Belgian FAFL: Ghent Gators top Leuven Lions

Defending Champions Ghent Gators dominate Leuven Lions in Belgian FAFL season opener

Last weekend the Belgian FAFL 2015 season kicked off!

In the first game of the season the defending champions Ghent Gators took on the Leuven Lions. Right from the start it was a highly competitive contest with both teams forcing turnovers. It was a true turnover spectacle with 10 fumbles, four turnovers on downs and two interceptions. But thanks to outstanding play from quarterback Bart Killens, wide reciever Thomas Lezy who scored three touchdowns and linebacker Willem Doms the Gators crowned themselves victors by a score of 32-6.

Tricks & Penalties

After a little bit of trickery on the opening kickoff, an onside kick by Ghent, Leuven recovered the ball but could not get its offense in gear. It turned into a battle of defenses. Both quarterbacks struggled to complete a pass and it wasn’t until late in the first quarter that a pass was caught. Hanging on to the ball also seemed to be the big issue for both teams. The Ghent passing attack finally got into rhythm and quarterback Bart Killens laid out some beautiful passes resulting in the first touchdown of the game to wide reciever Senne Vermassen.

Aided by a couple of big penalties, the Lions scored a controversial touchdown on the ensuing drive.  The drive began after a second onside kick from Ghent did not travel the necessary 10 yards allowing Leuven to gain possession. Later on the same Lions drive, the Gators defense was penalized 15 yards for piling on.

After the touchdown Leuven’s offense was not able to get anything going, and Ghent’s offense was just getting it together. Set up by a defensive pass interference penalty on a Lions cornerback, Gators quarterback Bart Killens threw his second touchdown pass of the afternoon to wide reviever Thomas Lezy.  On the Lions next drive, the Ghent defense came up big forcing a fumble on Leuvens 17-yard line, and with only 15 seconds to play in the first half the Gators scored their third touchdown of the day when Killens connected with wide reciever Thomas Lezy.

Gators defense dominated

The story of the second half is one of a great Gators defense. Linebacker Willem Doms played an outstanding game. He was all over the field, snuffing out screen plays, stopping inside runs and even getting an interception late in the third quarter. The great play of the Gators defense marked the end for the exhausted Lions who were overpowered and outnumbered by Ghent’s bigger roster.

Forcing turnover after turnover the Ghent defense kept giving the ball back to their offense which resulted in the last touchdown of the day, when quarterback Bart Killens completed another touchdown pass (bringing his total of the day up to four) to wide receiver Thomas Lezy, securing the victory.

Final Score: Leuven Lions 6 – Ghent Gators 32