Kirkland Tops Adams, Earns First Victory, 8-0

On the final day of the house football regular season, Kirkland sneaked away with its first victory of the year, defeating the Adams, 8-0, yesterday at Soldiers Field.

The triumph was an important one for the K-House gridders, who tied the Flames for third place in house football's AFL division. Both Adams and Kirkland have 1-2 records and will advance to next week's playoffs.

The game had few scintillating moments, as neither team played particularly well. The contest's only excitement was provided by the officials.

Had the officials been on time, there probably wouldn't have been a game. Kirkland only had 10 players suited up at kickoff time (an automatic forfeit), but the officials hadn't arrived yet. When they finally arrived--15 minutes late--two more Kirkland gridders were present and the game was played.

Kirkland won the coin toss, elected to receive, and both squads lined up to get the game going. The officials were about to call for the Flame kick off, when the Adams sideline brought it to their attention that there was no ball on the field.

The embarrassed zebras quickly found a pigskin, and the game finally got underway. Starting from the Adams 49 after Captain Nick Lillig's long kickoff return, K-House wasted no time.

On second down, quarterback Rob DeVirgilio missed a handoff, but salvaged the play, cutting outside and scrambling 31 yards to the Adams 16. Lillig then ran to the four, giving Kirkland first and goal.

The Kirkland offense squandered that scoring opportunity two plays later with a fumble, but got another chance when Adams turned the ball right back over on its first offensive play.

Kirkland's Dave Beardsley churned into the endzone from four yards out for the game's first--and only--touchdown. The two-point conversion try failed when DeVirgilio overthrew Peter Pujols.

Following the kickoff, Adams failed to make a first down and line up to punt the ball away from its 11. Punter Andrew Nietlich bobbled the snap, and found himself surrounded by red shirts when he finally got a handle on the ball.

Nietlich's kick was blocked by a swarm of Kirkland defenders and the ball rolled into the Adams endzone, where one of the Flames tried to pull a Rob Steinberg imitation. But instead of knocking it out the back of the end zone, he batted the ball forward, and it rolled out of bounds at the two.

The officials kept both teams in suspense, deliberating briefly before awarding Kirkland two points for a safety.

The second half was dominated by the defenses. Neither offense could break through for a score, and the game ended 8-0.

Despite losing, the Flames' Bob Zafft was pleased with his squad's hitting. "Against Leverett, they outhit us," he said. "We gave [Kirkland] a really good hitting game.