Phillips Breaks Records and Scottish Hearts
It was pain in Spain once more for the Claymores on Sunday night, as they lost out 42 - 35 to the Barcelona Dragons. Dragons' LAWRENCE PHILLIPS ran for 188 yards, and broke several league records to lead his team to victory.
 Diving in: Dameyune Craig scores the Claymores opening TD, but it was in vain as they went down 42 - 35 to Barcelona |
The former Miami Dolphin and St Louis Ram set new records for most rushing touchdowns scored in one season (12), most rushing yards in one season (893), and tied Siran Stacy's record for most 100 yard games in one season (4).
On their opening drive the Claymores moved the ball well, to set up ROB HART with a 33 yard field goal attempt. However the London-born kicker's attempt went wide left, and the Claymores cam away scoreless.
The team's second possession, following a Barcelona punt, proved to be more successful. Taking the ball from their own 36 yard line, the Scots drove all the way down the field, scoring on quarterback DAMEYUNE CRAIG's 13 yard scramble. Hart's extra point put the Claymores 7 - 0 up early on.
Former Barcelona FC goalkeeper JESUS ANGOY put the Dragons on the board when they got the all back, with a 49 yard field goal, reducing the deficit to 4.
 Wrestling time: Donald Sellers grapples for the ball with Ricky Bell |
An interception from Craig, the first of three, stopped the Scots next drive, but the defense held firm, forcing Barcelona to punt the ball away. And this time there were no mistakes.
A 21 yard grab by YO MURPHY on third and long kept the drive alive, and seven plays later Craig found DONALD SELLERS in the end zone for a 6 yard touchdown. Hart once again booted the extra point and the Claymores lead was now 14 - 3.
And they were able to extend that lead further, after TOM TOVO recovered a Lawrence Phillips fumble, to give the visitors first and goal at Barcelona's 10 yard line.
Two plays later JESSE HAYNES ran the ball in from 4 yards out, and with Rob Hart's extra point the Claymores now had a commanding 21 - 3 lead.
But the scoring wasn't over yet. KEVIN DRAKE took a Craig pass 48 yards, skipping over a would be tackler, for another Scotland TD. Hart again was good, to give the Claymores a 25 point advantage.
 Going down: Steve Rosga sacks Todd Bouman for a 6 yard loss |
Barcelona managed to reply before halftime though, as BRIAN FINNERAN leapt above the Scottish secondary to grab a 20 yard TODD BOUMAN pass for a touchdown. Angoy hit the extra point, making the half-time score 28 - 10 to the Claymores.
The deficit was cut to 28 - 17 on the Dragons opening drive of the second half, as Lawrence Phillips set a new league record with his 10th rushing touchdown of the season. And following a Claymores punt, Jesus Angoy made it an 8 point ball game, with a 35 yard field goal.
Jesse Haynes returned the following kickoff to the Claymores' 40 yard line. And it was Haynes who capped the drive, scoring his second TD of the night on a 2 yard run. Rob Hart's fifth extra point restored the difference to 15 points in favour of the Claymores.
But still the Dragons refused to be put to the sword. Phillips scored his 11th TD of the season to make the score 35 - 26. The Dragons elected to go for a 2 point conversion, and Brian Finneran caught a Bouman pass to bring the Catalan side within 7 points for the first time since the opening period.
And then it all seemed to go wrong for the Claymores. Dameyune Craig threw an interception to TRISTAN MOSS, giving the Dragons the ball at the Claymores 22. A 39 field goal attempt from Angoy went wide right, but 3 plays later the Spaniards got another shot, as Craig fumbled the ball as he was sacked, and BARRY MITCHELL recovered.
Tight end SCOTT DRAGOS found the end zone on a 23 yard scoring catch, and Angoy's extra point levelled the score at 35 apiece.
 My ball: Shon Bell can't quite reach this pass, as Greg Malo picks off Dameyune Craig |
The Claymores looked as if they would retake the lead on their next possession, driving down the field to the Dragons' 22. But Craig overthrew SHON BELL under pressure, and was picked off in the end zone by French national GREG MALO.
Phillips then capped a record breaking performance with a 72 yard touchdown run to win the game for Barcelona. Scotland had one more shot, but time ran out on an offensive penalty, and Barcelona hung on to win 42 - 35.
The Claymores are now without a win in 5 attempts in Barcelona. But more importantly this loss leaves them in third place in the NFL Europe League standings, a game behind Frankfurt Galaxy. Barcelona move to 6 - 2 and need just one more win to secure their World Bowl berth.
06 Jun, 99 | 2:28 pm