STEEREBEEK, Belgium – No one can accuse the Bamberg Barons of not being quick learners.

When Bamberg saw its enrollment cut from Division II- to Division-III levels over the summer with the transfer of many of its former students to newly opened Schweinfurt High School, the Barons were forced to come up with a nine-man scheme to replace the 11-man game they were accustomed to playing.

Nine-man ball, however, apparently fits Bamberg perfectly.

The Barons, getting two long touchdown passes from I.Q. Sandod and one from T.J. Cortright, downed the Brussels Brigands 41-8 here Saturday in their first nine-man game.

According to Bamberg co-head coach Ethan Engel, Andray Gibson caught two of the bombs, one a 40-yarder from Sandod and the other a 50-yarder from Cortright, and Zarquel Webb hauled in the other, a 35-yarder from Sandod. Sandod also kicked a 27-yard field goal for Bamberg.

In addition, Baron runners exploited the wide-open spaces presented by the nine-man football for three more TDs in this game, designated as non-conference. Cortright ran for a score of 15 yards, Tyrone Bogan dashed eight yards for a TD, and Tracy Crockett burst 50 yards to paydirt.

Bamberg is to open its Division III season Saturday by hosting Alconbury, the 2010 D-III runners-up who dropped a 12-8 verdict to visiting Menwith Hill on Saturday.

Brussels, which got its TD on a 76-yard second-quarter scoring pass from Vincent Alonso to Zach Jackson, trailed 26-8 at halftime. The Brigands will attempt to collect their first football victory since 2007 when they host Rota on Saturday. Rota is coming off a 26-0 exhibition blanking of Aviano of D-II at home on Saturday night.

From staff reports

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