Pirates enjoy challenge game against touring team CMS Stags

May 22nd, 2017

For the third successive year, East Kilbride Pirates played host to a touring NCAA Division III college team. This year’s visitors were the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags from California.

The tourists kicked off and immediately pinned the Pirates inside their own 10-yard line. From there EK gained just 6 yards before having to punt.  It subsequently took the Stags just one play to open the scoring.

QB Brenden Brown aired out a perfect spiral, hitting receiver Trey Smith in stride for a 46-yard TD. Mitch Allan’s PAT was blocked, but the tone for the day had already been set. A procession of Stags’ touchdowns followed throughout the next two periods:-

TD2: Geno Quaid 6-yard run. PAT blocked

TD3: Victor Bunce 54-yard punt return. PAT hit post

TD4: Victor Bunce 60-yard run. PAT good (Allan)

TD5: Will Buckstaff 117-yard reception (Brown) PAT good (Allan)

TD6: Geno Quaid 20-yard run. PAT good (Allan)

TD7: Robby Weissenfels 5-yard run. PAT good (Allan)

TD8: Victor Bunce 43-yard interception return. PAT good (Zeledon)

TD9: Geno Quaid 76-yard punt return. PAT blocked

As the half drew towards its conclusion, CMS had built up a huge 59-0 lead.  When EK eventually stopped a drive, Jackson Zeledon’s 26-yard field goal attempt was unsuccessful. The Pirates took over at their 20 and put together the best drive of the day. Two Neil Baptie – Kenny Muir completions gained 44 yards, and a pass to Stephen McCluskey added another 12. A Roughing the Passer call was tagged onto that play, taking the ball to the 5-yard line. From there, Neil Baptie ran the ball home to put the Pirates on the scoreboard.  Owen McCallum’s PAT was blocked, leaving the score as 59-6 at the interval.

After the restart, a running clock was invoked at the agreement of both Head Coaches. The Stags took their opening drive 49 yards on 4 plays before Brenden Brown carried the ball the final 11 yards to score and Allan duly converted. East Kilbride’s next drive was halted by a Mac Cooney interception, but they soon had the ball back after CMS were forced into a rare punt. Normal service was resumed on their next possession however, and they moved the ball to the Pirates’ 3-yard line before Will Buckstaff notched his second TD of the day, with Allan’s conversion adding the final point of the contest.

Despite the heavy defeat, the day was enjoyed by the Pirates players and staff who will benefit from the experience of competing at a much higher level than usual. The visiting coaches named Pirates’ receiver Kenny Muir as the Heroes Vodka Player of the Day. Kenny had 6 catches for 75 yards in the game. East Kilbride must now refocus on League business as they travel to Blackburn on Sunday 4 June to face the Lancashire Wolverines.

Game report by Bill Campbell

Photos courtesy Duncan Gray. You can find more fantastic photos at www.duncolm.co.uk

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