The Bedfordshire Blue Raiders vs London Olympians (photo-gallery)
[Blue Raiders 13 - Olympians 34] July 11, 2010

Olympians defense had to overcome a slow start from trailing on the score board for the first time to help preserve their unbeaten season to have the hope of home field advantage in the Division 2 playoffs. Several key partnerships defined the Olympians second half resurgence namely, DBs Ashton Campbell and Taiwo Bello, Alex Brookes and Mark Finney, whilst Leslie Oluwale-Wilson completed the secondary dominance. It left the Blue Raiders with the running game as their only option, which inverted their success of the first half. Defensively the Olympians were outstanding yielding only one score early, shutting down Blue Raider's attack for three quarters. Leading the Olympians swarming defensive line was Rob Williams assisted byPaul Jaggers and Darren Witney; with outside LB Paul Baqhuina for the third time this season recovering a key fumble.

Offensively the Olympians head coach Warren Smart set the task of demanding a four touchdown blitz for the second half whilst having the trust in the defence to deny the opposition any chance of scoring. The entire team of the Olympians excelled against opposition who had them well scouted, but key to the scoring was the sound blocking by the O-line and Fullbacks (Steve Higgins, Adam Hall, Alex Biberovic, Luke Whitney, Richard Lasowski, Matthew Smith, Mark Langford and Forrester Osei, Alex "Doc Gabriel).

The Blue Raiders received the kick-off and set about their initial drive with some sound running but after a couple of plays fumbled the ball for the Olympians to recover. Running back Toyin Dawudu promptly rushed for 10 and 6 yards followed by a 12-yard catch by wide receiver Folley Ogundele. Then a superb cut block by running back Dawudu enabled quarterback Bishop Adkins to hit receiver Shaun Stillwell 30yards out, despite tight coverage, for a TD. Kicker Chris Davies then converted the PAT, 0-7 to the Olympians. From the ensuing kick return the Blue Raiders returner was comprehensively nailed in his tracks but this only seemed to fire them up. On their next drive #32 Eric Cullipher rushed for 8yards and then a well timed 25yard pass to their left side wide receiver resulted in a TD and the PAT was successful.

The Olympians were out to get back in front and running back Forrester Osei rushed for 7yards but soon after the Blue Raiders picked a pass for an interception. Their drive from this possession was not fruitful however. The second quarter started with Olympian Toyin Omodara rushing for 11, 11 and 12 yards respectively proceeded by a turnover to the opposition. Both sides thereafter had a couple of short-lived drives each of which the Olympians ended their last with a fumble that gave the ball to the Blue Raiders on the Olympians 8-yard line. It took the Blue Raiders three plays to capitalise on this excellent field position and score their second TD but the PAT was unsuccessful, 13-7 at halftime.

Opening the third quarter with a drive the Olympians were out to make a statement and it followed as such; running back Osei rushed for 8 yards, Omodara rushed for 11-yards and receiver Ogundele took a deep pass in for a TD, PAT was good (13-14). Blue Raiders went three and out but the Olympians turned the ball over. Now the Blue Raiders were certain they had recovered to progress their scoring with two consecutive first downs. The Olympians secondary were equal to the task and picked an interception to re-establish their control on the game. Omodara ran the ball for 5-yards, QB Adkins scrambled for 15-yards and Gabriel rushed for 10-yards. A fumble however gave possession to the Blue Raiders for a moment because they returned the favour afterwards. Omadara then scampered for 38-yards followed by a 2-yard run to score a TD with the PAT converted by kicker Davies, 13-21. The third quarter ended here.

The Blue Raiders were not given another chance to recover from the Olympians domination of this game yet they kept fighting hard. In their next drive , from their 23-yard line, Olympians running back Seun Shobande rushed for an initial 12-yards and Dawudu tagged on a 45-yard run onto that. Shobande then completed this drive with a 20-yard TD and the PAT was good, 13-28. Another failed drive by the Blue Raiders gave the Olympians the ball back. Omodara rushed for 11 and 12 yards, Shobande ran for 14-yards, Ogundele caught a 15-yards pass and Shobande got his second TD with a 12-yard run. The PAT was unsuccessful, 13-34, and the Olympians saw the rest of the game out.

The next scheduled game is on 25 July 2010 against the Maidstone Pumas at Crystal Palace National Sports Stadium, kick-off is at 2:30pm.