Glasgow demonstrates the concession rule as Stirling continues league dominance
by Ryan Lafield - University of Glasgow
25 February 2013

It was a plot straight out of a U-rated sports film. Unfortunately for the Glasgow Tigers, they were unable to overcome immeasurable odds to create a storybook ending. It was the opposite, really. The once-hopeful Tigers dropped an embarrassing decision to the Stirling Clansmen, 54-0.

It began as soon as the bus from Stirling pulled up to Garscube Field in North Glasgow. Tiger players stood in slightly mismatched jerseys and helmets, their head coach, Warren Cochrane, taking drags of his Mayfair cigarette, watching as their opponents for the day exited one-by-one in sleek, identical uniforms. The Clansmen were reminiscent of every “bad guy” sports team cliché - black jerseys, black helmets, and metallic gray pants, rounded out the ensemble that branded these young, innocent men as the enemy.

As an American covering The University of Glasgow’s American football club, I am drawn to the differences between the ambiance of collegiate football in Scotland versus that in the United States. For my undergraduate degree, I attended a university in the U.S. whose football stadium hosts a capacity of 82,589 people – 30,000 of which are students positioned strategically on the visitors’ side of the field. On this day in Glasgow, at the time of kickoff, I was able to count the 24 attendees – friends, family, and possibly a fan or two – some spread out on wooden bleachers, others draped along the chain-linked fence that was positioned about three meters from the Glasgow sideline.

Twenty-four total spectators.

Crowd noise would not be a factor in this BUAFL (British Universities American Football League) matchup.

During the previous five seasons, the Newcastle Raiders and Glasgow Tigers have dominated the Saltire Conference (formerly the Northern Conference). However, in this 2013 season, teams have been put on notice – the Stirling Clansmen are charging like the front lines at Bannockburn. It was felt from the opening kickoff of this game.

And it only took three quarters.

The Clansmen and their head coach, Rob Orr, were playing for a few achievements heading into the tilt. With a win, Stirling would finish the regular season undefeated. In addition, a victory would secure a first-round bye in the Championship playoffs, the Challenge Trophy in sight.

On the other side of the field, the home team Tigers entered play on a six-game winning streak, mostly due to a ferocious and stubborn defense. Despite the confidence, the Tigers were dealt some massive blows, as starting quarterback Ewan Beasley (knee), as well as starting running back Lewis King (ankle) were both out with injuries suffered the previous week. Backup quarterback Tom Lachendro was called on to lead the way – without having taken a single snap of American football at the collegiate level.

A smidgen of claps and cheers echoed across the field as the ball was kicked to Glasgow to begin the game. The traditional Scottish drizzle made its presence felt but would not be a factor.

The Glasgow offense dispersed from the sideline huddle, led by Lachendro, as the players eyed a quick start. It would be that indeed – for Stirling. On the first play of the game, the backup QB lobbed a wobbly pass over the middle, intended for running back Micah White, but was intercepted by Stirling and returned for a touchdown. With a successful extra point try, and a 7-0 lead, it was off to the races for the Clansmen. An award-winning screenplay writer couldn’t have written a script that would have conveyed a worse start.

The Tigers hit the reset button and put together a decent second possession – it lasted longer than one play – advancing to the Clansmen 31-yard line before stalling. Punter Evan Robertson pinned the opponent on their own three-yard line in what looked to be a possible momentum shift for the home team. After feeding off of a newfound energy, the Clansmen were held to a three-and-out, rousing the few dozen spectators into excitement and hope. The shift in power was short-lived and stifled by an atrocious roughing-the-kicker penalty on 4th and 11 from the Stirling 11 yard-line. Instead of the Tigers getting the ball back with good field position, Stirling was awarded a new set of downs. The home team had gift-wrapped the momentum and placed it at the Clansmens’ feet.  

“That was an obvious blunder,” stated Coach Cochrane, shaking his head. “We were going for the big block, obviously. You can’t just go in out of control like…we have to be smarter than that.”

In a possible act of subconscious sympathy, Stirling fumbled the ball on the first play after having the new set of downs. Glasgow cornerback Connor McSharry scooped it up and advanced it to the Stirling five-yard line. Apparently, neither team wanted momentum on their side, as it was being avoided like a hot potato. After three Tiger running plays were stuffed for a combined two yards respectively (the lack of confidence at the quarterback position was apparent), they opted to put points on the board with a 20-yard field goal. Heaving the potato once more, the attempt was subsequently blocked, giving possession back to Stirling at the 20-yard line.

“I thought that small window of the match is what led the way for us,” Stirling’s Coach Orr said after the game. “Any kind of score there for them and perhaps the dynamic of the game shifts.”

Whether or not that would have been the case, Orr saw an opportunity to pounce. On the first play after the blocked field goal, throwing from his own 10-yard line, Clansmen quarterback Dutch Stephenson hit wide receiver Ryan Duncan in stride for an easy 80-yard walk-in touchdown.

“We just couldn’t make a play. We had chances early, but didn’t capitalize,” said the visibly frustrated Tiger kicker Giles McCarthy. “I kicked it a wee bit low on that one. It’s on me.”

While the blame for the blocked kick could be easily debated, the lack of play execution could not.

Down two scores, the Tiger’s offense continued its ineffectiveness, gaining only one first down the rest of the half. The defense, however, did not go quietly despite that. Drive-after-drive, they were superb in dealing with the Stirling air attack. Even with little to no pressure on Stephenson, the athleticism of the secondary, particularly cornerbacks Ian McSharry and Euan Orr, was on display as they batted down ball after ball launched by the Clansmen gunslinger.

As to be expected, however, the Tiger defense began to tire midway through the second quarter. With an opportunity to put the game out of reach, Stirling instead committed a multitude of penalties, including a 69-yard touchdown pass called back because of a holding infraction. On the same drive, they settled for a 33-yard field goal. Although Stirling had carried play, it was only a 17-0 advantage.

The rain picked up late in the first half, as did the correlated cliché, ‘when it rains, it pours’ for the Glasgow Tigers. On a long pass over the middle of the field by Stirling, Glasgow’s best defensive player, safety Will Cunningham brilliantly broke up the perfectly thrown ball, only to come down awkwardly on his ankle, ending his day early. He had been a spark to a Tiger defense that was asked to remain on the field for the majority of the game. After Cunningham exited, the body language of his teammates exhibited that of surrender. Regardless, they would trot back onto the field, fighting every play, series after series, as Stirling would add two more touchdowns before the half, all within a 2:23 span.

The injured safety (Cunningham) minced no words after the game. “What a nightmare that was,” he began, quietly. “I really have no words for what happened. It was shite, really. And to get hurt, not be able to see it through to the end with my teammates…it just sucked.”

The Clansmen led the Tigers 31-0 midway through the contest. To their credit, 20 of the 24 patrons who showed up as witnesses to the carnage, remained for the second half. Umbrellas out and raincoats on, the cans Tennent’s beer were being passed around. Assuredly, a blueprint on how to cope with what was happening on the field.

Both squads sat under sheltering trees on the opposing ends of the field for the entirety of halftime. It was reminiscent of little-league football (soccer, for all my American readers) teams on Saturday mornings, orange slices in hand, as the coaches attempted to discuss second-half strategy. Raindrops pelted the players’ helmets and the cigarettes in both coaches’ hands, as there wasn’t much to cover.

For the Clansmen, eat clock and go home with a win.

For the Tigers, one play at a time. Play hard. Play with pride.

Stirling received the opening kickoff of the second half and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. Once again, though, the refs handed the Tigers a sympathy card, flagging the return team for a block in the back – one that might have been committed by a Glasgow player tripping over his own feet.  

The yellow handkerchiefs could only help out so much, as it only took one play to for the Clansmen quarterback to complete a slant pass over to middle to wide receiver Malcolm McClaren, who spun around the only Glasgow player near him, backup safety Scott Stewart, and jogged the remaining way to the endzone.

On the next Glasgow possession, Lachendro completed a 24-yard pass across the middle to tight end Ocean Tsai, the only first down, and subsequently, the only completion, for the rest of the game.

What ensued for the remainder of the third quarter were running plays by both teams. Stirling had mercifully stopped throwing, and Glasgow was unable to throw – save the one completion. The woes on defense continued for the Tigers as they were unable to stop the Stirling run attack, either. Most of the rushing onslaught was commanded by fullback Thomas Mann, who finished the day with 21 carries for 189 yards and three touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Clansmen defense held Glasgow to six straight three-and-outs giving short fields to Stirling. Even with the obligatory flags on Stirling, it was the recipe for a 54-0 tally by quarter’s end.  

“We need to clean the penalties up,” Coach Orr proclaimed after the game. “Other than that, I’m proud of the lads.”

Stirling finished with 14 penalties, totaling 125 yards. Glasgow was penalized twice for 10 yards on two false-start penalties.

When the notion of Stirling running up the score was suggested post-match, Coach Cochrane quickly dismissed it. “No, no, no, don’t start with that. It’s up to us to play better. To stop them. To give our defense a chance to rest,” he stated, emphatically, taking a quick drag. “What is Coach Orr supposed to do over there, take a knee? I’d rather give up 100 than have that happen.”

As of the brief timeout before the fourth quarter, there were nine injured Tigers; all who were in the starting lineup when healthy. The most recent addition to the maimed group was punter Stuart Zakko. As if there wasn’t enough of a sign from the universe already, losing a punter appeared to be the final straw for the Glasgow coaches. The wounded sat together on the sideline, united, away from the team, as if they were in a hockey penalty box after a brawl. On a team with 26 total players (compared to an expected 85 scholarship players on an American college football team), the injuries had become detrimental to the safety of those who remained.

Coach Cochran and Assistant Coach Anders Paterson huddled their players together to discuss conceding the contest. Understandably, the players were frustrated that it had come down to that type of meeting at all, as both sides were argued. With the playoffs looming – Glasgow had already earned a bye week, win or lose – a regular season game, already depleted and down by 54 points, was irrelevant. It became about the long-term goals of the team. For one day, pride would be put on hold.

The referees were consulted, and the game was over after three quarters of play.

“I can’t believe that happened,” said a dejected Lachendro. “Embarrassing. I guess it was the smart call. But embarrassing. I take the blame. I let the team down.”

While Lachendo’s numbers were atrocious – 2 of 17 passing for 29 yards and 2 INTs, 3 carries (mostly scrambles) for 11 yards – his play was inspired, as he never quit trying to lead the team.
The backup quarterback’s effort did not go unappreciated by his own coach. When asked about his QB play, Cochrane stated, “sometimes there is more to a player than his stats. Tommy left it all on the field today. Me and the lads respect the hell out of him.”

Many clichés could be applied to this game, but none as fitting as “It was just one of those days.” I don’t think anyone felt that the final score was indicative of the gap between the two teams. Most expected a competitive game.

“We’re a better club than that,” stated Coach Cochran of the Tigers.

“They’re a better team than that,” stated Coach Orr of the Clansmen.

It doesn’t need to be summed up any more than that.

UP NEXT:

Stirling (#1 seed) heads the 35 miles back north to enjoy their BYE week before hosting the lowest remaining seed left after the first week of the playoffs.

Glasgow (#2 seed) will attempt to rest and replenish, as they also have a BYE week before hosting the second lowest remaining seed after week one of the playoffs.     

The only path for the two teams to meet again would be in the BUAFL Championship game on 2 April at Cochrane Park in Newcastle.

INJURY REPORT:

OL Craig Cummings – knee (OUT)

QB Ewan Beasley – knee (OUT)

RB Lewis King – ankle (OUT)

OL Scottie Watson – upper body (OUT)

DL Sabastian Fagerson – shoulder (OUT)

LB Bismarck Papier – foot (LEFT GAME)

S Will Cunningham – ankle (LEFT GAME)

P Stuart Zakko – lower body (LEFT GAME)

WR Stedman Brace – hand (LEFT GAME)