Claymores.com: Claymores Fall to First Defeat in Waldstadion

Claymores Fall to First Defeat in Waldstadion

THE CLAYMORES fell to their first defeat in the Waldstadion when they lost 21-10 to Frankfurt Galaxy in front of 35,000 in the penultimate week of the NFL Europe League season.

Head Coach Jim Criner talks to quarterback Jim Ballard on the sidelines in Frankfurt

Two fourth quarter touchdowns - an eight yard pass from Galaxy quarterback DAMON HUARD to running back JERMAINE CHANEY and a one-yard sneak from Huard - proved decisive as Frankfurt maintained their drive to meet German rivals Rhein Fire at home in the Waldstadion in World Bowl 98.

The late strikes overcame a 13-yard touchdown strike for the Claymores - already out of World Bowl contention - from quarterback JIM BALLARD to tight end WILLY TATE and a 24-yard GARY PARKER field goal which gave the Scots a 10-7 lead going into the final period.

The Germans had opened the scoring at the end of the first quarter when Huard threw a short pass to wide receiver MITCHELL GALLOWAY who broke through the Claymores secondary to race 63 yards for the touchdown.

Afterwards, Claymores head coach JIM CRINER said: "We were beginning to think we could never lose in the Waldstadion, but I guess Galaxy finally got us.

"They made the big plays when they had to. On the contrary we failed to make big plays and had to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown at a pivotal point in the game."

Following Galloway's opening score the Claymores hit back at the start of the second quarter when Ballard threaded a 13-yard pass to Tate who made a diving catch in the Galaxy end zone. Parker tied the match at seven with the extra point.

Willy Tate again scored a touchdown

Galaxy had the chance to take the lead just before the break, however a 36-yard field goal attempt from RALF KLEINMANN drifted wide left.

The Claymores started the second half on a high when cornerback KORY BLACKWELL intercepted Huard at the Claymores 25 racing all the way back to Frankfurt's 45.

However, the Scots failed to make the most of the turnover and had to settle for Parker's 24-yard field goal and a 10-7 lead.

Galaxy hit back at the start of the fourth quarter when Huard flipped an eight-yard pass to Chaney with Kleinmann hitting the extra point to make ot 14-10 in favour of the Germans.

Frankfurt pressed home their advantage when punter BILL KUSHNER pinned the Scots to their five yard line forcing a short punt from DAVID WING which was returned to the Claymores 25 by KENNY McENTYRE.

Galaxy then moved the ball down to the Scots goal-line where Huard dived over from one yard. Kleinmann's kick made it 21-10.

The Scots hopes died on their next series when Jim Ballard's fourth-down pass intended for wide receiver TERENCE DAVIS fell incomplete.

Galaxy's first win at home against the Scots sets up a make or break Week 10 for both Frankfurt and Amsterdam Admirals (6-3) after the Admirals defeated Rhein 21-17 in front of 17,000 in the ArenA on Saturday night. The Claymores - while not going to the Bowl themselves - will be pivotal in the outcome of the final Bowl berth when the Scots meet the Admirals at Murrayfield in the final game of the NFL Europe League regular season this Sunday.

Al Luginbill's side must beat the Claymores to have any chance of making the final while all Frankfurt have to do is beat Rhein in the Rheinstadion to set up a World Bowl battle of the Tuetons.


        FINAL             1ST  2ND  3RD  4TH     TOTAL
                          ---  ---  ---  ---     -----
        CLAYMORES           0    7    3    0      10
        FRANKFURT           7    0    0   14      21     FINAL
		

    SCORING SUMMARY

    1ST QUARTER: FRA - TD, MITCHELL GALLOWAY 63 YD PASS FROM DAMON HUARD
                           (RALF KLEINMANN KICK), 14:48. FRANKFURT 7-0

    2ND QUARTER: SCO - TD, WILLY TATE 14 YD PASS FROM JIM BALLARD (GARY
                           PARKER KICK), 5:27. CLAYMORES 7, FRANKFURT 7

    3RD QUARTER: SCO - FG, GARY PARKER 24 YD, 8:13. CLAYMORES 10-7

    4TH QUARTER: FRA - TD, JERMAINE CHANEY 8 YD PASS FROM DAMON HUARD
                           (RALF KLEINMANN KICK), 1:10. FRANKFURT 14-10
                 FRA - TD, DAMON HUARD 1 YD RUN (RALF KLEINMANN KICK),
                           12:16. FRANKFURT 21-10


TEAM STATISTICS

                              SCO            FRA
                         --------       --------
FIRST DOWNS                    16             18
Rushing                         9              7
Passing                         6              9
Penalty                         1              2
3RD-DOWN EFFICIENCY          4-12           3-11
4TH-DOWN EFFICIENCY           0-1            0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS               212            287
Total plays                    56             58
Average gain                  3.8            4.9
NET YARDS RUSHING             126            113
Rushes                         29             31
Average per rush              4.3            3.6
NET YARDS PASSING              86            174
Completed-attempted         10-25          15-25
Yards per pass                3.2            6.4
Sacked-yards lost             2-9           2-14
Had intercepted                 0              1
PUNTS-AVERAGE              6-31.3         5-37.8
RETURN YARDAGE                104             59
Punts-returns                2-10           2-31
Kickoffs-returns             3-62           2-28
Interceptions-returns        1-32            0-0
PENALTIES-YARDS              6-31           4-30
FUMBLES-LOST                  1-1            0-0
TIME OF POSSESSION          31:33          28:27


PLAYER STATISTICS

Missed field goals:  Frankfurt (Ralf Kleinmann 36).

Claymores rushing: Vernon Turner 20-56, Chris Miller 2-50, Jim
Ballard 3-9, JJ Smith 1-7, Carey Bender 2-4, Chris Brantley 1-0. 

Frankfurt rushing: Jermaine Chaney 12-77, Reynard Rutherford 13-27,
Damon Huard 6-9.

Claymores passing: Jim Ballard 10-24 for 95 yards, 0 INT, 1 TD,
T Davis 0-1 for 0 yards, 0 INT, 0 TD. 

Frankfurt passing: Damon Huard 15-25 for 188 yards, 1 INT, 2 TD.

Claymores receiving: Willy Tate 3-38, Vernon Turner 2-14, Jj
Smith 2-10, T Davis 1-14, Chris Miller 1-10, Scott Couper 1-9. 

Frankfurt receiving: Darrick Branch 4-43, Mitchell Galloway 3-73,
Vince Marrow 3-36, Mario Bailey 2-19, Jermaine Chaney 2-8, Joerg
Heckenbach 1-9.

Attendance: 35,264.

01 Jun, 98 | 2:39 pm

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