WEEK TWO
Goka Runs Wild Knocking Loughborough Back For Six

Staffordshire running back Edem Goka (360 yards 18 carries and 5 TDs) scored five rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdowns to give the Stallions a record of 2-0, and condemning Loughborough to 1-1.

Continuing from where the rookie left off against Nottingham, Goka scored on runs of 76, 28, 79, 57 and 22 yards while stand in Quarterback Richard Walker connected with the back on a pass that resulted in a 45-yard touchdown completion.

Regular quarterback Ben Rowan was ruled out of the game on medical advice in midweek Coach Ant Charles turned to utility man R. Walker to step in as the QB for the first time. The third year player looked comfortable with the snap from centre Peter Buckley and led the offence to their first victory at Holywell.

Not even the players that remained on the squad from the last meeting between the two teams in November 2004 could envision a runaway score line of 39-6 against a Loughborough team that made it to the final College Bowl less the eight months ago, not even the Alumni players that the rivalry meant so much to.

For those players that were playing against the Aces, Buckley, Graham Roberts, Andrew Brannigan, Gary Richardson, Graham Fellows and Mike Simcock it was a sweet feeling when the clock ran down to triple zero as they were on a similar score line of 41-13. Instead it was the Loughborough team that had knew that they were on the reverse of a one sided score line.

Without the Offensive Line of Buckley, Simcock, Fellows, Rob Pickerill and David Orr, and the blocking from FB Roberts, TE Chris Ward and receivers James Walker and Rob Crossan's, Goka would have been unable to rush and gain that yards that helped the Stallions achieve their success on this Sunday. The evidence was there in Goka's touchdown reception early in the fourth as Buckley hit the secondary, Phil Slater and Roberts got key blocks on Linebackers and J. Walker drove the facing corner up the field.

If Loughborough did not have the blocking to attend to, Goka's speed was a factor if the back broke free past the Aces defensive core and into the secondary.

Staffordshire's Defense manage to limit QB Pimperton to few passing attempts while the front eight stopped the running game in the crucial areas of the field. RB Tom Worral caused problems with counters and draws with good blocking on the Linebackers springing the back through into the secondary.

It was Loughborough's inability to complete drives once the Aces entered the Stallions red zone that stopped the game from turning into a shootout. The Stallions defensive line and linebackers stepped up to fill the holes and keep the run to the inside, while the defensive backs remained tight to the wide receivers and tight ends entering their zone. The secondary of rookie Carl Sharp, Jon Wood and Richardson should have picked the ball off but the Aces Offense failed to convert on the Stallions missed opportunities.

Buckley, playing both ways managed to get to Pimperton on a fourth down play after getting good penetration of the ball. While Andrew Brannigan got to the QB in the second quarter.

With the Aces beginning the second half with a 21-point deficit Head Coach Jason Scott came out in shotgun to open up the pass and give the Aces QB more time. However, dropped passes and good pressure to close the run down ended the drive, and the next play Goka punished the Aces with a 57-yard TD run the next play.

Loughborough had to come out with a purpose trailing 27-0 and had to come out and put pressure on the Stallions defense that had so far held its own. However, the Stallions put more pressure on both the passing and running game forcing the Aces to punt which Roberts returned to the 22 yard line.

Goka, who had score three times in the first half, including a 79-yard run that completed a drive that the offense started on their own one, added to his touchdown tally with a 22-yard run halfway through the third. Giving the Aces too much to do and effectively tying up the win for the Stallions.

QB Pimperton managed to break the defense late in the third finding Tight End Graham Kelly from four yards out to make it 33-6.

However, Goka had the final say as he caught the ball in the backfield before running in from 45-yards out to complete a day to set a new record for most touchdowns in a game for a Stallion.

MVPs: Rookie - Carl Sharp, Special Teams - Jon Wood, Defensive - Graham Roberts, Offensive - Richard Walker, Game - Edem Goka

Notes: Staffordshire are now 4-17 in the overall record against Loughborough thanks to the teams first win at Holywell.

Goka have over 440 all purpose yards in the game and scored the most touchdowns in a single game for a Stallion with six, five rushing and one receiving.

Stallions go 2-0 for the second time in the teams 16 year history.

Sunday, November 11th 2007