TEAM LEGACY EDGES STEEL BLAZERS

By Mike Nauta Jr.

It was a battle between two unbeaten teams in the Bud Light Guam Women’s Tackle Football League yesterday morning at the University of Guam Football Field.  Entering with identical (3-0) records, both Team Legacy and Steel Blazers looked to keep their unblemished records intact.  From beginning to end, both teams provided everyone in attendance with and exciting and intense game that was eventually decided by a conversion.  When the final whistle blew to end the match, it was Legacy who stood victorious after edging out their opponents 8-6.

The Steel Blazers had the first crack on offense with starting quarterback TJ Rodrigues leading her team.  Back-to-back penalties by the Steel Blazers pinned them deep and needed a huge production to get out of trouble.  Deciding to go with the quarterback keeper, Rodrigues busted through the Legacy defense moving the ball 63-yards downfield and into Legacy territory.  Despite getting into the red zone, the Steel Blazers wasn’t able to punch it into the end zone as Legacy regrouped defensively and forced a turnover on downs.

Legacy (44) Rayonna Quitugua takes the handoff and heads towards the sideline for a gain of five yards. (photo by Joey Blas)

Taking their first series on offense, Legacy immediately when to work on the ground as they used the speed of Gia “The Cheetah” Sarusal to move the chains.  Time in the opening quarter eventually expired forcing teams to switch sides on the field.  Legacy quarterback “Captain” Morgan Reyes orchestrated a series of plays to continue her team’s march downfield.  However, just as Legacy looked to put six on the board, the Steel Blazers’ Mel Manglona put a halt with a key interception.

Both teams would get another touch on offense in the second quarter.  However, neither managed to create anything offensively as defenses from both sides kept the scoreboard reflecting “goose eggs”.  The signal for halftime eventually sounded with both teams scoreless.

At the start of the second half, Legacy chose to keep the load of the work on the ground and relied on several players to get things going.  Rayonna Quitugua quickly converted a first-down on her first carry of the half.  Run efforts by Reyes and Sarusal eventually put Legacy deep into Steel Blazers territory.  It wasn’t too long before Kinesha “FSU” Flores capped the drive with a six-yard touchdown run to end the scoreless drought.  On the ensuing play, Legacy successfully converted the two-point conversion making it an 8-0 game.

Legacy (7) Gianna Sarasul takes the handoff and runs it up the middle to complete the first down on their own 20 yard line. (photo by Joey Blas)

Heading into the fourth and final quarter, the Steel Blazers knew exactly what needed to happen and went to work.  With their defense managing to stop their opponents, it was all up to their offense to get something going.  After a 75-yard interception return by SB’s Tabitha Reyes put her team at the nine-yard line, Rodrigues ran a play that had teammate Paulette Nededog pound through the Legacy line for the touchdown making it a two-point game.

Needing to convert the two-point attempt, Rodrigues found an open MaeAnn “Hands” Pajaro in the corner of the end zone.  However, as Pajaro was taken to the ground the ball popped out for the incompletion.

Time on the clock proved to be the enemy of the Steel Blazers and with no timeouts remaining the whistle to end the game eventually was blown giving Legacy the victory.  With the win, Legacy improves to 4-0 on the season while the Blazers drop to 3-1.

Bud Light Guam Women’s Tackle Football League action resumes next Sunday with the Steel Blazers taking on the Tough Chicks at 10:30am and the Lady Raiders going to battle against the Lady Spartans in the afternoon game scheduled for 2:30pm.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Blazers (6) Reyes makes a nice tackle to stop the run four yards short of the first down. (photo by Joey Blas)

Legacy (2) QB Morgan Reyes throws a pass to the sideline, but receiver was not able to make the reception. (photo by Joey Blas)

Legacy (44) Rayonna Quitugua picks up four yards on the run for the first down. (photo by Joey Blas)

Steel Blazers running back receives the handoff and runs the ball for a gain of four yards. (photo by Joey Blas)

Legacy (21) Keneshia Flores runs the ball up the middle for the first touchdown of the game. (photo by Joey Blas)

Legacy (7) Gianna Sarasul runs towards the sideline for a gain of five yards as the Blazers defense makes a nice hit to send Sarasul out of bounds. (photo by Joey Blas)

Legacy (6) Shawnnel Castro makes a nice catch down the sideline for the first down. (photo by Joey Blas)

Legacy (6) Shawnnel Castro goes up and tries to pull in a pass from Reyes but was not able to make the reception. (photo by Joey Blas)

Steel Blazers quarterback heads towards the sideline for a gain of five yards. (photo by Joey Blas)