LEGACY TRIUMPHS OVER BLAZE CATS

By Asha Marie Robles

In a goodwill women’s football match between Guam’s Legacy and Japan’s Blaze Cats, Legacy triumphed with a 18-7 win over the Japanese team.

After the introductions and national anthems of both teams, players made their way to the field to find out which team would take it all. Winning the coin toss, Blaze Cats would receive the ball first.

The Japanese team couldn’t seem to gain yards and decided to punt the ball during a 4th down which Legacy’s Olivia Flores picked up and got her team to move up by running 25-yards before being stopped.

With the ball in Legacy’s possession, quarterback Morgan Reyes handed it off to running back Gianna Sarusal as she ran 33-yards to score the first touchdown of the game, setting the pace for Legacy’s long runs and tight defense during the 1st quarter that forced the Blaze Cats scoreless.

Long runs by Legacy’s Flores and Rayonna Quitugua led up to a 2nd touchdown that was scored by Flores, leaving the score at 12-0 for the 1st quarter as they were unable to complete their two-point conversion.

During the 2nd quarter, Blaze Cats were able to pick up their defense and slowly gain yards. Unfortunately, both were not enough to make it to the end zone, leaving the 2nd quarter scoreless and remain 12-0 at half time.

After the short half time break, Legacy started the 2nd half with more long runs by Flores but were unable to break past the Blaze Cats defense at the 30-yard line. As Blaze Cats now had the ball in their possession, running back Haruka Ushiyama had a couple of good runs that led her and her team into Legacy territory.

But with an error by the Japanese team, Legacy’s Dana Benavente would grab an interception and return it 53-yards to score her teams’ last touchdown. With a conversion attempt by Legacy, Blaze Cats’ Ushiyama wouldn’t let the ball pass through and deflected it.

As time started running out during the 4th quarter, Blaze Cats picked up their offensive game and finally scored their first touchdown with just seconds left in the game by Tokie Ogita’s 3-yard rush. In addition, Blaze Cats also made their one point kick to end the game at 18-7 with the loss.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Blaze Cats’ Tokie Ogita runs down the sideline as Legacy’s Dana Benavente tracks her every move. (photo by Asha Robles)

Legacy’s Ashley Acreo and Sharae Mendiola take down Blaze Cats’ Tokie Ogita. (photo by Asha Robles)

Dana Benavente of Legacy forces Tokie Ogita out of bounds with the help of a teammate. (photo by Asha Robles)

Blaze Cats’ Tokie Ogita runs down the sideline as Legacy’s Dana Benavente tracks her every move.