Sofia Bears 41:6 Golden Bears, Bor

This weekend the Sofia Bears visited the Golden Bears from Bor, Serbia as part of the first round of the 3rd League of the Serbian American Football Association (SAAF)

In the derby of the 3rd league the Bulgarian team won convincingly 41–6, despite the many injuries and absent players. The Bears came out with only 17 registered players, which in American football is below the minimum needed by each team, as the people who play in attack and defense should be different 11. In this case, each player was obliged to give everything and play the match under the scorching Sunday sun and 30 degrees, as guests and against the numerically superior Golden Bears.

The game itself did not start well for the Bears, as after 2 successful passes the hosts surprisingly quickly managed to open the scoring after a touchdown by their most dangerous player in the match – the receiver Alexander Janicevic.

However, hardened by the many battles together, the Bulgarians were not at all influenced by this development of the result – the attack started extremely convincingly, mainly thanks to the superiority of our offensive line, which without problems opened holes in the opponent's defense and the explosive running-back duo of Aleksandar Kenanov and Atanas Atanasov gained yards with ease every time they ran with the ball. The first touchdown of the returning captain and playing with #55 – Kenanov was not long in coming.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&v=1671800943083984

From here until the end of the game there was only one team on the field. Every attack by the hosts was cut short by the ruthless Bulgarian defence. Besides the offence, the defensive line, made up of almost the same players, played very strongly and gave no chance to run the ball, while the convincing play of the linebackers and defensive backs left no room for passes.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&v=10154150917409485

Thus, the Bulgarians continued to score and move the ball on the field – Todor Stamenov, the Bears' long-time receiver, scored his customary touchdown from a long pass by quarterback Nikolay Georgiev, and Atanas Atanasov, who played both running back and linebacker, scored one touchdown on a run and one on an interception return (the Bears had 4 interceptions in this game). Once again the Bears' quarterback performed well, and Niki is establishing himself as an important part of this increasingly strong squad, which is already playing a second season in the Serbian league and it is getting better. The last touchdown was the work of reserve Alexander Mitsov, who also showed a powerful run on the ground.

Thus the Bulgarian bears took this so important first victory. Only 2 more wins separate them from the playoffs and the opportunity to qualify and play in the higher 2nd division next year. The Bears' next game is against Smederevo's team on May 15.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?ref=external&v=1671512823112796

SCORING:

1/4 – 06: 13
06:00 – 35-yard pass, Dobroslav for Alexander Janicevic; Extra point failed
06:07 – 55-yard run, Aleksandar Kenanov; Todor Stamenov: extra point good
06: 13 – 30 yards pass, Nikolay Georgiev to Todor Stamenov; Todor Stamenov: unsuccessful extra point
2/4 – 00: 07
06:20 – interception return, Atanas Atanasov; Todor Stamenov: extra point good
3/4 – 00: 15
06:27 – running 10 yards, Nikolay Georgiev; Todor Stamenov: a successful additional point
06:35 – run, Atanas Atanasov; Radoslav Tashev: two-point conversion good
4/4 – 00: 06
06:41 – 5-yard run, Aleksandar Mitsov; Todor Stamenov: extra point no good