It was a week with not many close game. At first blush this game looked like a dog. But as I watched it, I found myself getting a kick out of this defensive struggle (Or offensive ineptitude, your choice). Let's take a look at the action:
The Addicts got the ball first and their ball control offense was a harbinger of things to come. Small, bite-sized chunks of yardage, no big plays. But plenty of clock burn and first downs. They drove to midfield converting two first downs. 3rd and inches, they got 2.5 on a rush from semi-appropriately named Big Gain:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10887384
Then facing a 3rd and 3, Big Gain again picks up just enough to get the first:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10888308
But that was it as a deflection by Johnnie Johnson forced a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10888508
Playmakers take over but go three and out after this deflection by Saving Tackle:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10888947
The Addicts take over in enemy territory and move just inside the red zone when PJ Smith forces a fumble, but Right Guard Deoderant (sic) recovers:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889146
Adrenaline Booster gets the sack to force a FG try:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889165
Omerta 3 - Port Harcourt 0
Harcourt does not pickup a first down on their second drive, a deflection by Buxom Young ensures that:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889315
The Addicts fails to pickup a first down for the first time when R.B. Pounder sacks Matt The Backup Cassel:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889401
The Playmakers finally get a first down on this 10-yard pass from Merrill Howard Kalin to Malcom Kutner:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889538
But they can't quite get it past midfield as this Billy Rosedogg sack makes them punt (again):
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889620
Omerta doesn't move the ball much, but again are winning the field position battle. This beauty of a punt by Nick Setta pins the Playmakers deep and they have to start on their own 6-yard line:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889790
But they move it pretty good to get out of that hole. This big 3rd down conversion by Mick James moves the chains:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889865
Then this 21-yard pass from Kalin to Tee Curry gives them some breathing room:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889930
But Daunte Billups wraps up Hub Bechtol to force a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890026
The Addicts take over at their 22 and put together their best drive of the game. This was an 18-play monster taking up nearly all of the last 10 minutes of the half. Let's take a look at the six 3rd or 4th down conversions that made this drive so pretty.
3rd and 7 at Omerta 25, Mike DogLover hits Horace the Unicorn for 12:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890130
A sack by Everette Brown on Cassel puts Omerta in a hole:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890217
But Cassel hits Shawn DblDees on 3rd down to move the chains again:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890278
3rd and 1, Big Gain is stopped for a .5-yard loss on a good tackle by A.P. Edge:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890419
But 4th and 1.5 at the 9.5 Big Gain does his thing and picks up the first:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890440
Finally on 4th and G from the 2.5! it is Big Gain time again and he gets the TD:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890524
Omerta 10 - Port Harcourt 0
Gutsy call, you have to respect that confidence. The Playmakers get the ball first in the second half and get a huge play on 3rd and 13. It is a 39-yard pass from Kalin to Malcolm Kutner:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890854
Clutch tackle by Juice Newton on 3rd down prevents the Playmakers from finding the end zone:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890940
Then facing a 4th and 2.5 on the 11.5 yard-line the Playmakers are happy to take the 3-points to make it a one-score game:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890986
Omerta 10 - Port 3
The Pitt gets a big sack to force the Addicts to punt and go 3 and out:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10891158
The Playmakers get it just across midfield and on 3rd and 5.5 they can only pickup 2 thanks to this Beater Young tackle:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10891406
They are able to pin the Addicts deep but they can't stop them from converting two first downs. R.B. Pounder finally gets a deflection to force a punt but by then the Addicts are out of trouble:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10891712
The 3rd quarter is over and the Playmakers can only get close to midfield. Battier Shane Young of the Addicts stops this 3rd down pass to force a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10891965
The Addicts start at their own 8, but drive across midfield as the Playmakers defense cannot get the stop they so desperately needed. Big Gain has been carrying the load for most of the game, he might have been a little tired, on this 4th and inches try he is pounded by Adrenaline Booster and he coughs it up. PJ Smith picks it up and the Playmakers are in business:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892505
On 3rd and 4.5, Kalin pitches the ball to Mickie James out of the weak I, he puts on a move and is gone, 43-yards down to the Addicts 10, ex-Sumatran Nomad Roamington makes the TD saving tackle:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892714
Then the Addicts defense stiffens, three huge plays force the Playmakers to settle for a FG. Saving Tackle with a deflection, Genghis Khan with a stuff and Teodoro Obiang with another deflection:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892733
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892774
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892879
The kick is good though by Ace Carson and now it is a 4-point game:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892904
Omerta 10 - Port Harcourt 6
After one first down, Adrenaline Booster rushes in and knocks the ball out of the QB's hand, but Steve Winiewski saves the Addicts by jumping on the loose ball:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893143
This 3rd down deflection by Johnnie Johnson forces a punt with 3:45 left in the game:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893185
The Playmakers get it close to midfield, but this sack by Thomas Howard stops their progress:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893329
Then this deflection by Teodoro turns the ball over on downs with 1:50 left:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893470
Time for Omerta to run some clock and force the Playmakers to burn their timeouts right? No, it is crazy passing time! ;-) Kiki De Ayala gets a sack on first down:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893495
That sets up 2nd and 19.5 after an encroachment penalty. Mike DogLover drops back and looks for Mercury Taylor, but the ball is picked off by Roger Swift!!!!
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893557
That gives the Playmakers life. On third and 1.5 they get a big play as Kalin hits Bechtol for 19:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893711
That puts the ball on the Addicts 31 with 1:08 to go. Just 31-yards away from glory. But the Addicts defense was having none of it.
1st down, deflected by Saving Tackle:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893738
2nd down, deflected by Teodoro:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893776
3rd down, hurried by Aleksandr Lukashenko, deflected by Juice Newton:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893802
4th down, last chance, deflected by Daunte Billups:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893846
Game over, the Addicts win!
Final score:
Omerta 10 - Port Harcourt 6
The Addicts got the ball first and their ball control offense was a harbinger of things to come. Small, bite-sized chunks of yardage, no big plays. But plenty of clock burn and first downs. They drove to midfield converting two first downs. 3rd and inches, they got 2.5 on a rush from semi-appropriately named Big Gain:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10887384
Then facing a 3rd and 3, Big Gain again picks up just enough to get the first:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10888308
But that was it as a deflection by Johnnie Johnson forced a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10888508
Playmakers take over but go three and out after this deflection by Saving Tackle:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10888947
The Addicts take over in enemy territory and move just inside the red zone when PJ Smith forces a fumble, but Right Guard Deoderant (sic) recovers:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889146
Adrenaline Booster gets the sack to force a FG try:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889165
Omerta 3 - Port Harcourt 0
Harcourt does not pickup a first down on their second drive, a deflection by Buxom Young ensures that:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889315
The Addicts fails to pickup a first down for the first time when R.B. Pounder sacks Matt The Backup Cassel:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889401
The Playmakers finally get a first down on this 10-yard pass from Merrill Howard Kalin to Malcom Kutner:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889538
But they can't quite get it past midfield as this Billy Rosedogg sack makes them punt (again):
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889620
Omerta doesn't move the ball much, but again are winning the field position battle. This beauty of a punt by Nick Setta pins the Playmakers deep and they have to start on their own 6-yard line:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889790
But they move it pretty good to get out of that hole. This big 3rd down conversion by Mick James moves the chains:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889865
Then this 21-yard pass from Kalin to Tee Curry gives them some breathing room:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10889930
But Daunte Billups wraps up Hub Bechtol to force a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890026
The Addicts take over at their 22 and put together their best drive of the game. This was an 18-play monster taking up nearly all of the last 10 minutes of the half. Let's take a look at the six 3rd or 4th down conversions that made this drive so pretty.
3rd and 7 at Omerta 25, Mike DogLover hits Horace the Unicorn for 12:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890130
A sack by Everette Brown on Cassel puts Omerta in a hole:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890217
But Cassel hits Shawn DblDees on 3rd down to move the chains again:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890278
3rd and 1, Big Gain is stopped for a .5-yard loss on a good tackle by A.P. Edge:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890419
But 4th and 1.5 at the 9.5 Big Gain does his thing and picks up the first:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890440
Finally on 4th and G from the 2.5! it is Big Gain time again and he gets the TD:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890524
Omerta 10 - Port Harcourt 0
Gutsy call, you have to respect that confidence. The Playmakers get the ball first in the second half and get a huge play on 3rd and 13. It is a 39-yard pass from Kalin to Malcolm Kutner:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890854
Clutch tackle by Juice Newton on 3rd down prevents the Playmakers from finding the end zone:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890940
Then facing a 4th and 2.5 on the 11.5 yard-line the Playmakers are happy to take the 3-points to make it a one-score game:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10890986
Omerta 10 - Port 3
The Pitt gets a big sack to force the Addicts to punt and go 3 and out:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10891158
The Playmakers get it just across midfield and on 3rd and 5.5 they can only pickup 2 thanks to this Beater Young tackle:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10891406
They are able to pin the Addicts deep but they can't stop them from converting two first downs. R.B. Pounder finally gets a deflection to force a punt but by then the Addicts are out of trouble:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10891712
The 3rd quarter is over and the Playmakers can only get close to midfield. Battier Shane Young of the Addicts stops this 3rd down pass to force a punt:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10891965
The Addicts start at their own 8, but drive across midfield as the Playmakers defense cannot get the stop they so desperately needed. Big Gain has been carrying the load for most of the game, he might have been a little tired, on this 4th and inches try he is pounded by Adrenaline Booster and he coughs it up. PJ Smith picks it up and the Playmakers are in business:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892505
On 3rd and 4.5, Kalin pitches the ball to Mickie James out of the weak I, he puts on a move and is gone, 43-yards down to the Addicts 10, ex-Sumatran Nomad Roamington makes the TD saving tackle:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892714
Then the Addicts defense stiffens, three huge plays force the Playmakers to settle for a FG. Saving Tackle with a deflection, Genghis Khan with a stuff and Teodoro Obiang with another deflection:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892733
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892774
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892879
The kick is good though by Ace Carson and now it is a 4-point game:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10892904
Omerta 10 - Port Harcourt 6
After one first down, Adrenaline Booster rushes in and knocks the ball out of the QB's hand, but Steve Winiewski saves the Addicts by jumping on the loose ball:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893143
This 3rd down deflection by Johnnie Johnson forces a punt with 3:45 left in the game:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893185
The Playmakers get it close to midfield, but this sack by Thomas Howard stops their progress:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893329
Then this deflection by Teodoro turns the ball over on downs with 1:50 left:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893470
Time for Omerta to run some clock and force the Playmakers to burn their timeouts right? No, it is crazy passing time! ;-) Kiki De Ayala gets a sack on first down:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893495
That sets up 2nd and 19.5 after an encroachment penalty. Mike DogLover drops back and looks for Mercury Taylor, but the ball is picked off by Roger Swift!!!!
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893557
That gives the Playmakers life. On third and 1.5 they get a big play as Kalin hits Bechtol for 19:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893711
That puts the ball on the Addicts 31 with 1:08 to go. Just 31-yards away from glory. But the Addicts defense was having none of it.
1st down, deflected by Saving Tackle:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893738
2nd down, deflected by Teodoro:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893776
3rd down, hurried by Aleksandr Lukashenko, deflected by Juice Newton:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893802
4th down, last chance, deflected by Daunte Billups:
http://goallineblitz.com/game/replay.pl?game_id=1079672&pbp_id=10893846
Game over, the Addicts win!
Final score:
Omerta 10 - Port Harcourt 6
