BP Staff Report

In their toughest fight of the season, the Firehawks improved to 7-0 against the very physical Vistamar Vikings at LACES Field Oct. 2. Shalhevet’s defense allowed a touchdown on the first drive but demolished the Vikings for the rest of the game.

The Firehawks forced turnovers on downs and through the air, highlighted by ball hawk Hootie Kessler, picking off a pass down field. The ferocious pass rush dominated the 4-man offensive line of Vistamar – Alexander Wiesel and Jeremy Glouberman sacking the quarterback.

The biggest play of the game came on a Fourth and Inches with about a minute to go in the second quarter. Down 7-6, Jacob Dauer threw just his third interception of the year which set up a late Vistamar drive. However, Vistamar was penalized for a false start and the Firehawks stuffed them and took over the ball.

Excellent execution by Dauer led to another opportunity to score. Out of timeouts, Mati Hurwitz got away with a false start and illegal snap and snapped the ball to Dauer and distracted the other team’s defensive line while he and Jonah Gill blocked for their Quarterback.

As time expired, Dauer lofted a pass into the back of the end zone, tipped barely by a Viking defensive back, while Max Homeslice Helfand concentrated and hauled in the touchdown for a 12-7 halftime lead.

Dauer, who finished with 2 passing touchdowns, added a 15 yard quarterback draw to enhance the Firehawk lead.

Perhaps the unsung hero of the game was Tom Amzalag,who buried the Vikings with a long punt to the end zone. Amzalag struck again on the last Firehawk drive when he punted to nail the Vikings inside the 3-yard line and crushed their chances of a comeback.

The Firehawks (7-0) face off against YULA at LACES on Sunday at 5 pm. Shalhevet won 21-7 last time against the Panthers.