NSCF 25 - Everything Thread

[TJUN-ia]

Both TJUN-ian schools kicked off their NSCF campaigns at 1-1 and everyone kinda liked the consistency so far. Both schools showed potential in their win and loss so far and many hoped for more of the same, but the big question this week was this: who would have the upper hand enter the first contest of the Earth Trophy?

The Trent State Feathercaps only lost to UCBP on the road last week via a walk-off FG and while that definitely stung for many in Notts, the fact we played them that tight on the road was surely a good sign for the future in this MIneral season. That was the point Johnny Bridgeford was hammering down in the media before Game 3, back in Sherwood Field against the 1-1 Stevan Vaalburger College of Sports, Medicine, Leadership from the Allamunnic States.

Not many people expected this game to be close, SVC were unknown debutants and TSU were last season's runners up, but no one believed that what happened today would indeed happen. Trent State scored 9TDs, yes, NINE TOUCHDOWNS against Stevan Vaalburger College and to give you all some context, it was 49-0 after 3 Quarters. That was how long Leon Gallas was allowed to absolutely ball out before being pulled out to "protect our opponents", which makes sense after scoring 7 TDs by yourself in the space of 45 minutes. Four of those TDs were throws to his wideouts, 2 to Victor Que-et-Vous and 2 to Fremont Whitehorse, 1 was a 1-yard rush from himself and the other 2 were rushing scores from Pyrros Papanikolaou and Kendra Jackson. If that wasn't enough, Jason Steels managed to get a TD out of both Ivan and Peter Borosić with Xander Tiovannen going 7/7 and Eleonora "Firefeet" Scafakou 2/2. It was a perfect afternoon for the Feathercaps and ahead of the first local derby, they certainly needed a performance like that.

Meanwhile, the Green City Royal Eagles were in high spirits after their first-ever NSCF victory was recorded on the road at Byses. Getting that of their backs was a good start for Paul Abdullahi and his team, but they knew tougher tests would be on the horizon. The reason why TSU's game was played in the afternoon was that GCU's matchup with those same UCBP Warriors at The Palace was the primetime game for obvious reasons. This matchup with the Commonwealth of Baker Park's National Champs, coached by the infamous Ryan Benton, was by far the biggest game the Royal Eagles would play at The Palace this season and while they were definite underdogs in this contest, the crowd here in Obodo Green were prepared to give the visitors a taste of what AU Hospitality truly meant.

So yeah, the eyes of the NSCF were firmly on The Palace @GCU and the crowd certainly treated it that way. The first half was an absolute duel, with Marcus Crews playing a tighter contest with Moses Igbinoghene than he did against Leon Gallas the week before as DC Fortune Eze clearly did some studying of the tape and turned his 5-2 defence into a problem at times. Crews did manage 2 TDs in that first half, both to Mick Doolittle and both with extras tacked on by Landon Korman, but Igbinoghene fought back at every turn, once via Gilbert Nyamutsamba, once via Lucky Sithole-Sita and both times with Glory Oparanozie getting the extra point, meaning that we enter half time with humble GCU tied at 14-14 with an undefeated team. Of course, the superiority of UCBP allowed them to pull away with Crews getting a rushing TD and Korman getting his 2 FGs in too. Igbinoghene managed to get a TD in too, a nice rushing play from Victory Prince-Brown with Oparanozie also going 2/2 on FGs - with both teams missing an extra point. What I'm saying is, while GCU did lose this game, they did only lose by 3 points in a game arguably closer than TSU's contest last week. GCU maybe 1-2, but they showed fight tonight and that can only be a good sign.

But enough about all that, next week is all about home as Sherwood Field hosts the first-ever NSCF meeting between TSU and GCU, Feathercaps and Royal Eagles. They've met a few times before in non-conference play in the TCUAA, but never in the 10-team National Championship Playoffs (consisting of the champions of each of TJUN-ia's 10 Regions) and never internationally either of course. No one really knows how both teams will handle facing a local team in international play, but what we do know for sure is this: TSU will be hoping to assume TJUN-ian dominance while GCU will be looking for the biggest win of their lives to say to the other "Hello there, we exist too and your dominance of TJUN-ian NSCF football is no more". No matter what happens in Notts next week, the Earth Trophy has to be won - and both fanbases want first dibs.
WE ARE! TRENT STATE!
G-C-U! WE BLEED GREEN!

---

TSU SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: vs Byses Politicians (CRL) W 51-3 (1-0)
Week 2: @UCBP (CBP) L 34-31 (1-1)
Week 3: vs Stevan Vaalburger College (ALS) W 63-0 (2-1)
Week 4: vs Green City (TJU)
Week 5: @UAlexandropolis (NGS)
Week 6: @Byses Politicians (CRL)
Week 7: vs UCBP (CBP)
Week 8: @Stevan Vaalburger College (ALS)
Week 9: @Green City (TJU)
Week 10: vs UAlexandropolis (NGS)
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 11: vs Elephant Valley (SNL)
Week 12: @Mar Sara Tech (VAL)
Week 13: vs Swisston City (KND)

GCU SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: vs UAlexandropolis (NGS) L 13-17 (0-1)
Week 2: @Byses Politicians (CRL) W 33-24 (1-1)
Week 3: vs UCBP (CBP) L 23-26 (1-2)
Week 4: @Trent State (TJU)
Week 5: vs Stevan Vaalburger College (ALS)
Week 6: @UAlexandropolis (NGS)
Week 7: vs Byses Politicians (CRL)
Week 8: @Stevan Vaalburger College (ALS)
Week 9: vs Trent State (TJU)
Week 10: @UCBP (CBP)
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 11: vs Silverleaf University (UAD)
Week 12: Rotenburg Island (BUM) (TBC)
Week 13: @Hoofstra (KRD)

[Banija]

QB Comparison- Explosive numbers for Loyola-Istria QB Ebou Hairte as he stakes his claim to be the best Quarterback in Banija

ISTRIA, MORAVICA- Week 3 brought an interesting set of results for the Banijan duo in the NSCF. Both teams played at home in Week 3. Northern Moravica, winners of 7 of their last 8 against their domestic rival, took on Elephant Valley at home, while Loyola-Istria took on the Salamantic Universities in Loyola's home opener. Northern Moravica pretty much did as expected- A pair of teams with high-quality defenses, as they introduced the newest rivalry trophy to the NSCF- the Sally Trophy. Named after the first elephant gifted from Banija to South Newlandia(which is now South Newlandia's national animal), to symbolize the history and bond between the two countries. A hot second quarter was enough for Northern Moravica to claim the Sally Trophy for the first time, with 3 second quarter touchdowns enough to make quick work of an Elephant Valley team that never really had the firepower to get back into it.

Loyola-Istria, on the other hand, went out there and absolutely stunned the Salamantic Universities. The Salamantic Universities, of course, are one of, if not the, most consistent defenses, year in year out, in the entirety of the NSCF. Hell, just last week, on their own home field, they completely shut down a NMU offense that looked like it was going places this season, holding them to just two field goals in a 26-6 victory that could've easily looked far, far worse. And then- Loyola-Istria just absolutely wrecked them. Have you ever seen an offense dominate a Salamantics defense like this before? We have not. Of course, the Professors offense or special teams didn't exactly do them any favors. A muffed kickoff recovered by the Blue Thunder at the Salamantics 9 yard line, alongside a pick six, were just the perfect examples of how everything went wrong for the Professors in their trip to the Istria Lightning Yard.

But who were the stars of the game? Both Quarterbacks, of course. We'll give you a quick game summary of both games- and then we'll go into the QB comparisons. But the whispers that Ebou Hairte was underrated last season, because his team finished the regular season with a losing record, are now shouts- not whispers. But first, let's go through them, shall we?

The Battle for the Sally Trophy

The question, of course, is this- who is Sally? This will make you have to think back. Well over 100 years ago, an elephant was accidentally sent off, by ship, from Banija to South Newlandia. The South Newlandians, of course, were enamored with this animal- and who wouldn't be, seeing such a majestic creature on your shores for the first time? When they wrote back to us, the Kabaka told them to keep it, as a gift. And we all know what happened from there- the elephant went on to be South Newlandia's national animal, and both countries have healthy populations of elephants.

With NMU and EVU being locked into the Celestia Conference for the long-term, NMU wanted to do what NMU does best- create a trophy game(seriously, how many trophy games do they have?). And the answer was obvious- why not base it on South Newlandia's and Banija's historic elephant connection? So the trophy was created- a miniature bronze version of Sally, called the Sally Trophy, jointly developed by blacksmiths from Banija and South Newlandia. And before the game, the schools held a ceremony to introduce the ceremony. They brought four elephants onto the field(for ease of cost, all four elephants were from Banijan wildlife reserves). One was dressed in Banijan flag colors(green/orange/white), another dressed in South Newlandian flag colors(blue/yellow/green), the third dressed in NMU(red/white) colors, and the fourth dressed in EVU(red/black) colors.

South Newlandian Ambassador to Banija Karl Hernandez was present as the guest of honor, sitting alongside Omugabe Ttembo, the younger son of His Majesty the Kabaka, and fifth in line to the Banijan throne. The Ambassador was, dutifully, wearing a EVU branded tie. But despite all that pomp and circumstance- it would be Northern Moravica's day. Especially the day for their defense. The Elephant Valley offense had 11 total possessions this game. They punted 10 times, and they threw an interception on their final possession. It was as good of a defensive effort as anyone has played all season long. EVU only finished with 112 yards of total offense, including just 37 yards on the ground.

What about the scoring, then? It all came from Northern Moravica's red-hot second quarter. A 45 yard touchdown run by Apollo Esther on the first play of the second quarter, which was a 3rd and 2, of course put Northern Moravica up 7-0 in this trophy game. On Northern's next possession, it would be Jannik Nadine who would set up the big play. A 53 yard reception by the freshman wideout flipped the field, for a drive that ended in a 7 yard TD pass on a fade route to tight end Zachary Lewis. And for Northern's third TD of the quarter, it was a 26 yard pass to the junior wide receiver Yaya Badjie, to give NMU their touchdown. After this TD, Alicia Woodbrough, for the second time in 3 weeks, muffed the hold, confirming mounting concerns about her ability to punt and hold for the team. Still- a 0-0 game at the end of 1 turning into a 20-0 game at half.

And that was essentially all she wrote. The Northern Moravica defensive effort was so suffocating, that the opposition did not stand a chance. EVU returned the opening kick of the second half 97 yards for a touchdown, but even then, they could not build on it. While it was concerning for NMU to have a shocking drive that took 8:44 off the clock in the third quarter end only in a field goal, neither team was going to do much more. NMU's playcallers simply pounded the rock to play out the clock for the rest of the game, as the team secured its second home win of the season, this time 23-7 over Elephant Valley.

The Salamantics pay a visit to the Istria Lightning Yard

The game above probably went as expected. Not that high-scoring, not that electric, but a dominant Northern Moravica effort, especially by their front 7, enough to suffocate Elephant Valley. Now this game- well, this did not go as planned. Let's rewind the clock for Loyola a little bit. They put together one hell of an effort in their week 1 trip to Northern Moravica- as tough of an opening game as anyone can have. They went punch for punch with Northern Moravica, and were two yards from winning. While Alanso Isa said moral victories don't count at Loyola- and they don't, for this is a school with three championships- even though they had the pain of losing on the final play of the game, it was, secretly, a confidence inspiring win for the Blue Thunder.

While they didn't exactly light up the scoreboard, the Blue Thunder turned around, six days later, and travelled to Fair Haven State on a Friday night and left with a 27-17 victory. It was a game that Loyola led 27-9 in very late on, so the Blue Thunder, wearing the all whites, were certainly the dominant team on the day. But that didn't mean that they would dominate the Salamantic Universities. The Salamantics had just held the reigning NSCF offensive player of the year to 133 yards passing, and 2 interceptions, with no scores. Defense travels, and the timing was right for the Ko-orenite grouping of schools to get a win on Banijan soil.

But they could not. Here's the thing about the Salamantic Universities. They are not really built to play from behind. A team that is focused on running the football and playing elite defense, if they get too behind early, everything can kind of snowball. And while the Blue Thunder scored all sorts of points(six touchdowns!), there are two key plays in this game that turned it from solid start for the Blue Thunder, into blowout territory. Let's start in the second quarter. The first quarter was excellent for the Blue Thunder. Ebou Hairte had thrown a touchdown pass to Lafi Senghore, and they had tacked on a field goal as well. 10-0 lead heading into the second quarter at home- can't complain, right?

But the Salamantics were driving. Nobody wants to be down 10 points early, on the road, but the Salamantics were driving down the field. THey were mixing up the formations, getting Blue Thunder defenders out of position, and moving the ball. No back breaking big plays- but they were slowly but surely churning down the field. Then, second and 8 from the Blue Thunder 15 yard line. They ran a speed option with QB Dagunak Juldhauthaunden. Unfortunately for them, they lost a yard. More unfortunately- Najee Isidora absolutely blew the play up. He was able to launch and drill the QB. Juldhauthaunden left the game with a concussion- and he did not return on the day. So in comes the backup QB, Aoritun Aesinare, on third and 9.

What do you do when there is a backup QB on the road, in his first play in a must pass situation? You bring house. The Blue Thunder brought seven defenders, betting that there would be too many for the O-Line to block and Aesinare would get flustered. He did. He threw the ball just as he got hit by Justin Peterson, and it landed right in the arms of senior nickel back Faraba Ndiaye, who took the football 90 yards to the house. That whole drive, to get back into the game- ending with your QB getting concussed and a pick six. An absolute gut punch. Let's pair with the play immediately after kickoff, shall we? The kickoff, straight to Tijuriskun Minguninden. He calls for a fair catch- but muffs it, and then accidentally kicks the ball forward. Recovered at the 9 by the Blue Thunder kick coverage team. Two plays later, Russell Farmer is catching a 6 yard TD pass from Hairte, and the game is suddenly 23-0(since Kabbah missed the PAT after this TD).

At that point, it was over. The Salamantics weren't going to come back, down that many, on the road, without their QB. Hairte ended up with 411 yards and four touchdown passes(alongside his first pick of the season), while the Blue Thunder ended up with nearly 600 yards of total offense. Eric van Geel had a touchdown run as well, and the Blue Thunder hit two field goals, to win by the stunning score of 47-3. Alanso Isa was all talk after the game. "This team- I told everybody this team was one to watch out for this season." He told reporters. "We're contending within the Celestia, and you saw what Hairte did to an elite defense? WE've got the best QB in this game- potentially in this league."

Now that was a bold statement by the ol' ball coach. Is Hairte really better than Wagner-Young? It's really a race for second place- nobody thinks there are any QBs better than Sarai Gwenderyn. Let's dive into it, shall we?

Vallienté Wagner-Young of Northern Moravica v. Ebou Hairte of Loyola-Istria

Let's take a look at the week 3 splits, shall we?

Wagner-Young: 19/24, 233 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTS.
Ebou Hairte: 39/49, 411 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT.

Of course, the gaudy numbers are in Hairte's favor. But we do need context for these numbers- particularly, coaching style. Alanso Isa is a guy who loves to air it out, to get the ball out to his stud wide receivers for as long as he can. And look at the Salamantics defense- after the team gave up two TDs in quick succession, neither of which could truly be blamed on the defense, they were playing simply from such a demoralized platform. So it was one of those rare days where a team could simply air it out all day long against the Professors defense, and the Blue Thunder chose to do so. Hairte absolutely lit up the scoreboard. This was against the same Professors defense that had held Wagner-Young to 133 yards, no TDs, and 2 INTs just one week before.

Another thing in Hairte's favor. While, of course, the season is still young, Hairte hasn't really had a bad game yet. On the road, against Fair Haven State at night, he threw for over 300 yards and 2 TDs, with no turnovers and an 80% completion percentage. You really can't ask for a better game than that for your quarterback, following a brutal, gut-wrenching loss against NMU, right? And even in that game, he played well. 334 yards, 2 TDs and a pick. On the season, he's got over 1,000 passing yards in just 3 games, with 8 TDs and 2 interceptions. That's about as red hot a start as you can ask for, right? If Loyola-Istria can keep winning games, including picking up statement wins like this one, then he's going to force media everywhere to notice him and vault him into the elite QB conversation.

And then, we have Wagner-Young. He, of course, was outright excellent against Loyola. Nearly 400 passing yards and 3 TDs without an interception? And, of course, he beat Hairte. Say what you want about QB wins, but you play to win the game, right? And against EVU, he was maddeningly efficient. 19/24 for 233 yards, especially with the majority of those attempts, completions, and yards all coming in one quarter. Lance Kabuye simply calls a different style of game. With such a big halftime lead, they were always going to simply pound the rock against EVU for the rest of the game. So he didn't get the chance to rack up Hairte's gaudy numbers. He had a total of 6 pass attempts in the third quarter- and 0 in the fourth.

Efficient and excellent against Loyola. Efficient and excellent against EVU. Both at home. Both rivalry games. But what about the dud he laid in Ko-oren? That cannot be ignored. The same defense that Hairte basically lit on fire, is the one that Wagner-Young could not do anything against- although, in his defense, he was playing away from home. But when you are dominated at the line of scrimmage like NMU was for that game, sometimes, there is nothing that you can do. But he did not play well either. Just 133 passing yards when you spend the majority of the second half trying to come back is an awful effort. It shows just how much the Professors defense got to him.

So who's the better QB? We'll have to go with the length of track record here, and we'll say Wagner-Young. Plus, of course, Wagner-Young is 3-0 all time against Hairte. But who's having the better start to the season? It's absolutely Hairte. He's certainly the hottest QB in the conference, and one of the hottest in the whole sport. Can he maintain this for an entire season? Who knows- we do know that Wagner-Young can, although we saw the mercurial ups and downs of the Hairte experience last year.

But everybody's got their chance to prove themselves, right? That's the beauty of college football- these debates never truly end. Both men will be in action next weekend in South Newlandia, as both Banijan teams travel to the country. Northern Moravica will turn around a short week and travel to the Ratzupalfu University of Nature, to play them on a Friday night, at the smallest stadium in the competition at the Jungledrom(2,186). Loyola-Istria, on the other hand, will travel to Elephant Valley to play at EVU Field at a similarly sized stadium with a slightly higher seating capacity(3,000). Can they both perform on the road against a pair of defensive minded opponents? That will be the next opportunity to compare the highly-touted Quarterbacks.

[Commonwealth of Baker Park]

Warriors off to fast start in NSCF
by Aaron Hardison
UC Correspondent for The Times

After a one season stay in the powerful Celestia Conference, University of the Commonwealth return to the Mineral for the Silver Edition of the NSCF competition featuring the best collegiate teams in the multiverse.

This season's schedule had UC opening with back-to back home games, the first against Steven Vallburger College of Sports, Medicine and Leadership, newcomers to NSCF from the Allumunnic States. It turned out to be a forgettable debut for the visitors, as Warrior coach Ryan Benton was able to get nearly the entire roster playing time in the 63-10 victory.

The first "Sunday Night Football" of the season at College Hill came in the second contest, as Trent State made their second appearance at Gleason Field; the TJUN-ian school were MinCon opponents two seasons ago, and used what Benton called jokingly "their study-abroad year" (as he also called the one year Celestia experiment) to prove they were every bit as formidable away from UC's orbit, advancing to the Championship Game against Chromatika's Felswyr State, falling short of the prize but establishing themselves as one of the teams to watch in this campaign.

The game would mark an important milestone in addition to establishing early conference supremacy--it was the 100th game the Warriors have played and the contest lived up to the billing of strong programs re-establishing a sporting rivalry--which came down to the very end; the Feathercaps giving the ball back to UC, which then drove into Landon Korman's range and the sophomore from Williamstown, Endover knocked through his second field goal to cap off a 34-31 win.

Most recently, Green City University in TJUN-ia provided the test for the week 3 away game, and a stern test it was; the Royal Eagles are in their first NSCF season and flexed the muscles of the domestic game in TJUN-ia by holding the Warriors to another three point win, 26-23.

Trent State and UC are currently the two highest scoring teams across the seven conferences (TSU also scored 63 against SVC) and will both at home for matchday 4; the 'Caps will face Green City, while UC will welcome another first time NSCF entrant, New Gesem's University of Alexandropolis to Belle Haven.
The Redbirds have won 2 of 3 so far on the season, while the Warriors will look to put on another strong showing ahead of the three game away stretch that begins with the matchday 5 trip to Crilland for a first time meeting with Byses University Politicians.

As has been the custom throughout the school's participation in NSCF, the Unified Students Association (USA) has extended an invitation--via the UC administration--to the fanbase, alumni and current students of the University of Alexandropolis to attend the game here; the USA have welcomed and assured pre and post game safety to tens of thousands of visitors to Gleason Field from foreign nations, while the off-campus housing areas to the west of the UC campus have become famous for their openness and welcoming spirit to supporters of MinCon and non-conference opponents alike during what is euphemistically called 'Extra Tutorial (X-T)' or pre-game house parties.

Deputy Provost for Student Affairs Dr Jocelyn Mallory discussed the beginnings of this idea and how it has expanded.
"Obviously everyone in Baker Park has probably watched football games played here on television, and sometimes there have been incidents that have arisen from heightened emotions, from UC and visiting fans equally. What the USA expressed as a concern when the first participation in NSCF was planned was how the school, and more specifically the students and fans attending games, would look to a TV viewer in some far away nation. This was an organic initiative, not something that the administration came up with first."

The result has been that Gleason Field is rated one of the top away day NSCF destinations, with visiting tickets nearly always selling out ahead of the day of the game and strong camaraderie with fans from regular rival schools, especially Northern Moravica and Richardson University.

[Chromatika]

Firehawks' Struggle Continue as Felswyr State Falls to 1-2 after Disheartening Loss to Skyhawks

Naia Curentino's Biggest Test

By: Henry Kimaya, Graduate Student, School of Journalism, Chromia Central College University

As a neutral observer - I do not go to Felswyr State, and I don't really care about the diatribe between the Chromia Central College University Comets and the Firehawks when it's so apparent to me that the level of competition between the CCGC and the NSCF is night and day - one of the best things about FSU football in the first three seasons was the play of Naia Curentino. Well, "Play" isn't the right word to describe what an Offensive Coordinator does, but the way that the youngster blitzed through the college scene by committing FSU to the spread with Gwenderyn being the primary rushing threat was something to see. Only the Buffalo of Cold Hill University and the Salamantic Universities got the Firehawks figured out in year one, as Curentino proved herself to be one of the new minds of offensive football after one season.

As the seasons went on, and opposing defenses got more tape to watch of the Firehawks, Curentino's style has shifted more toward letting the stars do the talking. In the Sophomore year of FSU's gridiron existence, the Firehawks leaned on the superstar that was Alessandra Mio and the special connection between Gwenderyn and Mio to score quickly and often while also letting Gwenderyn take over games as the prolific runner that she had turned out to be. There were times where the Firehawks had a touchdown once every five plays.

Then, in the title-winning campaign that she put together last season, it was all about Gwenderyn being freed to do whatever she liked while getting the new guys - Otto Mitchell, Stan Devlin, Nyata Antonucci, Xanderick Spendlove - into positions where they could shine without too much pressure. Curentino has proven time and time again that she can, as needed, evolve; and as she evolved, so did the play of Felswyr State.

Now, though, three games into Gwenderyn's final campaign as signal-caller for the defending champion Firehawks, Curentino has the biggest challenge of her brief career as Offensive Coordinator to figure out, and figure out fast. In the three games, it's become very apparent that this offensive line - featuring four new starter and three freshmen - will not hold up like lines in the past. Mikel Kingston is an All-Pro Center, but one player cannot provide adequate protection for any Quarterback, even one as good as Gwenderyn; Curentino needs to change things up.

In the road defeat at Sadeg State, Gwenderyn was hurried on 71% of passing attempts and also was tackled five times behind the line of scrimmage on running plays. This battering did a60% an number on her as her completion percentage was barely 60%. If it wasn't for the five plays of over thirty yards that the Firehawks scored on the Skyhawks, the game's final score would've been a lot worse than 32-20; this game had the potential to be a landslide victory for Sadeg State.

So, how can Curentino turn things around for Felswyr State? I have a few ideas, though I'm not a gridiron aficionado and have no idea if any of this would actually work.

First, Gwenderyn is taking 61% of snaps from the shotgun. This allows the offensive line to have a bit more time before the defensive line gets to the Quarterback, but it also allows there to be more instances where the defensive line is getting to Sarai before the offensive line is even allowed the time to block them. By taking more snaps under center, the offensive line can get on the defensive linemen a lot faster and therefore make sure that the defense will actually have to work for the hurries that they will be getting on Sarai. This one is a bit more of a double-edged sword, but I think that it will work out, or at least that it's worth a try.

Second, Felswyr State has the personnel to be more of a running team, and they should use it. Vilievna gives FSU an edge as their first fullback, and with Antonucci being in her Junior year, FSU can now line up in the I-formation and pound the ball. There's nothing more freeing to an offensive lineman than getting a chance to maul their opponents in running situations where the play is designed for them to attack their opposition. This can be very useful in getting the offensive linemen the much-needed confidence they need to turn around their play. Of course, successful rushing plays can yield to play action, and with weapons like Otto Mitchell and Stan Devlin, Gwenderyn will make sure that any space that is earned by using play-action will be cashed in.

Lastly, but most importantly, Curentino should let Gwenderyn make more changes at the line of scrimmage. Now in her senior year, and also the starting QB for the Iron Legion, Sarai has proven that she is ready for the responsibility of changing plays at the line of scrimmage. No offensive coordinator can plan for every happenstance; it's far more productive to let the two-time Most Outstanding Player of the NSCF take control and dictate the way that things should go. Her track record is pretty good, too.

Whether it be by choosing to do any of the steps that I've outlined here, or in some other way, I really hope that Curentino will be able to turn things around soon. Defensively, the Firehawks are playing as well as expected with so many underclassmen getting their first starts there as well; with a Senior All-Star Quarterback, they need to pick up their play before things get out of hand.

A FSU that is in form is good for not just Firehawks fans but for the NSCF overall. Who wants to take down the champion when the champion isn't in good form? Nobody. Let us hope that they'll be able to figure out their issues.

Gabriele Ziegler, Lana Rhodes Total Over 300 Yards from Scrimmage as Staramara Tech Improve to 2-1
Is Jere Rinaldi a Legitimate DPoY Candidate after Three Games?

By: Okya Mostaya, Undergraduate Student, School of Journalism, Staramara Tech University

... And for one matchday, the Staramara Tech University Lava were the best Chromatik school in the NSCF.

After winning the first ever Flame Bowl in dramatic fashion at Felswyr State, the Lava returned to Johnston Memorial Stadium in Staramara, the site of their humbling loss to Hoofstra University two weekends ago. Thankfully, their opposition was a fellow debutant in Royal Armitage University; the Lava faithful would see four touchdowns and two field goals be scored as the Lava ran over their opposition 34-7 to improve to 2-1 on the season, behind only the aforementioned Pride of Hoofstra University.

Sheila Pantoja has really incorporated Gabriele Ziegler into the Lava offensive seamlessly after three games. The freshman running back was a question mark heading into the season due to the fact that she was more on the smaller side and not expected to provide the punishment running between the tackles that other running backs of the Lava had done in the past; however, Pantoja and the Lava have been able to make sure to use her in the flat on screen passes while also using Lana Rhodes as the more bruising back, often in split back sets with both Rhodes and Ziegler lining up behind Pantoja.

In these situations, the Lava's fullback Lashon Upshaw lines up where the Tight End usually would and provides excellent blocking no matter the scenario. The Lava used this formation on more than 30% of their plays against Royal Arimtage University, and scoring plays of 41 yards on a screen pass to Ziegler and 23 yards on a run up the middle by Rhodes both came from this formation.

"We're getting great push off the ball and finding opportunities out there," stated Pantoja when asked about the Lava attack, "Ziegler and Rhodes are both fine players and we are blessed to have the balance."

On the defensive side of the ball, Royal Armitage scored on the first drive of the game and then never crossed midfield again. Jere Rinaldi, the hero of the Flame Bowl, had another monster game, leading the Lava with fifteen tackles, two sacks, and an interception as the Senior linebacker is making the most of his only year as part of the NSCF.

Cornerbacks Eldora Arellano and Mastaya Vorpen have been spectacular for the Lava, far outperforming their expectations. It was obvious that Staramara Tech's rush defense would be up to par, but the fact that Arellano and Vorpen can handle things on their islands and allow for the Safeties to help out the front seven bids well for the Lava.

Next, the Lava will have a chance to prove that they are for real as they take on the two Drawkian schools before getting to play the return leg against Hoofstra. The NSCF is starting to notice that there is more than just FSU from Chromatika; it's time that the Lava double down.

[Ko-oren]

Do you remember...

Aoradora Aurisea? The ex-Professor who was selected by the Sterrenwolde Dragonflies to bolster their already impressive secondary. The Dragonflies (not to be confused with the national team of the same name) knew what they wanted but they didn't know just how good the free safety would be in his first year. Some other big names preceded him and are currently among the royalty in the pros:

Max Diekman, right tackle. He's been at the Aminey Caspians for a few years now, and they wouldn't have it any other way. Diekman is a dominating tackle, rarely surprised, and hauled in as a somewhat famous name (as the NSCF gets more coverage than the second division and youth league), right up Aminey's alley. They really need their big famous names there.

Chillarie Yowarie, wide receiver. The Ko-orenite league is notoriously light on receiving talent. If you're fast and agile, and you have a sense for open space and what the passing game does in the modern game, you're put in the secondary. Bigger guys turn into safeties, smaller guys do well as cornerbacks. Yowarie stuck to his receiving position, which is the more glamorous position in the NSCF anyway, and is currently at the Aminey Caspians. It's not been long since he left the Professors, though.

Dhauthenu Turaundhinthen, strong safety. You might not have heard about him in a while, and he was only a short-lived member of the Professors, but he was definitely there. Turaundhinthen is on a decent Schemerdrecht Admirals squad as the absolute stud in the secondary. Even as the Professors were just starting to get used to what the NSCF is like and get a feeling for how good the Banijan teams are, there were some diamonds in the rough.

Adé Gavreau, centre. He's also been with the Professors in their first seasons, and now plays for the Willowbourne Saints and is the almost guaranteed starter for the national team.

Dhaungekun Tadhinthen, punter. Maybe it's not the most glamorous position, but punters are severely underrated, and Tadhinthen is a great man at the position.

And the personnel groups these guys are on, aren't terrible either. Looking ahead to next season...

---

The best personnel groups in the Ko-orenite league right now!

Offence: Aerellen Explosions, and it's not close (Mayara Wolves and Mawryshire Centaurs tied for 2nd). With veteran quarterback Arerira and their great line (Girault, Norali, Akailis, Allacea, and Brahe) of which four are local products, the Explosions are well beyond the rest though with lacking receivers. The Wolves (WRs Junstarin, Podahaunden) and Centaurs (QB Ingdon/TE Ichihara) have it better there.

Defence: Sterrenwolde Dragonflies, with a few contenders behind them (Schemerdrecht Admirals, Mayara Wolves, Eaglebury Emperors). It's hard to imagine a team other than the Dragonflies here. It feels like they have a dominant, best-of-all-time unit every year. From the line (DT Gomoltinden, Avink) to the linebackers (Fokke, Altefeer) to the unavoidable secondary (Jennings, Aurisea, Ecaliris), other teams may have a few great players or one or two legendary ones, the Dragonflies have incredible players everywhere.

Special Teams: Greencaster Godspeed, with the Willowbourne Saints right behind them. Greencaster has hall of fame kicker Bennett (of many national team winning FG fame), with the three time running best returner in the league, Bronsvoord. The punting isn't that remarkable, the long snapping could be better, but you can't beat Bennett. The Saints are better across the four positions, but the kicking just isn't Bennett.

Quarterback: Mayara Wolves - after a few retirements, the best QB in the league (arguably!) is Kosmauthaunden, a wonderful improvisor on top of solid play book knowledge.
Skill positions: Schemerdrecht 65ers - most teams have decent running backs and poor receiving, but the 65ers are solid at all positions here. TE Van Luttert, receiving duo Philippon and Porden, as well as national teamers behind the running back Umebajashi and Galway.
Offensive Line: Aerellen Explosions - as mentioned, this is the gold standard of a run and pass blocking line.
Defensive Line: Schemerdrecht Admirals - you know Bootsma, who's next to Nottle, and with Binnenpoorte and Leemkuil on the edges, this is an unbeatable unit (though two out of four are over 32 years old).
Linebackers: Mayara Wolves - an old, though fantastic group of three players here: Dauntaringun, Kinportinden, and Witzie. Two out of three out of their own backyard.
Secondary: Sterrenwolde Dragonflies - as hinted to, the Dragonflies secondary can't be beaten.

[United Adaikes]

The Silverleaf University is now up 3-0, and one of the five remaining schools in the silver edition of the NationStates College Football to be undefeated out of the 42 participating schools. QB Senior Austin Garner led the Goblins, throwing a pair of touchdown passes to lead Silverleaf to a 24-14 victory.

The Alto College quarterback completed only 26-of-55 passes and was intercepted three times as the Rats lost for the second time this season. Alto College was coming off a 37-13 rout of the Ooopss National College.

The two teams are both new in the NationStates College Football, but the Goblins look like they have already been doing this for years.

Alto College started the game with an 87-yard touchdown drive, but RB Irvine Royle tied it with an eight-yard run midway through the first quarter, and Garner found WR Junior Tracy Noel with a 25-yard scoring strike to make it 14-7 just 20 seconds before the second.

The Goblins put together 24 consecutive points over the first three quarters. PK Sophomore Isaiah Rigby kicked a 40-yard field goal on the first half's final play to make it 17-7, and Garner threw a 29-yard strike to Senior TE Joisse Horne early in the third period.

Garner completed 14-of-27 passes for 156 yards with an interception, and Royle rushed 26 times for 170 yards for the Goblins, who will host the Woodstock City College in their next game.

Teams		   Q1  Q2    Q3    Q4
Silverleaf Goblins 14 17(3) 24(7) 24(0)
Alto Rat	    7  7(0) 14(7) 14(0)

[Valanora]

After a week in which there was a lot of concern in both the capital and in Mar Sara about the state of their premier universities' gridiron programs, this week has brought a bit of anxiety relief. However it also produces more questions than answers for both the Rockets and the Raiders in what has been a very trying start to the season for both teams, teams who had serious title asperations that had formed during the preseason. Those aspirations may need to be put on hold and instead the focus come squarely on conference play, as after a few seasons of having sleptwalk through the conference and into mediocrity, the former powerhouses of the Ceneisis Naval Academy started the season as if this were five years ago and they were at the height of their dominance over the conference and a true contender for the NSCF crown. On top of that, Thereisnogodistan Community College has been playing at a level beyond anything that anyone inside the Eternal Empire is used to or have even seen from the team who has been the doormat for the rest of the conference over the last few seasons. The resurgence by these two programs turns the Zephyr into a suddenly highly competitive and chaotic conference, one where there is not even a reasonable chance that the Vanorian schools retain the conference crown that has been theirs since the move to the Zephyr.

The Raiders, fresh off their opening day triumph in the Vanorian derby, traveled to Ceneisis feeling good about themselves and trying to establish an early stranglehold on the conference, much like has been the case for the Vanorian teams in the latter half of the conference play over the last two seasons. While the Fleftic university had been a power in the past, it had been a few seasons since they had truly been in a position to compete for the conference and the side was relatively confident that they would be able to come away with a victory in the game. What no one could have expected was the buzzsaw that the Raiders ran into, where neither the offense nor the defense was able to play anywhere near the same caliber that they had done in the week before and at the level that they will need if they are going to try and compete for the conference and perhaps even the NSCF championship. It is the sort of game that could be maybe credited to an emotional letdown after the huge victory over the Rockets to start the season, but that still does not excuse getting completely blown out by a team that they had dominated in the last two last seasons.

It was even worse for the Rockets, as they opened with two road games and two losses that really took the wind out of the sails of the team, especially against Thereisnogodistan, who as mentioned had been the doormat for the entire conference over the last two seasons. For both the Raiders and Rockets, the entire hierarchy of the group had been turned on its head and the next week was not going to get any easier for either team. The Rockets were finally going to have a home game, but they would be playing against the same Ceneisis that had just blown out the Raiders, while the Raiders would be at home to the darlings of last season in the University of Mancodas. On paper it looked to be a situation where the bad was about to get ugly for the Rockets and that the Raiders were going to have one heck of a game on their hands, to see if they could immediately bounceback from their surprising blowout loss to be prepared mentally for the sort of game that they expected the Mancodas to give them.

As much as the gridiron fans and experts were surprised and dismayed at the week two results from the Vanorian representatives, the sentiment was shared again following the conclusion of the third week of games, except that it would be on the opposite end. First off, what happened to the Raiders against Ceneisis is what happened to the Mancodas when they visited Mar Sara, they were completely and utterly overwhelmed by a team that was looking to prove that their aspirations were not the delusions of a team trying to punch above its station but an actual feasible goal to be working towards. A week after the offense completely sputtered against the Fleftic opposition, they turned around and put up half a hundred on the darlings from Poafmersia while the defense clamped down and only allowed seventeen points to the visitors. It was a real vindicating victory for the Raiders, who could have easily been shellshocked and let one defeat turn into two, but instead showed the mental fortitude to absorb the blows and counterpunch. It's a long season yet but it is the sort of guile that should mean the team should be competitive throughout the stretch.

The Rockets though, they did what looked to be absolutely impossible through their first two weeks and stood tall in the Empire's capital and put up their first victory, snatching away a perfect three and oh start from the visiting Cenisis team. It is remarkable to say this, given the nature of how the Rockets team has been built through the years, but the team got the improbably victory over their Fleftic rivals through the use of special teams and defense, with the offense managing to find ways to score on four of their seven possessions and doing just enough to start to right the ship. The twenty-four to eleven victory prevents a three loss start for the Rockets, as well as a three win start for Ceneisis, but it is not the cure all that the Rockets need. They are severely behind the eight ball in terms of trying to vie for the conference title and not a single game in the conference is going to be a gimme in any sense of the word. Three weeks into the season has seen teams doing quite well at home and their away form being quite diminished. The first team to solve the road wariness will be the team most likely to pull ahead in this suddenly very competitive conference and looking at the other conference, a bit of a chaotic start to the season for almost all parties involved.

[South Newlandia]

MD4 Cutoff - Big Eight and Sequoia conferences.

---

Big Eight Conference
Panem University (STR) 22–35 University of Methopotamia (BUF)
Richardson University (RAN) 0–15 Swisston City University (KHD)
Cold Hill University (RAN) 36–20 Kohnhead City University (KHD)

P Big Eight                              Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Cold Hill University (RAN)               4    4   0   144   63  +81
2 Swisston City University (KHD)           4    3   1    97   67  +30
3 Richardson University (RAN)              4    2   2    60   75  −15
4 Kohnhead City University (KHD)           4    2   2    88   77  +11
5 University of Methopotamia (BUF)         4    1   3    70  110  −40
6 Panem University (STR)                   4    0   4    64  131  −67

Sequoia Conference
Silverleaf University (UAD) 51–17 Woodstock City College (SRZ)
Ooopss National College (OPS) 36–23 Utah University (JHC)
Alto College (RAT) 24–16 Universidade de Soria (LIS)

P Sequoia                           Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Silverleaf University (UAD)              4    4   0   157   61  +96
2 Woodstock City College (SRZ)             4    2   2    99  108   −9
3 Alto College (RAT)                       4    2   2    85   69  +16
4 Ooopss National College (OPS)            4    2   2   113  120   −7
5 Universidade de Soria (LIS)              4    1   3   109  121  −12
6 Utah University (JHC)                    4    1   3    53  137  −84

[StrayaRoos]

The Panem University Gridiron Program is Possibly being shut down at the end of the 2022 StrayaRoos Season after an 13 point defeat to Buffalostan's Representatives at Panem Uni Stadium in front of 12000 fans and are excpecting an mass exodus at The intl' Athletics stadium and will withdraw from the StrayaRoos Championship Game in 2 weeks giving the National-STR Final the NSCF26 Slot

[Sarzonia]

All of a sudden, the two-match winning streak for Woodstock City College and the good feelings that came from it felt like a distant memory.

The Climbers were heading into their matchup against Silverleaf University in United Adaikes coming off a loss to previously winless Utah University that manager James Arthur warned his charges to be prepared for. His team weren't, and they looked for all the world like a team that now faced a crisis of confidence after a 51-17 loss that dropped the Climbers to 2-2.

Instead of walking to the podium with a glint of anger as he did following the team's 20-13 loss to the Utes, he stepped to the dais with his shoulders slightly hunched. He looked down at notes he'd written for a moment and paused after he'd heard the press information officer for Silverleaf finish the introduction.

"Well, we certainly ran into a buzzsaw this afternoon," Arthur said sombrely. "Hats off to the Goblins. They played as well as you can play in all three phases of gridball. We played as poorly as you can possibly play. I'll open it to questions."

"Coach, Landon Christiansen from The Courier. Did you give any thought to taking Barkley out of the match with the team down 37-3 going into halftime?"

"I thought about it, sure," Arthur said. "But doing that, I didn't want to signal to Cal that I lost confidence in him. There are some things you need to work out if you're struggling and I wanted him to have every opportunity to work things out. But we just couldn't get on track against those guys."

"You took him out after it got to 51-3."

"Yeah, we gave up six of our eight sacks in the third and the early part of the fourth quarter," Arthur said. "We just couldn't pick up the blitz and we did a poor job of adjusting to their coverage schemes. That's on me."

"Coach, Mary Clarence from The Daily Mai. Will Barkley start next week against Ooopss National College?"

"Yeah," Arthur said. "This was a complete team loss. It's not solely on Cal. We're going to have to figure out what we're doing wrong and we're going to have to do it fast."

"Coach, Landon Christiansen again. [backup quarterback Matt] Shipley seemed to give the team a spark when you put him in during the fourth quarter. Was there any thought to starting him next week?"

"None," Arthur said. "He was playing against the other team's backups and third-choicers out there and we were able to get some things blocked up for him that we couldn't do against their starters. It was as much the Goblins calling off the dogs as us doing anything right. Matt did pretty well given the circumstances, but unless there's an injury we don't know about yet, Cal's the starter."

"Coach, Mary Clarence again. What do you say to a team that just got its arses handed to it?"

"Um, there isn't much you CAN say to a team that got destroyed the way we did today. I just told them to forget the bad stuff, and there's plenty of bad stuff, and just look to bounce back at home."

FIRST QUARTER
SU: Michele Vasquez 34-pass from Austin Garner (Isaiah Rigby kick) 13:06 SU 7-0
SU: Irvine Royle 48 run (Rigby kick) 11:37 SU 14-0
SU: FG Rigby 41 6:21 SU 17-0

SECOND QUARTER
WCC: FG Matt Andersen 43 14:51 SU 17-3
SU: Royle 5 run (Rigby kick) 12:18 SU 24-3
SU: Stephani Lynn 39 run (Rigby kick) 9:34 SU 31-3
SU: FG Rigby 39 7:06 SU 34-3
SU: FG Rigby 53 0:02 SU 37-3

THIRD QUARTER:
SU: Loreto Hudson 29 pass from Garner (Rigby kick) 13:31 SU 44-3
SU: Vasquez 58 pass from Garner (Rigby kick) 7:43 SU 51-3

FOURTH QUARTER:
WCC: Joyce Rodney 39 pass from Matt Shipley (Andersen kick) 10:57 SU 51-10
WCC: Ed Westwick 15 pass from Shipley (Andersen kick) 7:48 SU 51-17

[Buffalostan]

Week 4

      1   2   3   4   F
UOM   7  21   0   7  35
PAN   8   7   7   0  22
BOX                                                                         UOM  PAN
  1 34 yard pass (run successful)                                            8    0
    Tashard Hughes 4 yard run (Sara Sofía Céspedes kick)                     8    7
  2 Joe Willis 53 yard pass from Jake Murphy (Sara Sofía Céspedes kick)      8   14
    Tashard Hughes 35 yard run (Sara Sofía Céspedes kick)                    8   21
    2 yard run (kick successful)                                            15   21
    Reuban Clayton 4 yard pass from Jake Murphy (Sara Sofía Céspedes kick)  15   28
  3 8 yard run (kick successful)                                            22   28
  4 Jirani Simon 40 yard interception return (Sara Sofía Céspedes kick)     22   35

[South Newlandia]

It’s Snelweg time!

Brian Snelweg, after struggling in his first two games, has led the Egrets to a massive win over Fair Haven State. In a dominating 44-14 performance that was never really close, Snelweg threw for and ran for a touchdown, becoming the first South Newlandian to do either of those in a College Football game, while also becoming the first quarterback to rush for more than 50 or throw for more than 200 yards (each breaking his own records from but days earlier). Snelweg also became the first South Newlandian quarterback to start a game without throwing an interception, and the first quarterback to win a game. Of course, Snelweg did not accomplish this feat alone. He was helped by the difficult conditions of the Jungledrom; Zamandi Ayana going off for triple digits rushing, and Jeremy Jefferson returning a punt all the way for a touchdown early in the first half. Nevertheless, Snelweg played the first truly good game of his career. Next week, however, he will have to play in Northern Moravica, which will almost certainly drop his record back down to 1-3. How did South Newlandia even convince the Banijans that they have a rivalry going on? No South Newlandian team has ever won a thing against a Banijan team on even playing field. It’s like if there was a team with one playoff win in the last 60+ seasons, and they think they have a rivalry going on with a team with multiple championships that beat them basically every time they met this century.

Power Rankings of the South Newlandian Press (that I will refuse to elaborate on (as of before MD4)) (obviously IC only power ranking is IC only. Obviously.)
1) University of Loyola-Istria (Celestia)
2) Cold Hill University (Big Eight)
3) University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (Mineral)
4) Hoofstra University (Horizon)
5) Kohnhead City University (Big Eight)
6) Sadeg State University (Horizon)
7) Brattleboro Technical Institute (Woodlands)
8) Felswyr State University (Horizon)
9) Northern Moravica University (Celestia)
10) Trent State University (Mineral)
11) Mar Sara Tech (Zephyr)
12) Richardson University (Big Eight)

Northern Moravica v Elephant Valley
2Q: NMU 45 yd TD (Esther) 7-0
2Q: NMU 7 yd TD (Wagner-Young -> Lewis) 14-0
2Q: NMU 26 yd TD (Wagner-Young -> Badjie; no XP) 20-0
3Q: EVU 97 yd TD (Lawson kick return) 20-7
3Q: NMU 23 yd FG (Markson) 23-7

Ratzupalfu vs. Fair Haven
1Q: RUoN 78 yd TD (Jefferson punt return) 7-0
1Q: FHS 15 yd TD (Melia -> Booker) 7-7
1Q: RUoN 47 yd FG (Han) 10-7
2Q: RUoN 14 yd TD (Snelweg) 17-7
2Q: RUoN 29 yd TD (Ayana) 24-7
2Q: RUoN 51 yd FG (Han) 27-7
3Q: RUoN 69 yd TD (Snelweg -> Jefferson) 34-7
3Q: FHS 22 yd TD (Walker) 34-14
4Q: RUoN 33 yd FG (Han) 37-14
4Q: RUoN 1 yd TD (Bruce) 44-14

[Ranoria]

The Robin Sterling Chronicles
Part II

Sterling flopped down onto the bench when he got to the sideline and ripped his helmet off, panting hard and gratefully accepting the water that was passed his way. He glanced up at the scoreboard and the looming ten point deficit his team was facing in the third quarter.

"God these guys can hit," he hissed, and handed the water bottle to a teammate, "I just can't move the ba-" His words stopped dead when he saw a man in a maroon jacket standing behind the end zone, the letters "CH" stitched into his chest.

"Robin, you alright?" his coach glanced back, "Get ready to go, we're going to have to make something happen fast on offense."

Robin stood up, helmet danging in his loose grip with a nod, "Yup, born ready coach."

No way in hell we was gonna go belly-up in front of a scout from a program like that.

---

On one knee, arm raised to the sky, Robin looked on after a game winning two point conversion. The performance hadn't been his most explosive game, but the late heroics, moreover that last score as the clock expired, would dominate the headlines tomorrow.

The youth pulled his helmet off slowly, steam whirling off messy hair, and noted the crowd's silence. His own teammates, consequently, were swarming around him, but as he stood, he brushed them off and scanned the sideline. The man with the black jacket, a maroon "CH" emblazoned on his chest, stood watching with a very small smile. Perhaps he was here for their defensive tackle, but without reaching the six foot mark, he had his doubts.

It took some time to weave his way through the throng in order to find the man, but find him he did, as covered in sweat as he was.

The scout seemed amused at the effort, giving him a quick nod, and Robin took that as an opportunity to pull his pads off - not an unimpressive endeavor with how tight jerseys were these days.

But once he finally made his way over, he extended his hand immediately, "Robin Sterling, sir. You're only here to evaluate yours truly?" The youth's grin never left, but once the scout shook his hand, his bravado did, almost as if he was in the presence of a superior.

"Gary Ingrid. Presumptuous yes," he feigned checking his notes, "Nevertheless, it appears that you're the only guy on my radar tonight, yes. You're familiar with our program?"

Sterling first nodded, and then found his words again, "Y-yes sir, nearly the whole country is," a mock laugh that he quickly reeled in, suddenly looking jittery after his bold entrance.

"Well kid, we have our eye on you, and that's all I'm going to say for the moment," Ingrid chuckled, "You played sharp out there tonight. Keep it up, and we might just have you on a full ride by the end of the season."

Sterling's eyes went wide, but he couldn't say anything, noticing his father not too far away and catching his eye for a second.

"Good luck kid, I'll be seeing you." And with that, Ingrid disappeared.

"What was that all abooout!?" His mother ran up and gave the sweat-saturated young man a bear hug, "Talking to scouts from Cold Hill!?"

"That sure as hell would save your old man a pretty penny, huh?" His father chuckles and looked around, watching as the scout took his leave, then looked back to his son. "Hey, look, if that doesn't work out, just know that I'm proud of you. Very few kids earn the opportunity to talk to scouts like that, and I heard him. I can't believe he was here to see you, a sophomore."

[Banija]

When You Believe... Your favorite team can beat Iowa to win the Big 10 title. And, of course, you can cutoff for Matchday 4.

Matchday 4- Horizon & Woodlands

Horizon Conference
Royal Armitage University (WZT) 13–13 Hoofstra University (KRD) (27–20 OT)
Felswyr State University (CMT) 83–9 Cavsar University (DRK)
Staramara Tech (CMT) 40–40 Sadeg State University (DRK) (40–46 OT)

Horizon Conference                  Pld   W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Hoofstra University                4    3   1    84   36  +48
2 Sadeg State University             4    3   1   107  101   +6
3 Staramara Tech                     4    2   2    96   79  +17
4 Felswyr State University           4    2   2   139   63  +76
5 Cavsar University                  4    1   3    55  157 −102
6 Royal Armitage University          4    1   3    58  103  −45

Woodlands Conference
Crown's College (SHM) 13–0 Rotenburg Island University (BUM)
Université du Saguenay (QUE) 25–20 Brattleboro Technical Institute (CDG)
Université St. Croix (QUE) 10–27 New Lakeland University (CDG)

Woodlands Conference                      Pld   W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Brattleboro Technical Institute          4    3   1   101   61  +40
2 New Lakeland University                  4    3   1    85   41  +44
3 Crown's College                          4    3   1    38   17  +21
4 Université St. Croix                     4    2   2    96   60  +36
5 Université du Saguenay                   4    1   3    45   89  −44
6 Rotenburg Island University              4    0   4    31  128  −97

[Quebec and Shingoryeo]

Cutoff, Matchday 4 - Celestia, Mineral and Zephyr Conferences

---

Celestia Conference
Fair Haven State (BAR) 18–32 Salamantic Universities (KOR)
Elephant Valley University (SNL) 9–32 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)
Ratzupalfu University of Nature (SNL) 27–24 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)

P Celestia Conference                    Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)        4    3   1   139   65  +74
2 Salamantic Universities (KOR)            4    3   1    71   78   −7
3 Ratzupalfu University of Nature (SNL)    4    2   2    85   65  +20
4 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)       4    2   2    89   93   −4
5 Elephant Valley University (SNL)         4    2   2    64   90  −26
6 Fair Haven State (BAR)                   4    0   4    77  134  −57

Mineral Conference
Stevan Vaalburger College of Sports, Medicine & Leadership (ALS) 45–14 Byses (CRL)
University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (CBP) 0–30 University of Alexandropolis (NGS)
Trent State University (TJU) 13–10 Green City University (TJU)

P Mineral Conference                                                Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 University of Alexandropolis (NGS)                                  4    3   1   105   33  +72
2 University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (CBP)                  4    3   1   123   94  +29
3 Trent State University (TJU)                                        4    3   1   158   47 +111
4 Stevan Vaalburger College of Sports, Medicine & Leadership (ALS)    4    2   2    68  143  −75
5 Green City University (TJU)                                         4    1   3    79   80   −1
6 Byses (CRL)                                                         4    0   4    48  184 −136

Zephyr Conference
Thereisnogodistan Community College (NGD) 13–6 Ceneisis Naval Academy (AFT)
University of Mancodas (PFA) 30–30 Raynor University (VAL) (37–44 OT)
Maximus Rochester Institute for Science and Technological Research (PFA) 0–16 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)

P Zephyr Conference                                                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)                                                         4    3   1   113   87  +26
2 Thereisnogodistan Community College (NGD)                                   4    3   1    78   53  +25
3 Raynor University (VAL)                                                     4    2   2   115  112   +3
4 Ceneisis Naval Academy (AFT)                                                4    2   2    99   70  +29
5 University of Mancodas (PFA)                                                4    1   3   100  124  −24
6 Maximus Rochester Institute for Science and Technological Research (PFA)    4    1   3    47  106  −59

[Barnettsville]

ST. CATHERINE - Fair Haven is still searching for their first victory, after falling to Salamantic 32-18. The first quarter went surprisingly well, as the defense held SU scoreless. The offense? Not so much, as they only scored two field goals. K went big on one of them, hitting a school-record 60 yarder at the end of the period to go up 6-0.

Salamantic then went to work. 4 touchdowns and a safety later, and it was 29-6 at the end of three. The Blue Jays tried to crawl back in, outsourcing Salamantic 12-3 in the final period, but it was too little, too late.

Depth ended up being a secondary issue, as 15 players were held out of the game due to COVID protocols (those that played all tested negative, as FHSU has mandated daily testing):

DE Huey McDonnell	DE Karl Hickman        	OLB Aaron Livingston
CB Ashton Wilcox	S Fred O’ Moore		TE Jamie Farrington
WR Darrell Workman	WR Jacob Feeney      	OL Korey Sullivan
G Arnold Ramsey       	RB Levi Butler		QB Tony Luna
QB Emmet Mohammed	K Virgil Perkins	P Hashir Lester

Due to protocols, they will also be heldout of next week's game.

SCORING
FHSU - Buckley 42 FG FHSU 3-0
FHSU - Buckley 60 FG FHSU 6-0
SU - 34 pass, Juldhauthaunden to Aefia (Cameron kick) SU 7-6
SU - 78 Hunniford run (kick blocked) SU 13-6
SU - safety, holding penalty in endzone SU 15-6
SU - 92 pass, Juldhauthaunden to Morquecho (Cameron kick) SU 22-6
SU - 43 Hunniford run (Cameron kick) SU 29-6
FHSU - 16 Walker run (conversion failed) SU 29-12
FHSU - 45 pass, Melia to Booker (conversion failed) SU 29-18
SU - Cameron 43 FG SU 32-18

STATS:
SALAMANTIC
PASS: Juldhauthaunden 23-28, 359 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RUN: Hunniord 23 rush, 154 yards, 2 TD; Juldhauthaunden 3 rush, 12 yards
REC: Aefia 12 rec, 176 yards 1 TD; Morquecho 7 rec 103 yards 1 TD; Hunniford 4 rec, 80 yards
FAIR HAVEN
PASS: Melia 17-38 143 yards 1 TD, 4 INT
RUN: Walker 12 rush 86 yards 1 TD
REC Booker 8 rec 75 yards 1 TD; Singh 3 rec 34 yards; Riley 3 rec 19 yards; Walker 2 rec 8 yards; Levine 1 rec 7 yards

[TJUN-ia]

No matter who won today, it would be history in the making. Fans of both the Green City Royal Eagles and the Trent State Feathercaps made their way to Sherwood Field in Notts for the first time as rivals and while both sets of fans were cordial with the other, sharing tailgates and celebrating TJUN-ian Gridiron, both groups knew that once kickoff happened in The Horseshoe, the battle would begin. Both teams entered this game with different points to prove: the 2-1 Feathercaps had blown Stevan Vaalburger College out of the water last week and were looking to showcase their dominance over the sport at home in the NSCF while the 1-2 Royal Eagles had equalled TSU's 3-point margin of defeat against UCBP in The Palace and wanted to prove to their "big brother" from Notts that they could fight like the best of them on their day and that the team from Green City shouldn't be underestimated at all. The great battle was about to begin for the first time and The Horseshoe was ready to see the battles: Johnny Bridgeford vs Paul Abdullahi, Pierre Grandestois vs Adamma Isa, Alehandro Martinez vs Fortune Eze, Frederic von Habsburg vs Idris Mohammad, Leon Gallas vs Moses Igbinoghene and even Xander Tiovannen vs Glory Oparanozie. Both schools, who never really played each other in a big game before domestically, had points to prove and everyone in Notts tonight was ready to see who would claim the Earth Trophy first.

The game got underway to a thunderous roar, with about 30,000 TSU and 2,000 GCU fans in attendance for this sellout, and this first meeting would turn into a defensive brawl. While GCU is considered the more attacking team, the hosts love to play some defensive football and that mentality had to be observed out here. It was very close in the first half, with both defensive lines doing their jobs and upsetting the quarterbacks in a derby that featured zero foreign players at all - which is good or bad, depending on who you ask. The only highlight of the first half was that Gallas managed a 1-yard rush on the goal line to score the first points of this game - Tiovannen kicked the extra point, 7-0 TSU. The second quarter was like that again but this time, Igbinoghene found Gilbert Nyamutsamba out of nowhere, Jake Northridge unable to counter his pace, for a 78-yard TD that sunned most of The Horseshoe - Oparanozie made the extra point, we would enter the half with a 7-7 tie.

The defensive stands only got more frequent from here thanks to the tactical mind games of both Martinez and Eze, so the final half an hour of this game was very tight, very tense and would come down to kicking field goals at this very point. Both Xander and Glory managed FGs in the 3rd, but only Xander managed to get one in the 4th as the TSU defence began to suffocate their local opposition with great recurrence. All it took was some big stops and GCU could not respond at all. By another 3-point margin, the Earth Trophy will begin its existence in Notts...but this was certainly close.

Now, we both head back on the trail. TSU @ UAlexandropolis, GCU vs Stevan Vaalburger College. TSU is now 3-1 in a 3-way tie at the top after UCBP lost to UAlexandropolis by 30-zip. That game, on the road no less, will be fucking massive. As for GCU, SVC is 2-2 and looking to go .500 after halfway - a feat GCU will be hoping to stop at The Palace. The Earth Trophy is in Notts, but both schools must carry on...we still have a long way to go.

---

TSU SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: vs Byses Politicians (CRL) W 51-3 (1-0)
Week 2: @UCBP (CBP) L 34-31 (1-1)
Week 3: vs Stevan Vaalburger College (ALS) W 63-0 (2-1)
Week 4: vs Green City (TJU) W 13-10 (3-1)
Week 5: @UAlexandropolis (NGS)
Week 6: @Byses Politicians (CRL)
Week 7: vs UCBP (CBP)
Week 8: @Stevan Vaalburger College (ALS)
Week 9: @Green City (TJU)
Week 10: vs UAlexandropolis (NGS)
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 11: vs Elephant Valley (SNL)
Week 12: @Mar Sara Tech (VAL)
Week 13: vs Swisston City (KND)

GCU SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: vs UAlexandropolis (NGS) L 13-17 (0-1)
Week 2: @Byses Politicians (CRL) W 33-24 (1-1)
Week 3: vs UCBP (CBP) L 23-26 (1-2)
Week 4: @Trent State (TJU) L 10-13 (1-3)
Week 5: vs Stevan Vaalburger College (ALS)
Week 6: @UAlexandropolis (NGS)
Week 7: vs Byses Politicians (CRL)
Week 8: @Stevan Vaalburger College (ALS)
Week 9: vs Trent State (TJU)
Week 10: @UCBP (CBP)
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 11: vs Silverleaf University (UAD)
Week 12: Rotenburg Island (BUM) (TBC)
Week 13: @Hoofstra (KRD)

[Chromatika]

Gwenderyn, Firehawks Run Amok Against Cavsar

For three games, Sarai Gwenderyn had heard the so-called experts criticize the lack of production from the Firehawks' offense. The offensive line had been held in check by defenses, and Gwenderyn herself had been stymied for stretches at a time.

Against Cavsar, no such problem existed. On the first play from scrimmage, Sarai Gwenderyn found Otto Mitchell down the left sideline for a 75 yard touchdown pass. The very next play, Park Mi-Hyeon caused a fumble that Nicole Manstrom recovered, and Nyata Antonucci ran the ball in for a 14-0 score.

Felswyr State would score nine more times and have two field goals as the team took out its frustrations on Cavsar to a tune of 83-9, easily the highest scoring day in Firehawks gridiron history. Gwenderyn threw for 201 yards and 3 touchdowns while running for 148 and 4 more; the other 4 touchdowns were scored on defense, with Sage "Bricks" Sterling having two interception returns to lead the way.

"It was the perfect game to bounce back," admitted Gwenderyn, "we will just need to make sure to be consistent going forward."

2-2 is not the record the Firehawks wanted at this stage, but they will have a chance to be above .500 as they handle the Pride next.

"It was a good way to break out of our slump," stated Naia Curentino, "The key is to keep going."

Lava Fall Short at the Last Hurdle as Staramara Tech Misses Grand Opportunity

A screen pass to the flat was intercepted in the first play of the Lava's overtime possession as the Staramara Tech University Lava fell barely short against Sadeg State after equalizing the game in the last play of the game.

Up until that play, Pantoja had scored three touchdowns and Rhodes had scored the other - with four field goals.

"It was a golden opportunity," mourned Pantoja, "But we'll bounce back."

[New Gesem]

Baker Park     0  0  0  0  0
Alexandropolis 7  14  3  6  30

A decisive win for the Redbirds to spoil the Warriors' unbeaten run, take first place in the Mineral Conference for the first time, and set up a critical showdown with Trent State in week 5 that will determine who leads the conference past the halfway point of the season. The Trent State game will be, as one commentator from TJUN-ia put it, "f*cking massive".

The Baker Park game, for its part, was surprisingly pedestrian. Time of possession told the story in the first half, as the Redbirds dominated with 23:45, 15 first downs and 4/4 third down conversions. The few times Baker Park got its offense on the field, they were unable to get a drive going, and each time punted the ball away without ever threatening to score.

The Baker Park defense came online in the second half, but were so battered by that point that all they managed to do was force the Redbirds to kick field goals. At the end of four quarters, the Warriors' offense had only a handful of first downs to its name and had barely seen the field, while the Redbirds offense was able to play its second-stringers for the second game in a row.

Spring Football, pt 4

Gameday came, cold as all hell on account of it being early February in the Gesem River Valley, but the brothers and sisters of the Alpha chapter of Nu Theta-”Newts” as they called themselves-were prepared. With funds contributed by the national Grand Lodge of the Ancient Benevolent Order of Wapiti, their parent fraternity and main sponsor, the Newts had rented a tent and a heater and were serving warm drinks besides: hot chocolate, spiked and otherwise; hot toddies; and coffee were all on offer. Most of the brothers and sisters paired their fraternity letters with a U of A beanie and some kind of gloves.

The only thing differentiating the tailgate before the Redbirds’ game against Byses from a late-season tailgate was the increased media attention. A cub reporter for the Journal, the Courier’s main crosstown competition, meandered among the crowd with a cup of cocoa, trying and failing to bait various Newts and Wapitis into making a statement. Finally Von Berman, professor of journalism and president of the Alexandroupolis chapter of the Strangers, managed to tie her up with a few incisive, but unusable sound bytes.

The Strangers huddled together in one corner of the tailgate, making small talk and warding off the cold. Somebody had set up a flatscreen TV on the literal tailgate of a truck, and Jerry kept a running commentary of whatever the talking heads were saying. Like the conversation in the rest of the tailgate, the cast of the pregame show seemed infinitely more interested in talking about the broader geopolitical implications of a Gesmite university hosting a foreign, or “alien” as the pundits kept saying, institution. Stick to sports, Von thought with a touch of irony.

On the other side of the area the Newts had claimed, Von spotted a familiar face huddled with another group like hers. It was Gillian Mejia, Commander of the local Knights of Constantine lodge, who’d also been at the fateful Wapiti Grand Lodge meeting that had greenlit this tailgate. Seeing Von, Gillian waved enthusiastically and made her way over, hands in her pockets and shuffling like a penguin.

“Hey!” she said brightly, “Long time no see.” Von cheeks felt like they were cracking in the cold as she smiled. It had been a whopping three days since the two women had seen each other, seated side by side in the front row of Lord’s Chicken Arena watching the Wapiti Grand Lodge debate.

“No kidding,” Von agreed. She gestured vaguely at the tailgate. “Seems kind of anticlimactic for all that hullabaloo the other night.”

“Oh, that’s how it always goes,” Gillian explained. “You want something big, you ask for something small. The Knights threw the gauntlet--pardon the pun--when we endorsed the team that went off to that World Bowl thing last spring. Now the Wapitis have done the same, albeit tacitly, and it’s up to the other big lodges to register their complaints. If one of them objects, the Wapitis can say this tailgate was a one-off, and hey, it’s just a tailgate. If not, then the door is open for the other lodges.”

Von sipped her coffee while she thought of something to say. This was a conversation she needed to have, she knew; the experience with the Wapitis had opened her eyes to the kind of power she wielded as a lodge president, and she needed to learn as much as she could to bring that power to bear. The Strangers had been founded out of a sort of FOMO and a sense of fairness in believing that everyone should be represented by a fraternal order, but she had realized over the past week they’d been thinking too small the whole time. The Strangers could be more than just representation; they could be a seat at the table.

“What about the Sphinxes?” she finally asked. The Sphinxes’ Grand Pharaoh had been in attendance at the same meeting as Von and Gillian and had spoken vehemently against the tailgate. So had the Grandmaster of the Oryxes, but nobody seemed to pay him much mind, so Von didn’t either.

“What about them?” Gillian studied Von’s face as if looking for a clue. “Oh, I know what you mean. Old Manny Ross and his big speech. They’re a tricky bunch, those Sphinxes, but their reach doesn’t extend much beyond Thebes. They’re like what the Knights would be if we didn’t bother to recruit outside of ‘nople.”

She used the shorthand “‘nople” to refer to Constantinople, the way native Constantinopolitans did. They’d started the trend, but whenever she went home to Alexandria, Von heard people call it “Alex”, just like the locals here in Alexandroupolis had adopted “‘polis”. Von wondered whether she’d known Gillian was from ‘nople or if she had just assumed based on her membership in the Knights of Constantine--it was, after all, right there in the name. As a rule, she did try to avoid making generalizations about other fraternities; certainly the Sphinxes were most present in Thebes, the Knights in ‘nople, and the Oryxes in...Busiris? It had to be Busiris. Whatever the case, perhaps because her own lodge was so diverse, Von tried to see people as individuals and not whatever colors they wore one night a week.

“Same with the Oryxes, I take it,” Von said tentatively. “So what happens next?”

“Sports is the first thing to go because it’s the most visible,” answered Gillian, as if lecturing a class of freshmen. “Next will be consumer goods--cars, electronics, novelties. All things that are hard to get here in good old New Gesem.”

“Wouldn’t a bunch of foreign cars be bad news for NGM?” Von asked, wide-eyed. She knew the answer, but she wanted to hear Gillian’s take on it.

“Of course it would,” Gillian said, grinning. “Bad for NGM, good for the man on the street. Competition drives innovation, forces consumer prices down. Everything in New Gesem right now is controlled by cartels, whether we realize it or not. As soon as the walls come down, they’re going to have to start competing, and that’s going to mean a lower cost of living and an even playing field. You won’t need this,” she waved her hand at the tailgate, “In order to live anymore.”

[Ko-oren]

Ratzupalfu University of Nature (SNL) 7–10 Salamantic Universities (KOR)
Salamantic Universities (KOR) 26–6 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)
University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ) 47–3 Salamantic Universities (KOR)
Fair Haven State (BAR) 18–32 Salamantic Universities (KOR)

The season so far indicates that gridiron scores just happen, and they are not rooted in historical record, in form or momentum, or any kind of predictability. From barely outscoring a new South Newlandian team (10-7 W) to blowing out Northern Moravica (26-6 W) - against whom the Professors typically have a very, very tough time - followed by a loss to Loyola-Istria as if we're back in our first season as complete newbies (47-3 L) to a solid showing and great result over Fair Haven (18-32 W)... a dice roll is a better indication of the team than an in depth look at our results and players. Juldhauthaunden suffered from a concussion versus Loyola-Istria, sure, but that's not often a reason to lose by 44 points - especially if the injury comes up around halfway through the game, and if your team relies on its defence more than its offence by default anyway. Juldhauthaunden was fine for the Fair Haven game, starting out a little shaky but quickly finding rhythm and confidence.

The Salamantic team scored 29 of its 32 points uninterrupted, with Juldhauthaunden passing for two TDs and Hunniford adding two scores on the ground. A painful interception in the drive after that 29th point was scored set up Fair Haven's first touchdown of the day, as Walker ran it in after the interceptor was brought down on the Salamantic 44-yard line. A few plays later, Walker scored on 2nd and 10 from the Salamantic 16 - and not only got the first down, but the touchdown. This, and the previous week's 47 points indicates some problems with the defence. Normally it's not very bend and not very break. We can accept bend but not break. But when the defence fails to show up on drives like these, that's when things get tough. We shouldn't make it bigger than it is, though, as the secondary came up with 4 (!!) picks of Melia. While our run defence is in shambles, the secondary is on great form.

---

So, with week 1 of the Ko-orenite season days away, which teams are most likely to win the championship?
1) Mayara Wolves coming off of a 6-9-1 season, seeing them finish 8th overall (4th in the Western division), it doesn't seem like this is a title challenger right off the bat. But some of the better teams of the last years have lost big names to retirement, and the Wolves' sustained building of a team with a clear identity (running the ball) is paying off.

2) Eaglebury Emperors won the Final after topping the Western division last year at 11-5 coming off of years of mediocrity. They continue to be good. Mind you, they were predicted to finish 6th overall, so you never know, but the team is looking good with almost all key pieces returning.

3) Willowbourne Saints finished 4th overall (9-5-2) but in a strong Western division, that wasn't enough for the postseason. The Saints should continue their good streak, but like last year, it might mean they miss out on the playoffs - if they're third in the division again.

And with that, we have named three teams in the Western division. For those new to the league: there are six teams each in two divisions (West and East) for 12 total teams. The final of the season is played by one Western and one Eastern team. Therefore, no matter how deep the West is, they'll still have to beat one Eastern team. And so, we give you the best looking team there:

4) Aerellen Explosions won the Eastern division last year with a league-best regular season record at 13-3, but lost the Final 35-27 to the Eaglebury Emperors. They should be back for another good year.

Some notes about the schedule, then:

Every team plays their division mates twice (home and away, 5*2 = 10 games) and the other division once (6 teams = 6 games) for 16 games total. The rivalry games are always weeks 11 and 15 - so no byes in those weeks - and the rest of the divisional matchups are in weeks 2, 5, 6, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, and 18. Teams enjoy two bye weeks across these rounds - so it's possible a team gets a bye in, say, week 2, or week 18 (the last week of the league).

The Wolves take on the Explosions in week 4. Interestingly, the three Western teams don't share a rivalry (it's the Mayara derby: Wolves-Destroyers, the southwestern derby Eaglebury-Mawryshire, and the big city showdown Willowbourne-Greencaster), so the six games between those three teams take place in week 2 (Emperors-Saints), week 6 (Saints-Wolves), week 12 (Wolves-Emperors), week 13 (Saints-Emperors), week 16 (Wolves-Saints), and week 18 (Emperors-Wolves). Sterrenwolde-Aerellen might be the big game in the East this season, which takes place in week 6 (Explosions-Dragonflies) and week 16 (Dragonflies-Explosions).

There are teams with bye weeks in week 18: Willowbourne Saints and Greencaster Godspeed. Two teams have one of their two bye weeks as early as week 2: Sterrenwolde Dragonflies and Aminey Caspians.

[Ranoria]

OOC - this RP is an MD report on MD3's match between Richardson and Kohnhead City

In Their House! Richardson Survives Mighty Eagles, Gets Back Into Conference Title Race

Before we get to what this game meant from from our detached view, let’s check it out from ground zero. Herman Whitworth scored, leaping into the air as he crossed the goal line. He was mobbed by his teammates. Chicken King Stadium roared its applause, the Mighty Eagles had all the momentum they could ask for.

What did Richardson's 21-20 victory in Kohnhead City mean for this program?

“That was a massive gut punch at the end,” advised Richardson linebacker Kaiser Belfort. “I was scared, knowing we were going into overtime with a chance to lose...and then they lined up to go for two.”

“I'm too old for this kind of a heart attack,” Steinheil said — going on to call the game “an instant classic between two great teams.”

Maybe we should go back a bit, see what got us into that situation?

Well, as one might've expected, this was an old school contest between two run first teams who despise each other and, as such, want everyone to know they're the tougher, meaner team. And well, we're not sure either of them did that until that climactic finish. Between Whitworth and Roach, there were 59 carries to go around, and nearly three hundred yards on the ground. Plenty of punts, plenty of broken tackles, and a few scuffles. Initially, Richardson was pulling ahead. Gideon Kearse - while visibly frustrated at a lack of pass rush opportunities, dominated, recording three tackles for a loss and consistently forcing cutbacks. Between he and Kaiser Belfort, who racked up nine tackles in the first half, Kohnhead City wasn't going anywhere, not today. Emilee Johannson wasn't quite able to get anything going in the air, but fortune fell the Mighty Eagles way late in the second quarter.

On the second snap of the third quarter on a quick slant route to Blitz Taurus, Belfort laid the hammer down, folding Taurus in half, but Taurus wasn't one to back down.

He got up quick, grabbed Belfort's facemask, and that was that. Richardson's professional fighter at linebacker took a swing. Flags flew, teammates swarmed, and of course, Kaiser Belfort was ejected. Elliot Roach had already recorded two rushing touchdowns and given his team an early 14 point lead, but giving the Mighty Eagles a first down and taking away one of Richardson's core players was enough to turn things completely around.

Now, for those at home who don't know, Herman Whitworth is a guy who could end up winning Most Outstanding Player by the end of the season, and he had no intention of going quietly. And while Kaiser Belfort could hold his own, Hubert Maginot is a solid player - but solid players get humiliated by Whitworth.

With the loss of their inside linebacker, Richardson's defense began to get gashed up the middle again and again. Sure, Maginot and linebacker Daniel Trojan got their tackles, but not before the Kohnhead City star dragged them for a few extra yards, every single time. In fact, Whitworth only had two carries in which he had under five yards in the second half - both were tackles for a loss by Gideon Kearse. And he did not stop. Midway through the fourth quarter, Richardson managed to get the Mighty Eagles to a fourth and one on the forty yard line with a 14-7 lead. Everyone knew what was coming, and it didn't matter.

Whitworth took it up the gut, accelerated through the line too quickly for the defensive front to make a play, ran over Maginot again, and after that he was gone. No one in the secondary had much of a shot as the power back showed off his underrated straight line speed on the way to a score in his home city, the crowd roaring as he spread his arms and soaked in the noise. With that, KCU tied it up with more than enough time to win it. But Richardson wasn't giving up so easily.

Elliot Roach had already scored twice, but what came next was perhaps the most lethal drive of Astrid Verona's career. The young star stepped back from the line before the first snap, cracked her knuckles, and shook out her wrists, the same gesture her father so often did as a pro. And then she started.

Sixteen yards to Constantina Perrier on a dart. Seven to Quan Mullins. Ten to Elon Forbes, ten more to Quan Mullins, and only two minutes off the clock, she had time, but she wouldn't need it. Anyone who had watched film knew Astrid Verona was hesitant to throw downfield, and as a result the Mighty Eagles were playing up in coverage - something that also helped them in the run game, but they paid for it dearly. Angela Sauber wasn't the fastest receiver on the squad, but one cut to a deep skinny post and she wasn't going to get caught.

The ball was perfect. Easily the most air yards Astrid had tossed on any throw in her collegiate career, and the freshman, Sauber, didn't even have to break stride, snagging the ball out of the air just a step into the end zone. Suddenly, a roaring stadium went silent, and a nervous sideline in white went nuts.

Frankly, it was the biggest play of Astrid's career to this point, but even as the clock wore down, KCU had just enough time to hand the ball to their big man without panicking and airing the ball out - so that's what they did. And by then, a beaten-to-hell Richardson defense had no answer.

Herman Whitworth added nine carries, sixty yards, a half dozen broken tackles, and one last touchdown to his tally on the day, battering through Richardson's front on the five yard line to make his way into the end zone with just thirty seconds on the clock. This was it, and Emilee Johansonn's offense made no move to vacate the field. This was Kohnhead City, and they were in Chicken King Stadium - they were playing to win.

As raucous as the crowd had been until now - it waited with baited breath as the Mighty Eagles lined up in goal line formation. Herman Whitworth was their horse, he had gotten them to this point, and he would be the one to see them through. Richardson matched it. Everyone knew where this ball was going. And when the ball was snapped, the Mighty Eagles immedietely got the push they needed...except for one small factor.

Gideon Kearse didn't try to bulldoze his way through, not here. He was probably strong enough to overpower Deidre Gott, but not consistently, and he knew it. He flashed his hands, batted down Gott's arms with a classic club and swam the other over the shoulder - a move that most professional defensive lineman couldn't pull - to get through the line just as Whitworth got the ball. Whitworth's good, great even - but he wasn't running Richardson's bid for a defensive player of the year. Whitworth tried to cut outside just as he was covering the ball, make something out of nothing, but a hit from the side and he was buried. Kearse - who had now made a pair of game-changing tackles to end games in the last two weeks, drove him into the turf of Chicken King Stadium and got up pumping his fist in the air. He soaked in the sounds of despair, the jeering, all of it as Richardson's defense flew around him.

For once, in an attempt that shouldn't have taken as many times as it had, the Governors had felled their dragon in Chicken King Stadium.

[Thereisnogodistan]

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independent sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

---

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

Gabbing on Gridiron
with Dara Keane

NSCF 25: THEREISNOGODISTAN COMMUNITY COLLEGE MATCHDAY THREE

Max. Roch. Inst.     0  3  7  7  17
Thereisnogodistan    6  3  6  0  15

Okay. Now that is a bit of an issue, I’ll have to admit. Way to blow it on calling this the comeback of the Fleftic schools! I honestly think that that was one of the more messed up games of college gridiron that I’ve ever seen, and I have seen a few pretty messed up games in my lifetime! To everyone thinking that this was going to be the season that either one of Ceneisis or NGD were going to go back on top of the Zephyr Conference, I think this is the time to rethink those thoughts. Okay, okay, I get it; it’s just the third game of the season, There are seven games to go. There is no need to overreact to anything right now. Well, forgive me for having grown up in an environment where your favorite sports team disappoints you more times than not!

To think that it was those two missed extra points that cost the game for the Atheists. I mean, it was noted in his scouting report that Axel Goddard would have accuracy issues, but I never expected to come up so quickly and so clearly too! Who knows what could have happened in this game if he had been able to make those two conversions? Maybe they would have gotten to overtime and they could have won the game then! Or they could very easily have lost it there as well! These are the things that cross gridiron fans’ minds come the end of the day, and it’s a damn miracle that people could still go to sleep after thinking about these “what ifs” too much. It’s a very, very deep rabbit hole of scenarios and plays that could have been used instead of what was actually used, and I hate to be the one to have led you, my faithful fans and followers, completely astray just because of one game. But it does make you think. Those missed points, I mean.

Maximus Rochester Institute didn’t start this game on the right foot. There was no indication at all that they would be the first team to hand the resurgent Thereisnogodistan Community College their first NSCF defeat in Season 25, especially not after they wasted their first possession on a three-and-out. The Atheists, for their part, made short work of the other team as they marched down the field on their first possession, and Zachary Haskett punched his way into the end zone at the end of an 11-play drive that took the better part of nine minutes. However, that issue of Axel Goddard being a bit inaccurate from the right hash mark reared its ugly head as he sent the kick past the wrong side of the left upright on his first conversion attempt. Nobody thought much of it at the moment since it was Maximus Rochester that NGD were playing, but as we were about to see, they underestimated both Goddard’s inaccuracy and MRI to their detriment.

There wasn’t much to report on in the second quarter. Both sides could only score one field goal each, with MRI scoring from 22 yards out and Axel Goddard finding the right place right on the halfway line. The third quarter is where things would start getting interesting, even though at the time, it didn’t look that way at all. Thereisnogodistan would get the ball first in the third quarter, and they used their time on the ball to the fullest, taking only six minutes to march up the field before Wiley Atwater found Ashley Vicario in the end zone for an 11-yard touchdown. Unfortunately for NGD, Axel Goddard had to kick from the right hash once again, and this time he sent the pigskin past the outside of the right upright. But the score was still 15-3, and MRI didn’t look like they were capable of doing anything about it, right? Well, tell that to Patricia Villafana after she blew her coverage on one of MRI’s wideouts and basically allowed them to run the 60 yards to the end zone practically uncontested. And their kicker didn’t miss the conversion too so that was when the first alarm bells sounded ringing in Frank Nkong’o’s ears. But hey, at least NGD still had a five-point lead and the entire fourth quarter to work on that, right?

Not exactly. NGD started off the fourth quarter by going three-and-out, and Maximus Rochester ate up a lot of time with their drive, but eventually (and sadly if you were an NGD fan) they were able to make that long drive count with a touchdown of their own. The game was now 17-15 in favor of the Zephyr Conference’s new bottom dwellers. At least there was still some time left in the game to get at least another field goal, right? And NGD had the added benefit of a kicker with an impressive range as well. Well, that’s if you don’t make him take his kicks from the right hash. NGD decided to go for the field goal from 59 yards out, but once again, Axel Goddard’s greatest enemy came and struck him right when he was most vulnerable and most needed by his team. There were a lot of factors that could have made that field goal attempt go through though. The wind could have picked up at just the right time and allowed the ball to just flip over the bar, but instead it doinked against the thing and flew straight to the ground without having crossed anything of note. Maximus Rochester took to kneeling down to end the game once possession was turned over to them.

And that’s how Ceneisis Naval and Thereisnogodistan Community are going to meet each other at Richard Dawkins Park, with both sides at 2-1 and reeling from what could be said were surprising defeats. Well, maybe losing to Raynor wasn’t really a surprise for CenNaval. At least it wasn’t by a score of 75-10. But Maximus Rochester defeating the Atheists was certainly the upset of the conference this time! But the question is, who needs that victory more between the two Fleftic schools? Cases can be made both for and against both teams, but I’ll choose to do that in a different post. Until then, we’ll all just have to wait. Dewitt De Los Santos, Dewitt De Los Santos, Dewitt De Los Santos…

[Abanhfleft]

DISCLAIMER: Gaelic Gamers is an independent sports blogging website created by four cousins with a common liking and passion for sports of all kinds and is in no way or form affiliated with or organized by any official news organization in the Democratic Republic of Abanhfleft. All statements and opinions posted here are our own and not anyone else's.

---

Gaelic Gamers
Presents...

Gabbing on Gridiron
with Dara Keane

NSCF 25: CENEISIS NAVAL ACADEMY MATCHDAY FOUR

Thereisnogodistan    0  6  7  0  13
Ceneisis Naval       3  0  3  0  6

Ah, finally, the two Fleftic schools have come together to play against each other. This means that my NSCF workload is going to be cut in half, literally, because I don’t have to waste my time covering one school per blog post each. Instead, I can now cover both schools in just one post! Anyway, time to actually get back to work. Thereisnogodistan Community College versus Ceneisis Naval Academy. Now that was a meeting that used to draw in a lot of people, and I do mean a lot. Of course, this was back in the days when both teams were considered the powerhouses of the Zephyr Conference, and people were actually using the two games that these schools faced against each other to gauge who had the better chance of winning the conference title. Usually (and by usually, I actually mean always) that was CenNaval, but in recent years, both programs have become the doormats of the conference. But after both teams were able to win their first two games in a departure of the trend of earlier seasons, people once again flocked to the small town of Thereisnogodabad in the Colony of the Fhulghamous Peninsula to see how these two resurgent schools were going to perform against each other.

Both teams lost their respective third games in the conference, yes, but then the question becomes who needs the win in this game to bounce back? Ceneisis lost by 13 points against Raynor, but Raynor were the favorites in that game (even despite Eric Bush and company’s “comeback”) so a loss was maybe expected. And while NGD may have lost by only two points, it was against Maximus Rochester Institute of all teams, and they could have actually won the game if only Axel Goddard made that last-gasp field goal from 59 yards. So both teams definitely had a lot to gain by winning this meeting, as this could very well be the game that could make or break their seasons.

Even though NGD had the first possession, they couldn’t do anything about it so they had to punt the ball to the Ensigns for the visitors’ first possession. And while CenNaval were able to get closer to the end zone than NGD did, the Atheists’ defense made sure that the Ensigns couldn’t take full advantage, and Cody Ciancio’s sack on Eric Bush on 3rd and goal forced the visitors to settle for three points instead of six. The two teams would then exchange three-and-outs to finish the first quarter, and thus the second quarter would start with Thereisnogodistan in possession of the ball. NGD would use up ten minutes in 14 plays to get the first touchdown of the game, but it would be all worth it once Christopher Chong tipped the pylon while Theresa Hodge was breathing down the former’s neck. But once again, Axel Goddard’s Achilles heel made an appearance as he missed the one-point conversion from the right hash, but at least this time the pigskin actually managed to touch the right upright. Well, I say touch, but really, it was more like a graze. The upright didn’t make a doink sound when it was hit by the ball; instead, it was more of a dull “clang!” But no matter what sound it made, the end result was the same: 6-3 in favor of Thereisnogodistan Community College.

CenNaval couldn’t score in the second quarter, and they couldn’t do anything with the ball once they got it to start off the third quarter, so they had to hand it off to the home side. And then Thereisnogodistan took their sweet time marching down the field before it was finally capped off by Fredrick Shaffer jumping over the pile on the goal line and making the ball cross the plane. This time Axel Goddard was firmly on target, and there was nothing anybody wearing navy blue could do to stop him. Ceneisis managed to come up with another field goal, but after that, there was nothing. NGD’s barebones defense held firm against CenNaval’s carefully recruited O-line, but the Atheists’ threadbare offense found themselves easily swamped by the Ensigns’ defense. So now it’s NGD who have the 3-1 record while CenNaval falls to 2-2, but because of Mar Sara’s (slightly) superior points difference, they’re on top of the Zephyr Conference while Thereisnogodistan is second. This season of the NSCF is going to be very, very interesting, I think. I also feel in my bones that it could be a special one. Dustin Doohan, Dustin Doohan, Dustin Doohan…

[South Newlandia]

Ratzupalfu gets a big scalp in the mudhole

The Ratzupalfu University of Nature has been an extremely dangerous force at home thus far. They managed to come close to defeating the Salamantics, taking a 7-0 lead into the final quarter, they defeated Fair Haven State, and now, they have managed to get a major upset against the highly favored Northern Moravica. Part of the home strength for Ratzupalfu has been the unique playing environment. They had the help of rain in all of their three home games so far, massively complicating passing attempts, which heavily favoured their ground-heavy offense. Additionally, the extremely small Jungledrom has also proved to be helpful for the Egrets, with fewer opposing fans in the stands. Evidently, the Egrets are a fairly dangerous force in their home nest.
However, they have also been ineffective in their away showing at Elephant Valley, and of the remaining 9 games for the Egrets, seven of them will be away from home.

Against the Cougars, specifically, the Egrets were aided early when Apollo Esther had a rare, but costly fumble after Edith St. Clair punched the ball out and Kyle Dorn was able to pounce on the loose ball, giving the Egrets great field position. They capitalized, with Ayana punching it in a couple of plays later to give the Egrets an early 7-0 lead. The two teams traded punts before Edith St. Clair made another key play, sacking Wagner-Young on third and short to force another Cougars punt. Alicia Woodbrough continued her track record of mistakes for Northern Moravica when she had trouble bringing in a bad snap, leading to the punt being blocked by (player to be named). Blessed with another short field after another turnover, the Egrets were able to convert the short field into another touchdown, with Snelweg finding Evelyn Barristan for a score from three yards out.
In the second quarter, the Cougars rebounded somewhat, with Wagner-Young adding a touchdown to Jannik Nadine along with a field goal following an Egrets goal-line stand, but a field goal by Kevin Han had the Egrets up 17-10 at the half despite a Snelweg interception caught by Boro Baldeh.
In the second half, the Egrets got up to a great start with Ayana taking the opening kickoff to midfield, but the drive stalled and the Egrets were forced to punt. Back at their own 12, the Cougars went on a long drive, but turned the ball over on downs near the Egrets’ 40 thanks to a huge TFL on 4th&1 by Ghatool Gujjar. Once again, the Egrets were back in control, and were able to pin the Cougars deep in their territory once again. The last drive of the third quarter saw the Cougars going on a 94-yard drive punctuated by Russell Farmer coming down with a 7-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 17.
In the final quarter, the Egrets got the ball first, and went onto their only genuinely good drive of the game, helped out by not one, but two flags against the Cougars’ secondary on third down. Nevertheless, the 70-yard drive ended when Zamandi Ayana rushed for his second touchdown of the game. The Cougars struck back, going on a long touchdown drive again, Yaya Badjie being the recipient of the game-tying touchdown with about three minutes left on the clock.
Set up by great field position on the return, Snelweg found Ayana and Jefferson for first downs, before he scrambled to get out of bounds near the 30. A couple of incompletions gave Kevin Han the chance to walk off the game, and Han took the chance by nailing a 47-yard field goal to give the Egrets an unlikely win.

Power Rankings of the South Newlandian Press (that I will refuse to elaborate on (as of before MD5)) (obviously IC only power ranking is IC only. Obviously.)
1) University of Loyola-Istria (Celestia)
2) Cold Hill University (Big Eight)
3) Felswyr State University (Horizon)
4) Mar Sara Tech (Zephyr)
5) Trent State University (Mineral)
6) Sadeg State University (Horizon)
7) Hoofstra University (Horizon)
8) Brattleboro Technical Institute (Woodlands)
9) University of Alexandropolis (Mineral)
10) Salamantic Universities (Celestia)
11) Richardson University (Big Eight)
12) Swisston City University (Big Eight)

(going to edit in the scoring summaries later)

[Quebec and Shingoryeo]

Cutoff, Matchday 5 - Celestia, Mineral and Zephyr Conferences

---

Celestia Conference
Northern Moravica University (BNJ) 19–10 Fair Haven State (BAR)
University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ) 40–29 Ratzupalfu University of Nature (SNL)
Salamantic Universities (KOR) 15–16 Elephant Valley University (SNL)

P Celestia Conference                    Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)        5    4   1   179   94  +85
2 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)       5    3   2   108  103   +5
3 Salamantic Universities (KOR)            5    3   2    86   94   −8
4 Elephant Valley University (SNL)         5    3   2    80  105  −25
5 Ratzupalfu University of Nature (SNL)    5    2   3   114  105   +9
6 Fair Haven State (BAR)                   5    0   5    87  153  −66

Mineral Conference
Green City University (TJU) 12–0 Stevan Vaalburger College of Sports, Medicine & Leadership (ALS)
University of Alexandropolis (NGS) 7–23 Trent State University (TJU)
Byses (CRL) 26–30 University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (CBP)

P Mineral Conference                                                Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (CBP)                  5    4   1   153  120  +33
2 Trent State University (TJU)                                        5    4   1   181   54 +127
3 University of Alexandropolis (NGS)                                  5    3   2   112   56  +56
4 Green City University (TJU)                                         5    2   3    91   80  +11
5 Stevan Vaalburger College of Sports, Medicine & Leadership (ALS)    5    2   3    68  155  −87
6 Byses (CRL)                                                         5    0   5    74  214 −140

Zephyr Conference
Mar Sara Tech (VAL) 15–32 Thereisnogodistan Community College (NGD)
Raynor University (VAL) 26–20 Maximus Rochester Institute for Science and Technological Research (PFA)
Ceneisis Naval Academy (AFT) 17–13 University of Mancodas (PFA)

P Zephyr Conference                                                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Thereisnogodistan Community College (NGD)                                   5    4   1   110   68  +42
2 Ceneisis Naval Academy (AFT)                                                5    3   2   116   83  +33
3 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)                                                         5    3   2   128  119   +9
4 Raynor University (VAL)                                                     5    3   2   141  132   +9
5 University of Mancodas (PFA)                                                5    1   4   113  141  −28
6 Maximus Rochester Institute for Science and Technological Research (PFA)    5    1   4    67  132  −65