[ 4th Quarter ]
As we come out for possibly the last 4th quarter of the season the boys underlying nervousness is still surfacing as Tampa Bay on the other side is showing much of the same as Engstrom remains animated and focused as he talks with multiple players on his sideline as he prepares head back out to resume play on their 45 yl. Getting setup on their 45 yl the chirping all but non existent as the guys are the most focused they've been all year as the anxiousness in the stadium from the crowd can be felt. Engstrom first toss is just short of his receiver as Manny von Carstein and Ultra Fan pressure him early and his follow up hand off running play only gets to their 49 as they have to get rid of it early yet again as the crowd fires up at the boys keeping Tampa to minimal gains and crushing any 3rd Quarter break rousing speeches. Getting the punt back, Oyster Sauce goes down at our 21 yl with Nemesis "The Skull" getting in a possible first down as it's measured... but it's ruled not a 1st down as it's inches from a refresh.
Nemesis_1stdownmaybe_measured.png
But Kal feeds him another one and he refreshes the 1st down at the HQ 32 as Val "The Moofia Boss" takes an injury locking up hard with his assignment to buy Nemesis just enough space to squeeze in around the Corsair attempting to get hands on him. Thankfully it doesn't look too bad as he stretches it out for a few mins on the sideline as we're held for 4th down in turn and have to send it back buying Val some time to get some attention from Med Staff.
4thQ_injury_Val_back.png
Tampa Bay snags the punt back out of the air and makes it to their 32 with a 1st down on their 45. They keep the nerves heavy in the crowd as they make another nasty rush for 24 yards over center to our 31 for another 1st down. Rienen "The Ursus" grizzly's the Corsair runner on the following play as he drops him square on for a 4 yard loss pushing them back to our 35 as the boys give him some taps for the perfectly timed play disruption. Tampa Bay answers back though... with an Engstrom bullet toss getting to our 19 yl for a 1st down with Lord Rumbles making the stop. Tampa slogs their way up to our 18... and 15... but the crowd comes alive again as a 4th down is secured by Spell Sword making a pass block. The Corsairs get out their kicker to try and get 3 pts out of the drive...
TB_scores_9_9.png
It's good as we're tied up yet again and swap out players for the kick back... Tampa is fired up at this as Engstrom and his Corsairs have made good so far on his words about going point for point with us, but I let the boys know not to let this get into their head and don't get out of hand over anything going forward as Engstrom is going to count on us getting overly aggressive and take precious yardage loss on penalties. Element "The Watchman" cradles in the kick back as he goes down at our 29 yl, "The Juice" getting his hands on one again to our 36.
Juice_HQ36.png
Vergil "The Vampire" gets in a possible 1st down to the HQ 39 as it's measured once again...this time it's good as Stacko Turtles follows up with another crowd erupting 1st down to the TB 47 just over center field.
Stacko_1stdown_TB47.png
Frustratingly, once again they hold us there as we can't move forward as Tampa Bay is digging in fiercely doing everything they can to stop our progress and we have to punt it off to the fans disappointment... Getting the Wndrbr Boots punt, Tampa gets to their 19 yl as it's deep just ahead of the end zone. With 4:43 left to go in the 4th quarter Bertram Tung makes a takedown for a Tampa Bay loss pushing them back to their 15 as the 'ghoulish' one gets some love from the boys as every loss is needed and like gold at this point. Tampa Bay can only push forward 2 yards to their 17 yl as the boys are holding firm again keeping them to a 4th down and a punt back to us. The Star Dome is rocking yet again as this maybe be out last chance to try and take the lead as possessions now are coming down to the wire and limited... The punt back is caught by Oyster Sauce as he makes some fancy moves and changes directions several times trying to find a way around our D's lockups of the Corsairs as he gets to the HQ 47 with the crowd erupting in a "
SAUCE! SAUCE! SAUCE! SAUCE! SAUCE!" chant as that return was a beauty. "The Juice" gets another hard to come by snag as he goes down over center field to the TB 42 with Kal finding Maiden Haver finally for a 1st down refresh on the TB 33 with 3:34 remaining... Bob Tee gets one in to the TB 28 with Vergil "The Vampire" getting the camera feeds shaking as he gets a 1st down for us on the TB 15!
Vergil_1stdown_TB15.png
Stacko Turtles gets us a little closer to the TB 10 but the Corsairs put up the blockade again holding us to 4th down as a Kalzone "The Bomber" toss almost makes it into the hands of Cipher "The Maverick" and "The Juice"... White Shark comes out from the sidelines and a hold him up for a second telling him without trying to unnerve him that he has to make this one as a few of the boys and I give him a tap on the helmet as he makes his way out to Kal who's set to hold the ball for him after the snap. Kal nods at him and balls a fist striking his chest with it as White Shark tries to focus on his footing amongst the distracting roars of the HQ faithful all around him in his vision as he takes a glace at the posts, seemingly taunting him to put it through the uprights... The snap is made... Kal catches it and places it with a finger holding it down from the top as he hears White Shark closing in on it before booting it up...!
... ... ...
HQ_scores_12_9.png
IT'S GOOD!!!! AS HQ TAKES THE LEAD WITH JUST UNDER 3:00 MINS TO GO AS THE CROWD IS IN A DEAFENING ROAR! The boys on the field mob White Shark as this could be the final one as lines swap out to send it back. Camera's on Tampa Bay's bench catching the Corsairs displaying nervousness with some heads down as they get up to try and get one back. Tampa Bay gets the kick back with the crowd still blasting as they go down on their 25 yl. They get a 1st down refresh to the HQ 39 though on a crowd aweing return as they are stunned at the 36 yard return with 2:26 remaining...
TB_1stdown_4Q_HQ39.png
Timeout is called by Tampa Bay... The game could be decided here if they make it in and the crowd is on edge as a number of the fans are looking away from the field with many putting their hands over their face or their heads down, too afraid to look as the cameras catch the anxiety around the stadium. I don't have any speeches to share with the guys during this timeout, but instead Kal and the boys talk amongst themselves stressing the importance to
STOP.THIS.FUCKIN.DRIVE. Whatever it takes without getting into any bs... Heading back out onto the field as the ref blows the whistle the tension is at an all time high as both teams get set up at the scrimmage line. Tampa Bay takes the snap.... Engstrom feeding a running back who gets to the HQ 38 for only 1 yard... another hand off is made to Aiden Burrough, one of their star league leaders all year as he muscles one in to the HQ 35...3rd down... Engstrom goes for a short toss up middle left...!
BUT BREATH "THE UNDYING" GETS HANDS ON IT TO STOP THE PASS! 4th down! The crowd is a mixture of nervousness and excitement as Tampa Bay calls timeout again to stop the clock.... They are either going to make the field goal attempt and send it into overtime or go for it as we wait out the pause once again, the boys getting in a few last squirts of hydration as the stoppage comes to an end and we return to the field once more.
TAMPA IS GOING FOR IT. NO FIELD GOAL.
THEY ARE GOING FOR THE TOUCHDOWN OR FIRST DOWN REFRESH! The Star Dome is on it's feet as the teams line back up again on the scrimmage line. QB Francisco Engstrom and his line make a couple shifts in position and we follow suit to match as they switch the play up on the fly a couple times. The snap is made!.... Engstrom goes for a toss up mid into the end zone...!
DENIED!!!! AS ROGUEY "THE STEALTHY" GETS HANDS ON IT TO FORCE A
Turnover_on_downs_4Q.png
THE STADIUM ERUPTS BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH TIME TO RUN THE CLOCK AS WE HAVE TO KEEP IT MOVING. Kal runs what he can as we take over on the HQ 38. We push up to our 40 yl as Kal keeps the clock ticking taking his time in between snaps... he suddenly calls for the ball with a HIKE! Getting it quickly the receivers explode into position as he spots Nemesis "The Skull" up middle right and tosses him one...!
NEMESIS_4Q_TD_BABY.png
HE RUNS IT ALL THE WAY UP FIELD FOR A DISGUSTING 70+ YARD TOUCHDOOOOOOOOOOOOOWN!!!!! AS THE STADIUM COMES APART AS THIS IS IT WITH 36 SECS LEFT TO GO! THE CELEBRATION IS ON! Cameras catching Engstrom and team mates on the sideline with heads down as the loss is realized. "The Juice" lifts up Nemesis "The Skull" in a bear hug as Kal and he lift up Nemesis on their shoulders as the place is absolutely blasting with all the guys on field mobbing Nemesis as it's all but over! Getting back to our sidelines the guys get in some hugs and taps on Nemesis and I finally get my hands on him as he takes the helmet off and I bring him in for a huge hug.
THERE WE GO BABY! I yell into his ear that I'm fuckin proud of him but with all the noise it's unlikely he heard it all as he's almost overcome with emotion as he tries to catch his breath as the guys on the sideline continue the celebration with him. The crowd breaks out in a chant of
As Tampa comes out to take the kick back the crowd continues the serenade as they get the kick back going down at their 31 and 33 as the boys hold them with QB Francisco Engstrom running the clock with a knee to
END IT! RPGHQ ELIMINATES THE CHAMPS! No words or handshakes are exchanged as we simply head off field giving fans along the sidelines some handshakes and a few of our boys jumping up into the stands to be held for picks and taps. Heading off field the place is rockin as streamers and fireworks fire off as we head off into the tunnels to continue the celebration and a deserved 1 week rest! WOOOOOOOO!
HQ_WINS_18_9.png
THERE WILL BE A NEW CHAMPION THIS YEAR!
MVP for the game was Vergil "The Vampire" according to stats but MY MVP was White Shark as he sealed the victory with that 12-9 Field goal kick which was the game winner!
YEAH BUDDY!
MVP_VERGIL.png