NSCF 29 - Everything Thread

by **Ranoria** » Thu Sep 21, 2023 9:01 pm

After Getting Crushed By An Old Rival,
Reeling Governors Look To Bounce Back Hard Against Green City University

This entire Governors offence looked hapless in week 11, with some fans speculating that the loss of longtime OC Ulrich Ray to Ratzupalfu University of Nature has limited the unit's creativity

Let's be clear first of all - The University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park was due for a win here. It was going to happen eventually. Along with our rivalry with Loyola-Istria, this is one of two longest-standing feuds in Richardson's NSCF history, missing just one matchup when the Big 8 and Celestia made the decision to go all-out against one another one season to...inconclusive results. The Warriors have always been a strong team, and that's in their down years. At their baseline, they have been and are a powerhouse. As much as Felswyr State - and subsequently Staramara Tech's - arrival along with Raynor and Mar Sara Tech's return have drastically bolstered the NSCF's depth, there's a reason that the Banijan and Ranorian schools held a "duopoly" over the competition from around NSCF 18 to 23. The Warriors were typically the only team that consistently broke through that to make the semifinals. The only reason that tends to be forgotten in this day and age is known as "recency bias," and now with their second Heartland title in the last three seasons, it looks like they're working to get back to the top.

Despite falling in the conference championship - a heart-breaking one for the team surely in what would have joined them with Northern Moravica and Cold Hill as active teams holding a record number of crowns for their respective conference - this was still a seven win team coming in against a Governors squad that has never played in an NSCF conference championship game - including that one season where the Big 8 conference held one of their own, seeing Kohnhead City knock off Cold Hill. And underplaying that was a huge mistake.

A Richardson defense that's taken a big step back this season looked completely overwhelmed throughout this contest, and their offense looked putrid, triggering a lot of criticism towards first year offensive coordinator John Glassner despite the team being as explosive as we've seen them since Ezekiel Bantoba's BantobaMania season. To Glassner's credit, he handled it well and largely shouldered that burden to keep it off of the much younger players, but they've got a chance to bounce back in a big way against Green City.

Along with Trent State, Green City has had an alarmingly swift fall from grace this season. They sit at 4-7, one coming in a 44-42 victory against a Sea Dome side that's seen basically nothing in terms of success this season. If nothing else, it gives Richardson an opportunity to iron out whatever kinks have appeared in this offense as they head into the biggest game of the season. Make no mistake - against a 4-7 team that barely got past the Big 8's punching bag in the Stingrays, a defeat would be nothing less than catastrophic.

Behind a running back who's racked up well over seventeen hundred total yards and scored his twentieth total touchdown of the season against UCBP, everyone knows what the focal point of this attack is - but can they get creative enough with it to help make a push in the rapidly approaching postseason? A

And with their domestic rivals, Benoit Youngblood lost his first game of the season - and threw his first two interceptions - against Felswyr State in what was more than likely his final shot at Kadesh Odika. The Firehawks dominated the whole way through, never looking to be in trouble as Odikatime casually guided them to a convincing win and their defense held Benoit without a touchdown pass for the first time since the first few weeks of his freshman year.

"Gotta be better than that," he admitted following the loss, "The Firehawks are an incredible team, but games like this are when this team needs me the most."

And he's right - running back D'andre Fuller ran for just his second touchdown of the season against Felswyr State. This defense, while not looking too terrible in a porous Big 8, is a paper tiger. Derek Pierce and Nicholas Hussain at linebacker and cornerback are the only viable starters consistently, though Harvey Klein does offer some pressure up the middle at nose tackle when he's in the right mood. And the receiving corps is the strength of this team. Cold Hill is now 3-2 against teams with a winning record this season, sweeping Lebois Santura, splitting with, Richardson and dropping their most recent one, of course, to Felswyr State. After Youngblood's stunning performance in the conference championship game, it's a bit of a stunner to see him stooped as low as he was in this one - if the team wants a championship, they'll have to do better.

Defensively though, reporters noted that Erik Kessler got some snaps late in the game against the Firehawks, even getting some pressure on Odika at one point. Chris Dale was questioned on this, as the freshman edge defender is severely undersized at this point with just two hundred ten pounds on his frame. "We've gotta get some pressure on the quarterback," Dale said, "And right now the only way we've been doing that is by blitzing Derek [Pierce]. I don't want to expose him to too many hits at his size, but we're gonna mix him in and see if he can give our defense more teeth."

by **Cardenao** » Thu Sep 21, 2023 9:12 pm

On a rare bye week for the LeBois Santura University Broncos, it’s time for Bobby Dials to put in the work. He’s never been much of a morning person but as a prospective professional athlete, his mornings were always booked up. Today, for the quarterback and captain of the BSU Broncos, his day begins long before the rosy fingers of dawn grace the sky. Today, like most days during these bye weeks, is all about football and building even stronger connections with his offensive teammates.

Crack of Dawn - Weight Room: Big Bobby D kicks off his day with a rigorous morning workout. Today he’s working the throwing muscles, everything in his arm, core, back, neck, all those throwing muscles that an entire school, an entire country relied on. Staying in good shape wasn’t enough, no his muscles had to be honed perfectly so he could throw perfectly, throw darts, long passes, creative wrist-snapers, everything. Being in top physical condition is the foundation for everything Bobby does on the field. The weight room is his sanctuary, a place where he can push all his problems away by lifting heavy shit.

7:30 AM - Film Room: After a quick but nutritious breakfast prepared by a dietary staff that was hired at the beginning of the season, Bobby Deezus heads to the film room. It's time to put the fine lens to last week's performance against Bowerstone University. With his offensive squad gathered in the room with the coaching staff, they meticulously review every play, analyzing the routes, timing, and decision-making. Everything was broken down into what went right and what went wrong, the objective clear: understand where they excelled and where they can improve both individually and as a team.

9:00 AM - Squad Time: Bobilicius Delicious blocks out one-on-one time with his wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs. They go deep into their playing relationship, hand signals, route adjustments, discussing where they should ideally be at a certain point of play, and backup routes in specific situations. This is the best chance for Bobby to really understand his player's strengths and preferences.

11:00 AM - On-Field Practice: On the practice field, BDesfunction leads his boys through routes, drills, and scenarios. As a team they work on the timing, precision, and chemistry that will be key to any future succes this season. Bobby is totally dialed in on his passes, making that they drop softly in the hands of his receivers with pinpoint accuracy. It's a good time to fine-tune their coordination.

1:00 PM - Lunchtime: After a busy morning of practice, film, and weight training, Beezus D treats his teammates to lunch…at the on-campus cafeteria. They joke around, have fun while sharing stories of this season and last, building camaraderie and strengthening their bond. As a leader, Bobby understands that building trust, unity, and belief among players are key to success on the field.

3:00 PM - Reviewing Plays: Back in the meeting room, BD and his O players run through their playbook. There’s a lot to discuss, new plays, players preferred routes vs the ones drawn up for them, essentially reviewing all the adjustments Coach Steve Valentine and the coaching staff introduced. It's the best opportunity for everyone to get deep into their roles and responsibilities on every play, and ask any clarifying questions they might have. Coach Steve says when the stakes are this high, there’s no dumb questions. Every question impacts your ability to do your job, so every question is the most important question.

4:30 PM - Mental Time: As the sun starts to drop like a football at the end of a 63 yard Hail Mary pass, Bobatron D focuses on mental preparation. He ducks past crowds of fans and single women to a special, quiet room on campus he uses to visualize the games ahead. With some music, some relaxing consumables, and his tape running, Bobby mentally walks through various game scenarios, figuring out what he might do in those on-the-fly decisions that define football.

6:00 PM - Family Time: Bobby Dials family are VIPs to both the LeBois Santura University and, by extension, the Kingdom of Cardenao. As such, Mihaly ensured Bobby’s family had property near the BSU campus to ensure that the evening was reserved for Bobby's to spend time with family. This special time is much needed to every child, but perhaps doubly so to one with the caliber of pressure and expectation resting on his shoulders like Bobby was.This family time provides him with an essential feeling balance to the demands of the sport.

8:00 PM - Captains Meeting: Bobby Calls meets with Alabaster Red and Ricky Spanish, the defensive captains of the team, and Sigma Carreon, the senior center and offensive captain of the team along with Bobby. With everything left to play with, Bobby motivates them, emphasizing their individual goals and dreams and the importance of their roles within the team and how that can lead them to their goals. As the first captain of the team, it’s up to the sophomore quarterback to set the tone for the weeks ahead.

9:00 PM - Resty Rest: A long day finally winds down as the Kid from Cartablanca focuses on getting recovered and resting his body for all that lay ahead. This recovery is essential as he indulges in a massage, an ice bath, and other treatments to rejuvenate his body. The best of the best can play at an elite level into their 30s and 40s, so he needed to start the work now to see the results then.

As the BSU Bronco himself drifts off to sleep, his dedication to football and his teammates are still front and center in his mind. He’s given, is giving, and will continue to give everything he has for his sport because football is Bobby Dials and Bobby Dials is football.

It's been One Day in the Life of Bobby Dials, a day spent preparing for legendary on the field and building the foundation to lift the LeBois Santura University Broncos into the top tier of college football.

by **NSCF** » Thu Sep 21, 2023 9:13 pm

Non-Conference Play Week One (MD12)

University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (CBP) 44–14 Elephant Valley University (SNL)

University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE) 55–0 University of Lacragos (EVI)

Cavsar University (DRK) 29–31 Ratzupalfu University of Nature (SNL)

Sadeg State University (DRK) 46–16 Trent State University (TJU)

Sea Dome University (MSD) 16–20 Universidad Politécnica Autónoma del Metro-Boca Rana (SGU)

University of Alexandroupolis (NGS) 22–6 Frontier Mechanical and Technical University (SAS)

University of Constantinople (NGS) 30–0 Bingham Young University (UTA)

Université du Saguenay (QUE) 20–9 Cold Hill University (RAN)

Green City University (TJU) 30–34 Richardson University (RAN)

Mar Sara Tech (VAL) 29–27 Kusbon College (CAD)

Raynor University (VAL) 47–19 Hankow State University (UVI)

University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ) 31–33 Felswyr State University (CMT)

Staramara Tech University (CMT) 15–19 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Fri Sep 22, 2023 8:22 am

Nothing like pain to put us back in our place.

Next week is big. TSU fighting just to be over .500 while GCU has their Senior Day.

Let's hope things end on a high. For Everyone's sake.

TSU SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference, Mineral Division + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: @UCBP (CBP) L 6-34 (0-1)
Week 2: @Royal Naval Academy (NAS) W 23-20 (1-1)
Week 3: vs Green City (TJU) - Earth Trophy IX L 14-24 (1-2)
Week 4: vs Alexandropolis (NGS) L 3-13 (1-3)
Week 5: vs UPAM-Boca Rana (SGU) W 27-17 (2-3)
Week 6: @Constantinople (NGS) L 3-10 (2-4)
Week 7: @Columbus-Prairie (DHE) L 17-36 (2-5)
---------------------Mineral Division Rematches---------------------
Week 8: vs UCBP (CBP) - Homecoming W 13-7 (3-5)
Week 9: vs Royal Naval Academy (NAS) W 17-7 (4-5)
Week 10: @Green City (TJU) - Earth Trophy X W 33-23 (5-5)
~~Week 11: Conference Championship Week~~
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 12: vs Elephant Valley (SNL/6-4/4th in Celestia) - Senior Day W 10-10 (23-20 OT) (6-5)
Week 13: @Sadeg State (DRK/5-6/5th in Horizon) L 16-46 (6-6)
Week 14: @High City College (CCO/2-9/7th in Big Eight)

SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference, Mineral Division + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: vs Royal Naval Academy (NAS) W 46-13 (1-0)
Week 2: vs UCBP (CBP) L 24-32 (1-1)
Week 3: @Trent State (TJU) - Earth Trophy IX W 24-14 (2-1)
Week 4: vs Constantinople U (NGS) L 19-30 (2-2)
Week 5: vs Columbus-Prairie (DHE) - Homecoming L 16-20 (2-3)
Week 6: @UAlexandropolis (NGS) L 17-41 (2-4)
Week 7: @UPAM-Boca Rana (SGU) L 13-34 (2-5)
---------------------Mineral Division Rematches---------------------
Week 8: @Royal Naval Academy (NAS) W 59-17 (3-5)
Week 9: @UCBP (CBP) L 7-27 (3-6)
Week 10: vs Trent State (TJU) - Earth Trophy X L 23-33 (3-7)
~~Week 11: Conference Championship Week~~
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 12: vs Sea Dome U (MSD/4-6/6th in Big Eight) W 44-42 (4-7)
Week 13: @Richardson (RAN/8-3/3rd* in Big Eight) L 30-34 (4-8)
Week 14: vs Mancodas (PFA/9-3/Zephyr Champions) - Senior Day

by **Banija** » Fri Sep 22, 2023 2:18 pm

Upset on Urrhed Island- Wade Hurley comeback leads NMU to stunning road rivalry win over Staramara Tech in Week 11

STARAMARA, URRHED ISLAND, CHROMATIKA- Lance Kabuye, NMU's head coach, was FIRED UP about Northern Moravica's stunning road win on Urrhed Island. "Of course today wasn't perfect- this is too good of an opponent, playing at their house no less, in an annual rivalry game, for things to go perfectly swimmingly for us." He told reporters. "But getting road wins in rivalry games is hard in this competition- and look, if we want to make the playoff, this is a game that we absolutely had to have. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. This team came through, in the biggest moments, and made the plays necessary to keep our hopes alive. But even aside from that- these rivalry wins always mean more. The committee will be very impressed when they take a look through this team's resume on Decision Sunday."

Impressed, indeed. It wasn't pretty a lot of times. Downright ugly. Certainly physical. At least it wasn't too cold, eh? Well, let's dive into this one!

There wasn't much to do in the first quarter for everybody involved. Although, a theme came in this game- Staramara Tech's red zone struggles. We'll go through 'em throughout the game summary, of course, but the NMU defense seemed to be very bend but do not break on this Saturday. While Kyler Blatchford opened the scoring with a 47 yard field goal early in the quarter, on Tech's third drive of the game, they eventually got into the red zone, getting all the way down to the NMU 10. But on 3rd & 1 from the 10 yard line, Tech ran a play-action and put the ball into the hands of JJ Garrett (related to you know who!), but he was sacked for a 5 yard loss by Kang Joseph- a native Chromatik, in his home country.

32 yard field goal by Guilloux. First of quite a few short field goals? First, we'll roll into the second quarter. Wade Hurley has been able to play mostly explosive, mistake-free football for his first two games as a starter. But that was not going to happen forever- everybody turns it over. And here in his first road game, the Lava have a fierce defense. Wade Hurley didn't recognize a blitz, saw an unblocked guy, overthrew it, and it landed right into the hands of Lava CB1, Lyla Pale, for an interception. Fortunately for the Cougars, Geese was right there to make the tackle at the 26 yard line- or else she could've gone for 6. Fortunately for Hurley, the Cougars defense once again stood tall on the short field.

The Lava were able to get one first down, with JJ Garrett hitting Jacoby Grinner for a 12 yard gain on 2nd & 9. But it was there where the defense tightened for the Cougars, once again. First and 10- JJ Garrett, under heavy pressure, forced to throw the ball away. Second down, it would be Duhaga getting stuffed at the line of scrimmage for a one yard carry. And then on third down, the defense stood tall. JJ Garrett was looking for his TE, but a diving pass deflection by senior linebacker, Kang In-Yeung, forced the Lava, once again, to settle for a field goal. They led 6-3, but that was a win for the NMU defense- an extremely short field for the Lava, but they could only kick, rather than punch it in for 6.

Both teams each forced a punt after that, and with about 6 minutes left, NMU were starting a drive at their own 18 yard line. The offense hadn't done much since their opening drive netted a field goal in the first quarter. Wade Hurley was not playing so well- first career road start as a freshman, it was always going to be a challenge. But Kabuye endeavored to really simplify things for his young QB. First down, running a deep out for Geese to the near side- an excellent throw. Put only where his WR could get the football, 13 yards, and a first down.

That was a play that really got things moving for NMU. They, of course, are always going to rely on their ground game when they can- so they fed a lot of Amira Kong and Balinda Kisero on the ground. Four minutes, 9 plays, a total of 77 yards- and the drive ended in a 7 yard carry for Amira Kong into the end zone for a touchdown. She was untouched on that run, as Horace Springhorn, the fullback, had gotten to the second level and bulldozed a safety to clear a path for her. The Chromatik HB spiked the football, as Northern Moravica re-gained the lead. PAT good- 10-6. It was good end to the half for the offense, although OK for the defense- JJ Garrett led Tech into field goal range, and Guilloux hit one from 48 yards to end the first half.

NMU led by only one- Cougars 10, Tech 9.

Cougars got the ball to start the half- immediately went three and out. Punting right away to the Lava. Sometimes, you don't need a ton of plays. The Lava O-Line, first play from scrimmage, opened up a HUGE hole for Isaga Duhaga- Sai Dutta chased him down 55 yards later. Completely flipping the field- from the Tech 27 to the NMU 18 yard line. Obviously, big plays like this put Staramara Tech in a great position to try and score. First play, a 13 yard deep in to Jacoby Grinner, a great throw from JJ Garrett to set up first and goal, from the five yard line. Knocking on the door to score a touchdown, their first of the game. First play- Duhaga run right for 3 yards. 2nd & goal at the 2- Duhaga stuffed at the line of scrimmage by Jasher Amolo & Zebadiah Ongonga for no gain.

NMU Radio Commentator wrote:It's third and goal for Staramara Tech! Early in the third quarter, they are on the brink of taking the lead- the Cougars only lead by 1, and have their backs against the wall. The Cougars defense needs a stop- you don't want to let the opponents get a touchdown like this to start the half. Marching straight down the field and scoring like it's nobody's business. Sprung, of course, by that 55 yard run to start the drive. JJ Garrett lines up under center- two TEs right, one left. He has a WR, Jacoby Grinner, split out left, with Davis Pill in the backfield. Abigail Washington is lined up across from Grinner...

Garrett gets the snap. He takes one step back and throws a fade route to Jacoby Grinner in the corner... AND IT"S KNOCKED DOWN BY ABIGIAL WASHINGTON! Absolutely picture perfect defense- she's becoming one of the best cornerbacks in all of CFB, and she's showing the world her ability. It was a well thrown fade to the back pylon, plenty of space- but she was able to force the WR towards the sideline, go up for the play at the right time, and knock it down with her left hand. Brilliant play. It's fourth down, are they going to go out for a kick...

No they aren't! The offense is staying on the field. The crowd claps- the people always want the coach to go for it. Huge play here- Tech already have 3 field goals. A TD here would be big time to give them a lead. This time, two TEs- one on each side. Garrett under center, Jameson Akae lined up at FB, and Grinner on the outside, one on one with Abigail Washington. Ball is snapped. Garrett fakes the handoff to Duhaga... AND IS IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT DOWN BY NMU EDGE JOSIAH MICHAELS! HE DIDN'T SEE HIM COMING AT ALL- WOW!

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Goal line stand by the Cougars defense- an absolutely massive play! Garrett stepped left to fake the handoff to Duhaga- but as soon as he was turning around, Michaels was in his face. He was unblocked- a TE was assigned to block him, which is just such a terrible idea. He swam past him and made a beeline straight for the QB, and Garrett didn't have a chance. He couldn't even try to step up past this sack- he simply had to go down with the tackler, holding onto the football to not have a fumble. Oh my, what a play! Josiah in his home country- what a play!

It was a huge play- that 55 yard gain yielding 0 points for Staramara Tech. Now, of course, the quarter would still yield a pair of field goals for the Lava. But both, once again, saw stops for the Cougars defense on 3rd & goal. On the first 3rd & goal, from the NMU 7 yard line, Garrett looked like he had an open WR in the end zone- but Kang Joseph knocked the pass down at the line of scrimmage. Fourth down, forcing Tech to settle for a field goal- where they would take the lead. The second one was a 3rd & goal from the NMU 4. This one was a WR screen to Edison Dotwiler, who was brought down at the line of scrimmage by NMU LB Carmen Dior. So another field goal. Tech led, 15-10, to start the fourth- but if the Cougars red zone defense wasn't so stout today, this game might have already been over.

Neither team was necessarily great in the red zone. A 37 yard Balinda Kisero run early in the fourth quarter got the Cougars O going for the first time in the entirety of the second half, and they got down to to the Tech 2 yard line for a 3rd and goal- but Kisero was blown up in the backfield by Su-Bin Kim on the HB toss for a 5 yard loss. So forced to kick, Cougars made it a 2 point game with over 13 minutes left. Tech led, 15-13. At that point, the game was about the defenses- close enough of a game where nobody's committing fully to the run or pass quite yet, both defenses were pretty good at forcing punts.

Until, of course, NMU's final drive. Starting at their own 17 yard line, with 4:40 left on the clock, Wade Hurley knew that this might be his swan song in this game. The redshirt freshman started leading an excellent drive down the field. Taking what the defense gave him, fitting the ball into some tight windows, until he eventually led his team to a 1st and 10 at the Lava 40 yard line.

Continued on Page 2

NMU QB Wade Hurley, under 2 minutes left, 2nd and 10 at the Staramara Tech 40 yard line

Wade Hurley knelt down in the huddle. It was a fresh set of downs- two plays before, on 3rd and 1 at the 47, Amira Kong had ran for 7 yards to give them this fresh set of downs. NMU technically only needed a field goal, down 2- but they were not in field goal range, yet. He heard the play from the Offensive Coordinator- and then told them the play. "Come on, guys- we're gonna go get this." He said right afterwards as they were breaking the huddle. "Blue Forty-Seven!" He yelled, starting his cadence. He called for a slide in the protection. "Set,, Hut- Hut!" On 2, ball was snapped. Hurley caught the snap and looked downfield. He saw pressure coming from the DE, so he stepped up.

Stepping up, he saw the EDGE rusher overpursue, and he saw the green turf in front of him- and nobody open. "Well, shit." He thought to himself. And then, he took off. He knew that he needed the 30 for the first down- he saw a Staramara Tech player coming from his right. He could've slid- but why slide? He could see the first down, it was right there-

BOOM!

"Holy fucking shit." Wade Hurley said, on the ground, gasping for air. He hadn't looked to his left- Lucius Agot, the star Tech MLB, had been sprinting over, been able to launch, and absolutely lay out the QB. No flags of course- it wasn't helmet to helmet, it was a legal hit, and the QB was certainly out of the pocket. Still- it hurt like a mother fucker. He couldn't get up- he had held onto the ball. But he rolled and pounded the turf.

The trainer was next to him. "Wade, are you OK? Are you hurt?"

"I don't think anything's broken, nothing hurts that much." Wade Hurley said. "I just feel like I can't fucking breathe."

"Wind knocked out of him." The trainer said. Looking up, he saw Lance Kabuye next to the trainer. "He might need a play or two." The trainer and Lance Kabuye started whispering to each other urgently, the language switched from English to Olusanke. He had no idea what they were saying. Kabuye looked pissed when he helped Hurley off the field.

"Ok, sit for a second." Kabuye said. "We've got to use a timeout for this anyways- last two minutes. You can walk- trainer will test you." Hurley simply nodded. "LEVI- YOU'RE UP!" He barked at NMU's original starting QB, Levi Ayange. The trainer was having him swing his arms, turn his upper body, but he was watching the play as it was happening. Testing to see if anything was bruised or broken- probably wouldn't be able to feel any pain with all of this adrenaline anyways.

The play, itself, was a disaster. 3rd and 1 at the 31- NMU lined up in the shotgun. Levi Ayange was barking out signals. NMU, of course, wanted this yard- but they wanted to stay aggressive, too. But Tech were going to bring the house with the backup QB in. And they did. Somebody was going to be unblocked- and that was Tech DT Jaire Alford. Ayange processed it all way too slowly. As he tried to throw the football, Alford tackled him while hitting his throwing arm- the ball popped onto the ground. Fumble.

"FUCK!" Kabuye yelled on the sideline, as the crowd started to cheer loudly. There was a pileup on the ground- and right tackle Hosea Scheniah, the captain, ended up with the football. How he did, nobody had any idea. But still- a 5 yard loss. Staramara Tech used their first timeout, to keep the clock stopped. Hurley looked at his head coach. Lance Kabuye was clearly doing some rapid fire thinking- 4th and 6, down 2, at the opposing 36 yard line. Would be a 53 yard field goal. Kabuye was looking back and forth at Ayange & Blatchford, the kicker, both. He had drilled a long field goal early in this game, but he looked at Woodbrough, as well. "FG Unit!" He yelled, not looking entirely convinced. But asking a backup QB to convert that was suicide.

Suddenly, the trainer walked up to Hurley. "You're good to go Wade." Hurley nearly sprinted to his head coach. "Hey Coach- I'm good." Trainer was with him, telling coach Hurley was cleared. Kabuye looked to thinking again. Blatchford had gone 4/10 from 50+ in warmups- not exactly inspiring.

"Fuck it." Kabuye said to himself. It's a field goal that would have taken the lead- but Kabuye thought, more likely than not, that Blatchford would miss that field goal. "OFFENSE!" He yelled louder. "We're going for it!" It was a hustle and bustle on the sideline. FG unit went back to their seats, as the offensive players came back to the huddle. "We've got to get this first down- know that we need the 30." Kabuye emphasized. And he talked about the playcall that he was going to run...

It was fourth down. It was only a crowd of 15,000 or so, but still- they could make themselves heard. Hurley was in the shotgun, with Kisero next to him in the backfield. Two WRs right, two WRs left. He saw the Tech risk-taking, hard hitting safety, Su-Bin Kim, creep up towards the line of scrimmage- showing blitz. He shouted an audible at Okwayi Kyebanja, his WR lined up on the far right. Go long. The ball was snapped. The blitz came- this time, it was picked up. Hurley looked at his primary read, Geese, his WR1, coming back over the middle- blanketed. He looked for his TE, Kimi Lundin, running an underneath crossing route- blanketed.

He knew the pocket was going to collapse. He saw Kyebanja in single coverage, and heaved it towards the end zone. A perfect throw, towards the back pylon... That was caught! "LET'S FUCKING GO!!!" Wade Hurley yelled, pounding his chest, high-fiving a lineman, and then sprinting towards the end zone to ceebrate with Kyebanja. What a throw and catch on 4th down- needing 6 yards, and ending up with 6 points. "COME ON KYEBANJA- KING!" He yelled when he reached the end zone, celebrating with his WR2. The Staramara Tech crowd looked stunned.

ABSM, continued from cover story

Lance Kabuye talked about the decision. "Sometimes, you got to make a play!" He told reporters. "A 53 yard field goal with the game on the line is not a gimme in college." Of course, what went unsaid was that if Dwayne Markseon was still NMU's kicker, he absolutely would have kicked it- and probably drilled the field goal. "But Hurley's resilience there- man. True freshman. His top two reads right at the sticks, taken away. Sees the WR open long. Needs an absolutely perfect pass, and throws it on a damn rope- hell of a play, hell of a catch, hell of a throw."

Of course, they went for 2 to make it a 6 point game- and it failed. No matter. 4 point lead, on the road against Tech, 1:14 left. Could the defense hold? It turns out they could. After the ensuing kick was returned to the 34 yard line. JJ Garrett got the ball in a shotgun formation- knowing he needed to drive his team 66 yards. But first play, Kang Joseph spin move had him making a beeline towards the QB. Garrett, feeling the pressure, probably threw the ball a beat too early on an out route- and it was intercepted on the sideline by NMU CB, Elisha Osumba. A huge pick, as Tech only had two timeouts left. NMU got an excessive celebration penalty on it, as Osumba, after being tackled, sprinted to the Tech student section in the corner and threw the ball into the crowd.

Classic.

NMU took their 15 yard penalty, starting the next drive at their own 37 yard line. They knew a first down would win it- and they would turn to the ground game to get there. Hurley toss to Kisero- she picked up 8 yards. 2nd and 2- Amira Kong runs up the middle for 16 yards and a first down. Game, set, match. "Can't get over how gritty of a win this was- we are proving ourselves worthy, every single week, to be deserving to be among the final 12 teams competing for a championship." Lance Kabuye told reporters, already politcking the committee with a game left. "Rivalry win too- always massive."

There is one more week left in the season, however. NMU will resurrect the UC-Baker Park rivalry next weekend, at 4 PM, at Mugisha II Memorial Stadium- on what will also be Senior Day. It will probably be a game that NMU have to have if they want to make the playoffs- but they are focused strictly on the opponent. "Whatever happens around us, happens." Said HC Lance Kabuye. "We're focused on beating our rivals and getting our seniors one last win. They've got an excellent team, are fighting for a first round bye this postseason- so we'll have our hands full."

"But our fans are going to back us, and the Red Sea is going to be tough for them to deal with." Kabuye told reporters. "We're gonna be ready to go to war again- that red flag will rise triumphant once more."

by **South Newlandia** » Fri Sep 22, 2023 3:39 pm

For the South Newlandian teams, the season is over. Let’s take a look ahead to the next one.

After both teams once again failed to reach the 8-win barrier or the playoffs, both the Egrets and Red Elephants will have to look forward to the next season, which will be the landmark 30th NSCF; and also the seventh and sixth for the two schools, respectively. Of course, recruiting will be a major factor in this, shaping the course for both teams for the first half of the thirties. Since the top Chromatik players haven’t been released yet, we’ll focus on players from Ranoria, New Gesem, Valanora, Banija, and South Newlandia right now, investigating which ones might be a good fit for the South Newlandian teams.

Elephant Valley University Red Elephants
Needs: Running Back, O-Line, D-Line, Cornerback

One of the most pressing issues for the Red Elephants throughout the season has been at running back, with Nancy Franco struggling to provide adequate play. Even if she was good, she’ll be a senior next season, so it’s important for the Red Ellies to find their back of the future. Since Gauge Lawson, they have never had a truly elite presence in the backfield. There are multiple players that could potentially fill that role, but with Vanorian standout back Thorbjørn Skår likely staying close to home, and Newlandian Mark-Vincent Young unlikely to join the big rival of his hometown Egrets, the Red Ellies will likely focus in on top Banijan recruit Kulubo Gaye, who certainly has a similar upside to Gauge Lawson. A complete player in every way, we could ring in a new era for the Red Elephants. He’s also going to be ready quickly, and could be a major upgrade as a freshman already. Zachary Perez of New Gesem also deserves a mention, although he falls into a bit of a different archetype.

On the offensive line, Elephant Valley had their fair share of struggles at Left Tackle, and they will also have to replace their blindside Guard, Ran Gomez, who will graduate with his Accounting degree. Options to address the blindside of QB Rico Divalles include Sengan Jobe. The Banijan Guard does have some off-the-field concerns attached, but the raw physical tools are unmatched, and Addo Uster has been relatively good at keeping players like him in line. If the Guard is willing to buy into this, he could be a big piece for the Red Elephants.
The obvious option at tackle seems to be Guenther Ellies, or, as some seem to prefer, Guenther Ellis. The Ranorian excelled in High School, but he also has some off-the-field concerns in the opposite direction of Jobe. However, the Red Elephants have been good at helping struggling students, and Ellis seems certainly worth the price of admission. Even though the Red Elephants are a pass-first offense right now and Ellis is more of a run blocker, he’s certainly a top contender for tackles with the highest upside.

Another area where the Red Elephants have struggled is the defensive line, with Finn Rodgers graduating and the entire unit being very light on depth. While keeping South Newlandian standout Thompson local is certainly an option, one player that might be interesting is Vanorian defensive tackle Elias Olden. He profiles as a good scheme fit for the EVU 3-4 front seven, and with Paul Grayson also on the roster, he won’t have to take the full load by himself.

Cornerback is probably the biggest need for the Red Elephants entering the upcoming season. Their Vanorian shutdown corner Mustafa Engström will be graduating, and so will number 2, David Patterson, and number three, Zachary Walker. With help desperately needed, the Red Elephants find a cornerback class that is fairly light on the ground by count so far, but stands out as having excellent options. Those include Vanorian Linnea Nystuen, who comes in with a similar athletic profile to Engström, who worked out excellently. Asher Davis might be the kind of locker room presence they love in Elephant Valley, and much like Musa Dansa, he could become an excellent player for this team – any team will be lucky to get any of these three, but the Red Ellies will be hoping to snatch up two.

Moses Kramer also absolutely needs to be mentioned. The Banijan/South Newlandian grew up in South Newlandia, and is the son of pitcher Jay Kramer. It’s tough to project the role of him on the football field, but besides getting to finally live close to his father, a move to EVU would give him a chance to also play for the baseball team on the side as a Big 14 catcher. It seems possible, even, that the Red Elephants use him as a gadget player both at running back and linebacker occasionally when needing a spark, but it’s just far too soon to tell which direction they’ll go with. He’s certainly circled on the prospect report, though.

Ratzupalfu University of Nature Egrets
Needs: Tight End, Wide Receiver, Left Tackle, Defensive Tackle, Middle Linebacker, Cornerback, Kicker, Punter

A real laundry list here, for the Egrets, who finished last in the Savannah in large part due to a critical lack at several positions. Tight End was not one of those problem spots, with Sandra Hillock probably their most reliable receiver, but she’s going to graduate after the season. Victor Sawolu might become unstoppable here, but he’s likely going to commit to a better program. Drew Street would be an interesting addition, although the Egrets are going to be looking for a great run blocker, who might eventually materialise on the prospect list.

The wide receiving room was serviceable, but there’s certainly room to upgrade. Latri Jalu is an option if they want to go for a high-upside choice, pairing him with Jonah O'Dowling, who they successfully brought in for this season. This is less of a problem spot, as it’s also entirely possible Carl or Arling will make strides forward in the coming seasons.

Left Tackle is also an issue here, just like for the Red Ellies; and we also won’t cover DT or CB in depth twice; the situations are very similar.
What we will look at are Middle Linebackers. Defensive Field General Nellie Griffin will be graduating, with no depth seen for miles. There are multiple South Newlandians available, including keeping Laura Davis local. With Kenny Parham almost certainly out of reach for this team, and the Egrets hoping to get a four-year player here, they’ll probably have to wait to see the Chromatik options.

Additionally, special teams were a big weak spot for this team. At kicker, New Gesemite Juan Hayes is the only prospect listed yet, although there’ll probably be Chromatiks on the market. The air is similarly thin at punter, with Tom Knight the only listed player; having grown up in Elephant Valley, he seems unlikely to become an Egret.

by **Chromatika** » Fri Sep 22, 2023 4:42 pm

Part 1: Rainbow District
Part 2: Mountain District
Part 3: Heartland District
Part 4: Coastal District
Part 5: Myana Island
Part 6: Urrhed Island
Part 7: Capital District East
Part 8: Capital District West
Part 9: Playoffs, First Round
Part 10: Playoffs, Lower Bracket, Second Round
Part 11: Playoffs, Lower Bracket, Third Round
Part 12: Playoffs, Lower Bracket, Final Round

Chromatik High School Gridiron - Season Twelve, Part Thirteen: National Quarterfinals

Season 1 Champions: Central Heights High School (MVP: QB Harold Jieter)
Season 2 Champions: East Omnio High School (MVP: WR Alessandro Mio)
Season 3 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 4 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 5 Champions: Flames of the Revolution High School (MVP: RB Nyata Antonucci)
Season 6 Champions: Staramara Tech High School (MVP: Edge Nicole Manstrom)
Season 7 Champions: Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School (MVP: QB Liara Anderson)
Season 8 Champions: Vitoron School of Charge (MVP: QB Anne-Maurice Vivayavich)
Season 9 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School Blue and White (MVP: QB Nicole Estera)
Season 10 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School Blue and White (MVP: CB Lisa Bonsoon)
Season 11 Champions: The Chromatik Institute Dread (MVP: QB Raul Sébastien Santos)

This season, the playoffs have changed. Conference Champions head to the District Champions (Round of Sixteen), while Second Place per Conference play each other to decide which team will make it to the National Playoffs on the losers' side. Then, it will be double elimination until there are eight teams left, which will lead to a single elimination bracket.

National Quarterfinals
All games held at higher seed (team listed first)

Mt. Niar High School vs. Staramara Tech High School

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Staramara Tech High School                 14   0   0   0   14
Mt. Niar High School                       10   7  24   7   48

1Q
12:11 STHS TD - Freya Odinsdóttir 41 yard interception return (George Damien Kick)
09:24 MNHS FG - Kang Yun-Hee 48 yard Field Goal
05:23 STHS TD - Reel Shok 31 yard pass from Mattieu Hancock (George Damien Kick)
02:30 MNHS TD - Earl Silverman 38 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)

2Q
01:39 MNHS TD - Earl Silverman 77 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)

3Q
13:21 MNHS TD - Samantha Ysalt 8 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)
10:42 MNHS TD - Valyn Ekler 32 yard fumble return (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)
06:11 MNHS FG - Kang Yun-Hee 49 yard Field Goal
01:49 MNHS TD - Dante Flowers 11 yard run (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)

4Q
05:28 MNHS TD - Dante Flowers 1 yard run (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)

FELSWYR, MOUNTAIN DISTRICT - Dante Flowers showed tremendous grit by overcoming an early miscue, the Anacondas' defense held strong after the first two drives, and Mt. Niar High School overcame an early scare to dispatch the Staramara Tech High School Battle Angels 48-14 in National Quarterfinals action.

Regarded by many to be one of the most intriguing matchups of the National Quarterfinals, the visiting Battle Angels won the toss and elected to defer. After the Anacondas had moved the ball up to their own 42, a screen pass from Flowers to Prince Killart was intercepted by Odinsdóttir, who had anticipated the play at the snap. The star Outside Linebacker caught the pass in stride and returned it 41 yards to quiet the home crowd and put the Battle Angels on the board first.

Flowers would do well enough to get the Anacondas into Field Goal range, the drive stalling before they could crest Staramara Tech's twenty; then, Mattieu Hancock went 5-for-7 in his first drive of the game, capped off by a nice crossing route run by Reel Shok, to put the Battle Angels at 14-3, and putting pressure back on Flowers.

Nobody knew that that would be the last points scored by Staramara Tech for the remainder of the game.

After that, the Anacondas put on a clinic, exemplified by the play of their Quarterback. Despite having thrown a pick-six on the first drive, the Ranorian was brilliant for the rest of the game, finding Earl Silverman on two deep balls in the first half to give the Anacondas the lead, then playing some of his best ball in the second half, helping the home team hold the ball for over twenty minutes while scoring 31 points. He utilized his legs as well - 11 carries for 41 yards and two touchdowns - while finishing the day with 381 yards and three touchdown passes, with the aforementioned interception. The defense did their bit by holding the Battle Angels to 131 yards for the rest of them game, sacking Hancock four times while also having a scoop-and-score, while Kang Yun-Hee was perfect on the day with 6/6 extra points and two long Field Goals.

"She made a great play," Flowers stated of Freya's interception, 'But I couldn't dwell on that. We had a game to win, and we knew that our gameplan was solid."

It was the lack of offensive production that dogged the Battle Angels in the second half, and they will have some work to do as Mattieu Hancock graduates. With Odinsdóttir returning as a Senior next season, Staramara Tech will be in the mix once again.

Chromatik Army High School vs. Tears of the Revolution High School

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Tears of the Revolution High School         9  14  10   3   36
Chromatik Army High School                 13   7   3  17   40

1Q
11:32 TRHS FG - Will Jaire 38 yard Field Goal
09:28 CAHS TD - Heidi Sundstrom 46 yard pass from Jair Lleyamana (Maurice Flare Kick)
08:01 TRHS FG - Will Jaire 48 yard Field Goal
05:20 CAHS TD - Angie Pyre 19 yard run (Kick Blocked)
01:08 TRHD FG - Will Jaire 42 yard Field Goal

2Q
13:22 TRHS TD - Yara Mood 16 yard pass from Andrew Wiggins (Will Jaire Kick)
09:01 CAHS TD - Jair Lleyamana 18 yard run (Maurice Flare Kick)
00:19 TRHS TD - Lark Fromis 8 yard run (Will Jaire Kick)

3Q
13:11 CAHS FG - Maurice Flare 42 yard Field Goal
10:03 TRHS TD - Lark Fromis 62 yard run (Will Jaire Kick)
01:38 TRHS FG - Will Jaire 49 yard Field Goal

4Q
12:58 CAHS TD - Swain Cadillac 18 yard interception return (Maurice Flare Kick)
09:22 CAHS FG - Maurice Flare 41 yard Field Goal
04:29 TRHS FG - Will Jaire 51 yard Field Goal
00:05 CAHS TD - Lark Fromis 1 yard run (Maurice Flare Kick)

KNETYOHAI, RAINBOW DISTRICT - Remember back to the first round of the Winners' Bracket in the playoffs? Chromatik Army High School shut out the Saints, 14-0, and never looked back; the Saints had to go through the Lower Bracket, but this was the rematch - a chance for Tears of the Revolution to make it to the Semifinals and have some vengeance on that humiliating defeat.

The First Quarter was characterized by the Saints not being able to punch the ball into the end zone once they crossed over midfield - three Field Goals were all they could muster as Andrew Wiggins struggled to find the mark on third and long - while the Recruits looked like the more capable team once more, their excellent offensive line giving Jair Lleyamana plenty of time to throw the ball. Heidi Sundstrom froze Roy Hilcrest for a solid second before getting by the veteran safety in the slot, and Angie Pyre's misdirected run left four Saints defenders going the wrong way.

Tears of the Revolution would come out firing in the Second Quarter, finally punching the ball into the end zone, Andrew Wiggins finding Yara Mood running a fade route. Jair Lleyemana used his legs to get the Recruits a touchdown, but Lark Fromis, the Senior Running Back out of Tears of the Revolution, was just getting started. She punched the ball in from the eight yard line to make it seventy-three yards on the ground in just the first half, and the Saints took a three-point lead into halftime.

The Third Quarter saw a Recruits drive stall due to a holding penalty. Then, Fromis struck. The Senior stiff-armed the Middle Linebacker before outracing the rest of the Recruits for an emphatic touchdown to put the Saints up by seven points, and the Saints were able to extend the lead up to ten with a long Field Goal as the Quarter expired.

With the Recruits' offense hitting a wall, it would be their defense that would step up. Swain Cadillac jumped a pass meant for Yara Mood, returning all the way to get the Recruits back to within three; then, after a Saints three and out, the Recruits were able to tie the game up with 09:22 remaining. There would be more than enough time for additional drama.

Andrew Wiggins found Kimberley Dread between completions to Yara Mood before the drive stalled once again, and Will Jaire hit his fourth Field Goal of the game, from a school-record fifty-one yards out, to give Tears of the Revolution the lead.

Four minutes and twenty-five seconds left and three time outs were what awaited young Jair Lleyamana as the Recruits took to the Field, with seventy-five yards in front of them. A Field Goal would take them to overtime, but the Freshman had other things in mind.

Fourteen plays and seventy-four yards later - the Recruits didn't even face third down once during the entirety of the drive - they were facing first and goal from the one yard line with eight seconds remaining. The Recruits would have one chance to punch the ball in, maybe two, but Lleyamana would have to get rid of the ball quickly if the read wasn't there. He could not get sacked.

It was supposed to be a bootleg pass to the right. Jair faked the handoff to Angie Pyre, turned around, and noticed that there was nobody spying him.

One of the tensest playoff games in recent memory ended with the Freshman Quarterback walking, untouched into the end zone as the Saints' defense, reeling and exhausted, had made a mental gaffe.

A well-guarded kickoff later, the Recruits had proved their first-round win wasn't a fluke and made the Semifinals.

It's a shame for Lark Fromis, especially after the Senior had 191 yards and two touchdowns on the day - at least she'll likely be playing college ball somewhere in the future.

As for Lleyamana and the Recruits, they are the most surprising Semifinalist in recent memory. Sure, the Dread turned some heads last year, but they had RSS. To have a team led by a Freshman Quarterback make a breakthrough is something else - and to have that team come from the Rainbow District is a strange occurrence indeed.

Don't tell the Recruits their odds - they'll just use it as extra motivation to continue to thrive.

Myana Northwestern High School vs. Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School       0   3   0   0    3
Myana Northwestern High School             10  10   7   7   34

1Q
11:39 MNWHS FG - Maia Illytebovich 38 yard Field Goal
05:02 MNWHS TD - Laak Gyles 18 yard pass from Nicole Estera (Maia Illytebovich Kick)

2Q
08:11 MNWHS FG - Maia Illytebovich 31 yard Field Goal
02:01 MNWHS TD - Gorgo Lusmon 3 yard pass from Nicole Estera (Maia Illytebovich Kick)
00:02 FLCHS FG - Jade Till 48 yard Field Goal

3Q
05:19 MNWHS TD - Gorgo Lusmon 7 yard pass from Nicole Estera (Maia Illytebovich Kick)

4Q
11:42 MNWHS TD - Nicole Estera 3 yard run (Maia Illytebovich Kick)

MYANA, MYANA ISLAND - Led by a suffocating defense, a highly efficient Quarterback, and a mastery of the time of possession that saw the Blue and White possess the ball for more than twice as long as the Martyrs, Myana Northwestern High School showed why it was the class of the country in recent memory with a 34-3 thrashing of Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School that wasn't as close as the scoreline looked.

Having won every game since their 1-3 start to make it to the National Quarterfinals from the Losers' Bracket, some thought that the Martyrs would have a chance in this game, even with a Freshman Quarterback and a Freshman Wide Receiver. However, with a very hostile environment - Myana Northwestern Field was packed to the brim - and Alexander Eisenberg pressuring Darin Piltoffer at every turn - the Ranorian would have three sacks and a forced fumble on the day - the Martyrs couldn't get any momentum going. Piltoffer would end the day with the worst statistics of his young career, going 13-of-38 for 161 yards with no touchdowns, three interceptions, and a lost fumble. His backfield mate Ray Donnovan didn't fare much better, as the Running Back was held to 39 yards on five carriers, the Martyrs having to abandon the run early due to the hole they found themselves in. The Blue and White constantly pressured Piltoffer with just the four down linemen, letting the rest of the defense play to the ball without a care in their minds.

All the turnovers forced and field position gained meant that Nicole Estera had herself an easy day in comparison. The Senior Quarterback found Laak Gyles on a slant route to start off her scoring, and with the emergence of Gorgo Lusmon as a reliable receiving Tight End in the same vein as Jen Hallow, the Blue and White were rolling. Estera finished the day on 21-of-24 passing for 281 yards and three touchdowns, and even added 31 yards on four carries, including a score, on the ground - something that she doesn't do very often.

"This is playing true Blue and White football," stated Estera regarding the win, "We seek to dominate on all levels, and when I get the ball, it's my job to get points out of that possession. Yes, it helps to have a defense that can play as well as ours does, but I am always ready to step in to do my part whenever needed."

The lingering question for the Blue and White is always this: Can Estera step up to be that Quarterback when the defense falters? This season, she hasn't had to show that yet - and in the past, she's shown she can.

You don't end up being the first Quarterback that could win three national titles in your career for no reason, after all.

The Chromatik Institute vs. Tihon Elite Academy

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Tihon Elite Academy                         0   3   0   7   10
The Chromatik Institute                    14  14  10   7   45

1Q
13:10 TCI TD - Lenny Rhimes 38 yard pass from Raul Sébastien Santos (Aaron Judge Kick)
02:01 TCI TD - Briana Heavensworth 29 yard pass from Raul Sébastien Santos (Aaron Judge Kick)

2Q
09:01 TCI TD - Jacqueline Fofo 76 yard pass from Raul Sébastien Santos (Aaron Judge Kick)
05:52 TCI TD - Yavin Ott 21 yard pass from Raul Sébastien Santos (Aaron Judge Kick)
00:19 TEA FG - Freya Allison 47 yard Field Goal

3Q
10:09 TCI FG - Aaron Judge 41 yard Field Goal
02:01 TCI TD - Briana Heavensworth 19 yard run (Aaron Judge Kick)

4Q
14:11 TEA TD - Nils Jonke 7 yard pass from Cad Filox (Freya Allison Kick)
06:01 TCI TD - Briana Heavensworth 3 yard run (Aaron Judge Kick)

CHROMIA, CAPITAL DISTRICT - Heading into the Institute's home field, the Tihon Elite Academy Fog Wall knew that it would be a tough task. TCI were defending National Champions for a reason, RSS looked like a man on a mission, and Cad Filox didn't have quite the pedigree of weapons that RSS had surrounding him.

By halftime, the celebration was in full swing at The Dread Inferno. Fans were celebrating in the stands, others were actively watching other games on their phones...

Raul Sébastien Santos continued his absolutely ridiculous year with four first-half touchdowns, Briana Heavensworth added on two more in the second half, and the Dread eviscerated the Fog Wall's defense en route to a dominating 45-10 victory to move within two games of a repeat title.

The unflappable Senior went 14-of-18 for 223 yards and four touchdowns in the first half, including touchdown throws of 38, 29, 76, and 21 yards. Despite the Fog Wall sending Rostyslav Illich Kysil up the middle on blitzes, Santos was able to utilize both his vision and his feet to buy time before finding his targets, getting seven different receivers involved in the first half alone. The Dread would shift more to a ground game in the Second Half to control the clock, but it was a reminder to the rest of the competition of just how loaded the Quarterback-Receivers combination for The Chromatik Institute was.

Cad Filox is a decent Quarterback, but Tihon Elite Academy were never built to keep up with The Chromatik Institute in a shootout. The Fog Wall were able to get a long Field Goal to break the shutout in the Second Quarter, and then were able to cash in a touchdown in garbage time to make things more respectable. Filox will enter his Senior year next season, so there is some hope in the future, but this was the limit for Tihon Elite Academy.

As for the Dread, destiny awaits - the Semifinals were the round in last season when they really announced their arrival, taking down Dante Flowers and the Mt. Niar High School Anacondas 27-20 behind a masterful final drive from RSS.

The Anacondas await once again in the Semifinals - can they win the rematch?

National Semifinals
All games at The Capitalizt Dome, Chromia, Capital District

Mt. Niar High School Anacondas vs. The Chromatik Institute Dread
This is a revenge game for the Anacondas, their run at the title being stopped by the Dread in surprising fashion in last season's playoffs. Now, nobody is overlooking the Dread, as they've become the chased. This game will feature two of the best Quarterbacks in the country in Raul Sébastien Santos and Dante Flowers, along with three of the best Receivers in Jacqueline Fofo, Lenny Rhimes, and Earl Silverman. With two high-powered offenses going at it, it'll likely come down to who scores touchdowns and who settles for Field Goals, as well as turnovers and who gets the ball last. Don't be surprised to see this game be high-scoring, with the potential for overtime.

Chromatik Army High School vs. Myana Northwestern High School

It is a very good thing that the Recruits of Chromatik Army High School don't care about what people say - as public sentiment will be heavily favored for the Blue and White in this game. Having lost in the Semifinals last time around, Nicole Estera and company will try to utilize the combination of suffocating defense and advantageous time of possession to bury this game early. Can Jair Lleyamana handle the pressure better than Dustin Piltoffer of Franscesca Larriet-Cortes did? Will Angie Pyre be able to provide her Quarterback with a running game to take the pressure off? Will Estera have to actually engineer a meaningful drive or two to win this game? These are some of the biggest questions regarding this contest. Either Myana Northwestern will return to the title game for the third time in four seasons, or the Recruits will pull off an upset that is borderline unimaginable.

by **Ranoria** » Fri Sep 22, 2023 9:16 pm

Governors Offense Explodes vs Green City, Preps For Trip To Rouyoutte To Take On Loyola-Istria

Rylan Rodgers Jr and Isaiah Hunter went to work in Green City, leading this offense to score four touchdowns and record over four hundred fifty total yards

It wasn't the best day for this defense - they were seen running intense sprints rather than getting their usual recovery work in on Sunday morning. Allowing thirty points to a team that's probably as bad this season as they've ever looked in the NSCF is absolutely unacceptable. Fortunately, the defense hasn't exactly been the emphasis of this team all year - it's been the two players taking most of the snaps behind the line.

Isaiah Hunter, first of all, looked lethal - he threw for well over three hundred yards to keep his offense on pace with the TJUN-ian side across from them with a pair of touchdown passes to boot. He looked to an emergent Hughie February persistently throughout the day, and the sophomore made it clear that he's cemented his place as this team's top wideout going into the biggest game of the season, racking up a career-high 7 receptions for 121 yards and a touchdown. Mugisha Mulogo chipped in as well, notching his second consecutive game with 6 catches, 70+ yards, and a score. He suffered some growing pains early in the season, but he's become a consistent weapon in this passing attack and shown flashes of his potential as a top target.

The rushing attack though, is the straw that stirs the drink in Richardson. Rylan Rodgers Jr put up a monster 155 yards on a season-high 28 carries and notched another pair of scores to boot, bumping him up to 22 total touchdowns this season. While with just 1,612 yards, he's not going to approach the lofty yardage totals of Kuenda Sello or Elliot Roach's final seasons wearing the red and white, his touchdown total has been absolutely nuts this season. And some fans might ask why that is - an argument could be made that he's the best of those three, and his raw talent is undeniable.

Well, the answer is simple, and its name is Benjamin Merik.

Unlike Kuenda Sello, who only had a true freshman Roach to compete for snaps with - or Roach, who effectively owned the running back room in his final season - RRJ's not alone there. His backup is Benjamin Merik, who Rylan has affectionately referred to as Benji. He led the team in carries and rushing yards last season with 221 and 913 due to Rylan missing a lot of action and being limited in even more due to a lingering ankle injury throughout the year. Because of that performance and that proven talent, Rylan's not getting the obscene volume that the two aforementioned workhorses did. While it's not a 50/50 split by any means, Merik's taken a healthy 141 handoffs to Rodgers' 263, so he's getting just under 35% of the rushing attempts.

That said, there was one more wrinkle the Governors threw in. They took six snaps with Rylan Rodgers Jr at wildcat, and actually passed on three of them. He'd end the game 2/3 for 37 yards. His miss went wide on a dump off to Isaiah Hunter, and his first completion went for a solid 21 yards to Mugisha Mulogo, helping him to clear the century mark on the day.

"We wanted to throw some wrinkles in there," first year OC John Glassner said after the game, "We ran the wildcat once against Loyola-Istria last season, but really it's just about putting the ball in the hands of our best athlete and making them stop us. His baseball background helps with the passing...but that could still use some work."

Buffalo Floundering After 1-3 Run In Last Four

After the worst two games - scoring wise - in Benoit Youngblood's illustrious career in the last two weeks, the Buffalo are looking hard for answers

Life's good when you have a superstar quarterback. Life's better when you have two - maybe too good. With a roster that's severely lacking on defense, this Buffalo team is suddenly reeling after losing back-to-back games, and three of their last four, much in part to their offense hitting a hiccup. Benoit Youngblood went from having 8 touchdown passes to 0 interceptions on the campaign to tossing one touchdown to a ghastly five picks in the last two outings against Felswyr State - even as Kadesh Odika lit up the Tundra - and Saguenay.

The Big 8 champions looked to get right back up on their horse after Viktor Rowles suffered his first career loss at the hands of Richardson, and after their dramatic win over Lebois Santura in the conference championship game, most worries were eased. But instead of keeping confidence high, they've been beaten in back to back outings and in dominant fashion, one even coming in their vaunted Tundra.

With a 6-6 Elephant Valley marking their regular season finale, the Buffalo have their playoff ticket punched - but the playoffs aren't coming through the Tundra this season, and if they're going to make the trip to the championship, they'll have to fix this offense and quickly - heaven knows the defense isn't picking up the slack.

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 12:52 am

?*$(@($*($#%&((&@@???

Now the crazy part, however, is that Gilligan Ahn's not even the unanimous top-ranked prospect from Quebec this summer.

Not even close, I would even argue.

Horace 'Horny' Horton held the honour. Being considered the top-ranked recruit from Quebec and Shingoryeo all the way back to his high school, Horton was every bit of a threat his adversary was. Standing 6'7 and weighing 260 lb, the tight end played with figurative glues in his hands and moved like Mick Jagger, and blocked very well for a tight end that big. He's played offensive line back in Pop Warner and first two years of high school, and that showed well with how he bucked the stereotype of a tall, receiving tight end who should really convert to wideout.

Unlike Gilligan, Horton didn't exactly come from an athletically famous background, but one that was decent enough to suggest the fountain of his abilities. His father, Arsenius 'Ari' Horton, played four years of college football with Bonneville State University and the University of Southern Manitoba (USM), but was a fairly unremarkable prospect. Playing outside linebacker and safety, a position that the Quebecois have been traditionally known for their strengths, he was best remembered for being a decent tackler with acute awareness and jack-of-all-trades versatility. Unfortunately, Ari's limitations were also that he was also slow and undersized and those traits, while making him a very useful player for the BSU and the USM, especially the latter where he'd be remembered for intercepting Ian Lautner twice in 48-43 win over Saguenay, only their second win in last twelve years, did not exactly help his draft stock.

Eventually Ari, who was finishing up his Masters in film studies at USM, decided to retire after college for the next phases of life. He would end up meeting Irene Hanaka, a ballerina at famous Les Ballets de Monte-Romeo, thanks to introduction by Ari's friend, actress Natalie Gregoris, while they were starting out as a sound engineer and a Corpyhee about twenty-five years ago. They would date for five years before moving back to Horton's hometown in Bonneville, where Irene would start a Ballet school and Ari commute regularly to Montevicio via plane and in more recent years, overnight train.

Horace was the first of their three kids, who would eventually grow up just outside of Downtown Bonneville, and one who definitely held most footballing potential out of them. Being from Bonneville, a city of 300,000 that wasn't exactly known for being the home of the stars, but still a major sports prospect hotbed, had a bit of that elusive layer into his profile. He didn't exactly choose to run away from that either, with the top-ranked Quebecois prospect playing Football, (Ice) Hockey and Rugby with Bonneville Central High School, a downtown school that was just five minutes walk from his mum's ballet studio.

While there he wasn't exactly the most distinguished of students, and if anything was a bit of a joker. When he's done with practices or the matches he would skip homework until late in night, preferring to first hang out with his group of friends and play 61-QHL or Back of The Net (addicted at high school, dang) with them. But from time to time he would also use his underrated visual skills and draw fan art of some of his favourite players. Those included, and were not limited to: Dustin Beck and Jack Hoy as Donkey and Dragon from the Shrek movie series; Judas Wolfson as sugar daddy to Lord Almighty Proko (LAP); Nathan Ellis as the Hulk; and additional works he'd get commissions from Ilya Tsunopin's Vampwolf Chronicles. Certainly a helluva joker, if anything.

But Horace was still a lad with feelings, and human feelings if we were to talk about that.

He would not exactly talk about them, even with his friends, but he had a mild crush on a fellow prospect on the other side of the world. Silly as it can be, so probably best not to talk about that until the time's right, Horace would tell himself time to time, mostly keeping his private life away from the reminders he would get while watching highlights of the same quarterback whose athleticism Horton's found to be quite impressive. For some reason he's felt some raw sensations whenever he's reminded of the very person, who lived on the other side of the world and he would likely not see for years if ever, but he also knew he had to act better than that. He, after all, knew he had to act like the best Quebecois prospect his class, and thus owning 'Gill Ahn'.

Gilligan Ahn, his biggest foe. They have never met each other, though everybody talked about the two as the Big Two of this year's class from the Quebecois uncommitted to a college. He's watched Ahn's game film before, and was genuinely amazed at how effortless the Quebeco-Ranorian would smash through the offensive interior, with such little effort wasted. In Gill there was a sense of discipline, something that Horton did not exactly have, that drew amazement, and in that he respected Ahn.

The problem he had with Ahn, however, were the rumours involving the Fiston native and his interests. While Horton's a respectable man who got along well with everybody outside of the pitch, his biggest issue when on the turf was his tendency to get dirty, lose control and wrack up penalties. In manners similarly to our Lord and Saviour Lance Kabuye, he would have tendencies to remember things that would bother him, carry with them as fuel to the engine, and answer back with even greater fury. While this would normally work fine, especially effective in bringing the best out of him at major matches, he's also costed Bonneville Central Cavaliers the state title his freshman year (he's won two, in his junior and senior years) after headbutting the opposing linebacker from Pater-Dei at the first offensive play of the game. That was exactly why many had put Horton a close number two behind Ahn, though he was still considered a remarkable receiver and blocker on his own right, and that rumour would eventually get into his head by the time the month of June would strike.

Their moment of confrontation would come in the aftermath of Cavsar-Ratzupalfu match, held in none other than Roy Memorial Stadium of Northern Drawkland. The occasion they had managed to find themselves, as the Ahn-Gordon camp and the Horton camp would watch the match on different luxury boxes reserved for them, was a rather unusual one in circumstance.

It was only two weeks ago when Gilligan Ahn and his best friend, Steven 'Estibi' Gordon, would announce their commitment to Cavsar University, with the duo booking their flight to northern Drawkland immediately the same hour to catch the primetime matchup between the Gladiators and the Ratzupalfu University of Nature Egrets.

The news, while not one of particular surprise to those closest to both Ahn and Gordon, did generate a major wave of surprise for those of the multiversal football scene with that year's finest Ranorian recruits (keep in mind Gilligan's a dual-national), who themselves were as close of friends as late John Garrett and late Johnny Farmer were, had decided to buck the trend by committing to Cavsar, whose recent years of rise under Scott Linhart no doubt were paying off in intervals. The year they made the NSCF semifinals off the most marvelous second-half performance from Lane 'Cavsarite Casanova' Proudfoot, they secured the services of Logan Oakley, the top-ranked Drawkian quarterback his year. And this year, right as Oakley would finally put everything together for the Gladiators in his junior season...they were gifted the Ahn-Gordon duo.

This level of certainty did not exactly follow for Horace, who himself remained up in the air for the college recruitment. His grades weren't an issue, and his interest in studying general zoology had meant that Horton's future would depend on wherever he would decide to go to. But the tight end knew what was the best for him, and that was to assert dominance at the next level that would follow him. He's had no less than a dozen conversations with schools, including Northern Moravica where he's had multiple calls with Lance Kabuye, and Saguenay, whose reputation as the Tight End powerhouse continued to be the case with Clement-Clarence 'CC' Youngblood.

Horton, however, also knew that he had to think carefully when deciding schools, and as he watched the Egrets come out with an impressive away victory over Cavsar, he couldn't help but to think more carefully about what he wanted it out on field. The Egrets, man they look formidable, thought Horton as he watched the final whistle blow and the players shake hands with each other. The Egrets' victory over the Gladiators had reminded him that he should think about going somewhere where he, as Gilligan had thought out weeks before, could perhaps make a legacy for himself. I should go somewhere where I could set the path of a program. Egrets, Cougars, wherever it takes.

But it won't be Cavsar. Fuck those bastards.

by **Drawkland** » Sat Sep 23, 2023 10:55 pm

It began with a simple observation on social media, about a month prior. From the profile of Randall Lucas, the designated beat writer for Sadeg State football for Skyhawk Screech, SSU's student newspaper:

Randall Lucas
@RLucasSHS

Check this out: TJUN-ian school Trent State beats conference rival UC-Baker Park 13-7, their fans proceed to storm the field after the final whistle.

Trent State is 3-5. Even with this loss, UCBP basically has the division title locked up.

Video:

Obviously, this picked up steam among the NSCF watchers in the Skyhawk fandom and elsewhere. From the profile of Ryan Gladwin, the unofficial leader of The Screechers, Sadeg State's football student section:

Ryan (would be) Glad(for a)win
@screecherRG01
Replying to @RLucasSHS

lol, this is bush league stuff. embarrassing behavior

From there, a plan quickly emerged.

Randall Lucas
@RLucasSHS
Replying to @screecherRG01

Not that I'm suggesting anything, but just reminding everyone that Sadeg State is set to play Trent State in Week 12 out of conference.

Ryan (would be) Glad(for a)win
@screecherRG01
Replying to @RLucasSHS

screechers understand the assignment, sir

Of course, the actual Skyhawk football team was oblivious to all this. They were too busy getting their asses kicked by the rest of the Starlight Division to bother checking out the drama in other conferences. The out of conference slate didn't seem to be much of an improvement, as Sadeg State lost a heartbreaker on the road in Istria. To be so close to their first real big win of the campaign, staying in the fight with a top contender like Loyola, only for it all to fall apart in the fourth quarter ... it was a tough pull to swallow. The home game against Trent State would be their only chance to rebound before going on to battle Mar Sara Tech in the Game With No Name. The Skyhawks had to respond. At 5-6, their playoff chances were definitely dead, but winning out could at least get them to save face with a bowl game. Anything to avoid missing the postseason entirely while watching Cavsar bumble around enjoying playoff football!

Thus, when Trent State's Feathercaps came into Gridiron Park, they were met with a fearsome force of resistance. The Skyhawk defense had their best performance all season against a school not from the Equinox Division. The Feathercaps were held to just one touchdown all afternoon, and only made it to the red zone twice. Danube Jackson III terrorized Jason Steels, coming away with 2 interceptions and 4 additional pass breakups. The D-line won in the trenches in almost every play. Though Steels popped off a few good throws and Chládeková managed some solid runs, the Trent State offense simply couldn't get the ball moving consistently enough on a drive-by-drive basis. Besides the lone touchdown, they were held to 4 field goal attempts, 3 of which succeeded.

On the other side of the ball, it was slaughter. Cloud Kelly was bulldozing through the Trent State interior, and Anderson Fox complimented this with an excellent air attack. The offense was so good, in fact, that it actually held them back a little bit. Several drives were ended prematurely in Trent State territory thanks to ill-advised fourth down conversion attempts or incomplete longballs on third and short. Still, the raw efficiency of the offense coupled with the defense suffocating the Feathercaps, they got away with it. Henry Huxley caught two touchdown passes in his penultimate home game as a Skyhawk, and Kelly punched in two touchdowns on the ground. Donald Jensen, meanwhile, had 7 field goal attempts. He converted 6 of them (the one miss was from 60 yards out right before halftime).

Sadeg State held the ball in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, content to run the clock down and leave Skyhawks Gridiron Park with a well-needed W. For some reason, as the clock ticked closer and closer to 0:00, the student sections in the lower bowl of the stadium grew restless. The players were a little confused at the commotion, but they kept it moving until Fox finally took the final knee of the game. A few seconds later, the referees blew the whistle to signify the game was over. Sadeg State and Trent State's squads calmly headed towards the middle of the field to shake hands and such like nothing was amiss. Moments later, they noticed something was awry.

Loud cheers could be heard coming from the edges of the stadium. Slowly, those on the field realized what was happening. The student sections in the lower bowl were emptying ... but not upwards towards the concourse. They emptied downwards, as rows upon rows of Screechers came screeching onto the field. The older fans still in their seats sat confused, the band stood frozen in place, wondering why they weren't being counted into starting the alma mater. Regardless, a few thousand students stormed onto the turf, jumping, shouting, and laughing, especially around the Trent State sideline.

"We beat Trent State! More like the LOSERcaps!"

"Look at us, we're .500 baby! Read it and WEEP!"

"Six wins! Six tasty wins!"

"This is a perfectly justifiable occasion to storm the field!"

"Sorry officer, I swear I got pushed out here. Didn't come down here on purpose, no sir..."

After 10 or so minutes, stadium security had finally herded the (mostly drunk) Sadeg State students off the field and out of the park. The Skyhawk squad left the stadium and went home, smiles of bemusement and bewilderment on their faces. The Feathercaps packed up and headed back to TJUN-ia otherwise unimpeded, but the message had certainly been received. There was no shortage of befuddlement and outrage online about the stunt, but the Screechers all had the same reply:

Ryan Glad(about a)win
@screecherRG01

We are simply the vehicles of cosmic justice. Live by the cornball move, die by the cornball move.

Screech on.

by **Cardenao** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 2:32 pm

As Bobby Dials returned to the LeBois Santura University campus after his impressive time with the Cardenao national gridiron team, he quickly found out that his performances came with a whirlwind of attention that seemingly never ceased. While he had come to be a local celebrity thanks to his achievements with the BSU Broncos, captaining Cardenao to a 3-0 record in the World Bowl as an unranked team brought a whole new level of international stardom that had taken the Bobby Dials hype machine to an entirely new level.

The journey from the airport to the BSU campus was a surreal experience. The team bus was swarmed by fans, not just from LeBois, but from all over Cardenao, some from all over the world, all pushing and cheering for him, for Bobby Booby Bobby: the cheers were deafening, and camera flashes threatened to outnumber the stars. It was exhilarating at first, the attention was addicting, but as days turned into weeks, the constant attention began to weigh on Bobby’s mind.

The once laid-back, always smiling, approachable Bobby Dials now found himself surrounded by a legion of beautiful women who treated winning his attention like a profession, agents posing as students attempting to secure his future, cameras and criticism in every practice, and a media frenzy that hung on his every move. He was emerging as Cardenao’s golden boy, the star of a debut team. That spotlight, once a beacon of success, began to feel like a suffocating weight dragging him towards a light at the end of the tunnel.

On the practice field, Bobby's focus began to slip and his performances followed. The once effortless passes that he snapped off became errant, timid throws, and the precise darts he was known for started to waver. It was clear the quick minded BD was feeling the pressure and weight of expectation on his shoulders. He was playing under immense fear now, fear of not living up to the expectations of his fans, fear of failing to impress scouts and agents, and fear of letting his teammates down, all while constant media speculation was eroding his confidence.

The fun, late nights turned into restless hours as Bobby lay in bed, struggling to understand how to succeed with all this pressure. The solitude of his dorm room became his sanctuary, a place to escape the ceaseless attention and demands of fame. He missed the days when he could lay out on the Quad with some friends, toss the football around and be himself, without the weight of a nation's hopes resting on his shoulders, just the hopes of some drunk students.

With the college football playoffs and bowl season looming like a mountain, Bobby knew it was now or never to get his mind under control, he couldn't be the leader or player his teammates needed him to be if he kept down this path of anxiety. And so, bit by bit, he did. From meeting with mentors ranging from his high school to Isaka Jawara, to consulting with sports psychologists, and leaning on his closest friends and family for love and support.

It’s becoming clear to Bobby Dials that the game he loved was about more than just physical prowess, a lot more than being good at throwing the ball; it required mental strength, a clear mind, and the ability to pivot away from hardship. As he undertakes this journey to reclaim his peace, he knew that this was a true test of a champion. Bit by bit, Bobby rebuilt his center.

In the middle of all this uncertainty, as Bobby found himself facing different struggles than he had before, he was determined to come back stronger than ever and show why he was capable of being a professional player. The business end of the college football season was here and he was ready to face them with his flame burning, knowing that the battle within himself was just as important as the battle on the gridiron.

by **Banija** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 2:43 pm

Loyola Defensive Coordinator during Monday film session, dissecting the FSU game-winning drive against Loyola-Istria

"Alright guys- let's get this going. We absolutely cannot allow a drive like this to happen." Loyola's defensive coordinator, Uhuru Besigye, told everybody. "As you know, we're going to go through this drive. Backbreaker, at home, against a rival- you guys saw the energy just radiating out of the Istria Lightning Yard. Letting our fans down like that, a chance to go 7-0 at home, a chance to put ourselves in a position not only to guarantee a home playoff game- but to gain a first round bye, as well. If we're in this same situation against R-U, damnit, we will be ready.

Opening Kickoff returned to the FSU 22 yard line with 1:24 left. FSU has one timeout remaining. Crossing route to Essa Kayode completed for one yard

"Obviously, we were up by one point here- so we didn't even want to let them into field goal range. Especially since, you know, freaking Chromatik kickers and all that." Besigye told them. They'd all seen enough of Markseon making 55+ yarders in college that they had seen enough of Chromatik kickers, playing for other teams at least, for a lifetime. "This was actually well done. They ran a crossing route, and they put Kayode in the situation they wanted him- one on one in the open field. But Harley Sandoval, you made a hell of a play. The open field tackle- he's at least getting a first down, there's nobody behind him. Got the tackle in, ensure that the clock keeps running.

2nd & 9 at the FSU 23. Ball snapped with 1:07 left on the clock- Odika completes 7 yard curl route to TE Ulrich Jefferson, tackled in bounds.

"Now, you see here-" Besigye paused right at the snap. "You see our problem. Our EDGE rusher, Audrey Neuland, gets upfield with the speed rush, trying to apply pressure." Calling out specific players was not uncommon at these sessions. "But Audrey, you overpursued. Odika steps up, and where is the rest of our D-Line? Both EDGE rushers are too far up field, our DTs are just getting moved off the line of scrimmage- Odika steps up into space. Beatrice Hak steps up off of Ulrich Jefferson to prevent the scramble, and he whips it in around her for 7 yards to Ulrich Jefferson. It's a good tackle on the back end, but still- 7 yards is a good sized chunk play on 2nd and 9, especially in this situation."

3rd and 2 at the FSU 30- Ball snapped with 0:51 left on the clock. Odika long pass down the sideline incomplete, knocked away by ULI CB Ken Geode.

"Now, once again, this is a great play by the defense." Besigye paused the film again. "Look at the way Geode gets the jam- getting that inside leverage, forcing the receiver towards the sideline. He stays with Kayode, stride for stride. We called the linebacker blitz- Beatrice Hak had a great blitz, delayed by a half second, and then making a beeline straight at Odika. This time, we do a good job of holding contain, and our assignments. Odika is forced to heave it long, and Geode makes a great play on the football. Now we've got ourselves a fourth down- a chance to get off the field."

4th and 2 from the FSU 30, with 0:44 left on the clock. Crowd noise causes a false start, so 4th and 7 from the FSU 25. Odika scrambles right and throws 15 yards completion to Vince Cartier, who gets two feet down and then goes out of bounds to stop the clock. First down for FSU.

"This, of course, really was the backbreaker. What they all say makes Odika special- makes him one of one in this competition. But we've got to stay disciplined- although, admittedly, it was an incredible play by Kadesh Odika. Our crowd was fantastic- that false start putting the decibel levels at a reach that I haven't seen before in this rivalry. So much freaking noise. We bring pressure. Neuland beats her man- but then, Odika somehow wiggles out of the sack, scrambles right, and just as Sentambaazi is closing in on him, Odika throws a 15 yard dart to his open WR2." Besigye just laughed a little.

"Well, it was fourth down. We've got to bring him down. But even I will admit- this is one special dude. How the hell do we stop that."

1st and 10 from the FSU 40, with 0:36 left on the clock. Odika pass to Nero Ramsey over the middle for 12 yards and a first down on a skinny post.

"Look, this one had me just about ready to pull out my hair." Said Besigye. Of course, he was bald- so the comment made a few people laugh. But if looks could kill- any eyes he gave to people laughing immediately shut them up. Honestly, to weaker people, it might have made them melt in their seat. "Look- we know they can attack middle. Why are we letting Nero Ramsey just get through uncovered?!?!" Nobody said anything. "This drives me absolutely crazy. Crossing the 50 without much resistance, and suddenly, they're really moving this football."

1st and 10 from the Loyola 48, with 0:29 left on the clock. Odika long pass to Essa Kayode incomplete

"I can't fault anything here." Besigye said. "I'm not spending much time at all- again, they tried to go long, and once again, our CBs were ready for the challenge- this time, Reed Rick playing defense. Didn't need to make a play on the ball- Odika did not have anywhere to put it but out of bounds. Next up."

2nd and 10 from the Loyola 48, with 0:24 left on the clock. Odika 9 yard scramble, and FSU use their final timeout.

"Again, I don't know why we can't wrap this dude up." He looked around, clearly frustrated. "This time, we've got Sentambaazi who's getting pressure on the QB- and he simply steps up into space, sees nobody in front of him, and takes off. He doesn't do anything fancy- gets the 9 yards before he's brought down. At least he didn't get a first down, but yeesh- inches away from a 6 yard sack. How the hell did THAT turn into a +9 yard gain??"

3rd and 1 from the Loyola 39, with 0:19 left on the clock. Odika throws 10 yard out route to Vince Cartier, who steps out of bounds with 13 seconds left.

"Here again, yet another 3rd down. Vince Cartier is an excellent route runner- but he made our CB look like he'd never played this damn position before!" Besigye was nearly beside himself. "That juke move he had was nearly ankle-breaking. But still- he beat us on the out route, Odika whipped in the football under pressure while taking the hit, putting it right on the money- and he stepped out of bounds inside our own 30. Then, of course, we all know what happened from there. These are the kind of things that cannot happen. You've all seen."

"Let this be a lesson learned. Let the pain from this rivalry game stick with you- we went punch for punch with Felswyr State. But we simply needed to make one or two more plays on defense, in the crucial moments, to send the champs packing. Instead, they missed a deep throw to the end zone, and then Ivan Homer stepped in, cool, calm, and collected, and drilled the shit out of a 46 yard field goal to win it. Dagger."

The beauty of the Rebel's Cannon Bowl- top four Loyola traditions regarding the NSCF's greatest rivalry

ROUYOUTTE, RANORIA- This year, we're back to the Elysium, in Ranoria, for the 14th edition of Richardson v. Loyola-Istria. As always, it's two great teams with plenty at stake. The momentum has shifted in this rivalry, however. After nearly a half-decade of being dominated by RU, Loyola seemed to turn the whole thing on its head in one go last year, with two wins over RU- including a road win, at Richardson's home stadium, in the NSCF Playoffs. With Richardson trying to exact vengeance for that, while the Blue Thunder try to do what is necessary to get win #3 in a row in this rivarly, and show the world how good they really are.

Today, while there's a game preview in this edition of the magazine, we're going to go over some of the game's fun traditions. This international rivalry is fierce, and it has certainly spawned a number of fun traditions for the Loyola faithful as they hope to tear down the scum from RU.

#1- Rouyoutte, Ruwani, Busukuma, St. Jakob, and Ranoria City... What do they have in common?

If you are a guesser, go ahead! But once you're done, you'll realize... That none of them are the home cities where Loyola or NMU are located. That's right- our first fun tradition of this rivalry is that it's, mostly, a neutral site rivalry! Generally, each school will take turns picking a neutral site in their home country (or even there was that year when this rivalry was played in Teusland, of all places). Not always, of course- RU's four game win streak in this rivalry was famously broken at the Istria Lightning Yard, when the two schools agreed, for just two years, to adjust the rivalry to a home & home.

It means you get to go to some fun ass places. And, of course, much more of a mixed crowd- the designated away team generally gets a 1/3rd ticket allocation in this rivalry. Both sets of fans travel like crazy, of course. But one of the things that makes this rivalry fun, and unique, are the variety of places they play in. Who can forget playing at Banija's only NSSCRA grade racetrack? Or fun trips to the Karmin-Falce Superdome? A hell of a time.

#2- The Loyola Red Eye

Now, this is a fairly new tradition- only starting upon Loyola's last trip to the Elysium, two years ago. But what is the Loyola Red Eye? Take it in the hands of the boosters. "We want the student body to be able to take part in the game, take part in the festivities- while trains across Banija are affordable, it's hard to go abroad. Ergo, we fundraise everywhere to make sure that students can go to the neutral site away games."

So what is this? With the game almost always at 8 PM, the Loyola Red Eye is something that is very easily doable and possible. The Booster club of Loyola-Istria pays for 4,000 students, every other year, at a cost of around $4 million NSDs, to get airfare to Ranoria for this game (neutral site only), and tickets. Why is it a Red Eye? Well, of course, Boosters won't pay for kids to miss class. Get on a plane in the wee hours of Saturday morning, land on Saturday at 2 PM local time, hang around the town until kickoff at 8 PM, and then bus back to the airport- flights leaving around 2 AM local time to get back to Istria.

"It's a hell of a trip- but college students have the energy for it." Said a Loyola student section leader. And well, they most certainly do. Not everybody is eligible- the lottery happens after conference play. Students who are eligible are those who either A- attended all 5 of Loyola's conference home games that season, or B. Attended 6+ home games the season prior. Is it chaos when 4,000 amped up college students land at once in Rouyoutte? Yes. But is it a hell of a time? Also yes.

#3- Loyola v. RU Battle of the Bands

This is also a longstanding tradition. This year, the event will happen in Downtown Rouyoutte at 3 PM- about 5 hours before kickoff. The marching bands, before these games, prepare each a 30 minute show to play, in miniature parades, marching through whatever neutral site city is hosting them. It's an event that usually takes an hour- and ending about 4 hours before kickoff, is a nice kind of time to tell people to start heading towards the train stations and really begin tailgating outside the stadium itself.

#4- Loyola Pranks

Now, not exactly a huge tradition. But does anyone remember when, suddenly, Richardson University's student center had a bunch of posters up of Isaka Jawara, a quarterback who decidedly did not play football at Richardson U? Or, the statue of Governor Richardson suddenly have a blue lighting bolt on it? Of course, we're adults, we're not supposed to encourage the college kids to do crazy things- yada yada yada, blah blah blah, legal liability BS and all of that.

After threats from the RU side to cancel the rivalry (although always empty), the pranks have mostly stopped. But Loyola wouldn't POSSIBLY do that again, would they??

by **Ranoria** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 6:45 pm

Richardson University Athletic Department To Compensate Rouyoutte Aurora Knights For Vandalism Damages To The Elysium

Not our best effort, Governors faithful.

Sometime on Friday night, dozens of Richardson University students made their way to Ranoria's most impressive stadium, some with scaffolding and ladders necessary to do the work they needed to do.

For the most part, all they did was either spray a red "X" over the "L" of any banner that said "Loyola-Istria" on it or just spray over the L with an oversized version of the same letter to emphasize the fact that they were, in fact, bound to lose this game. After the Istria-local university's pranks on the Richardson University campus, it was a very, very lame attempt at a clapback, and the minimal paint that made it onto the stadium structure itself will need cleaned - but hey, Ranorian fans will like the shots of the stadium we get better with those banners being defaced.

Good work kids... but you can do better.

Rouyoutte, Ranoria
The Elysium, ~6:00 pm

Rylan Rodgers was normally a pretty bubbly guy. Flashy on and off the field, be it his smile or his marvelous athleticism. So seeing him leaning against the goal post a few hours before kickoff, silent with his snow bear Klaw beside him, was very out of the ordinary.

Big Benjamin Merik watched him from the tunnel, pretty still aside from the occasional handing of a bits of tuna from a can to the bear - who's delicate handling of said treats was the only reason Rylan didn't lose his hand in the process. He scratched the back of his head, and a gust of wind coming through the tunnel was all the motive he needed to start moving to go check on his running mate...only to feel a vice grip take him by the arm.

He turned to see none other than Kasen Harrowitz, "I'll handle him, head back to the locker rooms Merik."

"Yes coach."

Merik spun on his heel, and Harrowitz began his approach, his path intersecting with the flowing lights of the Aurora Borealis that were amplified under The Elysium's trademark Vanorian-engineered transparent roof. Klaw noticed him first - muscle rippling under thick fur as he turned a gaze onto Richardson's head coach that alone would've cowed most men. Fortunately, Harrowitz knew the bear was entirely harmless, and met the soft gaze, noted the twitching of his snout, and felt tension in his shoulders that he didn't know had been there melt when Klaw turned away.

"Rylan." He knelt down in front of his star back, who offered a half-hearted attempt at a smile. "Your mother called me."

He didn't elaborate for a moment - they both knew what that meant.

"Are you okay?"

Rylan couldn't meet his eyes - his fingers scratching through the soft dirt of the Elysium and leaving small gouges in their path. "No. But I will be."

Designated Home Locker Room
~7:30 PM

Normally it was the coaching staff who gave these kinda of talks - but it was Rylan Rodgers Jr. who stood in front of the pride of Richardson University today, arms crossed, his long hair tied back in a messy ponytail, and his always-present snow bear at his hip - thankfully with ceilings and doorways engineered to make the stadium comfortable for Drawkians, he fit nicely. A few players exchanged glances - but no one dared open their mouths. The team's designated energizer bunny being as cold as he looked right now was off putting.

Rylan's eyes flicked up - never much of a public speaker, he met Isaiah Hunter's gaze, and addressing the team or not, spoke to him first.

"Most of you are aware that my dad's been having health issues this season. Few hospital trips, I've had to miss a couple classes over it. No way to sugarcoat it. He died this morning. Heart attack."

Hunter had known of course - but watching Rylan's fingers curl tighter around his own arms, his jaw set to avoid whatever tears wanted to come out, pained him regardless.

"Coach Harrowitz told me a couple hours back that he'd understand if I couldn't play," his voice was breaking by now, "My mother assumed I wouldn't be. She could barely get the news out across the phone." He had to pause to collect himself, lip trembling, and pinched the bridge of his nose. Klaw went to nuzzle the side of his head, and he waved him off, whispering "Not now bud. Fuck."

The crowd's roar as the University of Loyola-Istria's Blue Thunder took the field broke up the silence momentarily. Ranoria's an MMA country after all - and the challenger always walks out first.

"She told me she'd call Coach and explain. And when I told her I'd play, she asked 'But what about your dad? Your family?'" Tears started rolling now, and he pointed out to his teammates to emphasize the point, "And I told her what I'm going to tell you! You're my family! You motley, ugly sons of bitches are my brothers and sisters, and no way in hell I'm gonna leave you on the doorstep of the biggest game of our lives." His whole body trembled as he continued to hold back tears, and he pounded his chest, his determination to get through even that brief speech spurring the rest of the boys in red to get to their feet. "Now let's go stomp on those damn rats!"

Banijans had gotten a taste of just how hard it was to get into The Elysium during the World Bowl 46 Final, and they learned - this crowd was as close to split down the middle as it could be. And when the Blue Thunder made their entrance a spectacle - sprinting, hooting and hollering and jumping in the air - a ridiculously well-traveled Loyola fanbase made their presence known.

The Governors did no such thing.

There was murmuring throughout the stadium as those in attendance wondered what was going on - the steam was firing, fireworks and fire alike going off, but no one was running.

A spot of white in the back of the tunnel was the first sign - soon it became a little more defined with red atop it, and Klaw's lumbering approach was soon revealed, Rylan Rodgers Jr's muscled frame riding atop his bear, hair cascading down his shoulders like a some viking warrior, his helmet dangling from his fingertips as the rest of the Governors marched in lines of three in their wake, arms interlocked as they made their approach.

Almost forgotten was Kasen Harrowitz walking in stride with the apex predator carrying his team's superstar, and he looked up when Rylan called down to him, having to shout above the much-approving crowd.

"Coach, I want that first play. Cool?"

Harrowitz shot him a thumbs up - this wasn't a toxic player who's ego was out of control. This was a superstar he trusted. And last time he'd demanded the ball, they'd won their first ever NSCF championship a few moments later. So when they won the toss and Rylan emphatically demanded the ball - the entire sideline of men and women in red knew what was coming.

Game on, Loyola.

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Warriors look to cement playoff berth in Banija
Andre Rudolph
Daily News UC Football Beat Writer

After two home wins in non-conference play, the University of the Commonwealth will finish off the regular season with a trip to Herzegovina City to face Northern Moravica University's Cougars at Mugisha II Memorial Stadium, one of the toughest venues in all of NSCF.

Despite a huge win against Loyola-Istria on the final day of the Celestia Conference season, the Cougars finished just 5-5 and like the Warriors have swept both their extra games, so they will be looking to get a win that might push them into the at-large discussion. UC has moved into a position where they are a better than 50/50 bet of getting a berth, although Head Coach Ryan Benton is not counting on anything until the announcement is made following week 13.

“We're excited to be getting a chance to go back to Northern, it's a great atmosphere, great fans, our fans and alums love the trip. I'm excited to match wits again with Lance Kabuye, who runs one of the premier programs in this competition.”

by **Dhemixia** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 8:40 pm

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Blue Jays look to lock in Pioneer Bowl slot; face hostile BYU in S.P.I.T Bowl closing non-conference games.

In Week 12, the Jays obliterated Lacragos 55-0, which officially punched UC-Prairie's ticket to .500. Every part of the team fired on all cylinders, having the offense score 55 points and having the defense allow 0 points. This giant blowout is not in the same dimension as next week, VS. BYU, which will be a way tougher opponent, and unfortunately, that game will decide the Jays' fate.

If they win, they go to the Pioneer Bowl, but if they lose, they potentially squander their chance at making the Pioneer Bowl. If they make it, that will be a great momentum jumping-off point for next season, but if they miss, they will be back at stage 1 next season. So, what will happen? That question remains to be answered.

Schedule

*blue indicates home games
~~Week 1: VS. Alexandroupolis~~ L 27-30
~~Week 2: @ Constantinople~~ L 26-43
~~Week 3: @ UPAM-Boca Rana~~ L 21-36
~~Week 4: @ Commonwealth of Baker Park~~ L 23-33
~~Week 5: @ Green City University~~ W 20-16
~~Week 6: VS. Royal Naval Academy~~ W 51-3
~~Week 7: VS. Trent State~~ W 36-17
~~Week 8: @ Alexandroupolis~~ L 27-39
~~Week 9: VS. Constantinople~~ W 33-29
~~Week 10: VS. UPAM-Boca Rana~~ L 24-30
------------
Non-conference play
~~Week 11: @ Frontier M&T~~W 32-28
~~Week 12: VS. Lacragos~~ W 55-0
Week 13: @ BYU
_{visit https://ucprairiefootball.ns for more ticketing information}

by **NSCF** » Sun Sep 24, 2023 9:17 pm

Non-Conference Play Week Three (MD13)

Northern Moravica University (BNJ) 33–6 University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (CBP)

High City College (CCO) 15–20 Trent State University (TJU)

Cavsar University (DRK) 10–6 Maximus Rochester Institute (PFA)

Sadeg State University (DRK) 43–13 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)

Sea Dome University (MSD) 30–17 University of Alexandroupolis (NGS)

Université St. Croix (QUE) 37–7 University of Constantinople (NGS)

Cold Hill University (RAN) 12–3 Elephant Valley University (SNL)

Richardson University (RAN) 50–16 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)

Frontier Mechanical and Technical University (SAS) 0–23 Universidad Politécnica Autónoma del Metro-Boca Rana (SGU)

Green City University (TJU) 62–24 University of Mancodas (PFA)

Bingham Young University (UTA) 10–7 University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE)

Felswyr State University (CMT) 26–9 Raynor University (VAL)

Staramara Tech University (CMT) 14–14 Ratzupalfu University of Nature (SNL) (14–21 OT)

by **NSCF** » Mon Sep 25, 2023 8:02 pm

The regular season is over! Congrats to the five conference champs. Those schools have qualified automatically for the NSCF 28 Playoffs:

Big 8: Cold Hill University (RAN)
Celestia: University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)
Horizon: Felswyr State University (CMT)
Mineral: University of Alexandroupolis (NGS)
Zephyr: University of Mancodas (PFA)

The RTC points (current version, that is proposed by SNL) proposal, which was run in a long-term effort to replace the OSPI, will take an effect for this cycle as well.

More changes, as proposed, will be discussed by the members of the community, and will be listened to, before further changes were to be made, whether in pre-existing RTC points or an upgraded version of it by another user.

As for the other seven places, four will be allotted to the teams with the highest remaining RTCs. As per the seeding spreadsheet, these are:

Big 8: Richardson University (RAN)
Celestia: Université St. Croix (QUE)
Horizon: Cavsar University (DRK)
Mineral: Universidad Politécnica Autónoma del Metro-Boca Rana (SGU)

The remaining three Playoff spots will be voted on at-large by the NSCF Committee. I will telegram NSCF Committee members to ask for their nominations. The final 12-team Playoff field should be finalised by 11:59 p.m. EDT this Thursday (Toronto-New York Time).

The match-ups for bowl games will also be announced then, with NSCF Championship Game votes to be announced on the same day, to provide separation between the current TG and this one. Ultimately, this will give everyone three days to RP before the postseason begins this Sunday. Good luck to all competing schools.

Once again, I'd like to thank everybody for your patience with me this cycle, especially considering how hectic things have been from my end. Additional thank you's to those who have provided crucial feedback re: formulae, this cycle.

For this cycle, the list of active members are:
Commonwealth of Baker Park, Banija, Chromatika, Drawkland, New Gesem, Poafmersia, Quebec and Shingoryeo, Ranoria, Schima Bas, South Newlandia, TJUN-ia, United Vietussia

by **Chromatika** » Tue Sep 26, 2023 9:06 pm

Part 1: Rainbow District
Part 2: Mountain District
Part 3: Heartland District
Part 4: Coastal District
Part 5: Myana Island
Part 6: Urrhed Island
Part 7: Capital District East
Part 8: Capital District West
Part 9: Playoffs, First Round
Part 10: Playoffs, Lower Bracket, Second Round
Part 11: Playoffs, Lower Bracket, Third Round
Part 12: Playoffs, Lower Bracket, Final Round
Part 13: National Quarterfinals

Chromatik High School Gridiron - Season Twelve, Part Fourteen: National Semifinals

Season 1 Champions: Central Heights High School (MVP: QB Harold Jieter)
Season 2 Champions: East Omnio High School (MVP: WR Alessandro Mio)
Season 3 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 4 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 5 Champions: Flames of the Revolution High School (MVP: RB Nyata Antonucci)
Season 6 Champions: Staramara Tech High School (MVP: Edge Nicole Manstrom)
Season 7 Champions: Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School (MVP: QB Liara Anderson)
Season 8 Champions: Vitoron School of Charge (MVP: QB Anne-Maurice Vivayavich)
Season 9 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School Blue and White (MVP: QB Nicole Estera)
Season 10 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School Blue and White (MVP: CB Lisa Bonsoon)
Season 11 Champions: The Chromatik Institute Dread (MVP: QB Raul Sébastien Santos)

This season, the playoffs have changed. Conference Champions head to the District Champions (Round of Sixteen), while Second Place per Conference play each other to decide which team will make it to the National Playoffs on the losers' side. Then, it will be double elimination until there are eight teams left, which will lead to a single elimination bracket.

National Semifinals
All games at The Capitalizt Dome, Chromia, Capital District

Chromatik Army High School Recruits vs. Myana Northwestern High School Blue and White

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Myana Northwestern High School             10   7  14   0   31
Chromatik Army HIgh School                  3   0   0   6    9

1Q
13:11 CAHS FG - Maurice Flare 32 yard Field Goal
10:09 MNWHS FG - Maia Illytebovich 43 yard Field Goal
03:22 MNWHS TD - Creed Jackson-Smith 2 yard run (Maia Illytebovich Kick)

2Q
05:28 MNWHS TD - Laak Gyles 39 yard pass from Nicole Estera (Maia Illytebovich Kick)

3Q
10:48 MNWHS TD - Gorgo Lusmon 8 yard pass from Nicole Estera (Maia Illytebovich Kick)
02:12 MNWHS TD - Creed Jackson-Smith 6 yard run (Maia Illytebovich Kick)

4Q
13:18 CAHS TD - Jair Lleyamana 5 yard run (2pt try no good)

CHROMIA, CAPITAL DISTRICT - For the last month, the Chromatik Army High School Recruits have made a huge show of saying that they don't care about the narrative, that they are proud of the fact that they are the first Semifinalist from the Rainbow District in a long time, and that they will play their game against the blueblood powerhouse that is the Myana Northwestern High School Blue and White.

When the two teams took to the field, however, the Recruits learned the true meaning of power as the Blue and White thoroughly smacked them in the mouth, taking a 17-3 halftime lead before putting the game away in the Third Quarter to reach their third title game in four seasons in a 31-9 romp at the Capitalizt Dome.

Chromatik Army High School was held to just 138 yards of total offense. Jair Lleyamana, the highly esteemed Freshman who had done so well to get to this point so far, was held to 8-of-21 passing for 89 yards with three interceptions. Running Back Angie Pyre added 49 yards on twelve carries as the Blue and White sacked Lleyamana four times for twenty yards. Chromatik Army's points came courtesy of a seventy-three yard punt return in the First Quarter for their only Field Goal and a botched punt return by the Blue and White in the fourth that led to the only touchdown of the game in the Fourth (they tried to go for two to make it a twenty point game, but failed).

Though Nicole Estera was more than serviceable on the day for the Blue and White, going 21-of-27 for 201 yards and two touchdowns, the Blue and White were led by one Creed Jackson-Smith, the Sophomore Running Back who has taken over as the lead back for the Blue and White. Jackson-Smith had 181 yards and two touchdowns on twenty carries, often times running through would-be tacklers to continue the tradition of Blue and White Running Backs that do not shy away from contact. Myana Northwestern racked up 410 yards of total offense and won the time of possession battle 41:29 to 18:31, thoroughly tiring out the Recruits' defense and imposing their will on them in the second half.

"We took care of the job today," stated Defensive End Alexander Eisenberg, who had three tackles on the win, "We knew that we were the favored team, and we left no doubt out there. There's a standard to maintain here at Myana Northwestern, and now we'll have a chance to add to that legacy."

"My critics continue to say that they want to see me be the one to win a game," commented a stoic Nicole Estera, "But is it really on me to take over a game when I don't need to? Look at this team, look at the amount of talent that we have on both sides of the ball. I'm perfectly fine being the one behind the controls, to make sure that I don't turn the ball over and win games. If that isn't enough for the pundits, that's their problem. I'll stick to winning, making it to four straight National Semifinals, and three out of four finals in my career."

Nicole Estera has a chance at history - to be the first Quarterback to win three national titles, breaking Sarai Gwenderyn's record. Can she do it? The most complete roster in Chromatik High School Gridiron will certainly give her a shot.

Mt. Niar High School Anacondas vs. The Chromatik Institute Dread

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  1O  2O  Tot
The Chromatik Institute                     3   0   3   7   3   0   16
Mt. Niar High School                        0   7   3   3   3   7   23

1Q
09:22 TCI FG - Aaron Judge 29 yard Field Goal

2Q
01:01 MNHS TD - Samantha Ysalt 8 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)

3Q
10:27 TCI FG - Aaron Judge 36 yard Field Goal
06:11 MNHS FG - Kang Yun-He 48 yard Field Goal

4Q
01:19 TCI TD - Jacquelie Fofo 9 yard pass from Raul Sébastien Santos (Aaron Judge Kick)
00:25 MNHS FG - Kang Yun-Hee 42 Yard Field Goal

1OT
1OT - TCI FG - Aaron Judge 38 Yard Field Goal
1OT - MNHS FG - Kang Yun-Hee 31 Yard Field Goal

2OT
2OT - MNHS TD - Earl Silverman 25 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)

CHROMIA, CAPITAL DISTRICT - All week long, the talk was about the two Quarterbacks - Raul Sébastien Santos, the defending Player of the Year and Champion, and Dante Flowers, the Ranorian who had hit his Junior year, ready to take the next step. The quality of receivers in this game was going to be amazing. Jacqueline Fofo and Lenny Rhimes on one side, and the quality that is Earl Silverman on the other. It's rare for the Capitalizt Dome to be even halfway full for a high school gridiron game, but there was a crowd of 64,210 ready to watch one of the most storied programs in the country take on an upstart trying to win their second title in a row.

The Dread won the toss, and elected to defer. As Flowers took the first snap of the game, the focus of the Dread's defense on the Anacondas became very apparent - they were going to play tight man-to-man defense, hope that their secondary could handle the receivers, send an extra safety to help on Silverman, and make Flowers either check it down or run. Despite a nice pass on a dig route to Samantha Ysalt on second down to get it to third and one, a run up the middle by Prince Killart was snuffed out by the Senior Middle Linebacker, Larry Pine. The Anacondas had to punt.

RSS took over at the thirty-one yard line, and for the first four plays, everything went right for the Dread. Yavin Ott found a spot on a seam route to cross midfield. Briana Heavenworth took a carry for seven yards, and Lenny Rhimes caught the next pass for another First Down at the Anacondas' 27. The very next play, Jacqueline Fofo took a screen pass to the Anacondas' five yard line. That was where Valyn Ekler came across on a safety blitz to break up the handoff between RSS and Heavenworth, making the Quarterback have to pounce on the loose ball to avoid the turnover. This pushed the ball all the way out to the thirteen, and an incomplete pass and a conservative draw later, the Dread had to settle for a Field Goal, Aaron Judge hitting from twenty-nine yards out.

This set the tone for the game. Despite having two high-octane Quarterbacks with great receivers, both the Dread and the Anacondas played stellar defense for the rest of the First Half. Raul was sacked twice in the first half, and would end up going only 11-of-18 for 81 yards, the worst half of football this season. Dante, to his credit, would engineer a really great drive to end the half, finding Killart on a wheel route for a twenty-three yard gain to set up first and goal before hitting Samantha Ysalt on a drag route to have the Anacondas take the lead. Flowers ended the half 8-of-13 for 103 yards and a touchdown, as the Dread cracked down on Killart, holding the Anacondas' running game to 38 yards on eleven carries.

With the score being so low, both offenses made adjustments in the second half. The Dread started having their Running Backs and Tight Ends help the blocking with chip blocks, while the Anacondas started moving Flowers around outside of the pocket. Both strategies would work - RSS finding Lenny Rhimes on a twenty-nine yard throw to the Anacondas' eighteen that would only end up stalling after Yavin Ott dropped a third down pass, getting The Chromatik Institute within one. Mt. Niar would answer on the ensuing drive, Prince Killart finding the biggest hole he had all game long on a thirty-three yard romp to cross midfield, followed by Flowers finding Silverman for what would be his first catch of the game. Unfortunately, on third-and-three from the Dread twenty-six, Flowers made his worst mistake of the night, taking the sack from Isabelle Creer that put Kang Yun-Hee in a bad spot. The Senior would hit the forty-eight yarder, and the Anacondas' lead was back up to three.

There was everything to play for as the Fourth Quarter began. Both teams exchanged punts, eating up more than half the Quarter in the process. Raul Sébastien Santos took over at his own eleven with six minutes remaining, and the Senior would not be denied. Scrambling on back-to-back third downs to convert, he carried the Dread into Anacondas territory with just over two minutes remaining, picking up seven yards when the team needed six by outracing Roland Kyak. On second-and-eight from the Anacondas forty-seven, Santos found Rhimes on a stop-and-go that the Senior was able to take in in front of the always aggressive Ekler, and Rhimes took the ball all the way to the Anacondas' ten yard line.

Two plays later, Santos took the snap, froze the entirety of the Anacondas defense for a full second with a pump-fake, and found Jacqueline Fofo all by herself in the back corner of the left end zone. Touchdown, Dread, and now the ball was on the other foot.

As the Dread celebrated, Dante Flowers put on his helmet. The Anacondas had seventy-nine seconds and two timeouts left, and this game was far from over.

After a touchback, Flowers went to work, utilizing Killart as an extra blocker. Millie Harangyar, the Sophomore receiver often overshadowed by Silverman, caught a slant for nine yards. Flowers rolled to the right, outrunning Creer for three yards and a first down, the ball at the Anacondas' thirty-one with sixty-eight seconds remaining. An out route by Samantha Ysalt took the ball for another five yards, sixty-three seconds remaining.

Silverman continued to draw a double-team, leaving Harangyar one-on-one on the other side. Flowers hooked up with her once again, this time for eighteen yards, the ball crossing midfield, ending up at the Dread forty-six yard line. The clock continued to run as the Anacondas snapped the ball with fifty-nine seconds remaining. Isabelle Creer almost got to Flowers, and he had to throw it away, fifty-four seconds remaining.

Second and ten from the Dread forty-six, Flowers hit Ysalt on another out route for seven yards, the Sophomore crucially getting out of bounds after the catch. Third and three from the thirty-nine, Flowers had to run away from Creer once again - the Sophomore had a monstrous day - but was able to break contain and race to the sideline, getting four yards, the first down, and stopping the clock with forty-seven seconds left.

First and ten from the thirty-five, Flowers knew that they were basically within Field Goal range of Kang Yun-Hee. His job now would be to not turn the ball over, not lose yards, and get the ball as close as possible. The Dread gambled by sending Larry Pine on a Middle Linebacker blitz on first down, and Flowers had to throw the ball away, four seconds having gone by. On second and ten, the pocket collapsed almost instantly at the snap, and Flowers was lucky to stumble forward for a yard. The Anacondas called their second timeout with forty-four seconds left, the ball at the thirty-four yard line.

Third nine from the thirty-four, Flowers took the snap from shotgun, was pressured by Creer once again, but this time, he found Harangyar - who else - for ten yards on a well-run option route, but the Sophomore couldn't get out of bounds as Freddy Vicks managed to drag her down. The Anacondas called their final timeout, the ball at the twenty-four with thirty-eight seconds remaining.

It was here that Mt. Niar decided to take some shots at the end zone to try to win the game, and kick the field goal if it didn't work. Flowers had to throw the ball away on first down after good coverage by the Dread. Second down saw Flowers do the same thing, Creer getting the better of the guard once again, asserting her dominance the longer the game went. Third down saw Flowers roll out to his left to avoid the pressure, find Silverman running a flag route that would carry the Senior to the end zone, and throw the ball on a perfect, high-arching pass... Only for Silverman to drop the pass as it sailed through his arms, harmlessly to the ground.

Earl Silverman held his head in his hands, and Dante Flowers went to comfort him.

Kang Yun-Hee came in, and with all the pressure of overtime on her shoulders, crushed the Field Goal to tie it up. Even Derder sacked Santos on the first play of the ensuing Dread drive, and the game headed to Overtime.

The Dread would get the ball first. Santos found Fofo on a nice seam route to get four yards, but the ensuring run by Heavenworth would get stuffed, and Santos would have to throw the ball away on third down, leading to an Aaron Judge 38 yard field goal. The Anacondas' defense had held. Flowers, with a chance to win the game, did better by getting the ball to the Dread eight yard line - Samantha Ysalt with a nice grab on a contested catch- but a sack on second down by Isabelle Creer - who else - would relegate the Anacondas to a Field Goal try as well, which Kang put away from 31 yards out, no problem.

As the game entered Second Overtime, Flowers was seen talking to Silverman on the sideline. After the game, Earl stated that Dante was encouraging him: "He said that he was coming my way, and that I should throw that dropped pass out of my mind. It meant a lot to me that he did that. I knew that I wasn't going to let him down again."

Sure enough, on the first play of Second Overtime, Flowers wheeled to his left to avoid Creer, saw Silverman beating Cornerback Joseph King down the left sideline, and threw a perfect pass that caught Silverman in stride, and the Senior made up for his earlier mistake by catching the touchdown pass. Flowers went up to him and the two embraced in pure joy, as the Anacondas took the lead. Kang added the extra point, and the ball was back in Raul Sébastien Santos's court.

A completion to Ott and a nice scramble gave the Dread their first first down of the drive, and a ridiculous one-handed grab by Jacqueline Fofo took the ball down to the Anacondas' four yard line. Then, after a run for no gain, second and goal from the Anacondas' four yard line, Santos took the snap from shotgun and tried to rifle the ball to Yavin Ott. Defensive Tackle Roland Kyak lifted up his huge 6' 10" frame and got a hand on the ball, deflecting it in the air - for Middle Linebacker Evan Derder to cradle it into his arms before it hit the ground, intercepting the pass and ending the game.

As Derder and the Anacondas celebrated - Flowers and Silverman rushed the field with the rest of their teammates as Mt. Niar High School proceeded to mob Derder - Raul Sébastien Santos and the Dread looked on in pure disbelief. The game had ended on a freakishly athletic play by Kyak and an even more ridiculous interception by Derder. It had taken holding Heavenworth to 28 yards on 19 carries, holding Santos to one touchdown, and having Flowers engineer two astonishing good drives, but the dream of the repeat was over, and the Anacondas were back in the title game for the first time since the days of Viktor Rowles.

"Our defense played phenomenal today," Flowers stated at the postgame interview, "To hold RSS to one touchdown - to hold that offense to just sixteen points, and only thirteen in regulation - is remarkable. We knew that we had to grind it out, and we showed that we had tremendous heart and toughness today. It's a total team win, but to win this one against the defending champions, and the team that beat us in this round last season, feels very good. Obviously, the job isn't over yet, but we're going to enjoy this one."

"I had to play far better than that," admitted a dejected Santos, "They got some good pressure on me, sure, but I'm expected to be able to handle that. Our defense held them to only thirteen points in regulation, and I wasn't able to capitalize. It's a disappointing way to lose, but they earned the win. They were the better team on the day."

Everybody had expected a high-scoring affair - instead, what came to pass was an instant classic, and a game which leaves Flowers only one win away from that elusive first title and a mark in Chromatik High School Gridiron history.

National Championship
Henza Center, D'rea, Capital District

Mt. Niar High School vs. Myana Northwestern High School

This is the third time that these two powerhouses have met in the National Championship in the last four seasons. The first time, Nicole Estera surprised everyone by scoring the game-winning touchdown with two seconds left to win, 31-29. The second time, Lisa Bonsoon returned three interceptions for touchdowns to mark the worst day in Viktor Rowles's Anacondas career as the Blue and White dominated, 66-36. Now, the two mean again after a one-season hiatus, and so much is on the line.

If Myana Northwestern wins, not only would all three of their title wins come against the Anacondas, but they would eclipse Mt. Niar as the most successful program in Chromatik High School Gridiron history. Nicole Estera would consequently also become the first Quarterback to win three titles in her career. They would supplant the Anacondas as the class of high school gridiron in Chromatika, and remain the bane of the Anacondas' existence.

Should Mt. Niar win, though, all that would be forgotten. The Anacondas would once again be the best team in Chromatika, and have the record for most titles. Dante Flowers would become the savior of the program, and with one more year remaining, there would be even a chance for him to cement his legacy. They would finally vanquish their demons and reign supreme once more.

Sure, the rest of the field doing what it does is nice. The Chromatik Institute and Raul Sébastien Santos flashing bright for a time was cute. Staramara Tech and Chromatik Army High School making runs are good stories.

However, Myana Northwestern and Mt. Niar in the National Championship?

That is what legends are made of.

7:30PM. Henza Center. Dre'a.

The whole nation will be watching.

by **NSCF** » Thu Sep 28, 2023 9:30 pm

The results for NSCF Committee voting is here. It was very close, but the votes for the three four playoff spots are as follows:

NSCF 29 PLAYOFFS - First Round

Top Half will be scorinated by Quebec and Shingoryeo, while the Bottom Half will be scorinated by Chromatika.

Top Half
_#9University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ) @ _#8University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (CBP)
Winner plays #1 Felswyr State University (CMT)
_#12University of Mancodas (PFA) @ _#5University of Alexandroupolis (NGS)
Winner plays #4 Richardson University (RAN)

Bottom Half
_#10Université du Saguenay (QUE)@ _#7Cavsar University (DRK)
Winner plays #2 Université St. Croix (QUE)
_#11Northern Moravica University (BNJ)@ _#6Universidad Politécnica Autónoma del Metro-Boca Rana (SGU)
Winner plays #3 Cold Hill University (RAN)

by **NSCF** » Thu Sep 28, 2023 10:03 pm

Bowl Games

For this NSCF, I have received seven bowl games. Six are approved, which covered all bowl-eligible teams, as well as the Sea Dome University who were eligible as the second-highest placing new school.

As a reminder, the bowl games will be scorinated at the same time as the first round NSCF Playoff games above (Sunday), though they may ICly have taken place before. It will be scorinated with the first round of playoffs.

The Cannabiscorp Pioneer Bowl
University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE) vs. Sea Dome University (MSD)
Best newcomer teams not in Playoffs
Iqaluit Stadium, Iqaluit, Quebec and Shingoryeo

The Drawk Bowl
LeBois Santura University (CAD) vs. University of Constantinople (NGS)
Top non-playoff team from Big Eight Conference vs. Top non-playoff team from Mineral Conference.
Corps University Hub, Drawk City, Drawkland

The Karmin-Falce Auto Bowl
Mar Sara Tech (VAL) vs. Staramara Tech (CMT)
Highest scoring non-playoff team vs. Best remaining point differential not in playoffs from any conference.
Karmin-Falce Superdome, Ranoria City, Ranoria

Note: Staramara Tech was selected on the best remaining point differential as the other option - Raynor - was in the same conference as Mar Sara Tech.

The Jaguar Bowl
Trent State University (TJU) vs. Raynor University (VAL)
Top non-playoff team from Mineral Conference vs. Top non-playoff team from Zephyr Conference
Field of Dreams in The Gardens, New Washington, TJUN-ia

The Don Juan Agave Bowl
Sadeg State University (DRK) vs. Ratzupalfu University of Nature (SNL)
The highest-ranked non-playoff team with at least a +4 modifier vs. AT-LARGE.
La Madriguera, Santa Sofia, Gran Saguaro

Note: Ratzupalfu University of Nature is selected under at-large bid, but is close enough to qualify for the condition (highest-ranked non-playoff team with at least a -4 modifier)

The Lacfroid Bowl
Elephant Valley University (SNL) vs. Bingham Young University (UTA)
AT-LARGE vs. AT-LARGE
Velodrome Nationale, Ville-du-Lac, Lacfroid

NSCF Championship Game Bid Vote

Two bids, that of Brigantine Park, Columbus, Dhemixia; and Kavuma Field, Herzegovina City, Banija, were under vote. The results are of following:

Brigantine Park, Columbus, Dhemixia - 2
Kavuma Field, Herzegovina City, Banija - 5

Congratulations and Commiserations.

by **Banija** » Fri Sep 29, 2023 10:14 pm

Stunning blowout rivalry win over UC-Baker Park on Senior Day for NMU pushes the Cougars into the Postseason

HERZEGOVINA CITY, MORAVICA- There is nothing like a rocking Mugisha II Memorial Stadium- when Cougar Nation really shows out. "When you have this place full of 90,000+ screaming fans wearing the NMU red, well, it's probably one of the most intimidating places to play in college football." Said NMU HC Lance Kabuye. While the whiteout at the Istria Lightning Yard, of course, would have something to say to that- although, Lance Kabuye did mentio the whiteout. "That includes, of course, whenever they give out a couple of white T-shirts in Istria- ain't nothing special down there." The rivalry that never ends, right? Anyways though, we're here to talk about a different rivalry- NMU v. UC-Baker Park.

It's been a long time since the two had played. So it was good that they resurrected what was nearly considered a dormant rivalry. "Of course, there are only so many games on your schedule- and we've got many competiting scheduling priorities." NMU AD Horace Browning said. "Hell, if I played everyboyd that I wanted us to play on an annual basis, we'd have 5 non-conference games a year. We've got a quality program with the best fanbase in college football- of course teams want to play us. But we wanted to make sure this got back on the schedule, and damnit, it has. Well done."
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Big implications here for the playoffs. After NMU lost their third road game in a row, in week 9, and fell to 4-5 overall in the conference and on the season, many had wrote off their playoff hopes. But instead of sulking, NMU came storming back. A domineering home win over Loyola-Istria, the future Celestia Conference champions, was the first impressive building block set over the course of these four crucial weeks. Then, another domineering home win over Mar Sara Tech to do the same. Then, of course, a rivalry away day against a brutally tough Chromatik opponent- and NMU earned the upset on the road, with a 19-15 win in highly dramatic fashion over the Lava. And now, one game left.

"One. More. Week." Was the mantra at NMU this past week. One more week to state their case. One more game to win if they wanted to make the playoff. So they came out focused and ready, against a UC-Baker Park, because they wanted a shot to be in the tournament. "If you want to win a title, you've got to get to the tournament." Said the team's WR1, Tyler Geese. "And we think that we can get there- and do damage once we arrive." Especially with the NSCF Championship Game going to its own city, Herzegovina City, this season. Gotta make your best effort to get there, right?

The first half was all about the defense for NMU, especially here on Senior Day. After going three and out on the opening drive, UC-Baker Park had an excellent punt return, reaching the NMU 39 yard line- giving them some excellent field position to kick off this game. But the defense, knowing their backs were against the wall, held up. "We knew that we couldn't afford to fall too far behind against this team- giving up early touchdowns, at home, can be such a backbreaker." Kabuye told repoters after the game. While they allowed one first down, they eventually tightened up, forcing UC-Baker Park to settle for a 41 yard field goal. But it would be towards the end of the quarter where the defense would make their biggest impact.

NMU Radio Commentary wrote:UC-Baker Park is finding themselves in a bit of trouble! They've got a 3rd & 7 from their own 32 yard line. They've got 4 WRs- two to the left, two to the right, and the HB is lined up right next to their QB1, to his right. They've got to run the silent count here- the crowd is amping up the noise to an 11. He gets the snap, and there's pressure- Josiah Michaels takes him down... AND THE FOOTBALL IS ON THE GROUND! IT'S FREE! He swatted the ball out of the Quarterback's hand for the fumble! It's the blitzing linebacker, Kang In-Yeung, who scoops it up! He's gonna run it back- the defense throws enough blocks for him as he dives into the end zone for 6- TOUCHDOWNNNNNNNNN, NORTHERN MORAVICA!

Wow- what a TD! A fumble six for the defense, and the senior linebacker has scored his first career TD on Senior Day! A beautiful moment!

Who doesn't like a turnover turning directly into points? While NMU did miss the PAT, it was still a huge moment- a lead. And on NMU's next drive, they would simply work on extending that lead. A ground & pound drive. Force a three and out, get the ball back with 1 minute left in the first quarter, and then drive for 6 minutes. Take six minutes off the clock, use 11 plays, 8 of them on the ground, with Wade Hurley going 3/3 for 22 yards on the drive. And then, on 1st & goal at the end of the drive, punch it into the end zone with Amira Kong's physical four yard touchdown run. Just a hell of a player to try and bring down, one tough player to tackle.

UC-Baker Park got a couple of first downs on their next drive, but were forced to punt with about 7 and a half minutes left in the second quarter- a punt where NMU would be pinned at their own 8 yard line. First play from scrimmage- a play-action pass. Wade Hurley faked the handoff well, and threw a 24 yard post route to Tyler Geese. First down- great trust in the freshman to throw the ball down the field on first down, when you are backed up in your end zone! "He's got the calm, the decision-making, the arm talent, to make that kind of throw." Lance Kabuye told reporters. "Some might call it risky for a freshman to make that throw- but Wade's not your normal freshman."

But of course, back to the ground game. Nearly five and a half minutes later, it was Balinda Kisero who would finish off the 92 yard drive, with a 6 yard TD run off of a HB toss. That was what really started to break this thing open. Three straight touchdowns for the Cougars, who were suddenly up 20-3. UC-Baker Park hit a FG at the end of the half to make it 20-6, of course, but the Cougars were cruising- up two TDs, at home, with a running game that was absolutely battering and bruising a tiring UC-Baker Park defense.

What do you do in that situation? "We knew that we have one task- to ice this game." Lance Kabuye told reporters at halftime. "We're up 14, there's a lot that we have done well in this game- on defense, getting pressure in the backfield and creating havoc, our secondary having a great day. On offense, we've established a rhthym with the ground game, really able to just grind our opponents down. We have to continue to win at the line of scrimmage- these kind of games can definitely swing quickly. We've got to stay focused, start fast in the second half, and show the world exactly how good NMU football is."

The players- they took his advice. The defense forced a punt to start the second half, and the offense went to work. They drove the length of the field, and ended up settling for a field goal. But the field goal was an important one- it made the score 23-6. Aka, it was back to being a three possesion game. It's that kind of score, with this kind of time left, 9 minutes and rolling in the third quarter, that can really make an offense one-dimensional. And rearing back, NMU brought the pressure, continued to challenge UC-Baker Park to beat the Cougars through the air, to challenge their QB1 to make throws with men constantly in his face. And it was NMU who rose to the challenge. An interception on the plus side of the field by CB1 Abigail Washington would lead to three points for the Cougars, who were now leading 26-6. Just needed one more score to ice things off.

And the Cougars were able to do it- Horace Springhorn, the Fullback, scored on 3rd & goal from the 1 via the ground with just over 8 minutes left to put this game on ice. The Cougars defense got another pick late in the game, but that was more for style points- the final score was NMU 33, UC-Baker Park 6. A dominant performance on defense- only allowed 194 yards of total offense for UC-Baker Park, as well as won the turnover battle 3-0. "The defense, man- defense wins championships." Lance Kabuye told reporters. "Over the course of this winning streak... Man, they've been nasty. This team is really coming into form. They know how good we are- nobody, and I mean nobody, wants to play the Cougars in the first round of the playoffs."

And the Cougars would end up being voted into the Playoffs by the committee- extending its record-setting consecutive playoff appearances to a shocking 13 and counting. The Cougars will land as the #11 seed, and will take on Metro-Boca Rana, the Zorros. "Metro-Boca Rana is an excellent school- of course, you can never underestimate a school that has earned a home playoff game." Lance Kabuye told reporters. "But we've got confidence. We know how this works, we've been here before- we are not fazed. NMU has won all sorts of road playoff games, and we are not scared of anybody. We'll take this team, travel anywhere, show up wherever. We know the vultures from Istria, and those bastards from Cold Hill, and anywhere else are waiting on our downfall because they don't want to play us this postseason- hopefully their wings are strong, because this program will never die."

The winner of NMU @ Metro-Boca Rana will travel to Cold Hill, Ranoria, to take on Benoit Youngblood and the Big 8 Champions at Cold Hill University.

When asked about Loyola's 34 point blowout loss to Richardson, Lance Kabuye simply laughed.

by **Ranoria** » Sat Sep 30, 2023 6:53 pm

Richardson University vs University of Loyola-Istria
The Elysium, First Quarter

Chants echoed throughout the crown jewel of the Ranorian sporting world as the Richardson University Governors took the field, amplified natural lighting washing over them as it swayed and rippled in the darker skies. Rylan Rodgers Jr didn't notice much of that though, he was preoccupied with taking the playcall - as if they'd needed it, they'd practiced their opening script all week - and trying to figure out why his hands wouldn't stop shaking as he took his place behind Isaiah Hunter.

So preoccupied, in fact, that he was actually a little slow out of the gate, but he took the handoff and his eyes immediately spotted the middle of the line collapsing under the weight of one singular Samuel Jate at defensive tackle. No problem, he'd played this game before, and bounced outside looking for a home run. Of course usually, there wasn't someone with Audrey Neuland's speed to close the gap. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the edge rusher pursuing from the backside of the run, flipped the ball to his other hand and launched what was supposed to be a nasty stiff arm her way.

Where most players would flail around and probably be rendered invalid under that blunt force trauma, Neuland knew it was coming. She latched onto his arm with one, then two hands by the time it reached her, then jumped into a front roll, cranking on the joint and forcing him to flip over headfirst as well - and in the ensuing chaos, she punched at the ball he hadn't secured yet, popping the pigskin out of his grip and onto the ground where Samuel Jate landed on it. Sure there was a pile up, but when the biggest man on the field is at the bottom, it's a lost cause.

Neuland stood over Rylan, signaled the turnover to trigger an uproar amongst the throng of ULI faithful, then leapt on Jate's back, slapped his helmet and pumped a fist in the air, riding the juggernaut lumbering juggernaut al the way back to the sideline.

Isaiah Hunter pulled Rylan to his feet, and the back rolled his tweaked shoulder as they made their way to the sideline. Rylan whipped off his helmet the second they crossed the paint, flopped down on the bench and buried his head in his hands even as the crowd continued to make their support known with Anne-Maurice Vivayavich just missing Marcel Schlachter as the Blue Thunder went straight for the end zone on their first play.

"You sure know how to make things dramatic, don't ya?"

Rylan peaked over his fingers to see Isaiah Hunter with a slight smirk despite their situation, big Darell Jackson picking up a 3rd and 1 behind him. "What?" He replied flatly, but lowered his hands.

"Look Ry," Isaiah shrugged, "I know you're probably thinking that a chat with your dad would be good right now. I'm not him, but I am lucky enough to count myself among your friends." He punched the runner's shoulder, "You did pick a pretty shit way to start the game, but we'll be fine, it's still early." Hunter lazily indicated the scoreboard with a thumb over his shoulder, "Just a couple minutes into this one. These hacks can play us tight for a couple minutes. Not for an hour. But I do need my brother out there." His point wasn't helped by a "6" appearing under Loyola's logo as Maurice-Vivayavich did what she's done so many times in her Blue Thunder career and found the end zone.

Rylan nodded his head and exhaled forcefully. "We've been here before, remember?" Isaiah continued, "Not just like any other game, I won't tell you that. But this is nothing we can't handle. Take a breath," he paused, and when Rylan didn't comply, he snapped his fingers, "Hey, with me. Take a breath." The running back breathed in, sat back against the bench, then out. "Look at me." Their eyes met again, but before he said anything else, Hunter had grabbed him by the chestplate and yanked him to his feet, "All tied up at zero as far as I'm concerned. Ready?"

Rylan held up a finger and turned to catch Benjamin Merik's eye - the backup runner had picked up his helmet from where he'd dropped it - and nodded to him. Merik lobbed it his way, and Rylan snagged it, shook out his legs, rolled his shoulders, but he still didn't answer, not yet. That would come about ten seconds later, when his second handoff of the game was much more fruitful - gashing the Loyola defense.

Audrey Nueland actually managed to get a good angle, and Rylan, running down the sideline, shifted the ball to his outside arm, pointed to her, and slowed his pace just a hair, beckoning the pass rusher closer in a clear challenge. She made an attempt - Rylan cut towards her and she went to lay him out, only for his free arm to plant into the back of her helmet and smash her into the dirt as Rylan once again turned on the jets.

The back seven all took angles of pursuit that, against anyone else, wouldn't worked - but with his speed, no one else managed to touch him. Rylan peaked up at the scoreboard to see Ken Geode diving in vain at his legs only to grasp at air, and he let off the afterburners for the last fifteen yards or so, no one was catching up after that. He was nearly knocked over by Isaiah Hunter, who was only a few seconds behind him after the score.

"Isaiah!" He called out just before headbutting his quarterback, "I'm ready now!"

The Rouyoute Special:
Rylan Rodgers Jr's Inspired Night Sends Loyola Home With a Fifty Burger To Go

Richardson's superstar dominated under the northern lights, dropping the second 200 yard rushing performance of his career

Bringing the Rebel's Cannon Bowl to The Elysium was massive - a stadium who's maiden showcase was the World Bowl 46 Championship itself, it's the most impressive stadium in the country, rivaled only by the Karmin-Falce Superdome in Ranoria City. Of course this game's already big enough as is, but one beat reporter got something up just prior to this game with some shocking news - Rylan Rodgers Jr's father had passed late Saturday morning.

@Will_JacksonRSSN Reports indicate that Rylan Rodgers Sr, father to Richardson star back Rylan Rodgers Jr, was admitted to Richardson Capital Hospital late last night and passed around 11:37 this morning. Rylan Rodgers Jr could not be reached and HC Kasen Harrowitz declined to comment prior to the Rebel's Cannon Bowl.

So when Rylan Rodgers Jr walked out and fumbled the ball for the second time this season, a lot of people who had bet substantial funds on him having a career day were in despair. When Loyola-Istria's MoP contender at quarterback recorded a touchdown that quickly to take a 7-zip lead when the Blue Thunder would get the ball to start the second half, Richardson fans aplenty put holes in their television sets.

When Rylan Rodger Jr ripped off a 75 yard touchdown, stiff arming Blue Thunder star Audrey Nueland on the way, everyone remembered just how competitive this game has always been. That this Governors team was pissed about their losing the first ever playoff matchup between these two teams...and that Rylan Rodgers Jr was playing like he had nothing to lose.

The Blue Thunder proceeded to go on a string of rough drives - first after pushing her team into the red zone in just three plays, big tackle Sarah Lindebaum jumped the gun on the snap - who could blame her? With Shean Eckert zipping off the edge, she needed every extra step she could get. That'd push them back five yards, and after Darell Jackson was blown up in the backfield by Lyn Dairon, AMV took a sack on second and long from freshman Ojore Kahara, and that pushed them all the way back now to the 38 yard line. With fourth down not an option, they were forced to take a long field goal, and to no avail.

Similar miscues doomed them throughout the rest of the game, but this offense wasn't waiting for them to get warmed up. After Isaiah Hunter drove his Governors to the 26 yard line, he had plenty of time behind an offensive line that was beginning to absolutely manhandle the Blue Thunder front and hit big freshman tight end Mugisha Mulogo, who blasted through safety Kalu Kenyatta at the goal line to take a Richardson lead on his fifth touchdown of the season.

Of course the Blue Thunder were far from out of it, but they faced a 3rd and 1 early on their next drive. It'd be last year's top recruit out of Chromatika in Cho Sang-Wook getting the shot, and he'd be bounced back inside when Ojare Kahara won the edge. He turned the corner, and it was Julian Anneliese who had a shot at him, a t least until Anne-Maurice Vavayavich decided she had other plans. In a game this big, there was no decision to be made - she acted on instinct, running up to throw a block on Julian Anneliese. Unfortunately for her, she failed to account for the fact that the first thing that pops up on Anneliese's scouting report is "violent" - his eyes lit up when he saw the quarterback coming after him. No protections for her as a passer, and none of the wildness of having to chase her down running? She was coming after him?

Christmas came early this year, clearly

Anneliese changed his own direction immedietely, lowering his shoulder and blasting Vavayavich straight through the chestplate, her pads jolting, helmet halfway-coming off, and head whipping back from the contact before she hit the ground. Cho managed to pick up the first down - but despite the flag on the ground, Sarah Lindebaumn made herself known for a second time this game, charging Anneliese only to be met with equal ferocity. The lines of both units got into it - mostly pushing and shoving, but the Blue Thunder unit backed off once Vavayavich got to her feet, albeit slowly.

And the stadium was raucous when the referee made his call.

"As the quarterback was not a passer during the hit, there is no flag for unnecessary roughness on the defense. Unsportsmanlike conduct, offense number 70. Fifteen yard penalty, repeat third down."

With Vavayavich off the field for a play due to her helmet coming off, Irumba Kawumbi got the nod, and the team pretty much threw up a white flag on the drive with a handoff to Manne Nordström for four yards, this tackle coming by way of a now fired up Julian Anneliese. Unfortunately for the Blue Thunder, things only got uglier. Looking to throw an elephant on the scales of momentum early, they ran Rylan Rodgers Jr out in the wildcat, and Isaiah Hunter lined up out wide with his hands on his hips.

They'd seen this last season, but without a ton of film it was tough - do you sell out against the rush against the best runner in the game, or watch for the pass?

They went with the former. First, Isaiah Hunter jumped into action, decking cornerback Ulu Niazi, who had never seen it coming. Soon after, what looked like a sweep to the left drew the Blue Thunder to RRJ, and it looked like they had him bottled up until he whipped the ball in the general vicinity of Mugisha Mulogo. Usually, it'd have been a horrendous decision. Late in the play, across your body, off platform. Fortunately, this guy was a contributing member of a World Baseball Classic championship team - and the Blue Thunder only had one defender with a chance. Once again it was Kalu Kenyatta, who after getting trucked by Mulogo earlier certainly wanted his revenge. Unfortunately, he was not 6'7". Despite the lack of accuracy on the pass, Mulogo was able to high point it, and with Kenyatta already in poor position to make a tackle after flailing for the ball, the ensuing stiff arm looked much, much worse than it really was. Mulogo? No one was within fifteen yards of him, and by the time he got to his full speed, no one was gaining much ground on him either.

Oh what, you though maybe they were going to go to Hunter, having planned him catching Niazi off guard? No, no - it appears the Chromatik passer is just starting to pick up on some Ranorian tendencies. "I just wanted to hit him," he laughed after the game, "I take plenty of my licks, don't get to dish them out as often."

Rylan flexed and his voice cracked when he screamed into the air following the 51 yard passing touchdown to Mulogo, and this game was starting to get away from Loyola-Istria. With Rylan and Benjamin Merik in the backfield, this isn't a team that's easy to come back against, but to be fair - this was a Loyola team built to score a lot of points fast. A team that arguably has the best quarterback room, wide receiver room, and running back room in the NSCF, they're never out of it. But throughout the rest of the first half, AMV actually looked a bit sloppy, missing on what were normally routine throws, and Isaiah Hunter would dial up Benjamin Merik on a screen to make it 28-10 going into halftime after a Blue Thunder field goal.

That pass for Hunter would make it a career high 20 passing touchdowns on the season, and he had already cracked a career-high in passing yards as well by the end of the half.

So at 28-10, Loyola-Istria got the ball, and they made a push. After a wild first half where everything seemed to go wrong, they marched. AMV still looked a bit tense, and took a sack on her first pass attempt of the half - Lyn Dairon would be responsible for that one - but the Blue Thunder offensive line had their best showing of this contest, getting a push up front as their three top backs combined for seven carries and sixty yards. They were knocking on the door at the fifteen, but their pass blocking left something to be desired. Again, it would be Julian Anneliese harassing AMV, hitting her at the tail end of her wind up and knocking the ball free after she held it just a hair too long. Review on the play took a minute - had she started her throwing motion? But ultimately it ended as a strip sack and recovery for the Governors, and they capitalized.

Isaiah Hunter would notch his third touchdown of the game and final of the regular season to take a 35-10 advantage as he hit Rylan Rodgers Jr on a wheel route from 30 yards out - the Loyola defense was a hair too late picking up on the route, and he was too fast for them to make up for that mistake, juking out a defender at the five and running in comfortably afterwards.

From that point on, it was all the running backs. Isaiah Hunter would throw just twice more in this game for twenty five on the season. Sure, they could've tried to run it up - or they could give it to their big backs in Benjamin Merik and Rylan Rodgers Jr and make Loyola-Istria suffer prior to their first round playoff game. The two backs would combined for a punishing 43 carries in this game - with Rylan hogging a whopping career-high 30 of them as he absolutely ran over the Blue Thunder defense. In what should've been an offensive philosophy to run the clock out, Rylan and this offensive line turned it into an absolute massacre as he consistently blasted through linebackers, outran defensive backs, and shrugged off tackle after tackle. The highlight of the fourth quarter would be a 44 yard sprint for him. Already dragging Harley Sandoval, a safety came to lay the hammer down. Where many backs would accept their fate, Rylan tucked the ball high with one hand and pushed the safety past him, then torqued his body the other way to break free from Sandoval, cutting an angle away from the defense to get to the five yard line. He'd pound his chest, his passion - and maybe anger at the world tonight - coming out before he tagged out for Benjamin Merik. Benjamin Merik as you know is a monster, so you can guess what he did next.

Meanwhile, the Blue Thunder continued to struggle - even down big, they were forced to take field goals when a sack and holding call, respectively, forced them into fourth-and-forever situations, and late in the game failed to convert a pair of fourth downs when they needed to throw their way back into the game.

With just a minute left, Rylan Rodgers Jr would muscle in a rushing score on a straight dive from six yards out to make it 48-16. And then finally, after bottling it and all night, he let his emotions out. Rylan, untouched after the run, pounded his chest, pointed up to the sky, and collapsed to his hands and knees, one arm covering his face. Isaiah Hunter would be the first one out there overtop him, helping him to his feet and gesturing him to the sideline...but he didn't accompany him. Everyone on this Richardson team knew what was coming next.

Because that's when Kasen Harrowitz decided to remind everyone just how much he despises the Blue Thunder.

The Governors offense didn't celebrate. They didn't come off the field. They lined up in the same formation, and a dejected Blue Thunder defense found some life, if only out of sheer indignation, at what they saw coming.

It didn't matter. On the exact same play, Merik met Harley Sandoval at the line, and while it looked like the play would be blown dead just outside the paint, South Newlandian tackle Valentina Dietrich grabbed the runner and tossed him into the end zone to make it a fifty burger. And then they felt good about celebrating.

Loyola-Istria didn't even try to throw the ball down the field. AMV - who'd had only one turnover on the strip sack - had actually had a pretty decent box score, over three hundred yards and a touchdown, but digging in, it took more than fifty pass attempts. She'd looked rattled after that big hit from Anneliese, and between sacks, miscues from the rest of the offense on penalties, and her own play being strong if not up to her standards, the final score looked a lot worse than the eye test would indicate.

When asked about the two pointer after the game - Rylan Rodgers Jr declined an interview for obvious reasons so Isaiah Hunter got the nod there - the quarterback stated, "We didn't come here to beat them, that's why we didn't celebrate after that last score. We came in here to run them off the field. Fifty spot, completely dominate them at the line of scrimmage, and expose that quarterback of theirs - you saw how quick she folded after a few big hits. We play hard-nosed football over here, and that's a level of physicality those guys over there just can't handle."

Harsh words from the passer - but with the Governors resting easy with a bye next week, for now he's backed them up. Hunter finished the regular season with career-highs across the board, with 3,043 yards and 21 scores to just five interceptions, but Rylan Rodgers Jr was the star on offense this year. He didn't come close to busting the yardage marks of Kuenda Sello or Elliot Roach thanks to Benji Merik taking a significant workload (715 yards on 151 carries), but he had a ridiculously prolific season regardless, capped off by an emotionally-charged showing in the biggest game of the season.

He'd end the day with a career-high 259 yards from scrimmage on 32 touches, 30 of them rushes, with 225 yards as he was absolutely unassailable on the day. it'd finish his season off with 1,837 rushing yards for a program record 21 rushing touchdowns, not to mention 406 receiving yards and four scores there for a program record on touchdowns from scrimmage, too.

As we said earlier, RRJ couldn't be reached for comment after the game despite a legacy-defining performance in the Rebel's Cannon Bowl - Isaiah Hunter took the initial interview and our reporters didn't have the bravery to approach the runner's locker with his snow bear just offering a half-snarl anytime we got within ten feet. But in the wake of his father's death, Rylan put on a show for the ages in the final regular season game of his collegiate career on the biggest stage possible. He'll have a week to grieve following the dominant victory - can that additional push help him continue that dominance in the playoffs?

Following Anne-Maurice Vavayavich's final kneeldown

The Richardson sideline exploded. Julian Anneliese - who was on the field for the final play, screamed in the Blue Thunder line's face, only for safety Totte Lindberg to drag him away from their rivals to celebrate with the rest of their squad.

Camera crews flooded the field, and the entire Richardson sideline was in a frenzy, embracing, high fiving, and chest-bumping each other in their elation. Well, all except for Rylan Rodgers Jr. He'd allowed himself a small smile, and wiped away what could've been a salty tear or sweat from his face, a towel over his head as he watched. He was joined soon after by Isaiah Hunter - he didn't say anything, just plopped down by his friend on the bench and threw an arm over his shoulder pads.

In his detached state of mind, Rylan didn't even see the camera crews coming to break up the moment - but Isaiah Hunter did. And with Rylan's family approaching, he made his move, grabbing tackle Valentina Dietrich and linebacker Kerron Nicholas by the back of their pads on his way to make the first interception of his career. The two were confused but compliant to their leader at first, but picked up pretty quickly, and flanked their third year starting quarterback when he came face to face with the media.

"Ry's not available at the moment, you'll have to settle for us."

by **Chromatika** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 1:49 pm

Part 1: Rainbow District
Part 2: Mountain District
Part 3: Heartland District
Part 4: Coastal District
Part 5: Myana Island
Part 6: Urrhed Island
Part 7: Capital District East
Part 8: Capital District West
Part 9: Playoffs, First Round
Part 10: Playoffs, Lower Bracket, Second Round
Part 11: Playoffs, Lower Bracket, Third Round
Part 12: Playoffs, Lower Bracket, Final Round
Part 13: National Quarterfinals
Part 14: National Semifinals

Chromatik High School Gridiron - Season Twelve, Part Fifteen: National Championship

Season 1 Champions: Central Heights High School (MVP: QB Harold Jieter)
Season 2 Champions: East Omnio High School (MVP: WR Alessandro Mio)
Season 3 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 4 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 5 Champions: Flames of the Revolution High School (MVP: RB Nyata Antonucci)
Season 6 Champions: Staramara Tech High School (MVP: Edge Nicole Manstrom)
Season 7 Champions: Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School (MVP: QB Liara Anderson)
Season 8 Champions: Vitoron School of Charge (MVP: QB Anne-Maurice Vivayavich)
Season 9 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School Blue and White (MVP: QB Nicole Estera)
Season 10 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School Blue and White (MVP: CB Lisa Bonsoon)
Season 11 Champions: The Chromatik Institute Dread (MVP: QB Raul Sébastien Santos)

This season, the playoffs have changed. Conference Champions head to the District Champions (Round of Sixteen), while Second Place per Conference play each other to decide which team will make it to the National Playoffs on the losers' side. Then, it will be double elimination until there are eight teams left, which will lead to a single elimination bracket.

National Championship
Henza Center, D'rea, Capital District

Mt. Niar High School Anacondas vs. Myana Northwestern High School Blue and White

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Mt. Niar High School                        7  10   3  24   44
Myana Northwestern High School              7  13  14   3   37

1Q
10:01 MNWHS TD - Laak Gyles 21 yard pass from Nicole Estera (Maia Illytebovich Kick)
02:18 MNHS TD - Prince Kllart 2 yard run (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)

2Q
14:02 MNWHS TD - Alexander Eisenberg 7 yard fumble return (Maia Illytebovich Kick)
10:42 MNHS FG - Kang Yun-Hee 49 yard Field Goal
07:11 MNHS TD - Earl Silverman 81 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)
00:33 MNWHS TD - Creed Jackson-Smith 4 yard run (Kick Blocked)

3Q
10:29 MNWHS TD - Gorgo Lusmon 11 yard pass from Nicole Estera (Maia Illytebovich Kick)
06:22 MNHS FG - Kang Yun-Hee 50 yard Field Goal
01:59 MNWHS TD - Creed Jackson-Smith 38 yard pass from Nicole Estera (Maia Illytebovich Kick)

4Q
14:02 MNHS TD - Samantha Ysalt 10 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)
12:33 MNWHS FG - Maia Illytebovich 39 yard Field Goal
10:11 MNHS FG - Kang Yun-Hee 52 yard Field Goal
05:03 MNHS TD - Millie Harangyar 33 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)
00:13 MNHS TD - Dante Flowers 3 yard run (Kang Yun-Hee Kick)

Key Moments from the Game

10:08 1st Quarter - Nicole Estera

It was familiar territory for Nicole Estera to return to the Henza Center for the National Championship, and boy oh boy did it feel right. After getting clipped in the National Semifinals by the Staramara Tech High School Battle Angels last season, the Blue and White were where they should be - back in the final, back for a chance to become the first Quarterback to win three titles. Sure, so many said that it was due to the running game or the defense, and yes, she did have some stellar teammates all across the board, but Nicole knew who she was. If it came down to it, she would be there to make the plays, and the team would prevail. They were in the middle of a five-minute long opening drive after the Anacondas had deferred on the coin toss. Creed had just rushed for a First Down, and as she stared down at the defensive formation in front of her, she could tell that Laak was going to have single coverage with an underclassman corner. She took the snap, rolled to her left to shift the protection, and threaded the pass to only where Laak could get it, no problem. The Blue and White had struck first, and she had gone four-for-six in her first drive for fifty-two yards and a touchdown. So far, so good - not just for the Blue and White, but also for Estera proving that she was a championship caliber Quarterback.

02:24 1st Quarter - Prince Killart

Having a foreign student as your Quarterback was interesting. Dante Flowers had become way more Chromatik in behavior compared to how he was when he first joined the team, but Prince Killart could see that flair that the Ranorian had when he commanded the huddle. He had such a natural force of charisma, of get-it-done energy that couldn't be denied. After getting smacked in the face by the first drive of the Blue and White, the Anacondas had answered in style. They were about to run the fifteenth play, after eating up more than seven and a half minutes, and Prince could tell that the Blue and White were getting tired. He looked over at Dante, who met his gaze and simply nodded. In the Anacondas' system, the Quarterback had the final authority to call audibles, dating back to the Sarai Gwenderyn days, and so the Ranorian audibled to a draw. Flowers took the snap, waited the full second, and gave the ball to Killart - just for the Junior to walk into the end zone, untouched.

14:05 2nd Quarter - Alexander Eisenberg

When asked about his fellow countryman Dante Flowers in pregame interviews, Sophomore Defensive End Alexander Eisenberg had said that it would be fun to play some backyard football against a fellow countryman in the biggest stage in Chromatik high school football. The Blue and White had only managed a single first down on their ensuing possession, and had to punt it away - which Junior Punter Leonard Gusthaven buried within the Anacondas five yard line. Killart carried the ball up to the seven to give Flowers some breathing room, and that was where Eisenberg got to work. Spinning around the guard at the snap, the Defensive End got to Flowers in a hurry, stripped the Quarterback of the ball, and stayed on his feet, carrying the ball into the end zone for a score that left the sold-out crowd at the Henza Center gasping. The fabled Blue and White defense had struck again.

07:17 2nd Quarter - Earl Silverman

After the strip-six by Eisenberg, momentum had shifted to the Blue and White - which the Anacondas did well by getting a Field Goal in their ensuing possession, Kang Yun-Hee burying the kick from forty-nine out, no problem. Evan Derder had a pass defensed and a key tackle to stop the Blue and White's drive at midfield, and the Anacondas got the ball back at their own nineteen yard line after a decent punt return. Staring across the field, Silverman could tell that he was going to be on an island with Pan Yileng, the standout freshman corner from Myana Northwestern. At the snap, Silverman just flew by Yileng, who took a bad step, and Flowers's throw was on the money. Before Strong Safety Jody Kaines could get over to help, Silverman turned on the afterburners and pranced into the end zone, an eighty-one yard bomb that would be the longest touchdown pass given up by the Blue and White all season long. The Anacondas had taken the lead on one massive play.

00:41 2nd Quarter - Creed Jackson-Smith

The two teams traded three-and-outs after that, with the Blue and White getting the ball with just over two minute left. Estera got to work, and found Gyles on two passes in between a Jackson-Smith run. Three plays later, they were at the four yard line of the Anacondas with a chance to go up at halftime. Estera handed the ball off, and the Freshman - who hadn't really found his rhythm till the playoffs - found the initial hole to be plugged up. Jackson-Smith, known for his agility and balance, had the presence of mind to get around the guard and make for the right edge - getting there ahead of Evan Derder and crashing into the end zone for the four-yard score. Myana Northwestern had punched right back. Maia Illytebovich's kick was blocked, but the score was still good.

10:33 3rd Quarter - Gorgo Lusmon

Being a Freshman Tight End at Myana Northwestern was something else. All the history, all the pedigree, and the expectation of winning titles. Estera had brought Gorgo into her inner circle almost immediately, reciprocating what Jen Hallow had done for her back in the day, and the Freshman started being featured heavily in the passing attack midway through the season. The Blue and White had a chance to double up on points around the first half - having scored at the end of the first half and now, trying to score again. Another long, methodical drive saw Estera take the snap, third-and-three, at the eleven yard line. Lusmon chip-blocked on the blitzing linebacker and leaked out - only for Estera to find her in the flat. Gorgo bulled over Even Derder and carried two others in the end zone to give the Blue and White a 27-17 lead early in the Third Quarter. Mt. Niar would have to respond.

02:11 3rd Quarter - Harold Teller

The Anacondas were like gnats, Left Guard Harold Teller felt. Mt. Niar's Senior Kicker - Kang Yun-Hee - nailed a fifty yard Field Goal to get the Anacondas within seven, and the Blue and White had to answer once again. The running game was starting to get good, and Teller loved the mauling nature of engaging those defensive linemen in blocks and moving them. Another four-plus minute drive later, the Blue and White called one of Teller's favorite plays. At the snap, he disengaged from his lineman, pulled to the left, and acted as the lead blocker - taking Middle Linebacker Evan Derder out of the play - as Creed Jackson-Smith took a screen pass thirty-eight yards to paydirt, putting the Blue and White up fourteen.

14:05 4th Quarter - Samantha Ysalt

There was no panic in Dante Flowers's face as the Junior took to the huddle, Samantha Ysalt noted. The Ranorian was cool and collected, and told the offense that they needed to get to work. A dig route to Silverman, a fade to Harangyar, and Ysalt knew that it would be her turn to contribute sooner rather than later. On fourth-and-three from the thirteen, Flowers found Ysalt in the flat, and she got the first down. "I'm coming back to you, Sam," Dante promised. Ysalt faced a linebacker in the slot, and ran a shallow dig route, leaving her would-be-defender a half yard out of possession. Flowers's pass was perfect, and the Anacondas weren't done just yet.

12:35 4th Quarter - Mark Lutt

Myana Northwestern would answer almost immediately, Nicole Estera finding Laak Gyles on a rope for forty-eight yards. Five plays later, the ball was at the Anacondas' twenty-three, and the Blue and White had a chance to put the game away. Estera took the snap, rolled to her left, and found Mark Lutt in the flat - a Freshman who was arguably the second best Wide Receiver on the team after Laak Gyles. Lutt took a step forward, but before he could cross the first down marker, Evan Derder rushed in, sending him airborne a half a yard short. Lutt was blindsided, and not able to crash forward, meaning that the Blue and White would have to settle for a Field Goal. They did - which Illytebovich converted to make the lead ten points - but it was a chance that Myana Northwestern had to really put the bow on their title.

10:13 4th Quarter - Kang Yun-Hee

"You've got this," Dante Flowers told Kang Yun-Hee as the Ranorian trotted to the sideline after a third down incompletion, Alexander Eisenberg draped all over him. Being a field goal kicker in high school may not be stressful in many other parts of the world, but in Chromatika, where special teams was expected to play well, it mattered a lot. Kang, with her long-flowing black hair flowing behind her like a mane, stepped onto the field, having only missed two kicks all year long, and perfect over fifty yards. This would be a fifty-two yard field goal, not an automatic in high school, but one that she had done three other times in her career. The snap was good, the hold was perfect, and as soon as she hit the ball, she knew that it was fine. She celebrated with her signature pose - a salute to the sideline - as the Anacondas drew back within seven.

09:39 4th Quarter - Evan Derder

Evan could tell that the Anacondas defense would have to do something to spruce things up in the Fourth Quarter. Dante and the offense were getting some shots in, but if they were to give up another time-churning possession to the Blue and White, the could kiss the title good bye. On second-and-eight from the Anacondas' thirty-two yard line - basically within Field Goal range in Chromatika - the Blue and White ran the same play that Creed Jackson-Smith had scored the touchdown on late in the first half. This time, Derder diagnosed it pre-snap, and actually met Jackson-Smith in the backfield at the point of getting the ball from Estera. His hit jarred the ball lose, and Valyn Ekler picked it up, resulting in a key takeaway that not only robbed the Blue and White of the ball but at least three points. They had put the ball back in Dante's hands - with plenty of time left.

05:19 4th Quarter - Millie Harangyar

With the defense having given them the ball back, the Anacondas weren't going to let it go to waste. The Blue and White wouldn't make it easy, making Flowers convert three Third Downs, but they got the ball to the thirty-three yard line of Myana Northwestern. Flowers took the snap, looked off the blitzing linebacker, and found Millie Harangyar in the deep slot on the right hand side, threading between two defenders and scoring to tie the game, sending the entire stadium in an uproar. At that moment, all the memories of Flowers making time in the offseason to work with her came to Millie's mind. They had worked on this for what seemed like ages - and were on the verge of potentially winning the title.

03:29 4th Quarter - Roland Kyak

For a Defensive Tackle, half of your job was taking up space. The other half? Getting after the Quarterback when you can, and if you don't quite get there, at least lift your hands up to see if you can get the ball. The Blue and White were answering after the dart from Flowers to Harangyar, having just crossed midfield. Estera took the snap from shotgun, play-faked to Jackson-Smith, and tried to get the ball from Gorgo Lusmon - just for the six foot, ten inch tall Kyak to get his mitts up, and cause a deflected ball for the second straight week. The ever-watchful Evan Derder gathered it in, and the Anacondas had stolen the ball away from the Blue and White for the second time in the Quarter, and given the Anacondas a chance to win this game.

00:15 4th Quarter - Dante Flowers

They really had to only get the ball to the thirty-five to give Kang a chance, but Flowers wasn't going to let anything go to chance. Having given permission by his Offensive Coordinator to do as he saw fit, he found Silverman on a slant route in front of Kaines before riding Killart down to the twenty. Then, Flowers stepped around Eisenberg to find Ysalt to the ten, and a run by Killart later, the ball was at the Blue and White three yard line with one timeout remaining. Flowers took the next snap, faked the handoff to Killart - drawing the entire Blue and White defense on the fake - and trotted into the endzone, untouched, almost like how Estera had broken Anacondas hearts three seasons ago. The Ranorian took a bow to the crowd, who was going wild, and the Anacondas had completed the comeback - while scoring twenty-four on one of the best defenses in the country in the Fourth Quarter. Ballgame.

Comments after the Match

Dante Flowers: "What a game, what a game. We showed we had the heart of a champion today. Defense causing those two turnovers in the Fourth Quarter. Millie coming up huge. Earl getting them on that huge play in the Second Quarter. We knew that we had a team that could win it all, and we didn't give up on each other when we went down early. It's been a pleasure playing with these guys, and I'm so happy that we got the win."

Nicole Estera: "It sucks to lose in this fashion, after having that lead. They played great ball in the Fourth, and we faded. It's been an honor to wear the Blue and White, but it sucks that we weren't able to break that record. This one stings - I am going to remember it for a while."

Kang Yun-Hee: "I remember... And now, I have another memory to wash the last two away. This one is for Viktor, for Sarai, and for every other Anacondas alumni that's been haunted by the Blue and White in the last three years. We got you guys."

Looking Forward... The Myana Northwestern Blue and White should be in decent shape next season, with so many good pieces on defense still. They'll have to break in a new Quarterback, but the Blue and White are a team that can overcome that without much trouble. As for the Anacondas, they not only reestablish themselves as the best team in the nation with three titles, but they get to have Flowers and Killart come back for one more season. Silverman will graduate, but Harangyar has shown that she is ready to step up. Can this be a new era of dominance for the Anacondas?

by **Cardenao** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:13 pm

As the LeBois Santura University Broncos returned from representing Cardenao at the World Bowl, they shifted gears and began preparing for the Drawk Bowl. Anticipation and excitement electrified the air on campus as the Broncos stood before another defining moment: the chance to beat the University of Constantinople and win a trophy. The school from New Gesem was coming in off a 7-3, the same as the BSU Broncos who were coming in off a historic first appearance in the Big Eight championship game. A victory here would be further proof of LeBois’ development as a footballing school, and it would also be lit to win a bowl game.

Looking at the statistics coming into the game showed that this promised to be a competitive game: BSU had scored 28 more points throughout the season, the benefits of having a Bobby Dials led offense. However, the Broncos' defense had given up five more points, setting the stage for an evenly matched battle out there on the gridiron. Perhaps a slight edge to the Broncos, who now have some international experience under their belts, but anything can happen in college football.

Coach Steve Valentine knows that his team’s strength lies in the strength of their free-flowing offense, and has prepared a strategy highlighting that but the underlying premise was simple: score more points than they do. It all came down to playing with speed, enjoying the moment, and letting the points on the board do the talking. Overthinking things led stress, stress leads to shit, and shit leads to uncomfortable situations in a must-win game of football.

Bobby Dials, what a man, what a quarterback, and he once again took on the mantle of motivator-in-chief. For many players on the team, this game would be their last suiting up in the blue and orange of the Broncos before graduation. The attitude these players brought to the locker room was clear: they would rather die on the field than face defeat. For Bobby and fellow sophomore linebacker Alabaster Red, the stakes were higher; a victory in the bowl game could further show that they are ready for the professional level.

The lead-up to the Drawk Bowl was clearly a whirlwind of emotions. Practices were intense, more electric than half of the games the Broncos had played in the regular season, yet the lads were full of camaraderie. The seniors, knowing their farewell performance was approaching, approached every drill and gym session with a sense of urgency.

Bobby Dials, with his characteristic passion and leadership, kept the mood high and focused with speeches that bounced through BSU’s athletic facility. ‘This was not just a game,’ Bobby said, ‘this was their chance to etch their names in the annals of BSU history forever. The intensity on the field was matched by a bond forged in countless hours of practice, victories, and setbacks.

The campus was alive with excitement as their fellow students rallied behind the Big Blue and Orange, with banners and flags proudly displaying the iconic Bronco head. The anticipation was reaching a feverish level as game day approached, and the Broncos prepared to step onto the field for the Drawk Bowl ready to play the game of their lives – the product of a year’s worth of sweat, dedication, and unyielding determination to win.

Everything they had worked for, every moment of triumph and suffering, led to these final 60 minutes. The Broncos were ready to seize the moment, to not just play for victory, but for the legacy they would leave behind. The Drawk Bowl was here, and the Broncos were determined to make it a spectacle to remember.

by **Dhemixia** » Sun Oct 01, 2023 8:20 pm

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The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)

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Jays lose a barn burner of a S.P.I.T Bowl; clinch Pioneer Bowl nonetheless

The Jays went into Joseph Smith Stadium to close out OOC play, and lost the inaugural S.P.I.T Bowl (South Pacific Iced Tea Bowl) by a field goal, 7-10. The Jays kept it close against a tough BYU team, but just couldn't best Senior QB Blake Zuercher. The Jays still showed a lot of grit though, going into a tough away atmosphere, and staying with a tough team that grinds out games. In the end though, Blake Zuercher just dominated, and the Jays simply could not stop him, leading to a loss in the first S.P.I.T Bowl.

On a more positive note, the Jays have a very bright future. The Jays have done something that solidly competitive teams like BYU, UPAM-Boca Rana, Alexandroupolis, RUoN, and EVU did not do, which was make the Pioneer Bowl. Not only did the Jays make it, they were the BEST rookie team not in the playoffs, practically the 1 seed, meaning they were the best. If you look at teams like UPAM-Boca Rana and Alexandroupolis, neither of them made the Pioneer Bowl, yet both are in the playoffs this season, even Alexandroupolis going so far as to win their division and conference. If this pattern scales, UC-Prairie has a very bright future.

However, getting to the Pioneer Bowl is not the goal. The real goal is to win it. Merely getting there doesn't do much for a team, but winning, that does multitudes. If the Jays want their future program to shine brighter than ever, they have to win, so we'll see what happens next, and what happens to the future of the UC-Prairie football program at large.

Schedule

*blue indicates home games
~~Week 1: VS. Alexandroupolis~~ L 27-30
~~Week 2: @ Constantinople~~ L 26-43
~~Week 3: @ UPAM-Boca Rana~~ L 21-36
~~Week 4: @ Commonwealth of Baker Park~~ L 23-33
~~Week 5: @ Green City University~~ W 20-16
~~Week 6: VS. Royal Naval Academy~~ W 51-3
~~Week 7: VS. Trent State~~ W 36-17
~~Week 8: @ Alexandroupolis~~ L 27-39
~~Week 9: VS. Constantinople~~ W 33-29
~~Week 10: VS. UPAM-Boca Rana~~ L 24-30
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Non-conference play
~~Week 11: @ Frontier M&T~~ W 32-28
~~Week 12: VS. Lacragos~~ W 55-0
~~Week 13: @ BYU~~ L 7-10
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Bowl Game
Week 14: Sea Dome (Pioneer Bowl)

_{visit https://ucprairiefootball.ns for more ticketing information}

NSCF 29 - Everything Thread

NSFB: Pain

State vs State, Great Value edition

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