Staff writer Abyan Memnon provides a comprehensive account of the American Football Varsity, including a blow-by-blow account of the event.
Following an almost flawless 22/23 season – going undefeated in the regular season, winning a playoff game, and winning the Varsity matchup – the KCL Regents were promoted to the top regional tier of BUCS American Football. Last season saw the Regents have a rocky start in their new division, going 3-5. However, the improvement for the team continued as they finished the 24/25 season with the best record in the league, 7-1, and a dominant 101-point differential.
The Regent’s cornerback and recruitment officer #17 Haike Liu, who joined the team during their 22/23 season, explained how the improvement had been a gradual journey: “It’s been a year-by-year progression… it’s not necessarily that anything has changed. Good recruitment every year, and also keeping the coaching staff consistent, and just everyone working hard and understanding what the goal is every year.”
ROAR did note that the team was looking to recruit coaches in the last off-season. “So we had one or two additional coaches… mostly on the O-line and D-line – you can see in our performance this year we’ve been able to protect the quarterback better. The core group of coaches has remained the same so there’s that consistency there, especially with returning players.”
The Regents lost just one game during the regular season, to the 6-2 Kent Falcons. “That game was in the holidays, and a lot of our players went in a little bit rusty. Maybe a little bit overconfident from our previous wins because at that point we had won 4 or 5 games in a row. That loss really gave us a reality check and got everyone to focus back in and work hard.” The Regents bounced back with their biggest win yet, crushing the Essex Blades 36-0, and ended the season on a winning streak.
Haike named his fellow defensive back, #1 Finn Corney, as one of the Regents’ most influential players on the field. “Even though he’s the DB, he’s always there to plug the holes if the running back ever leaks through. His tackling is always on point, it’s always perfect. He’s also versatile; if we need a linebacker, whether it’s outside or inside linebacker, he can play both. He’s the key to the defence – he’s the leader, he’s always there to support us and cover our mistakes.”
On the offensive side of the ball, Liu highlighted quarterback #12 Seraphin Stolz, speaking on his role as the team leader and the anchor of the offense. Liu also mentioned running back #80 Mohammed Fohpa, who has gone from never having played American Football to establishing himself as one of the most important players on the offense, with his explosiveness and incredible cutbacks.
For special teams, Liu applauded kicker #16 Elliot Martindale – for not having missed a field goal until the very end of the regular season – and punter #6 Afonso Spencer, who consistently downs punts inside the 10-yard line.
Last year’s American Football Varsity game was called off mid-game and we left without a winner. “Last year’s game, it wasn’t a very satisfactory conclusion. Everybody wants to make sure that we show that we are the better team in London. And to make up for it as well, and keep our win record going.”
The UCL Emperors have seen less success this season, winning only 3 games. The Regents won both regular season matchups, but UCL kept the second game much closer. ROAR asked Liu what he felt the Emperors did better during the second matchup and what KCL had to do to stop them in the big game. “I don’t think their win record reflects how good they actually are. Their run scheme in general is very very difficult to play against, they’ve got some very good players. But as a team, as a whole, I think we are the better team, and as long as we can execute to our level I think we should be able to handle them.”
The 2025 American Football Varsity Game: Blow-by-blow
KCL Regents starting quarterback Seraphin Stolz is out of the game with an injury.
UCL Emperors start the game with the ball and show off their iconic explosive running game led by athletic #0 Keenan, aka Agent. The Regents shut down UCL’s options by defending the pass, forcing them to punt.
KCL take over. #14 Mohammed Fohpa breaks through the defence on their second snap of the game and rushes along the sideline for the touchdown! UCL jump on the ball carrier to stop the 2-point conversion. 6-0 Regents.
KCL’s defence is suffocating the Emperor’s offense. But UCL find some oxygen with a fake handoff throw to the sideline and a mad run, dragging defenders for a 10-yard gain. With their passing game sparked, UCL finds #16 Isaac Haq for a 20-yard pass. The Emperors’ luck runs out, leading to a 4th down attempt and a missed field goal for no score on the drive.
The Regents are tackled on 3rd and 4th downs for loss. UCL’s punt returner is downed at KCL’s 30 yard line, and the Emperor’s drive is fuelled by a big gain off a KCL tip that lands perfectly back into the opposition’s hands. Touchdown for Agent! 2-point conversion attempt for UCL goes false start, incomplete pass, and no good. The score stands at 6-6.
UCL kickoff goes through the endzone, Regents take over at their own 20. KCL fumble! Handoff is knocked away and the ball is captured by UCL; what was good field position for the Regents is now amazing field position for the Emperors.
KCL’s defence seems to be faltering; they’ve been on the field for a long time, they may need a break soon. Never mind – field goal attempt blocked by King’s defence! Ball back to King’s like the fumble never happened.
The Regents have had some good interception opportunities throughout the game, getting fingers on the ball, but have not been able to complete any.
UCL drop a big pass, sending the KCL crowd into an eruption of yelling including shouts of “bum!” and “go to the bench!”.
Big run for Fohpa! The KCL crowd erupts into cheers, jokingly signalling the first down as a touchdown.
Regents look deep, throw deep… intercepted! And off go UCL into KCL’s territory.
The clock is running down on the half, what can the Emperors do with the ball? Nothing! KCL finally get the interception they have been looking for. But it’s right back to UCL as the Regents turn the ball over on yet another fumble.
What an exciting end to the half – the energy can be felt radiating through the crowd. The scoreline stands at 6-6.
The King’s crowd yells at their team to run the ball as the second half starts.
3rd & 1: Regents’ safety Finn Corney is in at quarterback, what’s going to happen? Handoff to the running back, down the KCL sideline, and he’s gone again. Past the midfield, through the Emperor’s territory, and into the endzone for a touchdown! 2-point conversion is no good. 12-6 King’s.
Agent again has an answer to the Regents’ score as he replicates the play by running across almost the entire field himself for the touchdown. UCL are going for the extra point attempt. Can they get it? The kicker puts his toe on the ball, the ball spins up, and it hits the crossbar – and it goes in! UCL lead 13-12.
UCL fumble the ball in their own territory, the Regents recover. KCL have a golden opportunity to take back the lead. But the refs have something to say as they call a controversial fumble. The King’s crowd erupts with rage directed at the officials, arguing the call.
Deeper into the 4th quarter, the Regents get another chance to take back the lead with a big punt return from their own 20-yard line into Emperor territory. However, following a 5- and 6-yard loss, a drive that started in UCL territory has been pushed back into the Regents’ own territory. On the 3rd down, KCL throw, and the ball is nearly intercepted, but UCL can still celebrate as KCL is forced to punt.
The KCL crowd express their dismay at the Regents’ coaches for making the call to pass the ball, considering the 2nd string quarterback is starting and the team boasts two great running backs.
Another drive for the Regents, another series of back-to-back tackles for loss. UCL’s defence continue to hound KCL’s offense throughout their late-game attempts to take back the lead. The clock continues bleeding.
The Emperors nearly end the game with a dagger on a drive with an explosive pass followed by an explosive rush, but the ball is intercepted. The Regents have another chance.
KCL chip towards the 1st down marker, but come up short on 3rd down. With only 2 minutes left in the game, the Regents have no option but to go all-out on 4th down. They hand the ball off to their running back, who scrambles towards the sideline, knowing he has to find an open lane and get the first round to keep KCL alive. The Emperors shut him down.
UCL get the ball deep into Regents territory, and with a penalty against KCL on the first down, the game ends. UCL win 13-12.
Post-Game Reactions
ROAR spoke to #7 Finn Corney for a post-game interview.
Corney stated how the decision to go for the 2-point conversions was not the losing factor of the game: “You can talk about any play, any decision as ‘oh, that was right, that was wrong’. I think in the moment we wanted the momentum of getting those 2 extra points. Obviously looking back, we lost by one point – it would have been nice to have that extra point. But you can’t blame any individual call… You can pick any play of the entire game and that could have been the wrong decision, but the game was the game.”
UCL scored both times almost right after a KCL’s touchdown: did the Regents feel like they took their foot off the gas after scoring? “Any individual player may have felt more confident, sure, but I really think it was the mentality of UCL whenever we scored and celebrated – it fired them up. And a lot of respect to them, because a lot of teams put their heads down, drop down and play slower after conceding. I think it’s more up to them, and props to them.”
Corney also told ROAR that starting quarterback Stolz will be rehabbing and should be playing over the summer for his senior team as the Regents look to get ready to start back in September.
ROAR looks forward to seeing Stolz back on the field and the KCL Regents back in the win column. Go King’s!
