Summary
In a game that was riddled with penalties, the Clansmen emerged victorious, holding Herriot-Watt to zero points.
University of Stirling – 61
Herriot-Watt University – 0
The Stirling Clansmen hosted the Herriot-Watt Wolverines in their first home game of the season. In a game that was riddled with penalties, the Clansmen emerged victorious, holding Herriot-Watt to zero points. Stirling came into this game with a 1-1 record, while Herriot-Watt are yet to win a game.
First Quarter
The Clansmen started off their homecoming game with a bang, returning the kick-off for a touchdown to immediately take the lead.
Herriot-Watt’s offense then took the field where their quarterback was instantly under pressure. He scrambled for a first down before Stirling’s defence got to him and sacked him. The Wolverines attempted a few runs and then went for it on 4th down at the Clansmen’s 40-yard line. Herriot-Watt threw towards the back of the endzone but it was not caught and the Clansmen’s offense took the field for the first time.
Stirling started their drive at their own 30-yard line and gained some rushing yards before being pushed back 5 yards after a penalty. After an overthrown pass and a quarterback run that got them nowhere the Clansmen punted.
The Wolverines ran the ball for a solid gain of yards and ended up getting a first down after a defensive facemask penalty. Herriot-Watt’s drive then concluded with a punt after an incompletion and runs that were as successful as an incomplete pass.
The Clansmen’s offense returned deep in their own territory before a catch that was run down the sideline all the way to the house. Unfortunately for Stirling there was a flag on the play and the touchdown didn’t count. The Clansmen fumbled on second down but managed to recover the ball and throw a pass that was taken all the way down the field to finally get that touchdown. The extra point kick was good to extend the Clansmen’s lead to 13-0.
After a strange kick-off that ended up being replayed, Herriot-Watt received a false start penalty that pushed them back 5 yards. Their next play was a toss to their running back who was nowhere near where the ball was going. Stirling’s defence managed to pressure the Wolverines quarterback into getting an intentional grounding penalty, and the Wolverines punted to end the first quarter.
Second Quarter
Stirling started off the second quarter with an incompletion, then a run right up the gut to the 2-yard line. They managed to run into the endzone on the next play, and the extra point kick went straight through the uprights.
The Wolverines’ offense returned and continued to rely heavily on their run game. Unfortunately for them, the Clansmen’ run defence was thriving. Herriot-Watt’s drive did not end in a punt this time, instead it ended in a strip sack that was recovered by Stirling.
After the success of their defence, the Clansmen’s offense was able to start their drive in the redzone. They threw for their second passing touchdown of the day, but the extra point went wide right.
After the end of the Wolverines last drive, you would have expected them to protect the ball better. They didn’t. Herriot-Watt managed to move the chains for a first down, before fumbling the ball as heir running back got tackled. Once again, the fumble was recovered by the Clansmen.
Stirling completely failed to move the chains and went for it on fourth down, where Herriot-Watt committed a glaringly obvious false start. The Clansmen replayed the fourth down and threw to the back corner of the endzone where their receiver came down with the ball. Stirling chose to go for a 2-point conversion – which they got – to extend their lead to 34-0.
Herriot-Watt’s offense returned and had three incompletions before punting again.
The Clansmen started at midfield, running for some gain before being pushed back by another penalty. After a designed quarterback run, another flag on the Clansmen, and a quarterback scramble for the first down, the Wolverines managed to sack Stirling’s quarterback. That wasn’t enough to stop the Clansmen though, as the next catch was run in for a touchdown.
41 points before halftime clearly just wasn’t enough for Stirling. The Wolverines’ offence yet again got strip sacked and the ball was recovered by the defence who ran it back for their sixth touchdown of the half.
Herriot-Watt’s next drive got them nowhere good, and they ended the half with no points and an injured quarterback.
Third Quarter
The Wolverines received the second half kick-off but immediately fumbled the ball which was then recovered by Stirling.
Stirling’s offense returned to throw for a touchdown with no extra point as the holder fumbled the ball.
Herriot-Watt’s next drive ended in another punt as the Clansmen’s defence held them to a handful of yards.
Unfortunately for Stirling, their next drive wasn’t much better. After three incomplete passes to the endzone, they brought out their kicker to attempt a field goal. The kick went wide left on what would have been roughly a 30-yard field goal.
Fourth Quarter
Herriot-Watt’s offense remained shaky going into the final quarter. Stirling’s defence managed to bat down a ball which they recovered and ran in for a touchdown. Luckily for Herriot-Watt, there was a defensive holding penalty that removed the touchdown and allowed the Wolverines to replay the down. Unluckily, that wasn’t enough to get Herriot-Watt on the board and they punted the ball back to Stirling.
The Clansmen’s offense took a moment to find their footing at the start of the drive. After an incompletion and a flag on the offense, they were back. The pass was caught and ran all the way down the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown. Stirling chose to go for two but were pushed back ten yards for an offensive holding penalty. They got to replay the conversion where their running back threw a pass to the same receiver that scored the touchdown.
Herriot-Watt’s offence returned to the field, but it was ultimately fruitless and ended in a punt to seal the Clansmen’s shutout victory.
Image Credit: Zara Campbell.
Student journalist and Sports Editor for Brig Newspaper
