In a back-and-forth affair, Dubai Barracudas edged out Abu Dhabi Wildcats 13-12 with a crucial special teams play in the final minutes.
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Trailing by seven with time running out, Abu Dhabi quarterback Perry Blackburn went deep to wide receiver Corey Williams, who made the catch in traffic and beat the defenders to the end zone.
Rather than going for two to take the lead, the Wildcats attempted an extra point for the tie. The Barracudas’ line, however, had other plans in mind and blocked the kick after getting a massive push on the snap.
Dubai then recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock to hold on for their fourth victory this season.
“There was a lot of rust out there and have to clean that up, but happy to come away with the win,” Barracudas coach Kyle Jordan said.
“I expect that now we’ve got this rust knocked off, we’ll be able to progress a little bit faster than earlier in the season.”
Both teams received big performances from their wide receivers. For the Barracudas, Michael Andersen went for two touchdowns, with a 20-yard score to give Dubai the early 7-0 lead and a 10-yarder to put the Barracudas up for good at 13-6.
Williams, not to be outdone, scored the first of his two touchdowns on a 20-yard reception to cut Abu Dhabi’s deficit to 7-6.
“This was a game we knew Corey could have,” Wildcats coach Charles Gillespie said. “He was injured in the first half of the season. Corey was exceptional tonight and he showed why he is who he is.
“I expect a big second half from my entire team. I guarantee it, going forward we’re ready.”
It was a more comfortable win for the Dubai Stallions, who used a second-half surge to earn a 35-6 blowout win over the Al Ain Desert Foxes.
The Stallions wasted little time getting on the board, attacking on their very first offensive play.
Off play-action, quarterback Chris Wentzel delivered a 50-yard bomb to a streaking Askia Horne-Pierre as the wide receiver got behind the defence for a touchdown to take the 6-0 lead.
Al Ain responded after recovering a botched punt with Gazi Abdul Hakim bursting through an opening and outrunning the defence for a 25-yard scamper to tie the game.
The match-up was one-sided after that though, as the Dubai Stallions used a power running game to score four rushing touchdowns, including two from back Davion Miller.
