Israel: Mazkeret Batya Silverbacks back into final playoff berth

The Mazkeret Batya ‘Rose Valley Crossfit’ Silverbacks lost to the Beersheva Black Swarm last night 14-6, but still managed to clinch the first postseason berth in franchise history, advancing on head-to-head point differential vs. the Swarm after splitting the two meetings with them.

Beersheva Black Swarm 14 – Mazkeret Batya ‘Rose Valley Crossfit’ Silverbacks 6

 

The Black Swarm needed a win by 35 points or more in order to make the playoffs, but from the get-go it didn’t look like they were playing with a sense of urgency. One would expect them to flood the game with onside kicks, exotic blitzes, fake punts and gadget plays, but we didn’t see any of that from the Swarm.

The Silverbacks started off with a punt and the Swarm marched down the field and Ronnie Hayes ran in a score, 8-0. Ido Eisikovits threw a TD pass to Rotem Oz but Seena Abass blocked the extra point attempt, 8-6. The teams exchanged punts and turnovers-on-downs before the half.

The Swarm turned the ball over on downs and Mazkeret punted. Hayes ran in his second of the night, 14-6. Mazkeret punted but Elad Iluz intercepted a Hayes pass in the endzone. Ben Rahamim broke up a 4th-down Eisikovits pass in the end-zone and Beersheva ran out the clock to preserve the win, but falling short of the post-season.

Individual performances

Swarm

Hayes 9\18 passes for 80 yards and a pick, adding 71 yards and 2 scores on the ground. Matanel Katz caught 3-53 and Tal Biton rushed for 39 yards. Ehud Klein lead the defense with 10 tackles and a break-up and Abass added 5, 2 knockdowns and a blocked XP.

Silverbacks

Eisikovits completed 7\20 passes for 58 yards and a score. Ohad Samuely rushed 20 times for 83 yards and Amit Zamir caught 4 passes for 31 yards. Jen Hilel had 7 tackles and 1 TFL, and Amit Ben Yosef had 7 as well. Alex Aliluiko added 6 and 2 break-ups.

IFL wild-card playoff action kicks off this week! On Thursday night in Petah Tikva the Troopers host the Silverbacks, and on Friday morning in Abu Snan the Underdogs host the Pioneers.