Lincoln Colonials 26 @ 18 Derby Braves (Game 1)

1st Quarter
Derby returned the opening kickoff to the 21 yard line. After getting a initial 1st down the D held after a great stop by Luke-Walker Thompson on 3rd down. On the Colonials opening possession Jamie Bancroft (in his 1st game as a QB) went up top to rookie WR AJ Nti-Kari who made a spectacular catch for a 24 yard gain. The drive was cut short however as Bancroft fired a bullet to rookie WR Karl Halpin who had spilt the defenders but he as unable to hold on to what was a sure TD.

Derby's offence was unable to move the ball after the punt and were forced to punt.

The Colonials offence took over, on 3rd down Bancroft threw a inside pass to Nti-Kari who made a nice catch and got past the marker but fumbled after being hit hard. Derby recovered and took over with great field position. However the Lincoln D came up big again with Mike Cuthell picking off the deep pass.

The Lincoln offence sputtered again with another dropped pass and were forced to punt. The Lincoln D were on form again as Robert ewen picked the pass of and returned it 16 yards but the return was wiped out with a illegal block putting the ball on the 10. Bancroft went deep to Nti-Kari again this time for a 29 yard leaping reception.

2nd Quarter
Bancroft then hit James Holmes for a 6 yard gain before another drop on 3rd down ended the drive. The Colonials got the ball back though as Ryan Roodt forced a fumble and Sam Deaken recovered. Bancroft hit Halpin on a quick screen for a short gain but Bancroft fumbled and recovered again setting up 3rd and long. Lincoln were unable to convert, the teams then exchanged punts.

Lincoln then put together there 1st drive of the day, first Bancroft ran a qb keeper for a 18 yard gain and then hit Nti-Kari for a 11 yard play. A personal foul on Derby moved the ball inside the 20 and Bancroft hit Halpin on short pass before throwing a jump ball to Nti-Kari in the endzone for 3 yard score. Bancroft ran in the two pointer giving the Colonials there most points ever in a game.
Colonials 8 Braves 0
With 2 minutes left in the half the Braves got a 1st down and moved inside Lincoln territory but on 2nd down the QB was picked off linebacker Sam Deaken who returned it 32 yards before a desperate tackle saved the TD. With only 20 seconds to go in the half the Colonials tried 2 desperate passes but time expired.

3rd Quarter
Lincoln received the kickoff and on 1st down Bancroft held on to the ball too long and fumbled with Derby recovering on the 10 yard line. 3 plays later Derby scored on a 3 yard run to close the gap to 2. The Two Point pass failed.
Colonials 8 Braves 6
On the Colonials next possession Bancroft launched a 45 yard bomb to Halpin who with his great speed had blown by the corner, made a nice over the shoulder catch whilst tip toeing the sideline before stepping out of bounds. Bancroft then hit Nti-Kari to the 1 and Bancroft then took it in himself.
Colonials 14 Braves 6
Derby then mounted there only drive of the game after a 40 yard kickoff return. They got a couple of 1st downs running before hitting the big TE for the only completion of the game. The 21 yard pass play put the ball on the 3 and after 2 plays they punched it in on a 1 yard run. The two point pass once again failed.
Colonials 14 Braves 12
On the next possession, Bancroft rolled right before taking off and outrunning the defence for a 62 yard score. Bancroft who is a starting linebacker for Donny Mustangs broke a tackle at the 1st down marker and showed great speed before jogging the last 20 yards.
Colonials 20 Braves 12

4th Quarter
Derby were forced to punt on the next possession and the Colonials went right back to work. Carl Hardman slashing for a 12 yard gain before Bancroft hit Nti-Kari for 11 more. Bancroft then left the game with cramp and the Colonials then pounded the Braves with the run. Firstly Bousted ran for 13, then Hardman for 9 more before Shucksmith ran it in from the 1.
Colinials 26 Braves 12
The Braves were intercepted on the next possession and the running game was on form again. First Hardman blasting for 24 before Bousted ran for 9. Shucksmith then gained 6 more before Bancroft returned.

Bancroft hit Nti-Kari on a quick pass and he turned outside and broke two tackles to take it the 1. Bancroft then scored on a QB sneak. The TD was nullified however by a WR holding. Bancroft then made his only bad decision of the day under throwing Nti-Kari in the end zone and the ball being picked off and returned to midfield.

Mike Cuthell then picked Derby off again and took over with a couple of minutes left in the game. On 3rd Down Bancroft launched a bomb to the WR who was 5 yards past his man but the ball went through his hands. Lincoln then punted and Derby returned it 40 yards for the score.
Colonials 26 Braves 18
The Colonials then recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

Bancroft finished the game with 180 yards passing and a score, he also had 81 yards rushing and 2 scores. Nti-Kari caught 8 passes for 121 yards and a score.

The Colonials offence racked up 328 yards, 240 in the 2nd half. The defence held Derby to 136 yards including 0 yards in the 4th quarter.

Final Score: Lincoln Colonials 26 - 18 Derby Braves