World Bowl 4 RP/Rosters/Scores thread [Archive]

Newmanistan

11-11-2008, 09:49

OFFICIAL NEWMANISTAN ROCKETS WORLD BOWL IV ROSTER

In this version of football, Newmanistan is traditionally seen as a good team and one that should have winning records and advance to knockout stages and maybe win a first round game. (OOC: Sounding like a certain Philly NFL team, isnt it?) They simply have not been able to get over that hump of ever being “more” then that. Brett Nicholson, the coach of the first three World Bowls has not been brought back, with the same going true for the coordinators. Maybe this will be the shakeup the team needs, to go that one step further.

Modifier: +2
Conversions: -1
Turf: We use different stadiums for each home game. But to make it easy: FieldTurf
Starters in standard offensive & defensive formations in bold, although we will change things up quite a bit.

RP Permissions: If you RP first, keep starters as starters. I don’t want to see a RP where my 3rd string played out of nowhere. Bios of players are provided, so try to stick with their strength/weakness. Do not injure anyone more then saying so and so was hurt. Nothing crazy without my approval (though TG me, I may be up for it). Other then that, you’re good!

OFFENSE:

QB: #14 Kenny O’Hara (25, South Tier Seagulls): O’Hara’s career has taken off, and after first being named as Pivonka’s backup in World Bowl 3, the scrambler is getting the nod to start in World Bowl 4. This is somewhat of a surprise and could create for some controversy over the competition. He is not just a scrambler though. He was great pocket awareness and can throw the deep ball as good as anyone.

QB: #5 John Pivonka (28, Tundra Falls Mariners): An outstanding passer, reads coverage extremely well, and hits his receivers with pinpoint accuracy. Mobile enough for defenses to respect it, but not a scrambler. Throws the long ball extremely well. Was the starting QB in World Bowls 1 through 3.

QB: #4 Michael Chatman (24, Putnam Lake Eagles): A young QB making his first appearance on the World Bowl scene. He has a terrific arm, and is like Pivonka when it comes to mobility, he can do just enough.

HB: #29 Corey Parisi (28, Tundra Falls Mariners): Parisi is an outstanding back that can be used in all situations, as well as a receiver out of the backfield. Corey is able to take it outside or take it between the tackles, it really doesn’t matter. He has been the starter in every World Bowl, and it wasn’t about change now, even with his teammate Pivonka now a backup.

HB: #33 Chris Padgett (29, Loudon Leopards): Never afraid to get dirty, Padgett will be used to spell Parisi, but is a dangerous as a third-down back. Will give defensive coordinators a headache when in a two-back set with Parisi.

HB: #39 Darian Westcott (22, Fairfield City Admirals): The only new face among the running backs on the national team, Westcott is an up and coming player, and will gain valuable experience here. He prefers to take it up the middle.

FB: #44 Tiberius Gillepsie (35, Loudon Leopards): A pure, blocking fullback. Occasionally he might get a handoff to throw the defense off, but blocking is his game. Could see several more carries this time around.

WR: #83 Alex Foster (28, Southport Tigers): Foster is the Empire’s primary deep threat. His speed allows him to get open deep, but that’s not all he’s about. He can catch the short passes, and is not afraid to go over the middle. This is his 4th World Bowl.

WR: #80 Christian Gagnon (28, Southport Tigers): When Southport drafted Gagnon in the 2nd round immediately after picking Foster in the 1st, some thought it was strange. But it has worked out extremely well, as this combination has been death to opposing secondaries. Gagnon is used more on the intermediate routes, but if he sneaks behind the coverage, he has to be respected for the deep ball.

WR: #82 Jordan Lyons (29, Tundra Falls Mariners): A possession receiver, who’s getting better with age. He saw very little action in the first two world bowls, before moving up to #3 on the depth chart in the last World Bowl, where he played like a typical #3 receiver.

WR: #86 Matt Bywater (22, South Tier Seagulls): Quickly became the favorite of target of O’Hara’s in South Tier, and is making his first ever World Bowl appearance in Qazox. Certainly, the fact that O’Hara is going to start helped him get named, but he could have been her on merit as well.

WR: #81 Corey Brooks (27, Loudon Leopards): Brooks will be the teams primary kick/punt returner for the third straight year. His elusiveness makes him ideal for that, but from time to time, he’ll be used as a receiver.

WR: #84 Tony Dempster (23, Hampton Bulldogs): A pure speedster with outstanding leaping ability. If he becomes a more rounded receiver, he could start in the future.

WR: #85 Jimmie Massey (23, Pocono City Capitals): Much like Dempster, but not quite as good of a leaper. His separation skills at the line of scrimmage are a little better though.

TE: #87 Jim Crosby (27, South Tier Seagulls): The starter in World Bowl I & II was the second string TE in World Bowl III, but now returns to the starting lineup, benefitting from his club teammate being the starting QB. Even though Crosby is more of a blocking TE, that familiarity will help.

TE: #89 Shane Seymour (25, Centralia Cougars): A receiving TE. Will come in mainly in two tight end sets, which will be often. The TE’s are the same as the first two World Bowl’s, just their role as starter or backup has been swapped.

LT: #77 Benny Halvorsen (36, Centralia Cougars): Perhaps, the all around best player on the entire team. He is strong and quick off the ball, and will very rarely get beat, protecting his QB’s blindside exceptionally well. Four year starter.

LG: #68 Nick Russo (32, North Charlotte Wildcats): Russo isn’t the biggest offensive lineman, but he makes up for it with athleticism and intelligence.

C: #69 Scott Burnett (23, South Tier Seagulls): The young center makes his first ever national team appearance, and while it’s another case of the coaching staff trying to make things comfortable for O’Hara, Burnett will get the job done in the middle of the line.

RG: #70 Brent Pemberton (30, Dover City Mountaineers): A 6'7" 360 pound mass of humanity that is just as intelligent as he is big.

RT: #71 Anthony Colanno (32, South Charlotte Condors): Unusually agile for a tackle, this allows him to be an outstanding run blocker, in particular.

C: #64 John Guerin (25, Pocono City Capitals): Also making his first national team appearance. John is an up and coming player who is likely just entering his prime, and could become a regular fixture on the team. His 6'5" 333 frame is all muscle.

G: #55 Sal Morris (25, Fairfield City Admirals): Sound in all aspects, best as a pass blocker.

G: #63 Archie Hawkins (32, South Charlotte Condors): Another huge guard, very good at creating holes.

T: #62 Matt Campbell (22, Pocono City Capitals): Debuted as a third stringer in World Bowl 3, and while he is still in that role, he is just getting better, and is seen as the protégé to Halvorsen at left tackle, perhaps as soon as World Bowl 5.

T: #67 Andre Barton (30, Loudon Leopards): Barton has been around for quite some time, though it took a while for his career to really take off..

Utility OL: #59 Jacob Beasley (31, North Charlotte Wildcats): Versatile, can play all offensive line positions, and is mainly on the squad in case of injuries, but he can hold his own when needed.

DEFENSE:
(we generally play a 4-3 base)

DT: #73 Andrew McClure (35, Loudon Leopards): Difficult to move out of the way, and is a very good team player. Not going to wow you, but he does what is asked of him. Starts for the second time, but is expected to see only about 60% of the action. Second stringer Brodie Colliton is expected to see a lot of time here as well.

DT: #95 Mario Martuzzo (31, Tundra Falls Mariners): A big man. Nearly impossible to move off the line. Like McClure, also starting for the second time after being a backup in the first two.

LE: #92 Tyrone Booker (29, Southport Tigers) Quick off the snap of the ball, loves to blitz, and isn’t intimidated by any offensive lineman. Will likely lead the team in sacks. 4th year starter.

RE: #99 Jason Hutchins (30, Olympia Gladiators): Similar to Booker, the biggest difference is he is not quite as strong. But if you focus too much on Booker, Hutchins will sneak up on you. Also a fourth year starter.

OLB: #76 Kalvin Thorson (32, Putmam Lake Eagles): Agile, very good in coverage. Is often assigned to the opposition’s tight end. 4th year starter.

MLB #72 Kirk Comforth (29, North Charlotte Wildcats): Signed with North Charlotte as an undrafted free agent out of college, and through nothing more then hard work has made himself an outstanding, all-around linebacker. Very agile, and plays with a mean streak.

ILB: #53 Jesse Savage (24, Dover City Moutaineers): Still young, Savage knows he has a cool last name for a linebacker, and does his best to live up to it. Getting better with age, this shows as he know has won a starting job after being a backup for the first two world bowls, and proved to the coaches he should be back.

DL: #94 Brock Kahnberg (28, Fairfield City Admirals): Consistent run stopper. Generally gets good penetration off the ball. Not flashy.

DL: #97 Brodie Colliton (23, Centralia Cougars): Fresh out of college, Colliton is expected to be a future star. He made his first appearance in World Bowl 3, and is getting better. He’s expected to see a lot of time as Andrew McClure (though don’t tell McClure this) is showing signs of aging.

DL: #96 Larry Washington (26, Hastings Crusaders): A big man with a nasty streak. If only he could be more agile, then he’d start.

LB: #93 Julius Conte (34, Pocono City Capitals): Conte is an aggressive linebacker. Physical and not afraid to rough up the opponent, especially QB’s. He can go overboard sometimes, though, being prone to personal fouls. That’s what’s going to keep him from starting this time.

LB: #52 Jaquan Hatcher (28, Tundra Falls Mariners): Will see time when the Rockets mix it up with 3-4 base as opposed to the 4-3. His best asset is his quickness. Prone to “illegal contact” penalties with receivers when in coverage.

LB: # 90 Shane McMurtry (21, Daytopia Racers): McMurtry, the first overall pick of the Racers in the most recent draft is a tremendous talent that has all the tools you want in a linebacker. He just needs a little more experience, and soon you will be seeing him starting.

CB: #36 Dan Strasser (30, Portsmouth Whalers): Decent speed to stay with most receivers, but won’t blow you away. Good height but won’t outleap all receivers. He makes up for all this with his intelligence, and intimidating hitting. It’s his 4th time starter, and he may have arguably been the Rockets defensive MVP of World Bowl III.

CB: #46 Stanley Bressler (23, Dover City Mountaineers): The young kid has rapidly ascended in Newmanistanian football, and had a great World Bowl III himself, complimenting Strasser very well. He should only be getting better.

FS: #26 Michael Ahearn (26, Pocono City Capitals): Very popular with female groupies, Ahearn’s physical nature makes him popular to true fans as well. And not as much to receivers.

SS: #38 Davisen Manzella (30, Dover City Mountaineers): Outstanding in coverage, is very wise to the tricks and moves that receivers will attempt to put on him. Should benefit from Mountaineer teammate Bressler now a starter as well.

DB: #30 Danny Giles (31, Springfield Throroughbreds): After being traded four times in his first three years, Giles has played with a bigtime chip on his shoulder. It’s made him a much better player. Very speedy DB, though not ideally physical. Should still see plenty of playing time.

DB: #43 Chris Johnson (26, Loudon Leopards): Has blazing speed, but sometimes that works against him as he can tend to overpursue, and get beat on cutback routes. Still learning. Will be alongside Brooks on kickoff returns.

DB: #22 Alex Sedlacek (24, Hampton Bulldogs): After a couple of injury shortened campaigns, the young DB has finally remained healthy and has thus been able to show what he is truly capable of. This is his first time on the national team.

DB: #44 Mark Asbury (23, South Tier Seagulls): Making his first appearance on the national team, Asbury is a hard-hitting safety. Might not be used too much, but when he is, receivers will need to know where he is.

KICKING

K: #3 Ashton Colfer (34, South Tier Seagulls): Very accurate, and composed. His career long is 61 yards, though it was wind assisted.

P: #1 Steve Meadows (41, Springfield Thoroughbreds): Gets solid hang time and distance on his punts, but his best attirbute is pinning opponents inside the 10 without the ball going back for a touchback. Also is the holder on FG attempts. Like many punters, age is just a number with him, and he is still the best at his position in the country.

K/P: #4 Terry Kallay (30, Pocono City Capitals): A punter by trade, Kallay is on the squad in case of an injury to either Colfer or Meadows. He has a powerful leg, so he can make the distances needed for FG attempts.

COACHING STAFF:

Head Coach: Jeremy Thompson, South Tier
Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Baldwin, Dover City
Defensive Coordinator: Jim Connelly, Putnam Lake
ST Coach: Larry Sylvis, Hampton

Rennidan

11-11-2008, 11:13

After they failed to make a full-force appearance in the first World Bowl, the Sports Association of Rennidan decided to cut all funding to the sport known as 'American Football'.

For most fans of the Gridiron, this was a blow that could very well have spelt the end of their favourite sport all together.

But luckily, at the heart of the industrial centre of Rennidan, there are a group of fans that are willing to give more than 'most other' fans are.

These, ladies and gentlemen, are the Rennidan Brutes.

They came into the second World Bowl as nobodies.

A bunch of loutish thugs who never had a chance of making it anywhere in the World Bowl.

They had no kit, no proper training.

The did, however, have heart.

And they showed that heart and detemination is all you need...

To win the World Bowl.

So here they are, back again for World Bowl IV.

And they're ready to take their championship back by any means necessary.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

RENNIDAN
Team Roster|Forth World Bowl Entry|The "Brutes"

Play Style: +2
PAT: -1
Turf: Uh, well, technically, it's cement. So we'll treat it as field turf for the sakes of scorination, eh?

Team Kit: Luckily, these guys don't have the finances to pull a kit together. Instead, they wear jeans or sweats. They wear t-shirts or jackets. They wear heavy damned boots without studs, and they don't wear pads.

They would look like ordinary Joes if it wasn't for the fact they look meaner than most professional players.

Team Stadium: Warehouse 17, The Industrial Sector, Rennidan.
If they can't afford a uniform, there's no way in hell they're getting the cash for a stadium. Instead, Larry managed to wrangle up an old cheap warehouse that was falling to pots in Rennidan's Industrial Sector. A bit of spray paint to mark out the lines and the posts on the floor and walls, a few planks of wood and some fun with nail guns means that, whilst it's still a shithole, it won't be falling down on anyone's head and you can actually play a game.

Team Owner, Coach, Manager and General Head of Everything: Larry Daniels

Players:

Note: Rennidan doesn't play with substitutes. Someone gets injured? They keep playing. Someone dies? They make a great offensive lineman.

OFFENCE

Quarterback:
Pat McGraw
20, 6’4”: Young, restless, and wants to win, McGraw works part time as a mechanic. He chooses to wear his work overalls when he plays as "it gives me boss free advertising".

Wide Receivers:
Lewis Seffer
21, 6’5”: Uses his height for the long throws, he’s not the fastest on the team, but he can break a lot of tackles. Often gets a bit drunk before playing. Can be quiiite amusing.

Marcin Lai
21, 6’0”: Fast, fast and fast. Slightly furious too. If you don’t keep both eyes on him, you’ll just see a cloud of dust.

Fullback:
Duncan Smie
26, 6’0”: A powerhouse of a man, Smie can run through a brick wall if he had the heart to. Unfortunately, he's lazy as hell. Still, he's enough to make most men have second thoughts about whether the tackle is worth it.

Tight Ends:
Tom Gui
35, 6’1”: Gui is one ugly mofo. Seriously, this guy should be the advertising campaign as to why you should wear a damn helmet when you play football. Just don't say that to his face.

Ed Yecks
24, 6’2”: Likes knocking people over. A lot.

Halfback:
Jason Yeilds
21, 5’8”: The fastest guy willing to play. He’s often called Supes, as he ‘moves faster than a speeding bullet’. Good at squeezing through the smallest of gaps in the defensive line.

Center:
Nathan Yecks
29, 6’4”: A big bastard of a player. Not afraid to play dirty in order to keep the other team away from the QB. Watch out for brass knuckles.

Offensive Guards:
Glen Feik
25, 6’3”: Nothing special. He gets the job done and, whilst he does it well, he’s hardly hall of fame material. Not that we can afford a Hall of Fame...

Wayne Willas
24, 6’1”: Likes pancakes. On and off the pitch. Seriously, this guy is one heavy sonova...

Offensive Tackle:
Rick Sestan
33, 5’11”: Former Rennidan National Wrestling champion, Sestan signed up when he realized Wrestling was getting too camp for him. He needed a real sport. Without Speedos.

Micah MesAlta
25, 5’11”: Heavy and fast, this combination means no one’s getting past him if they value their internal organs.

DEFENCE

Linebackers:
Daniel Cuddeford
23, 6’7”: Often used as a MLB due to having the best eyesight out of the three LBs. Strong and mean.

Daniel Guest
27, 6’1”: Stronger and meaner. Good at smacking the run blocker into the turf. Guest works part time as a butcher, and often elects to wear his work clothes during the match. It's never fun running at a guy smothered in animal blood. At least, we hope that's animal blood.

Nick Stow
22, 6’2”: Fastest of the LBs, he’s good in the open field. He’s incredibly focused when in the game, and a trouble maker off it. He's liable to cause the most injuries in the match. Strongest and meanest of the defensive guys.

Defensive End
Daniel Comach
23, 5’10”: Good at stopping pass and running plays coming from the outer edge. Dodge him if possible, regret him if not.

Sim Telek
23, 6’1”: Has a habit of hurting the other team’s running back. We like that.

Defensive Linemen
Owen Powis
28, 6’1”: Probably the heaviest on the team, he’s built like a bull combined with a pick-up truck combined with a brick shithouse. He can probably pull the other team into a geocentric orbit. We don't know what that means, but it's a big fancy word.

Lewis Buxton
22, 6’0”: New kid on the block, he’s very cold and calculating when it comes to playing on the grid. Probably the smartest of the defence, he also manages the teams accounts. Which stands at three Golden Crowns. Or $12.42.

Center Backs:
David McKay
28, 6’7”: Tall and slim, he has good hands and can pick the ball from the air easily if the QB underestimates his ability.

Graham Goldie
23, 6’5”: Brilliant speed. Can easily follow any WR on their route, and often shouts of 'yo momma'' jokes whilst he's doing it for added insult.

Strong Safety
Mosef Cracke
22, 6’3”: When he hits, he hits hard.

Free Safety
Dan Cooper
21, 5’5”: Fast as hell. Don’t blink.

That Guy That Kicks The Ball:
Clive
??, about six foot?: We didn't bother learning anything about Clive because, let's face it, he's just the kicker.

Miroxia

11-11-2008, 16:35

Miroxian Sports Inquirer

Mountain Goats Football Information Released to Public

After failing to win World Bowl III, World Bowl IV nears and the nation gridiron team has been announced!

Head Coach: Jerry Zechariah, age-56
Offensive Style: I Formation
Defensive Style: 5-4-2
Home Field: Mirox Motors Stadium (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_hodNSl6bx1I/RuHtGhSx5-I/AAAAAAAAIEI/NbbiTrbLPYQ/NippertStadium.jpg), Kelmont Creek, Miroxia

Modifier: -2
2pt. Conversion Modifier: 0
Turf:Grass

Starting Offense
QB- Jay Richards, #3, age-30
HB- Carlos Thompson, #29, age-24
FB- Adam Delfino, #40, age-36
WR- Jordan Kaz, #12, age-22
WR- John Davis, #89, age-27
TE- Al Reds, #84, age-29
LT- Tim Gold, #69, age-34
LG- Ben Silver, #55, age-33
C- Adam "Pancake" Koon, #52, age-21
RG- Theodore Young, #74, age-26
RT- Cody Woods, #61, age-19

Starting Defense
LE- Arch Walker, #99, age-31
DT- Barry Cream, #94, age-36
DT- Zach Morris, #77, age-28
RE- Harold Fret, #73, age-27
LOLB- Suru Young, #98, age-30
MLB- Connar Left, #71, age-35
ROLB- Taurus McPherson, #59, age-27
CB- Darryl Henison, #22, age-23
CB- Nathan Greed, #34, age-24
SS- Ethan Riot, #33, age-28
FS- Trojan Roma, #31, age-21

Special Teams
K- Ham Danrick, #2, age-38
P- Malik Darris, #5, age-23
KR- Al Reds, #84, age-29
PR- Sam Sasasru, #10, age-26

Bench
QB- Dan Westington, #7, age-33
HB- Ramses Hesu, #20, age-19
WR- Mark Walters, #81, age-36
WR- Noah McClean, #88, age-24
WR- Caleb Smith, #15, age-29
WR- James Trident, #17, age-32
OL- Abendigo Gresh, #62, age-28
OL- Joseph Kargarinm, #68, age-31
OL- Shem Decker, #64, age-23
C- Timothy Dent, #51, age-25
DL- Moses Marshall, #91, age-37
DL- Michael Fellahim, #93, age-24
OLB- Paul Jones, #58, age-23
CB- Saul Bly, #25, age-31
CB- David King, #39, age-29
CB- Goliath Stonewall, #37, age-26
S- Peter Rice, #36, age-34

Myedvedeya

11-11-2008, 19:12

MYEDVEDEYAN ROSTER

Myedvedeya Today releases the roster of the Kamchatka Grizzly Bears American Football squad.

PLAY STYLE: -2
PAT: Logically

Uniform: http://img66.imageshack.us/my.php?image=myedvedeyagb3bu3.png
Team Stadium: The 220,000 capacity Krakovsky Stadion is being borrowed from the soccer team to hold the rampaging Myedvedeyan fans. (GRASS)

Coach: Tima Zhuravlev

STARTERS IN BOLD

Quarterbacks:
Boris Shcherbatsky
Vladik Belyakov
Grisha Sorokin

Running Backs:
Vladimir Karpov
Pasha Arkhipov
Pyotr Ilin

Fullbacks:
Ivan Mikhailov
Vassily Loginov

Offensive Tackles:
Vadim Fedorov
Vassily Vassilev
Grigory Ivanov
Vladimir Lukanov

Offensive Guards:
Misha Chernyshev
Pascha Anasimov
Yura Sorokin

Centers:
Nikolai Vorobev
Timosha Petrov

Tight Ends:
Konstantin Evdokimov
Pavel Kuzmin

Wide Receivers:
Grigory Kovalenko
Valentin Aleksandrov
Ivan Volkov
Konstantin Melnikov
Eduard Timofeev

DEFENSE:

Defensive Ends:
Sergei Solokov
Vladimir Ivanev
Alek Vorobev
Eduard Kiselev

Defensive Tackles:
Boris Filimonov
Roman Gerasimov
Timo Bogdanov
Gosha Dimitrev

Linebackers:
Grigory Volkov
Leonid Titov
Leonid Kuzmin
Oleg Seminov
Tima Polyakov
Yuri Ilyin

Cornerbacks:
Vladimir Dolohov
Kesha Gromov
Zhenya Belov
Aleksei Akimov
Ivan Petrenko

Defensive Backs:
Georgiy Zhuravlev Strong Safety
Ivan Nikitin Free Safety
Slava Morozov
Dimitri Kiselev

SPECIAL TEAMS:

Punter:
Slava Karoly

Kicker:
Slava Karoly

Kick/Punt Returner:

Misha Shcherbakov

Rennidan

11-11-2008, 20:58

Things are changing in the Industrial District. It's going from its rough-and-tumble state to something smoother, something slicker. It's no longer all broken glass and bloodied walls. We're improving our lives here, and we're starting with Warehouse 17. The home of gridiron in Rennidan is getting a makeover, but we're not doing it like all the other sell out teams out there. We're not getting sponsorships and millionaires throwing their money at us to improve our existence, instead we're doing the true Brute way, with grit, sweat and tears.

From a decrepit wreck of a building, Warehouse 17 now doesn't look too shabby. It's still standing room only, sure, and the lads are still playing on cement, but it's fresh now. It's clean, and it looks modern on the inside. We even hooked up screens on either sides of the building. We're not lousy like the Secristans, throwing their millions at whatever the heck they want, and we're not lucky like Dancougar or Newmanistan. Even with our successes, the government here in Rennidan still refuse to accept gridiron as a national sport.

But I like it this way, it's why I support the Brutes. It's why I head the Brute Force and it's why I'm an icon to the underdogs of this glorious nation. I was there when this team was made, I was supporting it as it struggled through the first World Bowl, and I was there carrying the ruins when the 'Eagles' were disbanded. I was the man who stood on the ashes of a forgotten dynasty and brought about an era of some of the most exciting gridiron action the world has seen. I was there when war broke out in the I.D against the Dannys, and I was there in ecstasy when the Brutes fought for every yard to win the second World Bowl. I was there when they then fell so short of glory during the third.

And now, I'm back to see the Brutes return to their former glory. I'm here to push my men onwards into the heart of it all and emerge victorious against whatever the hell anyone throws at us.

This is, of course, the Brute Force way.

I am Michael McDavies, and I am here to kick up a storm.

_________

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

Rennidan: World Bowl Preview.

Ah, I see, ladies and gents, men and women, Brutes and Brutesses, we're here again. World Bowl IV has arrived, and now doubt the nation is donning its faux-jerseys with 'Powis' and 'McGraw' roughly scribbled on the back. I've always enjoyed the atmosphere on the Rennidan streets as the Bowl rolls on out. We don't get our own replica jerseys to wear, because not even our players wear them. And the Industrial District during the Bowl goes from crime-haven to party heaven. It's like Mardi Gras 24/7.

But I'm not here to talk about getting boozed up, oh no no no. I'm here to spin out what it is we all want to see here in the forth edition of the glorious spectacular known as the World Bowl.

World Bowl IV Top 3 Want-To-Sees

1: Rennidan versus Dancougar.

This here is, by far, the biggest thing every Brutes fan wants to see. The excitement we got from the clashes in the second World Bowl left us feeling empty in the third when we realized we weren't going to meet our favoured rivals. I know it's bad, and my mother would probably clip me around the ear for wishing such a thing, but I want to see more carnage in Industrial District. The Brigade versus the Brute Force was a more exciting match up than what was happening on the pitch, and will forever be one of the biggest spectacles in World Bowl history.

2: Newmanistan versus Qazox

Founder versus current host. You lot know it would be a great match to see. There's not really much more to it than that.

3: Kjomasasopia versus Secristan

These two met pretty harshly in the Baptism of Fire, and we're hoping Kjomasasopia's hate of Secristan will carry over to the gridiron. It could be the beginning of a beautifully violent American Football rivalry, and could lead to us seeing Secristan get demolished, which would be a wonderful thing no matter what.

Newmanistan

11-11-2008, 21:17

Pre-World Bowl IV Charity Tournament: (Note: These scores are an exhibition and not part of the actual World Bowl)

1st Day Scores:
(8) Cassadaigua vs (1) Dancougar- Dancougar 23, Cassadaigua 10
(7) Nethertopia vs (2) Arroza- Arroza 34, Nethertopia 3
(6) Myedvedeya vs (3) Rennidan- Rennidan 17, Myedvedeya 7
(5) Secristan vs (4) Newmanistan- Newmanistan 19, Secristan 17

2nd Day Games:
(4) Newmanistan vs (1) Dancougar
(3) Rennidan vs (2) Arroza

For Max of 5th Place:
(8) Cassadaigua vs (5) Secristan
(7) Nethertopia vs (6) Myedvedeya

Charities Playing For:
1) Dancougar- Teenage Women Without Hammerspace/ Pants Across Dancougar
2) Arroza- Benefit victims of Hurricane Helene
3) Rennidan- For Renovations to the Industrial District
4) Newmanistan- Benefiit Research for a Cure of Autism
5) Secristan- Retired CEO's Fund
6) Myedvedeya- Benefit Families of Wounded Myedvedeyan Veterans
7) Nethertopia- Benefit PTSD patients
8) Cassadaigua- Benefit Breast Cancer Research

Twin Dominions

11-11-2008, 21:34

TWIN DOMINIONS TRICORNES
http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1430/twindominionscg1.png
Head Coach: Marv Danson
Offense Style: Spread Offense (+2 modifier)
Defense Style: 3-4
Buckingham National Stadium Ground: Astroturfed

OFFENSIVE STARTERS:

QB: Mike McLellan
RB: Joe Knight
FB: Andrea Rossi
WR:Paige LaMontya
WR: Gorden Gortonsen
WR: Ivan Demetriov
LT: John Redcorn
LG: Marvin Gorban
C: Joe Wright
RG: Bill Carr
RT: Ed Hampsen

DEFENSIVE STARTERS:
DE: Lance Murdon
DT: Barry Withnail
DE: Mark Hampden
LOLB: Jack Romanov
LILB: Casey Marain
RILB: Trevor Gordon
ROLB: Ralph Raceham
LCB: Andrew "Asbestos Andy" Coltingdale
RCB: Jan Black
SS: Colin Portham
FS: Roger Baker

SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: Rolf Gortheimer
P: Eric Clementos
KR: James Randolf

BENCH:
QB: Hank Hill
RB: Tennessee Dodge
FB: Memphis Brown
WR: Lamange Twiverbacks
TE: Donovan Green
OL: Jackson "King" Kong
OL: Mike Davidson
DL: Dave Haines
DL: Grantham Lewis
OLB: Martin Gezzeritz
ILB: Lindsey Hampshire
LB: Dick Morecambe
DB: Stevie Hips
S: Chris McVities
CB: John McVities

Taeshan

11-11-2008, 21:53

Oh yeah we're back baby.(Come on Eagle really. Uggg. Although i used to like them, but now im a Bengals fan, Dont Laugh, and Go Cardinals, Lions, and Texans)

Coaches
Head Coach-Ken Wissenhaunt
Offensive Cordinator-Michiel Ditka
Defensive Cordinator-Orielly Finnigan
Special Teams-Devin Hester

Jerseys-http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/7676/taeshangn1.png

Roster
# Name Position Age String
1 Martin Gramatica K 26 1
2 Sean Landetta P 28 1
4 Gabe Martin QB/DB 24 1/5
5 Alec Dega QB/K/P 32 2/2/2
7 Marhito Dega QB/DB 20 3/6
8 Jack Cito WR/DB 31 1/4
11 Ernie Smith TE/LB 22 1/5
14 Ricky Zellefrow WR/DB 18 2/3
17 Alais Patrick WR/DB 36 3/2
28 Rudi Williams RB/DB 30 1/1
31 Jeremy Johnson RB/LB 23 2/4
50 Odell Thurman LB 24 3
51 Jesse Lapp LB 23 2
52 Dianer Marte LB 25 1
54 Jack Riosa DE/LG 26 1/2
55 Minsi Zathura DE/RG 26 2/2
60 Alan Zito NT/C 33 1/1
62 Shawn Plank DT/LT 33 1/1
63 J.J. Meoda DT/RT 29 2/1
65 Clyde Diez LG 30 1
71 Will Anders RG 24 1
85 Ocho Cinco WR 22 4
99 Trevor Karker Te 22 2

Style -3 Defensive, -1 2 points

Home Field-Fadron Pizza Field @ Wonder Park-Home of the Wiechester Wonders Football Franchise on Wolf Island Just outside the streaming metropolis of Wiechester. It seats over 350,000. Remember Taeshan is the snopwiest and coldest place to play any sports except indoors. Its outside with Snow so Q um is the a snow setting on your turf as i dont think the turf will matter on my field.
Go Falcons

Cotenshire

12-11-2008, 02:05

The Current Eagles Roster (with starters in bold):

Head Coach: Geraert Slues

Offense:

#5 Antoon Kerkrade QB
The best way to describe Kerkrade is a running back that passes occasionally. He is a mediocre passer but is as formidable on the ground as any of the backs. He is truly the greatest athlete on the team and is renown throughout the entire dominion for his athletic achievements. He is also an indispensable leader and the team’s play is greatly influenced by his presence.

#29 Boudewijn Geul HB, KR, PR, Backup QB
Small and fast, Geul can make good sweeps and catches in the backfield, but is not able to run up the field as well as Kerkrade or Zeist.
#36 Lambert Zeist FB
Zeist’s role on this team is a runner first and a blocker second. He should be considered as an extra halfback in many of the Eagle’s formations.
#35 Willem Urkster HB
Urkster does not stand out in any area of the game, but he is a credible enough threat that the defense must consider him when he is on the field.

#18 Robrecht Wageningen WR
Wageningen is shorter than the ideal receiver, but he is second only to Kerkrade in speed. His greatest attribute, however, is his quick mind that is always aware of the positions of players and of the ball. His ability to read defensive backs makes him able to make plays when they would otherwise not be there.
#82 Tileman Waalwijk WR
Waalwijk is not as mentally keen as Wageningen, but he possesses just as formidable speed and is excellent with his hands.
#80 Eduard Vorden WR
While slower than the two starting receivers, Vorden’s height and hands make him difficult to defend against in the slot position.
#19 Henrick Laren WR
#84 Magnus Rinchem WR

#86 Theodor Hoorn TE
Hoorn is most useful to the team as a blocker. He has good hands for when catches need to be made, but he is slow even for a tight end.
#81 Huughe Schede TE

#70 Arnulf Woerden LT
The entire Eagle’s OL is quite fast and athletic (or at least as far as OL players go). Their speed and strength are good for quickly getting up blocks on outside runs. The relative lack of size is sometimes a problem on inside runs.
#64 Michael Zierikzee LG
#52 Wolf Zutfen C
#50 Raynaerd Harlingen RG
#67 Frans Zwolle RT
#61 Jan Bolsward G
#72 Dirk Groenlo T
#68 Jaecop Mueller C, LS

Defense:

#62 Daevit Carwer LDE
Like the OL, the DL is somewhat smaller and more athletic than average. This has advantages, such as a deadlier pass rush, but powerful runners and OL can be problematic.
#95 Karel Franeker LDT
#77 Godfried Stavoren RDT
#79 Maertyn Drachten RDE
#98 Pieter Wesp DT
#90 Dirk Muiden DE
#75 Filips Zaltbommel DT
#99 Robrecht Zilmijk DE

#97 Kristof Vlissingeln SLB
Vlissingeln’s main duty is stopping runners that get past the defensive line. He is also good against outside runs and is skillful at shedding blocks. The downside is that he is rather useless in pass coverage.
#54 Brunulf Delfzijl MLB
Delfzijl mainly covers the middle of the field against passes and often is paired with the tight end. He will also stop runs that come through the middle.
#91 Coenraad Buren WLB
Like most of the team, Buren is small but fast. He is good in both pass coverage and pass rushing, but is lacking in tackling ability.
#96 Gerrit Hoogeveen OLB
#58 Simon Leuven OLB
#92 Berthold Tienen ILB

#46 Ysbrecht Roeselare CB
Roeselare is infamous for his ability to bump receivers and disrupt their routes.
#39 Otto Kortrijk CB
Kortrijk is a very well rounded corner who is competent at a variety of coverage schemes.
#48 Detner Menken CB
Menken may not be as fast as Kortrijk or Roeselare, but his ability to quickly change directions makes him proficient in man coverage. He is known for his ability to deflect passes with his quick hands.
#25 Jan Morgener CB
#31 Jacob Godaat CB
#21 Floris Oosterhout SS
Oosterhout provides extra help in pass coverage and his speed enables him to keep up with receivers on downfield routes.
#30 Emich Genk SS
#45 Bruno Seraing FS
Seraing orginally tried out for the defensive end position, but Coach Slues felt he was better suited as a safety. His big hits jar the ball loose with alarming consistency, and he frequently prevents receptions just by slamming into receivers before they can secure the ball.
#37 Baldewin Diest FS

Special Teams:
#3 Lodewijk Tonger K
#11 Guij Haageo P

Team Helmet: http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/2707/helmetle2.png
Team Uniform: http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/6179/uniformlq4.png
Location of Taale-Voren: http://img71.imageshack.us/img71/1/taalevorenkr0.png

Modifiers: +1 Offense/Defense, -1 2 pt. conversions

The St. Alfons Hippodrome shall once again be the home venue for the Eagles. Its capacity has been expanded to 45,000, and there is now a strict limit of one firearm and one bladed weapon per person in the stadium (although this rule may not always be enforced due to the difficulty of finding security personel). Also, Field Turf has been installed due to weather problems near the end of the last World Bowl Qualifiers causing the field to become "a muddy death trap."

Dancougar

12-11-2008, 02:16

The Dancougar Black Wings ride again for World Bowl IV! Coach Will Moohim has completed the triple slam, having placed in all three tournaments. First, then third, then second... if the pattern holds, the Wings are headed for a fourth place finish in Qazox. But first they have to qualify. To do that, Moohim is rolling out the usual gameplan, implemented by a team of amateurs and semi-professionals. There will be old faces, there will be new faces. And if they do this right, there will be ugly football games. The team prefers a 3-4 defense and a power running game.

Style: -2
PAT: -1
Field: Grass

The Wings play at the 30,000 seat Jared Koeppel Memorial Stadium at the University of Sullivan, which is known to the locals as the "Jay Kay." As the team will be sharing with the school's association football team, the field tends to get torn up during World Bowl qualification. Expect fresh turf to be laid from time to time, and if the weather doesn't cooperate, the field should have the consistency of Heinz Field on Monday night. And that's just the way it should be. We could've gone with an artificial surface, but meh... we like muddy death traps.

Players are given in their depth chart order:

Quaterback
13 - Michael Hussey (27)
10 - Booker Tilghman (19)
3 - Franklin Gelbach (20)

Notes: Todd Appelgate and Dusty Haynesworth, the starters of the previous three World Bowls, are now gone. Michael Hussey will take over despite only seeing a few snaps in the previous tournament, although he will be needed to mentor the up-and-comers. Hussey is a system quarterback who will be expected to manage the clock and keep the ball moving forward, even if his passes are as short as the team's runs. He doesn't improvise well.

Runningback
39 - Gary Hutchins (24)
26 - Logan Dublin (20)
32 - Harrison Vanord (28)
28 - Albert Edgeman (22)
21 - Derek Sutherland (22)

Notes: The two-headed monster of Kirk Hatchitt and Oliver Tangermann is gone, and Hatchitt's #27 has been retired by the team. Gary Hutchins will try to fill those big shoes; he's a physical back who will keep it between the hashes. Dublin is more of a finesse back who will hit the corner and freeze defenders with his cuts. They'll often be used in the same formation to try and fool defenses.

Fullback
30 - Sidney Etheredge (25)
34 - Jeff Emery (24)

Tight End
45 - Ed Mendenhall (28)
47 - Ken Whyman (25)
87 - George Laventure (29)
85 - George Wareham (22)

Notes: These guys are used primarily as extra blockers, although they'll see a handful of touches a game. If you see both Etheredge and Hutchins in the backfield, and you end up in a pile, prepare to be moved. Mendenhall has pretty good hands for a tight end.

Wide Receiver
80 - Jermaine Divalerio (34)
89 - Jay Milon (28)
86 - Fred Uselton (23)
83 - Russel Seelbinder (33)
88 - Billy Leuthold (19)
81 - Jordon Surgeon (29)
84 - Al Venturini (26)

Notes: You'd think that Jermaine Divalerio would be on his last legs by now, and he's certainly getting there, but the big man can hit a route like it's nobody's business. He won't be expected to be a deep threat, though, as if the people were afraid of the Black Wing passing attack to begin with. No, coach Moohim prefers short stuff, so it's good that he has guys like Milon and Uselton who aren't afraid to come across the middle of the field. Milon is the guy you find blocking downfield on big plays.

Center
66 - Ray Chartier (28)
67 - Frank Wheadon (26)
62 - Sam Kuhle (20)

Guard
60 - Hershel Seyfried (24)
69 - Christopher Lacefield (23)
63 - Rod Music (20)

Offensive Tackle
64 - Donny Cullivan (27)
61 - Brooks Wolpe (25)
65 - Kurt Yeunger (25)
70 - Gilbert Resnick (20)
68 - Jason Silvernale (21)

Notes: If we thought the turnover on the line was high before the last tournament, then we were certainly shocked by the turnaround here. In particular, the inside is all new, with Chartier, Seyfried, and Lacefield all at the top of the depth chart for the first time in their international careers. Their ability to step right into the offense and play at a high level will determine whether or not the Wings will go deep in the tournament once again.

Nose Tackle
78 - Cesar Tramonti (32)
76 - Christopher Gifford (20)
74 - Carl Gustava (22)

Defensive End
91 - Leonard Cristelli (29)
93 - Kendrick Lynch (24)
95 - Lance Basilio (29)
94 - Roger Westervoorde (20)
95 - Dale Heminger (21)

Notes: The defensive line is anchored once again by Cesar Tramonti. He and linebacker William Tolston are the defenders on the team with the most previous experience, and the question is... has age slowed him down? A bit, yes, he doesn't explode off the line like he used to. Arnone and Martella are also gone, replaced by Cristelli and Lynch.

Linebacker
52 - Kirk Manly (26)
51 - Neil Samples (27)
50 - Billy Aveline (23)
92 - Kerry Tierno (24)
99 - Mitchell Furlough (28)
57 - William Tolston (33)
54 - Bob Nesbit (21)
55 - Brian Milcher (19)

Notes: The aptly named Kirk Manly will take over as the captain of the defense after a successful World Bowl III debut. The rest of the pack is all new, with veteran William Tolston dropping down the depth chart to make room for guys with more strength and speed. Billy Aveline is a starter after benchwarming in the previous tournament as a 19-year-old phenom. The Black Wing defense enter each gameday with a variety of blitz packages prepared, and they'll feature Manly and Samples blowing up the middle. Or maybe Tierno coming around the end. Or maybe...

Cornerback
35 - Tony Rorick (27)
25 - Scott Maxam (25)
20 - Jeff Buckholt (20)
29 - Devin Knill (23)
40 - Richard Galawitz (21)

Safety
22 - Paul Dady (28)
24 - Alex Isabella (27)
31 - Tyler Reinier (22)
33 - Omar Garry (20)
23 - Stuart Waltjen (26)
37 - Rod Morten (20)

Notes: The transition in the secondary has been a little less painful, with Rorick and Dady both seeing a fair amount of action in World Bowl III as members of the nickel and dime packages. Now, they'll anchor the coverage team which is a bit undersized but pretty fast; they'll break on a ball like it's nobody's business. Moohim is also not afraid to throw in a corner blitz or safety blitz every once in awhile.

Punter
2 - Brandon Shelpman (34)

Kicker
6 - Seth Cavallo (23)

Notes: Shelpman is back as the punter, while Corey Stottlemyer is out as the kicker, replaced by Seth Cavallo. The special teams will be made up of second string guys from the rest of the roster, and kick returning duties will be shared by Alex Isabella and Logan Dublin.

Kjomasasopia

12-11-2008, 03:08

Oh yeah we're back baby.(Come on Eagle really. Uggg. Although i used to like them, but now im a Bengals fan, Dont Laugh, and Go Cardinals, Lions, and Texans)

yeah bengals

Taeshan

12-11-2008, 04:08

Wow thats kinda weird another fan of the Bengals. I have never actuially known one only seen them on TV.

Kura-Pelland

12-11-2008, 15:22

Kura-Pelland Arrows bring their short-pass West Coast offence and half-decent defence to the table again: a +1 style modifier would fit here, as the team generally wins games through controlling the football and the clock but are still more offensively-orientated. PAT approach is logical

Their home games will be played on the grass field of Shanvley Stadium, Trilan.

Base offence is a straight I form, and on most plays the team will opt for various two-back sets with anything between one and three wide receivers. The team like to go no-huddle even if there's lots of time on the clock, simply as a change-up; this will still usually involve short-yardage plays, typically quick passes, and the intention is to wear down the defence and create uneven matchups. The base defence is a 3-4, and the OLBs like to come close to the line of scrimmage. On short-yardage situations a 5-2 is deployed, on passing downs expect to see the nickel or dime but not the quarter.

The squad consists of 23 players on both sides of the football plus two kickers and two punters. Players are listed in depth chart order for each position.

I'm assuming it's four years since World Bowl 2, the last for which I did a roster. Time dilation shtime dishmation.

QUARTERBACKS
#7 Michael Bernard
Has a quick, accurate release but not the strongest arm, and he's getting old now at 33. But that also means he has incredible experience - how do you replace the ice-cool king of the clutch situation?

#4 Dick Vernasse
With this guy. The Arrows have a genuine decision as to which QB to use this time, and expect this 27-year-old to get lots of playing time. He's got a
powerful arm and can scramble.

#2 Freddie Mathers
A fledgling 22-year-old touted as the next Bernard. A pocket passer with great field awareness for his age, he may make Vernasse's international career undeservedly short, especially as he fits into this team's offensive system.

TAILBACKS
#32 Graham Illingworth
The main tailback, with great field awareness and soft hands but he's 31 and not who he was. He'll pick the right holes, but will his legs get through them
in time?

#30 Keith Mackail-Smith
The future, probably. A 22-year-old with blazing speed, he'll start as kick returner and soon become Illingworth's replacement.

#38 Horace Buntley
A big brute of a fullback. A useful blocker, but loves nothing more than to run through defenders with ball in hand. He's the man you want on third and
short, and at 29 he still has plenty of career left in this position.

WIDE RECEIVERS
#80 Giovanni Cassano
Has everything a wide receiver needs except blazing speed - height, soft hands and great awareness of where he is on the field. He may be 31 now, but his game was never about his speed.

#82 Dennis van Horsten
A source of massive pride for the Dutch-speaking Noorde region, van Horsten is a 23-year-old speedster who has emerged from nowhere to secure a starting slot.

#89 Brandon Walters
Also 23, but a more balanced player who can slot into any system and learns plays very quickly. Has great awareness and is being talked up as like Cassano but faster. He's not as good as Cassano, certainly not yet, but he could be.

#13 Charlton Fernandez
Historically the Arrows' main deep threat, 29-year-old ex-sprinter Fernandez is still used on many three-receiver sets. He's no longer the first-choice returner though.

#83 Xavier Lecavalier
Still a decent possession receiver, though not quite in Cassano's class, and at 33 his career is coming to an end.

TIGHT ENDS
#86 Tristan Del Horno
A 24-year-old who could easily be a possession WR but has enough finesse blocking ability to be used here. A real talent.

#87 Bryan Torse
A 33-year-old veteran pass-blocking TE occasionally used for a surprise pass.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES
#63 Alexander Constable
The biggest guy on the team at 2.09m and 163kg (6'10" and 359lbs), the 31-year-old right tackle is particularly good at opening up holes for Illingworth.

#66 Boris Bolinov
Ceding just two centimeters and one kilogram in weight to Constable, the 25-year-old left tackle is just getting scarier all the time and is a surprise starter ahead of...

#61 Clive Hulton
A utility tackle/tight end - a finesse blocker with some agility but arguably undersized for tackle at 123kg (271lbs), hence Bolinov being chosen ahead of him. The 28-year-old will be used as a blocking TE on goal-line situations, and can replace Bolinov or indeed Constable capably if needs be.

#65 Freddie Kuscher
Nothing much to say about this 27-year-old. He's good, but not good enough to get ahead of Constable at right tackle.

OFFENSIVE GUARDS
#77 Phil Cottee
The 26-year-old is going to be a legend some day. This could be his day, and he deservedly starts at left guard.

#73 Marshall Shore
The 27-year-old is the right man for right guard, particularly when it comes to opening up the run; expect Illingworth to run a lot down the right with him
and Constable helping him.

#75 Charlie Cottee
Gaining a reputation as a smart pass blocker, and at 24 his best years are ahead of him. Second fiddle to Shore for now.

#68 Clinton Bonham
At 28 you can't really say he's one for the future, but he's a hard worker who deserves his chance on special teams.

CENTRES
#50 Dominic Harvest
As reliable (and fast) a snapper as they come, the 32-year-old veteran feels no nerves. He's also got good pass-blocking ability.

#52 Harold Whyte
Bigger and stronger than Harvest, and four years younger, but his technique isn't so hot which is why he's number two.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES
#99 Stephen Oliseh
Weighing in at a monstrous 152kg (335lbs) and with great tackling ability, you won't want to meet Oliseh on any given Sunday. But at 31 he's losing his skill.

#90 TC Morrison
Will start in the 5-2. The 28-year-old is definitely versatile, with surprising agility and acceleration.

#92 Biff Littlewood
An emerging talent at 23, a raw physical nose tackle.

DEFENSIVE ENDS
#96 Frankie Colgrove
Is now a key part of the defence at 28 - perhaps the best member of this front seven. Loves to blitz, and has blazing acceleration for a DE.

#95 Mack Grundig
He's slimmed down a bit to 144kg. That says it all. Converted to this position from DT, and he still plays there in the 5-2; not the pass rusher he used to be at 31 but loves to stuff the outside run and does so very well indeed.

#91 Max Belgrave
Well-rounded, more agile than Grundig. Any playing time this 28-year-old gets will be out wide in the 5-2.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
#54 KC Borsten
He's strong and fast enough to scare anyone, and has a penchant for blitzing. First choice on the right and at 28 the position's his for some time yet.

#58 Vincenzo Delgotti
On the left is his partner-in-crime. Delgotti's a little smaller and slower, and two years older, but his tackling is superb.

#51 Timothy Caldwell
Has been plagued by injuries after being widely expected to become a first choice, but this 26-year-old still plays a very physical game.

#55 Brian Couric
A prodigious 22-year-old who might be the pick of the defensive rookies. Has the speed of a safety but can hit like a linebacker.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS
#59 James Watton
A canny player who likes to spy on the quarterback or drop into coverage and look for picks while Borsten and Delgotti blitz. At 32, his legs aren't the quickest but his brain sure is.

#57 Iain Benson-Wright
From the country's top university, Minsten University, where he gained a degree in medicine. Now 27, this is his first chance to prove himself as a starter. He's got the tools, and has great smarts as you'd expect.

#49 Gerry Lottora
A coverage linebacker, usurped by Harry Fish but still capable of doing a job - and with Fish injured, this 31-year-old has his chance to prove one final point.

CORNERBACKS
#28 Alex Nicholson
The 27-year-old with electric pace and surprisingly hard hitting - a wide receiver's nightmare and definitely the lynchpin of this defensive unit.

#23 Terry Mills
The 28-year-old has repaid the faith put in him and now has a starting slot. He's not brilliant, but he rarely does anything badly wrong.

#29 Cliff Poulton
At just 22, this guy is already a legend in the making. Will start as a nickelback, but a starting spot next time is likely.

#21 Alan Hemery
Fast but lacking in field awareness, this 26-year-old may have missed the boat, but he'll be useful stopping the deep Hail Mary pass every so often at least.

#26 Bob McKenzie
An utterly mysterious selection - he's 29, older than any of the other CBs, and he's not even that good. But injuries to other options has got him here.

SAFETIES
#25 Kevin O'Toole
'The KO Tool' starts at strong safety, but he blitzes and hits like a linebacker. And at 33, he runs like one, being harsh.

#20 Billy Spinks
The 28-year-old starting free safety is all about awareness and coverage. Invariably makes touchdown-saving tackles.

#27 Freddie Cockell
Threatening Spinks for a starting spot. The 27-year-old offers a more aggressive alternative, and will often blitz.

#24 Paul Madeley
The 27-year-old has to start at some point, but O'Toole just doesn't want to leave.

KICKERS
#12 Tim Pogley
Anything under 40 yards and 34-year-old Tim is your man. He just doesn't miss short field goals.

#11 Graham Brightman
Former soccer player converts to gridiron at the age of 22. Two years later he's at the World Bowl. Now he's 28 and continues to split kicking duties with Pogley, taking long-range field goals and kickoffs.

PUNTERS
#6 Graham Joel
This 32-year-old is solid and reliable; what more do you want from a punter?

#3 Mo Doulton
A stupid haircut? There you go. But this 23-year-old is Joel's likely replacement, so he's along for the ride and to slot in just in case Joel gets injured. Somehow.

Dancougar

12-11-2008, 16:56

A concerned-looking woman stood on a hastily assembled stage, with television equipment visible just off screen. Off to the side, there was a table of volunteers fielding telephone calls from Viewers Like You.

The woman smiled and addressed the camera warmly: "Welcome back to our 36-hour telethon for feminine security, and we're proud to be taking your donations for our sister charities 'Teenage Women Without Hammerspace' and 'Pants Across Dancougar.' Did you know that every day, hundreds of young women across the country are leered at by men who need to get hit in the face? Were you aware that tentacle sightings have been at an all-time high? Your donation goes a long way towards shielding a young woman from unwanted attention at school, in the workplace, on the street... almost anywhere imaginable. So keep those phones ringing, keep calling in your donations. Let's go to a call, now."

The woman walked over to one of the volunteers, who put the phone on speaker. Her microphone picked up the caller's voice, which sounded like a roomful of college boys clinking together beer bottles and chanting "Do it, do it!" to whoever it was on the end of the line. Our hostess tipped her head in confusion, still trying to maintain her smile. Finally, the boy on the other end spoke up. "Hey, uh, yeah, so, we represent Frat Boys for Easy Access, and..." There was a loud THWACK on the other end. "Oh god, my face!" The line went dead.

The woman walked away from the table. "That's right, your donations can help stop men like that, who view women as objects meant only to satisfy their twisted fantasies and whims. But thanks to you, our agents are standing by with interdimensional mallets in hand, waiting to strike." She paused briefly. "I mean... um... Right, so today, we have a special guest who is also working to benefit the cause. He's a former member of the national American football team which has elected to support us in the Newmanistan charity tournament going on right now, and served as a technical advisor during training camp. Dusty Haynesworth, it's good to have you here."

The camera panned up to get former quarterback Dusty Haynesworth into the shot, as he was at least a full foot taller than the woman hosting the telethon. They shook hands and he put them behind his back, standing somewhat at ease. "Thanks for having me, it's great to be able to help."

"So, Dusty, I have to ask, what exactly is this American football? Is it anything like normal football?"

"It's..." Dusty scratched his head. "Did... did you even look this stuff up before inviting me on?"

"No, but I assume that it's good that you win a lot?"

"Yeah, yeah, so a lot of people still don't know about Black Wing American football," said Dusty. "But we've finished in the top three of each World Bowl tournament, and finished second last time around even though we were starting to lose the nucleus of that first championship team. And we've rotated in even more new guys for this one, so it will be interesting to see where we end up. American football may seem strange because you have so much equipment, so many specialized positions, frequent stoppages in play... but I think that makes it more exciting. The impulse of each play brings a lot of energy to the field, and you always have to go full tilt, plus the timing rules add different strategies, and..." Dusty trailed off when he noticed that his host had stopped smiling and nodding.

She decided to take the interview down a different path. "So, Dusty, what made the team choose our charities for the tournament in Newmanistan?"

"Well, when you look at the state of athletics in this country, we're still seeing under-representation of women," said Dusty. "Football is starting to take the lead now that you have Karen Stadler making it into the D-League, and they've got some good foreigners in the league, too. Back during the first World Bowl, I served as a consultant for the anime adaptation of Pretty Sportsman Erika, which has not only introduced the sport of American football to a lot of young people, but it's got them thinking seriously about what it means to be strong, to be confident. And if we're able to motivate and inspire that way, every little bit helps. By continuing our work off the field, through charity, we're affirming our commitment to the development of young people, and here we want to target young women, who we hope will be able to really grasp those opportunities that are becoming available."

"So a children's cartoon and burly men crushing each other in warehouses is supposed to help young women?" asked the host with a smile.

Dusty facepalmed. "Uh... yes?"

Newmanistan

12-11-2008, 18:55

Pre-World Bowl IV Charity Tournament: (Note: These scores are an exhibition and not part of the actual World Bowl)

(4) Newmanistan vs (1) Dancougar- Dancougar 23, Newmanistan 13
(3) Rennidan vs (2) Arroza- Arroza 17, Rennidan 10

For Max of 5th Place:
(8) Cassadaigua vs (5) Secristan- Secristan 24, Cassadaigua 7
(7) Nethertopia vs (6) Myedvedeya- Myedvedeya 13, Nethertopia 7

(So much for upsets, 'eh?)

Tomorrow's Finale:
1st Place Game- Dancougar vs Arroza
3rd Place- Rennidan vs Newmanistan
5th Place- Secristan vs Myedvedeya
7th Place- Nethertopia vs Cassadaigua

Charities Playing For:
1) Dancougar- Teenage Women Without Hammerspace/ Pants Across Dancougar
2) Arroza- Benefit victims of Hurricane Helene
3) Rennidan- For Renovations to the Industrial District
4) Newmanistan- Benefiit Research for a Cure of Autism
5) Secristan- Retired CEO's Fund
6) Myedvedeya- Benefit Families of Wounded Myedvedeyan Veterans
7) Nethertopia- Benefit PTSD patients
8) Cassadaigua- Benefit Breast Cancer Research

Dancougar

12-11-2008, 22:36

"Moving on, Dusty," the woman said, ignoring her guest's frustration. "The team is into the final match after defeating the host Newmanistan earlier today, and Cassadaigua before that. The team is looking good, then?"

"Well, you don't learn too too much from exhibition games, but they are good for getting you into game shape so you can jump right into the real thing," Dusty replied. "Gary's been running pretty well, and the defense is providing breathing room."

"And we're not the only charity benefiting from this tournament, of course," the woman continued. "The teams defeated by the Black Wings were playing for cures for breast cancer and autism, both very worthy causes."

"Absolutely, and I have to applaud the teams like Cassadaigua for coming out and having to play their first games ever against some established teams," said Dusty. "I mean, Cassadaigua hung tough in that one. They were close until the end."

"So how does it feel to be an architect of the team that stomped on the hopes and dreams of those charities?" the hostess asked.

"Well, that's a... wait, what?" Dusty did a double take.

"I'm just messing with you," she said. "Everyone takes something home, I understand?"

"You're a horrible person!!" exclaimed Dusty, cutting off the interview and walking off camera. A loud THWACK resonated throughout the soundstage. Even the phones stopped ringing just long enough to get the full effect of the hit before resuming.

"Thank you, Mr. Haynesworth, for that enlightening interview," the woman said at last, clapping her hands. "He didn't even get to tell you about the lovely tote bags we're offering if you donate $50 or more to the cause, which you can do by calling in right now. In order to really get you in the mood, we have more special guests with us today. You know them for their chart-topping hit singles, please welcome Wednesday's Nobodies!"

The lights go out, and a spotlight brings up the group members one by one.

You can tell him no! But he won't go!
It doesn't reach his ear
You're against the wall! About to fall!
He has no need to fear
You need a friend to hold you tight
And turn his hands away
Or he'll turn aside that which you hide
He won't be held at bay

(You gotta give pants a chance)
Ooooooo~ooooooo! There's nothing left to see
(You gotta give pants a chance)
You know it! Your belt will keep you free

Just hide that skin that calls him in
It never hurts to try
Because when it comes to saying no
It can be do or die!

(You gotta give pants a chance)
Yeah ba~by! When a skirt or shorts won't do
(You gotta give pants a chance)
It's easy! They're a friend to pull you through
It's just in time
To draw the line
A guard to call your own...
'Cause when you're walking in your pants
You never walk... ah~loooooooooone

The Candrian Empire

13-11-2008, 02:10

The Candrian Knights submit their (very familiar) roster (I'm lazy - yet again.)
+2/-1 (Honestly... 30% of the time is a lot to go for 2.)

Notable changes are placed under respective players; mostly on offense.

QB -3
8 Andre Haralde: 6'4" 237 Lbs 27 y/o(R) Starter - Well balanced passer with quick-enough feet to evade pressure; will stand and take the hit but isn't particularly durable.

--

With another year of experience under his belt, Andre Haralde and the Knights offense is looking as efficient as it's roster says it should. In practices and the Red vs Gold scrimmage, Haralde was hitting receivers in stride, and showing the mobility he was known for in the CGL. Haralde has put on more weight, strengthening his core and neck to prevent another head injury; last season Haralde was on the sidelines for the second half of the latter parts of their schedualed games, a byproduct of some particularly vicious hits allowed by an offensive line that hadn't had time to gel. Today, Haralde looks bigger - a notable improvement, and today has better pocket presence and is more in command of the huddle. With a far better sense of the schemes of World Bowl defenses, Haralde should be far harder to fool this round. Now, he could become a threat to take over a game, and not just with his arm.

11 Lucas Grinalda 6'2" 231 Lbs 25 y/o(R) - Happy feet, but can make plays on the ground. Throws well on the run with just enough touch - when he wants to.

--

Grinalda has shown better awareness and a higher willingness to stay in the pocket, in practices he's been keeping his feet planted, delivering the pocket passes with the same efficiency he throws outside the hash marks. The Knights have always considered Grinalda a capable backup, and while in games last season Lucas has been efficient, if anything.

19 Eddie Vickers 6'5" 235 lbs 30 y/o(L) - Prototype pocket passer coming from a league that doesn't particularly favor pocket passers. Durable, but doesn't quite fit the offensive scheme, which favors mobile quarterbacks.

--

Still probably the best pocket passer in the game, which is unfortunate considering the offense isn't designed for a quarterback who can throw an 80 yard pass. Vickers hasn't seen much action, and it's most likely because he's a veritable statue in the backfield. While he's shown he can take a mighty impressive hit, even shrugging off sure sacks, Vickers doesn't have the mobility to avoid getting run down on the roll out play action passes or the speed for the misdirection plays Jason Fellows employees. If Vickers is in the game, while it isn't necessarily a problem for the Knights, it definitely is an emergency - thus his role as emergency quarterback.

RB - 3
21 Frances Valencia 5'10" 219 lbs 26 y/o Starter - Small, shifty back in the Backfield-by-Committee of the Knights. Quick acceleration, great hands, can stop, cut, and go on a dime, and doesn't outrun his blockers until he's in the clear. Can't block worth a damn.

--

Has improved his reads on blitz pickups, but still can't lay the lumber to stop any decently sized linebacker, although over the course of the previous season showed an effectiveness in cold-cocking safety coming in from the secondary. Hasn't lost a step, and with an improved rapport with Andre Haralde, could become a major weapon (think Brian Westbrook of Philly, except with other good players around him.)

--

30 Mikail Cervantes 6'2" 239 lbs 28 y/o Starter - Power back with deceptively quick feet and a nasty mean streak as a blocker. Tends to force things that aren't there... which with his frame isn't necessarily an issue. Stone hands.

--

Still can't catch; during scrimmages couldn't pull in anything thrown his way with any sort of velocity on the ball. Lost a bit of weight, but is larger - put on more muscle. A renewed weightlifting regimen installed by coach Sam Morris seems to have affected Cervantes most of all; he seems even larger at the gap, and has improved his already tenacious blocking skills.

25 Jei Sherai 5'11" 211 lbs 31 y/o - Excellent awareness to make up for lacking quickness. Injury issues early on typically means he's been relegated to a change-of-pace back, but still considered a playmaker.

--

Loosing a step, but still has the best eyes of anyone in the Knights backfield. A poor man's Marshall Faulk, he's shown the ability to translate a broken play into a huge gain; at the ceiling of his prime, however, he isn't expected to turn those gains into points against the quicker (read: professional) defenses in international competition.

FB - 2
42 Jordan Volante 6'3" 241 lbs 29 y/o Starter - Absolutely nasty blocker, with a great killer instinct. Clean routes and soft hands, but slow out of the backfield.

--

Put on some more muscle during the offseason under Morrison's conditioning program; the prospect of Volante and Cervantes coming out of the backfield on a power run should now make World Bowl teams respect the run as a legitimate bruising threat.

39 Jesse Cromer 6'1" 236 lbs 24 y/o - Undersized, but high motor, with quick feet.

--

Cromer within the last season has become the H-back multipurpose threat of Fellow's ever-expanding offense. Stronger at the point, since putting on 15 pounds of muscle under Morrison's program, while now being quicker off the line.

OT - 4
71 Steven Brodie 6'6" 339 lbs 30 y/o Leftside Starter - Prototype Left Tackle from the CGL - quick feet, long wingspan, great awarness, and fast to the second level. Said to be relatively tame but will drive opponents 30 yards deep.

--

Comments of his lack of killer instinct are quite unfounded. Has evolved into a true mauler at the point of attack; with the offensive line now having a whole season under their belt, the whole unit is now more effective - and with Fellow's complicated combination blocking scheme, a year under Ronald Pravit's instruction has made the complicated pulling and zone/man block scheme sink into this offensive line.

65 Joe Herman 6'4" 322 lbs 32 y/o Rightside Starter - Extremely good pass blocker with excellent leverage and form, but tends to get out of position on the run.

--

Pravit's instruction has helped Herman stick within the expectations of his role - Herman has improved his run blocking notably, and with the added strength from the offseason conditioning, Herman has bulked up and made it a point to show he's here for real.

64 Ian Rojenbach 6'5" 311 lbs 34 y/o - Quick feet and excellent technique. Mauler on the run. Struggles against power ends.

73 Joseph Henrey 6'4" 317 lbs 27 y/o - Guard in Tackle's numbers. May not be able to handle an outside rush.

OG - 3
79 Christian Locklear 6'4" 339 lbs 28 y/o Leftside Starter - Punishing blocker with a bad mean streak; will dominate opponents the moment they slip. Young star entering his prime locks up a very strong, very young left side.

--
Just keeps truckin'.

75 Shawn Ellis 6'7" 344 lbs 33 y/o Rightside Starter - Very quick feet for a guard, excellent technique but is sometimes too light on his feet when going to the second level.

--
Previt has improved Ellis' technique; Ellis is now more firm on his stance and harder to shed. Adding 15 pounds doesn't hurt either.

70 Donald Morris 6'3" 331 lbs 35 y/o - Good mover, and plays hard when engaged, but questionable drive.

C -2
53 Fredrerick Roman 6'3" 330 lbs 30 y/o Starter - Highly mobile, intelligent center. Good form and an excellent application of leverage, but won't automatically dominate at the point of attack.

--

Slimmed down over the offseason to improve his explosiveness, in an effort to improve his burst at the point of attack.

60 Patrick Hemm 6'2" 328 lbs 24 y/o - Young, inexperienced. Tries to overpower opponents, but sometimes blocks high. Very, very good when he sticks with technique, and can dominate at the point of attack, but often tries to 'out-athlete' his opponent.

TE/HB - 2
82 Leo Jordan 6'5" 245 lbs 27 y/o Starter - Great hands, good endzone target. Runs great routes with good quickness. Light on his feet as a blocker, and may get pushed around in close yardage situations.

89 Travis Favors 6'7" 262 lbs 26 y/o - Adequate receiver, more a tackle with a bigger number. Would be a perfect endzone target, but can't create adequate separation.

WR - 5
80 Torrence Gonzalez 6'3" 201 lbs 29 y/o Starter - Quick, with excellent, crisp routes. Can create separation at will. Very soft hands. High jumps, and unafraid to go over the middle for the play. Won't outrun most defenders, but will definitely have the opportunity to break a play.

82 Jaime La'donez 6'5" 211 lbs 27 y/o #2 - Big endzone target with soft hands. Almost always able to catch over coverage, and quick enough to create separation when he needs to. Somewhat loose routes, and often hampered by injury problems. Despite that, will go over the top if the play demands it.

15 James Berkely 6' 191 lbs 23 y/o Slot/#3 - Field-stretching speedster. Good routes and hands, but poor instincts and situational awareness.

11 Orien Poston 6'2 189 lbs 26 y/o - Another speedster. Good routes and hands, and better instincts and field awareness, but doesn't have the same game-changing speed of Berkely, and is more injury prone.

84 Andre Pryce 6'3" 192 lbs 24 y/o - Soft hands, and a big target, but too light and fragile. Wouldn't risk going over the middle.

DE - 4
92 Harold Norris 6'7" 263 lbs 30 y/o Strongside Starter - Quick, strong end who can split the middle and stop the run as well as he can stop the pass. Has a habit of taking the occasional play off, however.

72 Aaron Fitz 6'5" 255 lbs 27 y/o Weakside Starter - Quick pressure end that can draw attention; weaker against the run. High motor.

94 Stephen Barker 6'6" 267 lbs 35 y/o - Strong and large, but at this point, questionable motor. Good against the run, but can't stay in a whole series.

78 Orien Pershing 6'3" 274 lbs 28 y/o - Extremely strong and deceptively fast, and very good against the run, but unrefined in pass-rushing technique. Will try to out-athlete linemen to the point of attack.

DT - 4
99 Ollie Eaton 6'5" 315 lbs 30 y/o Strongside Noseguard Starter - Stout and strong at the point of attack. Excellent two-gap tackle who can suck up the double team.

95 Travis Mackey 6'3" 299 lbs 27 y/o Weakside DT Starter - Strong at the point of attack, with good leverage. Tendency to over-penetrate. Will rotate out on passing downs.

77 Renaldo Neivenz 6'4" 321 lbs 32 y/o - Experienced, strong two-gap tackle who can take on the double team. Older and worn motor, but still a gamer.

79 Percevien Cartier 6'5" 301 lbs 23 y/o - Young, and too light at the point of attack, but good technique. Can be overpowered by heavier linemen, but for the most part can hold his own if called in.

LB - 6
56 Carlos Mavis 6'4" 241 lbs 27 y/o Strongside Starter - Strong against the run, excellent with shedding blockers, and good short and mid coverage instincts, but too large to shift directions quick enough in deep coverage. Good passrusher and good with the blitz, but can be overutilized for it.

58 Lewis Kelley 6'3" 249 lbs 29 y/o Weakside Starter - Good coverage linebacker with a low center of gravity. Smooth in the backfield and pretty good hands for a linebacker. Technique and angles on short tackles is more questionable.

59 Aaron McKay 6'4" 251 lbs 29 y/o Mike Starter - Film junkie with excellent instincts. Loud signal caller on the defense. Excellent tackling technique and good motion within his gaps up front. Decent hands, but better coverage skills and can keep up with a deep route in a Tampa-II scheme.

51 Guy Willis 6'2" 244 lbs 26 y/o

52 Lou Corgey 6'3" 252 lbs 29 y/o

54 Herman Moats 6'1" 254 lbs 29 y/o

57 Ian Teller 6'4" 257 lbs 25 y/o

CB -5
28 Larry Young 6'1" 199 lbs 28 y/o Right Starter - Great tall physical corner with great hips and good in transition. Excellent in man coverage as employed under Hartwell but can be caught out of position when left on an island.

26 Orlando Romain 5'11" 196 lbs 26 y/o Left Starter - Excellent compliment to Young, with slightly better hands and better open-field tackling technique. Very good against the run.

37 Marcus Marion 6'2" 201 lbs 29 y/o Nickle - Tall corner with punishing hits, but can be lost in space sometimes. Better in man coverage but can't manage quicker receivers.

31 Fabian Worthington 5'10" 188 lbs 23 y/o Dime - Young corner with quick feet and great speed. Inexperienced and unlikely to see regular field time.

24 Jesse Arnold 6' 199 lbs 26 y/o -

DB - 4
33 Maurice Grenaldo 6'2" 215 lbs 26 y/o Strong Safety Starter - Extremely physical safety, punishing over the middle. Hard to get out of position, a ballhawk.

22 Warren Lawrence 6'1" 219 lbs 29 y/o Free Safety Starter - Quick for a safety and good in deep coverage. Great at the open field tackle, and often brought in to blitz. Poor hands, even for a defender.

21 Jerry Warwich 5'11" 205 lbs 32 y/o

29 Geoff Wilkins 6'3" 213 lbs 24 y/o

P - 1
1 Fabian Lomero 6'1 209 lbs 34 y/o Starter - Excellent directional punter. Very accurate. Middle-of-the-road range.

K - 1
12 Arnold Luna 5'9" 182 lbs 28 y/o Starter - Good placement as a PK, icey as a kicker on field goals. Accurate and good range.

STAFF

HC
Sam Morrison

Morrison's on the hot-seat. On a team loaded with exceptional talent, he's failed to produce in international competition. In response, he's locked down the players to exclusive play contracts, and enacted offseason workout programs to improve his team athletically and have them gel. All he really needs is a winning record, with that, he gets at least one more year. With Fellows, he's installed one of the most aggressive offenses the Knights have ever fielded; hopefully it now produces. His defense, coordinated by Hartwell, now seems primed to be the shutdown unit it was always meant to be. Without a winning season, Morrison's job is in jeopardy.

OC
Jason Fellows

Fellows probably has the most complicated offense in international competition. Half a dozen separate passing trees, an offense based on misdirection utilizing the athleticism of the offense, and designs based around exploiting the relative variance of competition in international play all seemed focus on generating momentum and throwing defensive backfields off balance; with a viable power running and quick cut game, Fellows and Morrison have installed an offense purely suited to cutting international competition apart. All that remains is execution; but with the whole team practicing since the disappointing end last season, that shouldn't be an issue.

QBC
Mariano Volante

LC
Roland Pravit

BC
Jamall Hollis

WRC
Regis Tulley

DC
Greg Hartwell

LBC
Kendrick McKagen

LC
Oswalt Paris

DBC
Corey Essen

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v251/Gizeh/football-uni.png

Qazox

13-11-2008, 04:30

(OOC: Not really. In the NCAA about 30 % of all PAT attempts are 2-pt attempts. in the NFL, it's about 7%, but then again, in the NFL, they only go for 2 when they need to, while in college it occurs more frequently due to more inaccurate kicking games.)

The Candrian Empire

13-11-2008, 04:37

Qazox

13-11-2008, 05:17

[OOC: I would assume a competition featuring the best players in international competition would have a relatively good kicking game... especially considering the prevalence of soccer style kickers thanks to the World Cup.]

(OOC: I figure that most of the newcomers (if this were RL) would have the level of an above average NCAA team, while the vets would be NFL.)

Vephrall

13-11-2008, 05:27

Transcript from SportsFocus, BCN's main and ubiquitous sports news program

Woshash Avilass: And now for something a little different. The fourth edition of the World Bowl, the world's premier American football tournament, is about to get underway. Vephrall sent a team to the first edition of this contest, but hasn't been back since until now. Joining us live here in the studio is the coach of Vephrall's reborn national American football team, Sperobis Ceedast. Good to have you on the show, Sperobis.

Sperobis Ceedast: Thanks for inviting me, Woshash.

WA: Okay, as I'm sure you know, many Vephrallers aren't really entirely sure what exactly American football is. Is there anything similar that we play here that it could be compared to?

SC: It actually bears a striking resemblance to piivel.

WA: Okay, there's something we're familiar with. How is it different from piivel?

SC: Several major ways. For one thing, you play with eleven men a side instead of ten. Also, the field is a bit smaller, about 91 by 49 meters, compared with 100 by 65 for piivel. When you have the ball, instead of just having three tries to go ten meters, you get four tries to go a little over nine meters - oh, and those tries are called downs here. If you reach the last down and you don't think you're going to make it the first down distance, you can voluntarily give possession to the other team by kicking the ball away - they call this punting.

WA: Why would you want to do that?

SC: Well, if you do it right, it means they'll probably have to go an extra twenty or thirty meters in order to score. A defensive maneuver, basically.

WA: Fair enough. Any other weird things like that?

SC: The one-point goal throw is not permitted. You can still do the three-point goal kick; they call that a field goal. An end run - or a touchdown, as they call it - scores six rather than five, and they also have an opportunity for one or two bonus points after that. You can do a goal kick from the three yard line for one point or you can try to do another end run from there for two points.

WA: Do they still have the two-point take?

SC: Yes, they call that a safety.

WA: I see. Anything else?

SC: American football has a lot more rules about player positioning. In piivel, anything's fair game as long as all ten players are behind the ball at the start of the play. It's much more complicated in American football. Oh, and the game is shorter too, four fifteen-minute periods instead of five eighteen-minute ones.

WA: Wow, that sounds like a lot to remember. Have you had any previous experience managing an American football team?

SC: Not really; there just aren't any to manage. Myself, I'm a professor at BTI, and I served as coach for the electrical engineering majors' intramural piivel team this past season. That's about the extent of my experience.

WA: Right. While piivel is a popular sport in Vephrall, there really aren't any organized leagues for it anywhere.

SC: Actually I've heard that the Collegiate Sporting Alliance could develop a national piivel competition sometime in the near future.

WA: Would BTI join in this competition, and if so, do you think you'd be a likely candidate to coach the team?

SC: I don't know if I'd have the time to coach the team and fulfill my duties as a professor, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't be open to the idea.

WA: All right. Well, thanks so much for coming on the show, Sperobis, and good luck to the Auric Wolves in the World Bowl.

SC: Thanks, Woshash. It'll be an uphill battle, but we'll fight all the way!

WA: Coming up next on SportsFocus, we'll look at some of the biggest stories in the VTF as we approach the end of the season, and our World Cup preview continues with Group F. We'll be right back.

Cassadaigua

13-11-2008, 13:52

About Cassadaigua:
It is a small nation in a small region. It is unique in that 65% of the national population is female. Therefore most of this roster is female, although we have discovered that a good use for the male minority is to have them serve as offensive lineman, and in a few other spots.

Modifier: +3
2 Pts: +1
Field: AstroTurf

Starters in Blue
Backups in Red

Coach- Meghan Connolly

The Offense:
QB: # 11- Lauren Hamilton
QB: # 10- Stacie Powers
QB: #9- Gabriella Canestro

HB: #31- Danielle Regan
HB: #30- Katie McLaren
HB: #32- Savannah Maroney

FB: #34- Matt Colby
FB: #35- Demetrius Razner

WR: #80- Katie Dupree
WR: #81- Kim Harden
WR: #83- Lindsay Privitt
WR: #84- Rebecca Ballinger
WR: #88- Susan Roguski
WR: #89- Kenzie Walker
WR: #86- Monique Cordova

TE: #87- Nicole Donohue
TE: #82- Stephanie Bourne
TE: #85- Lisette Walters

LT: #60- Edward Perkinson
LG: #66- Tommy Jacobs
C: #63- Mark Irving
RG: #61- Tiberius Jackman
RT: #69- Benny Blaizedell
T: #65- Cooper Whitlock
T: #67- Jacob Willingham
T: #68- Nate Sadrocki
C: #64- Abe Jolley
G: #62- Samuel Vanora
G: #70- Zack Tomassen
G/C: #71- Brad Beers

The Defense:
DT: #98- Debbie Klingan
DT: #99- Rebecca Looper (a very very fat woman who is also very very psycho. Approach with caution).
LE: #92- Steve Ackroyd
RE: #96- Jim Longretta
DL: #93- Scott Ulysses
DL: #90- Brenda Farris
DL: #91- Nick Blair
DL: #94- Judy Chellis
DL: #73- Amanda Otwell

OLB: #55- Sarah Patten
MLB: #59- Jennifer Carlton
ILB: #56- Christina DeForest
LB: #58- Kellie Archer
LB: #54- Vicki Kaplan
LB: #55- Jessica Santorelli
LB: #76- Sabrina Tallon
LB: #72- Tina Vomack

LCB: #22- Kiersten Evans
RCB: #38- Ashley Harbers
FS: #23- Meghan Caprotti
SS: #33- Shannon Rusinko
DB: #25- Maureen Rondeau
DB: # 37- Elizabeth Fox
DB: #24- Brianna Stafford (Punt/Kick Returner #1)
DB: #29- Erica Davidson (Punt/Kick Returner back up option)
DB: #36- Kristen Allen

Special Teams:
K: #3- Jessica Messina (she also was on the World Cup Roster)
P: #8- Emily Rutland

K: #5- Kayla Mannelly
P: #6- Anna Eustache

Arroza

13-11-2008, 14:22

Arroza Tar Hornets

Coach: Andreas Waulequah
Home Stadium: Fletcher Field a.k.a. The Hive Capacity 88,440
Field: Grass
Play Style: +1
PAT: -1
Colors: Black, Tan, Crimson

Offense: Based on a strong line that pushes off the ball and looks to open up holes every play for the multitude of backs that come through Arroza. Arroza's still running the traditional triplr option, even though in the last few World Bowls, it's shown that there's a problem both in coming back from late game deficits, and against certain teams, namely Dancougar and Kura-Pelland.

First Team:
#14 QB: Erik Smythe (32, Huracan Tropicals)
Smythe is the starting quarterback in name, but at his age this is really the last hurrah for the old man in int play. He'll probably play about a third of the downs, and wil probably be in for most of the big passing situations.
#5 QB: Selmon Baliss (23, Big Thicket Cavalry)
Running QB, Baliss is the most physically gifted QB in Arroza. And after having three years to learn the intracacies of the triple option in Big Thicket, Baliss has achieved the position of standard QB, even though he won't officially be named the starter.
#11 QB: Afif Bassem (27, F.C. Atalanta)
He’s started to come into his own over the last 2 years, and can now be one of the best domestic quarterbacks in Arroza.

#21 HB: Abraham Chadwick (27, Pine Forest United)
Fastest runner on the team, combined with great up field vision, and a killer first step. Lead the league in rushing, averaging 140 yards a game.
#23 HB: Donovan Hailey (23, Big Thicket Cavalry)
The other half of the reason why Big Thicket had an unstoppable offense last year. He's been on Asn a lot in the last few months, guaranteeing that the Tar Hornets will not be thrown out in the Quarterfinals as they were in the last World Bowl. Now the time has come to see if he can match his swagger.
#31 RB: Lake Major (25, Black Tide F.C.)
After World Bowl II, Major really stepped up his game becoming one of Arroza’s best running backs. He does it with heart and grit more that any divine amount of talent, and that makes him a fan favorite, too.
#28 RB: Kenyon Laraque (32, Nova Lyon Panthers)
Doesn’t see a lot of first team time with the national team due to his lack of the speed necessary to get around the corner. But if you need 2 yards and a cloud of dust, he’s the man. Last World Bowl.
#25 RB: Randolph Crown (30, Resurgens Flames)
He’s as fast as a fiberglass Corvette. If his vision, and hole finding matched his sped, he’d be unstoppable. Can play slot receiver as well, and comes in on a lot of Flex sets.

#49 FB: Vaughan Harley (29, Atalanta Senators)
Lead blocker. Monster. Destroyer of Linebackers.
#84 TE/FB: Vincent Paloma (29, Lake St. Anthony Blues)
If he’s in the game for Rudolph, you know they’re running. Better blocker than some OL’s
#48 TE: Tawfiq Rudolph (31, Way Path Pioneers)
Very versatile, great hands, good check down receiver for when the option’s in danger.
#88 TE: Salomon Arraza (24, Biloxoulaport Seabees)
Blocking TE, used on goal-line situations.

#89 WR: Taesean Malone (22, Huracan Tropicals)
Malone has been impressive in his first years in the league, rapidly become the favorite target of NT quarterback Smythe. He’s more of a possession receiver than a speed guy.
#82 WR: Ikraam Maximiano (29, Northland Cannons)
Runs a 4.43 40. Decent hands, but wishes he could get the ball more. Known for his exuberant “Spiderman” celebration.
#83 WR: Chauncey Hopton (34, Resurgens Flames)
A good WR, but is just too out-classed to get onto the field in this run-heavy offense much. Last World Bowl
#81 WR: Luke Hollam (26, Huracan Tropicals)
Speed wideout, normally sees the field on 4 WR or Flexbone sets.

#66 T: Philemon Placido (28, Black Tide F.C.)
#67 T: Hector Laredo (24, Aransas County Sea Stars)
#65 T: Donald Haskill (24, Big Thicket Cavalry)
#64 G: Garrett Phillips (26, Aransas County Sea Stars)
#60 G: Faragi Kwaku (31, F.C. Atalanta)
#68 G: Michael Forrest (21, Pine Forrest)
#63 C: Harun Marasseh (24, Port Lange Archers)
#69 C: Robert Rook (26, Lincolnton Suns)

Defense: 4-4.
Not the biggest in the world, the Arrozan defenses pride themselves on their tactical knowledge and their speed. These two ideas, when combined in the Arrozan D, normally mean opponents get to see a varying array of zone, man, and option coverages, with blitzes coming in from all angles, and interceptions going the other way for 6 points.

#91 NT: Tony Jackson (28, Pine Forest United)
His playing style has earned him the nickname, “Big Nasty”. He wears than name like a badge of honor.
#94 NT: Randy Miles (29, Evangeline Seraphs)
#96 DL: Alex Batanian (33, Aransas County Sea Stars)
Here more for his versatility than for his ability Batanian can play any line position.

#99 DE: Joseph Reed (26, Biloxoulaport Seabees)
Commands a double team on almost every passing down. The bookend of him and Charles may become the best tandem in Arrozan history.
#92 DE: Roland Harling (36, Nova Lyon Panthers)
#98 DL: Raibonne Charles (26, Biloxoulaport Seabees)
Recorded 14 sacks last year, benefiting from the double teams Reed got on the other end.

#59 OLB: Nathan Fitzgerald (30, Port Wentworth Pilots)
Can do it all with professionalism, if not the best of skill.
#52 OLB: Karon Robinson (29, Atalanta F.C.)
Robinson is a great blitzing linebacker, if a little undersized. With a good motor, and the ability to instinctively know where the ball is, he racked up 12 sacks last year and 15 tackles for loss.
#50 OLB: Antwan Lineville (23, Port Wentworth)
#53 MLB: Trey Douglas (32, Evangeline Seraphs)
Leads the domestic league in tackles with 12.7 per game.
#56 MLB: Marcus Aurelin (25, Resurgens Flames)
Leads linebackers in sacks domestically with 13. Great on the blitz.
#58 MLB: Denzel Person (24, Evangeline Seraphs)
#55 LB: Fremont Cannon (23, Port Lange Archers)

#24 CB: Orkeys Aurienne (28, Biloxoulaport Seabees)
Fastest man on the team. Can cover anyone man-to-man.
#33 CB: Calvin Brandon (25, F.C. Atalanta)
Good at anticipating plays, and leads the domestic league in interceptions.
#39 CB: Matthew Barber (32, Pine Forest United)
Brought in on nickel situations, Barber’s known to have hands of stone.
#33 CB: Jared Turcotte (30, Lincolnton Suns)

#30 S: Caron Saint-Marais (24, Resurgens Flames)
Division II MVP, Saint-Marais led the minor league with 18 interceptions, and has been sold to Resurgens for 10,000,000 baht.
#7 S: Linus Lincecum (23, Farragut Torpedoes)

#4 K: Drew Albrect (35, F.C. Atalanta)
Can kick anywhere, in winds that would blow other kickers off the field.
#13 P: Tyler Edmiston (30, Way Path Pioneers)
#24 KR: Orkeys Aurienne (28, Biloxoulaport Seabees)

Newmanistan

13-11-2008, 22:13

Pre-World Bowl IV Charity Tournament: (Note: These scores are an exhibition and not part of the actual World Bowl)

We would like to thank everyone for making the trip to Tundra Falls and hope the event was successful for the wonderful causes represented, and that your team got some quality World Bowl preparation.

Final Games:
1st Place Game- Dancougar vs Arroza- Dancougar 20, Arroza 17 (OT)
3rd Place- Rennidan vs Newmanistan- Newmanistan 16, Rennidan 10
5th Place- Secristan vs Myedvedeya- Secristan 20, Myedvedeya 12
7th Place- Nethertopia vs Cassadaigua- Cassadaigua 27, Nethertopia 13

Charities Playing For:
1) Dancougar- Teenage Women Without Hammerspace/ Pants Across Dancougar
2) Arroza- Benefit victims of Hurricane Helene
3) Rennidan- For Renovations to the Industrial District
4) Newmanistan- Benefiit Research for a Cure of Autism
5) Secristan- Retired CEO's Fund
6) Myedvedeya- Benefit Families of Wounded Myedvedeyan Veterans
7) Nethertopia- Benefit PTSD patients
8) Cassadaigua- Benefit Breast Cancer Research

Prize Money (translated in US Dollars)
1st= $1,000,000
2nd= $500,000
3rd= $250,000
4th= $125,000
5th= $100,000
6th= $50,000
7th= $25,000
8th= $15,000

Qazox

14-11-2008, 02:24

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Preview Preview

Yes we are having a Preview of the Preview!

While we here at QSPN aren't privy to the selection process, so these matchups might not even happen. Here is our TOP 7 matchups We'd like to see:

#7: Taeshan v Newmanistan - The most underachiving team in the NSUniverse against perhaps the 2nd most underachiving team. (we'll let you figure out which one is which ;)).

#6: Vephrall v Newmanistan- The founder of the World bowl vs. the nation claiming to be the founders. Only one will be proven correct.

#5: Rennidan v Qazox - A matchup of the 2 most recent champions.

#4: Qazox v Dancougar - A Re-match of WB3's final.

#3: Secristan v Myedvedeya - A soccer rivalry reborn on the Gridiron

#2: Qazox v Taeshan - One of the most intense GridIron rivalries.

#1: Arroza v Dancougar - The most intense World Bowl Rivalry.

Christstan

14-11-2008, 05:56

Christstan Crusaders

http://www.crossports.com/Crusader%20Logo.gif

Football is the most popular sport in Christstan, attracting crowds of more than 200,000 on average. This is Christstan's debut to the international Football scene but hopes that this is not the last time. The best players were assembled from Christstan's many leagues. The players consider it a great honor to play in this tournament and thus refused to be denied anything but total victory.

Head Coach: Heinz Luthans (55, Imperial City Imperial Guard)
Head Coach of the Emperor's own team, seen as the greatest coach in Christstan. He played as a Middle Linebacker during High School, College (at the University of Strausen), and finally played 13 years in the Imperial League as the starting MLB for the Imperial Guard. After he retired he coached Linebackers at a camp he started, then was invited to coach at the collegiate level, finally working his way up to the Imperial League as Defensive Coordinator. When the Imperial Guard head coach retired, Heinz was invited to serve as the Head Coach and has remained there for the past 8 years winning the Imperial Bowl five times. He is renown for his defenses.

Play Style: -2
Defensive Formation: The Christstan 4-4 (Looks like a 5-2 or 3-5 depending on the offensive formation. A flexible defense that is solid all around.) The Crusader Defense draws heavily from Head Coach Luthan’s Imperial Guard and their scheme. They put the D in Dominate and are monsters on the field.
Offensive Formation: Modified Wildcat Offense & Flexbone (Simple yet hard for defenses to read, Luthans wanted to go with an easy to learn offense for his team for their first bowl appearance.) The Crusaders will run the ball most of the time, however when they need to pass, will bring in a second Wide Receiver.
PAT: 0

Field: Von Weiger Field (http://most-expensive.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/expensive-nfl-football-stadium-cowboys.jpg), Imperial City, Imperia, Christstan
Capacity: 500,000.
Field Surface: Grass

RP Permissions: Keep Starters, Starters. No major injuries without permission. You may choose my scorers but try to keep them to my main guys, keep in mind defensive scores are very common for my team.

Offense

#7 QB Johan Klaus (26, 6'2, 221 lbs, Rothenburg Liberators): Klaus is an absolutely dominating figure on the field. At his size and strength, he is extremely difficult to take down, to make things worse, he is very elusive coming out of the backfield. He has been known to juke defenders out but is famous for his trucking ability. He has an arm, but was chosen mainly for his speed and quick decision making. Prone to throwing interceptions under pressure, but will usually scramble for as long as possible. Graduated from the University of West Maxony in 1026 (4 years ago).

#3 QB Franz Hidenburg (31, 6'3, 234 lbs, Ravia Kings): Franz is an experienced Quarterback and great leader. He has amazing poise and collection in the pocket and makes very good decisions. Not the fastest on the team, but hard to sack in the backfield due to his quick passing and awareness. He is usually brought in on passing situations but rarely any other time because he is not well suited for the Wildcat offense. Graduated from the University of Strausen in 1022 (8 Years ago)

#4 QB Erwin Hindler (24, 6'0, 212 lbs, Roland Wildcats): Erwin is among the youngest members of the team. He has shown amazing potential in his two years of professional football both passing and running. Fast and elusive and very accurate, however his experience (or lack of) usually rears its head in most in opportune times as he is prone to stress under pressure and then poor decision making. Graduated from Imperial College in 1028 (2 years ago)

#5 HB/WB* Hanz Frei (28, 6'1, 227 lbs, Guthenburg Tempest): Hanz is strong and stocky, and very difficult to bring down. He has speed but is not lightning fast. He was chosen due to his awareness and quick decision making. He is a perfect match for the wildcat offense with great ability running between the tackles. He can read the defense well and almost never fumbles. Defenders should be careful not to go head to head with him, he has run almost every defender over at least once in his career. If Hanz is able to break through to the secondary, Defensive backs have almost no chance of bringing him down (unless they try to hit him very, very low). Graduated from Ravia County College 1024 (6 years ago).

#44 HB/WB Victor von Kitel (30, 6'0, 236 lbs, Imperial City Imperial Guard): Proud to be playing at this level, von Kitel has the heart and will to keep going no matter what the situation. He is extremely well built and stocky. He actually plays Fullback for the Guard but was put into this position due to the nature of the Wildcat. von Kitel's sheer will and determination (Plus massive leg strength) almost always assure him at least 2-3 yards a carry making him extremely effective in short yardage situations. He has good speed by any standards running a 4.64. He is also a very good blocking back. He will likely see the ball a lot because of it, usually on 3rd or 4th down. Graduated from Koingsburg Royal University in 1023 (7 years ago).

#42 HB/WB Karl Wittelsbach (28, 6’2, 245 lbs, Teuton Titans): An excellent blocking fullback, he is a monster while lead blocking. He is known to truck through even the best defenders. He is very difficult to tackle as he plows straight through the defense by clutching the ball and dropping his shoulder. He is not as fast as the other backs but makes up for it with his trucking ability. Graduated from Panhurst University in 1025 (5 Years Ago).

#6 HB/WB Freidrich von Bayern (23, 5'11, 215 lbs, Blendhime Barbarians): Seen as the fastest back in Christstan, von Bayern has major breakaway speed. He is extremely elusive and quick out the backfield. He has great hands also, often being utilized solely for his hands in screens and swing passes. He is only in his second year of Professional football, and is prone to fumbles and usually cannot break a tackle once hit due to his very small size. Graduated from Hamburg University in 1028 (2 years ago).

#81 WR Heinrich Handle (27, 6'3, 201 lbs, Ravia Kings): Well rounded player known for his amazing possession abilities, his hands, vertical leap, height, and awareness make him any quarterback's favorite target. Basically throw anywhere around him and he will likely catch it. He also has decent speed for a Wide Receiver running a 4.4. He is also a good blocking receiver, making him an obvious choice for the Wildcat formation. If he and Hidenburg are on the field together, they can create lightning as they do during the regular season together, their relationship allows them to be on the same page every time. Graduated from Freidrich Imperial University in 1026 (4 Years Ago)

#88 WR Otto von Lack (25, 6’2, 190 lbs, Frandenburg Falcons): A pure speedster, currently holds the Christstan record for the 100 yard dash. He makes one or two cuts to avoid the defense. If he has open field in front of him, few men will be able to catch up with him. He will be used primarily for Kick and punt returning, both of which he holds the Christstan records for most return yards in a single game (103 yards Kick Return, 101 Yards Punt Return) and averages 36 Yards for Kick Returns and 32 Yards for Punt Returns. Graduated from University of Strausen in 1026 (4 years ago).

#11 WR/WB Wilhelm Guilden (30, 6’1, 206 lbs, Teuton Titans): An experienced player, with good hands and speed. He wont make big plays but is extremely reliable and has enough speed and elusiveness to assure a few yards every catch. He is also very aware of where the ball is and hardly ever sees a ball intercepted near him because he will likely bat it away if it is impossible for him to catch. He used to play Defensive back in college where his great hands and speed were first applied to Wide out. Graduated from Kings College in 1022 (8 years ago).

#83 WR Alric Durhiem (24, 6’4, 202 lbs, Imperia Gladiators): A young receiver with amazing speed, he is very elusive and can make lightning. He has a very big ego and has difficultly creating separation from defenders, he also drops passes more than he should. Graduated from Hamburg University in 1028 (1 year ago).

#86 TE Maximilian Kanzl (29, 6’6, 255 lbs, Rothenburg Liberators): In the Wildcat, he will be the TE on the line. He is a great blocker, but has good speed and hands. A very athletic player and definite threat on offense. Graduated from the University of Johannesburg in 1023 (7 Years Ago)

#89 TE Jorge Franz (31, 6’4, 267 lbs, Uther Dragons): An excellent blocker with decent hands. Brings experience to the position and will be utilized when solid blocking is very important. Graduated from University of Klien in 1022 (8 Years ago).

#66 LT Adalric Paul

#75 LG Alvin Alrik

#77 C

#78 RG

#70 RT

#69 T

#61 T

#71 G

#73 G

#72 C

*Wing Back

Defense

#99 RDE

#91RDT

#74 LDT

#95 LDE

#45 LOLB

#54 ILB Franz Rommel (30, 6’3, 245 lbs, Imperial City Imperial Guard): The most fearsome defensive player in Christstan, he is known for his monster hits and run stopping abilities. He is the leader of the team and his presence on the field brings great confidence to the defense. He can read almost any offense almost immediately due to his years of experience and makes smart decisions. He is fast and strong, you likely wont get away from him if you have the ball anywhere near him. He almost never misses a tackle and once hit by him you usually go down, often fumbling the ball in the process. He can also cover passes very well especially in zone defense. Offenses usually try to avoid him at all costs. Graduated from the University of Strausen in 1022 (8 Years ago).

(Under Construction)

Greal

14-11-2008, 12:20

The Greali Demons

Head Coach: Joesph Demot (Age 45)
Offensive Style: Running team (+1 modifier)
Defensive Style: 3-4

Home Stadium: Sasha New Stadium, Sasha (Capacity: 98,466, Grass Field)

Offensive Starters
QB #1: Josh Littles
RB #2: John Shepard
HB #3: Ross Riddle
FB #3: Michael Return
WR #4: Tony Lity
WR #5: Jacob Goss
LT#6: John Rew
LG #7: Robert Worthington
C #8: Peter Fleming
RG #9: Greg Bulge
RT #10: Thomas Remini

Defensive Starters
DE #11: Paul Mash
DT#12: Archie Defen
DE #13: Jason Notes
LOLB #14: Frank Khan
LILB #15: Roy Thadizzle
RILB #16: Michael Lewis
ROLB #17: George Marius
LCB #18: Arthur Macabee
RCB #19: Bill Nelson
SS #20: William Rodney
FS #21: Brad Swanson

Special Teams
K #22: Joe Pierce
P #23: Charles White
KR #24: Thomas Edit

Bench
QB #25: David Tentely
HB #26: Conway Pratt
FB #27: Chris Lange
WR #28: Frank Risk
TE #29: Ronald Halden
OL #30: Austin Hermann
OL #31: Joshua Nerton
DL #32: Jim Simien
DL #33: Craig Letterman
OLB #34: Bruce Rill
ILB #35: Lincoln Matters
LB #36: Jeff Deputy
DB #37: Philip Corsetto
S #38: James Newton
CB #39: Matthew Heats

Kjomasasopia

14-11-2008, 12:30

Wow thats kinda weird another fan of the Bengals. I have never actuially known one only seen them on TV.

i watch them when i can. and im not impressed this year so far.:mad::mad:

Secristan

14-11-2008, 17:16

Bidding has now concluded for the right to play for Secristan’s World Bowl IV team. For those newcomers in the World Bowl, Secristan is a little different then everyone else. We do not to such crazy things like pick top ranked players off of domestic teams, hold tryouts, or even worse, actually compensate people to play for the country. Instead all spots are available via an auction in which proceeds go to the Secristan Department of Sports for them to do such important things like purchase an extra vacation home, luxury yacht, or whatever either for themselves, their family, or to give to a sponsor in a business deal. This doesn’t mean that we are sending a bunch of bums to do battle. In order for their bids to be valid, players had to be between 18 and 38, pass a grueling physical fitness test, and have played at least one year of professional football.

If you are traveling to Secristan, be aware that tickets are not sold on a typical first come first serve basis. Instead tickets are sold via an auction five days before the event. International bidders are welcome, but no exceptions are made for you for this bidding process. An auction is also held for the preferential parking spots around the arena. Arena owners had to also bid for their facility to be used, and for the first time, the winner is:

Loophole Life Insurance Stadium in Lakeland. It is a fairly rundown 62,000 seat stadium, but you’ll just have to deal with it because they bid the most. Maybe they’ll use the money to improve their stadium. Or perhaps they’ll use it to find more loopholes not to pay benefits.

Stadium: Grass (and not always maintained well)
2 Points: -1
Style Mod: A nice neutral zero.

Here are the winning bidders with age. Starters have a brief description about them. Oh and sorry, we’re not starting the cheerleaders.

Coach: Matthew Taylor (53)

Quaterbacks:
Tom Mitchell #5 (31)- One of the few returning starters. Extremely arrogant.
Matt Travis #7 (24)
Jake Kulzar #6 (28)

Running Backs:
Chris Hausler #27 (26)- Flashy, breaks big runs then likes to showboat after.
Rob Dempsey #26 (27)
Steve Hubbard #36 (24)
Kerry Kabatzky #28 (32)- Fullback. Typical blocker.
Steve “Myedvedeya” Medved #30 (31)

Tight Ends:
Alex Donovon #88 (25)- Pass catcher more then a blocker.
Randy Downing #89 (33)
Harry Tedeisco #87 (27)

Wide Receivers:
Stacie Johnson #81 (21)- Wow, one of the cheerleaders from last year actually bid to play again and won!
Brian “The Blizzard” Brissard #80 (25)- Has a pre-determined end zone celebration for whenever he scores.
John McCall #84 (29)
Steve Browning #85 (28)
Fran Connors #83 (30)
Nick Chaffin #82 (25) - Primary Kick/Punt returner

Guards:
Kenneth Lamphere #61 (29)- 385lbs, and 2% body fat. Plays left side
Mitch Pasquale #62 (27)- Much more agile, pulls often.
Micah Doyle #65 (33)
Isiah Wellington #68 (35)
Jim Smith #63 (29)

Centers:
Keith Dorgan #58 (23)- Pretty good we guess. Have never actually seen him play.
Rob Weddoll #72 (24)
Shawn Nelson #69 (31)

Tackles:
Walter Carnes #76 (28)- Excellent blocker. Really, he is. Plays left side.
Vinny Soprato #60 (26)- Also an excellent blocker; and has a temper.
Jose Ramirez #79 (25)
Sal Martin #57 (29)
Tony Gerdone #56 (27)

Defensive Tackles:
Rick Horner #95 (29)- Quick off the snap.
John Burke #96 (28)- Collapses the pocket very well.
Fred Combes #97 (32)
Ron Kerker #94 (19)
Jesse McCarroll #77 (24)

Defensive Ends
Julius Jackson #92 (27)- Anticipates the snap real well and overpowers lineman.
Kirk Hoover #90 (25)- Not that great, but he bid a lot.
Jeremy Gustafsson #70 (31)
Doug Myers #75 (22)
Will Davis #78 (21)

Linebackers:
Shawn Cullari #76 (33)- Hard hitter.
Kevin Boyle #51 (28)- All-around; reads play very well. Will play in the middle.
Terry Maurice #53 (27)- Specializes in pass coverage
George Simplett #50 (31)
Harrison Watters #52 (36)
Ken Kellman #55 (28)
Craig Wharton #54 (29)

Corners:
Chris Tulenko #20 (28)- Physical, tall corner.
Calvin Wheeler #24 (26)- Speedy, will be assigned the opponent’s biggest deep threat
Andrew McGowen #42 (23)
Bernie Olinger #43 (25)
Matt Stevenson #48 (22)- Second option to return kicks/punts

Safeties:
Kevin Tucker #39 (18)- Violent hitter, enjoys injuring people.
Jim Sanderson #21 (21)- Speedy DB
Scott Pontrelli #22 (24)
John Seyferth #44 (28)
Albert Radford #41 (28)

Kickers:
Ryan Norris #4 (27)- Fortunately, the best kicker in the country also bid the most.
Danny Williams #8 (37)

Punters:
Dale Ellison #10 (46)- Was excluded from the 18-38 restriction because punters are different.
Zack Zyuzin #1 (30)

Arroza

15-11-2008, 00:27

Www.asn.aza! Arroza SportsNet > Football > National Team > New News!

Special Report: Top 4 Teams We'd Like to Beatdown.

Following the success of the QSPN report which was picked up and re-braodcast here about the seven greatest rivalries we could possibly see in the upcoming World Bowl, we at ASN have put together a list of the four national teams that get our blood boiling and make the staff and Tar Hornet fans want to commit unspeakable acts of violence against small, furry woodland creatures.

#4 – Swilatia

Swilatia and Kenavt are the only teams that we've played 4 times against all in the group stages. Our rivalry with Swialtia is more equivalent to the rivalry that a hammer has with a nail, as we've beaten Swilatia every time we've seen them, and by an average of three touchdowns. We're more mad at the fact that we can't shake them.

#3 – Rennidan

We actually like the Brutes. They're a team after our hearts, with their industrial style. We like the fact that they refuse to take a dime in sponsorship or even a set of donated uniforms. they're doing it for their dual loves. The love of the game, and their fans' love of violence.

But they're overrated.

There. We said it. Arroza has never, ever, ever lost to Rennidan. And I doubt we will in the near future. They can injure all of the weaker players they want. They can play on concrete all they want, but in order to be the best they have to beat the best. And I don't see any L's on our record against them.

"But they won a World Bowl!"

And your point is? So they have a trophy. Qazox has a trophy and no one outside of their region cares about them. Why all the love for a bunch of converted meat-packers and construction workers?

#2 and 1 – Kura-Pelland and Dancougar[

Kura-Pelland is the solid #2, and Dancougar's definitely the most hated team in Arroza, but we can't do a study of World Bowl hatred without combining the section for these teams, since our record is so similar against both.

0-4. Zero and freaking 4. That's our all time record against the Arrows. 1-4. That's our record against the Black Wings. 1-4-1 if you count fan violence. Did you know that Kura-Pelland is actually responsible for 40% of our international losses? Not just in World Bowl 2, where we essentially served at the Washington Generals in a study on how to stop the triple option, but in all our international competition. Ever. Did you know that Dancougar is also responsible for 40% of our international losses. Ever?

Our record against Kura-Pelland and Dancougar: 1 - 8
Our record against everyone else in the freaking world: 41 – 2

Did you know that if you don't include Dancougar and Kura-(effing)-Pelland that the Tar Hornets haven't lost an international game in six years? We haven't lost to a non axis of evil team since Matchday ten of World Bowl I against the Fujisawan Territories, and that was a game where we played our second team. The beef with Dancougar is multiplied by the fact that due to the vagaries of grouping and schedule, we normally don't ever see them until some point deep into the playoffs. Twice, we've lost to them in the finals of a cup, in WBI and the finale of the Newmanistan Charity Shield. Once, we've lost to them in the third place game of a cup (WBII and the Huracan game-fixing scandal) They're the only team who's fan base we've thrown blows with. And they did better than us in our own World Bowl, which was supposed to be the stage where we came into international recognition. Excuse me, writing this article has made me feel the need to go into the woods and hunt chipmunks for a few days now.

Qazox

15-11-2008, 04:46

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Coverage

"Welcome to Qazox City, I'm your host, Brett Manning and joining me are Eli Brady and Tom Farve. And now the moment 29 teams have been waiting for, the World Bowl IV qualifying group draw!"

Upon further review, the QGIA (Qazoxian GridIron Association) has decided to have 5 groups of teams, 4 of the groups will have 6 teams, and the 5th will have 5 teams. If there is one more sign-up in the next 24 hours, then that team will be placed in Group 5. Each team will play the other teams in their group twice, once at home and once on the road for a total of 10 games.

The top 2 teams from each group and the 2 best third-placed teams will advance to the playoffs. In the event that Group 5 still only has 5 teams, then results against the 6th placed team in the other 4 groups would not be counted in determination of the two best 3rd place teams.

Note: teams were randomly drawn, and for scheduling purposes, the 1st team listed is #1, second is #2, etc. HOME TEAM is listed First in each match-up.

GROUP A:

Dancougar
Secristan
Myedvedeya
Cotenshire
Northwest Polaris
Swilatia

Schedule:
MD1: 1v2; 4v3; 5v6
MD2: 1v5; 4v6; 2v3
MD3: 3v1; 6v2; 5v4
MD4: 4v1; 6v3; 2v5
MD5: 1v6; 4v2; 5v3
MD6-10: The reverse of MD1-MD5.

GROUP B:

Arroza
Vephrall
Sarzonia
Miroxia
Cassadaigua
Tortuga y Hispaniola

Schedule:
MD1: 3v1; 6v2; 5v4
MD2: 1v2; 4v3; 5v6
MD3: 4v1; 6v3; 2v5
MD4: 1v6; 4v2; 5v3
MD5: 1v5; 4v6; 2v3
MD6-10: The reverse of MD1-MD5.

GROUP C:

Taeshan
Greal
Mantwenic
Colbourne
Nethertopia
Newmanistan

Schedule:
MD1: 1v5; 4v6; 2v3
MD2: 1v6; 4v2; 5v3
MD3: 1v2; 4v3; 5v6
MD4: 4v1; 6v3; 2v5
MD5: 3v1; 6v2; 5v4
MD6-10: The reverse of MD1-MD5.

GROUP D:

Qazox
Kjomasasopia
Rennidan
The Candrian Empire
Antitidum
La Habana Cuba

Schedule:
MD1: 1v6; 4v2; 5v3
MD2: 3v1; 6v2; 5v4
MD3: 4v1; 6v3; 2v5
MD4: 1v5; 4v6; 2v3
MD5: 1v2; 4v3; 5v6
MD6-10: The reverse of MD1-MD5.

GROUP E:

Kura-Pelland
Lovisa
Christstan
Lurikastan
Twin Dominions
Green wombat

Schedule:
MD1: 3v1; 6v2; 5v4
MD2: 1v6; 4v2; 5v3
MD3: 1v5; 4v6; 2v3
MD4: 1v2; 4v3; 5v6
MD5: 4v1; 6v3; 2v5
MD6-10: The reverse of MD1-MD5.

PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
First Round
P1: Best 3rd place team vs. Best 2nd place team @ Toro Rojo Stadium, Las Vitas. GridIron Capacity: 77,000.
P2: 4th best 2nd place team vs. 3rd best 2nd place team @ Estadia Pika, Pika City. GridIron Capacity: 86,487.
P3: 5th best 2nd place team vs. 2nd best 2nd place team @ Lorax Field, Lorax City. GridIron Capacity: 84,150.
P4: 2nd best 3rd place team vs. 5th best 1st place team @ Ganja Vodka Park, Lake Porter City. GridIron Capacity: 74,782.

QuarterFinals
QF1: P1 Winner vs. 3rd best 1st place team @ Ganja Vodka Park, Lake Porter City. GridIron Capacity: 74,782.
QF2: P2 Winner vs. 2nd best 1st place team @ Lorax Field, Lorax City. GridIron Capacity: 84,150.
QF3: P3 Winner vs. Best 1st place team @ Estadia Pika, Pika City. GridIron Capacity: 86,487.
QF4: P4 Winner vs. 4th Best 1st place team @ Toro Rojo Stadium, Las Vitas. GridIron Capacity: 77,000.

SemiFinals
SF1: QF1 Winner vs. QF2 Winner @ Lorax Field, Lorax City. GridIron Capacity: 84,150.
SF2: QF3 Winner vs. QF4 Winner @ Ganja Vodka Park, Lake Porter City. GridIron Capacity: 74,782.

3RD PLACE @ Estadia Pika, Pika City. GridIron Capacity: 86,487.
SF1 Loser vs. SF2 Loser

WORLD BOWL IV
@ Champions Field, Qazox City. GridIron Capacity: 92,862.
SF1 winner vs. SF2 Winner

WIKIpage (http://wikistates.outwardhosting.com/wiki/World_Bowl_IV)

Taeshan

15-11-2008, 05:58

Taeshan
Greal
Mantwenic
Colbourne
Nethertopia
Newmanistan

Newmanistan Dmn

Taeshan

15-11-2008, 06:16

World Bowl Four Draw Announced

Isn't it sad when you here that a Taeshani team will be facing a Newmaistani team in any sport. OLf course we are usually higher ranked in every sport then them, but they mostly continue to defeat the Knight, and Falcon teams. It's gonna be happening again twice this world bowl. Is trading games against Secristan for Newmaistan a good idea. The draw puts the Knights with the Rockets, the Graeli, Colbourne, Mantwenic, and Nethertopian teams.

This draw bodes well for the Falcons though for the team. Hopefully they will be able to defeat the Rockets in one of the games and cruise through all the others. Then hopefully they can advance yet again to the World Bowl Playoffs.

Schedule
Taeshan VS Nethertopia@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park
Taeshan VS Newmanistan@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park
Taeshan VS Greal@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park
Taeshan @ Colbourne
Taeshan @ Mantwenic
Taeshan @ Nethertopia
Taeshan @ Newmanistan
Taeshan @ Greal
Taeshan VS Colbourne@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park
Taeshan VS Mantwenic@ Fadron Pizza Field at Wonder Park

Taeshan

15-11-2008, 06:23

Projected Advancees

Listed In Order
Group A-Dancougar, Secristan and Myedvedeyan
Group B-Arroza, Vephrall
Group C-Newmanistan, Taeshan
Group D-Qazox, Rennidan
Group E-Kura Pelland, Lovisa, Christstan

Newmanistan

15-11-2008, 08:05

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS TO GROUP C

Pocono City, Newmanistan- Pretty soon, we will be getting underway for the 4th World Bowl and a fantastic competition is expected. A record 30 nations have signed up to participate in this test for gridiron supremacy. It is a number that has to make any of those original World Bowl I nations feel quite good. The format will have five groups of six, and a total of twelve teams will advance to the knockouts. The top two teams in each group, plus the always popular “best two among” criteria that will be in place for the top two third place teams. It’s a format that will make sure you are on top of your game and perform well and have you setting your sights on the top two spots. We will take a look at the Rockets group mates in a moment, but first we have to introduce the new head coach of the Newmanistan Gridiron team, Jeremy Thompson of the reigning EFL champion South Tier Seagulls. Brett Nicholson, the coach of the first three teams was not brought back by the Empress for this team. This was her statement back when the decision was made, shortly before Empire Bowl 42:

“I still have the utmost respect for Brett and his ability as a football coach. He does a great job with Tundra Falls and I know that he will continue to do well for the Mariners. The national team, while it has had success, had fallen into a pretty predictable funk. We were still managing to beat teams that you would expect us too, but we were picking up nothing against top seeds. This has gone on ever since World Bowl I. Newmanistan is seen by the outside world as being a good football team and a respectable football team, but not a championship contender. We have to get over that hump, and to that, we felt as though we needed to look in a different direction. I believe that under Jeremy Thompson, we can finally take that final step and be a championship caliber team.”

It has led to some calling Newmanistan the biggest underachiever in this sport. At least Taeshan has been to a third place game, and Arroza’s been to a final. How did Brett Nicholson take the news? Well, here was his comment:

“We know that the Empress makes the rules and I know that Jeremy Thompson will be a good coach, but this is a case of me being the sacrificial lamb more then anything else. That’s something that happens when you’re a coach, though.”

The roster is fairly similar to the roster Newmanistan brought to Arroza for the last World Bowl, but there is one major change, and that’s at quarterback. John Pivonka, the starter in the last three World Bowls, and someone that most feel didn’t exactly deserve to lose his starting job, has been moved to the second string in favor of 25-year old scrambler Kenny O’Hara. O’Hara made an appearance on the World Bowl III roster, which was his first such appearance. While the Empire would expect to have success with both quarterbacks, and it seems as though the team just wants to try something new, because there is a big difference between Pivonka and O’Hara. Pivonka is a pocket passer that doesn’t move around too much while O’Hara likes to scramble and make plays happen with his legs as well. The strength of the Rockets offensive line which, except for center Scott Burnett, are all making their fourth World Bowl appearance, will be important, but is expected to hold up quite well. Burnett is a club teammate of O’Hara, so there’s no experience concerns there. Corey Parisi continues as the no-brainer first-string tail back, and the Southport receiving duo of Alex Foster and Christian Gagnon will return as well. The offense does expect to score pretty well, and perhaps with the added dimension of O’Hara’s running ability, it can be more effective.

In the group, Newmanistan is the second ranked team overall, behind only Taeshan. It seems as though the Rockets cannot ever escape Taeshan, and what was once a sparkling record against them has stabilized at least somewhat. They have had a nearly similar history as we have had, and it would be debatable over which team would be the bigger gridiron underachiever, as even though they have been in a third place game, they did have a forgettable experience in World Bowl II. Look for these two to have a couple of good battles that could go either way. In the long run, both will be heading to knockouts. The gridiron programs of Greal and Mantwenic are unknown to us, and we’ll be playing Colbourne for the first time. As for Nethertopia, our nice new uniforms were made there, but that’s as much as we know about them. They did come here for the charity tournament, and were defeated in each game. Overall, Newmanistan should be looking at a record of no worse then 7-3, and we’ll predict an 8-2 mark.

Here is the schedule and where the games are being played. You will notice that the Tundra Falls Proving Grounds and bigger name stadiums are not being used. This is because they are being used in the Cup of Harmony daily. Some “different” stadiums are getting a chance this time to avoid potential conflicts.

MD1- @ Colbourne
MD2- @ Taeshan - Fadron Pizza Field, Wonder Park
MD3- @ Nethertopia
MD4- vs Mantwenic @ Olympia Field
MD5- vs Greal @ Hastings Field
MD6- vs Colbourne @ The Stadium at South Tier
MD7- vs Taeshan- @ South Charlotte Sports Complex
MD8- vs Nethertopia - @ Dover Field
MD9- @ Mantwenic
MD10- @ Greal

Qazox

15-11-2008, 09:16

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Preview Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

Welcome to the World Bowl IV preview show and let's just get down it. Here are the collective picks in each group from our esteemed staff: (W-L-T)

GROUP A
Dancougar 8-1-1
Secristan 6-3-1
Swilatia 5-5-0
Myedvedeya 5-5-0
Cotenshire 4-6-0
Northwest Polaris 1-9-0

GROUP B
Arroza 8-2-0
Vephrall 7-3-0
Sarzonia 5-5-0
Miroxia 5-5-0
Cassadaigua 4-6-0
Tortuga y Hispaniola 1-9-0

GROUP C: (QSPN's GROUP OF DEATH)
Taeshan 7-3-0
Newmanistan 7-3-0
Nethertopia 4-6-0
Greal 4-6-0
Mantwenic 4-6-0
Colbourne 4-6-0

GROUP D:
Qazox 8-2-0
Rennidan 8-2-0
The Candrian Empire 5-4-1
Kjomasasopia 4-5-1
Antitidum 1-9-0
La Habana Cuba 1-9-0

GROUP E:
Kura-Pelland 8-1-1
Lovisa 7-3-0
Green wombat 6-4-0
Christstan 4-5-1
Lurikastan 2-8-0
Twin Dominions 2-8-0

Playoff Teams: (in Seeding order)
Kura-Pelland 8-1-1
Dancougar 8-1-1
Arroza 8-2-0
Qazox 8-2-0
Taeshan 7-3-0
----
Rennidan 8-2-0
Lovisa 7-3-0
Newmanistan 7-3-0
Vephrall 7-3-0
Secristan 6-3-1
----
Green wombat 6-4-0
The Candrian Empire 5-4-1

Setting up these playoffs: (Predicted winners in BOLD)
P1: Green Wombat vs. Rennidan
P2: Vephrall vs. Newmanistan
P3: Secristan vs. Lovisa
P4: The Candrian Empire vs. Taeshan

QuarterFinals
QF1: Rennidan vs. Arroza
QF2: Newmanistan vs. Dancougar
QF3: Secristan vs. Kura-Pelland
QF4: Taeshan vs. Qazox

SemiFinals
SF1: Arroza vs. Dancougar
SF2: Kura-Pelland vs. Qazox

3RD PLACE
Arroza vs. Qazox

WORLD BOWL IV
Kura-Pelland vs. Dancougar

That's right, and remember you heard it here 1st. The Arrows of Kura-Pelland will take home the World Bowl.

As for Qazox' group, Group D, Let's take a quick look at the schedule: (* are Most important matches)

(ALL home games for Qazox at Lorax Field, Lorax City. GridIron Capacity: 84,150.
MD1: v. La habana Cuba
MD2: @ Rennidan *
MD3: @ The Candrian Empire *
MD4: v Antitidum
MD5: v Kjomasasopia
MD6: @ La habana Cuba
MD7: v Rennidan *
MD8: v The Candrian Empire
MD9: @ Antitidum
MD10: @ Kjomasasopia *

Other than the 2 games against Rennidan, which will probably determine the group title; the 2 toughest games on the schedule will be the trips to The Candrian Empire and Kjomasasopia.
The trip to The Candrian Empire sets itself up for a classic let-down game. After the Rennidan game, can the Pheonix recover physically and mentally enough for a 2nd straight road game?

As for the trip to Kjomasasopia, it is the final game on the docket, and if the Phoenix are in the playoffs, would they relax and let the bench play, and possibly lose, decreasing their seeding in t he playoffs? Or would they risk injuries to starting players in hopes of increasing their seeding?

In 2 weeks we'll find out just how hard defending this championship can be, as no team, except Dancougar has even reached back-to-back finals.

Secristan

15-11-2008, 09:30

WORLD BOWL TIME AGAIN

Good news and bad news. The good news is that it is time for World Bowl IV, and it is expected to be an intense tournament with a record thirty teams participating. The bad news is that the Secristan Department of Sports decided that they would not go with the cheerleaders that performed so well towards the end of World Bowl III. If it wasn’t for financial concerns, the SDOS may have done with the cheerleading squad once again, but they decided against this and had the players bid as is our custom. The end result is that only two players who have any Secristani World Bowl experience are returning. Starting quarterback Tom Mitchell, who has been in that role for every game except for the ones with the cheerleaders, once again reached deep into his pockets to be the winning bidder to start at QB again. Mitchell has had mixed results in his World Bowl career. Who could forget that classic drive he engineered when the Millionaires shocked Qazox in the World Bowl II group stage. But then other games he had some struggles in. The other player that is returning is Stacie Johnson, the 21-year old wide receiver who was one of the cheerleaders that participated down the stretch of World Bowl III. She was the only member of the squad that placed a bid to return for more. Stacie is not concerned with being the only female on a team of testosterone driven men, and in fact when asked about it she said. “That’s going to be the best part!” She doesn’t seem to care that she might end up with a reputation as the “Kate Sallad of the World Bowl.”

The Qazox GridIron Association held the group draw this evening and placed the Millionaires into Group A. This means that our opponents will be Dancougar, Myedvedeya, Cotenshire, Northwest Polaris, and Swilatia. We get the toughest one of the way early and get to be Dancougar’s opening game punching bag. Secristanis have traditionally had a fun time in Dancougar with extra curricular activities as still many of them fall for the Ruscents trick as they did in the first International Basketball Championships. Dancougar is going to get to take out their frustrations on both teams that won the IBC on their home court with a meeting against Myedvedeya as well. Our second game is at home against the KGB of Myedvedeya. Contrary to some reports, there is no rivalry between Secristan and Myedvedeya. At least not yet. If you want to look at the Baptism of Fire, recall the in-game brawl that occurred in the Cassadaigua game or the Kjomasasopian envy of our team after we laid the smack down on them in the quarterfinals. Both of these countries are in the World Bowl. The meeting in the final between us and the Bears was a professional encounter. Then we’re in Swilatia, which has been a nice punching bag for teams over the years, so hopefully we will now have a turn. The first leg then concludes at home against Northwest Polaris and on the road with Cotenshire. For the second leg, just reverse home and road and place them in the same order. That’s World Bowl IV. Secristan probably won’t win the championship. Look for Dancougar to be the first team to win two titles.

Arroza

15-11-2008, 10:53

Www.asn.aza! Arroza SportsNet > Football > National Team > New News!

World Bowl 4 Preview.

With the Charity Shield over, and the citizens of Point Amite having received their 745,000 baht check for the re-construction of their elementary school destroyed in hurricane Helene last year, it's almost time for the Qualifying rounds, to see which teams will have the right to go to Qazox. And there's already controversy as the Qazoxians have introduced a little bit of randomness in their drawing methods. For this World Bowl, the hosts decided to use their own ranking system instead of the commonly accepted Ministry of Sport rankings. The controversy comes in when you realize that these rankings mean that former World Bowl winners Rennidan were not given a number one seed, with the last seeded spot going to regional neighbor, and sometimes war-ally Taeshan. You're kidding me right? The team who's army coordinates moves with you gets a one seed and the fifth-ranked team in the world doesn't? Even stranger, the one seeds were the only seeds applied. The other 25 teams, instead of being segregated by rank, were thrown in a communal pot to simmer. It means that some one seeds have easy roads to victory (Arroza, Kura-Pelland), while other teams have much harder roads to hoe.(Dancougar). Now let's go to the breakdown of the other groups.

Group A:
Dancougar (9-1) predictions in parentheses
Secristan (6-4)
Myedvedeva (7-3)
Cotenshire (5-5)
Northwest Polaris (1-9)
Swilatia (2-8)

Summary: Containing three teams that came to Arroza last year, and one team that missed out on a point differential tiebreaker Group A is the group of doom this World Bowl. Everyone has some subtle flaws that can make them beatable by anyone else in the top 4 of the group. Dancougar is gettting old at the core of their team. Secristan's...odd selection system doesn't guarantee that the best players would actually get onto the field. Myedvedeva has to get over their heartbreaking run in WBIII and show that theu can hang with the more experienced teams, and play without their twelth man, “Father Winter”. Cotenshire has to implement some form of fan security as every single home game was followed by pogroms and riots in Cotenshire, but at the same time, the team needs to learn how to win away from those same savages.

Qualifiers: Dancougar, Myedvedeva, Secristan(barely)

Group B:

Arroza (10-0)
Vephrall (6-4)
Sarzonia (2-8)
Miroxia (2-8)
Cassadaigua (7-3)
Tortuga y Hipaniola (3-7)

Summary: Dancougar's not in this group. Kura-Pelland's not in this group. Tar Hornets roll.

Vephrall's an old name from World Bowl I, they restarted their piiven/football program in time for this season. Look for them to have a free-flowing hard to decipher attack, but their lack of experience should leave them vulnerable on defense. Last time we played Vephrall we won by six touchdowns. And change. Cassadaigua's actually our shock pick to be the second team out of the group. As their team in the World cup showed, and as many a divorcee can attest, the lack of a y-chromosome doesn't mean that women can't be just as vicious, driven, and dangerous as men. Disregard them at your leisure. Although we should be able to push them around on the wings. And we've definitely got to introduce their men to a thing called the “Men's Rights Movement”.

Qualifiers: Arroza, Cassadaigua

Group C:

Taeshan (8-2)
Greal (3-7)
Mantwenic (1-9)
Colbourne (4-6)
Nethertopia (6-4)
Newmanistan (8-2)

Summary: The recipient of the first-seed controversy, Taeshan finds themselves in Group C with a Newmanistan team ready to show the world that their not an also-run. I think this is the year Newmanistan pulls it together and gets untied under their new coach and quarterback. Taeshan is a touch competitor, with possibly the coldest home field on earth for Football. Nethertopia is my pick to go third in the group, but it probably won't be good enough to get to the round of 12.

Qualifiers: Newmanistan, Taeshan.

Groups D and E to be reviewed tomorrow! Also we'll have our playoff brackets and predictions!:

Last but not least. The Tar Hornets' schedule of games for World Bowl 4. The one non-site game will be played this year at Resurgens Velodrome, the largest stadium in Arroza and home of the Resurgens Flames club side.

Road To Qazox:
@ Sarzonia
Vephrall – The Hive
@ Miroxia
Cassadaigua – The Hive
Tortuga y Hispaniola – Resurgens Velodrome
Sarzonia – The Hive
@ Vephrall
Miroxia – The Hive
@ Cassadaigua
@ Tortuga y Hispaniola

Rennidan

15-11-2008, 12:44

Rennidan Sports Network

DISSAPOINTED.

So, the group draws for the rocky-road flavoured forth edition of the World Bowl are through, and who have our loveable Brutes drawn? Well, let's see, there's Qazox and then there's...

Uh...

A bunch of nobodies.

It looks like us fans looking forwards to more clashes against Dancougar will go disappointed yet again. The only way we'll get to fight our one true rival in gridiron is if we meet them in the playoffs or the finals.

The highlight of Group D will no doubt be the games played between Qazox and Rennidan, the last two teams to walk away with the World Bowl trophy at hand. However, as a semi-respectable reporter, I feel it's my right to flag up some doubt here. Last World Bowl, what the heck happened to the Brutes? They got decimated left right and centre by teams no one had heard of, so how do you really think they're going to fare this World Bowl in a group almost entirely made up of nobody teams? They'll barely be able to handle the likes of La Habana Cuba, let alone the iron might of the defending champions Qazox.

I realize I'm probably going to get heckled and hated, jeered and jumped for saying such things, but really, if someone doesn't express their doubts early on, the Brutes are going to look like a bigger laughing stock this year than they were last. To be honest, I'm helping the guys by giving them a chance to prove me wrong.

So, go on Brutes, show the world what you're made of.

Just don't screw up again.

_________

A laughing stock? They really think we became a laughing stock last World Bowl?

I don't believe a single fuckin' word of it.

We just made a mistake last World Bowl, we let those Taeshanite bastards beat us when it mattered most, and let me tell you, it hurts to fall that far.

We should have made it further than that. Hell, Dancougar predicted we'd at least make it to the finals.

I guess we'll just have to do them right this World Bowl. We're not stopping for anyone this time.

We're no longer the Brutes of old who would win a game by blocking up the goddamned pitch. We're faster and we're stronger now. This time, we're the ones doing the offensive thing. And you better believe we're gonna' make it work.

__________

MD1: @ Antitidum
MD2: vs. Qazox
MD3: @ La Habana Cuba
MD4: @ Kjomasasopia
MD5: @ The Candrian Empire
MD6: vs. Antitidum
MD7: @ Qazox
MD8: vs. La Habana Cuba
MD9: vs. Kjomasasopia
MD10: vs. The Candrian Empire

Cassadaigua

15-11-2008, 13:16

Katie’s Space

The team got together and decided that since Courtney Ferguson’s blog draws a lot of hits during the World Cup and now that Cup of Harmony thing, that we needed to have a team representative to report when happens in the World Bowl. We tried to get quarterback Lauren Hamilton to step up and do it, but we found out that she wasn’t the most computer literate person after it took her twenty minutes to figure out how to sign in to our team website! Fortunately, Lauren does a much better job at locating receivers downfield. Since we need her to spend more time worrying about reading those funky looking photographs that come down from the team press box during a game of the other team’s defensive formations and tendencies then we do worrying about if she can log into mynetspace.cdg, we took volunteers for someone else to do it. This is where I came in. I was one of the volunteers and then the one the team voted on to be the voice of the team for the fans back home. I’m Katie Dupree, and I’m 22 years old and I am from Blue Mountain Township in Northern Cassadaigua. I am a wide receiver wearing the number 80. We expect to have an aggressive offense in the World Bowl, so I am hoping to enjoy some of that success on an individual level, but only if the team also does well.

Now that I have introduced myself let’s get this thing started. The World Bowl is the next step in showing to the world that Cassadaigua should be considered a top sporting nation. We were pretty happy with the way our soccer team did in the Baptism of Fire, and then they did a very good job in qualifying even though they didn’t qualify. It is a younger competition, and we got the go ahead for it soon after the Baptism of Fire was complete when the higher ups decided that it would be time to expand our horizons outside of soccer. I believe that we play a high quality of football here and that we can be competitive with the top teams in the world, but it might not show immediately. We still have a lot of learning to do as many of these nations have been doing this for quite some time. If nothing else, we hope to show the world that women can play football just as good as men. Though we did decide that it would be good to use to some men for our offensive line. Our group was officially drawn last night, and we will be in Group B with Arroza, Vephrall, Miroxia, Tortuga y Hispaniola, and Sarzonia. We have minimal familiarity with these nations. Tortuga y Hispaniola was in our Baptism of Fire, but we never met. Arroza is in the same Cup of Harmony as us, but they are playing in another country. They are also the highest ranked team in the group and are expecting to cruise over everyone. According to an article we’ve read from Arroza, there’s only two teams have historically given them trouble, and neither one are in the group so that would explain their confidence. They also gave us a lot of credit, predicting us to finish second. It’s pretty good to be noticed like that, and we do feel like we can be a threat in Group B. Vephrall is currently hosting the World Cup and is a nation renowned for their soccer prowess. This isn’t soccer, this is football. Wait, I just opened up a can of worms with that statement, didn’t I?! Let me try that again. This isn’t soccer, this is gridiron. There, much better. Miroxia and Sarzonia we hardly knowia. That doesn’t mean they won’t be good. We’ll just hope that they aren’t.

This is our schedule, all of our home games are played in Concord Heights
Game 1- vs Miroxia
Game 2- vs Tortuga y Hispaniola
Game 3- at Vephrall
Game 4- vs Sarzonia
Game 5- at Arroza
Game 6- at Miroxia
Game 7- at Tortuga y Hispaniola
Game 8- vs Vephrall
Game 9- at Sarzonia
Game 10- vs Arroza

Rennidan

15-11-2008, 14:22

The World Bowl Dream Team:
OFFENCE
Taking your best players and pretending they'd all get along!

It had to be done sooner or later, I suppose. What if some berky old reporter with too much time on his hands decided to put together the first string of a team that'd never happen and then flaunt it around to declare his tactical genius? Well, we'd end up with my idea of a Dream Team and it'd mean I get paid for an extra week of work. But I guess it could also make an interesting read for any of you out there who are completely World Bowl crazy (or just plain ol' crazy).

QUARTERBACK:

Always the toughest position to pick, it seems to have gotten even tougher this World Bowl. For this reporter, the likes of Dusty Haynesworth or Erik Smythe would have been number one choice, but Dusty has retired and Smythe is beginning to show his age out on the field. Pat McGraw of Rennidan would also be a good choice, but the young quarterback is still to reach his peak, and even though he has two World Bowls of experience under his belt, he still isn't the best out there. So, really, I had to go with the man that lead the most recent champions to victory.

Greg Dannen
The quarterback from Qazox consistantly impressed me last World Bowl, and managed to take his team all the way to the finals and beyond. He should be considered a big threat this World Bowl, and there's no doubt that Rennidan will need to do a lot to keep him under wraps.

HALFBACK:

The running games in the last World Bowls have been enough to inspire many to hold the halfback as a bigger glory role than the QB. So, it is with great wariness that I flicked through the Bowl's latest offering of running talent and pick out the one I consider to be the best. I broke out in sweats and had more than one nervous breakdown during this task, but I managed to begin singling the talent down. Would I go with the all-round player of Corey Parisi? The powerback stylings of Gary Hutchins? The outside talent of Carlos Thompson? Or would I go for the run-away train speed of Jason Yeilds? Actually, the correct answer is none of the above...

Abraham Chadwick
This man was another offensive superpower last World Bowl, and although last years host nation failed to impress overall, Chadwick left his mark on many of the optimistic defences.

FULLBACK:

Perhaps one of the most underrated roles in the game, alongside the tight end, a fullback needs to be able to do two key things: Firstly, knock the shit out of anyone stupid enough to go for the halfback and, secondly, be able to knock the shit out of the defensive line when they go on a run. Many World Bowl class fullbacks have come about, with Jason DeHavel, Tiberius Gillepsie, Sidney Etheredge and Vaughan Harley to name a few, but really, there was only one choice here.

Duncan Smie
I know it may seem biased to pick a player from my own nation in such a key role, but anyone that has seen Smie play, or even looked at his stats, will know it's a good choice. He's one of the only fullbacks in the bowl that can make linebackers have second thoughts about going for a tackle, and he gained more points for Rennidan last World Bowl than their wide receivers did.

WIDE RECEIVERS:

Now, I thought picking wide receivers would be easier than the other positions, considering I can pick two of them, but, yet again, their talent surpassed me, and I was left blubbering like a baby when it came to making the final controversial call. Would I pick the drunken antics of Lewis Seffer? The possessive-prowess of Taesean Malone? Or Jermaine Divalerio, who no doubt has one last hurrah in him for this World Bowl?

Grigory Kovalenko and Alex Foster
Controversial choices, no doubt, but looking at the highlights and footage of the last World Bowl, it is no doubt a solid choice. Kovalenko may belong to a new-faced team, but he showed potential for something amazing this time last year, and the experienced Alex Foster could no doubt mentor him and bring out the best from the fresh faced receiver. Together, these two would make a receiving force to be reckoned with.

TIGHT ENDS

The blocking game is going to play a big part this year, with the often-quietened defences now out looking for blood. Whilst last year was no doubt an incredibly offensive affair, this World Bowl the defence will no doubt be ruling supreme. We're looking for tight ends with blocking abilities of a truck and hands that may as well be laced in glue when it comes to the short situation catches.

Jim Crosby and Tawfiq Rudolph
Making a return from the graveyard known as 'second string', Crosby is looking to prove himself after being benched last World Bowl. The man has been in it since the first World Bowl, and will be out for blood this time round to prove why he's the best Newmanistan has to offer. Rudolph, on the other hand, was a tough name to call up for this position. He's beginning to get a bit past it, but his raw receiving talent is still there. It really was a toss up between him, Salomon Arraza and Ed Yecks, but at the end of the day, his experience of age reigns supreme.

CENTER

The middleman of offensive line management, the center is perhaps the most unique role in the game. Sure, his key point is blocking, but he's also the lad unlucky enough to have the quarterback's hands where no-one wants them. It's a relatively unglorious role, sure, but in gridiron, every position is important for a team to work.

Nathan Yecks
And boy, does Yecks work this position. He's not afraid to decimate and destroy any nose tackle or blitzing linebacker stupid enough to run at him, and he's not afraid to do it in the dirtiest way possible. Love him or hate him, there's no denying that Yecks is one of the best centers in this World Bowl.

LEFT & RIGHT GUARDS

We're moving into the pure blocking positions here, and this means we need both bulk and brains to eliminate any defensive blitz threats. Mike Franks and Greg Danniel are two examples of good guards, as are Hershel Seyfried or Pascha Anasimov.

Nick Russo and Brent Pemberton
These two players from Newmanistan are probably the smartest guards in the Bowl. Whilst Russo may not be the biggest guard in the game, he's got an IQ big enough to squash most defensive players, and Pemberton... well, he's big and smart, and he's a threat of goliath proportions.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES

Again, a mostly blocking role, the offensive tackles need eagle eyesight, muscles of steel and the ability to grab a fumble whenever the chance presents itself.

Philemon Placido and Hector Laredo
Arroza is a running nation, and whilst the work is no doubt down to their brilliant halfbacks, you can't go by without signing the praises of their offensive tackles. These guys can pull and push to help open up lines on the oppositions defence like none others and they are, by far, some of the best at helping the running backs out when it matters the most. Even with Arroza's recent trouble with their running game, nothing is going to keep these two down this World Bowl.

The World Bowl Dream Team will be continued at a later point, with the Dream Team of Defence & Special Teams.

Miroxia

15-11-2008, 15:56

Miroxian Sports Inquirer

Miroxia's Gridiron Mountain Goats Release Schedule

Ah, it's gridiron season in the world as national teams take the stage in an all-out blood-battle-brawl known as the World Bowl! That's right, Miroxia, the Gridiron Mountain Goats are back and better than ever and are ready to take their spot in the light as competitors in World Bowl IV: Qazox. First came our roster, but now the reporters at Miroxian Sports Press Association (MSPA) have more juicy information than you can handle: a schedule, some player interviews, and some game-by-game projections.

Gridiron Mountain Goats World Bowl Schedule
MD1- @ Cassadaigua
MD2- vs. Sarzonia
MD3- vs, Arroza
MD4- vs. Vephrall
MD5- vs. Tortuga y Hispaniola
MD6- vs. Cassadaigua
MD7- @ Sarzonia
MD8- @ Arroza
MD9- @ Vephrall
MD10- @ Tortuga y Hispaniola

Okay, we know there are ups and downs to this, like 5 staight home games and 4 straight away games, but the MSPA is confident that Miroxia will do fine. Just pray, Miroxia. Pray real good and real loud so that we may bring home a title!

Now we will give you some projections:

Gridiron Mountain Goats Schedule and Score Projections
MD1- @ Cassadaigua - Mixed rankings by the internation press on this one, but we say Cassadaigua 17 - 13 Miroxia (0-1).
MD2- vs. Sarzonia - Projected the same as Miroxia in many polls, so we say Miroxia 24 - 23 Sarzonia (1-1).
MD3- vs, Arroza - No questions asked. We lose it. Arroza 36 - 12 Miroxia (1-2).
MD4- vs. Vephrall - Close, but we lose it. Vephrall 15 - 13 Miroxia (1-3).
MD5- vs. Tortuga y Hispaniola - Miroxia's hopeful win. This team is ranked low amongst the international community. Miroxia 20 - 3 Tortuga y Hispaniola (2-3).
MD6- vs. Cassadaigua - After a loss, we at MSPA predict Miroxia will take revenge in a projected Miroxia 17 - 15 Cassadaigua win (3-3).
MD7- @ Sarzonia - Miroxia barely wins in a vengeful, bloddshed match. Miroxia 14 - 13 Sarzonia (4-3),
MD8- @ Arroza - Loss. Period. End it. Arroza 45 - 3 Miroxia (4-4)
MD9- @ Vephrall - Controversy on this one, as revenge and international polls mix. They don't mix well. Miroxia 13 - 10 Vephrall on a OT field goal (5-4)
MD10- @ Tortuga y Hispaniola - Again, not ranked highly, a win for our nation, Miroxia 21 - 17 Tortuga y Hispaniola (6-4).

After those massive projections, your heart is beating real fast now, right? Bottom Line: Miroxia comes in 3rd Place in Group B and barely makes playoffs. We win one round then lose it. Oh well, that's good enough bragging rights for us! Anyways, now, here are what some players say about this season:

"Pancake" Koon, Center- Um, well...I feel great. I've been doing well in the national league here in Miroxia, and, well, I can protect the quarterback. *laughs* Um, well, I'm just hopefull Miroxia does good and believe we will make the playoffs.

Carlos Thompson, Halfback- The Gridiron Mountain Goats are strong this year. I truly believe we'll make the playoffs. After that, I don't know, but we all get along great and can function as a team.

Taurus McPherson, Right Offensive Linebacker- Our defense is being ranked highly, which is good, but if we face a team with a strong offense, it's a null and void weapon. I think, though, that if we put our minds to it, we can stop any team that come in our territory.

And there you have it, Miroxia! The first game of WBIV is in only two days and tickets are on sale now for home games! Come and supports the champions-to-be and get a seasonal pass. Or, you could come to one, that's fine. Just pray that Miroxia will bring home this title!

Myedvedeya

15-11-2008, 17:00

Myedvedeyan Gridiron Squad: A Look at Group A

MD1: Myedvedeya @ Cotenshire

Myedvedeya and Cotenshire have never met on the Gridiron, but Cotenshire is ranked slightly higher than the Bears, after making it to the elimination rounds of last year's world bowl. We are predicting an extremely close match, with a brutal level of physicality. Also, expect fan violence. Lots and lots of fan violence, if last year is any guide.

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 14-17 Cotenshire

MD2: Myedvedeya @ Secristan

The Baptism of Fire rivalry, and the two best basketball nations in the world, prepare to face off in a third sport. This match will be huge, and both sides will fight incredibly hard to give their nation a boost in this rivalry. Secristan is one again ranked a dot higher than the Bears, and we predict that our group stage matches will be split, each team winning at home.

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 16-21 Secristan

MD3: Myedvedeya VS Dancougar

The number 1 team in the world, Myedvedeya will be hard pressed to get any kind of game going against the Black Wings. Still, in the last world bowl, The Bears defeated then #3 Rennidan, after losing their first two matches. A win here is very unlikely, but hey, anything's possible.

Myedvedeya's bears will be out in force for this one, and especially for the return leg in Dancougar, after seeing the impact they made there in the International Basketball Championships.

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 7-28 Dancougar

MD4: Myedvedeya @ Swilatia

Ranked just lower than the Bears, Swilatia is a game we should win, and not doing so could be a major problem in this World Bowl campaign. The Bears should pull this one out though, after getting the hard part of our schedule out of the way earlier against Secristan, Dancougar, and Cotenshire.

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 14-6 Swilatia

MD5: Myedvedeya @ Northwest Polaris

A completely unknown entrant nation, Myedvedeya should defeat the boys from Northwest Polaris. The cold temperature of their home stadium will have no effect on us, and our experience should power us to a victory.

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 28-14 Northwest Polaris.

MD6: Myedvedeya VS Cotenshire

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 14-9 Cotenshire

MD7: Myedvedeya VS Secristan

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 24-14 Secristan

MD8: Myedvedeya @ Dancougar

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 3-35 Dancougar

MD9: Myedvedeya VS Swilatia

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 21-12 Swilatia

MD10: Myedvedeya VS Northwest Polaris:

PREDICTION: Myedvedeya 35-14 Northwest Polaris

OVERALL PREDICTED RECORD: 6-4

Vephrall

15-11-2008, 17:06

Group Preview

Well, there's definitely one name in this group that sticks out like a sore thumb.

Arroza.

I know, I know, it was a long time ago, back in the first World Bowl.

But as much as you may want to forget it, the memory of 51-3 just never goes away.

Watch out, Tar Hornets. That's all we have to say.

Oh yeah, and there are also four other teams in the group.

Schedule
MD1: Vephrall @ Tortuga y Hispaniola
MD2: Vephrall @ Arroza
MD3: Cassadaigua @ Vephrall
MD4: Vephrall @ Miroxia
MD5: Sarzonia @ Vephrall
MD6: Tortuga y Hispaniola @ Vephrall
MD7: Arroza @ Vephrall
MD8: Vephrall @ Cassadaigua
MD9: Miroxia @ Vephrall
MD10: Vephrall @ Sarzonia

All Vephrall home games will take place at Ellime Parogam Gests (capacity 24,948) on the campus of BTI in Misedos.

Player Spotlight

1/QB Crublig CLASPUNG

The quarterback is the leader of the offense, so it would be logical to start with him, right?

Vital stats
Age: 26
Height: 185 cm (6'1")
Weight: 93 kg (205 lbs)
Hometown: Knolees, SH
Graduated from Shentarong Tech (Mech. Eng. '60)

As has been mentioned before, this is basically a piivel team that's been recruited to play American football. In piivel, everybody is a quarterback. Everybody is a running back. Everybody is a receiver, and everybody is a lineman. In other words, everybody does everything. You know what that means. That means this guy can run. It's exactly why Sperobis Ceedast uses this option-based offense.

Like the rest of the team, Claspung can play any position. Basically, he's the quarterback because he's better at throwing the ball than everyone else on the team. Forward passes don't tend to be nearly as common in piivel as they are in American football, especially at the professional level, but they will go deep every once in a while. If you don't respect Claspung's arm, seven points on the board will quickly correct your misconceptions.

Dancougar

15-11-2008, 20:27

Sidney Goldman's The Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

Offense facing changing of the guards

We got our first look at the new Dancougar Black Wings in the recent Charity Bowl in Newmanistan, and there's not too much we can complain about. It was a preseason tournament, sure but they got past Newmanistan and Arroza to bring home a million dollars for women's self-security organizations Teenage Women Without Hammerspace and Pants Across Dancougar. It was supposed to be the first test of a team that underwent a pretty sudden transformation from the last tournament, with several of its big-name players retiring from international play.

Indeed, the entire basis for Dancougar's running game - the foundation of this team throughout its earlier World Bowl successes - is completely new. Tackle Donny Cullivan is the only returning starter on the offensive line, and Kirk Hatchitt is gone, replaced by Gary Hutchins, who was last on the depth chart in World Bowl III.

"Gary's not as strong as Kirk was, not as big, but I think he runs harder," said linebacker Kirk Manly, who followed up a solid World Bowl III with his debut as defensive captain in the preseason tournament. "He knows that this team's on his back right now."

Hatchitt would have been 33 this year, and while he still plays with his amateur team in Lunarossa, the prospect of a challenging international schedule was too much for his aging legs. Enter 24-year-old Hutchins, a four-year starter at Sullivan State who anchors the backfield for semi-pro side AFC Wexford.

Hutchins is exactly the kind of back coach Will Moohim wanted when evaluating personnel for his offense. He's a vertical runner who is familiar with Moohim's philosophy that prioritizes ball control and possession over finesse and speed. During the Charity Bowl, he averaged 3.5 yards a carry and the team averaged 22 points a game. Sure, a lot of those drives were ending in Seth Cavallo field goals as opposed to dives across the goal line for six. But all the Wings did was put together a series of clock-chewing drives which ended with points on the board. That's fine when you've got a defense like Manly's, which is no less aggressive despite also losing many starters from the previous tournament.

For Hutchins, the selection marks another stop on a journey that started as a 12-year-old watching World Bowl I. "Kirk did some really amazing things in that tournament," said Hutchins. "I remember we had some pretty epic games with Kura-Pelland, and even though he went up against some tough defenses, he just kept the legs churning, kept moving forward. That really said something about this game to me, and I got hooked."

Hutchins' success, though, will depend largely on the mettle of his offensive line. Tackle Cullivan is now the most experienced man there, although center Ray Chartier at least saw time in World Bowl III as a long snapper. Questions were raised before the tournament whether the new line would be as effective. No one doubted their talent, but there's something to be said for experience. The old line had gone up against the best in the world and had the collective knowledge that this bunch now lacks. But they gelled well in the Charity Bowl, with quarterback Michael Hussey getting sacked only twice in the three games.

"We knew we were going to get tested, and frankly, the toughest test is still ahead," said guard Christopher Lacefield, who at 23 wasn't even on the team last time. "This team has proven you can win with a really conservative strategy like this. It's up to us we can keep that going."

They'll look to keep it going in a group that features some familiar faces and one debut nation. Secristan and Myedvedeya are by now established sides that figure to produce most of the excitement in Group A unless Swilatia or Northwest Polaris can come alive. The Wings are familiar with Swilatia; the teams have played four times in the past, with Dancougar racking up four wins by an impressive aggregate score of 123-13. Myedvedeya will be an interesting opponent, as they play a similar defense-first style. Secristan continue to challenge the notion that merit-based team selection isn't necessarily the only way to find quality players.

Hutchins is eager to get an opportunity to show what he can really do. "The Wings get new rivals in every tournament," he said. "I want to be the one they remember against this group."

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

Welcome to the first edition of the power rankings, and while Dancougar remains number one in the official world table, I'm not sure I can, in good conscience, hammer out a pre-tournament list where the defending champs aren't on top. The Charity Bowl has given us an early look at some teams, and that will get reflected here. For the newcomers, they've been ranked in the order of their registration - excepting Cassadaiguia and Nethertopia, who have already come out to play. We'll include Charity Bowl records for the first edition; these will be cleared when the group stage starts.

Questions at the top...
(1) Qazox (0-0): How much of a boost will they get from defending the title on their home turf?
(2) Dancougar (3-0): Is Gary Hutchins the man who will bury the Hatchitt?
(3) Kura-Pelland (0-0): Are they still the toughest team to play over the final two minutes?
(4) Arroza (2-1): Already 0-1 against the Wings, will they finally shake the monkey later, when it counts?
(5) Taeshan (0-0): Just who do these guys have to pay to avoid the Rockets in tournament play?
(6) Newmanistan (2-1): Will the ascension of Kenny O'Hara provide the spark this team's been waiting for?
(7) Rennidan (1-2): Could Qazox-Rennidan be a potential championship preview?
(8) Secristan (2-1): With enthusiastic cheerleader Stacie Johnson in the locker room, do they really need to follow their basketball team and throw rusas at our women?
(9) Myedvedeya (1-2): Given how often we've hosted them lately, should stadium concessions start offering berries and trout?
(10) Cotenshire (0-0): What's the scariest thing about this team... their offense or their fans?
(11) Swilatia (0-0): Will they play the Wings closer than three touchdowns this time?
(12) The Candrian Empire (0-0): Will this be a breakout campaign for quarterback Andre Haralde?
(13) Miroxia (0-0): With a 5-4-2 defense, are they banking their entire campaign on their ability to stop the run?
(14) Lovisa (0-0): How can't we ask questions of a team which nobody knows anything about?
(15) Vephrall (0-0): Would Vephrall's transition from piivel be easier if they tried implementing the A-11?

... and a look at the rest.
(16) Cassadaigua (1-2)
(17) Greal (0-0)
(18) Nethertopia (0-3)
(19) Kjomasasopia (0-0)
(20) Sarzonia (0-0)
(21) Mantwenic (0-0)
(22) Christstan (0-0)
(23) Lurikastan (0-0)
(24) Northwest Polaris (0-0)
(25) Colbourne (0-0)
(26) Antitidum (0-0)
(27) La Habana Cuba (0-0)
(28) Tortuga y Hispaniola (0-0)
(29) Twin Dominions (0-0)
(30) Green wombat (0-0)

Cotenshire

15-11-2008, 22:42

From an interview published in The Lotharn Courant:

The Eagles will be participating in their second World Bowl, but, according to those foreign propagandists, they shall not even make the final round. Indeed, some villains do not believe that our Eagles will advance past the qualifying round. To correct these vile lies, the Lotharn Courant has contacted two experts on this sport for the following discourse:

The Lotharn Gourant: Two kind sirs, one being the venerable Harald Slues, kinsman of coach Geraert Slues, and the other being Pieter van Kindeln, a famous hockey player who has also been following the previous World Bowls. So, gentlemen, let us begin an enlightening exchange. Before looking at the Eagles, let us examine each of their group members. First, Swilatia. What will become of such fiends?

Harald Slues: While the Swiliatians play pathetic football and are generally incompetent at everything, they have experience that puts them ahead of such teams as Northwest Polaris. I will predict that they will lose both games against the Eagles and the Black Wings of Dancougar, they will win both against Northwest Polaris, and they will split the games with Secristan and Myedvedeya.

Pieter van Kindeln: I must disagree, sir. The Swilatians are indeed a terrible football team, but they will not be able to beat Northwest Polaris or Secristan. They will have a 1-9 season, with their only victory coming over Myedvedeya.

LC: Your analysis is interesting, but what will become of Dancougar?

HS: Yes, the current world champions. Dancougar won many games last World Bowl through deceit and treachery, but apparently those still counted as victories. The Black Wings will make a good showing this year. They will go 7-3, losing both games to the Eagles and one to Myedvedeya. The Jews on their team, such as Jermaine Divalerio, will be enormous distractions.

PK: No, sir, I must correct you. The Black Wings are not world champions, they are merely ranked on top. Also, Divalerio is a Slavic name, not Jewish. Slavs may have an insufficient number of blood vessels in their brain, but they do not possess the destructive nature that a Jew would bring to the team. As to Dancougar's fate, they will go 9-1 this season, their only loss being to the Eagles.

HS: Sir! That is incredible. I do not believe I have ever heard such a foolish prediction. A feat of divine intervention must occur for the Black Wings to defeat the Eagles, and we know that will not occur because the blessed Mary has been shown to favour the Eagles. The Black Wings may be the second-best in the world, but the chasm between first and second in this case is a great one.

LC: Gentlemen, it is okay if you disagree. I chose the two of you because your differing opinions will provide more perfect analysis for our readers. Now, what will become of those barbaric Bears?

HS: Do you mean Myedvedeya? They are quite an awful team, although I will admit that they will play in a very physical manner. They will lose both against the Eagles, while receiving a win and a loss each from Dancougar, Swilatia, and Northwest Polaris, and will win both against Secristan.

PK: Sir your analysis of Myedvedeya is quite poor. You believe that they will win all of those games? They will only have two wins during this tournament, one against Swilatia and one against Northwest Polaris.

LC: And how will Secristan fare?

HS: The heathens of Secristan are looking to be inept during this competition. They shall only have three wins this season, against Myedvedeya, Northwest Polaris, and Swilatia.

PK: Sir, they have been looking decent so far. I would expect them to go 6-4 in qualifiers, winning both against Myedvedeya, Swilatia, and Northwest Polaris, but losing both to the Eagles and the Black Wings.

LC: Interesting. One more team before we come to our Eagles, however, and that is the newcomers of Northwest Polaris.

HS: The first World Bowl for these boneheaded primates will be a rough one. They will only be able to beat Myedvedeya and Secristan, and then only once each.

PK: Well, they have been labeled newcomers, but it is not as if this squad has never played football before. They shall win both against Swilatia and one against Myedvedeya.

LC: So seeing form your predictions, you, Mr Slues, believe that the Eagles will be undefeated, while you, Mr Kindeln, believe that the Eagles will only lose once to Dancougar.

PK: That is correct.

LC: I would like each of you to tell me what you believe the defining game will be this year for the Eagles.

HS: Well, there is no question that their defining game will be against Dancougar. They are ranked first in many foreign polls, had a strong showing in the charity tournament, and are predicted by many foreigners to win the tournament. The Eagles will travel to Dancougar in the 9th game of qualifying, and it will be their closest test. The Eagles shall prevail, however, by a score of 101-21.

PK: I agree with Mr Slues. The Eagle’s defining game of the season will certainly be against the Black Wings, and I believe it will be in the World Bowl final in which the Eagles shall defeat the Black Wings 45-18. Yes, the score is somewhat lopsided, but Kerkrade will be held to under 600 combined yards passing and rushing in this game.

LC: Thank you, gentlemen. Let us conclude with each of you summarizing your predictions for the records and rakings of each of these six teams.

HS:
Cotenshire (10-0)
Dancougar (7-3)
Myedvedeya (5-5)
Swilatia (4-6)
Secristan (2-8)
Northwest Polaris (2-8)

PK:
Cotenshire (9-1)
Dancougar (9-1)
Secristan (6-4)
Northwest Polaris (3-7)
Myedvedeya (2-8)
Swilatia (1-9)

LC: Once again, thank you for your contributions. Now you have heard it from the experts. Let not the reptiles of the foreign countries scare you. We shall rally behind our Eagles as we crush all opposition, if not through football, then through force.

Colbourne

15-11-2008, 23:59

after the final cut here is colbourne's final roster for the wb
QB #7 Jeff Williams,# 19 Harry Whichat
HB # 23 Javon Grenne, #33 Shon Lewis
FB #34 Kendall Brown
G's #71 Obiawme Smith, # 72 George Krystak , # 78 Alan Trak ,# 79 Miki Traylor
OT's #73 Ivan Stefanovic, # 76 Walter Mendell # 77 Kris Hamot , #75 Peter Bryanson
C's # 74 Derin King
WR's # 81 Arland Johnson # 5 Calvin Bruce #87 Bryan Francis
SB/TE # 9 Andre Talbot #12 Jeff McNeal
Defense
DE's # 58 Roger Cole # 97 Jonathon Brown
DT's # 7 Rial Johnson # 98 Erik Laperriere # 95 Horace Franks
LB's # 35 Henry Eiben # 51 Terence Spikes # 96 Alex MacDonald
CB's # 22 Ty Samuel # 24 Joffery Reynalds # 26 Willie Middlebrooks
FS # 20 Brian Taylor
SS # 30 Chuck Winters
style modifier +1
home field is rogers field capacity is 100,000 located in downtown toronto avg temp at this time for year is between 5 celsius and -10 celsius

Kjomasasopia

16-11-2008, 02:21

oh, and before i forget...
all of our home games are to be played at Snowplane Cricket Grounds, a 120,000 capacity SNOW covered cricket ground (the only that I know of its kind) in the middle of the Farplane Plateau.
Average Temp: This time of year? around -12 Celcius (about 10.3 Farenheit). the hottest it gets is 2 C (35.6 F).

Taeshan

16-11-2008, 02:55

Maybe the only snowy cricket field, but not the only Snow home field in the tourney. I beliebve going into this winter there are record lows projected. As if a 10 degree below zero record in December, and the january and feruary lows of -20s. It will be colder then ever.

Sarzonia

16-11-2008, 07:24

Coach Jim Zorn shook his head when he saw the match ups. He knew if Sarzonia were to beat the odds and advance, the team would have to do so against quality opponents.

However, the other thing he had to concern himself with was prognosticators dismissing Sarzonia's chances. He thought for a moment and realised the team's lack of experience on the international level made it an unknown.

There was something about Vephrall that he just didn't like. Even though the nation came onto the scene during Sarzonia's Great Isolation, there was something that was all too familiar. He then recalled World Cup match ups between the Stars and a rival. Or more accurately, a team that hated the Stars more than the Stars hated them.

Those stinkers remind me too much of Bedistan, he thought with a harumph.

***************

The sound of a whistle punctuated the air as the smack of pads receded into memory.

"C'mon! You've got to do better than that!"

Gavin Davis whirled around as Zorn stalked toward him.

"You were sacked four times in the last five plays!"

"Coach! I got away from that last one!"

"No you didn't," Zorn said. He grabbed onto Davis.

"You've got to improve that slide step. If that guy's Darrell Green, you've just taken a 10-yard loss. Now, about your mechanics."

Davis sighed. Having a former quarterback and quarterbacks coach as your head coach can be a major drag.

Green wombat

16-11-2008, 08:55

Since Green wombat knows of Football they do have a team... of fantasy football legends. Maybe all that time spent playing Fantasy Football has rubbed off on them? We certainly hope so, but we don't know their real names, only their screen names from GWFF.net, so here they are:

STARTING LINEUP
(All games in Green wombat are played at the Kibo Dome in Wachovia, a Astroturf field and we'll play a +1 style and 0 for 2pts.)

OFFENSE:
QB: PoleCat256
RB: FreeLongstreetnow
FB: Johnson123
WR: Johnson_S_55
WR: Oppen56
TE: MikaRulez1
RT: GooberFish45
RG: FOObar73
C: Chuck_de_luv_monkey
LG: EricSawyer56
LT: yhnujm78

DEFENSE
LE: PowerfulNigga3
NT: polik4
RE: barracuda178
ROLB: WombatFan9345
RILB: xXXXXXx69
LILB: FadingFast11
LOLB: I_am_Joe_85
RCB: You_Suck_@$$
LCB: InsaneKilla_77
FS: Greg_is_da_ $#|+
SS: Waffle9999999

SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: WhiteBoi99
P: Opie45_Sy
KORet: Oppen56
PRet: FreeLongstreetnow

(OOC: Disclaimer IF any of these screen names are real, I apologize in advance. If none of them are real, I'm copyrighting them. :p)

Sarzonia

16-11-2008, 18:24

Orren Hatchett wasn't sure about the directions. As the head groundskeeper at Hendrix Stadium in Woodstock, he was assigned to set up the lines for the stadium to a gridball configuration before the Stingers opening game against Arroza.

There was one problem. He'd never seen a game of gridball in his life.

"You want me to do what now?"

Fortunately, Tucker Jacoby was his able assistant. Jacoby came from a stock of gridball players and fans and knew the game forward and backward. He grabbed the sheet outlinging the plan and pointed at something.

"Here's where they have what are called end zones. They're supposed to be this length and this width," Jacoby said. "And I'd paint them with helmets toward the left and right ends of the end zone. In between the helmets, I'd put the name Stingers in this end zone and Sarzonia in the other end zone."

"OK, so when are we supposed to have this done?"

"Two days."

"Shit!"

"We've got time. I've already got crews starting on it."

Hatchett let out a sigh of relief. However, Jacoby didn't.

"I'm more worried about the game," Jacoby said.

"What about it?"

"Arroza's supposed to be one of the elite teams in gridball. They beat Vephrall something like 51-3."

"Fifty-one to three? How is that possible?"

"You get six points for a touchdown, three points for a field goal ..." Hatchett put his hand up.

"Dude, my head's spinning. And what the fuck is gridball anyway?"

"It's the sport that used to be known as American football."

"Never understood it, don't want anything to do with it. Damn it, why did I get this assignment?"

"Uh, 'cause you're the best head groundskeeper in the country?"

Some days, I wish I weren't as good at my job, Hatchett thought.

Qazox

17-11-2008, 07:39

Due to a RL situation beyond my control, the MD1 scores will be up tonight at around 8:00pm EST, with the RP Cutoff at 7:30pm. The rest of the MD's will be up around 11:30pm EST. I apologize in advance for the inconvienence.

Newmanistan

17-11-2008, 08:30

THE ROCKET REPORT

NEW COACH + NEW QB = BETTER RESULT?

Colbourne- Newmanistan’s World Bowl IV effort will be getting underway soon as they will be kicking off against the team from Colbourne on the road in a matchup that the Rockets are expected to win. Unlike the other football team, the ones that kicks a ball around, this football team does not seem to have the same problem of beating teams that they should. In fact, Newmanistan’s past history shows them to get wins consistently against the bottom teams and get losses just as easily against teams ahead of them. While no one would categorize Brett Nicholson’s performance as bad, it was pretty clear that it wasn’t good enough. Let’s set the record straight, first. Nicholson did a good job as coach of the Rockets as did John Pivonka in his starting role. He just didn’t do as good as the team needed. Had the Empress been as tolerant of early growing pains as she is with that other football team, then Nicholson would still be here. But it’s not the same thing in the World Bowl. Newmanistan has to get over this hump, and sometimes a shakeup is necessary to do that. Whether or not you approve of the move doesn’t matter. We now must be giving Jeremy Thompson our support. He is our leader, and so is Kenny O’Hara. Pivonka remains on as the backup. I’m Meghan Traynor, and I’m honored to be the featured journalist for the World Bowl as Clint Peterson focuses on the Cup of Harmony, and I had a chance to sit down with Mr. Thompson to discuss several topics.

MT: Good evening, Jeremy, and thank you for taking the time for us.

JT: My pleasure, I’m the lucky one to get you. Where’s Clint?

MT: He’s covering the Cup of Harmony.

JT: Good, let him do that. I’ll enjoy these interviews much more with you, I’m sure.

MT: (blushing) Uhmm, well, let’s get started. First, what was your reaction when you heard that Nicholson was fired and you were offered the position?

JT: It starts off with feeling sorry towards your peer like that. You know it’s tough to be fired. But at the same time, I can’t pretend that he was my best friend, and I am here to do win football games. When the Empress called me I was excited but eager to accept this challenge. There is no reason that we cannot win football games at the level of a Dancougar, and to get Arroza fearing more then just Black Wings and Arrows.

MT: What’s it going to take?

JT: Not much, because we are not getting crushed in these games that we are losing, and many of them have come down to the final possession. Kura-Pelland has built a reputation as being one of the best engineering two minute drives, well we are probably the worst, historically, at defending them. This is a major area that we must improve. Absolutely, we must close out these games better.

MT: How will you do that?

JT: It has to be starting with stamina, so we will be spending more time on basic conditioning. Our strength training and conditioning staff has also been replaced, and I am really hoping to see improvement in this area, because if we do, we will be better. We might seem far off, but I’ll you this, Meghan, we’re a lot closer then people think.

MT: You picked up a win over Rennidan in the charity tournament, maybe that can be the start of at least boosting the team confidence in these kind of games.

JT: That’s about all it does. But we know Rennidan was playing hard, the charity tournament brought us some exciting football to get the fans excited about the World Bowl. We beat the Brutes, so we know we can do it again, and beat the others as well.

MT: The decision to start Kenny O’Hara instead of Pivonka, explain that.

JT: John Pivonka does a great job, and he is a great quarterback. But when you add the dimension of Kenny O’Hara’s legs, we have a little something more that our opponents need to be ready for. It’s another example of us knowing that we’re close, and just wanting to find a little something more to turn those four point losses into three point wins.

MT: How is Pivonka taking the news?

JT: As I would expect him too, as a professional. We’ve let him know that he’s had his chance, and that we are happy with what he gave us, but at the same time, again, we need a little more.

MT: If O’Hara struggles, does Pivonka go back in?

JT: It’s a little early to predict that. I will say though that I will what is necessary to get this football team to win.

MT: The group appears favorable. Second overall ranked team with Taeshan a controversial number one seed over Rennidan. The other clubs you should handle.

JT: We’re expecting to do very well in the group stage, yes. It’s what comes after that. You know, Qazox can relate to this with their other football team when they kept qualifying for the World Cup but kept losing out in the group stage. We feel like that. We’re good, but we have this annoying hurdle that we just can’t clear. This time we’ve reloaded, and are ready to take it on again.

MT: An article from Rennidan listed their World Cup Dream Team, and it included some Rockets. Alex Foster, Jim Crosby, and both guards, Nick Russo and Brent Pemberton got named. Thoughts?

JT: I’ll start with Russo and Pemberton. For them, I am very happy because so often the work of the offensive line gets overlooked. They were great choices and they are fantastic at their position. Whenever you get your offensive lineman recognized, it’s a pretty special thing, and I know they enjoyed seeing that. It won’t make them any less motivated, and in fact, it should only increase their motivation to live up to it. Crosby has earned it too. And Foster, well, he doesn’t need the boost as much, but I’m happy for him too. He’s a great receiver. But Russo and Pemberton is what I am especially proud of.

MT: Alright, Jeremy, I guess I need to let you go.

JT: Already?

MT: Well, my producer says people’s eyes might be getting tired now.

JT: How could anyone get tired of seeing you?

MT: Thanks!

JT: Can’t wait until the next time.

MT: Alright on that note, let’s wish the team good luck against Colbourne.

(Off camera)

JT: And you can come to the celebration if we win.

MT: That’d be sweet!

Rennidan

17-11-2008, 16:11

The World Bowl Dream Team:
DEFENCE & SPECIAL TEAM
Taking your best players and pretending they'd all get along!

DEFENSIVE ENDS:

A defensive end has to be a man who can stop any offensive attack on the outside, or break on through and knock ten shades out of the QB. They have to be fast, furious and more than a little bit ballsy. A good DE has a good ability to contain any attack and turn it around for his team.

Joseph Reed & Boris Filimonov
I know many people say Reed and Charles are the best playing pair of DEs in the game right now, but you can't help but think what would happen if you put the commanding prowess of Reed up alongside the slaughter-all gun-ho Filimonov. It'd be the duo of the century, no doubt about it.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES:

Now, there was always one choice for this position that'd always be obvious. Powis is a brute of a Brute and I'm sure everyone will agree he deserves the spot here. Picking who his partner in this 4-3 line up would be, however, was a bit of a tricky one...

Owen Powis & Brodie Colliton
Colliton is no doubt a controversial choice here. The second string Newmanistan player is a relatively fresh face, reprising his role from the previous Bowl, but rumours have it he's going to be seeing a lot more time out on the turf. His youth and athleticism make him the perfect break-through defensive tackle to compliment Powis' raw power.

LINEBACKERS:

Mmm, linebackers. Working both the pass and the rush, these happy-go-lucky folk are also known to blitz like there's no tomorrow. In the Bowl, which has seen an influx of running games lately, linebackers need to keep their eyes keen on the line to see if any pesky RB is trying to break on through to their turf.

Gests Ceedast & Dianer Marte & Marcus Aurelin
A piivel player, a Taeshanite and yet another player from Arroza? Gimme' a chance to explain folks. Firstly, Ceedcast has shown both in piivel matches and in his sparse appearances in the World Bowls that he has an uncanny ability to knock the stuffing out of anyone. Dianer Marte, meanwhile, is the only player on Taeshan's defence to consistently show he's made of the right stuff and, as such, has become a central figure in the Falcon's side. And Aurelin? He's from Arroza. Not only are they, perhaps, the top team in the running at the moment, but they are also known for their blitzing abilities. These three combined would make an awesome LB trio.

CORNERBACKS:

These guys have to keep up with some of the fastest blighters in the game, all the while keeping their eye out for that airborne pigskin. It's a tough job, but someone’s got to do it and, luckily, there are some folks out there that do it bloody well.

Otto Kortrijk and Dan Strasser
The so-so Kortrijk may not be an obvious choice, but paired up with a man who is, no doubt, Newmanistan's major player on the defence (if not the entire team) will bring through the best of the Cotenshire CB. Don't believe me? Just see what being paired up with Strasser did for Stanley Bressler last World Bowl. He'd turn Kortrijk from a diamond in the rough to being one of the best CB's in the game.

SAFTEYS

Traditionally, teams have looked for safeties with reputations as hard hitters. More recently, however, teams have been looking for hybrid safeties who can do both jobs, as in a cover 2 defence, when the strong safety has a greater role to play in coverage. Safeties are also used in a variety of blitzes, and have to be enough of a threat for the QB to have second thoughts about calling that pass play.

Georgiy Zhuravlev & Pasarap Mantlom
With Zhuravlev as Strong Safety and Mantlom as Free, these two could become the nightmare of the backfield. The piivel player would do well to pay attention to the Myedvedeyan's brute force and sheer determination. As we saw in the last World Bowl, the Grizzly Bear defence is nothing to be trifled with, and Mantlom could become a legend alongside such a player.

KICKER

Perhaps the most underrated role in the game, kickers are those guys no one pays attention to, until it all comes down to that game-winning field goal...

Clive
Come on, was I ever REALLY going to pick anyone else? This man played on his own against an entire team of cheerleaders. He deserves to be on some kind of list! But in all seriousness, Clive is one of the best kickers in the game, with a career long of 65 and a consistency like none other.

PUNTER

Now, I would have said Clive again, but... eh, that wouldn't have been fair on all those fine punters in the Bowl!

Steve Meadows
He wears number one, he may as well be number one. The best punter in Newmanistan is no doubt one of the best punters in the game. Not that that's saying much...

Taeshan

17-11-2008, 21:42

Really not a single tae. Not even Gramatica my star player.(best in the world although Clive did aparently make a good one handed attempt) and no shawn plank on either line. He had like 5 safeties last Bol. Not that im hating or anthing i just felt like complaining about something. Later it will be the scores.

Taeshan

17-11-2008, 21:43

Oh crap Dianer Marte whoops sorry, i have know noticed that. Sorry R. Missed it. Overlooked actually would probally be the best term as i was looking for it to be missing.

Taeshan

17-11-2008, 21:57

A Look at the Top Five Fitin' Falcons

Martin Gramatica, Kicker-Obviously the best football player in Taeshan history. He gre up kicking 40 yarders at Yaton Area High School and led his high school team the Panthers to four straight Taeshan Interscholastic Championships.(TIC) He scored the winning field goals in all four championship games. He is most natable among the Falcons for being a gamechanger who can score from beyond 60 yrds.

Gabe Martin, Quaterback-Gabe has been the offensive leader of the team since the beginning. He has carried the Knights on his shoulders throughout the first four tournaments. He has scored everwqay threw the air, running it in or even a catching touchdown. He led his High School team the Docktown West Derringers to 3 straight championships.

Ricky Zellefrow, Wideout-Ricky is the best Wideout on the team. He is also the youngest player to were the Blue and Purple. He first gained fame by leading the Atlantea Area High School Aeronauts to all four of there Championships. He also won te Taeshani Football teams rookie of the year award for his feasts in the first tournament.

Shawn Plank, D Line-Shawn is one of the fastest players on the d line./ He has gained hundreds of sacks and safeties during his long career. He leads the Tae D.

Dianer Marte, Linebacker-Dianer was the only Falcon named to Rennidans dream team. He is the best linebacker on the team. He played ball for Docktown East Fitin' Cougars.

Qazox

18-11-2008, 01:50

RP cutoff for MD 1
Scores up shortly

Qazox

18-11-2008, 02:06

MATCHDAY ONE SCORES
(Winners in BOLD, Ties in Italics)

GROUP A
Secristan @ Dancougar 27-15
Myedvedeya @ Cotenshire 23-14
Northwest Polaris @ Swilatia 21-7

GROUP B
Arroza @ Sarzonia 24-16
Vephrall @ Tortuga y Hispaniola 34-10
Cassadaigua @ Miroxia 24-17

GROUP C
Taeshan @ Nethertopia 24-20
Newmanistan @ Colburne 21-20
Greal @ Mantwenic 17-14 (OT)

GROUP D
La Habana Cuba @ Qazox 35-6
The Candrian Empire @ Kjomasaspoia 24-9
Rennidan @ Antitidum 31-11

GROUP E
Kura-Pelland @ Christstan 30-10
Lovisa @ Green wombat 17-13
Lurikastan @ Twin Dominions 32-26 (OT)

STANDINGS will be posted tommorrow

Sarzonia

18-11-2008, 04:33

Gavin Davis knew he was in for a long night. Facing a team that was considered World Bowl elite, and one that walloped Vephrall 51-3 in an earlier competition, Davis knew people in Sarzonia were guessing Arroza would hit the century mark.

However, Sarzonia had one thing going for it. Home field advantage. The crowd at Hendrix Stadium barely scraped 50,000, but a majority of the fans were cheering for the Stingers. When the game itself kicked off, they also unveiled defensive coordinator Greg Blache's aggressive blitzing scheme, sacking Tar Hornets quarterback Erik Smythe five times.

When the teams hit the locker room, the Tar Hornets had rushed to a 24-3 lead courtesy of two touchdowns from halfback Abraham Chatwick and a 12-yard pass from Smythe to wide receiver Taesean Malone. The Stingers second quarter field goal cut the Tar Hornets lead to 14-3 with eight minutes, seven seconds left, but they could get no closer.

However, Davis wasn't through. Even though the Tar Hornets sacked him three times and forced the fumble that led to Malone's touchdown, he came back with two touchdown tosses of his own. He found Willie Brooks in the back corner of the end zone from 28 yards out to make the score 24-10 midway through the third quarter, then threw a 56-yard bomb to receiver Craig Langhorn from Sarzonia's three-receiver formation at the end of the third quarter.

However, Raibonne Charles blocked Adam Novak's extra point attempt and the Stingers could get no closer.

"We just couldn't get any push on that defensive line," Davis said as he stared at the video cameras and digital recorders. "You can't win when you're outrushed 256 to 88 and when you throw two interceptions against the Tar Hornets." For his part, Davis went 18-for-34 for 306 yards.

Davis overheard Coach Jim Zorn telling reporters there were no moral victories.

"We can't be happy when we turn the ball over and give a team like Arroza possession deep in our own territory," Zorn said. "The only victories I'm interested in are real victories."

Newmanistan

18-11-2008, 05:59

THE ROCKET REPORT

STOP SMILING, NICHOLSON

Colbourne- Well, there might be one man in the country happy about this 21-20 defeat at the hands of Colbourne. Somewhere at home in Southport, Brett Nicholson was likely watching the game to see how his successor as head coach would do. Nicholson had always managed to get the team ready for the games that they Empire should win, such as in Colbourne. He had confidence in his quarterback, John Pivonka, and the team got results. Just not enough of them. As a Newmanistanian, Nicholson surely wants Jeremy Thompson to do well. But somewhere inside, there is that dark side, perhaps. Smiling as Kenny O’Hara threw three interceptions, in which two of them were returned for touchdowns. Smiling as the offense stalled in red zone, making the team have to settle for field goals instead of get touchdowns. See, Jeremy, he likely thought though, this coaching in the World Bowl thing is a lot harder then it looks, isn’t it?

The first drive went well. Newmanistan got the ball to open the game, and marched 80 yards downfield in an efficient 10-play drive that last about six minutes. O’Hara was sharp, completing all four of his passes, and even had a 12-yard scamper on this own. The drive was finished off on a Corey Parisi run from seven yards out. Just about as efficient as you would want it, and the Rockets were up 7-0. The good play continued with the Rockets holding the Colburne side to a three-and-out, and O’Hara got great field position this time, starting at his own 42. Again Kenny looked sharp, with one pass to Alex Foster for a 28-yard gain that was thrown on the run as he eluded a pass rush from Roger Cole. The sky blue and white appeared to be in business, marching all the way down to the Colbourne 13. The Colbourne defense held firm in the red zone, and forced the Rockets to have to settle for a 30-yard field goal from Ashton Colfer, which the veteran drilled to put the team up 10-0. Again, Newmanistan would force the home team to punt, as the game moved from the first to the second quarter. Colbourne’s defense was looking much better, and seemed to pick up on something O’Hara was doing as gradually the signal callers good start was going south. On 3rd & 16 from their own 23, O’Hara escaped danger when an interception was called back on an illegal contact penalty the occurred on the other side of the field. While the Rockets breathed a deep sigh of relief, this was an omen of things to come. The Rockets took advantage of the automatic first down, and on the next play, Corey Parisi busted off a 46 yard gain. Eventually, this drive would end in three points as well. With a 13-0 lead, things seemed to be going well, but would they regret not getting touchdowns on these possessions? Colbourne’s offense began to get more in sync towards the end of the first half, and the team got some momentum with a nice two-minute drill that ended up with a 15-yard TD pass from Jeff Williams to Calvin Bruce. Suddenly, a game the Rockets looked to be dominating was only 13-7 at halftime.

Even though Colbourne moved the ball a little bit on their opening possession of the second half, they elected to try to pin the Rockets deep in their own territory when their drive stalled at the Rockets 47. The punt from whathisname was perfect, and the Rockets had to start at their own 3. After picking up two first downs, Christian Gagnon would score on a 71-yard touchdown reception. It was only a eight yard slant route, and the rest of it was all Gagnon, who outsprinted the defenders down the field for the score and make it 20-7. After yet another Colbourne punt, it seemed as though the rout was on, and some fans actually began to leave the stadium with just 4:18 left in the 3rd quarter. The Rockets began to move the ball to the midfield, until the turning point of the game. On a ferocious blitz, O’Hara found Brian Taylor with a perfectly thrown ball. Just one problem with that. Taylor plays for Colbourne, and thanks to some nice blocks from his defensive teammates, Taylor found a couple holes and took it the house to make it 20-14. Frustrating, but the Rockets should overcome that. Or so we thought. On the next possession, and on just the second play from scrimmage, Taylor jumped Jordan Lyons on a cross pattern and intercepted his second pass of the game, and scored his second INT return for a touchdown in a span of about two minutes on the game clock. Suddenly, the scoreboard read 21-20, Colbourne. Several of the fans that left early tried to get back in, but were denied. In the fourth quarter, the Rockets were unable to move the ball with the exception of one possession, which occurred late in the fourth. Up to that point in the final quarter, Colbourne simply tried to run off as much of the clock as they could, and it worked quite well. But it looked like O’Hara and the Rockets were going to survive this scare, after all. And this is where Brett Nicholson is probably wondering if he should smile or shake his head. With the Rockets firmly in field goal range with under thee minutes to play, they elected not to keep it in Parisi’s hands, but to throw it into the endzone from the Colbourne 22. The pass was intercepted, once again. It wasn’t Taylor this time but it didn’t matter. Chuck Winters had the big INT this time, and Colbourne was able to run out the clock to secure a win.

A stunning 21-20 loss. Still many of us are wondering how the tide of this game turned so quickly against us. If only we got TD’s out of those early drives that we settle for field goals on.

Qazox

18-11-2008, 06:03

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

Qazox began defense of its World Bowl title at home against La Habana Cuba, winning 35-6 behind 178 yards rushing from Frank Vallens and 267 yards passing from Greg Dannen. The Pheonix lead 28-0 at the end of the 1st quarter, due in part to 2 LHC interceptions deep in their own end. After the half, Qazox lead 35-0, HC Lonnie DeVant put in the subs and only allowed a late garbage TD, and blocked the EP attempt. Up next for the Pheonix is a trip to WBII winner Rennidan, who were 31-11 winners today. This game will determine the early favorite in Group D and could be an early front runner for best record as well.

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 FINAL
La Habana Cuba 0 0 0 6 6
Qazox 28 7 0 0 35

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Dannen: 21-28, 267 yds, 2 TD.
Vallens: 19 rushes, 178 yds, 2 TD.
Ivan Harvey: 5 Rec, 109 yds, 2 TD rec; 4 rushes, 34 yds, 1 TD.

Defense:
Richie Sola: 5 tackles, 2.5 Sacks, 1 FF.
Eric Fan'tu'mala: 13 tackles, 0.5 Sacks, 2 FRec.
Jamal Henderson: 3 tackles, 2 INT.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Qazox: Vallens- 5 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (13:12) 7-0 Qazox
Qazox: Vallens- 17 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (8:52) 14-0 Qazox
Qazox: Harvey- 65 yd TD rec; Tryone Chase PAT good (7:08) 21-0 Qazox
Qazox: Harvey- 11 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (0:17) 28-0 Qazox
Second Quarter:
Qazox: Harvey- 31 yd TD rec; Tryone Chase PAT good (6:08) 35-0 Qazox
Fourth Quarter:
LHC: WR- 23 yd TD rec; PAT Blocked (1:12) 35-6 Qazox

Cotenshire

18-11-2008, 06:03

On the day of the first home game, the city of Taale-Voren was flooded with over 2 million people from the villages and surrounding provinces. Of course, not all of them could fit into the St. Alfons Hippodrome. Quarrels began between members of different villages over who should be able to sit in the stadium, and this set off a violent riot that was the worst Taale-Voren had seen in nearly two years.

Once the fighting had erupted, it became impossible to stop. It increased in intensity until all-out warfare had engulfed the city. By the end of the night, coroners had found over 100,000 dead bodies or body parts whose original body had not been yet discovered. Blood was ankle deep in some areas of the city. Ironically, only about 8,000 Eagle's fans were spectators to the game, since most others were either engaged in fighting or afraid to enter the stadium.

Many fans who had travelled abroad to away games in the previous World Bowl had seen magnificent tailgates that other fans had held. This idea was particularly pleasing to Eagles fans, since there were no concessions sold in the St. Alfons Hippodrome and most fans had travelled several hours without food to the game. Therefore several Eagles fans from Taale-Voren and many of the surrounding villages organized a tailgate for the upcoming home games of the season.

On the morning of the upcoming game against Swilatia, the streets of Taale-Voren were choked with animals being brought in from the countryside to eat at the tailgate. Over 140,000 cattle, 6 million chickens, 420,00 lambs, 900,000 turkeys, and 1.2 million ducks were bought, stolen, or cut from one’s own herd to be taken into the city and roasted in the vicinity of the St. Alfons Hippodrome. In addition to this, over 3 million pounds of fish and 100,000 pounds of eel were bought, brought in, or stolen from fishermen, as well as 8 million pounds of bread and 12 million gallons of ale or beer.

The city’s streets again ran thick with blood, but this time it was not as much due to fighting but more due to the slaughtering of animals for the tailgate. For a period of about 36 hours prior to, during, and after the game, a hearty tailgate took place.

Green wombat

18-11-2008, 06:17

Well the debut of the Wombats at the World Bowl didn't go as bad as everyone thought it would. A 17-13 loss at home to Lovisa, after PoleCat256, threw an interception into the endzone on the final play of the game. The Lovisans scored the first 10 points in the first quarter on a 45 yd td Run and a 38 yd FG, but on the first play of the second quarter, InsaneKilla_77 intercepted the ball and returned it 66 yards for the Wombats first TD. After a 41 yd FG by WhiteBoi99 tied it at 10-10 just before halftime, Lovisa ran back the ensuing kickoff 94 yds to provide them with a 17-10 lead. Another FG by WhiteBoi99, a 37-yarder made it 17-13 early in the 4th, but then the INT to end the game ruined GW's chances at a major upset in their first game.

Up next is Kura-Pelland, on the road. K-P is one of the best teams in the world and to be honest, we have no chance here. Best we can hope for is to try to lose by less than 26 points, which is what the early betting line is for this game.

Vephrall

18-11-2008, 06:42

The Meice Journal
All the news that fits, we print!
Vol. 171, No. 313 - 26 December 1763

Sports

Auric Wolves pick up easy win
by Sadiques Dotsmens

TORTUGA Y HISPANIOLA -- Leaving Vephrall for the first game didn't seem to hurt the re-formed national American football team much, as they had little trouble en route to a win over Tortuga y Hispaniola.

T&H won the opening toss and chose to receive, but their first drive didn't last very long. Three attempts to run the ball up the gut produced a total of seven yards against the Vephrall defense, resulting in a punt. The Auric Wolves' first drive started slowly, with a couple of handoffs to Angufams Netgorin on first and second down partially negated by a breakdown of the offensive line that made it fourth and six from the Vephrall 42. Slistols Pochue lined up to punt, but a lack of discipline among the home defense resulted in an encroachment penalty. The situation now fourth and one at the 47, Sperobis Ceedast decided to go for it. The option to right-side halfback Thwante Cliriputed went for thirteen yards and seemed to be just what the offense needed to get going. A few minutes later, Crublig Claspung decided to air it out a bit, connecting with Sytrobes Pevonsont in the end zone to put Vephrall up seven-nil. Claspung would then run the ball into the end zone himself early in the second quarter to bring the score to 17-0, Sartiros Spelaad having made a 40-yard field goal earlier. The one bright spot for T&H was a 38-yard field goal in the middle of the second quarter; besides that, the first half was all Vephrall, with the score 17-3 at the break.

The Tortuga defense seemed to be working a little harder in the third quarter, as they forced threes-and-out on the Auric Wolves' first two drives. Vephrall eventually broke through again, though, with a handoff to Cliriputed going for seven yards and the team's third touchdown to make it 24-3. Another Spelaad field goal in the waning seconds of the third made it a 24-point game, and the defense began to relax a bit as the home side took the field again. Cornerback Dustele Echeng was visibly cursing himself in the aftermath of a 72-yard touchdown pass by the Tortuga quarterback early in the fourth quarter, but he really needn't have worried. Nine minutes later, halfback Idaleis Going grabbed a touchdown of his own, and at 34-10 the game was settled.

"We definitely have reason to be optimistic," said Claspung after the game. "It doesn't matter who the opponent is, if you're able to go out there on the road cold and get a win to start it off, you're in good shape. You only have to look over at Group C to see what can happen if you're not ready. Taeshan barely won, Newmanistan got upset. In this business, there's no time to pussyfoot around."

Bold words from the Vephrall quarterback, who most definitely won't be able to pussyfoot around in the next game. It'll be a trip to the Hive to face the Tar Hornets of Arroza in what is almost certain to be the most difficult match of the qualifying round. It could be argued, though, that Vephrall actually looked stronger in its opening match than Arroza, coming off a 24-16 win at Sarzonia.

"I don't care what the result of the Sarzonia game was," said manager Sperobis Ceedast. "I know that Arroza has one of the best teams in this thing, and I know what they did to us last time they met. It's my job to make sure that doesn't happen again."

Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
VPH 10 7 10 7 34
TYH 0 3 0 7 10

SCORING SUMMARY
1st/09:58/VPH/07-00 C. CLASPUNG touchdown pass to S. PEVONSONT, 14 yds
1st/02:48/VPH/10-00 S. SPELAAD field goal good, 40 yds
2nd/11:37/VPH/17-00 C. CLASPUNG touchdown run, 13 yds
2nd/07:08/TYH/17-03 K #15 field goal good, 38 yds
3rd/06:02/VPH/24-03 T. CLIRIPUTED touchdown run, 7 yds
3rd/00:54/VPH/27-03 S. SPELAAD field goal good, 26 yds
4th/13:16/TYH/27-10 QB #3 touchdown pass to WR #85, 72 yds
4th/04:37/VPH/34-10 I. GOING touchdown run, 26 yds

PASSING (total: 8/14, 64 yds, TD)
C. CLASPUNG 8/13, 64 yds, TD
H. SADS 0/1, 0 yds

RUSHING (total: 266 yds, 3 TD)
T. CLIRIPUTED 130 yds, TD
A. NETGORIN 58 yds
I. GOING 49 yds, TD
C. CLASPUNG 28 yds, TD
P. ANGUFAMS 3 yds
H. SORN -2 yds

RECEIVING
S. PEVONSONT 4 rec, 40 yds, TD
S. PREPTYRS 2 rec, 18 yds
I. GOING 1 rec, 4 yds
H. WAIS 1 rec, 2 yds

Greal

18-11-2008, 08:23

Greali Demons Lose First Match. Surprised?

The first international match the Greali Demons played in nearly a decade was a defeat. Mantwenic proved too experienced for Greal. But the Demons managed to improve from last year's disaster during Greal's Bowl Event. Now, the Greali Demons will face their next opponents, Nethertopia, who will be tough. But the Greali Demons should win as long as they don't lose their grip on the football.

Arroza

18-11-2008, 11:40

Tar Hornet Weekly!
All hail the hivemind.

Feature Game of the Week:
Arroza 24 – Sarzonia 16

“Overrated! Clap-clap-clapclapclap! Overrated! Clap-clap-clapclapclap!”

That was the cry coming from the Sarzonian stands late in the second half, as once again the Tar Hornets played down to the level of their competition, barely beating back a motivated Sarzonian Stinger Squad (say that three times fast), who outscored the Tar Hornets 13-0 in the second half. The first half though was a demonstration of Arrozan football as the Hornets ran out to a 24-3 lead behind the International Top 11 All-Star Abraham Chadwick.

It took a minute to get adjusted to the Sarzonian blitz package which sacked figurehead quarterback Smythe on the first play. But blitzing so many men leaves them open to the quick pass, and Baliss came in and threw a crossing pattern to Malone to get the first down. From then on Arroza got in the big lineup with Laredo, Paloma, Harley, and with Placido pulling to perfection. We basically put all the big meat out on one side in front of Chadwick and dared any Stinger to get through the wedge. Eight plays later, Chadwick finds a seam and shows a bit of big man ability of his own, putting Chris Horton on his back before rumbling into the endzone on a 18 yard run. 7-nil Tar Hornets.

After a short series ending in Charles forcing and picking up a fumble from Sarzonia who looked a little rusty. We came back out on the field, running the ball downhill once again. 6 rushes from Chadwick, and three from Hailey drove the ball down to the Sarzonian 22 yard line. At this point the Sarzonians had to think we were some throwback from the ancient times of the wing option and the Triple I, and that we would refuse to pass, even when the Stingers put nine men in the box and showed blitz. Unfortunately for them, we were more than happy to prove them wrong as Smythe runs the play-action to Chadwick, runs the bootleg to the wide side of the field, and throws a touchdown to the wi-i-i-ide open Malone. 14-nil Arroza. And we're rolling.

In the second quarter, Chadwick showed that the Hornets can be explosive too, running it in from 37 yards for his second touchdown of the game. Albrect added a field goal with three seconds left in the first half, to mute the fans as Arroza goes into the half up 24-3. Well that's the good part. The bad news is that our aggressive 4-4 defense still leaves open against multi-receiver sets, and teams that want to do nothing but air it out. That was proven in the second half, as Sarzonia came out in the Trips-Right formation and aired it out the field. At the end of the third quarter, the score was 24-16 with the worst play of that quarter being a 56 yard strike to Langhorn who just outran the safety Saint-Marais to the sideline. The secondary's always been Arroza's weak point, and it showed again in the third quarter.

And the fourth quarter was devoid of information to report, as the Hornets went on one of their usual late-game “murder the clock” drives. A nineteen play, twelve minute, thirty second drive ended with a fumble on the exchange from Bassif to Laraque. But at this point the damage had been done, and with 85 yards to go in less than two minutes, the Hornets could bring in the Dime defense and play back, which led to Saint-Marais getting an interception late, and the final kneeling of the ball. Game over.

Summation: We need to put together sixty minutes of football that are as physical as the first thirty we played today if we intend to be a serious contender in this tournament. Chadwick, Placido and Laredo justify their Rennidan All-11 picks, and the secondary...well, the secondary is an issue. When hasn't it been?

Stats:
Passing 10/17 – 101 (Smythe – 6/9, 57 yards. Baliss 4/7, 44 yds 1TD, 1 INT)
Rushing 56 – 256 (Chadwick 29 – 134, 2TD. Hailey 14 – 67 Harley 6 – 27)
Receiving (Malone 5 – 77, TD Rudolph 2 – 12 Hailey 2 - 8)
Tackling (Aurelin 9, Douglas 6)
Sacks 3 (Charles, Aurelin, Robinson)

Results from the rest of Group B:

Tortuga and Hispaniola 10 – Vephrall 34
Vephrall dominates on the road. Claspung runs for a TD, throws for another.

Miroxia 24 – Cassadiagua 17
Reports are slow to arrive, but it looks that the more experienced Miroxia won.

Results from the Axis of Evil.

Dancougar 27 – Secristan 15.
Kura-Pelland 30 – Christstan 10

Next Match:

Vephrall brings their converted piiven team to the Hive, with their minds set for one thing. Revenge. Six years ago, the Tar Hornets were a little...over-exuberant in their first playoff game in any sport and it showed as the Hornets literally ran all over the Auric Wolves to a 51-3 victory. Obviously, they've been looking at the two games against us as the two most important in the group stage, and they expect a show. Let's not disappoint them.

Kickoff: 19:35 Arrozan Standard Time.

Weather Forecast: 88 Degrees F, 85% Humidity at kickoff. No rain in the forecast, but pop-up thunderstorms are always possible.

Key to the Game: Vephrall's Claspung is a quarter back that can both air it out and run effectively. Time to see if he can handle the blitz packages Wahlequah's got in his game book. Aurelin, Charles and Reed need to get in the backfield and ring Claspung's bell a few times and then see how good a decision maker he is.

Rennidan

18-11-2008, 12:10

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

SMASHED AWAY

Ladies and gentlemen, it looks like the Brutes are back to their old ways, smashing the unknown side of Antitidum 31-11. It wasn't a spectacular game, but then again, that's not the Brute way. The team aren't all about flashy plays and touchdown celebrations to keep sponsors happy, these guys just play for the sake of playing.

The tone of the game was set from the get go, with Antitidum looking to return Clive's kickoff for a long return in front of their smiley-happy home crowd. Their returned captured the ball, and then pegged it down the line, flashing past the ten, the twenty, even the thirty. Unfortunately, he met his end at the forty yard line as he came to the acquaintance of Owen Powis. Jason Yeilds picked up the ball as it bounced on the floor, and ran it the forty yards for Rennidan's first touchdown. The kick returner, however, was carried off on a stretcher, and not seen again for the remainder of the game.

And, well... That's very much how the game continued. The Brutes seem to have pumped their offence up this time round, but not for the sake of sacrificing their world-famous defence. The scoreline at the end was a good 31-11, which was enough to satisfy the Brutes and keep the folks of Antitidum happy enough.

Next up for the Brutes is their first home game of the World Bowl run, against none other than the defending champions Qazox. The two teams first meet this Bowl in Warehouse 17 will show the world just who is the favourite of the clustered Group D and will surely be the start of a vicious rivalry.

[ceter]THE RETURN OF BRUTE FORCE[/center]

The world-renowned hooligan squad, Brute Force, were very, very quiet last World Bowl. Reasons why are unknown, but late last night in a small pub in Antitidum, it would seem that the Brute Force lads have made their return. Reports suggest that an argument between two men broke out at the Happy-Go-Lucky bar in Antitidum late last night, as the patrons watched the events of the Rennidan-Antitidum game unfold. Whilst the argument seemed to fizzle out, the Antitidum local was said to have threatened the travelling Rennidanian as the match came to a close. Not one to take such nonsense, the Rennidanian promptly picked up a glass bottle and knocked the Antitidum patron clean out with a single blow to the head. This rallied the other patrons in the bar, who stood up and began to chase the patron out of the bar, wielding barstools and bottles of their own. The thirty two strong group of Antitidum drunkards, however, came to a vicious surprise as they followed the Rennidanian out the bar, and found themselves face-to-face with a three hundred strong crowd of Brute Force hooligans. The man they had chased out of the drinking hole was none other than Brute Force leader Michael McDavies.

Authorities suggest that the only injured taken to hospital last night were those of Antitidum citizenship, and that no Rennidanians were found injured or nearby the local area. Figures suggest eighteen of the thirty two Antitidums are in a critical condition, and that the others escaped with nothing else but the odd broken limb. One thing, however, is for sure, and that is that all fans that are set to meet the Brutes should now be ten times more cautious than they had already planned on being. It would seem that the Brute Force is out for blood this time round.

Rennidan

18-11-2008, 12:14

(( Oh bloody hell. Firefox is mucking me about and I can't edit my posts. It's not recognizing the any of the buttons in the post editing, such as 'save', 'go advanced' or even the 'bold' and 'hyperlink' buttons, so I can't even correct that stupid [ceter] mistake. ))

Kura-Pelland

18-11-2008, 14:45

Christstan are passionate about gridiron. It is their national sport, bordering on obsession. Almost half a million - yes, half a million - turned up to their godmodded national stadium Von Weiger Field for their international debut.

Six-and-a-half minutes and two touchdowns later, most of them wished they hadn't.

Much-hyped players like linebacker Franz Rommel and quarterback Johan Klaus were shown to be, simply put, not all the local press claimed they were, thanks to an impressive display by the Arrows. On their first possession, Christstan moved the ball to midfield, then Klaus threw an atrocious pass on third-and-6 which 22-year-old cornerback Cliff Poulton picked off and took to the endzone for a touchdown on his first ever play in his international career. On their second, the home side couldn't even get a first down. When the Arrows finally got the football for themselves, Rommel was pancaked by Phil Cottee, and Illingworth made it into the secondary for a gain of 17. Three plays later, Michael Bernard completed a touchdown pass to Giovanni Cassano for about the millionth time in their glorious international careers. (36th - ed)

14-0 with 8:33 on the clock in the first quarter. It did get a bit better from there, Klaus completing a touchdown pass of 34 yards to Heinrich Handle at the end of the first, but the Arrows controlled the football throughout, scoring three field goals in the second quarter to lead 23-7 at the half before bringing on the second string, who themselves scored a touchdown late in the third through Xavier Lecavalier's reception of a long bullet pass from Dick Vernasse, and restricted Christstan to a field goal.

Too easy? Yes.

Cassadaigua

18-11-2008, 15:56

Katie’s Space

We were doomed from the start. Before the game we had a big locker room argument when some players were making fun of Rebecca Looper’s weight. A lot of us were not that happy when she was named to the team and I will come right out and say that I was one of those people. If you are reading this then you know the name Rebecca Looper already but in case there are any international readers out there, you need to know a little something about Loopy. She is listed at 375 pounds in the official game programs but that is just being nice as she is really more like 420. Unlike other lineman on our team that is not a 420 of muscle mass that was earned from hours upon hours in the gym. Her 420 was earned from hours and hours at a buffet table. If Rebecca were a nice person, I would feel very bad about making fun of her because of her weight and that is not something I ever try to do. If she were nice I would give her credit for being able to be a professional football player despite being so out of shape. Rebecca is also the most crazy person I have ever met. She is a complete psycho freak who will go crazy over every last thing and when she reads this I will have to get some protection from the offensive lineman but they are good at that kind of thing. Rebecca Looper is all about Rebecca Looper. She doesn’t care about any of us so for her to be on our national team is something that many of us are not in favor us. She is good at what she does but people are more afraid to run up the middle because of the Green Mountain Incident then they are because of her ability. These other national teams don’t know what that is though and as we saw today they aren’t afraid of her. She went off on us today calling certain players a bunch of skinny bitches, that we should be cheerleaders instead of football players and we didn’t take that. We got back in her face and the lineman needed to break us up. It took about four to hold her back. Then we went out and lost 24-17 to Miroxia. Just not the day we wanted, but as you can see it started long before kickoff.

Dancougar

18-11-2008, 17:57

Sidney Goldman's The Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

Field goals and field position

Normally, the Wings like to keep opponents to fewer than five scoring drives in a single game. But all is forgiven if the wall comes down in the red zone. Dancougar won its opening match of World Bowl qualifying last night 27-15 over Secristan, and while the Millionaires' ability to move the ball between the twenties was maybe a bit disconcerting, they were never able to get inside the Black Wing fifteen.

If defense wins championships, this is a pretty good start.

We expected the team to do well after a gritty Charity Bowl performance that saw them knock off Cassadaigua, Newmanistan, and Arroza in games of increasing difficulty. But when Secristan took the field, they made life even more difficult in the opening quarter. Any swagger that Gary Hutchins had coming into the game was checked quickly by Kevin Boyle and the Million Dollar Defense, which held the Wings to two early three-and-outs. But Secristan's Tom Mitchell was also in a funk, only completing two of his first eight. The breakthrough came when Mitchell was intercepted by Tony Rorick, giving the Wings a short field with about two minutes left in the quarter. Seth Cavallo hit a field goal to make it 3-0.

The Millionaires hit back with a pair of field goal drives behind the running of Chris Hausler. Mitchell found a rhythm with some short passes, but in what would become the theme of the game, the offense ground to a halt as soon as they threatened to reach the endzone. Kirk Manly crushed Hausler on a third and two to force the first kick, and the second field goal came after two straight Mitchell incompletions from the 25. In between, the Wings added a touchdown so that they went into the locker room at 10-6. Hutchins carried the team on the drive, picking up 35 of his 46 first half yards, including the three-yard capper.

The Wings made it 13-6 on their opening drive of the half after Calvin Wheeler breaking up a jump-ball for Jermaine Divalerio. But some could sense the game was turning. Michael Hussey was finally hitting passes with some regularity, and Hutchins was getting some bigger gaps in the line. Secristan answered with a field goal drive of their own that went for ten plays and 56 yards. The critical play was a third and five from the Dancougar eighteen where Kendrick Lynch slipped inside his man and spun Mitchell to the ground. The fans were feeling good at 13-9 since they had weathered every Secristan attack and come out more or less unscathed.

The next drive put to sleep any notion that the Wings were going to pull away in this one. At least not yet. Hussey threw a pass behind Jay Milon that fell right into the hands of Chris Tulenko, who was quickly wrestled to the ground. That gave the Millionaries the ball at the Dancougar 28, but the defense once again made sure they couldn't cash in. Manly defended a pass across the middle on third down to force another Secristan field goal. The team had to be frustrated with its inability to find the endzone, but by consistently putting points on the board, they were giving themselves a chance to win the game.

In years past, this would have been Kirk Hatchitt time.

Enter Hutchins, who had played solid if unspectacular football in the Charity Bowl and was once again having just a decent game. More than anything, if the Wings were going to succeed with a power offense, they needed Hutchins to succeed between the tackles. As the third quarter wound down, Hutchins led the team downfield on a backbreaking 75 yard drive that bled into the fourth. While he was only getting about three yards each time to dove into the pile, he opened up the outside of the field. Logan Dublin hit the corner for a 12-yard run that got them into field goal range, and then Hussey found Divalerio on a curl for nine more. Hutchins capped the drive with a two-yard rush to make it 20-12.

It was still only a one-score game. Mitchell went to work against the Black Wing secondary with a series of short passes that kept the team - and the clock - moving. But facing third down just inside the Dancougar 20, Mitchell was incomplete once again. Frustrated, he came off the field as Ryan Norris stepped on for his fifth attempt of the game. With around six minutes left in the game, the Millionaires were banking on their defense to give them the ball back soon. It was 20-15 after Norris' conversion.

The Wings got the ball on their own 23 and predictably started with Hutchins running off-tackle. After Boyle held him to a two-yard gain on second down, the Wings faced a crucial third and five. Hussey could find no one open, so he dumped a short pass to Hutchins, who stiff-armed his way across the marker for a first down. The Wings didn't look back. With the two minute warning approaching, Hussey found tight end Ed Mendenhall for a seven-yard touchdown pass to put the game out of reach.

In the end, it was the same old story except with new names. The Wings showed they could still close out a game, and Hutchins began chasing Hatchitt's career totals with a 117-yard effort against the Million Dollar Defense. Of course, the defense will need a little shoring up. Secristan is no slouch on either side of the ball, but seeing them repeatedly waltz into Dancougar territory was a bit worrisome. Manly's boys will have to make some adjustments before the next match, or their next stand will come somewhere near the goal line.

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

Most of the newcomers were given a harsh welcome to World Bowl play, with almost all of the favorites winning easily. Newmanistan and Colbourne represented the largest fall and gain, respectively, after the latter's 21-20 upset of the former. Vephrall's return to the grid was also marked by a victory.

Questions at the top...
(1) Qazox (1-0): How scary is it that they put on the backups... halfway through the first game?
(2) Dancougar (1-0): Does the Jared Koeppel tilt downhill every fourth quarter?
(3) Kura-Pelland (1-0): So Chris Poulton was enough to send Christstan into a deeper funk than James Brown?
(4) Arroza (1-0): Could their passing attack be any more balanced?
(5) Rennidan (1-0): If Owen Powis can change the game on special teams, could a start at fullback be in the cards?
(6) Taeshan (1-0): Does Wissenhaunt know how to win games, or does Wissenhaunt know how to win games?
(7) Cotenshire (1-0): If they could avoid killing everybody, would they throw the best World Bowl pregame party ever?
(8) Swilatia (1-0): Who cares if it's Northwest Polaris?
(9) Vephrall (1-0): So, Crublig Claspung, how impressive will your offense be once you start mixing in some passes?
(10) Secristan (0-1): Will this game lead to a horrific run of Ryan Norris facts?
(11) Myedvedeya (0-1): Shouldn't they have performed better in that Cotenshire climate?
(12) Newmanistan (0-1): Maybe the offense should start participating in the defensive drills?
(13) Miroxia (1-0): Should we be concerned that they let a disoriented Cassadaigua team get within a score?
(14) Colbourne (1-0): Did all of their play have impeccable timing or what?
(15) Kjomasasopia (1-0): Is that what you would call a smooth transition from rugby?

... and a look at the rest.
(16) Lovisa (1-0)
(17) Mantwenic (1-0)
(18) Nethertopia (0-1)
(19) Twin Dominions (1-0)
(20) Sarzonia (0-1)
(21) Cassadaigua (0-1)
(22) The Candrian Empire (0-1)
(23) Greal (0-1)
(24) Lurikastan (0-1)
(25) Green wombat (0-1)
(26) Northwest Polaris (0-1)
(27) Tortuga y Hispaniola (0-1)
(28) Christstan (0-1)
(29) Antitidum (0-1)
(30) La Habana Cuba (0-1)

Taeshan

18-11-2008, 21:37

Fitin' Falcons Comeback to Defeat

I'm betting you all went to bed early last night before the end of the Taeshan at Nethertopia game. I know your all like they were down 17-0, they were not coming back. I mean seriously it was almost the end of the third. I havce this big presentation at work tomorrow. Well all those pessimists who thought it was all over, think again, the Falcons scored 3 points at the end of the thir and 21 more in the fourth to win it. Thanks to all those fans that stayed up though.

I was a bad defensive game early, as the Falcons let the Nethertopian Quaterback find his wideouts 2 times in the first quater. Then in the second there Kicker scored from 40. The Falcons then went down by 20 with another kick from 37. Then the Falcons made there comeback. Led by Gabe Martins trusty arm the Falcons scored a Field Goal at the end of the 3rd with a Gramatica 47 yarder. Then Gabe found a wide open Jack Cito in the endzone for the first Falcon TD of the Bowl. Then he found Trevor Karker the Tight End in the corner. Fianlly with 2 minutes left in the game the Falcon coach led his team to victory. With just 10 second left he called a Triple Pass. First Gabe Martin found Ocho Cinco outside who then tossed it back even farther to Cito, who then rushed towards the line, but stopped and passed it back to the other side to Martin. Then Martin chucked it deep to a wide open Ricky Zellefrow for the winning touchdown. It was exciting.

Secristan

18-11-2008, 23:55

MILLIONAIRES FALL IN OPENER

Defeating Dancougar was never something that was going to be easy, but when the team seems to have the chance to pull out a stunning victory and they don’t, it can be agonizing. We’re talking simply about the team’s inability to finish off drives with touchdowns instead of having to settle for three points. Secristan was matching Dancougar in the effective drive category in the first half, but they were repeatedly stalling when it mattered the most. The defense of Dancougar gets credit with their bend but don’t break defensive system, allowing the Millionaires to pick up all kinds of yardage between the twenties before they rose up to the occasion. Secristan was unable to penetrate the Dancougar 15 all game long, and fittingly end up with fifteen points in the 27-15 loss. The Millionaires weren’t too shabby on defense in the first half, containing the Black Wings to just ten points and had visions of the upset at that point with the score only 10-6. A late third quarter drive was the clincher even though you have to give credit to the Millionaires for putting up a fight to the end against a strong opponent.

The Secristan Department of Sports reports that the game was a success on the financial front, with pay-per-view purchases reaching expectations for the game that were set pretty high. The SDOS also benefited by the start times of this game and the Cup of Harmony packages and is offering a discount package where if you purchase at least three Cup of Harmony games, you can get a World Bowl game of your choice at 25% off! Such a gracious deal! Katie Simpson, our SDOS rep said of the game, “We should be able to benefit here because most of the fans that care about the World Bowl watched this game instead of just checking out the score. I think those who watched it might get excited about what we have the potential to do against teams who aren’t as good as Dancougar. Football is Dancougar’s best sport and it showed. The fans who just checked the score see a twelve point loss and that’s it. Myedvedeya next draws excitement naturally and we look to see another game of strong profit. The average bid price at the Loophole is 103R per seat, which is slightly higher then our hopeful range of 80-100.”

Sarzonia

19-11-2008, 02:22

For Adam Novak, hitting the practice field the day after Sarzonia's 24-16 loss to Arroza was a painful experience. Not just figuratively.

He had to make a touchdown-saving tackle on a kickoff return that set up Arroza's first score. While he was able to finish the game without a problem, his shoulder throbbed in pain the next day.

"Coach, I don't know if I can kick today."

"What's wrong, Adam?"

"My shoulder."

After emerging from the training room with trainer Bobby Tyer, he was ruled out from practice.

Punter Marco Oliver started practicing kicking extra points and field goals. He also practiced kicking off. After Zorn entered the media room, he announced Novak would be a game time decision.

"He's hurting pretty bad right now," Zorn said. "However, he's going to get treatment. Hopefully, he'll be OK by the next game."

As for viewing the game film, Zorn shook his head.

"I think I got too cute with the playcalling," he said. "When [the coaches] got in at halftime, [defensive coordinator] Greg Blache said, 'we can play with these guys'." Once I heard that, we decided to get out there and play more conventional gridball.

"I promise you that we won't be intimidated next time out," Zorn said.

As for the Stingers game plan against Miroxia, Zorn said he would have a better idea once he finished viewing the film. Quarterback Gavin Davis said the team would likely try to establish the ground game.

"LoQuan Willard got 18 yards on 11 carries," Davis said. "That isn't going to cut it."

Qazox

19-11-2008, 05:07

MD2 RP Cutoff.
Scores up shortly.

Qazox

19-11-2008, 06:16

MATCHDAY TWO SCORES
(Winners in BOLD, Ties in Italics)

GROUP A
Northwest Polaris @ Dancougar 41-7
Swilatia @ Cotenshire 20-16
Myedvedeya @ Secristan 24-13

GROUP B
Vephrall @ Arroza 26-14
Sarzonia @ Miroxia 13-13
Cassadaigua @ Tortuga y Hispaniola 23-21

GROUP C
Newmanistan @ Taeshan 33-28
Greal @ Colburne 16-14
Mantenwic @ Nethertopia 35-20

GROUP D
Qazox @ Rennidan 32-28
Kjomasasopia @ La Habana Cuba 24-21 (OT)
The Candrian Empire @ Antitidum 23-18

GROUP E
Green wombat @ Kura-Pelland 45-8
Lurikastan @ Lovisa 34-16
Twin Dominions @ Christstan 20-10

STANDINGS
(Teams sorted by H2H then PD)

GROUP A W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Dancougar 2-0-0 1.000 68 22 +46
Cotenshire 2-0-0 1.000 43 30 +13
Swilatia 1-1-0 .500 37 27 +10
Secristan 1-1-0 .500 39 40 -1
Myedvedeya 0-2-0 .000 27 47 -20
NW Polaris 0-2-0 .000 14 62 -48

GROUP B W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Arroza 2-0-0 1.000 50 30 +20
Miroxia 1-0-1 .667 37 30 +7
Vephrall 1-1-0 .500 48 36 +12
Cassadaigua 1-1-0 .500 40 45 -5
Sarzonia 0-1-1 .333 29 37 -8
Tort. y Hisp. 0-2-0 .000 31 57 -26

GROUP C W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Colburne 2-0-0 1.000 37 34 +3
Newmanistan 1-1-0 .500 53 49 +4
Taeshan 1-1-0 .500 52 53 -1
Nethertopia 1-1-0 .500 55 44 +11
Mantenwic 1-1-0 .500 37 49 -12
Greal 0-2-0 .000 28 33 -5

(Note: Newmanistan beat Taeshan, who beat Nethertopia, who beat Mantenwic, hence the order)

GROUP D W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Rennidan 2-0-0 1.000 63 39 +24
Kjomasaspoia 2-0-0 1.000 48 30 +18
Qazox 1-1-0 .500 63 38 +25
Candrian Empire 1-1-0 .500 32 42 -10
Antitidum 0-2-0 .000 29 54 -25
Habana Cuba 0-2-0 .000 27 59 -32

GROUP E W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Kura-Pelland 2-0-0 1.000 75 18 +57
Lovisa 2-0-0 1.000 51 29 +22
Christstan 1-1-0 .500 30 40 -10
Twin Dominions 1-1-0 .500 42 46 -4
Lurikastan 0-2-0 .000 42 66 -24
Green wombat 0-2-0 .000 21 62 -41

(NOTE: Christstan ahead of Twin Dominions on H2H result)

I'm repeating the tiebreakers just as a reminder for all:

Playoff Berth/Group Title:
1- Best H2H Record amongst the teams.
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Point differential in H2H games amongst the teams.
4- Best Road Record.
5- Best Road Point differential.
6- Most Points For.
7- Most Points For in H2H games amongst the teams.
8- Most Road Points For.
9- Most Points For in regulation.
10- Coin Flip.

Seeding for Playoffs:
1- Most wins (ie: a team that is 7-1-0 would be seeded higher than a 6-0-2 team, even though the Win% is the same.)
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Road Point differential.
4- Most Points For.
5- Most Road Points For.
6- Most Points For in regulation.
7- Coin Flip.

Qazox

19-11-2008, 06:34

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

Once again at a World Bowl qualifer, Qazox is the victim of shady officiating. After scoring with 11 seconds left to take a 28-24 lead, Rennidan's Jason Yeilds ran back the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for the victory. BUT as replays clearly showed, he was pushed out of bounds at the Qazox 47 with 3 seconds left by Tryone Chase. After further review, the play stood and Qazox refused to field a defense for the extra point attempt, which was walked in by Clive for a 2-pt conversion, ending the game 32-28 in favor of the Brutes.

Now Qazox has to stay on the road and face The Candrian Empire. Can the Pheonix recover from a horrible ending or will they drop two early games on the road?

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 FINAL
Qazox 7 0 14 7 28
Rennidan 10 7 7 8 32

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Greg Dannen: 17-31, 217 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT; 3 rushes, 5 yds, 1 TD
Frank Vallens: 20 rushes, 112 yds, 1 TD.
Tony Aster: 6 Rec, 122 yds, 2 TD rec.

Defense:
David Reshks: 9 tackles, 1.5 Sacks.
Jason Middleton: 15 tackles, 0.5 Sacks, 1 INT.
Adam Politt: 2 tackles, 6 passes defended.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Rennidan: Clive- 45 yd FG; (9:28) 3-0 Rennidan
Qazox: Dannen- 1 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (5:16) 7-3 Qazox
Rennidan: Seffer- 21 yd TD rec; Clive PAT good (1:11) 10-7 Rennidan
Second Quarter:
Rennidan: Yeilds- 9 yd TD run; Clive PAT good (5:52) 17-7 Rennidan
Third Quarter:
Qazox: Aster- 17 yd TD rec; Tryone Chase PAT good (11:17) 17-14 Rennidan
Qazox: Aster- 29 yd TD rec; Tryone Chase PAT good (6:44) 21-17 Qazox
Rennidan: Yeilds- 3 yd TD run; ClivePAT good (0:12) 24-21 Rennidan
Fourth Quarter:
Qazox: Vallens- 7 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (0:11) 28-24 Qazox
Rennidan: Yeilds- 93 yd Kickoff Return for TD; Clive 2-pt rush Good (0:00) 32-28 Rennidan

Green wombat

19-11-2008, 06:41

IF you took Kura-Pelland and the points, you made out like a bandit. 45-8 was the final score, But the only good news was we lead 8-3 at one point after WhiteBoi99 faked an extra-point and completed a conversion to Johnson123, after FreeLongstreetnow's 14 yard TD run, our first offensive TD! Then K-P's Michael Bernard went off on our defense, throwing for 434 yards and 5TD's, 3 of which went to Dennis van Horsten, who just blew by our defenders for TD's of 67, 59 and 82 yards.

Up next is a trip to Lurikastan, who seems to be as inept as we are. I think we have a chance to steal a win here, but home field has its advantages.

Newmanistan

19-11-2008, 09:56

THE ROCKET REPORT

DRAMATIC FINISH GOES OUR WAY THIS TIME

Wonder Park, Taeshan- Well, add another sport to where we’ve defeated Taeshan. After the poor outing against Colbourne, the Rockets needed to avenge that at Fadron Pizza Field. I tried some Fadron Pizza, by the way. They were quite cheap on the pepperoni. Just two pieces of it on a slice? And it needed more sauce. Ok, enough already, time to report on this 33-28 victory!

Like the opening game, Newmanistan took the opening kickoff, and seemed to move the ball downfield well against what was thought to be a strong Taeshan defense. They seemed to have trouble adapting to Kenny O’Hara’s legs as he went 6-for-7 on the opening drive, highlighted by a 22-yard reception by Jim Crosby. Sadly, and despite first and goal from the 4, the Rockets stalled and settled for a 22 yard chip shot. It was more of the same on the second possession after Taeshan went three and out, the Rockets moved the ball downfield but had to settle for three points again, a 33 yarder this time. After the way things went in the loss to Colbourne, this was looking all too familiar. Taeshan immediately bounced back when Gabe Martin found Ricky Zellefrow in the corner of the end zone on a perfectly executed fade route to put the home team up 7-6. The deja vu really looked all to familiar just two plays later as Zellefrow wanted to show that Rockets that he could play a little defense too by intercepting a pass that was deflected at the line of scrimmage, and scoring for the third INT returned for a touchdown that the Rockets have allowed already in the World Bowl. That made it 14-6 in favor of Taeshan, and that would be the score at the end of one. After forcing Newmanistan to punt (and an impressive 54 yard boot by Meadows), Taeshan’s offense moved downfield too easily. This time they focused on the run, and highlighted Rudi Johnson. On the possession, Rudi had 8 carries for 43 yards, including the eventual two yard touchdown run on a counter play to the left side. Make it 21-6. Newmanistan put together a late first half drive to get three on the board again, this time a 38 yarder from Ashton Colfer. We’re glad Colfer came to play today. At the half, down 21-9 to a strong defensive team like Taeshan was not a good place to be.

Fortunately, Taeshan gave us a big lift at the start of the second half when their kick returner muffed the opening half kick off, and the fumble was recovered by Newmanistan’s Chris Johnson, the Rockets Gunner, who completely flew down the field unblocked. With the ball at the Taeshan 11 to start the drive, the Rockets had to get seven here. They did, on a four yard run by Chris Padgett to make it 21-16. That made things seem a little better, but Taeshan wasn’t done trying to let the Rockets back into the game. On the ensuing possession, Rudi Johnson fumbled after being hit hard by Kirk Comforth, and it was recovered by Jesse Savage at the Taeshan 32. Unfortunately, O’Hara could only throw two incompletions and get a six-yard run by Corey Parisi on third-and 10, making the Rockets have to settle for a 44-yard field goal. But every little bit would help and Colfer blasted his fourth of the game through the uprights to make it 21-19. Taeshan blunders continued in the third quarter, and on a drive where they were starting to move the ball into Newmanistan territory, Gabe Martin was intercepted by Daniel Strasser, one of the players named to Rennidan’s World Bowl Dream Team. Strasser was tackled immediately, but it set the Rockets up again, and the home crowd was getting very unhappy with these turnovers. The drive lasted the duration of the third quarter and into the fourth, with the Rockets picking up four first-downs on third-down conversion of at least 3rd and 7. Credit Kenny O’Hara here. With 9:33 left in the fourth, O’Hara found Alex Foster in the end zone on an 11-yard TD reception to put Newmanistan back in the lead 26-21, and stunning the crowd. But Taeshan wasn’t done yet. They had one last ball control drive that took 8:22 off the play clock and culminated in a Jeremy Johnson one yard run up the gut to make it 28-26 with 1:11 left to play.

Newmanistan had all three timeouts. This two minute drill thing: It used to always go against them. This is why the team fired Brett Nicholson and Jeremy Thompson. The old Rockets would have lost this game 28-26. It was a typical close game against a better ranked team that would go against them in the final minutes. Could the new faces do what they were supposed to do.

Here’s the big drive:

Gramatica kick into endzone. Touchback, 1:11 remaining.
(1st & 10, NEW 20): O’Hara pass complete to Gagnon for 22 yards. Gagnon out of bounds at 42. 1:00 remaining.
(1st & 10, NEW 42): O’Hara pass complete to Crosby for 8 yards. 0:49 remaining.
(2nd & 2, 50): O’Hara spike ball. 0:40 remaining.
(3rd & 2, 50): O’Hara pass complete to Foster for 5 yards. Timeout: Rockets. 0:33 remaining.
(1st & 10, TAE 45): O’Hara pass incomplete. Intended for Gagnon. 0:27 remaining.
(2nd & 10, TAE 45): O’Hara sacked by Jack Riosa. Loss of 8 yards. Timeout: Rockets. 0:14 remaining.
(3rd & 18, NEW 47): O’Hara pass complete to Foster for 7 yards. Timeout; Rockets. 0:04 remaining.
(4th & 11, NEW 40): O’Hara scrambles to right, finds Gagnon up the middle at the Taeshan 23, Gagnon breaks the tackle of Rudi Williams, and gets a great block from Foster and he is gone!! 60 yards!! 0:00 remaining.

About time, something good like that happened for us, instead of always working the other way. Nicholson would have tried the 58 yard FG.

Cassadaigua

19-11-2008, 14:47

Katie’s Space

We pulled out a victory over Tortuga y Hispaniola last night, making them the first ever opponent we have beaten and it evens our record at 1-1. We are tied for Vephrall for third place in the group, and they will be our next opponent. Anyway, how the hell are we supposed to be picking up victories when we have to deal with Looper’s antics. I don’t think she read my blog from the first game which is good. She probably can’t even log onto a computer. So again while we’re trying to get ready for the game she starts a bunch of crap Meghan Caprotti, who was just peacefully trying to put her uniform on. Rebecca and her 6'3" 412 self takes Meghan who is like 5'10" and only about 160 pounds, lifts her up and slams her into the locker. Poor Meghan was scared to death and she had no idea why Rebecca was mad at her. None of us did. Apparently, and unknowingly to Meghan, a bottle of hair spray fell out of Rebecca’s locker and rolled into Meghan’s. Looper flips out. This is what we deal with, folks. She’s crazy! Thankfully Meghan survived but when you were all wondering why she didn’t play today, now you know. She should be back for the Vephrall game. Speaking of games, this is what I thought I would be blogging about when I started this. As you know we got off to a terrible start and trailed 21-6 at halftime. We battled back though, and I caught my first touchdown pass of the World Bowl to make it 21-13, and we took control of the game from there. If we can put a whole game together we might be dangerous.

Next is Vephrall, those guys from the World Cup. This brand of football doesn’t come as well to them, but they are doing alright and are also 1-1. We are hoping to capitalize on this being a letdown game for them. We’ve heard that they were real concerned with making amends for a game they lost to Arroza like 51-3 or something a long time ago. They got that game out of the way now, even though they still lost. This is where we swoop in and get them before they recover from that disappointment.

OOC: Qazox, according to the schedule we were at home against Tortuga y Hispaniola but on the scores you list the game as being @ Tortuga y Hispaniola. What’s up?

Kura-Pelland

19-11-2008, 15:01

Three long TD completions from Bernard to van Horsten saw Kura-Pelland turn an initial scare into a destructive 45-8 win over Green Wombat's pseudonymous geek squad.

After taking an 8-3 lead courtesy of a two-point conversion from special teams on a fake, the Green Wombat team may well have been forgiven for thinking they were elite. But the Arrows are the true elite team, and their tried and true formula worked very well on the next drive, a methodical one of 13 plays and 69 yards that ended with a run from Illingworth.

The rest was processional. Green wombat (as apparently they couldn't even capitalise their nation entirely) were three-and-out on their next possession, two quick passes got the Arrows to third-and-2 on their own 33, play action was called and an easy pass to a wide-open van Horsten, who had no problem completing the 67-yard touchdown play. He would later receive a totally out-of-character long bomb and take it for an 83-yard score on the very first play of a drive, completing a hat-trick of receptions of over 55 yards as a 59-yard play was also completed earlier. The second string came on after that, although Bernard kept playing and promptly completed two more touchdown passes to Chester Fernandez and Xavier Lecavalier.

Rennidan

19-11-2008, 19:02

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

CONTROVERSY IN WAREHOUSE 17

THE BRUTES have always been a team choc-a-block full of controversy. Whether for their choice of dismissing conventional armour or their over-the-top abundance of violence, they've always been let off lightly. This time, however, we're sure the loveable lads over in Qazox aren't going to let this lie.

The second game for the Brutes was, perhaps, the biggest on their list. The major problem team of the group being Qazox, the Brutes would have to pull themselves together and prove early on just who was going to be the dominant force of Group D.

The opening quarter started out fair enough, with the crowds jostling around the newly-painted pitch within the slightly renovated Warehouse 17. The two large screens now placed either side of the pitch giving all a better view of the action, as well as a better opinion on the bad calls made. The first 3 points put up were in Rennidan's favour, thanks to a 45-yard boot from Clive after the Brutes failed to make anything on their third down. Qazox then started their drive on the 19 yard line, and with all their might they forced themselves downfield. A few key passes from Greg Dannen and a final 1 yard dash from the QB saw the Qazox fans brave enough to face the threat of a sound beating cheer. It wasn't without it's pains for the defending champions though, and as both teams dispersed, it became apparent that Dannen was still on the ground. It would seem he met Powis on his way into the endzone. After a brief skirmish with the Warehouse medics, however, Dannen was back up and ready to throw some more crucial touchdowns for his visiting side.

The first quarter ended on the high note of McGraw throwing his second TD pass this Bowl, and Rennidan taking the lead 10-7. The atmosphere in the Warehouse was, however, beginning to take a turn, with the Qazox fans finding themselves surrounded, not by the loud, jovial and slightly drunk fans from earlier in the game, but the cold, harsh and calculating fans who have come to international acclaim as the Brute Force hooligan squad.

The second quarter came and went with little more than Yeilds claiming yet another touchdown run, and giving Rennidan a crucial 10 point lead. It wasn't until the third quarter that the Qazox side made it apparent that they were a team who fought back harder in the second half, take a 21-17 lead over the Brutes for a few minutes, but not before Yeilds made yet another dart into the endzone and brought the game back round to the Brutes favour.

And then we have the forth quarter and all the controversy it brought.

Qazox took the lead with 11 seconds left in the game. With the score set at 28-24, Rennidan needed a miracle of a kick return for a touchdown to peg this game as a win. In comes Yeilds with the return, which he catches at the 7 yard line, and then proceeds to run like a pack of wolves are on his tail. Some fancy footwork at the halfback makes it passed the halfway line, but is caught by Tryone Chase at the 47. Now, the replay quite clearly shows Yeilds took a step out of bounds, but the officials, in their wisdom, allowed the dashing 93-yard return stand, and Yeilds is now set up with one of the longest returns this Bowl.

Controversial, sure, but I'm not going to complain about another win on Rennidan's board.

Sarzonia

19-11-2008, 21:26

Just moments before Coach Jim Zorn had to decide whether to send Adam Novak or punter Marco Oliver out for the opening kickoff at Mirox Motors Stadium in Kelmont Creek, Novak raced up to the coach.

"I can play, coach," he said.

Zorn didn't say anything, looking at head trainer Bobby Tyer.

"What do you think?"

Tyer hesitated for a moment, then said, "he can go, but I'd still want to hold him out."

"I want to go," Novak said with a piercing look into Zorn's eyes. Zorn cast his eyes downward for a moment, then looked up.

"Get out there, Adam." Novak then raced out with the kicking tee.

As for the game itself, it bore some resemblance to Sarzonia's opener. Miroxia took a 13-0 lead at halftime courtesy of two touchdowns, a six-yard run for Carlos Thompson and a one-yard quarterback sneak from Jay Richards. Defensive end Donnie Carter blocked Ham Danrick's extra point after Richard's touchdown, holding the score to 13-0.

In the second half, it was Sarzonia's turn to pour on the offense. Running back LoQuan Willard got on track on Sarzonia's opening drive, rushing eight times for 76 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown run to cut Miroxia's lead to 13-7 with nine minutes, 47 seconds left in the third quarter. However, Miroxia's defense stiffened, sacking quarterback Gavin Davis four times on the next two Stingers possessions.

In the fourth quarter, Novak finally had a chance to show he was healthy, banging through a 28-yard field goal when a Stingers drive stalled as the third quarter ended. With four seconds left and the Stingers trailing 13-10, Zorn sent him out to try a 48-yard field goal.

After Miroxia burned its last time out to try to freeze Novak, he nailed the field goal right down the middle. Sarzonia earned a tie in its second game of World Bowl IV, but for a Stingers team that didn't expect to make much noise in the tournament, it felt like a win.

Sarzonia will face Tortuga y Hispaniola in another away game, the second of five straight away contests before the Stingers finish up with four straight games at Hendrix Stadium in Woodstock.

Taeshan

19-11-2008, 22:00

Knights Lose yet Again To Neamnistan

33-28. Sucks don't it. Anyways they lost yet another important game. Bad D, even worse protection of the ball. It was horrific. Really horrific, anyways here a top ten list from las nights David Letterman on SBC. Also next game is verse Greal and is the final home game before the big 5 week roadtrip. Be there or be square.

Top Ten Reason Whyu the Falcons will lose to Newmanistan

Number 10-Kenny O'Hara
Number 9-Its a Home Game
Number 8-We Suck
Number 7-Virgins...What??????
Number 6-Chuck Norris
Number 5-Jesus
Number 4-Jesuses Moma
Number 3-God
Number 2-The evil aliens
Number 1-Those Homos

Dancougar

20-11-2008, 01:26

Sidney Goldman's The Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

"Smash and grab" job

Welcome to the World Bowl.

The Wings rolled over Northwest Polaris 41-7 last night, a scoreline which includes everything you expect the team to do to be successful. Pound the ball with the run. Be efficient with the pass. Get points off of turnovers. In truth, while every team enters a tournament with the hope that they can challenge for the title, teams that start play quietly like Northwest Polaris are hardly candidates for the Upset Special. But they will no doubt learn from this game and play the Wings closer in the return leg. The question is how much did the Wings learn from getting to run a lot of their new players at full steam. Hopefully, the answer is that they learned to like the taste of victory.

It was another hundred-yard night for Gary Hutchins, and Logan Dublin chipped in another 75 on 13 carries. His shifty play out of the backfield is starting to add a dimension the team was lacking before. Both Kirk Hatchitt and Oliver Tangermann preferred power to finesse, although the arrival of Dublin gives the Wings more of the "thunder and lightning" look that several teams have already used to great effect. The changes to the offensive line haven't caused problems, yet, either.

It seems like the trend of putting in the backups early is finding its way to the top teams; Qazox did it in the last game, and reports indicate that Kura-Pelland brought out most of their second string last night. Well, add the Wings to that list, after they ran up a 31-0 lead before halftime. After that, it was just about possession and experience. It should also keep the starters fresh for the next two games, on the road against Myedvedeya and Cotenshire. Now, those are two locales that most of the team's followers - this reporter included - will likely pass on, although word has it that the Brute Force is meandering around the world somewhere. Maybe they can represent.

But anyway, onto the actual game. Dancougar asserted its authority with the opening drive. Hutchins just blasted his way through the Polaris offensive line for a 15-yard run on the first play, and two more runs set up Michael Hussey's 18-yard play action pass to Jermaine Divalerio. After four minutes, Hutchins was in the endzone to make it 7-0. The defense came on the field and got a stop, then the Wings ran another seven minutes off the clock with a methodic 72-yard drive that once again ended with Hutchins following the O-line into the endzone. The Polaris defense never really looked like stopping him.

It was the defense's turn to make a play. After Polaris moved the ball up to their own forty, they elected to throw on first down when they saw they would get man coverage. Kerry Tierno came around the end and hurried the play, and the quarterback was hit as he threw. The ball lost a little of its zip and that allowed Scott Maxam to come back and pick it off, returning it just inside Polaris territory before getting run down. Polaris was thinking run as soon as the offense hit the field, but Hussey went to the air, hitting Divalerio at the ten. Hutchins remained on the field as a decoy, as Hussey connected with Jay Milon to make it 21-0.

So far, so good. The team was cruising and extended the lead when Kirk Manly caused a fumble on the next Polaris possession, leading to the a Seth Cavallo field goal. Dancougar capped the first half scoring when Dublin hit the corner on a second-down sweep and danced around two defenders en route to a 38-yard touchdown run. Coach Will Moohim was sufficiently pleased with the performance that almost everyone earned a break in the second half, which gave us our first look at guys like quarterback Booker Tilghman and Brian Milcher, the 19-year-old linebacker.

Tilghman looked a bit jittery on the first drive; after three straight handoffs to Harrison Vanord, he threw a near-interception down to the middle. His next two were also incomplete, forcing a punt. But on the next drive, he settled down. He kept his passes short - not a lot of yardage, but it kept the chains moving. Tilghman and Franklin Gelbach are two newcomers to the roster, after the international retirements of the more experienced Dusty Haynesworth and Todd Appelgate. Haynesworth has been working with these young men, and we were able to see a little of his playing style in the way Tilghman managed the game. A six-minute drive stalled inside the red zone and Cavallo made it 34-0.

Probably the only thing the Wings did wrong in this one was let Polaris get a late touchdown. Vanord fumbled at the 38 to give the visitors great field position, and five plays later they were in the endzone courtesy of a 14-yard strike. The offense burned another minute on a three-and-out, and the defense came up with one more. A deep pass sailed over everybody except for safety Omar Garry, who was just hanging back playing center field. He had plenty of room to start his run, and he picked up a convoy around the Polaris 35 yard line. It was a 68-yard pick six for the backup safety to cap the rout.

The Wings will now head to Myedvedeya, where the weather has given the other football team some problems. Then it's a match against Cotenshire, who are purring at 2-0 and look to make it three for three tonight against Northwest Polaris.

Fantasy Fallout

All matchday one stats are final, and we saw a good deal of play by committee by some of the higher-ranked teams. Starters came out when they could have done a great deal of damage, like the five touchdown passes that it's reported Michael Bernard put up tonight against Green wombat. Here's a look at our top fantasy lineup for Woohoo! default leagues.

QB: Gabe Martin (Taeshan)
Qazox's Greg Dannen had a very good first half, throwing for almost 300 yards to go with his two scores, but Martin led all day one quarterbacks with three touchdown passes, including the game winner.

RB: Frank Vallens (Qazox), Abraham Chadwick (Arroza)
Both of these guys had monster games, with both clearing 130 yards rushing and two touchdowns, so owners are rolling in points. Those who started Gary Hutchins aren't sitting too poorly, either.

WR: Ivan Harvey (Qazox), Christian Gagnon (Newmanistan), Giovanni Cassano (Kura-Pelland)
Harvey was the clear choice at wide receiver this week, with two touchdown receptions to go with one on the ground. And who cares if the majority of Gagnon's offense came on a single 71-yard touchdown? Points are points.

TE: Ed Mendenhall (Dancougar)
Ed hauled in a touchdown in the Wings' victory, although Taeshan's Trevor Karker also went for six.

Defense: Qazox
How's this for a scoreline: three sacks, two fumbles, two interceptions, and a stingy seven points against? Arroza's defense also put up good numbers, and the precious few with the Green wombat unit were treated to a defensive touchdown.

Kicker: Ryan Morris (Secristan)
He was 5/5 against Dancougar, which doesn't work out for the Millionaires as well as it does for his fantasy owners.

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

There were a couple of huge games last night that went down to one final, huge play. The first was Newmanistan's comeback win over Taeshan on Christian Gagnon's 60-yard reception as time expired, which was exactly the result they needed after a demoralizing opening-day loss. That play may have turned the corner for them. And in the game of the night, Rennidan defeated Qazox on a kickoff return that was called incorrectly on the field and then upheld. The result's all that matters, though, so the rankings have been jostled a bit.

Questions at the top...
(1) Dancougar (2-0): Kirk who?
(2) Kura-Pelland (2-0): Should defenses start worrying about Michael Bernard in the first 58 minutes?
(3) Rennidan (2-0): Even if the last score wasn't legit, can that Jason Yeilds run or what?
(4) Arroza (2-0): Will they pick up the pace after their 'Axis of Evil' rivals piled up huge wins last night?
(5) Qazox (1-1): What kind of message did their on-field protest send to the rest of the world?
(6) Cotenshire (2-0): If they beat Polaris, will they challenge for power in Group A?
(7) Taeshan (1-1): How do you not drop eight and swarm the ball on the last play of the game?
(8) Newmanistan (1-1): How do you find an opening that deep in enemy territory on the last play of the game?
(9) Secristan (1-1): Monetary incentives aside, how sweet for this team is a home win over the Bears?
(10) Vephrall (1-1): It wasn't 51-3, so is it considered a moral victory?
(11) Swilatia (1-1): At home to Secristan tonight; is it already a must win?
(12) Kjomasasopia (2-0): Did these guys mean to go into overtime against La Habana, or did they want a reason to release the dragon?
(13) Colbourne (2-0): Are close games this team's specialty?
(14) Lovisa (2-0): Does this team just win wherever it plays?
(15) Nethertopia (1-1): The no-namers were moving the ball pretty well against Mantwenic, weren't they?

... and a look at the rest.
(16) Myedvedeya (0-2)
(17) Miroxia (1-0-1)
(18) Cassadaigua (1-1)
(19) The Candrian Empire (1-1)
(20) Sarzonia (0-1-1)
(21) Mantwenic (1-1)
(22) Twin Dominions (1-1)
(23) Christstan (1-1)
(24) Greal (0-2)
(25) Tortuga y Hispaniola (0-2)
(26) Lurikastan (0-2)
(27) Antitidum (0-2)
(28) La Habana Cuba (0-2)
(29) Northwest Polaris (0-2)
(30) Green wombat (0-2)

Arroza

20-11-2008, 01:40

Road To Qazox:
@ Sarzonia (24-16)
Vephrall (26-14)
@ Miroxia
Cassadaigua – The Hive
Tortuga y Hispaniola – Resurgens Velodrome
Sarzonia – The Hive
@ Vephrall
Miroxia – The Hive
@ Cassadaigua
@ Tortuga y Hispaniola

Tar Hornet Weekly!
Cha-Ching! Cha-Ching! Cha-Ching!

Feature Game of the Week:
Arroza 26 – Vephrall 14

Vephrall. They've been looking to play us since the day the schedules came out.

Careful what you wish for.

The game was a lot closer than it looked until halftime, and at the half, the home team was actually down 14-7. Then the hairdryer treatment was applied in full force to the Tar Hornets, and they never looked back, scoring the last nineteen points of the game, and ending the game on a flourish with a safety. First things first.

Vephrall got the ball first, and piivened the ball down the field efficiently with Claspung finishing the drive off with a twelve yard pass to Preptyrs. Arroza matched serve coming right back down the field with a twelve play, seventy six yard drive that ended with Hailey taking the toss sweep and getting behind the pulling guard, Laredo and Harley to run untouched into the end zone from six yards out. But the biggest play of the drive had to be on the third and six from the Vephrall 47 yard line, when Baliss hit Harley on the pass over the middle, and the big man rumbled for seven yards, taking 2 linebackers to the ground with him.

The way both of these teams play, there's not going to be a lot of offensive possessions to be had, and Vephrall did a better job of that in the Second quarter, as Baliss had a bout of the rookie flu, dropping the ball on the Vephrall 34, in the middle of the second quarter. Vephrall responded with what had to be one of the more amazing plays of the game, drawing on their trickery and piiven players' ability to do it all. Claspung handed the ball off to Cliriputed on what looked to be a standard reverse. Cliriputed handed the ball off to Pevonsont on the double reverse, that's enough trickery for one play, right? No. Pevonsont, tosses the ball downfield to the completely overlooked Claspung, who takes it to the house for a 62 yard touchdown catch.

The second half, though was all Arroza. Getting the ball back first in the second half the Hornets needed only two plays to score after a great return from Aurienne. A set up run play, and a play action BOMB from Smythe to Maximiano, who promptly proceeded to break it down in front of the home fans. Vephrall gets the ball back with excellent field position, but after a short drive, Claspund is demolished as he throws by “Big Nasty”. The ball floats away from it's intended destination, and into the hands of Caron Saint-Marais in the end zone. A more methodical Arroza drive ensued, finishing with a 37 yard field goal from Albrecht. 17-14 Arroza. And that's your clincher.

In the fourth, it was just more of the same, as a holding penalty in the end zone meant that the Tar Hornets got a safety, and on the ensuing drive, Chadwick takes it into the end zone in garbage time. Final score 26-14.

Stats:

Passing:
Smythe (4-7, 55 yds, 1TD), Baliss (2-3, 22 yds)

Rushing:
Chadwick 15-145 TD, Hailey 12-98 TD, Harley 4-17

Receiving:
Malone 3-21, Maximiano 2-49 TD, Harley 1-7

Results from the rest of Group B:

Cassadaigua 23 – Tortuga y Hispaniola 21
Miroxia 13 – Sarzonia 13

Results from the Axis of Evil:

Dancougar 41 – Northwest Polaris 7
Kura-Pelland 45 – Green Wombat 8

Not good. They're putting up numbers in the forties. More importantly, they're holding teams below ten points, which means that their defense is ticking.

Next Match:

Arroza Tar Hornets @ Miroxia Mountain Goats

Keys to the Game: Miroxia is the only other team in the group that hasn't lost. Now they're looking to get back on winning form at home. We've got to get out in front early and shut the crowd down, really establist dominance through the running game.

Rennidan

20-11-2008, 01:48

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

SMASHTALK

IT WOULD SEEM that just hours after we report on the Brutes controversial win over Qazox, the Brutes quarterback, restless Pat McGraw, has stepped on out into the limelight to deliver a bit of a talking to at the defending champions.

"It would appear that our most recent match and perhaps the biggest game of the tournament so far, has drawn a bit of criticism. Many, and I will admit, this includes myself, feel that Yeilds kick return for the game winning touchdown was, yes, unfair. He obviously went out of bounds, aye, but what's done is done." The bruised star player took a moment to sip at his RenniBooze PureH20Refresh, before turning back to the cameras and microphones. "However, it is not the poor decisions made by the officials I am here to talk about. It is the complete and utter disregard the Qazox players showed us at the end of the game. They acted like a group of divas. Plain and simple. What right do they have to throw a hissy fit when a call goes awry, and then storm off the pitch like a bunch of pre-schoolers having a tantrum? Seriously, grow a goddamned pair you bunch of overhyped prima donnas. So, the officials gave a bad call against you, and it cost you a game. It's just one game of twelve, and you guys can still go far in this competition, but not if you act like a bunch of lily-assed pansies. You showed us some serious disrespect at the end of that game, Qazox, and us Brutes don't forgive acts like that easily. We'll look forwards to seeing you again, and we just hope you boys have grown up by the time match day seven rolls around."

Fighting words indeed, but what will come from this fresh Qazox-Rennidan face off will no doubt not be truly realized until the two teams finally clash again.

Taeshan

20-11-2008, 03:38

Fitin' Falcons To Play Greal

Up next for those galant Falcons is Greal. The two have never met before, and it looks to be an eventful first battle. The Grealians have only played a few years and shouldn't be able to match strength with the Falcons. The Falcons will look to Soar and Fly past the Grealiens. Lets just hope they can fly past them after the Newmanistan loss.

Cotenshire

20-11-2008, 04:06

This World Bowl was proving to be a rough place for kickers. First Sarzonia’s Adam Novak was bruised up, and in week 2 the Eagle’s own Lodewijk Tonger suffered a boo-boo against Swiliatia. On the opening kickoff, one of the Swilatian special teams players delivered a violent block of questionable legality to #3. Several gunshots went off after the block was delivered, although apparently many in the crowd had hoped that someone else would be the one that would actually aim at the Swilatian player.

Tonger lied motionless on the ground for about half a minute, however, until an Eagles linebacker came out on the field, slung Tonger over his shoulder, and carried him to the sideline so that play may continue. Tonger regained consciousness until about halfway through the first quarter, but even then he seemed dazed and confused. One of the players, backup defensive back Detner Menken, who had learned some medical techniques from his physician father, tended to Tonger.

In the second quarter after the Eagles scored their first touchdown, Coach Slues remembered that he needed a kicker to score the PAT. He eventually found Tonger lying with Detner. “What’s going on?” barked Slues, with his cigar bobbing up and down in his mouth with every word.

“Coach, Tonger’s condition is getting progressively worse,” informed Detner.

“What condition?” The coach leaned in to Tonger. “Are you feeling okay boy?”

Tonger, who was foaming at the mouth and had blood gushing out of his nose at intervals, was in no shape to respond. Coach Slues turned to Detner. “Will he be able to kick in the second half?”

“Sir, I do not think he will.”

Detner’s prediction later came true, as Tonger had died sometime before he was requested to kick again after the Eagle’s next touchdown came in the third quarter. Haageo, the punter, attempted the PATs for both of the first two touchdowns and missed, which prompted Kerkrade to go for 2 after the third TD later in the third quarter. The two-point try was successful, as Kerkrade outran the defense and rushed into the end zone himself.

Mourning and grief sobered the crowd throughout the game as the fate of Tonger slowly dawned on them. After the game, a group of about 1000 fans stormed the field and stole Tonger’s corpse. One of them managed to procure a coffin somehow and they buried Tonger in the north end zone of the St. Alfons Hippodrome.

Qazox

20-11-2008, 04:54

Katie’s Space

OOC: Qazox, according to the schedule we were at home against Tortuga y Hispaniola but on the scores you list the game as being @ Tortuga y Hispaniola. What’s up?

(ooc: Yes. The rematch on MD 7 will be reversed to compensate. (LOL New, guess I'm human after all))

BTW MD3 RP Cutoff

Sarzonia

20-11-2008, 05:03

Woodstock Daily Mail

Cotenshire kicker killed in St. Alfons

by Cassie Treadway
Daily Mail Staff Writer

ST. ALFONS, Cotenshire -- Cotenshire Eagles kicker Lodewijk Tonger died after suffering a brutal hit during a game between the Eagles and Swiliatia.

The injury happened shortly after the opening kickoff when a Swilatian special teams player leveled Tonger with a hit many media outlets are describing as questionable. Shortly after the hit, gunshots rang out. An Eagles player who had medical training tended to Tonger, but he died from his injuries.

Fans stormed the field after the game and stole Tonger's corpse, according to media accounts. They buried him in the north end zone of the St. Alfons Hippodrome. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Sarzonia coach Jim Zorn called Tonger's death "a terrible tragedy."

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Eagles in this difficult time," Zorn said. The Stingers canceled practice to pay their respects to Tonger.

Cotenshire won the game, 20-16.

Kjomasasopia

20-11-2008, 05:20

YEAH KJO! OUR BOYS WIN!
let it be noted that our national team is made up entirely of college students, because there is no national gridiron league. all of these boys are in thier last year of college, excpet for second string QB Jason Wiremu, who is still in high school. so if you like what you see, drop me a tg and you can draft these boys to your franchises.

Qazox

20-11-2008, 05:40

MATCHDAY THREE SCORES
(Winners in BOLD, Ties in Italics)

GROUP A
Dancougar @ Myedvedeya 36-26
Secristan @ Swilatia 22-20
Cotenshire @ Northwest Polaris 23-19

GROUP B
Cassadaigua @ Vephrall 31-21
Arroza @ Miroxia 22-17
Sarzonia @ Tortuga y Hispaniola 33-9

GROUP C
Greal @ Taeshan 26-15
Mantenwic @ Colburne 17-14 (OT)
Nethertopia @ Newmanistan 24-14

GROUP D
Qazox @ The Candrian Empire 27-18
Rennidan @ La Habana Cuba 33-11
Antitidum @ Kjomasasopia 20-16

GROUP E
Twin Dominions @ Kura-Pelland 30-10
Green wombat @ Lurikastan 16-10 (OT)
Christstan @ Lovisa 26-20

STANDINGS
(Teams sorted by H2H then PD)

GROUP A W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Dancougar 3-0-0 1.000 104 48 +56
Cotenshire 3-0-0 1.000 66 49 +17
Secristan 2-1-0 .667 61 60 +1
Swilatia 1-2-0 .333 57 49 +8
Myedvedeya 0-3-0 .000 53 83 -30
NW Polaris 0-3-0 .000 33 85 -52

GROUP B W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Arroza 3-0-0 1.000 72 47 +25
Vephrall 2-1-0 .667 79 57 +22
Sarzonia 1-1-1 .500 62 46 +16
Miroxia 1-1-1 .500 54 52 +2
Cassadaigua 1-2-0 .333 61 76 -15
Tort. y Hisp. 0-3-0 .000 40 90 -50

(Note: Sarzonia ahead of Miroxia on Pt Diff.)

GROUP C W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Colburne 3-0-0 1.000 54 48 +6
Newmanistan 2-1-0 .667 77 63 +14
Taeshan 2-1-0 .667 78 68 +10
Nethertopia 1-2-0 .333 69 68 +1
Mantenwic 1-2-0 .333 51 66 -15
Greal 0-3-0 .000 43 59 -16

(Note: Newmanistan ahead of Taeshan on H2H; Nethertopia ahead of Mantenwic on H2H)

GROUP D W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Rennidan 3-0-0 1.000 96 50 +46
Kjomasaspoia 3-0-0 1.000 68 46 +22
Qazox 2-1-0 .667 90 56 +34
Candrian Empire 1-2-0 .333 50 69 -19
Antitidum 0-3-0 .000 45 74 -29
Habana Cuba 0-3-0 .000 38 92 -54

GROUP E W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Kura-Pelland 3-0-0 1.000 105 28 +77
Lovisa 3-0-0 1.000 77 49 +28
Christstan 1-2-0 .333 50 66 -16
Twin Dominions 1-2-0 .333 52 76 -24
Green wombat 1-2-0 .333 37 72 -35
Lurikastan 0-3-0 .000 52 82 -30

(NOTE: Christstan ahead of Twin Dominions on H2H result, Twin Dominions ahead of Green wombat on Pt. Diff.)

I'm repeating the tiebreakers just as a reminder for all:

Playoff Berth/Group Title:
1- Best H2H Record amongst the teams.
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Point differential in H2H games amongst the teams.
4- Best Road Record.
5- Best Road Point differential.
6- Most Points For.
7- Most Points For in H2H games amongst the teams.
8- Most Road Points For.
9- Most Points For in regulation.
10- Coin Flip.

Seeding for Playoffs:
1- Most wins (ie: a team that is 7-1-0 would be seeded higher than a 6-0-2 team, even though the Win% is the same.)
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Road Point differential.
4- Most Points For.
5- Most Road Points For.
6- Most Points For in regulation.
7- Coin Flip.

Qazox

20-11-2008, 06:00

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

The Pheonix got off to a rocky start at the Candrian Empire, But strong play by Greg Dannen and the defense allowed Qazox to come from behind and get a very important win on the road. After Andre Haralde lead the hosts on a lengthly scoring drive to open up the 1st quarter, a fumbled kickoff return set Qazox back at their own 4 yard line. After a couple of short rushes and an incomplete pass, the punt attempt by Oliver Toppens, was blocked by Carlos Mavis and went out of the back of the endzone for a safety. But Qazox held the Knights to 3 consecutive 3-and-outs and took control with 17 unanswered points to lead at half time 17-9. Both teams traded FG's and a touchdown in the 2nd half, with the Knights failing on a 2-pt attempt in the 4th quarter, keeping it a 2 score game.

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 FINAL
Qazox 7 10 7 3 27
The Candrian Empire 9 0 3 6 18

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Greg Dannen: 29-42, 311 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Frank Vallens: 16 rushes, 82 yds.
Ivan Harvey: 11 Rec, 174 yds, 2 TD rec.

Defense:
Vic Alworth: 11 tackles, 1 INT.
David Reshks: 5 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks.
Mark Johns: 7 tackles, 2 passes defended, 1.0 sacks.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
The Candrian Empire: Frances Valencia- 6 yd TD run; Arnold Luna PAT Good (6:52) 7-0 The Candrian Empire
The Candrian Empire: Safety, Blocked Punt went out of end zone. (5:59) 9-0 The Candrian Empire
Qazox: Nate Sacimoni - 2 yd TD rec; Tryone Chase PAT good (0:42) 9-7 The Candrian Empire
Second Quarter:
Qazox: Harvey - 32 yd TD rec; Tryone Chase PAT good (8:16) 14-9 Qazox
Qazox: Chase- 42 yd FG; (0:02) 17-9 Qazox
Third Quarter:
The Candrian Empire: Arnold Luna- 41 yd FG (3:41) 17-12 Qazox
Qazox: Harvey - 21 yd TD rec; Tryone Chase PAT good (0:00) 24-12 Qazox
Fourth Quarter:
Qazox: Chase- 44 yd FG; (11:17) 27-12 Qazox
The Candrian Empire: Torrence Gonzalez- 56 yd TD rec, 2-pt rush attempt failed (7:05) 27-18 Qazox

Green wombat

20-11-2008, 06:09

With only 30 seconds left in Overtime, and a second tie in as many weeks looming in the qualifying rounds, Green wombat took a risk on 4th-and-3, as the Lurikastan 39 yard line. A 56-yard FG attempt or a high angled punt was out of the question, as their punt returner had already returned a kick back for 90 yards in the 2nd quarter. So PoleCat256 took a risk and heaved the ball up towards the endzone and it was caught by Oppen56 for the winning TD. 16-10 and Green wombat got its first ever win. PoleCat256 looked good on offense throwing for 250 yard and 2 TD's, the other to MikaRulez1 in the 3rd quarter which tied it up at 10-10. Only bad news is WhiteBoi99 continues to struggle kicking; making a 30 yd FG and missing twice from 45 yards out, the second of which would have won the game in regulation.

Now that the team won a game, a third consecutive road game awaits in Twin Dominions. Will the fatigue of a 3rd road game catch up with the team, or can they pull off another road shocker?

Newmanistan

20-11-2008, 06:41

THE ROCKET REPORT

LACK OF DRAMA JUST FINE

Nethertopia- The jerseys were made in Nethertopia, but the home crowd couldn’t stand the sight of them of as the Rockets cruised to a relatively easy 24-14 victory over the home side. Not that it was an easy game, but when you stack it up against the wild finishes in which the Rockets had to deal with in their first two games, it was nice to lay off the frantic drama for a change. There was nothing wrong with the result, and the Rockets improve to a record of 2-1 as they finish off their opening three road game stretch to now play their five home games of the World Bowl all consecutively.

Nethertopia got the ball first this time and failed to go anything with it, picking up just one first down before they needed to punt the ball away. One thing that Newmanistan has done well in the early games is pick up touchdowns on their opening possession, and this game would be no exception. With the drive starting on their own 27, Kenny O’Hara marched the team upfield pretty easily, although Corey Parisi deserves most of the praise as he ran for 48 of those 73 yards on just five carries. Parisi would also score the touchdown that finished off the play, but as a receiver, catching a screen pass at the Nethertopia 7, and getting into the end zone, with a dive as he was pushed out of bounds, and stretching the ball over the pylon for the 7-0 lead. A good start was seen as something very important in this game so that the team could carry over some of the momentum they picked up in the dramatic finish of the win over Taeshan in a play that was shown all over the world. After exchanging punts, the Rockets scored three points on a drive that started in the first quarter and ended in the second. Kenny O’Hara showed his running skills with his biggest dash of the World Bowl, a 38-yard run on a designed play down the right sideline. Unfortunately, the drive stalled at the Nethertopia 18 and the Rockets settled for the 36-yard field goal. Ashton Colfer continues to be perfect in the World Bowl. Just before halftime, the Rockets had another strong drive, led by Parisi, who in total ran for 155 yards with an additional 62 yards receiving. However, Jeremy Thompson elected to go for 4th & inches from the Nethertopia 27 and the handoff Gillepsie was snuffed out by their defensive tackle and they turned the ball over on downs. Rockets were up 10-0 at the break and looking as in control of the game as they did against Colbourne.

That’s exactly what coach Thompson said to his players, too. The Rockets were dominating and in control, but were only up by 10. A similar start happened in the Colbourne game in which the Rockets literally, threw away. It was a nice lead, but a slim lead, and the team certainly needed to bring it in the second half.

Kenny O’Hara showed a lot of poise and led the Rockets downfield with an 11-play 80-yard drive that would make it 17-0 and take a good seven minutes off the clock. The scoring play was a simple 6-yard catch by tight end Jim Crosby after getting off his block of the Nethertopian right defensive end. O’Hara’s throw was a bit low, but Crosby made a nice play to haul it in. Alex Foster and Christian Gagnon each caught 2 passes on the drive, registering 23 and 13 yards respectively on this possession. Nethertopia struck back immediately, as they finally got their home fans to their feet. The Rockets had done a good job stopping them on 3rd down, but on this drive, Nethertopia managed four consecutive third down conversions, including a 3rd-and-21 which seemed to take the Rockets a while to recover from. With the score 17-7 in the later stages of the third quarter, Newmanistan took possession and would give the home team a heavy dose of Parisi and Padgett. Chris actually got more handoffs as Thompson wanted to get him more involved in the offense, and they proceeded to have another time consuming drive down the field, scoring in the fourth quarter with just 10:04 left on Corey Parisi’s second touchdown of the game. After another exchange of punts, Nethertopia put a scoring drive together to close to within 24-14, but with just 2:52 left, it would mean little if they couldn’t recover an onside kick. They tried and failed, and the Rockets held on to the ball to run out the rest of the clock.

With the win, Newmanistan stands in second place, a game behind Colbourne who continues to play well. The Rockets will next be opposed by Mantwenic at Olympia Field, our first home game of the World Bowl.

Kjomasasopia

20-11-2008, 06:52

a good win today. very proud of you boys, keep it up with a win over Rennidan

Sarzonia

20-11-2008, 08:00

Getting a shower of ice water poured on his back never felt so good to Jim Zorn.

Besides the fact that the temperature at Tortuga y Hispaniola's national stadium never dipped below 30 degrees Celcius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), the frigid water seemed to wash away the team's frustrations over not having won a game in its two previous tries.

Sarzonia busted out of its offensive doldrums in dramatic fashion, slaughtering Tortuga y Hispaniola by a 33-9 count to improve its record to 1-1-1 overall. Quarterback Gavin Davis passed for a career high 347 yards and three touchdowns. Unlike each of the first two games, he wasn't even hit once.

"Woohoo!" "Yeah!" "Awesome!"

Holding a gridball aloft, Zorn shouted to make sure he was heard above the din of a jubilant locker room.

"Men! This was a great win for us!"

The players cheered wildly. They knew he was right. Even though Tortuga y Hispaniola was expected to be among the worst teams in World Bowl IV, Sarzonia did just about everything right. The running game worked to perfection as LoQuan Willard rushed for 112 yards on 22 carries and caught six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Stingers blitz caught Tortuga y Hispaniola off guard, sacking their quarterback seven times and forcing two fumbles. They also picked off five Tortuga y Hispaniola passes.

Sarzonia next faces Cassadaigua in the team's third of five straight away games. Sarzonia doesn't return to Hendrix Stadium until Matchday Six, when they host Miroxia.

That didn't matter to the Stingers. For one night, the locker room sure felt like home.

Secristan

20-11-2008, 08:30

JOHNSON THE HERO IN WIN

Such good memories were those games when we fielded the entire cheerleading squad and allowed them to play in their uniforms during World Bowl III, but those memories do not necessarily have to end. One of those cheerleaders, Stacie Johnson, enjoyed it so much that she made the winning bid to be the team’s starting wide receiver, which we are now hearing reports that she got some financial support from her a couple professors at her school in which she is still a senior in college. With the team trailing 20-15, and the ball on their own 47 yardline with just one second left, the Millionaires had a plan. Johnson would use her cheerleading skills to be the hero, but Tom Mitchell would have to throw the ball perfectly. Fellow wide receivers Brian Brissard and John McCall, instead of trying to get open themselves would mount Johnson up in the air. Brissard would toss her up and then they would hold each leg, and all Stacie would have to do was catch the ball for the touchdown. It’s a play they had messed around with in practice after the drills were over, and for it to be used in a game, it could only happen at the perfect time. The Swilatia defensive backs were completely confused about why all three Secristani wide receivers were standing side by side in the end zone in such close proximity but they seemed happy to oblige. Then came the pass from Mitchell. Thrown perfectly. The defenders positioned themselves to knock it down thinking this would be too easy. Then the mount, the hold, the catch, the touchdown, the game! Stacie caught the ball perfectly and the Millionaires would win. Swilatia could not believe their eyes, and frankly neither could we. Surely this had to be illegal? Nope, said the ref. The touchdown counts!

Secristan is now in third place with a 2-1 record, tied behind to undefeated teams. That would be Dancougar and Cotenshire. We return home for the next game, which is against struggling 0-3 Northwest Polaris.

Rennidan

20-11-2008, 17:35

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

QUARTERBACK CRITICAL

MORE CONTROVERSY comes with Rennidan's 33-11 victory away against La Habana Cuba. The old champions smashed the Cuban defence with little problem, and the match, whilst it itself was nothing fantastic other than yet another 90 yard kick return from Jason Yeilds for his latest touchdown of the World Bowl, was the home of some serious antics from the home teams quarter back which lead to a rather serious event off the pitch.

The field general of the La Habana Cuba sign felt it within his right to make several less-than-polite comments about Owen Powis' weight, as well as his mother and other relatives. We understand that smack talk is all part of the game, but when the threats moved into an area concerning Powis' welfare and, at some points, life, things got more than a little edgy. The quarterback at one point went as far as to say how his side would 'slit the fatty up' after the game. Hearing about the commotion the quarterback had caused afterwards, it would seem that several key figures of the Brute Force hooligan group decided it would be best to send their own message to the Cuban quarterback.

At 4A.M this morning, police reported that they had found the quarterback's car smashed off the road, and the quarterback himself was found two hours later in an alleyway in La Habana Cuba's capital city. The quarterback was severely injured and hospital staff are saying that he is in a critical, yet stable, condition. Reports suggest he was dragged out of his car and beaten in the back of a Brute Force van with a variety of blunt weapons, before being deposited in a garbage container. It is believed that it was the Brute Force themselves who rang authorities about the quarterbacks location, but police are still having trouble piecing together what exactly happened early this morning.

One thing, however, is obvious. This year, the Brute Force hooligans aren't playing around. They're back, and they mean business.

_________

I sign the visitors log 'A. Nonmus'. An obvious joke that will get looked over by the hustle and bustle of the busy hospital. I sign in the name of the patient I'm here to visit, the exact name which escapes me right now.

I may not recall his name, but I remember exactly what he looks like.

His tanned skin is bruised, broken and swollen. Patches of maroon and dark blue highlight his lumpy features. Earlier I had heard that he had police protection whilst he was holed up in the intensive care unit. Obviously that person had been misinformed.

I never liked hospitals. Too many tubes and wires for my liking, too sterile, too bright. I'm more of a night time man, an outdoors man myself. I take a pew beside the broken man and lean in close. He's conscious, barely, but he's awake enough to hear me and understand, and that means he's got enough going on up there to remember this moment.

How can I tell that he knows what's happening? When he sees my face, he panics. Eyes widen, pupils dilate, body stiffens. He reaches for his panic button, the button you're supposed to use when something is going wrong and you want one of the pretty nurses to run in to your rescue.

I grab his hand before he can even find the button, and I bend his fingers back. There are several loud pops, his screams muffled by my other hand. I could have sworn I broke his hand earlier, but I must have been mistaken. Good thing I came back to correct it.

"You know who I am, yes?" I ask, although I know there's no need, his fear quite clearly shows he does recognize me. Even so, he nods, movement stiffened by his soreness and my hand blanketing his mouth.

"Good. I came here today to thank you. You've become a martyr of sorts." He panics again. People obviously relate martyr to dying too much. I calm him with a quiet shushing and a backhand. "Relax. You're going to live. We may be Brutes but we don't kill, my boy. We just had to make an example of you. You're our exclamation mark to the world. And you've done the job ever so well. So, yeah, really, I'm just here to say thank you." I pause, and think.

"Oh, and to say that if you pull anything like this again we'll make sure your injuries are a bit more career ending, y'know?"

I leave, through the sterile corridors and the bright florescent lights. This time though, I don't sign out with 'A. Nonmus'. I sign out with 'M. McDavies'. I can already hear the shouts for security as I leave the hospital.

Sometimes, it's good to be a Brute.

Dancougar

20-11-2008, 22:05

Sidney Goldman's The Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

A Bear Hug on the Road

After surviving a scare last night in Myedvedeya, perhaps the Wings aren't as good as they thought they were. They left with the victory, 36-26, and although their confidence may be a bit shaken, perhaps it's their character that's on the rise.

"We showed that we could go into a hostile environment and stay in the game, and that gives you the chance to win every one," said coach Will Moohim. "Undoubtedly we'll need to take the lessons we learned tonight to Taale-Voren, because it only gets worse in there."

From the rampaging defense led by the Leonids to the running game of Vlad Karpov, the Wings were treated to a little of their own medicine. Myedvedeya were winless going into the match, but the talent is definitely there. Add to that a raucous home crowd in excess of 200,000, many of whom were the nation's indigenous bears, and you have a recipe for disaster that can only be overcome with the strength and patience to stick to the gameplan and make plays.

Both teams impressed on their opening drives. Myedvedeya won the toss but chose to defer, giving Michael Hussey the first crack at the endzone. He engineered an eight-play drive that went 76 yards. The Wings ran a balanced attack with four runs by Gary Hutchins, although it was Hussey's 16-yard strike to Jermaine Divalerio that opened the scoring. Myedvedeya marched right back with a ten-play drive of their own, which included two long third down conversions. Moohim would be seen in the grill of cornerback Tony Rorick once the drive was over, and it concluded with Karpov diving through the line from a yard away to make it 7-7.

Both offensive lines were playing very well. Nobody was getting to either quarterback, which meant plenty of time to check for open receivers. With Hussey and Boris Shcherbatsky getting time to sit in their pockets, it was on the coverage teams. Myedvedeya got a stop on the Wings' next drive and took the lead on a field goal. Unfazed, Hussey marched the Wings downfield on the ensuing possession, and the big play was Hutchins' 24-yard scamper to the Myedvedeya 12. He came out for a breather and Logan Dublin took a screen pass into the endzone to make it 14-10.

Hutchins' run seemed to open the game up a little, as Karpov seemed eager to match him. He ran hard at the Wings but his longest run of the first half would only top out at eight yards. But what was more important is that Karpov kept the clock and the team moving. The Wings needed an answer and found it in linebacker Kirk Manly, who forced a fumble as the Bears crossed midfield. Five plays later, Hutchins was in the endzone to make it 21-10. The Bears ended the half with a field goal drive that once again challenged the Black Wing defense, but they held firm at their own 18 when Rorick avenged his earlier miscues by breaking up a crucial third-down pass.

Both coaches clearly had work to do at halftime. Neither defense had been completely broken, but the methodic advancement by each offense was no doubt irking defensive coordinators on both sidelines. The team that would ultimately win would have to make the correct adjustments.

The Bears got the ball to start the second half, and it appeared like the Wings had made them. They forced a third and long right away, but the inability to get pressure with their blitz helped Shcherbatsky find Kovalenko for a first down. After a failed corner blitz yielded another 20-yard pass completion, Karpov took the team on his back and bruised his way into field goal range. Then, the Bears capped a ten-play drive with Shcherbatsky's quarterback sneak from the one to make it 21-20. Hussey calmly put on his helmet and went to work restoring the lead. Two plays into the drive, Myedvedeya showed off their adjustments. Defensive end Vladimir Ivanev got a meaty hand up to deflect Hussey's pass, which was caught by linebacker Leonid Titov.

With a short field, the Bears made quick work of the next drive. They marched 28 yards in four plays, with Karpov finishing the job with a 3-yard touchdown run. The Bears opted to go for two and make it a seven-point game, but Shcherbatsky's pass for the tight end was batted down at the of scrimmage. Nevertheless, the vaunted Dancougar defense had ceded thirteen straight points to start the second half. The crowd was in full voice. Things were not looking good.

"In a situation like that, the defense needs to make a play," said Moohim. "Even if your offense puts points on the board for you, it doesn't mean anything if the defense doesn't stand up. They were moving the ball well and forcing us to play more aggressively on both sides of the ball. We needed to swing that our way."

The offense duly got a score, a Seth Cavallo field goal that clipped the lead to 26-24. Now it was time for the defense to reassert itself. Deep inside its own territory, Myedvedeya stuck to the formula that had provided success all game long. A few short curls to the receivers would get breathing space and set up Karpov to run, and if they could get a corner to bite, they could launch one. Kendrick Lynch, though, finally got pressure around the end. Shcherbatsky saw it coming and hurried his throw, which sailed over the intended receiver and into the hands of Alex Isabella. Isabella returned it to the Myedvedeya 24 before being bumped out of bounds, and that led to another field goal when Gary Hutchins was stuffed on a third and short.

Then something weird happened. With eight minutes to play, Dancougar held a slim one point lead. The kickoff was a wobbley one and it took a bounce that Misha Shcherbakov misjudged. He had to track back to pick up the ball and was swarmed inside his own fifteen. A holding penalty pushed them even farther back. Karpov was stuffed on the first play, so Shcherbatsky went back to the air. Now the offensive line was giving the Wings some gaps. Billy Aveline was through and Shcherbatsky retreated a bit, resigned to the sack. But Aveline went for the ball instead and poked it loose. They collapsed in a heap and tackle Vadim Fedorov alertly fell on it, but the resulting safety extended the lead and gave the Wings the ball back.

"That was great awareness by Billy to sense the ball was hanging there," said Moohim. "And once we got the three point lead, we felt a little safer."

The Wings got great field position from the ensuing free kick, and Hutchins kept it on the ground to burn the fourth quarter away. Twice he was faced with a third down, and twice he converted. Four and a half minutes gone, 57 yards behind them, and Hutchins put the game away with a two-yard rush. It was 36-26 with under three minutes left to play, and the Myedvedeya offense had been shaken. The Wing defense would get a turnover on downs and then run out the clock for the victory, advancing them to 3-0.

They now travel to Cotenshire to face the Eagles, who are also 3-0 after defeating Northwest Polaris.

Fantasy Fallout

Did you start the right guys on matchday two? Production on some of the best teams has been incredible through halves of games, so it might be prudent to pick up some of the backups if you're in a deep league. Here's our all-star team from the previous day's action.

QB: Michael Bernard (Kura-Pelland)
With five touchdown passes, including three over fifty yards, Bernard was the highest-scoring player of the night. Greg Dannen continues to impress, accounting for three scores in the loss at Rennidan, but he did have two interceptions.

RB: Jason Yeilds (Rennidan), Gary Hutchins (Dancougar)
Both backs ran for two touchdowns in their wins. Yeilds is establishing himself as a threat on returns, which gives him a lot of extra value. Frank Vallens and Abe Chadwick also had solid ground games.

WR: Dennis von Horsten (Kura-Pelland), Tony Aster (Qazox), Ricky Zellefrow (Taeshan)
von Horsten had a huge game, hauling in three long touchdowns from Bernard, and those catches alone put him over 200 yards for the night. I'm sure quite a few of you weren't expecting such a breakout from the Arrows and sat him. Zellefrow showed his playmaking abilities with a return touchdown to go with one in the air.

TE: Tristan Del Horno (Kura-Pelland)
On a day when no tight ends really made any waves, Del Horno benefited from the insane passing day Michael Bernard was having against the Green wombat defense.

DEF: Dancougar
There were several very good units. Dancougar's produced a defensive score along with two picks and a scant 7 points against, but Qazox, Rennidan, and Taeshan should not be overlooked here.

K: Ashton Colfer (Newmanistan)
He matched Ryan Norris' fifteen points with four field goals and three extra points in the Newmanistan win. Rennidan's Clive also had a pretty good game, picking up eight points with extra points, a field goal, and a two-point conversion at the end of the game.

This Week's Sign of the Apocalypse

The Rennidan Brute Force is reported back in action, and the results aren't pretty - one quarterback is in the hospital an a nation's police force is on alert. Eastport City's police chief, Kento Ilita, is familiar with their shenanigans, although their latest activities are more violent than two World Bowls ago, when they and Dancougar's Black Wing Brigade engaged in some testy brawls during their teams' matches.

Recently, we learned that the Brigade was approached my team officials and asked if they would considering becoming the team's security detail in the upcoming match with Cotenshire, where one player has already been killed on the field and thousands regularly die in rioting outside. Moore accepted the post... but not for pay.

"This is about supporting our country," said Moore. "That includes the fans who go. They have to be as crazy as us to go in there, so we're right behind them." When asked what Brute Force leader Michael McDavies would think of the move, Moore shrugged. "He'd probably say it's as close to selling out as you can get, but he can think what he wants and can rest assured that if our teams meet in the finals, me and my boys will be there."

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

Questions at the top...
(1) Kura-Pelland (3-0): Is there any quarterback right now playing better than Michael Bernard?
(2) Rennidan (3-0): Should "Don't kick to Yeilds" become point number one on opponents' gameplans?
(3) Dancougar (3-0): How secure are you with a defense that can turn it on late?
(4) Arroza (3-0): Is there anything worse than seeing Abe Chadwick hit a hole in the line?
(5) Qazox (2-1): How important was Dannens' first touchdown as a momentum-swinger?
(6) Taeshan (2-1) : What's their biggest weapon, Ricky Zellefrow or the weather?
(7) Cotenshire (3-0): If they beat Dancougar, do they become the Group A favorites?
(8) Newmanistan (2-1): How much trouble for opponents is Corey Parisi's return to form?
(9) Kjomasasopia (3-0): Will pride be enough to get them past the Brutes?
(10) Secristan (2-1): Should the cheerleaders be brought back... as technical consultants?
(11) Lovisa (3-0): How likely is it that the unknowns blow through this tournament, too?
(12) Colbourne (3-0): How long will their string of good fortune last?
(13) Vephrall (2-1): Isn't it spooky how these players can do everything?
(14) Sarzonia (1-1-1): Have the newcomers turned a corner with Gavin Davis' explosive performance?
(15) Nethertopia (1-2): Aside from their first scoring drive, didn't the offense look a bit out of it?

...and a look at the rest.
(16) Swilatia (1-2)
(17) Miroxia (1-1-1)
(18) Cassadaigua (1-2)
(19) Myedvedeya (0-3)
(20) The Candrian Empire (1-2)
(21) Mantwenic (1-2)
(22) Twin Dominions (1-2)
(23) Christstan (1-2)
(24) Green wombat (1-2)
(25) Greal (0-3)
(26) Antitidum (0-3)
(27) Northwest Polaris (0-3)
(28) Lurikastan (0-3)
(29) La Habana Cuba (0-3)
(30) Tortuga y Hispaniola (0-3)

Taeshan

20-11-2008, 22:15

Fitin' Falcons Soar Past Greal

It was a great day for a Taeshani sports game. The sun was shrouded in a snowy mist, the field was frozen solid, the players were cold, the field was white, and visibility was down to a minumum for the final home game before a big final home game before a 5 week roadtrip. The Falcons were ready to face the Greali team and it showed as they battled the currents and fought past the other team. The Grealiens really had no chance in the condition,s par in Taeshan, but horrible most other places. The Falcons though showed why they were the more expierienced team though with a win.

It started with the Grealiens scoring there first touchdown of the game. Then the Falcons got into the action with a forty yard pass by Gabe Martin to Ricky Zellefrow for a touchdown that tied it 7-7. Then Jeremy Johnson got a one yard touchdown followed by a 2 yarder at the end of the third making it 21-7. Then the Falcons stopped the Grealiens deep in there own territory and on a high snap Shawn Plank was able to unload on there punter for a safety. Then Greal scored another touchdown and a conversion knowing there kicker was not going to make another kick in the conditions. Finally Martin Gramatica scored the final field goal to make it 26-15.

Taeshan

20-11-2008, 22:17

Cotenshire

21-11-2008, 02:34

Coach Slues held open tryouts for the position of kicker to replace the dead #3. Many thousands showed up to tryout, but few even knew how to wear shoes, let alone kick the ball. One man, however, stood out from the rest. His name was Godfried Dillijk.

At first, Slues was skeptical about whether or not Dillijk would fit in with the team. Dillijk had told Slues: “Back when my leg was stronger, I could’ve easily kicked this here ball over that goalpost from 100 yards away, and the ball would’ve gone a good 10 feet above the crossbar too. Now, I can barely make it from 60 yards.”

It was unknown how old Dillijk actually was, since the records from his village report that he was born prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. “I’m tougher than any of those youths,” said Dillijk before he took Coach Slues’ cigar and put it out on his forehead.

Coach Slues could not argue with him. He had the best leg, even if, according to him, it was not what it used to be. Dillijk was given #7 and would be in the game against Dancougar.

Sarzonia

21-11-2008, 02:43

[OOC: First of all, the below post is not an indicator of my views about women. Just looking to try something a bit different from my usual RPing.]

Woodstock Daily Mail

Clack suspended for 'highly offensive' remarks
[size=3]Defensive end 'guaranteed' win over Cassadaigua

by Travis West
Daily Mail Staff Writer

CASSADAIGUA -- Sarzonia's national gridball side will be without defensive end Ryan Clack for tonight's game against Cassadaigua. Coach Jim Zorn suspended Clack indefinitely after he guaranteed a victory over Cassadaigua and dismissing the team as "a bunch of girls."

"Ryan Clack has been sent back to Woodstock," Zorn said in a press conference. The first-time head coach's face was shaking as he announced the suspension.

"His comments about Cassadaigua do not reflect the views of the Sarzonian gridball team. They were ill-timed and inappropriate. We are sincerely sorry for any offence Clack's comments may have caused.

Clack would not answer reporters' questions about the suspension. However, he posted a message on his Web site.

"I apologise if anyone was offended by my comments. They were taken out of context," Clack said in the statement.

According to team sources, Clack was laughing with tight end Pat Whalen after practice about the majority of Cassadaigua's team being women.

"We're facing a bunch of girls," Clack said, according to a transcript obtained by The Daily Mail. "We got this game. Easy."

"Ryan's a joker," Whalen said. "I can't remember him ever disparaging a woman. He loves his little girl. Anyone looks at her funny and he goes after him."

Reserve defensive end/linebacker Stephan Christensen from the Rypien Renegades will start tonight's game in Clack's place. Zorn said he would meet with Clack after the game to discuss the length of the suspension.

"I need some time to calm down," Zorn said. "And I think Ryan needs some time to reflect on what he's said."

Quarterback Gavin Davis also supported Clack -- to a point.

"He absolutely has great respect for Cassadaigua," Davis said. "He knows we're only a half-game ahead of them in the standings." However, Davis cautioned his teammate about his words.

"I think he needs to learn when to keep his mouth shut," Davis said. "There's a time and a place to be kidding around and there's a time when it's not right. What he said about Cassadaigua was definitely wrong."

Qazox

21-11-2008, 04:37

MD4 RP Cutoff is now.

Qazox

21-11-2008, 05:31

MATCHDAY FOUR SCORES
(Winners in BOLD, Ties in Italics)

GROUP A
Dancougar @ Cotenshire 32-27
Myedvedeya @ Swilatia 28-27
Northwest Polaris @ Secristan 31-14

GROUP B
Sarzonia @ Cassadaigua 31-24
Vephrall @ Miroxia 22-20
Tortuga y Hispaniola @ Arroza 35-6

GROUP C
Taeshan @ Colburne 24-21 (OT)
Nethertopia @ Greal 30-24
Mantwenic @ Newmanistan 31-16

GROUP D
La Habana Cuba @ The Candrian Empire 30-14
Rennidan @ Kjomasasopia 24-19
Antitidum @ Qazox 42-13

GROUP E
Lovisa @ Kura-Pelland 24-20
Christstan @ Lurikastan 10-3
Green wombat @ Twin Dominions 17-10

STANDINGS
(Teams sorted First by H2H then by PD, then other Tie-breakers)

GROUP A W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Dancougar 4-0-0 1.000 136 75 +61
Secristan 3-1-0 .750 92 74 +18
Cotenshire 3-1-0 .750 93 81 +12
Myedvedeya 1-3-0 .250 81 110 -29
Swilatia 1-3-0 .250 84 77 +7
NW Polaris 0-4-0 .000 47 116 -69

(NOTE: Secristan ahead of Cotenshire on Pt Diff.; Myedvedeya ahead of Swilatia on H2H result)

GROUP B W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Arroza 4-0-0 1.000 107 53 +54
Vephrall 3-1-0 .750 101 77 +24
Sarzonia 2-1-1 .625 93 70 +23
Miroxia 1-2-1 .375 74 74 ---
Cassadaigua 1-3-0 .250 85 107 -22
Tort. y Hisp. 0-4-0 .000 46 125 -79

GROUP C W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Newmanistan 3-1-0 .750 108 79 +29
Taeshan 3-1-0 .750 102 89 +13
Colburne 3-1-0 .750 75 72 +3
Nethertopia 2-2-0 .500 99 92 +7
Mantenwic 1-3-0 .250 67 97 -30
Greal 0-4-0 .000 67 89 -22

(NOTE: Newmanistan ahead of Taeshan and Colburne on Pt. Diff. [+29::+13::+3], Taeshan ahead of Colburne on H2H result)

GROUP D W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Rennidan 4-0-0 1.000 110 69 +51
Qazox 3-1-0 .750 132 69 +63
Kjomasaspoia 3-1-0 .750 87 70 +17
Candrian Empire 2-2-0 .500 80 83 -3
Antitidum 0-4-0 .000 58 116 -58
Habana Cuba 0-4-0 .000 52 122 -70

(NOTE: Qazox ahead of Kjomasaspoia on Pt. Diff; Antitidum ahead of La Habana Cuba on Pt. Diff.)

GROUP E W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Kura-Pelland 4-0-0 1.000 129 48 +81
Lovisa 3-1-0 .750 97 73 +24
Green wombat 2-2-0 .500 54 82 -28
Lurikastan 1-3-0 .250 62 85 -23
Christstan 1-3-0 .250 53 76 -23
Twin Dominions 1-3-0 .250 62 93 -31

(NOTE: Lurikastan ahead of Christstan based on H2H result, Christstan ahead of Twin Dominions based on H2H result [Twin Dominions has worse PD than the other 2 teams and thus were not considered for that tie-breaker]).

I'm repeating the tiebreakers just as a reminder for all:

Playoff Berth/Group Title:
1- Best H2H Record amongst the teams.
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Point differential in H2H games amongst the teams.
4- Best Road Record.
5- Best Road Point differential.
6- Most Points For.
7- Most Points For in H2H games amongst the teams.
8- Most Road Points For.
9- Most Points For in regulation.
10- Coin Flip.

Seeding for Playoffs:
1- Most wins (ie: a team that is 7-1-0 would be seeded higher than a 6-0-2 team, even though the Win% is the same.)
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Road Point differential.
4- Most Points For.
5- Most Road Points For.
6- Most Points For in regulation.
7- Coin Flip.

Qazox

21-11-2008, 05:48

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

Back home after a 1-1 road trip, Qazox showed newcomers Antitidum why they are the defending champions, cruising to an 42-13 win. Greg Dannen continues to show why he's one of the best QB's in the world, throwing for 378 yards and 4 TD's. Qazox had a 35-0 lead at halftime, boistered by 3 Antitidum turnovers in the 1st quarter, the first run back for a TD, just 19 seconds into the game. Qazox piled up almost 500 yards in offense and the defense sacked the Antitidum QB 7 times and forced a total of 5 turnovers on the day.

Up next is Kjomasasopia at home. With both teams 3-1, the winner will remain in contention for one of the automatic qualifing berths into the playoffs, while the other will have to scrap their way in with many other teams.

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 FINAL
Antitidum 0 0 3 10 13
Qazox 21 14 7 0 42

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Greg Dannen: 25-29, 378 yds, 4 TD.
Frank Vallens: 20 rushes, 116 yds, 2 TD
Ivan Harvey: 8 Rec, 194 yds, 3 TD rec.

Defense:
Greg Olsen: 5 tackles, 2 INT, 1 INT return for TD.
David Reshks: 8 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 FF.
Jasyon D'Angelo: 6 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 FF, 1 FR.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Qazox: Greg Olsen - 32 yd INT return for TD; Tryone Chase PAT good (14:41) 7-0 Qazox
Qazox: Ivan Harvey - 17 yd TD rec.; Tryone Chase PAT good (12:11) 14-0 Qazox
Qazox: Ivan Harvey - 31 yd TD rec.; Tryone Chase PAT good (7:45) 21-0 Qazox
Second Quarter:
Qazox: Frank Vallens - 33 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (8:50) 28-0 Qazox
Qazox: Ivan Harvey - 28 yd TD rec.; Tryone Chase PAT good (1:08) 35-0 Qazox
Third Quarter:
Antitidum: 47 yd FG (7:41) 35-3 Qazox
Qazox: Adam Politt - 90 yd KO return for TD; Tryone Chase PAT good (7:29) 42-3 Qazox
Fourth Quarter:
Antitidum: 27 yd FG (14:55) 42-6 Qazox
Antitidum: 1 yd TD run (0:22) 42-13 Qazox

Green wombat

21-11-2008, 05:56

Back-toBack raod wins and Green wombat is alone in 3rd place in Group E with one game left until the halfway point. The game at Buckingham National Stadium Ground was back-and-forth until a late fumble by the Tricornes' Joe Knight which lead to FreeLongstreetnow's 2nd rushing TD of the game with 1:15 left in the 4th quarter. The other score was Whiteboi99's 50 yd FG as time expired at halftime to give the Wombats a 10-3 lead.

Up next is Christstan at home. Will the momentum gained in the last two weeks carry over at home, or will the looming game @ Lovisa in 2 weeks make the team overconfident?

Newmanistan

21-11-2008, 08:00

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS CRUISE

Olympia, Nemanistan- Olympia Field was sold out and the fans were tailgating starting from the wee hours of the morning awaiting the first home game of World Bowl IV in Newmanistan. Some of the tailgating even started the day prior. They know how to drink in Olympia, which is the city of the Empire’s largest breweries in the Northwestern corner of the country. It’s an area known for their alcoholic beverage consumption, and they were ready to break in the World Bowl right here. With Pocono City Stadium, Loudon Stadium, and the Proving Grounds reserved for Cup of Harmony matches, some of the “second level” cities are getting a chance for some big games. Olympia, it’s your turn for the World Bowl, and the opponent would be Mantwenic. Mantwenic has taken the secretive roster approach, but it has not worked out to well for them to date, entering with a 1-2 record.

The game got off to a very sloppy start for the Rockets, however. After seeing the team get touchdowns on their three opening possessions in their previous three games, this one would be pretty bad. Corey Brooks muffed the opening kick off, but did recover the fumble. Unfortunately, he did this at the Mantwenic three. After a hold penalty backed them up to the 1 ½ yard line, Mantwenic went all out for the safety. O’Hara looked as though he was going to break clear, but tripped over the foot of Tiberius Gillepsie, the fullback, and was simply touched down in the end zone. On the ensuing free kick, Mantwenic returned it all the way to the Newmanistan 29, and would score a TD in four plays. 9-0 Mantwenic?! Well, Corey Brooks knew that he was to blame for this, but when coach Thompson put him back out on the field to make up for it, he would have to do something big. He would do this. To the tune of a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, thanks to his own ability, but there was pretty damn good wedge set up by his blockers as well. Momentum, back in the Rockets hands. They were still down, but now you had the confidence that it wouldn’t be for long. Mr. Brooks was back on the good side of the team and the fans. After holding Mantwenic to a three and out, Kenny O’Hara felt that he needed to redeem a sloppy start too. Brooks had a good punt return, getting the ball to the Mantwenic 45 to start things off. The drive featured an all-around balance of run and pass plays with the Rockets main weapons getting a touch or two of the ball. The drive would end in a 2-yard run by Corey Parisi with just 12 seconds left in the 1st quarter. An interesting opening quarter, but with Newmanistan in front, 14-9. After both teams exchanged a couple of punts back and forth, Newmanistan would go on another scoring drive late in the second quarter. Corey Parisi had seven carries for 32 yards on this drive, and in total ran for 155, with an additional 73 yards receiving, and he would have a say in the scoring play from first and 10 from the Mantwenic 14. O’Hara handed the ball off to Parisi, and it was Parisi dropping back for a halfback pass and wide open in the end zone was, Kenny O’Hara! The things the Rockets couldn’t do with John Pivonka as much. At halftime, Newmanistan was up 21-9, and seemed to have gained complete control of the game.

Mantwenic wasn’t about to go quietly. They would receive to begin the second half and put together a nice drive. We don’t know who exactly these guys were, but they had this one receiver who seemed to have pretty good speed. He caught three passes on the 13-play, 78-yard drive, including the scoring 15-yard pass to make it 21-16. Newmanistan drove down the field somewhat on their next possession, and were able to get in field goal range for a 48 yarder from Ashton Colfer, which he drilled to put Newmanistan up by eight. Mantwenic, however, put together another drive, knowing that they could tie the game up with a touchdown and conversion. The drive entered into the 4th quarter, and they would get all the way down to the Newmanistan 16 until the big play. Their QB was hit by Jason Hutchins, forcing a fumble with was recovered by Dan Strasser. Strasser then took it the distance, going 84 yards on the fumble return for TD, and getting Olympia Field rocking again. With the game 31-16, Newmanistan seemed to be up comfortably again. The next Mantwenic possession led to an interception by Stanley Bressler, and Newmanistan was able to run out the clock and secure the 15-point victory.

With the win, Newmanistan improves to 3-1, and currently leads Group C thanks to a series of tiebreakers for the three way tie that they are in. They win conclude the first leg against last place, 0-4 Greal at Hastings Field.

Arroza

21-11-2008, 09:14

Road To Qazox:
@ Sarzonia (24-16)
Vephrall (26-14)
@ Miroxia (22-17)
Tortuga y Hispaniola – Resurgens Velodrome (35-6)
Cassadaigua – The Hive
Sarzonia – The Hive
@ Vephrall
Miroxia – The Hive
@ Tortuga y Hispaniola
@ Cassadaigua

Tar Hornet Weekly!
A working class hero is something to fear.

Boxscores:
Matchday 3: @ Miroxia
Arroza 22 – Miroxia 17

1 2 3 4 F
Arroza 3 7 12 0 22
Miroxia 7 3 0 7 17

Hivemind Stars of the Game:

Abraham Chadwick: 17 rushes, 102 yards, 2TD
Donovan Hailey: 14 rushes, 115 yards
Marcus Aurelin: Safety, Sack, 11 tackles
Raibonne Charles: 6.5 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 FF

Summarization:

First Quarter
Arroza: Drew Albrecht 41yd FG (10:12) 3-0 Arroza
Miroxia: C. Thompson 17 yd TD run ; H. Danrick XP good 7-3 Miroxia
Second Quarter
Arroza: A. Chadwick 7 yd TD run. Albrecht XP good. 10-7 Arroza
Miroxia: 32 yd FG (0:01) 10-10
Third Quarter
Arroza: Marcus Aurelin sack in end zone. Safety! (12:56) 12-10 Arroza
Arroza: A. Chadwick 12 yd TD run; Albrecht XP good (6:22) 19-10 Arroza
Arroza: D. Albrecht 23 yd FG (2:01) 22-10 Arroza
Fourth Quarter
Miroxia: J. Caz 34 yd TD rec. ; H. Danrick XP good (3:08) 22-17 Arroza

Matchday 4: From Resurgens Velodrome:
Arroza 35 – Tortuga y Hispaniola 6

1 2 3 4 F
Tortuga y Hispaniola 0 0 0 7 7
Arroza 7 14 14 0 35

Hivemind Stars of the Game:

Abraham Chadwick: 16 rushes, 147 yards, 2TD
Donovan Hailey: 21 rushes, 145 yards, 2TD
Selmon Baliss: 8 rushes, 58 yards, TD 10-16 passing, 78 yds.
Calvin Brandon: 2 INT

Summarization:

First Quarter
Arroza: A. Chadwick 32 yd TD run. Albrecht XP good. 7-0 Arroza
Second Quarter
Arroza: A. Chadwick 17 yd TD run. Albrecht XP good. 14-0 Arroza
Arroza: D. Hailey 57 yd TD run. Albrecht XP good. 21-0 Arroza
Third Quarter
Arroza: S. Baliss 39 yd TD run. Albrecht XP good. 28-0 Arroza
Arroza: D. Hailey 25 yd TD run. Albrecht XP good. 35-0 Arroza.
Fourth Quarter
T y H: 8 yd TD rec. XP good (3:14) 35-7 Arroza

Results from the rest of Group B:

Cassadaigua 24 – Sarzonia 31
Miroxia 20 – Vephrall 22

Cassadaigua is doing everything in it's power to make our second place prediction look stupid, losing at home to the Stingers, who look to be vying for a third place spot. Miroxia continues to play tough at home, but losing two straight, this time a heartbreaker to Vephrall. Vephrall takes sole possession of the group's other playoff spot.

Results from the Axis of Evil:

Cotenshire 27 – Dancougar 32 : I thought the 700 level at Pocono City's old stadia was bad. I had no idea.
Kura-Pelland 24 – Lovisa 20 : Bernard keeps rolling, rolling, rolling, rolling. We don't have any right to criticize close games after some of the stinkers we've turned in.

Next Match:

Arroza Tar Hornets vs. Cassadiagua @ The Hive.

Keys to the Game: Becca Looper is batshit insane. With the right trash-talk we could probably get her to attack her own teammates on the field. Lol, crazy women. More importantly, the Tar Hornets need to get to the edges and use their greater size to beat up the smaller, lighter Cassadaigua edge and secondary players. Imagine the war-horse Harley in the Cassadaigua backfield. He'd have more pancakes than Owen Powis at a breakfast buffet.

Kickoff: 19:35 Arroza Standard Time. (Right after sundown.)
Forecast: The exact opposite of Taeshan, Myedvedeva, and Kjomasasopia. Slightly cooler than normal by Arrozan standards. Rain on and off through the first half. Approx. 79F at kickoff. 15-20 mph winds from the S/SSE.

Cassadaigua

21-11-2008, 14:35

Katie’s Space

The World Bowl is becoming a tough place for us and finally we heard someone come out and say what we would knew we would hear sooner or later. Sarzonia’s Ryan Clack referred to our team as a “bunch of girls,” in a manner that seemed to insinuate that we do not belong out on the same field as them. Clack felt that his team would have no problem winning and guaranteed that his nation would win. He was right on that part, Sarzonia did win and I hope he enjoyed watching the game from the comfort of his own home or where ever he went. The bunch of girls played them tough, and Sarzonia needed an effective two minute drill at the end of the 4th quarter to snap a 24-24 tie. We matched them score for score with neither team ever having more then a seven point lead over the other. It was a good game, and a game that Mr. Clack probably wishes he was a part of. Danielle Regan had a strong game for us with 113 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown, and Lauren Hamilton went 21-for-32 for 311 with two touchdowns and she did not throw an interception. I was a recipient of the TD pass that at the time put is in the lead 17-10 early in the third quarter. It was a 26 yard catch. My day saw me catch 8 passes for 82 yards and the TD. Decent numbers, I guess. We played a good game of football, but so did Sarzonia.

We weren’t really bothered too much by Clack’s comment really, and all it did was give us bulletin board material. But Ryan may want to do a little research. We aren’t all a bunch of girls, and the person that would have been blocking is indeed, very male. Clack should be glad he missed out on this because Offensive tackle Edward Perkinson was all set to show him that he is indeed 6'5" 303 all muscle, and all male. At 1-3, and playing Arroza next things do not look all that great for us. Arroza only loses to Dancougar and Kura-Pelland, so we made some attempts to contact scouts from these countries and they provided us with some information, but we don’t know how useful it would be.

La Habana Cuba

21-11-2008, 14:50

Joint official LHC government complaint to those it concerns. By the LHC National Collective Institute of Sports and the LHC Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Given our nation's international reputation of Sports record. We allege score fraud by the international judges chosen for these events. We should have swept these games.

(28) La Habana Cuba (0-2)

We hope and trust this matter will be corrected in the near term future games scores.

Minister of Sports, Julio Christian Jimenez Molina
LHC National Collective Institute of Sports Ministry.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Felipe Perez Roque
LHC State Council of Ministers Collective.
La Habana Cuba Socialist Democratic Republic.

... and a look at the rest.
(16) Myedvedeya (0-2)
(17) Miroxia (1-0-1)
(18) Cassadaigua (1-1)
(19) The Candrian Empire (1-1)
(20) Sarzonia (0-1-1)
(21) Mantwenic (1-1)
(22) Twin Dominions (1-1)
(23) Christstan (1-1)
(24) Greal (0-2)
(25) Tortuga y Hispaniola (0-2)
(26) Lurikastan (0-2)
(27) Antitidum (0-2)
(28) La Habana Cuba (0-2)
(29) Northwest Polaris (0-2)
(30) Green wombat (0-2)As it says on the main fourm page, this is the World Bowl IV RP/Rosters/Scores thread.

(Please keep OOC to a mininum thanks, that's what the Offical World Bowl Dissussion Thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=556646) is for).

First scores posted (hopefully marked as not to confuse some people) will be Newmanistan's Charity tourney (which hopefully will be done by Saturday).

On Saturday November 15th, Rosters are DUE, and the Group draw will be posted, with Week 1 Scores to start on Monday November 17th.

SIGNUPS (w/ roster Links)
Newmanistan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14197303&postcount=7)
Vephrall (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14196871&postcount=4)
Dancougar (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14200025&postcount=16)
Greal (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14209953&postcount=33)
Kjomasasopia (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14197259&postcount=6)
Qazox (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14196681&postcount=3)
Sarzonia (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14196924&postcount=5)
Arroza (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14206609&postcount=29)
Rennidan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14197405&postcount=8)
Secristan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14210475&postcount=35)
Miroxia (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14197987&postcount=9)
Myedvedeya (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14198380&postcount=10)
Mantwenic
Taeshan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14198884&postcount=14)
Kura-Pelland (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14202081&postcount=19)
Lovisa
Cotenshire (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14199976&postcount=15)
Cassadaigua (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14206544&postcount=28)
Christstan (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14209308&postcount=32)
Lurikastan
Northwest Polaris
Swilatia
The Candrian Empire (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14204740&postcount=23)
Colbourne (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14214515&postcount=53)
Nethertopia
Antitidum
La Habana Cuba
Tortuga y Hispaniola
Twin Dominions (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14198817&postcount=13)
Green wombat (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14215683&postcount=57)

LINK (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=14212742&postcount=37) to group Draw

Sarzonia

21-11-2008, 15:39

Woodstock Daily Mail

Clack returns after suspension, apology
Stingers rally, defeat Cassadaigua 31-24

by Travis West
Daily Mail Staff Writer

CASSADAIGUA -- Sarzonia coach Jim Zorn said he ended defensive end Ryan Clack's one-game suspension for his remarks about Cassadaigua's gridball team after he apologised for his remarks.

"He was very contrite," Zorn said. "He said he was really bothered by what he said. He really owned up to his remarks."

"I wish to personally apologise to everyone on Cassadaigua's team and to the nation of Cassadaigua," Clack said in hushed tones at a press conference. "I meant my comments to be a joke between me and one of my teammates, but there's no excuse for me to say what I said.

"My remarks were not a reflection of who I am as a person. I am anything but sexist. I led a petition drive to open the Incorporated Gridball League to female players because I felt it was the right thing to do. I was raised by a single mother," he said, his voice breaking. After a few moments, he finished by saying, "I'm deeply sorry."

As for the Stingers, they played a tough game against Cassadaigua as the two teams exchanged scores until the Stingers got the ball back on the 20 after Cassadaigua tied the score with Danielle Regan's 12-yard touchdown run with two minutes, eight seconds remaining.

Sarzonia quarterback Gavin Davis led a nine play, 80-yard drive culminating in a 22-yard LoQuan Williard touchdown run, his first touchdown of the tournament. Davis finished the day 18-for-31 with 277 yards and two touchdowns.

"We've been working on the two minute drill in practice," Davis said. "It's a situation I'm comfortable with."

Defensively, Sarzonia didn't blitz with its usual intensity, something that upset defensive coordinator Greg Blache.

"I don't know why we didn't pressure them the way we pressure other teams," Blache said. Sarzonia didn't register a sack or an interception. However, the Stingers won the time of possession battle, holding onto the ball for 31 minutes, 17 seconds to Cassadaigua's 28 minutes, 43 seconds.

The Stingers wrap up the first half of their schedule with a match at Ellime Parogam Gests, Misedos in Vephrall. Zorn said the team would spend most of its time preparing for their "all everything approach."

"I don't think the flow of the game's going to be what we're used to," Zorn said. "They're used to some wild differences in approach with piivel. It will be a challenge for us."

Fortunately for Clack, his one-game vacation was a lesson.

"I'm not going to get myself in position to give another team bulletin board material again," he said.

Rennidan

21-11-2008, 16:47

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

CLOSE CALL WITH KJO

LEAVING KJOMASASOPIA with a score line with only 5 points in it, we're sure the Brutes will be thinking of ways to buck up their game plan. The newcomers Kjomasasopia have proven so far that their skills in rugby transfer all to well over to a game of gridiron, although it must be said their homeground does offer them a slight advantage, the packed Snowplane Cricket Grounds, which hustled and bustled at full capacity of 120,000 this week, took a bit of getting used to for our Brutes.

The snow played tricks on the Brutes from the get-go, with Yeilds receiving the opening kick and setting off towards the endzone for yet another 90yd+ return. Unfortunately, he was hit from behind at the last minute, lost his footing, and the ball flew uneasily from his hands, where plucky Thijs Christian picked it up and then proceeded to run it back for Kjo's opening touchdown. With the PAT made, the Brutes were looking at a harsh 7-0 without even two minutes gone from the first quarter. The icy ground meant that their smashmouth running game was done for, and so the reckless quarterback Pat McGraw was going to have to pull his finger out and start getting to work in the air.

At first there was the obvious teething problems, McGraw hadn't had to play a passing game in a long time, and now wasn't the time or place for him to have to get back into his groove, but if there's one thing the Brutes know how to do, it's adapt. The first quarter closed with KJO making two more field goals, bringing the Brutes to a disappointing 13-nil. The loyal fans who had made the trip from Rennidan were sure they were about to witness their teams first defeat this World Bowl, but the lads managed to turn things around from the start of the second quarter.

Rennidan had possession at their own 19 yard line, McGraw was lined up in shotgun and you could tell that Lai and Seffer were itching to jump the gun and get down in the open field. The snap came, but McGraw was suddenly nowhere to be seen. The quarterback ducked away from the incoming ball and launched himself in a run down field, whilst halfback Jason Yeilds was left to take the position of field general. Scrambling around the backfield, you couldn't help but cringe as you saw Thijs Christian, Gabir Emmet and Mainio Trygve converging on the halfback-turned-quarterback. Everyone was sure they were about to see Yeilds get pulverised by three of Kjo's best, but the plucky halfback had an ace up his sleeve. The years of effective running through the trenches meant this was a man that knew how to break tackles. First up was Emmet, who met his sticky fate as Yeilds shoulder barged him forwards into the O-Line. Next came Trygve, who dove when Yeilds ducked, causing the hapless linebacker to fly clean over the athletic HB and, finally, Christian came close to pulling Yeilds down, but it was too late, the ball was in the air and Lewis Seffer made the reception and ran it into the endzone for an 81 yard reception and Rennidan's first points on the board. Clive's PAT brought it round to 13-7, and before you could say 'holy crap' the Brutes were back in business.

Half time came about, and it would seem that one of the away fans had brought his own pair of gridiron cleats with him. Intending them to be signed by the Brutes, he instead lent the pair to Yeilds, and trust me, the effects were immediate. Kjo received the kickoff, but Rat Yuu Susumu Naoki Tarou made the mistake of running into the concrete belly of Owen Powis. The mammoth man grabbed the fumbled ball and lateralled it down to Yeilds at Rennidan's 3 yard line.

And whatever happened next was nothing but pure magic.

Whether it was Yeilds natural talent breaking through, or if the pair of cleats he now wore had been blessed by a gypsy goddess, Yeilds suddenly became unstoppable. He worked his way down the field, breaking eight tackles on his way, and dove into the endzone to put Rennidan back on track. A PAT later and Rennidan had the game at 14-13. The atmosphere changed, the weather grew worse, and the shouts and bellows of the crowd began to boom like the almighty thunder from above. The Brutes weren't going to be broken here on the fields of Kjomasasopia.

The forth quarter came, and Rennidan were quick to get more points up on the board. McGraw was openly being criticized for not having an impact so far on the game, seeing as he hadn't even thrown the one receiving touchdown in the game yet, but it was here I had to dismiss my fellow fans allegations. Being a quarterback isn't about hogging the glory, it's about knowing exactly what to do when you need to win, and McGraw was managing that just fine. His choice to dip out and let the ball go straight to Yeilds had opened up Rennidan to a chance of winning, but I'll be damned if he didn't want to go for the glory now. The Brutes had forced their way down the pitch to the 18 yard line, and a touchdown was obviously on the cards. Another direct snap to Yeilds, except this time McGraw was running a screen which lead him to a yard behind Yeilds. The halfback lateralled the ball back to the QB, before leaping over the trench and running for the endzone. McGraw drew back, threw, and bam, Yeilds caught it in the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. A moment later and it stood 21-13 to Rennidan, and the Kjo side was going wild at the thought of losing a game they had came so close to winning. It was this frenzy that forced the Kjo side to make a brave choice on their next scoring drive. The score stood at 21-19, and with the clock stopped at 0:31, Kjo was going to have to make a choice fairly fast.

Their offensive team came out, and the crowd erupted at the prospect of them going for the 2-point conversion. Miloš Cam pulled back, pump faked, and threw with all his might to the open Jason Yanni. Unfortunately, he wasn't as open as Cam would have liked, and David McKay plucked the ball from the sky before running it back to the 50 yard line. The Brutes were going to end it then and there, and Clive came out to kick it for the extra 3 points needed to put the Brutes 5 points clear. Game over, and the Brutes leave with their unbeaten record intact.

McDAVIES TO MOORE

IN A TYPICAL Brute Force move, Michael McDavies, leader of the hooligan sect, has spoken out about Dancougar's rival group, the Black Wing Brigade, and their choice to work as a private security detail for the Black Wings. Moore had previously spoken out, proclaiming that he felt McDavies would call him a sell-out for his actions, but apparently, McDavies disagrees.

"I respect Moore and the decision his Brigade have made. They've done the right thing by accepting to protect their team and their fellow fans, but choosing to do it free of charge. If the government out here accepted gridiron as a national sport, maybe my Brute Force lads would agree to a similar deal, but right now, I guess you can say we're freelance."

On Moore's statement about the two sides possibly meeting in the future, McDavies had this to say: "I always look forwards to the prospect of going against the Danny-boys. They're a good side, not as good as the Brutes mind, and they're a pretty good laugh at the same time. If I have to dust a few of their heads off along the way, it just makes it all the more enjoyable. Oh, and Moore? I think you still owe me a pint from last time. I'll see you in the finals, you bloody pansy."

Vephrall

21-11-2008, 18:41

A quick recap of the last few games:

Vephrall @ Arroza
Well, this loss was certainly much less painful than the last time they played Arroza, but a loss is still a loss. Unlike Tortuga y Hispaniola, Arroza actually recognized Crublig Claspung's arm as a legitimate threat, and as a result he threw his first interception of the campaign. Penalties really hurt the team, especially when Angufams Sutred was called for holding in the end zone in the fourth quarter - two free points for the Tar Hornets and a complete killing of any momentum that Vephrall might have had (which wasn't much, as they hadn't scored in nearly two quarters).

1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q
VPH 7 7 0 0 14
ARR 7 0 10 9 26

SCORING SUMMARY
1st/11:33/VPH/07-00 C. CLASPUNG touchdown pass to S. PREPTYRS, 12 yds
1st/05:32/ARR/07-07 D. HAILEY touchdown run, 6 yds
2nd/08:30/VPH/14-07 S. PEVONSONT touchdown pass to C. CLASPUNG, 62 yds
3rd/14:27/ARR/14-14 E. SMYTHE touchdown pass to I. MAXIMIANO, 34 yds
3rd/06:11/ARR/14-17 D. ALBRECHT field goal, 37 yds
4th/09:53/ARR/14-19 Safety (A. SUTRED holding in end zone)
4th/04:28/ARR/14-26 A. CHADWICK touchdown run, 13 yds

PASSING (total: 7/12, 135 yds, 2 TD, INT)
C. CLASPUNG 6/11, 73 yds, TD, INT
S. PEVONSONT 1/1, 62 yds, TD

RUSHING (total: 55 att, 191 yds)
T. CLIRIPUTED 14 att, 81 yds
A. NETGORIN 17 att, 73 yds
I. GOING 9 att, 22 yds
C. CLASPUNG 5 att, 15 yds

RECEIVING
C. CLASPUNG 1 rec, 62 yds, TD
S. PREPTYRS 3 rec, 51 yds, TD
S. PEVONSONT 3 rec, 27 yds

Cassadaigua @ Vephrall
It was evident during the Arroza game that, the lone double-reverse pass aside, Vephrall was trying a little too hard to play in a more conventional manner. So it was a much more open game against Cassadaigua, and receiver Siestanin Preptyrs threw his first touchdown pass, hitting the wide-open fullback Netgorin downfield. Netgorin's long touchdown run in the fourth was just one of a number of big-yardage runs in the game, and it effectively iced the contest as the Auric Wolves went up 31-14.

1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q
CSA 7 0 7 7 21
VPH 7 3 14 7 31

SCORING SUMMARY
1st/12:07/CSA/07-00 L. HAMILTON touchdown pass to K. HARDEN, 23 yds
1st/03:06/VPH/07-07 S. PEVONSONT touchdown run, 33 yds
2nd/00:04/VPH/07-10 S. SPELAAD field goal, 26 yds
3rd/14:50/VPH/07-17 Kickoff returned for touchdown by M. PRAUMBETED, 91 yds
3rd/11:26/CSA/14-17 L. HAMILTON touchdown pass to K. DUPREE, 11 yds
3rd/03:25/VPH/14-24 S. PREPTYRS touchdown pass to A. NETGORIN, 34 yds
4th/10:38/VPH/14-31 A. NETGORIN touchdown run, 69 yds
4th/04:18/CSA/24-31 D. REGAN touchdown run, 18 yds

PASSING (total: 11/20, 140 yds, TD, INT)
C. CLASPUNG 10/17, 106 yds
S. PREPTYRS 1/2, 34 yds, TD
A. NETGORIN 0/1, 0 yds, INT

RUSHING (total: 43 att, 315 yds, 2 TD)
A. NETGORIN 22 att, 153 yds, TD
T. CLIRIPUTED 11 att, 94 yds
I. GOING 6 att, 37 yds
S. PEVONSONT 1 att, 33 yds, TD
C. CLASPUNG 3 att, -2 yds

RECEIVING
S. PREPTYRS 5 rec, 60 yds
A. NETGORIN 1 rec, 34 yds, TD
I. GOING 1 rec, 20 yds
S. PEVONSONT 3 rec, 19 yds
C. CLASPUNG 1 rec, 7 yds

Vephrall @ Miroxia
This was a much closer game than most Vephrall fans expected, though the Auric Wolves only trailed for about five minutes in the second quarter. Strong winds made it hard for the quarterbacks (and halfback, for that matter) to throw on target, completing less than 40 percent of their passes. Fortunately the ground game was fine as Cliriputed broke 100 yards rushing and the team as a whole ran for 322 with a pair of touchdowns, including one for backup Pembace Angufams, who replaced Idaleis Going early in the third quarter after Going apparently pulled a hamstring. No word yet on whether he'll be available for the next game.

1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q
VPH 7 8 7 0 22
MIR 7 6 0 7 20

SCORING SUMMARY
1st/09:36/VPH/07-00 C. CLASPUNG touchdown run, 1 yd
1st/07:20/MIR/07-07 C. THOMPSON touchdown run, 6 yds
2nd/14:17/MIR/07-10 H. DANRICK field goal, 39 yds
2nd/08:55/VPH/15-10 C. CLASPUNG touchdown pass to I. GOING, 17 yds
(T. CLIRIPUTED run for 2-pt conv)
2nd/02:17/MIR/15-13 H. DANRICK field goal, 43 yds
3rd/06:36/VPH/22-13 P. ANGUFAMS touchdown run, 42 yds
4th/11:08/MIR/22-20 J. RICHARDS touchdown pass to A. REDS, 5 yds

PASSING (total: 7/18, 101 yds, TD, 2 INT)
C. CLASPUNG 4/9, 67 yds, TD
H. SADS 2/6, 27 yds, INT
T. CLIRIPUTED 1/3, 7 yds, INT

RUSHING (total: 46 att, 322 yds, 2 TD)
T. CLIRIPUTED 13 att, 106 yds
A. NETGORIN 12 att, 68 yds
I. GOING 8 att, 49 yds
P. ANGUFAMS 2 att, 46 yds, TD
C. CLASPUNG 7 att, 35 yds, TD
H. SADS 2 att, 12 yds
H. SORN 2 att, 6 yds

RECEIVING
S. PEVONSONT 2 rec, 39 yds
S. PREPTYRS 3 rec, 38 yds
I. GOING 2 rec, 24 yds, TD

Sarzonia

21-11-2008, 19:15

The small sliver of light escaping from the shut door of the hotel room was one telltale signal.

When Jim Zorn knocked on the door and heard "come in," it was a second signal. He opened the door and heard a coffee maker gurgling. That was the third.

"Tim, it's past curfew."

"Coach, I'm still trying to get a handle on these guys."

"What do you mean?"

Middle linebacker Tim Bates lifted a remote control and hit a button to pause the DVD he was watching. It was a DVD of Vephrall's latest game, a 22-20 win over Miroxia.

"All those formations, everybody playing everywhere, doing everything."

"I know. Coach Blache is looking at the same things you are."

"Does he have any ideas?"

"No," Zorn said. He opened his mouth again and heard a beep. His eyebrows furrowed and he had a surprised look on his face. Bates saw this.

"That's just a signal the coffee's ready," Bates said. "Want a cup?"

"No thanks, I've gotta get some sleep."

Before Zorn left, his cell phone rang. He looked at the caller ID, grimaced and picked up.

"Gavin, you should be in bed."

"Coach, I have a suggestion about Vephrall."

"What's that?"

"Stick with the ground game. Defensively, come at 'em from all angles. On defence, treat 'em the way they treat the offence."

"All right," Zorn said. "But have we come up with a way to deal with their multiple formations?"

"We've been working on those in practice, trying to simulate piivel formations," Bates interjected. "I don't know if we're going to be ready, but it won't be from lack of preparation.

"One thing is clear," Bates said. "We're going to have to get to their quarterbacks and we're going to have to make their skill players pay whenever we have a chance."

"We're not doing anything illegal," Zorn said.

"I'm not saying do anything illegal," Bates said. "We're just going to play a lot more aggressively against these guys than we did against Cassadaigua. They may win, but they'll definitely feel bruised up."

"Sounds good," Zorn said. "Now get some sleep. Both of you."

"Yes coach," the two men said in unison, one over a cell phone and one in front of Zorn.

The Candrian Empire

21-11-2008, 20:19

Knights smother LHC

The Knights defeated La Habana Cuba on the strength of Frances Valencia's quick feet and an offensive line that finally seems to be gelling. Valencia scored only one touchdown, but tore up LHC for 196 yards on the ground, and set up one of Andre Haralde's two touchdown passes, an 11 yard pass to Travis Favors on an under slide route. Haralde's other touchdown came on a 34 yard pass to James Berkely that cut through the center of LHC's field. LHC couldn't produce; one of their touchdowns came on a pick off of Haralde - they missed the ensuing PAT, but by then LHC was already being dragged around the field - in fact, they've accused the World Bowl officiating committee of fixing scores.

What's been leading the Knights to be competitive?

Pressure up front. The Knights are slowly forming one of the best pressure defensive fronts in International play - so far, they've recorded a safety in the past 4 games of the season - the longest streak in international play. Under the strength of a defensive front masking a raw secondary, the Knights are afloat at 2-2 and still within shot of making noise throughout the year. Aaron Fritz has been dominating - if there's been one bright spot to this team the past two seasons, it's been him. Fritz has already recorded 2 safeties on the year and 6 sacks in only 4 games, and is on pace to have a record season. With more time to develop, this team could eventually become dangerous - unfortunately, not everything is running so smoothly.

For one, Andre Haralde has yet to play a game without throwing a pick - through 4 games, he's thrown 5 interceptions, 3 returned for touchdowns (two against Kjomasaspoia and one in the win over LHC) to 7 touchdowns; for the year Haralde has passed for over 250 yards only once, and has otherwise been held below 200 yards through the air. Haralde's inconsistent play knocked the Knights around last season as well. While he seems to have tightened up since the first two games, where he stared down receivers and hung back to often (getting hit with the coverage sacks); he hasn't produced that spark that got him selected to the national team. He hasn't produced a comeback win since last season - his ability to play from behind got him the nod over Grinalda in the first place.

The talent is there, but it isn't quite a team yet. As with anything, though, wins breed confidence - and confidence makes everything easier. Can they roll together a two game streak?

Dancougar

21-11-2008, 21:44

Sidney Goldman's The Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

Jermaine Divalerio's Pride and Prejudice

He had the schedule in the locker and had this game circled. Wide receiver Jermiane Divalerio is not the faster wide receiver in the world, his numbers aren't the greatest, and his age is steadily reaching the breakdown point. But he is and always has been Dancougar's finest wideout, so he took offense to comments in the Cotenshire media that singled him out in their qualifying group preview. The ethnic slam was driving Divalerio into this game where, in front of a hostile crowd, he wanted to make the Eagles eat those words raw.

"They did everything except call me Jewmaine," he said. "The tone and the context, that shows an incredible amount of disrespect, not just to me, but to millions of people. Someone needs to sit them down and show them they're not what they're cracked up to be."

Cotenshire have continued the run of form which got them into the final tournament last time, coasting to a 3-0 record to set up a matchup of unbeatens with Dancougar. The victor would undoubtedly have the inside track at winning the group, although a surging Secristan figures to be in the argument before all's said and done. Tonight, though, was all about revenge, and Divalerio's two touchdown catches paved the way to a 32-27 win. Once again, the defense wavered and no amount of possession could get the Wings into a clear position to strike. But from the opening whistle. Divalerio set the tone.

With the ball placed on the Dancougar 24, Divalerio went into the huddle and told quarterback Michael Hussey to take a shot. The Wings lined up in a Power I, so Cotenshire was playing the run. When Hussey pulled off the play action fake and rolled right, the defense panicked. Mendenhall and Milon were both on the right, but it was Divalerio, thirty yards downfield and crossing the middle, who was the target. With his receiver already behind the safeties, Hussey uncorked his longest pass of the tournament, which Divalerio caught in stride. It was an uncharacteristic play by the Wings, a 76-yard score, but this was an uncharacteristic mood for the team's number one receiver.

"I never like to go into a game angry," said Divalerio. "Some people, it drives them, and if it works, fine. But I like to have my presence of mind. So when I went out there, I was trying to check my emotions, but you know it's boiling in the back of your head, and the only way to make it go away is to make a play."

The Wings added two field goals before Cotenshire got on the board on an Antoon Kerkrade touchdown pass to Tileman Waalwijk. They took the lead after holding Gary Hutchins on a third and short when Kerkrade hit tight end Theodor Hoorn, who came swiftly off his block and got a mismatch against linebacker Billy Aveline. The first half ended with a touchdown run for Gary Hutchins, continuing his fine run as Kirk Hatchitt's replacement, and a field goal by new Cotenshire kicker Godfried Dillijk impressed everyone, a booming 49-yarder that split the uprights with height to spare.

Divalerio was guarded closely and was limited to just three more catches in the first half for a total of 20 yards, and the momentum he'd hoped the play would give the team evaporated rapidly. It was only 20-17 at the break, and Kerkrade looked good on the field goal drive. He carried that into the second half by directing the team on a 75-yard drive on 14 plays, capped by a two-yard pass to Waalwijk to make it 24-20. Then it became a battle of attrition. Divalerio added 35 yards to his total on three more catches, building on what was turning into one of his best nights with the national team. But the drive bogged down and Logan Dublin was unable to turn the corner, so Seth Cavallo made it 24-23.

Both teams continued to come up short on drives thanks to a combination of defensive pressure and poor running. Boudewijn Geul was constantly swallowed up by the larger Black Wing line, and Hutchins was held under a hundred yards for the first time in qualifying. Both exchanged field goals to make it 27-26, and as the fourth quarter loomed, Divalerio wanted to go out with a bang.

"I started this mess, so I figured I should finish it," he said. "I told Mike, just this game, let me make the play." After Hussey converted two key third downs via Mendenhall and Hutchins, he took a shot from the Cotenshire 38 with 2:55 to play. Once again, Divalerio caught the defense napping and burned his man and his help for a touchdown reception. The Wings opted to try a two-point conversion to make it a seven-point game, but Dublin was wrapped up in the backfield. That made it 32-27 and Kerkrade had time on his side. But Kerkrade is no Michael Bernard. Under intense pressure, he completed one pass before tossing an interception to Alex Isabella, and the Wings were able to kill the clock.

Fantasy Fallout

Time for your look at matchday three's fantasy heroes! A few are starting to distinguish themselves as consistent performers, although there's no need to fear. A team with one or two solid performers, punctuated by a breakout game here and there, should fare well in rotisserie leagues, although those of you on the head-to-head circuit may be left scratching your heads after some days.

QB: Gavin Davis (Sarzonia)
Greg Dannen put up big numbers once again, but the star of the night was Davis, who approached 350 yards passing to go with three touchdowns. We give additional shoutouts to Kenny O'Hara and Michael Hussey. But how about PoleCat256, an armchair quarterback to a 250-yards-and-two-scores quarterback?

RB: Corey Parisi (Newmanistan), Vladimir Karpov (Myedvedeya)
Parisi got it done on the ground and in the air, accounting for over 200 yards of total offense and three scores. An honorable mention to LoQuan Willard, who put up similar yardage but only found the endzone once. Karpov had two touchdowns in the Myedvedeya loss, and other backs who could claim that are Gary Hutchins and Jeremy Johnson.

WR: Ivan Harvey (Qazox), Stacie Johnson (Secristan), Ricky Zellefrow (Taeshan)
Harvey continues to pile up the numbers; anyone who isn't starting him every week has got to be crazy. Johnson had the catch of the day in Secristan's victory, while Ricky Zellefrow continues to play at a high level. Plenty of guys hauled in scores, though, so no worries if you don't have one of these three in your lineup.

TE: MikaRulez1 (Green wombat)
Hey, the Wombats aren't half bad, and MikaRulez1 picked up one of PoleCat256's two touchdown passes. Newmanistan's Jim Crosby also found the endzone.

DEF: Sarzonia
Seven sacks, seven turnovers, and only nine points against? That's an insane stat line.

K: Seth Cavallo (Dancougar)
The Wings have been relying on him more and more in past games, which is good news for his owners. He had two field goals against Myedvedeya to go with three extra points, a tidy sum for the tournament debutant.

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

No questions this week, just straight up numbers. The only question on my mind right now is whether or not Dancougar can get past Demot in the World Cup semifinals, potentially setting up a final with... Lovisa?! No, I don't understand it, either.

(1) Kura-Pelland (4-0)
(2) Rennidan (4-0)
(3) Arroza (4-0)
(4) Qazox (3-1)
(5) Dancougar (4-0)
(6) Newmanistan (3-1)
(7) Taeshan (3-1)
(8) Secristan (3-1)
(9) Cotenshire (3-1)
(10) Kjomasasopia (3-1)
(11) Vephrall (3-1)
(12) Lovisa (3-1)
(13) Sarzonia (2-1-1)
(14) Colbourne (3-1)
(15) Nethertopia (2-2)
(16) Swilatia (1-3)
(17) Myedvedeya (1-3)
(18) The Candrian Empire (2-2)
(19) Green wombat (2-2)
(20) Miroxia (1-2-1)
(21) Cassadaigua (1-3)
(22) Mantwenic (1-3)
(23) Twin Dominions (1-3)
(24) Christstan (1-3)
(25) Lurikastan (1-3)
(26) Greal (0-4)
(27) Northwest Polaris (0-4)
(28) La Habana Cuba (0-4)
(29) Tortuga y Hispaniola (0-4)
(30) Antitidum (0-4)

Taeshan

21-11-2008, 21:44

Fitin' Falcons Win in Overtime

I was actually scared for a few minutes in yesterdays game. First i arrived at thbe press box sweating up a storm. It was the hottest day in my whole career of sports journalism. Colbourne was hot, a stifling 60 degrees. It was a sweat storm. Jeese could someone turn the sun off. Taeshan never get above 50 on a really, really hot day. It was like an explosion of heat. An atom bomb. It was blistering.

Well, anyways i was there for the big faceoff between the young Colbourne team and the visiting Fitin' Falcons. The Colbournes were at 3-0, and the Falcons were just one loss to Newmanistan behind at 2-1. Both teams were looking to stay in one of the top two guranteed qualification spots. They both played a good game and it showed as it was forced into overtime. I don't know why, but the Falcons conditioning seemed to work as they didn't break in the extra period in the heat and they won.

Well the hero of the day was obviously Martin Gramatica the Falcon kicker. Because it was tied 21-21 at the end of four, and they only one by three in a sudden death overtime, so it was another gallant kick that won it for the Knbights. But what happened during the rest of the game is probally your big question. Well here's thje answer.

It started with the C's scoring two touchdowns in the first quater followed by a Gabe Martin 49 yrd. run for a touchdown. Then Martin Gramatica was knocked out of the game on a freak accident on the kickoff, but he would later have an amazing recovery and come back. The n Colbourne scored again and the Knights were down by 14. Then Martin found Ricky Zellefrow for a 56 yrd. touchdown reception on a fade route. And he again found him on the conversion to make it 15-21. Then Gramatrica wobled onto the field in the fourth for a 39 yrd. kick to put them behind by three. Finally Gramatica would save the game with an amazing 57 yrd field goal with the second windling to send it to an OT.

In Overtime the Falcons had the ball in thier own territory until Rudi Johnson after a 20 yrd run to the 30 yardlione fumbled the ball. But thankfully the Falcons stopped the C's on a fourth down at the 29. The Falc's got the ball back and charged down the field and on a fourth of their own Gramatica made his third of the day from 40 to win it for the Falcons. Next the Knights face Mantwenic one of the lower teams, and they should win.

Cotenshire

22-11-2008, 03:44

ST. ALFONS HIPPODROME RAZED TO THE GROUND

Chaos gripped the St. Alfons district of Taale-Voren last night as panic set in. Our Eagles played the Black Wings of Dancougar, and were no doubt too distracted by the violence to give their full effort. Rumours had been started by the Lotharn Courant which had said that Black Wings player Jermaine Divalerio was a Jew. It must be repeated that this rumour is not true, but unfortunately the events of last night cannot be undone.

A Jew may not have invaded the city, but one would think as much upon observing the destruction that such fears wrought. Terror had gripped the city even before the game. Several families stayed in their homes for fear that Divalerio would steal their children and crucify them. Others were scared away from attending the game since they knew that the touch of a Jew would make a man menstruate.

Despite these concerns, however, attendance was not lacking. Many had come with their rifles and eyed the Black Wings players, but since they were so base as to be illiterate, none could read the jerseys and discern which one was Divalerio. Many assumed that Divalerio was not there until his name was mentioned after having made a catch. Thereafter gunfire rang out after every time his name was announced. Violence erupted in the stands numerous times as the belligerent behavior of drunks was interpreted as a spell Divalerio had cast to control the minds of some of the fans.

The disorder was not limited to the St. Alfons Hippodrome, however. The militias that were patrolling the city to guard against Divalerio’s wickedness received numerous complaints about Divalerio having stolen money from shops and corpses from graves. At least one militia group was murdered in its entirety after fighting against a mob that accused the militia of being too afraid to find Divalerio.

After the game had finished, a movement started in the stands of the St. Alfons Hippodrome to burn the stadium to the ground and cleanse it of the influence of the Jew. The fervor was such that torches were set to the stadium before the crowds could even leave, and thousands died due to fire and structural failure. The fire then spread throughout the district, killing thousands more and displacing tens of thousands.

For the upcoming game against Secristan, the meadow between the St. Alfons Gte and the St. Alfons Cathedral will be mowed and used as a field. The towers of the gate will be given to those members of the Eagle’s coaching staff that need to use it, and the bell tower of the cathedral will be given to Secristan’s staff and coaches.

Qazox

22-11-2008, 04:30

MD 5 RP Cutoff
Hopefully Qazox' brain will work enough.

Qazox

22-11-2008, 05:20

MATCHDAY FIVE SCORES
(Winners in BOLD, Ties in Italics)

GROUP A
Swilatia @ Dancougar 16-14
Secristan @ Cotenshire 14-10
Myedvedeya @ Northwest Polaris 26-21

GROUP B
Cassadaigua @ Arroza 22-8
Tortuga y Hispaniola @ Miroxia 31-23
Sarzonia @ Vephrall 27-20

GROUP C
Taeshan @ Mantenwic 24-17
Greal @ Newmanistan 31-17
Colbourne @ Nethertopia 20-17 (OT)

GROUP D
Kjomasasopia @ Qazox 24-10
Rennidan @ The Candrian Empire 20-17 (OT)
La Habana Cuba @ Antitidum 21-16

GROUP E
Kura-Pelland @ Lurikastan 30-20
Christstan @ Green wombat 20-20 TIE
Twin Dominions @ Lovisa 37-20

STANDINGS
(Teams sorted First by H2H then by PD, then other Tie-breakers)

GROUP A W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Dancougar 5-0-0 1.000 152 89 +63
Secristan 4-1-0 .800 106 84 +22
Cotenshire 3-2-0 .600 103 95 +8
Myedvedeya 2-3-0 .400 107 131 -24
Swilatia 1-4-0 .200 98 93 +5
NW Polaris 0-5-0 .000 68 142 -74

GROUP B W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Arroza 5-0-0 1.000 129 61 +68
Vephrall 4-1-0 .800 128 97 +31
Sarzonia 2-2-1 .500 113 97 +16
Miroxia 2-2-1 .500 105 97 +8
Cassadaigua 1-4-0 .200 93 129 -36
Tort. y Hisp. 0-5-0 .000 69 156 -87

(NOTE: Sarzonia ahead of Miroxia on Pt. Diff. as H2H was a Draw)

GROUP C W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Newmanistan 4-1-0 .800 122 79 +43
Taeshan 4-1-0 .800 126 106 +20
Nethertopia 3-2-0 .600 119 109 +10
Colburne 3-2-0 .600 92 92 ---
Mantenwic 1-4-0 .200 84 121 -37
Greal 0-5-0 .000 84 120 -36

(NOTE: Newmanistan ahead of Taeshan based on H2H win; Nethertopia head of Colburne based on H2H win)

GROUP D W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Rennidan 4-1-0 .800 127 89 +38
Qazox 4-1-0 .800 156 79 +77
Kjomasaspoia 3-2-0 .600 97 94 +3
Candrian Empire 3-2-0 .600 100 100 ---
Antitidum 1-4-0 .200 58 116 -58
Habana Cuba 0-5-0 .000 52 127 -75

(NOTE: Rennidan ahead of Qazox based on H2H win, Kjomasaspoia ahead of The Candrian Empire based on H2H win)

GROUP E W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Kura-Pelland 5-0-0 1.000 159 68 +91
Lovisa 4-1-0 .800 134 93 +41
Green wombat 2-2-1 .500 74 102 -28
Christstan 1-3-1 .300 73 96 -23
Twin Dominions 1-4-0 .200 82 130 -48
Lurikastan 1-4-0 .200 82 115 -33

(NOTE: Twin Dominions ahead of Lurikastan based on H2H win).

CURRENT PLAYOFF SEEDINGS:

Kura-Pelland (5-0)
Arroza (5-0)
Dancougar (5-0)
Rennidan (4-1)
Newmanistan (4-1)
Qazox (4-1)
Lovisa (4-1)
Vephrall (4-1)
Secristan (4-1)
Taeshan (4-1)

Current 3rd Place team standings

Nethertopia 3-2-0 .600 119 109 +10
Cotenshire 3-2-0 .600 103 95 +8
Kjomasaspoia 3-2-0 .600 97 94 +3
Sarzonia 2-2-1 .500 113 97 +16
Green wombat 2-2-1 .500 74 102 -28

(NOTE: Nethertopia and Cotenshire ahead of Kjomasaspoia on Pt. Diff)

I'm repeating the tiebreakers just as a reminder for all:

Playoff Berth/Group Title:
1- Best H2H Record amongst the teams.
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Point differential in H2H games amongst the teams.
4- Best Road Record.
5- Best Road Point differential.
6- Most Points For.
7- Most Points For in H2H games amongst the teams.
8- Most Road Points For.
9- Most Points For in regulation.
10- Coin Flip.

Seeding for Playoffs:
1- Most wins (ie: a team that is 7-1-0 would be seeded higher than a 6-0-2 team, even though the Win% is the same.)
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Road Point differential.
4- Most Points For.
5- Most Road Points For.
6- Most Points For in regulation.
7- Coin Flip.

Qazox

22-11-2008, 05:45

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

On a windy, rainy night, Qazox' passing game took a back seat to Frank Vallens and Jason DeHavel's rushing attack as those two combined for 278 yards on the ground and all 3 of the Pheonix' touchdowns. Greg Dannen was held to only 133 yards through the air, though he did complete 12 of 13 passes.

So at the halfway point, Qazox is 4-1 and is tied with Rennidan atop the Group D standings. But due to the loss at Rennidan, the Pheonix are in second place. Up next is the rematches starting at La habana Cuba, whom Qazox defeated 35-6 earlier in the competition.

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 FINAL
Kjomasasopia 0 7 3 0 10
Qazox 0 14 7 3 24

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Greg Dannen: 12-13, 133 yds.
Frank Vallens: 29 rushes, 172 yds, 2 TD.
Jason DeHavel: 14 rushes, 106 yds, 1 TD.

Defense:
Vic Alworth: 12 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
Greg Olsen: 4 tackles, 1 FF, 1 INT.
Richie Sola: 6 tackles, 1.5 Sacks.

Scoring Summary:
Second Quarter:
Qazox: Frank Vallens - 3 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (12:22) 7-0 Qazox
Kjomasasopia: Valentijn Lúcás - 8 yd TD run; Dragon Yasu Kohaku Katsurou Kenshin PAT good (8:08) 7-7
Qazox: Frank Vallens - 7 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (12:22) 14-7 Qazox
Third Quarter:
Kjomasasopia: Dragon Yasu Kohaku Katsurou Kenshin- 35 yd FG (11:52) 14-10 Qazox
Qazox: Jason DeHavel - 13 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (12:22) 21-10 Qazox
Fourth Quarter:
Qazox: Tryone Chase- 37 yd FG (14:55) 24-10 Qazox

Kjomasasopia

22-11-2008, 05:46

well, weve lost the past two games, but im still very proud of our boys and thier achievements so far. reminder that ALL players except Jason Wiremu are available to play in your franchises. contact the KJOGA (KJO Gridiron Association) via a telegram to KJO's ns page

Green wombat

22-11-2008, 05:54

Whiteboi99 nailed a 51-yd FG as time expired to send the game into overtime, but 2 fumbles by FreeLongstreetnow in the extra period stalled two drives by the wombats, and only a 45-yd FG attempt by the Christstan kicker that bounced off the left upright allowed Green wombat to avoid a loss in a 20-20 tie. InsaneKilla_77 scored on an Interception return in the 1st quarter, giving the home team an early 10-0 lead, and the other score was a 34-yd TD run by FreeLongstreetnow

Up next is a game at Lovisa, whom we lost to at home 13-17. If we could keep it close at home, we have a chance to pull off the upset, and if we do, then we'll have a better chance to make the playoffs.

Taeshan

22-11-2008, 06:08

Finin' Falcons win on Astonishing 8 Field Goals

Now last week as you may know, the Taeshan kicker Martin Gramatica was knocked out of half of the game in Taeshans win over Colbourne, but this week in the Falcons win over Mantwenic he was again called in to make the plays for them. But this time it was a starling 8 times. The most Field Goals in a game in quite a while. It was an astonishing feat (wow) as he led them to victory, injured yet again.

It started with an opening drive field goal from 47 yrds out after a Mantwenic touchdown. Then another 46 yarder after a Mantwenic ffield goal. Then another 4 between then and the next Mantwenic score in the fourth from 46, 48, 31, and 38 yards. That made the score 18-10 until Manwenic scored a touchdown. Gramatica would make two more uneeded scores from 50 and 45, and the Falcons won 24-17.

Kjomasasopia

22-11-2008, 06:20

also id just like to add:
if you RP against my team, All of our Emperors Territory players ,aka 'them there kickers with 5 funny names', can be refered to by thier first two names. EG: Dragon Yasu Kohaku Katsurou Kenshin can be refered to as Dragon Yasu.

The Candrian Empire

22-11-2008, 07:27

GIANT UPSET
Knights over Brutes in OT

Probably the biggest upset by the Knights in international play. In a game they were entirely expected to lose, the Knights pulled off a 20-17 overtime win against the then-undefeated Group D leading Brutes. This might've been the Andre Haralde coming out party that was waited for when he was selected for the national team. Haralde led two final drives to force OT and the win, with nothing matching his final drive of the night. With 6:37 left in OT, Haralde led the Knights on a drive for the ages. The Brutes won the coin flip, and Pat McGraw put together an 8 minute long drive after starting from the Rennidan 8 on a muffed kick return. McGraw had been on fire through the whole day; despite not throwing a touchdown pass, he tore up the Knights secondary and set up touchdown runs by Duncan Smie and Jason Yields. But by the fourth quarter and into the OT, Marcus Marion and Orlando Romain were finally putting the clamps down - but for most of the opening drive of OT, despite their best efforts, he couldn't be stopped on 3rd and long. On that last drive, the Brutes converted 6 first downs, and managed to get to the Candrian 30 - another Rennidan win seemed imminent, and they took their shots at the goal. On a deep route, though, the secondary made the changing play of the day - Warren Lawrence outlept Lewis Seffer in the endzone, and got the pick, getting the Candrian offense on the field.

Then Haralde got to work. Starting from the 20 with less than 7 minutes left, Haralde marched the Knights down the field. Going 8 for 8 on the final drive, the embattled quarterback got the Knights in range of a 44 yard Arnold Luna field goal. No attempt at icing the kicker. And Luna booted the ball through, his second field goal of the day.

The Knights are now 3-2, and tied for second in Group D, a game out of the lead. The picture looks fuzzy now, with the two teams tied for 1st and 2nd all having a tiebreaker win against eachother. Making noise a bit early, it seems.

The Candrian Empire

22-11-2008, 08:00

HEAD COACH SAM MORRISON, POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE

"Well, we picked him 3 seasons ago and brought him in to do just what he did today. He kept his head up, and played his heart out for 4 and a half quarters. This is what he did in College, what he did in his time in the pro game, what he's known for. He's a winner, he just needs his time to shine."

"Yeah, he had a slow start for the past two seasons. The international game; there, it's... it's different. There are teams with, they have team speed like you wouldn't believe. And others, they play for the love of the game. They're guys you can't rattle, because they're just there for the sake, for the dignity of the game. These were those guys. I mean, these guys don't even come with a full kit, no pads, not even real helmets; they're not out there to collect a paycheck or make a statement or anything, they're here to play."

"[McGraw], he tore us up for the most part. He's been on a tear throughout the season, since last season actually. On a running team no less. We were able to get pressure on him, we tried to force things, tried to get him to make mistakes, but he was cool in the pocket." "No, he's; he's one of those guys who can't be rattled. He's out there for the love of the game, we could get to him as much as any team could that lines up across him, but he isn't gonna be made a fool of. That last big play, Gri-uh, Lawrence, that was just a heads up play. Just great position, and he outlept their wideout; their wideout is 6'6", no pads, and the guy could jump. It was still a perfectly thrown ball, just a miracle play. Usually they're a team that goes by the old adage of taking what a defense gives you, that play we took it right out of their hands. Just a great heads up play."

"Well I don't; I don't know if this is a turn-around; we made the playoffs last season, we didn't do too bad, although we did back into it. That's too far out ahead though, there's still a lot of football left before we talk post season. We take it a game at a time. That's how you have to do it."

Secristan

22-11-2008, 08:27

TWO MORE VICTORIES

The Millionaires have won their last two games of the World Bowl, and see themselves with a 4-1 record in Group A, and in sole possession of second place, behind the perfect 5-0 Dancougar Black Wings who survived a scare against Swilatia last night as perhaps their players were focusing a little bit too much on celebrating the nation’s stunning victory in the World Cup quarterfinal. On Matchday four, the Millionaires cruised to a pretty easy victory over Northwest Polaris that saw the team win 31-14. Tom Mitchell had a strong game and is quietly putting together a very good World Bowl in the shadow of some of these other World Bowl quarterbacks as he completed 22 of his 29 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns, one to Stacie Johnson, which was in a more conventional manner and one to Brian Brissard as the team took the contest at the Loophole. Then there was last night, with the team making their first appearance in Cotenshire, a nation’s who’s home fans have gotten themselves quite a reputation. Obviously, because of this Secristanis chose not to make the trip as the freezing cold does not exactly make for a nice tourist destination. Secristan was forced to experience firsthand the after effects has the St. Alfons Hippodrome burnt to the ground in a massive fire that got out of control and went into the city, killing thousands. It is believed that the fire was deliberately set. The Millionaires were directed then to a grassy field, which was prepared for the game. It worked out ok, and still beats Warehouse 17 as far as we were concerned. Secristan did not need to worry to much about the fan violence as they simply went to the field, played the game, and got the hell out of the country without any incident. They won the game 14-10 with the ground game being more of the focus. Chris Hausler ran for 144 yards on 35 carries and scored both touchdowns. Defensively, Julius Jackson had a big game with three sacks and Shawn Cullari had 2 interceptions, one which came in the end zone during the second quarter.

Sarzonia

22-11-2008, 16:50

After the final whistle of Sarzonia's 27-20 loss to Vephrall, Sarzonian defenders slowly trudged off the field. Many of them were gasping and wheezing, others had their hands on their hips.

Playing gridball against a team used to piivel was a major adjustment for the Stingers. They practiced and watched as much film as possible with middle linebacker Tim Bates staying up well past curfew trying to study Vephrall.

It didn't work. Quarterback Crublig Claspung took advantage of a less-than-alert Bates and scampered 12-yards for the opening touchdown. When Bates trudged off the field, he gave a knowing glance to defensive coordinator Greg Blache and said, "it's going to be a long night."

It sure was. Even though Sarzonia won the time of possession battle with 33 minutes, 18 seconds of possession to Vephrall's 26 minutes, 42 seconds, those numbers were deceiving. LoQuan Willard was held to 42 yards on 17 carries, while Gavin Davis threw a career-high 51 pass attempts. He completed 36 of them for 374 yards and two touchdowns, six yards to H-Back Clark Hennessy that tied the game at 7 and 36 yards to wide receiver Willie Brooks that made the score 27-20.

However, Sarzonia's biggest problem was defensive. Defensive end Ryan Clack looked rusty in his first game back from a suspension for sexist remarks, getting pushed around by Hetag Seketre repeatedly on the opening drive.

Even switching to a heavier defensive line didn't help the Stingers.

Sarzonia plays its final away match against Arroza at The Hive before the Stingers return to Woodstock for four consecutive home fixtures. The schedule couldn't favour Sarzonia much more if it were backloaded with weak teams. However, Coach Jim Zorn cautioned reporters against considering any of their opponents weak.

"We're in a position where we can't take anything for granted," he said. "Next week is going to be especially tough. Arroza stands head and shoulders above many teams in this competition. We're going to have to play a near-perfect game if we want to compete."

The last time the Tar Hornets and the Stingers played, Sarzonia did not. Davis completed 18-of-34 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble.

"We're going to have to take better care of the ball and protect Davis better," left tackle Tim Lacker said. Sarzonia gave up three sacks to the Tar Hornets swarming defence.

"And we're going to have to do a better job of establishing the running game."

That won't be an easy task at The Hive, but Zorn said his team wouldn't beat itself.

"Teams that win upsets believe in themselves, even when no one else does," he said. "We believe in ourselves. We think we can do some things. We'll just have to see."

Newmanistan

22-11-2008, 17:38

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS KNOCK OFF GREAL

Hastings, Newmanistan- In the final game of the first half of World Bowl IV, the Rockets found themselves going up against Greal, a country in which they had recently played in the Cup of Harmony. They turned in a strong performance on a blustery afternoon in Hastings, getting the victory by the score of 31-17. They lead Group C with their 4-1 mark thanks to having the tiebreaker over Taeshan (H2H victory).

Greal received the ball to open the game, and tried to establish the run quickly by offering a heavy dose of Ross Riddle. The first seven plays that the Demons ran were handoffs to Riddle, and he picked up 25 yards on the drive. Then a sudden pass completion from Josh Littles to Tony Lity for 22 yards set them up into field goal range. The drive would stall out there, and led to a field goal by Joe Pierce to make it 3-0. No one was concerned in the stands as Kenny O’Hara seemed more then ready to get the work and answered the drive. The Rockets came out the exact opposite, throwing the ball. O’Hara went 7-for-8 on the drive, with passes going to five separate recipients. Hauling in the TD pass would be Alex Foster, from eight yards out on a fade route to put Newmanistan up by the score of 7-3. The first quarter was coming to a close, and it was just the kind of response you would have wanted. On Greal’s next possession, they began to move the ball down the field a little bit and on a 3rd & inches from the Rockets 45, they brought in Michael Return for the first time. “Illegal!” shouted Jeremy Thompson, getting the side judges attention. The play ran anyway and Return ran for 8 yards. “Illegal player!” he shouted again and again before the referee came over to see why he was doing this. Michael Return was also wearing jersey #3, just like Ross Riddle had, and this is against the rules. The officials huddled together and declared both players ineligible to return to the game and called the Demons for a 15 yard penalty, taking away the first down. That was the turning point of the game. On the next play, Littles was intercepted by Stanley Bressler, setting up another scoring drive, that would see Corey Parisi run it in from 27 yards to make it 14-3. Newmanistan added a field goal to make it 17-3 before halftime.

The Demons were clearly taken out of their game plan due to the fact that two of their main offensive weapons had been ejected from the game due to wearing the same jersey number. With the Rockets receiving to begin the second half, they knew they could really put this game away if they could score a TD on the possession. They were methodical about the drive, and used a lot of Corey Parisi, who picked up another 144 yards rushing and 61 receiving today. On a 12-play drive that again saw O’Hara be very efficient, he found Alex Foster in the end zone for the second time, this from 16 yards out to make it 24-3. Foster had a big day, catching 9 passes for 133 and the two touchdowns. Greal managed to answer with a touchdown on their own, with normal backup Conway Pratt making the most of his forced playing time. Pratt had 6 carries for 50 yards on this drive, including the touchdown, but it took a lot of time off the clock. It meant that the game wasn’t quite over, but another Rockets score would be the final blow. As the third quarter ran down and the 4th quarter began, the Rockets put together another drive, running down the clock as much as they could between plays, and allowing Chris Padgett to get several handoffs. The drive culminated in O’Hara’s 3rd TD pass of the game, which was actually a screen to Padgett that went for 10 yards. All in all, a strong performance by O’Hara in the victory, going 25-for-34 for 347 yards and 3 TD’s without a pick. The score made it 31-10, and even though Greal did score with about two minutes to go, the game was long since over. A solid win by the Rockets, in every aspect.

Kura-Pelland

22-11-2008, 19:47

This is becoming all too easy. Kura-Pelland don't look likely to be tested until the playoffs, winning with ease yet again, the 30-20 scoreline by no means a reflection of the game.

Lurikastan scored a touchdown on their opening drive, though, courtesy of a 42-yard run. But Kura-Pelland instantly replied, Michael Bernard orchestrating a 78-yard touchdown drive before handing the honours of the touchdown to Graham Illingworth, who scored on a draw play on second-and-goal from the 9. Then it was the defence's turn to get on the scoresheet, with a fumble recovery for a touchdown from KC Borsten. Then it was the special teams' turn to get on the scoresheet, with a 50-yard FG from Graham Brightman.

Kurikastan posed no threat in the second half and the backups hit the field once Bernard's 24-yard TD pass to Giovanni Cassano on play action was completed for their second misdirection TD of the game to take the score to 24-7 with 8:25 left in the third. The second-string defence showed some complacency after a 36-yard Tim Pogley FG made it 27-7, conceding a touchdown with 6:56 left to make it 27-14. The backups stayed on the field, Pogley scored a 40-yard FG with 1:45 on the clock to seal it at 30-14, but Cotenshire did score a touchdown with 1:01 left. They missed the two-point conversion though, and the onside kick was recovered.

Dancougar

22-11-2008, 21:35

Sidney Goldman's The Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

No such thing as a gimme

The Wings have historically dominated Swilatia. No game has been closer than 20 points, which is to say that no game has been close. Well, last night in front of a sellout home crowd, the Dancougar Black Wings were scared stiff by their supposedly helpless opponents.

The narrow margin of the victory, 16-14 on a late Seth Cavallo field goal, suggests that the Black Wings are already struggling to keep up with their usual style of play. Perhaps they're still rattled from the escape from Cotenshire, where the team was able to return without loss, although the same cannot be said of the Black Wing Brigade. Maybe the newcomers are already starting to show fatigue from the arduous process of international qualification. Whatever the cause, Will Moohim has to address it before a road date with 4-1 Secristan.

It's hard to tell if the Swilatia defense played especially hard because they were up against a team that have laid such heavy beatings on them in the past, or maybe it was an off day for the Dancougar offense. Mistakes that we're not used to seeing came in droves. Four turnovers in all - two fumbles by Gary Hutchins and two interceptions by Michael Hussey - put a halt to promising Black Wing drives. They only managed to put up six points in the first half with a pair of Seth Cavallo field goals. And these were somewhat long ones, too, from 38 and 42 yards, which goes to show just how smooth the offense was running.

Swilatia held the halftime lead 7-6 after one of Hutchins' fumbles gave them a short field, and it was duly converted into a touchdown. Fortunately for the offense, the defense played better than it did in road games with the Bears and Eagles. Swilatia only gained 60 yards in the first half, and 34 of them came on the touchdown drive. That they were able to keep it close was one of the positives to take away from the game, but before you get excited, remember... it was against Swilatia.

But it just goes to show that any team can spring a surprise in this World Bowl. And it's also a dangerous reminder of what can happen to one-dimensional teams. The Wings' exploits against Cotenshire were out of character and weren't repeated here. Hussey was mistiming throws and unable to find Divalerio, Milon, or anyone with any regularity. Hutchins fumbled a second time at the start of the second half to stall another promising drive, and at that point, the 30,000 at the Jared Koeppel were looking for the beer man.

Swilatia scored again after a long punt return set them up on the Dancougar 43, and eight plays gobbled up game clock and Black Wing energy. It was 14-6 with a little over three minutes left in the third, and things were looking grim. But finally, Hussey was able to respond, and he directed a 77-yard drive that culminated in a sweep by Logan Dublin for a 5-yard score. That made it 14-13 with eleven minutes to go in the fourth. The offense then ran into another cold spell, but the defense responded. They had three takeaways in the game, with two of them coming in the fourth quarter. With just under four minutes to play, Tony Rorick jumped a sideline pass and gave the ball to the Wings at their own 39.

Hussey again directed them downfield slowly, with Hutchins getting some traction but still averaging under three yards a carry. Here, Dublin was indispensable. He caught two passes on the drive to make critical first downs, including a shovel pass on third and five that he carried 18 yards to put them in field goal range. Three runs set them up in the middle of the field - and burned Swilatian time outs - and Cavallo made it 16-14 with a 30-yard field goal with just over two minutes to go.

At that point, the critical second turnover came. Rorick picked up his second interception of the game on the third play of the ensuing drive, and without any timeouts, Swilatia could not prevent the Wings from taking a knee and escaping with the win. They travel to Secristan to start the second half of qualification, and the Millionaires have been on a roll since the opening-day loss to the Wings. Revenge will no doubt be on their minds.

Fantasy Fallout

We get our first good look at the ballers from Cotenshire and Cassadaigua in this edition, with the former producing a few honorable mentions and the latter landing two on the list after a shootout with the Wings. And man, what can I say, Qazox and Arroza are just churning out points every week!

QB: Greg Dannen (Qazox)
Antoon Kerkrade and Lauren Hamilton both had huge days in the air, and Hamilton makes a case for being a real Pretty Sportsman Erika after a 300-yard effort. But Greg Dannen is still the leader of the pack, with four touchdown passes to bump his impressive total.

WR: Ivan Harvey (Qazox), Jermaine Divalerio (Dancougar), Tileman Waalwijk (Cotenshire)
Harvey, thus far, has been money every week, and the pair from the Dancougar-Cotenshire game impressed with two touchdown grabs apiece. Once again, many receivers has touchdown grabs, and Ricky Zellefrow gets a shout for also snagging a two-point conversion.

RB: Corey Parisi (Newmanistan), Abraham Chadwick (Arroza)
So many backs had great games, so it was hard to choose. Jason Yeilds had three combined touchdowns, which rivaled Parisi's all-around attack. Donovan Hailey and Frank Vallens almost matched Chadwick's stat line. Danielle Regan and Frances Valencia were other hundred-yard backs that found the endzone.

TE: Theodor Hoorn (Cotenshire)
The big man shook free of his blocking duties to snag a touchdown pass in the Cotenshire's upset bid, then showed his speed by escaping the stadium's razing.

DEF: Qazox
Seven sacks, five turnovers, and a defensive touchdown? Equally as insane as Sarzonia's numbers from matchday three, I'd say!

K: Seth Cavallo (Dancougar)
Cavallo hit four field goals in the win to go with three extra points, making him the top scorer on the day. Taeshan's Martin Gramatica earns an honorable mention for his three kicks, which were instrumental in the overtime win.

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

Congratulations to Antitidum, who got their first win of the tournament, and condolences to Rennidan, which lost for the first time. There are now three unbeatens left, with Dancougar the weakest of the bunch given their recent run of form. Secristan should be looking forward to hosting them, with an upset a definite possibility.

(1) Kura-Pelland (5-0)
(2) Arroza (5-0)
(3) Qazox (4-1)
(4) Newmanistan (4-1)
(5) Dancougar (5-0)
(6) Taeshan (4-1)
(7) Rennidan (4-1)
(8) Secristan (4-1)
(9) Vephrall (4-1)
(10) Lovisa (4-1)
(11) Cotenshire (3-2)
(12) Kjomasasopia (3-2)
(13) Nethertopia (3-2)
(14) The Candrian Empire (3-2)
(15) Sarzonia (2-2-1)
(16) Colbourne (3-2)
(17) Myedvedeya (2-3)
(18) Miroxia (2-2-1)
(19) Green wombat (2-2-1)
(20) Christstan (1-3-1)
(21) Cassadaigua (1-4)
(22) Mantwenic (1-4)
(23) Swilatia (1-4)
(24) Twin Dominions (1-4)
(25) Lurikastan (1-4)
(26) Antitidum (1-4)
(27) Greal (0-5)
(28) Northwest Polaris (0-5)
(29) La Habana Cuba (0-5)
(30) Tortuga y Hispaniola (0-5)

Arroza

22-11-2008, 22:40

Road To Qazox:
@ Sarzonia (24-16)
Vephrall (26-14)
@ Miroxia (22-17)
Tortuga y Hispaniola (35-6)
Cassadaigua (22-8)
Sarzonia – The Hive
@ Vephrall
Miroxia – The Hive
@ Tortuga y Hispaniola
@ Cassadaigua

Tar Hornet Weekly!
Yes, she deserved to get curbstomped, and I hope she burns in hell.

Feature Game of the Week:
Arroza 22 – Cassadiagua 8

Unless you've been in a hole for the past 24 hours you know about the one play that mattered in this game. But there was actually a football game played as well as a streetfight, and in that respect, Arroza did their job handily, winning 22-8. In the first quarter, the Tar Hornets lookd to have underestimated the skill of the Cassadiaguans, as they took to the sky early. A four play drive was capped by a 23 yard strike from Lauren Hamilton to Nicole Donohue. The extra point opportunity was a trick play, when on the fake field goal turned out to be a direct snap to Hamilton, who then rolled out and hit the fullback Matt Colby for the two point conversion.

Arroza got the ball back at the 32 yard line after an Aurienne return, And on the first play, they wanted to pust the smaller Cassadaiguans around. So, the ball went to Chadwick up the middle behind Harley for a ten yard run for the first down. After the tackle by DeForest, Chadwick appeared to have said something disparaging to either Deforest or Looper. Whe asked about the play by reporters Chadwick said, “I told the LB (Deforest) that, that was the softest tackle I had felt all year, and that she needed to get her friend (Looper) in shape, she looked tired after the first play.” A seemingly innocent incidence of trash-talking, you would think.

Then Looper took her helmet off and swung it at Chadwick who was on his way back to the huddle. The helmet connected on the side of Chadwick's knee with a sickening thud, and Chadwick crumpled to the ground like a wet paper rag. And then...chaos. Faragi Kwaku was the first man on the scene, and the giant guard did the proper thing, caving in Looper's face with a righteous right hook. Both players went down, amid the benches clearing. But surprisingly, a lot of the Cassadiagua players didn't want to defend Looper. According to wideout Taesean Malone, the corner defending him said “that the fat [radio edit] deserved to get her block knocked off.” After the penalties, and the ejection of Kwaku, and a much-worse for wear Looper, the cart was brought onto the field to take Chadwick to the infirmary, and the axolotl tank would be his final destination.

The rest of the half was anti-climactic, except for the renewed efforts of the Hornet defense. The defense, especially Chadwick's teammate at Pine Forest, Tony Jackson, the quietly effective nose guard, were out to take an eye for an eye. Danielle Regan took one of the nastiest hits, on the next possession, as Jackson pile drove her into the ground. She wasn't the only victim, as hits big enough to be recorded on Arroza State University's seismographs were delivered to almost every skill player on the Cassadiaguan offense, leading to three fumbles, two by Regan, and one by Hamilton that was picked up by Marcus Aurelin and taken back to the house for six. The 2 point conversion failed, and at the half it was 8-6 Cassadaigua. But they were out of gas, and in the second half, the Defense kept pummeling them, and the offense finally got out of their funk, with Lake Major replacing Chadwick. Hailey finished the game with 2 second half touchdowns, and 120 yards to be the player of the game.

Chadwick is expected to be in intensive physical recovery in an recuperative axolotl tank for at least 6-8 days while his torn ACL and MCL are rebuilt. After that he will need to go through a period of physical and mental recuperation, which should last around a month, meaning that Chadwick should be able to return for the playoffs. The Ministry of Sport has also filed a formal request, for the banning of Rebecca Looper from all international football competitions. The time period of this ban is as yet unspecified.

Results from the rest of Group B:

Vephrall 27 – Sarzonia 20
Miroxia 31 – Tortuga y Hispaniola 23

Vephrall and their unorthodox offense is rolling, and looks to be a challenging task for the Tar Hornets on Matchday 7. Cassadaigua is horrid, along with Tortuga and Hispaniola. Sarzonia and Miroxia though still have a chance to make the flight to Qazox.

Results from the Axis of Evil:

Dancougar 16 – Swilatia 14
Lurikastan 20 – Kura-Pelland 30
They're still unbeaten. We're still unbeaten. That's all that matters.

Next Match:

Arroza Tar Hornets vs. Sarzonia @ The Hive.

Keys to the Game: Get Malone the ball early, and often. He's said that he can be as effective as Chadwick if he gets enough touches. Let's see if he's right.

Kickoff: 19:35 Arroza Standard Time. (Right after sundown.)
Forecast: The exact opposite of Taeshan, Myedvedeva, and Kjomasasopia. Normal Arrozan weather. Clear, sunny and hot, hot, hot. Approx. 84F at kickoff. 7-10 mph winds from the W/SW.

Myedvedeya

22-11-2008, 23:16

Myedvedeya VS Cotenshire

The Eagles of Cotenshire will travel to Myedvedeya for the second match between these teams at this year's world bowl tonight. Myedvedeya expects a highly-physical rumble, as the bears attempt to make up for their earlier loss in Taale-Voren. Myedvedeya, currently on a 2-game winning streak after a disappointing opening run, hope to put themselves back in contention for a playoff berth, as a win here would even both of these squads out at 3-3. A Secristan loss would also be extremely beneficial to our cause, allowing the Bears to move within a game of second place in group A.

The forecast today in Moskva is approximately 15º Fahrenheit, with light intermittent snow flurries, and wind at around 47 miles per hour. As such, the wind chill has been calculated to be around -9.3º Fahrenheit. The Myedvedeyan sports association would like to remind any fans traveling to the match to dress appropriately, and points out that Myedvedeya is not responsible for death or loss of limb due to the cold.

Cotenshire

23-11-2008, 02:40

So that the field would be prepared on time for the Secristan game, animals were allowed to graze on the field instead of it being mowed. While this made the grass short enough, it also gave the field a thick coat of manure that could not be cleared before kickoff. The city walls were packed with fans watching the game, and numerous buildings collapsed when fans piled on to their roofs.

Due to their drunkenness, many fans could not recall details of the game against Dancougar and the fact that they burned down the stadium. It was widely believed that Divalerio himself had burned down the stadium and had caused all the death and destruction. Archbishop István Kõszegi, the de facto leader of the Silverhelms, issued a death warrant against Divalerio and offered £5 billion to anyone who could bring him to his courthouse in Fejeszekja dead or alive.

In preparation for the Myedvedeya game, Coach Slues asked his team, “Who would win in a fight: An Eagle or a Bear?” Most players thought a bear would win, but Coach Slues corrected them. “Bears cannot fly, you idiots.”

Taeshan

23-11-2008, 03:54

Fitin' Falcons Coach Ken Wissenhaunt Gurantees Win

Last night he said it. Coach Wissenhaunt said to TSPN 14(my fav number, go to give a callout) reporter Francois Jacobs that the Fitin' Falcons would beat one of the other Falcon teams competing in this World Bowl the Nethertopian Black Falcons for the second time this tournament. This news comes just a day after Gramatica nailed 8 Field goals in one game, making him leader the tourney with field goal percentage 100, and most field goal made with 13.( i think) Hopefully the Coach isn't lieing.

Qazox

23-11-2008, 05:06

NO rest for the weary.
MD6 RP cutoff is now.
Gotta get the qualifiers in before Turkey day!

Qazox

23-11-2008, 06:05

MATCHDAY SIX SCORES

GROUP A
Dancougar @ Secristan 35-31
Cotenshire @ Myedvedeya 32-20
Swilatia @ Northwest Polaris 20-8

GROUP B
Sarzonia @ Arroza 27-17
Tortuga y Hispaniola @ Vephrall 40-9
Miroxia @ Cassadaigua 21-12

GROUP C
Nethertopia @ Taeshan 34-22
Colburne @ Newmanistan 24-17
Mantwenic @ Greal 14-14

GROUP D
Qazox @ La Habana Cuba 31-6
Kjomasaspoia @ The Candrian Empire 13-10 (OT)
Antitidum @ Rennidan 34-13

GROUP E
Christstan @ Kura-Pelland 42-16
Green wombat @ Lovisa 23-20 (OT)
Twin Dominions @ Lurikastan 15-10

STANDINGS
(Teams sorted First by H2H then by PD, then other Tie-breakers)

GROUP A W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Dancougar 5-1-0 .833 183 124 +59
Secristan 5-1-0 .833 141 115 +26
Cotenshire 3-3-0 .500 123 127 -4
Myedvedeya 3-3-0 .500 139 151 -12
Swilatia 2-4-0 .333 118 101 +17
NW Polaris 0-6-0 .000 76 162 -86

(NOTE: Dancougar is ahead of Secristan based on PD [+59::+26], H2H is tied 1-1;
Cotenshire is ahead of Myedvedeya based on PD [-4::-12], H2H is tied 1-1)

GROUP B W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Arroza 6-0-0 1.000 156 78 +78
Vephrall 5-1-0 .833 168 106 +62
Miroxia 3-2-1 .583 126 109 +17
Sarzonia 2-3-1 .417 130 124 +6
Cassadaigua 1-5-0 .167 105 150 -45
Tort. y Hisp. 0-6-0 .000 78 196 -118

GROUP C W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Newmanistan 5-1-0 .800 146 96 +50
Taeshan 5-1-0 .833 160 128 +32
Nethertopia 3-3-0 .500 141 143 -2
Colburne 3-3-0 .600 109 116 -7
Mantenwic 1-4-1 .250 98 135 -37
Greal 0-5-1 .083 98 134 -36

(NOTE: Newmanistan ahead of Taeshan based on H2H win; Nethertopia ahead of Colburne based on H2H win)

GROUP D W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Rennidan 5-1-0 .833 171 102 +69
Qazox 5-1-0 .833 187 85 +102
Candrian Empire 4-2-0 .667 113 110 +3
Kjomasaspoia 3-3-0 .500 107 107 ---
Antitidum 1-5-0 .167 92 166 -74
Habana Cuba 0-6-0 .000 71 171 -100

(NOTE: Rennidan ahead of Qazox based on H2H win)

GROUP E W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Kura-Pelland 6-0-0 1.000 201 84 +117
Lovisa 4-2-0 .667 154 116 +38
Green wombat 3-2-1 .583 97 122 -25
Lurikastan 2-4-0 .333 97 125 -28
Christstan 1-4-1 .250 89 138 -49
Twin Dominions 1-5-0 .167 92 145 -53

CURRENT PLAYOFF SEEDINGS:

Kura-Pelland (6-0)
Arroza (6-0)
Rennidan (5-1)
Dancougar (5-1)
Newmanistan (5-1)
Qazox (5-1)
Vephrall (5-1)
Taeshan (5-1)
Secristan (5-1)
Lovisa (4-2)

Current 3rd Place team standings

Candrian Empire 4-2-0 .667 113 110 +3
Miroxia 3-2-1 .583 105 97 +8
Green wombat 3-2-1 .583 97 122 -25
Nethertopia 3-3-0 .500 141 143 -2
Cotenshire 3-3-0 .500 123 127 -4

(NOTE: Miroxia would qualify over Green Wombat on PD [+8::-25])

I'm repeating the tiebreakers just as a reminder for all:

Playoff Berth/Group Title:
1- Best H2H Record amongst the teams.
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Point differential in H2H games amongst the teams.
4- Best Road Record.
5- Best Road Point differential.
6- Most Points For.
7- Most Points For in H2H games amongst the teams.
8- Most Road Points For.
9- Most Points For in regulation.
10- Coin Flip.

Seeding for Playoffs:
1- Most wins (ie: a team that is 7-1-0 would be seeded higher than a 6-0-2 team, even though the Win% is the same.)
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Road Point differential.
4- Most Points For.
5- Most Road Points For.
6- Most Points For in regulation.
7- Coin Flip.

Qazox

23-11-2008, 06:21

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

In Cuba, the weather was hot, and so was the Pheonix Defense, as they allowed only 145 total yards of offense in a 31-6 win over La Habana Cuba, which moved Qazox a bit closer to advancing to the playoffs. Offensively, the Pheonix mixed it up a bit gaining only 319 yards, but most of that was due to 4 scoring drives of 40 yards or less. Adam Politt set a new team record with 179 total return yards and 2 touchdowns, one on an interception return and the other on a punt return.

So now we head back home to take on the Brutes in a match that hopefulyl live up to the hype. A loss to the Brutes would give them the tiebreaker agaisnt Qazox, but a win would give Qazox a lead with the rest of the schedule very favorable to finish 9-1.

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 FINAL
Qazox 10 14 7 0 31
La Habana Cuba 0 0 6 0 6

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Greg Dannen: 11-20, 119 yds, 1 TD
Frank Vallens: 14 rushes, 110 yds, 2 TD.
Adam Politt: 7 combined returned, 179 yds, 1 TD.

Defense:
Vic Alworth: 12 tackles, 3 tackles for loss.
Jason Middleton: 15 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks.
Adam Politt: 8 tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Qazox: Adam Politt - 83 yd Punt Return TD; Tryone Chase PAT good (13:14) 7-0 Qazox
Qazox: Tryone Chase - 44 yd FG (8:08) 10-0 Qazox
Second Quarter:
Qazox: Adam Politt - 77 yd INT Return TD; Tryone Chase PAT good (10:08) 17-0 Qazox
Qazox: Tony Aster - 20 yd TD rec., Tryone Chase PAT Good (1:52) 24-0 Qazox
Third Quarter:
LHC: 37 yd FG (11:22) 31-3 Qazox
Qazox: Frank Vallens - 8 yd TD run, Tryone Chase PAT Good (6:52) 31-0 Qazox
LHC: 48 yd FG (1:59) 31-6 Qazox

Green wombat

23-11-2008, 06:28

Whiteboi99 has my vote so far for Wombats MVP. In the 4th quarter and OT he nailed 3 FG's of 45, 47 and the game winning 41 yarder, all into a stiff headwind as Green wombat stunned Lovisa 23-20 in overtime to improve to 3-2-1 on the campaign. Now with 3 of its last 4 against teams with losing records, a possible finish of 6-3-1 isn't out of the question, but will a record of that sort be enough to send them into the playoffs?

Up next is Kura-Pelland, at home. We were horsewhipped last time, but I think we can at least score a couple of TD's against them this game. But K-P is movitvated, as a win over us, would allow them to be the first team to clinch a playoff berth.

Sarzonia

23-11-2008, 06:47

Unlike the first game between Sarzonia and Arroza, this time it was the Stingers who took the big lead early. They ran into the locker room at the half with a 17-3 lead courtesy of a breakout game by running back LoQuan Willard.

Willard rushed for 136 yards and both Sarzonia touchdowns on 11 carries during the first half, while the Stingers limited Arroza to 28 yards of total offence in the first half.

The crowd at The Hive was silenced when Sarzonia took an early 14-0 lead after Willard broke off a touchdown run of 47 yards with just one minute, six seconds expired in the first quater. On the next series, Sarzonia's pressure defence forced a fumble and recovered it at the Tar Hornets 28.

On the next play, Willard faked to his left -- his usual move -- and then darted right behind a crushing Tim Lacker block. He raced untouched into the end zone at the 10 minute, 43 second mark of the second quarter and the Stingers had a commanding 14-0 lead.

Arroza's next drive sputtered, leading some fans in The Hive to start booing with kicker Drew Albrect lining up for a 58-yard field goal. Coach Andreas Waulequah's decision to try a field goal with the spot at the Stingers 48 yard line had Jim Zorn and most of Sarzonia's coaching staff shaking its collective heads, but the ball bounced off the crossbar and just sneaked over with 2:46 remaining.

Even though Sarzonia's Adam Novak answered with a 43-yard field goal to end the first half with the Stingers ahead by two touchdowns, the momentum had already begun to change. Zorn could detect it, even though he gave arguably the most fiery speech of his life at halftime.

Even though the Stingers stalled Arroza's opening drive of the second half at their own 30 and Albrect's 47-yard field goal only cut the lead to 17-6, it was the beginning of the end for Sarzonia.

Quarterback Erik Smythe hit Taesean Malone with a 82-yard touchdown pass on the first play for scrimmage after a Stingers three-and-out and that opened the floodgates. Arroza ended up outscoring Sarzonia 24-0 in the second half and won the game, improving to 6-0.

For Sarzonia's players, they were left scratching their heads and soul searching. Zorn's mantra of "no moral victories" would definitely be ringing in Stingers heads, but at least the road-weary Sarzonians would soon play their next four matches at the friendly confines of Hendrix Stadium.

The match up against Miroxia, the team that played to a 13-13 tie against the Stingers would be tough, but Sarzonia hoped home cooking and a highly partisan Hendrix Stadium crowd would turn the tide in their favour.

Secristan

23-11-2008, 07:51

MILLIONAIRES SHOCK DANCOUGAR

With Black Wing Nation having their eyes focused on the World Cup and then needing to recover from a disappointing loss in penalty kicks, Secristan was hoping to add some more disappointment to their day. The Loophole was full to capacity, with the Secristan Department of Sports able to achieve an average bid price of 156R for the match, the highest such figure in any of the home World Bowl games, and a figure that would not likely be matched in any of the other home games. Dancougar came here with their reputation and their shiny 5-0 record. For Secristan, at 4-1, it was the only game that they had lost so far and it was a game in which they felt they let get away. If you recall that contest, Secristan seemed to move the ball very well against the Black Wings, but the bend but don’t break defense of Dancougar held firm and did not allow the Millionaires to penetrate their fifteen yard line all game line. The Millionaires were settling for field goals while they should have been getting touchdowns. If tonight, they could find the end zone they knew they had a chance. When the team took a quick 14-0 lead in the first quarter, the confidence picked up. Tom Mitchell engineered a nice drive that ended in a 16-yard run by Chris Hausler, then on the next Dancougar possession, Kevin Boyle intercepted a Michael Hussey pass and took it 38 yards for the score. After Dancougar closed to 14-10, Secristan scored in the final seconds of the half on a 33-yard pass from Mitchell to the country’s favorite wide receiver, Stacie Johnson to make it 21-10 at halftime. Dancougar started the second half well with two scores to make it 24-21 and appeared to be driving down the field again when Gary Hutchins fumbled the ball after being hit by Julius Jackson. With good field position, Mitchell found The Blizzard in the end zone from 44 yards out to get the crowd back on their feet again. Even though Dancougar went back ahead early in the 4th, Secristan had one last drive in them, and Mitchell threw for his third touchdown of the game, a 27 yarder to Stacie Johnson to give Secristan a 35-31 lead. With Hussey trying to rally his team in the two minute offense, he was intercepted by Chris Tulenko that sealed the upset victory.

The entire nation celebrates this win which will serve as about as big of a confidence booster as one can get. If the Millionaires have the ability to beat teams like this then they not only should make it to Qazox but might surprise a few people if they get there. The win was probably bigger then the stunner the Millionaires pulled off in World Bowl II when they beat previously undefeated Qazox in the group stage, which was the only game that they lost during group play. The Secristan Department of Sports is celebrating this victory as well, and it is believed that some of the players may be on the verge of picking up some big endorsement deals due to this win, which is exactly what they were hoping for.

Dancougar

23-11-2008, 08:41

Sidney Goldman's The Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

And it's back to the drawing board

After the fans attempting to get to the game discovered they had to bid for the right to get on the shuttles getting from downtown to the game anywhere remotely on time, after some discovered that they didn't have enough to outbid patrons at the bar where they planned to watch the game after losing the ticket auction, and after yours truly threw down a few days' pay to earn a spot in the stadium's media center to report on the game, the Wings picked up their first loss of the tournament, a 35-31 result that we should have seen coming.

After a trio of squeakers that just kept the team's head above the murky Group A waters, Secristan have come on strong and, although this game will be considered an upset, the better team definitely won. The white-collar wizards are now on a five game winning streak and sit second in the group on point differential. Coach Will Moohim has to find a way to get his team to play at the same intensity on both offense and defense that has marked past success. In the previous few games, he's had one unit show up but not the other. Against Myedvedeya and Cotenshire, he needed his offense to put up bigger numbers than usual to counteract a defense that started giving out points to any passers-by. Against Swilatia, they needed the defense to cover for a sputtering offense that couldn't keep the ball in their own hands. Against Secristan, the inconsistencies were finally exposed, as the offense could not keep up in a shootout.

The Wings have now given up nearly twice as many points as they did in all of World Bowl III qualifying, and they've ceded at least twenty points in three of the last four games. Moohim has been left scratching his head. "The talent is there," he said. But is it getting utilized?

Secristan scored touchdowns on their first possession, with Chris Hausler breaking a 16-yard run to jump on the board. As expected, he was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for excessive celebration, but one could argue that he deserved it. Against a unit that had been feared by World Bowl opponents, Secristan were moving up and down the field at will. All that was different from the first game was that Ryan Norris got to kick for one instead of three. Michael Hussey and Gary Hutchins went to work in response, but had a touch time gaining traction. Hussey went to the air, but his pass for Jay Milon was snagged by Kevin Boyle and returned 38 yards to make it 14-0. The Wings got some kind of response on the ensuing drive to avoid getting completely steamrolled. Seth Cavallo, who has been seeing a lot of use lately, hit a 40-yard field goal after the Hausler run to make it 14-3.

The defense got a stop around midfield, and it was clear that they were getting worn down by Secristan's attack. Hussey stepped up and put a drive together, marching 88 yards in 12 plays. Gary Hutchins, finished with 110 yards, scored on a 3-yard run to make it 14-10, but Tom Mitchell would have the last word of the half. He nailed Stacie Johnson with a 33-yard strike to make it 21-10. The pass was a bit high, but it was no problem for the nimble Johnson, who has a cheerleadering background. Mitchell could count on his receiver getting more air than cornerback Tony Rorick, even though she had no height advantage. This time, she didn't even need assistance from her teammates. No doubt the Secristan fans in attendance were pleased by the result, and one could already see executives with calculators in hand, determining the windfall they expected to receive from boosted merchandise sales should they get the win.

The Black Wing defense made some adjustments in the second half and the offense rewarded the effort by giving them their first lead of the game. First it was Hutchins setting up play action for Hussey, who found Jermaine Divalerio inside the ten, and another Hutchins run preceded a 3-yard bullet to tight end Ed Mendenhall to make it 21-17. Then, the game appeared to get broken open when Hussey dumped a screen pass to Logan Dublin, who skipped past Tony Maurice and accelerated into the secondary. He picked up a huge block from Divalerio and sprinted to the house, a 67-yard score to make it 24-21. After Secristan was stuffed again, it appeared like the Black Wings had finally woken up and would take complete control of the game. But Hutchins fumbled on the next drive, giving Mitchell good field position. He responded to Dancougar's challenge by coolly connecting on a 44-yard strike to Brian Brissard, who was also flagged for his celebration when he went over to the stands and, in his own words, "got his popcorn ready." The crowd was certainly appreciative of the 28-24 lead, except for maybe the guy who bid upwards of $10 for that popcorn.

The constant back and forth was asking a bit much of the Wings. Hutchins was making slow progress, so they had to resort to converting third downs through the air. Nothing good comes from a Black Wing team that has to pass in order to win, but somehow, Hussey was able to march them down the field with a string of short completions. Five yards here, six there... Hutchins eventually got the space he needed to crash through the line for a 5-yard score to make it 31-28. With the clock passing the five minute mark of the fourth, Secristan coach Matthew Taylor was pacing the sidelines nervously, since it seemed like that Dancougar magic, whatever it was, would somehow deliver the result once again. It was time for Mitchell to go out and be a hero. Eleven yards to Brissard, a check down to Hausler, and then Brissard again. He efficiently moved the ball down the field as the exhausted Black Wing defense tried to keep up. He found a gap in the secondary and tossed the go-ahead score to Johnson, making it 35-31 with 1:49 to play.

Now it was Moohim's turn to panic, as Dancougar's offense is simply not built for the two-minute drill. They'd been lucky so far, but Hussey was under immense pressure with the game on his shoulders. Without the luxury of the running game, the Wings were suddenly playing four and five wide like it was normal for them. Unfortunately, it's hard to count on 19-year-old first-timer Billy Leuthold when you need the clutch hands of Jermaine Divalerio. But with the regulars covered tightly, Hussey had no choice. Leuthold was slightly off on his route and Chris Tulenko reaped the spoils of the miscommunication. His interception effectively sealed the victory, as Secristan got the first down they needed and forced Dancougar to burn all its timeouts.

For Dancougar, it was a bitter pill to swallow, but it kept alive the tradition that no Black Wing team has ever gone through qualification unbeaten. But they'd also like to avoid being the first to lose more than one game.

Fantasy Fallout

Hoo boy, make a liar out of me! I was flooded with emails about my ravings regarding Greg Dannen and Ivan Harvey, who had what passes for an "off week" by failing to light up the scoreboard in Qazox's week five win. But hey, as teams adjust, offenses evolve to continue to produce. In the end, there is no such thing as a free lunch, or for that matter, free fantasy points.

QB: Kenny O'Hara (Newmanistan)
This is the game we were waiting for. This is precisely what the Rockets were hoping for when they switched from Pivonka to O'Hara, and his 347 yards and 3 touchdowns were tops on the day. Sarzonia's Gavin Davis has also been lighting it up recently.

RB: Frank Vallens (Qazox), Chris Hausler (Secristan)
Qazox kept it on the ground through Vallens, who had a big day with 172 yards and two scores, although backup Jason DeHavel also had a hundred-yard day, so it's worth grabbing those guys even if your league's not deep. Bad news for Abraham Chadwick owners - he's out for the remainder of qualifiers, but that does mean more carries for his Donovan Hailey and Luke Major. Corey Parisi continues to produce.

WR: Alex Foster (Newmanistan), Giovanni Cassano (Kura-Pelland), Willie Brookes (Sarzonia)
My my, without Ivan Harvey to put up two or three touchdown grabs, who do we look for on this week? Foster had the biggest game in terms of both yardage and touchdowns, while Cassano and Brookes had big touchdown catches in their games. It was a slow day for quarterbacks across the board, so everyone was hurting at this position.

TE: Nicole Donahue (Cassadaigua)
Donahue found the endzone for the lovely ladies of Cassadaigua, who showed their fighting spirit against Arroza that ultimately led to injuries, ejections, and a scuffle that, as far as we know, didn't end up like the one in the Cup of Harmony.

DEF: Arroza
The Tar Hornets forced three fumbles and took one of them to the house, making them the top-scoring defense of week five. Qazox and Secristan also forced multiple turnovers.

K: Martin Gramatica (Taeshan)
Eight field goals?! I can only imagine the verbal beating the offense got after that one.

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

Dancougar's stock has been falling for the past few weeks, even though they've continued to win, and now they're barely in the top ten after Secristan proved their worth in week six. Lots of teams are looking pretty strong, with Vephrall rolling and The Candrian Empire upsetting Lovisa. Of course, the familiar faces won as expected. This is going to make for an interesting second half.

(1) Kura-Pelland (6-0)
(2) Qazox (5-1)
(3) Arroza (6-0)
(4) Newmanistan (5-1)
(5) Taeshan (5-1)
(6) Rennidan (5-1)
(7) Secristan (5-1)
(8) Vephrall (5-1)
(9) Dancougar (5-1)
(10) The Candrian Empire (4-2)
(11) Lovisa (4-2)
(12) Kjomasasopia (3-3)
(13) Cotenshire (3-3)
(14) Green wombat (3-2-1)
(15) Myedvedeya (3-3)
(16) Miroxia (3-2-1)
(17) Nethertopia (3-3)
(18) Sarzonia (2-3-1)
(19) Colbourne (3-3)
(20) Swilatia (2-4)
(21) Lurikastan (2-4)
(22) Mantwenic (1-4-1)
(23) Christstan (1-4-1)
(24) Cassadaigua (1-5)
(25) Twin Dominions (1-5)
(26) Antitidum (1-5)
(27) Greal (0-5-1)
(28) Northwest Polaris (0-6)
(29) La Habana Cuba (0-6)
(30) Tortuga y Hispaniola (0-6)

La Habana Cuba

23-11-2008, 10:13

Despite our nation's international reputation for sports. La Habana Cuba 0 to 6. Must be the chosen international judges biased callings that have resulted in score fraud. No doubt enticed $ by the Miami Shorerian Mafia members, those traitors, worms and scums of birth and descent of our democratic nation, the most democratic nation in the NS world.

Minister of Sports, Julio Christian Jimenez Molina
LHC National Collective Institute of Sports Ministry.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Felipe Perez Roque
LHC State Council of Ministers Collective.
La Habana Cuba Socialist Democratic Republic.

Cassadaigua

23-11-2008, 13:27

Katie’s Space

Maybe we just aren’t cut out for this World Bowl thing. Screw that, yes we are. We could have done a lot better in this then are measly little 1-5 record shows. In the future we will be better. We will come back to this in the 5th World Bowl and learn from our biggest mistake which was bringing fatass Looper with us. I’ve tried to be quiet about some of things that she has done lately because I want to survive the World Bowl in one piece. You can’t blame Looper entirely for our poor record thus far, as we all have played a part in it. We haven’t been terrible, and have been in most of the games, we just are not getting the results that are needed. This has been a pretty tough group as well with Sarzonia emerging as a very strong opponent and the Vephrall team maybe being as good as their soccer team, after all. Then you have Miroxia, the team we just cannot beat. Maybe we can be someone’s spoiler, who knows. But to be honest with you, that’s not really something that excites me. It would have been better to have won more then just one of our first six games. Is it the fault of international judges? I still don’t know what that complaint is all about but when you’re losing all you have to do is look internally to see what the problems are.

We have this big matter of Rebecca Looper. The psycho woman who takes control of every team meeting as much as our coaches try to contain her. However, they continue to play her and I really don’t know why. A lot of us have campaigned to get her removed from the team and the coaches are simply not listening to us, and it is causing frustration and some friction that should not be there in such a competition like we are in right now. We might have some help now in our efforts to get her off the team from the Arrozan national side. Looper went nuts on poor Abraham Chadwick, who is one of the top running backs in the World Bowl right now. She took Chadwick out of the game, but not in the manner we were hoping she would. She takes off her helmet and attacks Chadwick in the knee and now he’s probably out for the rest of group play if not more. A get-together ensued when one of their players punched Looper, but we really weren’t sure why. I think it was more because we saw Arrozan players charging from their sideline that we felt we needed to charge from ours just so no one else got hurt. I’m not sure how many of us particularly cared about Looper. Even though a lot of us were on the field, nothing else broke out, and we were really just talking to the Arrozan players about how crazy we thought she was too.

The Arrozan Ministry of Sport has filed a request for Looper to be banned from all football competitions. Silently, this request has the support of 90% of the Cassadagan roster.

Arroza

23-11-2008, 16:21

Road To Qazox:
@ Sarzonia (24-16)
Vephrall (26-14)
@ Miroxia (22-17)
Tortuga y Hispaniola – Resurgens Velodrome (35-6)
Cassadaigua – The Hive (22-8)
Sarzonia – (27-17)
@ Vephrall
Miroxia – The Hive
@ Tortuga y Hispaniola
@ Cassadaigua

Tar Hornet Weekly!
Is Lake Major going to live up to his name, or forever be...minor?.

Feature Game of the Week:
Arroza 27 – Sarzonia 17

Let's not even talk about that abortion of a first half, okay. We can burn the tape of that, and consider it a delayed hangover from the effects of losing Chadwick, for what is now going to be at least 6 weeks, which means he'll be available for the Quarter-Finals at earliest. Okay? Done.

Now in the second half, we finally got to see what Coach Wahlequah's backup plan was for when we only had one functional, dedicated fullback. And, wow is it something. Erik Smythe ran something called the “pistol-set” to perfection yesterday night at The Hive, and it is fast-moving. The basics of it, is that it's a shotgun set with Hailey as the sole back, and a lot of other interchangeable parts including at least 3 receivers, Harley, the tight ends, Rudolph and Paloma, and a lot of passing, which isn't normally how we play at all. Smythe, however has teased us with the offense at Huracan, so we were waiting to see how it worked on the big stage.

It wasn't too bad.

Mid third quarter, it started to click as Smythe, hit his teammate and partner in crime Malone on the stop and go route, and it was all go for the speedy receiver as he scampered 82 yards for the touchdown. After a three and out, the Tar Hornets came down the field with another explosive drive, this one taking all of six plays, and ending with a Smythe rollout, and 37 yard throw to Maximiano. Late in the fourth, they showed that it's not all passing out of the formation, as Smythe runs the shotgun option to perfection, getting behind the big man Harley, and absorbing the crushing hit to spring Hailey, who catches the patch and takes it in from 19 yards. More importantly, we kept our streak alive at 6 wins, and we've proven that the team can win without Chadwick.

Results from the rest of Group B:

Vephrall 27 – Sarzonia 20
Miroxia 31 – Tortuga y Hispaniola 23

Want to hear something crazy? The Tar Hornets can clinch a playoff spot in week 7. All that needs to happen is that the Tar Hornets win at Vephrall, and Sarzonia get their homestand off to a good start with a win against Miroxia. If those two events happen, then we can't finish any worse than second in Group B.

Results from the Axis of Evil:

Kura-Pelland 42 – Christstan 16
The sad thing was, it wasn't as close as it looked.
Secristan 35 – Dancougar 31
What do they have that we don't? Except luck, and piles of cash.

Next Match:

Arroza Tar Hornets vs. Vephrall @ Vephrall.

Keys to the Game: Lake Major. He averaged 1.2 yards a carry last game as the Brovo back, and he definitely needs to step his game up, if he wants to be a “Major” contributor to the standard Split-I offense. Otherwise, we need to see Smythe making good decisions out of the new pistol-set.

Taeshan

23-11-2008, 17:45

Fitin' Falcons Win Over Nethertopia

Everyone knew it would happen, the Coach even guranteed it. The Falcons easily defeated the Nethertopian Black Falcons 34-22. It was an asonishing show of power, the Falcons soared past the less expierienced Falcons and easily won the game. It was never close, and in the fourth quater not a single starter, except the kicker got action. It was a nice game.

Well it started off with a Nethertopian runback for a touchdown on the begining kickoff, making it 7-0, and the closest they were to winning all game. Then on the next drive Gabe Martin passed it deep to Ricky Zellefrow for a touchdown, and an extra Point, and it was all noted up. Then Martin again found Zellefrow near the 5 minute mark off the second quater to make it 14-7. Then a Nethertopian field goal made it 14-10. Following that Rudi Williams found a hole and charged 40 yards for a Falcon touchdown. This was followed by a Nethertopian Touchdown and a blocked extra point mahing it 16-21. Then Gramatica made a field goal as the second died down in the 2nd from 45 and the scored going into halftime was 24-16.

In the second half, Alec Dega came iin for Gabe Martin and handed off to Rudi Williams for a 56 yard burst making it 31-16. This was followed by a Nethertopian field goal from 33 yards making it 31-19. Then at the end of the third the Falcons scored again making it 22-31. In the fourth not a single offensive or defensive side, except for those positions there are no backups for was left on the field. The game ended with a Martin Gramatica field goal from 50 yards making it 34-22 as the final score.

Next the Falcons take on there biggest football rivals not in ther own region Newmanistan. The Falcons and Rockets are all notted up except for the Rokcet defeat of the Falcons earlier this year. They are both 5-1 and in qualifying position. The Falcons need a win, witch would then give them the group lead. They would also need to not lose in any of the following games witch is easier then it sounds. Tickets are available at your local Tae-Marts.

Newmanistan

23-11-2008, 19:02

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS GET PAYBACK OVER COLBOURNE

South Tier, Newmanistan- The Stadium at South Tier was rocking. This is one of those stadiums that has benefitted from Newmanistan hosting the Cup of Harmony and therefore leading to the Empress playing games at other stadiums that haven’t traditionally been used for interregional competition. This Stadium was one of them. It’s had one day of games, three lacrosse matches in the second World Lacrosse Championships, but that has been it. Now, it could shine for the World Bowl. Not to mention, it would get a chance to have one of the more important games on the schedule ever since the Rockets had a stunning defeat on the first matchday to Colbourne, by the score of 21-20. South Charlotte will lose its interregional virginity after this in the game against which is the one home game that is probably a bit bigger then this one. But South Tier had one big reason to be excited. It is after all, the domestic team that Jeremy Thompson coaches and that Kenny O’Hara plays for. That may have had something to do with way this stadium got a game, too.

Thompson reminded O’Hara have how Colbourne defeated the Rockets on opening day, with the two second half interceptions returned for touchdowns by Brian Taylor and they would have to be sure they knew where he was on the field at all times. Colbourne, however, would receive to begin the game, and this is a team that would have every bit of confidence coming in to South Tier. Just about every game that they have played in so far has been close and they have probably played more overtime games then mostly everyone, if not everyone, has to date. QB Jeff Williams, perhaps the best QB in the World Bowl that you’ve never heard of did a great job moving his team down the field, completing all six of his passes for 63 yards, culminated on a 15-yard touchdown reception by Calvin Bruce. The scoring drive they hoped, would take the Seagulls fans out of game. After forcing Newmanistan to punt, Williams marched his boys down the field again somewhat, before the drive stalled at the Newmanistan 39. Punt for field position? Fat chance! It was a windy day, as usual, in South Tier, and out came unnamed kicker for a 57 yard field goal. His blast was wind aided, and found it’s way just over the crossbar to make it 10-0 in the first quarter. Newmanistan had to respond now. Corey Brooks set the team up with a kick return all the way back to the Newmanistan 40, and then on the first play, Corey Parisi broke two tackles and was gone. 60 yards, just like that and the crowd was back on their feet. That could be quite a momentum changer sometimes, and that it would be here. Colbourne got nothing on their next possession, which was in the second quarter, and the Rockets brought the ball downfield again. Parisi went over the century mark on the day with 42 more yards on this drive, and the Rockets appeared to score a touchdown on 3rd and goal from the 10 on a pass completion from O’Hara to Christian Gagnon that was called back for holding on Benny Halvorsen. Our replay staff is still looking at angles of this play to find a hold from big #77 but have not been able to find it. Newmanistan grudgingly settled for a 37 yard field goal to tie the game up at 10, which is where we would be at halftime.

The start of the second half was better for the Rockets this time then it was when they met in Colbourne but that’s only because it couldn’t be any worse. This is when the team was victimized by Brian Taylor, so just to play it safe, the team kept it on the group a little more then usual. Corey Parisi benefitted from more carries, and ended up with 175 yards rushing on the day and 45 more receiving, his biggest game of the World Bowl this far. Newmanistan had drove the ball inside the 35 yard line of Colbourne and had to ponder whether or not they should sent Colfer out to kick a 50 yard field goal while kicking into the wind. As much as Ashton promised coach Thompson that he would make the kick, Thompson thought it would be a better idea to punt and pin Colbourne deep. Meadows made a perfect punt, which was downed at the one. Colbourne was unable to get a first down, and the Rockets saw their plan work out well. Another good return by Brooks allowed them to set up shop at the Colbourne 29, and the Rockets this time would get a touchdown after O’Hara escaped a sack about three separate times with his elusiveness and then found Jim Crosby up the gut at the five yard line, and he took it the remaining five yards. Newmanistan was now in front for the first time today, but it would not last long. Jeff Williams rallied his troops, and Colbourne countered with a 14-play, 81-yard drive that took 9:52 off the game clock, and brought the game into the fourth quarter. Javon Greene scored on a sweep left from seven yards and we were tied once again, 17-all with 10:12 left to play. After the teams exchanged punts and brought the clock down to about five and a half left to play, O’Hara helped engineer a scoring drive. Parisi picked up three first downs on the drive, en route to those 220 all purpose yards, as the Rockets ran down the clock effectively. They couldn’t get it all down to zero, but with 1:05 left, O’Hara found Gagnon in the end zone from 8 yards and this time there was no holding. 24-17 Newmanistan, and they would hold off Colbourne on their final effort, although Williams made a valiant effort with the team and actually had driven it down to the Newmanistan 34. A final last ditch play at the end zone was batted down by Stanley Bressler, and the win picked up. Colbourne showed that they were a worthy opponent, but this time, Newmanistan pulls off the victory.

After this victory, Newmanistan is 5-1 and gets set to play Taeshan in South Charlotte, which will be the first international game ever held in that city, so the fans are very excited about that. Both nations are 5-1 and appear headed for the knockouts, but both would love to get a win and that first round bye which winning the group would help out the cause of, but not guarantee. In a related story, the folks at Charlotta Italia have offered a free slice of pizza to any Taeshani fan who makes the trip and can show their passport, with all other purchases at 50% off. Newmanistanians can get the 50% off deal as well by mentioning “Rocket Report” at the counter. After hearing of my dissatisfaction with that Fadron Pizza when we were there, Charlotta Italia wants to show Taeshanis what real pizza is supposed to taste like.

Myedvedeya

23-11-2008, 21:35

Myedvedeya 32-20 Cotenshire

The Kamchatka Grizzly Bears American football squad won their third straight victory today, defeating Cotenshire at home to even the two teams at 3-3, in a race for the third-place spot in the very difficult group A.

Myedvedeya opened the game in the first quarter, as they drove from their own 15 to the Cotenshire 6, before a Boris Shcherbatsky pass to wideout Grigory Kovalenko put the Bears ahead, 6-0. Slava Karoly drunkenly stumbled onto the field for the extra point, which he somehow managed to send off both posts, but in. 7-0. The drive was most notable for Vladimir Karpov's 53-yard run, in which he broke three tackles, and took the Bears from their own 25 to the opposing 22 before stepping out of bounds to avoid a mob of defenders. Cotenshire soon struck back, however, with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Antoon Kerkade to Tileman Waalwijk. The extra point was put straight through, evening the score at 7-7. Just before the end of the first quarter, Pasha Arkhipov took a carry, and fumbled on the Bears' 19. Cotenshire's Daevit Carwer recovered the fumble, and took it back for another touchdown. Another extra point made the score 14-7 Eagles.

As the second quarter began, Cotenshire held Myedvedeya to Fourth and long on the Cotenshire 45 yard-line. On came drunken Karoly, and up went the field goal, surprisingly sailing through from 55 to make the score 14-10. The Bears defense then held the Eagles to a single series, and then the amazing Misha Shcherbakov managed a 90-yard punt return for a touchdown, putting the bears ahead 17-14 after the extra point went through. Cotenshire took the lead once more before the half, with a touchdown run from Lambert Zeist. Unfortunately for the Eagles, the extra point was blocked, leaving the score at 20-17.

In the third, both defenses stepped to the fore for a period of time, and no points were scored until right before the end of the quarter. With two minutes left in the third quarter, Georgiy Zhurvalev intercepted a pass, and proceeded to run over two offensive linemen before being brought down seven yards from the Cotenshire end zone. Shcherbatsky faked a pass to Konstantin Evdokimov, and ran the ball in himself for six more Myedvedeyan points. Karoly converted the extra point, and the score stood at 24-20.

The fourth started out beautifully for the KGB. A long kickoff left the Eagles at their own Three-yard line, and two plays later, a Leonid Titov sack gave Myedvedeya two more points, and the ball. 26-20. On the next drive, Karpov drove for another 50 yard run, and the offense was held at the 21, leading to Karoly's second field goal of the day. 29-20 Bears. The Bears' defense held Cotenshire to nothing for the remainder of the game, and Karoly scored once more with three minutes remaining, making the final score Myedvedeya 32, Cotenshire 20.

1 2 3 4 F
Myedvedeya 7 10 7 8 32
Cotenshire 14 6 0 0 20

Rennidan

24-11-2008, 00:42

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

WATCH THIS SPACE

THEY CALLED it as one of the games of this World Bowl. Defending champions meet the last lads to have won it. Qazox and Rennidan are a fresh rivalry in the face of the World Bowl, and there's no doubt about it that it's already grown to be a fierce one.

Last time these two met, the elder champions won, but not by a fierce margin. Instead, they won under disputed realms, and a controversial call led to the Brutes clinching the game in it's dying moments. Dissatisfied by this, Qazox marched off the pitch and allowed Rennidan to walk the ball in for the final 2 points of the game. Many saw this as a mark of dissrespect, and boy-oh-boy are Rennidan going to do their best to make sure they leave Qazox with the host team holding nothing but respect for them.

WHAT WE WANT TO BLOODY WELL SEE:

More Direct Snaps to Yeilds
It's gotta' be said, this tactic has been a saving grace for Rennidan's passing game. Yeilds has come through as the Brutes MVP this year, with his ability to return, run and throw showing him to be one of the best all-rounders going at the moment. The Qazox side are no doubt aware of Yeilds talents, and will be on the case from the get go.

Powis VERSUS Dannen
What happens when you put one of the best QB's in the game up against one of the best QB-killers going? I haven't a clue, but I'm betting it'll be ruddy spectacular.

Yeilds Yeilds Yeilds Yeilds
Going back to point one here, Yeilds is by far the best asset we have right now, and he'll no doubt be gunning it the entire game. He's become a crowd favourite, and he's the lad everyone wants to see.

And, of course, most importantly...

A Rennidan Win.

Vephrall

24-11-2008, 03:00

Player Spotlight

46/FB Angufams NETGORIN

Vital stats
Age: 22
Height: 190 cm (6'3")
Weight: 96 kg (211 lbs)
Hometown: Anhenir, DE
Graduated from Shentarong Southern (Biology '64)

On many teams, the fullback isn't much more than a glorified lineman that lines up in the backfield, spending the whole game blocking guys so that the other players can stay in the spotlight. The fullback for the Auric Wolves, however, is a major component in the offense. He'll carry the ball a lot, and he'll usually carry it a pretty long way, too. It helps that Netgorin is one of the fastest fullbacks out there, even faster than some of the team's wide receivers.

* * * * *

The Meice Journal
All the news that fits, we print!
Vol. 172, No. 37 - 24 March 1764

Sports

Gridball team in high gear
by Sadiques Dotsmens

MISEDOS -- The Auric Wolves' game against Sarzonia was a surprisingly orthodox affair, with the home team actually looking like a true gridball team instead of a ragtag group of players from another sport. The only players that threw the ball were the ones actually listed as quarterbacks, and there was very little trickery to be had. But with Sarzonia's defense, and Tim Bates and Ryan Clack in particular, seeming to lack focus during the game, there was very little trickery needed. Crublig Claspung threw a touchdown pass and picked up another on the ground, producing over 200 yards of total offense. Fullback Angufams Netgorin rushed 24 times for 137 yards, though he never reached the end zone himself, and Vephrall took the win, 27-20.

Sarzonia proved to be a much tougher opponent than Tortuga y Hispaniola. The Auric Wolves had already picked up a comfortable win against them in the first qualifying game, and the fans expected more of the same here. It didn't take long for the home team to get on the board, as defensive end Menburid Cothasat intercepted a pass in the first minute and ran it back for six points. Later in the quarter, Claspung made what appeared to be a normal option pitch to Siestanin Preptyrs (who had lined up as a halfback on the play), but Preptyrs then launched the ball upfield to a wide open Netgorin for 57 yards and a score. 14-3, and the rout was on. A couple more touchdowns in the second quarter followed by a field goal as the first half expired made it 30-3 at halftime. The backups started to come in at the start of the second half, and by the time backup halfback Hahnea Wais ran twelve yards into the end zone to make it 40-3, there were no starters left on the field.

These two wins put Vephrall at 5-1 and in very good shape to make the playoffs. Next up is 6-0 Arroza. The Tar Hornets beat Vephrall in game two, but it wasn't the blowout many had predicted. Organizers announced yesterday that there would be a change of venue for this game. With national interest in Vephrall's gridball team growing exponentially and logistics becoming a major issue at Ellime Parogam Gests, the Hornets (of BTI, not Arroza) will be getting their home field back and Vephrall and Arroza will play at Ellime e Vephrall here in Meice. With all World Cup matches in Vephrall now over, the last one being Dancougar's four-nil win over Lovisa in the third-place playoff at Ellime e Vephrall, the stadium is now available for World Bowl fixtures. So far, only the Arroza game has officially been moved to Meice; organizers have said they will wait until after that game to make decisions about the Auric Wolves' remaining home games.

1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q
SRZ 7 3 0 10 20
VPH 7 10 3 7 27

SCORING SUMMARY
1st/12:58/VPH/00-07 C. CLASPUNG touchdown run, 12 yds
1st/06:27/SRZ/07-07 G. DAVIS touchdown pass to C. HENNESSY, 6 yds
2nd/14:07/VPH/07-14 I. GOING touchdown run, 22 yds
2nd/08:46/SRZ/10-14 A. NOVAK field goal, 44 yds
2nd/03:15/VPH/10-17 S. SPELAAD field goal, 33 yds
3rd/07:38/VPH/10-20 S. SPELAAD field goal, 40 yds
4th/13:37/SRZ/13-20 A. NOVAK field goal, 26 yds
4th/08:57/VPH/13-27 C. CLASPUNG touchdown pass to S. PREPTYRS, 14 yds
4th/03:19/SRZ/20-27 G. DAVIS touchdown pass to W. BROOKS, 36 yds

PASSING (total: 9/18, 147 yds, TD)
C. CLASPUNG 8/16, 118 yds, TD
H. SADS 1/2, 31 yds

RUSHING (total: 54 att, 342 yds, 2 TD)
A. NETGORIN 24 att, 137 yds
C. CLASPUNG 15 att, 94 yds, TD
I. GOING 8 att, 66 yds, TD
T. CLIRIPUTED 7 att, 45 yds

RECEIVING
S. PREPTYRS 3 rec, 68 yds, TD
S. PEVONSONT 5 rec, 48 yds
T. CLIRIPUTED 1 rec, 31 yds

1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q
TYH 3 0 0 6 9
VPH 14 16 10 0 40

SCORING SUMMARY
1st/14:13/VPH/00-07 M. COTHASAT interception return, 34 yds
1st/11:37/TYH/03-07 K #15 field goal, 38 yds
1st/04:33/VPH/03-14 S. PREPTYRS touchdown pass to A. NETGORIN, 57 yds
2nd/10:37/VPH/03-20 I. GOING touchdown run, 11 yds (PAT missed)
2nd/05:29/VPH/03-27 C. CLASPUNG touchdown run, 33 yds
2nd/00:00/VPH/03-30 S. SPELAAD field goal, 24 yds
3rd/09:38/VPH/03-33 S. SPELAAD field goal, 41 yds
3rd/02:17/VPH/03-40 H. WAIS touchdown run, 12 yds
4th/12:07/TYH/09-40 QB #3 touchdown pass to WR #82, 29 yds (PAT missed)

PASSING (total: 8/13, 127 yds, TD)
S. PREPTYRS 1/1, 57 yds, TD
C. CLASPUNG 5/8, 54 yds
H. SADS 2/4, 16 yds

RUSHING (total: 53 att, 410 yds, 3 TD)
A. NETGORIN 18 att, 174 yds
T. CLIRIPUTED 11 att, 83 yds
C. CLASPUNG 9 att, 61 yds, TD
I. GOING 6 att, 38 yds, TD
P. ANGUFAMS 3 att, 19 yds
H. SORN 2 att, 15 yds
H. WAIS 1 att, 12 yds, TD
H. SADS 3 att, 8 yds

RECEIVING
A. NETGORIN 2 rec, 62 yds, TD
S. PREPTYRS 3 rec, 32 yds
S. PEVONSONT 1 rec, 21 yds
U. MISINA 1 rec, 6 yds
I. WILOPTEERE 1 rec, 6 yds

Qazox

24-11-2008, 04:07

I know it's a bit early, but I gotta be at work early tommorrow, so: RP CUTOFF is now.
MD7 Scores up within the next hour.

The Candrian Empire

24-11-2008, 04:49

I know it's a bit early, but I gotta be at work early tommorrow, so: RP CUTOFF is now.
MD7 Scores up within the next hour.
[Ah dammit, I just got back from work. ;_;]

Qazox

24-11-2008, 05:30

MATCHDAY SEVEN SCORES
(Winners in BOLD, Ties in Italics)

GROUP A
Dancougar @ Northwest Polaris 30-7
Cotenshire @ Swilatia 31-21
Secristan @ Myedvedeya 27-23

GROUP B
Arroza @ Vephrall 28-20
Miroxia @ Sarzonia 23-14
Tortuga y Hispaniola @ Cassadaigua 17-12

GROUP C
Taeshan @ Newmanistan 21-17
Colburne @ Greal 28-23
Nethertopia @ Mantenwic 31-20

GROUP D
Rennidan @ Qazox 26-23 (OT)
La Habana Cuba @ Kjomasasopia 31-30
Antitidum @ The Candrian Empire 30-10

GROUP E
Kura-Pelland @ Green Wombat 35-20
Lovisa @ Lurikastan 35-31
Christstan @ Twin Dominions 17-10

STANDINGS
(Teams sorted First by H2H then by PD, then other Tie-breakers)
Teams in RED have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Teams in BLUE have clinched at least a playoff berth.
Teams in GREEN have clinched Group title.

GROUP A W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Dancougar 6-1-0 .857 213 131 +82
Secristan 5-2-0 .714 164 142 +22
Myedvedeya 4-3-0 .571 166 174 -8
Swilatia 3-4-0 .429 149 122 +27
Cotenshire 3-4-0 .429 144 158 -14
NW Polaris 0-7-0 .000 83 192 -109

(NOTE: Swilaltia is ahead of Cotenshire based on PD [+27::-14], H2H is tied 1-1.)

GROUP B W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Arroza 6-1-0 .857 176 106 +70
Vephrall 6-1-0 .857 196 126 +70
Sarzonia 3-3-1 .500 153 138 +15
Miroxia 3-3-1 .500 140 132 +8
Cassadaigua 1-6-0 .143 117 167 -50
Tort. y Hisp. 1-6-0 .143 95 208 -113

(NOTE: Arroza ahead of Vephrall on H2H PD [+4::-4] as H2H is tied 1-1, and overall PD is tied at +70; Sarzonia ahead of Miroxia on H2H record [1-0-1]; Cassidaigua ahead of Tortuga y Hispaniola on PD [-50::-113])

GROUP C W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Newmanistan 6-1-0 .857 167 113 +54
Taeshan 5-2-0 .714 177 149 +28
Nethertopia 4-3-0 .571 172 163 +9
Colburne 3-4-0 .429 132 144 -12
Mantenwic 1-5-1 .214 118 166 -48
Greal 1-5-1 .214 126 157 -31

(NOTE: Mantenwic ahead of Greal based on H2H record [1-0-1])

GROUP D W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Qazox 6-1-0 .857 213 108 +105
Candrian Empire 5-2-0 .714 143 120 +23
Rennidan 5-2-0 .714 194 128 +66
Kjomasaspoia 4-3-0 .571 138 137 +1
Antitidum 1-6-0 .143 102 196 -94
Habana Cuba 0-7-0 .000 101 202 -101

(NOTE: The Candrian Empire ahead of Rennidan based on H2H win)

GROUP E W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Kura-Pelland 7-0-0 1.000 236 104 +132
Lovisa 5-2-0 .714 189 147 +42
Green wombat 3-3-1 .500 117 157 -40
Lurikastan 2-5-0 .286 128 160 -32
Twin Dominions 2-5-0 .286 109 155 -46
Christstan 1-5-1 .214 99 155 -56

CURRENT PLAYOFF SEEDINGS:
(all tiebreakers applied)

Kura-Pelland (7-0)
Qazox (6-1)
Dancougar (6-1)
Arroza (6-1)
Newmanistan (6-1)
Vephrall (6-1)
Lovisa (5-2)
Taeshan (5-2)
The Candrian Empire (5-2)
Secristan (5-2)

Current 3rd Place team standings

Rennidan 5-2-0 .714 194 128 +66
Nethertopia 4-3-0 .571 172 163 +9
Myedvedeya 4-3-0 .571 166 174 -8
Sarzonia 3-3-1 .500 130 124 +6
Green wombat 3-3-1 .500 117 157 -40

(NOTE: Nethertopia qualifies over Myedvedeya on PD)

I'm repeating the tiebreakers just as a reminder for all:

Playoff Berth/Group Title:
1- Best H2H Record amongst the teams.
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Point differential in H2H games amongst the teams.
4- Best Road Record.
5- Best Road Point differential.
6- Most Points For.
7- Most Points For in H2H games amongst the teams.
8- Most Road Points For.
9- Most Points For in regulation.
10- Coin Flip.

Seeding for Playoffs:
1- Most wins (ie: a team that is 7-1-0 would be seeded higher than a 6-0-2 team, even though the Win% is the same.)
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Road Point differential.
4- Most Points For.
5- Most Road Points For.
6- Most Points For in regulation.
7- Coin Flip.

Qazox

24-11-2008, 05:55

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

Back at home, Qazox raced out to an early 17-0 lead on the Brutes, but Rennidan showed why they had won a title just a couple of years ago. The Brutes defense held the high-powered Pheonix to only 299 yards of offense and after two quick offensive TD's in the 2nd quarter, Rennidan defense once again stifled Qazox as Mike Franks was called for holding in the endzone to give the Brutes a 16-14 lead at the half.

But Qazox' offense awoke enough in the 2nd half to cut a 23-14 deficit to 3 with 15 seconds left. That's when Tryone Chase nailed a 53-yd FG to send it into overtime. Qazox won the toss and after Adam Politt returned the kick 40 yards to the Rennidan 42, and a quick 23 yard pass to Mathew Cottrill, Chase nailed the game winning 36 yarder to give the Pheonix the 26-23 win and sole possession of 1st palce in Group D.

Up next for Qazox is The Candrian Empire, who are currently in 2nd place thanks to their own win over Rennidan. With a win at home, Qazox would clinch a playoff berth and just about wrap-up the Group title as well.

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 OT FINAL
Rennidan 0 16 7 0 0 23
Qazox 7 7 6 3 3 26

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Greg Dannen: 14-25, 199 yds, 1 TD.
Frank Vallens: 26 rushes, 89 yds, 2 TD.
Adam Langehorn: 5 rec., 56 yds 1 TD.

Defense:
Eric Fan'tu'mala: 10 tackles, 4 tackles for loss.
Paul Ma'Fanta'ulu: Blocked FG attempt, 2 tackles
Mark Johns: 6 tackles, 4 passes defended.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Qazox: Frank Vallens - 9 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (7:09) 7-0 Qazox
Qazox: Adam Langehorn - 19 yd TD rec.; Tryone Chase PAT good (0:58) 14-0 Qazox
Second Quarter:
Rennidan: Jason Yeilds - 52 yd TD run; Clive PAT good (12:56) 14-7 Qazox
Rennidan: Tom Gui - 1 yd TD Rec.; Clive PAT good (2:50) 14-14
Rennidan: Safety (Qazox called for Holding in Endzone) (1:17) 16-14 Rennidan
Third Quarter:
Rennidan: Jason Yeilds - 41 yd TD run; Clive PAT good (11:25) 23-14 Rennidan
Qazox: Frank Vallens - 7 yd TD run; 2-pt Conversion pass Failed (5:22) 23-20 Rennidan
Fourth Quarter:
Qazox: Tryone Chase - 53 yd FG (0:15) 23-23
Overtime:
Qazox: Tryone Chase - 36 yd FG (13:42) 26-23 Qazox

Green wombat

24-11-2008, 06:05

A 35-20 loss at home drops the wombats back to .500 at 3-3-1 with only 3 games left. Kura-Pelland, with the win became the first team to qualify for the playoffs. Unlike the 1st meeting when Michael Bernard threw for 434 yards and 5TD's, we held him to only 375 yards and 4 TD's. But the key moment of the game came when K-P was only leading 14-10 and Opie45_Sy's punt attempt was blocked by Vincenzo Delgotti who returned it 47 yards for the TD to give the Arrows a 21-10 lead just before halftime and the momentum.

Now with the tough part of the schedule finished, at an 1-3-0 record. Green wombat has a chance to get back into the race for 11th/12th place as they have 3 games against the remainder of the group, who so far have only succeded in beating each other.

Kjomasasopia

24-11-2008, 06:15

good times. hopefully we will pick up some more wins when we play the teams we lost to at home.

The Candrian Empire

24-11-2008, 07:02

Knights string together 4 game win streak

Wins over LHC, Brutes, Kjomasaspoia, and Antitidum

The Knights are sitting at the Ninth seed in the playoffs after putting together a 4 game win streak that gives them the head to head tiebreaker over Rennidan. On a streak with two OT wins, the Knights have been playing mistake-free football; Haralde broke the pick streak against Kjomasaspoia, leading another big OT drive in the rematch of the MD1 road loss, and this week put up another 300 yard, two touchdown game against Antitdum, completing the series sweep. The Knights are playing inspired football; looming next is the rematch with Qazox, defending World Bowl champions and Group D leaders. A win keeps the Knights in second, splitting the series and setting up the last game of the season at Rennidan as a critical matchup that could determine the Group D winner.

Qazox edged out Rennidan in OT on a 36 Tryone Chase field goal, capping a thrilling game and stifling a brewing rally by the Brutes that led to 3 lead changes throughout the game. Rennidan went up 23-20 by the 3rd quarter, but a Chase field goal with 15 ticks left in the 4th, forcing overtime; they received the kick, and Adam Politt returned the ball to the 40; quarterback Greg Dannen threw a quick hit to Mathew Cottrill that set up the winning field goal. Qazox split the season series with the Brutes, both huge games, decided by 4 points or less. Rennidan, after starting 4-0, has gone on a 1-2 skid after loosing to the Knights in OT on MD5; although still tied for second in Group D, the Knights currently have the tiebreaker.

In Group D play, La Habana Cuba continues it's win-less streak, dropping 31-30 against Kjomasaspoia. LHC staffers have accused the Qazox-based QGIA (this season's World Bowl governing body) of fixing their games and biased officiating. The QGIA has yet to comment, and no word yet has been stated on whether an investigation has been initiated.

League wide, Group E's Kura-Pelland, favorites to win WBIV, remain undefeated, beating Green Wombat 35-20. With the win, the Arrows are the first team this season to clinch a playoff berth; the likely top seed stands a good chance of going 10-0 into the playoffs.

Secristan

24-11-2008, 07:53

TOO MUCH CELEBRATING

Secristan’s giant upset victory over Dancougar got the team very excited about their future prospects. It would be only natural to expect the team to be in a celebratory mood after such a result, but the team got plenty of more reason to be happy as several big name Secristani organizations presented the players with monetary gifts and endorsement deals. For Tom Mitchell, this was a long time coming. Mitchell has been participating since World Bowl II, but never received any significant deal until now. He will now be seen in Preppy Cola ads for the next two years! Plus he will have a co-star, and it should only be natural that Preppy Cola wanted a piece of Stacie Johnson, and she too signed a big two year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed. Brian Brissard also cashed in, with a deal from Orton’s Microwavable Popcorn, as they certainly enjoyed watching his antics after he scored his big deal. Chris Tulenko, Kevin Tucker, and Julius Jackson all have signed endorsement deals as well and even kicker Ryan Norris got himself a contract. The companies were considering these deals up to that point, but the win over Dancougar made the decision official. Congratulations to them!

Unfortunately, with all this good news going on, the team still had to take on Myedvedeya, and the Bears had a big game, racing out to a 20-0 halftime lead, certainly catching the Millionaires with too much of a hangover. Vladimir Karpov ran for two of those touchdowns, and Slava Karoly added a pair of field goals. The Millionaires didn’t seem as though they were mounting a serious comeback effort in the third quarter but did manage a 41-yard field goal to make 20-3. Then after a 73-yard pass completion from Scherbatsky to Grigory Kovalenko, Myedvedeya seemed to have the game in the bag, 27-3. As the game went into the fourth quarter, it seemed over, but then something clicked. After Myedvedeya went three and out, Tom Mitchell drove his team efficiently down field, finding the Blizzard in the endzone with just under eight minutes to play to make it 27-10. They held Myedvedeya to another three and out as the Bears tried more to run down the clock, and Mitchell drove them downfield again, this time finding Stacie Johnson from 14 yards out to make it 27-17. Again they held Myedvedeya, and with two minutes left, Mitchell got the ball again. Again, the Millionaires struck, as Mitchell hit Johnson for the second time. The extra point, was blocked, and it was a big play. With just over a minute to go and down by four the Millionaires tried an onside kick and could not recover, allowing Myedvedeya to run out the clock, and win the game 27-23.

Newmanistan

24-11-2008, 11:22

THE ROCKET REPORT

AGAIN, VICTORY OVER TAESHAN

South Charlotte, Newmanistan- For the city of South Charlotte, this day was historic. For the first time an international game in any sport was played in their city, and as those from North Charlotte look on with jealous eyes, the Rockets were pretty keen on getting a victory for these fans. The opponents were a familiar one. The Fitin’ (whatever that means) Falcons over Taeshan were in town looking to avenge the “1" on their 5-1 record. For Newmanistan, it was a chance to extend their winning streak to six games after their week one stunning loss to Colbourne.

The game started off pretty slowly. Taeshan won the opening toss, but after only picking up 12 yards of offense, they had to punt it to the Rockets, who in turn when three and out. The stage was being set that nothing was going to come easy tonight. Again the Falcons took possession, picked up just a lone first down and punted it away. This time the Rockets got the ball to midfield before needing to punt it back to the Falcons and so would end a scoreless first quarter. The Rockets defense has been overshadowed a little bit by the wonderful play of Kenny O’Hara and Corey Parisi, and they were looking to show the Falcons just what they were made of. Parisi for the first time in several games was held to under 100 yards rushing as the defense of Taeshan seemed to make him their primary focus to stop. As more failed drives continued throughout the second half, there would finally be one score. Kenny O’Hara hadn’t been terrible, let’s call his first half medicore to be more fair, but he did put together one drive late in the second quarter in which he completed all six of his passes on a 68 yard drive. It culminated in a touchdown catch by Matt Bywater, the 4th wide receiver on the depth chart, but was on the field as the Rockets went with a five receiver set on the play. The touchdown was for fifteen yards, and was the first of Bywater’s international career. That was all we had in the first half, and it was really tough to see which way this game was going to go at this point. It was a defensive struggle, and if you had to choose, perhaps Taeshan would be the team that would have liked this kind of game better.

After holding the Rockets on their opening possession of the second half, Gabe Martin finally got his offense moving the best it had all game long. Putting together an 11-play drive, Martin would strike with a touchdown pass to Ernie Smith over the middle for seven yards, as the Rockets secondary seemed to lose track of the big tight end. The momentum looked like it could be changing as the Rockets got stuffed again and back came the Falcons. Martin was again in good form, bringing the team in scoring range, and seemingly scoring on a 9-yard catch by Ricky Zellefrow in the end zone on 3rd and goal. However the play was called back for offensive holding on the running back Rudi Williams, who was attempted to stop Stanley Bressler who was coming on a safety blitz. An incompletion later, the Falcons were forced to settle for three. The Rockets needed some kind of spark, and they were about to get it. On the first play from scrimmage on the ensuing possession, Kenny O’Hara evaded a couple of blitzers and took off. Twenty yards into his run, he was about to be tackled, but lateraled the ball off to Alex Foster. Foster then took it the rest of the way, bringing the crowd back to their feet and putting the Rockets up 14-10. The lateral wasn’t that risky of a play since Foster didn’t have anyone too close to him. As the game moved into the 4th quarter, Taeshan was starting to move the ball downfield until Rudi Williams did what he did so well in the first meeting. Putting the ball on the ground. His third fumble lost in two games versus the Rockets was recovered by Jesse Savage who took it to the Taeshan 22 before being forced out of bounds. Newmanistan took advantage of the field position as O’Hara, a few plays later, found Christian Gagnon in the end zone to make it 21-10. Now, the momentum was back in the hands of the Rockets. Taeshan made it interesting with a drive in the latter stages of the 4th quarter to close to within 21-17, but the Rockets would not surrender the ball again, killing off the remaining 4:26 that was on the clock when they got the ball.

Newmanistan is now 6-1, and leading the group by a full game, plus they have the tiebreaker so it’s almost as if they have a two game lead. They will finish off their stretch of five consecutive home games in Dover against Nethertopia, who is 4-3 and clinging to hopes of getting one of those third place spots, so we should expect them to come out and play extra hard.

Sarzonia

24-11-2008, 14:50

Woodstock Daily Mail

Stingers snap losing streak

by Travis West
Daily Mail Staff Writer

On the heels of a two-game losing streak and five straight away fixtures, Sarzonia's gridball team returned to the friendly confines of Hendrix Stadium for the first time since World Bowl IV opened.

They played like a team that was eager to enjoy home cooking, pulling away late against Miroxia with a 23-14 win.

"It was good to get back home," said Sarzonia coach Jim Zorn. "Five straight games on the road was wearing on us, especially with the last two games against the teams with the best records in our group."

The Stingers (3-3-1) started off with three straight impressive drives, but each drive stalled in the red zone, leading to Adam Novak field goals. Still, they looked to go into halftime with a 9-0 lead until Miroxia quarterback Jay Richards hit John Davis with a 52-yard touchdown pass as the half expired.

"I don't know why we weren't able to score [touchdowns] on those drives," said quarterback Gavin Davis. "We just couldn't punch it in."

Miroxia (3-3-1) took the second half kickoff and drove 74 yards in 12 plays, culminating in a one-yard touchdown run for fullback Adam Delfino on fourth down. All of a sudden, Sarzonia looked like a team that would pay for being unable to take advantage of its scoring chances.

Then the fourth quarter began. On the first play of the fourth quarter, LoQuan Williard took a pitch from Davis, made a sudden cut and rumbled 82 yards for a touchdown, giving the Stingers a 16-14 lead with 14:46 left in regulation.

"I saw a defender in the corner of my eye and tried to fake him, then I saw a hole open up," Willard said. He finished the game with 23 carries for 168 yards, adding 74 yards on eight receptions.

After Sarzonia forced a three-and-out, Davis completed nine of 11 passes on a 12 play, 85-yard drive, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dave Coles with three minutes, 52 seconds left. The drive took three minutes, seven seconds off the clock.

"I had to hold the ball because [wide receiver and fellow Portland Pirate Willie] Brooks was covered. Coles was my third read," Davis said. He finished the game completing 20 of 35 passes for 246 yards. Davis may have had to look for his fourth read if Coles' defender hadn't fallen down.

"That was lucky," Coles said.

Sarzonia's next game is against Tortuga y Hispañola. Sarzonia won the first meeting 33-9 behind a huge game for Davis. He threw for 347 yards and three touchdowns in the rout.

Taeshan

24-11-2008, 21:51

Fitin Falcons Lose Again To Newmanistan

Its a Taeshani tradition. Eating turkey, stuffing, gravy, all that good stuff. Always fun, yummy too. Great time of the year. Its always the time people can sit back, relax and watch a football game. What is it? Well its a sunday, and do you know what another Taeshani tradition is??? Well losing to Newmanistan and for the second time in this World Bowl the Falcons achieved this occurence with a 21-17 loss in Newmanistan. The Rockets just seem to always have that knack to defeat us, maybe its in that disgusting pizza they have. Power of the green i always say, But green is not the color you want your pizza to be.

Well aprently the game started with a Newmanistani touchdown. Then the Falcons got back into it with a Gabe Martin strike to Tight End Ernie Smith. Then the Rockets scored again taking a 14-7 lead. Then Gramatica connected from 46 yards out to make it 10-14. Then those Rockets scored again. It ended with a Taeshnai touchdown on a 54 yard touchdown scamper by Martin. It was not enough though as they lost. Next they face Colbourne in a big meeting that could decide the fate of both teams.

Dancougar

25-11-2008, 00:56

Sidney Goldman's The Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

We'll take it!

The Black Wing defense finally took control of a game. Never mind that it was against Northwest Polaris. Last night's 30-7 win maybe isn't that impressive in the grand scheme of things, but it's important. With Secristan stumbling against Da Bears, the Wings some breathing space atop Group A... but not too much. And with Myedvedeya looking to keep the upset train rolling at full speed, the Wings picked up some much-needed momentum.

"We were able to finish some drives, re-establish the run, and most importantly our defense was able to force a few turnovers," said coach Will Moohim. "These are all things we have to do if we're going to play not just good Black Wing football, but good football period. The number of strong teams out there keeps climbing." And let's not forget that Kura-Pelland, probably the best national team without a World Bowl title to its name, has been tearing things up in qualifying and already has clinched a playoff berth.

It was important that the Wings take the lead early instead of try to play from behind. The defense has looked shaky and a game against struggling Northwest Polaris seemed to be just what they needed to get some of their swagger back. Kendrick Lynch picked up a sack on the second offensive play of the game as part of a three-and-out. The offense looked good on the first possession, eating six minutes of clock on a 63-yard drive that was spearheaded by Gary Hutchins, who picked up 48 yards on nine carries and capped the effort with a 5-yard touchdown run. The Wings added a field goal before the end of the first quarter as Seth Cavallo continued his bout of consistency.

But Polaris would keep the game close in the first half. Paul Dady's safety blitz left single coverage behind him, and Polaris capitalized with a deep jump-ball that had Alex Isabella beat. He broke up the play by manhandling the receiver, and the pass interference put the ball on the Dancougar 6. Two plays later it was in the endzone and the score was 10-7. Hussey responded by leading a 70-yard drive which featured big third-down completions to Jermaine Divalerio and Ed Mendenhall. Logan Dublin, who many think should receive more playing time for his game-changing abilities, executed a halfback sweep from the Polaris 18 that ended in the endzone after he tightroped the sideline. It was 17-7 at halftime, but the defense was starting to assert itself. They had three sacks and two forced fumbles in the first half, although they recovered neither. Polaris had four first downs, with three of them coming on the touchdown drive.

The Wings made it 20-7 midway through the third quarter after a holding penalty forced a 3rd and 15 that the Wings were unable to convert. But they would break away from Polaris on the next possession when Isabella made up for the pass interference call by intercepting a poorly-thrown pass around midfield. He picked up a convoy of linebackers and followed Kirk Manly inside the 20, and then Manly delivered a crucial block to finish the run. Isabella's touchdown made it 27-7. "I just saw the ball float so I went up for it," said Isabella. "You never want to go into the locker room and say to yourself, hey, I never got back for that mistake."

Polaris now needed three scores, and the way the Wing defense was playing, they weren't going to get them. Their next drive ended with a Kendrick Lynch sack, at that point his third of the night and the team's fifth. On the next Polaris possession, Kerry Tierno forced a fumble that Manly recovered. That led to Cavallo's third field goal of the evening, a 33-yarder that brought the tally to 30-7. With most of the fourth quarter left to play, this would normally have been a good time to bring on the backups. But Moohim left his first team in the game.

"We're not at a point right now where we have that luxury," said Moohim. "Our record is a little deceiving right now. We haven't been able to play a complete game on both sides of the ball. We won some close games we should've won by more; we won some close games that maybe we should have lost."

After the defense forced a turnover on downs, Hutchins controlled the game block with his running. He had 105 yards on the night to go with his touchdown, while Hussey was an efficient, if unspectacular, 13/17 for 156 yards. More importantly, they bled the fourth before stalling at the Polaris 33. Cavallo came on to attempt a 50-yard field goal, but pulled it to the right and gave Polaris the ball on their own 40. It was back to the air with time running out, and the defense got another interception. This one came on a deep pass that turned into a jump ball for Tony Rorick. In all, the defense had seven sacks, three forced turnovers, and Isabella's touchdown.

The Wings will welcome Myedvedeya for their eighth qualifying match and are almost assured of a healthy crowd of men and bears. They should also be wary of the 4-3 team, whose playoffs hopes would get a huge boost with a win.

Fantasy Fallout

By matchday six, we're starting to get a good idea of who some of these teams are. Kura-Pelland should be the favorites by now, but a spattering of one-loss teams could all threaten if they maintain the pace. But what does this all mean for your fantasy lineup? As we get to crunch time, maybe players are fatiguing or they're finding less space. Others are coming to the fore. One thing's for sure - the fantasy leagues are going to be as wild as the real one.

QB: Tom Mitchell (Secristan)
How huge was this guy? Three touchdown passes against the Dancougar Black Wings, who have traditionally had one of the World Bowl's strongest defenses, plus the effort it took to keep the ball moving makes him your top fantasy quarterback of game six. Eric Smythe of Arroza also tossed three scores, while Kenny O'Hara and Gabe Martin each had two.

RB: LoQuan Willard (Sarzonia), Rudi Williams (Taeshan)
Although Vephrall had the best rushing day as a team, with fullback Angufams Netgorin leading the way, Willard got better production for the fantasy crowd with 136 yards and two touchdowns. Williams broke two scoring runs of 40+ yards to claim our second spot, although Frank Vallens and Gary Hutchins also played very well. Corey Parisi, like Netgorin, only found the endzone once despite a huge yardage day.

WR: Stacie Johnson (Secristan), Ricky Zellefrow (Taeshan), Taesean Malone (Arroza)
Johnson and Zellefrow both snagged two touchdowns on the day to lead all receivers, while Malone's 81-yard reception for six helped bump up his yardage total. Several receivers had touchdown grabs on the day. Kenny O'Hara's sudden surge means that a Rocket receiver is a good bet, even if he continues to distribute the ball well.

TE: Jim Crosby (Newmanistan)
He may not be the coolest Crowby around, but Jim hauled in a touchdown pass for the Rockets. Ed Mendenhall also had a score for the Black Wings.

DEF: Secristan
Dancougar were rather unceremoniously dumped by the Million Dollar Defense, who created three turnovers and took one back for six. Other defenses accounting for touchdowns were Qazox and Cotenshire, and Da Bears have a safety to show for their effort.

K: Slava Karoly (Myedvedeya)
He was one of two kickers with three field goals on the day, with Green wombat's Whiteboi99 being the other. The difference was Karoly's 55 yarder, as 50+ field goals are worth four points in some leagues. Martin Gramatica and Drew Albrecht each had two field goals, and each hit one from 50 or better.

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

And then there was one. Kura-Pelland remains the lone unbeaten after Arroza fell to Vephrall, who have been on incredible form after returning from a tournament hiatus. The Arrows should be able to run the table since their stiffest competition will come from Lovisa, who will slug it out with the wombats for the final spot in Group E. Rennidan lost to Qazox and are now in danger thanks to the Candrian Empire becoming a threat.

(1) Kura-Pelland (7-0)
(2) Qazox (6-1)
(3) Newmanistan (6-1)
(4) Arroza (6-1)
(5) Vephrall (6-1)
(6) Rennidan (5-2)
(7) Taeshan (5-2)
(8) Dancougar (6-1)
(9) Secristan (5-2)
(10) The Candrian Empire (5-2)
(11) Lovisa (5-2)
(12) Myedvedeya (4-3)
(13) Sarzonia (3-3-1)
(14) Nethertopia (4-3)
(15) Kjomasasopia (4-3)
(16) Miroxia (3-3-1)
(17) Cotenshire (3-4)
(18) Swilatia (3-4)
(19) Green wombat (3-3-1)
(20) Colbourne (3-4)
(21) Lurikastan (2-5)
(22) Twin Dominions (2-5)
(23) Greal (1-5-1)
(24) Mantwenic (1-5-1)
(25) Tortuga y Hispaniola (1-6)
(26) Christstan (1-5-1)
(27) Cassadaigua (1-6)
(28) Antitidum (1-6)
(29) La Habana Cuba (0-7)
(30) Northwest Polaris (0-7)

Cotenshire

25-11-2008, 01:43

EAGLES TAILSPIN CONTINUES, COACH SLUES ASSASSINATED

After an embarrassing loss to the pathetic swine of Swilatia, it is clear that the Dancougarian Jew has cast a spell on our team that slows their physical movements. Many attempts have been given to cleanse them of this hex, such as throwing them into the sea and saving them just before they drown. None have been successful, however.

Adding to the teams troubles was a tragedy that occurred today at the Eagle’s training area outside the village of Aadelbrun. A man by the name of Reinald Hoopfen rode in on a horse and shot Coach Slues ten times in the head before assuming the position of head coach himself. Hoopfen’s athletic achievements, if there are any, are unknown to this publication. We can at best hope that he can get the Eagles out of their current hole.

Myedvedeya

25-11-2008, 02:12

Bears Prepare for Dancougar

The Myedvedeyan American Football team, now on a four-game winning streak, with a record of 4-3, will travel tonight to face group leaders Dancougar. The black wings team have already defeated Myedvedeya once, by the score of 36-26, and are the favorites to do it again. The Bears, however, were on a three-game skid at that point, and are now on a four-game win streak, having clawed themselves from last place to third, and are contending for a playoff spot. The Bears will not have the advantage of playing at home in freezing Moskva, but they hope that their momentum can carry them past the group A giants.

"We played very well against Cotenshire and Secristan, both of which were teams we were supposed to lose to" Said kicker Slava Karoly, taking a sip from a massive bottle of vodka. "If we play like we've been doing... well, who knows... we could pull something off".

Karoly, who has been in a semi-permanent state of inebriation for the past few years, has been phenomenal at this World Bowl. His personal highlights include going 3/3 against Cotenshire, including a 55-yarder.

"Being drunk makes everything wobble..." Said the kicker. "But, it's really easy to kick the ball straight when you have between two and six extra legs." Karoly, once a soccer player, was kicked off the Myedvedeyan professional squad International of Moskva for arriving at a game drunk. After Myedvedeya's first kicker was shot in the middle of World Bowl III, coaches found him drinking away his sorrows at a pub, and hired him for the job. He only kicks well with at least a pint of vodka in his stomach.

The Bears will hope to play their trademarked style of football against the Black Wings, dominating with running plays, and an airtight defense. A large fan contingent is expected to make the trip with the team, including large numbers of bears.

Qazox

25-11-2008, 05:21

MD 8 Cutoff
Scores up whenever they appear.

The Candrian Empire

25-11-2008, 06:16

MD8

"DO YOU SEE THEM THERE? DO YOU SEE HOW THEY ACTIN?"
Knights linebacker Aaron McKay had his team around him; in the center of the circle, there was him and Mikail Cervantes; together, these were the biggest emotional leaders of this Knights team. "THEY THINK WE AIN'T ****! THEY THINK WE GONNA ROLL OVER! THEY AINT THINK WE SERIOUS." Cheers and nods from the team. The collective energy couldn't be measured; this was like soldiers going to war.

"WE GOTTA GO OUT THERE, FOR 60 MINUTES. HIT THEM IN THE MOUTH, EVERY MINUTE, EVERY PLAY. DON'T GIVE THEM NO REST. MAKE THEM TAKE US SERIOUSLY."

Cervantes spoke up. "THIS IS OUR TIME, THIS IS OUR DAY. DO YOU SEE THEIR HANDS? DO YOU SEE THOSE RINGS?

TAKE THAT FROM THEM. TAKE IT. THIS IS OURS. THIS DAY IS OURS. AINT NOBODY GONNA STOP US NOW."

"D LINE WHAT YOU GONNA DO TO THAT QUARTERBACK?"

"[I]HIT EM!"

"O LINE WHAT YOU GONNA DO TO THAT D LINE?"

"HIT EM!"

"DEFENSE HOW YOU FEEL?"

"FIRED UP!"

"OFFENSE HOW YOU FEEL?"

"FIRED UP!"

"BRING THAT **** IN!"

"60 MINUTES, FIRST TO LAST, TAKE IT TO EM. MAKE EM REMEMBER THESE COLORS.

DOMINATE ON 3

1
2
3"

"DOMINATE!"

Qazox

25-11-2008, 06:26

MATCHDAY EIGHT SCORES
(Winners in BOLD, Ties in Italics)

GROUP A
Myedvedeya @ Dancougar 31-21
Swilatia @ Secristan 23-20 (OT)
Northwest Polaris @ Cotenshire 34-10

GROUP B
Vephrall @ Cassadaigua 37-30
Miroxia @ Arroza 33-22
Tortuga y Hispaniola @ Sarzonia 43-16

GROUP C
Taeshan @ Greal 35-16
Colburne @ Mantenwic 24-10
Newmanistan @ Nethertopia 24-20

GROUP D
The Candrian Empire @ Qazox 24-21
La Habana Cuba @ Rennidan 56-17
Kjomasasopia @ Antitidum 30-24 (OT)

GROUP E
Kura-Pelland @ Twin Dominions 24-14
Lurikastan @ Green wombat 21-10
Lovisa @ Christstan 23-18

STANDINGS
(Teams sorted First by H2H then by PD, then other Tie-breakers)
Teams in RED have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Teams in BLUE have clinched at least a playoff berth.
Teams in GREEN have clinched Group title.

GROUP A W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Dancougar 7-1-0 .875 244 152 +92
Secristan 6-2-0 .750 187 162 +25
Cotenshire 4-4-0 .500 178 168 +10
Myedvedeya 4-4-0 .500 187 205 -18
Swilatia 3-5-0 .375 169 145 +24
NW Polaris 0-8-0 .000 93 226 -133

(NOTE: Cotenshire is ahead of Myedvedeya based on PD [+10::-18], H2H is tied 1-1.)

GROUP B W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Arroza 7-1-0 .875 209 128 +81
Vephrall 7-1-0 .875 233 156 +77
Sarzonia 4-3-1 .562 196 154 +42
Miroxia 3-4-1 .438 162 165 -3
Cassadaigua 1-7-0 .125 117 167 -57
Tort. y Hisp. 1-7-0 .125 111 251 -140

(NOTE: Arroza ahead of Vephrall on PD as H2H is tied [1-1]; Cassidaigua ahead of Tortuga y Hispaniola on PD as H2H is tied [1-1].)

GROUP C W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Newmanistan 7-1-0 .875 191 133 +58
Taeshan 6-2-0 .750 212 165 +47
Nethertopia 4-4-0 .500 192 187 +5
Colburne 4-4-0 .500 156 154 +2
Mantenwic 1-6-1 .214 128 190 -62
Greal 1-6-1 .214 142 192 -50

(NOTE: Nethertopia ahead of Colburne based on H2H record [1-0 Neth.]; Mantenwic ahead of Greal based on H2H record [1-0-1])

GROUP D W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Candrian Empire 6-2-0 .750 167 141 +26
Rennidan 6-2-0 .750 250 145 +105
Qazox 6-2-0 .750 234 132 +102
Kjomasaspoia 5-3-0 .571 168 161 +7
Antitidum 1-7-0 .143 126 226 -100
Habana Cuba 0-8-0 .000 118 258 -140

(NOTE: The Candrian Empire ahead of Qazox and Rennidan based on H2H records [2-1::2-2::1-2], Rennidan ahead of Qazox on PD, as H2H is tied [1-1].)

GROUP E W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Kura-Pelland 8-0-0 1.000 260 118 +142
Lovisa 6-2-0 .750 212 165 +47
Green wombat 4-3-1 .562 138 167 -29
Lurikastan 2-6-0 .250 128 160 -43
Twin Dominions 2-6-0 .250 123 179 -56
Christstan 1-6-1 .188 117 178 -61

CURRENT PLAYOFF SEEDINGS:
(all tiebreakers applied)

Kura-Pelland (8-0)
Dancougar (7-1)
Arroza (7-1)
Newmanistan (7-1)
The Candrian Empire (6-2)
Vephrall (7-1)
Rennidan (6-2)
Taeshan (6-2)
Lovisa (6-2)
Secristan (6-2)

Current 3rd Place team standings

Qazox 6-2-0 .750 234 132 +102
Sarzonia 4-3-1 .562 196 154 +42
Green wombat 4-3-1 .562 138 167 -29
Nethertopia 4-4-0 .500 192 187 +5
Cotenshire 4-4-0 .500 178 168 +10

(NOTE: Sarzonia would qualify based on better PD than Green wombat)

I'm repeating the tiebreakers just as a reminder for all:

Playoff Berth/Group Title:
1- Best H2H Record amongst the teams.
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Point differential in H2H games amongst the teams.
4- Best Road Record.
5- Best Road Point differential.
6- Most Points For.
7- Most Points For in H2H games amongst the teams.
8- Most Road Points For.
9- Most Points For in regulation.
10- Coin Flip.

Seeding for Playoffs:
1- Most wins (ie: a team that is 7-1-0 would be seeded higher than a 6-0-2 team, even though the Win% is the same.)
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Road Point differential.
4- Most Points For.
5- Most Road Points For.
6- Most Points For in regulation.
7- Coin Flip.

Qazox

25-11-2008, 06:41

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

13 seconds. That's all it took for Qazox to go from clinching a playoff berth to 3rd place in Group D. 13 seconds. Leading 21-17, with 13 seconds left, Qazox sent in Tryone Chase to kick a 38yd FG that would all but wrap-up the victory. But a botched hold by Charles Hanneford lead to a blocked kick that was returned 71 yards by Lewis Kelley and a 7 point win turned into a 3 point loss. A game in which Qazox dominated the first 59:47, they lost.

But there's still 2 games to go and now we have to take on Antitidum, who is 1-7. A win there coupled with a loss by Kjomasasopia, and Qazox would be in the playoffs. But after the stunning ending to today's game, can the Pheonix recover from it?

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 FINAL
TCE 0 7 10 7 24
Qazox 7 7 7 0 21

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Greg Dannen: 29-41, 309 yds, 3 TD.
Frank Vallens: 17 rushes, 113 yds.
Ivan Harvey: 8 rec., 162 yds, 2 TD.

Defense:
Jasyon D'Angelo: 6 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 Fumble Rec.
Erik Akana: 2 forced fumbles, 2 tackles
Vic Alworth: 13 tackles.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Qazox: Ivan Harvey - 41 yd TD rec.; Tryone Chase PAT good (6:11) 7-0 Qazox
Second Quarter:
Qazox: Ivan Harvey - 6 yd TD rec.; Tryone Chase PAT good (13:28) 14-0 Qazox
TCE: Frances Valencia - 8 yd TD run; Arnold Luna PAT good (6:00) 14-7 Qazox
Third Quarter:
TCE: Arnold Luna 37 yd FG (9:58) 14-10 Qazox
Qazox: Mathew Cottrill - 61 yd TD rec; Tryone Chase PAT good (8:13) 21-10 Qazox
TCE: Frances Valencia - 1 yd TD run; Arnold Luna PAT good (1:09) 21-17 Qazox
Fourth Quarter:
TCE: Lewis Kelley - 71 yd blocked FG return for TD; Arnold Luna PAT good (0:13) 24-21 Candrian Empire

Green wombat

25-11-2008, 06:47

A 21-10 win at home and Green wombat is in teh thick of the race for the final playoff berth. 1.5 games behind Qazox of all teams and tied with Sarzonia, at 4-3-1, but behind on Point Differntial, the wombats need to win and win big in their last 2 games to have a chance of making up the 71 points between the two teams. Not to mention a loss here by a couple of teams just behind us in the standings wouldn't hurt either.

Kjomasasopia

25-11-2008, 07:20

ooc: can someone quickly explain why im not in playoff contention?

Qazox

25-11-2008, 07:48

ooc: can someone quickly explain why im not in playoff contention?

Because your in FOURTH place, and only THIRD place teams are considered for the final 2 playoff spots. If you get into Third place, then you'll be on the list.

Kjomasasopia

25-11-2008, 08:05

well thats a stupid rule.

Secristan

25-11-2008, 10:34

MORE DRAMA WITH SWILATIA

Secristan defeated Swilatia in overtime last night by the score of 23-20 at home at the Loophole. It wasn’t the most exciting of games with both teams kicking two field goals in the first half to create a 6-6 halftime score. After Swilatia went up 13-6 early in the 3rd quarter, Chris Hausler ran it in from 22 yards to draw even at 13. In the fourth, Swilatia went back in front, making it necessary for the Millionaires to come up with some last minute heroics and who can forget what they did in Swilatia to win the game. In our very biased opinion, it remains the best catch of the entire World Bowl so far. This time, the Millionaires had a little more time to work with so nothing that desperate was necessary. Tom Mitchell led the team on a 12-play drive where he would find Stacie Johnson in the end zone from 15 yards out to tie the game up at 20. A defensive stand helped force overtime. In the extra period, Secristan never allowed Swilatia to touch the ball. They won the coin toss and drove 70 yards downfield before they got the ball to the Swilatia 10. Instead of taking any chances, Ryan Norris was sent out for a 27 yard attempt which he easily banged through the uprights for the 23-20 victory. Tom Mitchell had another strong overall game, throwing for 255 yards on an efficient 18-for-26 and the one touchdown.

The Millionaires now have a record of 6-2 and will clinch at least second if they get a win they are very favored to get, in Northwest Polaris who are one of the worst teams in the World Bowl at 0-8. Nothing other then a victory should be expected here.

Rennidan

25-11-2008, 11:32

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

OH DAAAAYMN

IT WAS BOUND to happen sooner or later. The Brutes walked into a game, and it looks like they were finally fired up. Albiet, they were fired up against an 0-7 team, but they were fired up none the less.

Habana Cuba started with the ball on their 19 yard line, and to start with, it all looked like things were going to go gold for the Cuban side. They got up 17 points before the Brutes scored a dime, and before you knew it the first quarter was closing and an even bigger upset than The Candrian Empire was on the rise.

And then the Brutes remembered exactly what happened the last time they faced the Cubans. Powis was threatened in a less-than-pleasant manner, and the Brute Force hooligans had to teach their quarterback a lesson. And now? Now the Cubans were in Rennidan, in the Industrial District...

In Warehouse 17...

It was time for the Brutes to show them that they weren't ready to start playing around.

Their defence had been lax, their offence had been leaving a lot to be desired, and their general mood was one of content ambiguation. This wasn't good enough. The second quarter rolled out, and so did the Brutes of old.

Pat McGraw, 43 yard touchdown pass to Lewis Seffer.

Jason Yeilds, 48 yard rush for a touchdown, 3 broken tackles.

Graham Goldie, interception, returned for touchdown, 32 yards.

Pat McGraw, 28 yard touchdown pass to Tom Gui.

Pat McGraw, 68 yard touchdown pass to Lewis Seffer.

Jason Yeilds, 86 yard punt return for touchdown, 4 broken tackles.

Owen Powis, forced fumble, recovered by Brutes, returned for 82 yards by Powis for a touchdown. 7 broken tackles.

Pat McGraw, 23 yard rush for a touchdown, 2 broken tackles.

Eight touchdowns, eight good PATs, and it would seem the Brutes are only just getting started. Next up is their warm up on Kjo, before moving on to their hopeful act of revenge on the Candrian Empire.

Newmanistan

25-11-2008, 16:12

THE ROCKET REPORT

SEVENTH IN A ROW

Dover City, Newmanistan- The Rockets continue to play well after their opening week loss, but they haven’t all come easy and tonight was a case of the team grinding out a close game against a valiant opponent. Nethertopia came to Dover City with a 4-3 record, just a smidge above teams below them that had a tie on their record as they vie for that final “best of” playoff berth. With Newmanistan and Taeshan in control of the group, Nethertopia can do no better then third place unless a series of unlikely events would occur. Last night Newmanistan dealt the Nethertopians a big blow in a manner that the old Rockets under Nicholson and Pivonka may not have been able to overcome.

Newmanistan was stuffed on their opening drive after getting the ball to the Nethertopia 45 and elected to pin the back, however, the punt sailed into the end zone for a touchback, dashing that hope. Nethertopia responded by scoring the first points of the game, thanks to one big play, a 47-yard pass reception by a wide receiver that put them into field goal range. They were then stopped, and fortunate to recover the own fumble on a third down play to set up a 33-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Again, the Rockets started to move the ball downfield in response and Corey Parisi was picking up some good runs, but once again the drive stalled just as they crossed midfield. Somewhat frustrated, coach Thompson made an aggressive call on 4th & 2 from the Nethertopia 44, and it would succeed as Corey Parisi ran for 18 yards. Unfortunately, Christian Gagnon was called for holding that sent the play back and the team would punt. Though some will say if it wasn’t for the hold, Parisi didn’t get the first down. Nethertopia took advantage of their field position and scored a touchdown on a drive that would be the final score of the first quarter. Early in the second quarter, the Rockets went a little further on their drive to at least pick up a field goal. Kenny O’Hara completed 5 passes on the drive, and was actually off to a decent start, if only the team could execute. Thompson called on Ashton Colfer for a 50-yard field goal, and the World Bowl veteran made the kick with yards to spare. After some back and forth punting gave the game a look of a defensive struggle, the Rockets would put together a drive in the final two minutes of the first half, led again by the arm and legs of O’Hara. During the drive, he avoided a sure sack and picked up a 22 yard gain on the ground. The scoring play would be a 17-yard reception by Jordan Lyons, and the game was tied at 10.

Not great, but not bad. Having picked up a bit of momentum, the Rockets were hoping to extend the lead at the start of the second half, but a 70-yard kickoff return by Nethertopia’s kick returner got them to the Newmanistan 23. But we want you to remember this play. The return man was brought down by the kicker. Ashton Colfer knew what he had to do and went for it, bringing down the return man. When the Nethertopians were stuffed on their next plays and had to settle for a field goal to make it 13-10, Colfer’s tackle was even bigger as it saved four points. And who knows if those four points would come in handy later in the game, ‘eh? In response, Newmanistan moved the ball downfield very well on their next possession, with Corey Parisi picking up 38 yards on the drive, he finished the day with 136 and 40 yards receiving, and the touchdown would come in the air again as O’Hara found his favorite receiver, Alex Foster from 15 yards on a quick slant route. Foster had a strong game himself with 9 receptions and 128 yards receiving. For the first time, Newmanistan was in front, 17-13. The defenses then held strong as punts sailed through the air back and forth and quarter changed from number three to a four. The game was ticking away with just under five minutes to play when the Nethertopians came up with a big play. A 55 yard bomb by their QB to their star receiver who seemed to be covered well by Strasser, but the receiver outleaped Daniel in the endzone to make it 20-17. It was going to go down in Nethertopian lore as one of their biggest plays that helped save their quest for a playoff spot. But with 3:23 still to go in the game, Kenny O’Hara showed the poise of a veteran in leading the Rockets downfield while never seeming to get jittery or impatient. The team picked up first downs and the clock ticked down. Under two minutes, then under a minute as the Rockets moved the ball downfield. Then with 35 seconds left on the clock, O’Hara would throw his third touchdown pass of the game, a 24-yarder to Jim Crosby, who continues to show that the Rennidan press knew what they were talking about when they named him to the World Bowl Dream Team. O'Hara was 25-for-34 in the game for 364 yards and the three touchdown passes without a pick. He also ran for 48 yards. The score gave the Rockets a four point lead, 24-20, and the would hold on to win by those four points. Thanks for the big tackle, Mr. Colfer.

The win marked the seventh win a row for Newmanistan and the team has officially clinched a spot in the knockouts. It was their final home game of the World Bowl and the team will finish up the group stage with road games against Mantwenic and Greal, nations that have a combined record of 2-12-2. Yes, that tie was against each other.

Sarzonia

25-11-2008, 16:22

Woodstock Daily Mail

Stingers clobber Tortuga y Hispañola

by Travis West
Daily Mail Staff Writer

Home cooking really is benefiting the Sarzonian national gridball team.

In its second straight game at Hendrix Stadium, the Stingers got two touchdown passes from quarterback Gavin Davis and a 100-yard game from running back LoQuan Willard and demolished Tortuga y Hispañola 43-16 in front of 61,526.

"It's been great to have the home crowd behind us," said coach Jim Zorn. "The Woodstock players have been able to sleep in their own beds and hearing crowds chant for us has been a huge benefit."

Davis completed 21 of 27 passes for 316 yards after lighting up Tortuga y Hispañola in the teams' previous meeting. He threw first half touchdowns of seven yards to Willard and 46 to Willie Brooks as the Stingers took a 27-9 lead at halftime. In the second half, the Stingers turned to the ground game. Willard finished with 100 yards on 18 carries.

Tortuga y Hispañola never lead, but briefly looked like they would come back when they returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown and forced the Stingers into a three and out. However, punter Marco Oliver pinned Tortuga y Hispañola deep at the two yard line. Sarzonia defensive end Ryan Clack sacked the quarterback for a safety and a 29-16 lead.

"That was a huge play," Davis said of Clack's safety. "Once he did that, they didn't have a chance."

The easy win put the Stingers (4-3-1) back in contention for a wild card berth in the World Bowl IV playoffs in Qazox. The top two teams in each group earn automatic berths while the best two third place teams advance as wild cards. Currently, the Stingers are in position for the 12th and final playoff spot with a better point differential than the Green Wombat (plus-42 to minus-29).

However, the Stingers aren't thinking that far ahead.

"We still have an important game against Cassadaigua," Clack said, careful to avoid repeating his comments before the previous game against them. "We can't afford to worry about what we can't control. We have to take it one game at a time."

Dancougar

25-11-2008, 20:57

Sidney Goldman's The Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

The roar of the crowd

You could hear them above the ursines... just barely. Pun intended. The Black Wing fans, with their Horrible Hand Towels and their polka fight song, had their work cut out for them with the bears of Myedvedeya coming to town. As a result, last night's game in the Jared Koeppel Memorial Stadium had the kind of atmosphere that makes me wonder why American football has yet to really escape from Dancougar's south and enter the mainstream.

And the game was good, too! Once again, it was a brutal one with some tough running and hard hits. Dancougar's 31-21 victory assured the Wings of a playoff berth, and they will aim for a high seed with a strong finish against Cotenshire and Swilatia, two teams with outside shots at the final tournament.

Dancougar received the ball first and got the game's opening touchdown. Michael Hussey surprised everyone by coming out throwing, hitting Jermaine Divalerio twice for first down yardage. Once the Bear defense backed off, Gary Hutchins left his mark on the game, breaking a 32-yarder to get inside the two before finishing the drive himself on the next play. But Myedvedeya responded through the equally capable Vladimir Karpov, who gashed the Wings for 40 yards on their scoring drive, which ended with a Boris Shcherbatsky quarterback sneak.

Hutchins and Karpov would duel all evening in what turned out to be a pretty fast-moving game, at least in terms of the clock. Hussey tried to mix it up by involving Logan Dublin, but he was closed down by the combined efforts of Sergei Solokov and Vladimir Ivanev. The big defensive ends were able to get penetration and make it difficult for Dublin to get to the outside, and by the time he did, there were already linebackers and corners awaiting his arrival. Dublin was a non-factor in the first half, generating only 17 yards of offense on five carries and two catches.

Hutchins, however, bowled his way through the middle and had 85 yards by halftime. Granted, around a third of that was on his big opening-drive rumble, but the Wings were able to get into third-and-manageable situations where a run or short pass would do the trick. Hussey had an efficient half throwing the ball despite averaging only five yards per completion. It was enough. Hutchins added another touchdown and Cavallo booted a field goal before the Bears closed the gap on a Shcherbatsky pass to Valentin Aleksandrov. At halftime it was 17-14. Each team only punted once, which tells you a lot about the lengths of the drives. Fatigue, it seemed, would decide the victor.

The Wings grabbed a ten-point edge midway through the third quarter after both defenses stiffened as a result of their halftime adjustments. The game's first turnover gave the Wings a short field, as Shcherbatsky was run down by Kendrick Lynch, who swatted the ball out of his hand. Billy Aveline fell on it and tried to take it back, but he stumbled while picking up the ball and was wrestled to the ground at the Myedvedeya 36. Two runs by Hutchins set up Hussey to Divalerio for a 26-yard touchdown, making it 24-14. Shcherbatsky shrugged off the error and marched 81 yards on 16 plays, a backbreaking drive that ran into the fourth quarter. Karpov kept pounding away, and once again, the Wing defense looked vulnerable. Karpov gained 58 yards on the drive, including the final seven to make it 24-21. He and Hutchins were both over 100 yards on the day.

The momentum appeared to have shifted when Hussey threw an interception on the next drive. It was an athletic play from linebacker Leonid Kuzmin. Hussey was trying to find Jay Milon across the middle and thought he'd gotten enough behind it. Kuzmin leaped up to try and deflect it, but instead he came up with a one-handed grab that sent the visiting fans into a frenzy. Shcherbatsky got them into field goal range before the drive stalled, giving Slava Karoly the chance to tie the game from 40 yards away. Karoly has been a monster with his unique style of drunken placekicking, but this time, it was not to be. The kick was just a few inches too far to the right, and the Wings escaped unscathed.

Hussey had to put the game away. There were seven minutes to play and he used up five of them. Hutchins kept his average over four yards per run and Milon had a key third-down catch to get them into the red zone. After two runs by Hutchins set up third and short, Hussey dumped it to Dublin, who broke a tackle and dove into the endzone to make it 31-21. Myedvedeya had burned two timeouts to keep some time left for a comeback bid, and Shcherbatsky went to work needing two scores in two minutes. At first, they proceeded smoothly with sideline passes. But the Wings dropped more men into coverage and the drive stalled on the Dancougar 35. Myedvedeya called timeout with 0:48 to go and opted to give Karoly a chance from 52. Then they would worry about the hard part of the comeback. Moohim called a timeout to ice him, a silly notion, given that Myedvedeya is icy to begin with. But something worked, or maybe it was just an off day. Karoly drove it wide right again, and the Wings were winners.

Text Message of the Day

"call you in a bit drinking contest with a bear"
- My friend Charles during the first quarter of Dancougar v Myedvedeya

"dam tht bbeeear cbn drrk"
- Charles, fifteen minutes later

Fantasy Fallout

Most head-to-head leagues had their regular seasons end on gameday seven, and for those of you who are playoff bound, I wish you luck. If you had one of these game-breakers, you may have gotten the results you needed... and then some!

QB: Michael Bernard (Kura-Pelland)
Bernard apparently loves to play Green wombat. So do his owners. Bernard lit them up once again, this time to the tune of 375 yards and four scores. Tom Mitchell of Secristan deserves props for this three-touchdown day in a loss to Myedvedeya, and Andre Haralde had a good day for the Candrians.

RB: Frank Vallens (Qazox), Jason Yeilds (Rennidan)
Their yardage days weren't as impressive as LoQuan Williard's, but both Vallens and Yeilds found the endzone twice in their games, which give them the edge in fantasy points. Vladimir Karpov also had two touchdowns in his game for Da Bears.

WR: Stacie Johnson (Secristan), Grigory Kovalenko (Myedvedeya), Christian Gagnon (Newmanistan)
Johnson was the top receiver on the day with two touchdown receptions, while Kovalenko and Gagnon also hauled in scores. Kovalenko's 73-yarder padded his overall numbers quite nicely. Miroxia's Jon Davis gets an honorable mention for his 52-yard score.

TE: Tom Gui (Rennidan)
Gui found the endzone for the Brutes, but so too did Ernie Smith of Taeshan.

DEF: Dancougar
The Wings got themselves back on track against Northwest Polaris with multiple sacks and turnovers, and safety Alex Isabella found the endzone on a pick-six.

K: Adam Novak (Sarzonia)
Novak booted three field goals against Miroxia. Seth Cavallo has been remarkably consistent in getting two or three field goals a game for the Wings, and Tryone Chase had two field goals including one over 50 yards.

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

Hoo boy, the playoff push can do interesting things. While Rennidan and Sarzonia were the big winners on the day, the biggest result figures to be The Candrian Empire over Qazox, which puts Group D in a horrible mess. If only we had some intelligent ranking system which could sort out the Big 12 So... err, Group D. Kura-Pelland is taking it easy and maintain their unbeaten record, and Vephrall definitely deserve praise for their mark after missing some playing time.

(1) Kura-Pelland (8-0)
(2) Arroza (7-1)
(3) Newmanistan (7-1)
(4) Vephrall (7-1)
(5) Rennidan (6-2)
(6) Qazox (6-2)
(7) The Candrian Empire (6-2)
(8) Dancougar (7-1)
(9) Taeshan (6-2)
(10) Secristan (6-2)
(11) Lovisa (6-2)
(12) Sarzonia (4-3-1)
(13) Kjomasasopia (5-3)
(14) Cotenshire (4-4)
(15) Myedvedeya (4-4)
(16) Green wombat (4-3-1)
(17) Nethertopia (4-4)
(18) Miroxia (3-4-1)
(19) Colbourne (4-4)
(20) Swilatia (3-5)
(21) Lurikastan (2-6)
(22) Twin Dominions (2-6)
(23) Cassadaigua (1-7)
(24) Greal (1-6-1)
(25) Mantwenic (1-6-1)
(26) Christstan (1-6-1)
(27) Tortuga y Hispaniola (1-7)
(28) Antitidum (1-7)
(29) Northwest Polaris (0-8)
(30) La Habana Cuba (0-8)

Taeshan

25-11-2008, 21:58

Fitin' Falcons Defeat Greal

The Falcons are know 6-2 after there 35-16 victory over the Greal squad. The team was fired up for the game as they need to keep there winning ways up to qualify for the playoffs. Although qualification is practically ensured the Falcons are looking forward to the next games as a way to show the world that the bull has been let lose. It's time to let lose, and fly high,. Falcon style.

Now first i would like to adress whoever posted, in response to my blog, that they had no clue what a Fitin' Falcon was. What does the Fitin' part mean? My answer Fitin' just describes the whole life of a Taeshanite. Fight for the first breath, fight the opressers, fighting the world is what we're all about. We here to show everyone what Fighting is about. Prove everone wrong, thats why the the Fitin' Falcons, the Fiotin' Phills. We here to prove to the world we belong, and we are going to fight for it.

Well last night the world saw the Fitin' power of the Falcons. They rammed into Greal, flew past and left them to pay the check. The Falcons showed them what is was like to play football. Play the game, score the goals, showing everyone the spirit of the underdgo.(although not that we're undedogs) People think were gonna lose, but most of the time we prove them wrong. It our thing, hopefully you all can see us fighin for ourselves, and that what we do.

As you may know this was the Falcons final road game before the return to the Q Continum for there final two Pool games, and hopefully the second round. They started it off with a Gabe Martin touchdown pass to Ricky Zellefrow five minutes into the game. Then the Grealis scored two touchdowns, and two conversions without there injured kicker and at the start of the second it was 16-7. The Falcons were down, but they stood up, and fought back. The quater ended 21-16. Two Ricky Zellefrow touchdowns from 46, and 12 yards. The two were an ubelieveable combination that day.

In the second half the pain train kept on trucking as five more Greal players left the scene of the accident. 3 broken bones, and a contusioned ankle. The D was shattering, literally. The offense kept roaring. Jack Cito scored a a Touchdown from 25 yards out on a Wide Reciever Quick run. Then later Martin would find Ernie Smith for his fourth throwing touchdopwn of the day. The Falcons won by that score 35-16.

We're all here just fighting to survive, everone of us. The Falcons showed it today. They are a relentless winning machine. They show there spirit, and win with life in there eyes. Is'nt that what life is all about?

Myedvedeya

25-11-2008, 23:11

Text Message of the Day

"call you in a bit drinking contest with a bear"
- My friend Charles during the first quarter of Dancougar v Myedvedeya

"dam tht bbeeear cbn drrk"
- Charles, fifteen minutes later

In light of Recent Events, Myedvedeya will publish "Don't Drink With Bears" to the outside world.

After recent reports of some... interesting occurrences at both American and Association Football Matches, the Myedvedeyan public health and safety pamphlet issued to tourists will now be posted on the internet, as part of the public domain.

Don't Drink With Bears
A pamphlet by the Myedvedeyan Public Health Committee

Bears.
Nearly as common a sight in Myedvedeya as fellow human beings, these massive and majestic creatures inspire curiosity and awe in beholders. Looking at a bear, one sees an impressive carnivore, a callback to what seems a much older, freer way of existence. Talking to one, one would believe they were speaking to a Renaissance philosopher. The Bearish Population of Myedvedeya is full of interesting creatures, who will discourse with you at great length about nearly any subject that interests them. Take the time to meet a bear. Speak with him. They are fascinating creatures, often far more intelligent than human beings.

Vodka.
The most common alcoholic beverage in Myedvedeya, and in much of the world. Myedvedeya is known for producing some of the most, and the highest quality vodka in the world. The colorless beverage has been called "Myedvedeyan Water", and not without good reason. Delicious on ice, or in cocktails, this versatile beverage can, and should be enjoyed by anyone over the drinking age, human or ursine.

Myedvedeyans are known to be fond of drinking games, which can be as complicated as "ring of fire", or as simple as who can imbibe the most without passing out.

NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ATTEMPT TO DRINK MORE THAN A BEAR!

Alcohol tolerance is largely based on weight. The average male bear in Myedvedeya outweighs you by a good 1200 Pounds.

Alcohol tolerance is also based on digestive ability. Bears have stomachs designed to digest Everything. Can you eat a tire? No. Can a bear eat a tire? Yes he can.

Bears will take great pleasure in challenging unwitting humans to drinking games. NEVER accept these challenges. If you do, you will find yourself in a hospital, with alcohol poisoning, and no memory of the last few days/weeks.

Next week, Never offer to pay for a Bear at a restaurant, a pamphlet from the Myedvedeyan Economic Advisory Bureau

Rennidan

26-11-2008, 00:56

We are men now powered by revenge.

In a few hours, we will walk out onto the cement floor of Warehouse 17 and will play our fine sport.

The feel of the cement is one we know well against our bruised and blooded skin.

We do not play on the gridiron.

We live on the gridiron.

We have made the gridiron our home, our world.

Any and every gridiron out there is the place that we belong, whether it is the snow covered fields of Myedvedya or the rival grounds of Dancougar.

We rose to power too fast, and now we pay the price.

We are branded insufficient, we are labelled without due respect.

But it is not what others think of us that motivates us in this game.

It is merely who we are that drives us onwards.

It is our heart and soul that forces us to take every yard we can.

It is our very essence that leads us towards that final endzone.

We begin to distance ourselves from the others.

We are no longer human.

We are brutes.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

And we will win.

_________

NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ATTEMPT TO DRINK MORE THAN A BEAR!

POWIS TO BEARS: SEE YOU UNDER THE TABLE!

IN TYPICAL Brute fashion, big-man Owen Powis of the Rennidan Brutes has declared his interest in facing off one of Myedvedya's ursine population in a battle as old as time: a drink off.

Due to a recent publication by the respected Myedvedeyan Public Health Committee, the gridiron player has decided to take it upon himself to ignore all good advice given and bring about the drinking challenge of the decade.

"Yo', hairy beary folk. Big respect for you guys, sure sure, but what I wanna' know is, are you guys really as big and bad as you say? Pssh, sure sure, I saw you guys goin' at it last World Bowl. Good times for us lot, eh? Good memories between you and us. But that's long outta' my mind now. It ain't gridiron we've got to be fighting about right now, oh no no no. Instead, I wanna' take up you guys on something I'm sure you'll enjoy, right? So, what do you say, eh? Me, you, some vodka, some RenniBooze style shots, and I'll see you hairy beary folk under the table. Much respect my ursine cousins, see you there."

The Rennidanian population are known for their love of drinking, with the RenniBooze Corporation being one of the biggest employers in the country, as well as one of the nation's largest income sources. What remains to be seen, however, is whether Powis can live up to his claim and really bring a bear down under the table.

Sarzonia

26-11-2008, 03:28

He looked down at his notes one final time. Even though he'd pored over his information and thoroughly researched everything, he was still incredibly nervous.

Dane Loughran tried to assure Travis West that he was fine. The din of gofers and interns rushing about in an effort to ready the studio for its broadcast made it too loud for Loughran to say anything to the young Daily Mail reporter, so Loughran winked.

When he saw the look on West's face, he stiffened slightly. Shit, he thought. He took that the wrong way. I should've just given him a quick nod.

"Thirty seconds!" came the shrill yell from Director Larissa Mason. She'd been producing programmes for Woodstock's Channel 10 Sports almost since Woodstock itself was founded. But she still hadn't mastered the ability to calm the frayed nerves of veteran host Loughran.

You'll be fine, Loughran mouthed to West. He could tell that did little to comfort the nervous reporter, but he also knew it didn't matter.

"Fifteen seconds!" Mason yelled again. Loughran stared out at the cue cards as his longtime assistant held them up. Truth be told, he was nervous, too, but he at least had some experience in front of a television camera. West had no such luck.

"And you're on in five, four, three, two, one ..."

"Good evening sports fans, and welcome to today's Gridball Analysis programme, I'm Dane Loughran and I'm your host this evening. With me is Travis West, a sports reporter from the Woodstock Daily Mail who has been covering the Sarzonian national gridball team's World Bowl IV qualification efforts. Travis, how are you?"

"I'm doing well," West said with a smile. Loughran took a quick glance at West's face and it was clear that West either had gotten over his nerves or was doing a much better job of hiding them.

"Let's look at Sarzonia's Group, which is Group B if I'm not mistaken."

"All right," West said. "Obviously, the story here is that Arroza and Vephrall have both clinched berths in the World Bowl playoffs."

"So what does that mean for the Stingers? Are they out of contention?"

"No," West said as a graphic featuring the World Bowl standings flashed on the screen. "If you look at the overall picture, the top two teams in each group are guaranteed to advance to the World Bowl playoffs in Qazox. However, the two best third place teams earn berths as well. Currently, Sarzonia is in position to capture the 12th and final playoff spot with a 4-3-1 record."

"Can you tell me a bit about the group standings first, then we can look at the playoff picture?"

"Certainly, Dane. Obviously, Arroza and Vephrall are in. Sarzonia is currently in third place with a one-game lead over Miroxia. Sarzonia also have an advantage in the head-to-head, having defeated Miroxia at Hendrix and tying them away. Thus, Miroxia would have to finish ahead of Sarzonia in the group standings. If Sarzonia and Miroxia are level, Sarzonia get the nod.

"What can you tell me about the other two teams in the group?"

"Well, Cassadaigua have been having problems with consistency. That, and reports have been circulating that some teams have asked Cassadaigua not to suit Rebecca Looper up."

"Oh really? Why is that?"

"She apparently has been assailed for being, to quote an anonymous source, "psycho."

"Have we heard anything from External Affairs about Cassadaigua's visa applications?"

"Usually, visa applications are a routine affair for sporting events, but I've made a few phone calls to External Affairs and there's word that Looper's visa might be denied."

"Really? How?"

Apparently, deputy senior vice president and external affairs officer James Melvin is a huge gridball fan. He's been watching the World Bowl closely. He apparently told the office within External Affairs about Looper and they've denied her visa. The rest of the team has had no problems securing visas, however."

"Wow. And what about Tortuga y Hispañola?"

"They finally broke out of their winless streak with a win over Cassadaigua, but both teams are mathematically eliminated from contention."

"Does that mean anything for tomorrow night's game?"

"Not from Jim Zorn's perspective. His team still has to win out to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Well, they control their own destiny right now."

"Have you been watching the other groups? Who do you think are the best teams in this tournament?"

"Well, obviously outside of Group B, you've got Kura-Pelland, which is the only team with a perfect won-loss-draw record. Then you have teams like Arroza, Dancougar, Vephrall and Newmanistan that are all 7-1. You can't count out Qazox even though they're in a brutal Group D."

"What do you think of Sarzonia's chances to advance?"

"They have to beat Cassadaigua and Vephrall. I think they can beat Cassadaigua, but it'll be tough. The Vephrall game is going to be tough. They beat Sarzonia away and are still riding high off their big win over Arroza. I don't know. All these games are going to be tough."

"That's about all the time we have today, folks. Thanks for tuning in. Until next time, I'm Dane Loughran."

"And I'm Travis West."

"So long from Channel 10 Sports in Woodstock."

"And we're done!"

West exhaled.

"You did fine," Loughran said. "You were great."

"Thanks!"

Qazox

26-11-2008, 05:12

MD 9 Cutoff
Will all the playoff berths be clinched leading to a meaningless Week 10? Or will there be some excitement in the final week?

Qazox

26-11-2008, 06:46

MATCHDAY NINE SCORES
(Winners in BOLD, Ties in Italics)

GROUP A
Cotenshire @ Dancougar 31-23
Swilatia @ Myedvedeya 17-14 (OT)
Secristan @ Northwest Polaris 24-7

GROUP B
Cassadaigua @ Sarzonia 23-10
Miroxia @ Vephrall 38-21
Arroza @ Tortuga y Hispaniola 34-14

GROUP C
Colburne @ Taeshan 21-15
Greal @ Nethertopia 34-14
Newmanistan @ Mantenwic 24-16

GROUP D
The Candrian Empire @ La Habana Cuba 24-7
Kjomasasopia @ Rennidan 24-21 (OT)
Qazox @ Antitidum 28-10

GROUP E
Kura-Pelland @ Lovisa 20-17
Lurikastan @ Christstan 20-20
Twin Dominions @ Green wombat 30-10

STANDINGS
(Teams sorted First by H2H then by PD, then other Tie-breakers)
Teams in RED have been eliminated from playoff contention.
Teams in BLUE have clinched at least a playoff berth.
Teams in GREEN have clinched Group title.

GROUP A W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Dancougar 8-1-0 .889 275 175 +100
Secristan 7-2-0 .778 211 169 +42
Swilatia 4-5-0 .444 186 159 +27
Cotenshire 4-5-0 .444 201 199 +2
Myedvedeya 4-5-0 .444 201 222 -21
NW Polaris 0-9-0 .000 100 250 -150

(NOTE: Swilatia ahead of Cotenshire and Myedvedeya based on overall PD [+27::+2::-21] as H2H record amongst the teams is tied at 2-2; Cotenshire ahead of Myedvedeya also based on PD [+2::-21] as H2H is tied [1-1].)

GROUP B W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Arroza 8-1-0 .889 243 142 +101
Vephrall 8-1-0 .889 271 177 +94
Sarzonia 5-3-1 .611 219 164 +55
Miroxia 3-5-1 .389 183 203 -20
Cassadaigua 1-8-0 .111 127 190 -63
Tort. y Hisp. 1-8-0 .111 125 285 -160

(NOTE: Arroza ahead of Vephrall on PD as H2H is tied [1-1]; Cassidaigua ahead of Tortuga y Hispaniola on PD as H2H is tied [1-1].)

GROUP C W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Newmanistan 8-1-0 .889 215 149 +66
Taeshan 7-2-0 .778 233 180 +53
Nethertopia 5-4-0 .556 226 201 +25
Colburne 4-5-0 .444 171 175 -4
Mantenwic 1-7-1 .167 144 214 -70
Greal 1-7-1 .167 156 226 -70

(NOTE: Mantenwic ahead of Greal based on H2H record [1-0-1])

GROUP D W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Candrian Empire 7-2-0 .778 191 148 +43
Qazox 7-2-0 .778 262 142 +120
Rennidan 7-2-0 .778 274 166 +108
Kjomasaspoia 5-4-0 .556 189 185 +4
Antitidum 1-8-0 .111 136 254 -118
Habana Cuba 0-9-0 .000 125 282 -157

(NOTE: The Candrian Empire ahead of Qazox and Rennidan based on H2H records [2-1::2-2::1-2], Qazox ahead of Rennidan on PD, as H2H is tied [1-1].)

GROUP E W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Kura-Pelland 9-0-0 1.000 280 135 +145
Lovisa 6-3-0 .667 229 185 +44
Green wombat 5-3-1 .611 168 177 -9
Lurikastan 2-6-1 .278 148 180 -43
Twin Dominions 2-7-0 .222 133 209 -76
Christstan 1-6-2 .222 137 198 -61

CURRENT PLAYOFF SEEDINGS:
(all tiebreakers applied)

Kura-Pelland (9-0)
Arroza (8-1)
Dancougar (8-1)
Newmanistan (8-1)
The Candrian Empire (7-2)
Vephrall (8-1)
Qazox (7-2)
Taeshan (7-2)
Secristan (7-2)
Lovisa (6-3)

Current 3rd Place team standings

Rennidan 7-2-0 .778 274 166 +108
Sarzonia 5-3-1 .611 219 164 +55
Green wombat 5-3-1 .611 168 177 -9
Nethertopia 5-4-0 .556 226 201 +25

(NOTE1: All three qualifying teams from Group D have qualified due to the fact they cannot be caught for best 3rd place record.)
(NOTE2: Sarzonia would qualify based on better PD than Green wombat)
(NOTE3: All teams with a 4-5 record have been eliminated for the playoffs, as they cannot finish with a better record than either Sarzonia or Green wombat.)
(NOTE4: Kjomasaspoia is eliminated due to the fact they cannot finish third in their group.)

QUALIFYING SENARIOS:
Group A:
Both Dancougar and Secristan have clinched playoff berths.
Dancougar clinches group with a win or tie or a Secristan loss or tie, or a loss and Dancougar has a better PD than Secristan.
Secristan clinches group with a win and a Dancougar loss and Secristan has a better GD than Dancougar.
(In the very unlikely event of a overall PD tie, Dancougar would win as the H2H PD is +8::-8)

Group B:
Both Arroza and Vephrall have clinched playoff berths.
Arroza clinches group with a win and either a Vephrall loss or tie, or a Vephrall win and Arroza has a better PD.
Vephrall clinches group with a win and either an Arroza loss or tie, or an Arroza win and Vephrall has a better PD.
IF both Arroza and Vephrall tie their games, Arroza would win the group on overall PD. Arroza would also win the group if they finish even on overall PD, as Arroza has a better H2H PD (+4::-4) than Vephrall.
Sarzonia clinches playoff berth with any of the following:
A win and has a better PD than Green wombat if GW wins.
A tie and a Green wombat tie or loss and a Nethertopia tie or loss.
A loss and if both Green wombat and Nethertopia lose.

Group C:
Newmanistan has clinched group based on H2H sweep of Taeshan.
Taeshan has clinched playoff berth.
Nethertopia clinches playoff berth with a win and the following:
A Lovisa loss, and if both Sarzonia and Green wombat tie or lose and Nethertopia has a better PD than Lovisa.
A win and if both Sarzonia and Green wombat tie or lose.
Nethertopia can also clinch with a tie and a Green wombat loss and a Sarzonia loss by 31 points or more.

Group D:
The Candrian Empire, Qazox and Rennidan have all clinched playoff berths.
The Candrian Empire clinches the group with a win over Rennidan or a tie with Rennidan and a Qazox tie.
Qazox clinches the Group with win and a Rennidan-The Candrian Empire tie, or a win and a Rennidan win over The Candrian Empire and Qazox has a better PD than Rennidan.
Rennidan clinches the group with a win over The Candrian Empire and a Qazox loss or tie; or a win over The Candrian Empire and a Qazox win and Rennidan has a better PD than Qazox.
(In the event that Qazox and Rennidan both finish at either 8-2 or 7-3 and even on Overall PD, Rennidan would win H2H PD tiebreaker +2::-2.)

Group E:
Lovisa clinches a playoff berth with a win or a Green wombat loss or tie. Can also clinch with a loss and the following:
Both Sarzonia and Green wombat lose or tie and Nethertopia loses or ties.
Both Sarzonia and Green wombat lose or tie and Nethertopia wins but Lovisa has a better PD than Nethertopia.
Green wombat clinches a playoff berth with a win and any of the following:
A Lovisa loss.
A Sarzonia loss.
Green wombat can also clinch playoff berth with a tie and a Sarzonia loss and a Nethertopia loss.

In the very unlikely event that both Nethertopia and Sarzonia finish with a 5-4-1 record and have the same PD, Sarzonia would clinch the final playoff berth based on Road Point Differential (+14::-5); Green wombat would be eliminated on PD if they were to finish 5-4-1 as well.

I'm repeating the tiebreakers just as a reminder for all:

Playoff Berth/Group Title:
1- Best H2H Record amongst the teams.
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Point differential in H2H games amongst the teams.
4- Best Road Record.
5- Best Road Point differential.
6- Most Points For.
7- Most Points For in H2H games amongst the teams.
8- Most Road Points For.
9- Most Points For in regulation.
10- Coin Flip.

Seeding for Playoffs:
1- Most wins (ie: a team that is 7-1-0 would be seeded higher than a 6-0-2 team, even though the Win% is the same.)
2- Overall Point differential.
3- Best Road Point differential.
4- Most Points For.
5- Most Road Points For.
6- Most Points For in regulation.
7- Coin Flip.

Qazox

26-11-2008, 07:06

(OOC: It took an hour to determine those senarios listed in the previous post... You're quite welcome :eek:)

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

Just after kickoff in Antitidum, Qazox found out they had all but qualifed for the playoffs thanks to Rennidan's OT win over Kjomasasopia. Only thing they needed to do was just not lose to Antitdum. After 15 minutes of play, Qazox had a 21-0 lead, thanks to 3 rushing TD's by Frank Vallens, and cruised to the 28-10 win as the backups played the rest of the way. Now Qazox must root for Rennidan to beat The Candrian Empire, or else they'll have to begin the playoffs against a tougher opponent, currently they'd face Lovisa, but if they win the Group title, they'll probably face a team that had to scrap their way into the finals.

Only a trip to Kjomasasopia stands in the way of a Group title. But Kjomasasopia has a big chip on their shoulder. They could finish 6-4, with a better record than any of the 3rd place teams that will qualify, and they still have to stay home. It is unknown at this time if Qazox will rest or play the starters for the game.

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 FINAL
Qazox 21 0 0 7 28
Antitidum 0 0 10 0 10

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Charles Hanneford: 9-16, 163 yds, 1 TD.
Frank Vallens: 12 rushes, 181 yds. 3 TD
Greg Ferrigamo: 23 rushes, 128 yds, 2 rec., 17 yds, 1 TD

Defense:
Nathan Johansen: 6 tackles, 2.0 sacks.
David Gregory: 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble rec.
Naveen Al' Karesh: 9 tackles, 4 passes defended.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Qazox: Frank Vallens - 52 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (13:28) 7-0 Qazox
Qazox: Frank Vallens - 36 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (5:58) 14-0 Qazox
Qazox: Frank Vallens - 42 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (0:47) 21-0 Qazox
Third Quarter:
Antitidum: 86 yd Kickoff return for TD; PAT good (14:44) 21-7 Qazox
Antitidum: 41 yd FG (4:18) 21-10 Qazox
Fourth Quarter:
Qazox: Greg Ferrigamo - 3 yd TD rec.; Tryone Chase PAT good (13:47) 28-10 Qazox

Green wombat

26-11-2008, 07:09

A huge 30-10 win over Twin Dominions sees the Wombats clinch at worst a winning record in their first World Bowl.

But they still are not in a playoff berth. They need a win and losses by either Sarzonia or Lovisa to advance or else they'll be watching the finals at home, like 17 other teams.

Kjomasasopia

26-11-2008, 08:02

well a good effort from a team of amateurs (literally)
awards from KJOGI:
most improved: Justin Wiremu, eventually beating Milos for the starting QB slot.
best in play (offence): Valentijn Lúcás
best in play (defence): Guillem Nikola
Foley McArthur Award (best in play [Sp. Teams]): Dragon Yasu Kohaku Katsurou Kenshin

Secristan

26-11-2008, 08:30

DOWN GOES POLARIS

Secristan was supposed to defeat Northwest Polaris so the fact that they did shouldn’t really surprise anyone. The NWP has been the worst performing team during the World Bowl with a record of 0-9, even worse then La Habana Cuba, say our international judges, who is also 0-9 and has a touchdown worse point differential. The Millionaires took a business like approach to this game with touchdowns on their first two possessions, thanks to two big runs by Chris Hausler. The first score went for 66 yards, then on the second touchdown run he went for 73, giving him 139 yards in just half of the first quarter. Hausler would go on to have a huge day with a total of 231 yards rushing, a new Secristani World Bowl record. The defense of Northwest Polaris simply could not stop him, and Tom Mitchell was more then happy to keep handing him the ball. Late in the second quarter, the Millionaires drove down the field again, but had to settle for a field goal after Alex Donovon dropped a sure TD pass while he was wide open on 3rd down. This is why Donovon is used as more of a blocking tight end then a receiver but Mitchell tried to give him the benefit of the doubt that he could at least catch that. The field goal by Norris was good and Secristan was up 17-0 at halftime, and on their way. It stayed like this for quite some time, extending even into the 4th quarter where even the losers can have their moment as Northwest Polaris got a nice catch from a wide receiver on 3rd and 21 from their own 47 and he took it the distance. Not to worry as the Millionaires scored on the next possession, using Hausler quite a bit, but ending up in a TD catch from 12 yards by the Blizzard. At that point all that was left was for the clock to finally hit all zeroes.

There is just one more game left which will be at the Loophole against 4-5 Cotenshire, who has been eliminated from playoff contention. Secristan is on their way to a second place finish in the group regardless of this result (but the Millionaires’ actual seeding in the playoffs makes this game very important). Though the folks at QSPN spent part of an hour to assure that there may just be a possiblity of a Secristani group title if we defeated Cotenshire and Dancougar actually lost to Swilatia, but that would not be enough, we would also have to make a -58 point differential to the Black Wings in the process. Furthermore, they wanted us to be aware that if we came back to tie Dancougar in point differential, they have the edge due to H2H point differential. Screw that. If we make up a -58 point differential only to tie it then we should get the group title simply on the grounds that it was an amazing comeback! They love numbers too much on QSPN. Secristan is going to finish second. Which is just fine.

Newmanistan

26-11-2008, 15:30

THE ROCKET REPORT

MAKE IT EIGHT

Mantwenic- Newmanistan did what they needed to do against Mantwenic and won a game that wasn’t as close as the final score makes it appear. On a day that saw the Empire’s two other football teams lose somewhat prematurely as far as the fans expectations were concerned in the Di Bradini Cup and the Cup of Harmony, the Rockets of this brand of football had to make up for it. They did, winning 24-16 for the eighth straight win, making a lot of Newmanistanians start to believe that they could be onto something this year. We’ll see about that. The win clinches the group title for Newmanistan, and likely a first round bye. That’s not set in stone, but based on who’s playing against who, it’s probable.

Coach Thompson wanted to build a lead so he could use this game to experiment with the back pages of his play book and use some formations and personnel he doesn’t usually concern himself with. The team obliged by scoring a touchdown on their opening possession on a balanced 10 play drive that an equal amount of rushes and passes. Corey Parisi returned to the end zone on a 7 yard rush right up the gut, getting an incredible block by pulling guard Brent Pemberton. The rest of the first quarter went scoreless as the Rockets had a drive that got to about midfield but had to punt. In the second, after getting the ball to their own 40-yard line, Thompson definitely pulled off of probably the very back page. O’Hara hands off to Parisi, who then gave the ball to Alex Foster on the reverse, but wait! Foster drops back to pass and guns it upfield for Christian Gagnon who is wide open without a defender near him because they all bit on the reverse. Gagnon caught the pass and high-stepped into the end zone for a 60-yard completion. That got the sideline excited for sure, and with the Rockets adding a field goal before the end of the first half, the team seemed to be running away with it, 17-0.

After forcing Mantwenic to punt to start the second half, Thompson was at it again, trying out some trick plays. The next one was for a direct snap to Corey Parisi and for Kenny O’Hara to go out to get the pass. However, Parisi’s pass was deflected at the line scrimmage and intercepted by a linebacker, who took it to the house. Then, to the Rockets surprise, Mantwenic lined up for a two-point conversion. It made no sense to anyone wearing sky blue and white as they thought this is probably a reason why the team has only won once. They converted to make it 17-8, but still it was a stupid move. With it suddenly a nine point game, Thompson decided to go back to more conventional plays, and it would work out the way it should, with Newmanistan going on a 13-play, 80 yard drive that killed off 9:20 of game clock and moved into the 4th quarter. Tiberius Gillespie took it straight up the middle for the score from a yard out to make it 24-8. On the ensuing kickoff, the Mantwenic return man got some great blocks and took it 95 yards for a score. Now this conversion attempt would make much more sense, and they would convert to make it 24-16 with 7:52 left to play. Plenty of time, if only they could get the ball back. They would not however, ever touch the ball again, as the Rockets drove downfield again on 15-plays (12 if you exclude the kneel downs), that could have ended up in a field goal or a touchdown, but the Rockets at this point just wanted to get the win and go home. They did, and improve to 8-1. Kenny O’Hara’s day was pretty quiet, going 11-for-20 for 152 and no touchdowns. Parisi ran for 106. Newmanistan finishes up the group stage in Greal, a game they should win. The focus of Greal has likely been on that Cup of Harmony thing.

Sarzonia

26-11-2008, 16:45

Woodstock Daily Mail

Stingers control their own destiny

by Travis West
Daily Mail Staff Writer

This time, Ryan Clack did his talking on the field.

After missing the previous meeting with Cassadaigua following his suspension over sexist comments, he played like a man on a mission at Hendrix Stadium against Cassadaigua. He had two sacks, caused two fumbles and intercepted a pass en route to Sarzonia's 23-10 win over Cassadaigua.

"It was important for me to play to my potential," Clack said. He did not answer questions about the comments that led to his suspension, saying "we've already gone there."

However, that didn't prevent quarterback Gavin Davis (18-for-27, 251 yards, one touchdown) from addressing the issue.

"Ryan felt like he had to prove himself," Davis said. "He played about as motivated a game as I've ever seen him play."

Cassadaigua (1-8) scored first with a 96-yard Brianna Stafford kickoff return for a touchdown, but the Stingers answered. Davis hit running back LoQuan Willard for a 22-yard touchdown pass after the Stingers drove 10 plays and 80 yards in 5:36 to tie the game at 7.

"It was a good read by Davis," Willard said. "He showed great patience in the pocket and found me when my defender slipped."

Kicker Jessica Messina gave Cassadaigua a 10-7 lead with a 29-yard field goal when Clack sacked quarterback Lauren Hamilton on third-and-goal at the 5. However, that would be the last of Cassadaigua's scoring. The Stingers drove 13 plays for 89 yards, culminating in a four-yard Willard touchdown run that made the score 14-10 at halftime.

After that, it was the Adam Novak show. He hit three second half field goals, from 29, 36 and 41 yards to provide the final margin.

"It was a good team win," said coach Jim Zorn. "We have a tough game ahead of us this week, but we didn't look past Cassadaigua. We focused on the task at hand. Now we have our work cut out for us."

Do they ever. They face a Vephrall team that is vying with Arroza for the Group B title. Even though the Stingers (5-4-1) essentially control their own destiny for a final playoff berth, they have a complicated formula by which they could find themselves out of the running.

The team is tied with Green wombat in Group E on won-loss record, but Sarzonia are ahead on point differential (plus-55 to minus-9). If Sarzonia and Green wombat both win, Sarzonia must remain ahead of Green wombat in point differential to earn the final playoff spot. If Sarzonia ties, Green wombat must lose and Nethertopia must either tie or lose. If Sarzonia loses, both Green wombat and Nethertopia must lose and remain behind Sarzonia in point differential.

In the last meeting between Sarzonia and Vephrall, the Auric Wolves defeated the Stingers 27-20 at Ellime Parogam Gests in Misedos. Hendrix Stadium is already sold out for the game and game organisers expect a crowd of nearly 70,000 for the game.

"This game's huge," Davis said. "We're going to need to be at the top of our game against those guys."

Zorn said he wouldn't make any predictions about the game.

"I respect [Vephrall] tremendously," he said. "They're a great team and they really disrupted the flow of the game when we played them the last time."

Taeshan

27-11-2008, 02:21

Fitin' Falcons Headed to Qazox

Friday night, on there home fierld for the first time in just over a month the Falcons sealed there second round spot with a 21-15 victory over Colbourne sending them to the second round just over the ocean in Qazox. The Falcons still have one game against Mantwenic, a powder puff squad, in which they can relax before the prime time in Qazox. The Falconsa are ready yet again to make everone think twice about messing with us.

In Friday's game the Colbournes scored first on a 33 yard field goal. This was followed by a Colbourne 40 yard touchdown dash, with a blocked extra point giving them a 9-0 lead at the end of the first. The Falcons got back into in the second with a Gabe Martin to Jack Cito 48 yard touchdown reception. In the second half the C'bournes scored again with a 5 yards TD sprint, but yet another blocked EP. The Falcons though went on to win it with a Ricky Zellefrow touchdown reception of 40 yards. And an amazing 60 yard last play from scrimage double pass out to Jack Cito back to Gabe Martin suprising everopne and easily making many highlight reals.

Dancougar

27-11-2008, 02:42

Sidney Goldman's (Abridged!) Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

And the stadium still stands!

The Dancougar Black Wings have not been dominating opponents, save for Northwest Polaris, in this tournament. Their defense has already set a dubious mark for most points ceded in a qualification round. The saving grace must be that the offense is managing to stay just a step ahead, because the Wings keep winning.

The fans didn't tear down the goalposts after last night's 31-23 victory over Cotenshire sealed a playoff bid. And unlike their counterparts, they didn't tear down the rest of the stadium, either. Rather, it was another close game marked by a lot of energy-sapping drives and tight margins of error. Gary Hutchins, who went through a funk in the middle of the round, seems to have swung back to indispensability, as he accounted for two scores and 130 yards. Most importantly, he kept the Wings on top of the possession battle and ensured that the clock didn't cease unless the Wings willed it.

Otherwise they might not have won.

Cotenshire had the early lead before the Wings were able to stamp their authority on the game, and even then it took a game-swinging interception by Tony Rorick to keep the Wings moving. They had one long drive end in a missed field goal, one of Cavallo's few miscues of the tournament, and after playing the Eagles close throughout the start of the second half, the defense dropped the iron curtain when it counted most.

1 2 3 4 F
Dancougar 0 14 10 7 31
Cotenshire 10 3 10 0 23

1st Quarter
10:03 (COT) A. Kerkrade 18 pass to T. Waalwijk (L. Tonger PAT good)
6:15 (COT) L. Tonger 36 FG
2nd Quarter
14:22 (DAN) G. Hutchins 6 rush (S. Cavallo PAT good)
9:10 (COT) L. Tonger 30 FG
2:48 (DAN) T. Rorick 68 INT return (S. Cavallo PAT good)
3rd Quarter
12:11 (DAN) M. Hussey 4 pass to E. Mendenhall (S. Cavallo PAT good)
8:29 (COT) L. Tonger 39 FG
5:13 (DAN) M. Hussey 31 pass to J. Divalerio (S. Cavallo PAT good)
0:58 (COT) A. Kerkrade 20 pass to T. Waalwijk (L. Tonger PAT good)
4th Quarter
5:18 (DAN) G. Hutchins 1 rush (S. Cavallo PAT good)

They travel to Swilatia for the final group game and would like to finish 9-1 and get a top seeding. But the Swilatians played the Wings much closely in their previous meeting than in past World Bowls, so the team can't afford to take this one easy. Secristan has an outside shot at passing the Wings, but it will require some sensational results.

Fantasy Fallout

I was lazy and haven't been checking my lineup religiously. It might have something to do with the massive amount of food getting set up in my kitchen and all my relatives being in the same house as me. I haven't received as many requests for fantasy advice as I expected, but since I have a moment, here's the top lineup from gameday eight's action.

QB: Gabe Martin (Taeshan)
Surprisingly, he wasn't the only one with four scores on the day. Also give a thumbs up to Pat McGraw for accounting for three in the air and one on the ground, while Greg Dannen and Kenny O'Hara both went over 300 yards and three touches.

RB: Gary Hutchins (Dancougar), Jason Yeilds (Rennidan)
Yeilds is such a big play threat, it's frightening. He had yet another return touchdown; teams should really stop kicking to him. Frances Valencia also had two touchdown runs on the day.

WR: Ricky Zellefrow (Taeshan), Ivan Harvey (Qazox), Lewis Seffer (Rennidan)
Seffer makes the list for the first time and Harvey returns in style, although Zellefrow's hat trick produced the best fantasy numbers among World Bowl wideouts.

TE: Jim Crosby (Newmanistan)
Tom Gui and Ernie Smith also found the endzone, but the nod goes to Jim, despite not being the coolest Crosby on the block...

DEF: Rennidan
No defense piled up huge numbers, but Owen Powis rumbled, bumbled, and stumbled his way into the endzone on a fumble recovery to give the Brutes the edge.

K: Ryan Norris (Secristan)
Three field goals give Norris the slight edge over Clive, even though Clive had to hit eight kicks to get his total.

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

Ten spots have been claimed; who gets the last two? The lucky four who get to wrestle for it are Lovisa, Sarzonia, Green wombat, and Nethertopia. Lovisa have the inside track as a second place team in Group E, but the others have played very solid ball and have sprung some surprises on us. They're no less worthy of a berth, and this will all make for an exciting day ten!

(1) Kura-Pelland (9-0)
(2) Arroza (8-1)
(3) Vephrall (8-1)
(4) Qazox (7-2)
(5) Newmanistan (8-1)
(6) Rennidan (7-2)
(7) The Candrian Empire (7-2)
(8) Dancougar (8-1)
(9) Taeshan (7-2)
(10) Secristan (7-2)
(11) Sarzonia (5-3-1)
(12) Lovisa (6-3)
(13) Kjomasasopia (5-4)
(14) Green wombat (5-3-1)
(15) Nethertopia (5-4)
(16) Cotenshire (4-5)
(17) Myedvedeya (4-5)
(18) Swilatia (4-5)
(19) Colbourne (4-5)
(20) Miroxia (3-5-1)
(21) Lurikastan (2-6-1)
(22) Twin Dominions (2-7)
(23) Mantwenic (1-7-1)
(24) Cassadaigua (1-8)
(25) Christstan (1-6-2)
(26) Greal (1-7-1)
(27) Tortuga y Hispaniola (1-8)
(28) Antitidum (1-8)
(29) Northwest Polaris (0-9)
(30) La Habana Cuba (0-9)

Qazox

27-11-2008, 04:26

Due to Rl issues, RP cutoff is now!
MD 10 scores up before the turkey will be cooked, I promise.
Also the playoff matchups will be posted as well, in a separate post, as to avoid confusion.

Qazox

27-11-2008, 05:27

MATCHDAY NINE SCORES
(Winners in BOLD, Ties in Italics)

GROUP A
Dancougar @ Swilatia 21-14
Cotenshire @ Secristan 35-24
Northwest Polaris @ Myedvedeya 12-7

GROUP B
Arroza @ Cassadaigua 21-7
Miroxia @ Tortuga y Hispaniola 36-32
Vephrall @ Sarzonia 27-24

GROUP C
Mantenwic @ Taeshan 42-13
Newmanistan @ Greal 26-21
Nethertopia @ Colburne 23-18

GROUP D
Qazox @ Kjomasasopia 32-10
The Candrian Empire @ Rennidan 21-17
Antitidum @ La Habana Cuba 16-6

GROUP E
Lurikastan @ Kura-Pelland 38-14
Green wombat @ Christstan 25-14
Lovisa @ Twin Dominions 35-28

STANDINGS
(Teams sorted First by H2H then by PD, then other Tie-breakers)
Teams in BLUE have clinched playoff berth.
Teams in GREEN have clinched Group title.

GROUP A W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Dancougar 9-1-0 .900 296 189 +107
Secristan 8-2-0 .800 246 193 +53
Myedvedeya 5-5-0 .500 213 229 -16
Swilatia 4-6-0 .400 200 180 +20
Cotenshire 4-6-0 .400 225 234 -9
NW Polaris 0-10-0 .000 107 262 -155

(NOTE: Swilatia ahead of Cotenshire based on PD [+20::-9] as H2H is tied [1-1])

GROUP B W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Arroza 9-1-0 .900 264 149 +115
Vephrall 8-2-0 .800 295 204 +91
Sarzonia 6-3-1 .650 246 188 +58
Miroxia 3-6-1 .350 215 239 -24
Tort. y Hisp. 2-8-0 .200 161 317 -156
Cassadaigua 1-9-0 .100 127 190 -63

GROUP C W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Newmanistan 9-1-0 .889 215 149 +66
Taeshan 8-2-0 .800 275 193 +82
Nethertopia 6-4-0 .600 249 219 +30
Colburne 4-6-0 .400 189 198 -9
Mantenwic 1-8-1 .150 164 256 -92
Greal 1-8-1 .150 177 252 -75

(NOTE: Mantenwic ahead of Greal based on H2H record [1-0-1])

GROUP D W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Qazox 8-2-0 .800 294 152 +142
Rennidan 8-2-0 .800 295 183 +112
Candrian Empire 7-3-0 .700 208 169 +39
Kjomasaspoia 5-5-0 .500 199 217 -18
Antitidum 1-9-0 .100 142 270 -128
Habana Cuba 1-9-0 .100 141 288 -147

(NOTE: Qazox ahead of Rennidan on PD, as H2H is tied [1-1]; Antitidum ahead of La Habana Cuba on PD as H2H is tied [1-1].)

GROUP E W-L-T .pct PF PA PD
Kura-Pelland 10-0-0 1.000 318 160 +158
Lovisa 7-3-0 .700 264 213 +51
Green wombat 6-3-1 .650 193 191 +2
Lurikastan 2-7-1 .250 162 218 -56
Twin Dominions 2-8-0 .200 161 244 -83
Christstan 1-7-2 .200 151 223 -72

CURRENT PLAYOFF SEEDINGS:
(all tiebreakers applied, Division winners in green)

Kura-Pelland (10-0)
Arroza (9-1) [+115 PD]
Dancougar (9-1) [+107 PD]
Newmanistan (9-1) [+66 PD]
Qazox (8-2) [+142 PD]
Rennidan (8-2) [+112 PD]
Vephrall (8-2) [+91 PD]
Taeshan (8-2) [+82 PD]
Secristan (8-2) [+53 PD]
Lovisa (7-3) [+51 PD]
The Candrian Empire (7-3) [+39 PD]
Sarzonia (6-3-1)

FINAL 3rd Place team standings
(Advancers in BLUE)

Candrian Empire 7-3-0 .700 208 169 +39
Sarzonia 6-3-1 .650 246 188 +58
Green wombat 6-3-1 .650 193 191 +2
Nethertopia 6-4-0 .600 249 219 +30
Myedvedeya 5-5-0 .500 213 229 -16

In the Playoffs, overtime will continue until someone scores.

Qazox

27-11-2008, 05:43

(ooc: I really tried, but there was no way to avoid the Rennidan-Candrian Empire rubber match)

PLAYOFF MATCHUPS
First Round:
P1: #8 Taeshan vs. #9 Secristan @ Ganja Vodka Park
P2: #7 Vephrall vs. #10 Lovisa @ Estadia Pika
P3: #6 Rennidan vs. #11 The Candrian Empire @ Toro Rojo Stadium
P4: #5 Qazox vs. #12 Sarzonia @ Lorax Field

QUARTERFINALS
QF1: #1 Kura-Pelland vs. P1 Winner @ Toro Rojo Stadium
QF2: #2 Arroza vs. P2 Winner @ Lorax Field
QF3: #3 Dancougar vs. P3 Winner @ Ganja Vodka Park
QF4: #4 Newmanistan vs. P4 Winner @ Estadia Pika

SEMIFINALS:
SF1: QF1 winner vs. QF4 Winner @ Ganja Vodka Park
SF2: QF2 winner vs. QF3 Winner @ Lorax Field

3rd place:
Semifinal losers @ Estadia Pika

WORLD BOWL IV:
Semifinal winners @ Champions Field

Wiki page (http://wikistates.outwardhosting.com/wiki/World_Bowl_IV#Playoffs)

The Candrian Empire

27-11-2008, 07:20

REMATCH WITH RENNIDAN

After being bumped in the rematch 21-17, the first playoff match will be... a rematch. 3 games to decide who makes it out of the first round of the playoffs. This so far has been the ideal matchup, with two physical teams with games decided on a total of 7 points. Group D has brought 3 teams to the playoffs, and all 3 teams have split their matches - at the top, there's been chaos, with the group winner only decided in the final matchday. With a win, the Knights would advance to face Dancougar, a team that bullied on the Knights last season in WBIII.

Kura-Pelland of Group E, at 10-0, has the top seed in the playoffs, and will face the winner of #8 Taeshan versus #9 Secristan. They've had it easy through the regular season, but will have to face the teams from the stronger groups; if a Group D team makes it the the Semis, they'd have to face them, and Group D is quite possibly the strongest group in the tourney.

---

Jay Rosenthal's
PREDICTIONS

P1: #8 Taeshan vs. #9 Secristan @ Ganja Vodka Park

Gabe Martin has been lighting up scoreboards the past couple of weeks, giving Taeshan a surprising aerial attack. While Secristan has a respectable defense, I just don't see them winning this matchup.

The pick: Taeshan

P2: #7 Vephrall vs. #10 Lovisa @ Estadia Pika

Lovisa has been hanging tough with KP, sticking within a touchdown during both games. I can't see Vephrall being as much of a challenge as the only undefeated team in League play.

The pick: Lovisa

P3: #6 Rennidan vs. #11 The Candrian Empire @ Toro Rojo Stadium

Go ahead, scream homer. But the two games they split this season have probably been the most exciting games all season - offensive displays, critical defensive stops, it just has everything. More physical Group D play, and this time, I see the Knights coming out on top again.

A shame they have to play each other; one really good team will have to stay home next week.

The pick: The Candrian Empire

P4: #5 Qazox vs. #12 Sarzonia @ Lorax Field

I don't see Jim Zorn pulling any tricks out of his hat to top Group D winner Qazox. The Pheonix [sic-Ed] are probably one of the most complete teams in the tourney, and bring up the possibility of the Championship featuring a Group D rematch. The Stingers are well coached, but haven't faced a team as physical as one from D.

The pick: Qazox

Sarzonia

27-11-2008, 08:25

It all came down to this.

Sarzonia battled back from a 24-3 halftime deficit that saw the sold out Hendrix Stadium crowd booing the Stingers. Quarterback Gavin Davis threw two interceptions and lost a key fumble, leading directly to the three Vephrall touchdowns.

Vephrall quarterback Crublig Claspung ran for a touchdown and caught a touchdown from fullback Angufams Netgorin. Claspung also threw a 47-yard scoring pass to halfback Idaleis Going to propel the Auric Wolves to the big halftime margin.

However, Davis shook off the turnovers, leading a 14-play, 99-yard touchdown drive culminating in a one-yard touchdown run for LoQuan Willard. That score made it 24-10 Vephrall. Davis then scored on a quarterback sneak to make it a 24-17 ballgame with 5:24 left in regulation.

Middle linebacker Tim Bates then picked off a Claspung pass and rumbled 11 yards for the game tying touchdown with 4:26 left. After a three and out for Vephrall, Davis led a nine play, 58-yard drive that set the stage for kicker Adam Novak.

After Vephrall called time out, Novak lined up for a potential game winning 51-yard field goal with a chance to punch Sarzonia's ticket to Qazox. Davis inhaled deeply before stretching his right hand out for the ball. As soon as the snap left the fingers of DeAndre Mihms, Davis knew there was no turning back.

Fortunately, Novak was relaxed. His field goal sailed through the uprights with the typical height of an extra point as the clock struck triple zero. 27-24. Sarzonia came all the way back to win a huge game against Vephrall.

As the out of town scoreboard flashed Green wombat's 25-14 win at Christstan, the crowd groaned until the graphic showed that the result put Sarzonia into the playoffs.

The Sarzonian gridders stormed out of the locker room after hearing Coach Jim Zorn's speech and piled on top of each other at midfield. Then they took a victory lap around Hendrix Stadium.

It may not have been a championship, but for a team no one expected to even be in the position to need last second heroics to advance, it sure felt like one.

As for Novak, it would be months before his money would be good in a Sarzonian bar again.

Sarzonia

27-11-2008, 19:15

"All right, on the left we have Coach Jim Zorn. On the right, we have defensive coordinator Greg Blache. We'll start things off with an opening statement from Coach, then we'll open it up to questions."

Zorn looked at the sports information director who finished his spiel and nodded.

"Well, we've looked at the tapes of Qazox's games. The key is obviously going to be on defense," Zorn said. "We're going to have to find a way to stop Frank Vallens. He's had a huge World Bowl qualifying run so far.

"As for us, we had a great run and it feels great to close out qualifying with a four game winning streak. However, we've got our work cut out for us. They're the defending World Bowl champions for a reason, and they're a very solid team. We'll take questions."

Travis West, the beat reporter from The Woodstock Daily Mail stood up.

"Yes, Travis?"

"Coach, you talked a lot about defense even though you've been handling the offensive playcalling. How involved are you with the defensive game plan?"

"Not much," Zorn said. "I'll let Greg answer any questions about the defense."

"Well," Blache began. The other key to this game is going to be getting pressure on Greg Dannen. He's had some huge games for that team and they have several wide receivers who can beat you. That's what's so tough about them. There isn't one wide receiver you have to watch more than the others. If you cover one, another guy can get open.

"I think what we're going to have is a dilemma about which phase of their offense to stop first, whether it's their passing game or Vallens. We've been studying their offensive game film since the morning after beating Vephrall."

"Uh, coach Blache, this is Carlissa Tyler from Channel 12 Sports in Portland. Are you going to play eight in the box against Vallens on obvious rushing downs?"

"I don't want to get too specific with what we're going to do," Blache said. "But one thing we're going to have to do a better job of is winning the battle up front. We've fallen behind in all of our games against Arroza and Vephrall. That's something we can't afford against Qazox. We need to find a way to get pressure on Dannen with our front four. We can't afford to have our only pressure come from the blitz."

"Coach Zorn, this is Dylan Henn from the Portland Press-Herald. What are you going to try to do offensively against Qazox?"

"The key is going to be establishing the running game," Zorn said. "We have to make sure we get LoQuan Willard involved and open up passing lanes for Gavin Davis. Plus, we have to give Davis time to find his receivers."

West stood up again.

"Coach, did you say anything special to Novak before he hit the field goal?"

"No," Zorn said with a chuckle. "I did say something to him after."

"What's that?"

"You just made yourself a hero," he said, drawing laughs from the crowd.

Henn stood up again.

"Coach, Dylan Henn, Portland Press-Herald. Any concerns about how your team is going to do in the playoffs?"

Zorn looked at Henn quizzically.

"Actually, we felt like we already were in the playoffs with the game against Vephrall. For us to get to Qazox, we'd have to beat an outstanding gridball side. And all the games get tougher from here on out. This is week 2 of our playoffs."

"Any more questions," the SID asked. "Thank you."

Taeshan

27-11-2008, 20:52

Fitin' Falcons Bulldoze Mantwenic

It was a ritualistic beatdown. The Falcons trompsed right through there last game of the seson blowing the Mantwenic team away with a 42-13 trampsing. The Falcons soared past the younger, less expierienced squad weith some horendously awesome ), and some amazing D. The starters ddin't even play the whole second half. It was a thrashing from the get go, and the other team never had a chance.

It was 14-0 five minutes into the game. The Mantwenic returner mufffed the opening kick, and Dianer Marte scored easily making it 7-0. Then on the next Mantwenic drive there Quaterback found a wide open Falcon, who was on the other team, for a 40 yard touchdown return That returner also just happened to be Marte. 5 Minutes later the Falcons did it again with a Gabe Martin 78 yard throw to Ricky Zellefrow. He had 300 yards passing in the first half, and didn't even play the last five minutes of the second quater. The Mantwenics got back into it with two touchdowns, and a blocked conversion, but it was already a blowout at 28-13, after a Martin to Ernie Smith touchdown minutes later. Then just before the close of the half, Martin found Jack Cito with his only touchdown making it 35-13 at the half..

The Falcons didn't even look good in the second half, only scoring 7 more on a Alec Dega to Ohcho Cinco 7 yard reception. The fianl scored showed a downpour of offense. Next in the first game of the playoffs the Falcons face the Millionares of SEcristan. they have never lost to them, and hopefully can continue there winning ways. We must all hope that the outcome will be favorable for them.

Kura-Pelland

28-11-2008, 00:20

A unique 10-0 distinction is secured, but Kura-Pelland Arrows would probably be forgiven for wishing they'd not achieved it looking at the playoff draw.

Their first match in Qazox will likely be against Taeshan, who should defeat Secristan despite the two having adjacent rankings. 'The Falcons haven't bought their A-game yet. They're going to now,' mused defensive coordinator Walter McAvaley.

The Arrows have certainly had an easy group - tricky close games with Lovisa aside, nobody's remotely threatened them. (Lovisa seem to have a thing about playing Kura-Pelland and upsetting the odds; they've pulled two shock victories over the soccer team to eliminate them from World Cup play in the last two cycles.) The final game against Lurikastan was yet another example of finding things too easy, 38-14 the final score with Graham Illingworth scoring three first-half touchdowns - two on the ground and another through the air. He totalled 156 yards rushing and 103 receiving and he didn't even play a full game. Chester Fernandez later scored on a kickoff return immediately after Lurikastan scored their first touchdown with 5:54 left in the third. After that score, with the scoreboard reading 28-7, the second string came on, and Fernandez added another touchdown, through the air this time. Lurikastan got another TD back against a disinterested defence, but Graham Brightman had the final word with a 52-yard FG at the very end.

The road to Qazox has been laughably easy. The road through it will be anything but.

Qazox

28-11-2008, 01:14

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

When the team arrived in Kjomasasopia, a note on the stadium said "We're not here, we decided to go on vacation early". But since both teams needed to play the game, a team of local gridiron players was drafted to play for Kjomasasopia, and Qazox played the back-ups. After 60 minutes of at times horrid football, Qazox won 32-10 to clinch Group D, after Rennidan defeated The Candrian Empire.

So now every game from now on is at home and the first one on the list is Sarzonia, who had to comeback against Vephrall 27-24 to clinch the final playoff berth. While on paper, Qazox should defeat Sarzonia, they played in a group arguably as tough as Qazox' and that could help the lower seed.

BOX SCORE
1 2 3 4 FINAL
Qazox 14 7 6 5 32
Kjomasasopia 0 3 7 0 10

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Charles Hanneford: 15-21, 185 yds, 1 TD.
Greg Ferrigamo: 28 rushes, 148 yds, 1 TD
Mark Birch: 5 rushes, 27 yds, 2 TD.

Defense:
Hank Fralee: 7 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 Safety.
Erik Akana: 13 tackles
Javier Leveque: 9 tackles, 1 INT, 1 Fumble rec.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Qazox: Mark Birch- 2 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (10:30) 7-0 Qazox
Qazox: Mark Birch- 4 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (3:57) 14-0 Qazox
Second Quarter:
Qazox: Nate Sacimoni- 24 yd TD rec.; Tryone Chase PAT good (2:11) 21-0 Qazox
Kjomasasopia: 50 yd FG (0:00) 21-3 Qazox
Third Quarter:
Kjomasasopia: 5 yd TD run (11:07) 21-10 Qazox
Qazox: Greg Ferrigamo- 14 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT blocked (5:19) 27-10 Qazox
Fourth Quarter:
Qazox: Tryone Chase- 41 yd FG (8:11) 30-10 Qazox
Qazox: Kjomasasopia QB sacked in endzone by Hank Fralee; (2:22) 32-10 Qazox

Qazox

28-11-2008, 01:39

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Playoff Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

"Welcome to the QSPN World Bowl IV Playoff preview show. Here's the current playoff matchups:

First Round:
P1: #8 Taeshan vs. #9 Secristan @ Ganja Vodka Park
P2: #7 Vephrall vs. #10 Lovisa @ Estadia Pika
P3: #6 Rennidan vs. #11 The Candrian Empire @ Toro Rojo Stadium
P4: #5 Qazox vs. #12 Sarzonia @ Lorax Field

QUARTERFINALS
QF1: #1 Kura-Pelland vs. P1 Winner @ Toro Rojo Stadium
QF2: #2 Arroza vs. P2 Winner @ Lorax Field
QF3: #3 Dancougar vs. P3 Winner @ Ganja Vodka Park
QF4: #4 Newmanistan vs. P4 Winner @ Estadia Pika

Over the past week, on QSPN.com we asked the world who they thought would win each match-up, and the experts here at QSPN also have predicted the playoffs. First the QSPN.com vote:

P1: #8 Taeshan vs. #9 Secristan 53.7%
P2: #7 Vephrall vs. #10 Lovisa 89.1%
P3: #6 Rennidan vs. #11 The Candrian Empire 57.2%
P4: #5 Qazox vs. #12 Sarzonia 83.7%

I guess we've had an invasion by The Candrian Empire, as they are the only lower seed to have a majority of votes. Our experts see it this way (with their combined average final scores):
P1: #8 Taeshan vs. #9 Secristan 23-19
P2: #7 Vephrall vs. #10 Lovisa 29-17
P3: #6 Rennidan vs. #11 The Candrian Empire 26-24
P4: #5 Qazox vs. #12 Sarzonia 30-21

They only see Secristan advancing, but the Rennidan-The Candrian Empire score was only an average of 2 points off, with 5 of our 12 experts predicting it will go into OverTime.

And now the QSPN.com voters picks as to who will win World Bowl IV: (with % of the total vote after each name)

Dancougar 14.0%
Kura-Pelland 13.8%
Qazox 10.8%
Newmanistan 10.2%
Arroza 9.6%
Vephrall 9.4%
Rennidan 8.9%
Taeshan 8.8%
Secristan 6.5%
The Candrian Empire 5.9%
Sarzonia 1.3%
Lovisa 0.8%

According to our fans, Dancougar, barely, will take home their 2nd title, with Kura-Pelland not that far back. Almost no one is giving Sarzonia or Lovisa a chance.

Our experts see the finals being:
Dancougar v. Kura-Pelland, with the vote split between the two teams at 6 votes each.

But as they say, the games are played on the field, not on paper or the computer. In Four weeks, we'll find out which of the Dirty Dozen will take home the World Bowl.

Taeshan

28-11-2008, 03:19

A Taeshani Look At The Playoffs

Here at the inquirer we like to produce are projectionions of most sporting competiitions involving a Taeshani natioanl team. The World Bowl is no exception. We have taken a lookm at the groups and know the playoff lineup and here are our picks.

8 VS 9 Taeshan over Secristan
7 VS 10 Lovisa over Vephrall
6 VS 11 Rennidan Over Canadrian Empire
5 VS 12 Qazox Over Sarzonia

1 VS 8 Kura Pelland Over Taeshan
2 VS 10 Arroza over Lovisa
3 VS 6 Rennidan over Dancougar
4 VS 5 Qazox Over Newmanistan

1 VS 4 Kura Pelland over Qazox
2 VS 6 Arroza Over Rennidan

Championship Arroza Over KP

The Candrian Empire

28-11-2008, 04:49

"Big week, big week! We've gotta be ready this time, we gotta control!"

Morrison's voice was booming over the practice field.

It was Wednesday. Full contact practice.

On one half of the field, the Knights offense was running through plays against the scout defense; Candiria was playing its third game against the Brutes of the season, and this time, the Knights were hoping for a convincing win - they split the regular season series.

"Fellows, mid pass option. I'm gonna put the D in one of Rennidan's 3-4 looks. Out of Power I. We've got to get our options down for the week."

"Gotcha. - Hey Haralde - Red I Split Strong Right Alpha Quick 5 Z-G-O 241 Pro Z1, Beta Quick 3 O-Z-Z 81Flip4 Pro Z1, Charlie Power 14"

Fullback behind the right guard, TE to the right, two wideouts on either side, and the running back ~9 yards behind the QB. Prime - The weakside wideout was running an 'in-cut' route, running to the goal post for about 7 yards before cutting to the weakside sideline; TE running parallel to the goal line to the weakside sideline, and the strongside wideout running a quick-out. Fullback in to passblock, running back as a check-down to the strong sideline. A relatively tame short pass play, something designed to defuse blitz-happy defenses. No deep threat in this play, but that's not what it's for; this is one of the scripted plays, and one of the red-zone plays, designed basically to replace the run - the quintessential WCO concept pass play.

Haralde got it on the headset.

"Gotcha. Bring it in, bring it in. Red I Split Strong Right Alpha - Quick 5 ZGO 241 Pro Z1, , Beta Quick 3 O-Z-Z 81Flip4 Pro Z1, Charlie Power 14, Ottawa 2; Ready; Break!"

"HEY DEFENSE, DON'T BE A HERO." Morrison's voice boomed over this half of the field. Despite being the scout team, everyone on this particular defense had played at least a series this season; many were All-Pro in the Dominion. Even still, they were worth their salt.

Roman and the rest of the O-line lined up; with it came the ususal job of calling out the protection. This was a simulated stint at a red-zone play. A quick 5 step dropback pass. Regardless, Rennidan is one of those teams that disguise their stunts extremely well, and the Scout team, all pros, are themselves no slouches - every fake, every stunt they showed pre-snap was based on two seasons of film of the Brute's defense.

Haralde stepped under center, calling out the usual - amidst the jibberish, he called out the tendancies that the defense was showing, and which play was gonna be called. The corners had a zone look. First, motion on Jordan to check the safties. He motioned Gonzalez, split out to the right, to check the corner coverage. Zone. Weakside Mike backer shifting inside. Roman points out the hands of the nose tackle - he's leaning to his right. Strongside Blitz.

"BLACK 42, BLACK 42, HOT OUT 1 O3. PRO! PRO- ZULU STRAIGHT, POP STRONG, ALPHA CHECK 2 CHECK 2, ZONA 0 ZONA 0. PRO! PRO, CHECK, CHECK, OTTAWA!
OTTAWA!
HUT-HUT!

Check out to the TE, a seam. The ball is snapped, and Haralde starts dropping back. Sure enough, the strongside Mike backer is bltizing; not common out of the 3-4, but this is what Rennidan is known for - being unconventional. Good enough of the Scout team to show it. Haralde plants his feet. MOFO MOFO MOFO.Jordan has the seam. MOFO MOFO MOFO. Open midfield. A quick pump outside to draw out one of the safties, before hitting Jordan in stride. Jordan is 12 yards down field; the only one covering him is the weakside linebacker. The safties were dragged out of position, and what was supposed to be a safe 8 yard pass tops turns into a first down. In 2 and a half seconds.

The safties rumble to close in, and Jordan picks up 15. In the red zone, that's likely a touchdown.

"Good read, good read."

Morrison was off to the side watching the play. "He's been coming along nicely, Volante. Like the check in there."

"Yeah, he's been watching a lot of tape. Should have a good day."

"Sure hope so. Don't wanna go packing this soon in. Not like last year."

Dancougar

28-11-2008, 06:53

Sidney Goldman's Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

And Swilatia makes nine

After winning all four previous meetings with Swilatia by at least twenty points, the Wings managed to scrape by them twice more in World Bowl IV qualifying, but only by a combined nine points. Some people think the offense has lost a step with the departure of Kirk Hatchitt. Others say the defense isn't as fierce as it used to be with a completely new linebacking corps. And a few weirdos are going to blame the new grass in the Jared Koeppel. But whatever the cause, the Wings have gotten through the hard part.

Now for the harder part.

The Wings jumped out to a 14-0 halftime lead on a pair of long drives punctuated by touchdown runs. Gary Hutchins plunged 2 yards for the first on the Wings' opening drive of the game, and then in the second quarter, Logan Dublin scampered for 25 yards on a sweep. His finesse running has marked a departure from the straight-up physical style the Wings played in years past, but there's no doubt that when he's on, he can make a difference. But turnovers hurt the Wings; even though they were able to move the ball well against the Swilatian defense, Hussey threw an interception and Hutchins had a rare fumble. Swilatia converted neither into points, and the Wings had two takeaways of their own, on interceptions by Billy Aveline and Scott Maxam.

The second half saw Swilatia get within a score. After making it 14-7 in the third quarter, Hussey responded with a 78-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 5-yard pass to Jay Milon, the seldom-used second wideout. The Wings switched to a more conservative offense to just burn the clock, allowing Swilatia to get back into the game. A fourth quarter touchdown pass made it 21-14, and then they surprised the Wings by going for the onside kick. But a lucky bounce gave Bob Nesbit the opportunity to recover the ball, and the Wings slowly worked downfield, forcing Swilatia to burn their timeouts. The Wing defense was able to close out the game after Seth Cavallo missed a 49-yard field goal that would have iced it. Instead, they needed a fourth-down sack from Kendrick Lynch to end the comeback bid.

The Wings have earned a third seed for the playoffs, which look stacked. Coach Will Moohim knows that the Wings will need to produce some stronger defense than what they exhibited against Secristan and Myedvedeya or they will be going home early.

Playoff Preview

Well, the fashionable thing to do at a time like this is to create a playoff bracket and explain why my predictions carry more weight than everyone else's. But rather than worry about how many people I'm helping and screwing in their office pools, I'm just going to lay it out the way I see it.

First Round

#8 Taeshan vs. #9 Secristan
Both teams feature quarterbacks who have been turning it on lately. Gabe Martin to Ricky Zellefrow is becoming one of the most feared combos in the world, but Tom Mitchell and Stacie Johnson are hot on their heels. We give the nod to the Millionaires, because we have more faith in their running game. Chris Hauser has been productive, and has proven his worth against the Black Wings defense.

#7 Vephrall vs. #10 Lovisa
Lovisa are that team. You know the one. They show up without nary a word and just beat you. Silent in defeat, silent in victory. That kind of humble attitude has served them well, but Vephrall has proven its mettle by returning from a long hiatus to finish 8-2 against stiff competition from Arroza and Sarzonia. We like all the weapons they have on offense, since piivel produces a mindset and a skillset that makes everyone a threat to score when they touch the ball.

#6 Rennidan vs. #11 The Candrian Empire
I'm getting a strange feeling of deja-vu... it's probably because they were in the same group and, heck, they just played each other on gameday ten. Rennidan won that one, and we think they'll do it again. Andre Haralde has been better at quarterback, day to day, than Pat McGraw, but that Rennidan defense has been a beast. On a neutral field, we think that distinction is huge. Almost as big as Owen Powis. And let's not forget the big-play threat named Jason Yeilds.

#5 Qazox vs. #12 Sarzonia
I think this has upset potential. The Sarzonians have played valiently and got the big win on the final day to scrape into the playoffs as the twelve seed. Coach Jim Zorn has some great weapons in Gavin Davis and LoQuan Williard, but few can match the Qazox offense for productivity. The last words any defense wants to hear are "Dannen to Harvey," and runningback Frank Vallens has shown the ability to single-handedly take over a game. The home-field advantage will also factor into this one.

Quarterfinals

#1 Kura-Pelland vs. #9 Secristan
The Arrows had easy passage through Group E, and it seems like they've been sleepwalking through these games. Quarterback Michael Bernard has had some big games, but mostly the team just goes out and does its business. Their backups have seen a lot of action, so it'll be hard for Secristan to single out a troublemaker. And that's what makes the Arrows so dangerous, even though Secristan will be the toughest challenge they've faced yet.

#2 Arroza vs. #7 Vephrall
What do you know, it's another group-stage rematch! The Tar Hornets have only stumbled once... to Vephrall, back on gameday seven. Abraham Chadwick should be back in the lineup, but the real question is how rusty he'll be. His backups are quite capable in case he can't, but the running game will be key, because Erik Smythe is not a gunslinger. The Arrozan front eight will challenge Tom Mitchell to beat them, and although he's shown his mettle against the Wings, we wonder if he'll be able to survive a tougher Hornets defense.

#3 Dancougar vs. #6 Rennidan
Both teams want this game. Both groups of fans want this game. Television viewers would get a treat, too, so perhaps the only people who are shaking their heads at this potential matchup are the police officers of Qazox, who will do everything in their power to prevent a showdown between Moore and McDavies. The Wings have let teams run on them, which is a bad thing against Jason Yeilds, and if they're able to take Gary Hutchins out of the game early, the Wings don't really have any way to match up offensively.

#4 Newmanistan vs. #5 Qazox
The Rockets have always faltered in the playoffs despite being pretty consistently good, and yet they don't figure to be the favorites when the Phoenix rise to the occasion. Nevertheless, we like the Rockets to get over the hump. Corey Parisi has been able to generate offense both running and receiving, and Kenny O'Hara has started to come on strong as he gets more and more experience. This has the potential to be a shootout.

Quarterfinals

#1 Kura-Pelland vs. #4 Newmanistan
The Arrows have been unbeatable thus far, but what happens when they go up against a Rocket team that is willing to scrap with anyone and has been making adjustments year after year to get to this point? They may have found the winning formula in Kenny O'Hara's ability to distribute the ball. One would think - and I'm that one - that if the Rockets get over the hump against Qazox, they'll be rolling downhill in this thing.

#6 Rennidan vs. #2 Arroza
This is another matchup that will produce some gritty football. The Brutes and the Tar Hornets will be pounding each other all day long, although Jason Yields will have difficulty getting around that tricky 4-4. Pat McGraw, though, has not been able to take over the game in this tournament. He's had some good performances, but Arroza has been pretty consistent and will win a defensive struggle.

Championship

#2 Arroza vs #4 Newmanistan
It's been a long time coming for the Rockets. The association which founded the current incarnation of the World Bowl has shown flashes of championship capability but has never gone the distance. Arroza have been here before and may have steadier nerves. But the only thing the Rockets are going to roll over is the Arrozan defense once they get Corey Parisi going. Yes, he'll have a hard time gaining traction against that eight man front, but he can come out of the backfield as a receiver, and has shown big-play ability.

Sidney Goldman's Power Rankings

Here it is, the final edition of the power rankings! Going into the playoffs, Sarzonia are a team on the rise and may present more of a problem for Qazox than they realize, while the concentration of eight and nine win teams at the top promises to make this an exciting playoff season where any team is capable of going all the way.

Congratulations to the Arrows for completing an undefeated qualifying run, while it is with a heavy heart that we point out the squadoosh put up by Northwest Polaris in Group A.

(1) Kura-Pelland (10-0)
(2) Arroza (9-1)
(3) Qazox (8-2)
(4) Vephrall (8-2)
(5) Newmanistan (9-1)
(6) Rennidan (8-2)
(7) Taeshan (8-2)
(8) Dancougar (9-1)
(9) Sarzonia (6-3-1)
(10) Secristan (8-2)
(11) The Candrian Empire (7-3)
(12) Lovisa (7-3)
(13) Green wombat (6-3-1)
(14) Nethertopia (6-4)
(15) Myedvedeya (5-5)
(16) Kjomasasopia (5-5)
(17) Cotenshire (4-6)
(18) Swilatia (4-6)
(19) Colbourne (4-6)
(20) Miroxia (3-6-1)
(21) Lurikastan (2-7-1)
(22) Twin Dominions (2-8)
(23) Christstan (1-7-2)
(24) Mantwenic (1-8-1)
(25) Cassadaigua (1-9)
(26) Greal (1-8-1)
(27) Tortuga y Hispaniola (2-8)
(28) La Habana Cuba (1-9)
(29) Antitidum (1-9)
(30) Northwest Polaris (0-10)

Qazox

28-11-2008, 08:55

...

1 VS 4(I believe this is the more traditional way instead of playing the 2-1 game in the second week of playoffs) ...

Yeah, uhm look at the brackets on the wiki page or even read the original playoff post. #1 is set up to face #4 NOT #2! (#1 vs. #2 can only happen in the finals)

Newmanistan

28-11-2008, 10:18

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS TOP GREAL TO EARN REST

Greal- On a day where the Greal football team (the one where you kick a ball around) was wishing they had remained in Newmanistan for the Cup of Harmony 35 final instead of going back to West Zirconia for the third place game, this Greali football team was looking to pull off a victory over our the Rockets. For Newmanistan, this game didn’t mean a whole bunch, but still a win would be important to remain the top four so that they would have a first round bye.

Greal has struggled in the World Bowl, with only one win to their name. You may recall the first game in Newmanistan between these teams where Jeremy Thompson got both Ross Riddle and Michael Return ejected from the game for wearing the same jersey number. After that we would have thought they learned their lesson, but as soon as each had taken the field for the first time, Thompson again confronted the officials. The men in the striped shirts were aware of what happened and were amazed that this could happen again, and once again ordered Riddle and Return off the field for the duration of the game. For a team that depends on the run, how could they allow this to happen? Perhaps this is a part of the reason that they have only won once. They got on the board first, though, after a big hit by William Rodney forced a fumble from Christain Gagnon, and his teammate Arthur Macabee took it to the Newmanistan 6. From there, even backup running back Conway Pratt could take it into the end zone, and Greal was up 7-0. The Rockets responded to this with a 10-play, 61-yard drive in which Corey Parisi picked up 44 of the yards, but the drive stalled at the 12 and the Rockets settled for the chip shot to make it 7-3. After forcing another Greal punt, the Rockets drove down the field but again stalled in the red zone, and Ashton Colfer was brought out for another short field goal to make 7-6. Again, the Grealis were forced to punt, and this time Newmanistan was able to get the ball into the end zone. Kenny O’Hara went 7-for-8 on the drive for 62 yards, with the TD pass being caught by Jim “Don’t Call me Sidney” Crosby, to make it 13-7. Late in the second quarter, Newmanistan received a punt with 23 seconds left on the clock. Newmanistan lined up as if they were going to take a knee from their own 11. But O’Hara dropped back to pass, and fired the ball down the sidelines to Alex Foster for a 55 yard reception to the Greal 34 before he stepped out of bounds with 1 second left. Matthew Heats of Greal was on his trail and he thought it would be wise to settle for a three instead of taking the chance of Heats bringing him down. It was a wise move as Ashton Colfer banged the 52 yard field goal through the uprights to make it 16-7 Newmanistan at halftime.

Newmanistan got the ball to start the second half but could not do anything with it, in which Greal responded with their most effective drive of the game, going 83 yards in 14 plays, in which John Shepard brought it in from 8-yards out to make 16-14. The crowd was getting pretty pumped up and started to wonder if an upset could indeed be possible. After they got the Rockets to punt again, the crowd was cheering as loud as they had all game. However Conway Pratt fumbled on the Greal 36, a miscue which was forced by and recovered by Tyrone Booker. Again, Newmanistan could not do anything with the ball, only able to move the ball seven yards. It was enough for Ashton Colfer to kick his fourth field goal of the game, a 47 yarder to make it 19-14 in the latter stages of the third quarter, but you could sense some frustration from the Rockets sidelines. It was a game that meant very little for Newmanistan and the team seemed to be playing like it, but at least they were still winning, at least for now. Against a better team, they may not have been so fortunate to be up by five points, but they wouldn’t be for long. When the Grealis received the ball to close out the third quarter and move into the fourth, they would take the lead on an efficient 11-play drive where QB Josh Littles hit Jacob Goss for a 21-yard TD catch. Newmanistan thought that Greal would line up for a conversion here, but they settled for an extra point and made it 21-19. The Rockets weren’t too worried. There was still 12:24 left on the game clock and they were only down by two, but it would be nice to respond and take the lead back right away. Corey Parisi was used often as he got 9 carries on the drive, and in total had himself a 121 yard day. Maybe a little modest by his standards. With the Rockets moving the ball well this time, they weren’t shy about using clock. The men in sky blue and white would regain the lead with a little over five minutes to go on a 14-yard touchdown run by Chris Padgett as Parisi was taking a break on the sideline frustrating his fantasy owners who had him in this week 10 championship game. (This is why you schedule your championship games in fantasy leagues for the week prior to the final week, people!) This gave the Rockets a five point lead. The crowd was hoping that their Grealis could answer back, but a Dan Strasser interception at the Newmanistan 48 quickly erased those thoughts. From there, Newmanistan elected to run down the clock, and did so effectively. Kenny O’Hara went 17-for-30, a little off by his standards, but not horrid, for 207 yards and one TD.

The win gives Newmanistan the Group C title, and is actually the first time that Newmanistan has finished on top of a group in any World Bowl. With the leadership of Jeremy Thompson, the Rockets had an impressive 9-1 record in group play, with all nine of those wins coming after an opening week to Colbourne of all teams. Colbourne!! So close to a 10-0, you may say. The Rockets get the fourth seed for the playoffs, which means a first round bye where they will await the winner of Qazox-Sarzonia in the quarterfinals. Yes, Qazox. That’s the same Qazox who defeated us in the World Bowl I quarterfinal and the World Bowl III quarterfinal. Maybe things will be different this time. Cross your fingers.

Secristan

28-11-2008, 15:09

BATTLE OF CUP WINNERS ON GRIDIRON?

Earlier today Taeshan won Cup of Harmony 35. Hooray Taeshan. In a few hours time, Secristan may be winning the Di Bradini Cup with some good fortune. So wouldn’t it only be fitting for the two nations to have a true football meeting after those soccer games were decided? Sadly Secristan has a horrific history against Taeshan in anything, especially football. The nations have been group opponents in the last two World Bowls, which are the only World Bowls we have been in, and Taeshan has won each time. We were really excited when we didn’t see them in our group this time but it just so has to happen that the nations must meet the playoffs for the right to lose to Kura-Pelland in the quarterfinal.

We can moan and groan over our history or we can change it. The fact is this group of Millionaires is playing very well, finishing 8-2 in the group. The impressive record only puts as ninth in the overall standings while Taeshan is, obviously, 8th. The offense is moving the ball downfield very well and Tom Mitchell is a man on a mission, and his efficiency has led to terrific production from the cheerleader and the Blizzard, one of those most unique receiving pairs that you will find on any World Bowl roster. Chris Hausler has picked up a lot yards on the ground as well, so the defense cannot drop too many men into coverage or else Hausler will simply have a field day much like he did when the Millionaires embarrassed the team of Northwest Polaris, who looked like a group of helpless lions out there during the entire competition.

The Secristan Department of Wagering gives the Millionaires a 12:1 odd of winning the World Bowl. Here are the odds of the other twelve teams.

Dancougar: 2:1
Arroza: 3:1
Kura-Pelland: 3:1
Qazox: 5:1
Rennidan: 5:1
Newmanistan: 7:1
The Candrian Empire: 10:1
Taeshan: 10:1
Secristan: 12:1
Sarzonia: 15:1
Vephrall: 20:1 (For some reason Vephrall isn’t exciting Secristani casinos)
Lovisa: 50:1

Rennidan

28-11-2008, 16:07

I look around, the faces of my brothers staring back causing that familiar tingling in the base of my spine. We, the Brutes of Rennidan, have come far from our humble beginnings, and we can go so much further, but right now, there is one thing blocking our way.

The Candrian Empire.

They are, perhaps, the biggest success story this Bowl, throwing up the numbers needed and winning the hearts of the public at the same time.

Everyone roots for the underdog.

They all forget that the guys at the top need this just as much.

I keep scanning my eyes over the assembled team of brutish thugs who were once in a similar situation as our newly-found rivals. These men before me once earned the respect of the World as the underdogs of the World Bowl.

And now we are forgotten, treated and trodden upon like everyone else. We are expected to make way and let these Candrian lads through on their way for World Bowl glory. It's what everyone wants.

Except us.

If we did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves.

We're not ready to lay down and take the shit these guys are stirring up.

We are going to stand up.

We are going to fight.

We are going to give them hell.

Success is never final.

Failure is never fatal.

It is our courage that counts.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png
_________

Holed up in Warehouse 17, the clamour and beats of a Brutes practice session resonates throughout Rennidan's Industrial District. Just like they play, these guys are going at it with their all. No pads, full contact, complete aggression.

The offensive side are practicing their signature plays, the direct-snaps to Yeilds and even some unconventional crazyness.

The defence are busy on the weights, bulking up and getting ready for the inevitable onslaught from the Candrian offensive.

All except one.

Owen Powis, all six-one and in excess of three hundred and eighty pounds, ia standing on his lonesome, watching the small T.V they have wheeled in from Larry's office. On it, one man stands, on constant loop, showing his various interviews intertwined with game play footage.

This man is Andre Haralde.

And he is Mister Owen Powis' only target for the upcoming game.

Yeilds may be aiming for two hundred plus yards, McGraw may be aiming for five touchdown passes and Clive may be aiming for the uprights, but Powis is aiming for one thing and one thing only.

So, Mister Andre Haralde, let this be a simple warning to you. Dancougar's Dusty Haynesworth can vouch for everyone here that the man known as Powis is not one you want gunning for you.

Don't make the mistake of putting complete faith in your o-line. Don't make the mistake of thinking you can dodge him.

When Powis is coming for you, it's only going to end in one way.

And we're sure you don't want to be on a stretcher when you leave that pitch.

Sarzonia

28-11-2008, 17:13

Sarzonia Coach Jim Zorn blinked as the blinding lights from the video camera glared at him.

His team had just stepped off the practice facility near Lorax Field after a hard-hitting session. His team was getting set to battle the host nation on what amounted to its home field.

"I'll take questions," Zorn said.

"Coach," Travis West said.

"Yes, Travis?"

"How are the lads feeling about their chances against Qazox?"

Zorn raised his right eyebrow and smirked.

"Well, they know we play these games on the field," he said. "We know what kind of match up problems Frank Vallens and Greg Dannen can provide teams. Defensively, we're going to have to tighten things up, but we're also going to have to do a better job of covering their receivers. It'll be tough for us.

"Offensively, we're going to have to make a concerted effort to establish LoQuan Willard. If we can get him going, it'll open things up for Gavin Davis and the rest of the offense."

"What do you make of the prognosticators not giving you guys a chance to beat Qazox?"

"Well, it's going to be tough to win here. It's an away match in every sense of the words. We're playing on their home field and we're the 12th seed. They're the fifth seed. They have history here in the World Bowl. This is our first-ever appearance here.

"Having said that, we're just going to have to go out there and play our brand of gridball. We're not out here to prove anyone wrong. We're out here to do our jobs and go from here."

"Coach, Ryan O'Halloran from The Grovesmont Clarion here. You've talked about establishing the run game against those guys. How are you going to handle Qazox's physical game plan and the fact they played in that tough Group D?"

"Don't forget, we played Arroza and Vephrall a total of four times," Zorn said. "There were two groups who had three teams advance to the second round. Obviously, we were one of the two third place teams to make it this far. So we've played some of the tougher competition here in the World Bowl already. We had to play one of the best opponents in the World Bowl with a playoff spot on the line. So we feel we've been tested and we've had to battle adversity.

"We had to play Vephrall and Arroza away in two consecutive matches before we finished with four games at Hendrix Stadium. So facing one of the toughest teams in this competition is nothing new. We respect our opponents, but we don't fear them."

"Any last thoughts, coach?"

"Should be fun. Thanks, gentlemen."

With that, Zorn went back to his office and pulled out yet another tape. He looked up after about 20 minutes and saw Davis sitting there.

"Gavin, what are you doing?"

"I think I have an idea, coach."

Taeshan

28-11-2008, 19:13

Sorry Q I was looking at the post you made, and it looked like QT one would play QT 12 wich didn't make sense to me so i put it up.

Taeshan

28-11-2008, 19:19

Max Hope To Join National Team For World Bowl 5

Representatives for one of the biggest college player to come out of a Taeshani College since Ricky Zellefrow four years ago. Hope is the leading running back in theTaeshani Collegiate Football League, for the Air Force Aeros cha,mpionship team. Hope is the speediest back in Taeshan and should help the Falcons in future Bowls. They need a more agile back, as Rudi Johnson is geting into his elder years, and slowing down. The Falcon hnead Coach Ken Wissenhaunt Says"I Can't wate to get to work with him. He's a game changer". All i know is with Hope joining the team next year the world will be cowering in fear at the fitin' Falcon might.

Qazox

29-11-2008, 05:02

Too much turkey yesterday?
Tryptophan still coursing through your veins?
Well an RP cutoff will do you some good, right?
It couldn't hurt.
Scores up soonish.

Qazox

29-11-2008, 05:17

First Round Scores
(winners in BOLD)
First Round:
P1: #8 Taeshan vs. #9 Secristan 23-20 (OT)
P2: #7 Vephrall vs. #10 Lovisa 36-20
P3: #6 Rennidan vs. #11 The Candrian Empire 34-28
P4: #5 Qazox vs. #12 Sarzonia 26-23 (2OT)

QUARTERFINALS
QF1: #1 Kura-Pelland vs. #8 Taeshan @ Toro Rojo Stadium
QF2: #2 Arroza vs. #7 Vephrall @ Lorax Field
QF3: #3 Dancougar vs. #11 The Candrian Empire @ Ganja Vodka Park
QF4: #4 Newmanistan vs. #5 Qazox @ Estadia Pika

SEMIFINALS:
SF1: QF1 winner vs. QF4 Winner @ Ganja Vodka Park
SF2: QF2 winner vs. QF3 Winner @ Lorax Field

3rd place:
Semifinal losers @ Estadia Pika

WORLD BOWL IV:
Semifinal winners @ Champions Field

Wiki page (http://wikistates.outwardhosting.com/wiki/World_Bowl_IV#Playoffs)

Taeshan

29-11-2008, 05:31

Fitin' Falcon Defeat Secristan

Waht do the Kura Pelland Arrows and the Taeshan Fitin' Falcons wining streak over Secristan have in common. Well they've never lost. Thats right the Falcons yet again defeated Secristan in a football game and will play the top ranked Kura Pelland squad next week for a spot in the Semis. The game will be big as the Arrows are looking good, and the Falcons have finally hit their stride. It should be a fantastic game to watch, and an even better game to write about.

The game was a long one including an overtime. Although it wasn't as cold as a good night in Taeshan, Qazox was not the warmest place on earth for a game. The Millionares and the Falcon were ready for yet another brawl, and it showed. The Falcons won the toss and deferered. This was unusual for them, as they like to get the ball first, but everone knew why seconds later. Gramatica kicked it onside and they got the ball to start off. But that was the most exciting part of the first quater as only a late Secristani field goal made it 3-0 going into the second.

The Falcons offense got started in the second though. Martin pulled the ball down and ran for 20 yards, and Zellefrow and Cito each got a reception on the way to a Gramatica Field Goal to tie it. Then the Millionares got there second with a nice drive. Then they scored there first touchdown of the game on a 33 yard touchdown run by there Runningback. The Falcons were down going into the half down 13-3.

But the Secristani's lead was short lived as they would only scored another late touchdown in the third after Gramatica drilled another from 40 yards out, and MArtin found Ricky Zellefrow deep for the Taeshani Touchdown and it was 20-13 after 3. In the fourth the Falcons put the game into overtime with a last second Wide Reciever pass on the spin around. The Falcons would win it in overtime with a Gramatica 50 yard field goal. On to Kura Pelland.

Qazox

29-11-2008, 06:20

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

In the longest game in World Bowl history, Qazox held off Sarzonia 26-23, on a 39 yard FG by Tryone Chase with 7 seconds left in the 2nd overtime, sending the Pheonix against Newmanistan, a very familar foe. After Sarzonia took a 14-3 lead early in the 2nd quarter, Qazox scored the next 17 points to re-take the lead, but Sarzonia wouldn't go away, and after 3 FG's by Adam Novak, the last of those a 50-yarder to tie it at 23-all with just over a minute left. Tryone Chase missed a 49-yarder as time expired in the 4th, and the teams went into overtime.

In the first overtime, the defenses held sawy as niether team could advance the ball deep enough to try for a field goal. As for most of the 2nd OT, the same held true, but a fumble by Gavin Davis with a minute left, recovered by David Reed on the Sarzonia 23, gave Qazox the one chance they needed to win and Chase nailed the kick, ending the game.

Now, as mentioned before, we face Newmanistan in the quarterfinals. We've beaten them the last 2 times we faced them in the playoffs, but this Newmanistani team looks to avenge 4 years of futility in Estadia Pika. Qazox is favored by 5 points by the New Bruxen Casino.

BOX SCORE @ Lorax Field
1 2 3 4 OT 2OT FINAL
Sarzonia 7 7 3 6 0 0 23
Qazox 3 7 10 3 0 3 26

(Game time: 89m:53s)
Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Greg Dannen: 39-57, 402 yds, 1 TD, 3 INTs.
Frank Vallens: 42 rushes, 232 yds, 1 TD; 4 rec., 78 yds.
Tony Aster: 12 catches, 221 yds.

Defense:
David Reshks: 9 tackles, 1.5 sacks.
David Reed: 22 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 Fumble Rec.
Eric Fan'tu'mala: 20 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Qazox: Tryone Chase- 29 yd FG (11:17) 3-0 Qazox
Sarzonia: LoQuan Willard- 27 yd TD run; Adam Novak PAT good (3:57) 7-3 Sarzonia
Second Quarter:
Sarzonia: LoQuan Willard- 24 yd TD run; Adam Novak PAT good (8:23) 14-3 Sarzonia
Qazox: Frank Vallens- 17 yd TD run; Tryone Chase PAT good (1:45) 14-10 Sarzonia
Third Quarter:
Qazox: Tryone Chase- 29 yd FG (9:44) 14-13 Sarzonia
Qazox: Mathew Cottrill- 11 yd TD rec.; Tryone Chase PAT good (7:36) 20-14 Qazox
Sarzonia: Adam Novak- 42 yard FG (1:19) 20-17 Qazox
Fourth Quarter:
Qazox: Tryone Chase- 43 yd FG (10:58) 23-17 Qazox
Sarzonia: Adam Novak- 37 yard FG (5:20) 23-20 Qazox
Sarzonia: Adam Novak- 50 yard FG (1:03) 23-23
First Overtime:
NONE
Second Overtime:
Qazox: Tryone Chase- 39 yd FG (0:07) 26-23 Qazox

Newmanistan

29-11-2008, 17:41

THE ROCKET REPORT

THE TIME IS NOW

Estadia Pika, Qazox- After the third World Bowl, Empress Jessica informed Brett Nicholson that he would not be returning to coach the Rockets the next time around. It was a hard pill for Nicholson to swallow because he felt that he did a good job with the team. He had a decent record, but there was one constant. Newmanistan simply could not beat teams with a higher ranking then them. They could feast on other opponents and always played the “better” teams down to the last second, after all just look at our history in games with Dancougar for the best examples, they could never take that next step. Newmanistan was a team good enough to have a strong group stage and get to the knockouts and get to the quarterfinal. But that would be it. Newmanistan needed to take the next step, to finally get past the quarterfinal, where they had been defeated in all three World Bowls to date.

Enter Jeremy Thompson, coach of the South Tier Seagulls who would be brought in to lead the national team. Then exit John Pivonka and enter Kenny O’Hara as the starting QB. While Pivonka had done well, the immobile pocket passer with the cannon arm simply did not get the team over the hump. In comes O’Hara, the scrambler. Kenny is a great quarterback who’s arm definitely has to be respected, but his ability to make plays happen with his legs would add a new dimension to the Rockets offense. It never seemed as though Newmanistan was far away from taking that next step, and the Empress hopes that just these two moves (with smaller moves elsewhere on the roster) would get the job done and get the team past the quarterfinal for the first ever time. And once there, go for the World Bowl title. Two of the three times in which Newmanistan was defeated in the quarterfinal, it was by the same opponent, the Phoenix of Qazox who enter World Bowl IV not only as the defending champion but also as the host. While no one would no better then Newmanistan that home field advantage doesn’t mean anything once you get to this level, a team like Qazox may be able to capitalize on it. Newmanistan had themselves a fantastic group stage after a tough 21-20 opening matchday loss to Colbourne. At that time people may have been wondering if the Empress made stupid moves, but those doubts were quickly erased as Newmanistan rolled out the victories, winning nine straight to finish with a record of 9-1. Included there were two victories over the top seed in the group, a team ranked higher then them, in Taeshan. Of course, Newmanistan’s near-domination of Taeshan at all levels in other sports may have lessened the significance of those victories to Rockets supporters. Newmanistan earned a #4 seed and a first round bye, but wouldn’t you know who was in their bracket at #5. Qazox. While the Rockets hoped for a Sarzonia upset of Qazox in the first round, and very nearly got it, the quarterfinal is set again. Newmanistan vs Qazox. Newmanistan is the better seed, but very few are to actually consider the sky blue and white to be the favorites.

So here we are. This is why the move was made. The time has come now to see if Thompson can lead the Rockets past this stage to discover that the World Bowl actually does go on past the quarterfinal round. It should be a perfect script if it were to work as Qazox has been such a thorn in their side ever since they were group opponents in World Bowl I. They are the defending champion and the host, making a true defining moment sitting there for the taking, sitting there for the Rockets to take and go to the semifinal where they would meet either Kura-Pelland or Taeshan.

The time is now.

Sarzonia

29-11-2008, 18:50

Woodstock Daily Mail

Stingers stung in double OT

by Travis West
Daily Mail Staff Writer

LORAX CITY, Qazox -- Live by the sword, die by the sword.

Sarzonia won its last qualifying game with a 51-yard Adam Novak field goal after a dramatic comeback, but became the victims of a similar game against host nation Qazox when Tyrone Chase hit a 39-yard field goal with seven seconds left in double overtime for a 26-23 Pheonix victory to eliminate the Stingers.

"We fought as hard as we ever have," said coach Jim Zorn. "We had them and we let them off the hook."

Sarzonia (6-4-1) took a 14-3 lead in the second quarter behind two touchdown runs by LoQuan Willard (27 and 24 yards respectively), but Qazox rode their own stud running back Frank Vallens. Vallens rushed 42 times for 232 yards and a touchdown. He also caught four passes for 78 yards.

However, Sarzonia picked off three Greg Dannen passes to keep them in the game, including a Chris Horton interception with 2:28 left in the fourth quarter that set up Novak for a 50-yard attempt to force overtime. Novak's field goal sailed comfortably over the crossbar and the Stingers forced overtime.

Meanwhile, Qazox applied constant pressure to Sarzonian quarterback Gavin Davis, who completed 18-of-34 passes for 236 yards and coughed up a costly fumble in the second overtime. That fumble gave the Pheonix the ball inside Stingers territory and it gave Chase an opportunity to win the game with seven seconds left. Despite some screaming by Stingers fans in the west end zone, Zorn didn't call time out.

"We'd already called timeout because Tim Lacker was slow getting up," Zorn said. "I checked the rules and we couldn't call a second timeout or risk an unsportsmanlike penalty. That would have given them first down at the 11 [on a half-the-distance penalty]."

Lacker suffered a slightly sprained knee, but said he would have gone out there if Chase missed the field goal.

"No way would I have missed the chance," Lacker said. Unfortunately, the Sarzonian offensive line gave up four sacks, although Willard rushed for 186 yards and two scores, he needed 34 carries to do so.

Zorn said the team would "definitely" come back for World Bowl V "if the organisers will have us."

"We were able to establish ourselves as a strong team," Zorn said. "People in Sarzonia will remember this team for a long time."

Kura-Pelland

29-11-2008, 19:24

Kura-Pelland's rest advantage just got exacerbated big time as Taeshan needed overtime to defeat Secristan's corporate colossus, and quarterback Michael Bernard says this is 'a fabulous opportunity' to win the World Bowl.

'I don't think we've ever played as well as we are now, and I think we're still playing within ourselves,' he told NTV. 'But we have to give it 100% against the Falcons, there's no denying that. This is a real banana skin even though they aren't who they used to be.'

Safety Kevin O'Toole, another veteran of the team, doesn't even go that far. 'We've got the worst possible draw, Taeshan are ferocious opposition,' he insisted. 'But you have to beat everyone to win this thing.'

Six years ago, the Arrows were denied in the World Bowl itself by the smashmouth Rennidan Brutes. 'We probably underestimated them and thought we could beat them through skill alone. I guess we didn't realise that they were a truly talented bunch too, they just happened to play in a very raw manner we weren't best able to work around.' As for the Falcons? 'They're a very, very strong team. We have to beat them though, or our 10-0 will be exposed as a myth caused by a weak group.' The only team who challenged them in that group - Lovisa - lost to Vephrall in their playoff encounter. An all-Vircais final would be extraordinary, but almost impossible to conceive of, due to Vephrall's inexperience; Arroza will expect to steamroller them a lá World Bowl 3 group play to set up a probable semi-final with Dancougar, while the Arrows are set to face either hosts Qazox or Newmanistan in their semi-final if they beat Taeshan.

Youch.

You really do have to beat everyone to win this thing.

Dancougar

29-11-2008, 21:23

The team files into the locker room while my boys and I watch the few fans that are here for any funny business.

This is a low key bunch. They've got their towels out. They've got their face painted. They're in their Gary Hutchins jerseys.

I look at where we are today. We're in black jackets and jeans, with those little electronic earpieces, coily wire and all.

Well, that's all right for now.

Because once we're done here, we can go back to being fans.

Our way.

Back in World Bowl II, we thought we were tough. There were some guys who taught us otherwise. They taught us what it really means to fight proud. They made us who we are today.

I owe them a debt of gratitude.

I also owe him a punch in the face.

We're waiting for you, McDavies, so you better... wait, what's what you said? Haralde beat them last night? We're playing the Candrian Empire? Damn, I don't know anything about these guys!

============================
The Dancougar
Black Wings
============================

Coach Will Moohim knew that whether he was playing Rennidan or The Candrian Empire, the Wings had a tough road to get back to the semifinals. After all, they say what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger. And these guys came out of the Group of Death.

Alive and kicking.

At first, he breathed a sigh of relief. After all, this meant that the Wings wouldn't have to put up with the bone-crunching quarterback rush generated by Owen Powis or the endurance-sapping running of Jason Yeilds. But before he got too excited about matching up the Xs and Os, he checked himself. No, perhaps the Empire is a more dangerous opponent.

He had to ask himself... what really stands out about this team? Andre Haralde is the star, sure enough, but what about the rest of the team? A bunch of no names on defense. Frances Valencia had one or two big games on the ground. The harder he thought, the more he realized that unless he looked at a roster, he really couldn't name anyone on this team.

And that was the rub. The Candrian Empire thrived playing under the radar. Whatever they did to prepare for the Brutes had been more than enough. Now they were going up against a Black Wing team that had several defined chokepoints. Gary Hutchins was the crux of the offense. Jermaine Divalerio was their one true deep threat. Kirk Manly and Tony Rorick had been the best performers on defense. And armed with that knowledge, any team could upend his.

Under the radar.

Ah, but didn't that go both ways? Both the Wings and the Empire had no preseason all-stars. Both of them came into this game with nine wins. Who needs superstars when you've got an entire team that can get it done? Was Hutchins as strong without his line? If they weren't throwing at Rorick, wasn't it on the rest of secondary to respond? And the same went for the Empire. If they planned to stop one player, the rest of the team would go to work.

Plan for everyone. That's how Moohim would get this team back to glory.

Taeshan

29-11-2008, 23:43

Fitin' Falcons To Were Alternates for First Time Ever

It's time ofr the Fitin' Falcons to were there alternate jerseys in next weeks game versus the Kura Pwelland Aroows in Qazox. The jerseys who many have said are ugly, exspecially the alternates have worked this season and thats akll that counts. The Nethertopian kit makers even said they were ugly, but know the Falcons will be wearing there Gold jerseys for the first time, and the last as the sports adminisration has announced plans to get T4 to create new jerseys for the next World Bowl, and possibly the next round if the Falcons are fortunate enough to make it.

OOc :Use Highlight

The Candrian Empire

30-11-2008, 00:47

4th quarter. 28-27, advantage Rennidan. Haralde under center.

After a fumble on a short field, Clive had just kicked Rennidan to the lead - with roughly 4 minutes to go, he kicked the Knights deep in their territory. Here they were. On the 4 yard line. 3:57 to go.

He'd been harried the whole day. Powis, Comach, Stow. All of them got to Andre at least once. But not once did they git in his head. Despite the 4 sacks on the day, he wasn't rattled. But here was where it mattered. Despite all the pressure, despite all the hits, despite what some would call dirty play, it didn't seem to phase him.

He was walking to the line. The offense around him gathered around, leaning in. 4 minute offense - Haralde was in control. 60-something plays on his wrist, 7 different formations. He started lining up.

He scanned what was in front of him.

4-4 front. Saftey back. Corner would have to roll to strong side to cover the field.

"17! 17! CHECK PRO, CHECK PRO!"

His offense lined up.

Single back, two tight end set, 2 wideouts. Officially, 'Singleback Double Tight Even Quick 5 OOZZ 54Flip4Flip2 Z1'... perfect for the expected coverage. Especially if they blitz a linebacker. Especially if they bring the house.

"PRO 2 OTTAWA, PRO 2 OTTAWA! CHECK CINCO CHECKDOWN! OTTAWA!"

Final signals. The defense is in formation. The corners are off. Soft cushion. Soft zone.

"HUT

set set...

HUT!"

Haralde takes the snap. Behind him, Valencia takes his two steps up - he's a checkdown option... he isn't gonna block. He can't anywhy, he sucks at it.

He grazes his options. Gonzalez is split out left - flag to infield, to far corner of the endzone. McKay is on him - soft zone; he'll be into the saftey's responsibilities by the time I plant.

Jordan is dragging into McKay's zone for the near sideline.

Favors and La'donez; short routes to the far sideline.

He catches a Brute bringing pressure up the gut. Powis? Pump it to the far sideline, make Powis stutter and try to roll that saftey to the far sideline.

He plants. A quick pump to the far sideline. Powis stops for just an instant. But Haralde sees it, over Owen's relatively short 6'1" frame. CRACKE IS ROLLING TO THE FAR SIDELINE. MOFO MOFO MOFO. GONZO MADE HIS BREAK GO GO GO!

It's all in the blink of an eye, but that's all you'll ever get. Haralde gets the pass off; a 20-something yard pass to midfield right behind Cracke - overload and cross at the near sideline, and McKay got crossed up. It took less than a second, but it's in the air - just before Powis gets to Haralde and decleats him, just before Cracke realizes what he let through, just before McKay scrambles to get off of Jordan, just before Haralde can't see anything but white for just a split second. But it's in the air. It's a bit short; Gonzalez has to slow down for it, and he doesn't get any yards after the catch - Cracke caught up with him - but the damage is done. First down at the Candrian 31 yard line, just inside the right hashmark. 3:41 to go. The clock is rolling.

Oh man.

You don't see quite as clearly when 350+lbs runs into you at full force.

But it's been like that all day for him. It can't matter now.

He picks himself up on his feet; behind him Powis is already scrambling back to the new LOS. The long smear of grass on his red jersey just adds to the collection of ripped up turf on his back.

Gotta get back. Another quick mid, run up the gut, quick outs, quick outs.

"27! 27!"

Singleback Double Tight Even Quick 5 ZOZG 4573 Pro. Not exactly dink and dunk, just another 5 step drop with a TE stutter pattern. Haralde didn't even stop to consider the coverage. But it didn't matter. This was just supposed to be a quick out, to stop the clock. 3:35 and winding.

The offense lined up. 4-3 look, but the same package. Stow is back at free saftey. Covering the near sideline. Now the left sideline. Perfect.

"PRO 3 OTTAWA 27, OTTAWA!

HUT,

HUTHUT!"

Favors had the stutter pattern over Stow - blow past the scrub, get about 11 yards in, draw Stow, beat him. I have to make this work. This is too good.

Favors got on his route. A quick shoudler to Telek to slow him down, but otherwise off to the races.

The pattern is too long for a 5 step drop. I may not have enough time. He plants his feet. Favors hasn't hit the stutter yet. Powis is back. Backpedal.

Favors slants to the far sideline. He hits the stutter - a dip of his shoulder to the left to sell Stows on a corner flag. He bites. Favors has the cushion he needs.

And Haralde sees it.

He splays out all 6 foot 4 inches of his frame into the throw - another definate 20something yard pass. Powis is right on top of him. Haralde puts out that left hand - stiff arm? slap? Something. It doesn't stop Powis, but Haralde can still get the pass off - another 20ish yarder, this time thrown with Powis literally draped on the QB's back. Again, a bit short - it's hard to lay the ball in front of your receiver with a defensive tackle trying to knock your head off. But Favors can out jump a Stows who's a step behind 0 as he should, since he has a whole half foot on top of him.

3:22 at the Brute's 46 yard line. Clock still running. But the Knights have everything going their way - and their on the march.

A few more runs, a few short passes - Haralde essentially throws the ball to McKay at least twice. Well if he could catch, McGraw would be throwing to him, wouldn't he?

A quick sweep left gives the Knights a spot inside 15 yard line, and a stopped clock - Valencia got the run to the outside. 2 short passes to the outsides. McKay breaks one up, Cuddeford gets outside and stuffs one short.

3 and 7 on the Brutes 11 yard line. 1:21 and rolling.

Shotgun. 3 Wideouts - Jordan lined up split out left. Left side are shots to the endzone - right side La'donez has the route to get to the 14, and pick up the first. Two count. Haralde gets the snap. Fake to Valencia, who throws himself at a rushing Powis. I don't see anything.

Nobody free. Nobody in... the... middle... of... the...

Empty midfield. At this point everyone is covered in the endzone. Andre gets on his feet. At least get the first.

Some would slide once they got it. Haralde isn't one to pass on an opportunity to assert himself. He's on the Brute's 4 yard line - and he leaps into the air, sandwiched between Cracke and Cooper, both playing the short field. Helicopter'd. But I have the first.

1st and goal on the Brutes 3. :59 and rolling.

Favors and Gonzalez split out to the left. Doubles right, TE right, La'Donez split left. The wideouts on the outside, the big guys inside. Classic play.

I hope he can pull the disappearing act.

Haralde takes the snap. 3 step drop. All the wide gun it for the right corner of the endzone - pull the coverage right. Favors dives, and scrambles across, dragging left. Classic play.

He's got to be open.

He flips the pass to the left - Favors should be there, popping back up from the ground. Classic play.

6 foot 7 inches of linemen in wideout's numbers come back up, just to the left of the line. Someone hits Haralde from the blindside, but it doesn't matter - the ball barely sails over his head. Caught. Touchdown. Classic play. All that's left is the kick, and for Haralde to pick the grass from his facemask. 33-28 Knights before the boot.

Rennidan

30-11-2008, 01:31

We leave now, saddened and sore.

We played hard, we played our best, but it wasn't enough.

Not this year.

We lose out on the chance to play our nemesis.

We lose out on the chance to play our rivals.

We lose out on playing our equals.

But, whilst we may not be playing the Black Wings on the pitch...

It doesn't mean we can't meet them off it.

So hold up, Dancougar.

We're not letting you off that easy.

Brute Force are still coming.

And this time...

We're rooting for The Candrian Empire.

Success is never final.

Failure is never fatal.

It is our courage that counts.

Oh, and Moore?

You still owe me a pint, you bastard.

See you on the streets.

http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk176/rennidan/BRUTES.png

Qazox

30-11-2008, 05:27

OK RP Cutoff Time (sorry i'ts a bit late, got very caught up in the Ok St.-Okla. game and didn't realise what time it was.)

Qazox

30-11-2008, 05:40

Quarterfinal Scores
(winners in BOLD)

QUARTERFINALS
QF1: #1 Kura-Pelland vs. #8 Taeshan 38-33
QF2: #2 Arroza vs. #7 Vephrall 34-24
QF3: #3 Dancougar vs. #11 The Candrian Empire 23-19
QF4: #4 Newmanistan vs. #5 Qazox 30-20

SEMIFINALS:
SF1: #1 Kura-Pelland vs. #4 Newmanistan @ Ganja Vodka Park
SF2: #2 Arroza vs. #3 Dancougar @ Lorax Field

3rd place:
Semifinal losers @ Estadia Pika

WORLD BOWL IV:
Semifinal winners @ Champions Field

Wiki page (http://wikistates.outwardhosting.com/wiki/World_Bowl_IV#Playoffs)

Qazox

30-11-2008, 06:03

QSPN WORLD BOWL IV Match Review Show
Hosted by: Brett Manning

They say "All good things have to come to an end"; they also say "Every dog has its day." Eitherway, Newmanistan has finally broken its 'curse' against Qazox with a 30-20 win over the hosts and defending champions.

Perhaps the double-overtime game took too much out of the Pheonix, but Newmanistan came out of the blocks ready and raring to go, while Qazox seemed to be sluggish, and that's putting it nicely. The Rockets jumped on Qazox early and held on late, having a 20-3 lead at one point in the 1st half. Qazox did close to within 23-20, early in the 4th quarter; but a 56 yard TD pass from Kenny O’Hara to Christian Gagnon midway through the 4th quarter, bumping the lead back up to 10. A Greg Dannen interception with 3 minutes left sealed the game and the Rockets had slayed their dragon.

Now back in the middle of the pack, will the Pheonix re-tool again, or will they try once more with this team that did so well, just 2 years ago?

BOX SCORE @ Estadia Pika
1 2 3 4 FINAL
Qazox 3 7 7 3 20
Newmanistan 10 10 3 7 30

Qazox Leaders:
Offense:
Greg Dannen: 24-40, 302 yds, 2 TD, 2 INTs.
Frank Vallens: 19 rushes, 72 yds.
Ivan Harvey: 7 catches, 148 yds, 2 TD.

Defense:
Jasyon D'Angelo: 7 tackles, 1.5 sacks.
Vic Alworth: 13 tackles, 0.5 sacks.
Jason Middleton: 10 tackles, 1.0 sacks.

Scoring Summary:
First Quarter:
Newmanistan: Corey Parisi- 9 yd TD run, Ashton Colfer PAT good(9:41) 7-0 Newmanistan
Qazox: Tryone Chase- 41 yd FG (4:20) 7-3 Newmanistan
Newmanistan: Ashton Colfer- 37 yd FG (0:13) 10-3 Newmanistan
Second Quarter:
Newmanistan: Ashton Colfer- 48 yd FG (11:29) 13-3 Newmanistan
Newmanistan: Alex Foster - 39 yd TD rec., Ashton Colfer PAT good (5:07) 20-3 Newmanistan
Qazox: Ivan Harvey- 11 yd TD Rec., Tryone Chase PAT good (0:42) 20-10 Newmanistan
Third Quarter:
Qazox: Ivan Harvey- 68 yd TD Rec., Tryone Chase PAT good (14:11) 20-17 Newmanistan
Newmanistan: Ashton Colfer- 43 yd FG (8:03) 23-17 Newmanistan
Fourth Quarter:
Qazox: Tryone Chase- 37 yd FG (14:27) 23-20 Newmanistan
Newmanistan: Christian Gagnon - 56 yd TD rec., Ashton Colfer PAT good (7:26) 30-20 Newmanistan

Dancougar

30-11-2008, 07:02

Dancougar News!!
Not exactly Backyard Brawling, but the Tartans are, like D-III, so...

Bring on the Hornets: Dancougar set up a highly-charged elimination round rematch with Arroza after defeating the Candrian Empire 23-19 in the World Bowl quarterfinals.

The Candrian Empire was reborn in this tournament and was a far cry from the team Dancougar walloped twice by a combined 66-13 in World Bowl III qualifying. This time, Andre Haralde came out throwing, but the Black Wing defense was able to take away the run and hold the Knights to field goals instead of touchdowns. But the Wings were thrown into the same boat and had to rely on Seth Cavallo, who rose to the occasion after turning in several admirable performances during qualifying.

Frances Valencia was the first Candrian back to get a shot in the game, and he was held to two yards on his first five carries. The Wings blitzed early and often out of their distinctive 3-4, and that also disrupted Haralde's early rhythm. He was missing receivers, but not by much. The first score came on the fourth drive of the game, and the Wings' second. Michael Hussey saw all his receivers covered and went to his fourth option, halfback Logan Dublin, who caught the ball just over the line of scrimmage and made one man miss. He quickly accelerated into the secondary and picked up a downfield block to finish the play, a 33-yard touchdown reception which made it 7-0.

That seemed to wake Haralde up. He shook off the blitz and stepped up into the pocket, hitting Torrence Gonzalez with some short passes to move the ball. This gave Valencia some more room to run, but it was Mikail Cervantes to tied the game with a gutsy 12-yard run straight up the middle. He took out Kirk Manly on the play with a nasty shoulder, which got the crowd going. Hussey tried to quiet them down, but he threw an interception to Orlando Romain. Romain ran it back to the Black Wing 15, but the defense held the Knights to a three and out. Arnold Luna punched through a 32-yarder to make it 10-7.

The Wings were stoned on their next drive, too, and Haralde continued to work the short pass. Valencia nearly duplicated Dublin's score by taking a screen pass 42 yards into the red zone, and his next run got them inside the ten. But a holding penalty and a few incompletes set up third and goal from just inside the 20, and Tony Rorick broke up a pass intended for Gonzalez in the corner of the endzone. Luna made it 13-7, and the Wings would respond with a scoring drive of their own. Gary Hutchins picked up 48 of the drive's 73 yards, including the final four... or so he thought. He broke through the arms of Harold Norris, although he got some help from Hershel Seyfried in the form of a hold. The Wings were held to a Cavallo field goal to make it 13-10.

After halftime, the Candrians attempted to wear down the Black Wing defense. They'd seen the game tape from group play against Secristan and Myedvedeya and were hoping to duplicate their success by pounding away with Cervantes. They made slow progress and were forced to punt on their first two drives of the half. The Wings attempted to run Hutchins and were likewise stymied, although a 29-yard pass to Jermaine Divalerio on a third and long eventually led to a game-tying field goal by Cavallo.

The teams traded field goals once again, as it became more and more likely that the last possession would win it. The Knights, with the game tied 16-16, got the ball with 6:55 left in the fourth quarter. Haralde led a patient drive downfield, knowing that even if Luna was being uncharacteristically reliable on this day, he didn't want to leave it to a long field goal. He hit Gonzalez and Valencia for key first down passes, and then Valencia started to burn the clock with his feet. Dancougar was forced to burn timeouts as they got the stop, so when Luna made it 19-16 with 1:40 left, they were all out.

Logan Dublin took the kickoff and found a seam up the left side of the field. He broke one tackle and got to the Candrian 48 before Luna bumped him out of bounds. It was his longest return of the World Bowl and gave the Wings a short field to drive for the tying score. Hussey threw at first, finding Divalerio twice and then hitting tight end Ed Mendenhall right down the middle. With the clock running, Hussey gave it to Hutchins, who worked inside the five to set up first and goal. The clock was now under 0:40. It continued to bleed on second down, as Hutchins plunged into the line. He was marked down at the one. This brought up third down and goal with 0:35 and counting.

The safe play would be to spike the ball and set up the field goal. But that would give Haralde roughly thirty seconds to try something. The gutsy move would be to run it again and rush the unit onto the field, kicking the three with no time left. Moohim went with gutsy. Hutchins, off tackle. Touchdown, Black Wings!

So Haralde got his thirty seconds anyway, but now he was down 23-19 and needed a touchdown. Cavallo squibbed the kickoff so Haralde had it up at his 35. First, a sideline pass to Jaime La'donez got them up to the 46. Then it was Gonzalez across the middle to the Dancougar 44. Timeout, Candrian Empire, 0:21 left. After another eight-yarder to Gonzalez burned their last timeout, Haralde faced second and two from the 36. The Wings dropped seven into coverage and rushed three, leaving Valencia. Haralde dumped it off to him, and he got the first down, but Jeff Buckholt made a great open field tackle to keep him in bounds. Haralde rushed up to the line and spiked it with 0:10 left. The ball was on the Dancougar 30, well within his arm's range.

He took two shots. The first was in Gonzalez's hands around the Dancougar 5 but a hit from Scott Maxam jarred the ball loose. Buckholt scooped it up and began to run it back, but the play was whistled dead. That ran the clock down to 0:04, so there was time for one more play. It was Haralde... looking in the endzone for La'donez... batted away by Alex Isabella! Dancougar escaped with the victory after an impressive drive by the Knights, and will now face the Arroza Tar Hornets for the right to play in the title game.

Erika special on hold: The production committee of the Pretty Sportsman Erika anime has announced that an hour-long special to promote World Bowl IV has been canned, but the production may be revisited at a future time.

The staff revealed that a special was being produced in the event that Dancougar and Qazox met in the tournament. "We know how much they enjoyed the original series run in Qazox," the producer wrote in the show's blog, "and we wanted to do something special in the event that our two teams met. Most of the animation and voice recording was completed last week, although we've made the decision to sit on the footage for the time being."

Pretty Sportsman Erika originally ran for 155 episodes and four movies and told the story of a ragtag high school football team led by the title character, Erika Terajima. A sequel, Pretty Sportsman Erika: College Station, is still airing after 130 episodes and no timetable set for its conclusion.

Massive fan brawl leaves streets tattered, bartenders rich: Despite Rennidan's defeat against the Candrian Empire in the first round of the World Bowl playoffs, the Brute Force showed up at Dancougar's quarterfinal rooting against the Black Wings. This prompted a physical response from the Black Wing Brigade, the arguably less-hardcore hooligan firm out of Dancougar and led by Joe Moore. Initial reports from the areas outside the Ganja Vodka Park indicate that windows were broken, cars were overturned, and all of the rum is gone.

It's unclear as of yet how Qazox authorities will handle the fight, which appeared to be diffused by Rennidan's defeat. But Michael McDavies, the leader of the Brute Force, posted an open challenge to Moore last night. The two were seen at the head of their respective groups before any sense of order disappeared in dust, sweat, and blood. While injuries were reported, none were fatal, and Moore is reported to have taken "a boot to the face."

The fight ended when Moore and McDavies both landed a simultaneous punch - McDavies in Moore's gut and Moore in McDavies' jaw. Moore was first on his feet, but declined to press his advantage when he pointed out that if he broke McDavies' jaw, it would make it difficult to drink the pint he was owed. The two contingents then merged for an evening of heavy drinking with saw all pubs emptied of Qazox nationals who were watching the games. A barfight erupted after Dancougar's winning touchdown, but it was short-lived - the combatants realized that all the beer had been drunk and there were no bottles left to break over people.

Kura-Pelland

30-11-2008, 12:12

The Arrows don't tend to be dragged into shootouts too often, but they can certainly rack up the points if presented with the opportunities. And so, when the Falcons of Taeshan - generally an even more defensive team - came with their A-game on offence and their C-minus-game on defence, a shootout is precisely what we got.

For their part, the Arrows tried to control the clock, but when - as happened late in the first quarter - you first concede a TD to a 64-yard touchdown pass, then four plays into your next drive your tailback is given an almighty hole to run through for a 57-yard TD run, controlling the clock isn't going to happen. By then, both teams had already exchanged field goals, so 10-10 was the score at the end of the first. The second quarter saw Taeshan score another touchdown through Ricky Zellefrow, this time a 40-yard pass, and then recover an Illingworth fumble to start a drive that ended in a 35-yard FG from Martin Gramatica to lead 20-10. But the Arrows are reknowned for their play in clutch situations and kept the game tight with a touchdown in the final minute of the half, after a 12-play, 66-yard drive ended with Illingworth catching a screen pass after the Falcons bit on play action on third-and-2 in field goal range. 20-17 at the half.

The Falcons tried slowing things up a little from here, and picked up two more field goals in the third quarter, both from Gramatica, after two methodical drives - his third and fourth of the game. The Arrows decided to start using their distinctive short-pass no-huddle offense, and the lack of depth on the Falcons roster - with many utility players having to play on both sides of the ball - started to show at this point. It worked, as Dennis van Horsten was left in single coverage with Rudi Williams, and his efforts as both corner and tailback caught up with him as he was totally unable to keep up with the speedy van Horsten. 26-24, and that was the end of the third.

The Falcons started the fourth with the kickoff return - and Ocho Cinco, one of the few players who'd not been extensively used, took it all the way for a touchdown. 33-24, 14:52 left. It seemed a winning position, until you remembered how tired these guys were - and who they were facing. Yes, it's the famous Michael Bernard clutch offense again! They went no-huddle seeking a quick score and quicker exhaustion of the defence, but Keith Mackail-Smith's fumble was picked up by Dianer Marte, a linebacker who doesn't play on the other side of the ball. However the Falcons failed to get so much as a first down on their drive, and a 53-yard Gramatica FG try was missed. The Arrows took over and just plain exhausted the Falcons, using motion extensively before the snap basically to get the defence moving more than they'd like. When they decided not to follow that, at third-and-4 on the Falcons 40, van Horsten was left completely free near the endzone for an easy TD. 33-31, 7:54 on the clock. The Arrows declined the opportunity for an onside kick with that much time on the clock, and the Falcons now had to slow things down. They did get first downs for a while, but with 3:42 left Alan Zito - who'd played at centre and at DT all game! - finally crumbled, with a horribly loose snap which Gabe Martin fumbled and Frankie Colgrove snatched before taking it to midfield.

The Arrows had their chance.

And do they ever fail to take opportunities like this one? Hell to the no. Energy-sapping runs up the gut from Horace Buntley took the ball to the 32 before the two-minute warning, a play action on a three-RB set led to a screen pass to Mackail-Smith who swept to the 17 before being pushed out of bounds, and now there was 1:33 on the clock and the Falcons called a timeout, as if recognising this drive was now destined for a score. They needed to keep them to three in order to only need a FG themselves, but on the very next play Bernard - now lining up with two TEs and two WRs - pulled a draw play to Illingworth, the lone back, who found a hole in the blitz to score a huge touchdown. The PAT was good, 38-33. 1:28 left.

Taeshan's desperate bid for six lasted three plays; two 20-yard passes (both followed by timeouts) and an INT, with Alex Nicholson - the defensive leader on the field for the Arrows - finally making a play. The Arrows successfully killed the clock from there, as the Falcons had no timeouts left, and next up are Newmanistan, who beat an exhausted Qazox 30-20 on their soil.

Newmanistan

30-11-2008, 16:13

THE ROCKET REPORT

HEAVILY INSPIRED ROCKETS FINALLY DO IT

Estadia Pika, Qazox- Coach Jeremy Thompson received his Rocketade shower as Kenny O’Hara took a knee for the final time to kill off the remaining moments of the game in order to make Newmanistan’s 30-20 victory official. Chris Padgett an Corey Brooks, two players that have been on the team for all four World Bowls made sure to get their coach good. They knew they couldn’t go too crazy with the celebration because there is still a lot of football left to be played, but this was a special moment. They had finally cleared a previously insurmountable hurdle to see that indeed there was life after the quarterfinal. All the years of frustration of losing at this stage, of being considered good but not good enough had been overcome. For this brief moment it didn’t matter that Kura-Pelland would be next, and that there would be a game after that regardless of if they won or lost that game with the mighty Arrows. They could prepare for Kura-Pelland tomorrow. Defeating Qazox, the defending champion on their home turf made it even more special not just for that reason, but because the Phoenix had been responsible for two of their three quarterfinal defeats. They started the game well and never faded when Qazox attempted to steal the game away late.

Thompson was well aware that the Phoenix had a grueling game against Sarzonia in which they survived in double overtime. While the sting they sustained would not be fatal, it hadn’t completely healed either. The Rockets won the coin toss and elected to receive, and there would be one way that he would go at the Phoenix on the opening drive. Introduce them to Mr. Corey Parisi. Not that they needed the introduction as Parisi was very familiar with Qazox, having been the starting halfback on the team since the very first World Bowl. The line would do their best to overpower the defensive line of Qazox, as Benny Halvorsen and Anthony Colanno were completely manhandling the outside rush on this first drive with the interior lineman winning the battle consistently at the line of scrimmage. There wasn’t one big run, but Parisi and also Chris Padgett were picking six or seven yards at a time on each carry. Ten plays and 5:19 later, Newmanistan found themselves in the endzone as Parisi ran a counter to the left side for nine yards, getting a big time block by Halvorsen, as well as wide receiver Alex Foster at the one yard line that allowed him to get in. Qazox was able to reply with a drive that would net them three points, but when Corey Brooks brought the Rockets to their own 48 witch a great kickoff return, the Rockets began to sense an opportunity to pounce. Parisi got a few more carries, but O’Hara now felt he needed to get the Phoenix to respect the pass as he moved the team inside the 10-yard line in the late stages of the quarter. On 3rd and goal from the nine, O’Hara appeared to find Foster in the endzone for a touchdown, but it would be called back for holding. An incompletion later, the Rockets had to settle for the 37 yard field goal. Still an effective drive and a 10-3 lead. Following a punt, they were back at it again, and the confidence was definitely growing. With a drive that began at their own five yard line, they had a strong march up the field, that couldn’t quite get to the red zone, but it would be productive once again. A key play in this drive was a 27-yard scamper by O’Hara to avoid blitzing linebacker Eric Fan’tu’mala who normally doesn’t miss his man. Ashton Colfer went on there then and kicked his second field goal of the game, a 48-yard boot to put the Rockets up 13-3. If nothing else, the early points were succeeding in the getting the crowd quiet and beginning to wonder if their team would be in for a long day, and their own offense didn’t do much to change those thoughts on the next possession. QB Greg Dannen began to move his team downfield, but an interception by Stanley Bressler at the Newmanistan 26 sat all the home supporters back down. O’Hara completed four passes on this drive, with the big one hitting a wide open Alex Foster down the left sideline for 39 yards after the receiver clearly outsprinted his tired defensive coverage in order to get open. With it now 20-3, things continued to look up. Dannen did bring the Phoenix downfield on the final possession of the first half, eventually hooking up with Ivan Harvey just before halftime to give us a score at the intermission of 20-10.

On their first play from scrimmage, Qazox made a play that may have been a back breaker to the old Rockets. From their own 32, Dannen found Harvey again as Michael Ahearn and Stanley Bressler seemed to get their signals mixed up with who had the coverage underneath. Harvey took it the house and the Phoenix fans were going nuts. This was their play, the play that was going to turn the game around and vault them into the semifinal again as they are accustomed to doing when the play the Rockets. That was supposed to be the script anyway, but instead, it was Jeremy Thompson’s defining moment. Did he get on the case of his team? No. He gave each defender a pat on the back and told them to let it go. Kenny O’Hara walked over to Bressler an told him not to worry about it. The fans wanted to see the Rockets fold and for the Phoenix to strike back right away. Corey Brooks brought the team to the 33 to start the drive as O’Hara began to get them to quiet down. No better way to silence momentum then through a ball control offense. Newmanistan went on an 11-play drive in which 10 plays were runs and the other was a screen pass. While you want to score a touchdown on every drive, this possession was simply about slowing the pace of the game back down to where it was before, and it was working. The fans were getting frustrated with three-consecutive third down conversions before they had to settle for a field goal. It had the makings of one of their eight or nine minute drives that we have seen in the World Bowl before the Phoenix finally came up with the stop. Not to worry, said Ashton Colfer, he could nail this 43 yarder and get something out of it. After an exchange of punts, which further began to quiet the tone of the comeback, the Phoenix were able to get a 37-yard field goal by Tyrone Chase to make it 23-20. Coming early in the fourth, it got the home fans a little excited again, but they wanted more, and after an exchange of three-an-outs, the Rockets were about to deliver a major blow. After starting the drive with five handoffs to Corey Parisi, who finished the day with 158 yards rushing on 34 carries, O’Hara again made a play with his legs. Jayson D’Angelo, who had sacked him on the previous possession, had him in the grasp but O’Hara somehow slithered out of it. Then game Vic Alworth, whom he sidestepped before noticing Christian Gagnon had gotten open along the right sideline, which was the side O’Hara escaped too. O’Hara put it up and the receiver made the play and Gagnon took it the distance to make it 30-20. A normally subdued Gagnon signalled for the home crowd to “shhhhh” after he scored. He, like his teammates could sense that the game was in Newmanistan control, and it would take some fantastic late heroics by Qazox in order to do something about it. Greg Dannen began to do what he could but an interception by Daniel Strasser on an ill-advised throw at the Newmanistan 30 sealed the deal with just a few ticks over three minutes remaining. Newmanistan would have to pick up two first downs in order to completely run down the clock, and that they would. Kenny O’Hara had a strong day, going 20-for-29 for 272 yards and the 2 TD’s, but the sweetest play for him may just have been the final kneel down as it signaled that the quarterfinal curse would be over. This dog has had their day today, but there are visions now of a greater day forthcoming. Finally, Newmanistan has gotten past this step, a step that the world football team that one day dreams of in finally qualifying for World Cup after having so many near misses, perhaps, this is a little something that could be used as motivation. World Bowl 4? World Cup 44? Ok, enough of that. It’s a big win.

There is still more football to be played, and up next is Kura-Pelland, a nation that has gone 11-0 so far. Can they go undefeated throughout or may they be handed one “Giant” loss? Combined the nations have won 21 consecutive games, if you put their 11-0 record together with the Rockets 10-1 that has seen ten wins in a row after an opening week defeat. You know, the World Cup just may be played in, no wait, we said enough of looking for ironic World Cup comparisons. Michael Bernard and company are a dangerous team and once that has their own close calls in which they are looking to avenge so the Arrows will bring everything they have. The other semifinal features Dancougar and Arroza. It’s about time we were with this company in the World Bowl.

Qazox

01-12-2008, 04:40

So Who will reach the World Bowl in Qazox City?
The 11-0 team whom most are writing off as a fluke or the best team in the World bowl, who've reached the semis every time?
Or the "founders" who have finally reached the semis or a team that has always found a way to choke?

Well in about 10 minutes or so, you all will find out.

Qazox

01-12-2008, 04:48

Semifinal Scores
(winners in BOLD)

SEMIFINALS:
SF1: #1 Kura-Pelland vs. #4 Newmanistan 28-24
SF2: #2 Arroza vs. #3 Dancougar 30-24 (OT)

3rd place:
#2 Arroza vs. #1 Kura-Pelland @ Estadia Pika

WORLD BOWL IV:
#3 Dancougar vs. #4 Newmanistan @ Champions Field

Wiki page (http://wikistates.outwardhosting.com/wiki/World_Bowl_IV#Playoffs)

Newmanistan

01-12-2008, 06:12

THE ROCKET REPORT

TO THE WORLD BOWL!

Ganja Vodka Park, Qazox- With the Rockets getting such a big win over Qazox in the quarterfinal, sending them to this level in which they had never attained before, one may have forgiven the team if they came out a little flat. Then again, that would have been the old excuse for this team. This team, led by Jeremy Thompson and Kenny O’Hara have a different spark about them, and they were very pumped up for their big showdown with Kura-Pelland. The Arrows, led by superstar QB Michael Bernard, have been perfect so far in the World Bowl, winning all ten of their group stage games before disposing of Taeshan in the quarterfinal. They would be a formidable opponent, and like Newmanistan, they had plenty to prove as well. Not just to the people who may have seen their run this year as a bit of a fluke, but to get their own title, one in which they had been close to before, having been the runner up in World Bowl II. Ganja Vodka Park was full to capacity with fans rooting for either the Rockets or Arrows as many disappointed Qazox fans sold their tickets to fans of the participating nations, making a profit off of them that may just make up for the fact that their team was not in this game.

Kura-Pelland won the coin toss and elected to receive to start off the game to try and send a message to the inexperienced semifinalists. Michael Bernard started to have success, completing his first five passes, three of which went Giovanni Cassano as they marched down the field in their typical, workmanlike manner. The Arrows had the ball inside the 30 yard line before a Graham Illingworth fumble, forced by Jesse Savage and recovered by Kirk Comforth ended the drive abruptly. Kenny O’Hara tried to get the momentum now for Newmanistan as the Rockets moved down the field, with a mixture of run and pass plays until the Arrows defense got the ball right back. Superstar cornerback Alex Nicholson made Jordan Lyons pay for catching a pass at the Kura-Pelland 28 with a vicious hit, knocking the ball loose and Kevin O’Toole was in perfect position to scoop the ball up and take it to the 50-yard line. Such was the early theme of the game, and both teams knew that they would be in for a true battle. The Rockets would hold the Arrows, and the first quarter ended with the game still scoreless. Newmanistan, though, was about to change this. On a drive that began on their on 7-yard line, the Rockets went 13-plays for 93 yards in 8:26 to get the first touchdown of the ball game. Corey Parisi on the drive carried five times for 26 yards, but also caught three passes for another 28. The scoring play with be a sixteen yard strike from Kenny O’Hara to Alex Foster on a quick slant route. Though Alex Nicholson strongly campaigned for offensive pass interference for a push-off, the referee was not buying it, and Newmanistan was up 7-0. Kura-Pelland simply was not phased by this score, striking right back with a 6-minute drive of their own that took the game into halftime all tied up at 7. Bernard found Dennis Van Horsten on an 11-yard TD pass for the score.

The third quarter saw the game open up quite a bit. The Rockets were unable to do anything with the first possession of the half, and the Arrows would take advantage and take the lead on a 33-yard field goal by Tim Pogley, who is simply automatic from this range. Kura-Pelland mixed up the run and the pass pretty well on the drive, but seemed to be frustrated when the drive stalled after getting 1st and goal from the 10. A holding penalty and a false start penalty on the drive soon gave them a big hole, and they had to salvage the three. After holding the Rockets again, the Arrows wanted to get a quick strike to try and put this game away. Bernard would deliver this with a 57-yard touchdown pass to Giovanni Cassano. And who said this man can’t run? He looked 10 years younger in picking up 30 of those yards after the catch, though a nice block by Brandon Walters on Stanley Bressler was the real reason the touchdown happened. Kura-Pelland now had a 17-7 lead making the next drive critical for Newmanistan. Kenny O’Hara has gotten a lot of credit, which is justified, for the Rockets run, but would anyone argue that Corey Parisi is the bigger MVP of this team. When the Rockets needed a big play, they got it on a simple sweep right from their own 28. Big blocks by Anthony Colanno and Jim “Don’t call me Sidney” Crosby created a hole as big as the Penthoria River for Parisi to take advantage of it, and he was gone after eluding a diving lunge of desperation from Billy Spinks. 72 yards, of which he had 183 of on the day, for a touchdown to make it 17-14. It didn’t end there. The ensuing kickoff was muffed by Mackail-Smith and recovered by Alex Sedlacek at the Kura-Pelland 6-yard line. Newmanistan wasted no time in striking, as Parisi picked up his second touchdown run in a matter of 34 seconds on the game clock to all of the sudden put Newmanistan back in front, 21-17, and this would be the final score of the third quarter. The fourth quarter began with each team going three and out. Kura-Pelland would take the lead on another efficient drive, going 10-plays and taking about seven minutes off the game clock. Horace Buntley took it in from 3rd & goal from the 2 to make it 24-21 with just 6:03 left to play. Still enough time for the Rockets to not have to feel desperate, but little enough time to where they had to show some urgency. After being sacked on the previous play, Kenny O’Hara completing a key 3rd & 19 pass from his own 13 to Corey Brooks that went for 32 yards. It started a run of five straight pass completions by O’Hara on a drive that culminated in a 20-yard touchdown reception by Jim Crosby to make it 28-24. On the day, O’Hara was quite impressive, and so too was Michael Bernard. But O’Hara went 23-for-30 for 258 yards, 2 TD’s and no INT’s. The only problem with the drive was that 1:46 still remained on the game clock. For Michael Bernard and Kura-Pelland, this would just be business as usual. Bernard has done this so many times before it is really routine for them. The drive started out just the way the Arrows wanted, getting key catches, getting out of bounds and working the clock. Fortunately for Newmanistan, they needed a touchdown here and not a field goal. With 36 seconds left on the clock, Bernard had gotten his Arrows inside the red zone, and with 12 seconds left, they were inside the ten yard line. Bernard rolled out on first and goal, and fired a pass in the direction of Cassano that was knocked incomplete. Six seconds left, Bernard steps back and tries a quick fade route into the corner of the end zone to Dennis Van Horsten. Van Horsten made the catch but did not do so inbounds. One second remained. Bernard back, looking, throws, batted down by Michael Ahearn! The Rockets had survived. 28-24 and Newmanistan is going to World Bowl IV!!

The World Bowl IV opponent will be Dancougar, and even though Newmanistan has not had the greatest history against the Black Wings, virtually all the games between the nations have been close and have come down to one or two plays. This year the Rockets have been making those one or two more plays, as we saw tonight in the last stand against Bernard. Newmanistan will be the underdog, but they will be confident. Newmanistan and Dancougar have had many meetings in both footballs, and the one thing that always remains true is that you can throw out the rankings when the teams meet. This will be the first such meeting between the two for a championship, and a great game should be expected.

Kura-Pelland

01-12-2008, 13:04

Sometimes, it doesn't happen for you.

Newmanistan's Rockets undid not only the Arrows' unbeaten record but Michael Bernard's famed two-minute drill reputation, as an epic match ended 28-24. It is the end of an offensive era for the Arrows, as Bernard, tailback Graham Illingworth and wide receiver Xavier Lecavalier have all retired from international competition. Dick Vernasse, underused in this competition, is expected to take the starting slot although this is by no means guaranteed.

'We always knew this was the best Rockets side ever, and we always knew that all these games would be close. Normally we do the business in close games, but our reputation on that kind of situation just seems to inspire defences now,' Bernard mused at the end of the game. 'I would love to have bowed out in triumph, and I suppose in the playoff I still can, but this night belongs to these guys. They deserve it.'

The game's key turning point - critically given the focus on this team's veterans - was a kickoff fumble from young Craig Mackail-Smith, who is expected to be the starting tailback next time around. Already, there are pleas for Illingworth to play on. For now, the playoff with Arroza Tar Hornets awaits; the Arrows have never failed to defeat the Tar Hornets, and the only other team ever to defeat them are the Dancougar Black Wings, who kept their reputation up with a 30-24 overtime win in the other semi-final. Lots to prove for both teams even if it is merely a prelude to the World Bowl itself.

Dancougar

01-12-2008, 17:57

Dancougar News!!
LOL at Cleveland.

Once in the Axis of Evil...: Arroza's streak of woe continues.

Alex Isabella returned an interception for a touchdown in overtime, giving the Black Wings a 30-24 semifinal victory against the Arroza Tar Hornets. The match was a replay of the Charity Bowl final which Dancougar also won. This marks the fifth defeat in six tries for Arroza, which will take on Kura-Pelland in the third place game after the Arrows were handed an "and one" by the Newmanistan Rockets.

Abraham Chadwick looked fine on the opening drive, picking up 20 yards on five carries before the Wings forced a punt near midfield. The first quarter was a battle for field position that was mostly won by Arroza, as the Wings average starting position was their own 15. Still, it was the Wings who got on the board first, with a field goal on their third drive. Arroza countered with a touchdown, as Donovan Hailey entered the game. He proved to be an effective changeup to Chadwick's fastball, driving Arroza inside the red zone on a methodic drive that bled into the second quarter. Arroza brought in three tight ends with the ball on the two and caught the Wings off guard with play action. Erik Smythe found Tawfiq Rudolph wide open in the endzone to make it 7-3.

The Wings would get the lead before halftime, though. After the teams exchanged fumbles, Hutchins broke one for 45 yards to get inside the Arroza ten yard line. Michael Hussey tried a fade route to Jermaine Divalerio on first down, which was broken up. On the next play, he hit Logan Dublin with a screen pass, and Dublin made two men miss before diving into the endzone. Cavallo's extra point made it 10-7. The Wings were able to make some adjustments and slow down the Arroza running attack, but it was taking its toll. Billy Aveline and Cesar Tramonti were both shaken up, and Will Moohim was worried enough about fatigue that he continually cycled his linebackers to deal with Arroza's bruising backs.

As the second half began, Smythe started to throw a little more to keep the Wings off balance. The team was rewarded with the lead. After a few runs and a short pass to Rudolph, Smythe uncorked one for Taesean Malone, who caught the ball in stride and burned Scott Maxam for 59 yards. Isabella saved the touchdown by bumping him out of bounds inside the five, but two plays later, Chadwick was in the endzone to make it 14-10. On the next drive, Hussey was intercepted by Calvin Brandon and suddenly the Hornets were poised to make it a two-score game. Once again, they drove inside the Black Wing ten. But this time, the defense held firm and Arroza settled for a field goal.

The Arrozan 4-4 and the Black Wing 3-4 kept Hutchins and Chadwick on their guard, but from time to time, it seemed like just enough space opened up to squirt through. That happened on the Wings' next possession, with Hutchins and Dublin both getting time in the backfield. Dublin's presence was meant to unsettle the Tar Hornet defense, since he was a threat to turn the corner. This opened up the middle a bit for Hutchins, who was able to pound through for 32 yards on six carries on a 72-yard scoring drive. Hussey found Divalerio twice, and the touchdown was a pass to tight end Ed Mendenhall, who sat in the middle and caught the ball in traffic from 4 yards out.

Arroza regained the lead with 5:54 left in the fourth quarter. Arroza continued to cycle their running backs, bringing on Luke Majors as yet another change the pace. The Wing defense underwent trial by fire, being forced to adopt to different running styles on an almost play-by-play basis. This run bias set up Malone for another big reception, this time a 45-yard catch that put them inside the ten. Majors finished the drive, this time, with a 7-yard run to make it 24-17. Arroza finished the game with 215 yards on the ground, a number that would have been unheard of against past Black Wing defenses.

Dancougar, though, had plenty of time left. Hussey kept Hutchins going, mixing in passes to Divalerio and Jay Milon, the oft-forgotten second receiver on the depth chart. Hutchins finished with 120 yards on 29 carries and one critical touchdown. It came with 1:33 left. Arroza burned two timeouts to leave themselves with time for another drive, just in case the defense couldn't come up with a stop. On third and goal from the three, Hutchins ran into a wall of defenders, bounced to the outside, and picked up a block from Mendenhall and stiff-armed a would-be tackler en route to the corner of the endzone. Cavallo's extra point tied it up once again.

The other semifinal had been decided in the final two minutes, and the Wings had survived a scare from The Candrian Empire... would this game be any different? Arroza marched patiently at first, running Hailey and then trying some screens. As they crossed midfield with 0:58 left, the Wings spent a timeout. It was looking like they would need one more shot. After an incomplete pass to Malone, Smythe found Rudolph for a first down that forced the Wings to burn their last timeout. Now it was on the defense. A pass and a run got Arroza to the 32 with the ball right between the hash marks. Now it was Arroza's turn to burn a timeout, and with the clock reading 0:05, Drew Albrecht came on to win it from 49.

Albrecht's kick started to pull left almost immediately, and although it had the height, it just listed too much. Wide left - the game was going to overtime. Arroza won the toss and went out to give Albrecht a closer shot.

After two runs got them nowhere, Smythe was forced into a passing down. The Wings brought on the nickel package and rushed four. Ikraam Maximiano flashed across the middle and Smythe let it go, but Isabella caught up to the play. The ball was thrown a little behind, and that was all that Isabella needed to make the play. He intercepted the pass at the Arroza 39 and looked for blockers. He picked up Kirk Manly and Aveline at the 30 and stiff-armed Smythe at the 10. Just like that, it was Black Wing victory. Even though this defense has given up more points and more yards than they'd like in this World Bowl, they've been able to make a play.

The Wings and Rockets will meet in the World Bowl final, Newmanistan's first and Dancougar's third. Analysts are predicting a close game, which will add another exciting chapter to the sporting rivalry between the two nations. The Wings and Rockets have met six times, with the most recent game being the Charity Bowl semifinal which Dancougar won 23-13. In fact, ALL previous meetings have been decided in Dancougar's favor, but a single score would've swung the result in each one:
World Bowl I (Friendly): Dancougar 17, Newmanistan 13
World Bowl II (Group C): Dancougar 26, Newmanistan 24
World Bowl II (Group C): Dancougar 24, Newmanistan 22
World Bowl III (Group 1): Dancougar 10, Newmanistan 3
World Bowl III (Group 1): Dancougar 15, Newmanistan 10

So, Dancougar will certainly be the historical favorite in this one, but this Rockets team is primed to take the title. Already in the playoffs, they've ended a run of futility against Qazox and handed Kura-Pelland their first loss of World Bowl IV. Is it Dancougar's turn to feel the pain of the "and one"? It comes down to who you like more... Dancougar's defense or Newmanistan's offense. Both have struggled at times in this tournament but have found a way to come up with plays. Kenny O'Hara has been a difference maker after taking over to John Pivonka, while Gary Hutchins has been able to run well in the absence of Kirk Hatchitt. So, which team will taste victory? WHOSE GRIDIRON CUISINE REIGNS SUPREME?

Sarzonia

01-12-2008, 20:13

A few days after Sarzonia's national gridball team returned from its brief stay in Qazox, Adam Novak was still thinking about the double-overtime loss to the host nation.

His team did everything in its power to knock off the defending World Bowl champions, but in hindsight, they might have set things up for Newmanistan by playing the longest game in World Bowl history.

He was certain the team's return would be met with mostly silence. After all, the team didn't win, and gridball was behind football in Sarzonia's sporting passions. However, when he and other players disembarked, he saw hundreds of screaming, adoring fans cheering each player and coach as they made the walk down from the plane.

The loudest applause was reserved for quarterback Gavin Davis, who's solid play helped catapult the team from the doldrums of 0-1-1 to a playoff spot; running back LoQuan Willard, who caught fire in the final couple of games and rushed for two touchdowns in the playoff game against the Pheonix and Novak himself.

"I feel pretty good. Obviously, we'd have liked to have won the game against Qazox," Novak said in front of a cluster of microphones. "We have a lot to be proud of."

When Novak went to his favourite watering hole that night, the bartender waved off his credit card.

"Dude, this one's on the house," the bartender said. Before long, a shapely woman cozied up to Novak and bought him another beer. People from all sorts of backgrounds and walks of life were buying Novak drinks as long as he was willing to imbibe.

One night, a DJ was spinning some of the latest dance tracks and made an announcement as soon as he saw Novak.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Adam Novak is in the house! Get him a beer!"

It would go on like that for a while.

As for Gavin Davis, his agent fielded three times the usual number of phone calls; now he was receiving endorsement offers. LoQuan Willard agreed to do an interview with Ebony Magazine. Jim Zorn was booking appearances on the lecture circuit.

As for Sarzonian gridball itself, the Incorporated Gridball League reported season ticket sales increased 70 percent in the days since Sarzonia's 27-24 upset win over Vephrall.

"We're hoping for a good final," Zorn said. "Since Newmanistan were quite open about rooting for us against Qazox, we'll root for them. As for the third place match, we'd like to see Arroza win that. We believe our group was one of the toughest, if not the toughest in the World Bowl. An Arroza win would confirm that."

No one knows what Sarzonia will do in World Bowl V, but one thing is clear. They won't be underestimated this time.

Newmanistan

02-12-2008, 00:03

THE ROCKET REPORT

ROCKETS EYEING THE PRIZE

Qazox City, Qazox- Twice today, Newmanistan will face Dancougar and both games are pretty important. As big as the Oxen Cup match is since it is a double elimination tournament, it just cannot be as big as this championship that will be decided for World Bowl IV supremacy. The nations have met five times, and all five decisions have gone to the Black Wings. They have been close, but in the end the horrible hand towels would wave in victory after each game, and they are prepared to do so again. Today I (Clint Peterson) am joined by two coaches, Jeremy Thompson and Brian Carson, both of whom wish to defeat Dancougar in Qazox tonight.

CP: Well tonight the Rockets and Black Wings rivalry will be in the spotlight and the two men who will lead their respective football teams into battle, Brian Carson and Jeremy Thompson join me now. Good afternoon, gentlemen.

BC: Hello Clint!

JT: Good morning.

CP: So out of curiosity, how well do you two know one another, any interesting stories of your paths crossing before?

BC: I recall meeting Jeremy once at a function at the royal palace several years back, but that’s about it, I think.

JT: Yeah it was birthday celebration for the Empress five years ago that we were both there. Brian was a guest speaker. At the time I was just an attendee but we talked a little. That’s been about it though. He’s been in the spotlight much longer then I have.

BC: I’m well aware of what Jeremy has accomplished in gridiron even before World Bowl IV, but with him coaching in South Tier and me in Pocono City, it’s not likely that situations arise where we get a chance to get to know each other. (OOC: Newmanistan geography lesson: These cities would be comparable to the distance between say, North Carolina and Phoenix).

CP: Jeremy, with the World Bowl title at stake, what is going through the minds of the players?

JT: A whole lot. Brian has had better success against teams from Dancougar then I have had, or that my predecessor Brett Nicholson had. I thought we had beaten the Black Wings once, but I was told today that no, we’ve actually have never defeated them. We never defeated Qazox either. We did that, so we can defeat Dancougar. If you look at the history though, so many of these games have come down to one or two plays, and the difference with us right now is that we are making those plays.

CP: That can often be the difference, and right now we can see the confidence of your players.

JT: It is. We’re not scared of Dancougar right now. They are a great team, and in my opinion, the best World Bowl team out there. Their history is unmatched to almost Valanora- heights in our brand of football.

CP: Brian would know a little something about having confidence in big games, right? He’s won a few championships.

BC: Confidence goes a long way, yes. The gridiron team is playing some very inspired football right now, and it can be true in every sport that just making one or two plays you didn’t make in a close loss before can create a close win this time around.

CP: What advice would you give to Jeremy, Brian, as a winner of three interregional championships?

BC: Just to keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t needlessly change things up for the big game in thought that you will outsmart your opponent because all you really do is outsmart yourself. All the pressure in that game is on Dancougar. They are the nation with the higher prestige level, and with the head to head history against us. Most people think that they will win, and in their country a lot of their fans probably expect them too. Newmanistan should just go in there and play their game, they have done a great job thus far, and I know that Jeremy will have them ready to go.

JT: Yeah you’re exactly right, Brian. That was our approach against Qazox and Kura-Pelland. We want to prove ourselves, and we think that we are. Dancougar is a true World Bowl power, but as they say if you want to be the best you got to beat the best.

BC: Absolutely.

CP: Alright and now we must go to a commercial break. I’ll be right back with more Brian Carson and Jeremy Thompson right after this. (Flip over now to the Oxen Cup 9 thread)

Dancougar

02-12-2008, 01:00

Sidney Goldman's Gold Rush
Woohoo! Sports Exclusive

All good things...

This year, Dancougar got one for the other thumb against the Rockets. Their Charity Bowl victory marked six in a row against Newmanistan in American football, but the Rockets look a lot different from that day. They've won eleven straight after a shock loss to Colbourne on the opening day. Their goal has been simple - put together the great run that's been long coming, almost expected since they first appeared on the scene.

From the hallowed ground of Tundra Falls to the bustling city of Pocono, the support for the Rockets in all their athletic endeavours has been nothing less than superb. The teams have responded by playing consistently well in almost every tournament they find themselves in. Baseball, basketball, even lacrosse. You'll find them on the field and their fans will be as loud as they can be. Now, they have a chance to find their first success on the gridiron, and who better to do it against? The Dancougar Black Wings have owned the Rockets and are on their way to placing in its fourth straight tournament. But the Rockets aren't scared. Why should they be?

They're one point from perfection.

And they've shut other teams out from theirs. Against Qazox in Qazox... in years past, this would have been another quarterfinal exit for the Rockets. And yet they won 30-20 against the defending champions, setting up a semifinal with the undefeated Kura-Pelland Arrows, which had jogged leisurely into the playoffs behind the big-play arm of Michael Bernard. And yet, they hung around and gave themselves a chance to win. Kenny O'Hara may not be the game breaking quarterback the Rockets hoped he'd be, but he's been consistently good after a rocky start, and his late touchdown pass to Jim Crosby set up the defense to make their biggest statement of the tournament. Up against the wizard of the two minute drill, the Rockets brought down a steel curtain in the endzone and earned a trip to their first championship in the sport.

The Rockets also have help from their neighbors from across the river. Secristan and Newmanistan also share a fierce rivalry, but the game tape of the Millionaire's group stage victory over the Wings is almost assuredly worth every penny to Rocket coach Jeremy Thompson. Secristan's Tom Mitchell was able to find seams in the Dancougar secondary and threw for three touchdown passes, which Michael Hussey was unable to match. The Wing offense, after all, relies on the running of Gary Hutchins and now Logan Dublin, and unless they're able to turn the big play - as Dublin did in that game, to the tune of a 67-yard screen pass touchdown - the offense is too slow to match that kind of point production. The defense also came up big early and forced the Wings to play from a 14 point deficit.

The Rockets have the talent needed to do all these things. Kenny O'Hara has a variety of weapons at his disposal, and none are more dangerous than Corey Parisi, who's a threat on both the ground and in the air. On defense, Dan Strasser has the ability to take control of the secondary and limit Dancougar's passing options, which so far have amounted to little beyond Jermaine Divalerio, and Jesse Savage is a man who, like Kirk Manly, has the skill to live up to the name on his jersey.

Tonight, a worthy team will be crowned champion and the fourth World Bowl will come to a close. The Wings must be careful not to rest on their laurels. They'll need to play their best game of the tournament to tackle the Rockets, who are looking to bring the trophy back to the place it was forged.

NationStates Jolt Archive

World Bowl 4 RP/Rosters/Scores thread