FRIARS COME BACK FOR THE WIN

It was gut check time for the FD Friars football team Friday night, playing visitor to the Okkodo Bulldogs in the Bulldogs homecoming atmosphere. In their toughest game of the season, the Friars showed grit by beating the Bulldogs 17-10


photo by gspn

Shimizu totalled over 100 yards of rushing, and the teams only offensive touchdown. The other 10 points came from special teams, one in the most uncanny way imagined.

“In some ways our record has made us complacent and we really needed this kind of game to show that we have to continue to work hard on every play, no matter what’s going on. The weather played a big factor in the game tonight, it was tough for everyone out there,” said Shimizu.


photo by gspn

The Friars had just marched down the field to the Bulldog goal line late in the 3rd quarter when Shimizu took a hand off to the strong side of the defense on 4th down for a touchdown to go up 16-10, but a penalty for holding by the Friars was thrown. Another penalty on special teams by holder Bryton Cepeda had pushed the team back even more.


photo by gspn

FD was the looking at a 33-yard field goal attempt from by kicker Jerome Artero for the lead-changing score. The snap was well low and Cepeda knew it was a broken play, so he then grabbed the ball and powered through the left side of the special teams blockers where he then found open space in the middle of the field, breaking one tackle to finish off a 23-yard touchdown run.


photo by gspn

“That’s obviously not was what was supposed to happen, but I’ve ran that play before where the snap is bad and I have to do something with the ball. I’ve only done it on extra points, never on field goal attempts,” said the fortunate Cepeda.


photo by gspn

“Going down 10-0, that’s something that never happened before this season. I’m really proud of my boys and how we managed to pull out that though victory,” added Cepeda.

The Father Duenas Friars go against the George Washington Geckos on Friday. It will be a battle of unbeaten teams as well as a rematch of last year IIAAG Football Championship .