FIRE 7
@
CLAYMORES 17
Sunday 19th May 2002 Hampden Stadium
Game six of the 2002 season had turned into a must win one for the Claymores as they returned to Hampden to face the powerful Fire side in the Glasgow rain.
The first quarter was a game of cat and mouse as the Claymores defense was all over the Rhein running game while the Claymores offence struggled to get anything going. Dreisbach was 0 for 4 passing in the first quarter but Goodman was running the ball well.
Fire opened the scoring when they capped off an impressive drive as Miller picked out Ojo from 33 yards and he beat Tarver to the ball to put Rhein in front.
JJ Moses took the ensuing kick off and returned it deep into Fire territory and a personal foul put the ball on the 12yard line. Dreisbach scrambled under heavy pressure but found Jason Byworth who had got open in the endzone and he scored his first ever professional Touchdown, Rob Hart kicked the PAT for his 200th career point and the game was tied again.
Fire tookk over and were starting to move the ball on their next possession but when a hard hit caused Robinson to fumble, Willie Gary scooper the ball up and returned it to the Fire 16 yard line. After an incompletion, Dreisbach stood in the pocket and hooked up with Dondre Gilliam to put the Claymores in front with Hart again adding the extra point.
The second half started with some tremendous defence by the Claymores and after a good drive led by Dreisbach, Rob Hart kicked a 24 yard field goal to give the Claymores a bit of breathing space. Fire tried to come back but some aggressive defence by the Claymores kept their feared running game at bay.
Tynes missed a 42 yard field goal in the 4th quarter and Shields made his 3rd pick of the season late on.
There was still some drama to come when a terrible snap form a punt flew over Langleys head to give Rhein good field position late on but Willie Gary capped another impressive performance by intercepting Miller on 4th down.
After a slow start, this was a fine performance on both sides of the ball and Special teams again , Goodman was superb on the ground and Gary had a fine game in Defense, but special praise from me goes to this clubs supported player Jason Byworth for his TD catch.
