Bandits Claim 6th Title
- Updated: October 26, 2018
The Boston Bandits defeated the Southern Maine Raging Bulls 20-17 for their 6th NEFL Championship in the NEFL’s 25th Anniversary season.
The game opened with a defensive stalemate that lasted until the second quarter when the Bandits failed to convert on a fake punt on their own 30 yard line. The Bulls capitalized when Stephen Goodrich kicked a 37yd FG and a 3-0 Bulls lead. The Bulls would add to their margin when Teven Colon squirted free for a 24yd touchdown scamper a 10-0 advantage.
The Bandits moved the ball well but couldn’t get into the end zone before the half expired. The Bandits would, however, reach pay dirt when Giovanni Sanders found Dre Williams crossing over the middle for a 25yd catch and run score. Hermes Lima’s PAT cut the lead to 10-7. The Bandits would take the lead when Sanders ran in from the 5 yard line early in the fourth quarter. The extra point was blocked leaving the score at 13-10 Bandits.
The Bandits appeared poised to seal the win but an untimely interception with just over two minutes to go in the game by Maine’s Jordan Jones set up the Bulls in Bandit territory. Isaiah Bachelder would connect with Steven Davis for a 10yd touchdown reception giving the Bulls the lead again at 17-13 with 1:04 to play. The Bulls kicked the ball out of bounds to avoid a Bandit return, but a spectacular sideline catch by Nate Chartrand on a tipped ball put the ball on the Bulls 40 yard line. Sanders would connected on a spinning catch by Williams again for the game winning touchdown making the score 20-17 Bandits with :40 seconds left. After an excessive celebration penalty on the Bandits contriobuted to the Bulls getting good field position a Bachelder pass was caught but the Bull receiver was tackled from behind and stripped by Leigh Zancewicz at the Bandit 20 yard line.
The Bandits will take on the undefeated EFL Champion Taunton Gladiators on Nov. 3rd at West Roxbury HS at 7PM in the New England Champions/FTL Bowl.
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