In their first game of the season, the Leicester Longhorns travelled across the country to play the Chester Legion. After a tough but fun preseason of training for both the returning players and the incoming freshers, an air of excitement and nerves hung over the team. But dressed in their new kit with the sun shining you could see the confidence flowing through the team from the outset.
In their first game of the season, the Leicester Longhorns travelled across the country to play the Chester Legion. After a tough but fun preseason of training for both the returning players and the incoming freshers, an air of excitement and nerves hung over the team. But dressed in their new kit with the sun shining you could see the confidence flowing through the team from the outset.
This was true as in the first quarter the Longhorns imposed their will upon the Legion. After a quick first drive from the Longhorns to start the game, Chester took over possession of the ball. However, on just their third play, DB Danny Pedroni intercepted a pass and ran it back for a touchdown. This caused mayhem on the Leicester side line for their first points of the season, a failed two-point conversion gave them a 6-0 lead. With the defence forcing another stop, it gave the offence time to gel and a put a drive together. A strong series of runs was finished off by a long, punishing touchdown run by RB Mamoke Akaunu as he broke three tackles for the score. Chester managed to stop the 2 point conversion again leaving the Longhorns up 12-0 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter started well on defence kept containing Chester, a long drive by the Longhorns with hard, tough running was ultimately fruitless as penalties forced them to punt the ball back to the Legion. However, with a mix-up by the Chester returners caused them to touch the ball which was then recovered by DB Jonah Pemberton inside the Chester 10-yard line. The momentum seemed to swing back in the Leicester’s favour, but like a pendulum it swung back to Chester’s almost instantaneously. A fumbled handoff by the Longhorns was picked up by a member of the Legion and returned all the way back for a touchdown. Their side-line erupted and they had gained a foothold back in the game.
The second half started with fumbles from both teams in quick succession. Chester produced one of the plays of the game completing a long catch and run before being tackled inside the Leicester 10-yard line. A few plays later Chester’s RB caught the ball out of the backfield and sliced through into the endzone, a good stop on defence left the scores at 12-12. A strong set of plays by both sets of defences including a fourth down stop by the Longhorns left the game tied heading into the fourth quarter.
As the clock ticked away, Leicester drove into Chester territory with some hard running which resulted in a short touchdown run by QB Ted Watts putting the Longhorns up 18-12. Chester’s offence took the field, ready to drive down the field and win the game for their team. They came out firing, passing on every down getting within the Leicester 25-yard line. But excellent pass coverage from Mohammad Zulfiqar who had pass break up at the 2-yard line set up a final shot at the endzone for the Legion. They moved into trips for a Hail Mary which was picked off by DB Alex Riley in the endzone for a touchback effectively sealing the game for the Longhorns.
A great win to start the season 1-0 for the Longhorns who next play Lincoln at home on the 24th of November.