Titans (U17) in the Windy City28.08.2016 On a very windy day, the TAFT Titans traveled to the coast to play the always tough Porvoo Butchers. The Titans needed a win to stay in control of their own destiny of trying to make the Finals. They did so, coming away with a 38-0 victory. The first quarter would be a quick and scoreless one as both teams tried to avoid the effects of the wind by keeping the ball on the ground. The Titans would finally get on the scoreboard with a 95-yard drive early in the second quarter as RB Otso Bull and QB Joona Collier would take turns running the ball (they would combine for 155 yards on the day) and Wilhelm Stigzelius would make a great catch on a deep pass. Bull would finish the drive by running through a giant hole to score an 8-yard TD. Otto Laakkonen would kick the first of his four extra points and the Titans would lead 8-0. Laakkonen would score the next 8 points as he caught a 32-yard pass and then kicked the extra point and the Titans would go into halftime with a 16-0 lead.
The third quarter would see Stigzelius score the first of his three second half TDs. First he intercepted a pass and brought it back 35 yards for a score. Later, he would take an excellent Option pitch from QB Jesper Korkalainen in from the one-yard line. Finally, he would take a short pass from Collier and run 54 yards into the end zone. The Titans had their second shutout this week (after beating the Wolverines on Monday, 46-0). The outstanding defense was lead by Eemeli Tuovinen with two interceptions, Viljo Lempinen and Antti Kekkonen, with a bunch of tackles, and Arttu Partanen with an interception, as well. The Titans now have a couple of weeks to rest until they play their final regular season game on September 17th at home. That game, versus the Roosters, is an important game as it could decide each team's fate on getting into the Finals (depending on the Roosters-Wolverines game later this week) and also where the Finals would be played. The Titans are sure to bring their best effort, no matter what. Mark Collier, Head Coach Photo Laura Helminen |