Lanarkshire Longhorns 28 – 16 Manchester Titans Youth

Lanarkshire Longhorns @ Manchester Titans Youth 8/8/10

The Titans Youth team played the first game of the double-header with Lanarkshire Longhorns at 12 noon, with the Senior team playing the Clyde Valley Blackhawks later in the day.

Manchester received the opening kick-off and on the first play from scrimmage QB Matt Blinkhorn hit GB trialist TE Matt Nelan with a 11 pass for a first down. A 12 yard scramble by Blinkhorn moved the ball into Longhorn territory but on 4th & 2, FB Ste McGrath was stopped short of the first down.

The Longhorns first play was tackled for a loss by DT Adam Barnett and then a 9 yard sack by DE Luke Kershaw on 3rd down forced a Lanarkshire punt.

On the Titans next possession, they were forced into a 3rd & 12 but Blinkhorn hit WR Christian Beaumont deep behind the Longhorn secondary but with Beaumont on his way to a 76 yard TD, he inexplicably fumbled the ball out of bounds. Things got even worse on the next play when Blinkhorn’s pass to Nelan was intercepted and the ball returned to the Lanarkshire 42.

A holding penalty on Lanarkshire combined with LB Tom Hargreaves tackle for loss left the Longhorns with a 2nd and 21. Here the Titans were the victims of a bad call by the officials with a pass that should have been called incomplete due the receiver not having control of the ball. Instead they ruled it a 13 yard completion and on 3rd down the pass fell incomplete but Barnett was called for Roughing the Passer gifting the Lanarkshire a first down. On the next play the Longhorns RB broke 2 tackles and scored from 32 yards out. A high snap meant the extra point attempt was snuffed out by LB Gordon Cheung.

The Titans next possession resulted in another Blinkhorn interception to end the first quarter.

The Longhorns capitalised by driving 51 yards to score on a QB sneak from 3 yards out. A successful extra point made the score 14-0.

The Titans started their next drive from their 39 yard line. A 14 yard Nelan catch, 9 yard Blinkhorn scramble and 13 yard sweep by RB Tom Higham moved the ball to the Longhorns 19 yard line where Blinkhorn rolled to his left and threw a pass into the endzone that WR Dom Hayhurst out-jumped 3 Longhorn defenders to score the Titans first TD. Nelan kicked the extra point to make the score 14-8.

Lanarkshire started their next drive on their 19 yard line and gained 35 yards in 2 plays before LB Cameron Linnell stepped in front of a Longhorn pass and ran it back 10 yards to the Titans 40 yard line. Unfortunately Blinkhorn’s next pass was picked off and the Longhorns scored 2 plays later. A converted extra point made the score 22-8 in the Scots’ favour.

The Titans then unveiled their new Beast formation and behind the running of Wildcat QB George Warren they moved into the Lanarkshire 40 yard line. Unfortunately a couple of penalties forced Manchester backwards and Nelan’s punt was downed on the Longhorns 18 yard line.

Lanarkshire then drove 72 yards to score right before the end of the half but the extra point attempt was thwarted by a fantastic tackle by the referee. Half-time score was 28-8 to Lanarkshire.

The Longhorns first drive was ended by another interception by Linnell and the Titans took over the ball on the Lanarkshire 42. A scramble by Blinkhorn and 3 rushes by RB Tom Higham netted 26 yards but Blinkhorn’s pass was intercepted at the Lanarkshire 6 yard line.

A 6 yard sack by LB Tom Hargreaves left the Longhorns with a 3rd and 16 when DL Nathan Beaumont picked off a Lanarkshire pass and he returned it to the their 7 yard line. On 4th & Goal from the 1 yard a great push by the Titans Offensive Line allowed Blinkhorn to sneak in to score. Again Nelan converted the PAT and the score was 28-16.

The Longhorns went 3 and out on their next drive to end the 3rd Quarter. A 19 yard Blinkhorn scramble got the ball into Lanarkshire’s half but a false start penalty and a sack forced another Titans punt.

However with the Longhorns driving again, Cheung grabbed a pass to make the Titans 4th interception of the day. With time running out the Titans were forced to pass and a 12 yard reception by Hayhurst got the Titans moving but then 3 straight incompletions turned the ball over on downs to Lanarkshire with just 4 minutes to play.

Lanarkshire, starting from the Titans 25 yard line soon found themselves with a 1st & Goal at the Manchester 7 yard line but the Titans defense again raised their game and forced a 22 yard field goal attempt which Nathan Beaumont blocked.

Hargreaves replaced Blinkhorn at QB in a last ditch attempt to generate a score for the Titans but all 4 of his pass attempts fell incomplete allowing the Longhorns to run the clock out for the win.

The Titans next game is away to local rivals Lancashire Wolverine Colts on Sunday 15th August.

MVPs

Offence: Dom Hayhurst – 2 catches for 31 yards and a TD.
Defence: Cameron Linnell – 2 Interceptions.
Special Teams: Nathan Beaumont – Field Goal Block.