Hammers, Pioneers triumph in IFL action

Meanwhile, Tel Aviv got back on the winning track, with an easy conquest of the visiting Silverbacks.

By JERUSALEM POST SPORTS STAFF
Illustration of proposed Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem (photo credit: DAGAN COMPANY/COURTESY)
Illustration of proposed Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem
(photo credit: DAGAN COMPANY/COURTESY)
The Ramat Hasharon Hammers stayed perfect atop the Kraft Family Israel Football League, moving to 3-0 with a 25-14 victory over the Haifa Underdogs on Thursday night, while on Friday the Tel Aviv Pioneers got back to their winning ways with a dominant 56-9 victory over the Mazkeret Batya Silverbacks.
The Underdogs started off the game strongly by forcing a Hammers punt on two consecutive sacks by Rudy Rattner and then scoring on a touchdown run by Rattner on the ensuing drive.
The Hammers countered with a touchdown pass by returning quarterback Jordan Curran to Ido Eisikovits to knot the game at eight. Hammers’ DB Matis Goldmeier forced a Rattner fumble and safety Amit Twig recovered for Ramat Hasharon to set up a Gal Mesika 37-yard field goal to start the second quarter and give them an 11-8 lead they held through the half.
Rattner lost another fumble to start the second half (Haifa fumbled six times on the night, losing four), but Haifa got the ball back and Matt Kauffman completed five straight passes, the last being a scoring strike to veteran Ran Breuer to retake the lead at 14-11.
The teams exchanged punts before Curran found Mesika for a 48-yard touchdown pass to make it 18-14 Hammers. Haifa punted the ball away on the last play of the third quarter, and Ben Landon found the end zone from 11 yards out with eight minutes to play to make it a two-possession ballgame (25-14) in favor of Ramat Hasharon, from which it would coast to the win.
Both the Hammers and Underdogs () have byes this week.
Meanwhile, Tel Aviv got back on the winning track, with an easy conquest of the visiting Silverbacks.
Steve Markoe completed 13-20 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns as well as a rushing touchdown for the Pioners, while running back Yuval Fenta left the game during the second quarter having amassed 114 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
Tim Plotkin completed 11-27 passes for 153 yards and two interceptions in a losing effort for the Mazkeret Batya, while Gal Dagan lead a mostly futile rushing attack with 11 yards and a touchdown.
Both teams play on the road this Thursday night. The Silverbacks (0-3) will play the Petah Tikva Troopers (2-1), while the Pioneers (2-1) will duel with the Judean Rebels (0-2) in a rematch of the last two Israel Bowls