Courtesy of Shropshire Revolution
Merseyside Quarterback Adrian Hodgers proved Shropshire's chief
tormentor as the Revolution crashed to their first defeat of the season 39-7 at
Oakengates Leisure Centre. Las Vegas native Hodgers ran in 2 Touchdowns on the
ground and threw three more scores in between to lift his side to victory in
their opening game of the season.
The Revolution were unable to reproduce the
scoring heroics of last season where they edged out the visiting side in the
corresponding 2012 fixture in a 37-34 shoot out. Both Defenses were on top for
most of the first half and for the 3rd game running the Shropshire Defensive
unit got their side off to the perfect start by forcing a stop on the first
drive setting up the opening score, this time they would record the points themselves
when Linebacker David Ralphs pounced on a wayward snap in the endzone and a 7-0
lead.
The Merseyside Defense were also in
stifling mood as they reduced the home side to a mere single First down in the
first half, allowing Hodgers to scramble for his first touchdown and find his
range as he hit Wide Receiver Joe Black just before the interval to give his
side a 13-7 lead.
Shropshire responded positively following
the break by manufacturing a pair of promising drives in the early stages of
the 3rd Quarter but they would end up empty handed due to an ill timed Leigh
French fumble and dropped endzone pass respectively. 4 second half Shropshire
turnovers proved too much for their defense to withstand as Hodgers capitalised
finding targets Tim Parr and Harry Rutledge for backbreaking Touchdowns either
side of the 4th Quarter, whilst he and back-up Quarterback Chris Lingard would
record rushing scores to round off a great day for the away team.
Shropshire Head coach Dave Reid told of his
frustration at the games outcome "We were beaten by the better team on the
day, but we have to ask questions of ourselves in the way we collapsed in the
latter stages of the game" Reid pointed to the aerial parts of the game
being the difference "Our passing game has to be more productive and so
does our ability to defend the pass"
Revolution have a week off to prepare for
early pace setters Manchester Titans who will visit Harper Adams University as
the club play their annual game in Newport on Saturday the 18th of May.
