DOWNRIVER whips out the big plays to end the Fargo Axemen’s winning streak.
It was a colder day in Taylor than last week, but the stakes were larger - Fargo was coming to town, and they weren’t showing any signs of slowing down early. Two quick scores early on gave Fargo a 14-0 lead; Samantha Castora managed to run one in right before the half to make it 14-7. However, the biggest play was yet to come - after Penguinator completed a third touchdown to Chad Zielinski to go up 21-14. The following drive, backed up at their 7-yard-line, Andy Wright threw arguably one of the greatest passes of the year to rookie Alex Kangaroo - a 93-yard completion - to tie the game back up. And, as fate would have it, Fargo would not be able to use their tools in this one - the determination was all Waves; even Draco Zingora, who has been in the news lately wishing for a trade, kicked the game-winning field goal. It was all smiles for the Waves, who handed Flip Penguinator his first loss of the season.
Final Score: Waves 24, Axemen 21
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LAS VEGAS usurps the time clock and limits the Dragons’ rush attack in their win.
It was “force-fed action”, as the announcer called it - a game where Stapler remained a bit unsteady from the mounting pressure to win out the season. It was not perfect; Grand Rapids scored first on a field goal that hit the left upright and trickled in - but Renato Hanna stepped up, catching the first touchdown of the day from Stapler and giving the Bandits the lead. The Bandits defense continued to shine - a red-zone holdoff kept Grand Rapids from scoring a touchdown in the second quarter; giving Las Vegas the halftime lead (12-6). Stapler would come back from the half just as nervous - two straight interceptions to Ahmed Ball put the offense at risk of defeat. However, the Dragons rushing offense never showed up - and the time-of-possession was the main reason Grand Rapids couldn’t pull it out again at home. The “Fantastic Five” was led by Rowe and Fritz today; a combined 13 tackles, coverages, and a sack - it’s proof that the Bandits won’t give up on this season.
Final Score: Bandits 26, Dragons 13
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Despite early flubs, CALIFORNIA stops the Texas offense and scores a road win.
Much of what made this game the “Game of the Week” was due to the resurgence of two young rookies, looking to garner the spotlight for their teams. Texas had troubles early on; touchdowns to Arthur Christopher and Mitch Jeffries gave California a 14-0 lead in Q2. The Ramblers would then receive two “gifts” - Bowers threw an interception to Robert Mueller, and the short-statured gibbon returned it for a score to give Texas their first score of the day. One drive later, after another 3-and-out for California, none other than zebra Don Stone - arguably the best running back in the league - returns the punt 88 yards for another touchdown - it was now a tied game, going into the half, and the Dons’ energy seemed burnt out. The rest of the game was less eventful - a lot of trade-off scores and punts - but California would respond in the fourth quarter with a final touchdown that would give the win to the West.
Final Score: Dons 24, Ramblers 17
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NORTH FLORIDA’s Velazquez kicks the winning field goal Pratt didn’t want to make.
On the cool, sunny day in Tallahassee, tension was at an all-time high, and the Renegades wanted this win so badly that they handed out signs for fans to shine and to raise team spirits. The game started out very slowly, and Velazquez missed his first field goal - but it wouldn’t be the first missed in this game. Baltimore scored first with a quick run-in touchdown, but Masquarde and company responded with a pass to Blaine Vernon, tying the game in the second quarter at 7 a piece. It was like this for much of the game - score tradeoffs and lots of punts and kicks - but Virginia Pratt put away a 38-yarder towards the end of the 3rd to mark a 24-14 lead. It seemed bad for the Renegades - a Maqui Jelani sack on Masquarde ended the ensuing drive early - but Kennith Shrader returned the favor on an uncovered Aspen Redfield and returned the ball to the team. From there, the Renegades scored the ten points needed to send it into overtime. What happened next was pure rookie nerves - the Ponies’ Virginia Pratt missed a game-winning field goal from only 34 yards out; the Renegades would take over and, under the foot of Velazquez, he would not miss again - North Florida wins the home game in this upset.
Final Score: Renegades 27, Ponies 24 (OT)
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EASTON credits their kicker (Clueton) as well for their windy win against Chicago.
Game time conditions were the coldest and windiest of any game thus far in the season - a matter of preparations took place to keep the team warm and refreshed for the long and blustery event. In this type of environment, coaches would usually restrain their kickers from going for it, but neither kicker - Chicago’s Perez and Easton’s Clueton - would back down. Perez and the Outlaws scored first on a 34-yarder, followed by Clueton’s 39-yarder to start off the second quarter. The goat then defied the coaching staff by running to the field with the special teams unit to attempt a 62-yarder; they had the wind coming from their backs, but it was by far the longest field goal of the season thus far, and it gave Easton a 6-3 lead going into the half. There had been attempts to capitalize on turnovers, but missed field goals also plagued each team. By the fourth quarter, there had been nine attempts on the post between the two teams. The actual first trip into the endzone was a stellar catch by Olen Reuyters from the healthy Darius Smith, and it gave Chicago a temporary 13-9 lead. But Easton didn’t go out so easily - they marched the ball right back down the field and scored on a Patrick Bryan pass to grab their fourth win of the season. Pinned at their 11-yard line, and facing the wind, the Outlaws could not get moving again.
Final Score: Bald Eagles 16, Outlaws 13
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NEW YORK takes on Abilene cleanly to end their winning streak and stay above .500.
Similar conditions in New York kept the scores low in this matchup as well - but the Lancers had less trust than their cohorts in their kicker’s ability to make it through the uprights and, thus, kept him off the field for the game. The Titans scored first with a short rush between defenders by Wyatt Curran (7-0 Titans), and a series of beautiful punts by Abilene to pin New York and shut out their offense gave the Lancers great field position; they would score on a similar rushing play by Acey Craft - however, the kicker missed the extra point; thus, it was 7-6 at the half. After which, the action got dull - several punts, one interception by Everett Simms, but mostly - the door remained open until half-way through the fourth quarter when the Titans’ Botkis threw two great passes to Stahl and Guzman to score the lone passing TD in this matchup. The Lancers’ final scoring attempt was intercepted by Adolph Garner - and the Titans won the home matchup, ending the Lancers’ four-game winning streak.
Final Score: Titans 14, Lancers 6
