NSCF 33 - Everything Thread

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Sun May 18, 2025 9:03 pm

OOC: I am aware of Felswyr State's recent naming change to Mountain District. This was not reflected in the signup information, which was where I took info for OP, but is adjustable. Since I still have to use table generator for interdivisional section of the GS, those changes will be reflected to the table around MD4.

Horizon and Mineral Conference - Week 2

Cutoff.

Horizon Conference:

Starlight Division
Sadeg State University (DRK) 37–30 Staramara Tech University (CMT)
Felswyr State University (CMT) 12–3 Cavsar University (DRK)

#                                  Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 Sadeg State University             2   2  0   63  33 +30
2 Staramara Tech University          2   1  1   64  40 +24
3 Felswyr State University           2   1  1   15  29 −14
4 Cavsar University                  2   0  2    6  46 −40

Equinox Division
Kobale University (GEX) 9–34 Islamic Madrasa of Pomena (JUE)
Silver Coast State College (SAS) 33–30 Lithrelir University (GEX)

#                                  Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 Silver Coast State College         2   2  0   59  36 +23
2 Lithrelir University               2   1  1   85  54 +31
3 Islamic Madrasa of Pomena          2   1  1   55  64  −9
4 Kobale University                  2   0  2   15  60 −45

Mineral Conference:

Heartland Division
St. Paulus College (ROT) 39–33 Trent State University (TJU)
Green City University (TJU) 13–39 Prince Pieter's College (ROT)

#                                                          Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 Prince Pieter's College                                    2   2  0   68  39 +29
2 Green City University                                      2   1  1   36  39  −3
3 St. Paulus College                                         2   1  1   39  56 −17
4 Trent State University                                     2   0  2   59  68  −9

Boreal Division
Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC) 26–14 Elysium City University (EAG)
University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE) 41–34 Uniwersytet Nowa Kalanianska (UNC)

#                                                          Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 University of Columbus-Prairie                             2   2  0   73  65  +8
2 Uniwersytet Nowa Kalanianska                               2   1  1   80  41 +39
3 Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer         2   1  1   57  46 +11
4 Elysium City University                                    2   0  2   14  72 −58

by **Sea Peoples League** » Mon May 19, 2025 11:01 am

OOC note: In the previous iteration of HCC @ NSCF, as the CTEd Corporate City 1, i RPed a violent, contemptuous culture and a society defined by its experiences shoving youths into a grinder in an all-Sea-Dome civil war. I said some mean things, always strictly in-character, but I wasn't clear enough about that. Apologies to anyone who was insulted or put off. This RP is different; the multinational sports administration SPL is now the name of the country itself, which is just everyone under the Dome in a looser federation. "Sea Dome" now refers to the edifice-vehicle itself but I've reclaimed my sick ass (SEA) trigram from way before even my old RPs.

To catch you up if you haven't read my recent RP: CC1 is the financial and population center as well as being situated literally in the middle of the Dome, fitting for the only place capitalism is explicitly legal in the whole Federation. It's both a domestic and international tourist trap, which is great for economic growth but leads to a hard society where the means of life are not guaranteed. This will be informed by my experiences in San Diego, Philadelphia, DC, Annapolis, Tucson and Minneapolis. What federal law exists IC is minimal, to avoid conflict between the socialist city-states and CC1. This also allows CC1 to be dominated by a Corporate Council with limited democracy. However, medical technology has advanced to where concussions and most other injuries are automatically scanned and instantly treated by microdrones, for home and away players in any sport. Horrific injuries may take longer to heal but prognosis and healing time will both be better than in most places. If players need carting off the field, or some other disaster happens, it will certainly be handled by robots (controlled live by technical experts) for everyone's safety.

One notorious thing about my RP will continue: Most of it will concern political worldbuilding, medicalization of football, and unique challenges of CC1/SEA like translation and infrastructure. What little explicitly concerns my players will mostly be from my domestic pro league. That gives you as much room as you like to decide anything about my coaches, players, etc that I haven't already provided info for, on or off the field. A limited amount of godmodding is appropriate if related to advancements in medical science or civil engineering; it's probably hard to cross my boundaries here, but be aware that if the research I'm already doing proves your godmod impossible, I may retcon that for my purposes.

One last IC bit that's hard to explain here: SEA doesn't have "high schools", but does have a teen league and will participate in transfer/recruiting this time.

HIGH CITY COLLEGE SNIPERS (SEA)[Sea Peoples Gridiron League]

SCHEDULE
Division
1 @ U. Mancodas Mammoths (PFA)
2 MAXIMUS ROCHESTER INSTITUTE (GHP)
3 @ Halifax Prov. U. Ospreys (PFA)
Conference
4 U. RAUKIEFF PILGRIMS (TMN)
5 MAR SARA TECH RAIDERS (VAL)
6 @ Tophat U. Beavers (THW)
7 @ Raynor U. Rockets (VAL)
Division
8 U. MANCODAS MAMMOTHS (PFA)
9 @ MRI Gijikyhandasari Yeraiqhospifasas (GHP)
10 HALIFAX PR. U. OSPREYS (PFA)
Nonconference
11 KOBALE U. KOBOLDS (GEX)
12 U. NORDHAMMER (NKR)
13 @ Lakewood Plains U. (NKR)

HC: Tanís (46F) a wizened and thoroughly retired quarterback, she was celebrated in her native country Dæxil for winning 5 pro championships as a player and 8 as a coach, until a nuclear meltdown forced a complete evacuation of the small state. Only the Sea Dome was both willing and able to take an entire country in as refugees, and we have since floated to Arrosia in part so that we can join international competitions like the NSCF. Tanís emphasizes possession ball, red zone defense, and solid consistent tackling.

OC: Pioɫo (41M)
OFF: Establish the run, including by QB, then pass at unpredictable frequency. Use depth to keep DCs/LBs on their toes. Lightly season with laterals and trick plays.

DC: Metsɚ (42N)
DEF: primarily one-gap 3-4. Emphasize solid coverage over flashy plays but always try to bother the QB/RB or at least disrupt the line. Disdain Prevent until win/tie is impossible

STC: Prnoaf (39M)
ST: Rugby style- Try to block every kick just a little bit. Use speed and hands. Don't be afraid to lateral and sometimes dropkick.
--------

Seniors/Starters
QB/Will XUKA C (Off) f Drama Run-first, at least early and on short distances. Lots of west coast type passing once both her and the RBs have established the run. Some fumbles and picks.
HB/FS PARTHO [pr] m Fluid Dynamics Smooth, quick on his feet, small, tries sharp cuts, adept at using angular momentum to stop larger opponents.
FB/Mike QUANT n Marine Bio Stronger and larger, essentially a fullback on both sides of the ball. Receiving and pass coverage threat also.
TE/CB HOUSER n Hotel Admin Large for a CB, medium for a TE. Multisport athlete; sometimes appears to be rebounding.
LT/DE SKINT f Phys Therapy Pushes outside, establishing or closing a flank for the QB. Strong enough to pull off a couple moves reasonably well.
LG/NT A.M. POK m Nuclear Chem The star of both sides of the line. Bruiser relying on overwhelming force.
C/ST VILE n Fishing Tech More imposing than consistent. Hands team. Has a few sweet punt blocks in the highlight reel.
RG/ST TIEO C (ST) f Marine Chem Specializes in run blocking and, on special teams, the inside game.
RT/Jkr GINTY n Nuclear Med Lives for the pass block/rush. Larger than Skint. Gets knockdowns and sacks.
WR/SS BWIGHT [kr] m Electronics Highly physical route runner, run stopper and pass slapper.
WR/CB VANDER C (Def) f Linguistics Tall, fast, spots gaps on the fly. Emphasis on possession (receiving or intercepting).
DE/KR RAINER S.P. m Philosophy Gets a lot of sacks and has blocked some field goals.
LS/Sam CAMMY POULS f Medieval Lit Reliable and versatile, not excellent at any one part of either role, other than not messing up snaps.
K/ST SLENDER f Civil Engineer Definitely the most consistent player. Distance over precision, but not bad at any kicking situation.
P/ST CHINTZ m Labor History Multisport (Aussie rules). Highly precise and gets hangtime. Possibly the least bad player.
ST/QB Lil Riley m Fin Tech Gunner on ST, passing and receiving threat on offense. More arm than accuracy.
ST/LS Cory Flitch f Marine Bio Talented but has a couple of fumbled snaps and missed hits.
ST/NT W.X. Chambers n Fishing Tech Jumps in on 4-3 and 4-4 looks. Competent, not great.
ST/DE Kim Reflex m Broadcasting Mixed in to DL to keep opp OC on their toes.
WR/FS Red Doll m Metallurgy
OLB/ST Mashaba f Musicology
FB/DE Thiro m Architecture
ILB/TE R.T. Dailey n Modern Dance
NT/OL Qazak Zdeno m Chem Engineer
CB/WR Wolters f Computer Science

Bench: Used regularly to give or react to a different look, or adapt formations to opponent weaknesses, or disrupt patterns or rhythms.
Juniors
CB/QB Gaiter m Critical Crimonology
SS/WR Palani K. f Psycholinguistics
HB/Spy Elyse Padilla n Evolutionary Bio
ST/ILB Rainer Abdul m Kinesiology
ST/CB Tanguay f Design
NT/OL Euan m Environmental Psych
TE/OL Thompson L. m Military Law
C/ST Asad Hagedorn m Gridiron Football
HB/ST C. Soriano f Animation
DE/WR Halima n Computer Engineering
LG Sailor Yves n Computational Linguistics
RT Naftal U. n Civil Engineering
Joker Adil Solomon m Hair Design
CB Sliver Texas f Earth History
Will Patricia David f Theoretical Chemistry
Sam Al Deeb m Anarchist Studies

Underclass
LB Eric Khalifa m
DB Mike Tunkiç m
WR Sylvia Brewst f
FB Asmaa el Seder n
LT Rob Q. Roche n
RG Davbid m
DB Renate Broggi f
LB Sam Flander m
HB Alain Phul m
HB Paul Metcalfe n
K/P Alketa Troka n

by **Ranoria** » Mon May 19, 2025 1:29 pm

Eastern Ye Dnad University
Saturday Afternoon - The Bovine Bowl

Derek Boss's fingers twitched as he cheated up on towards the line. 4th and 1 - last shot to get their offense a chance to go win this game.

Last chance for the Bulls to seal the game against the Buffalo.

The first edition of the "Bovine Bowl" had exceeded expectations, not that the Buffalo were too happy about it. Coming in as a twenty point favorite and being down six this late was a tough gig. But when that ball was snapped, Derek was already sprinting. He came right off big Philbert Aitken's hip, swam over the guard's far-too-late attempt at a block, and had all the momentum he needed. The back tried to launch through him, and managed to make Derek stagger, but he ended up grabbing the runner overtop his back, lifted him up upside down, and the officials didn't blow the whistle fast enough to stop Cold Hill's enforcer from rag dolling him into the turf.

The defense - all three conscious players and the other eight allegedly warm bodies - swarmed around him before the offense took the field.

Life was good if you were Derek Boss.

After he stripped off his pads and the rash guard Cold Hill had ordered specially for him, he checked his phone and his heart fluttered. Giovanna's name came up with a couple hearts next to it, and it was pretty obvious she had no idea what she was talking about, but you get an "I'm so proud of you" text from a girl like that and try not to melt, alright? He sent a quick reply and tossed his phone back into the locker - they had to get back to the airport quick, and no one wanted to sit through that plane ride smelling like football.

Cold Hill University, that night
Alpha Phi Pi House

"Giovanna please, if you don't he'll ruin me!" Benadet sobbed, and Giovanna tried to console her friend, but she couldn't do it.

"Bennie!" She protested, "Derek's amazing! He's everything I've ever wanted! Seven foot tall! Football player, did I mention he's tall? I can't do this now he'll never talk to me again!"

"You don't understand," Benadet hugged herself, practically hysterical with fear, "He knows my deepest, darkest secret, and he's lorded it over me since I was sixteen! If anyone ever found out, I'd lose everything!" They'd been going back and forth for what felt like hours - about Benadet's dark secret, about Giovanna's unwillingness to concede, having found her dream man. Mostly because he was seven foot five, but whatever.

"And this would ruin me!" Giovanna stood up and waved her arms around, "Your brother is, he's" she dry-heaved even thinking about him, and shuddered hard before composing herself, "He's the most revolting thing I've ever seen! I can't put that slob on my FotoGrid! And if I don't post the formal my followers will lose their minds! And besides, it'd eventually get out that I went with him! My reputation would be ruined! Bennie there's just no way I can do this! And you won't even tell me about your stupid secret!"

Benadet kept crying, and bit her lip hard. Her face was flushed, lips dry, makeup ruined, and she looked up to her friend with what little hope she had left, "Do you really want to know? Can I trust you with it, Giovanna Lalas Berhalter?"

Giovanna rushed back to her friend and embraced her, holding her tight, and nodded with a whisper. "Anything, you know that."

No one could hear what Bennie said next. But Giovanna's eyes shot open as wide as they'd ever been. A hand went to her lips, and she stumbled back then fell hard on the ground. "Oh shit, oh Bennie what did you do?"

Benadet nodded, eyes squinted shut, awaiting the death blow, the final refusal. But it never came. Because it was Giovanna's turn to start crying. "I'll do it. It could ruin me, but I'll do it. Just, please, for me, make sure he showers and has clean clothes. You're in charge of that."

Tuesday Night

Life was not good if you were Derek Boss.

Playing hero ball had felt great in the moment - until a coaching staff the entire world believed had lost its passion made the entire team spend their Sunday recovery day running suicides for how close that game had been.

Having the most beautiful thing you'd ever seen be talking with you all day was pretty great. Until you got off a plane to twelve missed calls, two voice mails with so much crying they were indecipherable, and three pages of texts begging you to understand why she had to go with someone else to her formal thing.

So Derek sat in the corner of the little barn where Fluffalo the buffalo spent much of his time, and snapped his laptop closed, "Alright Chloe, that pretty much covers everything on the exam. And what Professor Aprilforth said won't be on the exam, too." Chloe shot him a thumbs up, then brought the hand back to her brush to really pull at a particularly tough tuft of fur on their mascot.

"How much are they giving you to do this?" He pointed at Fluffalo, "Weird way to get an NIL deal, don't ya think?"

The South Newlandian quarterback got through the matted fur and plopped down hard, but looked at the brush with a victorious smirk before turning back to Derek, "NIL money? No, I just voluneeted. I mean look at him!" Chloe grabbed Fluffalo's massive head and turned it to Derek - well, more like Fluffalo allowed her to. Derek stared the creature in the eyes for a second. Two.

Fluffalo sneezed, and Derek jumped out of his seat, laptop clattering into the straw beneath his feet.

"Oh that was not nice Fluffalo! Here let me get that," Chloe started wiping at the buffalo's snout, and Derek stood there, covered in Fluffalo snot. That's when Chloe stopped her work, looking at Derek, "Uh, do you smell that?

And then an unfamiliar face entered the barn.

"I thought I'd find you here." Chloe looked up from Fluffalo, and at just the silhoutte of the thing that entered the room tensed up and shivered in disgust as the smell grew stronger. Even Fluffalo snorted, and Chloe waved an apology to Derek, made some excuse, and exited out the back door. Every footstep a jiggle, every swing of his arms droplets of moisture fell into the straw, every breath a nasally, bubbling, horrible sound. "It makes sense that you'd spend your free time with an animal," Gloyd chuckled, eyeing up Fluffalo with some disdain, "It would give you some respite from your facade of humanity."

Derek rolled his eyes and grabbed his laptop, brushing off the straw sticking to its surface, "Not the best time Gloyd, what's your deal anyway. Yeah, I'm not human, duh."

Derek turned, annoyed, and looked down to see Gloyd. The signature look of superiority was gone. I fact, Gloyd's jaw was slightly agape, making the cheese stains at the corners of his mouth even more obvious, "You admit it...by all that is Holy you admit it."

Derek didn't respond, sliding the computer into his bag and looking quizzically at his classmate, pulling out an extra shirt to replace the Fluffalo-snorted-on one.

"But if you're willing to tell me so blatantly," Gloyd's yellowish eyes got as wide as saucers, darting around the room, chin jiggling and raining dandruff as he began to frantically turn this way and that. But he soon realized the situation he was in, and faced Derek head on, "With no witnesses besides our bovine friend here..."

"Fluffalo is not your friend," Derek corrected, and quickly pulled his contaminated shirt off.

"You're prepared to kill me then - you'd never let me leave with your secret in tow! You couldn't risk it!" Derek's head popped out, shoulders sagged and eyes heavy as Gloyd dug into his stained pants, sniffling. Whether in fear or if he was trying to keep his nose from leaking, the world may never know, but eventually he revealed a small metal pole, perhaps a foot long, but his crusty fingernails were white as he gripped it. He flicked it once, gritted his yellow-orange teeth, twice, it started to expand, but got stuck. The foul creature looked back up at Derek to check their distance.

Nope, must have been about to cry, Derek noted when the snot started running from his nostril to his lip.

Gloyd looked back down and pulled the stick out with his other hand, revealing a four foot long or so metal pole. "Behold!" He spun it clumsily in hand, "I spent two years earning my purple belt with a white stripe in karate! My precision with polearms is unmatched! You will not have blood this day!"

Gloyd panted in exertion from that action alone, but stared down his enemy with resolve that was legitimately impressive. Or would've been if his soaked-through shirt wasn't now riding halfway up his belly button. Was that lint? Or gunk? Derek shuddered at the thought, and looked literally anywhere but at the

"Dude, did you forget to take your meds today? What's with you? Everyone knows I'm an alien."

Gloyd, perceiving no immediate danger, brought his pole forward and leaned hard on it, wheezing. "Ah, I see, so Giovanna must have alerted the rest of them once she discovered it. A premature action to tip you off before we know what your plans for us are," he stroked his chin, well, more pinched his third chin between his fingers. Derek covered his mouth when that attempt at a casual action popped three pimples in the wake of his thumb.

But then his brain clicked, "Wait, Giovanna? What the hell does she have to do with this?"

Gloyd's fingers snapped, and he offered an open-mouth grin, his unbrushed teeth emitting a noxious scent so bad that Fluffalo grumbled and turned around to walk outside to the pasture. "Why, she caught onto your little act perhaps before I did! I presume it's why she scorned, and elected to, what's the term you brutes use, audible to me as her escort for the upcoming formal!"

"She what!?" Derek stepped forward now, bookbag sliding off his arm as, finally, he went from tired and annoyed to his fists clenching, "She's taking your fat ass?"

"Indeed," Gloyd grinned, standing back up to his full diminutive height and brandishing his polearm, "It appears she prefers a man's touch over an alien's. And unfortunately for you," his eyes narrowed, "I had no choice but to protect her, it's why I wouldn't allow her to bring you. And I have no choice but to protect the people of this world. Now that your farce has been revealed, I cannot trust you not to take rash actions that could devastate our world. En garde!" He declared, and rushed Derek. Well, waddled towards him. He shouted in exertion, sheer willpower, pulling the pole behind him like a baseball bat, and swung with everything he had at Derek's face.

Not to much avail - Derek caught the pole in one hand, yanked it from Gloyd's hand, and tossed it across the room, where it shattered against the wall.

Gloyd looked up in terror, only now realizing the true difference in size between them, and Derek put a finger on his chest.

"I don't know what your deal is you weird little freak!" He jammed his finger into his sternum harder, "Or what your obsession is with me! But I don't wanna hear from your nasty little ass again!" He jammed his finger into Gloyd's chest one more time, and the young man finally lost his balance.

Just as some of the actual caretakers for Fluffalo came in, Gloyd fell down like a tree. He yelped in pain as he landed on a pile of straw, curling into a ball and squealing. His blubbery frame was wracked with sobs as he rolled around, clutching his arm and leaving the straw where he'd been saturated in his wake. The caretakers rushed towards him, and Derek facepalmed when Gloyd explained the story in the one large building on campus that didn't have any cameras.

Fluffalo kept munching on some food, and bellowed once when the caretakers didn't bring him a treat quite fast enough.

The Cold Hill Forest - That Night

Life sucked if you were Derek Boss.

Sore from suicide sprints.

Got dumped for some disgusting dude in one of your classes who was obsessed with outing you as an alien as if his home country of Drawkland - and homeworld of Sonnel -weren't listed on the roster.

Got suspended for the first game against Richardson this year for "assaulting" another student. That same student, actually.

Oh yeah, and all the guys were clowning the absolute shit out of you for losing the hottest girl on campus to an almost subhuman creature.

"Help."

He deliberately stepped on a dead leaf with a grumble as he continued, walking nowhere in particular. Something chittered in the distance, mixed in with the cacophony of other noises. Owls hooting and night critters nibbling and all the other things that loved these woods.

"Help"

Seriously, things could not have started better this season. Two great performances from him, hanging out with literal perfection, and he had an annoying kid in class to clown on. Now, he was a laughingstock, suspended, local and national press alike were calling for his head. Questioning Chris Dale's locker room culture - as if poking a weirdo was as bad as the crap Rhine was pulling- and some more fringe-but-not-as-fringe-as-you'd-think forum lurkers were even saying that bringing Drawkians into your country was asking for things like this to happen.

"Help"

All seven foot five of him sighed, looking down as he lumbered on...then he shouted some obscenities when he walked right into a tree limb to the face. Derek immedietely grabbed the offending branch, ripped it off the tree, and ragdolled it into the woods.

Help

Derek's eyes shot up.

He stepped towards the direction of where he'd thrown the stick he'd thrown, eyes scanning in the darkness to try and find what had sounded like a person. But as he wandered off the beaten path, it only got darker.

"Help"

His eyes shot to where he heard it from, and he took off without thinking. The weird tone, almost more of a fact than a plea, the lack of urgency in the voice, didn't register, not yet.

"Help"

He skidded to a stop, eyes darting to the right, "Hey! I'm here!" The biting wind of Cold Hill was the only answer. His vision started to adjust to the darkness, and Derek saw a rock popping out of the ground not too far away, it'd have looked like a cliff's ledge if it wasn't in the dirt, and started to approach the lost person.

"Help"

Derek placed a hand on top of the rough stone of the outcropping, the scent of the earth mixed with something else, revolting like Gloyd if different, but it was faint enough that he shrugged it off.

"Help....here."

He knelt down, hand still on the outcropping, and bit his inner lip. Legs muscles tensed up and the hairs on his neck stood, and he peered under the rock into pitch blackness, searching for any signs of life. Total blackness - especially in the night, there was no way he'd be able to see a thing under there. But nothing was making any noise at his approach. Hell, all the chirps and scurrying of the forest had stopped. So he figured there was nothing hiding to bite him under there.

But he wasn't relieved when he heard them respond.

"Here."

But his back foot slid forward a few inches, he felt his heart seize in his chest as something started to feel irrefutably wrong. There was no emotion in the voice, but it didn't sound tired enough for monotony. Very clear. Very simple. And he couldn't help but wonder why they weren't saying anything else. But Derek was a good man, and brushed his misgivings aside - if he'd been lost in the woods for days, he'd have been acting weird too. "Here, take my hand."

He reached in his free hand despite not seeing anything, and was alarmed at how deep the hole was. Even with his freakishly long arms he was grasping at air. The scent grew stronger, enough that he crinkled his nose and turned his face away.

"Take," they paused, "hand...here."

The only warning was a sound akin to that of stones being thrown against a wall, and Derek screamed out when something sunk deep into his forearm and pulled, hard and fast enough that his head smacked against the stone outcropping and left him limp for a moment. But the smell, something awful he knew now, jolted his system back to conciousness.

"Take."

Derek's massive frame collided with the edges of the hole and he thanked God he was as large as he was. His free hand pressed with all his might as he roared in exertion, legs scrambling for purchase on the fallen leaves of Cold Hill's brief Autumn, face screwed into a grimace as he played some sick version of tug of war. And for the first time, the voice wasn't monotone. It sounded, sinister, excited.

"Take!"

"Fuck you!" Derek's battle cry was some mix of desperation, pain, and absolute indignance, but he managed to pull his arm free, scrambling backwards when the tensile strength of his skin was no longer enough to hold the grip of the fishhooks that had been embedded in his arm.

He landed hard on his backside, but immedietely crab-walked backward before turning to stand, his heaving shoulders and instinct to run overwhelming any concern for the chilled dirt mixing into his open wounds.

"Take...you."

He didn't stay to try and figure out what said it. Derek was already sprinting away from the cannibal in the forest, the nippily air biting into his mangled limb.

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Mon May 19, 2025 3:29 pm

Once upon a time, College Football was an unexpected place of TJUN-ian success. Both of our schools made it all the way to title games, showcasing the best of our talent on the world stage...but that magic has long since disappeared. Sure, TJUN-ian players are still developing and are still doing well for themselves for the Gridiron Jaguars, the NSCF programs that feed into that team haven't exactly had the best of times since the glory days. Now, TJUN-ian gridiron enters a crossroads at the NSCF level - do we remain stationary, or is there change in the air?

The Trent State Feathercaps are in the final campaign of the Jessica Daniels Era, and that was certainly a reason to keep fighting if you played in Green and Red...but this start to the season has been nothing but trash since the very start. The new-look Heartland Division now features two teams from New Rotterdam City looking to try and claim the ticket to the title game many expect is ours to take...but clearly, the Dutch didn't seem to get the memo when it comes to TSU.
- At the Polo Grounds of Oesterstrand, The Feathercaps played out a defensive affair against Prince Pieter's College Minutemen - an old school with a new team that had never tackled anyone prior to this game. Daniels threw 2 TDs in regulation and a 2-point conversion to Vaaltari Vakalinen, but Florian van Essen did the exact same thing (via Pepijn Fagel) to force OT. This OT was tough as hell as both teams got 7 points to start this off, but a key tackle by Taco Heeswijk was enough to force "Jenkins" to kick the FG. van Essen had the opportunity to walk off this game and that is exactly what he did, finding Herman Haverkamp to end things right there and then.
- The St. Paulus College Man-Ravens - a newly-formed team in of itself - were just as unforgiving at Geerlings-Krophoff Field in New Rotterdam Central. Facing a team that scrimmed just before the flight to Green City felt like an advantage but as this game went on, that feeling vanished into thin air. 0-2 heading back home for the Earth Trophy...ouch.

The Green City Royal Eagles are in the second year of the Ngimphiwe Cele Era and with a lot of fresh faces on this roster, teething problems were expected. But the main aim was simple: take back the Earth Trophy, retain it, win the Division and see what happens from there. GCU expects...but can this team deliver.
- Ahead of a road Earth Trophy, the teams of NRC arrived at The Palace to start out this season - starting out with the St. Paulus College Man-Ravens, a team filled with club players that were ready to represent their school in their new NSCF era. Shutting them out 23-0 seems harsh in that context, but GCU had to do anything to get back to NSCF relevance and if Cele scoring thrice was part of that plan, so be it.
- The Prince Pieter's College Minutemen wouldn't be as forgiving. Considering they took out TSU in 2OT, the home crowd knew these guys weren't here to just lay down and die...but as it turned out, GCU's defence ended up being the ones that were cooked. Florian van Essen had his day out here with 5 TDs and while Cele got 2, she was just no match for the Minutemen here - who laid claim to the Division lead at that. The Earth Trophy, part 1, will be 1-1 @ 0-2. Same old, same old.

SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference, Heartland Division + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: @Prince Pieter's College (ROT) L 26-29 OT (0-1)
Week 2: @St. Paulus College (ROT) L 33-39 (0-2)
Week 3: vs Green City (TJU) - Earth Trophy XVII
Week 4: vs Elysium City University (EAG)
Week 5: vs UNSJJSM (UNC)
Week 6: @Columbus-Prairie (DHE)
Week 7: @Nowa Kalanianska (UNC)
---------------------Mineral Division Rematches---------------------
Week 8: vs Prince Pieter's College (ROT) - Homecoming
Week 9: vs St. Paulus College (ROT)
Week 10: @Green City (TJU) - Earth Trophy XVIII
Week 11: Conference Championship Week
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 12: TBC
Week 13: TBC
Week 14: TBC

SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference, Heartland Division + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: vs St. Paulus College (ROT) W 23-0 (1-0)
Week 2: vs Prince Pieter's College (ROT) L 13-39 (1-1)
Week 3: @Trent State (TJU) - Earth Trophy XVII
Week 4: vs Columbus-Prairie (DHE)
Week 5: vs Nowa Kalanianska (UNC) - Homecoming
Week 6: @Elysium City University (EAG)
Week 7: @UNSJJSM (UNC)
---------------------Mineral Division Rematches---------------------
Week 8: @St. Paulus College (ROT)
Week 9: @Prince Pieter's College (ROT)
Week 10: vs Trent State (TJU) - Earth Trophy XVIII
Week 11: Conference Championship Week
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 12: TBC
Week 13: TBC
Week 14: TBC

by **Chromatika** » Mon May 19, 2025 7:46 pm

The Introduction
The First Game

LLEYAMANA

3. The Tackle

The Lava were not built for comebacks. They were supposed to get the lead by running the ball, throw it at times to give the defense some things to worry about, and continue to lean on them. So, when their first drive ended on a six-and-out and the Skyhawks scored first, it was uncharted territory; when Grant McKendrick tackled Jair two yards shy, ending in another punt that ended with Dylan Coopperfield catching a thirty-two yard pass from Brooklyn Beck, they were suddenly down fourteen.

Sure, the Lava's rushing attack was too potent to be contained for too long. Jair himself carried it in to make it 14-7 by the end of the First Quarter, but the Skyhawks knew that the Lava's rushing attack could be stopped. It took an entire half to get a blueprint on how to stop the Skyhawks - and it was, by then, 28-10.

Defensive Coordinator Candy Vogel did turn things around in the second half - limiting Brooklyn's time to throw and holding the Skyhawks to three medium-length field goals. For the first time in his career with Staramara Tech, Jair Lleyamana's throwing skills were put to the test. Leaning into the dual-threat side of his game, he found Laak Gyles all alone on a forty-nine yard bomb, and after one of those field goals, Andrew Kun Wa Lee scored from three yards out to make it 31-24.

The two teams would then trade field goals leading into the middle of the Fourth Quarter, making it 37-30. Jair's stats at this point were 15 carries for 143 yards and a score and 11-of-15 for 117 yards and a score. With five minutes left, he went to the field knowing that with the way that Staramara Tech ran their offense, this would be their last drive.

They leaned into it. converting two fourth-and-shorts on way to the Skyhawk eight yard line with less than ninety seconds remaining. With eighty-three seconds left, Jair took the ball and went to his left, Mawa Bugoli leading the way. He made it three yards before being stopped by Grant McKendrick once again, leading to their first timeout being used.

With seventy-six seconds left, Jair handed the ball off to Andrew once again - and he made it to the two yard line, stopped by Lorenzo Allen. The second timeout was used.

"How do you feel about throwing the ball?" Jair actually mentioned to Vinny Striaglione, the Offensive Coordinator.

"Listen, Jair," the grizzled veteran explained, "That may be what we do in the playoffs, but this early in the season, where we're trying to establish an identity? We're here, we have a chance to tie the game, and we're going to do it our way."

Jair nodded solemnly, and went back to the huddle. A Quarterback draw was called, and just before he was about to make it past the half yard line, Adrian Rickard tripped him up.

Final timeout. In the huddle, Jair called his own number - Quarterback Counter, which they'd run nine times already this game. The line nodded, the Tight Ends and the Wide Receiver nodded. They would commit to the run, and live or die by it.

Sadeg State also knew, and they had the box stacked. He thought about audibling out of the play, of deciding if he would pitch it or switch the side. However, Striaglione's words were on his mind.

So, he snapped the ball. He went to the left, and just about a foot away from the goal line, a crashing Mo Grant hit his knees and brought him to the ground.

Game over. Sadeg State ran the ball just enough to get out of their end zone, and kneeled the game out.

"I don't regret running it four times," Striaglione explained afterwards, taking all the criticism for the defeat, "We are building an identity here, and sometimes that means losing a game or two."

That stuck with Jair, and he vowed to do better - so that when the team did pivot, nobody would ever see it coming.

Part 1: Preseason Top Fifteen
Part 2: Week 1

Chromatik High School Gridiron - Season Fifteen, Part Three: Matchday 2

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 (MVP: QB Nicole Estera)
Season 10 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School (MVP: CB Lisa Bonsoon)
Season 11 Champions: The Chromatik Institute (MVP: QB Raul Sébastien Santos)
Season 12 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Dante Flowers)
Season 13 Champions: Staramara Tech High School (MVP: OLB Freya Odinsdóttir)
Season 14 Champions: Staramara Tech High School (MVP: QB Amy Skylar)

Black Conference
Lanar High School 28–6 Staramara Tech High School
Myana Northwestern High School 33–19 West Shantarr High School
Mt. Niar High School 36–15 Urrhed High School

Black Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Myana Northwestern High School           2    2   0    63   29  +34
2 Mt. Niar High School                     2    2   0    70   37  +33
3 Lanar High School                        2    1   1    50   40  +10
4 West Shantarr High School                2    1   1    49   45   +4
5 Staramara Tech High School               2    0   2    18   58  −40
6 Urrhed High School                       2    0   2    25   66  −41

Lanar High School recovers from their early defeat by throttling the Battle Angels, who are truly struggling without Amy Sklar in the early going; only eighteen points for Staramara Tech is rather low. Kenneth Jordean-Johnson III had three scores through the air as the Rhinos are doing more than just running the ball now. Myana Northwestern's defense recovers in the second half to hold on - Jaylen Briar having scored twice in the first half as Kacper Grenda has a subpar day; Mt. Niar remains perfect by making short work of the Sand Vipers, Maas van der Voorde doing well through the air with Esther Pott and Miyamoto Oniji.

Blue Conference
Pelar High School 60–10 Lhor Central High School
North Sanar High School 40–8 Wirr Tsi School for the Gifted
Crix Technical School 34–34 South Sanar High School (40–37 OT)

Blue Conference                          Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Pelar High School                        2    2   0    81   27  +54
2 Crix Technical School                    2    1   1    57   58   −1
3 South Sanar High School                  2    1   1    56   56    0
4 North Sanar High School                  2    1   1    56   27  +29
5 Wirr Tsi School for the Gifted           2    1   1    28   43  −15
6 Lhor Central High School                 2    0   2    13   80  −67

To see Pelar flying this high is ridiculous - but it turns out Cirino Vian can actually throw. Three scores through the air and one on the ground were fantastic from him - but the biggest contribution were the three turnovers forced. For Lhor Central, it's a horrible start. North Sanar recovers from losing the Sanar Derby behind Fardhe Rosenqvist's three-touchdown day - him being the accurate thrower he is. Crix Technical outlasts the Armadillos of South Sanar with two Field Goals in overtime - Isak Bakke having scored three touchdowns on the game. With only the Hurons being the undefeated team, the conference is wide open.

Green Conference
East Omnio High School 23–34 West Omnio High School
Umbar Hills High School 37–17 Chromatik Army High School
Gurshan High School 19–3 J. H. Yadasky High School

Green Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Gurshan High School                      2    2   0    36    3  +33
2 Umbar Hills High School                  2    2   0    61   37  +24
3 Chromatik Army High School               2    1   1    43   57  −14
4 West Omnio High School                   2    1   1    54   49   +5
5 J. H. Yadasky High School                2    0   2    23   43  −20
6 East Omnio High School                   2    0   2    23   51  −28

Gurshan's defense is really, really good. Park Do-Hwan and Marjoleine Reitema are very good defensive linemen, and the Heroes couldn't hold up. They only need Canna Gorlen to hold the fort down to do the work. Umbar Hills improves to 2-0 on the season as Ayla Roghein continues her stellar start with 181 yards and three touchdowns. In the Omnio Derby, West Omnio has Adara Cueva throw for four touchdowns - recovering from an early 10-7 deficit and earning their first win of the season.

Red Conference
Staramara Athletics Academy 23–17 West Rhoni High School
Pùr Heights High School 19–10 East Rhoni High School
Tihon Elite Academy 26–12 East Shantarr High School

Red Conference                           Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Tihon Elite Academy                      2    2   0    62   28  +34
2 East Shantarr High School                2    1   1    29   36   −7
3 Pùr Heights High School                  2    1   1    29   27   +2
4 East Rhoni High School                   2    1   1    33   36   −3
5 Staramara Athletics Academy              2    1   1    39   53  −14
6 West Rhoni High School                   2    0   2    34   46  −12

Staramara Athletics Academy puts West Rhoni down as the only team without a win, Ryin Nakt and the running game taking over in the second half, while the Destroyers of Pùr Heights score three field goals in the second half to make the difference - the safety tandem of Wanijima Toshimichi and Jessi Rechcigl taking over. The best team at the moment is Tihon Elite Academy - upsetting the Order behind Kimberly Decraene's 318 yards and two scores, limited by the four field goals.

White Conference
City of Lorentine High School 7–23 Capital District Academy
Cheonju Korean Institute 27–30 Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School
The Chromatik Institute 48–16 Vitoron School of Charge

White Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 The Chromatik Institute                  2    2   0    93   39  +54
2 Capital District Academy                 2    2   0    59   29  +30
3 Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School    2    1   1    52   63  −11
4 Vitoron School of Charge                 2    1   1    56   79  −23
5 Cheonju Korean Institute                 2    0   2    58   70  −12
6 City of Lorentine High School            2    0   2    30   68  −38

Emmanuel de Silva is shining. Six touchdowns total is lethal - and he's really spreading it around with no singular receiving threat. He hit three separate receivers for touchdowns, ran for three, and the defense did the rest against a Vitoron team that can really throw the ball. Kirsi-Marja Sibelius suffers another crippling defeat at the hands of the Martyrs of Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School, Freshman Vi Merrot looking like she may be the Quarterback of the future, having thrown two scores - including the game-winner. Capital District Academy keeps on The Chromatik Institute's trails, Aksel Welhaven continuing to shine with 161 yards and two scores as the defense holds on.

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Mon May 19, 2025 11:45 pm

The Mathletes - Scientific, Literary Venue of Sports Journalism

NSCF-33: Longtime Commissioner Solange Viel extended for two more cycles, four more years in a contract extension

Diane Gallant

JOONGYEONG, JOONGYEONG -- The NSCF Board of Governors has agreed to a four year contract extension for the Commissioner, Solange Viel, according to the verified sources close to the NSCF House in Joongyeong this morning.

The two-cycle, four-year extension, which will kick off at the end of this spring and summer's NSCF season, gives Viel a comfortable cushion for her position in the future, having managed the organisation for last fifteen years.

Viel, who had taken over for her predecessor, Sir. Dexter Ahn in 2056 following his hiring as the Commissioner of the Quebecois Intercollegiate Sports, has been occupied maintaining the organisational stability for the past fifteen years. Her tenure as the NSCF Commissioner has seen noticeable changes to the organisation, which would incorporate the newly-introduced RTC ranking point system to replace the once-effective but aging OSPI system.

Viel also oversaw the reorganisation of its longstanding conferences, which ran under a single division, double round-robin format of six schools, into a two-division system that would allow a double round-robin of its three divisional opponents and a single round-robin of its four interdivisional opponents. The format, while initially considered controversial due to competitive issues and the questions over the outgoing conferences in response, mostly in Woodlands but also Sequoia conference as well, has turned out to be a success.

These moves, combined with rise in international sponsorships to prominent brands such as Spiritair, Outbox and GreGGs Restaurants, have no doubt placed the NSCAA in a very positive spot, giving the competition an unique, intercollegiate edge that seldom exists outside of the NSCF and its sister organisation in the NSCAA.

'There's very little doubt that the NSCF has not only survived the recent decades' struggle under continued international uncertainties, it also grew tremendously under Solange's leadership,' said former Quebecois Prime Minister and current NSCF Review Committee Chair Arsene Pineau Kim. 'There's very little doubt Solange's ability to take bold initiatives, and her willingness to listen to different voices of the party, has done the world much needed good, and we hope to see more of that!'

Viel, 60, was a relative outsider in the NSCF organisation, even as she was very familiar with collegiate sports and international affairs. A former QIS all-star defenceman with Yoseo-Montevicio and Keewatinook universities' hockey teams, Viel quietly transitioned into athletic administration with the latter, where she steadily climbed the ladders until she, after three years as the Huskies' athletics director, was appointed the President of Hockey Operations at Myeongju Tricentennials of the QHL at age 38. She would spend two years there, before returning to the college level to secure a position as the Commissioner of RSECQ Conference for five years.

An unexpected recommendation by Sir. Dexter Ahn, whose departure to the QIS following that organisation's internal purge just two weeks before, had put Viel into the unexpected position, which had worked out well with aggressive recruitment of participating schools, signing of strong-armed sponsorship deals and formatting changes that are considered to have fed the competition added competitive doses. The competition's future under Viel has remained stable and firm, though whether Viel, who might be inclined to run out her contract this time around, has a successor is up in the air. Suggestions have come out that Ian Lautner, legendary Quebecois quarterback and Saguenay alumnus, is a possible option, but a foreigner candidate may also be an option at a later date.

'This isn't the last of us, that's for sure,' said Viel in a phone interview. 'I am beyond excited to work with all of you, even more as we continue to grow and rebrand ourselves into a brighter future, one where the NSCF remains the envy of all collegiate sporting competitions out there.'

by **Valanora** » Tue May 20, 2025 10:01 am

Celestia Conference - Week 3

Cutoff.

Savannah Division
Royal Nobility Academy (OFL) 24–30 Islamic University of Busoga (BUS)
University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ) 19–3 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)

P Savannah Division                  Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 University of Loyola-Istria          3   3  0   99  30 +69
2 Islamic University of Busoga         3   2  1   60  77 −17
3 Northern Moravica University         3   1  2   44  45  −1
4 Royal Nobility Academy               3   0  3   47  98 −51

Sequoia Division
University of Nordhammer (NKR) 16–26 Lakewood Plains University (NKR)
Université du Saguenay (QUE) 10–19 Université St. Croix (QUE)

P Sequoia Division                   Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 Université St. Croix                 3   3  0  102  21 +81
2 Université du Saguenay               3   1  2   60  45 +15
3 University of Nordhammer             3   1  2   34  79 −45
4 Lakewood Plains University           3   1  2   45  96 −51

by **Grand Exultia** » Tue May 20, 2025 12:43 pm

Phoenixes torch Caliphs in exciting opener, 55-21
By the Phoenixes Sports Desk, Vaelis Brightsong

The fire has been lit and it is roaring, sending a message to the Equinox division and the wider Horizon conference that we mean business this cycle and the Phoenixes will continue to rise. In a statement win that left no doubts the Phoenixes secured victory in our opening NSCF 33 cycle with a dominant 55–21 performance over the Caliphs.

From the first snap the Phoenixes were on the front foot and imposed their will as Jackalope conducted an opening drive that kept the chains moving down the Skyfire field securing vital yards with pinpoint accuracy picking out catchers almost in turn before finding Goldenwing in space for the opening points, a simple extra point from Duskblade rounded out the perfect start for Darian and the Phoenixes. A deep kick received by the Caliphs was pinned back to a fourth down and the Phoenixes recovered the ball up to the half way line. Buoyed by the crowd, the atmosphere, the fanfare of it all Jackalope hands off to shock starter Shadowheart on a screened run who explodes out the gap and flies 48 yards down the near empty field to run in the second touchdown in almost as many minutes, Duskblade once again converting for a 14-0 lead. Another deep kick but this time the Caliphs held onto the ball and made consistent but small ground grinding away into the defence, headed by Nightingale who showed why this defence was so dominant last cycle forcing another turnover just out of kicking range for the Caliphs.

The second quarter started much like the first, Sapphireheart and Foxglove providing a fortress around the pocket so that Jackalope had all the time in the world to pick out their passes with a much improved accuracy from the previous cycle, experience starting to shine through with each first down. Moonbeam on the receiving end of a 36 yard pass to bring up the third touchdown of the match, extra point is good for 21-0 lead. Complacency seemed to seep into the Phoenixes as the Caliphs generated some momentum looking to pick up their first points of the day, a tight pass and run to Bouzid pushing them into the redzone before Barakat-Salvini punched home for the touchdown, extra point and the Phoenixes lead 21-7 going into the half.

The third quarter started with the Caliphs receiving, the kick long out the back set the line at the 25 yard line, Abou Rida took the snap and almost as quick as you could blink the pocket collapses and who but Nightingale to block out the sun and strip the ball away. Stromveil swoops to collect and jogs in for the first Phoenix points of the half but certainly not the last, extra point is good for 28-7. Another touchback and Abou Rida looked rattled and rightly so, Nightingale and Stormveil lined up again to blitz, the ball snapped and Abou Rida looks to rid of it quickly but Hammoud hadn’t made their post and Oakheart steps up for the interception, a quick step inside and hammers out to the touch as the Phoenixes look to screen for the first pick six of the cycle and a dominant 35-7 lead after the extra point. Once again the Phoenix defence strode onto the pitch, strutting as if they own the place. How fickle can the gods be when mans hubris becomes too much too soon, Abou Rida collects another snap on the 25, spins out the pocket evading the onrushing Nightingale and fires his howitzer down the field to Ziani who barely looks back to receive on the run, dropping Eagleeye who misses the swat and completing a 75 yard touchdown, 35-14. In a game that seemed to have everything and neither team particularly interested in holding onto the ball for long periods of time had Cobaltheart receive the kick off on the Phoenix 15 and decide they wanted to try out their dance moves. Dropping a shoulder here, juking there a spin for some added flair and the channel opens up and the kick return is good, 42-14 and the Phoenix offence haven’t entered the field for the third quarter yet. Duskblade with another touchback not interested in giving the Caliphs a chance to return anything, a more concerted effort from the Phoenix defence sees the routes covered and with little options available Abou Rida cannot get the first down and the Caliphs are forced to kick. Jackalope with his first touches of the quarter brought into play the run game more, alternating between Bearclaw and Goldheart for steady gains but stalling out just short of the redzone and giving Duskblade their first field goal of the cycle, 45-14.

Fourth quarter and the brutality of the Phoenix defence is clear to see, even as Windrider rotates the depth pass rush pressuring Abou Rida, routes covered and safeties looking to swoop on a pass to punish the Caliphs. As fortune would have it, for some, the Caliphs would brave the storm and chalked up another touchdown and extra point to eat into the deficit, 45-21. Swiftwind into the fray to take their first snap and began a drive that would creep over the line at each requirement on every third down somehow stretching their luck until one check by the refs left the Phoenixes short some inches, a 49 yard field goal attempt to test Duskblades range. Not to be put off Duskblade struck with aplomb and straight as an arrow between the uprights, 48-21. The Caliphs at this stage merely going through the motions as the clock slowly winds down on a somewhat underwhelming game some Caliph fans may think, a turn over and punt left Swiftwind with just enough time to find the rhythm to drive home with Bearclaw the honours of putting the cherry on the cake, another extra point for 55-21.

“I told them before the game, don’t play safe, play free, Play bold and they did just that,” Windrider said postgame. “This programme is coming of age fast and that’s a dangerous thing for our opponents, big game next week against the cadets as winner could go on to win the division”

Away to the Cadets next week in an early indication of the divisional champions if we are so bold to assume. Stay tuned as this team is ready to soar once more

Phoenixes slip up against Cadets, 33-30
By the Phoenixes Sports Desk, Vaelis Brightsong

In a hotly anticipated matchup for the Equinox division the two, welterweights shall we say, went head to head to see who would put first foot forward to the divisional title and it would be the Phoenixes who blinked first and are now on the back foot having lost 33-30 thanks to a last minute field goal to avoid overtime.

The game kicked off at a frantic pace as the Cadets looked to establish dominance through their offensive prowess, however the defence led by stand out performers Nightingale and Sparkleheart proved unyielding making life difficult for the Cadets offensive playmakers and shutting down the tight ends, closing down space and pressuring the quarterback at every opportunity.

Steady gains from the Phoenix offence with Halfback Bearclaw picking up key yards to move the chains freeing up Jackalope to pick out Leopardfoot and Moonbeam with some precision passes as the Phoenixes marched down the field to put early pressure on the Cadets in the first quarter. A mistake from the Cadet defence opened up a channel for Bearclaw to burst through for the first scoring play of the game setting up Duskblade to kick the extra point to take an early 7-0 lead. This was not to last long as, though the Phoenixes defence put up a valiant fight, the Cadets strung together a few precision plays to find themselves in the endzone, the game level 7-7. Jackalope seeming to find their footing could not be stopped, beating the man coverage time and again until he found Leopardfoot in space who ran in for a 37 yard touchdown. After the extra point, 14-7, the Cadets received just before the change of quarter.
The second quarter would be one to forget for the Phoenixes as the Cadets hammered them for yardage, small but often gains moving the ball down the pitch. An easy run in touchdown levels the scores again. The Phoenixes receive the ball and Jackalope may wish they hadn’t as he is peppered from the first snap with the Cadets lineman bursting through to sack him on two separate plays forcing a turnover after he fumbled the ball on the second sack, Jackalope limping off after the play, him and his ego bruised. Another strong drive from the Cadets forcing the Phoenixes defence back time and again, many thought they had a reprieve as they held the Cadets at the third down but were caught as they went for it resulting in another touchdown. The Phoenixes go in at half time trailing 21-14 against a team that is showing why they are the division champions.

As the second half kicked off and the Phoenixes defence attempted to resist the onslaught of the Cadets offence, inspired by the presence of Nightingale the defence held the Cadets just inside the Phoenix territory stopping them at the third down but the Cadets not happy to accept the turnover go for it, and they went all the way with it, the hand off and run the Cadet running back breaking more than a couple of ankles before being brought down at the five. A strong defensive performance stifled any attempt to smuggle the ball over the line and the Cadets were forced to kick, 24-14. Windrider with some strong encouragement from the sideline spurred the Phoenix offence and Jackalope couldn’t miss the target finding the right hands with every pass and firing back within a score as Moonbeam receives for the touchdown, extra point from Duskblade, 24-21. The Cadets offence carried on the grind creeping into kicking distance to extend their lead, 27-21. Monkey see and monkey do, the Phoenixes churn out the yards and kick as the drive falters, 27-24. Another brutal Cadet offensive sees another field goal attempt sent down at the first opportunity, 30-24. With time pressure rising the Phoenixes needed to do something special and Jackalope stepped up once again to fire two bombs down the field to put the Phoenixes in the redzone, shotgun called and Jackalope catches the Cadets slacking and picks out Dram Goldenwing for a touchdown, with the scores now level Windrider makes a call that can only be described as ludicrous, idiotic, nonsensical as he directs the Phoenixes to go for two ignoring the perfect record Duskblade has this cycle so far. Well as you can expect from a man imitating Icarus the wings melted and Jackalope left with no options misses every mark. Once more unto the breach and the Phoenix defence, rather than playing for the anticipated win are now playing to extend the game in the dying throes but fortune doesn’t always smile on those who gamble and it would be the Cadets who would gain just enough yards to kick a 48 yard field goal with mere seconds on the clock.
A loss snatched from the jaws of victory! Back on home soil to face off against Kobale who are yet to pick up a win, which Exultious outfit will come out on top? Stay tuned, as this team is ready to soar once more.

Kobold Korner

“Well I didn’t expect to lose by that much to the other new outfit in the division” Rurik spoke incredulously to Tazik.
“We haven’t really turned up yet, we didn’t know a lot about the Cadet side and they turned us over, at least we knew who we were playing against the Caliphs not that it helped us”
Rurik scoffed “It was worse knowing what was to come apparently, they took that pounding off those prissy Phoenixes and decided that we were there to take out their annoyance”
Tazik turned to his fellow quarterback and could see the pain in his pride, refused the chance to go to the esteemed Lithrelir University and had to settle for Kobale. But what they had built as freshman had enabled them to enter the NSCF in just their second year as the Exultious second qualification.
Rurik rose “I cannot wait to face off against those Phoenixes”
“You think we have a chance?” Tazik queried
“Not at all” Rurik said matter of factly as he turned from his best friend over the last year and closest competitor “but we can hurt them and set ourselves up for success down the road”
“You make it sound as if it’s just a case of accruing some experience and suddenly we’ll start competing on a level playing field”
“It’s simple numbers” Rurik tapped his temples with a knowing smirk
“How?”
“We face the best, we know where we’re weak, we improve, we face the best, we see where we’re still weak, we improve, we face the best and we succeed, it’ll take one maybe two cycles”
“So we’ll be seniors before we see any return on years of getting pummelled!”
“That’s what we get for being in the best conference in the NSCF”
“Huh, you have a funny way of looking at the world”
“I’m just used to getting knocked down and having to pick myself up, dust off and fire back as good as I get”
“Well we’ll get a lot of practice at that this cycle” Tazik laughed as he trudged off to the showers.

by **Cardenao** » Tue May 20, 2025 6:43 pm

“Really? You’re sooooo sure that LeBois is that much better than Alexandria?”

“I am, I really am and I’m tired of pretending that it’s close! You’ll see, the Cardenaoan College Classic will show you I’m right when the Broncos put up 40 on the Swordsmen.”

“Fuck’s sake, can’t believe it’s already time for the Triple-C, how’s is it the third matchday already??”

“Tell me about it…hey, who’s the home team this weekend?”

“LeBois, which is perfect for Alexandria to make a statement win after dumping on BYU and Vikramdayu. How’d BSU’s last game go eh?”

“…I don’t want to talk about it.”

“7-6 man…are you serious? Hahaha and all the talk that this was the year you lot actually winning the championship like it’s something you’re, what? Owed by ‘NSCF Gods?’”

“Well our offensive line…”

“Jacko you scored six points, who cares about your O-line! Swear you guys are the most entitled fans out there. What are you going to do about quarterback, Michael Monrovia was straight ass I swear!”

“Fuck Tito, don’t remind me man. I’ve always been high on M and M but that was probably the worst game I’ve ever seen…I actually felt bad for the kid, I don’t know how you start him again after something like that.”

“You got that freshman right? The running type kid?”

“Raymund Fitzgerald? Hah, starting him against you Swordsmen, fat chance! From what I heard, he’s kinda like Monrovia but not as developed…well shit maybe not after the last match, but nah he’s not my choice.”

“Well who then?”

“Damn let me finish Tito, shit! We got this one kid, sophomore, from Banija, well he’s Busogan at any rate but get this……his dad is the friggin president of the Busoga Islands, how crazy is that!?”

“That is actually pretty wild, I bet that kid is living the absolute life in LeBois!”

“Yeah no doubt, and he’s my pick to start this game…I just got a good feeling about him I guess.”

“So a Busogan who hasn’t played a snap for you vs…who? Oh, that’s right, Nick dagum Singer, best quarterback in the game today!”

“I get the greater point you’re trying to make: this game will come down to BSU’s ability to keep their sophomore QB alive and throwing the ball, while Alexandria’s key to success lies in freeing up the Nick Singer connection?”

“Indeed it is!”

“Fuck Alexandria!”

“BSU BS BLEW!”

High School Football Season 3 Kicks Off, Read On For An 'At A Glance' Of Players YOU NEED To KNOW!

Helllloooo my dear readers, what a joy it is to be writing to you once again! With NSCF 33 FINALLY here, well that also means that the Cardenao High School Football League is about to get underway and I have been waiting for that for quite some time……ever since the last season was brought to an unanticipated halt. Hopefully there will be no such surprises this year in a high school season that promises to be perhaps the best, most entertaining one so far. 16 teams battling it out to determine who’s the best in the country and what kids go on to play the game at the college level. I know you're busy, I know you got things to do, so this is an at a glance review of each team so you know who to watch! We'll forgo the usual in-depth examination of every team and player because…well not enough of you contributed to my Paytrinao, but I know if we get twice as many subs next year, that deeper review will be back!

So with that, it's Cardenaon high school football baby! Let's review it (Quickly!)!

Sunrise Conference:

North Division:
Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners (1/1)

RB: Saul Thomas Jr. (RAN), Senior
WR: Jalil Price, Senior
TE: Devin Spears, Senior
OL: Levon Bradley, Senior
DL: Zachary Helnott, Sophomore

J.C. Evermore Academy Green Titans (14/15)

QB: James Ross, Senior
WR: Scott Butler, Senior
WR: Alaia Cain Wordsmith (CMT), Junior
OL: T.J. Ham, Senior
S: Ben Passmore, Senior

Skyview Mountain Academy Rangers (5/7)

QB: Taylor Fisher, Senior
WR: Jontario Osamendi, Senior
OL: Chuck Lainer, Senior
DL: Tyrell Tarver, Junior
S: Larry Reese, Senior

Glenelg Athletic Academy Dragons (13)

QB: Anthony Simon, Senior
RB: Kendrick Johnson, Freshman
WR: Ezra Owens, Junior
DL: D.J. Tucker, Senior
CB: Daniel Campbell, Sophomore

East Division:
Hatathia High School Pirates (8->16)

WR: Will Vaughan, Senior
WR: Matt Brown, Senior
DL: Nick Thorpe, Senior
CB: Josh Smith, Junior
K: Stephen Battle, Senior

Mokuleia Island Surfers (7->7)

QB: Akumo Manuwai, Senior
RB: Mathis Lahela, Senior
WR: Brock Lefau, Senior
WR: Quay Iongi, Senior
S: Austin Shipley, Sophomore

Riverstone International School Otters (12->6)

RB: Jake Meier, Senior
OL: Jonathan Spigner, Senior
DL: Cade Knust, Senior
DL: L.J. Williams, Senior
LB: Alec McDonald, Senior

Alameda High School Desperados (14->3)

QB: Steve Borden, Senior
QB: Mauricio Hammerhand (CMT), Sophomore
RB: Rajito Millonano, Junior
DL: Charles Hand, Junior
CB: Marcus Roberts, Senior

Sunset Conference:

South Division:
Timberline High School Wolves (6->10)

WR: Rex Andrews, Senior
WR: J.D. Young, Senior
OL: Jermaine Williams, Senior
DL: Jayterion Marzin, Sophomore
S: Adrian Davis, Senior

Ficilian Point High School Seabirds (4->4)

QB: Elijah Barthlomew, Senior
RB: Kelton Hutson, Senior
DL: Erik Larson, Junior
CB: Shaun Williams, Senior
S: Brian Shelley, Senior

Alexandria High School Red Raiders (2->9)

QB: Johnny Pistola, Junior
WR: Christian Jeanpierre, Senior
OL: Jonas Craig, Senior
DL: Dezmon Davenport, Senior
DL: Tyler Fannin, Senior

Treasure Valley Triceratops (15->12)

West Division:
Academia Cardonia Golden Knights (9->11)

QB: Charlie Slaughter, Junior
WR: Maxwell Valverde, Senior
OL: Joe Minter, Junior
LB: Ben Karr, Junior
S: Chase Futrell, Senior

Escuela Nacíonal DCPF Footballers (10->15)

WR: Jer’Michael Montrenobe, Junior
TE: Chris Gilbert, Senior
DL: DeMarcus Willard, Senior
DL: Garrett Tate, Senior
LB: Landry Stuart, Junior

St. Bonaventura Blue and Golds (3->2)

QB: Thor Gundersson, Junior
TE: Quentin Battles, Senior
OL: De’Anthony Bourne, Senior
DL: Parker Hill, Senior
CB: Jared Williams, Senior

Obyedako High Blue Devils (13->9)

WR: Jayson Williams, Senior
OL: Trey Hamlin, Senior
DL: Korey Neill, Senior
DL: Willie Jenkins, Senior
LB: Brion Woods, Senior

Pre season power ranking (Last Season Projected Finish/Last Season Final Finish/Last Season Playoff Finish)

1. Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners (1/1/9)
2. St. Bonaventura Blue and Golds (5/12/11)
3. Alameda High School Desperados (14/9/14)
4. Ficilian Point High School Seabirds (7/4/8)
5. Skyview Mountain Academy Rangers (2/2/5)
6. Riverstone International School Otters (9/5/6)
7. Alexandria High School Eagles (10/10/1)
8. Mokuleia Island High Surfers (8/11/16)
9. Obyedako High Blue Devils (15/13/4)
10. Timberline High School Wolves (14/16/10) 
11. Academia Cardonia Golden Knights (4/3/7)
12. Treasure Valley Triceratops (16/14/15)
13. Glenelg Athletic Academy Green Dragons (13/8/13)
14. J.C. Evermore Academy Green Titans (3/6/2)
15. Escuela Nacíonal DCPF (6/7/12)
16. Hatathia High School Pirates (11/15/3)

Pre-Season Player Rankings

Top 5:

1. RB Saul Thomas Jr. (RAN), Senior, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners
2. QB Akumo Manuwai, Senior, Mokuleia Island High Surfers
3. WR Christian Jeanpierre, Senior, Alexandria High School Red Raiders
4. DL Cade Knust, Senior, Riverstone International School Otters
5. QB Thor Gundersson, Junior, St. Bonaventura Gold and Blues

Quarterback:

1. Akumo Manuwai, Senior, Mokuleia Island High Surfers
2. Thor Gundersson, Junior, St. Bonaventura Gold and Blues
3. Anthony Simon, Senior, Glenelg Athletic Academy Dragons
4. Taylor Fisher, Senior, Skyview Mountain Academy Flyers
5. Charlie Slaughter, Junior, Academia Cardonia Golden Knights

Running back:

1. Saul Thomas Jr (RAN), Senior, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners
2. Kelton Hutson, Senior, Ficilian Point High School Seabirds
3. Jake Meier, Senior, Riverstone International School Otters
4. Antoine Snow, Junior, Treasure Valley Triceratops
5. Jahir Johnson, Senior, Treasure Valley Triceratops

Tight End:

Chris Gilbert, Senior, La Escuela Nacíonal DCPF
Devin Spears, Senior, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners
Quentin Battles, Senior, St. Bonaventura Gold and Blues
Andrew Svensson, Junior, Obyedako High Blue Devils
KC Osagiede, Freshman, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners

Wide Receivers:

Christian Jeanpierre, Senior, Alexandria High School Red Raiders
Jontario Osamendi, Senior, Skyview Mountain Academy Fliers
Will Vaughn, Senior, Hatathia High School Pirates
Rex Andrews, Senior, Timberline High Wolves
Jalil Price, Senior, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners

Offensive Line:

Trey Hamlin, Senior, Obeydako High Blue Devils
Levon Bradley, Senior, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners
Chuck Lainer, Senior, Skyview Mountain Academy Fliers
De’Anthony Bourne, Senior, St. Bonaventura Gold and Blues
Joe Minter, Junior, Academia Cardonia Golden Knights

Defensive Line:

Cade Knust, Senior, Riverstone International School Otters
Charles Hand, Junior, Alameda High Desperados
Zachary Helnott (CMT), Sophomore, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners
Parker Hill, Senior, St. Bonaventura Gold and Blues
J.J. Martin, Sophomore, Timberline High School Wolves

Linebackers:

Brion Woods, Senior, Obyedako High Blue Devils
Ben Karr, Junior, Academia Cardonia Golden Knights
Alec McDonald, Senior, Riverstone International School
Landry Stuart, Junior, La Escuela Nacíonal DCPF Footballers
Dana Dalton, Junior, Ficilian Point Seabirds

Cornerbacks:

Marcus Roberts, Senior, Alameda High Desperados
Daniel Campbell, Sophomore, Glenelg Athletic Academy Dragons
Shaun Williams, Senior, Ficilian Point High Seabirds
Jared Williams, Senior, St. Bonaventura Gold and Blues
Josh Smith, Junior, Hatathia High School Pirates

Safeties:

Chase Futrell, Senior, Academia Cardonia Golden Knights
Brian Shelley, Senior, Ficilian Point High Seabirds
Larry Reese, Senior, Skyview Mountain Academy Fliers
Adrian Davis, Senior, Timberline High School Wolves
Ryan Culley, Junior, Timberline High School Wolves

Best Players By Class:

Freshmen:

Brandon Curtis, OL, Academia Cardonia Golden Knights
KC Osagiede, TE, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners
Lavacious Brate, WR, Obyedako High Blue Devils
Tay Fejhoko, DL, Mokuleia Island High Surfers
George Awesome (RAN), QB, Riverstone International School

Sophomores:

Zachary Helnott (CMT), DL, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners
J.J. Martin, DL, Timberline High School Wolves
Daniel Campbell, CB, Glenelg Athletic Academy Dragons
Dillon Obi, WR, St. Bonaventura Gold and Blues
Patrick Tate, WR, Hatathia High School Pirates

Juniors:

Thor Gundersson, QB, Timberline High School Wolves
Antoine Snow, RB, Treasure Valley Triceratops
Andrew Nwankwo, DL, Treasure Valley Triceratops
NoTucker Benito, DL/OL, St. Bonaventura Gold and Blues
Jer’Michael Montrenobe, WR, La Escuela Nacíonal DCPF

Seniors:

Saul Thomas Jr (RAN), RB, Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners
Akumo Manuwai, QB, Mokuleia Island High Surfers
Cade Knust, DL, Riverstone International School Otters
Christian Jeanpierre, WR, Alexandria High School Red Raiders
Marcus Roberts, CB, Alameda High Desperados

by **Dhemixia** » Tue May 20, 2025 8:59 pm

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Problematic clutchness

Seeing a UCP comeback win is like finding a wild unicorn (while sober).

Seeing two UCP comeback wins, back to back nonetheless, is unprecedented.

Larry Cunningham's first two games have been comeback wins to an otherwise insane rest of the game.

If there's ever such a thing as being "problematically clutch", it's what these Jays are. Generally, it's good to be clutch: you're winning games, you're locking down wins, and you're doing your job under pressure. Here's the question, however. Why don't the Blue Jays excel at comebacks historically? The answer is very long and there's an absolute laundry list of reasons as to why, but it all comes down to strength of schedule. Before this point. teams that UCP played were either way better than them and blowing the Jays out or way worse and getting blown out. What a comeback win essentially means is this: the Jays are good enough to win games when losing, but teams like UNSJJ and Nowa Kalanianska are good enough to force this position. Thus, more comeback wins means an increasing strength of schedule, hence "problematically clutch".

Before we insult Craig Kelly and his gross incompetence with a playsheet in his hands, let's take a moment to figure out how the Jays ended up down 2 scores at the end of the third quarter for the second game in a row. The defense is the main problem here, practically made of popsicle sticks and a dream. This unit getting a stop against a team like UNSJJ or Nowa Kalanianska, especially early in a tied or losing game, is a tall order. This should mainly explain how a 13 point lead was gone in 5 minutes for UC-Prairie. Don't get me wrong, we can still blame Craig Kelly for this, but it feels a little concerning that 2 consecutive Swietomierz Wojtkiewicz HB dives are what tied the game. The Jays were actually up 6 going into the locker room off of a 28-yard strike to the back corner to find Michael Wallace and a triple broken tackle scramble to reach the endzone from Larry Cunningham, but Craig Kelly still managed to discover a way to generationally fumble the bag in the third quarter.

Up 6, the Possession Philanthropist loses all semblance of how to coach a football game, and miraculously only lets up 2 touchdowns to keep the game within reach. As Kelly would soon find out, maybe it's not a good idea to run a blitz on 2nd and 7 when the opponent is capable of finding a receiver 20 yards out under pressure and already did once this quarter. Since Gustafsson botched the snap on Haliburton's TD run in the first quarter, UC-Prairie would need a 2-point conversion just to tie the game, something that had Craig Kelly's mouth watering just thinking about, and the players were dreading. Fortunately for the Jays who seem to just never truly go down, on Nowa Kalanianska's final touchdown of the third quarter, free safety Sean Pope managed to jump the line without drawing a penalty and tip the ball, altering its trajectory just enough to force a doink off the right post and out. This was all the momentum the Jays needed to find a way back into this ballgame, and that's exactly what they did. Following an early Darius Haliburton rushing TD, the Aztecs unsuccessfully burned the whole clock before being forced to a 3-&-out, giving Chef Cunningham 2:30 on the clock to convert on the game-winning drive. Ice in his veins and the clutch gene in his DNA, he'd only need 1:30. Debating whether or not to chance a 56-yarder with tons of time left, Craig Kelly does what he's able to do best: dial up a passing play for absolutely no reason and risk the whole game. This shot in the dark would work, who else but Kabe Heaton would be on the receiving end of a thermonuclear missile off the right shoulder of Larry Cunningham to take the lead late and complete the comeback again. Yet again, with a fired up defense, the Aztecs couldn't muster anything in response, closing it out for the second week in a row.

Now that UC-Prairie has been thoroughly challenged by the Nova Calanian schools, the Blue Jays get to relax for a week or two, getting to go away at struggling Elysium City and then start the interdivision matchups with a reeling Green City. Then again though, Craig Kelly has been known to get very complacent in seemingly obvious trap games, so we'll have to see how he handles this one.

Schedule

*blue indicates home games
Week 1: VS. UNSJJ W 32-31
Week 2: VS. Nowa Kalanianska W 41-34
Week 3: @ Elysium City
Week 4: @ Green City
Week 5: @ Prince Pieter's
Week 6: VS. Trent State
Week 7: VS. St. Paulus
Week 8: @ UNSJJ
Week 9: @ Nowa Kalanianska
Week 10: VS. Elysium City
------------
Non-conference play
Week 11: VS. Sadeg State
Week 12: @ Cold Hill
Week 13: @ BYU (SPIT Bowl)

by **Drawkland** » Tue May 20, 2025 9:06 pm

Scott Linhart was not having a good time. It seemed almost inconceivable a couple years ago. Cavsar stood atop the college football world in Drawkland. Logan Oakley, in his senior domestic campaign, reminded the nation of the skills that made him the #1 QB prospect 5 years prior. The Gladiator offense was on fire, so much so that even their mediocre defense managed to keep up. By all means, it was an upheaval of anything that made sense. Defense was supposed to win championships. Cavsar was supposed to be terrible all the time. And yet, the Gladiator Faithful were rewarded with their first national title in football.

It felt like a turning point to Linhart. It was a crowning achievement for his coaching career. Even though the time with Oakley was up, he had a couple good QB prospects waiting in the wings, and a developing defensive front. This didn't have to just be the peak. This could be the beginning of a true dynasty. And that wasn't even mentioning the NSCF possibilities!

Then Oakley was drafted by the Kayo Globes. And the Globes wanted absolutely zero part in letting Oakley play his senior NSCF season during the spring and summer leading up to his first pro season. The potential for injury was there, yes, but so far no major Drawkian prospect had suffered any season-ending injuries during NSCF play. It felt overly cautious, but the Globes contractually demanded that Oakley "take it easy" during his final NSCF season or suffer monetary penalties. Linhart didn't factor this into his playcalling, and Oakley insisted he should be able to perform just as well as usual without "overdoing it." The product on the field said otherwise. Cavsar went a lousy 3-7 in Horizon Conference play. They managed to scrounge their way into an Agave Bowl win after some out-of-conference heroics, but that wasn't the finale that Oakley or anybody else in Cavsar hoped for.

The next DOCA season was similarly futile. Cavsar won the D-10 Conference without issue once again, but got eliminated in the League Playoff. They were far from competing for another national championship. Kevin Sajak was alright under center, but he was no Oakley. The following NSCF season was an improvement, but barely so. A hot start was quickly dampened by inexplicable losses to Equinox Division teams. The only highlights of the NSCF 32 conference stage was Cavsar essentially screwing Sadeg State out of the playoffs - first by losing to Felswyr State to eliminate the Skyhawks from the Starlight Division race, then by beating State directly the next week to effectively kill their playoff hopes. For some sick fans that might be nice, but it would've been nicer for Cavsar to actually be competing for the Horizon Conference title. If they'd won against Felswyr State, the final week of Horizon play would've been open for anybody to win the Starlight Division. Instead, Julian Gallagher's revenge against Brooklyn Beck was really the only thing to celebrate.

The Gladiators, through 11 editions, have yet to win the Horizon Conference title. Their semifinal run came after a strong out-of-conference showing from an underdog position. The campaign where some thought Oakley might make a run at MOP fell apart in the final three weeks, going 8-2 and losing the division title on tiebreakers to Felswyr State. Linhart could make the perfectly valid excuse that the Starlight Division was the most competitive in college football, maybe in football altogether. That didn't change the fact that Cavsar was losing consistently.

Now through two games of NSCF play, the "vaunted" Cavsar offense had scored a mere 6 points. Total. Neither game a shutout, a single field goal being the only points put up by the Gladiators in both matches against the Chromatik duo. As if the Cavsar haters needed any more ammunition. How could a team be that futile? Especially with Sadeg State seeming to be improving with their new coaching staff, there was no excuse. Were the Gladiators really done for?

So, Scott Linhart stood pacing in his office prior to the Week 3 matchup with the Skyhawks in Cavsar. This was the exact situation that Cavsar excelled at - beaten down, useless, derided by all that beheld their futility, facing a team that was glad to have an easier win to boost their campaign. The Gladiators were more likely to win that sort of game than one that actually mattered. That didn't make it any easier for Linhart to gameplan.

Brooklyn Beck was starting to actually approach her ceiling as a college player. A two game sample size wasn't huge, but she was slinging the ball with efficiency and zipping across the turf with her legs. That drove Linhart extra nuts. He knew that the recruiting battle for her was the longest of longshots, and Brooklyn had even told him in confidence that the decision was much closer than anybody else thought. That didn't make this situation any less annoying. If only he had Brooklyn on his own sideline, instead of Kevin "Nerves of Jello" Sajak. The current Cavsar starter had adequate physical skills, but melted whenever the pressure was really on.

Linhart was buried in his own thoughts about defensive schemes when his office phone rang. His heart sank when he saw the name on the screen - Reuben Digby, the Cavsar athletic director, his boss. This was unlikely to be a fun conversation.

"Hello?" Linhart started, pressing the speaker phone button so he could remain standing and pacing behind his desk.

"Hi, Scott." Reuben's voice rang out from the speaker. "I just wanted to check in on you."

"I'm doing fine," Linhart lied smoothly. "Just working out the gameplan for Sadeg State this week. Lots of work to do there."

"Right." Reuben hesitated for a moment. "Listen, do I need to be worried?"

"Worried about what?" Linhart paused his stride for a moment. That could mean a lot of things.

"It's just ... the team isn't looking good. I've watched the last couple games. The offense is abysmal. Sajak hasn't converted a fourth down yet, and you've gone for it 10 times. From what I've heard, you're sticking with him this week too. Is Dick Vico really that bad? Can't you give him a chance? Plus the running game has been embarrassing. And I'm not even bringing up the defense yet."

"There's been a few speed bumps so far." Linhart grimaced. "I'm confident we can regroup against State, you know they always lose their nerve against us, especially at Roy Memorial. I'll be making closer evaluations when we approach the Equinox slate."

"Don't give me the bullshit media answer, Scott." Reuben's words were tough, but his voice seemed a little softer. "Listen, I want to stick with you. The fans want to stick with you. But we can't drown like this every season. Something has to change."

"Of course." Linhart felt a chill up his spine. This was the first time his job security had ever been mentioned. "You know it's tough in this divis-"

"I know all about the goddamn Starlight. I've been watching it for six seasons, the same as you. But you know how everybody else feels. DISC is going to get impatient."

"DISC," Linhart breathed. The boss's boss, so to speak. They controlled who played for Drawkland in the international college tournaments.

"Of course our contract is clear for another couple seasons, but they're not gonna look at a single season when making their evaluations." Reuben sighed. "Bowl game wins are all well and good. Heaven knows Corps U never pulled any of those off. But I don't think DISC is keen to burn one of their two entry slots on a perennial bowl winner. They want playoff contention."

"Sadeg State's been just as futile," Linhart pointed out. "They haven't won a playoff game since their championship run. We've been to the quarterfinals twice since the last time State was there."

"I know. But the difference is that people like Sadeg State. They don't mind watching them even if they stink a little. Meanwhile, half the country puts on a stank face whenever they see us on TV. It's not fair, but it's the way things are." Reuben paused again, but continued before Linhart could respond. "Those rumors that DISC entered us in hopes that we'd crash and burn like Corps U did to fall out of public favor ... that's no rumor. I've heard from some very reliable sources at DISC that it's absolutely true. The Pioneer Bowl win, the Proudfoot run, those weren't apart of the plan for DISC. They only extended our entry contract out of obligation, because we showed nearly equal promise to Sadeg State at the time of renegotiation. We've done nothing but spin the wheels since then, Scott. There's only so much more of that we can get away with."

"I understand."

"I hope you do. I'm serious when I say I don't want to get rid of you. I feel that you're intelligent and humble enough to know when you've got to put out to pasture. The fanbase loves you, bless them. But if we lose the NSCF entry, things are going to get a lot darker around here. For all of us. This could be the greatest window in our program's history, and I don't want to take that for granted. We need to take advantage of it while we still have it."

"I don't want to waste it either. We're just in a tough place right now."

"And I get that," Reuben stressed again. "I just wanted you to understand the stakes. I like winning the Auto Bowl as much as you do, but we're a couple more of those away from never sniffing the NSCF again. We've gotta put together at least one more run. And I guess that isn't happening this season, but let's salvage what we can, right?"

"Of course, Reuben." Linhart replied solemnly.

"Alright, I've given you enough of an earful. Good luck against the Skyhawks. Maybe fire up Gallagher a bit and see if that does something."

"Sounds good." Linhart chuckled humorlessly, and the call ended.

Great. As if he needed any more stress about this situation, now it was clear that Cavsar's future was potentially at stake this season. Like Digby said, there were still a few seasons left until Cavsar's NSCF contract with DISC expired, but another couple bad seasons would all but ensure their fate.

Maybe Digby was right about the game this week, though. Julian Gallagher turned the game around against Sadeg State last year. Linhart originally only pursued him as a recruit to sweeten the deal for Brooklyn Beck, and got stuck with him when Brooklyn turned back to Sadeg State. Julian put in the work, though, and he'd become quite an impressive prospect for the receiving core. Perhaps he could find a way to incite Julian's scorned feelings towards Brooklyn and turn that into on-field production. At this point, he'd take anything that would actually get the Gladiators into the end zone.

by **Drawkland** » Tue May 20, 2025 9:07 pm

Big Eight & Zephyr
Week 3

My bad on the later cutoff. It WILL happen again.

BIG EIGHT
Cold Hill University (RAN) 40–20 Richardson University (RAN)
Mantabolo Tech (USN) 26–3 Eastern Ye Dnad University (NSL)
LeBois Santura University (CAD) 52–46 Alexandria University (CAD)
Bingham Young University (UTA) 20–6 Vikramdayu University (VAI)

# Everless Division                 Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Cold Hill University (RAN)          3    3   0    87   50  +37
4 Richardson University (RAN)         3    2   1   103   66  +37
6 Mantabolo Tech (USN)                3    1   2    52   55   −3
8 Eastern Ye Dnad University (NSL)    3    0   3    33  104  −71


# Evermore Division                 Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
2 LeBois Santura University (CAD)     3    2   1    94   63  +31
3 Alexandria University (CAD)         3    2   1   118   72  +46
5 Bingham Young University (UTA)      3    1   2    47   75  −28
7 Vikramdayu University (VAI)         3    1   2    16   65  −49

ZEPHYR
Maximus Rochester Institute (PFA) 21–27 University of Mancodas (PFA)
Halifax Provincial University (GHP) 7–26 High City College (SEA)
Mar Sara Tech (VAL) 20–24 Raynor University (VAL)
Tophat University (THW) 11–57 University of Raukieff (TMN)

# Legends Division                     Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 University of Mancodas (PFA)           3    3   0   105   55  +50
5 Maximus Rochester Institute (PFA)      3    2   1    89   70  +19
6 High City College (SEA)                3    1   2    58   76  −18
7 Halifax Provincial University (GHP)    3    0   3    52  103  −51


# Celestial Division                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
2 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)                    3    2   1    84   44  +40
3 Raynor University (VAL)                3    2   1   112   81  +31
4 University of Raukieff (TMN)           3    2   1   111   70  +41
8 Tophat University (THW)                3    0   3    38  150 −112

by **New Rotterdam City** » Tue May 20, 2025 9:33 pm

PRINCE PIETER'S COLLEGE

Office of the Rector

|| UNIVERSITY CORRESPONDENCE

1 Boekbinder Hall, Oesterstrand-op-Appel

Dearest Faculty,

As you may remember, to combat this university's "low" morale, I have been starting these bulletins with a message of congratulations for one of you who has done something notable in the time since the last one. This week, however, the congratulations must go to my wife, Hilda, who was elected on Wednesday into the PTA of our son Friederik's grammar school.

I understand that some may consider Dr. Van Eyck's synthesis of a medication to cure whooping cough "more significant", but if you have doubts as to how big of a deal this apparently is, I invite you to the Wolfswinkel household, where Hilda has not stopped crowing.

As to the orders of business,

First: there is a need for me to address the growing problem of food being left in the faculty breakrooms. This is not an issue isolated to one department or building. I have seen rats the size of prize horses in locations from the biological labs to the chapel to the equestrian stables to the lecture hall where I supervised thesis defenses on Thursday. Not only is food left in the breakrooms, but the remnants of lunch are infallibly not disposed of. At least four of you tried to use the excuse of being "too eccentric" to throw your trash away. I am aghast.

Second: please avoid the Antwerp Quad on Monday. I was petitioned by students from the Croquet Club to allow them to use that quad for an "exhibition". I told them "yes" before I realized that the Antwerp Quad is being used by Drs. Polman and Ruysche for solar astronomy the entire month. My apologies.

Third: it seems that there is a massing outcry among the student body towards our policy of quietly pushing out the Quaker colony to the rear of the campus in order to construct more buildings for the business school. The Quakers have predictably sworn off resistance to our "blunt tactics", which means that the university constables can dismantle their village without obstruction while they hold a "prayer circle" nearby. This juxtaposition apparently is embarrassing us. I ask for input from the faculty body as to how we may change the narrative and perhaps paint these Quakers as "foes". Thoughts?

Fourth: it is Robbert the University Prevost's birthday next week, and we are holding a celebration for him in the lawn outside Boekbinder Hall around three. If you can make it, he and Greta and the kids would be most appreciative.

Fifth: before the rumor spreads through the university halls like rats seeking undiscarded food, yes, two new tenure positions have opened up. Perhaps a third. Dr. Verstappen has announced his retirement after twenty-five years of service to the university, and Dr. Zwolle will be transferring to St. Paulus College to be Dean of the Classics department there. There will be a party for Dr. Verstappen sometime in the coming weeks, so stay tuned and be sure to congratulate him if you see the man. (There will be no party for Dr. Zwolle.)

Please submit tenure applications to mine or the Prevost's office. I would also encourage our young and plucky non-tenured professors to gently nudge Dr. Ten Heuvel towards that emerita role she has been considering. It would open up one more spot. Off the record.

Sixth: I understand that Prince Pieter's supports the safety and future prospects of students above all else. And I understand that it is university policy not to report illicit alcohol consumption to the municipal police force, and instead to deal with those issues internally. But I recently found out that students in Zwaan Hall are now brewing their own craft lager. This may be toeing the line.

Seventh: Robbert the Prevost informed me that the university has come upon a surprise windfall. We overshot our financial limitations in the previous year's budget, and are now sitting upon a plump 2.57% up for grabs. I would like to make clear that this will not be a frenzied bloodbath like it was when we discovered an extra 6% several years ago. Each department may submit one (1) request for the spending to my office. No guarantees. Although I heard on Monday that St. Paulus is installing an observatory with a twelve-inch refracting lens imported from Sweden. That sounds cool in my opinion.

Eighth: finally, to confirm the word on the street—Princess Wilhelmina and her new Polish husband will be stopping at Prince Pieter's to tour the campus on their visit to the New World in February. We do not know the details yet, but they are "excited" to see the "discoveries" that we have made. Please ramp up the discovering between now and February.

Cordially,

Rector Egon Wolfswinkel
Prince Pieter's College

■
Ad lucem et orbi
est. 1621

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Tue May 20, 2025 9:35 pm

OOC: I am aware of Felswyr State's recent naming change to Mountain District. This was not reflected in the signup information, which was where I took info for OP, but is adjustable. Since I still have to use table generator for interdivisional section of the GS, those changes will be reflected to the table around MD4.

Horizon and Mineral Conference - Week 3

Cutoff.

Horizon Conference:

Starlight Division
Cavsar University (DRK) 51–10 Sadeg State University (DRK)
Staramara Tech University (CMT) 17–3 Felswyr State University (CMT)

#                                  Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 Sadeg State University             3   2  1   73  84 −11
2 Staramara Tech University          3   2  1   81  43 +38
3 Felswyr State University           3   1  2   18  46 −28
4 Cavsar University                  3   1  2   57  56  +1

Equinox Division
Lithrelir University (GEX) 27–10 Kobale University (GEX)
Islamic Madrasa of Pomena (JUE) 17–10 Silver Coast State College (SAS)

#                                  Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 Lithrelir University               3   2  1  112  64 +48
2 Silver Coast State College         3   2  1   69  53 +16
3 Islamic Madrasa of Pomena          3   2  1   72  74  −2
4 Kobale University                  3   0  3   25  87 −62

Mineral Conference:

Heartland Division
Prince Pieter's College (ROT) 19–9 St. Paulus College (ROT)
Trent State University (TJU) 41–34 Green City University (TJU)

#                                                          Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 Prince Pieter's College                                    3   3  0   87  48 +39
2 Green City University                                      3   1  2   70  80 −10
3 Trent State University                                     3   1  2  100 102  −2
4 St. Paulus College                                         3   1  2   48  75 −27

Boreal Division
Uniwersytet Nowa Kalanianska (UNC) 14–30 Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)
Elysium City University (EAG) 0–13 University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE)

#                                                          Pld   W  L   PF  PA  PD 
1 University of Columbus-Prairie                             3   3  0   86  65 +21
2 Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer         3   2  1   87  60 +27
3 Uniwersytet Nowa Kalanianska                               3   1  2   94  71 +23
4 Elysium City University                                    3   0  3   14  85 −71

by **Chromatika** » Wed May 21, 2025 7:29 pm

Part 1: Preseason Top Fifteen
Part 2: Week 1
Part 3: Week 2

Chromatik High School Gridiron - Season Fifteen, Part Four: Matchday 3

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 (MVP: QB Nicole Estera)
Season 10 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School (MVP: CB Lisa Bonsoon)
Season 11 Champions: The Chromatik Institute (MVP: QB Raul Sébastien Santos)
Season 12 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Dante Flowers)
Season 13 Champions: Staramara Tech High School (MVP: OLB Freya Odinsdóttir)
Season 14 Champions: Staramara Tech High School (MVP: QB Amy Skylar)

Black Conference
Urrhed High School 3–14 Lanar High School
West Shantarr High School 26–29 Mt. Niar High School
Staramara Tech High School 10–0 Myana Northwestern High School

Black Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Mt. Niar High School                     3    3   0    99   63  +36
2 Myana Northwestern High School           3    2   1    63   39  +24
3 Lanar High School                        3    2   1    64   43  +21
4 West Shantarr High School                3    1   2    75   74   +1
5 Staramara Tech High School               3    1   2    28   58  −30
6 Urrhed High School                       3    0   3    28   80  −52

The Rhinos' defense put together a second great effort in a row, Jacqueline Vom Bruch having two sacks and a forced fumble in an effort to hold down the Sand Vipers; the Anacondas complete a ten-point comeback to clip past the Scorpions with a game-winning field goal as the game ended - Maas van der Voorde finding Miyamoto Oniji for the final yards needed - while the Battle Angels finally get a much-needed win, Cherry Edmonton's defense clamping down the Blue and White behond stellar play from Lidia Montemayor and Willard Doha. Modrico Stalla only went 15-of-24 for 181 yards and a score, but it was enough. Only the Anacondas remain undefeated.

Blue Conference
South Sanar High School 50–20 Pelar High School
Wirr Tsi School for the Gifted 33–14 Crix Technical School
Lhor Central High School 13–17 North Sanar High School

Blue Conference                          Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 South Sanar High School                  3    2   1   106   76  +30
2 North Sanar High School                  3    2   1    73   40  +33
3 Pelar High School                        3    2   1   101   77  +24
4 Wirr Tsi School for the Gifted           3    2   1    61   57   +4
5 Crix Technical School                    3    1   2    71   91  −20
6 Lhor Central High School                 3    0   3    26   97  −71

A week after scoring fifty, the Hurons concede sixty - as the Armadillos absolutely put together a barnburner of a game, Aina Wirtanen having a career-high day with four touchdowns and over three hundred yards through the air. The Masterminds clip past the Chameleons in the second half as Shinsato Yasuhiro runs for 81 of his yards in the second half, and the Riflemen return to the winning side with a Fradhe Rosenqvist three-yard run with less than a minute remaining. Four teams at 2-1 makes it a wide-open conference.

Green Conference
J. H. Yadasky High School 33–20 East Omnio High School
Chromatik Army High School 6–8 Gurshan High School
West Omnio High School 7–13 Umbar Hills High School

Green Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Gurshan High School                      3    3   0    44    9  +35
2 Umbar Hills High School                  3    3   0    74   44  +30
3 Chromatik Army High School               3    1   2    49   65  −16
4 West Omnio High School                   3    1   2    61   62   −1
5 J. H. Yadasky High School                3    1   2    56   63   −7
6 East Omnio High School                   3    0   3    43   84  −41

The Heroes win the battle of teams without a win as Lottie Greenhorn put together three touchdown drives in the second half. The Drills of Gurshan High School outlast a physical battle against the Recruits behind a timely safety from Park Do-Hwan sacking Frianca Posse. Umbar Hills matches Gurshan, their defense also shining to stop the Spectral Monks in their tracks - Anemoon Kiekenbeld having sixteen tackles in the victory.

Red Conference
East Shantarr High School 23–13 Staramara Athletics Academy
East Rhoni High School 9–27 Tihon Elite Academy
West Rhoni High School 17–47 Pùr Heights High School

Red Conference                           Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Tihon Elite Academy                      3    3   0    89   37  +52
2 East Shantarr High School                3    2   1    52   49   +3
3 Pùr Heights High School                  3    2   1    76   44  +32
4 East Rhoni High School                   3    1   2    42   63  −21
5 Staramara Athletics Academy              3    1   2    52   76  −24
6 West Rhoni High School                   3    0   3    51   93  −42

Bénédicte Spanghero shines with two scores to Venusto Carlone as the Order get their second win - the Rangers running into a wall in the second half; the Fog Wall continue their undefeated start, Émilienne Rochette getting a pick-six to accentuate a stellar defensive effort, and the Destroyers of Pùr Heights outscore the Warhawks 30-0 in the second half, Jérémie Martin getting two sacks and six tackles for loss on the shellacking.

White Conference
Vitoron School of Charge 30–6 City of Lorentine High School
Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School 34–17 The Chromatik Institute
Capital District Academy 47–50 Cheonju Korean Institute

White Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Capital District Academy                 3    2   1   106   79  +27
2 Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School    3    2   1    86   80   +6
3 The Chromatik Institute                  3    2   1   110   73  +37
4 Vitoron School of Charge                 3    2   1    86   85   +1
5 Cheonju Korean Institute                 3    1   2   108  117   −9
6 City of Lorentine High School            3    0   3    36   98  −62

The Chromatik Institute runs into a roadblock in the name of Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School - Isaiah Simmons IV intercepting two passes from Emmanuel de Silva to set the tone. The Robots' Eyla Grotten throws for 318 yards and three scores - one each to Nestore Filippo, Tea Aquila, and Maria Lura; and in a ridiculous affair, Kingsley Dillard's five touchdown day matched throw for throw by one Kirsi-Marja Sibelius, the Junior finally giving the Red Devils their first win of the season as Agaha Baines splits the uprights at the end of the game. They sure do know how to score, don't they?

by **Banija** » Thu May 22, 2025 8:34 am

Loyola HC Dennis Zervos, immediately after the North v. South Showdown

"Three fucking points!" Zervos shouted into the sky, pound his own chest as Sebowa Jawara took the final kneeldown in this heated rivalry matchup, shouting about his defense's dominance on this night. Coach Zervos had responded well to being on the hot seat- his seat might have been the hottest of any in the NSCF, and he didn't wilt under the pressure- instead, Loyola-Istria has started 3-0 for the first time since NSCF 23. And they weren't just sitting at 3-0. It wasn't about just the record- it was both about who they've beaten, and how they've beaten them. Nobody paid any attention at all to their week 1 victory over the Oflia school- thy were hugr favorites in that one, and dominated accordingly. But it was the week 2 trip to the Islamic University, specifically, that really made it seem as if the ship was turning around.

He was the offensive genius who couldn't develop a legacy QB. Sebowa Jawara was the legacy who couldn't hit the broad side of the barn in a big game. But finally, things seemed to be coming together for the oft-criticized QB- their trip to Lakiska, in which they were 4.5 point underdogs, ended in glory. 354 passing yards and 4 TDs, there wasn't a single soul in the NSCF who thought Loyola would go to the Busoga Islands and put up 44 points- but that's exactly what they did.

But big games beget big games- and the North v. South Showdown had to be won a different way. Yes, Horton was likely out for the season, after suffering a collarbone injury in week 1 against the Islamic University. But they were still a formidable opponent- and this was the type of bitter rivalry where you threw records out the window. But the Blue Thunder defense dominated- forcing a pair of turnovers, holding NMU just to three points in what was a critical early season edition of this rivalry. That's why Zervos was so pumped up- it wasn't often that the Blue Thunder were turning up to dominate in big games. But they did in this one- and it was performances like these that suddenly made Loyola the early season favorite to reach the conference title game in Busukuma.

"COME ON CHAD- GAME WRECKER!" Zervos boomed as the DT lifted him off the ground in celebration, speaking to his star DT Chad Vaughn, and his DC right next to him. "This is what we're all about here. IN these big games, big players step up- and we stuffed their entire O into a box. Somebody get me that trophy." One of the players walked over to him with the rivalry trophy, which he held in his hand, standing on the bench on the sideline. The remaining fans were chanting his first name- "Dennis" was echoing into the night sky. He was the man who couldn't beat his rivals- but suddenly, a 30-3 demolition of RU last year, out of nowhere, combined with a home rivalry win over NMU? And the added benefit of finally putting the Islamic U in their place? He was soaking it in. He was back in the fans good graces- for now. Fans were fickle. But he was determined- not only would he stave off those who wanted to fire him, but he'd be the guy to bring Loyola all the way back to the promised land. And this? Well, it was just the beginning of Loyola's resurrection...

by **Valanora** » Thu May 22, 2025 10:11 am

Celestia Conference - Week 4

Cutoff.

Islamic University of Busoga (BUS) 13–28 Lakewood Plains University (NKR)
University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ) 27–23 Université du Saguenay (QUE)
Royal Nobility Academy (OFL) 21–26 University of Nordhammer (NKR)
Northern Moravica University (BNJ) 44–6 Université St. Croix (QUE)

P Savannah Division                   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
1 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)     4    4   0   126   53  +73
3 Lakewood Plains University (NKR)      4    2   2    73  109  −36
4 Islamic University of Busoga (BUS)    4    2   2    73  105  −32
5 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)    4    2   2    88   51  +37

P Sequoia Division                    Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
2 Université St. Croix (QUE)            4    3   1   108   65  +43
6 University of Nordhammer (NKR)        4    2   2    60  100  −40
7 Université du Saguenay (QUE)          4    1   3    83   72  +11
8 Royal Nobility Academy (OFL)          4    0   4    68  124  −56

by **Ranoria** » Thu May 22, 2025 10:51 am

Brad Manlio's office, McNair Memorial Athletic Complex
Richardson University

"Jack, for fuck's sake, I don't have time for this shit." Jack Archer glanced to his left and saw a detective's spiderweb of scrawled notes, photos of in game play, and the occasional pen driven into a picture of Buffalo quarterback Dante Flowers. "We've got the biggest game of the early schedule here, and what do I get? A ping form Clemens about your damn social media!"

Jack shot a couple finger guns at his offensive coordinator with a hesitant grin, "C'mon coach, I've had that account since before I came here! It's been well known!"

Brad leaned down - way down, actually - the custom-ordered desk hadn't arrived yet, so he was sufficing with a very human-sized one propped up on a few books. "Dammit all," Brad pulled out his phone, grumbled about something relating to technology, and showed Archer the clip, "Do you see this shit?"

Archer leaned back and crossed his arms, his grin lowering to a wistful smile as a perfectly captured video of him going from a fully vertical wheelie to dragging knee to get under a semi truck played on the coach's phone. "Excellent stuff, isn't it? I don't see the problem."

Manlio tossed the phone over his shoulder, where it bounced off the whiteboard and comically fell into the garbage bin. "You're driving recklessly, in season, and you don't see how almost getting yourself killed is a problem?"

Jack had his aha moment, and laughed, "Nah coach, that's a common misconception though! Driving recklessly doesn't get you killed, it's being bad at it that'll get ya."

Manlio rubbed his temples, eyes low and a vein popping out of the side of his head. Every word came out slowly, deliberately. "One. Hundred. Sixty. Miles. Per. Hour. I can not lose my second running back."

"Oh coach, you don't gotta worry about it," Jack leaned forward, "Extreme speed has never killed anyone! It's the suddenly stopping, that's what gets you!" He placed a reassuring hand on Manlio's shoulder.

Thousands of thoughts ran through the coordinator's mind. Wind sprints, wall sits, suspension, waterboarding, study hall, community service, but the only thing that he managed was "Get out."

Brad Manlio's Offense Stalls Out In First Real Test
Cold Hill Starts NSCF 33 3-0

Even without the boss on the field, Cold Hill's defense did more than enough to slow down the Governors' attack

Dex Banka came into this season with a lot of hype. After an up-and-down freshman campaign that saw some huge flashes, Richardson went all in to get him the help he needed on the coaching staff and in his supporting cast. And for the first two weeks, he took advantage. Banka hadn't seen a fourth quarter through two games, leading one of the NSCF's best scoring units. All eyes were on Richardson's matchup with Cold Hill, where Banka would face the prospective top pick in next year's draft in Dante Flowers. It promised to be a shootout, a game where the last team with the ball would come out on top.

Instead, this one was all Dante Flowers. The breakout game against Felswyr State was his first iconic performance, but this season he got ahead of the eight ball, tossing four touchdowns in the first two quarters to put this thing on ice early. With Cold Hill losing their best defensive player in Derek Boss to a university-imposed suspension, the Governors air attack had anticipated smooth sailing, but they never even made it a game with Flowers going scorched earth.

"It wasn't my best showing," Dex Banka admitted, glancing back up at the scoreboard after the game, "I've got to get better. I'm the quarterback, this one's on me."

Lots went wrong for Richardson, admittedly. A couple of holding calls stalled drives, a Jack Archer goal line fumble killed an opportunity to make it a one score game in the first quarter, and Banka's interception on the final drive of the first half didn't exactly help matters. But throughout the game there were moments where the sophomore quarterback looked a step behind in his progressions, out of sync with his receivers, or failed to recognize a change in protection.

For a team that's always leaned heavily on the run, it seems there are still a few kinks to work out in this new Brad Manlio-engineered system, both in terms of the scheme's nuances and the different pace of play dictated by its trademark aggression.

For the Buffalo - they weren't giving the Governors any handicap during their adjustment period. Chris Dale has publicly stated he believes this is a championship caliber football team, and Dante Flowers doesn't seem to have an off switch, piloting four scoring drives in the second half despite the 28-10 lead in the first half.

"Not in our house," he said at the postgame presser, "We don't lose in The Tundra. We've got LeBois next week - let them come. We're gonna do the same thing we do every time here at The Hill. Run out behind Fluffalo, run the bad guys off the field, and get one step closer to competing for an NSCF championship."

by **Valanora** » Thu May 22, 2025 1:25 pm

Dragon's Rest Pub, Raynor City

"Death, taxes, and the Rockets rolling through the Zephyr conference after a surprise first game loss. It is almost incredulous at how often this seems to happen, even if we are only three games into the conference play. The Rockets just walked into Tech's fortress and walked away with a victory, that is something that just does not happen any more and that the team was able to do it is a huge statement. This Rockets team just has something special about them and coach Andy is truly one of the best coaches in the game, just a shame that the national team can not seem to gain any traction under his watch, such is the difference in depth there I suppose."

The pub was crowded with a lot of Raynor University graduates and fans of the team, being one of the few sports pubs in the capital city that actually put on the NSCF games instead of one of the local football leagues or the ice hockey league on the television. While both Mar Sara Tech and Raynor University had a passionate and dedicated fanbase, neither were going to be large enough to outweigh the popularity of the largest two sports in the nation. Still there were pubs like this that would dedicate a handful of televisions to the NSCF and NSCAA games whenever they were in season and on those nights and afternoons the place would be packed from wall to wall with plenty of patrons wearing the colors and merchandise of the Rockets. It was generally good natured and brought in plenty of extra business for the location, so the owner did not mind catering to the patrons a little bit. In these times, getting any extra silver coins was welcomed, whatever way that happened to be, even if it meant having a night where the football and hockey crowd were drowned out by the gridirion fanatics.

"Do not get too ahead of yourself my friend, just because the Rockets won the first of the two Battles for the Royal Sabre does not mean they are going to roll over the rest of the conference. The dreaded rivals of the Mancodas are undefeated and we know from years past that if they get on a roll, they can beat just about anyone, we can not let the last two years of Vanorian domination of the Zephyr let us ignore that Poafmersia was running the conference for a few seasons. Hell even MRI has looked good, only losing to the Mancodas, which is usually just the way that it goes for them as they are perpetually in their shadow over there. Besides we can not look past our own division, University of Raukieff just blew the socks off the Tophats and they managed to win in Raynor City, the Rockets still have to go there and prove that the opening week was a fluke and not that these new boys on the block are actually able to go toe to toe with our lot."

The first guy smirked and gently punched his companion in the shoulder, waving over the waitress for a refill of his chute of wine. "Yeah, the new kids are looking pretty good but at the same time the Rockets have rebounded from that opening loss with looking like a team that is capable of making another deep run in the playoffs. I am not delusional, not about to declare this side the best team in the NSCF and that the title is going to once again run through Raynor City. However after two games of seeing Ella Solberg settle into the offense and find her groove, it is hard not to feel optimistic about the way the season is going to go. She just three for three touchdowns against the Raiders and had a five minute drill to set up the game sealing field goal from Illytebovich with just under twenty seconds left. Let us not forget that the defense has managed to find their bend but do not break attitude from the last few seasons in these last two games, completely keeping the Raiders elite offense in check for the entirety of that second half. All things are tending upwards and it feels good to be optimistic about the season rather than feeling a sense of dread and the need to run through the rest of the conference to ensure a playoff berth."

His companion laughed and took a long swig of his dwarven ale, having paid the extra for the good stuff as the dwarves were not exactly super keen on sharing their brews with the rest of the Empire, preferring to keep it to themselves or for special occasions. Finding a pub that had any sort of Vanorian dwarven brew on tap was difficult and you had to pay a pretty silver coin to have some but it was a good evening after all. "Yeah I get you. It was a good win and it has me excited for the rest of the season and to see where the team is able to take itself, but I also know to temper my expectations. Getting too high or too low is not good you know, better to be more even keel than facing such extremes, at least that is what the elves at the temples always try to tell me. We got a good team and they have been able to shake off that opening loss to a solid degree but we are only three games in to a ten game conference season, there is plenty of game still to play. Being at the top at the start does not mean much if you fall away through the rest of the season, just ask the schools from Banija and Ranoria about that."

by **Grand Exultia** » Thu May 22, 2025 2:07 pm

Phoenixes swoop on Kobolds, 27-10
By the Phoenixes Sports Desk, Vaelis Brightsong

In the inaugural Exultious clash in the NSCF we see the Phoenixes turn up the heat and burn up any hopes of an underdog story as they put the Kobolds to the sword with a stand out defensive performance in contrast to the free scoring nature that we’ve seen so far this cycle.
A slow and cagey start to the first quarter saw both defensives stepping up and stalling out the offensive drives, it was Kobale who appeared to have the better start by stringing together three first downs but with only small yardage gained on each play they lost jmomentum and had to turn the ball back over to the Phoenixes. Neither team looked like leaving their own half until a moment of brilliance from wideout Moonbeam, found doubling back by Jackalope, who took the catch on the spin, hurdled the on rushing Quickcog for a quick gain of 37 yards to put the Phoenixes within kicking distance. Three incomplete passes saw Duskblade trundle onto the pitch and as likely as death and taxes guides the ball between the uprights to put the Phoenixes 3-0 up. A long kick and Kobale make a first down before the quarter ends.
The start of the second quarter seemed to bring with it an invigorated Kobold outfit as they recommenced their drive and nothing the Phoenix defence could muster held any weight as the Kobolds blazed a trail down the turf of Skyfire, Emberfang dictating play with a mix of short passes to Firebelly to get the ball rolling then finding Stonetail in the deep to pressure the redzone before using Sparkflame to punch through the middle, grinding out the yards and being rewarded with a touchdown for his troubles. Extra point is good 7-3 to the Kobolds. The kick is received by the Phoenixes and once again Jackalope is struggling to get any traction, passes missing the mark and the runners not finding any noticeable gaps. Bad turns to worse as Jackalope attempts to hand off to Bearclaw and the ball is fumbled, a melee ensues as every available body leaps onto the pile causing a headache for the officials to untangle and to nobodies surprise with the momentum swing it’s the Kobolds who come up with it as Thundertoes hulking physique straightens with the ball firmly clutched to his chest. With the Kobolds eyeing up another touchdown with beneficial field positioning it was down to Nightingale to galvanise the defence and a leading role in a blitz play forcing Emberfang to get rid of the ball before being sacked spurred the Phoenix defence to hold off the Kobolds forcing them to kick a field goal on fourth down, 10-3.
Windrider must have really got a hold of his players at the half as it was a new Phoenix team to re-enter the field of play. The first snap Brightwing saw him linking up with Bearclaw for a 20 yard gain following a screened run. Momentum shifting and it was shortly to become the Goldenwing show as brothers Vaxz and Dram would march the Phoenixes down Skyfire, reception after reception, until Brightwing would fire a low pass that Vaxz did well to hold on to for the Phoenixes first touchdown of the game. The extra point is good 10-10. Nightingale leading from the front again pressured Emberfang too much and the Kobolds couldn’t move the ball or the chains and having to turn it back over. A huge run from Bearclaw saw the Phoenixes move the ball from their own 25 up to the Kobold 40, coverage out wide eventually stopping the charging running back. Another big play would see Dram receive and drive through the remaining defender to reestablish the Phoenix lead, extra point is good 17-10.
The fourth quarter started again with the Phoenix defence out for blood as they attempt to strangle any life out of the Kobold offence knowing just a couple of turnovers could provide bragging rights in the Exultious realm. A crucial block from Sparkleheart would see the first turnover of the quarter giving the Phoenixes a chance to extend the lead into a two score match, Swiftwind being given the chance to demonstrate his ability as he routinely picks out Moonbeam and hands off to Bearclaw before scrambling for a first down. The drive stalls just in Duskblades range and Windrider takes no chances sending out the field goal team to force the Kobolds hand, 20-10. The Kobolds starting with the ball on their 25 had to find some magic to put the team together but there was nothing left, another turnover and just enough time to make the Phoenixes play but once again Bearclaw would step up to the mark, screen to the left and dropping the shoulder to the right Bearclaw finds himself with open space in front of himself and opens his stride to return for a 60 yard touchdown and put the game to bed, extra point is good 27-10.
In the end a convincing win built off a rocky foundation, if the Phoenixes play like this in the cross conference matchups we are going to see some heavy defeats as the established teams in the Starlight division will capitalize on the mistakes. Our first cross conference will be at Cavsar, a team we beat last cycle at home so only time will tell if we have the same burning passion on the road, stay tuned as this team is ready to soar once more

Kobold Korner

“F#ck me I thought we were going to have them there” Tazik said beaming at Rurik
“They didn’t turn up in that first half and if we could’ve just strung something together in the second to keep the momentum we might’ve. Don’t know what magic that Windrider was up to at the half” an almost shell-shocked Rurik retorted.
“Can’t fault the heart of the lads, put it all on the line”
“Definitely and we proved theirs gaps in that armour, they may be the best Exultious team for now but fates can change swiftly”
“Calm down there “Lómelindor” when did we become philosophers all of a sudden”
“Well I am studying philosophy”
“I thought it was psychology”
“Same difference”
“you really are an idiot sometimes, no wonder you didn’t make it into Lithrelir”
“Careful, I haven’t ripped your head off only because I actually can tolerate you out of all these knumbskulls” as Rurik gestured to the crowded locker room and it’s inhabitants that could best be described as troglodytic.
“SSSSSHHHHH they might hear you” Tazik joked before being lifted into the air by a couple of the lineman
“We might not seem very bright but we can literally rip you in half if you don’t shut up”
“Alright lads, I’m sorry….. can we put me down now, gently?”

by **Chromatika** » Thu May 22, 2025 7:20 pm

The Introduction
The First Game
The Tackle

LLEYAMANA

4. The Battle for the Eternal Flame, Part 1

"There is nothing quite like the first game of the gridiron season at Johnston Memorial - especially when you get to take on your rivals from Felswyr who think they own the world after making another Championship," South Newlandia Lennard Thompson had told Jair on the flight back from Sadeg State, "And there is nothing better to wash the taste of defeat from your mouth than taking down the darlings of Felswyr to remind them that for all their accolades, they have nothing on us."

The Battle for the Eternal Flame, as the matchup between the Firehawks and the Lava was called by the Chromatik faithful following collegiate gridiron, was a matter of pride and glory when it came to the two programs. The record sat 10-6 in the favor of Staramara Tech - for all the troubles that JJ Garret, Jr. had, beating the Firehawks wasn't one of them.

Stepping onto the field for warmups beforehand, Jair drank in the crisp, early autumn air. Most of the crowd were clad in the Orange and Black of the home crowd, with some clad in road jerseys. There were a few smatterings of Crimson and Grey, as expected in a matchup between two schools of the same nation.

As the sun set, the lights turned on, and, looking across the field, Jair met the eyes of Nicole Estera, the Quarterback of the Firehawks.

The game was on.

///

In the middle of the Third Quarter, the air was tense. Staramara Tech held a narrow, 10-3 lead in a game of defenses causing short drives. For all that he tried, the linebacking corps of the Firehawks were doing a rather good job at keeping Jair down - it was only Alexander Dokken's three-yard run right before halftime that had given the Lava the lead. Thankfully, their defense had recovered from the rough outing against the Skyhawks, forcing three turnovers from Nicole Estera on the Lava side of the field and holding the Firehawks to just a field goal.

Now, facing a second and eight from the Firehawks forty-one yard line, Jair looked at the defense across from him. Eight stacking the box, per usual. Karen Michaelangelo and Larry Pinmichael both cheating toward the line of scrimmage as well, but Jair noticed one key thing - that Jerome Hunter, the Firehawks' Strong Safety, had his eyes purely on the backfield of the Lava.

For all that Vinny Striaglione and Jair Lleyamana had spent the offseason figuring out how they were going to use the triple-option, the had remembered that they had one Laak Gyles - the fastest player, a deep threat receiver, and someone who went to war for the running game when he had to block.

"Anglo-B-Niner! Anglo-B-Niner!" Jair shouted to the offense, making a hand signal to Gyles. Gyles raised an eyebrow in surprise, while the rest of the line nodded. He took the snap, faked a handoff to Alexander Dokken, and spun around. As expected, Larry Pinmichael had spent a half second too long to see if Dokken had gotten the ball, causing Gyles to go right by him.

Jair's throw - only his sixth completion of the game on a day where he'd only complete eight - traveled thirty-two yards through the air before being caught by Gyles, all alone. Laak pranced into the end zone, untouched, and the Lava had a 17-3 lead that they would not relinquish.

The defense did the rest, and Jair had his first win in the Eternal Flame.

Estera Benched as Firehawks Turn to Hudson Charles

Three games. Six Field Goals. Two losses.

If it wasn't for the Firehawks' defense holding Cavsar to a single Field Goal in their second game while the offense struggled to four, they'd be 0-3 and in a tough spot. Thankfully, the defense had held up their end of the bargain - but something had to be done.

So, forced by the results, Naia Curentino made the difficult decision to bench Nicole Estera - at least for a time. Stepping in her place will be Hudson Charles, the Senior career backup that has never made a start. Having nine inches on Estera, he's a pocket passer who takes pressure very well. He's not very mobile, but he does throw an accurate ball like Estera - with the added caveat that he can actually see above the offensive line.

"He's earned his chance by being a fateful teammates for three years," explained Naia in a press conference, "He has poise, he knows everyone, and most importantly he knows how to run this offense. Everyone knows him and knows what he can do, too."

Starting off against Silver Coast State College will be difficult - but they can't go on like this listlessly.

Mountain District's hopes depend on it.

by **Cardenao** » Thu May 22, 2025 7:56 pm

It’s rare that, in an absolute shootout ending 52-46, the highlight of the match would be a three play sequence from LeBois’s quarterback. Well, maybe that’s oversimplifying things a bit considering there was immense interest in said quarterback, but these plays let Broncos fans know what Delvin Kasekende III is all about. Even before his first start wearing the Orange and Blue, people had some sort of opinion about him but when you’re the grandson of the President of the Busoga Islands, the spotlight always shines bright. When both grandfather and father are both gridiron legends in their own right, well spotlight doesn’t quite describe the microscope DK3 lived most of his life under. And here he was now, a sophomore at Cardenao’s flagship college football program, getting his first collegiate snaps as BSU’s starter. Talk about a spotlight.

As is often the case with these sort of things, it took the perfect storm of things going wrong for LeBois for Delbin to get his shot. Brett Hannah out for at least two more games, Michael Monrovia dropping perhaps the worst Broncos QB performance of all time in the 7-6 loss against whoever it was and playing himself out of consideration, that gave the grandson of a President his chance to write his name into legend…and he did.

52-46 at the final whistle, was it the cleanest win? Absolutely not, but it showcased everything that made DB3 an elite prospect. Natural talent, the mentality to succeed, a massive arm and legs that extended plays and grabbed first downs, everything you need from your quarterback; the problem was the defense, not the QB. But the story isn’t about the game, it’s about three snaps.

Late third quarter, up 38-29, it’s definitely competitive but clear the Broncos would take the W. Just outside the red zone, offense cooking, Delbin could feel the touchdown coming on. Take the snap, wait a beat, and loft it out wide for Denario Southward, BSU’s star receiver…it should’ve been a touchdown. Any day of the week you would’ve expected him to catch it, he was the #1 target for a reason, but the ball sailed right through Denario’s waiting hands.

“CATCH THE DAMN BALL BRO WHAT THE FUCK.”

The cameras captured the moment, first time quarterback shouting at a veteran receiver who surely had a lucrative career in the Ranorian Football League ahead of him. It says a lot about a quarterback to be comfortably winning yet still demand more from his troops. And guess what happened two plays later? An inch-perfect zinger to Denario to put six more points on the board.

Delbin Kasekende III hugged the Ranorian like they had emerged from their foxhole to win the war. The Broncos had a warrior at QB, and the starting spot was his to lose.

Alameda High School Desperados 24–21 Timberline High School Wolves
MotM RB Dewayne Ball 47 RusYds, 43 RecYds, 2 RusTD
MotM S Ryan Cullen 6 Solo, 2 Ast, 2 TFL

Treasure Valley Triceratops 26–14 Obyedako High Blue Devils
MotM QB Mike Saxton 262 PssYds, 3 PssTD, 12 RusYds
MotM DL Willie Jenkins 4 Solo, 3 TFL, 3 Sk

Riverstone International School Otters 15–10 Escuela Nacíonal DCPF Footballers
MotM RB Jake Meier 82 RusYds, 16 RecYds, 1 RecTD
MotM LB Landry Stuart 10 Solo, 6 Ast

Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners 30–20 St. Bonaventura Gold and Blues
MotM QB Justus Marshall 197 PssYds, 2 PssTD, 1 RusTD
MotM QB Thor Gundersson 154 PssYds, 1 PssTD, 1 RusTD

Skyview Mountain Academy Fliers 17-13 J.C. Evermore Academy Green Titans
MotM QB Taylor Fisher 270 PssYds, 1 PssTD, 1 RusTD
MotM WR Scott Butler 122 RecYds, 1 RecTD

Mokuleia Island High Surfers 21–36 Ficilian Point High School Seabirds
MotM QB Akumo Manuwai 234 PssYds, 2 PssTD, 40 RusYds
MotM WR Ricky Wadhams 131 RecYds, 2 RecTD

Mokuleia Island High Surfers 40-10 Glenelg Athletic Academy Dragons

Players of the Game:

Mokuleia: Senior RB Ka’hleel Makaio, 117 RusYds, 4 RusTD, 4 RecYds
Glenelg: Junior QB Anthony Simon, 106 PssYds, 63 RusYds, 1 RusTD

by **Dhemixia** » Thu May 22, 2025 8:59 pm

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Are the Jays back?

Well, the Blue Jays somehow survived the first run through of the Boreal, winning every game by 13 or less. That's neither definitively good nor definitively bad, but what it does tell you is that there's a big problem. Although Elysium City wasn't exactly a trap game per se, it did force Craig Kelly to do something he's never done and the Jays as a whole do something they haven't been trained to do: hold a lead. Somehow, some way, UC-Prairie scores on the first two drives of the game, then never again, while simultaneously blanking Elysium City for the whole game. This is not normal UCP behavior.

The good things about this sudden change in strategy are that, hey, at least the defence is solid, and I guess Larry Cunningham is still consistent at the start of games, but there's a lot more concerns to address. In this game, the Blue Jays put up half the points they did against both other opponents, and almost a third of what they posted against UNSJJ. Considering the fact that both of the Nova Calanian schools (of whom the Jays put at least double 13 points on both of which) have been around for a while, and that Elysium City is a relatively inexperienced team, the offense just might be doomed.

On the bright side, the Jays survived with a perfect record. Sure, the games were far from perfect, but they won the war, not the individual battles. We'll have to see if offensive struggles still haunt the team as the Jays enter the OOC, since UCP goes away against former TJUN-ian powerhouse Green City and then has to go to current division leaders Prince Pieter's. If the OOC slate is a chance for Craig Kelly and Larry Cunningham to work out any imperfections in this scheme, they best get on it after the Elysium City game, we'll just have to see how they cooperate.

Schedule

*blue indicates home games
Week 1: VS. UNSJJ W 32-31
Week 2: VS. Nowa Kalanianska W 41-34
Week 3: @ Elysium City W 13-0
Week 4: @ Green City
Week 5: @ Prince Pieter's
Week 6: VS. Trent State
Week 7: VS. St. Paulus
Week 8: @ UNSJJ
Week 9: @ Nowa Kalanianska
Week 10: VS. Elysium City
------------
Non-conference play
Week 11: VS. Sadeg State
Week 12: @ Cold Hill
Week 13: @ BYU (SPIT Bowl)

by **Drawkland** » Thu May 22, 2025 9:00 pm

"The Hayes Debuts"

Brooklyn’s junior DOCA season began a few short weeks later. Fans and pundits across the nation watched eagerly to see how Sadeg State would fare in their first campaign of the Trace Hayes head coaching era. Fortunately for the Skyhawks, their regular-season schedule was backloaded; a couple easy out-of-conference games and the softer conference opponents were set up to begin the year. It was just enough time for Hayes and the Skyhawks to get acclimated with each other before they really got into the meat of the season. There were a couple close calls: a one-point win where CDU-Hessport nearly completed a 14-point comeback if not for a clutch time-killing drive by the Skyhawk offense, and a last-minute missed field goal by Biloba University that allowed Sadeg State to scrape by with a 2-point win. It wasn’t perfect, but the wins still counted.

Sadeg State ended up taking a few losses that season, but a win over Cajel on the penultimate week of the regular season secured yet another title in the Iarocav Conference. With another blowout win over USadeg on rivalry week, the stage was set for another Skyhawk postseason run. Could Trace Hayes and Brooklyn Beck really make magic happen in their first season together?

The answer was both yes, and no. The Skyhawks took care of business against Masteser District University in the first round of Drawkionel’s League playoffs, a 13-point win to advance to the league championship. It was a tight game until late in the third quarter, when Brooklyn high-pointed a pass to Jace Phoenix in the back of the end zone for a touchdown that put Sadeg State up by two scores. They only added to the lead from then on, and cruised to a victory. Now they stood one win away from advancing to the 4-team national championship playoff.

The Drawkionel’s League championship game was where Brooklyn tapped out the season prior. That last season’s matchup was a barnburner against the University of Cajel. With seconds left in the game and facing a 3-point deficit at the goal line, Brooklyn opted for a fake spike play to try and take the lead. Instead, the pass was intercepted and Sadeg State lost the game. That was the first major crack to Brand Manlio’s job security that only worsened over the course of the NSCF season. There was a definite desire for redemption for Brooklyn in particular. There couldn’t be any ridiculous mistakes this time.

This time, Sadeg State was facing off against University of Delmore, one of the better football programs in that group of conferences. The Bucks were no easy opponent, especially thanks to a tough defense. It was going to be a bit of a slugfest. State’s defense was decent, but they weren’t the best unit around. It would be up to Brooklyn to survive against that front and hold serve against the Delmore offense on the other side.

She never got that chance. Delmore got the ball first from the opening kickoff, and put together a solid opening drive that ate up a lot of clock. The Skyhawk defense was containing the run, but not stopping it. Delmore scored a touchdown after a 7-minute drive, and kicked the ball off to Sadeg State. Brooklyn had her helmet, ready to go, when disaster struck. Freshman returner Steve McCloud tried to make too much happen on the kickoff. He made a man miss on a spin and got a couple extra yards, but his next move wasn’t so lucky. A Delmore special teamer popped the ball free, while another grabbed the loose fumble to steal possession back immediately. With the ball already in field goal range for Delmore, they had no issues driving back into the end zone and going up by 14 before the Skyhawk offense even touched the ball.

Brooklyn didn’t make any mistakes. She made her plays, she was efficient on third down, she tossed and ran for a touchdown in the first half, she didn’t turn the ball over at all. It wasn’t enough. Delmore responded to each punch with one of their own, retaining their lead throughout. The Skyhawk defense didn’t force a punt until less than a minute remained in the first half, and there simply wasn’t enough time for Brooklyn to get the ball into scoring range. Sadeg State went into the locker rooms at halftime trailing 17-28.

There’s only so much you can do when you’re behind the eight ball. Even though Brooklyn led the Skyhawks down the field to start the third quarter (punctuated by a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jace Phoenix), it was nullified when Delmore similarly scored a touchdown on their first drive of the second half. Every time State scored, Delmore responded in kind. Every time the State defense forced a punt, the offense would stall out immediately afterwards and punt themselves. It was ultimate frustration for the Skyhawks, and Brooklyn was stuck watching on the sidelines when Delmore ran the clock out. The Bucks kneed the ball with an 8-point lead, and they earned their spot in the national championship semifinals. Sadeg State’s season ended with the 30-38 loss.

There was some blame to send Brooklyn’s way. A few stalled drives could’ve been extended with better plays on third down (and one on fourth down), but you can’t complain that much when your defense lets up 38 points. Considering last year’s Skyhawks fell short in the exact same round under different circumstances, the fact that they were right back in that mix a year later with a totally different coaching staff at least showed that the program wasn’t going to continue free falling. For now.

The next few months for Brooklyn were chaotic. After winter break she launched into the practice routine for baseball, then right as the season started, she was thrust unwillingly into playing on the basketball team for the NSCAA tournament. Brooklyn didn’t even want to play with the Skyhawk basketball roster this time, but she and the coach Aldus Pope were practically forced into the arrangement. At least she was able to get more baseball playing time this time around. Then the NSCAA tournament ended in the most insane way possible - losing in the first round to a bubble school by over 40 points thanks in part to Coach Pope collapsing on the court before halftime. With that abrupt end, Brooklyn returned to full-time baseball duties alongside her studies and suffered a loss in the conference championship tournament to have yet another season end early.

Three postseason failures dumped on Brooklyn’s head in the space of one semester, and she had to turn around and prepare for the NSCF as the semester came to a close. Despite all this, Brooklyn was just glad to be getting postseason action in those other leagues. Maybe with Trace Hayes leading the charge, the Skyhawks wouldn’t be so futile in the Horizon Conference.

NSCF seasons are both a blessing and a curse. They’re an excellent recruitment tool: of the 256 top division schools in Drawkian college football, only 2 get to play international ball. The bonus money from TV payouts is nice, too. It’s not easy, though. It eats into preparation for the regular DOCA season, especially if you go deep. It’s hard to ask high-level football players to play twice as many seasons per year, because of how tough football is on the body.

If there’s one advantage that’s especially good for new coaches, it’s the extra continuity afforded by the additional playing time. Getting twice as much experience with the offensive and defensive units in the same amount of time compared to other teams is good when a coach is establishing himself. In the case of Trace Hayes, it gave him time to re-evaluate and tinker with the scheme alongside defensive coordinator Michael Hunt.

Offensively, Brooklyn was feeling a bit more comfortable. It’s not like the scheme was working perfectly for every drive and every game, but she got enough opportunities in the air and on the ground to remain satisfied with her performance. Jack Halifax hadn’t made any truly boneheaded play calls all season, which made Brooklyn the most relieved. With that confidence in the offense in hand, fixing the defense could be the last obstacle before success.

It wouldn’t be easy against the Chromatik schools. They always put up a fight. Even though it was sporting a different name, the former Felswyr State University was still going to be tough at Firehawks’ Roost. Staramara Tech’s rushing attack wasn’t easy to get the hang of either. The Skyhawks had struggled the most against the run, mostly because of their inexperienced linebacking core. Sadeg State had gone into the season 0-2 and been basically out of conference contention too many times now. The changes had to hit immediately, or the whole tournament could be a waste. Nobody knew that more than Brooklyn.

Lo and behold, the changes Hayes and Hunt made were working right off the bat. With a little help from Nicole Estera’s futility under center, the Skyhawk defense shut down the newly-minted Mountain District offense in their rechristening home opener. When your defense keeps the opponent out of the end zone all game you rarely have to do much to secure the win, but Brooklyn still put up two passing touchdowns and a handful of solid field goal drives to drive it home. The advantages of a powerful defense were on full display: in a closer game, Brooklyn and the offense would be pressured to try riskier plays or conversions instead of settling for four field goals. This time, they got away with just taking the points and growing the lead bit by bit.

The defense wasn’t exactly great in the first home game of the NSCF season. They were excellent right out of the gate, forcing two punts from Staramara Tech while Brooklyn drove down for two touchdowns in response. The Skyhawk defense eventually gave way to the Lava, but the offense kept scoring touchdowns. Brooklyn had three, one rushing and two passing (one apiece to Copperfield and Phoenix).

The Lava weren’t so easy in the second half. Their defense clamped down in the red zone, forcing multiple field goals from Sadeg State. Like last week, Brooklyn and Coach Hayes were happy to just take the points, but this time the opposing offense had signs of life. Staramara Tech clawed tooth and nail on the arm of Jair Lleyamana, who was showing off his passing skills for the first time. It was getting the better of a Skyhawk defense that was keying hard on the run all game. Still, the trio of field goals from Sadeg State kept them ahead, forcing a five-minute drive from Staramara Tech to try and tie the score at 37 to force overtime.

Lleyamana and the Lava offense had nerves of steel, converting multiple fourth downs and keeping things moving quickly enough to get goal-to-go with a chance to tie. This is the place where the Skyhawk defense would break in the last couple years. Brooklyn was stuck on the sideline, praying the defense would actually do their job … and they did. Thankfully, the Lava offense decided they would impose their will on the ground, as it was their identity. Coach Hunt didn’t lose his resolve, and instructed the defense to key the run at all costs. It paid dividends. The fourth-down QB counter from Lleyamana failed, Rolo Fishman got enough penetration to get the Sadeg State offense out of its own end zone, and Brooklyn kneed it out.

Somehow, Sadeg State was 2-0 going into their first date with Cavsar in the NSCF season. Brooklyn was loving it, feeling her confidence grow each day as the academic semester came to a close. Surely nothing strange could come of this.

by **Drawkland** » Thu May 22, 2025 9:08 pm

Big Eight & Zephyr
Week 4

CROSS DIVISIONAL TIME! Who's going to assert dominance over their neighbors?

BIG EIGHT
Eastern Ye Dnad University (NSL) 20–44 Vikramdayu University (VAI)
Cold Hill University (RAN) 19–23 LeBois Santura University (CAD)
Mantabolo Tech (USN) 23–29 Bingham Young University (UTA)
Richardson University (RAN) 57–23 Alexandria University (CAD)

# Everless Division                 Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
2 Cold Hill University (RAN)          4    3   1   106   73  +33
3 Richardson University (RAN)         4    3   1   160   89  +71
7 Mantabolo Tech (USN)                4    1   3    75   84   −9
8 Eastern Ye Dnad University (NSL)    4    0   4    53  148  −95


# Evermore Division                 Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 LeBois Santura University (CAD)     4    3   1   117   82  +35
4 Alexandria University (CAD)         4    2   2   141  129  +12
5 Bingham Young University (UTA)      4    2   2    76   98  −22
6 Vikramdayu University (VAI)         4    2   2    60   85  −25

ZEPHYR
High City College (SEA) 16–24 University of Raukieff (TMN)
Maximus Rochester Institute (PFA) 31–46 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)
Halifax Provincial University (GHP) 14–13 Tophat University (THW)
University of Mancodas (PFA) 31–19 Raynor University (VAL)

# Legends Division                     Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 University of Mancodas (PFA)           4    4   0   136   74  +62
5 Maximus Rochester Institute (PFA)      4    2   2   120  116   +4
6 High City College (SEA)                4    1   3    74  100  −26
7 Halifax Provincial University (GHP)    4    1   3    66  116  −50


# Celestial Division                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
2 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)                    4    3   1   130   75  +55
3 University of Raukieff (TMN)           4    3   1   135   86  +49
4 Raynor University (VAL)                4    2   2   131  112  +19
8 Tophat University (THW)                4    0   4    51  164 −113

NSCF 33 - Everything Thread

Retcon Baby! High City College Snipers (SEA)

NSCF: The Tough Beginning

cavsux once again

Big Eight, Zephyr: MD3

Brooklyn Beck (S5:E3)

Big Eight, Zephyr: MD4

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