CLUTCH TD PROPELS ANGELS TO MFL FINALS

By Robert Balajadia

The Hal’s Angels are proving time and again that they are the most clutch team in the league.

After a great regular season finale against the Island Eagles, the Angels topped their clutch performance in the semifinals on Sunday by clipping the Eagles 16-14 thanks to a late touchdown reception from receiver Jared Ada with just 16 ticks left on the clock.

Ada was a recipient of a well placed pass from quarterback Steve “SP” Phillips to get the go-ahead score form five yards out. Phillips and running back Joaquin Pangelinan made crucial run plays through the middle of the Eagles defense down the stretch to get them inside the red zone. A successful PAT put the final spin on the 16-14 clutch victory.

The Eagles battled back from a 9-0 deficit to take a 14-9 lead in the 3rd quarter.

The comeback started in the 2nd quarter as Eagle Simon Alejandro hauled in a short yardage touchdown pass from quarterback Daray Davis to put the Eagles on the board. A two-point conversion by Reggie Baylor gave the Eagles a big swing trailing 9-8 at the half.

Joel Limtiaco of the Angels finds an opening and gains some yardage. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Midway through the 3rd, Baylor gashed the Angels secondary for a 65-yard touchdown to take a 14-9 lead, but a crucial failed PAT would come back to haunt the Eagles in the final quarter.

The Angels got off to a quick start after scoring on both defense and special teams in the opening quarter. Angels’ Ivan Gabriel put the exclamation point on a fumble by Eagles Baylor by returning his cough up for a 25-yard score to go get the 9-0 lead.

The defense, lead by Joel “The Great One” Limtiaco, also came up big in clutch situations to keep the Eagles offense well away from the red zone for majority of the second half.

The win sets up a rematch of the 2014 MFL Finals between the Pepsi Warriors, who defeated the Cars Plus Rams on Saturday. Each team will have ample time to rest during the Easter Weekend with the game set to take place at the Eagles Field on April 11, but date and location could change if the Hal’s Angels Field is ready for play.

PHOTO GALLERY:

Joel Limtiaco of the Angels shows the Eagles why they shouldn’t pass the ball. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Joel Limtiaco of the Angels clamps onto the ball carrier, JP Taijeron to stop him in his tracks. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Auguste Sotelo of the Eagles takes flight in the endzone but comes up late to miss the pass. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Eagles QB, Daray Davis finds a hole in the defense off of the snap giving him some room to run. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

JJ McCloud and Matthew Moreno of the Eagles swarm the ball carrier for a stop on the play. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)

Robert Salas of the Angels brings down Reggie Baylor to force a fumble on the play. The fumble would be recovered by Ivan Gabriel of the Angels and taken to the endzone for the angels first TD in the first half. (photo by Kyle Twardowski)