University of Stirling Clansmen – 28
University of Edinburgh Wildcats – 41
The Stirling Clansmen opened the season with brutal loss away to The University of Edinburgh Wildcats (formerly known as the Mavericks).
The Clansmen got the ball to start the game and after a solid campaign downfield where their passing game really shone the Clansmen put the first points on the board with a touchdown. The extra point was missed.
The Wildcats received the kickoff and set themselves up nicely with a massive return to put them in Stirling’s territory. After a quarterback run for a first down and an incomplete pass the Wildcats ran the ball in for a touchdown and made the extra point.
Stirling’s offence returned to the field and threw an interception before a flag cancelled the play. Their ground game took over and got them a first down and then some before they were picked off again in the redzone.
The Wildcats did not manage to capitalise on their next possession and punted the ball away.
The Clansmen started at their own 27 yard line and ran a quarterback run for a first down before passing for another first down. They almost turned the ball over again but luckily for them the defender dropped it and it was ruled incomplete, allowing the Clansmen to run the ball 30 yards into the end zone for their second touchdown. In an attempt to make up for their missed extra point earlier in the game, Stirling threw for a 2-point conversion which they got.
Stirling’s defence came out and sacked Edinburgh on their first play of the drive before allowing the Wildcats to move deep downfield eventually run the ball in for a touchdown and extra point to make the score 14-14.
Second Quarter
The Clansmen made slow progress forcing them to go for it on 4th and 2 which they got only to throw deep downfield where the ball as once again picked off by Edinburgh’s defence.
Edinburgh received another penalty pushing them back before running the ball from their own 20 to the Clansmen’s 30. The Wildcats then managed to pass to the corner of the end zone where it was caught for their third touchdown of the night. Stirling blocked the extra point to hold the Wildcat’s lead to six.
The Clansmen’s offence didn’t stay on the field for very long as they threw yet another interception after a massive run put them in the redzone.
The Wildcats made great progress downfield with a couple of big quarterback runs before their running back took it to the house for a touchdown and then a 2-point conversion.
Stirling managed to run for a first down but their bad luck continued as a dropped pass was recovered by Edinburgh.
Edinburgh started at their own 35 yard line and their ground game took them into the redzone before they got sacked and Stirling picked up the ball.
The Clansmen managed to pass for a first down before throwing yet another interception before halftime.
Halftime
The Wildcats ground game continued to dominate, running for a first down and then for a touchdown as well. The extra point was good to put Edinburgh 34-14 up.
Stirling’s next drive did not end in an interception but after gaining a first down the Clansmen went for it on 4th and seven and threw an incomplete pass.
Edinburgh took the field and ran the ball from roughly their own 25 yard line to the Clansmen’s 25. Like Stirling, the Wildcats went for it on 4th down in the redzone where they passed for a touchdown. The extra point was good to extend Edinburgh’s lead to 41-14.
Fourth Quarter
The Clansmen started the fourth quarter by passing for a first down and then running for another. Stirling proceeded to make steady progress down the field before running the ball in for a touchdown. They went for a 2-point conversion but the pass was broken up leaving the score at 41-20.
The Wildcats made no progress, getting pushed further and further back before punting on fourth down.
Stirling’s offence returned to the field and after some questionable catches they managed to get into the redzone before scoring a passing touchdown and 2-point conversion.
Despite their improvement in the second half, the Clansmen were still too far behind and the Wildcats took a knee to secure their victory.
Image Credit: Melissa Thomson.
Student journalist and Secretary for Brig Newspaper
