SILVER RAIDERS CLIP ANGELS IN UNBEATEN BATTLE

By Robert Balajadia

Saturday’s undefeated matchup between the BFL’s top two teams didn’t disappoint as the now (5-0) IT&E Silver Raiders handed the MRE Hal’s Angels their first loss of the season (4-1) during the season’s second half of games. The Raiders struck early and finished strong to beat the Angels 26-13.

Raiders quarterback Danny Manibusan threw two touchdowns on the day and led his team down the field on two occasions in the 4th quarter to ice the game. After scoring two touchdowns in their first two drives of the game, the Raiders were met with more resistance from the Angels defense that allowed the comeback.

“They adjusted their defense to our offense. We had to shift around our guys in other positions to throw them off and it worked out for us in the end. That’s how we managed to get the late touchdowns in the end,” said Manibusan on the gritty Angels defense.

With the score tied at 13, Manibusan hit Jesse ‘Pumpy’ Manglona for a 60-yard catch and run to set up a two-yard score by running back Hosea Ware to take a 19-13 advantage. A failed two-point conversion left the window open for the Angels to take the lead.

The Angels then picked up two first downs on the following series to get within the Raider territory for the possible lead-changing score, but a deep pass on 3rd down was read perfectly by Raider defensive back Valiant Borja for a monumental interception return.

“I felt they were coming to me on that play. The two receivers were talking like they were ready to make a play on my side so I was ready for it from the beginning. We read it good and did exactly what we needed to,” Borja said.

Borja’s defensive play from their own 20 was good for 40 yards, getting inside the Angels 30. The play allowed the Raiders to march inside the red zone of the Angels for an eventual seven-yard dart from Manibusan to Manglona for the 26-13 clincher inside the four-minute warning.

The game was physical all contest, but the heightened physical game was sparked when Manibusan and Angels defensive back Chris Santos collided in the 2nd quarter on a scramble. That collision led to an exchange of verbal barbs between the two throughout the contest.

Wendy’s players of the game Danny Manibusan and Valiant Borja.

As bad as it may have seemed on the field, Manibusan assured that the malice doesn’t extend outside the games boundary markers.

“If you’re not on our team then we put the friendship aside for the duration of the game. But afterwards, we’ll have a couple of drinks together and chat. Everyone on that field wants to come out with the ‘W’,” said Manibusan.

Game Flow

Raiders running back Hank ‘The Tank’ Sablan ran for a 13-yard touchdown and Manibusan hit Alsomo Untalan from 18 yards out to put the Raiders up two touchdowns, 13-0, in the 1st quarter.

The Raiders scored on their first two offensive series before the Angels picked up a single first down. The Angels defense then forced back-to-back fumbles in the 2nd quarter against the Raiders that prevented the Silver and Blue from putting up more points on the scoreboard.

The first was by Angel Storm Manglona who placed a big hit on the slanting receiver Untalan after the refs ruled a successful catch. The second came on a quarterback scramble from Manibusan, who got caught in the middle of a host of Angels who managed to pluck the ball out before dragging Manibusan to the ground.

Angels Jarred Ada made his season debut during Saturday’s game and he made an immediate impact by hauling in a 12-yard score to put the Angels on the board in the 3rd quarter.

Alsomo Untalan looks to stay inbounds as he falls backwards completing a touchdown catch in the 1st quarter. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Angels Steve ‘SP’ Phillips went back to Ada on their following offensive series for a 47-yard play up the right side of the field, setting up another touchdown pass for Phillips, but this time to Tyler Santos up the middle from 14 yards out. The ball was tipped by the Raiders but Santos still managed to locate the ball for the highlight reel score to knot the game at 13.

The Angels dominated the clock in the 3rd quarter, but the 4th belonged to the Raiders who scored another 13 unanswered points to win the game.

“We knew once they started coming up with that rally we knew that we needed pick up our game. We’re trying to keep our streak going and we can’t stop now,” said Borja on the teams defense in the second half.

“This far into the season we need a game like this. It’s good to have a game where there’s a team out there who’s able to neck-and-neck with us. It really shows the true team spirit that we have together and how we can adjust when it comes to the games bottom line,” added Manibusan.

PHOTO GALLERY BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

No celebration needed as Angel Jarred Ada runs back to hand the ball to the ref after his 12-yard touchdown catch. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Raider Valiant Borja makes a touchdown saving play by swatting away a pass intended for Angel Darrin Tullis. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Jesse ‘Pumpy’ Manglona nearly comes away with an interception in the 1st quarter. (photo by Robert Balajadia)

Jacob Torres burns the Angels secondary for a huge 37-yard gain in the 1st quarter. (photo by Robert Balajadia)