MATCH REPORT: KNIGHTS 31-0 BULLS
In their first game of the season, the Northants Knights went on the road to face a physical Birmingham Bulls team, leaving with a convincing 31-0 victory on the back of a solid run game, great debuts from some new faces and an incredible defensive shutout performance.
The Knights' season started exactly as they'd want it to, with the very first play being a long kick return from #1 Tyler Gordon, putting the offense on the Bulls' 40 yard line for their first series. Northants quickly capitalised off the back of a long run from #43 Sean Hanlon, putting them within five yards. An unfortunate penalty chalked off a rushing TD for Gordon, but the Knights offensive line set the tone by springing Hanlon free for an 18-yard rushing touchdown on the very next play.
Birmingham's first drive was extinguished effectively by the Knights D, and it was on the second drive of the game that the new and improved offense was able to show its potential. Newly transferred QB #18 James Horne started strong in his debut, demonstrating his dual-threat ability on this drive. He made a long rush on a read option, and then just a couple of plays later he capped off the drive with a nice throw on the run to find Gordon in the endzone for the sole passing TD of the game. Northants attempted to go for a two-point conversion on both of their scores in the first quarter, but the Bulls defensive line held up well and prevented both. 12-0 Knights.
A scoreless second quarter showed some resilience from the home team, managing to prevent any long breakaway runs and encouraging the Knights to air the ball out. Horne was able to make some impressive throws, including a long completion to #19 Sam Alexander, but a couple of drops and a fumble let down the offense and they were unable to be clinical at the end of their final two drives of the half.
At halftime, the emphasis of the team talk was on finishing drives, with Head Coach Wale Oyemade, Offensive Co-ordinator Stuart Franklin and veteran Tackle #74 Adam O'Reilly leading the conversation. The team got focused and was ready to head into the second half with the score mentally reset to 0-0. Offensive line coach David Franklin added some final words of encouragement, focused on bringing the intensity and not letting your foot off the gas.
After the midway break, the Knights found this intensity again after the disappointing second quarter and came out with an aggressive, run-heavy approach. However, due to a long, time consuming drive which ended on a turnover on downs, they didn't add any more points in the third.
It was in this quarter that the Bulls came closest to scoring, when they made it all the way down to the 1-yard line. However, the defense made an incredible stop, stuffing multiple consecutive inside runs to stall the drive. This goal line stand fired up the Knights sideline and on their next redzone visit, they forced a turnover by way of rookie Cornerback #42 Dylan Haggar, who dived on a fumble to once again keep Birmingham at bay.
During the fourth quarter, it became clear that the Knights offense had more left in the tank. After the defense's fantastic redzone stands, the O picked up this momentum and pushed hard to punctuate the win. The rushing duo of Hanlon and first-year Knight #23 Peter Duah worked behind some excellent blocking and by the end of the game the two of them had combined for over 175 yards on the ground.
Duah recorded his first touchdown as a Knight when he powered home to make the score 18-0, carving through the Bulls front seven on an inside run. Then, finally, as a tired Bulls defense came off the back of several run-heavy drives, third-string halfback #27 Rashaun Gardner was able to pound the ball home for the insurance score. After three unsuccessful two-point conversions, the Knights opted to send out kicker #29 Luke Keith who converted the PAT to make the score 25-0.
With the clock running down, Birmingham continued to show heart as their offense took to the field to try and break the shutout. However, as their starting running back, #8 Kwajo Shakane - who had an impressive individual outing, putting up over 150 yards rushing - tried to reach the sideline on an outside run, he was met by rookie Cornerback #20 Taylor Stewart. Shakane attempted to hurdle the corner and was upended by Stewart's tackle. Hard-hitting linebacker #46 Parm Sidhu provided support and cut off Shakane's progress in mid-air, forcing a fumble. Star Safety #6 Josh Haynes capitalised, scooping the loose ball and heading down the sideline as he converted his second turnover of the game into six points and a decisive victory.
With the score at 31-0, the game finally reached its conclusion and the Knights started their campaign in pursuit of the NFC1 Midlands title with an emphatic win.
---
Offensive MVP - #18 QB James Horne | 9/17 passing (53%), 90 yards and a TD, plus 59 rushing yards.
Defensive MVP - #6 S Josh Haynes | 8 Tackles, 1 Interception, 1 Fumble Recovery for a TD.
Written by Tyler Arthur.
Defensive MVP - Josh Haynes