Week 4 brought an interesting matchup between revamped WRECKING CREW and the returning BLACK KNIGHTS.  WRECKING CREW entered Sunday at the top of the Iron East with a 4-1 record while BLACK KNIGHTS sat with 1-3 record in third place of the Steel South.

BLACK KNIGHTS started the game off strong.  QB Zach Bahr worked his team to midfield on several quick passes to Kenny Scott and Kailon Lyons.  On his fourth completion, he found Brandon Osborne in the endzone for the first touchdown of the game.  However, that would be the only touchdown BLACK KNIGHTS would score in the matchup.

WRECKING CREW answered BLACK KNIGHTS’ opening drive with a score of their own.  QB Jeff Bollinger drove his team down the field, capping the drive off with a touchdown pass to Steve Killius making a nice cutback across the middle of the endzone. Just like that, the game was tied sixes.  Interceptions by both teams and a missed opportunity by BLACK KNIGHTS in the final minutes kept the score at 6-6 at halftime.

Coming out of a low-scoring first half, WRECKING CREW was ready to play.  The team worked their way downfield with catches from Dennis “Shor D” Wolford and Chris Cramer.  In the end, it was Steven Killius Bollinger found wide open for the second time in the corner of the endzone.  A successful extra point gave WRECKING CREW a 13-6 lead.  

BLACK KNIGHTS started off their first possession strong and for a while it appeared they would score as well.  Bahr worked his team up field with several completions to Scott and Lyons, but missed Osborne in the endzone and the BLACK KNIGHTS turned the ball over on downs.  

Unlike BLACK KNIGHTS, WRECKING CREW’s offense was clicking on all cylinders.  After several completions, Bollinger threw to Shor D, who evaded several tackles to run the length of the field for a touchdown.  Down two touchdowns, BLACK KNIGHTS fought hard to come back but nothing was working on offense.  After several miscommunications and incompletions, BLACK KNIGHTS turned the ball and the game to WRECKING CREW, who won by a final score of 19-6.

WRECKING CREW looked strong yet again this week.  On the offensive side, Bollinger completion rate was very high, relying on a short-pass strategy most of the game.  However, he does need to watch his little shuffle passes because a lot of the times his receivers aren’t ready which could spell trouble.  Steve Killius stepped up big on offense and played well in the absence of Bruce Thorton.  Cramer also had a strong game with two defensive interceptions.  If this time of play continues, I look for WRECKING CREW to have a successful season.

BLACK KNIGHTS struggled a bit on both sides of the ball in this one.  Bahr is a great team leader both at quarterback and at coaching his team on defense from the sidelines.  However, Bahr and his wide receivers need to practice their routes as there were many miscommunications between quarterback and receiver.  There was also several times on offense where BLACK KNIGHTS fought to work themselves down the field, only to come up with nothing just outside the endzone.  BLACK KNIGHTS has talent in their slew of wide receivers, but need to work on communication and finishing on both sides of the ball if they want to improve their record.