FWL Bowl XVI
Scottish Claymores 27 Montreal Machine 13
(Play by Play)
Montreal 3 3 0 7 -- 13
Scottish 0 10 3 14 -- 27
First Quarter
Montreal - Cortez 25 FG, 8:49
Second Quarter
Scottish - Malan 53 pass from Nall (Scaldaferri kick), 4:55
Scottish - Scaldaferri 45 FG, 10:17
Montreal - Cortez 19 FG, 14:40
Third Quarter
Scottish - Scaldaferri 44 FG, 10:15
Fourth Quarter
Scottish - Randall 8 interception return (Scaldaferri kick), 3:45
Montreal - Lester 10 pass from Wuerffel (Cortez kick), 13:50
Scottish - Swanson 2 interception return (Scaldaferri kick), 14:31
These two great teams met in FWL Bowl XVI, 5 years after meeting in FWL Bowl XI in which Montreal won. Scotland won the toss and received but straight away were held to 3 and out, Montreal then received the ball and on their first drive drove downfield for a short FG. The rest of the quarter was full of punts until the second when Scotland scored the first touchdown of the game.
Former FB Mike Malan caught a short pass, made Brian Russell miss and managed to run 53 yards for the touchdown and Scotland now led 7-3. After sacking Montreal on their next drive and forcing them to punt Scotland drove downfield again and added a long FG to make the score 10-6. But back came Montreal, they had to settle however for a chip shot 19 yard FG as the Scotland defense held once again near the goalline and Montreal trailed at halftime 10-6.
Montreal on their first drive in the 3Q somehow missed a 22 yard FG which was wide, the Claymores goalline defense once again did a great job stopping Montreal from getting a touchdown. Scotlands offense seemed on fire and once again they drove into Montreal territory and settled for a 44 yard FG and a 13-6 lead. Montreal this time were forced to punt, back came Scotland but this time with a missed FG. A few drives later Scotland had the ball, TE Ronnie Ghent caught a terrific long pass from Craig Nall and seemed on his way to a touchdown and a certain win, CB Kahlil Carter made a huge play by catching up with Ghent and knocking the ball loose, S Gary Thompkins recovered at the Machines 10 yard line, a huge play.
However on the next play Wuerrfel came under heavy pressure from DT Antonio Smith and was hit as he threw the ball, the ball floated up in the air and LB Curtis Randall scored an eassy touchdown, it was a huge play as Scotland now led 20-6. Montreal were stunned and after an exchange of punts they got the ball back but time was running out. This time Danny Wuerrfel methodically moved his team downfield, 80 yards in 16 plays but it did eat up 5:44. They scored a touchdown on a strike to Marc Lester but there was just over a minute left. Montreal surprisingly didnt try the onside kick and hoped to get the ball back which they did after Scotland went 3 and out, however a brilliant 66 yard punt by Claymores young P Andrew Groom pinned the Machine on their own 5 yard line with just 36 seconds left trailing 20-13.
However on the next play Danny Wuerrfel was once again intercepted similar to the other pick as Antonio Smith burst through the line beating C McGill and charged after Wuerrfel immediatly, Wuerrfel was again hit as he threw and veteran LB Brennan Swanson picked off the ball and ran just 2 yards for the touchdown after making a brilliant play. Scotland now led 27-13 and the game was theirs, fans went crazy and the Scottish national anthem was being blasted through Murrayfield. The Claymores in their 16th season had won FWL Bowl XVI and were finally FWL Bowl winners. They had come close being runners up in FWL Bowl II and FWL Bowl XI but finally Scotland were FWL Champions !
MVP was a close call but it went to HB Mike Malan. Malan rushed for 46 yards and also caught 8 passes for 102 yards and a touchdown. Malan many feel is one of the main reasons why Scotland have turned into a powerhouse, his switch from FB to HB was a major move for Scotland which helped turn their team into one of the best in the FWL. Its a pity there isnt an award for the whole defense as they were great and made some huge plays with the interceptions. GM Ronnie Munro so frustrated with events in Scotland even quit for a season before finally returning and turning Scotland into winners. The team were 0-14 in Season 6, the first ever winless team in the league. Just 2 seasons ago Scotland were 4-10 but then came back to a 9-5 season until finally having a brilliant 13-1 year being capped off with an FWL Bowl win so there is hope for any GM's out there, 4-10 just 2 seasons ago to 13-1.
Credit must go to Machine GM David Harwood who saw his team start off slowly at 3-4 but then won 7 straight games and another 2 in the playoffs until coming unstuck by a great Claymores defense in the final. Montreal outgained Scotland in yards and first downs (21-13) but the great Claymores defense made some huge plays to give their team the win. Danny Wuerrfel who was amazingly playing in his 5th FWL Bowl uncharacteristically threw 2 interceptions which sadly for Montreal were both returned for touchdowns.
There was further jubilation in Scotland when they announced Ronnie Munro as the FWL GM of the Year (His record 3rd FWL GM award !). Munro had just finished an FWL best 16-1 FWL Bowl champs season and had won the EFC in a very difficult year with some great teams. Scotland won with a great mix of young players and also many solid veterans, on some teams they may have been benched or cut but Munro who is very loyal stuck by with many of them and so veterans such as Ken Shelby, starting C John Omlid, backup G Cornell Green and LB Brennan Swanson and many others finally won an FWL Bowl ring. However with 12 players set to enter their 9th year or more next year Munro may have some very difficult choices to make.