BNL league: Limburg Shotguns roll past Ghent Gators

The Limburg Shotguns were easy 53-0 winners over the winless Ghent Gators despite the loss of starting quarterback Jabari Harris as the BNL league rolls past the midpoint of the season.

Harris suffered a season-ending injury in Limburg’s loss to the Brussels Black Angels and Polish quarterback Oscar Sardyga stepped into his spot.

The Shotguns took charge from the opening whistle scoring on their two first possessions as wideout Juliani Cotin first found the end zone on a sweep and then two possessions later hauled in a pass from Sardyga to make the score 14-0 at the end of the opening stanza.

Limburg took advantage of a Gators miscue after linebacker Timo Daniëls picked off quarterback Gilles Van Overschelde at the Ghent 28 yard line. Six plays later, Sardyga punched the ball in to boost the lead to 20-0. The next two Shotguns possessions produced scores as first running back Kamil Madry added to the lead scoring from four yards out and then Javin Bontley-Helsol scampered through the entire Ghent defense for a 17 yard touchdown giving Limburg a 34-0 lead at the half.

With Ghent unable to get out of their own end of the field to open the second half, the Shotguns offense went back to work with running back Cian Borra bursting up the middle and then cutting outside to score a 32 yard touchdown upping the lead to 41-0.

The mercy rule was applied at that point, but the Gators‘ defense stiffened, allowing only a field goal heading into the fourth quarter.

The Shotguns defense forced a safety, trapping the Ghent running back in the end zone making the lead 46-0. Then, on the ensuing Gators‘ kickoff, Yhemmairo Van Es returned the ball all the way, racing 82 yards to the end zone. Kicker Tyler Pereira-Simoes booted the point after to end the scoring.

With the win, Limburg improved to 2-2 and will face the Kasteel Nitros on May 6.

With files from Tijs Lemmens.