Claymores Sink Again in Amsterdam
THE Claymores ended their 1999 NFL Europe League season on a low note in Amsterdam suffering a hard-fought 30-22 loss to Al Luginbill's Admirals.
 Over the top: Jesse Haynes launches himself over the Amsterdam goalline |
Carolina Panthers quarterback Dameyune Craig threw 20 passes for 296 yards ending a remarkable season just 33 yards shy of Dave Archer's long-standing passing yardage record and cornerback Cliff Shamburger made three interceptions as the Claymores staged a fighting comeback in the dying minutes of the fourth quarter.
That comeback came to an end when the officials ruled St Louis Rams wide
receiver Donald Sellers was out of bounds on an end zone catch before
Craig threw his third interception of the night to Admirals safety Greg
Williams.
The loss dropped the Claymores to 4-6 - the club's fourth straight defeat - underlining a disappointing end to what looked like, at the mid-point of the season, a realistic assault on the World Bowl.
Afterwards head coach Jim Criner, said: "Amsterdam had a great game plan and between that and the crowd noise, we faced a tough test.
 Testing time: Coach Criner makes some adjustments during the match |
"I was very proud of the way our team played tonight, despite a couple of offensive miscues which put our defence on the field too much during the second and third quarters. But I was very happy at the way we fought and came back - unfortunately we just came up short at the end."
The Claymores got off to a great start when Shamburger nullified a 10-play opening drive by the Admirals intercepting Amsterdam quarterback Jim Kubiak at the Scots two-yard line.
The Claymores offense was slow to start though and the Admirals took advantage when Kubiak linked up with wide receiver James Kidd on a 26-yard touchdown pass. Silvio Diliberto hit the upright with his PAT conversion attempt and the Admirals led 6-0 with 10 minutes gone.
The Scots got another break at the end of the first quarter when Admirals running back Joe Aska fumbled the ball and safety Lee Wiggins recovered it at the Dutch 34 yard line.
 Just short: Damyeune Craig finished the season 33 yards short of Dave Archer's season yardage record |
Craig took advantage of the turnover directing his team downfield on a four-play scoring drive capped by a one-yard sweep into the endzone from Kansas City Chiefs running back Jesse Haynes. Rob Hart kicked the extra point with ten minutes to play in the half giving the Scots a 7-6 lead.
That lead was shortlived however when, on the restart kickoff wide out James Kidd resturned the ball 90 yards for the score - the first time a kickoff return has been allowed by the Claymores. Diliberto made amends for his earlier miss converting the PAT and the Admirals led 13-7.
The Claymores misery was compounded on their next offensive play when Craig, going deep for Vernon Turner, was intercepted by Admirals safety Greg Williams. The turnover was again nullified by Shamburger who stepped up to intercept Kubiak for the second time ending the half 13-7 in favour of the Admirals.
The second half didn't start well for the Claymores when a Craig pass intended for Scott Couper bounced off the Glaswegian receiver's helmet and was intercepted by safety Greg Williams at midfield.
The Admirals turned the turnover into points when Francesco Biancamano converted a 29-yard field goal 11 plays later giving Amsterdam a 16-7 lead with seven minutes gone in the second half.
 Hero Haynes: 2 touchdowns for Jesse weren't quite enough for the Claymores |
The Scots offense finally exploded into life on their next possession, Craig linking up with Sellers on 37 and 28 yard passes which allowed Chiefs loaned rusher Haynes to cut back into the endzone on a one-yard touchdown run.
Hart booted the PAT and the Claymores were back in the game - down 16-14 with five minutes to play in the third quarter.
The Claymores got great field position at the start of the fourth quarter when Sellers blocked an Admirals punt giving the Scots possession at the Dutch 14. Craig found it impossible to move the ball under heavy Admirals pressure and the Claymores had to settle for a 31 yard field goal attempt by Rob Hart.
But the Englishman's kick was blocked and returned to midfield by cornerback Clyde Johnson. Five plays later the Admirals took advantage of the error when Kubiak hit Kidd in the endzone on a six-yard touchdown strike.
Diliberto converted the extra point and Amsterdam were back in command, 23-14 in front with ten minutes left in the game.
David Thompson continued to taunt the Scots and burned the Claymores defense with a scorching 62 yard run. Kubiak then linked up with tight end Cory Geason on a six yard touchdown pass.
Diliberto kicked the extra point, and down 30-14 with six minutes to play it was looking grim for the Bravehearts.
 Big ending: Sellers caught a TD, a 2 point conversion, recovered an onside kick and almost had another TD in the dying minutes |
However, the Claymores would not submit with Craig hitting Sellers on a five yard touchdown pass with two minutes to go. Sellers also latched on to the two-point conversion pass bringing the score back to 30-22.
The Rams wide out then recovered the onside kick giving the Claymores one last chance with 2:33 to play and Craig looked to have scored on a 15 yard pass to Sellers, but the referees ruled the receiver out of bounds.
On the next play the quarterback threw the ball towards the end zone only to see it intercepted again by Williams - his third pick of the night ending the Scots hopes of a comeback.
Coach Criner said: "Amsterdam had a big play with the kick-off return for a touchdown which just took the wind out of our sails. We'd just scored when they did that and it took a while for us to get over it. Once we did though I was proud of the way our guys fought back.
"Three weeks ago we felt really good about getting to the World Bowl but we fell on hard times in the run in not playing well enough when we had to.
"It has been a tough one on the coaches and the players because we had been
having a good season until the last few weeks. We just have to sit down look
at it and do a better job next year."
20 Jun, 99 | 2:26 pm