The Big Blue Jerusalem Lions had heard enough. Awaking from a deep off-season slumber, the defending-champion Lions let out a warning roar on Sunday night that gave notice to the rest of the league that, while Big Blue may have lost some of its pieces, it is still king of the jungle in these parts.

 

The result was a 20-0 spanking by Big Blue of the ever-so-green Kings in the first Israel Football League action of the year at Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem. While both teams understandably displayed a measure of rustiness, having some difficulty sustaining any sort of offensive flow, the tackling was ferocious, the penalty flags were flying, the crowd was buzzing…football was back in the air in the country’s capital!

 

The story of the game, a contest that was mostly viewed as a much-needed warm-up for both sides, was undoubtedly Big Blue’s defense, led by veteran bruisers Avigdor Moore and Greg Tepper. Early on, it became apparent that the Lions’ offense was going to need some time to find its rhythm and, despite putting up three touchdowns, the unit looked out of sync for extended periods, something to be expected in the first pre-season game of the season. Luckily, the defensive troop was more than up to the task and already in mid-season form.

The game got off to a slow start with two quick unproductive possessions by each squad. Almost all of the early play calls were to the run and Big Blue running back Adam Lemberg managed to find some open holes for minimal yardage on the ground, finishing with 43 for the game. Kings’ QB Joseph Marticius was forced to tuck the ball and take off running himself on numerous plays, as his offensive line kept on quickly collapsing under the pressure of the hungry Lions’ pass-rush. Big Blue racked up five sacks on the day and was able to force two fumbles, to boot, one of which led to a costly Blue Sun Music turnover in the second quarter.

 

After a scoreless first period, Big Blue opened the scoring mid-way through the second frame on a 23-yard touchdown hurl from Aryeh Bauman to rookie receiver Amichai. It was the only completed pass of the day for the Bauman, who finished 1-14 with a score and a pick. He was, however, noteworthy as a ‘field-general’, methodically feeding his backfield with a steady dose of handoffs and, more or less, staying away from mistakes en route to a relatively easy victory. He was all that he had to be for his team to win the game.

 

While the Kings defensive corps valiantly tried to keep their team in the match, Blue Sun Music fell victim to its own inability to effectively manage the play clock, being whistled for way too many delay-of-game infractions. They also have to work on their snap count, being called for an unacceptable six false-starts penalties. Luckily, working out these types of kinks are what the preseason is for and the Kings should be able to produce more offensive yards once their line-play and decision timing is tweaked a bit.

 

A second TD by Big Blue just before the end of the half, this one on a 13-yard scamper into the corner of the endzone on a quick burst through the hole by #32, made the score at the break 12-0, a daunting deficit for a Jerusalem Kings’ team that was able to muster only a single net yard in the air and just a putrid 10 yards of net total offense.

 

A bad snap on the first play of the third quarter led to a safety against for Blue Sun Music and it was much of the same from there on out. In the absence of their heart-and-soul, player-coach Yonah Mishaan, the Lions were infused by the fresh legs of rookie defensive end Asher Ingbar, who was relentless throughout the half in rushing the quarterback or whoever happened to be the ball-carrier. He finished with nine tackles and two sacks to match the ageless Moore for the team-lead.

 

Jitterbbug back Lemberg iced the game with 3:40 left in the third with a six-yard touchdown run of his own to make the score 20-0, and the teams played out an uneventful fourth quarter to close out the preseason affair.

 

The IFL is back in action this week at Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem on Wednesday night, November 19 as the Kings play host to the Mike’s Place Tel Aviv Sabres in a rematch of the first preseason game of the year, which Tel Aviv won 18-14. The league kicks off the regular season this upcoming Saturday night, November 22 at the Sportek Modi’in with a tilt between the Dancing Camel Modi’in Pioneers and the Real Housing Haifa Underdogs.

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