MATCH REPORT: BAFA DIVISION 2 EAST. GAME 3. NORWICH DEVILS @ IPSWICH CARDINALS

 

The East Anglian Derby returned for another year as Norwich travelled to Ipswich for this Division 2 East clash. For many, this match-up is the highlight of the year as the rivalry goes back to the 1980s. Ipswich currently lead the series but have struggled in recent times and are currently in a rebuilding year. Norwich are also in their first year of a new system, and have some new coaching staff, but that wasn’t going to matter. This game was going to be all about the grind on the field.

 

Ipswich received the kick-off and went straight to work with their run game. Slick hand-offs led to a first down and a quick pass out to the right from QB Joe Moore to WR Mitchell Melanaphy got them close to midfield. However, their misdirection play ran straight into DE Luca Ferrara and a pass attempt after that failed.

 

Ipswich punted and the Devils took over on their own 38. Two big runs, within an 8 play drive, saw Francisco Santana take the ball down to the Ipswich 24. From there Jay Crawl hit Fred Harris over the middle for the score. The 2 point conversion was good and the Devils were up 8-0.

 

Both teams then had short possessions, that carried the game into the 2^nd quarter, before Ipswich had a big run from Tyler Corn. They soon found themselves on the Devils 15 struggling to punch it in. The Ipswich OC dug into his bag of tricks and pulled out a half back pass. Fabian Ortiz-Bars ran what looked like a sweep to the right before cocking his arm and throwing to the tall receiver Sean Russell. Ipswich were in but a bad snap on the PAT meant they only came away with 6.

 

Jay Crawl got straight back into rhythm, on the next drive, hitting Fred Harris for 14, and running for 15 himself, before finding Adam Jones in the back of the end zone, from 16 yards out, to cap off a 9 play 62 yard drive. The 2 point attempt pinged off TE Charlie Keohane’s hands and was intercepted by Tyler Corn. 14-6

 

Both teams struggled to get a drive going later in the 2^nd quarter until Ipswich got another break. Starting on their own 18, they went trips right and Joe Moore threw at a double post route combination. He tried to squeeze the ball between three Devils defenders only for the ball to sail over. Fortunately for Ipswich, the second post player, Fabian Ortiz-Bars, was right behind and the ball fell straight into his lap and he ran another 45 yards worth of YAC all the way down to the Devils 30. Henri Clements banged through the Devils defence to punch it in 3 plays later and the PAT was good. 14-13.

 

The Devils received the kick-off and their next drive started on their own 25. Francisco Santana then continued his electric form and took the first play 75 yards to the house. The key block, to spring him, was thrown by Aaron Wheatley. The 2 point pass attempt was dropped by Charlie Keohane leaving the score at 20-13.

There followed a short possession from Ipswich before the Devils once again took over with just minutes left in the 2^nd quarter. A scramble from Joe Moore was chased down, from the back side, by DE Luca Ferrara and Ferrara stripped the ball during the tackle. The turnover gave the Devils offence great field position.

 

A 27 yard pass to Fed Harris left the Devils on the 7 and Jay crawl then hit Aaron Wheatley in the right corner for another score. The 2 point attempt sailed over Fred Harris’ head on the out route and the score was 26-14 at the break.

 

The Devils received the ball in the 2^nd half and came out passing. 10 consecutive pass plays ended with Adam Jones walking in from a 20 yard pass from Crawl. The 2 point attempt was intercepted again. 32-13.

 

Ipswich then put together a long drive that ultimately failed on 4^th down deep in Norwich territory. It was a missed opportunity that took up lots of clock in a game where both teams were capable of using up valuable time. Each team then took more time off with drives but came away with no points. The Cardinals executed a fake punt on one drive and then then went back into the bottom of their playbook and attempted another HB pass. 

This time, CB Tay Green recovered from his wrong step to run back and stretch out backwards and tip the ball away from the wide open Jainyle Brown. Cardinal Joe Moore went for it again on 4^th down but the pass over the middle was broken up by Devils’ FS Ian Latham.

 

The game ultimately wound down with short drives from each team that did little else than use up clock. This was obviously beneficial to the Devils and they walked away with the 32-13 win and a 3-0 record. Meanwhile Ipswich found themselves rooted to the bottom of the Division 2 East table at 0-2.

 

Photos by Big Red Photography