Gray Mountains — It's a Morkite mashup on Saturday night, as Breton Morkite Kultist team Golgoth (12-0-2, 1630k+) hosts Eastern Black Mountain squad Right in da Face (12-6-9, 1710k). A review of the two teams' rosters shows some marked similarities, even as their play-styles highlight the notable differences.
Team Golgoth boasts an impressive record, as finalists in Royal Rookie Rumble CLXII and winners of SMACK Schedule Veterans LXXXIX. But until the beginning of this FUMBBL Cup, the team had not played in over a year. Right in da Face, for their part, have a highly skilled set of Blockers and excellent TV efficiency.
"They've had some success in the past, and no doubt will have success in the future," said Face coach JackassRampant. "It's just in their present that I want to leave them disappointed." Coach Jackass complimented team Golgoth on their construction as well. "I know they were designed for the old rules, but they've actually got a pretty clean roster, ready to build into the new rules, without too much effort."
When asked what his team needed to do to win a game against team Golgoth, Jackass said that it was important to get off to a fast start. "Our job is to drop those frogs into boiling water. There's no jumping out in the Majors! Get some damage done, keep that Dirty Player from being too useful, go into the half with a lead, and play our usual smothering defense, we'll be fine."
Players on both sides were wary but upbeat. "Zey eez leen, bot weez eez meen," said Golgoth flanker Giru, in a Grey Mountain Orc accent. "Weez gotz ta 'eet zem 'ard, ou zey weell control zee akshun. But weez hopez zem EBMU ladz eezz too treexy fer zere own goud."
Face fullback and offensive captain Ace of Cups said the game would come down to precision and persistence. "Our boyz kan 'old da line an' klobber way abuvv dere own weyt. Jes' gotta keep on yer feet, watch owt fer dat Mitey Blow, not break rankz, not get 'urt."
Both teams won long, brutal 2-1 overtime games, coming back from deficits to defeat much higher-ranked teams. Home team Golgoth defeated the highly-valued Amazon team Let's Tour A Bit, also at their home stadium. Right in da Face's first match was a home round against the legendary Spubbbba and Not Another
Elf team. Right in da Face are expected to be slight favorites (under 100k) in this match, though Golgoth coach Oazard has not completed his post-match decisions. The winner will face Nekran's Naughty Nurses (TV 1.88M, 13-2-10), itself the winner of two games as a heavy underdog.