EAGLES MAKE STATEMENT WITH BIG WIN OVER ANGELS

By Nick Akimoto

In Week 4 of GNYFF play, two of the league’s top programs in the Guahan Eagles and the Hal’s Angels met at Angels Field in Dededo to determine top seeding in each division. With undefeated records in the Manha, Metgot and Matua divisions, the stakes were ever present during a cloudy football-filled Saturday. 

In the Manha division, the Eagles got the better of the Angels with a big 20-6 victory. In the following game, the Angels continued to defend their Metgot title staying undefeated after squeaking out a 14-6 victory. 

Minutes before the day’s last game, the air was filled with anticipation, as the two undefeated clubs would stake their records on the line to claim the league’s top Matua division spot. 

MATUA MATCHUP 

The highly-anticipated Matua matchup would not disappoint, as both teams laid it all out on the line as they tested their team’s skill against one another. It would be thanks to big plays from Ty James Leon Guerrero, Landon Suzuki and Ashtyn Gumataotao that the Eagles would survive with a 20-13 victory and stay perched atop the division. 

It was the first time the Eagles gave up any points as they outscored their first three opponents 99-0.

“We’re just gonna be humble. Get better and look at the mistakes that we made, and we’ll get better from that,” said Leon Guerrero. 

Following an Angels fumble recovery touchdown turned in by Jude John Blas late in the first half, the Eagles’ Leon Guerrero came out big with a 30-yard run that put him in a position to receive a pass off the slant from quarterback Evan Acosta for a 32-yard touchdown. 

“We were just trying to get better from that play [the fumble for a touchdown] and pick up our heads and our other teammates and drive through,” said Leon Guerrero. 

While the Acosta-to-Leon Guerrero connection put the Eagles up 7-6 at the half, it was Gumataotao’s coverage which would bust the game wide open. During the Angels’ first drive of the second half, Gumataotao jumped in front of an Angels pass for an interception and carried it 38-yards for a defensive touchdown. 

“I just thought of my coach, did what he told me to do. I came out with the pick and I took it for the touchdown,” said Gumataotao. “It felt good and I’m glad to help the team out.” Gumataotao was crucial for the Eagles defense, also recording three tackles at the corner position, but an ankle-injury would sideline him in the fourth quarter. 

As the Angels struggled to recover from being dealt a blow on offense, the Eagles continued to thrive off the momentum set by the defensive score. Suzuki, who collected 114 yards on the ground, would punch one more touchdown for the Eagles after flipping the field as the play broke down. After slipping out of Angels’ tackles, Suzuki turned the field and brought in an impressive 85-yard touchdown.

“It feels good [to lead the game in yards]. I’m thankful to have my line to block and help me gain those yards, and we’re just gonna get better,” promised Suzuki. 

The Angels, down two scores, refused to go down quietly, after a 46-yard run by Rieko Mendiola gave the host team a slight hope at a comeback, but after a failed onside-kick, the Eagles would walk home with the victory.

EARLIER GAMES

The Eagles took 2 out of 3 games as the two teams came in at 3-0 on all the divisions.

The Eagles Manha took the first game 20-6 before the Angels squeaked by in the Metgot game 14-6.

OTHER GAMES

Manha: Cowboys 14, Outlaws 13

Metgot: Cowboys 34, Outlaws 0

Matua: Outlaws 19, Cowboys 8

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