Cross River Ikan Sports bounced back from their heavy opening-week defeat with a spirited second-half performance to beat Gateway Horns 25-19 in Week 2 of the Showtime Bowl Series XV Flag Football season at Showtime Arena on Sunday.
After suffering a 56-13 defeat to Lagos Rebels in Week 1, Ikan Sports needed a response and made the perfect start when quarterback Timothy Atibile connected with Praise Miene for a 28-yard touchdown to establish a 6-0 lead.
Gateway Horns, however, gradually found their rhythm. Awosika Oluwafikunmi found Adewole Mosimiloluwa for the tying touchdown before connecting with Odimbu Awele Gift for another score. A successful extra point to Mosimiloluwa gave the Horns a 13-6 advantage.
Ikan Sports immediately hit back through one of the biggest plays of the contest as Atibile connected with Abayomi Agbayewa for a 45-yard touchdown, reducing the deficit to 13-12 before halftime.
Gateway entered the break with the narrow advantage, but Ikan Sports turned the contest around in the second half, scoring 13 points while restricting the Horns to six to complete a 25-19 comeback victory and secure their first win of the season.
Praise Miene was named Match MVP after finishing with 33 receiving yards and a touchdown, earning a 7.4 rating. Atibile also played a central role in the victory and topped the fantasy standings with 4.3 points, while Gateway quarterback Oluwafikunmi recorded 4.0.
The result represents an important recovery for Cross River Ikan Sports following their difficult Week 1 outing, while Gateway Horns will be left disappointed after surrendering a 13-12 halftime advantage.
For Ikan Sports, however, Week 2 delivered exactly what they needed — a response, a comeback and their first victory of the Showtime Bowl Series XV campaign.
