Monster Island Massacre vs. Tampa Bay QB Rollout Thunder
Thunder lead 24-0 with just over three minutes left in the 3rd Quarter.
The Massacre are stuck on their own 22. A quick 13 yard pitch play brings up a new 1st down. Two unsuccessful runs brings up 3rd and 13.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/807946
HB Greg Hughes powers his way through the defense, breaking tackles before breaking clear for a 40 yard gain. Two plays later and the blocking holds for a 20 yard gain. Then a pitch play brings up 2nd and goal with just inches to go. The defense holds once, then again, but finally lets HB Barry Sanders score in the first play of the 4th quarter. A quick extra point later and the score is 24-7.
A defensive stand forces a 3 and out, highlighted by a sack on 3rd and 5. The Thunder have to punt.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808097
MIM Returner adds to his highlight reel with a clutch return, bobbing and weaving his way to 6 points. The XP sails through, and the score is now 24-14. Sweat is starting to form under Tampa Bay's coach's collar. With 12 minutes remaining, though, and the Thunder's powerful rushing attack led by QB Coronal Mass Ejection, the Thunder should be able to hold on to the lead and be victorious.
However, that is not to be, as QB Ejection carries twice but is tackled for a loss both times, and then CB MIM CB manages to recover to bat away a pass that would lead to a sure first down. Again, Tampa Bay must punt. Lightning doesn't strike twice, and the MIM offense comes to the field on their own 36 with 11:36 remaining.
The Massacre cannot get anything going, running outside three times and going nowhere. They have to punt, and sacrifice even more time. The Massacre defense holds strong, driving the Thunder offense backwards towards their own end zone. After another 3rd down sack, they must punt again. Now the Massacre have the ball inside Thunder territory, but the Thunder managed to burn almost 5 minutes off the clock. Time is running out, and the Massacre still trail by 10. Yet again, the Massacre's offense sputters. Two incomplete passes from the unfortunate QB Johnnie Grace force the Massacre to punt again. Surely this time the Thunder will be able to run out the clock?
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808295
Alas, the Thunder commit the cardinal sin of football; they put the ball on the ground. The Massacre are only too happy to recover and 3 plays later... http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808295 Johnnie Grace finds his TE for the TD.
24-21.
The fans are holding their breath. The stadium sounds like all the air has been sucked out of it. Attendees grip the seats in front of them until their knuckles are almost pure white.
The Thunder come out roaring. QB Ejection plows for four yards. A pitch goes for 13. The clock ticks down past 3 minutes. Two powerful runs bring up 3rd and 1. A first down here could mean the game.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808384
QB Ejection and MLB Bull Mike clash in the middle, and when the dust settles, it is still 4th and 1. The Thunder punt. A touchback gives the ball to the Massacre with 1:53 remaining. It's time to put up or shut up.
HB Barry Sanders gallops quickly over 12 yards before going out of bounds and stopping the clock.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808423
HB Hughes finds clear ground in front of him. He refuses to go down, dragging would be tacklers and shedding them like a mangy dog. He powers to the 25 yard line. 1:14 remains. A field goal would tie the game to send it into overtime.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808443
HB Sanders breaks clear, but as he jukes out a tackler, the ball is knocked loose! There's a massive scrum, and when the refs get to bottom of the pile it is Massacre's Right Tackle holding on for dear life. It is now first and goal. LB Mack Burks knifes through the offensive line on the next play to force a loss. A time out is called with a minute remaining. FS Isaiah Bolton crashes into HB Sanders on the next play, at the goal line. It goes to replay, which shows that Sanders was down before the ball broke the plane.
3rd and Goal. The eyes of the Massacre fans turn to Hughes, standing like a colossus on the side lines. He is their hero today, a man who has shaken tacklers from every angle, who has refused to go down at first contact no matter what. He is the hammer, and the Thunder defense is the anvil. Across from him, LB DeMarcus Ware, a man with one forced fumble already to his name, foams at the mouth. The ball is snapped...
And Hughes waltzes in to the end zone untouched. No one expected the pitch play.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808471
28-24. The comeback is complete.
The Thunder have 36 seconds and 3 timeouts. They know the game isn't over until time runs out.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808508
36 yards and a shoestring tackle later, the Thunder set up again. They have 40 yards to go and less than 20 seconds to do it. WR Miles Austin finds himself open...
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808516
Then finds himself closed, hard. a 12 yard pass is completed. Then another short pass, and another time out.
2 seconds. 18 yards. One play on which the whole game rests.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808543
They run a screen, which makes 3 yards and the buzzer goes.
Game over. The Massacre fans rush the field. The Thunder fans go find someone to stab in the parking lot. Sportscenter calls it an instant classic. The game MVP is HB Greg Hughes, who ran for 158 yards on 7.5 yards per carry, 6.2 of them after contact. 130 of his hard fought yards came with someone trying to bring him down. His interview is also a classic, in which he says no words but simply stares into the souls of everyone watching the game. The next day, everyone who watched wakes up determined to be a better person.
Thunder lead 24-0 with just over three minutes left in the 3rd Quarter.
The Massacre are stuck on their own 22. A quick 13 yard pitch play brings up a new 1st down. Two unsuccessful runs brings up 3rd and 13.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/807946
HB Greg Hughes powers his way through the defense, breaking tackles before breaking clear for a 40 yard gain. Two plays later and the blocking holds for a 20 yard gain. Then a pitch play brings up 2nd and goal with just inches to go. The defense holds once, then again, but finally lets HB Barry Sanders score in the first play of the 4th quarter. A quick extra point later and the score is 24-7.
A defensive stand forces a 3 and out, highlighted by a sack on 3rd and 5. The Thunder have to punt.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808097
MIM Returner adds to his highlight reel with a clutch return, bobbing and weaving his way to 6 points. The XP sails through, and the score is now 24-14. Sweat is starting to form under Tampa Bay's coach's collar. With 12 minutes remaining, though, and the Thunder's powerful rushing attack led by QB Coronal Mass Ejection, the Thunder should be able to hold on to the lead and be victorious.
However, that is not to be, as QB Ejection carries twice but is tackled for a loss both times, and then CB MIM CB manages to recover to bat away a pass that would lead to a sure first down. Again, Tampa Bay must punt. Lightning doesn't strike twice, and the MIM offense comes to the field on their own 36 with 11:36 remaining.
The Massacre cannot get anything going, running outside three times and going nowhere. They have to punt, and sacrifice even more time. The Massacre defense holds strong, driving the Thunder offense backwards towards their own end zone. After another 3rd down sack, they must punt again. Now the Massacre have the ball inside Thunder territory, but the Thunder managed to burn almost 5 minutes off the clock. Time is running out, and the Massacre still trail by 10. Yet again, the Massacre's offense sputters. Two incomplete passes from the unfortunate QB Johnnie Grace force the Massacre to punt again. Surely this time the Thunder will be able to run out the clock?
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808295
Alas, the Thunder commit the cardinal sin of football; they put the ball on the ground. The Massacre are only too happy to recover and 3 plays later... http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808295 Johnnie Grace finds his TE for the TD.
24-21.
The fans are holding their breath. The stadium sounds like all the air has been sucked out of it. Attendees grip the seats in front of them until their knuckles are almost pure white.
The Thunder come out roaring. QB Ejection plows for four yards. A pitch goes for 13. The clock ticks down past 3 minutes. Two powerful runs bring up 3rd and 1. A first down here could mean the game.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808384
QB Ejection and MLB Bull Mike clash in the middle, and when the dust settles, it is still 4th and 1. The Thunder punt. A touchback gives the ball to the Massacre with 1:53 remaining. It's time to put up or shut up.
HB Barry Sanders gallops quickly over 12 yards before going out of bounds and stopping the clock.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808423
HB Hughes finds clear ground in front of him. He refuses to go down, dragging would be tacklers and shedding them like a mangy dog. He powers to the 25 yard line. 1:14 remains. A field goal would tie the game to send it into overtime.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808443
HB Sanders breaks clear, but as he jukes out a tackler, the ball is knocked loose! There's a massive scrum, and when the refs get to bottom of the pile it is Massacre's Right Tackle holding on for dear life. It is now first and goal. LB Mack Burks knifes through the offensive line on the next play to force a loss. A time out is called with a minute remaining. FS Isaiah Bolton crashes into HB Sanders on the next play, at the goal line. It goes to replay, which shows that Sanders was down before the ball broke the plane.
3rd and Goal. The eyes of the Massacre fans turn to Hughes, standing like a colossus on the side lines. He is their hero today, a man who has shaken tacklers from every angle, who has refused to go down at first contact no matter what. He is the hammer, and the Thunder defense is the anvil. Across from him, LB DeMarcus Ware, a man with one forced fumble already to his name, foams at the mouth. The ball is snapped...
And Hughes waltzes in to the end zone untouched. No one expected the pitch play.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808471
28-24. The comeback is complete.
The Thunder have 36 seconds and 3 timeouts. They know the game isn't over until time runs out.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808508
36 yards and a shoestring tackle later, the Thunder set up again. They have 40 yards to go and less than 20 seconds to do it. WR Miles Austin finds himself open...
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808516
Then finds himself closed, hard. a 12 yard pass is completed. Then another short pass, and another time out.
2 seconds. 18 yards. One play on which the whole game rests.
http://glb2.warriorgeneral.com/game/replay/64248/808543
They run a screen, which makes 3 yards and the buzzer goes.
Game over. The Massacre fans rush the field. The Thunder fans go find someone to stab in the parking lot. Sportscenter calls it an instant classic. The game MVP is HB Greg Hughes, who ran for 158 yards on 7.5 yards per carry, 6.2 of them after contact. 130 of his hard fought yards came with someone trying to bring him down. His interview is also a classic, in which he says no words but simply stares into the souls of everyone watching the game. The next day, everyone who watched wakes up determined to be a better person.
Edited by PaulM on May 23, 2014 13:48:58
We really slipped up in the 4th quarter but a credit to your offenses conditioning. Great writeup too, I hope we meet again soon. 
