Three of the Scottish Claymores Patriots allocates came up with huge games at a critical point in the NFL Europe season to help their team stay alive in the charge toward World Bowl XI. With a 31-20 win over Amsterdam last weekend, Scotland is just one game behind the top three teams in NFL Europe with two games to play. Michael Malan and Rod Trafford accounted for 21 of the Claymores 31 points, while Dyshod Carter picked off a pass in the game's final minute to seal the win.
Malan reached paydirt for the first time this season in his most productive game to date across the pond. The former Brown standout scored two touchdowns, on 5- and 34-yard receptions, and ran the ball three times for 17 yards. Malan opened the scoring in the first quarter and added another score before halftime to put the Claymores up 21-3.
Trafford also had his best offensive game of the season, catching five passes including a 5-yard touchdown grab with 1:39 left in the game to give Scotland its winning margin. Carter had a season-high two pass breakups and picked off Amsterdam's Shaun Hill with 51 seconds left to thwart the Admirals comeback bid.
The Claymores have another key game this weekend as they travel to Barcelona to face the Dragons on Fox Sports Net at 1:00 p.m. The Claymores are just one game behind the Dragons, who are tied with Frankfurt and Rhein for first place. With just two weeks to go, the NFLEL playoff drive is at full speed.
NFLE notes and numbers
Wide receiver Scott McCready had a quiet week for the Claymores, making just two catches for 17 yards. Despite those low totals, McCready still ranks ninth in the league if receiving yards (327) and has 21 receptions on the season. McCready also has contributed four special teams tackles for the Claymores, an area he will need to show potential in if he has any chance to make the Patriots roster. …
Trafford's touchdown was the first of the season for the tight end, who now has 13 catches for 154 yards in eight games (seven starts) for the Claymores. … Center Mike Clare was placed on injured reserve in Week 7 with a hand injury and hasn't played since starting the first four games for the Frankfurt Galaxy. … Wideout T.C. Taylor spent the first three weeks of the season on injured reserve for Barcelona before being reassigned to the Galaxy. He has yet to make a reception in four games played thus far.
Patriots notes
The Patriots released Walter Sampson Tuesday afternoon. The 6-3, 274-pound defensive lineman was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Louisiana-Lafayette who originally signed with New England on May 2.
