High Stakes, High Scores

As predicted, there was thunder and lightning at Coldhams Common in Cambridge on Sunday – and it was definitely on the pitch, not in the air!
Both these undefeated teams; the Ipswich Cardinals and their hosts the Cambridgeshire Cats, had high hopes of clinching the top spot in the British American Football Association Community Leagues South East division, and both sides served up a treat for the large crowd.
It was the home side that settled earliest and they took the lead on their opening drive through a Steven Bright field goal.
Not long after, their dangerous rusher Josh Gilreath burst free to round the despairing Cardinal defenders to extend the lead with his first touchdown run of the day. Bright added the extra point and lo and behold the Suffolk side were down by ten points!
Promising offensive drives by the Ipswich outfit had stalled as quarterback Don Byrd threw two interceptions as he took time to settle into the game. As usual, the powerhouse fullback Paul Borstel was making his presence known in typical bulldozing fashion though, simply running over or through anything in a red shirt that came remotely close to him!
Into the second quarter things began to take shape for the visitors. Borstel scored from close range to bring the score back to 6-10, while the Cardinals defense started manhandling the Cambridge offense. The tricky and elusive U.S quarterback Brandon Schooley was flattened by safety Niall Simmons, and in leaving the game, opened the door for an Ipswich fightback.
Gilreath picked up the mantle however, again scoring from distance, Bright again, added the PAT.
That Cardinal defense had the bit between their teeth though, and a fumble recovery from Justin Beard set up the offense nicely in enemy territory.
Byrd had begun to find some rythym by now and connected with receiver Ben Salisbury who made a superb run after catch for a TD. Ipswich kicker Steven Baines added the extra point and the ballgame was alive again at 13-17.
After trading possessions, and the Cats losing their second quarterback Nick Zervos, the visitors took the lead for the first time in the game. Byrd found his favourite target Mehalic Blair open down the left sideline and the tough Tight End showed shades of Borstels power running ability as he fought off tacklers on his way into the endzone. Baines added the extra for a 20-17 Cardinals lead.
Ipswich Head Coach Ian Girling sensed the momentum swing and tried to take full advantage with just under a minute remaining in the half. He called a long pass play but Byrds attempt was disastrously intercepted at halfway. This gave the Cats just long enough for their third string quarterback Joseph Slaughter to heave a long pass upfield, where unbelievably, receiver Alex Smith ran under the ball to recapture the lead in the cruellest fashion!
Bright tagged on the one point kick and the half ended with the score at 20-24 in the hosts favour.
After the break it was the Suffolk side that came out swinging. Another electric play from Byrd to Blair for a touchdown was nullified by a holding penalty, and the drive stalled with a punt.
Crucially for Cambridge, Schooley returned to the fray. A tentative drive led by the diminutive US serviceman resulted in another field goal. This time Bright split the uprights from 36 yards for a seven point advantage.
Ipswich came roaring back and scored another touchdown as Running back Mike Bell carried the pigskin into the endzone behind some great blocking by the Cardinal offensive line.
Down by just one point, Girling called for a two point play to try and retake the lead, realising this end to end battle could come down to the narrowest of margins. Salisbury was knocked out of bounds just shy of scoring however and the Cats led by 26-27.
This amazing game was living up to it’s hype and going into the fourth and final quarter nobody could possibly predict the outcome!
An Ipswich fumble gifted the Cats another touchdown. Gilreath claimed his hattrick, Bright added the extra for an eight point lead.
Back came the Cardinals again. A time consuming drive that started way back in their own half culminated in Byrd squeezing through a tiny gap from a foot out to bring his side back to within two. Again though, the two point attempt to tie the lead failed as Borstel was harshly judged to have been down before his outstretched arm with the ball in crossed the goalline.
Schooley then orchestrated a superb drive, relentlessly picking himself up after being smashed to the ground by a rampaging, but by now tiring, Cardinal defense. He ended the drive with a typical mazy run and a well deserved score.
Again, the Cardinals fought back. Another long, balanced attack that saw Borstel powering through defenders and Byrd finding open receivers like Ben Gladwell, Salisbury and Blair progressed all the way to the Cambridge one yard line.
Going into the final minute, another touchdown would be crucial. As Byrd passed into the endzone however, it was a red shirted defender that caught the ball and he stunned everybody by returning the ball for a score, fully one hundred yards down the other end of the field!
The hosts were ecstatic, the visitors heartbroken. Bright finally missed with the extra point kick attempt but the highly vocal Cambridge sidelines knew they had grasped a magnificent victory.
The Cardinal kick return team trudged out onto the field for the final play of the day – and then in a defiant, heartwarming and stirring finale, deep return man Ryan Crighton weaved his way through bodies and behind blockers to end the scoring with a dazzling run to lift even the most despondent Suffolk supporters. Baines’ kick sailed through the posts and the final whistle ended a simply breathtaking contest. Final score 39- 47 to the Cats.
The Cardinals don’t have any time to lick their wounds and now eagerly await this Sunday for the first home game in this, their 25th Anniversary season

Cheers, Coach Girling