Claymores Head to Germany for Second Consecutive Week
April 23, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Scottish Claymores News Release
The Scottish Claymores (1-2) will play their second straight game away from home when they travel to play the Berlin Thunder (0-3) on Sunday afternoon at Berlin's historic Olympic Stadium. The game will be a re-match from the season opener, which the Claymores won in a brilliant offensive display, 62-31. The two teams set numerous NFL Europe records on that day at Hampden, and this one looks to be a high-scoring affair as well. The Claymores are playing their second straight game on German soil, following last week's 34-17 loss at the Rhein Fire. The Thunder are still looking to scratch the win column following their week three 41-21 loss at Frankfurt. This will mark the 10th meeting in the history of the teams, with Berlin leading the all-time regular season series 5-4. The Claymores are looking to win in Berlin for the first time since April 24, 1999. Sunday's game will be broadcast live in the United States on DirecTV at 4:00 PM local time and 10:00 AM EDT. FOX Sports Broadcaster Nick Halling will handle the U.S. play-by-play, and he will be joined in the broadcast booth by analyst and Green Bay Packers fullback William Henderson.
CLAYMORES INJURY REPORT
WR Scott Couper (hip) and CB Dyshod Carter (knee) are both questionable for Sunday's game. QB Craig Nall is listed as probable for the contest.
THE HEAD COACHES
Gene Dahlquist is on the Claymores' sideline for his third season, and currently carries a record of 10-13 (.435) 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.
Peter Vaas is in his fourth season as head coach of the Berlin Thunder, where he has claimed the past two World Bowl titles, becoming the first coach in the history of NFL Europe to win back-to-back championships. He enters this week's game with a record of 16-17 (.485) as the head man for the Thunder. Vaas earned NFL Europe Coach of the Year honors in 2002 prior to Berlin's win in World Bowl X. He joined the league as an offensive assistant with the Barcelona Dragons and coached two seasons there, 1998-99. Vaas began his coaching career in 1974 as an assistant coach at Allegheny College and from 1979-85 served as offensive coordinator at the University of New Hampshire. In 1986, Vaas returned to Allegheny as their head coach, turning around a team that had not posted a winning record in seven years and guided them to two North Coast Athletic Conference championships. After compiling a 29-11-1 record in four seasons at Allegheny, Vaas became the running backs coach, and later quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame. From 1992 to 1995 Vaas was head coach at Holy Cross before spending a season as the offensive coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. In his playing days, the native of Westwood, Massachusetts, was quarterback at Holy Cross. He was a three-year starter after walking-on to the team and set nine individual school passing records in his senior season. The 50-year-old is married to Rosann, and they currently reside in Hampton, New Hampshire.
QUOTES FROM THE COACH Catching up with Claymores' Head Coach Gene Dahlquist for some of his latest thoughts:
(on Berlin): "The Thunder are very capable of scoring a lot of points. They had a very tough first quarter against Frankfurt last weekend, but basically won the game from there in, outscoring them 21-6 in the last three quarters. Berlin Thunder never give up - they'll play every last down to the best of their ability. They are extremely dangerous on offense and, as the Fire and Galaxy games progressed, stiffened considerably on defense." (on the first game of the year against Berlin): "That first game is ancient history - we've proved that in the last two weeks. That first game is meaningless. This is a brand new week and we have to get ready to play our best on the road." (on the significance of this week's game): "Obviously, we want to get back to 2-2. If we can win this weekend we're at least back on an even keel after four weeks with a home game to come after that. I'm hoping we'll be back to being able to run the football effectively to complement our passing game and improve our third down conversion to help us maintain possession of the ball. We have yet to play at our best on defense and must get back to being more effective on offense."
. SCOTTISH CLAYMORES QUOTES SCOTTISH CLAYMORES (17) AT RHEIN FIRE (34) APRIL 19, 2003 â Arena AufSchalke, GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY
Head Coach Gene Dahlquist: "Frustrated that we didn't do a better job early in the game. Defensively Rhein got us three plays and out in the first quarter and did a nice job of moving the ball themselves. We started to get into a little flow in the second quarter but were unable to capitalize on it. Third quarter it was important we went out and moved the ball well offensively and got into scoring positions but in the first two or three drives we stopped ourselves with penalties, so it was frustrating in that regard. As the game progressed Rhein did a nice job of staying on the field and scoring. We made an effort to come back in the end but it was too little, too late. I feel it was a great atmosphere for football here (43,985 in Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen) and wish we'd played a better game of football ourselves."
"The offensive line was a concern, obviously. The sad part of it was that some of it was down to mental errors, which hurt us. That needs to be straightened out in order for us to have a chance to be successful. Mental errors hurt us early and that shouldn't happen with the plays we're running."
"If we'd done a better job on offense early in the second half it could have lit our defense up a little bit. As a team you're looking for a ray of hope; I don't think the offense gave it to them. I don't want to take anything away from the job Rhein Fire did on running the ball. They executed very well and we must be able to compete better against that."
"When we look at the tapes it's more our execution than anything; we've been a little bit inconsistent and the inconsistency has hurt us more than the physical part of it."
Wide Receiver Scott McCready: "I feel like the entire team fought for 60 minutes. Unfortunately, it was a little late by the time we were able to get things rolling. Hopefully we'll get things back together this week and practice and go out and put another one in the win column next Sunday."
SCOTTISH CLAYMORES GAME NOTES: Claymores captains for game two were QB Craig Nall, DE Radell Lockhart and SS Bobby Jackson... Temperature at game time was 48° F, (9° C), with partly hazy skies and light wind... The retractable roof of the Arena AufSchalke was open for the start of the game... The Fire won the coin toss and elected to receive... CB Deveron Harper made an open-field tackle to halt Autry Denson and the Fire's opening drive on fourth down... Nall took the first snap for the Claymores at their own 20-yard line with 10:50 left in the first quarter, and hit WR Edell Shepherd for a five-yard gain on first down... The drive stalled after just three plays, and the Claymores were forced to punt... It marked the first time the Claymores haven't scored on their opening drive this season... Rhein opened the scoring when QB Nick Rolovich hit WR Kendall Newson down the right sideline for a 33-yard touchdown to go on top 7-0... KR James Rooths returned the ensuing kickoff 32 yards to the 34, and 15 yards were added on to that following a Fire penalty for grabbing the facemask... The offense couldn't take advantage of the field position, and were forced to punt following another three-and-out... Rhein lined up for a 43-yard field goal attempt, but the try produced nothing but a botched hold and Rolovich was stopped before he could scramble for the first down... The Claymores were stopped again after just three plays, and the quarter came to a close with Rhein leading 7-0... Autry Denson muffed the punt, and FB Mike Malan was there to jump on the loose ball at the Fire 20... QB Shane Stafford took over under center to start the second quarter... A Fire defensive holding penalty extended the Claymores drive and gave them first-and-goal at the 10... Stafford was stopped at the two-yard line on third down to force a field goal try... K Rob Hart hit the 19-yard attempt to cut the lead to 7-3... It was Hart's 14th consecutive made field goal, tying his personal career best and the second longest streak in NFLE history... Hart then made the tackle on the kickoff... Chris Greisen came in for Rhein at quarterback to begin the second quarter... DE Robert Flickinger stopped RB Frank Moreau for a two-yard loss... Greisen led the Fire down the field with an efficient drive that culminated with a 13-yard pass to WR Charlie Adams, extending the Rhein lead to 14-3... Rooths brought the kickoff back 34 yards to the 36-yard line... Stafford hit RB Ken Simonton on a swing pass for 11 yards... Simonton ran for eight yards over the left side on the next play... Stafford found WR Scott McCready for a 10-yard gain on third-and-one to give the Claymores a first down at the Rhein 36... Stafford's pass to the right side was overthrown and picked off by Fire CB Tony Lukins at the 30... Denson broke a run for 32 yards over the right side of the line, giving Rhein a first down at the Claymores' 37... Denson ripped off an 11-yard run on third down to extend the drive and give them a first down at the 17... Greisen hit Adams for in the end zone for the second time, this one from one yard out, following a very questionable pass interference call on Rooths in the end zone on the previous play... The PAT failed, and the score was 20-3 with :05 left in the first half... Rooths nearly broke the kickoff return for a score, but was stopped at the Rhein 47 at the end of the half... Rhein led 20-3 at halftime... Nall returned to quarterback for the Claymores in the third quarter... Nall hit WR John Minardi for 15 yards on third down, but he was stopped five yards shy of a first down... Paid attendance for the game was 43,985... CB Bo Rogers picked off Rolovich on a deep pass attempt and returned it 18 yards to give the Claymores the ball on their own 26... Nall scrambled for 13 yards on their first play of the drive to pick up a first down... RB Maurice Hicks ran for six yards and a first down, with 15 tacked on for a late hit by the Fire defense... The Claymores' drive stalled at the 38 following a sack of Nall, and K Brian Holmes was called on for a 56-yard FG attempt... The would-be record-tying kick had the distance, but sailed just wide to the left... Rhein moved the ball down the field behind some impressive runs by Frank Moreau, but the Claymores forced a 38-yard field goal try, which Todd France missed wide right... The Claymores went three-and-out again, this time crippled by a holding penalty... The Claymores looked to have the Fire stopped on the next drive, but Denson broke a 15-yard gain on a third down draw play... Denson then broke runs of 22 and 12 yards for Fire first downs... The third quarter ended with Rhein on top 20-3... Denson started the fourth quarter with a 13-yard run over the left end, and capped the drive with a three-yard plunge into the end zone... Ingo Anderbrugge's extra point made the score 27-3... Nall and McCready connected for a 20-yard gain... Nall hit a leaping Minardi on a 25-yard pass, and Rhein was again flagged for unnecessary roughness, giving the Claymores a first down at the 13-yard line... Following an eight-yard pass to Malan, Simonton scored on a five-yard touchdown run on a draw play... Hart connected on his 131st consecutive made PAT to cut the lead to 27-10... Moreau ran for 22 yards following a long kickoff return to give Rhein a first down at the Claymores' 33... A fumbled Rhein hand-off resulted in a 15-yard loss and brought up a punt... A Fire offsides penalty gave the Claymores a first down... Nall hit Shepherd for a 28-yard gain and a first down at the Fire 48... Nall hit Malan for a gain of 11 yards, but went down with a right ankle injury... Stafford came back in and hit McCready for 19 yards... Hicks caught a swing pass and made some nifty moves for an 18-yard gain down to the five-yard line... Stafford hit McCready for a one-yard score to cut the lead to 11 with 2:21 on the clock... The PAT cut the lead to 27-17, and Rhein's fifth personal foul of the game, this one for roughing the kicker gave the Claymores an attempt at an onsides kick at the 45... The Fire recovered the kick, but the Claymores forced a punt with just 27 seconds running off the clock... Stafford drove the team with a series of short passes to Malan and Simonton... Stafford's attempt to the end zone was intercepted by Abdual Howard and run back 93 yards for a touchdown, running out the clock... The game ended with Rhein winning 34-17.
2003 SCOTTISH CLAYMORES GAME THREE
Scottish Claymores 17 at Rhein Fire 34
April 19, 2003
Arena AufSchalke
Gelsenkirchen, Germany- (Overcast, Cool) - The Rhein Fire warmed a 43,985 crowd on an overcast and chilly evening in Gelsenkirchen as they improved to 2-1 on the year by defeating the visiting Scottish Claymores 34-17 behind two Charlie Adams touchdown receptions and 150 yards rushing from running back Autry Denson. The Fire struck first as quarterback Nick Rolovich found wide receiver Kendall Newson from 33 yards out capping a six-play, 57-yard drive midway through the first quarter to give the Fire a 7-0 lead. The Claymores accounted for just 18 yards in the first quarter while the Fire dominated both the clock and the field as they held the ball for close to 11 minutes of the 15-minute quarter. The Claymores got the first break of the game early in the second quarter as fullback Mike Malan recovered a fumble deep in Fire territory as Rhein running back Autry Denson mishandled a punt. The Claymores were unable to put it into the end zone and had to settle for a 19-yard field goal from Rob Hart. The Fire came right back and answered the Claymores scoring drive with a drive of their own. Under the direction of quarterback Chris Greisen, Rhein went on a 59-yard, 10-play drive which culminated in an 11-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Charlie Adams to give the Fire a 14-3 lead late in the second quarter. The Claymores attempt at an answer to the Fire score came up short as Shane Stafford was intercepted by Rhein's Tony Lukins squashing the Claymores drive and give the Fire one more attempt to score before the end of the 1st half. Behind a 32-yard run by Denson, the Fire penetrated deep into Scotland territory. Greisen found Adams once again for a one-yard score with just five seconds remaining in the half. The Fire's point after attempt failed leaving the score 20-3 at the intermission. The scoring returned at the start of the fourth quarter as Autry Denson rushed for 71 yards on seven carries during a scoring drive that finished the third quarter and opened the fourth. Denson concluded the impressive drive as he took a Rolovich hand-off and scored from five yards out extending the Fire lead to 27-10. The Claymores answered the Fire scoring drive with one of their own. Nall found Scott McCready for a 20-yard reception and then quickly found John Minardi and the Claymores were quickly driving inside Rhein territory. Ken Simonton capped the drive with his fifth touchdown of the season on a five-yard scamper to narrow the Rhein lead to 27-10 midway through the fourth quarter. Following an injury to Nall, Stafford returned to the game to help conclude a drive the brought the Claymores to win 10 points with 2:21 remaining in the game. Stafford found fellow New England Patriot Scott McCready from one yard out to bring the score to 27-17. The attempted onside kick was recovered by the Fire thus ending any hope for a Claymores comeback and handing Scotland their second loss in as many weeks. The scoring was concluded as Abdual Howard picked off Stafford and returned the interception 93 yards for a Fire touchdown, bring the score to 34 -17 in favor of Rhein.
National Football League Europa Stories from April 23, 2003
- Unbeaten Galaxy visit Admirals - NFLE
- Claymores Head to Germany for Second Consecutive Week - Scottish Claymores
- Admirals Look for First Win at Home - Amsterdam Admirals
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