Titans (U17) season starts with a win in Seinäjoki

On a gray summer day, the Under-17 TAFT Titans kicked off their 2016 season by taking a road trip up to Seinäjoki to take on the always tough Crocodiles. TAFT had a long, productive off season that saw some old faces leave but some new ones arrive, as well. They had been waiting a long time to test themselves against another team.

Neither team did much with their first possessions as the Titans turned the ball over on downs and the Crocs punted. On their second drive, however, QB Jesper Korkalainen would lead the Titans down the field, ending in a 15-yard TD catch by Matias Hyytiäinen. Jere Salejärvi's kick would make the score 8-0. 

On the kickoff, Eemeli Tuovinen would recover a Croc fumble and two plays later QB Joona Collier would find Viljo Lempinen in the endzone for a 25-yard TD pass. A successful kick would make it 16-0. The Titan's Defense would dominate all day, lead by Valtteri Forsman, Jere Vierikko, Joel Rössi and Patrik Palvas, holding the Croc to 102 total yards on the day.

After another of Seinäjoki's 8 punts, Korkalainen would do it himself and run for a 15-yard TD to put the Titans up 24-0, after Salejärvi's kick.Two one-play drives, TD connections from Collier to Teemu Tumanoff, a Rookie playing in his first game ever, (for 37 yards), and Korkalainen to Otto Laakkonen, playing in his first game for TAFT (for 44 yards) would increase the Titans' lead.  The final TD of the first half would be scored by Arttu Partanen, a 14-year old, playing in his first ever Under-17 game, as he returned a Crocs punt from 35 yards out.  The only negative to this half was that the Crocs blocked the Extra Point and returned it for two points to make the halftime score 44-2.

According to the rules, because of the point differential, the second half was played with a running clock. Despite the quickness of the game, the Titans still held strong on defense as Laakkonen would get an interception, and Iivo Koski and Antti Kekkonen would rack up the tackles. On offense, Wilhelm Stigzelius, behind the great blocking of Salejärvi, Vierikko, Jasper Lindqvist, Rössi, and Santeri Saastamoinen, would run all over the field and Korkalainen would find Laakkonen once again to make the final score 52-2.

The TAFT coaches are pleased with the outcome but have already let the Titans know that there is A LOT of work to be done abd it begins at the next practice! The Titans' next game will be the home opener at Tikkurila on July 9th at 17:00 against the Helsinki Wolverines. We hope to see you there!

Mark Collier, Head Coach