alamo50
06-13-2005, 04:40 PM
By Craig TerBlanche
The Amsterdam Admirals survived to clinch their first ever World Bowl championship as they defeated the Berlin Thunder in spectacular fashion with a heroic last second defensive stand on Saturday afternoon at the LTU arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.
“It is an unbelievable feeling to be champions,” running back Jarrett Payton said. “It came right down to the wire, and that is the closest game that I have ever been in. It is unreal. Our defense did a great job all year, and they came up huge at the end. It is only fitting that they were the ones to help us to hold on and win this title.”
On the final drive of the game, the Admirals were clinging to a 27-21 lead and Dave Ragone had methodically marched his team from their own six-yard line to the Admirals 16. Poised and ready, Ragone dropped back with five seconds left and fired for Robert Redd, but safety Norman Lejeune leaped to bat the ball down and Amsterdam’s reign as World Bowl champions began.
“It feels great to be champions,” Lejeune said. “A real team with a championship mentality plays like we played today, and we really played a good, hard game. We have worked so hard to get here. I have said from the very first day of training camp in Tampa that we would win it all, and we backed it up by coming out here and winning this game.”
The Admirals jumped out to a quick start thanks to the strong arm of quarterback Kurt Kittner, who earned World Bowl MVP honors after completed 15 of 28 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
“We came out real fast, and got things going right from the start. It felt good to go down and score first and that gave us some real confidence,” Kittner said. “We did great, we missed on a couple of opportunities, but we did enough to win the game, and that’s all that matters.”
Riding the horses that got them there, the Admirals turned to Payton and Jonathan Smith to control the game as the two combined for 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
“We came out and everybody executed their plays,” said Smith, who had an 18-yard touchdown run. “It feels good. We had our mind set on winning this game since training camp and we did. I have said all along that we have the best offense in the league and we left it all on the field.”
“The running backs did a great job all season and they did it again today,” Kittner said. “We also got some great production from our receivers, who made some good catches today and we all came together for this win.”
Ruvell Martin found the endzone again and finished the night with three catches for 76 yards, while John Booth reeled in four balls for 103 yards, including a long of 54 yards.
“I think we had a great season, and for it to end like it did feels amazing,” Martin said. “To win it all is great. It was a close game, the best I have ever played in, and this is the first championship I have ever won. We executed the game plan, and came out strong. We really did everything that we wanted to, and I don’t think we could have played much better.”
After the game head coach Bart Andrus couldn’t keep from smiling. The newly named coach of the year was just so proud of the job his players did and was quick to point out that this group was special.
“This championship game was about the players,” head coach Bart Andrus said. “These guys started out three months ago in Florida not knowing each other. They came together, worked hard, believed in each other, trusted each other, and went out each week and had a lot of high and a lot of lows, but they overcame those lows.
“They came in determined to win the game, and they went out and did it. I will say it has been a pleasure to be around this group, and that game really proves that this is special team.”
For pics of the game click here! (http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18262)
You GOT to check them out!
:king
The Amsterdam Admirals survived to clinch their first ever World Bowl championship as they defeated the Berlin Thunder in spectacular fashion with a heroic last second defensive stand on Saturday afternoon at the LTU arena in Düsseldorf, Germany.
“It is an unbelievable feeling to be champions,” running back Jarrett Payton said. “It came right down to the wire, and that is the closest game that I have ever been in. It is unreal. Our defense did a great job all year, and they came up huge at the end. It is only fitting that they were the ones to help us to hold on and win this title.”
On the final drive of the game, the Admirals were clinging to a 27-21 lead and Dave Ragone had methodically marched his team from their own six-yard line to the Admirals 16. Poised and ready, Ragone dropped back with five seconds left and fired for Robert Redd, but safety Norman Lejeune leaped to bat the ball down and Amsterdam’s reign as World Bowl champions began.
“It feels great to be champions,” Lejeune said. “A real team with a championship mentality plays like we played today, and we really played a good, hard game. We have worked so hard to get here. I have said from the very first day of training camp in Tampa that we would win it all, and we backed it up by coming out here and winning this game.”
The Admirals jumped out to a quick start thanks to the strong arm of quarterback Kurt Kittner, who earned World Bowl MVP honors after completed 15 of 28 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
“We came out real fast, and got things going right from the start. It felt good to go down and score first and that gave us some real confidence,” Kittner said. “We did great, we missed on a couple of opportunities, but we did enough to win the game, and that’s all that matters.”
Riding the horses that got them there, the Admirals turned to Payton and Jonathan Smith to control the game as the two combined for 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
“We came out and everybody executed their plays,” said Smith, who had an 18-yard touchdown run. “It feels good. We had our mind set on winning this game since training camp and we did. I have said all along that we have the best offense in the league and we left it all on the field.”
“The running backs did a great job all season and they did it again today,” Kittner said. “We also got some great production from our receivers, who made some good catches today and we all came together for this win.”
Ruvell Martin found the endzone again and finished the night with three catches for 76 yards, while John Booth reeled in four balls for 103 yards, including a long of 54 yards.
“I think we had a great season, and for it to end like it did feels amazing,” Martin said. “To win it all is great. It was a close game, the best I have ever played in, and this is the first championship I have ever won. We executed the game plan, and came out strong. We really did everything that we wanted to, and I don’t think we could have played much better.”
After the game head coach Bart Andrus couldn’t keep from smiling. The newly named coach of the year was just so proud of the job his players did and was quick to point out that this group was special.
“This championship game was about the players,” head coach Bart Andrus said. “These guys started out three months ago in Florida not knowing each other. They came together, worked hard, believed in each other, trusted each other, and went out each week and had a lot of high and a lot of lows, but they overcame those lows.
“They came in determined to win the game, and they went out and did it. I will say it has been a pleasure to be around this group, and that game really proves that this is special team.”
For pics of the game click here! (http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18262)
You GOT to check them out!
:king