The Bury Saints scored a team record 78 points on their way to a demolition of Suffolk rivals the Ipswich Cardinals on Sunday.
The 78-7 victory confirmed the Saints unbeaten 10-0 season and home field advantage throughout the play-offs.
For the second game running, Bury scored on their first offensive play of the game.
A botched punt snap gifted the Saints possession at the Cardinals 13yd line from where Derek White swept into the end zone to open the scoring. White added another from 14 yards out and it was quickly 15-0 Saints.
Indeed, it wasn’t long before White completed a first quarter hat-trick, and the period ended with the Saints up 22-0.
The second stanza started as the opening one had done for the Saints as QB Fred Boyle scored on the first play of the period.
Further scores from Chris May, Joe Hill and Boyle again made it 51-0 Saints at half-time.
There was little respite for the outclassed Cardinals in the second half either, as another May run and Ervin Reese catch extended their lead to 65-0 at the end of the third.
Ipswich finally got on the scoreboard when they ended a long drive with a four-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to make it 65-7.
Sadly for Ipswich, that wasn’t the end of the scoring, Scottie Curry’s 10 yard run and a six-yard effort from Jake Swisher making the final score a very lopsided 78-7.
Kicker Alex Clark also enjoyed a record-setting day, converting on eight extra point attempts.
Saints Head Coach Chris Wallis said: “Wow, what a way to finish the season!
“We were aware that the Cardinals had improved a lot over their previous two games, not to mention it was the Suffolk Rivalry game, and that Ipswich would really be up for this game.
“But everyone responded brilliantly.
“When we started this team just two years ago, the Ipswich Cardinals were the team we wanted to emulate.
“So to get this result in our second season is a great achievement and a credit to everyone involved with the organisation.”
The Saints are the top ranked team for the play-offs and will now host the Cornish Sharks in the quarter-finals on Sunday August 23.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here