Typhoon upsets Lightning

TINIAN MUNICIPAL FIELD, Tinian—And then there were none.

The real life David beat Goliath on Saturday night as the Tinian Typhoon pulled off the upset of the season by shocking the Shell Lightning, 33-6, under the lights at Tinian Municipal Field in the continuation of the Commonwealth Football League.

Hundreds were on hand to cheer on the home team in San Jose as the Typhoon opened up their offense and tightened up their defense to rout the previously undefeated Lightning (5-1) to even their record at 3-3.

Tinian quarterback Juanis King and wide receiver Ringo Reyes saved their best for last as they hooked up for three touchdown passes that covered 117 yards. King also ran the ball into the end zone for a score, but the Typhoon also scored on special teams as game breaking Blake Manibusan ran back a punt for 45 yards.

While the lopsided score tells the tale of the game, things were not well for the Typhoon early on in the contest as Lightning return man George Lieto took the opening kick off 78 yards for a touchdown to give them a 6-0 lead. The quick score may have caught the fans and Tinian special teamers off guard, but the defense showed itself to be a force on the following play as they stuffed the run to spoil the two-point conversion attempt.

The defense was called upon again when the Typhoon offense fumbled the ball away on their first possession, and Keith Nabors and his band of roughnecks held the Lightning to a four-and-out when quarterback Clas Ngeskebei’s pass fell to the ground incomplete on fourth and four.

King took over from there with a new mindset as he uncorked a 50-yard pass to Reyes that tied the game and electrified the fans on third and short, and Jack Aldan came out to give the Typhoon the lead for good when he sent the ball through the uprights, 7-6.

From there on out it was all Tinian, as the Lightning were unable to sustain a drive. After being stopped for the third time, the Lightning were forced to punt from their own 27-yard line, and that’s when the elusive Manibusan worked his magic by taking the ball to the house to give the Typhoon a 13-6 advantage at the close of the first quarter. The point after attempt failed, but the home team was gaining momentum while the Lightning were spinning their wheels.

The highest scoring offense in the CFL was held to zero points and 41 yards in the first half, but Shell was determined to get the unit into gear and tried alternating between Ngeskebei and Brian Hahn under center to no avail.

The favorites thought they caught a break at the start of the second half when the Anthony “Ton” Borja couldn’t field the high snap on a fourth down punt, but he was able to find Reyes 14 yards down field for a first down.

When King came back onto the field he hit Reyes for a 38-yard strike that took the Typhoon down to the 10-and-a-half-yard line. The big QB took matters into his own hands and ran to the left into the end zone for the score. Once again, Aldan’s point after attempt failed, but the Typhoon were ahead of the Lightning by a 19-6 score.

They scored again on their next possession as King hooked up with Reyes for a 38-yard touchdown that sent the fans into a frenzy. Tinian had the game in hand as the pendulum swung all the way over to the Typhoon side of the field when even their miscues turned into points. Aldan’s point after attempt was doomed before he had the chance to kick it but Reyes took the bad snap into the end zone for the two-point conversion to put his team ahead, 27-6.

From there on out, the Lightning couldn’t make the big plays they needed to get back into the game. Time after time Ngeskebei and Hahn tried to hit Lieto down field, but he was either too well covered or the pass was off. Hahn even tried to find Ngeskebei, but the talented receiver was unable to reel in the passes.

The Typhoon hammered the final nail into the coffin with less than five minutes left when King found Reyes on a 29-yard catch and run that started the party and put them ahead 33-6. There was mayhem when the final whistle sounded as the fans joined the players in the sideline, and after the handshake and team photo, the Typhoon pulled down the uprights in the western end zone of Municipal Field.