ANGELS MAKE OPENING SEASON STATEMENT

By Paradis Jolie Fejerang

The Hal’s Angels Matua squad avenged their 2023 semifinals loss to the Faha Outlaws to open up the new 2024 GNYFF season on Sunday.

It was an opening-season showdown pitting two top Matua (14-15) teams in the league and the talented squads didn’t disappoint the crowd at Eagles Field as the Angels squeaked out a 20-18 victory.

The Angels were quick to celebrate as they were the first to grab a touchdown, but the energy quickly changed when the Outlaws’ offense stepped onto the field.

Outlaw Kaizayuh Flores was a highlight on the field as he was able to breeze past the Angels defense and fend for himself against multiple attempted tackles. Flores became the main priority for his opponents to take down, especially after making the first touchdown for his team while being chased down by Angel Paul Quenga from the 20-yard line.

At the half, the score remained an even at 6-6 as both teams were unable to achieve any extra points to boost either of themselves above the other.

Promptly into the second half, the Outlaws were right in front of the end zone, yet again. This time achieving a touchdown on an Ervin Torres 5-yard score. 

Proving themselves as worthy opponents, the Angels snapped back after a few attempted plays where Elijah “Hawaii” Charfauros received the ball as his team switched the field quickly from the right and allowing Charfauros to make his way down a defenseless left side.

From this touchdown, the Angels were able to attain the only extra points of the game from a field goal that would bring what was briefly a tied score to have the Angels up by two.

With less than four minutes left of game time, the Outlaws fought to demonstrate to the Angels who exactly it was that won in the semifinal match last year as Flores snuck into the right corner of the endzone, celebrating with his team as the time ran down and the odds turned in their favor.

LATE GAME EXCITEMENT

Unluckily for the Outlaws, the Angels saw the few minutes left in the game as enough to bring it back. From the kickoff return, Justice Alcantara caught a deep ball and relied on his team to make way for him as he dashed down the left side to make it past the 50.

Still, nerves were settling in and Alcantara’s work seemed lost when the Angels fumbled the ball with now only two minutes left.

Regardless, Alcantara stayed on the field on defense and caught a stellar interception off of the Outlaws’ play and made his way towards a touchdown, championing the winning scores for the game as the Angels’ proved the importance of those little extra points with a final score of 20-18.

Ivan Shiroma, coach for the Angels, saw this win as one accomplished due to the mistakes of their competitors. “I think [the Outlaws] just made a strategic mistake. Other than that, we’re equal as far as talent and size.”

Confident that the Outlaws will learn from the day’s game, he shares that he is glad that the opposing young athletes are getting better and hopes for the entire league that this improvement will continue for each team as time goes on.

“[The league] could have good games every weekend and not just easy games for a couple weekends and then a hard time the next,” Shiroma states to later add that this would also be good for spectators to gain interest and stay excited about the sport with games that are exciting. “Nobody likes to see blowouts.”

Regarding his team’s performance, Shiroma is proud that they fought until the end, teaching an important lesson to athletes about keeping your focus and fighting all the way to the end. “They didn’t give up even though things looked bleak. We were behind and time was running out, but that’s our style. Don’t count us out until the last whistle blows.”

In the Metgot game, the Outlaws beat the Angels for the first time in team history 33-28.

WEEK 1 RESULTS

Manha

Packers 26, Steelers 0

Eagles 36, Crusaders 6

Cowboys 20, Broncos 13

Angels 27, Outlaws 0

Metgot

Steelers 20, Packers 6

Eagles 36, Crusaders 0

Cowboys 42, Broncos 6

Outlaws 33, Angels 28

Matua

Packers def. Steelers (forfeit)

Eagles 41, Crusaders 0

Cowboys 38, Broncos 6

Angels 20, Outlaws 18

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