ANGELS, OUTLAWS PUNCH TICKETS TO CHAMPIONSHIP SATURDAY

By Jay Leon Guerrero

The Hal’s Angels came up just short of sending all three teams to the 2023 Triple J GNYFF Football League championships.

After winning the Manha and Metgot divisions, the Outlaws played spoilers with their biggest win in their organization’s young history, beating the Angels in a game called slightly early due to a major injury during play late in the game Suday afternoon at the Tiyan Field.

MATUA

The Outlaws are headed to the Matua, but the victory was somberly celebrated.

The Outlaws were up 8-0 with under two minutes left in the game when an Outlaw defensive back suffered a scary head injury. The game was wisely called.

Sunday’s game was not about winning or losing, but the health of the young player taken away in the ambulance.

Prior to the dramatic play that had both teams huddling in prayer, the Outlaws stopped the Angels on a fourth and long situation and would have gotten the ball back, but after seeing a player taken away, the game was called by officials.

Game sequence:
The Angels and Outlaws opened up the contest with both defenses making key plays and stops as both were unable to score after three quarters. 

Several penalties in the first half also stalled the offenses. 

Ervin Torres from the Outlaws had the biggest play of the first half, a huge 40-yard run to put the Angel 15 yard line. The Angels defense pushed the Outlaws back and out of field goal range thanks to a sack from Nico Evaristo.

The Outlaw defense returned the favor after Sage Delgado got a big tackle for loss on 3rd-and-5 with under a minute left in the half to keep the game scoreless.

The Outlaws started to move the chains in the third quarter, but a fumble recovery by Jude Salas gave the Angels possession back at midfield.

Brock Aguon found a hole for a 22-yard run, and the third quarter ended with the Angels driving inside of the 10-yard line.

The Angels had all confidence heading into the fourth with the ball on the four-yard line. A huge turn of events transpires on the first play of the fourth quarter after a fumble was forced by the Outlaw defensive line and Outlaw defender Ryan Luzanta picked up the fumble and sprinted 96 yards for a defensive touchdown.

After three scoreless quarters, the Outlaws suddenly found themselves up 8-0 after a successful two-point kick by William Dulla.

The Angels responded with a good kickoff return and a 28-yard rush by Aguon. The Angels were inside the five yard line and looking to score, but two costly holding calls moved them back to the 25-yard line. It was fourth and long after two failed pass attempts when the injury transpired and the game was eventually called.

The Outlaws will face the undefeated Eagles in the championship game scheduled next weekend. The game will be a good match-up to look forward to, but youth football fans will surely look forward to a speedy recovery to the young player. 

METGOT

The top-seed Angels advanced to the championship game in the Metgot Division after defeating the Outlaws 41-13.

Angels quarterback Apollo Moylan threw four touchdowns and over 200 yards to help his team remain undefeated.

The Angels wasted no time putting numbers on the scoreboard with Justice Alcantara scoring a 25-yard touchdown run on the opening drive to make it 6-0. A two-point conversion by Kaden Lee Medler made the score 8-0.

The Angels defense gave possession back to the offense after Landon Shinohara recorded a sack on fourth down.

The Angels’ “M&M connection” composed of Moylan and Medler continued to put points on the board. Moylan found Medler for a 12-yard touchdown to go up 14-0 after a failed two point conversion.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Outlaws’ Nekhi Freeman dashed by all the Angel defenders for a 52-yard touchdown. The extra point run attempt was unsuccessful, and the Angels lead was just 14-6.

The Angels marched into the red zone, but an intercetion by Ghesan Gaje gave possession back to the Outlaws.

The Angels managed to get possession back, and Moylan found Alcantara for a 45-yard bootleg touchdown pass just before halftime. After a failed kick attempt, the Angles led 20-6 at the break.

The M&M connection struck again in the third quarter, with Moylan connecting to Medler for a 75-yard touchdown to increase their lead to 27-6.

Freeman cought a 50-yard pass from Gaje to end the third quarter. A successful run attempt by Freeman made the score 27-13.

To start the fourth quarter, Gaje stripped Alcantara to force a turnover after a near touchdown at the five yard line. The Outlaws were unable to get a first down and surrendered possession back to the Angels.

The Angels added two more touchdowns in the final period with Jayce Sablan rushing for a goal line touchdown and Alcanatara catching a 50-yard touchdown from Moylan to end the game with a final score of 41-13.

Alcantara, who also made key tackles on defense, had three touchdowns. The Angels will now face the #2 Cowboys on Saturday in the championship game. 

MANHA

The Angels will advance to the Manha championship game after defeating the Cowboys 14-7. 

The Angels did all their scoring in the first half and their defense held on for the victory. 

Ryder Izayah Salas found the end zone twice in the first half to put the Angels up 14-0 by halftime – a 20-yard score in the first quarter and a 45-yard jaunt in the second quarter. Landen Kole Medler was successful in both extra point attempts after the touchdowns for the Angels. 

The Cowboy defense had a pair of big plays in the first half but was unable to capitalize on good field position. Jesse Superales was superb on defense for the Cowboys with a sack and a forced fumble in the first half. Brayden Taimanglo also recorded a sack in the first half for the Cowboys. 

The Cowboys offense found their groove in the third quarter with Vincent Del Rosario rushing for a 26-yard first down. After a penalty moved the Cowboys back into their own territory, Superales completed a 12-yard pass to Brayden Taimanglo for another first down.

The Angel defense was able to shut down the run game and forced the Cowboys to punt. Both teams were unable to score in the third quarter.

The Cowboy season was on the line entering the fourth quarter. Southern got on the board with Del Rosario scoring on a five yard run to cut the lead to 14-7 with Taimanglo getting the extra point.

With 1:57 seconds left, the Cowboys desperately needed to get possession back. The Angels continued to run the ball to run the clock down. Brennan Aquiningoc gained eight yards for the Angels, and Skyler Castro dove for a first down, which was enough to run the clock out for the victory. 

The Angels will now face top-ranked Eagles for the Manha championship.

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