Here's AAA#2 championship match.
Porto Reconquistas ruin Rocks party, brought the nasty taste of defeat as side dish - by Al Daly
Its championship games like this that make you wonder at the magic that is football. Two teams, giants in their own right, facing off for the glory, the prize, and the notoriety of being a bonafide champion. The team from Porto came in being 2nd rank in the Zeta Conference. Normally being ranked second means you sucked somewhere, but this game they came out swinging.
Porto came out and just began chipping away at the defense. 4 yards here, 5 yards there, the opening drive seemed to drag on. And that is what I think their game plan was, keep the Rocks offense off the field so their defense wouldn't have to sweat it out. With most plays not going over 9 yards, the Reconquistas 11 play 5 minute drive had only one big gain of 13 yards. On the 11th play the Porto QB, Jason Amaya, dropped back to pass and found receiver Jimmy Tea just crossing the goal line. The zipped pass found its mark and so did my curses.
Rocks 0 - Reconquistas 7
The Rocks showed why ball control is almost the only way to keep the Rocks down. Mark Hearn and JJ Jacobson started things off but it was Charlie Gunner who hit the fast forward button to get the team rolling. Will Sanders, Lawrence Dawsey, and Hearn were recipients of 19, 19, and 18 yard passes respectively getting the Rocks on the doorstep. Facing a 4th and 1 on the 9 yard line Steve "Long Foot" Charles came out. The line couldn't hold the Reconquistas defense and they deflected the 25 yard attempt.
Rocks 0 - Reconquistas 7
With 5:03 left in the 1st, Porto took over again and started another long, clock eating drive. Amaya started off the drive and was able to hit plays for 10, 13, and 15 yard gains. The running game was the main feature of the 7 minute drive that ended in the 2nd quarter. On the 15th play, that's right - the 15th play - halfback Faux Sho took the hand-off on the 3 yard line. Getting hit on the 1, Sho stretched to score, lengthening the lead.
Rocks 0 - Reconquistas 14
The Rocks next drive, their 2nd of the game, stalled as the pass and the rush just couldn't find that gear. Luckily, at this point, the Reconquistas also had the same issue. On their 3rd drive of the game the Rocks began their own 15 play drive. Unlike Porto, though, the Rocks drive stalled once they entered the red zone. Gunner was able to hit Maksim Maksov for a 14 yard gain but after that the drive sputtered to an end on the 20 yard line. Charles came out, with time, and nailed the 37 yard field goal attempt.
Rocks 3 - Reconquistas 14
Keeping to the same game plan with 2:08 left in the half the Reconquistas stuck with the run, not worrying about knocking out the champs of the Alpha Conference. The 8th play of the drive found the Reconquistas kicker coming out and hitting a 36 yard attempt from the 19 yard line.
Rocks 3 - Reconquistas 17
With halftime upon us, I quit drinking. This game would take all of us.
Starting off the 2nd half, the Rocks seemed to have had a great pep-talk. Three plays - endzone. Gunner dropped back looking to pass. The line held for what seemed like forever as Harry P. Ness broke free and Gunner found him. 38 yards for the score and the Rocks closed the gap.
Rocks 10 - Reconquistas 17
Porto finally got to see the Rocks D as on their first play of the drive in the 3rd. Max Singletary blitzed from the outside and went untouched to sack Amaya for a 4 yard loss. That seemed to rattle the Porto offense. Six players later Amaya overshoot his target, Adam Maliński, and Sean Anderson took the gift. The Rocks couldn't capitalize and had to punt. The Reconquistas were forced into a 3 and out. Two plays later the Rocks found pay dirt. Gunner left the game again with a report of numbness in his non-throwing arm. Kyle Morton came in and hit Dawsey in stride. 52 yards later and the Rocks tied the game.
Rocks 17 - Reconquistas 17
Another 3 and out by Porto gave the Rocks the ball with 3:49 left in the 3rd. With spot appearances by Gunner the Rocks were able to move the ball with ease. Entering the 4th quarter, the last two plays of the 15 play drive ended with a score. Jacobson took the pitch from Gunner and headed toward open field. Following his blockers he had one man to beat. And like a redheaded step-child, Jacobson beat Vincent Dillon and entered the endzone untouched. Charles had the kick deflected again, must have been his kryptonite.
Rocks 23 - Reconquistas 17
The very next drive the Neon One did his thing and forced the fumble. Shadetree Jones picked it up and lumbered 21 yards to the 16. The offense couldn't get things going and from the 14 Steve Charles nailed the 31 yard attempt
Rocks 26 - Reconquistas 17
Seeing that they were on the wrong side of the scoring, Porto changed tactics that threw the Rocks for a loop. Hitting a 28 and 16 yard pass plays the Reconquistas moved down field. On the 8th play of the drive Amaya found Tea in the cushion of a zone in the endzone. The kick got them closer.
Rocks 26 - Reconquistas 24
The Rocks tried to move things but couldn't. Luckily for the Rocks the defense stepped up. On the Porto's first play Shadetree picked off the pass to the tight end to give the Rocks great field position with 6:46 left in the game. Controversy again struck the Rocks. Facing a 3rd and goal from the 3 Reggie Yayo took the hand-off and plunged forward. From the press booth it looked like he broke the plain. The officials reversed the call of the line judge and the Rocks faced a 4th and goal from the 0 - THE ZERO - yard line. Charles chipped it in.
Rocks 29 - Reconquistas 24
Just like all game, the Rocks D acted on the first play. McLovin broke through the line on an inside track and sacked Amaya for a 4 yard loss. Unfortunately Amaya to Tea sank the Rocks as they went for 16 yards and the score.
Rocks 29 - Reconquistas 31
The Rocks moved down the field like a team possessed. On the 37, with 28 seconds left and no timeouts, the Rocks put their faith in "Long Foot." Maybe not the smartest play in the book. The 54 yard attempt was long enough, just not straight enough. One more play by the Reconquistas and the game ended.
What can I tell ya folks, it was one hell of a ride. See ya next season.
This is Al Daly. Consider yourself shellshocked!
