“Rossford Vipers 2 - 1 St. Louis Guardians
Albion Regional Challenge


http://fumbbl.com/FUMBBL.php?page=match&id=2011683


The Rossford Vipers entered the OCCS for the first time and were sent to the Albion Regional Challenge. A new Tournament for the Vipers with the hopes of facing some new opponents. Their first match would be anything but new to them as they were pitted vs the dreaded St. Louis Guardians.

The Vipers and the Guardians were quite familiar with one another after a season of play in the NABBL. During that season the Guardians and Vipers would play three times with the Vipers winning all three matches including the finals of the NABBL. All three matches would be nail biters and could have easily went the other way.

The Vipers hadn't shown their heads in match play since the finals vs the Guardians.

The Guardians during this time had rebuilt themselves and plundered the OCCS in 2007 with 2 Championships in only 2 entries into tournaments.

So this might have been an opening round but this was definitely no ordinary match. The match would play out that way as well. The Guardians received and started to remove the Vipers from the pitch immediately. Vipers were K.O'd and knocked down at record pace as the Guardians took a slow and leisurely stroll across the pitch.

The Vipers did their best to stop the Guardians but it was a futile attempt and late in the half the Guardians scored as the Vipers started to descend on the ball carrier.

The Vipers were forced into a desperate race down the pitch to score and were unsuccesful at the end of the half. This left the Guardians up 1-0 and during this time the lead Saurus for the Vipers had received permanent injury and was removed from the pitch. Things were not looking good for the Vipers and they needed a miracle.

The second half would see the Vipers flying down the field to attempt a quick score. This would be stopped quickly by the Guardians who would now already in Viper territory seemed destined to score.
In what would be the key play of the game the Viper Krox, Viperidae would get free and drop the Guardian ball carrier and pick up the ball!

This feat of great ball handling skills must have shocked the Guardians who would fail a critical block and end their turn. This was all the Vipers needed to reverse field and score at the end of the half for a 1-1 tie.

O.T was coming which was nothing new for these 2 teams. As luck would have it the Vipers received the ball and the Guardians still shook up from the second would not all take the pitch. A first turn injury to a Guardian would allow the Vipers to maneuver for a T3 score and end sudden death quickly.

Was a great match from a stellar opponent. The damage was done in this match to the Vipers who will be limping into their next match hoping for more miracles.”