Knights Put to Sword by Stampede
A new setup behind the scenes, a new look stadium and some new faces only mean one thing. The new season is upon us and what a season it looks to be. With the Stampede one of the early season favourites for a playoff spot, Stampede fans and players alike know they are going to be in for one hell of a ride this year.
They didn’t have to wait long as first up was another contender for the playoffs, the Yorkshire Knights. Many expected a tight defensive battle and they weren’t wrong as neither team’s offence could not create any sustained momentum.
It was the Knights who struck first, driving a mammoth 80 yards of the field before faltering mere inches from the line. Great play from DT Cooper Elwin and LB Seth Johansson prevented the Knights from punching it in, keeping them to a FG and a 3-0 lead.
It was clear that the Stampede were missing Pro Bowl OT Lance Jacobs as the offence failed again and again to get anything going against a fierce Knights D line. The HB tandem of Michaelson and McCaul being tackled for a loss on several occasions and QB Aldous Snow being put under constant pressure when dropping back for the pass.
With the offence misfiring, the defence knew they had to step it up in order to keep the Stampede within touching distance. And keep in touch they did, FS Jeamy Slayer intercepting in his own red zone, halting a drive which had started on the Yorkshire 21 and looked almost destined to score.
3-0 was the way it stayed until half time, neither team being able to break down either defence. However, the Knights started the second half the way they had started the first, coming out with all guns blazing.
Big gains from WR Travis Shelton and HB Ahmad Slickshaw drove the Knights into the Stampede’s red zone but on 3rd and short, star DE Dan Slammer ‘slammed’ Limper McNadden away from the first down mark and the Knights were forced to settle for the field goal once again.
The defence was fired up and on the very next Yorkshire possession Tommy1 Richards popped up to intercept, giving the Stampede a great opportunity to open their account for the season, and that was an opportunity that they did not miss. The ever reliable Damien the Leg slotting over from 37 yards to reduce the deficit by 3 points.
It came down to the fourth quarter, Dorset needing a field goal to tie the game up, and after ball slipped through the usually safe hands of TE Adam Pearson it was up to Damien the Leg try to tie the game up with a 45 yarder. But it looked as if it wasn’t going to be Dorset’s day as the leg missed and Yorkshire regained possession.
But it was Dorset’s never say die attitude which kicked in, the Stampede defence quickly turned the ball over and offence finally kicked into the gear. Three consecutive completions from QB Aldous Snow to Manuel Schneckenreither and new WR Phill De'Ath (2), combined with the hard running of HBs McCaul and Michaelson drove the Stampede down to the Knights Goal line, James Jawbreaker punching the ball in off some explosive blocks from the Stampede’s O-line. The leg made the PAT and it was 10-6 to the Stampede with less than 4 minutes remaining.
Cue the Yorkshire fight back. A great return from the Knights KR gave them great field position, the Knights were beginning to drive on the Stampede once again and it looked like Dorset were in trouble but the Stampede's newly acquired CB Khan Acatchaball had other ideas, picking off an under thrown pass from John Hellfighter before outrunning the Yorkshire pursuit and returning the ball 71 yards for the touchdown, sealing the win for the Stampede!
The Knights failed to make any headway on the now buoyant Stampede defence in their next couple of drives and with the Knights needing a long TD to stand any chance of a victory Dan Slammer once again stepped up, sacking the QB and effectively ending the game for the Knights. The Stampede winning 17-6.
After the game Stampede owner Kaiser Farrow said “I was delighted to get the Knights first game before they got a chance to gather momentum, they look to be a big threat team this year after giving the Rocks and Mustangs a run for their money last year, and well, those stud DTs are something to game plan against.”
“The Stampede slowly fired up over the course of the game and we did well to turn them over with a couple of important interceptions by Jeamy Slayer and Tommy1 Richards” he said, “Our HB tandem of Michaelson and McCaul gained some hard yards behind a tough battle going on in the trenches - the Knights DL stopping us for a loss on several occasions. We managed to break a few plays though after we got a rhythm going using the aerial attack as an outlet, and punched a tough TD in from inches out - credit to the OL for punching a hole for FB James Jawbreaker.”
Crediting the Knights, Farrow added “17-6 may not reflect how close the game truly was, but we won the turnover battle and ground out a tough victory over one of the better teams in the division.”
Next up for the Stampede are the Hamburg Likedeeler, who are coming off a big loss to the mighty Knossos Minotaurs and will looking to bounce back against a confident Stampede team on the road towards the playoffs.
A new setup behind the scenes, a new look stadium and some new faces only mean one thing. The new season is upon us and what a season it looks to be. With the Stampede one of the early season favourites for a playoff spot, Stampede fans and players alike know they are going to be in for one hell of a ride this year.
They didn’t have to wait long as first up was another contender for the playoffs, the Yorkshire Knights. Many expected a tight defensive battle and they weren’t wrong as neither team’s offence could not create any sustained momentum.
It was the Knights who struck first, driving a mammoth 80 yards of the field before faltering mere inches from the line. Great play from DT Cooper Elwin and LB Seth Johansson prevented the Knights from punching it in, keeping them to a FG and a 3-0 lead.
It was clear that the Stampede were missing Pro Bowl OT Lance Jacobs as the offence failed again and again to get anything going against a fierce Knights D line. The HB tandem of Michaelson and McCaul being tackled for a loss on several occasions and QB Aldous Snow being put under constant pressure when dropping back for the pass.
With the offence misfiring, the defence knew they had to step it up in order to keep the Stampede within touching distance. And keep in touch they did, FS Jeamy Slayer intercepting in his own red zone, halting a drive which had started on the Yorkshire 21 and looked almost destined to score.
3-0 was the way it stayed until half time, neither team being able to break down either defence. However, the Knights started the second half the way they had started the first, coming out with all guns blazing.
Big gains from WR Travis Shelton and HB Ahmad Slickshaw drove the Knights into the Stampede’s red zone but on 3rd and short, star DE Dan Slammer ‘slammed’ Limper McNadden away from the first down mark and the Knights were forced to settle for the field goal once again.
The defence was fired up and on the very next Yorkshire possession Tommy1 Richards popped up to intercept, giving the Stampede a great opportunity to open their account for the season, and that was an opportunity that they did not miss. The ever reliable Damien the Leg slotting over from 37 yards to reduce the deficit by 3 points.
It came down to the fourth quarter, Dorset needing a field goal to tie the game up, and after ball slipped through the usually safe hands of TE Adam Pearson it was up to Damien the Leg try to tie the game up with a 45 yarder. But it looked as if it wasn’t going to be Dorset’s day as the leg missed and Yorkshire regained possession.
But it was Dorset’s never say die attitude which kicked in, the Stampede defence quickly turned the ball over and offence finally kicked into the gear. Three consecutive completions from QB Aldous Snow to Manuel Schneckenreither and new WR Phill De'Ath (2), combined with the hard running of HBs McCaul and Michaelson drove the Stampede down to the Knights Goal line, James Jawbreaker punching the ball in off some explosive blocks from the Stampede’s O-line. The leg made the PAT and it was 10-6 to the Stampede with less than 4 minutes remaining.
Cue the Yorkshire fight back. A great return from the Knights KR gave them great field position, the Knights were beginning to drive on the Stampede once again and it looked like Dorset were in trouble but the Stampede's newly acquired CB Khan Acatchaball had other ideas, picking off an under thrown pass from John Hellfighter before outrunning the Yorkshire pursuit and returning the ball 71 yards for the touchdown, sealing the win for the Stampede!
The Knights failed to make any headway on the now buoyant Stampede defence in their next couple of drives and with the Knights needing a long TD to stand any chance of a victory Dan Slammer once again stepped up, sacking the QB and effectively ending the game for the Knights. The Stampede winning 17-6.
After the game Stampede owner Kaiser Farrow said “I was delighted to get the Knights first game before they got a chance to gather momentum, they look to be a big threat team this year after giving the Rocks and Mustangs a run for their money last year, and well, those stud DTs are something to game plan against.”
“The Stampede slowly fired up over the course of the game and we did well to turn them over with a couple of important interceptions by Jeamy Slayer and Tommy1 Richards” he said, “Our HB tandem of Michaelson and McCaul gained some hard yards behind a tough battle going on in the trenches - the Knights DL stopping us for a loss on several occasions. We managed to break a few plays though after we got a rhythm going using the aerial attack as an outlet, and punched a tough TD in from inches out - credit to the OL for punching a hole for FB James Jawbreaker.”
Crediting the Knights, Farrow added “17-6 may not reflect how close the game truly was, but we won the turnover battle and ground out a tough victory over one of the better teams in the division.”
Next up for the Stampede are the Hamburg Likedeeler, who are coming off a big loss to the mighty Knossos Minotaurs and will looking to bounce back against a confident Stampede team on the road towards the playoffs.
Last edited Jun 14, 2008 08:30:46
