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1. 1. NCBB Ssn 21, OoC Game #1 (of 2)

2 of last season's top teams faced off, with Texas the slight underdog but Oregon down in TV and taking a DT card for their trouble. Both teams had a Frenzy/MB player, and Texas had another MB in the form of a Blitzer - but no perms the whole game, despite the best efforts of both teams, altho' Casualties did play a key role in both drives.

Texas won the toss and chose to Kick on a Rainy field, and a Perfect Defense set the starting tone of patience and discipline as the Texas D tried to hold double-deep and the Oregon Offense took their time moving downfield behind a safe screen. Oregon crossed the LoS Turn 3, but fell back to it Turn 4. But Texas lost their only Guard KO'd on Turn 4, and with it a great deal of leverage, and Oregon moved up to within scoring range, but in no hurry to kick that half. Texas pressured that corner hard, managing to Surf a Tackler Turn 6, but could not find a seam to the ballcarrier, and Oregon finished the stall by falling back for a handoff in the rain and RR'd GFI for the T8 score.

T8 Texas tried an OTS, but the first block failed despite RR, but did BH a rookie Lino - Oregon down a player, but up 0-1 at the Half.


(Texas had several misclicks, including "saving" a KO'd Witch Turn 6, which, while increasing the pressure on the T8 score, didn't matter in that drive. In the 2nd half they misclicked to RR an opening block - which didn't bite them, but made them nervous for the rest of that Turn and the half.)


2nd half the Rain stopped, the Oregon Guard woke up, and the roles were reversed, as Texas practiced a patient Offense against the under-manned Oregon D, BH'ing another rookie Lino Turn 1 to go up by 2 players. They too were in no hurry, held at the LoS, fell back, and then pushed up Turn 4, fouling heavily to keep an Oregon Guard on the ground (if not out of the game). Then Oregon sent their Ballhawk for a surprise 5+(!) Dodge blitz to Strip the ball - but it fell straight into the hands of the Oregon Journeyman who had already moved! In the thick of it, he didn't stand much chance and fell on the very first of many possible blocks, but this time the ball fell in the middle of the ruck. Still, Texas was able to recover with a Blodge Lino just past the LoS but not complete a screen. However Oregon could only find Pushes RR'd to Pushes on the Tackle Blitz to end Turn 6. However, that Tackler shoved the Texas Ballcarrier deep into the middle of a 16-player ruck, with Oregon Guards and a Sidestepper all around. But, after some consideration, Texas finally(!) found an escape, and to midfield at the 7 behind a good screen of players. Oregon had to RR Skulls and then found another on a 1d, and Turn 7 Texas scampered away to cage near the far corner, and safe for the T16 tying score.

The expected Oregon OTS failed the Catch, game over 1-1.”