FRANKLIN, Tn - (AP) In a rematch from last year's NSL Flag Football Championship, the Belvidere Cricket Spiders were able to hang on to an early 12-0 lead to defeat They Hate Us by a final score of 12-7.

After holding THU to a three and out on their first possession, Belvidere had a quick scoring drive to go up 6-0. Two quick passes to John Taylor in the middle of the THU defense set up QB Andy Bozeman to hit Jay Pettus for the 6 yard score. After neither team could muster any offense for the remainder of the first half, the Cricket Spiders hit their stride on the first possession of the second half. After a 25 yard pass to Taylor, and a 5 yard rush by Jamie Miller, Bozeman tried to hit Pettus in the back of the end zone. The ball was tipped into the air, but luckily, Miller was able to corral the errant pass and get both feet down in the back right corner of the end zone for the score putting the Cricket Spiders up 12-0.

They Hate Us would not go without a fight. Late in the second half, after scoring their first TD of the night on a 9 yard pass to "Mr. Gold Cleats," THU held the Cricket Spiders to another three and out. With only seconds remaining, THU drove to the Cricket Spiders 15 yard line. On the last play of the game, Cary Hayes batted down what would have been the game winning score and the Cricket Spiders narrowly escaped with the win.

In what is becoming a heated rivalry, the Cricket Spiders improve to 3-0 against They Hate Us. The last two wins against THU have come by batting down a pass in the end zone on the last play of the game. Up next for the Cricket Spiders is the D1 Rookies. Game time is 7:15 on Friday.