One week after a tough loss in the EFA Championship the New York Bandits took the field in the 2009 Metro Bowl. The Metro Bowl has established itself as a solid tourney and this years lineup is no different. This game would mark the first meeting between the NJ Wolves and the NY Bandits in history and it surely would live up to the billing. The Wolves at full strength jumped out to an early lead versus the Bandits who had several players going both ways, “The game time limited our availability but not playing the game was simply not an option”, said Coach Badson. The Wolves moved down the field early and extended the drive on a huge 3rd down pass from #4. The next series of plays produced the games first TD when the Wolves QB found a striking WR running the middle of the field for a TD.

Bandits 0 – Wolves 7

The Bandits would take the field for the first time down by 7 to a highly motivated Wolves team looking for redemption. The first play of the game produced a nice gain as Dave Hom #11 found Collis Martin #16 on a bubble screen and on the second play of the game Hom found Lenny Gonzalez #8 on a 50 Yard TD pass tying the game in 2 plays. So just like that the Bandits pulled even with the Wolves and quieted the crowd.

Photos Taken By Clark Shots

Bandits 7 – Wolves 7

The Game would quiet a bit as the Bandits Defense began to set the tone of the event. As the game entered the 2nd Quarter both teams traded blows as the Wolves defense bend but don’t break approach helped limit the Bandits scoring chances with Red Zone pressure taken the Bandits out of FG position twice. The Wolves would mount a late 2nd quarter drive and move down the field on precision passing for the games 2nd score. “Their QB was very strong he had alot of touch on the ball and made some good throws”, said Coach Tito.

Bandits 7 – Wolves 14

The 1st half watched the Bandits struggle to keep up with the Wolves intensity, the 2nd score gave the Wolves a big boost going into the half. Seasons are like huge novels and this year the Bandits have taken on ever obstacle they have faced and playing such a huge game short handed seemed like it was taking its toll on the team. The team rallied during the half as the leaders of the team reminded each other that 5 or 50 the uniform holds the same power. You can only field 11 men at one time and the Bandits in attendance rallied around each other determined to not let the circumstances dedicate the future.

The Bandits took the field starting the 3rd quarter and moved right into scoring position behind a huge pass completion by Collis Martin #16 and a big run by Jovan Garcia #4. The Bandits punched it in from the 1 yard line on a short TD run by Damian Jones #34.

Photos taken by Clark Shots

Bandits 14 – Wolves 14

The Novel called Bandit Football 2009 continues into the 2nd half  but one thing that is for sure the leadership on the Defense is shifting and the future is bright behind the non stop play of #42 Karl Pfistner and #72 Raymond Simmons. Nicknamed the “Terrible Two” they simply caused havoc the entire second half of the game. It was a great move moving the steady DE Simmons to the DT position, “I don’t know what everyone is complaining about the footing is good I am in the backfield every play”, said Simmons. The Defense stepped their play up during the half making play after play causing the already frustrated Wolves to fail apart. One quote really set the tone of the half as a Wolves player shouted “we are not the same team from the first half” and a faithfully Bandit fan responded ” You weren’t playing the real Bandits during the 1st half either”. That battle cry gave the Bandits Defense all they needed to limit all chances the Wolves had for the remainder of the game.

The Bandits would mount a final drive during the 4th quarter that would produce big behind the running of Damian Jones #34. Jones put the team on his back and carried the offense right to the goal line where QB Dave Hom #11 scored on a sneak capping the game and putting the team in front for good.

Bandits 21 – Wolves 14

The Bandits defense held and forced a TO sealing the game for good as the Bandits would secure a 1st round win over the NJ Wolves 21-14

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