Titans (U17) nappasi pisteet Talissa!

On a hot summer evening, the TAFT Titans traveled to Helsinki to play the Big Red Machine, the Roosters. Coming off of a tough loss the previous game, the Titans needed a win to hang on to third place and ensure themselves a playoff spot. Facing the Roosters, and their veteran QB Arno Murtoniemi, is always a challenge as he can hurt you with his legs as well as his arm.
That is exactly what happened in the first quarter as the Roosters jumped out to a 14-0 lead on their first two drives. The Roosters came ready to play and the Titans had no early answers for the air and ground assault. The Titans would regroup, and after losing their two starting running backs to injury on the first drive, Otso Bull and Tino Könö would take over the rushing load and QB Jesper Korkalainen would direct a TD drive as Könö would turn a spinning run into a 15-yd TD to get the Titans back in the game, 14-8.
The Titans would force a punt deep in Roosters' territory and the snap would go over the punter's head and TAFT would take over on the 3. Korkalainen would dive over himself to give the Titans their first lead 16-14. It would last until a minute left in the first half as the Roosters would score to go back on top 20-16.
In the second half the Titans would adopt a "bend-but-don't-break" philosophy and would keep the Roosters scoreless. The Titans would take the lead once again in the fourth quarter as Korkalainen found Bull open in the flat on 4th and goal from the 15th. The extra point would give the Titans the lead 24-20.
The Titans looked to put the game away for good after forcing another punt deep in Roosters' territory. Könö would return the punt for a TD but it was called back on a penalty. The Roosters would continue their drive and get inside the Titans 40 before Eemeli Tuovinen intercepted the ball with six minutes left.
Behind the blocking of Tony Hopia, Aleksi Heinonen, Jasper Lindqvist, Joel Rössi and Onni Tirkkonen, the backfield of the Titans would move the chains again and again and would end the game by taking a knee as the clock ran out.
The Titans would like to thank the Roosters for a great game and wish them the best for the rest of their season. The Titans coaches, always happy with a win, know there is much to improve on, on both sides of the ball. They play 3 games in the next two weeks and know there is lots of work to still be done.

Summery pictures available here.

Text: Mark Collier

Photos: Laura Helminen