Scottish Claymores - American Football in Scotland

Claymores ready for 50th home game and first at Hampden against the Centurions

THE CLAYMORES take to the field at Hampden Park this Saturday (June 5, kick off 2pm) to face the Cologne Centurions in the club's 50th home game and 100th regular season match-up and their last of the 2004 NFL Europe League season.

 
Bicknell: Looking to finish the season on a high
Head coach JACK BICKNELL and his team are focusing on finishing the 2004 season on a high, after a disappointing campaign that has resulted in the team languishing at the bottom of the NFL Europe League with two wins and seven losses.

The veteran head coach, in his first season in charge in Scotland after 11 seasons with the Barcelona Dragons, is keen for his team to avoid equaling the worst season record for the Claymores of 2-8, posted in 1995 and 1998.

Bicknell and his charges are also playing for pride and aiming to avoid finishing this season in last place. To do so, and to relegate Cologne to the bottom of the heap, the Claymores must defeat the Centurions and overturn a 14-points deficit following a 17-3 loss away to Cologne in Week 4.

Bicknell, said: "This may be our last game of the season and we may be out of World Bowl contention, but this is a very important game to us and one we dearly want to win. Our players have given tremendous effort this season and stayed positive. It's important that we finish the season on a positive note both for themselves and for our fans."

The Claymores face a Centurions team, coached by two-time World Bowl winner PETER VAAS, still looking for their first away win of the 2004 season - and also focusing on avoiding last position in the standings. Bicknell faces the former Berlin Thunder head coach who once coached on his staff in Barcelona.

Bicknell observed: "If I know Peter, Cologne will be going all out to try and end their season on a positive too. They are very explosive offensively. They have a quality running back in Cobourne and a big offensive line. Defensively, they are aggressive and sound. I think we have had some tough games this season but I think they have had some also that they could have won. They are a good opponent and will give us a real test."

 
Ahmaad Galloway fights for extra yardage in the Week 4 game against Cologne
Bicknell highlighted the keys to success against Cologne, saying: "Again, we have to make the most of the opportunities we get. We've been down in the Red Zone a number of times in the last few games and came away with just field goals. That's not going to win games for you and we really need to punch it in. At the same time, we have to protect the ball and avoid the turnovers that have haunted us this year. We can't give up big plays. Cologne are a big play team."

Once again, the head coach has opted to share the playing time among his quarterbacks in the interests of player development, and Detroit Lions allocate CURT ANES has been given the nod. "We'll start with Curt and play the rest by ear," said Bicknell.

While the Claymores and Centurions World Bowl aspirations may have long since vanished this season, a number of individual goals can still be achieved with players chasing club and league records.

Last week, linebacker RYAN MYERS surpassed George Coghill's single season total tackle record of 61 and is now on 62. Kicker ROB HART continues to lead the league in points scored with 359 points. He has also converted 64 career field goals, giving him the all-time NFLEL lead ahead of Frankfurt's Ralf Kleinmann currently on 59.

This weekend, wide receiver SCOTT McCREADY stands on the cusp of breaking the Claymores single season receptions record of 66 catches by tight end JAMES WHALEN set in 2001. At 58 receptions, McCready needs nine to go past Whalen and 17 to surpass JERMAINE COPELAND's League record for most receptions in a season of 74.

McCready also has 103 career catches and needs five more to go past SCOTT COUPER as the leading National receiver and 15 to pass YO MURPHY as the all-time receptions leader for the Claymores.

Out of the 99 regular season games the Claymores have played, the overall club record is 43-56. At home it is 26-23, with 13-13 at Murrayfield and 13-10 at Hampden. In 99 regular season games, the Claymores have scored 1,992 points - eight away from 2000. The Claymores are also 1-1 in World Bowls.



05 Jun, 04 | 8:00 am

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