Thun Tigers (1-1) at LUCAF Owls (2-0)

Hump Day: My current EuroBall assignment requires me to be away from Camarillo for 162 days. Today is Day 81 of my glorious time in Thun.

At midnight tonight, I reach the half way point of my 2012 Swiss American Football Odyssey. 

Swiss American Football League

NLB Week #6

Thun Tigers (1-1)

at

LUCAF Owls (2-0)

Once again, LUCAF stands for "Lausanne University Club American Football."

Today's game promised to be a tough one as LUCAF featured a tough running game and a defense that had yet to be scored upon.

 Lausanne has an awesome sports complex

Our game field in a forest 

They even had a Home Plate 

I guessed the right field foul line fence at a Los Angeles Coliseum-like 475 feet.

U-19 Game: LUCAF vs. Lugano 

It was a multi-lingual day in Lausanne.


LUCAF is from the western French speaking part of Switzerland.


Lugano is from the Italian speaking south of the nation.


Finally, in Thun we are German speaking.


It made for some interesting coaching conversations.


LUCAF won the pre-lim game 14-7 by the way.


For some mysterious reason, our U-19 team does not play LUCAF in the regular season.

Niklaus Rhyner's Opening Kickoff

sails into the End Zone 

This was one of our few first half highlights as LUCAF came out fired up and ready to play after three straight BYE weeks.


FIRST QUARTER:
LUCAF's running game got rolling right away with two big runs deep into the Tiger's Red Zone. DT Patrick Schlauri made a huge tackle for loss in the Red Zone that eventually forced the Owls into trying a Field Goal attempt which fell short.


The Tigers caught a break as LUCAF was called for a penalty on Fourth Down to give Thun another set of downs but to no avail as the Tigers would punt again four plays later.


LUCAF was on the move again and this time finished their drive with a 10 yard slant pass for a TD. The PAT was good, LUCAF leads early 7-0.


The Tigers have the ball as the First Quarter ends with LUCAF ahead 7-0.


SECOND QUARTER:
Once again, the LUCAF defense steps up to the challenge and forces Thun to punt.


A 40 yard sweep play sets up a a 5 yard TD run by the Owls also on a sweep. The PAT is good again, Owls up 14-0.


The Tigers' offense shows life until a bad shotgun snap, with an intentional grounding penaly tacked on, force another Thun punt.


The Tigers' defense forces a "Three and Out" punt by LUCAF.


The Tigers end the First Half with a punt. After two periods, LUCAF leads 14-0.


THIRD QUARTER:
The Tigers are stopped again and punt after a "Three and Out" by the Owls' defense.


LUCAF returns the Tiger's booming punt 70 yards for a TD. The PAT is good as the Owls extend their lead to 21-0.


The Tigers First Down pass is intercepted.


The Thun defenses does not give up forcing a LUCAF fumble that SS Niklaus Rhyner recovers.


The Tigers put together a solid drive but are stopped on downs at the four yard line.


LUCAF fumbles due to a hard hit by FS Mario Wyssen, SS Niklaus Rhyner recovers his second fumble of the day.


FB Ruedi Bohren runs the ball in for a Tiger TD on the last play of the Third Quarter from the five yard line. Rhyner adds the extra point but LUCAF still leads
21-7.


FOURTH QUARTER:
LUCAF is rolling again but the Thun defense comes up with a big Goal Line stand at the one yard line.


Another bad shotgun snap sails over the Tiger QB's head and out of the End Zone for a Safety. LUCAF now leads 23-7.


The Tigers' defense continures to play hard and stops the Owls' offense on downs.


The Thun offense moves the ball but eventually has to punt due to the rugged LUCAF defense.


LUCAF is driving at mid-field as the game comes to an end.


FINAL SCORE: LUCAF (3-0) 23 - Thun (1-2) 7


This was a very tough game for us mostly due to very good play by the LUCAF team, but I am very proud that the Tigers did not give up and fought to the very end.


I am especially pleased with the way our defense keeps coming back for more on each series coming up with big plays on the Goal Line week after week!


Our results and schedule the rest of the season are as follows:


March 25  BYE


April   1  Basel (5-0) 37 - Thun 20
April   8  BYE
April 15  Thun 6 - Luzern (2-3) 0
April 22  BYE
April 29  LUCAF (3-0) 23 - Thun 7


May   6  Thun at Basel (5-0)
May 13  Geneva (1-3) at Thun
May 20  Thun at Luzern (2-3)
May 27  BYE


June   3 LUCAF (5-0) at Thun
June 10  Thun at Geneva (1-3)
June 17 Fribourg (0-4) at Thun
June 23 Thun at Fribourg (0-4)


Time to re-group and gear up for #1 Basel (5-0) next Sunday.

GO TIGERS!!!