Lions, Troopers extend IFL winning streaks

Just like the league’s namesakes, the top two teams in the Kraft Family Israel Football League kept their respective winning streaks alive over the weekend, as the Petah Tikva Troopers beat the Ramat Hasharon Hammers 42-22 and the Jerusalem Lions blew out the Haifa Underdogs 40-9.

A goal-line interception followed by a touchdown pass from Avrami Farkas to Aryeh Eastman staked the Troopers to an early lead, although Jordan and Jonathan Curran teamed up to knot things up at eight apiece. The teams traded TDs in the second quarter and entered the half at 16-16. However three second-half scores from Dani Eastman put the game out of reach for Ramat Hasharon as Petah Tikva cruised to the 20-point conquest.

The Hammers (3-2) host the Mazkeret Batya Silverbacks (0-5) this Thursday night, while the Troopers (5-1) get a week off.

Meanwhile, in the second game, slippery playing conditions lead to a Matt Kauffman fumble on the first drive of the game, and the Lions’ turned the turnover into a quick 6-0 lead, which was doubles shortly after on David Abell’s second TD pass, to Ezzy Jaski.

After an Ori Refaelowitz interception, Abell connected with new teammate Misha Belov for a 9-yard score and 18-0 advantage for Jerusalem, from which it coasted.

Abell completed 16-of-30 passes for 229 yards, five scores and no picks, while Jaski caught 9 passes for 152 yards and a pair of TDs in the lopsided triumph.

The Underdogs (1-3) will play the Beersheba Black Swarm (1-4) this week and the Lions (6-0) get a bye week before a local showdown against the Judean Rebels (1-3).