Saturday, May 21, 2011

ARUSHA, Tanzania--American football crossed a new international border on Saturday when the Drake University Bulldogs and CONADEIP All-Stars from Mexico met on the gridiron painted for the first time on African soil in Arusha, Tanzania.

Drake won the Global Kilimanjaro Bowl, presented by TANAPA, with a 17-7 fourth-quarter comeback in front of 11,781 curious but enthusiastic Tanzania spectators at the Sheik Amri Abedi Memorial Stadium.   

Freshman quarterback Nick Ens took his first snaps under center for the Bulldogs when thrust into a battle in which Drake trailed 7-3 going in the fourth quarter having lost both starting quarterback Mike Piatkowski and his replacement Tyler Castro to injury.  Ens completed 5 of 12 pass attempts for 50 yards, the most telling to wide receiver Joey Orlando for an 18-yard gain and an 8-yard touchdown on the game's pivotal drive in the third quarter.

"We knew all three quarterbacks were going to play so I was excited when we started and Mike and Tyler were doing well," said Ens.  "I didn't expect to play that much, really the whole of the second half, but I enjoyed it.

"I think the drive where we scored was a big for us.  We had great protection up front and the running game had allowed us to pass so it was a great team effort."

"I'm so proud of you guys, each and every one of you, on so many levels," an emotional head coach Chris Creighton told the Bulldogs afterwards. "This is so much bigger than a football game and it was phenomenal.  Do not let this moment and what we just did slip away from you."

Watched by the American Ambassador to Tanzania Alfonso Lenhardt, the nation's Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Lazaro Nyalandu and a procession of dignitaries, the truly unique spectacle featured Masai tribesmen entertaining the crowd where cheerleaders would have danced in an American stadium.

Drake opened with a steady drive that started at it own 20-yard line, aided by a littering of unsportsmanlike conduct flags, but when Piatkowski threw to the corner of the end zone he was intercepted by Carlos Garcia. 

Both teams traded possessions before CONADEIP punted and was penalized again, giving Drake the ball 13 yards from the end zone.  The offense failed to click and Bulldogs kicker Billy Janssen earned the honor of kicking the first points ever in a game of college football on African soil with a 27-yard field goal.

A promising Mexican drive ended frustratingly with a botched snap on a field goal attempt and when the All-Stars threatened in a defensive battle of a second quarter, Travis Merritt stripped the ball from quarterback Jose Ortiz's hands and Robby Unger recovered to avert the danger.

Having replaced Piatkowski, Castro was leveled just before Drake took a slim 3-0 lead into halftime so the Bulldogs emerged with Ens, who was redshirted in 2010 under center.  CONADEIP took advantage of an uncertain Drake offense as their second quarterback Dwein Garcia fired a 49-yard pass to Ivan Piña to light up the game and delight the crowd.  Three plays later to open the fourth quarter, Reyes went in from 5 yards out to steal a 7-3 lead.

Drake needed a spark and it came when Ens found his poise and fired a pass over the middle to Orlando for an 18-yard gain and with confidence in his receiver, the young quarterback again went to Orlando, this time in the corner of the end zone from 11 yards out.

"The whole team felt like it was swinging in the wrong direction and we weren't getting things right and a play needed to be made," explained Orlando.  "We ran that same play earlier when we were down there in the first quarter and I didn't run it right, so I knew it was my chance when that play was called and I did things a little differently and it worked out for us."

Ens was quick to heap praise on his receiver, adding: "Joey helps me out so much in practice and he is a big target for me and he got open and made it easy for me."

Having seen the offense regain the lead at 10-7, the defense stepped up.  The irrepressible Reyes charged 37 yards down the left sideline and was tripped only two yards short of pay dirt, giving CONADEIP the belief they could take control of the contest.  But the Bulldogs defense produced a determined goal-line stand and celebrated when on fourth down another muffed snap denied the Mexicans a chance to tie the game.

"That stance really helped keep the momentum going after we had just scored," said linebacker Moorehead who led the team with six tackles.  "The offense got the crowd going on the sideline and I don't know if they knew why they were making noise at that point in the game, but it certainly helped.  It was an important stop."

The momentum was with Drake and when a fumble turned the ball over at the CONADEIP 17-yard line, they pounded out yardage before Ens and Derek Temple connected for a crucial gain on third down.  With 7 yards between Drake and victory, linebacker Patrick Cashmore was introduced as a battering ram fullback and he took the ball in for a 17-7 lead as the reliable Janssen had tagged on the extra point.

On the first play of a comeback attempt CONADEIP were forced to go to the air and Matt Buckley came up with an instant interception, allowing the Bulldogs to kill the clock and emerge victorious.

"This game was the realization of a dream of many people and we are humbled to have not only brought a football game to Africa, but also to have created friendships that will last a lifetime," said event producer and President of Global Football Patrick Steenberge. 

"In sport there has to be one team that loses, but today every single person in this stadium was a winner, I have no doubt about that."

The game featured a halftime show of touch football by groups of local youngsters as 500 Arusha school-children took part in a display organized by Tanzania Irie.

The spectacular Kili Bowl event also includes a three-day service project to benefit area orphanages organized by the Iowa Resource for International Service (IRIS) and Stemm, which runs from Sunday through Tuesday. Both teams will then climb the imposing 19,341 feet high Mount Kilimanjaro before returning to Mexico and the United States on June 1.

Iowa Resource for International Service is a nonprofit, non-religious organization founded in 1993 and located in Ames, Iowa.  Its mission is to promote international understanding, diversity and peace.  Through several grant programs, IRIS brings students, journalists, business people, educators and government leaders to Iowa from Africa, Central and Eastern Europe 
and Asia.

Stemm was specifically created to develop a relational bridge between Siouxland and Tanzania by addressing the priorities of spiritual growth, medical care, and educational opportunities.  In building this relationship, the overwhelming AIDS orphan crisis was one that could not be ignored and today is also an integral part of the Stemm ministry.  Since inception, Stemm groups have traveled to Tanzania on a semi-annual basis - January and July each year. 

Event contact: Patrick Steenberge Patrick@GlobalFootball.com (011-255) (0) 762 379-437
Media contact:  Michael Preston  MP@MPrestonSports.com  (011-255) (0) 757 894-392

About Global Football: Headed by President Patrick Steenberge, a former Notre Dame quarterback and high school All-American at Erie Cathedral Prep.  During the past 14 years, Global Football has produced football games in 18 nations in North and Central American, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Working partners include NFL, NFL Super Bowl Host Committees, American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), Notre Dame, Penn State, Pop Warner, USA Football, and numerous Division III colleges as well as National Football Federations worldwide.  www.globalfootball.com. 

**Live updates were provided via Twitter through both the Drake Bulldogs feed and Global Football. The summary of those posts is below, with times reflective of Central Daylight Time:

(7:57 a.m.) Drake's Patrick Cashmore with a power run up the middle for a touchdown with 2:03 remaining to give Drake a 17-7 lead over CONADEIP.

(7:53 a.m.) CONADEIP fumbles at its own 19-yard line. Drake has a chance to seal victory with 4 minutes remaining in historic Kili Bowl, leading 10-7.

(7:46 a.m.) Reyes of CONADEIP tore off a 37-yard run to the Drake 2 but the Bulldogs' defense holds and the field-goal snap is fumbled so CONADEIP misses the chance to kick a game-tying field goal.

(7:34 a.m.) Freshman QB Nick Ens to WR Joey Orlando for a crucial first down and then the same combination for an 11-yd touchdown. 10-7 Drake!

(7:25 a.m.) CONADEIP's Jose Reyes breaks tackles through the middle to score the game's first touchdown to open the fourth quarter. CONADEIP 7, Drake 3.

Drake 3, CONADEIP 0...End 3rd quarter

(7:22 a.m.) 49-yard pass play for CONADEIP takes the ball to the Drake 11 at the end of the third quarter. Best offensive play of the game. Crowd cheering like crazy.

(7:04 a.m.) Drake stops promising CONADEIP drive that opens second half and freshman QB Nick Ens in under center.

(7 a.m.) QB Piatkowski will not return for Drake. Castro questionable. Second half kicks off.

Drake 3, CONADEIP 0...Halftime

(6:33 a.m.) QB Castro intercepted by CONADEIP DB Huerta and is injured, but walks off. Drake already lost starting QB Piatkowski to injury.

(6:26 a.m.) LB Nick Underwood thought he had an interception at the CONADEIP 25 but the ball was ruled to have hit the ground.

(6:20 a.m.) Good CONADEIP drive ends 8 yards from end zone as Robby Unger recovers fumble caused by Travis Merritt.

(6:05 a.m.) First penalty against Drake for roughing punter earns a CONADEIP first down on best drive of the 2Q and now in Drake territory.

6:01 a.m.) Both teams 3-and-out to open second quarter. Drake backed up near own red zone but another penalty brings the ball to the 40.

Drake 3, CONADEIP 0...end of 1st quarter

(5:52 a.m.) 1st quarter ends with promising CONADEIP drive stalling, as 37 yd FG attempt is snapped over the head of the holder.

(5:44 a.m.) 27 yard Billy Janssen field goal for Drake. Bulldogs lead 3-0!

(5:39 a.m.) CONADEIP 3-and-out and punt short from own end zone to own 13 after penalties where Drake takes over.

(5:36 a.m.) Drake run stuffed at goalline on 3rd and 4th and inches to turn ball over. Great CONADEIP defense

(5:29 a.m.) CONADEIP fake punt stopped and Drake has ball 10 yards from the end zone.

(5:27 a.m.) Drake steady first drive from own 20 ends with a CONADEIP interception in the end zone. 

(5:18 a.m. CDT) CONADEIP won coin toss, Drake to recieve.