CRYSTAL BOWL 51- GAME REVIEW

Crystal Bowl 51 | 28/02/21 | DIY Depot Arena, Adelphia

ADELPHIA	13	14	14	0	41
CALIGARA	0	3	0	7	10

Scoring Summary:
1st Quarter:
ADE McGuire 22 pass from Kelly (Hernandez XP); 7-0
ADE Hernandez FG 39; 10-0
ADE Hernandez FG 47; 13-0
2nd Quarter:
CAL Wright FG 49; 13-3
ADE Walters 60 pass from Kelly (Hernandez XP); 20-3
ADE Walters 20 pass from Kelly (Hernandez XP); 27-3
3rd Quarter:
ADE Floyd 4 run, (Hernandez Kick); 34-3
ADE Walters 85 pass from Kelly (Hernandez XP); 41-3
4th Quarter:
CAL Slater 18 pass from Slater (Wright XP); 41-10

The 51st Crystal Bowl was an uncomfortable affair for the defending champions, Caligara. The Adelphia Phoenix capitalised on playing in their home stadium, on their home turf, even though it was a 50-50 crowd.

Following the opening kickoff, the Bulldogs went three-and-out, paving the way for the Phoenix to march down the field and take the lead on Matt Kelly’ s 22 yard pass to Jayson McGuire. On the next possession, Zack Slater was tackled by Michael Keys, forcing a fumble. Charlie Clayton recovered for the Phoenix.

Keys forces the fumble

Adelphia scored two field goals on their next two possessions, whilst the Bulldogs flustered. Eventually, the Bulldogs gained some first downs and kept momentum but scoring with a Chester Wright field goal. it was 13-3.

What happened next possibly finished off the game. A good return from Jamarcus White got the Phoenix to the 30. Kylian Floyd ran twice for 10 yards, picking up the first down. Matt Kelly then threw a quick dart to Kyle Walters, who went 60 yards for the score, untouched. 20-3.

Kyle Walters celebrates in the endzone.

With the Bulldogs in disbelief, they tried to comeback. A good drive followed by then stalled, as Morales dropped a Slater dime. Chester Wright hooked the 51 yard field goal attempt wide.

Minutes late, Matt Kelly had taken the shortened field and finished off the game with a 20 yarder to Walters. 27-3 at half-time!

Any thoughts of a comeback, a miracle from the Bulldogs were dashed following the half-time show, featuring The Miracle Workers and SJ White. The Bulldogs marched down the field on the opening drive of the second half, ending with a four yard Kylian Floyd scoring run. 34-3.

It got worse near the end of the third. a good punt put the Phoenix on their own 15 yard line. Two plays later, Walters went 85 yards to the house on a short bubble screen pass. 41-3

In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs got a consolidation score, when Zack Slater found Seth in the endzone from 19 yards. There wasn’t much celebrating there.

Matt Kelly and Kylian Floyd ran a well executed offence in the big game.

SEMI-FINALS REVIEWED – CB51 TEAMS SET

Crystal Bowl Playoff Semi-Finals | PFL

On Valentine’s Day, the PFL brought the Eborian public the playoff semi-final double-header. It might not have been romantic, but it was some good hard-fought action.

SEMI-FINAL 1;

ADELPHIA PHOENIX	31	F
NEW CHESTER KNIGHTS	20

The Adelphia Phoenix went into ‘blackout mode’ for the semi-final- and it worked a treat for them. The Phoenix defence shut down the Knights as the offense scored three touchdowns in the first half. QB Matt Kelly passed to Anchor (TE) Patrick Schwartz for a long score and to Kyle Walters for a second. Rookie running back Kylian Floyd scored on the ground from three yards out. At Half-time it was 21-3.

Patrick Schultz got open and beat the coverage to score a touchdown in the first quarter.

The Knights rallied for ten points at the beginning of the 3rd Quarter, with Elijah Brooks scrambling in from 8 yards, plus a field goal. To answer, though, the Phoenix ran a 80 yard drive, culminating in another Kelly pass to Schwartz.

The fourth quarter started with another field goal from the Phoenix to make it 31-13. The Knights scored a consolation TD late in the game, when Brooks found Rogers from 7 yards out. It just wasn’t enough.

The Phoenix would now host the winners of the second semi-final.

SEMI-FINAL 2:

CALIGARA BULLDOGS	27	F
BRISTOW BEARS	24

The Bulldogs eeked out a win against the Bears in a stormy, snowy Caligara on Snday. The Bears led several times and looked that they might sneak an upset for the second consecutive week.

Jeremy Franklin burst through to get the Bulldogs into the endzone for the first time.

It took QB Zack Slater to shake off an early pick six and bring the ‘dogs back with 4th quarter drives for a field goal and winning touchdown to his namesake Seth Slater. The Bears’ final drive ended with a game-tying 54 yard field goal falling agonisingly wide with 00:08 left.

The Bears left it all out on the field and will be raring to go for next season. Their return to the league was phenomenal!

The Bulldogs were battered (Zack Slater- elbow, Morales- Knee) but will take time off to get ready for an imposing visit for the Crystal Bowl, the third time there’s been a ‘home side’ in the championship finals.

CRYSTAL BOWL 51 NOW SET

Crystal Bowl will take place on 28th February 2021 at 6:00pm local time from Adelphia’s DIY Depot Arena.