Colonels Give Pirates Their Marching Orders
June 6th, 2025
East Kilbride Pirates 00 – Centre College Colonels 66
In what has become an annual tradition, East Kilbride played host to a visiting NCAA Division III side, this time coming from Danville, Kentucky. While this was never going to be a competitive game, it gives the Pirate players an opportunity to experience playing against a team at a level not seen in the UK. It also lets the young Americans visit a country they may not otherwise get to see while links between players and coaches are another benefit.
EK received the opening kick off, but on the first play from scrimmage, a high snap sailed over QB Logan Gallacher’s head into the endzone. Fortunately the Pirates recovered to limit the damage to a Safety. A strong return of the resulting restart saw the Colonels move to the edge of EK’s red zone, and just two plays later QB Jack Gohmann found Blake Busson in the endzone for an 18-yard TD and that was converted by Jack Kennedy. More points followed immediately when Jamikel James picked off a Gallacher pass and took it 28-yards for a pick-six. The successful PAT was provided this time by Ty Hancock. The Pirates’ heads were spinning at this stage and a fumble by Cammy Dunn soon gave possession back to the visitors. WR Tyler Wright was the next to benefit from EK profligacy when he pulled in a 33 -yard TD on 3rd Down. PAT was provided by Will Boehm and with the game still only at mid 1st Quarter, the Colonels had a 23-0 advantage.
A short punt ended the Pirates next drive and the ruthless guests again made EK pay. This time it was a 16-yard run by Will McDaniel, however a missed PAT was the first slip of the day by Centre College. With the game starting to run away from them, and having nothing to lose, EK went for a 4th Down attempt deep in their own half, but came up short. Inevitably it lead to another score with Harris Phelps carrying home on First & Goal from the 3. Again the PAT was unsuccessful, with the kick being blocked, leaving the score at 35-0 moving into the second quarter.
The period started with the first punt of the day by the Americans, but EK couldn’t take advantage and soon had to return the favour.
The next Colonels’ TD was a bit of a strange one. With the QB’s of both teams being “red-shirted” to avoid injuries, the Pirates appeared to have “sacked” the QB but pulled up short of hitting him. He tossed the ball into the endzone where it was caught
and the officials signaled a TD. The PAT went wide left this time around. 41-0 soon became 47-0 when a break out run by Harris Phelps saw him speed home from 42 yards out for an unconverted TD. The next EK drive saw them give up another turnover. A fumble was recovered on a scoop and run by a Colonels linebacker who returned it 36 yards to score. The PAT provided the final point of the half leaving EKP trailing by 54 points.
With the game being so one-sided along with the fact that torrential rain had started and rumours of incoming lightning, it was agreed to play the second half with a running clock. In addition, four of the Colonels players were “transferred” to EK for the remainder of the game. Centre College Defensive Line coach, former Pirate Tom Lachendro, also kitted up and he pulled on the black, white and red for the first time since 2016.
EKP kicked off and it looked like it was going to be returned all the way until loanee Brookes Sapone corralled the returner at the 10-yard line. Unfortunately this only delayed the inevitable as one play later the ball did end up in the endzone on a short run. A combination of the weather and the accelerated time saw possession move back and forward for the rest of the game, until on the final play of the day Jake Carson passed to Asher Adkins from 22-yards out.
At the end of the game both sides assembled in front of a packed stand, including many parents of the visiting players. Colonels Head Coach Andy Frye expressed his thanks for the support and the kindness they had been shown on their visit. He and his staff also picked and commended several Pirates players, before nominating WR/KR Christian Rubuga as EK Man Of The Match. The players, staff and families then set off for a night on the town from which, no doubt, tales will emerge in the days and weeks ahead.
Report by Bill Campbell
Photographs courtesy Duncolm Sports Photography – you can find a full album here!
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