One team, one goal, one championship!
Tel Aviv-Jaffa Sabres complete fairy-tale season with a 26-22 Israel Bowl III conquest over the Jerusalem Lions that wasn't decided until the final minute
Long after the raucous celebrations die down, the memories of Israel Bowl III will be stored in the drawer labelled “stories for the kids and grandkids.”
Not only for Evan Reshef and the Mike’s Place Tel Aviv-Jaffa Sabres, who captured their first Kraft Family IFL title with a scintillating 26-22 victory over the Big Blue Jerusalem Lions on Friday in the capital, but really for any tackle football fan in Israel.
The first ever local game of pigskin to be broadcast live to a national TV audience was certainly a resounding success, and the Sabres demonstrated their superiority on the biggest stage by capping a worst-to-first dream campaign that threatened to go up in flames until Reshef intercepted Itay Ashkenazi at the goal line with 45 seconds remaining to thwart what had the makings of a game-winning drive.
“What a way to end such an unbelievable season,” exclaimed a Gatorade-drenched Reshef, who was named the MVP of the final with a dazzling performance that saw him notch a pair of touchdowns and save at least two more scores the other way with his defensive prowess. Read more
Lions, Sabres to duel for the title
Kings and Rebels chewed up and spit out by deserving Israel Bowl qualifiers
Well, Israel Bowl Friday is finally upon us and, like all festive occasions, it would not be complete without something old, something new and, of course, something blue.
After months of hype and awe-inspiring competition, the Kraft Family IFL semifinals certainly delivered on that mandate over the weekend, with the Big Blue Jerusalem Lions and Mike’s Place Tel Aviv-Jaffa Sabres claiming resounding victories to book their spots in a mouth-watering championship game that will be played before a nationally televised audience.
On Friday in the capital, before a crowd chock-full of dignitaries, the Lions got a dazzling six-touchdown performance from Itai Ashkenazi and a dominant defensive display from the entire unit to bombard the second-seeded Papagaio Jerusalem Kings 50-6 and storm into the title game for a third consecutive season, as many years as the league has been in existence.
The next night, the Sabres continued the blowout theme and overwhelmed the Judean Rebels from the outset of their Saturday rendezvous in Holon to capture a 70-30 triumph and earn the franchise’s first trip to the Israel Bowl. Read more