats to keep Preston company ...

1st Q

Let the 2004 Claymores season begin!

Hayden Epstein kicks off and Nick Davis returns the kickoff 15 yards, and QB Nate Hybl goes to work ...

His 1st pass was a success, finding TE Aaron Golliday in the flat for a 5 yard gain before several Thunder defenders haul him down.

After another short completion, the drive fizzled when Ahmaad Galloway was stuffed on 3rd and 1 and the Claymores were forced to punt. Galloway never got going in this game, and struggled with the slick footing caused by the damp conditions.

The defense however got the ball quickly when Thunder RB Ray Jackson dropped a pitchout and CB Alphonso Roundtree dove on the loose pigskin.

Roundtree was strutting his stuff by now. Here he dances after breaking up a pass in the endzone to help stop the next Thunder drive which had penetrated the Claymores red zone. The game stayed scoreless when Thunder K Jonathan Ruffin was wide right on his 38 yard attempt.

2nd Q

Enter Curt Anes (#5) at QB, and Maurice Hicks at RB and suddenly the Claymores offense came to life.

After a Hicks converted a 3rd and 1 with a 15 yard run up the middle, Anes hit Scott McCready (#87) on a quick hitch who took the ball across midfield.

While Hicks showed some of the same spark we saw in 2003, he did put the ball on the ground after an 8 yard run on the next play (though he was close to being down).

Somehow Aaron Golliday managed to dive on the ball when it looked for all the world that the Thunder were about to receive a gift.

Then the drive starting going backwards with penalties, but Anes found TE Marcus Helfman for a 27 yard gain on 2nd and 25 to keep things moving.

The same connection would bring the Claymores their 1st points of 2004 (see below).
After an illegal contact penalty had given them 1st and goal on the Thunder 10, Anes threw the ball out to Helfman in the flat, who ran away from Thunder LB Lawrence Flugence, and with the help of a good block from WR Nick Davis ran untouched into the end zone.

CLAYMORES 7-0

Touchdown Scotland!

  

The Thunder now led by QB David Rivers (#12), responded with a long drive of their own, featuring RB Eric McCoo and TE Bryan Fletcher.

A holding penalty on Berlin did help the Claymores stop them short of the end zone, but referee Gerry Austin (#34) ruled McCoo down by contact on this play.

Ruffin kicked a 37 yard FG to get Berlin on the board.

CLAYMORES 7-3

Game turning point.

On the play after the 2 minute warning, Anes's pass is tipped and picked off by CB James Thornton.

The Thunder cash in on this turnover. First Rivers lofts a 24 yard pass down the middle to TE Bryan Fletcher. Then on the next play he rolls out and fires a 12 yard dart to WR Chris Gessner for the touchdown. Suddenly just like that the Claymores good work in the 1st half has come undone.

THUNDER 10-7 (HT)

3rd Q

Davey is back in at QB for the Thunder, and the concern the Claymores coaches had before the game about his ability to run from the pocket, is fully realised.

On 3rd and 5 (top) he bursts up the middle for 20 yards to keep the drive alive.

Back to back completions to Pinkard and Gessner move the ball inside the 20.

Then on 1st and goal from the 6 yard line it appears he has half the Claymores D tracking him down. But somehow he manages to plough his way through to the end zone.

THUNDER 17-7

About this time, the skies went real dark and the heavens opened, making the Claymores chances of a comeback even tougher.

4th Q

Things looked even bleaker at the start of the final quarter when Thunder K Ruffin managed to bounce his 43 yard FG off the crossbar up and over for 3 points.

THUNDER 20 CLAYMORES 7

With the team in dire need of a spark it was time to dial #35, and put in the little engine who could.

Whatever Ian Smart lacks in height, he's doesn't lack in heart as he single handily injected some life & urgency into the Claymores comeback hopes.

With the team now using their Ketchup offense (inspired by the glowing Heinz bottles no doubt), Ian got to show off his receiving skills taking Hybl dumpoffs 21, 9 and 7 yards to put the Claymores back in the Berlin red zone.

The same connection would give the Claymores their 2nd TD of the day. After a personal foul had given them 1st and goal, Hybl tried to hit Nick Davis on a crossing pattern. It seemed to take Davis by surprise and appeared to bounce off his helmet. The ball looped up it appeared at first Thunder S Keith Davis (#27) might be in position to grab it. However it went over him. Alertly and almost out of nowhere, McCready made a spectacular diving catch at the back of the end zone for the touchdown.

THUNDER 20-14

Touchdown Scotland!

  

And suddenly there was hope for the traveling Claymores support who came from Scotland, England & Germany as always...

And when the Claymores D stiffened on the Thunder's next possession (helped by a big tackle for a loss by Alan Harper & Ryan Myers on RB Ray Jackson), we had the ball back with 3:01 to play and a chance to steal a last gasp victory.

We actually got the ball back with 25 seconds left, but after a sack, Hybl's Hail Mary slipped out of his hand and fell harmlessly incomplete short of midfield.

FINAL: THUNDER 20 CLAYMORES 14

Postgame "cheddars" to...

Scott McCready (#87). 11 grabs (a new 'national' record) for 67 yards and 1TD. Scott is the King of Week 1. In 3 career openers he has 17 catches and 4 TD's. In his 18 other games, he has only 39 catches and 2 Td's Let's hope he can keep it going in 2004.

Ryan Myers (#59). 9 tackles and 4 assists to lead the defense.

Ian Smart (#35). 2 rushes for 10 yards & 5 catches for 69 yards (all in the 4th Q). Showed great hands, moves & determination in a losing effort.

Alphonso Roundtree (#23). 4 tackles, 1 assist, 2 pass defenses and 1 fumble recovered. Helped the Claymores secondary shut down the Berlin receivers most of the day.

Marcus Helfman (#82). 3 catches for 42 yards and 1 TD. Produced the only downfield passing play of the game.

Jim Tomsula (Thunder Defensive Coordinator). As always a class act, Jim came over to our section after the game waved and blew kisses, and then spoke with us all afterwards. It was an emotional game for him and his family ... wait till they come to Scotland!

What we learnt after Week 1 ...

Too soon to be pointing any fingers after a loss like this. It was a sloppy game, played in sloppy conditions and neither team got any kind of rhythm going throughout.

Passing game needs work. Hybl's 100+ rating was deceiving as most yards came after the catch. He seemed reluctant to look downfield, but then again his receivers weren't open much. Anes did provide an initial spark, and in his brief play showed better presence in the pocket than Hybl. It would be good to see him play a 4th quarter as well as the 2nd.

Let's be smart. Ian had a great 4th quarter and obviously needs to see the ball earlier - but let's not write off Galloway or Hicks just yet.

Somebody cover the tight ends! It was a weakness in camp against Dan Daniel's D and the same thing happened here with Pinkard and Fletcher.

No bark. Pass rushers Gavin Walls & Ivory McCoy didn't get enough pressure on the Berlin QB's.

Team showed heart. It didn't quit when the going got bad, and could have stolen a win at the end. Will need more of that next week at Rhein. We're in good coaching hands so anything is possible.

Odds & Ends

An appeal has already been sent to the league to cancel the game null & void as signs outside the stadium clearly indicates the game should never have taken place ...

FTP get some words of consolation from Jim Tomsula.

Read their opening weekend report at their website as always.