Wow, good game here. The 9-2 East St. Louis Tire Fires @ the 10-1 Dakar Dragons. It was a playoff atmosphere @ The Pit. Let's take a look at what happened:
East St. Louis (ESL) got the ball first and were able to move close to midfield. But this deflection by Paul Everywhere forced a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13523320
Dakar's drive was a carbon copy with one first down followed by a deflection to force a punt. This time it was A Slight Breeze doing the honors:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13524065
A slow start that would belie the exciting finish ahead. ESL finally got some mojo going on their second drive. This 37-yard TD from Jay Bombs Away Cutler found Speedy Gonzalis to open the scoring:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13524509
East St. Louis 7 - Dakar 0
Dakar still can't find it's legs and after picking up a single first down they again have to punt. Will Gamble knocks away this 3rd down pass to make it so:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13524849
ESL goes three and out on their next drive. A hurry by Solomon Grundy forces another punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525014
The Tire Fires offense finds another spark and starts to drive. Cutler to Prom King Chmura for 19-yards moves the chains:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525323
Broehain Struan finishes the drive off on a 4th and Goal from the half-yard line:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525466
East St. Louis 14 - Dakar 0
Dakar has been trying to pound away so far with little success. This time it works as Michael Shaw, Chazno Run, and Jessica Landry take turns biting off small chunks of yards:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525678
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525700
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525733
The strategy pays off as they matriculate the ball down the field and Terry Forcier hits Amare Jackson for a short TD:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525983
East St. Louis 14 - Dakar 7
But ESL is not fazed a bit. Cutler comes out firing and finds Horrid Henry for 21-yards:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526187
Then again Cutler to Henry for 29-yards this time:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526246
The Tire fires big chunks vs. the Dragons small bites is an interesting contrast. But ESL can go small too, Walter Payton fumbles on 2nd and Goal, but quickly follows it up with a short TD plunge thanks to Lord Sesshomaru recovering the fumble:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526433
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526451
East St. Louis 21 - Dakar 7
Dakar is a bit shell-shocked. They take over and try to pass there way back in it. But Burns MacRevis deflects this third down pass to force a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526596
Addison BigBoot shanks this punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526623
That allows ESL to quickly get into FG range after this 14-yard connection from Cutler to Jerry Screw Ray Johnson:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526669
Popeasaurus Rex finishes off a near-perfect half for the visitors with a 53-yard FG:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526816
East St. Louis 24 - Dakar 7
Dakar gets one last chance but this sack by Solomon Grundy ends the half and the Dragons go into halftime wondering what hit them:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526927
The halftime speech by the coach just tells them to shake it off and stick with their ball control plan. A 17-point lead in GLB isn't that much. The Dragons get the ball first and they demonstrate proper Dakarian etiquette, small bites and always use a napkin. 18-plays the majority of them 6-yards or less. The drive took up more than 8 minutes! This 14-yard pass on 3rd and 7 was the biggest play:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527091
The Beyonder tries to slow the Dragons down by forcing this fumble but Chazno Guard recovers:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527308
Michael Shaw caps the drive with this 3-yard TD run:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527571
East St. Louis 24 - Dakar 14
Impressive as that drive was, even more impressive was the rested defense coming out and forcing St. Louis to go 3 and out. Gerome Bruiser stuffs this 3rd and 3 run inches shy of a first:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527714
Dakar takes over again and again starts eating up clock and yards. Forcier to Amare Jackson for 18-yards gets them going:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527909
Forcier to Landry for a short TD brings them to within 3-points at the 14-minute mark of the 4th quarter:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528158
East St. Louis 24 - Dakar 21
ESL takes over in the 4th quarter, but it was only the 2nd time they touched the ball in the second half. No way could they afford to go three and out and they don't. Cutler hits Speedy Gonzalis for 13 on 3rd and 4:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528299
Walter Payton Jr. picks up a 3rd and 2 with a tough 2-yard run:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528408
But this Chazno Corner deflection on 3rd and 4 forces ESL to settle for a FG:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528483
East St. Louis 27 - Dakar 21
With 9:16 left Dakar takes over. Forcier hits CC Beaver for 24-yards:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528595
After some more short pickups this 10-yard pass from Forcier to Landry takes the ball just outside the red zone:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528848
Dakar can taste a TD and the lead, Forcier drops back and looks for Amare Jackson. Right at the goal line The Beyonder locks on to Forcier's eyes and jumps in front of Amare. The pass is picked off!
ESL takes over with 3:17 left at their own 17-yard line. A mix of runs and passes moves the ball out to their own 35. They also force Dakar to use two of their timeouts. But on 2nd and 3rd down ESL tries to pass, but Chazno Back deflects both passes stopping the clock and forcing them to punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529181
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529228
Not running the ball there would be costly. (Although if they had picked up the first down or completed both passes that would have been fine too). Dakar takes over with 1:40 left on their own 37. They miss on three straight passes to setup a 4th and 10. Forcier hits Chazno Moss for this huge 22-yard pass to move the chains and keep the team alive:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529469
With 1:10 left the Dragons again miss on three straight passes setting up another 4th and 10. Forcier hits Amare Jackson for 13-yards to move the ball to the ESL 27.5:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529605
1st and 10 at the 27.5 of ESL, :34 left and no timeouts. Forcier looks for Ferrell Eviscerator but Victor Von Doom knocks it away. Incomplete!:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529638
2nd and 10 at the 27.5, :29 seconds left. Forcier hits Amare Jackson but he can't break the tackle or Nick Blue Steele and is tackled in bounds. Clock is running:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529658
3rd and 7.5 at the 25, :09 left. Do or die time, Forcier drops back, he looks for Catchy Beatz who has 15 in Break Opponents Heart secret x-factor VA, he brings it in IT'S A TD:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529728
The XP is up and good:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529743
Dakar 28 - East St. Louis 27
With :03 left Cutler launches a desperation bomb which is knocked away:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529819
DAKAR WINS! DAKAR WINS!
Great game, heart-stopping finish. Nice job guys!
East St. Louis (ESL) got the ball first and were able to move close to midfield. But this deflection by Paul Everywhere forced a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13523320
Dakar's drive was a carbon copy with one first down followed by a deflection to force a punt. This time it was A Slight Breeze doing the honors:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13524065
A slow start that would belie the exciting finish ahead. ESL finally got some mojo going on their second drive. This 37-yard TD from Jay Bombs Away Cutler found Speedy Gonzalis to open the scoring:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13524509
East St. Louis 7 - Dakar 0
Dakar still can't find it's legs and after picking up a single first down they again have to punt. Will Gamble knocks away this 3rd down pass to make it so:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13524849
ESL goes three and out on their next drive. A hurry by Solomon Grundy forces another punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525014
The Tire Fires offense finds another spark and starts to drive. Cutler to Prom King Chmura for 19-yards moves the chains:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525323
Broehain Struan finishes the drive off on a 4th and Goal from the half-yard line:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525466
East St. Louis 14 - Dakar 0
Dakar has been trying to pound away so far with little success. This time it works as Michael Shaw, Chazno Run, and Jessica Landry take turns biting off small chunks of yards:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525678
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525700
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525733
The strategy pays off as they matriculate the ball down the field and Terry Forcier hits Amare Jackson for a short TD:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13525983
East St. Louis 14 - Dakar 7
But ESL is not fazed a bit. Cutler comes out firing and finds Horrid Henry for 21-yards:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526187
Then again Cutler to Henry for 29-yards this time:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526246
The Tire fires big chunks vs. the Dragons small bites is an interesting contrast. But ESL can go small too, Walter Payton fumbles on 2nd and Goal, but quickly follows it up with a short TD plunge thanks to Lord Sesshomaru recovering the fumble:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526433
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526451
East St. Louis 21 - Dakar 7
Dakar is a bit shell-shocked. They take over and try to pass there way back in it. But Burns MacRevis deflects this third down pass to force a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526596
Addison BigBoot shanks this punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526623
That allows ESL to quickly get into FG range after this 14-yard connection from Cutler to Jerry Screw Ray Johnson:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526669
Popeasaurus Rex finishes off a near-perfect half for the visitors with a 53-yard FG:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526816
East St. Louis 24 - Dakar 7
Dakar gets one last chance but this sack by Solomon Grundy ends the half and the Dragons go into halftime wondering what hit them:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13526927
The halftime speech by the coach just tells them to shake it off and stick with their ball control plan. A 17-point lead in GLB isn't that much. The Dragons get the ball first and they demonstrate proper Dakarian etiquette, small bites and always use a napkin. 18-plays the majority of them 6-yards or less. The drive took up more than 8 minutes! This 14-yard pass on 3rd and 7 was the biggest play:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527091
The Beyonder tries to slow the Dragons down by forcing this fumble but Chazno Guard recovers:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527308
Michael Shaw caps the drive with this 3-yard TD run:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527571
East St. Louis 24 - Dakar 14
Impressive as that drive was, even more impressive was the rested defense coming out and forcing St. Louis to go 3 and out. Gerome Bruiser stuffs this 3rd and 3 run inches shy of a first:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527714
Dakar takes over again and again starts eating up clock and yards. Forcier to Amare Jackson for 18-yards gets them going:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13527909
Forcier to Landry for a short TD brings them to within 3-points at the 14-minute mark of the 4th quarter:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528158
East St. Louis 24 - Dakar 21
ESL takes over in the 4th quarter, but it was only the 2nd time they touched the ball in the second half. No way could they afford to go three and out and they don't. Cutler hits Speedy Gonzalis for 13 on 3rd and 4:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528299
Walter Payton Jr. picks up a 3rd and 2 with a tough 2-yard run:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528408
But this Chazno Corner deflection on 3rd and 4 forces ESL to settle for a FG:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528483
East St. Louis 27 - Dakar 21
With 9:16 left Dakar takes over. Forcier hits CC Beaver for 24-yards:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528595
After some more short pickups this 10-yard pass from Forcier to Landry takes the ball just outside the red zone:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13528848
Dakar can taste a TD and the lead, Forcier drops back and looks for Amare Jackson. Right at the goal line The Beyonder locks on to Forcier's eyes and jumps in front of Amare. The pass is picked off!
ESL takes over with 3:17 left at their own 17-yard line. A mix of runs and passes moves the ball out to their own 35. They also force Dakar to use two of their timeouts. But on 2nd and 3rd down ESL tries to pass, but Chazno Back deflects both passes stopping the clock and forcing them to punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529181
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529228
Not running the ball there would be costly. (Although if they had picked up the first down or completed both passes that would have been fine too). Dakar takes over with 1:40 left on their own 37. They miss on three straight passes to setup a 4th and 10. Forcier hits Chazno Moss for this huge 22-yard pass to move the chains and keep the team alive:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529469
With 1:10 left the Dragons again miss on three straight passes setting up another 4th and 10. Forcier hits Amare Jackson for 13-yards to move the ball to the ESL 27.5:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529605
1st and 10 at the 27.5 of ESL, :34 left and no timeouts. Forcier looks for Ferrell Eviscerator but Victor Von Doom knocks it away. Incomplete!:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529638
2nd and 10 at the 27.5, :29 seconds left. Forcier hits Amare Jackson but he can't break the tackle or Nick Blue Steele and is tackled in bounds. Clock is running:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529658
3rd and 7.5 at the 25, :09 left. Do or die time, Forcier drops back, he looks for Catchy Beatz who has 15 in Break Opponents Heart secret x-factor VA, he brings it in IT'S A TD:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529728
The XP is up and good:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529743
Dakar 28 - East St. Louis 27
With :03 left Cutler launches a desperation bomb which is knocked away:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079603&pbp_id=13529819
DAKAR WINS! DAKAR WINS!
Great game, heart-stopping finish. Nice job guys!
