“E.L.F. Season XXVI
Game 7 Scoring [Box]
Baseline: 12 points (both TV between 1201-1400 TV)
Win: 10 points
TDs differential: 2 points (3 TD for/1 TD against)
Casualties: 1 points (suffered 3 CAS - inflicted a SI on crowd push and BH on thrown rock but the client doesn't count those)
Bonuses: 0 points
Cat E (Humans & Stunties): 0 points
Total: 25 points

553 Flashback13 153.47 150.70 - (previously 660 Flashback13 152.36 151.37)
Went up in 2 categories, down in BBR. That's kind of bogus as I did get a SI on a crowd push, and the Runner was BH by a thrown rock. But I was outbashed when you count KOs.

This was a hardfought game against coach Falcone and his norse boys, Death Come's To All (not sure about that punctation but then grammar is not the norse's strong suit). Both teams left it all on the field - both apo's used (mine was successful for once in preventing a RIP, Falcone's not-so-much), all rerolls both halves, and even a few bodies. Muad'dib, Gurney and Montgomery played so hard they'll need to sit out next game. Tardio was taken out by the twisted mentat, Piter De Vries, and will be playing his next game in the halls of Valhalla. I won the toss and elected to kick, figuring this was probably my only chance to defend with 11. That didn't last long as 2 of my 3 LOS victims were KO'd on the opening drive. Falcone secured the ball in what he thought was a good position. Then he unleashed some more pain, causing me to use my apothecary early to save Duncan Idaho from certain death at the boot of Xavier Truebone. My own journeyman had also been tossed for a foul but mine only stunned a norseman. With so few Gholas left on the field, I knew my only shot was to elf him. The first attempt to reach the ballcarrier failed miserably, but a turnover (skulls I think or a failed dodge) gave me a 2nd chance. Same odds to pull it off (couple of 3+ followed by 2+ dodges) but I made all 4 dodges and Piter got a 2 die blitz on surehanded Tardio that not only knocked him down, but killed him! Thufir was able to grab the ball and eventually score. Couldn't stop the Norse score on the next drive, though we tried. 2nd score came in the 2nd half when the Norse were kicking to me. Muad'dib had given the ball to Duncan for safekeeping, but the Norse were coming through our lines and knocked down 1 of my catchers, and marked the other. In a desperation move, Beast Rabban blitzed 1 marker off, then Duncan handed of to Muad'dib. Paul ran as close as he dared to get (I had used a reroll to catch the handoff) and threw a 4+ pass to Chani who was being covered by 1 Ulf. 6 on the pass, 3 on the catch and 5 on the dodge and Chani was in the endzone. 3rd score came defensively when we tried some more elf tricks and managed to push the scrum in order to get a 2 die blitz on the ballcarrier. Got a POW and the ball bounced into Thufir's hands, so he took off. A hairy chase ensued, with 2 Ulfs bearing down on Thufir, but his speed won the day as he stayed just outside of their normal blitzing range and they finally failed a GFI. The last drive the gholas were just playing prevent and trying not to get killed. They welcomed KOs in the last 2 turns and the norse couldn't pick up the ball anyway so the game ended 3-1.

What started out rather dismally for the Gholas ended on a bright spot and I feel both teams deserved to win. The norse were winning the blocking war (43 to 22 total blocks) and the armor break battle (I suffered roughly 5 KOs to maybe 2 suffered by the Norse), but a lot of that was my lack of Block skill as the norse could afford to take skull/pow results on every position. Their Ulfs and Blitzers are skilled up nicely, and the Tackle Linenman and Dodge Runner make good support pieces. Alas they lost their AG4 Sure Hands carrier, Tardio, but Reynolds II skilled up and could become the new carrier. Good game, Falcone, our matches have both been brutal. Long term I think I got the better of this one, but only slightly. Look forward to our next game.

Skills (1):
Chani - (1 1) Nerves of Steel. Elf catchers with NoS are great, and this game it might have made a difference on the miracle pass (fortunately I rolled a 3). Too bad both my skilled Catchers already have a niggling injury, so I don't expect either to last long. But I'll use em while they last. Thanks to Matt Slater for his High Elf guide which I've started peeking at. This team has rolled 3 doubles and a stat increase already. \o/”