Ramstein's Tyler Dotson throws a pass during an away game against Lakenheath on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Ramstein won the game 54-0 as the game ended early due to the mercy rule. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein's Tyler Dotson throws a pass during an away game against Lakenheath on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Ramstein won the game 54-0 as the game ended early due to the mercy rule. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Zack Adamson rushes against Ramstein's Nile McIntosh during a football game on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Adamson had seven tackles during the game. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Lakenheath's Joey Kerzic drags down a Ramstein player during a football game on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, at RAF Lakenheath, England. Lakenheath lost the game 54-0 and has scored six points this season. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
Ramstein's Ben Ciero is taken down by a Lakenheath foer during a football game on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, at RAF Lakenheath, England. Ciero scored a touchdown during the game. (Adam L. Mathis/Stars and Stripes)
RAF LAKENHEATH, England – Two football streaks continued on Saturday when Ramstein beat Lakenheath 54-0.
Ramstein continued an undefeated season that has seen its defense completely shut down all offense. The Royals took down Patch last week 45-0 and achieved a 42-0 victory over a local national team, the Hanau Ravens.
The Germany-based team’s defense continued to hold against Lakenheath, shut down the Lancer passing game and excelled at keeping the Lancers away from the end zone.
Carlos Amponin, Ramstein’s head coach, described his team’s defense as “incredible” and always giving the offense “the ball in a really good position.”
“It’s easier for me to do my job when I don’t have to march the entire length of the field,” Amponin said.
His offense, however, lacks supremacy in any one trait, something Amponin called “unspectacularly effective.” Four players - Ben Ciero, Tyler Dotson, Branden Baik and Kyle Glenn - scored one touchdown each and two - Nile McIntosh and Ben Ciero - had multiple trips to the end zone with three and two touchdowns respectively.
For Lakenheath, the game continued what has been a low-scoring season for a rebuilding team. The Lancers have only posted six points in losing all three of their games.
But that didn’t seem to deter Josh Kueter, Lakenheath’s head coach “Overall I’m just happy with my players’ effort,” Kueter said.
Lakenheath’s performance against the Royals was hampered by a higher-than-normal rate of injuries, Kueter said. He attributed the injuries, about one every game, to the smaller physical stature of his players. “We’re kind of outsized almost every game,” Kueter said.
Kueter has set low expectations for the Lancers this year, saying in August that he “rarely” spoke of winning. As Kueter pointed out on Saturday, he only had five players return from last year’s team and that team lost every game.
Twitter: @AMathisStripes
