Twitter
Facebook
by Robert Baldwin
contributing writer
Stuttgart’s bruising running backs scored three times in the second half to break open an even game and defeat Kaiserslautern 30-6 at the Kaiserslautern Field on Sept. 13.
In the first half, Stuttgart tried to establish a passing game, but a fast and opportunistic Kaiserslautern defense kept them off balance and the Panthers could manage just one touchdown to lead 8-0 at the break. In the second half, Stuttgart changed the game plan and ran the ball to counter Kaiserslautern’s athleticism. Their three back attack and large and experienced offensive line opened the holes for their explosive runners, wearing down the smaller Raiders.
Kaiserslautern senior end Tré Dotson had five catches for 82 yards on offense and five tackles on defense, two for loss. Darius Camp had 105 all purpose yards, five tackles and a sack. Junior Celine had 11 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
Shaun Edwards had a 90-yard kickoff return for a late touchdown plus two catches for 45 yards and two rushes for 40 yards.
“We wore down with players going both ways, but we kept playing hard until the end,” said Coach Robert Allen. “We are a young team, and while this game didn’t go the way we wanted, the experience will make us better. Our younger players continue to show improvement and their hard work will pay off for them in future games.”
The Raiders fall to 1-1 and travel to Vilseck for a contest tomorrow. Stuttgart is 2-0 and hosts Lakenheath.
In the United Kingdom, Ramstein used a stifling defense to down Lakenheath 20-0. Coach Carter Hollenbeck said the defense got stronger as the game progressed and that was the difference in the shutout victory. Hollenbeck also cited kicker Matt Reisman, who had touchbacks on all four of his kickoffs, making Lakenheath start at its own 20 yard line each time.
After a scoreless first half, Makani Stenger returned a fumble 85 yards for one Ramstein touchdown, Jason Jones caught a touchdown pass and J.J. Little returned an interception 37 yards for the third score.
The Royals are 1-1 heading into their home matchup tonight against Wiesbaden, also 1-1. The game will officially open the new turf stadium at Ramstein. Game time is 7 p.m., preceded by the Junior Varsity match at 4 p.m. Next week the Royals will host Stuttgart in a rematch of their opening season loss.
Baumholder had everything going its way in the first half of its football matchup with Hohenfels on the Baumholder field. Wilbur Turgeon picked up both scores on the ground and it looked as though the Bucs were going to romp to a victory. But Hohenfels shrugged off the opening game jitters and scored three times in the second half to hand Baumholder its first defeat of the season 21-12 in a Division III six-man contest.
“We are still a young team, and young teams have to learn that winning is more than showing up,” said Coach Phillip Loyd. “Varsity football is a four quarters game. We were fine for one quarter and Hohenfels played all four.”
Tomorrow, Baumholder is on the road to play AFNORTH in Brunssum, Netherlands. Its next home game is Oct. 12 against Alconbury as it gears up for the European championships in Kaiserslautern the first weekend in November.
