Falcons squeak by reeling Gladiators

By DOUG KATES
Published October 6, 2006

DUNEDIN - Dunedin picked up another win Thursday night, but there was no celebration after edging winless Gibbs 13-12.

The Falcons (5-1) also left the field with their top running back in a leg brace. Daris Bellamy was helped off the field in the third quarter. He had 124 yards on 12 carries at the time.

"Gibbs played a great game," coach Mark Everett said. "My hat's off to them. They out-coached us and they outplayed us."

Gibbs (0-6) scored first and led 6-0, but before the first quarter was over, the Falcons used 68- and 3-yard touchdown runs by Bellamy to take a 13-6 lead. The Gladiators scored again in the second quarter, but the two-point conversion failed.

There was no more scoring, but Gibbs had its chances.

In the third quarter, a 21-yard pass play to the Dunedin 7 was negated on a holding penalty and the Gladiators watched a 46-yard field goal attempt go just wide. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons were trying to run out the clock, but lost their third fumble of the game. Gibbs had new life, but its fourth interception of the game spoiled the opportunity.

[Last modified October 6, 2006, 01:27:01]