WEEK THREE
STALLIONS GRAB THIRD VICTORY ON THE ROAD

The Staffordshire Stallions are 3-0 for the first time in the teams' 16 year history.

Running back Edem Goka rushed for four touchdowns, Chris Ward caught a 15 yard touchdown pass from returning QB Ben Rowan and Richard Walker scored on a quarterback sneak to give the Stallions a 40-0 half time lead.

A safety in the fourth quarter made it 42-0 giving the Stallions their first shut out of the year at Kedleston Road.

Conditions were far from perfect this Sunday. Cold winds and heavy rain greeted the Stallions and Braves and as expected the circumstances made it difficult for both sets of offense, with the running game key as the quarterbacks dropped back for few passes.

It was evident on the opening kickoff how important ball security was going to be throughout the game. Returner James Walker fumbled the opening kickoff to give the ball to the Brave offense.

Derby went straight to the run, but the Stallions defensive line plugged up the holes giving the running back little room to break pass the line of scrimmage as Derby failed to convert Staffordshire's early mistake.

With Staffordshire having 649 yards on the ground prior to the start of the game Head Coach Ant Charles trusted the running game to continue its domination shown in the first two games of the year.

Quarterback Ben Rowan returned to lead the team and his offense opened the scoring within on the first drive.

Running back Edem Goka (221 yards on 12 carries, 4 TDs) added to his tally of nine touchdowns. The rookie running back pace was electrifying, and again it was highlighted as he accelerated through the holes into the Brave secondary outsprinting them to the goal line to dampen Derby's afternoon as the first year back gained touchdowns of 86 and 63 yards in the second.

Quarterback Rowan connected with Tight End Chris Ward who was left alone 10 yards out who complete the pass by getting into the end zone scoring his second touchdown of the year.

Goka improved the Stallion lead before Richard Walker stepped in at Quarterback to sneak it in for the Stallions final touchdown of the game making it 40-0 at half time as the defense created a turnover deep in Brave territory.

Outline linebacker Andy Brannigan got to the quarterback untouched forcing the fumble that defense end Rob Pickerill gathered up and returned it 10 yards to the three yard line.

The third quarter was scoreless as the conditions deteriorated and both defenses stiffened. Derby tried to put some points on the board as one drive lasted for over 11 minutes, however Staffordshire's defense were in no mood to surrender the shutout.

Coach Charles decided to let rookie back Ben Atkinson and R. Walker to take the handoffs from Rowan giving Goka a rest and other rookie players' valuable playing experience.

The fourth quarter went the same way as the third with Derby controlling the clock keeping Rowan and the Staffordshire offense on the sideline.

With the Braves inside their own five yard line Coach Steele created pressure on the Brave quarterback which paid dividend as the defensive line and the blitzing Graham Roberts put pressure on the hand off which was fumbled back into the end zone. After the ball bobbled around on the floor d-tackle Graham Fellows could only get the football to go out the back of the end zone giving the Stallions defense a safety.

The Stallions were knocking on the Braves door late in the fourth as Roberts, Walker and rookie Atkinson lead the offense down field however the Braves stuffed the middle of the field and put pressure on Rowan to force a field goal attempt which failed after the snap was high.

MVPs: Rookie - Ben Atkinson, Special Teams - Jon Wood, Defensive - Rob Pickerill, Peter Buckley, Chris Ward, Offensive - Richard Walker, Game - Edem Goka

Notes: The Stallions are 3-0 for the first time in the 16-yard history of the team

The defensive has only conceded 12 points while the team has score 109 in the first three games of the year with a net of 97 points.

Edem Goka is 8 yards short of 750 yards and 258 yards from 1,000 yards for the season. He has scored 11 rushing touchdowns, one passing and one kick return brining his tally to 13 leaving the rookie back 11 behind the team record of 24.

Staffordshire are 3-0 on the road and have there first home game of the year against Leicester next weekend. The Stallions will then have their first bye week before travelling to Lincoln to complete the pre-christmas schedule.

Sunday, November 18th 2007