DOLPHINS & BULLDOGS GET IIAAG WINS

By Robert Balajadia

Four teams battling for standings made in the IIAAG Football league put forth two entertaining games Saturday night featuring a win from the Southern Dolphins and an impressive defensive outing from the Okkodo Bulldogs.

Southern Dolphins WIN A Football Game

For almost three complete seasons the Southern Dolphins have not won a football game going 0-6 in 2012 and 0-6 in 2013. Facing an 0-5 season, the Dolphins were down to their last regular season game in 2014 knocking on the door of another winless season. But not this time.

Saturday’s game marked a huge milestone for Southern as they defeated the still winless Guam High Panthers 31-21 at the Panther field in Agana.

The back and forth scoring affair from the two winless teams brought out the inner competitive nature as neither side wanted to look back on the season with no marks in the win column.

Dolphins Tyler Topasna had the last say in the 4th quarter as he sprinted his way to a 24-yard touchdown through the Panther defense to put them up 31-21.

The Panthers did have the first score of the game after Juan King hit Lewis Harris for a 43-yard touchdown, followed by a Like Reeder PAT to go up 7-0. Dolphins defender Terrance Aguon tied the score with a huge defensive play, stripping the ball away while recovering it from the Panther offense, making it 7-7 after a Napu Topasna PAT.

The Dolphins were then able to pin the Panthers deep in their own territory, getting a sack in the end zone for a safety to go up 9-7.

King then went to work hitting Harris again, this time from 28 yards out to go up 14-9 before the half.

Topasna put Southern ahead in the 3rd quarter 17-14 with a five-yard touchdown as they finished off a long drive.

King answered back by running in a score from a yard out, answering the long drive from the Dolphins to get a 21-17 lead.

Dolphins quarterback Keanu Diego then punched in a score from four yards out up the middle of the defense to give Southern a 23-21 lead in the fourth quarter. Then Topasna hammered home the final score to give the Dolphins their first win in over three years!

Okkodo Bests Sanchez; Will Play Again In Playoff Opener

The Okkodo Bulldogs and Sanchez Sharks were playing for 4th and 5th playoff position spots, but neither a win or a loss would affect the eventual outcome that will have both these teams face off in the opening round of the playoffs.

Their regular season meeting was merely a preview of how the teams size up against each other and the Bulldogs left Saturday with the upper hand as they defeated the Sharks 14-6 at their home field.

Bulldogs linebacker Jesse Carl Cruz was coming off a 12 tackle game against the FD Friars, and his output against the Sharks was well felt. Cruz picked off the Sharks quarterback in the opening quarter which help set up a touchdown run from Angel Chiguina to go up 7-0 after a successful PAT.

After a series of good defensive outings from both teams, the Bulldogs got a big play on special teams to set up another score. Okkodo’s Joshua Cruz got through the Sharks blockers to negate a punt, setting up the Bulldog offense just 35 yards away from pay dirt.

Jesse-Carl Cruz (25) of the Bulldogs collides with Trey Leon (14) to intercept the ball in mid-air only seconds into the first quarter. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Chiguina took two runs for 25 yards to out more points on the board for the Bulldogs, going up 14-0 in jus the first quarter.

Sharks punt returner Eric Reyes ran his way through the Bulldogs special teams for 40 yards, setting up a rushing touchdown for the offense, their only score of the game.

The heavy rain made it difficult for either offense to get ground in the second half resorting in a scoreless second half giving the Bulldogs the win.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

Dylan Aguon of the Bulldogs plows through Sharks for a first down on the play. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Angel Chiguina of the Bulldogs runs for twenty yards before being taken down on Sanchez’ five yard-line. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Dylan Aguon of the Bulldogs tries to find a way out of the pocket before being taken down. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Devin Leon of the Sharks holds onto a pass attempting to complete a two point conversion before half-time. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)