Playing in the first international American football game in India, the Falcons unleashed their star-studded attack and stifling defence on Team India at Hyderabad’s Gachibowli Sports Complex Saturday night to win 27-6.
The scoring began with a 10-yard rushing touchdown by Abu Dhabi Wildcats running back Vivaldi Tulysse, which was set up by EAFL general manager Dustin Cherniawski’s fumble recovery.
Dubai Barracudas running back Luke Norrey then got in on the action with a 25-yard scamper to the end zone for the first of his two scores in the contest. In the second quarter, Cherniawski once again showcased his ball-hawking ability as he recovered a fumble and this time returned it 28 yards to put the Falcons ahead 21-0.
Team India finally broke through after the intermission as they capitalised on a short Falcons’ punt to drive 30 yards for their only score.
Norrey then added the finishing touches with a 65-yard highlight touchdown run, as he so often did for the Barracudas this past season.
The game’s MVP award went to Barracudas quarterback Zavier Cobb, who despite not scoring was instrumental in moving the offence down the field and even made a 35-yard catch as a wide receiver.
The final from #Hyderabad is @EAFL_UAE Falcons 27 Team India 6
— Ross Crist (@RossTalks) June 18, 2016
A great game enjoyed by all the fans! pic.twitter.com/HjOANMTJWt
“With the running backs we had, you would have expected that’s all we were going to do all day, but we actually had the passing game there for us today,” Falcons coach Kyle Jordan said. “Zavier threw some nice balls so we went more with the passing game than we did with the running game.”
Jordan was also impressed by Team India and their grasp of the sport, citing their ability to send players in motion before the snap.
“They gave us a game…and did some things on offence that we had no idea they knew how to do. It was impressive,” he said. “They have a programme they can build on and hopefully they continue to play so we can have more games like this.”
The Falcons are now 3-0 playing abroad after defeating Sri Lanka’s Colombo Lions and Kazakhstan’s Almaty Titans in the past three months.
“We’ll go out and play anybody,” said Jordan. “It’s great for the league, it’s great for the team and it’s great for international football.”
