Rogers sends the Clansmen packing

A hat-trick of receiving touchdowns from the impressive wide-out Sam Rogers proved the difference as Loughborough recorded a vital 20-16 victory over last year’s BUAFL champions, the Stirling Clansmen.

With the mistake-ridden game tied at 13-13 midway through the third quarter, Rogers’ amazing 50-yard catch and run moved the home side into a one score lead, something they would not relinquish thanks to some excellent fourth quarter defence.

After receiving James Slack’s pass with his back to goal, Rogers evaded several would-be Stirling tacklers before breaking into the open field and out-running the Clansmen defence in an impressive show of speed to complete his hat-trick.

Both teams traded touchdowns early in the first quarter with Rogers opening the scoring on a deep route as he linked up with Aces quarterback James Slack. Special teams mishaps would become a feature of the day as Loughborough missed the ensuing point-after attempt meaning their lead was only six points.

Stirling hit back with a passing touchdown of their own before they too missed the resulting kick, levelling the affair at 6-6.

James Slack showed a lovely touch to link up with Rodgers for the second time in the opening quarter and after David Friar made the PAT, Loughborough enjoyed a seven point lead.

The home defence stepped up straight away, with Stu Green intercepting the Stirling quarterback’s errant pass after a Looga Barooga defensive back had batted the ball up in the air. However, Loughborough failed to capitalise as Slack coughed up the football in the redzone to offer the visitors some form of reprieve.

A combination of blocked punts and some big plays from Stirling’s offence saw them level the affair once again before half time. Loughborough’s punt team were really struggling to pick up the onrushing Clansmen leading to a second blocked punt of the game for Stirling.

Rogers reasserted Luff’s advantage with an emphatic third score of the game midway through the third quarter and despite a second-half field goal from Stirling, which reduced the gap to only four points, Loughborough’s increasingly confident defence held out, completing an important win for Luff.