Week 15 Review: A Diet of Doughnuts and Burgers

By Tim Foster

Djoss Balela (DB, #0) leading the team run-out, 1 August 2026. Photo by Malc Burke.

For the penultimate regular season game of the 5-time back-to-back BAFA Premiership North Champions, your Manchester Titans hosted the Merseyside Nighthawks on 1st August 2026, in front of packed stands well catered for by our friends at Cocktail Cartel, Birchwood Pizza, National Perk Coffee, and our volunteers on the busy Titans’ Merch Stall.

The game day squad saw two rookies make their Titans debut on Offence - Matt “Ozzy” Osborne (RB, #43) and Dominic Lewis (WR, #44), with a welcome return of veteran Owen Smith (RT, #66) from a stint in Germany.

JD - part-time Defensive Coordinator full-time Oakley ambassador. Photo by Malc Burke.

I will begin with a review of Defence. Coordinator James Dean got his second “doughnut” of the season - the first came in the reverse fixture with the Nighthawks on the opening day of the season (0-46) - and whether he likes them sugared, jam-filled or glazed, either way this one was sweet.

For the majority of the game the Titans D ensured the only direction the Merseyside Offence traveled in was backwards, or at least sideways. However, there was a brief 3rd quarter scare but this was brought under control swiftly by great tracking and tackling by “Slim Reaper” Djoss Balela (DB, #0) and DK (DB, #20). That was the only threat posed by the Nighthawks’ Offence, with credit going to the strong D-Line and impressive linebacker aggression from Don Espina (#57), Rory Dodgson (#2), Boris Gavin (#55) and Fraser Galloway (#4) – all protecting the zero.

Titans defenders swarming to the ball. Photo by Malc Burke.

Now onto Offensive Coordinator Alex Challands’ Offence, who put up a Burger-and-a-half. Slick and razor-sharp darts from Quarterbacks Josh Mills (#3) and Alex Ross (#8) mostly found their intended recipients. In a front-foot fast start to the 1st quarter Brad Temple (WR, #1) started the scoring with a trademark quality grab and a fast-feet finish down the centre. Following a recovered onside kick, Titans made great progress down the field and then on a toss Brad this time jumped through the pylon in the right corner for another score.

It was then Sam Wilson’s (WR, #88) turn to double up. Charlie Escott (WR, #14) went in motion to quads and a screen pass to Sam saw a walk-in TD. The next screen pass made him work a little harder, but great blocking enabled a run-in from his own 40-yard line. A 28-0 1st quarter scoreline was testament to the control shown by the chain-moving Offence and the trucking of Nathan Jewkes (RB, #12).

Brad Temple (WR, #1) down the centre of the field for a touchdown, 1 August 2026. Photo by Malc Burke.

The 2nd quarter saw two scores each from Matt Wilson (WR, #81) and Herm Manga (RB, #80). Matt’s first followed a great pass from Josh Mills into the left corner. A punt return from Dan Ward (DB, #6) created field position at the 3-yard line, and when the dangerous #81 motioned across before the snap, the Nighthawks’s guard was down to the threat from the running back, allowing Herm to run in his first TD. A two-point conversion was caught by Escott. Matt Wilson’s second score came after a pass from Mills at halfway - breaking tackles and strong-arming flailing defenders, he powered down the Titans sideline for another 6 points.

Scott Tomlinson (OL, #56) with his signature celebration in the end zone with Brad Temple (WR, #1). Photo by Malc Burke.

The half was brought to a close with a change at QB with Alex Ross coming in. Four strong runs from Herm created another short run-in for himself with great blocking on the line from his compatriot Jewkes. Ross found Escott again who broke three tackles to power into the right corner of the endzone. All 1-point conversions were good from Alex “Legatron” Lenkowski (K, #17) and the Titans went into the half 64-0 up.

The second half saw more squad rotation and with a running clock more scores would need to be well-earned, and well-earned they were. A 20-yard fake punt burst from Lenkowski set up field position for “Jewkesy” to power in, breaking several tackles from the 35-yard line. A 2-point conversion to Kristian Dean (WR, #15) was unsuccessful. However, the same Ross-Dean combination hit the mark at the start of the 4th quarter after some great fast-feet shuffling from rookie Matt Osborne.

Lenkowski’s powerful running on a fake punt play. Photo by Malc Burke.

The final play of the game saw Titans go for it on 4th and 17, with Ross finding the other debutant Dominic Lewis in the left corner for his first touchdown as a Titan. There was no time for the extra point conversion, ending the game with a final score of 83-0.

Doughnuts, Burgers and great-tasting pizzas washed down with coffee or cocktails – a wonderful afternoon for all concerned.

Photo by Malc Burke.

A massive thank you goes out to the BAFRA officiating team and all our fantastic volunteers at the Manchester Titans who make our game days such a success. Click here if you would like to get involved as a Titans game day volunteer and get in on all the behind-the-scenes action.

For more information about becoming an American football referee, visit the BAFRA website at www.bafra.info.

Your Manchester Titans play at home again at 6pm on Saturday 8 August against the Nottingham Caesars - the final regular season game of 2026. Tickets are also now on sale for the semi-final game against London Blitz on Saturday 22 August, kick off at 3pm. We look forward to seeing you there!