local tackle football: Rebels pound Pioneers, Lions maul Silverbacks

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Israel Football League (photo credit: RICK BLUMSACK,Courtesy)
Israel Football League
(photo credit: RICK BLUMSACK,Courtesy)
Kraft Family Israel Football League fans were treated to a rematch of last year’s Israel Bowl championship game on Friday morning, as the Judean Rebels came back from an early 20-8 deficit against the Tel Aviv Pioneers to win handily 44-20.
On Saturday night, meanwhile, the Jerusalem Lions rolled over the Mazkeret Batya Silverbacks 50-7 with Binyamin Schultz and David Abell leading the way.
For the Rebels, Chaim Schiff completed 15 of 29 passes for 211 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, while reigning MVP Dani Eastman led the defense with 11 tackles and two interceptions, one of which he took back for a score.
The Rebels (5-1) next host the Petah Tikva Troopers (0-6) on Thursday night in Ma’aleh Adumim, and the Pioneers (3-2) have another tough home game on Friday morning, this time against the Ramat HaSharon Hammers (3-2).
In the Lions-Silverbacks duel, Schultz completed 8-of-17 passes for 132 yards and three scores, while Abell had four carries for 86 yards and two TDs, plus a pair of catches for 54 yards and another two score, along with an interception.
For Mazkeret Batya, Tomer Hazan had a monster game on defense with 14.
Both teams have two weeks off before pivotal games after the league-wide bye week. The Lions (5-1) will host the Pioneers in two weeks’ time and the Silverbacks (1-5) host the Beersheba Black Swarm (2-4) in a game that they must win in order to realistically keep their playoff hopes alive.