The Essex Ravens planned on making a statement against the Cambridge Lions, but instead, it was the Lions making the statement as they beat the undefeated Essex Ravens 23-22, a game that was not as close as the score would indicate.
The game would start 75 minutes late due to a lightning delay, and that delay seemed to slow the Ravens down, and at the same time, have no effect on the Lions.
The first half was all about defense and neither team was able to get into a rhythm offensively. Defensively the Lions continuously forced the Ravens to punt the ball with numerous 4 and outs and did a significant job of slowing down the vaunted rushing attack of the Ravens.
The Lions would take a 4-0 lead after the first quarter, and extend their lead to 11-0 with 5:21 remaining in the half. Ravens quarterback Brandon Reaume would lead the ravens on a late first half scoring drive to make the score 11-7 Cambridge at the half.
The start of the second half was much like the first, as the defenses both played strong limiting the opposition chances, Cambridge would add a field goal to make it 14-7 heading to the 4th.
An early 4th quarter touchdown would give the lions a 21-7 lead, and the game appeared to be put on ice when Ravens quarterback Brandon Reaume was forced out of the end zone for a safety increasing the lead to 23-7 Cambridge with 8 minutes left.
After a defensive hold, the Ravens offense finally came to life as running back Khaliel James would catch a 40 yard touchdown pass, and Brandon Reaume would score again from 7 yards out to make it 23-20. The Lions would concede a safety on their next possession to make it 23-22, and that was as close as the Ravens would get.
Next up for the Ravens is a showdown with the Toronto Thunder on Saturday June 29th, kickoff is at 7pm.
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