“OCCS Finals:

The elves received first and began to self-destruct almost immediately. The first quarter say them toss 3 double skulls on blocks (resulting in using up both RRs and the third one resulting in a broken collar bone that used up the apothecary). More than that - a risk was taken to foul against the amazon's star catcher - but it was caught by the ref and the foul was only a stun...however, through the difficult first quarter, the amazons were still held at bay - unable to ever get a clean shot at the ball carrier. Finally, as the game moved into the second quarter, an opening appeared and without any RRs, the elves performed flawlessly - Anita (the pro elf AG 5 catcher) took the ball on a sweep left play and outdistanced the amazons...a few dodges set up some blocks and the amazons were just a hair too slow to react - unable to quite get to Anita, she cruised into the endzone for a 1-0 lead. However - the half was far from over! The amazons received and still had plenty of time (2 turns) to score themselves before halftime...their catchers split to the right, but the kick was deep and this proved their undoing. The catchers moved forward, and the elves attempted to knock them down - but failed. The amazon blitzer came to smash aside the side stepper elf blitzer, but needed a RR to get a POW and knock him down...now the way was clear - however, because of the deep kick, it would be a long bomb...or a handoff and than a quick pass. The catcher still needed to dodge away past a tackle elf and preform 2 gfi to score...but it was all for nought as the ball slipped from the fingers of the thrower on the handoff and the half ended 1-0 Circle!

The second half, the amazons received the ball and protected it well...however, the defense from the Circle was hard to break through. For the entire third quarter, the amazons could not make it past midfield. Then forced to make some more desperate moves, the elf defense finally crumbled and the zons trudged downfield. The elf blitzer did their past and ended up using up the last zon RR as they managed to knock down the blitzer to free their ball carrier for a T16 TD to tie it at 1-1. So just the kickoff to the elves...then overtime.

Wait! The refs called for a conference...no, due to injury time there was more time to play still in regulation. This call ended up decided the game in an implicit way some could argue. For Circle pushed forward as much as possible - then on the extra turn for the zons, they blocked up the path to the endzone as best as possible then blocked...and rolled a double skull...RIP! Apothecary to the rescue! However, on the elf T16 now, Anita had the ball again - looking to make a series of dodges (2d block followed by 4 2+ rolls to score), the 2d block worked...in fact the amazon thrower was not prepared for it and was caught leaning the wrong way...RIP! However, Anita could not follow through on the vicious block...staggering away, she tripped on the first dodge to end regulation. However, injury time was costly in 2 RIPs against the amazons...

Overtime started and the amazons were kicking and obviously were getting tired. The elves pushed Anita downfield on a fly pattern to the right. This attracted the attention she warranted and the zons pounced on her...however, the elves switched directions - jogging to the left, a handoff to Aidan and the game would be won - the left flat was wide open but the ball slipped through his hands and the fans cried in disbelief...however, the zons were tired now - and tripping on dodges and gfi - and more than that, not bouncing back up as quick - but staying down stunned for a moment. The ball was picked up by Anita (elf thrower) - but she was bashed to the ground...then it was the decisive play. Aidan (AG 5 elf blitzer) redemmed himself - picking up the ball in a tackle zone and then throwing out of the tackle zone to the wide open Anite...Anita raced in for the victory about halfway through OT.

Overall, a great game - very back and forth with lots of good action and great strategic decisions and tough choices. Thanks for the game!
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