- Cluj Napoca Crusaders
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Cluj Crusaders 
Full name Cluj-Napoca Crusaders Founded 2010 Coach Rafael Ruiz League Romanian American Football Championship Cluj-Napoca Crusaders is an American football team in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. The first official American football team, with legal status in Cluj-Napoca, founded in February 2010 by a group of American football fans. The team has achieved 2nd place in the First Romanian Football Championship (2010) losing in the championship game 56 - 12 to Bucuresti Warriors.
Contents
History
Crusaders was founded in February 2010, the first practice together as Crusaders was on 13 February 2010, also when Rafael Ruiz first met face to face with the team, finding just a group of individuals, who didn't know much about American football but had desire to learn and become an organized team.
The first months were hard for the new team, not having a field were to train, mostly renting small synthetic soccer fields and having new people at practices, no equipments (shoulder-pads, helmets and training gear), but the team was lucky with the organization of head-coach Rafael Ruiz who managed the team in trying times. The first training practices were hard, players learning from zero, but discovered the joy of real American football practices.
After one month and a half of training together, the team experienced their first game, a scrimmage game (without Special Teams) at Bucharest vs Bucharest Predators, in 10 April, which they lost without scoring a point, being stopped at the 1 yard line 4 times, the final score is still uncertain. The shoulder-pads, helmets and playing jerseys were rented for free by Bucharest Warriors.
After 2 weeks, Predators came to Cluj to play on 24 April, a scrimmage game (with Special Teams, but without Field Goals, not having FG posts). The game was played on the soccer field in Baciu, Cluj and the score was Bucharest Predators 28 - 6 Cluj Crusaders, Crusaders scoring their first points on a blocked punt and returned by George Eisikovits. The performance of the team from Cluj being much better than the one in Bucharest. Again the shoulder-pads, helmets and playing jerseys where rented for free by Bucharest Warriors, who also were the referees.
Romanian Championship of American Football
The first Romanian American Football Championship started in 2010.
The first round was held at Timişoara in 24–25 July 2010. Saturday, 24 July 2010 was the official press conference about the first national American football championship. After Cluj Crusaders played with the host team Timişoara Lions opening the first official game of the first official championship. Although both teams are founded in 2010, Crusaders had a little more experience, most from head-coach Rafael Ruiz and that was seen in the game.
Crusaders scored in the first play, on kickoff return for about 75 yards KR TD, where Florin Oltean "took it to the house", for 6 - 0 lead, having great blocking in front, Csaba Fulop #75 making a very good block. Florin Oltean #85 making history, being the first player to score in the first national championship, but he injured his collar bone at the end of the play, in the endzone. Florin also scored the 2 point conversion, being the holder for the extra point, not having time to put the ball to be kicked, he ran with it for 2 points, while having his collar bone fractured. The game ended 48 - 0 for Cluj Crusaders, but Timişoara Lions played a good game, missing some yards for a TD.
Points scored by:- Florin Oltean #85 75 yard kickoff return TD, 2 point conversion Florin Oltean #85 scramble (8 - 0);
- Rares Gaia #22 20 yards Run TD, Extra point Paul Lucaciu #88 (15 - 0);
- Rares Gaia #22 12 yards Run TD, Extra point Paul Lucaciu #88 (22 - 0);
- Alex Bradea #42 SS Interception returned for TD, missed extra point (28 - 0);
- Rares Gaia #22 43 yards Run TD, 2 point conversion no good (34 - 0);
- Dan Crasnic #93 Interception returned 40 yards for TD, 2 point conversion no good (40 - 0);
- Cirja Paul #7 4 yards Run TD, 2 point conversion Cristian Nechifor #6 scramble (48 - 0);
Sunday, 25 July 2010, was the first round of flag games
First round flag football scoresThe second round at Cluj-Napoca in 28–29 August 2010.
In 28 August 2010 was the second round of flag games:
Second round flag football scores
In 29 August 2010 two tackle games were held:
Bucharest Predators 50 - 0 Timişoara Lions
Cluj Crusaders 0 - 15 Bucharest Warriors
The game between Crusaders and Warriors had lot of action, both teams making big plays. Both teams playing their full potential, in the end Warriors experience made the difference. Crusaders almost had a TD, but Pop Radu #83 dropped a 25 yard pass in the endzone, several play later Crusaders FG attempt was blocked by Warriors DL.
Score Warriors 15 - 0 Crusaders.- Pass TD Alex Craciun #52 from Cojanu Florin #8, extra point kick missed (12 - 0);
- Run TD Petian Florin Gabriel #37, 2 point conversion no good (6 - 0);
- FG Matache Razvan #9 (15 - 0);
The third round at Bucharest, Crusaders won 26 - 12 against Predators, this way they are going at the Romanian Bowl versus Warriors. Paul Cirja #7 scored 2 TD scramble and also passed 2 TD one to Florin Oltean #85 and one to Dan Crasnic #93.
The finals were held at Bucharest, on 21st of november, flag championship was won by Scaieni Jaguars, second place Red Warriors, third Cluj Crusaders, forth White Warriors. The tackle finals was won by Bucharest Warriors by 56 to 12, Crusaders being beaten on the running game. Crusaders touchdowns were scored by: Florin Oltean #85 on a kickoff return Dan Crasnic #93 long pass from Paul Cirja #7.
Standings
Bucharest Warriors 3 0 0 78 0 W3 2 Cluj Crusaders 2 1 0 74 27 W1 3 Timisoara Lions 0 3 0 0 98 L2 4 Bucharest Predators 1 2 0 62 87 L2 American football teams in Romania
Cluj Crusaders
Bucharest Warriors
Bucharest Predators
Timişoara Lions
Scaieni Jaguars
Constanta Sharks
Iasi SevensExternal links
Categories:- American football teams in Romania
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