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Winning ugly

Lions stumble past Monarchs 31–0

By Dave Faries
Staff Writer, The Prague Post
July 11th, 2007 issue

ČLAF standings

Panthers 7-0
Lions 5-2
Bratislava 4-4
Příbram 2-5
Havířov 0-7

Score by quarters

Bratislava 0 0 0 0 - 0
Lions 17 7 0 7 - 31

Photo by JAROSLAV KRATOVlL
Prague running back Michal Kozlícek looks for running room. The Lions and Monarchs meet again in playoff action July 22.
The second quarter had just started when Prague Lions linebacker Michael Vondráček picked off an errant pass, turning the ball over to his offense on the Bratislava 31-yard line.
Two off-tackle runs by Michal Geisler and a 15-yard pass from Libor Navrátil to wideout Jan Gabriel put the ball inches from the goal line. From there, Navrátil punched it in for an easy score.
By then, Sunday’s contest between Prague and the visiting Bratislava Monarchs was essentially over.
A furious first quarter saw the Lions jump to a 17–0 lead. Ladislav Jenšík’s long return of the opening kick led to the initial points. Three plays into the Monarch’s first possession, Prague cornerback Stanislav Jantoš stepped in front of wide receiver Juraj Grnáčik, and returned the interception 30 yards for another score. Moments later, Vondráček forced Bratislava quarterback Michal Horniš from the pocket, slapped the ball away and recovered, putting things once again in the hands of the home squad. Jantoš then tacked on a field goal.
That left almost three full quarters to play — three slipshod, embarrassing quarters.
“They [Bratislava] gave up and our guys realized it,” said Lions coach Martin Kocián. “It ended up like a bad practice. It hurt to watch.”
Some excerpts: A wide-open Lions wideout, Jan Hlavatý, dropped an easy pass, then spent several moments crouched in a fetal position, bemoaning the “coulda, woulda, shoulda” scenarios.
Both quarterbacks began throwing wildly, sometimes missing open receivers by several yards. Aleš Daňhel, sent in to get some reps behind center late in the game, pushed rather than threw a wobbly end-over-end pass between several surprised Monarch linebackers. He then collided with teammate Michal Kozlíček for an eight-yard loss.
“We had one good quarter,” said Lions guard Chris Castle. “But, offensively, we struggled.”
Indeed, the defense accounted for 14 points, including a late interception by cornerback Jenšík, returned for a touchdown.
With both teams scheduled to meet again in the playoffs, only pride — and perhaps home field advantage — was at stake. Down 24–0 early in the second quarter, Bratislava visibly began to focus on the July 22 rematch, or on that long bus ride home. Except for one drawn-out sluggish possession in the third quarter, they were unable to sustain a drive.
“Our offense didn’t move the ball down field at all,” Horniš said.
The Monarchs gained a total of eight yards in the second quarter, six coming on an inside trap to Tomáš Borkovič. Prague’s defense didn’t make their best showing of the year, but they managed to clamp down every time the visitors put together two or three strong runs.
On offense, however …
In their second drive of the quarter, carries by Martin Meyer and Kozlíček pushed Prague into the red zone. But Navrátil failed to spot Daňhel open in the end zone, instead throwing over his tight end — and into the hands of Monarchs defensive back Miroslav Orság. The half ended in another stalled effort. Navrátil hit Hlavatý and Danhel for long gains then fired inside as his receiver broke toward the corner, resulting in another interception.
“The passing game will help us win the championship,” a frustrated Kocián pointed out, alluding to the anticipated Czech Bowl berth against cross-town rivals, the Prague Panthers. “But Libor was off target all game long.”
The veteran quarterback showed only flashes of his usual rhythm, for the most part overthrowing badly. “You saw the game,” Navrátil (7-19, 0 TD 2 Int.) said afterward. “I definitely have to change something.”
Six of his seven completions came on two possessions, three to close out the first half and another three just after the break. Bratislava’s first drive of the second half ended in a punt and Navrátil decided to mix things up. He handed to Geisler off tackle for 12 yards then hit Jan Dundáček on a crossing pattern.
Another pass to his tight end put the ball inside Bratislava’s 10. Meyer then battled up the middle for five tough yards. Following an incompletion, Navrátil flipped to Geisler on a swing and he was upended inches from the goal line.
On fourth down, Prague tried the middle, but Bratislava’s monstrous lineman Milan Bílik stopped Geisler short of paydirt.
Such were the highlights of a game put quickly to rest.
The Lions must now turn their attention to a possible makeup game at Příbram.
Two weeks ago, two referees failed to show and the Bobcats opted for a postponement. Meanwhile Bratislava and the undefeated Prague Panthers have time to rest and prepare for the postseason.

Dave Faries can be reached at dfaries@praguepost.com


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