🏈 RZA Weekly Recap – November 8, 2025
🏆 Match of the Week: Champ Chompers 28 – 27 Aberthaw Dolphins

Attendance: 135,477

The Champ Chompers walked into Aberthaw and stole one in dramatic fashion, edging the Dolphins by a single point in a contest that was equal parts chaos and composure.

Aberthaw set the tone early — a 41-yard field goal and a pick-six by Azmi Essa had them up 10–0 before the Chompers even got comfortable. But once Abdullah Khalil settled in, the tide shifted. The Chompers’ QB engineered two crisp second-quarter touchdown drives, both short passes to Jeffrey Brownlee and Jim Spann, putting them ahead 14–10 at halftime.

The Dolphins clawed back in the third behind Paulino Rosillo’s steady hand (25/41, 186 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), mixing field goals and a short strike to Allan Nokwe to build a 27–14 lead heading into the final frame. But Khalil wasn’t finished. The veteran passer (35/53, 315 yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs, 83.45 rating) went into overdrive — hitting Hollis Kane from 12 yards out, then capping a late 15-play drive with a 4-yard game-winner to Todd Comer.

Aberthaw’s final push fell flat as time expired, giving the Chompers one of the gutsiest wins of the year.

Key Performers:

🏹 Abdullah Khalil (CC) – 315 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT

🧱 Azmi Essa (ABW) – INT return for TD

🦈 Fred Harrison (CC) – 4/4 PATs, consistent under pressure

Turning Point: The Chompers’ final 76-yard drive capped by the Comer touchdown.

Quote of the Game:

“We got punched in the mouth early, but we kept swinging.” — Coach of the Chompers

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⚔️ Runner-Up Match of the Week: Fargo Knights 28 – 31 Gladiatori Roma

Attendance: 132,577

A classic clash of styles — Fargo’s vertical air assault versus Roma’s relentless rhythm offense — delivered fireworks from start to finish.

Roma QB Igor Biaison carved up the Knights’ defense, completing strikes to six different receivers and tossing four touchdowns. Meanwhile, Cleo Andrus of Fargo countered with highlight-reel throws of his own, including a 71-yard bomb to Frankie Ash and an 80-yard dagger to Louis Colley that briefly gave Fargo hope late.

The difference? Efficiency. Roma dominated the time of possession and converted in the red zone, while Fargo’s turnovers — including a fumble deep in Roma territory — proved fatal.

A 51-yard Saturnino Gibertini field goal late in the third quarter pushed Roma’s lead to 31–21, enough to survive Andrus’ final touchdown drive in the fourth.

Key Performers:

🎯 Igor Biaison (GRA) – 4 TDs, 270+ yards

🚀 Cleo Andrus (FK) – 5 total TDs (4 pass, 1 rush)

🦵 Saturnino Gibertini (GRA) – Clutch 51-yard FG

Turning Point: Gibertini’s field goal extended Roma’s lead beyond reach, forcing Fargo to chase from behind.

Quote of the Game:

“Every yard mattered — and we fought for every inch.” — Igor Biaison, Gladiatori Roma QB

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💥 Upset of the Week: Cinnamon Rolls 20 – 18 Coconuts

Attendance: 97,402

The Cinnamon Rolls pulled off the stunner of the season, outlasting the heavily favored Coconuts in a gritty, defense-first thriller.

The game started ugly — a safety on the opening drive put the Coconuts up 2–0, then QB Nigel Regan immediately answered with a 96-yard bomb to Solomon Jennings. The Coconuts bounced back with a 65-yard touchdown from Hapo Ila to Mackenzie Lindsay, followed by a defensive 20-yard fumble return TD that had them looking dominant.

But the Rolls refused to crumble. QB tandem Nigel Regan and Elisha McGrath traded series and combined for 337 yards and 3 TDs, both posting passer ratings above 145. Their aggressive vertical approach kept the Coconuts’ secondary guessing, and a fourth-quarter 21-yard strike to Junior Pittman put the Rolls up for good.

Coconuts QBs Ila, Manríquez, and Castro all rotated but couldn’t find rhythm, despite combining for 416 yards passing. The offense stalled in the red zone, and a final possession ended in a safety — poetic justice for how it all began.

Key Performers:

🍩 Nigel Regan (CIN) – 10/15, 198 yards, 2 TDs, 149.3 rating

☕ Elisha McGrath (CIN) – 7/10, 139 yards, 1 TD, 145.8 rating

🏃 Rodolfo Romero (COC) – Fumble recovery TD

🛡️ CIN Defense – Held Coconuts to 2 points in the 2nd half

Turning Point: McGrath’s 80-yard touchdown to Dirk McNabb in the 2nd quarter swung the game’s momentum for good.

Quote of the Game:

“Everyone expected us to melt — instead, we baked them.” — Nigel Regan, Cinnamon Rolls QB

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📰 Summary Notes:

Game of the Week: Instant classic comeback win by the Chompers, with Khalil solidifying MVP chatter.

Runner-Up: Gladiatori Roma outlasts Fargo in a strategic slugfest.

Upset: Cinnamon Rolls stun the Coconuts with fearless downfield passing and late defensive grit.