Miners take Slask derby 27-0 to stay up next year, Steelers in barrage

After seven games of the 2011 season went by without a victory, Miner Nation would have been forgiven for thinking they might be supporting a PLFA II team in 2012. Their beloved Silesia Miners rallied, however, winning the last two games of the season, including a 27-0 home shutout over the Zaglebie Steelers on the season's final day, to keep their place in the top division safe for another year.

The Steelers, on the other hand, will have to fight to keep their spot, as Sunday's loss meant that they finished the regular season in a tie for last place with the Bialystok Lowlanders. In fact, the Steelers avoided outright relegation to PLFA II only by virtue of their 7-0 regular-season win over the Lowlanders on April 9. Zaglebie will host the barrage on October 1, facing the PLFA II runner-up in that game for the right to play top-division football in 2012.

The game was not as lopsided as the final score might indicate, with Steeler mistakes bringing their downfall. Time and time again they turned the ball over after advancing into Miner territory and, despite numerous threats, they were never able to get the ball into the end zone.

Silesia was able to do it four times, on the other hand, going up 13-0 after the first quarter on the strength of two Michal Kolek touchdown throws. Zbigniew Szrejber was on the receiving end of the first one and Kajetan Kaminski hauled in the second. Tomasz Grabas rushed for a 5-yard touchdown in the second quarter, and Kaminski caught Kolek's third touchdown pass in the second half to close the scoring for the Miners, who finished the season in 8th place.