[tps_title]Russian Championship Week 2[/tps_title]
Week 2 of the Russian Championship might have been too early for the games to have any playoff implications, but it nevertheless featured several important statements by teams trying to prove that they were a force to be reckoned with, that they belong among the best or even lay a claim on the title.
Let’s review the full slate of games from this past weekend in Russia.
Moscow Patriots 7 v. St. Petersburg Griffins 10
The most anticipated game of the week saw some rough weather conditions and was played in rain and heavy wind that limited the capability of both offenses; but nevertheless, a hard-nosed football that was played in Moscow didn’t disappointed.
As the team considered by many to be the most legitimate contender to dethrone the 10-time Russian Champions, the Griffins looked to prove that these claims were not baseless in the first matchup of the season against the Patriots. But the game didn’t start well for them, as the hosts came up with an interception in their red-zone that they converted to 7 points as early as in the first quarter. However, the St. Petersburg defense, lead by their wrecking defensive line, has managed to shut down the Moscow offense for most of the game after that. They were limited to only a few first downs on the ground, and their passing game just never clicked in the rough weather.
In the meantime, the guests managed to move the ball with some consistency with their hard-nosed running attack that was assisted by their trust in their long pass – which didn’t result in many yards, but kept the Patriots defense on their heels. At first, it resulted in a field goal, which was followed by 7 in the last minute of the regulation. A strip-sack on ensuing Patriots possession ended the game shortly.
With the first ever win against the most established team in Russia, the Griffins have a lot to look forward to this season. But everyone realizes that both teams played a game full of mistakes (especially the Patriots, for whom it was the first game of the season), and have a lot left in the tank; without a doubt, we’re still to see a lot of progress by both towards the end of the season and their next game will be an entirely different matchup.
[tps_title]Russian Championship Week 2[/tps_title]
Yaroslavl Rebels 6 – St. Petersburg North Legion 48
While the Rebels were considered a reach to play in the Big 5 this year, they put up a much tougher fight than anyone expected in week 1 against the Griffins in St. Petersburg, and that gave them reasons to be excited to host another team from the same city in week 2. But the Legion also looked to make a statement of their own, after a disappointing loss at home to the Moscow United to prove that they belong among the nation’s best, and no other team was better suited for the task than Yaroslavl.
Although the game started well for the hosts who put together a balanced opening drive and reached an endzone, they became totally outclassed once the visitors have fully gotten into an offensive rhythm. While they had some success defending the run, the St. Petersburg QB Yegor Popov that came off the bench had consistently found his receivers for long passes that kept their drives alive regardless of the down and distance. And the forced adjustments to the deep passing game has also opened the holes for the running game in the Rebels defense, which were never able to stand their ground for the rest of the game. A defensive touchdown by St. Petersburg only solidified a well-rounded and dominant victory, leading Yaroslavl to continue searching for answers.
[tps_title]Russian Championship Week 2[/tps_title]
Chelyabinsk Tanks 0 – Urals Lightings 23
While the city of Chelyabinsk might claim to be the birthplace of American Football in Russia, the Tank are the youngest team to come from there and as such, are still looking to gain experience and establish a place for themselves in the Russian Championship. While the Lightings, although the rookies of the national series, are a much older and well-rounded team with plenty of victories in their local tournaments under the belt.
The difference between the two showed in the the very beginning of the game, as the Lightings have completely dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and moved the ball seemingly at will, while completely shutting down the Tanks in the first half. After successfully establishing the run, the guests have opened up their playbook and used a well-timed play passes to the middle of the field vacated by Chelyabinsk linebackers, which allowed them to maintain a lot of offensive balance that the Tanks never managed to counter. Adding to that, the Lightings scored two safeties on the defense to round-up their victory.
The score could have been higher if not for a rainstorm that started in the second half that has shut down both offenses. But that never affected the end result which makes the Lightings emerge as an early leader in the division.
[tps_title]Russian Championship Week 2[/tps_title]
Sevastopol Titans 24 – Simferopol Taurus 6
The Crimean peninsula boasts one of the oldest and richest American Football traditions in ex-USSR, and the local rivalry between the two major cities and teams there is always an extremely important event for both. Naturally, the home-field advantage becomes a very important in these games, and their first matchup of the 2015 (they split their games in 2014) series was not an exception.
The Titans have started strong and saw a lot of offensive success with a classical grinding football and using their effective run to establish the pass. And while they got most of their first downs on the ground, their first two scores came through the air from their QB Vladimir Dubina that had a very effective game.
Taking a 24-point lead into the half, Sevastopol couldn’t maintain their intensity for the rest of the game and have loosened it’s grip somewhat, allowing the Taurus to score in the 3rd quarter. The could have put more point on the board, but several turnover have effectively sealed the game.
Although the result of the game was a pretty strong victory for the Titans, they know that the rematch in Simferopol will be a very different game for both sides, who are already looking forward to it.