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Before the start of the season, the teams in the Gridiron Football League of Banija(the GFLB) participated in the Champions Bowl for the second time. The UICA or IDLO equivalent for international professional gridiron, it brings the best teams from the multiverse's top professionional gridiron leagues, into a competition to see who is the top domestic professional side in the entire multiverse. This happens, of course, as the action that kicks off the domestic gridiron season, at least within Banija. The Champions Bowl ends just weeks before the start of the season, giving those teams participating extra practice time, and, of course, the ability to compete for a top tier trophy.
Let's just get started, shall we? We'll do a team by team review of Banija's four participants in the competition.
Busukuma Athletic Club
The only first-time entrant among Banija's teams in the Champions Bowl, as the Suns, Black Mambas, and Lwanga Rhinos all returned for their second seasons. They replaced the Busembe Timberwolves as Banija's participant, as they made a run to the semifinals of the GFLB season. And almost right away, they faced a challenge. Starting this season with a home game against the Bloomer Bulldogs of Darmen, they knew that they would be in for a tough matchup. For Busukuma AC fans, gridiron has been the focus in recent years, as the soccer team has really struggled on the pitch. And Busukuma AC did not disappoint in their opening round matchup. They took the game to their Darmeni opponents, especially in the second half. The offense was seemingly warming up in the first half, as they had long drives, but stalled deep in Bulldogs territory multiple times. They took just a 9-3 lead into halftime, and it was truly a close one. But the offense came out like gangbusters in the second half. They had an opportunity to seize the initiative, and boy, did they take it. They did go three and out on their first drive of the half, which led to a Bulldogs field goal. But after that, they scored on five consecutive possesions, four of them touchdowns, to really put the game out of reach. It was a great performance, and one that put them into the next round with ease.
In the Round of 16, they paid a visit to Mayara to take on the Destroyers of Ko-oren. Of course, times were high-flying for Ko-oren(off the field, at least). Their national team is the defending champions of the World Bowl! With their title, naturally, being won in Busukuma. But this was not national teams- this was a club matchup. And these two really went at it. On just the game's second drive, Busukuma AC was able to earn a safety. They had driven to the Mayara 35 yard line, but then took an 8 yard sack on 3rd and 8. Forced to punt, they pinned the home team at their own 2 yard line, and an explosive pass rush forced a safety. On the ensuing Busukuma AC drive, Babou Ceesay took a bubble screen pass 29 yards to the house, to make it 9-0. And from then on, the Banijan capitol side more famous for the other code of football had really taken control of the match. They went into halftime up 16-3, after a 3 yard touchdown run, and they eventually led 23-3 before giving up 10 points in garbage time. Still, a 23-13 win, and a trip to the Champions Bowl quarterfinals!
In the quarterfinals, they had another long flight, but this time to Abanhfleft to play the Effelenendro Bombers. Now, of course, you know they always say that too many field goals will hurt you in the end. And that was not more true than this game, where Busukuma AC finally got eliminated. They kicked six field goals, including attempting and converting four inside the 10 yard line. The red zone offense was terrible on this day, even though between the 20s the team was dominant. It was a strange game. Busukuma AC had more total yards, more first downs, better on third down. But, here was the key stat- 0/6 on third down inside the Bombers 30 yard line. The Bombers bent, but they certainly did not break, as they held out. Their offense got touchdowns on four different big plays, and that was the difference. In desperation time, they forced a safety in the end zone, and that was the end of Busukuma AC's run- 30-25 in favor of the Bombers.
Busukuma Suns
Now time, of course, for the other capitol side. The Suns! They, unfortunately did not get any home games during the Champions Bowl this past season, but their second effort in this tournament should not be seen as a failure. Kausu Sanneh being the quarterback. people thought that their offense could make a difference. And in their opening game, an exhilarating, back and forth contest between Lebes Light and the Suns in Seraxinborough, they needed him for every minute. It was a tight one throughout- each team landing big punches, but neither getting the knockout blow. Sanneh, in a 20-20 game in the last 2 minutes, led a final drive to put the Suns in field goal. And even though the crowd was cheering against him, and the head coach iced him, a 49 yard field goal to win the game went through the uprights on the game's final play. The Suns were moving on, and to Pridnestrovia they would go.
Pridnestrovia would prove to be a far less enjoyable experience for Suns fans. It was a slow paced, defensive struggle, where the Suns were totally and completely outmatched. It was only an 11 point loss, but it honestly felt like the Suns were never in the game. A pair of punt returns gave them good field position for field goals, but their offense did absolutely nothing the entire game. Physically, along the line of scrimmage, they were thoroughly dominated all the way through the game. They couldn't do anything, and only had 2 first downs the entire game. It was all their defense could do to only give up 17 points, but they got no help from the offense. Not the best way to go out, but sometimes you tip your cap- the home side was thoroughly better, and deserved the win. Not the best way for the defending champions of the GFLB to go out, but that's how it goes.
Lwanga Rhinos
This team, just last season, went all the way to the semifinals of the Champions Bowl, as well as the National Championship Game. It's crushing, of course, to go so far in a season and come up with nothing, but to come so close to trophies in two competitions, and yet, to not end up with anything in the trophycase, is just a lot to handle for some. So the Rhinos are coming out this season, full of confidence and believe that they are the best team in the Heartlands Conference, and that they will be contenders once again. And that would be launched in the Champions Bowl. THey came out in their opening match, against the Casnea Cougars of Seraxinborough, and thoroughly dominated their hosts. THey took an early 14-0 lead, scoring touchdowns on their first two drives, and that absolutely deflated the hosts. They never looked back, the Cougars never sniffed the end zone, and they won rather easily, by a score of 24-9.
The next game was against the Acton Vale Maple Leafs of Jaspec. The Rhinos came exploding out of the gate in that one as well, taking an early 14-0 lead, and this time, of course, it was at home at the Watering Hole. But, unfortunately for the Rhinos, the Maple Leafs didn't roll over. Even though this was their first ever Champions Bowl, they would fight to stay in it. They added a field goal at the very end of the first quarter to make the score 14-3. And they kept slowly clawing their way back. They hit two more field goals in the second quarter to make it 14-9, while they completely stopped the Rhinos offense. They added another field goal to make it 14-12, and the Rhinos scored with four minutes left to make it 17-12. But the Leafs were undeterred- they drove down the field, scored the go-ahead touchdown with a minute left to make it 18-17. They were flagged for excessive celebration, and the coach chose to apply it on the PAT. Since they weren't going to go for two from the 18, they just kicked the single pointer to make it 19-17. And on the first play from scrimmage for the Rhinos, an interception sealed it.
Istria Black Mambas
Now, for the Black Mambas! From Banija's biggest city. They lost in the semifinals of the GFLB playoffs last season, and are trying to come for one more. And boy, did they come for it. Champions! Winning five consecutive games to get there. Scoring 19 in their first game to barely escape at home, and then, they really hit their stride. Scoring 33 in the ROund of 16, 37 in the Quarterfinals, and 40 in the semifinals- that would be an average of 36+ points per game. It was a crazy run on the offensive side of the football, as they were just unstoppable. And getting into the Final, with their offense rolling like that, they were always going to be the favorites.
In the Final, at the Stade sur la Baie in Aminey, Ko-oren, they took on the Dorfdifving Destroyers of Abanhfleft. And their offense did not slow down. Although a few more drives stalled out than they would have liked, the backbreaker was running back Jalang Tiyana. He rumbled through the Destroyers defense, carrying for 212 yards on 29 carries and 3 touchdowns, just wearing down the opposing defense. He's a big back, hard to bring down who busts through arm tackles, and he was named the MVP of the Champions Bowl. What a tournament it was for the Black Mambas! The first Banijan winners of the Champions Bowl.
Not only have sides from Banija now won both the NSCF and the Champions Bowl, the City of Istria has the argument of being the center of the gridiron world. The University of Loyola-Istria has two NSCF titles, and now their professional team has a world title as well- a true city of champions! (in this sport, anyways). We'll see if they can carry that forward into the GFLB regular season.