Rota avenges loss to reach title game
The defending European Division III champion Rota Admirals put their unexpected bye week the previous Saturday to good use as they fashioned a 36-0 road blanking of the Bamberg Barons on Saturday in a D-III semifinal game.
Ramon Quijano ran for touchdowns that covered 30, 15 and 5 yards, and Mason Crowell and Onele Lazano each ran for a 2-yard scores as the Admirals reversed the 22-12 defeat they absorbed Oct. 13 at the hands of home-standing Bamberg. That victory earned the Barons home field in the nine-man semifinals, a game which had been scheduled for Oct. 20 by was postponed a week because of travel-arrangement difficulties Rota experienced.
Rota (4-2) negated the home-field edge Saturday by forcing five turnovers, highlighted by Brooks Furleigh’s interception, in a game the Admirals led 20-0 at halftime.
The victory earns Rota a second chance at 2012 redemption. The Admirals advanced to this Saturday’s European Division III championship game at Baumholder against the undefeated Bucs. Kickoff is scheduled for noon. Baumholder downed the Admirals 26-23 Sept. 29 in Spain and won its semifinal 42-14 over visiting Sigonella on Oct. 20.
Bamberg closed its season with a 4-2 record.
