Game report done for team website.
The Manchester Titans began their season with a 26-20 win over local rivals the Lancashire Wolverines.
The Titans received the ball to start the 2010 season and following a long kick return from T#11, T#88 found the end zone from 4 yards out and then converted the point-after attempt himself to make the score 7-0 to the Titans.
Lancashire replied immediately, scoring on a 32 yard pass due to a blown coverage, the point-after attempt was successful and tied the scores at 7-7.
The Titans started the following drive on their own 26-yard line and drove the length of the pitch with T#88 capping the drive with a 1-yard touchdown rush. The majority of the yardage on the drive came from a 22-yard run from T#88 to start the drive and a 26-yard pass down the middle of the field from T#12 to T#80. The point-after attempt was wide of the uprights, putting the Titans back in front 13-7.
The Titans defense then forced the Wolverines to punt, this marked the start of a scrappy period of play from both offenses, with Manchester throwing two interceptions with a lost Wolverines fumble, caused by T#49 and recovered by T#63, occurring on the intermediate possession. After the second Titans turnover, the Manchester defense held the Wolverines for no gain, forcing a field goal attempt from the home teams 24-yard line, the attempt sailing wide to the left.
The Titans regained possession on their own twenty-four yard line to start the second quarter and proceeded to drive into the Wolverines half. Following a false-start penalty, the Titans found themselves facing 3rd and 17, this was converted into a first down after a pass from T#12 to T#11 from 25 yards. T#11 then received the ball on the first down and lost a fumble on an attempted sweep.
The Titans defense again held firm, forcing a 3 and out from the Wolverines and handing the Titans offense a fresh possession from their own 21-yard line. The Lancashire defense then held firm and benefited from another turnover by the Manchester quarterback, T#12, on 3rd and 14.
Lancashire then drove from their own 40-yard line to the Titans 11-yard line and faced 4th and 2, failing to convert the opportunity. The Titans then drove 80 yards to score with T#12 connecting with T#8 for a 32-yard touchdown. The point-after attempt was good making the score 20-7 to the home team. The Wolverines received the following kick off and managed to fit in one play before the second quarter expired.
The Wolverines received the ball to start the second half and, following a sustained drive, scored on a 15-yard scramble by their quarterback taking the score to 20-13 to the home team, due to a failed point-after attempt.
The Titans replied immediately, driving 65 yards with T#12 connecting with T#80 three times for 47 yards and receiving the 1-yard touchdown to finish the drive. A missed point-after attempt left the score at 26-13 to the home team.
The visiting side drove to the Manchester 13-yard line where a holding penalty killed the offenses progress and left the Wolverines facing a 4th and 12 situation which they failed to convert.
After receiving possession at their own 21-yard line, the Titans drove with T#12 finding T#80 twice more for 26 yard . On the first play of the 4th quarter, T#12 found himself the victim of an unfortunate rebound, the ball bouncing of T#11's body and into the hands of a Wolverines player, resulting in his 4th interception of the day.
The Wolverines made good use of the turnover by driving for a touchdown, scored on a 3-yard pass play. The point-after attempt was initially missed, however following a replay of the down due to Titans penalty, the point was successfully converted taking the score to 26-20 to the Titans.
With 9 minutes left to play, the Titans gave the ball to T#42 to close out the game. Following a holding penalty on a sweep, Manchester faced 3rd and 14. When the pass fell incomplete the Titans found themselves punting for the first time in the game. A 30 yard punt resulted in the Wolverines being pinned at their own 21-yard line.
Facing 3rd and 7, the Wolverines connected on a 50-yard pass taking them to the Titans 16-yard line and needing a score to win. Lancashire opted to run on first down and the play was stopped for no gain. A tackle behind the line of scrimmage for a 4-yard loss by T#63 left the Wolverines facing 3rd and 13. The 3rd down pass attempt was tipped by T#7, leaving the visitors facing 4th and long. On the 4th down attempt to Wolverines looked to pass, but having no options open down-field the quarterback checked down and the play was stopped for a 1-yard gain. T#5 was injured during the play and, after being attended to by the medics, hobbled off the pitch to applause from the stands following a good defensive performance.
The Titans offense gained possession of the football at their own 19-yard line with just over 3 minutes to play. T#42 again received the ball and rushed for 36 yards, with T#88 receiving 1 carry and adding 3 yards to his total, and importantly 2 1st downs which allowed Manchester to run the clock out and end the game, winning 26-20.
