NSCF 16 Everything Thread

[Valorem]

Well, if the scorination is delayed, I guess I have an opportunity to RP that game anyway. Almost forgot to.

Valorem-Meritus Dispatch
The Konigsberg Fusiliers defeated the University of Westshire 24-10, securing their place in the middle of the pack in the Mineral Conference. While the team has been unable to defeat the elite Redvali schools, they have now defeated Frontier State and Westshire twice and Stoltz once, and are traveling to Stoltz again next week.

On to the game summary:
Konigsberg started the game off with an aggressive drive, scoring a touchdown on a long run from RB Cal Gerig after he broke through the Westshire line with just one first down on the drive. Westshire soon answered with a touchdown of their own, although the Konigsberg defense was punishing and made their drive take 8 minutes of the first quarter. However, Westshire was able to get an average of 4 yards per run, and eventually they were able to score. Konigsberg's next drive resulted in a field goal, as the Westshire defense solidified at the 25 yard line and stopped Konigsberg for 3 plays. Westshire was also forced to go for a field goal in the early second quarter, tying the game 10-10, but the Westshire coach did not know that this would be the last time Westshire scored for the entire game.

In the second half, Konigsberg came out of the locker room reinvigorated after a rousing speech by coach Otto Sheinfeld. They immediately drove down the length of the field with a series of shotgun passes for ~15 yards each, scoring a touchdown in about 3 minutes. Westshire's next drive was stopped without a single first down by the newly energetic Fusilier defense, who managed to force a total loss of 12 yards by sacking the quarterback twice in 3 plays. After a terrible punt by Westshire for just 30 yards (due to a rough bounce), WR Heinrich Norbert returned the ball 15 yards to the Westshire 28. From there, Konigsberg had no trouble at all scoring, and did so within 2 minutes. Neither team scored for the entire fourth quarter, as a determined Fusilier defense stalled the Westshire offense at the 40 yard line (followed by a missed FG attempt), while the Fusiliers switched to a non-aggressive style and coasted to a 24-10 victory.

[Drawkland]

BIG EIGHT & CELESTIA

Official Cutoff for Week Eight. Sorry it's late. Don't hate. It's just fate.

---

Celestia Conference
Nuovoseronese College of Economics (NVS) 0–23 Army Academy (FFR)
University of Angelwood-Aprilia (USS) 27–7 Republica's Naval Academy (FFR)
University of Syracuse (TAA) 3–33 Leopord Central University (FND)

★-Celestia Conference                       Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Leopord Central University                  8    8   0   243   39 +204
2 Army Academy                                8    6   2   161   86  +75
3 University of Angelwood-Aprilia             8    5   3   138   71  +67
4 Nuovoseronese College of Economics          8    3   5    54  156 −102
5 Republica's Naval Academy                   8    2   6    63  156  −93
6 University of Syracuse                      8    0   8    46  197 −151

Big Eight Conference
Richardson University (RAN) 13–7 Sos del Rey University (BIC)
Flebeshar State University (FSA) 24–7 Grove University (QAD)
Raynor University (VAL) 13–10 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)

8-Big Eight Conference                      Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Richardson University                       8    7   1   191   65 +126
2 Raynor University                           8    6   2   201  140  +61
3 Mar Sara Tech                               8    5   3   136  100  +36
4 Sos del Rey University                      8    4   4   136   92  +44
5 Flebeshar State University                  8    1   7    80  182 −102
6 Grove University                            8    1   7    68  233 −165

[Valanora]

Horizon Conference
Emmanuel Theological Seminary (RMT) 17–27 Ramusok Capital University (COS)
Drawk Corps University (DRK) 34–27 Stoneshore College (COS)
Harbor College (KAL) 26–0 University of Stratison (STC)

P Horizon Conference                   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Harbor College (KAL)                   8    6   2   169  113  +56    12
2 Ramusok Capital University (COS)       8    6   2   183  138  +45    12
3 Emmanuel Theological Seminary (RMT)    8    5   3   158  125  +33    10
4 Stoneshore College (COS)               8    4   4   119  107  +12     8
5 Drawk Corps University (DRK)           8    2   6   128  172  −44     4
6 University of Stratison (STC)          8    1   7    54  156 −102     2

Mineral Conference
The University of Westshire (WSU) 6–10 Castle Valle Rojas University (TRV)
Mount Maris University (TRV) 17–14 Frontier State College (END)
Stoltz University (SSV) 10–33 University of Konigsberg (VOR)

P Mineral Conference                   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD   Pts 
1 Castle Valle Rojas University (TRV)    8    7   1   189   63 +126    14
2 Mount Maris University (TRV)           8    7   1   157  117  +40    14
3 University of Konigsberg (VOR)         8    6   2   161   85  +76    12
4 Frontier State College (END)           8    3   5   132  145  −13     6
5 The University of Westshire (WSU)      8    1   7   102  157  −55     2
6 Stoltz University (SSV)                8    0   8    70  244 −174     0

[West Phoencia]

The University of Jackson Archaeopteryxs continue to impress the West Phoenician crowds after match day 7 saw the Archaeopteryxs defeat the University of Luvenstat 10-0.

With the boost of confidence they went on to play Bokator University beating them 10-0.

The next match will see them up against Karl Marx University as both play for the number one spot.

Head Coach Trevor Adelaide is the talk around all universities; his tough discipline of his players and dedication to team work and focusing on each individual player and what they can bring to the game has opened up many eyes with other universities looking to either poach Trevor Adelaide or take a leaf out of his training to use it for their sporting teams.

Half time at West Phoenician games have also seen the Archaeopteryxs Cheerleading squad up their performance, fire batons, glitter cannons and in synch back flips, cartwheels and basket tosses have kept the crowds entertained during half time.

[Barunia]

It's week 9, and with two games to go, it's time to talk about the team's performance. First of all the offence. It's been a decent season for KMU, with 7 touchdowns. Remarkably, excluding PATs, this equates to less than half the team's total points this season, at 49.4%.

Quarterback Michael Górski threw 3 TD passes, including a 53 yard long-bomb to wide receiver Norman Roth. Team passing yards, shared by Górski and Nick Downe, have been 916 yards. Running back Adam Lockhart has been the season's workhorse, running 280 yards out of the team total of 396.

With 10 field goals and 7 PATs, Billy Hook has been the standout player of the tournament, having scored 43.5% of the team's overall points. The kicker, who previously had been a (association) footballer, only missed1 PAT and 4 field goals in the season. That's even more impressive when you consider that two of those missed shots were speculative chances from outside 40 yards.

The big success story for KMU has been the defence. They've given up just 29 points all season, an average of under 4 per game, and scored 4 shut-outs. The line has been absolutely solid, with Shannon Randell and Christopher Moore the standouts. Moore picked up 3 sacks, and Randell also has 1. Other defensive standouts are middle linebacker Kevin Roach, cornerback Russel Starr and linebacker Daryl York.

The star player for KMU though has been cornerback Eddie Rowe. Rowe's impressive season includes 7 interceptions, including 1 in each of the first four games, and 47 tackles. His interception in game 3 was run in for a touchdown, making him the only KMU defensive player to score points this season, whilst in game 6, he took an interception in the end zone to deny the University of Luvenstat a chance of winning.

KMU sit just underneath the University of Jackson, who defeated the Reds in their last head-to-head. In game 9, the two sides face off in what will surely be the decider for top honours in Sequoia Conference.

[Ranoria]

Richardson University Governors: A New Era; Chapter 7: Renewal

At home after their first loss, the Governors' were, admittedly, shaky this late in the season after such a hard-fought game. Worse yet, they still had multiple injured starters in Melvin Strong, their running back, Anthony Foster, a wide receiver who'd always been a productive player, now in his senior year, and Tank Carradine, a talented and overall solid defensive end. As they prepared to march out, onto their home field, once more, Kevin Gerhart turned toward his brothers, his expression hard and unyielding. "Listen to me! All of you!"

There was silence by the entire team as he addressed all of them, "I've heard the talk, we all have. The talk that we aren't good enough without our entire starting lineup. That we have no run game, now. That we're going to drop our last three games and lose the conference that way. Well, how about I tell you this one: We aren't going to lose, not now, after we've fought so hard, and had so much success in our first season on the international stage. We are a Ranorian team, and we are bringing our home, our nation, pride every time we step foot on this field. And every time we wrestle a victory from the clutches of our opponents, the entire country rejoices."

"So control what you can control," he strapped up his helmet, that familiar clicking sound coming just as the referee gave them clearance to march out onto the football field, "And always remember, Ranoria is our home, and to her must go all our power! Now let's go win this thing!"

---

The first half had been a struggle for both sides, with Richardson University putting up a single touchdown, resulting in a 7-0 game by the middle of the fourth quarter. They did have the lead, but it looked as if their defensive front was finally going to be penetrated by Flebeshar's offense, which was marching the ball down, at the fifty yard line. Tank Carradine's absence had created a soft spot in an otherwise solid defensive line, and it was allowing the run game to work significantly better, as well as for their quarterback to scramble to what had been the defensive end's side of the field and thus escape the pocket. Grant Zimmerman, a freshman, simply wasn't fast enough, yet, to stop him.

With Kevin Gerhart a few yards behind him, their quarterback planted his foot, quickly setting himself up for a throw, and let the ball fly. It wasn't the most accurate of throws, but it managed to find its mark ten yards ahead for a first down, the receiver taking the ball downfield for another five before Davon Stovall lowered his shoulder and put the man into the dirt, stopping the play there and looking to the sideline, towards their head coach, as if asking for him to find a solution to this particular issue.

John Garrett, watching, blinked, feeling as he'd found a solution, possibly, to their issue at defensive end, "Coach!" He pulled on Richard Steinheil's, their head coach, sleeve, "Their quarterback is picking us apart outside of the pocket, coach. He's only escaping to the left, Carlos is keeping contain, but Grant isn't. Pull Grant out and bump Jarrett Hauptmann down to defensive end. Clark Braunn can play outside linebacker in our system."

"Sit down, John." Steinheil rubbed his chin a bit, then shouted for Braunn, giving him his instructions and shoving him off on to the field.

The next play, when Flebeshar's quarterback tried, yet again, to escape the pocket, Jarrett Hauptmann was there to bring him down, and on the next, when they tried to run up the middle, Kevin Gerhart brought their runner down for a loss, ever a disruptive force up the middle. But, on third and fourteen, when they tried to air it out from the pocket, Candle Brown was right there to snatch the pass out of the air, tucking it and shedding the reciever's half-hearted attempt at a tackle, managing to take the ball thirty yards down the field before he was brought down.

Unfortunately, the offense, despite their excitement, managed a three and out after Dylan Tweed dropped a pass on second and one, and Elijah Sampson couldn't pick up the one yard on a run.

The next drive, the Richardson defense's pass rush managed two sacks, a pass deflection, and a tackle for a loss, but it just wasn't quite enough, Bryan Gray, their number 2 corner, getting beat for a deep, forty yard bomb while their safeties were hovering over other receivers, Flebeshar tying the game with a minute and a half to go after the extra point.

As John Garrett came onto the field, now in the shotgun formation, he knew he had to play better. He'd been off-canter all day, his leg tight enough, still, that his throwing motion was off-rhythm, and without Soup Shorts and Melvin Strong to supplement his passing attack with a powerful ground game, it had left their offense stagnant, managing only six point in this contest.

The quarterback looked to his receivers, taking note of everyone on the field. Javier Gilmore was still an absolute stud, but Dylan Tweed, despite being a nice slot option, wasn't very reliable, Larry Foster, the younger brother of Anthony, at the other wideout spot, wasn't as fast or athletic as his brother had been, and Jordan Payton was a less than mediocre player, at best. Of course, Johnny Farmer, at tight end, was a huge issue for defenses to cover, so he and Gilmore would have to be his primary targets as they looked on to an eighty-yard stretch of field with eighty four seconds on the clock.

He took the snap as the drive began, looking first to Tweed on a slant, but he would get hammered by the linebacker if he threw that ball, and there was no way the reciever would hang on. His next read came to Gilmore's corner, he would make his break in five yards, he'd see about that then, and then Farmer, but he had two men on him, and was about to wander into a third.

So his eyes snapped back to Javier Gilmore, throwing the ball with some touch to where he'd be after the break, and the receiver had just enough separation to get a couple extra yards, taking them from the twenty to the forty five yard line in a single play. The next few snaps weren't as explosive, but they managed to move the ball, the clock slowly but surely wearing down, using two timeouts in the process, until John Garrett was sacked for a loss, bringing them down to eight as they called the last of their timeouts, the offense now at third and nine at the thirty yard line. Obviously, they couldn't look to get a first down, now, any play, depending on how it went, could end regulation.

The next play call was, quite simply, a five-man hail mary attempt, with each and every reciever running a streak towards the end zone. Flebeshar's defensive coordinator was smart, though, only bringing a two man rush, knowing that John Garrett wasn't going to be able to scramble with his lingering injury, along with the fact that his pass rush hadn't brought the quarterback down all game, leaving nine men to cover five.

The instant that he thought he saw an opening, Garrett let the ball rip out of his hands, Dylan Tweed having broken off from his given route two yards from the end zone, losing the coverage and sprinting towards the corner, but, despite the pass hitting him in the hands, it then hit the ground with one second left on the clock.

John Garrett, having analyzed the coverage, pulled Johnny Farmer and Javier Gilmore in close before the ball was snapped. "Ignore the playcall. You're both being covered by three guys, a fly route won't work. Both of you need to break at the three yard line and run towards the opposite corner of the end zone. I'll find a way to hit one of you."

He motioned for them to go, and looked over at Tweed, just before the ball was snapped, "Stick to your assignment this time! Hike!"

The ball touched his hands, and this time, for the first time in the game, the pass rush managed to break through with only two men, but Garrett managed to sidestep him, wincing in pain at the explosive movement and looking downfield as he set himself up for the throw. Farmer might have been able to come down with the ball, but Gilmore was wide open, only one man covering him anywhere in his vicinity, and the ball flew like a dart, the receiver physically pushed back by the throw, but he fell back with it in his hands, no time left on the clock, and the win in the books, now.

Johnny Farmer hauled up the receiver with a cry of victory, nothing but excited shouts coming from his mouth as John Garrett sat back, letting himself lay down on their dirt field with a sigh of relief.

He wasn't sure which one felt better, throwing a walk-off touchdown or getting off his injured leg.

[The Redvale]

A Tale Of Two Sisters

Chapter Eight: Rivalry

It was Saturday night in Red Valley, and the new Bay Coliseum was rocking as the hated rivals from up north came down to continue their recent run of success over Castle and take a one game lead over their rivals in the Mineral Conference standings. The south end bleachers were home to some of the rowdiest fans in the country, with some of them having made the trip up from Castle to see their team play in the biggest game of the season, and the band could be seen at full strength in that southern end zone, intimidating with the notes that they played after every down.

This was an example of a high pressure game that reminded everyone of the Super Twelve domestic season in Redvale, and finally, the rest of the world was able to see what it was like when the titans of the Redvali game clashed, this time in the Mineral Conference instead of the Super Twelve. The game was physical, both teams were showing aggression in the opening minutes, and both staffs weren't afraid of showing emotion on the sideline and reminding their players at every moment of the importance of the game. In other words, this was set to be a slugfest, even though it was early.

“Oooooohhhhhh! Ooooooohhhhhh! Oooooooohhhhhh! Oh! Let's go Bees!” shouted the crowd, as the Castle huddle broke and the players lined up on offense for their second drive of the game after being held scoreless on the first. Even as the players entered their formation, the band was still playing and the fans were still cheering, and as Mount Maris lined up against them in their 3-4 defensive front that looked like it was masking a blitz, there was a real buzz in the stadium that was hard to describe. Those who were there would be able to describe it, but on TV, the atmosphere just didn't come across the same as it did live.

“Blue eighteen!” shouted Peri Fothergill, moving up in the pocket and standing under center in a late adjustment to the play that saw Castle jump from shotgun to pistol formation to surprise the Marisian defense. She looked around, pointed out the middle linebacker, and also made her offensive line aware of Julien Preus creeping down from the corner position on a potential blitz. It looked like a safety blitz was coming too, but Jax Pace had already pointed that out. “Ready… Set!”

Jax snapped the ball and she immediately took her drop and looked to the right side of the field, where Ibrahim Marks-Kagawa was running a post route. However, she wouldn't be able to get the pass off, because the pressure was coming from places where the offensive line hadn't even expected. Preus had moved back into coverage, the safeties were spreading to the sidelines and covering the deep routes that were headed that way, and the linebackers were leaving the middle of the field open and coming with an overload of the edge.

Peri tucked the ball and rolled out of a tackle when the left tackle, collapsed and allowed a blitzing Bryan Costas through, and she managed to take a side step out of the pocket before lunging back in the other direction when he went for the tackle to cause him to slip up, buying her some more time to look downfield. She was about to throw to Marks-Kagawa, who had improvised and ducked under the safeties in the middle of the field, but she wouldn't be able to get the throw off for the second time either.

There was an audible sound of helmets cracking as Eke Kuhn, the other stud pass rusher on the Mount Maris front seven, slammed into Peri and took her down while leading with the top of his helmet. The impact shook her to the core, it sent her to the ground and it left her lying there even after Eke had gotten up, and she was pretty sure that she had gotten a concussion from the hit. If not, she had to be injured in some other way. Her shoulder was sore, she felt like she had just been run over by a train, and the stadium had gone silent.

The only sound in the stadium was that of whispering and murmuring, and the referee called a medical timeout as the medical staff from Castle came out to check out how badly she had been injured or if she was injured at all, or simply shaken. They helped her up, asked her some questions about how she was feeling, and they led her back to the sideline. It was clear, however, that she wasn't going to be able to come back in for this drive and maybe not for the entire game.

The stadium went from silence to giving her a standing ovation when she was able to reach the sideline, and she raised a hand to acknowledge them as they cheered her. But still, the disappointment showed on her face as she pulled her helmet off and one of the team doctors started examining her for a concussion. Her rival, Amalie Russey, was watching and waiting by the coaches, and she could see that they were giving her the signal to enter the game for Peri.

“My time,” she could hear Amalie saying, as she pulled her own helmet on and adjusted her gloves. She was still dressed as if she was ready to play fullback, with the double elbow wraps and the gloves that she wore when she was playing that position, and she even had a different pair of cleats than the ones that she usually had when she was playing as a quarterback, but there wasn't time to change all of that.

Paco Reyes had argued with Amalie and told her to transfer, but now he was in an awkward spot as he realized that he would have to call the plays for her as the quarterback for as long as Peri was down. Still, he gave her the final instructions from Michael Cho and watched as she ran out onto the field for the first time during this game, looking like she was already comfortable with the position again.

She went straight into the huddle and relayed the instructions for that play, before clapping her hands to break that huddle and trotting to her position under center. She barked the cadence out like a pro, like she hadn't missed any time at all, and she even came very close to drawing the Mount Maris defense offside by drawing out the cadence and making them think that she was having the ball snapped on two, when it was really on four.

And so, the ball was snapped and for the first time in weeks, Amalie Russey dropped back as the quarterback of Castle Valle Rojas University. But how long would it last?

~

Francis Allan found himself in an interesting spot. He was the head coach of the major title rival of the team that had made him what he was today, and that move had been met with widespread hate from Castle fans who felt betrayed by the man that they had previously worshiped. There had been no team that relied on its coach more than Castle under Francis Allan, who had wrote the blueprint for everything from their recruiting to their defense that had been the best in NSCF last season, and they had been willing to extend his contract for as long as he wished, they had even been willing to give him a monument on campus before he had even won anything with them.

But he turned it down to head north and coach the big school that had long been in his heart before the move even became an option, one of the ones that he had grown up watching and that had a legacy that went much further than that of Castle. Legacy was what had given Mount Maris their coach, and it was what had given them considerable recruiting power despite their internal situation not being that great.

The head coach that had revived them in the modern era had been Diogo Reyes, but the trouble that they had with the RCAA had led to him being fired abruptly and replaced with the head coach of their arch rival, Rori Callahan, but Callahan had lost the locker room and had alienated the star quarterback of the team among others. He had been replaced by Arend Starke, but Starke had won the Mineral Conference with less than a year left on his contract and had demanded a longer extension than Mount Maris was willing to give.

Markus Fuller had shown that he wasn't willing to bend to the will of a rookie head coach, and so Maris had let the man that had led them to the title walk for nothing, and they had thrown everything towards getting the man that was on the sidelines for their rivals down south. If they hadn't signed Francis Allan, Fuller likely would have been run out of town as AD. But in a typically Marisian coup, they had been able to steal him from Castle and convince him to sign on for them to become the highest paid Redvali coach, an they had somehow convinced him to walk into what at the time was a very unstable program.

But he had stabilized them, and he had brought their swagge back. Under him, the players weren't afraid to show out and they weren't afraid to disrespect the competition and anyone who wasn't on their side. They were like the Mount Maris teams of the past, the ones that were either loved or hated but that were never ignored, the ones that were always in the front page of the papers for whatever reasons and the ones that were as infamous for their off of the field exploits as they were for anything that they did in the games.

Diogo Reyes had tried to bring that culture back after the darker years of the program, but his commitment to his players ultimately drew him into conflict with the RCAA and forced the school to give him the boot after winning three straight domestic titles and a handful of conference titles. Rori Callahan had done the opposite and had tried hard to clean up their image, which was one of the reasons why he never lasted a full season. Arend Starke had started to bring back the old culture, but had overestimated how much the team valued him and had fallen into the trap of thinking that he wasn't just another cog in the machine that Reyes had built. Diogo was the architect, and even when he was in Glennam and coaching football at the professional level, he would always have more sway than the actual head coach did.

At least, that was the case if they went with someone from his system, someone that was in house. Francis Allan was the best of both worlds. He wasn't from the Reyes system and he wouldn't be limited by trying to stick to the way that the fired coach had played, but he also idolized Reyes and knew the importance of that style to Mount Maris. He was able to implement it without being tied to it and he was able to bring some of what he had tried to do in Castle, with more recruiting power on his side. He was capable of being adaptable and pragmatic, and he was making his own blueprint based on that pragmatism.

Right now, it looked like that blueprint was at stake. They had just lost 40-10 in Red Valley and had allowed Amalie Russey to come off of the bench and throw three touchdowns while rushing for one more out of the veer formation, and his return to Castle had been spoiled by the very tactical system that he had pioneered there and built into their team identity. Even worse, they had dropped to second in the conference standings and unless Castle dropped one of their last games, they weren't going to repeat as champions of the Mineral Conference.

Suddenly, this massive fanbase was enraged at the results, and suddenly, it looked like that culture change might take a little longer than what was expected to fully implement. They had been so close to achieving success in his first season, and now they could run the table and still not win the conference. It was one of those moments that would either make a team come back stronger or destroy them entirely.

“Alright, everyone. Listen up. We're faced with a decision right now,” he said, as they entered the locker room shortly after the loss, and after the team had refused to speak with the media. “We can either roll over right now and surrender the conference title that we're fighting so hard to defend. Or we can come back from this and put pressure on Castle to slip up in the last two games and hand it to us. All of you will have to make that choice on your own… But I believe I know what kind of decision you will make.”

This post game talk would be interesting.

[Valorem]

Valorem-Meritus Dispatch
The University of Konigsberg's Fusiliers defeated Stoltz University in a road game, 33-10. This was not much of a surprise to any returning fans in the Mineral Conference, as the Stoltz team have not had a winning season since Konigsberg joined the NSCF - they were 2-8 last year in conference play, and so far are 0-8 this year. Regardless, this week has been very important for Konigsberg. The team have been hard at work, watching film from all of the Mount Maris Friars' games this season - particularly their crushing 29-6 defeat of the Fusiliers earlier in the season. The defense has been drilling against almost every play seen in the Maris films, working toward immediate play recognition. QB Quinn Iseya seems to have found a niche on the team, and can be counted on for both rapid shotgun passes and long throws, although he is decidedly better at the latter. The offense is still working on adapting to his new leadership style, as most of them were used to former QB Daniel Prescott's style instead. In addition, it's been a bit strange for the Fusiliers to work with a Redvali quarterback since both of their in-conference rivals hail from the Redvale. Hopefully, this full week of preparation and a relatively relaxed game the week before will allow the Fusiliers to take revenge on the Friars for such a crushing defeat earlier.

The Konigsberg-Mount Maris game will kick off at 6 PM CET in Buckley Stadium, but the entire stadium has been sold out for 3 weeks. However, the game is being televised on the Valorian Sports Network for any of you that couldn't get tickets in time.

[Drawkland]

BIG EIGHT & CELESTIA

Official Cutoff for Week Nine.

---

Celestia Conference
University of Syracuse (TAA) 3–0 Nuovoseronese College of Economics (NVS)
Leopord Central University (FND) 12–14 University of Angelwood-Aprilia (USS)
Republica's Naval Academy (FFR) 10–3 Army Academy (FFR)

★-Celestia Conference                       Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Leopord Central University                  9    8   1   255   53 +202
2 University of Angelwood-Aprilia             9    6   3   152   83  +69
3 Army Academy                                9    6   3   164   96  +68
4 Nuovoseronese College of Economics          9    3   6    54  159 −105
5 Republica's Naval Academy                   9    3   6    73  159  −86
6 University of Syracuse                      9    1   8    49  197 −148

Big Eight Conference
Raynor University (VAL) 10–27 Richardson University (RAN)
Mar Sara Tech (VAL) 27–14 Flebeshar State University (FSA)
Grove University (QAD) 7–44 Sos del Rey University (BIC)

8-Big Eight Conference                      Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Richardson University                       9    8   1   218   75 +143
2 Mar Sara Tech                               9    6   3   163  114  +49
3 Raynor University                           9    6   3   211  167  +44
4 Sos del Rey University                      9    5   4   180   99  +81
5 Flebeshar State University                  9    1   8    94  209 −115
6 Grove University                            9    1   8    75  277 −202

* Both conference leaders have clinched a playoff berth.

[Frenline Delpha]

Cut-Off Time

Zephyr Conference
Thereisnogodistan Community College (NGD) 43–0 University of Lisianski (LSI)
Ceneisis Naval Academy (AFT) 20–6 Innusburg University (ALS)
Zenderfield  College (MUS) 7–14 University of Aldhuld (ALS)

  Zephyr Conference                          Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
1 Ceneisis Naval Academy (AFT)                 9    9   0   211   53 +158
2 Thereisnogodistan Community College (NGD)    9    7   2   176   98  +78
3 Innusburg University (ALS)                   9    6   3   138   63  +75
4 University of Aldhuld (ALS)                  9    4   5   138  160  −22
5 University of Lisianski (LSI)                9    1   8    75  225 −150
6 Zenderfield  College (MUS)                   9    0   9    43  182 −139

[Kalalau]

---

No Goose, But Still Plenty of Gander for Harbor College
Story by Abraham Shepherd


MOSAIC--Well, if nothing else, at least they are consistent.

For the Harbor College gridiron football team, the NCSF 16 season started as so many others have--with sincere questions about how well the team could perform amidst such turmoil. Eight weeks through the season, and the team has answered those questions just as it has in virtually every other season--clinging at or near the top of the much contested Horizon Conference and with a potential playoff berth looming. And with a week nine clash at The Plumeria Garden against miracle workers Emmanuel Theological Seminary, the Honu could potentially seal up a playoff appearance sooner rather than later if all of the cards are played perfectly and if they get some help from Stoneshore College in Cosumar.

Stoneshore, who hosts Ramusok Capital during the week nine tilt, could potentially offer a spoiler to Ramusok Capital’s season despite what appears to be down year and playoff bust for the Bruins. A Harbor College win coupled with a Stoneshore upset would secure the Horizon bid in favor of Harbor College, where, for once at least, the rest of the Horizon would need to wait another month (!) to determine its postseason fate. But lets not get too hasty. Don’t forget that Ramusok Capital came into the season as the undisputed number one team by virtue of an NSCF 15 championship. But lets also not forget the immense upset Ramusok suffered at the hands of lowly University of Stratison early this season.

Still, a Harbor College win on Saturday would firmly put the Honu in the driver’s seat even if solace from Stoneshore does not follow; a Honu win in the final two conference games would deliver the same playoff berth regardless of any other result in the Horizon conference.

As noted, if nothing else, at least the team is consistent. And that is hard to say about a team that has been anything but in its existence in the NSCF.

What began in NSCF 10 was a saga that began with Goose Carneghy at the helm of what could only be termed a bit of a dysfunctional team, morphing every week with some new, exotic wrinkle to shake things up in the NSCF. For seasons, fans sat through the wild Gooses antics on the sidelines as he diabolicized some new way to throw the unprepared at the opponent. Remember that time the Goose changed everybody’s numbers prior to the game on a whim? Or that time the whole team wore the same number? Or the time when the Goose changed everybody’s numbers during the game--multiple times--to throw the oppenent off? And for seasons, it was must see TV, because that is the type of thing that happens when the team is winning.

Cue NSCF 16. What began in NSCF 16 was the continuing saga of Goose Carneghy and the next big development--except, of course, when it wasn’t. With just a couple of weeks notice before the season, the Goose mysteriously pulled himself from all team activities and has not been heard from since, leaving the next big development as a clumsy handoff to defensive coordinator Samson Fisafua. The result? Well, teams still don’t know what to prepare for, and the team is still winning more games than it is losing.

And, it is still must see TV.

The result has been Fisafua--the Rooster--bringing a strongly hybrid attack to the Horizon Conference, one in which different pieces are used in every single game plan which makes it near impossible for opposing teams to predict the attack. And just as the Goose did for the team, it is working. One week might feature a sixth string wide receiver to great extent, while other weeks might employ a more traditional attack from the Honu ‘stars.’ Heck, even Rogelio Encarnacion--a runningback who at the beginning of the season was in danger of losing his roster spot--found a featured role as the bell cow last week versus Stratison.

Its a startegy that, in some ways, has the Rooster channeling his inner Goose.

In other ways, however, it couldn’t be further from the truth. With the removal of the Goose from this season’s Honu coaching staff, the Rooster has also removed much of the fluff from the Harbor College team. But sometimes rooster feathers work just as well as the more expensive down without all of the hype of the former.

And the Rooster has done his part in asking the team to tow the company line, leading by example. In fact, the rumors that started this season--rumors about a possible violent schism between Goose Carneghy and the College--have all but died in the wake of the Rooster’s flight, and not by the means that many in the media may have expected. Fisafua and the team have dispelled any rumors not by virtue of answering any of the tough questions but in the exact opposite. When it became apparent that neither Fisafua nor any team members--nor, for that matter, any official word from the office of College President Dr. Evangel Brickstone--would speak any further of Carneghy’s situation, the rumors seemed to be at least pushed underground.

Of course, it helps that the Rooster can talk the talk and walk the walk. Winning, it appears, covers a multitude of sins.

Fisafua’s staunch “who’s here is who’s here” attitude has at least made a change of pace in the post-game pressers. Honu fans are glad it hasn’t made a change of pace in the Horizon standings.

Perhaps the bigger question for Harbor College is not what happened to the Goose but when will Fisafua--fully--take the roost. Should Fisafua wrap up the Horizon Conference title--something Carneghy did exactly once in six years as head coach--in his first season as “interim” head coach, many fans will certainly wonder if Harbor College drops the “interim” from his title. Goose Carneghy, as of this writing, is still questionably labeled as the team’s head coach and “on sabbatical.”

At the very least, the questions many fans and the media started the season with may be put to rest for good should Fisafua lock up the Horizon Conference in the next couple of weeks.

And even if Fisafua should fail to strut to the apex of the Horizon Conference, we still think it will be a “when” rather than “if” in regards to losing the “interim” tag.

For now, the South Seas Sentinel--and Harbor College fans--will turn their attention with the exact same company line that the team itself has towed under Fisafua: the next opponent.

[Valanora]

Horizon Conference
Harbor College (KAL) 16–10 Emmanuel Theological Seminary (RMT)
Unversity of Stratison (STC) 7–37 Drawk Corps University (DRK)
Stoneshore College (COS) 0–17 Ramusok Capital University (COS)

P Horizon Conference                   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 Harbor College (KAL)                   9    7   2   185  123  +62
2 Ramusok Capital University (COS)       9    7   2   200  138  +62
3 Emmanuel Theological Seminary (RMT)    9    5   4   168  141  +27
4 Stoneshore College (COS)               9    4   5   119  124   −5
5 Drawk Corps University (DRK)           9    3   6   165  179  −14
6 University of Stratison (STC)          9    1   8    61  193 −132

Mineral Conference
Stoltz University (SSV) 3–28 The University of Westshire (WSU)
University of Konigsberg (VOR) 19–38 Mount Maris University (TRV)
Frontier State College (END) 23–10 Castle Valle Rojas University (TRV)

P Mineral Conference                   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
1 Mount Maris University (TRV)           9    8   1   195  136  +59
2 Castle Valle Rojas University (TRV)    9    7   2   199   86 +113
3 University of Konigsberg (VOR)         9    6   3   180  123  +57
4 Frontier State College (END)           9    4   5   155  155    0
5 The University of Westshire (WSU)      9    2   7   130  160  −30
6 Stoltz University (SSV)                9    0   9    73  272 −199

[Kalalau]

Matchday Nine Results

SEQUOIA CONFERENCE
Bokator University (BKR) 0–6 University of Luvenstat (KCZ)
University of Jackson (KWP) 16–0 Karl Marx University (BAU)
Coimbra University (LUS) 0–10 Calix City Institute of Archaeology (KBC)

SEQUOIA                                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1  (University of Jackson)*                 9    7   2   126   46  +80
2  (Karl Marx University)                   9    6   3    85   45  +40
3  (Calix City Institute of Archaeology)    9    5   4    69   39  +30
4  (Coimbra University)                     9    4   5    68  143  −75
5  (University of Luvenstat)                9    4   5    62   49  +13
6  (Bokator University)                     9    1   8    39  127  −88

*University of Jackson has clinched the Sequoia Conference by virtue of head to head wins (2-0) over Karl Marx University

WOODLANDS CONFERENCE
University of Iqaluit (QUE) 10–17 Universite du Saguenay (QUE)
Universite St. Croix (QUE) 34–13 Utica University (OSR)
Palæontological-Centered Research (NTN) 14–3 Universidad de Hermanas del Ampliamirada (AQL)

WOODLANDS                                      Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1  (Universite St. Croix)                        9    7   2   197  120  +77
2  (Universite du Saguenay)                      9    7   2   156  107  +49
3  (Utica University)                            9    6   3   180  121  +59
4  (University of Iqaluit)                       9    4   5    66   83  −17
5  (Universidad de Hermanas del Ampliamirada)    9    2   7    70  159  −89
6  (Palæontological-Centered Research)           9    1   8    57  136  −79

[The Royal Kingdom of Quebec]

OOC : Sorry for delays, guys. I had to deal with a personal loss recently, which (on its only fortunate note) helped me to decide and fuel this series' direction right to the end. With that being said, I'll be sailing full steam with RPing so woot!

Part 2

The Truth - Chapter III

So now we've reached the third chapter of the Dexter Ahn series, as we get more glimpses from Dexter here and there. Now we're more familiar with what we're getting with our protagonist, as he begins the recovery and tells his stories of troubles to those whom he cares about. Regardless of the audience, whether it be his high school teacher or famous coach-uncle, he seems to explain them with particular emphasis on detail and psychological state. Not unique for a collegiate quarterback, his mind seems to indicate, but that is not the point- we're talking about an Ahn after all.

But we have not really heard a lot about this Breanna person and how she really affected him in his life. The light she provided to him, the spark he regained, and all that was going to happen to him, we've yet to hear how it started to affect him more and more. So, to provide further progress with what we've been expecting from all these clues and references, it's time to hit the button and look into the pensieve.....

---

A week later....

It was around an hour into his dream when Dexter found his dream portal. For many years, he's developed an ability to locate memories in personal banks where he could reconcile with himself and rest on rescreenings as he wished, either before or after a fictional screening in his personal theatre. It was one space where he could find both mental sanctuary and war room, one factor that caused him to visit there. He wanted to go back to the very first time he met Breanna Smit.

Dexter closed his eyes, as he was instantly absorbed into the light it provided. He fell, head first, into the dark room that he was supposedly confined into six months back, and he found himself in the . When he straightened up, he saw that he was at front lawn of His Majesty's Hall, right where him and his coworkers often spent time stopping intruders from entering in certain days. Saguenay's party culture was as infamous as it could've possibly been for a school built by buddhist orders and the provincial government, so it wasn't as bad as more secular schools out there. However, The Fighting Irish in the Saguenay students and alumni were fairly evident on certain days, so he kinda had to keep an eye.

His Majesty's Hall, like most Saguenay residence halls, was a small sized, 3-storey building that stood out in middle of a local residential area. Two girls were chatting in the lobby, while the man in a grey suit, who was chatting with them, was waiting for his delivery from the sofa. Given how tall this guy was, he knew it was Dexter....exactly six months back. His hair was well-combed and his clothes well-fitting that it looked fairly impressive even for himself; the lack of additional encroachment within belly was also noticeable as well.

I have not worked out a lot these days, I see,Dexter noticed as he looked down on his stomach. After only a month, his body has changed a lot. Not only did he feel weaker, but he also felt the noticeable weakness in his walls again. This was different from the normal damage his self-esteemed walls would receive, but the damage his walls received were nonetheless evident.

Dexter moved closer to his younger self. Dexter looked largely indifferent from those around her, chatty but careless. There was an undisguised disgruntle in his face as he went through the frustrations of his delivery not arriving on time. There once was a time when this face looked did not look intense half the time...Dexter thought to himself, before holding back on what he was going to say on top. He realised that this was not true; Dexter was always consistently insecure and unstable. There were at times when he would have his moments of stability and promising departures, but those would quickly vanish when moments of crises would establish themselves. This was something that not even Leanne, his best controller at the time, could have stopped entirely, which perhaps contributed to their inevitable breakup.

No point....No point.... He thought to himself, as he looked deeper into his storm.

Realising that all these points of non-existent, consistent stability went moot, Dexter turned his head around and tried to hear what they were talking about, but he couldn't hear anything. His memory bank was limited due to its preference as silent film rolls rather than a complete movie storage; sometimes you'd hear voices but the key emphasis was put upon visual aspects of it. Perhaps I mastered my system too much, to the point where I could omit and edit all the details as necessary, Dexter sighed as he slowly proceeded to walk closer.

It was then that Dexter saw a third person passing right by him. Who is she? Dexter wondered as he slowly followed them from behind. Gifted with athletic genes, his reflexes were quick and resounding enough to turn around and feel one's presence as if there was something particular about it. And of course, he's grown accustomed to remember people by their particular style of clothing (though dependent on day and night), so combining all of the above, it was to no surprise.

It's her, Dexter immediately realised as his foolish sense of longing creeped up again. He rushed his way forward, broke through the nonexistent barriers of physical world (while floating in his dreams) and turned his back. Dexter could not contain himself, and approached the girl to see her face. That face, the straw-coloured hair of Breanna that he was cursed to fall for.

Then he woke up again.

---

Few days later...

It's the middle of the day, in middle of the woods near Walton, Dexter's hometown. Located well back of the Nelson River, there were very few people who would be trekking this late in this time of the night, the night that was so dark in the non-existent heat of the summer and not the time that you'd be walking in a normal sense. There were houses in the area, of course, but only after miles of walk would you find them. Because of that, on top of blindingly-thick layers of Tamarack overshadowing those walking, it was impossible to look high and far, or even near. As a result, this was a perfect place for strangers to disappear after an overdose of pints and hits.

Still, there was one person who's not a local First Nation and dare walk into woods without care, and make his way back home. This person was Dexter, wearing a golden Fighting Irish football hoodie and black sweatpants. He was holding a phone in his hand and staring into the dark, dark sky. As much as he would like to stay in his native Northwest bit more, Dexter had no option but to come back to the east. His grandfather asked him to come visit his small house in Perce and given his mediocre health these days, it was not something he could refuse. His relation with his immediate family wasn't at the best when he was attempting to recover anyway, as Dexter knew he had to keep distance. With Walton being a small town of only 5,000 people, he'd rather have nobody hear than all.

With no option but to provide background context before heading on a long ride to east, Dexter made a phone call to his brother. His brother, Vontaze, was a talented linebacker whom he didn't always get along with, but respected and loved each other for whom they were. Anyday and everyday he'd be there to help his sorry ass out, granted that the 17-year old didn't commit a terrible crime. So it was of no surprise that he was making one before heading out east again. "Hey, I know you're in CC (shortened term of California City) and we won't see each other until campus visit," he said, calm and focused. "But if you decide to join me in Saguenay, always beware of who are and what powers you possess."

"Okay, listen. Don't worry about me," Vontaze responded, in his tone that really stood as contrasting to Dexter's speech. "I always have your back because you my brother and brothers no stab each other."

"I'm not worried about you telling as few as possible of my sins," Dexter responded in surprising burst of exasperation. "I am reminding you in advance of your final year of school and since I'm not coming home for winter break, I'm letting you know now. Be careful with who you are, as a team captain, as a leader and most importantly of all protector.It's not going to be a good thing if you end up the same way I did, of course not with same outcome nor same girl, but you know the inappropriate nature of how I got close to her in first place. Facilitators are supposed to deal with cases brought up by dons, so developing anything with a student on the hall would constitute a sin."

"Would you have done the same if it was Leanne and not Breanna?"

Dexter stopped for a moment, before getting back to that comment. "That's exactly why I'm telling you not to fuck up. Don't go fuck around in your senior year, don't chase a girl in middle of an orgy and always be aware of what powers you hold. Twice I broke this, by chilling with her overnight and then knocking her door for a post-spring break embrace.....and you know the doom that came awaiting."

Dexter paused for a second again, before getting back to it. "And now, that's all I could ask. Don't be like me and complete your circle."

[Valorem]

Valorem-Meritus Dispatch
Despite the home-field advantage and the roaring crowd of Fusilier fans, the University of Konigsberg's Fusiliers still fell to Mount Maris 38-19 yesterday. The team must now prepare to face Castle Valle Rojas in a road game, which is sure to be one of the most difficult games of the season.

GAME SUMMARY:
Mount Maris won the coin flip, and elected to receive first. In just 3 minutes, the Friars had driven down the entire field and scored a touchdown, blowing through the Fusilier defense as if it wasn't even there. The returner for the Fusiliers was stopped on the 15-yard line, and despite Quinn Iseya's best efforts the team couldn't cross the 50 yard line on the drive. After Konigsberg punted from the VOR 45, Mount Maris once again drove down the field just before the end of the first quarter, scoring another touchdown. The Fusiliers again received the ball and drove slowly down the field, but were stopped at the Mount Maris 40 yard line just outside of field goal range. The Friars scored yet again just before the half, leaving Konigsberg down 21-0 going into halftime.
Coach Sheinfeld was absolutely livid during his locker room speech, both at the defense's repeated failure to stop Mount Maris and the offense's failure to gain traction. While we don't have a transcript of what was said, we know that Konigsberg was fired up and ready to go upon exiting the locker room for the second half. The Fusiliers received the opening kickoff of the second half, and returner Heinrich Norbert took it all the way to the Mount Maris 40 (the farthest the team had even gotten in the first half) before finally being brought down by the third tackle attempt. Quinn Iseya then passed to Carl Foerstner for a 22 yard gain, and RB Cal Gerig punched through the Mount Maris defenders for an 18 yard run and a touchdown. Having seen that the team was fired up, Coach Sheinfeld called for a 2-pt conversion attempt. RB Timothy Stanton ran around the outside and managed to cross the goal line before being slammed back out by a desperate tackle attempt by Mount Maris LB Bryan Costas. Stanton was winded by the hit and knocked flat on his back, although he could very easily have gotten a concussion without the new Reiner helmets issued to the team at the beginning of the season. Coach Sheinfeld elected to sit him out for the next drive for medical observation.
Unfortunately, Mount Maris managed to score on the next drive on a series of shotgun passes, despite the best efforts of the Konigsberg defense, bringing the score to 28-8 Mount Maris. On the Fusilier's next drive, they did not have the advantage of a massive return by Norbert, and instead had to drive all the way from the VOR 25. Without Stanton, the team's ability to run the ball was severely hampered - he was the team's best halfback, and Lowe Soren (his replacement) just didn't have the speed required to get to the outside quickly enough. Instead, the team had to rely on passes from Iseya and runs up the center by Foerstner. The Mount Maris defense finally stopped the Fusiliers at the 25, although kicker Mark Janus managed to put a field goal on the board. (28-11 MMU)
Mount Maris' next drive was stopped at the VOR 30, although their kicker managed to make a field goal from that range. (31-11 MMU) On this return, however, Heinrich Norbert managed to do something that no Konigsberg player had ever done in the NSCF - he caught the ball on the 1 yard line, and still managed to return it all the way for a touchdown. The crowd went absolutely wild as they saw Norbert break four different tackles before finally coasting across the goal line. Seizing the momentum, and knowing that the team still had a lot of ground to make up, Sheinfeld went for another 2-pt conversion. Mount Maris, seeing Stanton re-enter the game, figured that he would be going wide and adjusted the line spacing accordingly. Seeing this, Iseya handed the ball to FB Carl Foerstner who managed to punch straight through the Mount Maris defensive line for the two-point conversion. (31-19 MMU)
Konigsberg then attempted an onside kick to get the ball back, as it was early in the fourth quarter and they were still 12 points down. However, Mount Maris was able to recover the ball as Konigsberg had not practiced onside kicks very much this season. Mount Maris then carried out a slow, methodical drive burning off 10 minutes of the clock before finally scoring with 2 minutes left on the clock. (38-19 MMU) Konigsberg received the ball after this, and made a spirited attempt to score again, but was unable to do so.

This game can certainly do nothing but intensify Konigsberg's rivalry with Mount Maris, and we're sure their games next season will be just as interesting.

[The Redvale]

A Tale Of Two Sisters

Chapter Nine: Fight or Flight

“Let me tell you something, everyone. There's two types of people. The cats and the dogs. Everyone faces adversity, but the difference between the two types of people that there are lies in the way that they deal with it. Humans are programmed to deal with situations by either fighting or by using flight… That is, running away and either outrunning the situation or hiding,” said Arielle Russey, in the Bay Coliseum visitors’ locker room after the 40-10 Mount Maris loss to Castle. “It's not just individuals that have these tendencies, but groups. Teams, even. When something bad happens, something like what happened tonight, the entire group is faced with a choice of fight or flight. Do we dig in and do we fight like animals to survive the rest of this season and come out as champions of the conference for the second straight year, or do we give up and take the easy path, hiding from the challenge that's at hand?”

She looked over the group of payers that were gathered around her, reaching for the sweatshirt that was in her locker and pulling it on over the thin undershirt that she was wearing. “Coach Allan pretty much said the same thing that I'm saying, but you all need to listen to him. Listen to every word that he says, and listen to every word that I'm saying, because we were both at Castle during the years that made our careers. I was there and I was a star at corner before I broke my leg, switched positions, and transferred. And he built the entire blueprint and recruited the stars of the team that defeated us in the playoffs. I was on that team, too, and you want to know something that both of us know from spending so much time around them?”

Nobody said anything, and Arielle stood up and continued, the eyes of the others still on her, and with the staff members watching too. Everyone was somewhat emotional right now, after losing big and dropping to second in the standings, but she was one of the few ones who was able to remain calm and think rationally despite the situation. “We both know that Castle is a team of cats. When things get tough, they're ready to flee the scene and duck whatever challenge is in front of them. Just look at the way the season ended last year for them. Look at how things ended when we faced them for the domestic title. It was a score line like this, and we were the ones that were dominating. We might not have gotten as many blowout wins as they did this season, but they don't have the mettle that we have to finish out games when it matters. At least, I don't think they do. I have a question for you all… Are you a team of cats, or a team of dogs?”

“Talk is easy, Arielle,” said Bryan Costas, sounding somber as he spoke up for the first time since the final whistle of the game. He had skipped past the press that wanted to talk to him and had headed straight to the locker room, but the super competitive linebacker couldn't even bear to talk to his own teammates. “It's easy to say stuff like this now, but not to actually back it up. We can call ourselves a team of dogs, but the truth is, Castle isn't the one that choked. We are.”

“You say that it's not easy, but that's literally the entire point. Are we the type of team that backs down because things are hard, or are we the type of team that knows that we could be wasting our efforts but heads out and gives maximum effort anyway because we know that we still have a chance to fight our way out of this and make up for earlier?” Arielle asked, looking him in the eye. “The answer lies with all of you, and I can't decide it for us. You want to know what a team of dogs would do? They'd realize that winning next week and the week after is the only chance we have at this title, of repeating in this conference, and and they would go out there and beat the hell out of Konigsberg next week. A team of cats would roll over and say that the season is already done, that the next two games don't matter.”

“You calling me a cat, Ari? I left everything on that field. Fault whoever you want for the team’s failure and for the general attitude, but don't you dare to put things on me, because I gave one hundred and ten percent on every play,” Bryan replied, his voice rising. “If you want to know who put in the most effort on defense, just look at the one with the most cuts and bruises afterwards. That person is me, and it has been for many of our games. If you think I'm a cat, you clearly haven't watched the game-”

“If you don't want to be called out for being a cat, than don't act like one and act like the season is already over. It's not, because there's two games left, and there's still a chance to come out of this with our crown. We still have a chance to repeat, but it's only going to happen if we have a stronger mentality about all of this and put everything into these last games while knowing that we may not have the title in the end. You want to prove that you're a dog? Than play like one next week in Konigsberg.”

“You realize that if we run the table and Castle does to, we aren't going to win the conference?” asked Julien Preus, and Amalie just turned to him and nodded.

“Which is why I said that it's important to keep the effort up when it seems pointless. Now is that time when it seems pointless, I get it, but Castle losing isn't an impossibility, just an improbability. Do we want to be able to capitalize on it when or if it happens, or not? Or do we want to give up and miss our one and only chance to get back in this thing?”

The room was silent again, and Arielle picked up her backpack and started walking out. “There's no right answer. You all need to figure it out for yourselves and show your decision by the way you play on the field. I know what I'm picking to do, however, and I hope you all decide to do the same thing.”

~

Nobody on the Castle staff or roster expected the hardest game of the season to come in Old Tabor of all places, at Frontier State. But the Reapers had smelled blood in the water after doing some damage to the Castle defense quickly on their first drive to go up 7-0, and now in the fourth quarter, they were leading 13-10. It was a critical drive for Castle, because it would be one of their last ones in the game, and they would have to score here if they didn't want their opponents to be able to start running the clock out on them.

This defense, however, was playing ferocious. Lights out, you could say. They were attacking the Castle offensive line and their defensive backs weren't afraid of hand checking and pushing the Castle receivers around, and they were giving the line and the quarterback plenty of exotic looks that weren't seen that often from other teams. Amalie Russey had been made the starter after her performance against the Friars, but now, she was beginning to struggle because of the exotic defense and the defensive back heavy formation that often left her critical targets covered no matter where they were.

And the crowd and the other team realized that, and the noise levels rose every time she stepped up to receive the snap. The fans would be on their feet screaming for every play in the fourth quarter on defense, and Amalie couldn't communicate adjustments to her line and receivers with full effectiveness. She was relying on hand signals that they hadn't practiced as much, and that was obviously not working well. The fact that it wasn't working, of course, was only motivating the crowd to scream even louder.

Now, it was third down and five, on the Frontier State thirty yard line. Amalie once again stepped into the veer, and she once again looked to her receivers and waved her hands to try to tell them what the coverage was and how they needed to adjust to it. Devante Hayward saw her signal and nodded. Ibrahim Marks-Kagawa missed it completely. Finally, she took two steps back and began shouting the cadence as loudly as she could, to make sure that her line could hear. “Blue eighteen… Blue eighteen! Ready…”

Jax Pace somehow got the snap count wrong and snapped the ball before she was ready for it, and she had to drop her hands to catch it and keep it from being a fumble. She wasn't ready, but the defense was. TJ Muir and Kyle Strom were collapsing the middle of the offensive line and pushing Jax backwards into Amalie, and she was forced to quickly spin out of his path before looking over the middle of the field by the first down markers. Devante was streaking over the middle of the field with speed, but…

The throw would be a close squeeze, and she would have to put the ball into the gap between the safety and linebacker. Reverting back to her gunslinger ways, she rifled the ball into that gap with as much velocity as she could muster, hoping that it would get there in time and that the middle linebacker, Hunter Christie, wouldn't be able to dive and get it. But when the ball left her hand, she didn't realize now badly she had judged this throw.

Devante didn't come anywhere close to making the catch. Hunter was much closer and caught it easily, in his stride, and began to run the other way. Suddenly, the defensive line were serving as blockers for the quick linebacker, and he left Ibrahim Marks-Kagawa in the dust with a juke move. Amalie tried chasing him, but he was faster than her, and he had the better angle. She only gained ground for a few seconds before he got separation, and then, he succeeded in reversing the field and crossing the goal line.

Touchdown, Reapers. The score would soon be 20-10, and it was the fault of Amalie, because of the forced throw in an attempt to gain that crucial first down. The home crowd roared, and fireworks shot from the end zone into the sky, lighting it up in the green colors of the university. But there would be no celebration from the Castle sideline, which looked utterly somber as the Reapers extended their lead to more than a touchdown and likely wrapped up the outcome of the game.

As soon as Hunter Christie crossed the goal line, Amalie just collapsed on the field and held her head in her hands, wondering how she had messed up her one chance at success this badly. “Why!” she shouted, as more of an exclamation than a question, and she slammed her hands against the grass as a few teammates came over to help her up. Dante White was there, and he extended a hand to her to help her up, and Devante was there too, offering her a few comforting words.

“We never play against coverages like this. You couldn't have known what was going to happen,” he said, but she wasn't in the mood to be consoled.

“Give it up… You can't cheer up someone that doesn't want to be comforted. No matter what way you look at it, this was my fault. It's my fault that I threw that ball, it doesn't matter if we aren't used to the coverages. There's no excuse for that. And I maybe just cost us the conference title. Our first title in who knows how many years. How the hell am I supposed to live with myself after that, Devante?”

“Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, even the great players-”

“How the hell am I supposed to live with myself?” she repeated, and she threw her helmet down in shame when she reached the sideline. But even though she would pose the question three more times, because of the shock of the moment and the emotion that she was feeling, nobody would have a proper answer for her. No, that was something that she would have to find out for herself.

[The Royal Kingdom of Quebec]

OOC : Happy 420 everybody!

South Bend Gazette

Annual 420 originates to South Bend- Univ. de Saguenay Order brought 420 into lexicon and national calendar

Reginald Baribeau, Staff Intern

SOUTH BEND, Saguenay. -
Today is 20th of April, 2029, and the significance of the date could be memorable or dreadful, depending on who you ask.

But for many who consider themselves as one of millions, even if you're not celebrating this as a state holiday in Manitoba province, 4/20 is a wonderful day to celebrate the pleasures of relaxation, shrubbery smell and in short rest and smoke lots of weed.

This afternoon, as the clock strikes 4:20 p.m., millions of people across the Royal Kingdom of Quebec will gather in public buildings, university campuses, city parks, private homes, lakeshores and of course mountain tops to observe what is generally referred to as "the 6th Holiday" (after the Independence Day, Hangawi, New Year's Day, Seokga Tansinil and Christmas), "End of Winter Festival" (referring to long Quebecois winters that tend to end around this day) and of course, "Throwback Green Day" (1960s were known as the green decade in Quebecois history).

In California City, the 50th annual West Coast 420 Festival will kick off at 16:00 at El Tunco beach in California City, and at Parc des Loyalistes in Quebec City, over 300,000 cannabists plan to gather for a ritual smoke-out. In South Bend, students at l'Universite du Saguenay will have their annual 420 bash in Schwartz Memorial Stadium, 3 minutes before the 4:23 p.m. kickoff for Fighting Irish NSCF spring game. And of course, in Sherbrooke, Estrie, 25th Mont-Orford Festival will kick off the music festival season with FVNHOUSE as the day 1 headliner in what's looking to be the best Mont-Orford Festival lineup in a decade.

If you've never heard the term 420 before used in this way, because you're either from abroad or live under the rock, you're not hip in Quebec - but it's okay. The term has eluded the understanding of those in the straight-and-narrow world for last 50 years.

And if you do know what 420 refers to, there's still good chance you don't know how the term began in first place. Ever since 420 began in this level about 50 years ago, there have been millions of theories about the origins of this widely-celebrated holiday and term.

"It's become a gigantic urban myth, the one where we all wonder from our birthdate," said Jeong Ah Yoon, Member of Parliament for Val d'Or Ouest-Malartic and notable cannabist. "It's a very famous word for one and many have decided to search its origins for the other, but it's not something that people have taken big, dedicated interest towards."

Many cannabists will insist that 420 is the official code for Cannabiscorp Co. for Montreal and Kingston Stock Exchanges, or the special railway radio code for marijuana on board, or that April 20th is the date that 4,000 republican heathens were executed under the order of King Alexandre III in 1912. Or a hanging day of infamous traitors or rapists.

All these theories, and dozens more, are wrong, wrong, wrong.

For the record, it is prohibited to have a 3-lettered company cod, that are solely consisted of numbers, on both exchanges. The number is not a railway radio code, and the number of any possible fire hazard on train is FHD, according to the folks at Yours Weedly, who should know. The Bloody Verdict of Woodstock was on October 12, 1912, and while there were annual state-broadcasted executions of rapists or murderers on April 20, this biannual tradition only began on 1996 and therefore does not qualify.

It actually began on a campus ground.

According to Jeremy Chabot, famous cannabis journalist of Ganja Hebdo, the term 420 originated at Ecole Secondaire Maure-Aubin, in 1961, by a l'Universite du Saugney order named Phi Alpha Zeta. The term 420 was shorthand for the time of night the group would meet, at 4:20 a.m. in backyard of Myeongryun Hall.

"Zbigniew Zeta", the original co-founding member of the order who currently coaches baseball in Chicoutimi, says the Phi Alpha Zeta would FAS-salute each other and say "Quatre-Vingt!". The term was one of over 5,000 invented by the group, but this was the one most (in)famously known.

"It was just a joke, but hey it worked out well because it incorporates more than just one meaning," he said. "We were undoubtedly the most stoned of all orders in Saguenay back then so perhaps those around us, including my future wife, wasn't too surprised so things got pretty popular fast in campus I guess. We weren't too happy at the beginning, but had to accept it as such, and such is life."

The term took root and flourished, as it spread beyond South Bend as its original members would graduate and move all across the nation, while the organisation would welcome new members, those more familiar with cannabis culture, over time. This included some of the leading cannabists and businessmen of the nation (especially the west coast) these days, and as the marijuana was legalised yet ironically on April 20th, 1979 (exactly 50 years ago), 420 became not only a widespread catchphrase but also many other things- like a music festival, airport memorabilia and even a holiday (April 20th is officially a provincial holiday in state of Manitoba, where they produce and consume marijuana like nowhere else would).

For years, the Phi Alpha Zeta did not make specific comments in public about weed, but recently decided to assert their claim to the history of the term after watching it spread for over 5 decades. The Phi Alpha Zeta contacted Chabot, and presented him with evidence of 420's history, which contained over 80 pages of organisational documents and letters from early 60s to late 70s with constant mentions of 420.

"We have proof, we were the first," Zbigniew Zeta said. "Sure we only came up with a phrase, but it's always an honour, something to remember about. It's always good times telling my daughters and grandchildren, all Saguenay grads as we celebrate this day."

[Ranoria]

Richardson University @ Raynor University

They weren't at home, and Melvin Strong not yet ready to play, but that didn't change the importance of this game. Yes, Richardson University was in the lead of the conference, but they hadn't yet taken it without a doubt. Mar Sara Tech had already lost three games, meaning that a win here would knock them out of the running, but Raynor was the real concern, here. If Raynor University came out on top, they themselves could be at the top of the Big Eight, and if Mar Sara Tech managed to win, then Richardson could end up being dropped to third, all in one week, after all their efforts.

That, of course, had been true for awhile, but this game could clinch the conference, and that's why it was a bigger deal. Tank Carradine, their starting right end, was finally back on the field, as was Anthony Foster, but Elijah Sampson was the only running back available, and that meant that their run game was going to be nonexistent. As a matter of a fact, every time they ran the ball, it would be nothing but a loss of downs.

Because of that, their offensive game plan had revolved around the shotgun formation, which, while John Garrett wasn't as used to it, did make his throwing the ball a bit easier, he'd found.

Elijah Sampson, on the sideline, glowered out at the field, biting his lip in frustration. It wasn't that he didn't work himself half to death every day, and it certainly wasn't a lack of effort on the football field. He just simply wasn't good enough, yet, to be put on the field. The biggest contribution he'd made all season was when he'd gone in at fullback.

And it wasn't as if the offense was struggling much without him. By the end of the first half, John Garrett had completed fifteen of twenty pass attempts for 145 yards and a touchdown, two field goals leaving Richardson University up 13-10, a close game, but their defensive front seven had been playing extremely well, racking up three sacks in the first half to hold them to ten points.

And for all the hype this game had received, Raynor didn't manage to score again, John Garrett's shotgun offense putting up 27 points, total, while the defense finished with five sacks and an interception, shutting the Raynor offense out in the second half and holding them, in that time, to seventy total yards.

---

Having clinched the Big Eight Conference, the locker room celebrations were a bit wild, with even the coaches joining in the festivities. They were now, for sure, going to the playoffs, and now they were just playing for a higher seed.

"Hey," Kevin Gerhart, the team's defensive captain, placed a hand atop John Garrett's head, laughing, "You did good today, kid. I'm proud of how far you've come. Now, we just have to finish it."

And he wasn't wrong. It wouldn't be long before they were in the playoffs, hopefully with home-field advantage, and then it would only be a few games before they played for a championship, if they made it that far.

---

The morning after...

It had been a long flight back to Richardson University, and the entire team had slept in the next morning. John Garrett, for one, opened his eyes to see that it was a quarter 'til one by the time he rolled out of bed, stretching out his arms and testing his leg before putting any weight on it, still not fully healed, which had been the main reason why he'd taken a few sacks the other day, having been unable to scramble the way he normally did. "Johnny!" He walked out of his room, grabbing some cereal from the pantry, and looked inside the bigger man's door to see him still knocked out, having not even responded to his call.

As he ate his food, he grabbed the paper that the campus oh-so-kindly left in front of his door, smiling at the rave reviews of the team's performance as a whole, particularly his own, managing to pick Raynor apart despite the team having a combined fifteen yards on the ground throughout the game, three hundred and fifty through the air, of course.

But for now, he had something to attend to, that being his roommate's slumber, standing up and leaving his bowl on the table, to lazy to grab it, and banging on his friend's bedroom door, "Hey! Time to get yourself up, we've got practice in three hours!"

[West Phoencia]

The University of Jackson Archaeopteryxs have wowed West Phoenician sports fans across the country. Through their hard work, discipline and on field tactics they have been been able to claim the number one spot in the Sequoia Conference. Never before has a West Phoenician team made such an impact. The Archaeopteryxs stand at 7 wins and 2 losses.
Even if they were to lose in the advancement they will still come home as winners in the eyes of their family, friends and fans.

Meanwhile drama has started to rock the West Phoenician royal family...again. Current King Glenton Gryphon-Bush II Philometar who ascended the throne in 2010 after his father Emperor Thaddeus Gryphon handed it over after a bitter civil war with Glenton Gryphon-Bush eldest sisters from his deceased mother Queen Juno's first marriage.

The two sisters Princess Aphrilis Sunbury-Bush and Princess Jezebel Bush-Tasman declared war on Thaddeus Gryphon after the death of Queen Juno in mysterious circumstances. Under the Line of succession law Princess Aphrilis was the rightful heir but Emperor Thaddeus Gryphon with the support of his birth nation The Kingdom of Gryphon kept the throne or himself.
After a civil war that included the Princesses husband's nations Aphrilis was proclaimed queen after Emperor Thaddeus Gryphon fled to his birth nation.

It was short lived, as after a phony assassination attempt at the hands of her sister Princess Jezebel, Aphrilis abdicated and fled West Phoenicia. Princess Jezebel was a manipulative cruel leader and her position and support dwindled to the point that Emperor Thaddeus Gryphon returned and made a power grab causing West Phoenicia to fall into another civil war.

Emperor Thaddeus Gryphon was able to drive his step daughter Jezebel from the throne and had a bill passed that pushed his own son he had with Queen Juno to the start of the succession line instead of his other half siblings. Thaddeus than completed a peaceful transition allowing Glenton Gryphon-Bush II Philometar to step up and also add Philopator ( he who adores his father) as one of his names in honour.

National news has been made aware that King Glenton Gryphon-Bush II Philometar Philopator has exiled his father from the nation after rumours of his father wanting to retake the the throne and co-rule with his daughter Princess Rhea Gryphon from his second marriage to Princess Kyla Mordiallic of the Empire of Morning Rose Isles. Currently the Kingdom of Gryphon Ambassador to West Phoenicia has been called in to be updated of the situation and ensure there is no military or diplomatic intervention from the Kingdom of Gryphon.

[Natanians and Nosts]

The students at the Natanians and Nosts Palaeontological-Centered Research University were just shocked at the last results from the NSCF.
They just could believe they won after some years of abscence.The social networks were full of commentaries on the subject,some of them were even angry,because they don't want to see them win at this "sport".The medical staff,the biggest in any team we've ever had,is taking care of the students very closely.

[Valanora]

Horizon Conference
Emmanuel Theological Seminary (RMT) 13–0 Stoneshore College (COS)
Ramusok Capital University (COS) 36–3 University of Stratison (STC)
Drawk Corps University (DRK) 7–10 Harbor College (KAL)

P Horizon Conference                   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 Harbor College (KAL)                  10    8   2   195  130  +65
2 Ramusok Capital University (COS)      10    8   2   236  141  +95
3 Emmanuel Theological Seminary (RMT)   10    6   4   181  141  +40
4 Stoneshore College (COS)              10    4   6   119  137  −18
5 Drawk Corps University (DRK)          10    3   7   172  189  −17
6 University of Stratison (STC)         10    1   9    64  229 −165

Mineral Conference
The University of Westshire (WSU) 27–20 Frontier State College (END)
Castle Valle Rojas University (TRV) 20–17 University of Konigsberg (VOR)
Mount Maris University (TRV) 33–0 Stoltz University (SSV)

P Mineral Conference                   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
1 Mount Maris University (TRV)          10    9   1   228  136  +92
2 Castle Valle Rojas University (TRV)   10    8   2   219  103 +116
3 University of Konigsberg (VOR)        10    6   4   197  143  +54
4 Frontier State College (END)          10    4   6   175  182   −7
5 The University of Westshire (WSU)     10    3   7   157  180  −23
6 Stoltz University (SSV)               10    0  10    73  305 −232

[Drawkland]

BIG EIGHT & CELESTIA

Official Cutoff for Week Ten.
Great season, guys.

---

Celestia Conference
Nuovoseronese College of Economics (NVS) 10–6 Republica's Naval Academy (FFR)
Army Academy (FFR) 8–3 Leopord Central University (FND)
University of Angelwood-Aprilia (USS) 29–10 University of Syracuse (TAA)

★-Celestia Conference                       Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Leopord Central University                 10    8   2   258   61 +197
2 University of Angelwood-Aprilia            10    7   3   181   93  +88
3 Army Academy                               10    7   3   172   99  +73
4 Nuovoseronese College of Economics         10    4   6    64  165 −101
5 Republica's Naval Academy                  10    3   7    79  169  −90
6 University of Syracuse                     10    1   9    59  226 −167

Big Eight Conference
Richardson University (RAN) 38–6 Grove University (QAD)
Sos del Rey University (BIC) 3–7 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)
Flebeshar State University (FSA) 10–20 Raynor University (VAL)

8-Big Eight Conference                      Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Richardson University                      10    9   1   256   81 +175
2 Mar Sara Tech                              10    7   3   170  117  +53
3 Raynor University                          10    7   3   231  177  +54
4 Sos del Rey University                     10    5   5   183  106  +77
5 Flebeshar State University                 10    1   9   104  229 −125
6 Grove University                           10    1   9    81  315 −234

* Richardson University and Leopord Central University are Conference Champions.

[Frenline Delpha]

Final Cut-Off Time

University of Lisianski (LSI) 12–3 Zenderfield  College (MUS)
University of Aldhuld (ALS) 10–48 Ceneisis Naval Academy (AFT)
Innusburg University (ALS) 3–23 Thereisnogodistan Community College (NGD)

  Zephyr Conference                          Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
1 Ceneisis Naval Academy (AFT)                10   10   0   259   63 +196    *Conference Champion
2 Thereisnogodistan Community College (NGD)   10    8   2   199  101  +98
3 Innusburg University (ALS)                  10    6   4   141   86  +55
4 University of Aldhuld (ALS)                 10    4   6   148  208  −60
5 University of Lisianski (LSI)               10    2   8    87  228 −141
6 Zenderfield  College (MUS)                  10    0  10    46  194 −148

[Kalalau]

Matchday Ten Results

SEQUOIA CONFERENCE
(University of Luvenstat) 26–3 (Coimbra University)
(Calix City Institute of Archaeology) 7–17 (University of Jackson)
(Karl Marx University) 27–0 (Bokator University)

SEQUOIA                                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1  (University of Jackson)                 10    8   2   143   53  +90
2  (Karl Marx University)                  10    7   3   112   45  +67
3  (Calix City Institute of Archaeology)   10    5   5    76   56  +20
4  (University of Luvenstat)               10    5   5    88   52  +36
5  (Coimbra University)                    10    4   6    71  169  −98
6  (Bokator University)                    10    1   9    39  154 −115

*Sorry for the loss of some of the formatting...I'm done after what should take about five minutes has taken about an hour

WOODLANDS CONFERENCE
(Universite du Saguenay) 16–0 (Palæontological-Centered Research)
(Universidad de Hermanas del Ampliamirada) 3–7 (Universite St. Croix)
(Utica University) 7–0 (University of Iqaluit)

WOODLANDS                                      Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1  (Universite St. Croix)                       10    8   2   204  123  +81
2  (Universite du Saguenay)                     10    8   2   172  107  +65
3  (Utica University)                           10    7   3   187  121  +66
4  (University of Iqaluit)                      10    4   6    66   90  −24
5  (Universidad de Hermanas del Ampliamirada)   10    2   8    73  166  −93
6  (Palæontological-Centered Research)          10    1   9    57  152  −95

[Ranoria]

Richardson University vs Grove University

They'd already clinched the conference. If they hadn't, then Melvin Strong would have come off the bench for this game, but as shaky as he still was, then he would come back for the non-conference games. After all, there was no reason to cause more significant injury after he'd already been hurt in what was almost a meaningless game. Granted, they weren't resting any healthy starters. That would be disrespectful to their opponents, who seemed to have simply come out utterly defeated.

The entire game was a farce, really. Grove University's entire team seemed to be absolutely lost, as if they just wanted to get this game over with and go home. Maybe that wasn't really how it was, but it's certainly how it looked to anyone watching the game, as Richardson put up five hundred offensive yards and thirty eight points while only surrendering six in their home finale for the regular season, as well as a last hurrah to carry them into the two non conference games that their coaching staff had managed to schedule.

John Garrett, in particular, was on the dot, completing a whopping three quarters of his passes and putting up all five of the team's touchdowns on the day, as Elijah Sampson's running ability was still proving to be ineffective, with only forty total yards on the ground from an offense that had, until the injury of Soup Shorts, been built around a strong rushing attack.

After the game, their coach gave a long speech about how he was of his football team, having overcome the loss of one of the greatest players in Ranorian College Football history and going 9-1 in their regular season games, but John Garrett simply smiled, leaning back in his locker and letting all of it fade into the white noise that it was. This season had been a long one for him. Not just because of being thrown into the role of a starting quarterback for the first time against not just international competition, but because of the self-doubt that had been eating away at his confidence since the very beginning of the season, that gnawing serpent that had told him he couldn't play at the college level, and that his closest friend, Johnny Farmer, had helped him to overcome. And once he did, he'd simply started to play the way he was used to. Yes, both of his interceptions had come after that point, but he was playing the way he wanted to play, the way he was comfortable playing, slinging the ball around like the gunslingers he'd admired so much when he was younger.

Of course, he hadn't done it alone, leaning forward and looking to Johnny Farmer, who gave his quarterback, and brother, a simple tip of the cap, his ever-present smile plastered across that massive face of his. Davon Stovall was asleep in his locker, he'd played well enough, as usual, to have earned that rest he was getting now. Melvin Strong, walking now, without a boot, was grinning ear to ear with Soup Shorts at his side, looking like he'd gotten over the potentially season ending injury that he'd sustained now that his team had made the playoffs.

You know what?

John sat back in his locker again, blissful, taking in this moment while he still could, Maybe I'm a little better than I thought, after all.

---

And after it all, in the dark of night, they found themselves in a very familiar diner, the owner, and the only other person in the restaurant, didn't even need to ask what they were ordering.

"You know," Melvin Strong said, "I think maybe if I beef up a bit next year, this won't happen again," he indicated his hurt leg, laughing, "Not that it matters, you all crushed it in the last few games without me, even with Elijah at running back."

"You know, honestly," Johnny Farmer looked over at him, "It isn't that the kid doesn't have heart, he's giving us everything he's got and more out there, he's the angry runner that every coach loves to have, but he just isn't there yet is all." The tight end sipped on his drink before continuing, "Trust me, next year, he's going to be a stud, and probably good enough to start if you weren't here."

"Speaking of suprise starters," Davon pointed to their quarterback with a smile, "Who thought old farmboy here would be our quarterback after Derek left for the league?" it was true, he'd beat out a highly recruited freshman and a junior who'd been expected to take over the reigns without McNair at the helm, and once he'd found his groove, he'd torn up the league, carrying their offense to a 9-1 record with a constantly shifting running backs group.

"It wasn't too hard, honestly, Jack Clyde can't throw the ball straight for the life of him, and Barron Dawson doesn't know our offense enough to step on the field just yet." He laughed, scratching his hair with a degree of embarrassment.

"Hey, as long as it keeps up in the playoffs, no one here's going to complain."

"Damn right." Farmer was chewing with his mouth one, a less than charming sight to behold, "Hell, and our defense is light out. They allowed, what, eighty points or something like that throughout the entire season? That's insane."

"Eighty one," Davon chimed in again, "By far the best defense in the conference."

"I reckon your seven interceptions helped with that, not to mention the two forced fumbles that you grabbed. Hell, you shut everyone they put against you down!" Melvin shook the corner a bit with a chuckle, "Those receivers have absolutely nothing they can do against you! It's insane!"

Their conversation wore on late into the night, but eventually the two country boys found themselves at home, Farmer having retired for the night while John Garrett, at Sarah's request, waited for her to come visit, ending up with them sitting on the couch and watching well-aged reruns of King of Queens. It wasn't much, but as little as they were able to see each other, John relished every moment of it.

Well, some of it, anyways. He fell asleep, exhausted, about ten minutes into the first rerun, and she didn't even realize it until an hour later, simply rolling her eyes, and ended up passing out on the couch as well.

---

"You know John, Coach did say that women weaken the legs."

The quarterback's eyes shot open on the coach and he sat up abruptly, startled out of his sleep, eliciting a groan from Sarah, who righted herself as well, wondering at first what time it was before she remembered where she'd fallen asleep.

Neither of them said anything at first, still a bit dazed, as Johnny Farmer laughed, "You two are cute." His friendly gaze turned to Sarah as he tied an apron around his waist, "So, would you like to stay for breakfast? Tell you what, I'm a damn good cook."

"I'm sure." She looked over to the clock, and blanched, seeing that it was only nine, head whipping around to the bulky tight end, who was now concealed by the island whilst pulling out a pan, "What are you even doing awake? It's Sunday."

"He always does this. Wakes up early and tries to cook. Key word, of course, is tries."

"Hey, you should be thanking me!" John rubbed his head, feeling a spoon hit his cranium, the silverware clattering to the ground afterwards, "At least I try and feed us!"

"The only thing you'll ever be able to cook is Ramen, Johnny."

Sarah, listening to their conversation with a barely stifled laugh, looked back at the tight end, and shook her head when she saw what he was pulling out. Being a rather skilled chef herself, she stood and shooed him out of the kitchen, "I'm going to treat you boys to a proper breakfast, alright? Now go sit down."

He blinked, looking down, far down, at her, before nodding, "Alrighty then."

---

"She's definitely a keeper, John."

"Agreed."

Even with the sparce ingredients they had, Sarah had managed to feed both of the football players with a combination of pancakes, toast, and eggs. Considering their general lack of organization or proper shopping lists, it was a miracle that she'd even found all of that.

"You two are kind of cute together." He elbowed his old friend, "But hey, new tradition for the postseason. Your woman cooks postgame breakfast."

"I'm sure she'll happily agree to that, Johnny." He laughed, but it didn't sound like a bad idea.

After all, no one kept everything the exact same once the postseason rolled around, did they?