By Rene Barens
The Amsterdam Crusaders remained perfect in BNL title games last weekend when they defeated the Rotterdam Trojans 38-14 to capture their third straight BNL Championship.
The game, played on the home field of the Brussels Tigers, marked the first time two teams from one country battled for the crown. The league is comprised of teams from both the Netherlands and Belgium
During the regular season, Rotterdam finished as the number 1 seed and as such they earned a bye and a ticket straight to the final. The Crusaders still had to play the Brussels Black Angels in a semi final playoff at home at Sportspark Sloten, Amsterdam and they won convincingly, 35-6.
Amsterdam DL Dylan Bakker Photo: Alwin Ruhe
The last time the Amsterdam and Rotterdam squads met was two months ago in Amsterdam, a game the Trojans won 23-21, which made this final a highly anticipated game.
It was clear from the start that the Crusaders came well prepared. Irish National team player, John Hanbury opened the scoring with a short reception from quarterback Jasper Nijland in the flat and took it for a 60-yard romp down the sideline making a cut halfway to find daylight on the right side of the field to score. The PAT was no good.
Not long after, and still in the first quarter, the Trojans managed to stop the Crusaders run-heavy offense by putting ‘seven in the box’. However, a blown coverage gave ample space in the depleted backfield and rookie receiver Davey Noor found an open space behind the safety to haul in a 40 yard scoring pass from Nijland. The Crusaders then opted for a two-point conversion and they brought their TRACTOR goal-line formation to the field with defensive lineman Dylan Bakker punching the ball in to extend the lead to 14-0.
The second quarter saw Amsterdam add two more touchdowns as first receiver Ruben van Gessel scored on a 20 yard pass reception and then cornerback Julius Dollard picked off Rotterdam quarterback Walter Dycus for a 45 yard pick six giving the Crusaders a 28-0 lead going into the break.
Rotterdam LB/RB Akileis ‘Keke’ Leroy Photo: Alwin Ruhe
In the third quarter Amsterdam seemed to ease up just a little and the Trojans took advantage driving down to the Crusaders 33 yard line. Then quarterback Walter Dycus found Arthur de Boachie deep in the back of the end zone to narrow the lead to 28-7.
The Crusaders added a field goal in the fourth quarter from the toe of Jurre van der Pal extending the lead to 31-7. Not long afterwards, Dycus struck again, connecting with Jarrel Berrenstein first for a 32 yard gain down to the Amsterdam two. Then he hit him again in the corner of the end zone to reduce the lead to 31-14.
The Crusaders then resorted to the ground game relying on Kunst to kill the clock. Late in the game he popped outside and raced 31 yards for the game’s final score, sealing the win for Amsterdam.
The win was well deserved for coach Vittorio Alfarez in his first year as a head coach taking over from his brother Alejandro Alfarez.