MATUA: ANGELS WIN BY TECHNICALITY

By Patrick Lujan

It’s not how any team wants to win a championship, but the top-ranked Hal’s Angels won the GNYFF Matua Division title even before they put on their pads.

An unfortunate situation happened with the Faha Outlaws, their 3rd-ranked opponents, where they lost the entire team’s ID player cards – a mandatory procedure to verify each player’s eligibility.

According to league bylaws (Section 6.7), Attendance and ID check: Any player who does not have a current GNYFF issued ID with photograph will be deemed ineligible for play.

Because the Outlaws had lost the ID cards, the entire team was deemed ineligible to play.

However, with both teams in attendance and the highly-anticipated game on the horizon, the game was played after a period of uncertainty as an exhibition.

“We didn’t want to win like this,” Angels coach Buzzy Shiroma said. “We decided we still wanted to play the game. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the momentum and they did.”

SCORELESS FIRST HALF

It was a defensive battle early on as the Angels had three possessions in the first half with their biggest play coming on a 13-yard run by Jeremiah Calvo right before halftime.

The Outlaws threatened on their first possession of the game before losing the ball on downs at the Angels 5-yard-line. Their only other possession in the half was a 3-and-out.

SECOND HALF

The Outlaws rode the shoulders of Wilson Nikepwi to knock on the goal line once again, but an interception by the Angels’ Lacen Hernandez killed the scoring opportunity at the Outlaws 2.

Trying to get out deep in their territory, a costly lost fumble by Kaden Medler gave the ball back to the Outlaws at the Angels 33.

Rio Reyes’ 18-yard run set up the only score of the game when Nikepwi barreled up the middle for the 8-yard score. The PAT kick was blocked to keep it at 6-0 to end the 3rd quarter.

Late in the game, the Angels hoped for one last gasp with a defensive stop while using their timeouts to stop the clock. On 4th-and-4 for the Outlaws with about a minute left, the Outlaws drew the Angels offsides while in punt formation, getting the easy 1st down. It was a couple of knee downs to kill the clock after that.

COACHES COMMENTS

“The kids and parents made the decision to still play,” said Outlaws coach Justin Cruz, who considered not playing the game after the bad news earlier. “We played for self pride and moral victory. The trophy means nothing to them. Winning the game was more important to show the fans that’s they are the real champs. They are champs regardless of the technicality of not having the player cards which is just a photo ID with their picture. In the end, we are back-to-back champs and the kids deserve every part of that title. They worked too dang hard this season to show we are the top team on island.”

“I tip my hat to the Outlaws,” Angels coach Blu Shiroma said. “They played a better game today giving our Matua division its first loss of the season in a championship setting. Although, the Angels have been awarded the trophy on a technicality, it’s not the way you want to get the trophy.”

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