Great individual play translated into an impressive team effort, when the Towers dominated the Herlev Rebels by the score 41-7 on Friday Night.
A stellar performance by LB/RB Casper Jensen lead the way on Friday Night. Jensen played both defense and offense and did it so well that National Team head coach Lars Carlsen named Jensen the MVP (Most Valuable Player) of the game.
In his second year as a football player, Casper Jensen is still trying to find out whether he's a linebacker who can carry the ball or a running back who can tackle people. For the better part of the season he has looked and played like a linebacker. On Friday, Jensen looked every bit the part of a running back, too.
An injury to starting running back Kristoffer Brun Hansen forced Casper Jensen into action on offense and he made the most of the opportunity. In the first quarter Jensen scored his first National League touchdown, followed by his second and third in the fourth quarter.
Not to be outdone, QBs Patrick Hargett and Kasper Skyum played very well in place of the injured JR
Artozqui. Sidelined by a shoulder injury suffered two weeks earlier against the Wolfpack, Artozqui worked the sidelines as the team's offensive coordinator. Kasper Skyum, who finished – and won – the thrilling overtime game against the Wolfpack shared the QB duties with U19 QB Patrick Hargett.
With distinctly different playing styles the two QBs alternated in and out of the game. Hargett is the more nimble QB, who is just as likely to make plays with his feet as with his arm, while Skyum is a classic pocket passer.
Skyum twice thrilled the home crowd by throwing beautiful TD passes. In the 2nd quarter he lofted a deep arching pass to a wide open William Elias deep in the end zone. Then with about 11 seconds left in the half Skyum hit WR Søren Busk right on the goal line from about 20 yards out.
With the offense accounting five touchdowns in the game, defensive back Javier Ortega added a defensive touchdown in the dying seconds of the first half – literally just seconds after the Towers latest touchdown. On the Rebels' very first play from scrimmage after returning the Towers' kick-off. On a pass play Ortega came in to make a tackle on the receiver, but managed to strip the ball instead and return it for a score.
The defense was credited with another score as a punt snap sailed over the head of the Rebels' punter and into the end zone, where the punter recovered and downed the ball for a Towers safety.
The lone Rebels score came on a very short field when several QB sneaks inched the ball closer to – and finally into – the end zone.
While the final score seems impressive it does not reflect the amount of penalty yards called on the Towers. During one defensive series in the second half the Towers defense was called for being offsides three times in a row. Late hits by the defense and false starts by the offense added to an ugly collection of mistakes.
However, the final conclusion is that the Towers rallied around their back-up QBs and played very well. The ground game took off to a degree rarely seen this season and the passing game may have been slightly off mark at times, but it was still very much acceptable. And aside from the insane amount of penalties the defense was it's stellar self.
With two games to go in the regular season the Towers hold a 6-2 record and own a 6-game winning streak as they prepare to meet the Golddiggers in Søllerød in what will surely be a hard fought grudge match.
