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Claymores Close Slate with World Bowl in Sight

June 4, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Scottish Claymores News Release


The Scottish Claymores (5-4) close out their regular season schedule this Sunday when they host the Amsterdam Admirals (4-5) at Hampden Park with a World Bowl berth possibly on the line for the home team. Depending on Saturday's results across the league, a win could vault the Claymores into a hosting role for World Bowl XI in Glasgow on June 14. The Claymores are looking to finish the season with four straight victories, which would mark the longest wining streak in the Club's nine-year history. The Admirals come into this week's finale after beating the Berlin Thunder in a shootout last week 51-45 in Amsterdam. The Claymores are 2-2 at home this year, and the Admirals are 2-2 on the road in 2003. This will mark the 18th regular season meeting in the history of the teams, with the Claymores leading the series 9-8. The Claymores hold a 5-3 edge in games played in Scotland and took the first meeting between the teams this year 31-20 two weeks ago in Amsterdam. Sunday's game will be broadcast live in the United States on DirecTV at 10:00 AM EDT. FOX Sports broadcaster Curt Menefee will handle the U.S. play-by-play, and he will be joined in the broadcast booth by analyst Brian Baldinger.

CLAYMORES INJURY REPORT

S Bobby Jackson (groin) is listed as probable for Sunday's game.

THE HEAD COACHES

Gene Dahlquist is on the Claymores' sideline for his third season, and currently carries a record of 14-15 (.483) as an NFLE head coach. The 60-year-old head coach brings 30 years college coaching experience to the Claymores and, before moving to NFL Europe, he most recently held the position as offensive passing game coordinator at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas in 2000. Prior to joining John Robinson's staff at UNLV, Dahlquist served as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and receivers coach at the University of Texas from 1992-1997 where he helped direct the Longhorns to three Big XII Conference titles and three bowl appearances. From 1988-91, he was again the offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois, and steered the Fighting Illini offense to one Big Ten Championship and four Bowl appearances under head coach John Mackovic, helping to develop future NFL #1 pick, quarterback Jeff George. Prior to his stint at Illinois, he worked with close friend and former Claymores head coach Jim Criner for 10 years. The two coaches worked together at Iowa State University from 1983-86 and at Boise State University from 1977-82, where Dahlquist served as the offensive coordinator. Together, Dahlquist and Criner helped drive Boise State to five Big Sky Conference titles and one NCAA Division 1-AA National Championship. Prior to coaching at Boise State, Dahlquist was the offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon from 1974-76 and quarterbacks coach at the University of Utah from 1971-73. He kicked off his coaching career as quarterbacks coach at Idaho State University from 1968-70. Dahlquist received his Master's Degree in Education from Idaho State University in 1974, graduating from the University of Arizona with his bachelor's degree in 1965, where he played college football as a quarterback and punter. Following his collegiate career, Dahlquist played professional football from 1965-66 as a quarterback and punter in the Continental Football League in the United States with the Norfolk Neptunes. Dahlquist, a native of Mount Prospect, Illinois, he and his wife Toni currently reside in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Bart Andrus is also in his third year as head coach of the Amsterdam Admirals having led them to consecutive 4-6 seasons in his first two campaigns. He carries a career record of 12-17 (.414) into this week's game. Last year, Amsterdam boasted the league's number one red zone offense, scoring 16 touchdowns and seven field goals on 27 trips inside the 20-yard line. He guided the Admirals to a 4-6 record in 2001, narrowly missing out on a berth in World Bowl IX in the final regular season contest. Andrus spent the 2000 season as the offensive coordinator of the Rhein Fire, winning a World Bowl ring. His Fire offense topped the league in total yards gained and points scored. Prior to his appointment with the Fire, Andrus spent three seasons in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans/Oilers, serving as an offensive assistant in 1997-98, and as the quarterbacks coach in 1999. He was a member of the Titans' coaching staff at Super Bowl XXXIV. Andrus has more than 10 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level including one season as the head coach of Rocky Mountain College. He received the 1996 NAIA Coach of the Year Award for his efforts in restructuring a program that had not won a game in four years. At the helm at Rocky Mountain, Andrus ended the season at 6-4 with his offense ranking first in the nation. Prior to his stint at Rocky Mountain, Andrus held the role of offensive coordinator at three different institutions, Southern Utah University (1993-95), Montana State (1990-91) and Humboldt State (1986-89). Andrus served as a graduate assistant at Brigham Young University in 1984 after a three-year position as head coach at St. Patrick High School in Vallejo, California. Andrus is a graduate of the University of Montana where he played quarterback for four years (1978-81). Born in Los Angeles on March 30, 1958, Andrus and his wife Karen are the parents of a daughter Brooke (15) and a son Travis (12).

QUOTES FROM THE COACH

Catching up with Claymores' Head Coach Gene Dahlquist for some of his latest thoughts:

(on the importance of this week's game): If we remain in with a chance there's no doubt in my mind that this is the biggest game we've ever played since the World Bowl against Frankfurt Galaxy at Murrayfield in 1996.

(on the team's turnaround in the last few weeks): Our resurgence in recent weeks is based upon an offense that is incredibly productive, a defense that has been difficult to score against – we've conceded only three touchdowns in the last three games – and a special teams unit that has been very consistent.

(on the Admirals): To claim a winning record at home we must defeat the Admirals this afternoon, but they are extremely dangerous with a football and have an offense that's ranked second in total offense in the league this season, so we know the dangers they pose. There's no way Amsterdam will give up anything this weekend as they bid to finish 5-5 – their incredible 51-43 victory over Berlin Thunder in the ArenA last Saturday evening proved that.

SCOTTISH CLAYMORES QUOTES

SCOTTISH CLAYMORES (45) AT AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (7)

MAY 31, 2003 – MINI ESTADI, BARCELONA, SPAIN

Head Coach Gene Dahlquist: "One thing everyone got a chance to see today for the first time this season was the speed of our defense on a dry field. This was the first time we've played on a fast track and I thought it was extremely impressive. In Tampa, we thought we had that kind of team and they were able to show it today."

"It felt good. Both sides of the ball were excellent in the first half, special teams also. It was probably about as well as the team could perform, but we've got to put it behind us and try to be even better next week."

"It would have been nice to get the shutout, but the defense played great. I don't feel bad about giving up the late touchdown since the team played well all afternoon."

Quarterback Craig Nall: "I feel ecstatic. We came out and did the things we were trying to do and they really couldn't stop us today. From the running game to the passing game, everything was working. The offensive line played another great game, which makes it easy on me."

"Obviously, execution made the difference. We didn't have as many penalties as we did the last time we faced them. I think in the last game we had six penalties on drive and I don't know if we had that many all day today. It came down to focus on everybody's part of the offense, and whenever you see the defense playing the way they did today, that makes you want to go out and put it out of reach."

"Usually our first 12 plays are scripted, mainly to see how they will react to us. We count on having one touchdown before the12 plays are over, and six times out of nine this year, we've scored the first time we've had the ball."

SCOTTISH CLAYMORES GAME NOTES: Claymores captains for game nine were QB Craig Nall, RB Ken Simonton, LB Yubrenal Isabelle and S Bobby Jackson... Temperature at game time 80° F, (27° C), with clear skies and a light breeze... The Claymores won the coin toss and elected to receive... Nall hit WR John Minardi for 11 yards and a first down on the game's second play... Simonton took a swing pass and maneuvered through the Dragons defense for a gain of 24... Nall then found TE Rashod Kent for a 24-yard gain... Nall connected with a shovel pass to RB Maurice Hicks who then found the end zone from eight yards out for a 7-0 lead with 11:17 to play in the first... The seven-play 76-yard drive was the sixth time the Claymores have scored on their opening possession in nine games this year... Nall was five-of-five on the drive, hitting five different receivers for 69 yards... DE T.J. Bingham sacked QB Seth Burford for a six-yard loss on the Dragons' second play... DE Radell Lockhart got to Burford for an eight-yard sack on the next play, forcing a Dragons punt... Simonton returned the punt 16 yards, giving the Claymores the ball at their own 49... The offense moved down the field quickly again, with Nall hitting Minardi from 24 yards out for his second TD pass of the quarter... The score was Minardi's fourth receiving touchdown of the season, tops on the team... DL Nate Bolling drew a holding penalty but still tackled Burford short of the first down marker on third down, forcing another punt... Nall completed a pass to English national RB Stephen Hutchinson for nine yards and a first down... TE Rod Trafford made a nice leaping snare of a Nall dart for a seven-yard gain... A generous roughing the passer penalty on Barcelona extended the Claymores' drive following a third down incompletion... The quarter ended with the Claymores on top 14-0... Simonton took a swing pass on the second quarter's first play and broke tackles for a 31-yard gain to the 14... Nall found FB Mike Malan for a 17-yard gain to the two-yard line after a penalty... Hicks scored his second TD of the day on the next day, a two-yard plunge through the right side of the offensive line... Rob Hart's third PAT of the day made the score 21-0 with 13:36 to go in the first half... Chris Finlen came in at quarterback for the Dragons to start the second period... His first series was just as ineffective as Burford's, resulting in a three-and-out and a Barcelona punt... Barcelona S James Lewis hit Simonton as he attempted to field the punt, fumbling the ball, but Jermaine Chatman jumped on the loose ball at the Claymores' five-yard line... QB Shane Stafford was under center for the drive... Simonton gashed through the defense for a 14-yard gain and another first down... Hicks gained 12 yards around the right end after taking a lateral from Stafford... Hicks then burst for a 16-yard gain to the 33... Stafford hit WR Anthony Bright for 18 yards and a first down... Stafford found WR Scott Couper for a five-yard TD, putting the Claymores on top 28-0 with 5:12 left on the first half clock... The catch was Couper's 100th career reception, making him just the second Claymore and seventh player in league history to reach that illustrious mark... QB Kyle McCann entered the game for Barcelona, but fared no better than his predecessors... The Claymores were forced to punt at the two-minute warning, Kevin Stemke's first kick of the game... Lockhart dropped McCann for a 10-yard sack on first down, pushing the Dragons back to their two-yard line... After another Dragons' punt, Stafford scrambled 17 yards for a first down... Stafford then hit Minardi for a 29-yard TD score, his second of the game, making the score 35-0 with 23 seconds to play in the half... DT DeVonte Peterson batted a McCann pass, which McCann then caught and was tackled for a two-yard loss. As the teams left for halftime, the Claymores held a 35-0 lead... The Claymores outgained the Dragons 338-7 in the half and had 22 first downs to Barcelona's one... Hart kicked off to open the second half, booting the ball into the end zone for a touchback, his first of the season... Burford returned to start the third quarter, and Peterson knocked down his first attempt... Lockhart tackled Burford for a seven-yard sack, his third of the game, moving him into the team-lead with six on the season... DE Chris Ward dropped Burford on third down, forcing another punt and adding to his franchise mark for sacks in a career with his 14th... Nall returned to quarterback for the third quarter... Nall ran for nine yards and a first down... WR Edell Shepherd caught a 24-yard pass from Nall to move the ball into the red zone once again... Simonton took a pitch and ran around the right end for a three-yard score to make it 42-0 with 8:01 to go in the third... Attendance for the game was 8,247... Burford moved the Dragons down the field, putting multiple first downs together for the first time on the day... DT Michael Landry retook the team lead for sacks, dropping Burford for a seven-yard loss, putting him at 6.5 for the season... DE Robert Flickinger got into the mix, sacking Burford and stripping the ball on a fourth down attempt, the Claymores' seventh sack of the day... Stafford returned and hit Couper for 20 yards down the left side... The third quarter expired with the Claymores leading 42-0... Hicks used speed and power to run for another first down early in the fourth quarter... The Dragon defense held at the 18, bringing out Hart for a 36-yard field goal attempt, which he nailed to make the score 45-0 with 12:17 to play... Flickinger recorded his second sack of the day, dropping Burford for a nine-yard loss... Burford hit TE Matt Cercone for 20 yards on fourth-and-ten to move inside the 20-yard line... The Claymores defense stopped the Dragons on a fourth down attempt at the five-yard line, keeping the shutout intact with six minutes to play... Finlen returned for the Dragons... Finlen hit WR Zek Parker for a 27-yard TD pass to put the Dragons on the board... The Claymores lead was 45-7 with 1:26 to play... Nall's final passer rating was 158.3, the highest possible rating as he completed 14 of 16 passes for 207 yards with two TDs and no INTs. The Claymores ran out the clock with the score 45-7.

2003 SCOTTISH CLAYMORES GAME NINE
Scottish Claymores 45 at Amsterdam Admirals 7
May 31, 2003
Mini Estadi

Barcelona - (Warm, Clear) - The Scottish Claymores kept their dreams of playing at home in the World Bowl alive in impressive fashion with a 45-7 trouncing of the F.C. Barcelona Dragons in Spain Saturday evening. The Scotsmen dominated both sides of the ball. The Claymores offensive line kept both quarterbacks clean, while the defensive front reached Dragons passers eight times in the game. The offense took the opening kickoff and drove 74 yards on just seven plays to take a 7-0 lead. Quarterback Craig Nall completed all five of his pass attempts on the opening drive, hitting five different receivers en route to the score. Running back Maurice Hicks was the one to find the end zone, taking a shovel pass from Nall and fighting through the Dragon defense for seven yards and a touchdown. The defense was not to be outdone, though, and they forced a three-and-out with two sacks of Barcelona passer Seth Burford. Defensive ends T.J. Bingham and Radell Lockhart dropped Burford on successive plays to force a punt. The offense picked up where it had left off a few minutes before and drove right back down the field for another score. Nall finally misfired on his seventh attempt of the day, but his eighth was a perfect toss over the Dragon secondary into the hands of a leaping John Minardi, his fourth TD catch of the season, tops on the team. The first quarter was truly a one-sided affair, with the Claymores outgaining the Dragons 168-3 in total offense and 14-0 on the scoreboard. The second quarter opened the same way as the first with the Claymores jumping on the board again. Nall's swing pass to Simonton on the first play of the period gained 31 yards and moved the team inside the red zone again and Hicks reached the end zone for the second time on the day two plays later with a two-yard plunge through the right side for a 21-0 lead with more than 13 minutes to play before halftime. Shane Stafford came in at quarterback and led a 95-yard scoring march. As Stafford was flushed from the pocket deep in Dragon ground, he scrambled and found Scott Couper in the back left corner of the end zone. Couper grabbed his 100th career reception and put the team ahead 28-0 in the process. Stafford scrambled for 17 yards on the next drive's first play, and then fired a strike to Minardi two plays later to make the score 35-0 with just :23 left on the clock. The teams went to the locker room with the Claymores having outgained Barcelona 338-7 in offensive yardage in a completely one-sided performance. The defense kept up the dominance to open the second half. Lockhart set a Claymores record with his third sack of the evening. Simonton added to his league-leading scoring total with his eighth rushing score, his 10th touchdown overall on the campaign. The three-yard run made the score 42-0 with eight minutes remaining in the third. The Claymores moved into Barcelona ground again to start the fourth quarter, but the team settled for a 35-yard Rob Hart field goal to move the margin to 45 points with 12 minutes remaining. Chris Finlen quarterbacked the Dragons down the field into scoring position and found Zek Parker for a 27-yard touchdown with just 1:26 to play to put the Dragons on the scoreboard for the first time. The Claymores then ran out the clock to make the final score 45-7.



National Football League Europa Stories from June 4, 2003


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