AC Divisional Play Offs.

In the first game of the AC Divisional Play Offs the Alligators visited the undefeated Machine aiming to take revenge for the regular season defeat at home. The Alligators received the kick off and started their first drive on their own 21. 18 plays and 6:30 later they opened the scoring on a 2 yard run. The Machine's first series was a 3 and out. The Alligators returned the Machine's punt for 8 yards and started their next drive on their own 38. 7 plays later they increased their lead on a 8 yard run. The Machine's second drive stumbled on the 2nd set of downs so they had to punt. The Alligators next drive was a 3 and out as the Machine's defence started to wake up getting their first sack of the Alligators QB. The Machine took over on the 50 where QB Buckley tried to connect with TE Camara on the Alligators 39 only for CB Glengarry to intercept it and return it 61 yards for a TD. AS the quarter closed the Machine were down 21-0, but in possession on their own 21.
The Machine continued their drive into the 2nd quarter and managed to get to the Alligators 27 where they had to settle for a 44 yard FG. On the 2nd set of downs of the Alligators drive QB Beisebekov tried to connect with WR Moreira on the Alligators only for CB Armstrong to intercept it and return it 22 yards to the Alligators 21. The resulting drive for the Machine went 3 and out so they had to settle for a 34 yard FG. The Alligators next drive went 3 and out as their QB was sacked twice. The Machine's next drive ended on the 2nd set of downs and left their fans wondering why they punted on the Alligators 35 instead of trying for a FG. The Alligators took over on their own 20 and drove the ball to the Machine's 27 when QB Beisebekov tried to connect with TE Shunsen only for LB Hatch intercept it on the Machine's 16 and return it 40 yards to the Alligators 44 with 28 seconds left in the half. A quick passing play by the Machine gained them 12 yards, but K Bruno missed a 49 yard FG attempt as the half closed with the Alligators leading 21-6.
The Machine started the 3rd quarter in possession on their own 22 and over the next 4:30 through 11 plays they crossed into the Alligators end zone with a 6 yard TD pass. The Alligators first drive of the 2nd half commenced on their own 23 and it was halted on the 2nd set of downs as their QB was sacked for a 4th time. The Machine got the ball back on their own 22 and proceeded towards the Alligators end zone over the next 5 minutes to move within 1 point on a 1 yard TD run. The Alligators took over on their own 20 and kept possession of the ball for the remainder of the quarter.
The Alligators drive that started in the 3rd quarter had reached the Machine's 48 for the start of the 4th and the drive continued for a further 7 plays when the Alligators scored on a 3 yard TD pass. The Machine returned to the field on their own 17 and over the next 13 plays they moved the ball to the Alligators end zone to make it a 1 point game again on a 7 yard TD pass. The Alligators took over with 6:17 to go on their own 22 and during the next 4 minutes through 11 plays they extended their lead back to 8 again on a 11 yard TD pass. The Machine's 2 minute offence managed to move the ball 41 yards bu the time the clock ran out.
The Alligators 35-27 win was sweet revenge for the regular season defeat, but they know they have to stay strong for the Championship Game.

In the other AC Divisional Play Off the Jockstraps played host to Cougars. The Jockstraps received the kick off and returned it 59 yards to start their first drive on Cougars 36. 5 plays later they opened the scoring on a 14 yard TD pass. Cougars first drive of the game started on their own 20 and stumbled on the 2nd set of downs. The Jockstraps returned to the field on their own 16 and their drive also stumbled on the 2nd set of downs. On the 2nd play of Cougars next drive QB Schmollinger tried to connect with WR Martin only for CB Seal to intercept it and return it 47 yards for a TD. Cougars returned to the field on their own 20 and failed to complete on a 4th and 1 on their own 29 giving the ball back to the Jockstraps in excellent position. The Irish never look a gift horse in the mouth and promptly 3 plays later marched into the end zone on a 15 yard TD pass. Now we were only 7:40 into the 1st quarter and the Jockstraps were up by 21 with Cougars next drive going 3 and out. So the Jockstraps returned to the field at their own 23 from where they proceeded to the Cougars end zone over the next 4 minutes and 9 plays to score their 4th TD of the quarter on a 10 yard pass. Cougars were shell shocked and their next drive went 3 and out so the Jockstraps were back in possession, which they kept for the remainder of the quarter.
The possession the Jockstraps retained from the 1st quarter stumbled at Cougars 28 and they settled for a 45 yard FG. Cougars woes continued as the first drive of the quarter went 3 and out. The Jockstraps offence was rampant as they drove from their own 34 into Cougars end zone in 7 plays over the next 3 minutes to score on a 27 yard pass. Cougars returned to the field on the own 29, 38 points behind, they had to do something. Over their next drive they kept possession for over 4 minutes and managed to get on the scoreboard with a 2 yard TD run. The Jockstraps then saw out the remainder of the half in possession.
The 3rd quarter began with Cougars in possession on their own 20, but their drive stumbled on their own 47 and had to punt. The Jockstraps first drive of the quarter started at their own 10 and they managed to get to their 36 when they were forced to punt. Cougars next drive started on their own 14 and went 3 and out so the Jockstraps got the ball back at the 50. 3 plays later they hit a 39 yard TD pass and the score became 45-7. Cougars returned to the field on their own 19 and proceeded to the Jockstraps 36 when their QB took a heavy sack and they were forced to punt. The Jockstraps only needed 3 plays to score on their next drive as they hit a 69 yard TD pass to take their score past the 50 mark. Cougars then managed 3 series of down before they had to punt and the Jockstraps saw out the quarter in possession.
The Jockstraps utilised the possession they retained from the 3rd quarter to open the 4th quarter with the ball under their control for over 4 minutes and going into the end zone on a 4 yard pass. While their offense took a well earned break the Jockstraps defense let Cougars have the ball and take up 5 minutes to drive from their own 20 to be stopped at the Jockstraps 21 and settle for a 38 yard FG. The Jockstraps offense returned to the field on their own 23 with 5:07 to go and finished the drive with a 10 yard TD run with 16 seconds to go in the game.
The Jockstraps 66-10 demolition of Cougars had set them a very high standard that they will have to maintain if they what to win the Championship Game.

NC Divisional Play Offs

In the first game of the NC Divisional Play Offs the Bobble visited Deflators and like the Alligators they were looking for revenge on a regular season defeat. Deflators received the kick off and their first drive stumbled on the 2nd set of downs. The Bobble took the field for the first drive on their own 9. 13 plays and over 5 minutes later they were in Deflators end zone with a 10 yard TD run. Deflators returned to the field on their own 19 and like their first drive this one also stumbled on the 2nd set of downs. The remaining series of downs, for each of the teams, in the quarter were 3 and outs and the quarter closed with Deflators in possession.
2 plays into the 2nd quarter and Deflators drive was stopped. The Bobble could not progress their drive and it was likewise for Deflators on theirs. The Bobble's 2nd drive of the quarter was only memorable to see QB Whitmire flattened twice as they went 3 and out on the drive. Deflators returned to the field on their own 24 and 6 plays later QB Baez tried to conect with WR Dulman on their 49 only for FS Caballero intercept it and return it 25 yards. On the resulting drive the Bobble could only get to Deflators 11 where they had to settle for a 28 yard FG thanks to QB Whitmire being put in the dirt again. Deflators own offense was not getting much done again as they went 3 and out on the next drive, but their defense was sticking it to QB Whitmire as they got him for a 4th time in the Bobbles next drive which also went 3 and out. Deflators then started their next drive on their own 34 with 5:33 left in the half and over the next 4:27 they proceed down to the Bobble's 25 settling on a 42 yard FG. The Bobble retained possession for the remainder of the half and went into the break 10-3 up.
The 2nd half started with the Bobble going 3 and out on their first drive and Deflators doing likewise on the first drive of the half. The Bobble's next drive got to 3 sets of downs before QB Whitmire was on his backside again and the drive stumbled. Deflators offense was still struggling as they went 3 and out.The Bobble's next drive started on their own 3 and they were forced to punt from their own 11. Deflators returned the punt 15 yards and returned to the field at the Bobble's 37. Deflators only managed to progress 5 yards on the next drive and had to settle for a 49 yard FG. The Bobble returned to the field on their own 20 where QB Whitmire hit TE Beebe for an 80 yard breakout TD. Deflators, stunned, saw their next drive stumble on the 2nd set of downs. The Bobble's next drive went 3 and out so they punted it back to Deflators who returned the punt 16 yards and then retained possession for the remainder of the quarter.
Having made it to the Bobble 39 yard line Deflators continued the drive another 4 minutes to cap it off with a 5 yard TD pass. 17-13 to the Bobble. Were we in for a tense 11 minutes or so? Bot really the Bobble took the next drive from their 17 to their 48 when QB Whitmire hit WR Mahidol for a 52 yard TD pass and the Bobble fans breathed out. Deflators, stunned again, went 3 and out on their next drive. The Bobble came on the field at their own 13 and wasted 3 minutes getting to their own 35 before they punted. Deflators returned the punt 12 yards and came back on the field at their own 24. By the time the clock ran out they had got to the Bobble 9.
Another sweet revenge match as the Bobble ran out 24-13 winners, it also showed they can control their opponents running and passing game when required. Now for the Championship Game.

In the other NC Divisional Play Off the Bolts welcomed Narann to Maine. The Bolts received the kick off and their first drie of the game went 3 and out. Narann's first drive stumbled on the 2nd set of downs and they had to punt. The Bolts starting their 2nd drive on their own 6 yard line and proceed over the next 7 minutes through 16 plays to drive the ball to the Narann 3 where they had to settle for a 20 yard FG. Narann then went 3 and out.So did the Bolts. As did Narann again and the Bolts finished the quarter in possession on their own 42.
The Bolts possession at the start of the 2nd quarter ended at Narann's 43 when they punted. Narann then had another 3 and out and the Bolts returned to the field on their own 29. 5 minutes later the Bolts drive was capped off with a 14 yard TD pass and they were 10 points to the good. Narann managed to move the ball on their next drive from their own 23 to the Bolts 48 before they had to punt. The Bolts then ran off the clock to half time leading 10-0.
The 3rd quarter saw Narann's first drive of the half progress from their own 21 to the Bolts 45 before they were forced to punt. The Bolts first drive of the half stumbled on the 2nd set of downs. Then Narann went 3 and out on their next drive. The Bolts returned to the field at their own 19 and utilised the next 4 minutes moving it 81 yards to Narann's end zone culminating on a 1 yard run. Narann's next drive started on their own 20 and using just over 4 minutes to move it to the Bolts end zone to score on a 1 yard TD run. The Bolts went 3 and out on the next series leaving Narann in possession at the end of the quarter.
Narann's drive continued to the Bolts 45 when RB Llach fumbled the ball and DE Shaheen recovered it and returned it 26 yards to Narann's 26. The resulting Bolts drive got to Narann's 18 where they missed a 35 yard FG attempt and Narann got the ball back on their own 25. Narann then moved the ball to the Bolts 39 where they missed a 56 yard FG attempt, so the Bolts got the ball back on their own 46. The Bolts next drive was stopped at Narann's 21 where they settled for a 38 yard FG. Narann used up most of the last 4 minutes and settled for a 34 yard FG and defeat.
The Bolts 20-10 win was fairly comfortable due to Narann's lack of offensive penetration now they have to ensure they have the same control in the Championship Game.

No transfer news this week, but will have a full u p d a t e with the Championship Games Review. Season 29 Review will be done by division and I hope to start them after the Championship Games and be complete before Thunder Bowl XXIX.

Good luck to the 4 teams left and I'll see you next time.

These are great reads. Thank you for doing them.

+1

Awesome reads!