Rebels, Underdogs, Lions coast to easy victories

Three weekend Kraft Family Israel Football League games ended in three blowouts. While the IFL faithful expected big wins in Petah Tikva on Friday (Haifa Underdogs 52-14 over Troopers) and Ma’aleh Adumim on Saturday night (Jerusalem Lions 42-0 over Beersheba Black Swarm), not many fans expected the Judean Rebels to have such an easy time in a 60-14 romp over the Ramat Hasharon Hammers.

The Rebels got off to a quick start, with Chaim Schiff and Dani Eastman pacing them to a 24-0 lead, from which they never let up.

Schiff finished 14-of-21 for 186 yards, two scores and a pick, Chaim Aaron and Misha Below each had two receiving touchdowns, while Eastman threw for two scores and scored another pair of TDs himself.

The Hammers (3-4) travel to Ma’aleh Adumim on Thursday in a crucial duel against the Lions (6-2) that could play a big part in determining playoff seedings, and the Rebels (7-2) have a break before hosting the Tel Aviv Pioneers (5-2) to wrap up their regular season

The Underdogs’ easy victory in Petah Tikva saw Matt Kaufman throw for 224 yards and account for five touchdowns.

Kauffman completed 11/21 passes for 224 yards, 4 scores and a pick, plus a rushing TD. Rudy Rattner was a beast on defense for Haifa with 11 tackles, a safety-sack and a fumble recovery for a TD.

Both the Underdogs (6-1) and Troopers (0-8) play again this week; Haifa can take a big step towards the top playoff seed with a road victory vs the Pioneers. Petah Tikva, which is officially out of playoff contention, will be playing for pride against the Mazkeret Batya Silverbacks (1-6), to whom they lost in overtime earlier this season.

The Lions, meanwhile, where led against the Black Swarm by the usual duo of David Abell and Binyamin Schultz, while Hillel Goldstein added two scores on the ground and Leib Sklar led the defensive charge with nine tackles, a breakup and a forced fumble.

The Lions have a short week as they host the reeling Hammers on Thursday in a game with serious playoff implications, while the Black Swarm (3-6) will get some rest before traveling to take on the winless Troopers in two weeks.