NSCF 33 - Everything Thread

by **Dhemixia** » Tue May 27, 2025 9:00 pm

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The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)
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The Jays are winning?

Grass grows, birds fly, sun shines, and brother, Craig Kelly hurts people. Be it physically after someone tries to chest bump him and gets flattened, or mentally when he uses his cheat code in Kabe Heaton 5 times a game for an explosive play every time. The truth is, Craig Kelly has somehow not fumbled the start of the season like he usually does. This either means he's improving as a coach with chemistry and team understanding (impossible), or is a bad omen for what's to come later in the season. Based on past trends from the Possession Philanthropist, it's most likely the latter. However, with a win like that over an opponent as skilled as Prince Pieter's, the MinCon is gonna be hard pressed to find a competitor like the Minutemen that aren't the Minutemen.

Of course, this trend's gonna continue if the offense keeps performing like it did here. Remember what I said about "low point totals due to Craig Kelly being a horrible coach"? Well, you can just throw it all away at this point (except for the Craig Kelly being hot garbage part). Dropping 43 on a conference rival who just so happens to be 4-0 isn't exactly the easiest job in the world, but as big as Craig Kelly is, he finally found a problem to solve that was his size. Either way, no matter what squad you're facing UCP with, you're not exactly stopping this high-powered offense. Larry Cunningham has a laser attached to his shoulder, and even if you try to blitz him, he's a built in improviser. This is exactly the "strategy" Kelly employed, alongside the back of Darius Haliburton, for SEVEN touchdowns. Scoring this much also brought back the original defense's form, which is good to know, considering this team is actually the same as the start of the rebuild.

Even then though, the Jays sit atop an unusually mid Boreal and MinCon, with their only real challengers being UNSJJ and Prince Pieter's in the other division. With Himothy Himmerson V (Larry Cunningham) inheriting such a dominant program like this one (when will you believe), it's kinda hard to not go 5-0 regardless. I'm not gonna say what i'm thinking in the hope of jinxing anything, but this pattern could lead an insane total performance and playoff run depending on how they can end this run. Going up against Trent State next isn't an easy feat either, but with the TJUN-ians having yet another down year, Larry Cunningham should be able to dispatch the Feathercaps at home and extend their division lead, we'll just have to see.

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 W 17-3
Week 5: @ Prince Pieter's W 43-30
Week 6: VS. Trent State
Week 7: VS. St. Paulus
Week 8: @ UNSJJ
Week 9: @ Nowa Kalanianska
Week 10: VS. Elysium City
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Non-conference play
Week 11: VS. Sadeg State
Week 12: @ Cold Hill
Week 13: @ BYU (SPIT Bowl)

by **New Rotterdam City** » Tue May 27, 2025 9:50 pm

BIO 115: Survey of New World Zoology
Dr. Hendrick P. Van der Vegt

BIO 115: Survey of New World Zoology
Course Syllabus

Time: Tuesday/Thursday 10-11:30 AM
Location: 260 Scheemakers Hall

Instructor: H. Van der Vegt
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1:00–2:30 PM, West Van Pijpers Hall 311-02
TA: F. Otterloo
Office Hours: Monday 3:00–4:30 PM, Wamerdam Library 606-A

Materials:

Van Tassel's Guide to New World Life, 7th ed., by Van Tassel et al., H. Boogard and Sons

A Bounteous Realm: The Woodlands of the Dutch New World, 1st ed., by J. Muller and R. De Vink, Hoek van Holland

Field Taxidermy Handbook, 2nd ed., by Engelbrecht et al., Smuyt and Van Visscher

Specimen Collecting in Field Circumstances, 3rd ed., by Van der Vegt et al., Prince Pieter's College Press

Course Description:
This course examines one of the most exciting areas in the realm of modern biology—the zoology and ecology of the Dutch New World. As the colony of New Rotterdam matures and expands, likewise the field of New World zoology stands at a thrilling precipice, where improved technologies and new biological insights are at the forefront of a charge to chronicle the rich flora and fauna of our colony. From the majestic white-bottomed stag to the lowly Gelderfink's Sand Beetle, the breadth of natural life is becoming ever clearer to the scientific eye. Students will learn contemporary techniques in specimen collecting, become versed in common and uncommon New World species, and engage in field trips to make tangible the knowledge gained in the classroom.

This course consists of two lecture sessions and one lab portion per week, as well as readings, homework, and field trips outside of class hours. There will be one final exam at the finish of the semester.

Class Topic Breakdown:

WEEK || TOPICS

1.......|| Introduction — What Are We Looking For? .. (LAB: Introduction to Laboratory Practices)

2.......|| Introduction to Zoological Principles .. (LAB: Rodent Dissections)

3.......|| Survey of New World Zoology .. (LAB: Birds of the New World)

4.......|| Overview of Specimen Collecting .. (LAB: Collecting Beetles)

5.......|| Large Mammals .. (LAB: Mammalian Anatomy)

6.......|| Rodents, Rabbits, and Small Mammal Predators .. (LAB: Small Mammal Hunting Observation)

7.......|| Survey of New World Avians .. (LAB: Nest Site Examination)

8.......|| Other Terrestrial Species of the New World .. (LAB: Reptile Lab Stocking)

9.........|| -- SPRING BREAK --

10.....|| New World Fishes .. (LAB: Fishing at Nordenhoek Beach)

11.....|| New World Stream and Swamp Ecosystem .. (LAB: Examining the Tongeldink)

12.....|| New World Woodland Ecosystem .. (LAB: Examining Frontier Woodlands at Knickerbocker)

13.....|| Trophic Levels in the New World .. (LAB: Fox Hunt Observation)

14.....|| Population and Ecosystem Dynamics (LAB: Constructing Model Habitats)

15.....|| Discovering and Categorizing New Creatures (LAB: Collecting Large Specimens)

16.....|| The Next Generation of Research (LAB: N. Ferrocaudata Experiment)

17......|| -- FINAL EXAM --

■
Ad lucem et orbi
est. 1621

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Tue May 27, 2025 9:52 pm

Horizon and Mineral Conference - Week 6

Cutoff.

Horizon Conference:

Kobale University (GEX) 9–26 Cavsar University (DRK)
Islamic Madrasa of Pomena (JUE) 3–17 Staramara Tech University (CMT)
Lithrelir University (GEX) 16–83 Sadeg State University (DRK)
Silver Coast State College (SAS) 25–34 Mountain District University (CMT)

#                                     Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 Sadeg State University (DRK)          6    5   1   261  142 +119
2 Staramara Tech University (CMT)       6    4   2   123   68  +55
3 Mountain District University (CMT)    6    4   2   141  107  +34
4 Cavsar University (DRK)               6    4   2   169   92  +77

#                                     Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 Lithrelir University (GEX)            6    2   4   174  234  −60
2 Silver Coast State College (SAS)      6    2   4   111  175  −64
3 Islamic Madrasa of Pomena (JUE)       6    2   4    91  173  −82
4 Kobale University (GEX)               6    1   5    82  161  −79

Mineral Conference:

Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC) 7–10 Prince Pieter's College (ROT)
Elysium City University (EAG) 25–26 Green City University (TJU)
Uniwersytet Nowa Kalanianska (UNC) 9–6 St. Paulus College (ROT)
University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE) 74–27 Trent State University (TJU)

#                                                           Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 Prince Pieter's College (ROT)                               6    5   1   144  107  +37
2 Trent State University (TJU)                                6    3   3   235  204  +31
3 Green City University (TJU)                                 6    3   3   130  151  −21
4 St. Paulus College (ROT)                                    6    2   4    96  125  −29
#                                                           Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE)                        6    6   0   220  125  +95
2 Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)    6    3   3   153  133  +20
3 Uniwersytet Nowa Kalanianska (UNC)                          6    2   4   141  125  +16
4 Elysium City University (EAG)                               6    0   6    49  198 −149

by **Chromatika** » Wed May 28, 2025 5:37 pm

Part 1: Preseason Top Fifteen
Part 2: Week 1
Part 3: Week 2
Part 4: Week 3
Part 5: Week 4
Part 6: Week 5

Chromatik High School Gridiron - Season Fifteen, Part Seven: Matchday 6

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 26–20 Mt. Niar High School
Myana Northwestern High School 20–17 Urrhed High School
Staramara Tech High School 20–3 West Shantarr High School

Black Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Lanar High School                        6    4   2   119   85  +34
2 Myana Northwestern High School           6    4   2   124   98  +26
3 Mt. Niar High School                     6    4   2   170  146  +24
4 Urrhed High School                       6    2   4   106  148  −42
5 West Shantarr High School                6    2   4   122  140  −18
6 Staramara Tech High School               6    2   4    90  114  −24

Lanar turns it around on the Mountaineers to hand them their second loss of the season, Kenneth Jordean-Johnson III scoring the go-ahead touchdown with three minutes remaining on a nice dart to Anston Gainston. As much as Maas van der Voorde tried to mount a comeback, a tipped pass from Oliver Trausch was picked off by Jacqueline Vom Bruch, and that was that. Myana Northwestern capitalized on the opportunity, Kacper Grenda leading a fifty-three yard drive to ice the game off of a Park Gim-Hyeok field goal, putting to bed the Sand Vipers' hopes of an upset. Staramara Tech's handling of the Scorpions pits three teams tied at the bottom of the table, too - Modrico Stalla may be finally settling down. Reminder - top two go to Quraterfinals, middle two to the Round of Twelve, and the bottom two are in danger of relegation. Every game matters.

Blue Conference
Pelar High School 0–3 Crix Technical School
North Sanar High School 32–30 South Sanar High School
Lhor Central High School 13–3 Wirr Tsi School for the Gifted

Blue Conference                          Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Pelar High School                        6    4   2   153  122  +31
2 North Sanar High School                  6    4   2   141   98  +43
3 Lhor Central High School                 6    3   3    85  136  −51
4 South Sanar High School                  6    3   3   197  143  +54
5 Wirr Tsi School for the Gifted           6    2   4   112  151  −39
6 Crix Technical School                    6    2   4   106  144  −38

Where did that come from? The Chameleons' defense clamped down on the Hurons, Cirino Vian committed four turnovers, and Crix Technical managed a three-nil shutout that puts them back into the mix. North Sanar gets revenge on South Sanar on the rematch - though they will be behind the Head-to-Head Point Differential by a single point. This time, it was Fardhe Rosenqvist that outdueled Aina Wirtanen - the Sophomore Quarterback throwing for over 200 while running for eighty and a score. The result puts the Riflemen back in contention for the Conference Title Game - needed to reach the Playoffs. Lhor Central keeps pressure on the top two by having a defensive masterpiece against the Masterminds, Mya Kinsella getting three sacks and Terese Wheeler having a pick-six.

Green Conference
East Omnio High School 12–6 Gurshan High School
Umbar Hills High School 10–30 J. H. Yadasky High School
West Omnio High School 37–3 Chromatik Army High School

Green Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Gurshan High School                      6    4   2   103   73  +30
2 J. H. Yadasky High School                6    4   2   171  119  +52
3 Umbar Hills High School                  6    3   3   130  145  −15
4 West Omnio High School                   6    3   3   154  136  +18
5 Chromatik Army High School               6    2   4    80  139  −59
6 East Omnio High School                   6    2   4    96  122  −26

Are the Drills faltering for real? Edward Warrington, the Senior Quarterback of East Omnio, leads four second half Field Goal drives to help the Geomancers pull off the upset - especially with the secondary of Georgina Halls and Joosje Hulsman keeping Canna Gorlen down. The Heroes' early struggles have also evaporated - Lottie Greenhorn is playing very well by as a Freshman, throwing for another three touchdowns as they upset the Grizzlies to improve to second place. As for the Spectral Monks, the only preseason ranked team in the conference, Adara Cueva's three touchdowns led the way to put the Recruits back in their place as they keep lurking behind the leading pack.

Red Conference
Staramara Athletics Academy 28–25 Tihon Elite Academy
Pùr Heights High School 3–35 East Shantarr High School
West Rhoni High School 9–14 East Rhoni High School

Red Conference                           Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Tihon Elite Academy                      6    5   1   183   95  +88
2 East Shantarr High School                6    4   2   126   91  +35
3 Staramara Athletics Academy              6    4   2   133  115  +18
4 Pùr Heights High School                  6    2   4    92  143  −51
5 East Rhoni High School                   6    2   4    73  118  −45
6 West Rhoni High School                   6    1   5   113  158  −45

No more undefeated teams. Tihon Elite Academy, the only undefeated team in the entirety of the Chromatik High School Gridiron system, can't keep up with the Rangers, as Ryin Nakt turns in a four-touchdown day with two on the ground and two through the air. Nakt's thirty-six yard run in the fourth quarter was the deciding factor, while the dual Defensive Ends of Logan Vandenbroucke and Fientje van Null harrassed Kimberly Decraene all day long. East Shantarr took the opportunity to smash past the Destroyers of Pùr Heights, Bénédicte Spanghero having a field day with three scores; East Rhoni sweeps West Rhoni with two defensive scores helping their Freshman Quarterback - it's the only two wins for the Kayaks this season. Three teams atop the Conference, but the others lurk.

White Conference
City of Lorentine High School 34–41 The Chromatik Institute
Cheonju Korean Institute 19–23 Vitoron School of Charge
Capital District Academy 24–16 Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School

White Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Capital District Academy                 6    5   1   193  143  +50
2 Vitoron School of Charge                 6    4   2   150  156   −6
3 Cheonju Korean Institute                 6    3   3   191  167  +24
4 The Chromatik Institute                  6    3   3   178  171   +7
5 Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School    6    2   4   131  135   −4
6 City of Lorentine High School            6    1   5   108  179  −71

Emmanuel de Silva, take a bow. On a day where Ariana Sadow turned in yet another good performance - four touchdowns is great for a Freshman - the Junior Quarterback was the one to turn in the final touchdown drive of the day, finding a fifth different target after Sadow had tied the game at thirty-four. Kirsi-Marja Sibelius's day ends in disaster as a costly pick to Vivi Eliasen sets up Eyla Grotten's second score of the day at Nestore Filippo; the Robots improve to 4-2. Atop the conference remains the Regiment, with Senior Kingsley Dillard doing just enough, the defense frustrating Ewy Glandl, and the rest of the team playing at a high level.

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Thu May 29, 2025 2:03 am

'First things first, congratulations to them for finally getting over the nightmarish hurdle that's known to be Northern Moravica,' he said Jerome Peers-Dusang, the South Bend area sports radio station host. Running 'Jeromeryday', the daily sports program he was running in place of his father, longtime local legend Antoine, he was back on the booth recapping the Fighting Irish football's home victory over their hated rivals Northern Moravica. 'Nobody likes them, nobody wants to lose to them, and finally we beat them enough to say that not even we, the Fighting Irish, could care about them to pity.'

A round of applause followed at his radio booth among the audience, as they, who would either be invited here as family or friend of his or the station staff, or gave the station a call, responded to him in joy. 'Fifty one points, five offensive touchdowns, three field goals, a two point conversion and a fumble six,' he raised his glass of beer, to suggest no less than daydrinking, a well-known habit of his. 'Even those who have been critical of Sara Lee Hampton's recent run of form with the Fighting Irish, who firmly believe in her dismissal, can agree that the Irish have certainly won a helluva victory last Saturday night.'

Another round of applause followed, before it died down. Back to business. 'Now, thank you everybody for some beloved mail over the weekend. I have read through them, and yes, a good number of them did talk about what should be done when it comes to the elephant in the room - the head coach,' he calmed down, as he brought out some of the pile he had received to his home address, one that was very thick and colourful no less. 'And yes, I am glad we are talking about this because, frankly we need to have a serious talk about the future of Saguenay football, ladies and gentlemen.'

'Everybody knows that the recent state of program hasn't been that great. Last four seasons have seen combined a single New Year's Six bowl win, and two losses. Admittedly, the Moogoongwha Bowl win was in the Raul Sebastien Santos's final season with us that saw him leading us to the Tiger Bowl appearance, but it's not been up to the standard that's expected of the Fighting Irish football program.

He resumed, continuing his rant: 'And everybody knows that, the coaches know that and so does Therese Nalen, the athletic director. Everybody go silent when the Irish win a title and everybody talk nonstop when they struggle, after all, because that's what the expectations mean. It's not bad, but come on. We've seen better days from Hampton, we've seen great years from Youngblood, and I don't think we need to talk about the late Baek Sang-Joon. God bless his soul.'

He would then decide to look into the recapping the first half of the regular season for Universite du Saguenay, as the Fighting Irish stand at a 2-4 after a catastrophic start to the season. Admittedly their start wasn't something anybody wanted to talk about, hence the question ending up here on a Monday morning.

'And that's where the problem lies, as we enter into a relatively unfamiliar territory for the Fighting Irish with an uncharacteristically catastrophic start to the preseason,' he said, pointing out three of the losses. 'It's not even about losing that is concerning. You could sometimes lose, unusually circumstances can indeed happen. But you can't really argue for that when they had lost in an offensively offensive loss away to Nordhammer, a nobody school of Nakr, blow a very manageable lead against Loyola-Istria that allowed 61, yes, sixty fucking one points, against St. Croix of all teams, and a fucking blowout against Islamic Busoga that had our numbers for a while now. Come on guys.'

'And so we enter into a late stretch of the conference slate where they have to win out the last four, take a breather and then face Nowa Kalanianska, Islamic Pomena and Staramara Tech,' he then drew a light sigh as he looked at the schedule. 'And that's where the problem lies, because you are now expected to make an uphill climb after accumulating four losses in your first five games. It's neither ideal nor realistic to mount a comeback off that, and as someone who has expressed his concerns over retaining defensive coordinator Jose Bernat, whose schemes continue to look as stale as they could be, I can't be so sure if they will be able to stop Lleyamana, whose talent looks to be every bit promising.'

'With this in mind, it's certainly interesting to think about where the future stands for this team and the coaching staff,' he said. 'I think a lot will come down to how they finish the spring football season. This staff, and for that matter the NSCF programs as whole, tend to shy away from making coaching changes unless absolutely necessary. That's why we were all very surprised that Sadeg State had let go of Brad Manlio, and even more so when Richardson hired him as their OC just weeks after that. Coaching changes are just that rare in this circuit.'

'Now this doesn't mean it won't happen, but realistically, this season can be still be salvaged. Saguenay just has to close out the next seven games well, maybe win out if even possible, and perhaps we'll just see Bernat being fired, and maybe Patrice Shotbolt, the offensive coordinator, and give Hampton an extended mandate with a shorter leash.'

He coughed, and then asked back. 'Now the question is strictly up to them.'

by **Banija** » Thu May 29, 2025 8:01 am

Separating fact from fiction- a deep dive into Banija's most famous high school, Cass Tech

BUSUKUMA, NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION- We could talk about what might have been the worst combined week in the history of ULI and NMU, possibly ever. Losses by a combined 53 points. Each team allowing a 50 spot- and Loyola, always looking to one-up NMU, gave up 60. Who wants to talk about Loyola being down 20-0 ten minutes into the game? Or Ceora's particularly brutal 3rd INT against Saguenay in South Bend, where, feeling footsteps that were not coming, he threw it directly to a Saguenay, without a single WR in the area. One commentator said that the Banijans hadn't had this bad of a performance against Quebec since the Shingoryeo Empire's 1815 military Conquest of Banija. Another said that it reminded them of these schools' frequent faceplants whenever they visited the Jungledrom. A third said that the Loyola theater program could've played better defense, while on the NMU side, there was an unfounded rumor that Lance Kabuye was seen TV shopping on Sunday- presumably in response to breaking his TV during NMU's blowout loss in South Bend.

They both got wrecked so badly, neither of them can even take joy in the only good result of the weekend, which was that the Islamic U also lost.

So instead of thinking about that shitshow, let's dive a little closer to home. With graduates balling out at QB in the Big 8, in both DK3 and Dex Banka, and an alumnus as the NT QB, Cass Tech HS is in the news. So, for those not from Busukuma, we're doing a deep dive into their gridiron program.

Cass Tech - A History

Cass Tech is a public high school in Bususkuma, part of the capitol's school district- but one of 6 magnet schools within the city. Five of them are 'general' magnet schools, designed for high level courses for the city's smartest and brightest. That includes Cass Tech(in the technical sense of the term). The last magnet school in the city is specifically for the Arts. It was originally designated as a neighborhood high school when it was built way back in 1911, just 5 years after Banija's independence. They remain in the same building- although extensive renovations in the 90s mean it basically looks nothing like the original. But when the magnet school system was created in the 1950s, Cass Tech was one of the original 2 magnet schools- alongside Renaissance High School(who happen to be their archrivals in basically everything).

While it is not a neighborhood school, it is a key requirement that those attending Cass Tech HS must live within the city limits- which means quite a few athletes move into the city for that purpose.

History of the dominance of athletics

In the 70s, the school district decided to adjust their own policies for admittance into the city's magnet schools. While previously you had to test into them, they created a category for other 'exceptional talents'- ones that they thought would allow kids to get more focused attention, and offer alternative paths into the city's well-renowned magnet schools. While schools like Renaissance opened the minimum number of slots for exceptional talents, Cass Tech's principal saw an opportunity, and a vision, to create a sporting powerhouse. He allowed the school to allow athletic ability as a reason to be let into the school. And while it was originally focused on the school's struggling hoops program, they suddenly were hit with a wave of talent across a number of sports- none bigger than gridiron.

They started to build an elite gridiron program, and non-area schools were noticing. Give it a couple of decades, and boom- universities from across the country became regularly attendees at Cass Tech gridiron games. And it became one of those self-fulfilling prophecies- they had a dominant gridiron program, so high schoolers around the area, and then increasingly, across the country, became enamored with going to Cass Tech to play football. And the more that they started dominating at the BCSG level, and the Cass Tech brotherhood continued to be well supported from those who had walked that path before it, the more powerful it became. A never-ending cycle of growth, building advantages at the high school level that other areas could never compete with.

The present day: Elite dominance

Of course, these days, they absolutely dominate- and they use their advantages to steamroll opponents across the region. Now, a key thing to remember, is that there are no Chromatik or Cardenao style national competitions for HS football in Banija- mostly because the state associations jealously guard their domain. And in gridiron, specifically, many schools think it would just be a Cass Tech talent showcase, so they aren't so eager. So while many magazines rank them #1 at the end of the season, there is no real high school national championship. Since Busukuma is an independent city, and not part of a state, one should remember that Busukuma schools alternate between competing for Ankole and Kitara sporting championships, as those are the two states that border Busukuma. Men's sports in the city compete in Ankole in odd years, and then in Kitara in even years. The reverse is true for women's sports.

That unique position puts Cass Tech in the strange place of being the all-time leader in state titles in not one, but two different states- 15 in Ankole, and 19 in Kitara- a staggering 34 combined state titles, the most out of any school in Banija. It isn't always the easiest path- those rural schools in Kitara, specifically, have always given Cass Tech trouble when it comes to the state playoffs. But in the city, especially, Css Tech is dominant. They negotiated a deal with the Public School League, the city's HS athletic conference. The city's public school league basically always puts its top 4 into a '4 team playoff', ahead of whichever state playoffs they will participate in. Semifinals on campus of the two higher seeds, and the final at the Stadium of the Restoration.

Cass Tech basically don't play a regular league schedule anymore these days- they play Renaissance annually in a rivalry game, and one more city public school, then otherwise give themselves a national schedule. They're automatically in the top 4 if they finish at least 7-2 over the course of their 9 regular season games, something they do with regularity. The giveback is that Cass Tech is never allowed to host a city semifinal. This setup is a recent development- pushed by Sebastian Kabuye, the son of former NMU HC Lance Kabuye, who is also the husband of present NMU HC Hannah McKendry, as well as NMU's offensive coordinator. While someone with the pedigree behind his name was simply taking over a well-oiled, he made the level of dominance increase even further in his decade at the school.

Ensure that money went towards building state of the art facilities, boosters became a lot more involved in school affairs. Kadesh Odika, a NSCF champion and the Banijan NT starting QB, is probably the program's most famous alumnus. But right behind him, two starting QBs from the Big 8 are Cass Tech grads- Delbin Kasekende III, for LeBois Santura, and Dex Banka, slinging away at RU. They've got a lot of famous gridiron players who went to the school, and they are succeeding at higher levels.

DK3, in particular, had an interesting path to get to Cass Tech. His tryout for the school had gone well- but of course, as his grandfather was the President of another country, Kasekende III lived in the Busoga Islands. To move to Busukuma, his Dad's brother, Dustin Kasekende, moved to Busukuma- and DK3 lived with his uncle. Dustin originally got himself a job in the private sector, but after getting fired after 6 months due to poor performance, he got a job at the Busogan embassy- something that was only recently unearthed. And as soon as DK3 graduated, Dustin Kasekende resigned from the embassy, and moved back to the Busoga Islands.

The future

Unsurprisingly, the future is very very bright for Cass Tech gridiron. Although this season... Maybe not so much. They opened the season with a loss to Renaissance HS- the first time in 8 seasons they lost a home opener, and the first time in 16 seasons they lost to their archrivals, Renaissance. The scenes were chaotic- Renaissance students stormed Cass Tech's field, and Renaissance's QB actually got himself a two week suspension for swearing on camera(not allowed in HS).

The future is bright, of course. Look at their gridiron stadium- they share a 23,000 stadium with Jawara Tech, that is just a 20 minute walk from campus- the largest HS stadium in the country. To do that in the city is difficult, of course- lack of space and what not. But full credit to Cass Tech, who found a partner, and a way. Jawara Tech(no relation to Isaka Jawara) is a DI University, a fresh member of Division I. But they are also called Tech, and have the same colors(green & black). Ergo, sharing a stadium tends to work out pretty well. Black end zones, with Tech written in green across the end zone. Logos are different, of course, but it is relatively simple to change the 50 yard line logo.

Alongside that, other sports become more and more successful. This school generates loads of Olympians, and champions. Banija's WBC wining squad had a couple of Cass Tech grads on the roster. CT's baseball program, as well as their track & field programs, are particularly dominant. Track & field is really the only sport in the country where you have true national championships- and Cass Tech tends to go to Hawabark each year and absolutely dominate.

The future is bright, and the sky is the limit. They are trying to be more intentional about scheduling foreign games in gridiron- compete against schools like Erksine from Quebec, And RC Cathedral, more regularly. We will see if they can succeed. But they know this- this is Banija's premier HS program, and that won't change for a long time.

by **Valanora** » Thu May 29, 2025 10:04 am

Celestia Conference - Week 7

Cutoff.

University of Nordhammer (NKR) 23–27 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)
Université St. Croix (QUE) 9–0 Islamic University of Busoga (BUS)
Lakewood Plains University (NKR) 23–41 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)
Université du Saguenay (QUE) 47–17 Royal Nobility Academy (OFL)

P Savannah Division                   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
2 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)     7    6   1   237  144  +93
3 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)    7    4   3   210  148  +62
6 Islamic University of Busoga (BUS)    7    3   4   134  148  −14
8 Royal Nobility Academy (OFL)          7    0   7   112  224 −112

P Sequoia Division                    Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
1 Université St. Croix (QUE)            7    6   1   215  115 +100
4 Lakewood Plains University (NKR)      7    3   4   119  211  −92
5 University of Nordhammer (NKR)        7    3   4   130  197  −67
7 Université du Saguenay (QUE)          7    3   4   191  161  +30

by **Cardenao** » Thu May 29, 2025 3:11 pm

Delbin Kaskende III: An Interview by Percy Jackson

Deep in the heart of LeBois, 5 miles away from the BSU Broncos that have made the tree-filled city famous, there is a luxury apartment building that is distinct from the rest of the city. In a happy go-lucky land where happiness was outdoor recreation and saying hi to strangers on the sidewalk, the recently completed cold, steel tower seemed like it was ripped out of New Cardonia to pierce the heart of LeBois. Triple pane windows reflected the snow capped peaks of the LeBois Mountains, while the cold hadn’t hit the city below quite yet, the autumn wind was starting to carry chillier notes with it.

I opted to park several blocks away to avoid paying the considerable visitor parking fee, no doubt to keep out undesirables like myself, and eventually approached the tower on foot. As one nears, you can’t help but crane your neck to fully absorb the details of luxury that standout in a rather plain, if undoubtedly high potential, city. It was a marriage of huge, black stones polished smooth with the silver of steel and glass building upon it, while streaks of gold, real gold, flowed over and inside the building like the nearby Riu du LeBois; it’s at once modern, well-executed, and entirely gaudy…I would do anything to have a room in Torre ‘Bois.

I was so lost in the detail that I hadn’t realized I’d wandered up off the street onto the property itself, though I was quickly made clear of that by a sharply dressed, if surprisingly well-built member of the concierge crew. In a manner that was both gentle yet clear, he asked who I was, why I was on Torre ‘Bois property, and where I was coming from. Initially I found myself stumbling over my words, it was clear this was some sort of security personnel and my suspicion was confirmed when I caught a glimpse of a handgun tucked into a holster, though it wasn’t buttoned closed. Fortunately, it was then that Gavinchy and Marcella, the geniuses who run the tech and finer details behind this column, arrived and explained everything to the security guard, who had only introduced himself as ‘Mister’. I imagine if I was a guest or resident here, their tone would be very different, but we managed to clear things up by explaining we were here to interview one of the few tenants the building had. As I said, LeBois is a plain city and to have such a monument to luxury seemed out of place, only a handful here could afford to buy, but when you let your mind ponder what LeBois could look like in 20 or 30 years, it seems clear Torre ‘Bois was built with a longer time frame in mind; it was probably cheapest to build 20 to 30 years in advance than wait until the city could sustain this luxury.

As we entered the building, Marcella’s heels clicked on the black marble and I realized I didn’t have to worry about finding the elevator, it seemed ‘Mister’ and his friend, curiously also named ‘Mister’, had taken it upon themselves to escort us to our destination. The whole time crossing the lobby, I couldn’t help but notice not a single tenant sitting about, while cameras moved and tracked your every step. Yes, this was a far cry from the LeBois student dorms where this Torre ‘Bois resident’s friends were doomed to reside. The elevator shot us up to the 17th of 25 stories in LeBois’ tallest building, and we were presented with two doors to select, one facing east and one facing west, both unmarked. ‘Mister 1’ rang the bell while ‘Mister 2’ kept a close eye on us. At this point I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at how over the top this whole place was. It was so out of place, so out of touch, I just wanted to get in and get out.

“No answer,” Mister said, confirming what I had seen with my own eyes.

“Indeed. Perhaps try again?” I said, fulfilling my part of this sitcom-like exchange. Bzzzzzzzzzzzz. The bell went off again and, after a brief 30 second wait, the door rocketed open and the shrill sound of drill music poured into the hallway; whatever material these walls were made of, they were fantastic noise cancellers. As my brain adjusted from real life, to the Misters, to the loud aggressive music now pounding in my ears, my eyes focused on the person in front of me and the reason for this out of body experience.

Shirtless, with a diamond chain around his neck, and sweatpants hangin’ low showing a lot of boxers, Delbin Kaskende III stood with a grin on his face and arms crossed over his chest.

“Ay Percy, how's it cracking my boy?”

This was going to be an interesting interview.

From the way he welcomed me to the way he looked to the way he sauntered through a condo that cost five times more than everything held in my name, it was clear Delbin is a man of great confidence, and he told me exactly why as we walked through his kingdom.

“4 games, 4 starts, 4 wins, that’s the way we do it P!”

And he was right, Delbin Kaskende III or DK3 as he’s become known, has had a season to remember. Still only a sophomore a year removed from riding the bench and learning the game from head coach Steve Valentine, the Busogan from a Banijan high school has gotten his chance to shine this season.

“Right here we got the kitchen, man this is where it all starts, that’s what Papa K tells us all the time.” Papa K being Delbin Kaskende the original, former football star turned President of the Busoga Islands. “It all starts in the kitchen, in your food and what you drink up, what you put in determines what you get out of your performance.”

DK3 walked us through his meals, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear the young man does more cooking that I would’ve figured for a football star and someone from a life of luxury.

“Naw mane nothing like that, I mean yeah for sure a lot of the dinners I do have been prepared for me, but I like doing the final cooking and putting it all together. I make all my breakfasts though, every day no fail bro, bagel egg sandwich with some extra protein thrown in there? Schwooo that’s some good shit right there!”

As we keep walking through his condo, passing through a gaming room with several broken copies of Jack Hoy’s Football World video game strewn on the ground, “I probably get more pissed about video games than I should but I just fucking hate losing mane,” I ask him why he’s living out here, way away from his teammates and his classes. He started his answer with a laugh.

“Hah, I like you P! Man I’m not worried about those classes, LeBois’ a great school for sure but Papa K likes handling our education under the radar, you feel? Man I’m here to play football! [laughs] As for living out here, well that was my dad’s call. LeBois is great man, both the city and the college, but it ain’t a secret things over there can get pretty crazy in all kinds of ways! Last thing I need is some drunk sorority girls trying to climb up my balcony or some pressed BYU punk trying to knock my door down. Out here, I know you met Mister so you know I’m safe and secure, I got a world class kitchen right here I or the homie Chef can use, it’s just nicer than anything LeBois’ got, no shade to them for real.”

It’s somewhat the answer I was expecting, though the directness of his response threw me off. It was no secret Delbin was rarely seen at classes, yet his post game interviews had shown some polished intelligence and he was the grandson of a President after all.

“As for the homies, mane they was here before you pulled up and they’ll be back when you outta here.”

I told him I appreciated having this time slot being just him and myself and, again, I was met with a laugh.

“Nah bro, I just don’t want to hurt any of their feelings, that’s it. They my teammates, I don’t want them getting anything twisted!”

I asked him what he meant by that, and his answer revealed much of both his mindset and the attitude of his father and grandfather before him.

“Look, no disrespect to them or to anyone who be reading this, but sometimes you gotta look life straight on. I know the reality, my eyes been open since birth, you understand? This is a crazy tough world, most the boys I play ball with…they ain’t ever getting a paystub for playing football. Not me though man, I got lucky, I have worked my fucking ass off, I’m gonna swear a lot I hope that’s coo’ with your interview, but I got lucky being born where I was. That’s looking things straight on, you feel me?”

It was a little rough, but I was picking up what he was putting down. If football never worked out for DK3, he had a life of luxury to fall back on. His teammates didn’t have such a safety net. DK3 was the highest rated Busogan prospect ever and looked legit with four commanding wins in a row. Maybe his ‘homies’ were buried on the depth chart with no chance at becoming a LeBois legend, let alone playing professionally. In an instant I recognized how much respect means to Delbin Kaskende III. He knows what his future holds, he knows he’s confident and prone to braggadocious behavior, so when there’s a high profile interview happening, the last thing you want to do is inadvertently disrespect and hurt a friend when you’re talking about your own promising future.

I chose to pivot, asking Delbin about how he felt being named the starter and his thoughts on the four games he’d been commanding the Broncos.

“Damn man, I mean you never want to hear your number called because one of the boys went down, but when we heard how serious Brett’s injury was, I just knew I was next up…like I said, I work fucking hard. First one in the gym, last one out. Extra reps on the training field. Sitting down with my receivers and learning how they like it thrown, what their nuances are, how my running backs block, the little adjustments the tight ends do before the snap, I’ve been preparing my whole life for this dog, I be studying everything…it all matters.”

By this point, we’ve passed into a sort of football shrine in the condo, decorated with different jerseys from DK3’s past, his current Blue and Orange uniform, and jerseys he’s swapped with notable opponents. I was surprised to see a Bobby Dials #10 jersey, not in LeBois colors, but in the Blue and Gold of the Cardenaoan national team…I was even more surprised to see dirt, sweat, and blood on it, along with Bobby’s signature. I couldn’t contain my surprise and asked about this memorabilia; Delbin couldn’t have smiled any bigger as he responded.

“Man that’s the Big Dialer himself! I didn’t actually get to play against him, I’m hoping to one day though, but I mean…it’s Bobby Dials mane!!! Growing up I would watch him and the Broncos play, and then when we got on the national team, you bet I was watching all those games! I loved the 49th World Bowl man, when y’all went on that championship winning run? I was actually in the stadium for the final against Banija and I thought I might go to the afterlife when Bobby hit the game winner in overtime. I wish that jersey was from the final man, that would be craaaazy, but it is from the quarterfinal game against Ranoria, Papa K had to pull some strings to get it but it’ll always be one of my favorite things. Still hoping to meet Bobby these days…ay, maybe he’ll come to our Big-8 Championship parade, or shit let’s see how the Playoffs go!!”

I couldn’t help but laugh at the confidence of youth and I reminded Delbin that we were only six games into the 10 game season and a lot could, and would, change in the final stretch.

“Yeahhhhh for sure, Percy, for sure I hear you……I ain’t worried though! [laughs] Look man, we just packed up Richardson right? We won by 27 points I think the game before, handed Cold Hill their only L of the season before that, and we shot it out with Alexandria in my first game starting. It’s been four games, one or two close ones sure, but it’s been four straightforward victories. Will it get harder moving on? Yeah, for sure, that’s how football goes as we all pick up steam, but am I worried? Nah.”

I asked him if he wanted to maybe walk back his guarantee of a Big-8 title and alluding to some postseason success.

“Nah P, no way man. I stand on my words, BSU we won the last two Big-8 titles and now we’re playing the way we are? Why should we let ourselves believe in our talent and imagine where we can go with it? I ain’t gonna let us hate ourselves or clip our own wings. Ain’t noooo way chief.”

At this point I chose to bring up the elephant in the room; Brett Hannah was likely going to be a-okay heading into the week 7 clash against Mantabolo Tech, what did DK3 make of that?

“Look man I’m stoked Brett’s coming back, he’s had a crazy career but he’s one of the hardest working guys I know, and he’s just genuinely a good dude. That said though, coming off a throwing arm injury at a must-win moment like this? Alright, I’m not the coach nor do I want Coach thinking I’m telling him what to do or saying any sort of anything…but this seems like a situation where you let the hot hand keep slinging it, and you let the master chef get his burger flippers back the way they need to be. We can run it back another game, me and the boys are cooking, but rush things too soon and we could blow our season, for real for real.”

Once again, the respect and the not so quiet confidence of Delbin Kaskende III was on full display.

By this time though, our time was starting to run short. I’d asked most of the questions I wanted to and, as always, the answers had been infinitely more interesting than what prompted them. I decided to open things up and ask DK3 if there was anything he wanted to say.

“Just watch us man. Tune into the Broncos football games and watch us go to work. Me and the boys, we’ve worked our whole lives for this, to be good and have a chance to be great, and y’all are the reason we do it. Hearing you beautiful people of Cardenao yell my name, cheer on the Broncos, show up to the games or calling in to radio stations going crazy the way y’all do, Percy, it’s been the best experience of my life. I never want these days to end but I’m stoked to keep running it out in Blue and Orange. If Coach wants Brett to come back and start slinging it, fuck yeah my boy, I’ll be the first one behind him cheering him on, wrapping up his shoulder, and getting him dialed in before the game. If Coach trusts me for another game, I’ll give it all I got, more than anything you’ve seen yet. I’ll die on that field proving I’m him and I’ll be damned before I’ll let the Broncos lose.”

If there’s one thing you can’t fault Delbin Kaskende III for, it’s his unwavering belief in himself and his teammates. Whether or not he thinks he should remain the starting quarterback for the Broncos, and he certainly thinks he should, it’s clear his interest is in the team winning football games. He is full of self-confidence and I think he genuinely believes he could lift the Broncos to the national championship this season. Regardless of who starts the next game or the rest of the season, it’s clear that the DK3 era is nearly upon us and that can only mean good things for LeBois football.

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Thu May 29, 2025 3:50 pm

Four games down and TJUN-ia's NSCF teams were in an interesting position - with one at 2-2 and the other at 1-3.
Both teams were looking to try and make up some ground in the cross-divisional slate...but could they?
Let us see how they are doing thus far...

Trent State University (TJU) 44–18 Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)
University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE) 74–27 Trent State University (TJU)

For the Trent State Faethercaps, this slate of games certainly provided some talking points.
Against the UNSJJSM Toucans, Jessica Daniels seemed to become the centre of the universe, ending up with 6 TDs in a 26-point win.
But out in The Brig, the UC-Prairie Blue Jays showed no mercy...scoring 74 points on the Caps to send them to 3-3.

Green City University (TJU) 31–29 Uniwersytet Nowa Kalanianska (UNC)
Elysium City University (EAG) 25–26 Green City University (TJU)

As for the Green City Royal Eagles, they ended up with two games that played out alomst exactly the same
Both the UNK Aztecs and the ECU Giraffes played close games with this team, only for Ngimphiwe Cele to find some way to save the day and get the win.
The Eagles beat UNK by 2 and ECU by 1 to move to 3-3. Chaotic indeed.

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 W 41-34 (1-2)
Week 4: vs Elysium City University (EAG) W 64-10 (2-2)
Week 5: vs UNSJJSM (UNC) W 44-18 (3-2)
Week 6: @Columbus-Prairie (DHE) L 27-74 (3-3)
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 L 34-41 (1-2)
Week 4: vs Columbus-Prairie (DHE) L 3-17 (1-3)
Week 5: vs Nowa Kalanianska (UNC) - Homecoming W 31-29 (2-3)
Week 6: @Elysium City University (EAG) W 26-25 (3-3)
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 **Valanora** » Thu May 29, 2025 4:25 pm

Valanora Times
A Time Of Power

With the first round of divisional play done and the cross divisional play just about finished, we have enough data to try and put together a list of who looks to be the best of the best this season and has enough mettle about them to potentially contend for a championship. The list for now has been whittled down just five teams, though an argument could be made that it should have been ten. However you have to draw the line somewhere and for this edition of the power rankings, five was where the team landed. Without any further distraction, this is Week 6 of the 33rd edition of the NSCF power rankings.

5. Université St. Croix (6-1, Celestia) - You could argue that they should be higher in this list but the Horizon's Sequoia division is either feast or famine and is seen as one of the weakest divisions in the sport at the moment, especially when compared to the Savannah in their own conference. Still this is a team with a great defense that can shut down about any team on any given day, see how they shutout Busoga in their latest game. The offense is efficient but not explosive, unlike some of the other teams higher in the list. It is a team that can grind out a result and simply wear you down through attrition, while also demoralizing your team with its highly effective defense. That elite caliber defense means that St. Croix is going to be in nearly every single game that they play in and already should be booking their ticket for the conference title game with a three game lead in the division with three games left to play.

4. Cold Hill University (5-1, Big Eight) - Cold Hill is suffering from that fact that the Everless has simply been a really bad division with only a single win coming from the two non Ranorian schools through the first six weeks. There has also been a lack of dominance from Cold Hill in their victories, as they are winning but not winning in emphatic fashion, which might be a troubling sign when your own division is really showing off as quite weak. Yet they still are one of the best teams with one of the best records in this edition of the tournament and really only have Richardson to be concerned with in order to ensure that they are going to make it to the conference championship game. If they win the games they are supposed to in the next few weeks, then they will get a chance to prove like the Vanorian schools do almost every edition that the strength of your division or conference does not really matter as long as you are getting the results on the field.

3. Mar Sara Tech (5-1, Zephyr) - The reigning champions are off to a good start and are probably kicking themselves about not being undefeated right now, having lost at home against Raynor. Outside the Battle for the Royal Sabre, the Raiders have looked the stuff of champions are are doing in emphatic fashion unlike Cold Hill, scoring nearly double their opponents. An efficient offense that can play either methodically or be explosive and a defense that is good but not as elite as say St. Croix or LeBois. The recipe is there for the team to have yet another deep run into the playoffs, especially if they are able to earn home field advantage like they did during last season. After putting up forty on the previously undefeated Mancodas last week, the same team that tripped up the Rockets with an offensive display, they have shown they can contend with the best. If the team can handle Raukieff and Raynor in the second round divisional play, then the path is clear for the Raiders to try and defend their crown once more.

2. LeBois Santura University (5-1, Big Eight) - Before last week's game, LeBois would not have made this list, yet when you beat the previously one of the leaders of your conference by double digits, you get people's attention. Like St. Croix, LeBois Santura is getting the job done with an elite defense that simply smothers the opposing offense and makes you have to work for every single yard, much less a score. Their offense has been efficient if not overly impressive but they do hold a two game lead over the rest of the Evermore and seem to be on a collision course with one of the Ranorian schools in the conference championship game, as the Everless has been more less than ever present outside the Ranorian powerhouses of Cold Hill and Richardson. After the whalloping that LeBois just put on Richardson, they will have to feel a bit confident that they are going to be able to make a competitive game of it should they meet up and perhaps even hold the inside edge in that encounter in a month's time, provided they do not run into any unexpected losses between now and the end of the regular season.

1. Sadeg State University (5-1, Horizon) - What can you say, how can you argue against a team that put up eighty-three points on the road in one of the most dominant displays of gridiron that anyone has seen in years. While their defense could use a bit of tuning, they are by no means a bad unit or a liability for the Skyhawks as they currently lead the most competitive division in all of the NSCF. The other three teams in their division all only sit a game back at four wins and two losses, yet the difference between the Skyhawks and the rest of the division is the offense. It is an offense that has scored nearly a hundred more points more than the next closest competitor in the division, which is last place Cavsar, the other team from Drawkland. The fact that the Skyhawks only loss came in the rivalry game against Cavsar is a huge statement of quality. Rivalry games are games where you can simply throw out the record or how good or poor the teams are, there is just something about those games that anything can happen. If the Skyhawks can maintain their currently level of play though, they should not just be in the mix for a conference title but also in with a shout for the NSCF crown.

by **Chromatika** » Thu May 29, 2025 7:05 pm

King Charles: Hudson Wins Third in a Row to Turn Around Mountain District's Season

You can shock your opposition to one win. You can then make the argument that there isn't enough tape to get that winning streak to two. However, by the third game, things get considerably difficult. The opposition gets to see your tendencies, people get used to your tells, and, especially if you were a backup, the tension gets higher. People start to expect things from you. Nobody cares that just two games ago, you were holding a clipboard on the sideline. Not in a sport like gridiron where every week, every game, every drive, every throw, matters. Especially not for a position like Quarterback, where everything hinges upon.

Eclipsing forty points in the first two forays was a surprise, but welcomed. To see Charles go 21-of-27 for 318 yards and three touchdowns on his third game, especially when the defense was having an off day and conceded twenty-five? Unexpected. Nora Fauske and Pia Solem caught two of the touchdown passes as the Vanorian duo continue to build up the relationship with Charles, while Muhoozi Kadindo had 81 yards and a score on the ground to balance out the attack. Mountain District has only punted the ball away five times since Charles took over the helm of their offense, and the Senior seems to get more and more comfortable as the weeks go on.

"He has been the consummate professional," commented Head Coach Naia Curentino, "It's been a pleasure to work with him. He has opinions, he has ideas, and he knows how to be a team player on top of it all. He's been everything that we needed and more throughout this process, and we are excited to see how he continues to develop as the season goes on."

Mountain District, winners of three straight after the loss at the hands of their rivals in Staramara Tech, have turned their season around. Sure, four more games await to see if they can somehow make it to the Conference Title Game, and the Out of Conference slate isn't easy by any means, but Charles's emergence after the downfall of Estera ha given the team some hope that they didn't have in the past.

Not that he'd take much of the credit, of course.

"We've been through so much together in the six weeks we've played so far. There's been ups and downs, but it's because of the challenges that we've faced that I think we're ready to continue to face what lies ahead. The season is long, and it's all about momentum and stepping up when it isn't expected of you. That's why I'm going to continue to give it my all - I can promise that - and hopefully, just hopefully, it'll be enough."

Mountain District wraps up the Cross-Division slate at Kobale University before going on the road against Sadeg State and Cavsar - a series of trips that will likely decide the fate of their conference season.

At least, for now, they have their Quarterback for the season.

by **Ranoria** » Thu May 29, 2025 7:53 pm

@GovernorsCentral My guy had one bad game and the fans are ready to hang him #GoGovs #NSCF

@NoContextGovernors An open letter to Cass Tech - it's time for Richardson to realize they've been played. #GoGovs #NSCF

Cold Hill, Ranoria

"Okay, so you're telling me your best friend made you go with him so he didn't reveal her deep dark secret, which was leaving a glass of apple juice on her dad's desk?"

"No, it was that the glass left a ring on the desk." Giovanna corrected Derek, creaking her neck to look up at him as they walked along the sidewalks of Cold Hill's outskirts, but sighed, "Yeah I uh, she was begging me. I thought it was going to be a lot worse."

Derek grumbled something under his breath and checked his phone, "Yeah, the shop is right up here." He brought his free hand up to scratch his hair, then grumbled when he remembered it was still in a cast.

"Hey, you're not off the hook," Giovanna jabbed a finger into his rib with a laugh "You're saying you got attacked by some monster in the woods? I mean come on, that ridiculous. Is that what you told your coaches?"

"Y-yeah," Derek's posture stiffened, and he shuddered as they continued, knuckles going white around his phone - well, whiter than usual. Giovanna had noted how pale he was earlier, and thin - he'd had to take a lot of antibiotics to clear up whatever it was that had gotten into him.

The silence was broken up by the chirping of the birds that made their way out here and the gentle hum of traffic on less than busy streets, and Giovanna bit her lip, stealing occasional glances up at her uptight not-quite-boyfriend-but-maybe-situation(?)'s furrowed brow and a few more at his abs - that shirt was criminally tight on him.

"And here we are," He mumbled, looking eye level at the sign with a frown, "I swear, no inclusivity in the architecture around here." Derek ducked down into the door, and did his best to hold it open for Giovanna to follow behind, and once he raised back up to his full stature, he was greeted with a wall full of guns of all kinds. Long guns, hand guns, smaller pistols for concealed carry, larger revolvers, shotguns, you name it.

"How can I help you two?" The man behind the asked. Most would notice a bit of a musk coming off of his clothes - like they'd been left in the washer too long - but Derek and Giovanna's olfactory nerves had been fried by Gloyd's presence, so that was no problem for them.

"Yeah, I'm looking for a pistol, I'm not too familiar with what you guys have available here, I'm from Sonnel."

"Mm-hm," The shopkeep looked him up and down and nodded, "Yeah, let's see here. You want a concealed carry type, or something for home defense?" Derek clapped his hands together in thought.

"What kind of restrictions do we have here, carrying wise?"

Derek knew he'd made a mistake when he said that, the shopkeep whipping around on him, and Giovanna's previously beaming just-happy-to-be-with-him expression turning to one of abject horror when the man started roaring.

"Restrictions!?" His face grew red, and he leaned over the counter, his upturned mustache shaking as spittle flew through his rant, "What are you talking about? Restrictions? Is there some new law getting passed? Are you here to get me to sign a petition!?"

Derek waved his hands - well one hand, one cast - in front of him, "No no! I'm sorry! I've only lived in Ranoria for a year, I just wasn't sure!"

The keeper's shoulders heaved - that little outburst was clearly all the cardio he had, and he stared up at Derek suspiciously for a moment. "Right."

He stepped back, "Alright, I think that would work for you, but what exactly do you need it for?"

"Uh," Derek blinked a couple times, and Giovanna elbowed him in the thigh.

"Hunting!" She chirped, "He normally brings the SAR out, but you know, his arm." She jammed a thumb towards Derek's still useless limb.

"Aha, I see." He pulled out a sidearm and handed it to Derek, "This should fit even your big ass hands. But hell son, you'll have to wait two weeks to come get it anyway, you know they want stringent background checks."

"Two weeks!?" Derek said, the pistol looking pitifully small in his elongated hands, "That's forever!"

"I know, I know." The shopkeep waved his arms, "Government restrictions and all."

"Well shit, is there any way around it?" Derek asked.

"Nope, sorry kiddo."

"Well, damn." He handed the gun back, then pointed at a rifle on the wall, "If I've gotta wait anyway, I should be healed up by then. I'll take whatever that is, I'm better with a rifle anyway."

The shopkeep raised his chin a bit, stroking his beard, eyes darting to Giovanna, "I thought the lady said you had an SAR."

Derek's mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again before Giovanna saved him, "Oh, I bought that one for him, but only kinda," she flashed the most winning grin she could, and the man melted before her next words even came out, "I wanted a pink one, poor guy is probably used to that."

by **Drawkland** » Thu May 29, 2025 9:30 pm

Facing Chromatik schools is hard. Nobody knew that better than Cavsar, who've only had two real seasons of success in their double-digit number of NSCF entries. Being a Pretty Good program is tough when you're facing elite talent more often than not. Of course, once you're facing a team more your speed, it's like taking off ankle weights.

The 51-10 destruction of Sadeg State was mostly experience and getting the drop early on your rival. Cavsar had an advantage that pretty much everyone overlooked. Offensive coordinator Pascal Underwood had recently moved to Cavsar, having previously been the offensive coordinator at Cemmendy Tech. The Cyberpunks didn't have a great football program (at least compared to their upper echelon basketball team), but they did have a pretty good offense with Underwood at the helm. Why does this matter? Underwood played South Batcham State several times over the years at Cemmendy Tech. South Batcham State was the school new Sadeg State defensive coordinator Michael Hunt was pulled from. Hunt had handled Underwood's offenses pretty effectively in their matchups over the years, but it was never a significant rivalry. As far as Hunt knew, that is.

After a couple years in Cavsar, Underwood's mentality had changed slightly (especially under the hyper-aggressive tactics demanded by head coach Scott Linhart). With the time away to consider his old mistakes and add some new style to his offense, he was fully prepared for his rematch with Hunt. The Skyhawks did get unlucky at the beginning, yes, but the blowout wouldn't have been so acute if Underwood wasn't calling the perfect shots to counter Hunt's looks. It also helped that Julian Gallagher decided Week 3 was a great time to reveal that he was actually a demigod or something. All the factors combined resulted in the bizarre blowout.

Somehow, Sadeg State only looked stronger after that loss. More importantly, Cavsar didn't seem to lose much steam either. That's the power of a nice, soft Equinox Division slate. This isn't to say that the Equinox teams were especially weak this cycle. Lithrelir and Kobale looked to be solid contenders in the early going, but ran into the buzzsaw that is the Starlight Division. It's tough enough to handle that slate, but each team especially hungry this cycle, it was going to be even more of a challenge.

It truly was like taking the donut off the bat. Cavsar's offense put up 137 points across their 3-game home stand, including the Sadeg State blowout and their matches against Lithrelir and Silver Coast State. The Gladiators did have the fortune to play the two better teams in the Equinox Division at home, but given how they won each game by an average of more than 4 touchdowns, it likely wouldn't have mattered if those games were on the road instead.

Any fears of Cavsar just being homebodies were quieted as well with their 26-9 win over Kobale on the road in Grand Exultia. It wasn't as dominant as the previous weeks, but it was an expected return to more normal form. With the last game of the cross divisional slate being an easy flight down to Pomena in Juvencus, it seemed that the schedule was just falling in Cavsar's favor this cycle. An overseas flight is still an overseas flight, but not having to deal with portal travel is a welcome departure from the norm, and close enough that more fans can travel to those games. It's like a home-away-from-home advantage.

But how exactly were the Gladiators pulling all this off? Such a turnaround was insane, considering Cavsar put up a grand total of 6 points through their first 2 games. The early games were more of an outlier, though. Offense line play was sloppy and flag-inducing, Kevin Sajak looked a little uncomfortable under center, and nobody in the receiving room was doing anything worth a damn. Once Julian Gallagher got fired up for the Sadeg State game and scored four touchdowns, it seemed to ignite the entire offense. Not only did Gallagher haul in 2 touchdowns in the next 2 games, but his deadly route running and dependable hands opened up the rest of the offense.

Whether this is a look at the new version of the oft-maligned prospect or just an insane heater remains to be seen. The real test will be if Gallagher can continue producing for Sajak and the Gladiator offense once they're facing a tough Chromatik defense again. Even if he regresses back to the mean, the Cavsar offense has woken back up. Jerome Jeffers has gotten some excellent catches at tight end, and the rest of the receiving core has found more separation. Whether this is a difference in approach and effort across the board, or just an effect of Gallagher drawing most of the attention from opposing offenses, we can't tell right now.

Regardless, it's funny to be in a situation where the lone Starlight loss to the Equinox didn't come from Cavsar. Of the two previous cycles where the Starlight went 15-1 collectively against the Equinox in Horizon play (NSCF 27 and 29), both losses were taken by the Gladiators. The Starlight currently sits at 11-1. The one loser? Believe it or not, Staramara Tech. There's still plenty of time for Cavsar to fall short in the final week, but it's a welcome change for Gladiator fans to not be drawing the ire from everybody else in the division (more than usual).

The Starlight Division has been as tight as ever through the first half of Horizon Conference play. Even with their ugly losses to the Chromatik schools to start the season, Cavsar sits in a reasonable position. They've won out since then, looked a lot stronger, and are tied on wins with both Staramara Tech and Mountain District. They'll need to actually win against those teams in the second leg to have any chance at a division title ... but it's possible. It's been awhile since that was the case for Cavsar. Lots of football left to play, but Gladiator Faithful are just happy to have upside beyond spoiling Sadeg State's season if at all possible.

Julian Gallagher Season Stats (to date): 6 games, 46 receptions, 873 receiving yards, 9 receiving touchdowns

by **Drawkland** » Thu May 29, 2025 9:31 pm

Big Eight & Zephyr
Week 7

Say goodbye to your conference cousins! Cross divisional schedule ends tonight.

BIG EIGHT
Bingham Young University (UTA) 13–29 Cold Hill University (RAN)
Alexandria University (CAD) 37–24 Eastern Ye Dnad University (NSL)
Vikramdayu University (VAI) 17–30 Richardson University (RAN)
LeBois Santura University (CAD) 10–10 Mantabolo Tech (USN) (13–16 OT)

# Everless Division                 Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Cold Hill University (RAN)          7    6   1   192  125  +67
3 Richardson University (RAN)         7    5   2   227  145  +82
7 Mantabolo Tech (USN)                7    2   5   109  168  −59
8 Eastern Ye Dnad University (NSL)    7    0   7    94  262 −168


# Evermore Division                 Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
2 LeBois Santura University (CAD)     7    5   2   187  111  +76
4 Alexandria University (CAD)         7    4   3   210  182  +28
5 Bingham Young University (UTA)      7    3   4   148  168  −20
6 Vikramdayu University (VAI)         7    3   4   155  161   −6

ZEPHYR
Tophat University (THW) 24–41 Maximus Rochester Institute (PFA)
Raynor University (VAL) 32–14 High City College (SEA)
University of Raukieff (TMN) 18–7 University of Mancodas (PFA)
Mar Sara Tech (VAL) 33–7 Halifax Provincial University (GHP)

# Legends Division                     Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
3 University of Mancodas (PFA)           7    5   2   207  149  +58
5 Maximus Rochester Institute (PFA)      7    4   3   203  224  −21
6 High City College (SEA)                7    2   5   140  165  −25
7 Halifax Provincial University (GHP)    7    1   6    76  223 −147


# Celestial Division                   Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)                    7    6   1   230  118 +112
2 University of Raukieff (TMN)           7    5   2   190  122  +68
4 Raynor University (VAL)                7    5   2   284  142 +142
8 Tophat University (THW)                7    0   7    98  285 −187

by **Dhemixia** » Thu May 29, 2025 9:33 pm

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am become Craig Kelly, destroyer of leads.

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~~ W 17-3
~~Week 5: @ Prince Pieter's~~ W 43-30
~~Week 6: VS. Trent State~~ W 74-27
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)

"I am become Craig Kelly, destroyer of leads." is a copypasta uttered by many snickering 14-year-olds on Dhemixian social media sites. Mainly, it's spammed in the comments of any and every post trying to suggest that Craig Kelly is actually a good Head Coach (spoiler: he's not). For a while, Kelly actually used it as his catchphrase of sorts, ending speeches saying that he was the "destroyer of leads", before someone had to tell him that it meant his own team's leads. Usually, it gets spammed when the Jays blow a lead, essentially every loss that UC-Prairie takes, but unfortunately for cheeky teens arguing with grown men, making some even have existential crises, the Blue Jays have just refused to lose. Don't get me wrong, it's not because Craig Kelly is a good coach, but it's because Larry Cunningham is a QB who is willing to sacrifice personal stats for team success in Kelly's "system".

What you probably don't expect is for the copypasta to be reverse-spammed by said grown men against said snarky, argumentative teens, following a Craig Kelly obliteration of the opposing team's lead. What the Trent State Feathercaps definitely didn't expect entering this game was that they would return the opening kick for 6, then miss the PAT, and then give up the lead to lose by 47. To them and their fans' horror, that is exactly what happened. Larry Cunningham, despite his urge to scramble, finds out that staying in the pocket when Kelly dials up extra protection is actually a good idea. Subsequently, he throws 7 touchdown passes, all of which taken credit for by Craig Kelly. An absolute beating from all areas, fans can't really look at this any other way than to either admit their QB is good, or admit their HC is good. Both of which would have seemed like monumental things to do last season, but being the only 6-0 team does WONDERS to a starving fan base desperate for their first taste of success. Still though, not to be outdone, Sadeg State manages to hang 83 on Lithrelir, further deepening the "rivalry" shared between fanbases. At this pace, Week 11 will be the greatest OOC game ever if you've got now 6-0 UCP and now 5-1 SSU dueling it out in a game that will mean absolutely nothing for playoff implications.

To finish their inter-divisional sweep bid, the Jays are gonna have to find a way through St. Paulus to wind up 4-0. With how much of a fight Prince Pieter's gave the Blue Jays, this could be yet another trap game in the making to ruin the season record. Although, trap game or not, if Cunningham is slinging 7 touchdowns again versus St. Paulus, there's not one team in the NSCF right now who is able to contain that and come back. The real question is, can Craig Kelly be competent enough for 2 games to win both? We'll just have to see.

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Thu May 29, 2025 10:03 pm

Horizon and Mineral Conference - Week 7

Cutoff.

Horizon Conference:

Lithrelir University (GEX) 30–30 Staramara Tech University (CMT) (33–30 OT)
Silver Coast State College (SAS) 33–13 Sadeg State University (DRK)
Kobale University (GEX) 20–35 Mountain District University (CMT)
Islamic Madrasa of Pomena (JUE) 13–55 Cavsar University (DRK)

#                                     Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 Cavsar University (DRK)               7    5   2   224  105 +119
2 Mountain District University (CMT)    7    5   2   176  127  +49
3 Sadeg State University (DRK)          7    5   2   274  175  +99
4 Staramara Tech University (CMT)       7    4   3   153  101  +52

#                                     Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 Silver Coast State College (SAS)      7    3   4   144  188  −44
2 Lithrelir University (GEX)            7    3   4   207  264  −57
3 Islamic Madrasa of Pomena (JUE)       7    2   5   104  228 −124
4 Kobale University (GEX)               7    1   6   102  196  −94

Mineral Conference:

Uniwersytet Nowa Kalanianska (UNC) 10–48 Trent State University (TJU)
University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE) 33–29 St. Paulus College (ROT)
Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC) 39–19 Green City University (TJU)
Elysium City University (EAG) 24–55 Prince Pieter's College (ROT)

#                                                           Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 Prince Pieter's College (ROT)                               7    6   1   199  131  +68
2 Trent State University (TJU)                                7    4   3   283  214  +69
3 Green City University (TJU)                                 7    3   4   149  190  −41
4 St. Paulus College (ROT)                                    7    2   5   125  158  −33
#                                                           Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD
1 University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE)                        7    7   0   253  154  +99
2 Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (UNC)    7    4   3   192  152  +40
3 Uniwersytet Nowa Kalanianska (UNC)                          7    2   5   151  173  −22
4 Elysium City University (EAG)                               7    0   7    73  253 −180

by **Ranoria** » Fri May 30, 2025 2:10 pm

The streets of Richardson are calling...

Jack Archer slid through the cramped traffic of Ranoria's capitol with ease, bypassing at least a dozen rows of traffic to take his spot at the front of the stoplight. The engine of his bike hummed beneath him enough to drown out any conversation, but he offered a half-assed salute to the officer to his left.

A tight lipped smile was all he got in return. No plate. A very well known bike, but they knew better by now.

He sat back and stretched his back, rolling his neck when blood finally rushed through after being cramped into a full tuck riding position for so long, and when he looked back down, he saw a a woman pulling her very ornery young child by the arm across the road. The kid waved.

Jack Archer waved back.

Then the kid made the motion, screaming at the top of his lungs as his mom yanked him - he wanted to see a wheelie.

Jack looked to his left, and the cop shook his head.

Should've asked for forgiveness instead of permission.

The light turned green, and from a full stop Archer ripped a wheelie, hitting the balance point before he'd gotten through the intersection and holding the wheelie for a little longer before dropping and holding out a peace out for the kid behind him.

One quick glance in his mirror, and he turned around to see the patrol car pulling up hard on his left. He shooed him away, they both knew how this was gonna go.

Archer offered a cursory glance back, saw the car was still right on him, and waved him off one more time. That's when the party lights came on. Jack turned his head around, turned that hand up from a wave to waggling finger, and started downshifting. Once, twice, thrice while he shook his head in disappointment.

The siren blared right as he tucked back down, and the cop started to say something on the PA, but by then Jack was through the next intersection. Running in the middle of a city was dangerous - and a lot riskier outside of that. Cramped streets, not as much room to take advantage of his bike's maneuverability, and not as much room to take off in a straight line. Fortunately, he knew them well. Wind howled in his ears and cut through even his leathers enough to give him a chill, and he slid to the right, practically hanging off the motorcycle to pull it hard into a corner.

As big as Richardson was, he got close to the highway. Radio's faster than a bike, but the patrol cars still have to be able to respond. So when he saw a pair of cruisers with lights flashing coming from a sidestreet, he sat back, offered a salute as he passed, and then put everything he could into the throttle. One car opening their door and it all would've been over - but as it was, the light turned green just as he hit the gap, and Archer slashed through the stopped traffic far too fast for the patrol cars to ever have a chance. Light work.

He let off the throttle a bit as he merged onto the highway, eyes scanning through his tinted visor to see if any patrol cars were waiting to jump him, but he wouldn't be out here long anyway. Archer tucked down and, with virtually no traffic in front of him, took off at damn near twice the speed limit. Destination? His favorite gas station in the area - Quiltz.

Jack coasted into the Quiltz, holding in the clutch enough to slow the bike to a crawl, then planted his feet in front of the pump, one overhead light flickering above as
the Quiltz's own soft interior lighting spilled out into the evening.

Just as he shut off his engine and pulled off the helmet, he heard another, deeper one pulling up behind. His fingers stayed tense on the key as he whipped around, but the vehicle he spotted was way too sleek to be a police cruiser. Hell, it was only a little bigger than his.

And this one, well, the rider had long hair. And full gear on. And all of a sudden Jack Archer didn't have words when it cut its own engine off.

"Hey!" A voice that was way too high pitched for anyone he would normally associate called out to confirm his fears. His worst nightmare waved and flipped up its visor with a smile that reached its eyes. "You're RCH Ghost Rider, right?"

Jack's mouth opened to say something, and to his credit it did close at least, and his fingers fumbled with the key, fumbling around in vain to try and turn them, but keeping his eyes on his apparent fan so it wasn't too obvious.

It looked at him for a second, then leaned forward to check out the decal on the front of the bike which confirmed that he was, in fact, RCHGhostRider.

"Hi! I'm Mae!" She dropped her kickstand and started undoing her helmet.

"Uhh," Jack stammered, but managed to swing his leg over his bike when he saw she was getting off. With the highest pitched voice his vocal chords could produce, he offered, "Jack?"

And then a crash behind him reminded him that he had forgotten to put his own kickstand up.

Mae pulled her helmet off, glanced down at the bike. Back at him. The gentle whoosh of cars passing at least offered some feedback.

Jack didn't say anything, whipping around to pull his baby up and remembered to prop it up this time before walking around to the side to inspect the damages. "Shit," he groaned, gloved finger tracing a nasty crack up the fairing.

"That sucks," He looked up from where he crouched, Mae toying with one of her braids and shaking her head, "Haven't dropped one since I started riding, but I've come close on that thing a few times, it's a lot to handle," she laughed, a sound that Jack Archer knew he wanted to hear every day for the rest of his life and yet made him want to piss himself at the same time. "You don't talk much, do ya?" She smiled and offered a hand to help him up.

"Uhm," he stared at her hand, frozen for a second, calculating all possible angles. Could this be a test? Would he die if he touched her? With how cooked his heart was from the abuse of Ryze daily and the way it was beating now, that could be the nail in the coffin. Was she going to pull a Susie From Barley Chrown and yank it back just as he leaned forward, leading to an inevitable faceplant? Or was it rude to not accept a helping hand?

"More of a stunt rider than a talker," he managed, and took her hand. She said something, but his heart pounding in his ears made it inaudible. Jack got a little dizzy, and leaned against the gas pump, not even registering Mae poking at his phone a bit. He tried to take a deep breath, and she made it worse by saying something else, then finally walked away.

Jack clutched at the gas pump for dear life as his world re-oriented itself. His breath calmed down, his profuse sweating mostly stopped, and it was when his cognition returned that he noticed it - her bike was still there.

"Oh hell no, fool me once shame on you," he pulled his helmet on and started strapping up, "Fool me twice.," a leg swung over his bike, and he turned the key. The lights came on, his visor came down, "Shame on m-"and just as he was about to hit the ignition that terrifyingly singsong voice called out.

"Hey!" Mae jogged over, holding what could only be described as a gift from God in his eternal providence overhead. "I said I'd grab ya one, you look a little tired," she stood in front of him, and with the helmet on, he wasn't quite as terrified. In her outstretched hand was something that may have looked unremarkable to some. An aluminum cylinder with some colors designed to draw the eye - but Jack knew. His brain lit up when he saw Ryze's summer special rasmocanut flavor.

"I love this," he looked up to meet her eyes through the visor, and went to gratefully accept this offering, "How did you know?"

"Dude," she laughed and pulled it back just out of reach. Jack literally whimpered, and Mae laughed, "It's all over your social media. You're as addicted as I am. Now, promise you'll text me? Maybe we can ride together some time?"

Jack smiled - not that she could see. As a matter of fact, he felt mysterious now, and nodded, "Yeah, I think I'd like that. He latched onto the Ryze Rasmocanut like his life depended on it and popped it into his backpack. "I'll see you around."

His engine roared to life and, and he was gone.

Spoiling Senior Night:
Buffalo Cruise Past Bingham Young Thanks to Jordan Martinez Breakout

Martinez had a career day, with a half dozen receptions for 131 yards and a pair of scores

Cold Hill isn't unscathed thanks to LeBois Santura having that dawg in 'em - dawg going by the name of Delvin Kasekende III - but the Buffalo still look the part of contenders so far at 6-1. And on Saturday, it was junior receiver Jordan Martinez carrying the load. For the Miners, it was their senior night, and a chance to secure a marquee win that could fuel a turnaround to make a late playoff push. But for Jordan, it was his homecoming. He grew up here, and getting

Cold Hill's first touchdown came on their opening drive when Dante Flowers found Martinez from thirty four yards out, and the junior only got hotter from there. Of his six catches on the day, only one went for under twenty yards - whether it was flipping the field, picking up clutch first downs, or just scoring the football, Martinez was there when the Buffalo called his number time and time again.

"He's an absolute freak," Dante Flowers laughed at the postgame presser, "We get a ton of elite wideouts in here, but Jordan's special. Earl gets most of the press, and rightfully so, but man - Martinez is a dog." The duo out wide for the Buffalo have produced almost as many highlights this season as their mascot, Fluffalo, has produced bare patches of grass in The Tundra (he gets hungry sometimes) but with their offense producing a nice 27 points per game, Cold Hill looks to hold serve as they return to Everless play and secure a trip to the Big 8 Championship game.

"Every win counts," head coach Chris Dale said after the game when asked about the strong start, "And we need a lot of them. Sure, we're playing in the toughest conference in college sports, but our out of conference slate is shaky. Felswyr State is the only truly stiff test there, the committee won't look too kindly on wind over UC Prairie or Nordhammer."

"Mountain District," our sideline reporter corrected, "And the Blue Jays are 7-0 coach, that should be a real resume builder!"

"Mountain District my ass," Dale grumbled, "I've been coaching in the NSCF for over a decade, who changes their name to something that basic? And as for the Blue Jays, my left ass cheek could coach a team of fourth graders and adolescent turkeys to 7-0 in the damn Mineral Conference. No one gives a damn."

by **Sea Peoples League** » Fri May 30, 2025 7:15 pm

OOC: apologies for light RP in this one, I am tired but was able to focus on making a domestic college league. I know who wins the I don't also have it in me to explain my new system IC yet so for now here are some scores. Full disclosure, it's an open secret in the GA world that I'm working on an education reform law, so expect to see that come up in RP if the timing works. In the end there will be a bowl and playoff system determining NSCF eligibility, federal college championship, & seeding in the expanded league next season. IC:

.
ACADEMIC GRIDIRON LEAGUE
Agriculture & Terraforming College Badgers 16–22 Xuelei Technical University Gorillas
Autonomous University Wildcats 14–22 University of the Arts Elephants
Corporate University Sharks 29–37 University of Liberation Theology Liberators
Freedom School Athletics 21–9 University of Hub City Bandits
Independent Students Union 10–38 Sea Dome University Stingrays
Language & Technical University Knights 30–36 Riverside Land Sciences University Cougars
Maritime University Pirates 16–6 Normal School Masters
.
                                                    Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
 1 Sea Dome University Stingrays                      1    1   0    38   10  +28
 2 Freedom School Athletics                           1    1   0    21    9  +12
 3 Maritime University Pirates                        1    1   0    16    6  +10
 4 University of Liberation Theology Liberators       1    1   0    37   29   +8
   University of the Arts Elephants                   1    1   0    22   14   +8
 6 Riverside Land Sciences University Cougars         1    1   0    36   30   +6
   Xuelei Technical University Gorillas               1    1   0    22   16   +6
 8 Agriculture & Terraforming College Badgers         1    0   1    16   22   −6
   Language & Technical University Knights            1    0   1    30   36   −6
10 Autonomous University Wildcats                     1    0   1    14   22   −8
   Corporate University Sharks                        1    0   1    29   37   −8
12 Normal School Masters                              1    0   1     6   16  −10
13 University of Hub City Bandits                     1    0   1     9   21  −12
14 Independent Students Union                         1    0   1    10   38  −28


U19 (equivalent to high school)

A
AFC Reyalto Academy Islanders (AFC) 14–10 Iron Hill Ancients Academy Juniors (IHA)
Regional Industrial Union Academy Organizers (RIU) 23–19 Corporate City Rangers Academy
FC Skyport Zone Academy Fighters (FCSZ) 30–0 Floating Haven Gunnery Academy Runners (FHG)
Young Athletics (FSA) 30–7 Sunnyside FC Academy Rads (SFC)
Young Orange Farmers (OFSC) 37–3 BPR Industries Young Bulls
Midcity Dodgers Academy (MC) 23–13 StreetSec Inc. Junior Guard (SSI)
Electrogrid Academy Volts (Ele) 27–15 Young Diplomats (NPC)
Young Breakers (ACPC) 16–10 Quick Wholesale Young Packers (QWP)
Hub City FC Academy 20–26 High City Junior College Gunnies (HCC)
Solar Mart Football Academy Beams (SMR) 46–32 Sanitatation Academy Cleaners (CCS)
.
   A                                                            Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD    Win % 
 1 Young Orange Farmers                                           1    1   0    37    3  +34    1.000
 2 FC Skyport Zone Academy Fighters                               1    1   0    30    0  +30    1.000
 3 Young Athletics                                                1    1   0    30    7  +23    1.000
 4 Solar Mart Football Academy Beams                              1    1   0    46   32  +14    1.000
 5 Electrogrid Academy Volts                                      1    1   0    27   15  +12    1.000
 6 Midcity Dodgers Academy                                        1    1   0    23   13  +10    1.000
 7 High City Junior College Gunnies                               1    1   0    26   20   +6    1.000
   Young Breakers                                                 1    1   0    16   10   +6    1.000
 9 AFC Reyalto Academy Islanders                                  1    1   0    14   10   +4    1.000
   Regional Industrial Union Academy Organizers                   1    1   0    23   19   +4    1.000
11 Corporate City Rangers Academy                                 1    0   1    19   23   −4    0.000
   Iron Hill Ancients Academy Juniors                             1    0   1    10   14   −4    0.000
13 Hub City FC Academy                                            1    0   1    20   26   −6    0.000
   Quick Wholesale Young Packers                                  1    0   1    10   16   −6    0.000
15 StreetSec Inc. Junior Guard                                    1    0   1    13   23  −10    0.000
16 Young Diplomats                                                1    0   1    15   27  −12    0.000
17 Sanitatation Academy Cleaners                                  1    0   1    32   46  −14    0.000
18 Sunnyside FC Academy Rads                                      1    0   1     7   30  −23    0.000
19 Floating Haven Gunnery Academy Runners                         1    0   1     0   30  −30    0.000
20 BPR Industries Young Bulls                                     1    0   1     3   37  −34    0.000

B
Shiheda Electronics Football Academy Bolts (Shi) 40–17 Young Reds (RSPC)
Future Lords (HLP) 20–23 Junior Marine Academy Lancers
Riverside Land Sciences Junior College Cougar Cubs (RLSU) 26–0 Agriculture & Terraforming Junior College Badger Cubs (ATC)
CC1DoC Football Academy Patrollers (DoC) 34–13 Space Academy Stars
Chigul Stampede Academy (Chi) 6–13 College of the Arts Octopus (UA)
Young Abolitionists (APC) 40–13 Young Independents (ISU)
Corporate Junior College Barracuda (CUS) 29–13 Young Nationalists (NPC)
Hub City Eagles Academy 6–23 Private Banking Group Young Money (PBG)
Hub City Raiders Academy 21–30 North Xuelei Mongoose Academy
Heaven's Remora Football Academy Hawks (HR) 19–26 Xuelei Technical Junior College Gorilla Cubs (XTU)
.
   B                                                            Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD    Win % 
 1 Young Abolitionists                                            1    1   0    40   13  +27    1.000
 2 Riverside Land Sciences Junior College Cougar Cubs             1    1   0    26    0  +26    1.000
 3 Shiheda Electronics Football Academy Bolts                     1    1   0    40   17  +23    1.000
 4 CC1DoC Football Academy Patrollers                             1    1   0    34   13  +21    1.000
 5 Private Banking Group Young Money                              1    1   0    23    6  +17    1.000
 6 Corporate Junior College Barracuda                             1    1   0    29   13  +16    1.000
 7 North Xuelei Mongoose Academy                                  1    1   0    30   21   +9    1.000
 8 College of the Arts Octopus                                    1    1   0    13    6   +7    1.000
   Xuelei Technical Junior College Gorilla Cubs                   1    1   0    26   19   +7    1.000
10 Junior Marine Academy Lancers                                  1    1   0    23   20   +3    1.000
11 Future Lords                                                   1    0   1    20   23   −3    0.000
12 Chigul Stampede Academy                                        1    0   1     6   13   −7    0.000
   Heaven's Remora Football Academy Hawks                         1    0   1    19   26   −7    0.000
14 Hub City Raiders Academy                                       1    0   1    21   30   −9    0.000
15 Young Nationalists                                             1    0   1    13   29  −16    0.000
16 Hub City Eagles Academy                                        1    0   1     6   23  −17    0.000
17 Space Academy Stars                                            1    0   1    13   34  −21    0.000
18 Young Reds                                                     1    0   1    17   40  −23    0.000
19 Agriculture & Terraforming Junior College Badger Cubs          1    0   1     0   26  −26    0.000
20 Young Independents                                             1    0   1    13   40  −27    0.000

C
Industry Zone Grinders Academy 17–23 Junior Naval Academy Hoppers
Pentoia Massive Football Academy Giants (Pen) 42–23 Christian Junior College Sparks (OMW)
Young Internationals (IPC) 30–17 Mischief Academy Miscreants (MSW)
Riverside Speed Club Football Academy 24–16 Federal Bank Panther Cubs (FBP)
Young Democrats (RDPC) 23–40 Lemo Dolphins Academy Calfs
Young Liberators (ULT) 36–7 Jenoch Guerrillas Academy
Xuelei Highlanders Academy Lowlanders (Xue) 43–21 Young Syndicalists (SPC)
General Steel Sabers Academy Blades (GSS) 24–6 Hub City Junior College Robbers (UHC)
HCSP Academy Interruptors 6–14 Young Neoliberals (FTPC)
Nwfila Harvest Mice Academy 16–16 Anchor City Clippers Academy (ACC) (22–16 OT)
.
   C                                                            Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD    Win % 
 1 Young Liberators                                               1    1   0    36    7  +29    1.000
 2 Xuelei Highlanders Academy Lowlanders                          1    1   0    43   21  +22    1.000
 3 Pentoia Massive Football Academy Giants                        1    1   0    42   23  +19    1.000
 4 General Steel Sabers Academy Blades                            1    1   0    24    6  +18    1.000
 5 Lemo Dolphins Academy Calfs                                    1    1   0    40   23  +17    1.000
 6 Young Internationals                                           1    1   0    30   17  +13    1.000
 7 Riverside Speed Club Football Academy                          1    1   0    24   16   +8    1.000
   Young Neoliberals                                              1    1   0    14    6   +8    1.000
 9 Junior Naval Academy Hoppers                                   1    1   0    23   17   +6    1.000
   Nwfila Harvest Mice Academy                                    1    1   0    22   16   +6    1.000
11 Anchor City Clippers Academy                                   1    0   1    16   22   −6    0.000
   Industry Zone Grinders Academy                                 1    0   1    17   23   −6    0.000
13 Federal Bank Panther Cubs                                      1    0   1    16   24   −8    0.000
   HCSP Academy Interruptors                                      1    0   1     6   14   −8    0.000
15 Mischief Academy Miscreants                                    1    0   1    17   30  −13    0.000
16 Young Democrats                                                1    0   1    23   40  −17    0.000
17 Hub City Junior College Robbers                                1    0   1     6   24  −18    0.000
18 Christian Junior College Sparks                                1    0   1    23   42  −19    0.000
19 Young Syndicalists                                             1    0   1    21   43  −22    0.000
20 Jenoch Guerrillas Academy                                      1    0   1     7   36  −29    0.000

D
Junior Coast Guard Academy Snappers 41–14 Young Anarchists (BSPC)
Metropolitans Academy 17–24 Autonomous Junior College Tiger Cubs (AU)
Maroon Archipelago Football Academy Scrappers (MA) 20–23 Maritime Junior College Swabbies (MU)
CC1 Legion Academy Pikes (CC1) 23–6 Young Socialists (SLP)
Olofsson Group Football Academy Cyans (OGB) 30–22 Civil Defense Academy Pointers (CC1CD)
Automotive School Young Gremlins (MAG) 26–10 Language & Technical Junior College Jousters (LTU)
Hotlamp Quarter Flames Academy 19–13 Taikonauts HC Football Academy (THC)
Sea Dome Junior College Rays (SDU) 27–21 Normal School Changemakers (NSM)
Deep Country AC Academy Jellies (DCAC) 17–36 Young Avengers (RPA)
Gimlen Rams Academy (GR) 44–17 Young Explorers (SEPC)
.
   D                                                            Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD    Win % 
 1 Gimlen Rams Academy                                            1    1   0    44   17  +27    1.000
   Junior Coast Guard Academy Snappers                            1    1   0    41   14  +27    1.000
 3 Young Avengers                                                 1    1   0    36   17  +19    1.000
 4 CC1 Legion Academy Pikes                                       1    1   0    23    6  +17    1.000
 5 Automotive School Young Gremlins                               1    1   0    26   10  +16    1.000
 6 Olofsson Group Football Academy Cyans                          1    1   0    30   22   +8    1.000
 7 Autonomous Junior College Tiger Cubs                           1    1   0    24   17   +7    1.000
 8 Hotlamp Quarter Flames Academy                                 1    1   0    19   13   +6    1.000
   Sea Dome Junior College Rays                                   1    1   0    27   21   +6    1.000
10 Maritime Junior College Swabbies                               1    1   0    23   20   +3    1.000
11 Maroon Archipelago Football Academy Scrappers                  1    0   1    20   23   −3    0.000
12 Normal School Changemakers                                     1    0   1    21   27   −6    0.000
   Taikonauts HC Football Academy                                 1    0   1    13   19   −6    0.000
14 Metropolitans Academy                                          1    0   1    17   24   −7    0.000
15 Civil Defense Academy Pointers                                 1    0   1    22   30   −8    0.000
16 Language & Technical Junior College Jousters                   1    0   1    10   26  −16    0.000
17 Young Socialists                                               1    0   1     6   23  −17    0.000
18 Deep Country AC Academy Jellies                                1    0   1    17   36  −19    0.000
19 Young Anarchists                                               1    0   1    14   41  −27    0.000
   Young Explorers                                                1    0   1    17   44  −27    0.000

by **Chromatika** » Sat May 31, 2025 10:49 pm

Part 1: Preseason Top Fifteen
Part 2: Week 1
Part 3: Week 2
Part 4: Week 3
Part 5: Week 4
Part 6: Week 5
Part 7: Week 6

Chromatik High School Gridiron - Season Fifteen, Part Eight: Matchday 7

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
Staramara Tech High School 24–14 Lanar High School
West Shantarr High School 24–25 Myana Northwestern High School
Urrhed High School 14–30 Mt. Niar High School

Black Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Myana Northwestern High School           7    5   2   149  122  +27
2 Mt. Niar High School                     7    5   2   200  160  +40
3 Lanar High School                        7    4   3   133  109  +24
4 Staramara Tech High School               7    3   4   114  128  −14
5 Urrhed High School                       7    2   5   120  178  −58
6 West Shantarr High School                7    2   5   146  165  −19

Nearing the portion of the schedule in the Black and White Conferences where it's all about which third of the table you're on, the two front-runners are the Blue and White and the Anacondas. Myana Northwestern has a surprisingly difficult time in West Shantarr - Leena Kadian is learning the more that she plays, after all - but Kacper Grenda and the Blue and White are way too experienced. They finesse their way to a nine-point comeback in the Fourth Quarter. As for Mt. Niar, Urrhed was simply no match - Maas van der Voorde was on target, Honorine Bonhomme had four sacks, and Mt. Niar remains one of the best programs in the country. As for the two teams that contested the Championship Game, Staramara Tech gives Lanar one back - Modrico Stalla coming through with a touchdown while Grayson Marsh runs for 141 yards and two touchdowns on the day, the most rush yards the Rhinos have given up the entire season.

Blue Conference
Lhor Central High School 14–0 Pelar High School
Wirr Tsi School for the Gifted 10–26 North Sanar High School
South Sanar High School 20–22 Crix Technical School

Blue Conference                          Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 North Sanar High School                  7    5   2   167  108  +59
2 Pelar High School                        7    4   3   153  136  +17
3 Lhor Central High School                 7    4   3    99  136  −37
4 Crix Technical School                    7    3   4   128  164  −36
5 South Sanar High School                  7    3   4   217  165  +52
6 Wirr Tsi School for the Gifted           7    2   5   122  177  −55

In the other three conferences, it's all about finishing in the top two - or your season is over. To see Pelar fall off so much offensively is a shocker - but Cirino Vian has fallen into a rut, and Ermenegilda Caravella isn't enough to carry the team by himself. Lhor Central's the one that's charging back to hopefully take them over - Dorothea Hannon continuing to play mistake-free football. The Riflemen are the class of the Conference, taking control in the Third Quarter with another solid outing from one Fardhe Rosenqvist, while Crix Technical's upset over South Sanar puts them in trouble, the Chameleons' Bryan Ewers putting together a seventy-three yard drive in the final three minutes for the win, finding Catharina Krantz in the back left corner of the end zone.

Green Conference
West Omnio High School 43–10 East Omnio High School
Chromatik Army High School 16–3 Umbar Hills High School
J. H. Yadasky High School 22–24 Gurshan High School

Green Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Gurshan High School                      7    5   2   127   95  +32
2 J. H. Yadasky High School                7    4   3   193  143  +50
3 West Omnio High School                   7    4   3   197  146  +51
4 Umbar Hills High School                  7    3   4   133  161  −28
5 Chromatik Army High School               7    3   4    96  142  −46
6 East Omnio High School                   7    2   5   106  165  −59

Welcome back to the winning side of things, Gurshan! It took Canna Gorlen throwing for two scores in the second half - something new in that the team is usually running and playing good defense - but they get back to the top. Chromatik Army gets a much-needed third win as the defense steps up, while West Omnio sweeps East Omnio to all but confirm that their season will be over after ten games - Adara Cueva had two touchdowns on the run and through the air as the Spectral Monks try to get to the title game after starting off on the wrong foot in the early season.

Red Conference
West Rhoni High School 6–10 Staramara Athletics Academy
East Rhoni High School 41–26 Pùr Heights High School
East Shantarr High School 28–12 Tihon Elite Academy

Red Conference                           Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 East Shantarr High School                7    5   2   154  103  +51
2 Tihon Elite Academy                      7    5   2   195  123  +72
3 Staramara Athletics Academy              7    5   2   143  121  +22
4 East Rhoni High School                   7    3   4   114  144  −30
5 Pùr Heights High School                  7    2   5   118  184  −66
6 West Rhoni High School                   7    1   6   119  168  −49

Everything gets muddled in the Red Conference. The Order put together a complete performance in all three phases of the game, holding the Fog Wall to four field goals while putting up four touchdowns, with Bénédicte Spanghero coming through in the clutch and Carson Becker shining - and with the Rangers putting together a defensive masterpiece at the expense of the Warhawks, there's three teams tied at 5-2. East Rhoni beats up on Pùr Heights - Mayla Jones putting together five touchdowns in a way that shocked the onlookers. It's going to be two of those three teams - but which two?

White Conference
Capital District Academy 51–16 City of Lorentine High School
Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School 37–31 Cheonju Korean Institute
Vitoron School of Charge 34–26 The Chromatik Institute

White Conference                         Pld    W   L    PF   PA   PD 
1 Capital District Academy                 7    6   1   244  159  +85
2 Vitoron School of Charge                 7    5   2   184  182   +2
3 Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School    7    3   4   168  166   +2
4 Cheonju Korean Institute                 7    3   4   222  204  +18
5 The Chromatik Institute                  7    3   4   204  205   −1
6 City of Lorentine High School            7    1   6   124  230 −106

Capital District Academy becomes the first school to all but guarantee their spot in the National Quarterfinals. The way that Kingsley Dillard has stepped up in both leadership and in his play this season has been immaculate - and in throwing for six touchdown here, he showed he can even do that on the field, too. Just behind them are the Robots, who hand the Dread another unforeseen loss - de Silva not able to match the play of Eyla Grotten, throw for throw. Grotten's ability to work with the three receivers on the Robots' roster has been the key. The Martyrs win the other matchup - Sibelius being left heartbroken as Ewy Glandl scores from three yards out with less than twenty seconds remaining - which means there's three teams tied at 3-4 with three games remaining. Which team will be relegated to fifth and have to play in the Promotion/Relegation Playoff?

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Sun Jun 01, 2025 2:12 am

OOC: Inspired by a real-life incident involving Jerry Jones's comments over a Cowboys' player's arrest back in 2023.

The Mathletes - Scientific, Literary Venue of Sports Journalism

NSCF-33: St. Croix head coach Galstian makes an odd comment following NT Cauchy Outtara's arrest for speeding

Diane Gallant

JOONGYEONG, JOONGYEONG -- Titles are titles, as Theodore Galstian's Tiger Bowl past January can testify, but there is no denying in that controversies continues to follow St. Croix head coach as yet another incident occurred under his watch in his first NSCF campaign.

Last Saturday night, Bleu et Blanc nose tackle Cauchy Outtara was arrested at 23:10 Central Time for speeding charges along the Highway of Heroes between Joongyeong and his hometown of Songak, after playing at the Bleu et Blanc's afternoon football match against Islamic University of Busoga. Outtara, who started at nose tackle over Claude Darrieux-Bbumba, recorded 6 tackles, 2 for loss, and forced a fumble on Reece Santos late on third quarter that prevented what appeared to be a touchdown drive for he Caracals.

It was reported that Outtara, a sophomore transfer from Nideyinan, attended a house party just outside the campus, near the Quartier Calanien, and went to a nightclub at the Villeray neighbourhood about ten minutes drive away. Afterwards he drove off on his friend, Q-Leaguer Cyrile Resnais-Mahama's Magnus ELS 450 before being stopped by the highway patrol just outside of Arrosianopolis, Terre-Aux-Oiseaux. Outtara, who was present with an unidentified man and three women of early-twenties, were out on an unidentified amount of bail.

This was not the first run in with the law that had involved Outtara, who many consider to have a second round draft trajectory in two years' time. One year earlier, Outtara was arrested for his involvement at a bar fight in Downtown Hanbat that hospitalised 12 and sent four to jail, until the former B1G all-freshman was acquitted of charges as he was a bystander in the fight and had no intention to be involved.

The St. Croix athletics department was initially unavailable for any comment to the media. Interestingly enough, however, the silence on the matter was broken by the head coach himself.

'What was it? 145 kilometres? It's not so bad, I could tell you that,' Galstian said on the phone interview with The Mathletes. 'You know, I've seen clips of Cauchy going 180, 190 on his driving simulator, blazing through the Highway of Heroes and then in the Banijan savannahs and the Acadianan highways...So 145 is a huge drop compared to that. It's way closer to 150 than 200, so yes, our young buck is doing fine for himself.'

Galstian's optimism on the matter comes as a surprise to many, who were just getting used to the ongoing saga involving his girlfriend, Therese Maheux, and a history of baggages that he had carried all the way from Bonneville State and to lesser extent his time as the offensive coordinator under Hannah McKendry. Regardless, the sentiments seem to be favourable enough for Galstian.

In addition to the Bleu et Blanc's 11-1 season that would then be followed by a Tiger Bowl victory on year one, the Bleu et Blanc's managed to carry the momentum into the spring football season as they stand with a 5-1 record. This includes dominant victories over Loyola-Istria (scoring 61 on your likely championship game opponent??? in this economy?), Islamic-Busoga and Saguenay, suggest that the coaching change was still the correct one made.

by **Valanora** » Sun Jun 01, 2025 6:36 am

Valanora Times
A Promising Future

As the summer turns into fall, the NSCF conference seasons starts to hit its home stretch as the domestic academy season is preparing for its playoffs to crown a champion, though it is likely to be Magnus Academy for the tenth season in a row as they have the lion's share of the talent in the nation. There is a reason why every fall that the list of the best prospects coming out of the Empire to be recruited are from the Magnus Academy and it is no different this year, going unblemished so far and having several standout players who are going to be graduating. Five though look like they are above and beyond the rest of the crop and could have immediate impacts at whatever schools they choose to go to, all coming with a winning mentality and championship pedigree with graduating from Magnus. Below are our picks this season for the five best prospects from the Empire who are going to be eligible to be recruited during the fall and winter.

5. Maria Almås (F), 5'8", 156 lbs, CB, Hometown - Raynor City, Handedness - Left
A speedy secondary who plays larger than her five eight frame with an impressive vertical, using it to springboard into the air for deflections and interceptions. She is a bit of a firebrand for Vanorians, not afraid to speak her mind but she also is not afraid to back up what she says either and her play on the field is exceptional. She probably needs a bit of tune up work to be ready to play at the NSCF level as a shutdown corner, but looks to be a good nickel option in her first year on campus. She is leading the academy league this season in interceptions and break ups, with three interceptions and fourteen breakups through ten games, even when playing against taller or stronger wideouts. While she might not be the complete package, she is a good secondary who has a lot of upside.

4. Anna Berge (F), 5'9", 165 lbs, WR, Hometown - Raynor City, Handedness - Right
Anne continues a tradition of speedy slot receivers that have excellent hands and route running coming from Magnus Academy. While not the fastest nor the largest, what she possesses is elite level route running, the ability to find a space in the zone and sit there for the quarterback or to use the routes to gain a step on her defender. This season she has provided a solid security blanket for the quarterbacks at Magnus and has thirty-four catches for four hundred twenty-four yards and three touchdowns. Her elusiveness also has seen her utilized in some trick plays, as if she gets out in the open field she has the shiftiness to be able to make defenders miss. While her size probably means she will never be a true number one, she is ready to play the first day she arrives at campus.

3. Matheo Ingebrigtsen, 6'2", 189 lbs, RB, Hometown - Mar Sara, Handedness - Right
Matheo breaks the mold when it comes to the usual running backs coming out of the Magnus Academy, being a little taller and having a bit more muscle on him to be able to absorb the hits that he is expected to see. However with a 4.38 forty yard dash, he usually avoids some of those more devastating hits from linemen and backers, as it is usually speedy secondary who have to chase him down. It looks like he could fill out his frame a little more to put on a bit more muscle to turn into an every down back, though Matheo is worried that putting on a bit more muscle might slow him down enough that he could be taking more of those hits. Also likes to play special teams, as he is in on both the field goal block team as well as a punt and kick returner for Magnus, having taken one punt back for a touchdown this season and averaging nearly eighteen yards a return.

2. Nicholas Berg, 5'10", 194 lbs, QB, Hometown - Stormguard, Handedness - Left
Berg presents a bit of a conundrum for both opposing defenses as well as his offensive coordinator, being a left handed quarterback who is quite mobile but prefers to pass rather than run. Unlike other quarterbacks with good speed and acceleration that decide to tuck the ball down and turn upfield, Nicholas uses that bit of speed to extend the play and make defenders miss as he goes through his progressions. While not as highly rated as Odin Sorbo was, he still looks to be an outstanding quarterback for wherever he goes and could probably earn a starting spot in his freshman year with a coordinator that is willing to learn how to use him properly. A bit of a stoic even among Vanorians, his coaches say that it allows him to overcome any mistakes that he might make during a game, having an ability to come back from a poor throw or turnover without it effecting him over more emotional players.

1. Abel Hammer, 6'5", 232 lbs, Edge, Hometown - Raynor City, Handedness - Right
This is the pride of this year's graduating class from Magnus Academy, whose name feels like nominative determinism if there ever was any as Abel is a tall, fast, strong lad who can lay out opponents with devastating tackles. What makes him truly an unique weapon for the defense is that he has the ability to fall back in a zone and provide solid coverage, as well as having the motor to chase down opposing backs and quarterbacks. He has all the makings of a future superstar as well as a captain, as he has strong leadership skills and is willing to be coached to be able to get better. While all of the best prospects mentioned have the ability to potentially start in their first year at the collegiate level, Hammer has the talent that he should be a four year starter anywhere he goes. He is ambitious and is looking to go somewhere that has legitimate NSCF title aspirations, looking at teams who have consistently gotten into the playoffs the last few years and in his opinion are in a championship window.

by **Banija** » Sun Jun 01, 2025 11:46 am

NMU Tight End, who is out for the season after a week 1 injury, released a song that has taken the Banijan CFB world by storm, in particular NMU fans. The lyrics are below.

Tune

[Verse 1: Horace Horton]
My touchdowns are a symphony
I'd tell the other team, we'll take the victory
Watch 'em run, from ya
For old Lance K, I'd run across the sea
Just to be where you be, stomping on Loyola's hearts

[Pre-Chorus: Horace Horton]
I know when the red beat the blue the girls man they go wild
We're for N-M-U! Not the blue baby bastards!
You know that the Celestia has been ruled now by the Cougars
Hey, yes sir!

[Chorus: Horace Horton]
We're all here for old NMU!
I, I don't need too much, just some Moravica
We're here for Northern!
I don't need nothing else
I promise Cougar crew, we're all here for NMU!
We're here for Northern- we're, here, for Northern
We're here for Northern- we're, here, for Northern

[Verse 2: Horace Horton]
Every day I wake on Cougar ground
You know we're title bound, go Cougars
I would ride the triceratops man every time
Celly till I get a fine, crushin Loyola's hearts

[Pre-Chorus: Horace Horton]
I know when the red beat the blue the girls man they go wild
We're for N-M-U! Not the blue baby bastards!
You know that the Celestia has been ruled now by the Cougars
Hey, yes sir!

[Chorus: Horace Horton]
We're all here for old NMU!
I, I don't need too much, just some Moravica
We're here for Northern!
I don't need nothing else
I promise Cougar crew, we're all here for NMU!
We're here for Northern- we're, here, for Northern
We're here for Northern- we're, here, for Northern

[Bridge: Horace Horton]
And we will have it all, all the wins we want
We will bring, we'll get all the rings, yeah
But what we really are, Moravica, we are the kings
We're here for Northern
Oh!
We're here for Northern
Oh!

[Chorus: Horace Horton]
We're all here for old NMU!
I, I don't need too much, just some Moravica
We're here for Northern!
I don't need nothing else
I promise Cougar crew, we're all here for NMU!
We're here for Northern- we're, here, for Northern
We're here for Northern- we're, here, for Northern

by **Valanora** » Sun Jun 01, 2025 11:53 am

Celestia Conference - Week 8

Cutoff.

Savannah Division
Islamic University of Busoga (BUS) 71–27 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)
University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ) 40–17 Royal Nobility Academy (OFL)

P Savannah Division                   Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
1 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)     8    7   1   277  161 +116
3 Islamic University of Busoga (BUS)    8    4   4   205  175  +30
5 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)    8    4   4   237  219  +18
8 Royal Nobility Academy (OFL)          8    0   8   129  264 −135

Sequoia Division
Lakewood Plains University (NKR) 31–30 Université St. Croix (QUE)
Université du Saguenay (QUE) 29–10 University of Nordhammer (NKR)

P Sequoia Division                    Pld    W   L    GF   GA   GD 
2 Université St. Croix (QUE)            8    6   2   245  146  +99
4 Université du Saguenay (QUE)          8    4   4   220  171  +49
6 Lakewood Plains University (NKR)      8    4   4   150  241  −91
7 University of Nordhammer (NKR)        8    3   5   140  226  −86

by **Drawkland** » Sun Jun 01, 2025 1:24 pm

"The Slight Whiplash"

If the Week 5 matchup between Sadeg State and Islamic Pomena was a slaughter, Week 6’s game against Lithrelir University was complete and total destruction. There was some trepidation among the Skyhawks as they flew out to Grand Exultia for their first away game of the Equinox slate, but those fears were completely gone by the end of the first quarter.

It could’ve been momentum from the previous week’s 66-point output carrying over. It could’ve been the Lithrelir defense being unconditioned. It could’ve been Jack Halifax putting together a flawless game plan to attack the Phoenixes. It was probably a combination of these factors, but once Sadeg State took the lead, there was no way they were giving it back.

Lithrelir began with the ball and got a few first downs before the Skyhawk defense sacked Kaelen Swiftwind, putting the Phoenixes behind the chains and eventually forcing a field goal attempt from Vonian Duskblade. On Duskblade’s very next action, the kickoff, Skyhawk returner Steve McCloud ran the kick back 101 yards for a kickoff return touchdown. Brooklyn hadn’t even gotten on the field yet, and her squad already had the lead. Lithrelier once again drove into field goal range, the Sadeg State defense bending but not breaking, resulting in another Duskblade field goal. The Skyhawks responded with their first offensive drive of the game, a quick and efficient one primarily on the ground, punctuated with a Rolo Fishman rushing touchdown. With time still remaining in the first quarter, Sadeg State was up 14-6.

The last real action from Lithrelir’s offense came at the end of the first quarter. Once again they got into field goal range before a stuffed run and a few incompletions forced another fourth down. Once again Duskblade’s kick sailed through the uprights. However, as the old adage goes, you can’t win football games if you’re kicking a field goal every time your opponent scores a touchdown. Brooklyn drove the point home with another near-flawless drive. This time it was capped with a Jace Phoenix dig route in the red zone, which he caught in stride and zipped into the end zone for Brooklyn’s first touchdown of the day. A few plays later in Lithrelir’s next drive, Gareth Rodriguez popped Swiftwind in the backfield, forcing a fumble with the sack. Chester Sparks was coming in on a delayed blitz, sliding into the pocket right as the ball popped free. He picked it up in stride and outpaced the Phoenix O-line for a fumble six. It was 28-9, and when Lithrelier went three-and-out on their ensuing drive, the feeling Sadeg had against Pomena was returning quickly.

Brooklyn felt like she could do no wrong against the lagging Lithrelir front. The O-line took care of pretty much all pressure, and her receivers were getting wide open on nearly every play. She had the freedom to do whatever she wanted with the ball, and took advantage of it. It helped that her defense was locking down and even forcing some turnovers. Brooklyn scored two touchdowns on short field position in the second quarter alone, one on the ground and one in the air to Dylan Copperfield. Add that to a screen pass to Fishman that somehow went over fifty yards for a touchdown, and the Skyhawks were sitting pretty at 49-9 going into the locker rooms for halftime.

“It feels unlikely that our defense will be giving up seven touchdowns in the second half.” Trace Hayes said to Brooklyn in the locker room at halftime. “How would you feel about leaving your helmet in here for the second half?”

“Respectfully, Coach, absolutely not.” Brooklyn shook her head. “At least give me the third quarter. I know you’re worried about injuries, but I feel really good today. I want to see how much I can put down.”

“It’s an unnecessary risk.” Hayes replied, but he seemed to be inviting further comment rather than shutting down the conversation.

“This is my chance to really flex my skills. I know they don’t look great today, but this is a decently ranked school. It’s a resume builder. People have been doubting me ever since I committed to playing football. I need games like this.”

“Alright.” Hayes nodded slowly. “But don’t make me regret this!”

She didn’t. Brooklyn stayed out of trouble after halftime, and actually added three more touchdowns before finally being sent to the bench. In the third quarter alone, Brooklyn put up a 7-yard rushing touchdown, an 18-yard passing touchdown to tight end Alex Moreno, and a 75-yard bomb to Jace Phoenix that opened the half. 3 touchdowns and over 200 all-purpose yards is a decent statline for a full game. Brooklyn put that up in less than 15 minutes.

Even with Reed Harper under center for the fourth quarter, the Skyhawks kept moving. They only managed one more touchdown, a short-yardage run by fullback Zachery Jaymes, but Harper also led a pair of field goal drives. Nicky Wolfe got to put up 6 points of his own on top of all fourteen kickoffs he had to handle throughout the game. What a workout!

Brooklyn’s final line was 7 touchdowns (2 rushing, 5 passing) and 689 total yards (202 rushing, 488 passing). Throughout her entire football career, she’d never had an official game with numbers that high. It was simply the perfect day, and the fact that Sadeg State retained a sole lead over the Starlight Division afterwards was just the cherry on top.

Good things don’t last forever, unfortunately. The Equinox road trip continued and concluded with a road game against Silver Coast State College. Silver Coast State and Sadeg State had developed a small rivalry already through SCSC’s tenure in the Horizon Conference, with the Skyhawks usually unable to overcome the Cadets.

Silver Coast State played a more ground-and-pound brand of football. They lived and breathed through the run. Even though they had been beaten down by the Starlight like the rest of their Equinox fellows, they were still in the running for the Equinox division title alongside Lithrelir. This game against Sadeg State was their best opportunity to get a quality win on their resume going into the final divisional weeks. If anything, they’d prepared more for this game than any of the games before it.

Sadeg State was content to plan as they had the last few weeks. The offense was absolutely humming. The defense hadn’t had trouble in nearly a month. They felt unbeatable, and perhaps the hubris is what did them in. One week prior, their offense had destroyed everything in its path. This week, the only thing the offense destroyed was itself.

Brooklyn had three turnovers on the day, two picks and a fumble on a blindside sack. Both picks came when she tried to fit the ball to Jace Phoenix on a risky 1-on-1 route. Maybe she was forcing the ball a bit, but she hardly had time in the pocket to find open receivers. The risk reward just never panned out in Sadeg State’s favor. While the offense sputtered, the defense was blown back by the aggressive attack of the Cadets. After spending a few weeks handling rudimentary rushing tactics and pressurized passing situations, having to play against a more intricate option offense was simply shocking.

The Skyhawks didn’t get to paydirt until the second half. The Cadets were still leading by two touchdowns at that point. No matter who you’re playing, it’s unlikely that a pair of Nicky Wolfe field goals combined with a single Brooklyn Beck touchdown pass was going to cut it. The defense simply fell back into its old ways, overpursuing and missing plays that they should’ve made.

33-13 isn’t how Sadeg State wanted to end the Equinox schedule, but you take your lumps when you’re in the Horizon. At least they weren’t Staramara Tech, who lost two games in the cross-divisional slate. Regardless, it turned the Starlight Division from one led by Sadeg State to a three-horse race led by … wait a minute, is that Cavsar in first place? No matter. This game may have pumped the brakes for the Skyhawks, but hopefully that's what they needed to refocus going into a critical game on the schedule.

Trace Hayes felt personally responsible for the loss to Silver Coast State. With the cross-divisional schedule nearly complete and a very important game against Mountain District University on the horizon, Hayes fell into the trap of looking ahead at the more important game. Specific preparation for SCSC was minimal, and the Skyhawks paid the price. Now the game against MDU was even more crucial considering that the winner would probably take sole possession of the division lead. Because c’mon, there’s no way Cavsar hangs on for more than a week.

At Monday practice following the loss to Silver Coast State, Coach Hayes stood in front of the Skyhawks football team and personally apologized for the mistake. It was a little awkward, but it was a great showing of accountability that the Sadeg State locker room had sorely lacked for years. Brooklyn also apologized during the offensive meetings for turning the ball over, though this time most of them didn’t blame her. She was just trying to make plays in a game that was out of reach for most of the runtime.

Regardless, there was nothing left to do but continue preparing for the Firehawks. The Sadeg State offense did average over 50 points per game for a three week stretch, so it was safe to say the offense was comfortable despite their stinker against Silver Coast State. On the other hand, it did mean there was a lot more film to analyze. Firehawks were surely inspecting every snap by Brooklyn to see how best to neutralize her, while the Skyhawks were similarly looking to be the first to actually stop Hudson Charles in his surprise senior swansong.

It seemed that not everyone on the Sadeg State offense was on the same page, however. The team was cleaning up in the locker room following their last practice of the week when Jace Phoenix once again approached Brooklyn Beck.

“Hey B, I’ve got a question.” Jace started, lifting a leg to lunge slightly on the bench next to Brooklyn.

“Shoot.” Brooklyn flashed a look at Jace. What was strange is that he looked a little confused, rather than leading with his trademark smirk.

“Okay, I’ll admit I’m not super well-versed in all this NSCF stuff. I only half paid attention when I was at Raikennax, y’know, and it’s not like I was invested in the schedule or anything.”

“Yeah?” Brooklyn prompted when Jace seemed to pause expectantly.

“I know that Felswyr State is probably our biggest rival, right? At least as far as the Horizon Conference is concerned.” Jace turned to look at the large whiteboard across the locker room which displayed Sadeg State’s current schedule in bold lettering. “So, like, when are we playing them? Shouldn’t we have faced them once already?”

“Felswyr - oh my.” Brooklyn groaned. “We already played them once. And we’re playing them this week, man. The Firehawks.”

“I may be less literate than you, but I can tell that it says ‘Mountain District’ this week.” Jace pointed at the board, then turned back to Brooklyn.

“They changed their name last semester. Mountain District IS Felswyr State.”

“What?!” Jace exclaimed. He visibly recoiled as if physically struck. “Why … why would they change the name?”

“I dunno. Something academic, I guess.” Brooklyn shrugged, peeling off her socks.

“Moun-tain Dis-trict Un-i-ver-si-ty.” Jace recited the name with precise pronunciation. “Gah! That’s terrible! It doesn’t even roll off the tongue. Like, Felswyr State. Boom. Felswyr State Firehawks. It just makes sense. I hate the Chromatik schools as much as the next guy but I’d admit that at least they had a snappy name. This? This is horrendous.”

“Trust me, I’m on board.” Brooklyn chuckled. “All us NSCF vets had the same thoughts when we got the news last year.”

“Mountain District.” Jace repeated, as if trying to get his mouth used to saying it. “There’s just zero aura in that. And the acronym, what is it, MDU? Forget it. That’s ripe for abuse.”

“FSU had that problem, too.” Senior wideout Dylan Copperfield chimed in. “We’d call them FuckShit University all the time.”

“MDU is so much worse. I can think of three right off the top of my head.” Jace rubbed his chin for effect. “Micro Dick University. Boom. I guess that’s low hanging fruit, but whatever.”

“It wouldn’t be that low-hanging in that case,” somebody snickered, earning several laughs from that corner of the locker room.

“Massive Douche University,” Brooklyn offered, keeping the chain going. Suddenly a clamor of voices erupted as the players took hold of the bit.

“Wait, it’s District? I thought it was Mountain Dew.”

“What’s Mountain Dew? And what did you do to that wall?”

“I dunno, don’t worry about it.”

“Meat Drape University?” That one got some laughs.

“Mommy Do-er University.”

“That’s a little forced.”

“Yeah, just like me when-”

“Many Dorks University!”

“Maybe you should transfer there.”

“You guys suck at this,” Brooklyn tried to stop the conversation before it got further out of hand. Unfortunately, it was a tad too late.

“HEY!” Strength and conditioning coach Thad Hancock roared as he walked across the locker room. He’d been in to check on the ankle wrapping of one player with the athletic trainers when he heard the commotion. “What’s this nastiness I’m hearing over here?”

“We’re just riffing, Coach!” Jace replied immediately. “Little bit of trash talk-”

“We DO NOT talk like that about our opponents!” Coach Hancock countered immediately, bearing down on Jace. “We treat them with the respect they deserve. When you actually manage to beat them for the conference title you can call them all the dirty names you want. But not before!”

The assembled teammates mumbled notes of assent and quickly finished getting their practice clothes off. It was fun in the moment, but Coach Hancock also had a point. There’s no use in talking trash if you can’t back it up.

So, one day later, the Sadeg State football squad stood in the tunnel under Skyhawks’ Gridiron Park, anxiously awaiting their second matchup with Mountain District University. The fate of both teams in the conference could hang in the balance. Brooklyn took deep breaths as she prepared to lead the charge onto the field. This game could potentially make or break her legacy. No pressure.

by **Cardenao** » Sun Jun 01, 2025 5:25 pm

Peppi’s Perplexity

“You’re doing what bro??”

“Ahhh cmon on man, don’t be a dick about this!”

“Relax Peppi, I'm just curious man! You been pretty busy recently, I’m just tapping in with my guy.”

Nick Singer genuinely meant what he said. The Ranorian had a heart big enough to match the toothy smile he loved flashing around campus. Always the first to laugh, always the one to make a late but dramatic entrance to a party, always the one to light up any room he entered, it was easy being cheesy when you’re the starting quarterback for one of the best teams in the Big-8…or at least that’s what the Alexandria University Swordsmen said on their recruiting letters. As the captain and star of the team, Nick cared about his boys, especially his backup on the depth chart.

“Well…I mean you know I been hanging out with that chick, she’s just getting me into a study group! Grades been slipping some, she wants to help me get back on track!”

“Dang my boy, she sounds like a good one! Don’t be committing to hard to her though, once I leave, man, you’re gonna be the star and the big man on campus.”

“Yeah I guess. Thanks Nick, I gotta dip now though, see you at practice,” Peppi said as they came to a stop outside the hall where the study group was waiting for him.

“Alright alright, see ya Big P. Don’t be studying too hard now, we’re here for football baby!” The Ranorian laughed as he ambled off, calling across the quad to another of his many friends.

Peppi Klerkx chuckled as he wheeled around and jogged up the stairs of the hall, with the red, white, and blue AU emblazoned on the solar heated brick. He was used to that sort of good-natured ribbing from Nick Singer and the rest of the team. Shoot, the only player teased more than the kicker might be the backup quarterback, even though he admitted he didn’t have much more to do than being in a permanent state of readiness. He pushed open the old oak door and stepped out of the muggy Alexandrian heat into the cool relief of the air conditioned hall.

“You’re here!” She squealed as she ran over to him and jumped into his arms.

“I mean yeah, you asked me to come, Kay! Course I’m gonna show up.”

“Well I hoped so but you’re Mr. Football Man, always sooo busy, too busy for little ole me.” Kay said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“Cmon QT, you should by now you’re number one in my schedule!”

And it was true. Sure enough, Peppi Klerkx was falling more and more for the mysterious Kay…all was going according to plan.

“Thank for coming Peppi, you’ll like these people,” she said as they walked up the main stairs, “They’re smart, curious, open, just trying to figure it all out. Just like you and me!” Kay finished with a smile.

And so, here he was in a small study room, backup quarterback to an Alexandria University team that, despite recently smashing Ye Dnad University 37–24, found themselves far adrift in fourth place in the Big-8; once again it seemed a promising start to the season would fizzle out into nothingness.

The room had that dusty, sour smell of an old room that didn’t get nearly enough airflow, though the sweet smell of Cadacha, a sort of Cardenaoan chocolate coffee, wafted through the air and seductively pulled at his nose. There were eight people in the room already, students…probably. Peppi couldn’t help but notice one of the men looking too old for the college environment, and there was a certain sense of steely self-resolve that underpinned that. There was a thin girl with red, white, and blue headphones, absentmindedly tracing shapes or drawing or something on an electronic pad. There was a rather heavyset fellow wearing, of all things, a New Cardonia State Thunderhawk hoodie, and he gave Peppi the classic male-to-male nod that suggested the stranger knew the quarterback, though Pep didn’t recognize him back and offered a half-hearted wave.

“C’mon cmonnnn,” Kay said as she dragged him to a pair of empty seats on the far side of the room. She sat, patted the chair next to her, and again flashed that smile to Peppi; just like that, the weird nervous nerves settled themselves, “I’m glad you came, thank you Pep.”

And with that, as if the room had been waiting for them, the lights dimmed and the show got started.

An old projector hummed to life, throwing up images that were tinted yellow with age. The wall came to life: a slide showing two pictures of New Cardonia State. The one on the left was simply titled ‘Old’ and it showed a campus bustling with life, it looked right down on the main stretch of NCS, there were probably thousands of students, Peppi could make out people playing games on the grass, there he could see a couple well built students, ‘probably athletes, shit they got a footballers build…did NCS have a football team?’, it had all the signs of what you want a college campus to have; life and the vibrancy of youth. Peppi looked at the image on the right and was shocked at the difference.

Titled ‘Now’ and it was like some sort of ghost had arrived and sucked the life out of the place. There were only a handful of students dotted about the campus, several of the buildings showed clear signs of disrepair, the trees looked sickly, dying; it was as if the ambiance and air of life itself had simply been removed from the equation. Peppi was so transfixed by the image, it took him a few minutes to realize the fellow in the Thunderhawks jersey had been speaking the whole time.

He was talking about something called historical memory. It was a little much for Peppi, his mind had been carefully developed to understand Xs and Os, but he found himself making some level of sense of it after a bit. The guy, named Kobi, Kay whispered over to him, elaborating on how there was the memory of an event that we, the individual have, and there was another memory of an event that we, the public have, and oftentimes those two memories were at odds with each other. Historical memory was written by the victor, and national narratives get built from that; this is how people on the other side of the country, the other side of the world would have a certain interpretation of how an event, completely unrelated to them, played out. Somehow, this had something to do with New Cardonia State, Peppi had missed that part, but then came something interesting. Kobi was talking about uncomfortable truths and how they get erased, even in Cardenao without you knowing, and he referenced some sort of law, or national directive, or something like that which Pep had never heard of.

Rule 34, which apparently allowed Mihaly to control what was taught or said about…well anything and everything it sounded like from what Kobi was saying. Yes, it seemed this particular rule allowed the ruler of Cardenao to directly influence what was being taught across all levels of education, and even beyond, it seemed this mechanism allowed him to even influence national media and more. In short, the story was whatever Mihaly wanted it to be. Kobi was quick to clarify that, by and large, Rule 34 wasn’t really being utilized that much, yet there was one area where he had been able to identify a concentrated policy focus; New Cardonia State.

Specifically, Kobi went on to elaborate how Mihaly was using Rule 34 to control the narrative around the forced relocation of student athletes and staff from NCS to Alexandria University.

Forced relocation? Huh!?’ Peppi wasn’t familiar with any of this.

The girl with the headphones, Kayla, got up next and started reading some sort of a before and after comparison. ‘Before and after what exactly?’

Then the projector flickered back to life, this time with images, pictures Peppi had never seen or heard talk of. It was a mass of buses lined up, with football players getting herded onto them, he could tell they were footballers because some of them clearly still had their pads on, they must’ve been pulled out mid-practice. Some staff, probably professors judging by their glasses, hunched shoulders, and dorky demeanor in general, were also being guided onto some other buses. What…the…fuckkkkkkkkk? What was the reason for all……this?

“The reason for all this,” Kayla conveniently continued, “Was because Alexandria University won the college basketball championship and Mihaly wanted to capitalize on that. Obviously the solution was to move the already existing New Cardonia State athletic teams to Alexandria University and have them compete under that banner.

More attention, more prestige, more eyes on Cardenao…isn’t that all Mihaly wants?”

Peppi shifted in his seat at this. Not of discomfort, in fact he felt more comfortable in this moment than he would’ve expected from himself, but it was more like unfamiliarity. Like when he steps into a new stadium and has to get used to the feel of a turf that wasn’t quite right and a crowd that wasn’t quite friendly. All this talk of Mihaly……all this talk against Mihaly, the backup QB felt like he was perhaps supposed to be more nervous in this conversation than he was, but he found himself becoming consumed by curiosity. This was not the Cardenao he knew, though this could perhaps be the Mihaly he’d heard whispers of.

As the meeting continued, as more details came to light and Peppi found himself swimming in revelations, he became somewhat aware of a pair of eyes on him. He felt Kay’s gaze, looking at him, gauging his reaction, and it didn’t take longer for him to feel the one pair of eyes become two, three, four, before he realized it seemed everyone in the room was looking at him, wondering what he was thinking. Despite that, no one asked him to speak, no one was waiting for him to say something profound, they didn’t ask him to take any information, or sign him up, or anything like that.

No, the eight in that room simply sat and discussed the fallout of the move from NCS to AU just over five years ago. How that impacted the schools, how that impacted the students, how that impacted the nation, a nation that had no clue of what had happened. Because of Rule 34. The rule that allowed to shape what was being discussed and ultimately what a nation remembered. And what a nation forgot, and the power that made that happen.

Eventually, the ‘event’ came to an end, and Peppi sat there in silence. Eventually, after she said goodbye to the other participants, Kay grabbed his hand and they walked back towards the athlete’s dorms. He didn’t say much and she didn’t push. As they came to the final steps, she paused, turned, and looked him in the eyes.

“I know you’re thinking something my Peppi, let me in that mind of yours.”

The quarterback offered a shrug in return, he wasn’t entirely sure how to answer. “I mean……it was definitely interesting…if it’s all true.”

“You don’t have to agree with everything,” she quickly replied, “Just come meet them again, they really look up to you. You’re special Peppi, in ways you don’t even realize, but spaces like these will help you understand. Help you become who I know you can be. Someone special. Football is great, but you can be special.”

“I guess, yeah I guess so,” he nodded in response. The exhaustion of an early morning gym workout followed by an afternoon on the field practice, then all of this? Peppi was ready for his day to be over. He didn’t know anything about being special, or about ‘being in spaces like that’ but Kay’s validation didn’t hurt.

“Well I better be off then, me and the girls have wine and a movie to watch tonight,” and with that, she stood on her tip-toes and gave him a kiss on the cheek and wheeled off into the night, before pausing and looking back at him.

“Believe in yourself, Pep. I know I do.” And she was gone, leaving Alexandria’s backup QB standing on the precipice of something invisible but very, very real.

Watching Kay fade into the night, Peppi pulled out his phone and pulled up Cadsearch, the nation’s premier search engine (it was a bit shite).

He typed in: Rule 34 Cardenao

‘Huh, that’s strange,’ he thought to himself. The first result failed to load, seemingly blocked from loading right from the get go.

He tried another one. Then another one.

The results weren’t showing up.

………

‘Sonnnnuvabitchhhh,’ he exhaled.

The results were blocked.

Unbeknownst to Peppi, as he realized perhaps there was more than football out there, something was taking notice of him.

His initial search caused a virtual ear to perk up, the search might’ve been an error but the system was primed for any further input.

Then he tried accessing a search result. Then he tried another. And another. By the time Peppi changed the terms of his search, a yellow warning indicator had started flashing on a virtual alert board.

The search for information on the dark underbelly of Cardenao was a two way street; while you searched, others watched…

NSCF 33 - Everything Thread

OOC I

Jules heater inbound?

Big Eight, Zephyr: MD7

Brooklyn Beck (S5:E6)

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