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Claymores Leave Home for the First Time

April 16, 2003 - National Football League Europa (NFLE)
Scottish Claymores News Release


The Scottish Claymores (1-1) will make their first road trop of the season when they travel to play the Rhein Fire (1-1) on Saturday night at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. The game will be a match-up between two of the teams caught in a four-way logjam for second place in the NFLE standings. The Claymores are looking to bounce back from a tough loss to the Frankfurt Galaxy 17-13 last week. The Fire are coming their first win of the year, having beaten the Thunder 21-10 last Sunday in Berlin. The Claymores and Fire split the season series in 2002, with Rhein winning 13-10 at the Rheinstadion in week two and the Claymores getting the win 17-7 at Hampden Park in week. This will mark the 17th meeting in the history of the teams, with the Fire leading the all-time regular season series 10-6. The Fire won the lone post-season match-up between the clubs, a 13-10 win in World Bowl XIII at Frankfurt's Waldstadion in 2000. Saturday's game will be broadcast live in the United States on FOX Sports Net at 7:30 PM local time and 1:00 PM 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 Tony McGee.

THE HEAD COACHES

Gene Dahlquist is on the Claymores' sideline for his third season, and currently carries a record of 10-12 (.455) 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.

Pete Kuharchek is also in his third season as head coach of the Rhein Fire. Kuharchek led the Fire to a berth in World Bowl X last year and carries a career NFLE record of 13-9 (.591) into this week's game. He was named just the second head coach in team history before the 2001 season and has been with the club since 1996. Kuharchek made his NFLEL debut in 1992 as the defensive backs coach of the Orlando Thunder and along with former Fire head coach Galen Hall led the Thunder to a World Bowl appearance in his first season in the league. After serving as the defensive coordinator at the University of Texas at El Paso from 1993-95, he was hired to run the defense with the Rhein Fire in 1996. Kuharchek has proved to be one of the top defensive coaches in the league. In 1996, he coached the league's top rushing defense, which was also second in scoring defense and total defense. In 1997, the Fire reached the World Bowl with a defense that ranked second in scoring and rushing yards allowed. The 1998 Rhein team won the World Bowl as the defense ranked first in scoring and rushing defense. Kuharchek's defense was ranked first in scoring, rushing, passing and total defense in 1999, and the 2000 team won another World Bowl with the second-ranked scoring defense. Kuharchek stepped into the professional coaching ranks as linebackers coach with the USFL's Tampa Bay Bandits in 1983, and has also coached at the University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State) from 1986-89, the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League in 1990, and his first stint at UTEP in 1991. In autumn 2002, Kuharchek was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at the University of Tampa, where he played as a linebacker from 1967-69.

QUOTES FROM THE COACH

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

(on the match-up with the Fire) "Coach Kuharchek's teams are always well coached on both sides of the ball. His players are technically sound and play with great intensity. Historically, they've forced the opposition to earn their way into the end zone. They give away very few big plays and work hard to control the ball offensively. To win this game we'll have to take good care of the football, reduce the number of turnovers and score touchdowns when we're in the scoring zone."

(on the Claymores' history at Rhein) "The Claymores have not won at Rhein in the last five seasons. That's a good trend to break if we're going to make it to World Bowl."

(on the Fire fans) "Their fans have been a 12th man in some very close games at the Rheinstadion. I'm sure this week will be no different at the new stadium."

SCOTTISH CLAYMORES QUOTES

FRANKFURT GALAXY (17) AT SCOTTISH CLAYMORES (13)
APRIL 13, 2003 – HAMPDEN PARK, GLASGOW, SCOTLAND

Head Coach Gene Dahlquist: "It was a frustrating and disappointing game. It's hard to win with four turnovers. Turnovers worked in our favor last week; they didn't this week. Frankfurt did a nice job of taking us out of any kind of offensive rhythm by staying on the field themselves. Defensively, we contained them well enough to win, but the turnovers on offense were the key. No one has a good enough offense to survive with a 4-1 ratio on turnovers. I felt good about the players' effort. It would have been easy for them to give in, but they played with intensity as the game wore on. They did a nice job of hanging in there and were able to score at the end, and almost got us in a position where we had another chance. The rhythm of the game was not good. We have to do a better job of avoiding the unnecessary penalties that put us in a difficult situation to convert on third down."

"James Rooths has performed well for us in the past, but it's unfortunate that he didn't field that punt properly. That's just one play in the game, though. I would hope that we would be able to score more than 17 points, and not miss makable field goals, and other things that could make a difference even when you turn the ball over. The more you turn the ball over, the better you have to be in every other area, and we were not good enough in the other areas to overcome it."

"I'd like to give Frankfurt some credit there. We knew going in that it was going to be a tough, physical ball game up front. Maybe if we could have gotten on a little bit of a roll offensively, we could have been able to get the running game going."

"I think that's something you have to deal with as a coach and as a player. Unfortunately, I felt that some things went their way, but perhaps those breaks will go our way the next time we face them. They made some plays when they had to, and we didn't start making plays until the end of the game. The first drive was beautiful and very well done, but then we stumbled around and didn't get anything done."

"Our practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday were very good, very focused. We got a lot of work done in preparation for this game. I felt like our players were prepared, and I think some of our problems in execution can be credited to Frankfurt."

Quarterback Craig Nall: "I'd have to start with their front four. They made it tough for us to run the ball all day, and at times put pressure on me. They made it tough for us."

"It was frustrating. Last week, it seemed like everything was working, and this week was kind of the opposite. We couldn't run very well, and I missed some big throws that could have helped us. We had opportunities to move the ball. A couple of penalties hurt us, but it was just one of those days."

"I think we need to come out and execute better. We showed today that we're not capable of 62 points every week. It will be a challenge for us to come out and execute better. We've got enough talent on both sides of the ball to score more than 13 points, but we've got to learn from this and come back next week hungry."

Linebacker Yubrenal Isabelle: "We just didn't get the job done today. Now we've got two road games coming up and we need to win both of them. I know we can do it, and we'll have to work really hard in practice this week to get ready for our game at Rhein on Saturday."

SCOTTISH CLAYMORES GAME NOTES: Claymores captains for game two were C Jason Scukanec, FS Rowelle Blenman and SS Bobby Jackson... Temperature at game time was 57° F, (14° C), with partly cloudy skies and light wind... The Claymores won the coin toss and elected to receive... DE Robert Flickinger was de-activated for the game with a back stiff back... QB Craig Nall hit FB Mike Malan coming out of the backfield on the Claymores' first play from scrimmage for a nine-yard gain... Nall hit WR Edell Shepherd on a hook route on third-and-six for what would have been a first down, then Shepherd flipped the ball back to Malan who ran down the sideline for an additional 20 yards, which was compounded by a Galaxy penalty for tackling Malan by the facemask, giving the Claymores a first down at the Galaxy 25-yard line... Nall fired a strike to WR Anthony Bright for a 22-yard touchdown on third down... P Kevin Stemke deftly handled a low snap to allow K Rob Hart to boot his NFLE record 130th consecutive PAT without a miss, to put the Claymores up 7-0... The Claymores' TD drive went 85 yards on nine plays in 3:35... Former Claymores QB James Brown was under center to start the game for Frankfurt... CB Deveron Harper had solid coverage on both second and third downs, forcing both to fall incomplete and a Galaxy punt... PR James Rooths muffed the punt and the Galaxy recovered at the Claymores' 27-yard line... Brown hit WR Marc Lester for a 25-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline, knotting the game at 7-7... Nall and Malan connected again, this time for an eight-yard gain on third-and-one, good for another first down... Nall hit WR Scott McCready on a crossing pattern for 10 yards and another Claymores first down... The drive was thwarted when the Claymores surrendered their first sack of the season to Frankfurt's DE Joey Evans and LB Idris Price... DE Radell Lockhart broke into the backfield and batted down an attempted screen pass on first down... The Claymores defensive line broke through and Lockhart caught a scrambling Brown for a four-yard sack... LB Jermaine Petty dropped Frankfurt TE Kori Dickerson short of the first down marker on a third-down completion, forcing a punt... Nall his WR Scott Couper for a five-yard gain on first down... Nall found TE Rod Trafford for a 15-yard gain and another Claymores first down on second-and-short... Nall zipped a pass into Bright for a 16-yard gain on a slant... RB Ken Simonton broke through the line for a six-yard gain on the final play of the first quarter, with the scored tied at 7-7... The Claymores' drive stalled at the Frankfurt 38... Quinn Gray took over at quarterback for the Galaxy to begin the second quarter... CB Dyshod Carter blew up a Frankfurt run in the backfield for a four-yard loss... DE T.J. Bingham forced a Gray fumble on second down, but the Galaxy recovered... DT Michael Landry broke through for a 14-yard sack of Gray back at the four-yard line, bringing up fourth down and a Frankfurt punt... Gray fumbled on the play, but the ball had been whistled dead by the referee... QB Shane Stafford came in for the Claymores to play the second quarter... Stafford's first pass was intercepted by Galaxy S Rashidi Barnes after coming off the hands of McCready... DE Chris Ward and DT Nate Bolling stuffed an attempted draw play for no gain... RB Maurice Hicks ran for 10 yards up the middle to open the Claymores drive... Nall hit Bright once again for 30 yards on a slant over the middle, giving the Claymores a first down at the Frankfurt 28... A 37-yard field goal attempt by K Brian Holmes was ruled wide right... Brown returned to the game for Frankfurt... Bolling was called for roughing the passer on the first play of the Frankfurt drive... The defense held after FS Rooths sacked Brown, and Galaxy K Ralf Kleinmann missed a 28-yard field goal attempt wide right... Stafford hit WR John Minardi for a 19-yard gain on first down and followed that up with a strike to Shepherd for 10 and a first down at the 49... Barnes intercepted Stafford for a second time on the day, this one again coming on a tipped pass... Bingham chased down Brown for a five-yard sack on third down, forcing a punt... Gray was back at QB for Frankfurt to begin the third... Landry was flagged on a questionable roughing the passer penalty to give the Galaxy a first down at the Claymores' 21... Galaxy K Jon Hilbert converted on a 38-yard field goal to give Frankfurt their first lead of the game at 10-7... Nall was back at the helm of the Claymores offense, and he hit McCready for a 41-yard gain on his first attempt of the second half... McCready caught the underneath route and ran over a Galaxy defender on his way to the big gain, to give the Claymores a first down at the Frankfurt 31... The drive stalled, and Holmes was brought out for a 35-yard field goal, which he pushed wide right... DT DeVonte Peterson dropped Frankfurt RB Robert Gillespie in the backfield... The defense held when LB Yubrenal Isabelle broke up Gray's pass attempt on third-and-14... The Claymores went three-and-out and were forced to punt... Gray hit WR Robert Baker for a 35-yard gain down the left side for a first down at the Claymores' 27... The third quarter came to an end with the Galaxy ahead 10-7... The Galaxy extended their lead when RB Jonas Lewis carried the ball into end zone for a two-yard score on the second play of the fourth quarter, making it 17-7... Paid attendance for the game was 11,104... The Claymores offense was once again held to three-and-out... CB Jermaine Chatman was flagged for an illegal contact penalty, setting up a Frankfurt first down at the Scotland 42... Brown hit TE Josh Whitman for a 20-yard gain down to the Claymores' eight on a crucial third-and-long play... The Claymores stiffened on defense, forcing a Hilbert 40-yard field goal attempt, which he missed wide right.,, Nall was intercepted by Barnes on third down, Barnes' third pick of the game, which ties a league record for the most INTs in a game by a single player... Lockhart forced a fumble by Gillespie, and LB Darnell Robinson pounced on the loose ball to give the Claymores the ball at their own 42... Nall moved the ball down the field, hitting Shepherd for 17 yards and Minardi for a 15-yard gain... The scoring drive was completed when Nall hit TE Rashod Kent for a three-yard touchdown... The snap on the extra point went through Stemke's hands and Hart was unable to attempt the PAT, making the score 17-13... Galaxy P Tim Morgan jumped in the air and snared the Claymores' attempted onsides kick to seal the win Frankfurt Galaxy 17, Scottish Claymores 13.

Frankfurt Galaxy 17 at Scottish Claymores 13

Glasgow- (Mild, Clear) - 11,104 fans left Hampden Park disappointed Sunday afternoon after the Claymores were beaten in their week two match-up with the Frankfurt Galaxy 17-13. The game was hard-fought on both sides, and the keys to the Galaxy victory proved to be four Claymores turnovers and untimely penalties. The game wasn't pretty on either side, with both teams missing two field goals and combining for 27 penalties for 213 yards. Frankfurt was able to stay away from the turnover bug for the most part, and rode that wave to a win to push them to 2-0 and the top of the NFLE standings. The Galaxy turned one of the Claymores turnovers directly into a touchdown and their other two scoring drives were prolonged by penalties against the home team. The Claymores dropped to 1-1 to enter a four-way tie for second place in the league standings, a sobering result following last week's high-flying opener. Frankfurt free safety Rashidi Barnes was the man to enter the league record books this Sunday at Hampden. Barnes tied a league mark with three interceptions, twice picking off Shane Stafford and one off of Claymores' starting quarterback Craig Nall. Head Coach Gene Dahlquist summed up the day with his post-game remarks. "Frankfurt did a nice job of taking us out of any kind of offensive rhythm by staying on the field themselves. Defensively, we contained them well enough to win, but the turnovers on offense were the key. No one has a good enough offense to survive with a 4-1 ratio on turnovers." Nall led the team down the field for a score on their opening drive for the second straight week. Nall fired a strike to Houston Texans-allocated wide receiver Anthony Bright to open the scoring with a 22-yard touchdown. The defense initially stopped the Galaxy on the ensuing drive, but punt returner James Rooths muffed the punt, leading to a 25-yard equalizing touchdown pass from former Claymores quarterback James Brown to Galaxy receiver James Lester. Both offenses struggled to get anything going in the second quarter and the Claymores turned the ball over twice and missed a field goal, but found themselves in a 7-7 tie going into halftime. Shane Stafford, playing the second quarter for the Claymores, as was Dahlquist's plan, threw an interception on his first attempt. Brian Holmes' 37-yard field goal attempt was ruled wide right, although it appeared to hook over the right upright. Galaxy kicker Ralf Kleinmann missed a 28-yard field goal try wide right, giving the Claymores a chance to take the lead. The offense couldn't take advantage, as Stafford threw his second interception of the day, with Barnes again picking off a tipped ball. Sacks by Michael Landry, T.J. Bingham, and Rooths highlighted the defensive effort in the second period. The Galaxy opened the third quarter with a three-point scoring drive, as Quinn Gray quarterbacked them down the field for a 38-yard Jon Hilbert field goal. The Claymores drove down the field to answer the Galaxy score, but Holmes' 35-yard field goal try sailed wide right. The Galaxy drove down the field to extend their lead to 17-7, just after the start of the fourth quarter on a two-yard run by running back Jonas Lewis. Barnes then picked off Nall to etch his place in the record books, and it appeared that Frankfurt would just run out the clock. The Scottish defense refused to quit, though, and defensive end Radell Lockhart, who had earlier turned in his third sack in two weeks, ripped the ball out of Galaxy running back Robert Gillespie's hands, and Darnell Robinson recovered the fumble. Nall led the team on a scoring drive, which was capped by tight end Rashod Kent grabbing a three-yard touchdown reception. The extra point failed, so the lead was cut to 17-13 with 1:07 left on the clock. The Claymores last hope ran out when Galaxy punter Tim Morgan leapt high into the air and pulled down the ensuing onsides kick attempt. The Frankfurt defensive line played a big factor in the win, with NFLE leading sacker Joey Evans picking up 1½ sacks on the day and the rest of the front applying pressure in the backfield. "I'd have to start with their front four," the quarterback said when asked about how the Galaxy were able to effectively stop the Claymores offense for most of the day.



National Football League Europa Stories from April 16, 2003


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