NSCF 28 - Everything Thread

[NSCF]

End of Season Award Winners

Most Outstanding Player:
** QB Kadesh Odika, Felswyr State University (Chromatika) -- 10 points (UNANIMOUS)

Offensive Player of the Year:
** QB Benoit Youngblood, Cold Hill University (Ranoria) -- 8 points

Runner-up: QB Adrian St. Roger, Upper Westside University (Saint Kanye) -- 2 points

Defensive Player of the Year:
** CB Lisa Bonsoon, Felswyr State University (Chromatika) -- 6 points

Runner-ups:
DE Frederic Benn-Kocian, Universite St. Croix (Quebec and Shingoryeo) -- 4 points

Special Teams Player of the Year:
** K Dwayne Markseon, Northern Moravica University (Banija)

With a single nomination on this category, Dwayne Markseon is automatically awarded the award.

Coach of the Year:
** HC Clement van Eeden Youngblood, Universite du Saguenay (Quebec and Shingoryeo) -- 6 points

Runner-ups:
HC Dennis Zervos, University of Loyola-Istria (Banija) -- 4 points

---

Minor Procedural note: Five members out of eleven NSCF committee members have voted. The NSCF Commissioner, Quebec and Shingoryeo, did not cast a vote.

Thank you! I expect ranks to be updated after the IFCF Cutoff at the end of the month, and the signups for the NSCF 27 to open on July 1 (Happy Canada Day!).

[Chromatika]

The Drive: 88 Yard Drive with 87 Seconds Left Leads Firehawks over Rockets

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Felswyr State University                   10   0  14   7   31
Raynor University                          10   7   3   7   27

1Q
12:32 RU TD - Mathias Bjørnstad 19 yard run (Nicolo Lorenz Kick)
10:11 FSU TD - Sydney Thomas 8 yard run (Ivan Homer Kick)
05:22 RU FG - Nicolo Lorenz 31 yard Field Goal
01:30 FSU FG - Ivan Homer 48 yard Field Goal

2Q
03:32 RU TD - Demetrius St. Pierre 48 yard pass from Octavien Soh-Brousseau (Nocolo Lorenz Kick)

3Q
11:29 FSU TD - Ulrich Jefferson 32 yard pass from Kadesh Odika (Ivan Homer Kick)
08:59 RU FG - Nicolo Lorenz 38 yard Field Goal
01:13 FSU TD - Lisa Bonsoon 58 yard interception return (Ivan Homer Kick)

4Q
07:19 RU TD - Oscar Apolo 17 yard pass from Octavien Soh-Brousseau (Nicolo Lorenz Kick)
00:02 FSU TD - Essa Kayode 7 yard pass from Kadesh Odika (Ivan Homer Kick)

After a long, grueling game, with both sides playing their heart out, the Felswyr State University Firehawks got the ball back with eighty-seven seconds left, starting at their twelve yard line, with no timeouts. Up to that point, Kadesh Odika had gone a modest 17-of-29 for 181 yards, a touchdown, and an interception; he hadn't been brilliant, but he wasn't bad either. The Junior, playing in his second title game in three seasons, did possess the most important thing - the mentality that everything was under control.

"We've got this," he told his teammates in the huddle, "Let's go get this done."

First and ten from the FSU twelve, the Firehawks ran a two-tight end set where Ulrich Jefferson would be released after blocking. Odika took the snap, and the line held for the three seconds needed to allow Jefferson to run the deep out route. Odika's pass was perfect, and Jefferson caught it for a fifteen yard gain, running out of bounds to stop the clock before Balder Westgaard could tackle him.

Then, first and ten from the FSU twenty-seven, Odika found Essa Kayode down the left sideline, placing the ball in the perfect spot so that Mateo Martinsson couldn't get to it. It was a twenty-three yard gain, and the team ran up to the line of scrimmage to make sure that they would not waste any time. A delayed draw to Sydney Thomas caught the Rockets by surprise, and the running back was able to pick up another eight yards to get the ball past midfield with just under a minute remaining.

An incomplete pass set them back, but the Firehawks were back with another sideline throw, this time down the right end with Vince Cartier catching it - another thirteen yards. The Rockets were reeling. At the Rockets' twenty-nine with forty-two seconds left, Odika wasted seven seconds with two plays that didn't work. Third and ten with thirty-five seconds left, Ulrich Jefferson made another contested catch for eleven yards, and the Firehawks were able to spike the ball with thirty seconds left and the ball at the eighteen yard line.

Then, disaster happened. Zakarias Håkansson, the Rockets' right end, made his way through the Firehawks' line to deck Odika to the turf. The Firehawks had to spike it again to stop the clock - losing twelve seconds and eight yards in the process. Fourth and eighteen at the twenty-six yard line beckoned.

Coming out in a trips set, three receivers to the right, it would be Nero Ramsey running the stick route right at the sticks, while Essa Kayode and Vince Cartier would run the decoy routes to try to get the defense to bite. They did, the offensive line bought enough time, and the Ranorian Freshman was able to make the catch and also run out of bounds - making it first and goal, from the seven yard line, with eleven seconds remaining.

Odika had to be smart with the ball while aiming at the end zone. On first down, nobody was open, so he threw the ball away. Eight seconds remaining.

Second down, the ball sailed through the back of the end zone, placed where only Jefferson would be able to catch it. Five seconds remaining.

Third down, Odika had to run for his life from the get-go, and barely threw the ball away. Two seconds remaining.

Fourth and goal. Two seconds left. Game on the line. The play called was Double Barrell Short - a normal set out of the shotgun, with every receiver going for the end zone - Kayode a curl, Cartier a drag route, Jefferson an out, and even Thomas running a wheel route after helping with the blocking.

Odika took the snap, rolled to his left - and saw that Kayode was open, but only barely - with Fassil Einku closing fast. Everyone else was blanketed. Odika's throw was low, but it was accurate - and Essa Kayode, the Banijan receiver who was the favorite target of the Banijan Quarterback, was able to catch the ball, one-handed, and scoop it in as Einku, the Banijan corner for Raynor University, made contact.

Game over. Homer's kick was good, and Raynor took one desperate heave at the end zone with the Hail Mary, to no avail.

The Firehawks had won their third title, and second in three years. Odika had won two - a feat that not even Sarai Gwenderyn was able to accomplish.

As his teammates lifted the trophy in celebration, Kadesh Odika was surprised by a figure crossing the field to shake his hand - the Chromatik legend, Sarai Gwenderyn.

"Congratulations," the Quarterback for the Ranoria City Falcons and the Iron Legion told him, "You've taken this program to heights that I couldn't."

With that - the highest of praise - Kadesh Odika cemented himself into Felswyr State's history books.

Oh, have we mentioned he has a year left?