“NCBB - Season 40
Week 4 - FBC vs Smack

A perfect, sunny day greeted the Miami BallHawks as they arrived to play the heavily favored Mountain Union Raiders. MUR lost the coin toss, but Miami elected to kick, and both team took to the pitch for what promised to be an exciting Blood Bowl match.

A deep kick gave MUR a chance to move a player or two before the ball came down, after which they went to work smashing away at the Miami front line before collect the ball in the backfield. Miami responded aggressively, sending seven players into the opposing side of the pitch to threaten control of the ball. Though MUR managed to surround the ball carrier with additional players, the BallHawks held all the POWs, stunning MUR's thrower who had been clutching the ball, while pinning the ball to the sideline. A nice, healthy scrum would take place with both sides attempting to claim possession of the ball before MUR collecting the pigskin and making a tactical retreat towards their own endzone, where Miami caught up with them and again set the ball loose. MUR made some massive hits, removing three players from the pitch, two of whom would not be returning for the next game, only for Miami to answer back with a big hit of their own, removing the MUR catcher. With the ball still on the pitch and neither team claiming possession, MUR continued to attempt to push their numbers advantage by throwing more blocks, but their Ogre picked a poor time to throw a bad block, knocking himself and his opponent down in the process. Seizing the change in momentum, Miami dodged out, collected the ball, and lept over the defenders to run in the first touchdown of the match.

Miami again set up to kick, this time playing down 9-on-11. With two turns remaining in the half how would MUR respond? It was clear that the intended response was not a "BLITZ!" from Miami, but that was what happened. Under pressure MUR brought the ball up to midfield, threatening with a player in scoring range and the possibility of a thrown halfling. The BallHawks marked the scoring threat and eliminated the TTM attempt, but MUR executed a brilliant series of blocks and blitzes to rush the ball forward into the awaiting hands of one of their linemen who then crossed into the endzone to tie the match 1-all. Miami must have been stunned by the play, because as they set up to receive the kickoff they forgot that it was still the first half. Imagine their shock when the whistle blew ending the half 1-all.

MUR set up wide and kicked off the Miami to begin the second half, likely feeling comfortable with their two man advantage. Also, at some point during the halftime show, two pits were dug into the wide zones and trapdoors place on top of them. Both teams would have to watch out. The kick came down and Miami collected the ball in the backfield, so MUR marked every player and delivered a crippling blitz to Reese Mantella, which the apoth was able to reduce to a niggling injury rather than death. Realizing they did not have the frogpower to grind out a touchdown, Miami took heavily to the offensive, bring the ball to midfield, while sending a scoring threat deep downfield. While MUR was busy dealing with the downfield threat the BallHawks were able to sneak the ball through a hole they created in the defense, doing what they could to protect this advance. However MUR was able to sack the ball carrier and recover the ball. In desperation the BallHawks went after the ball carrier, succeeding in pinning them against the sideline, and then followed up with an amazing leaping blitz, surfing the ball carrier. The fans threw the ball back onto the pitch, just outside the MUR endzone, sending both teams scrambling after the ball. MUR removed three more BallHawk players from the pitch, but their thrower bumbled the pickup attempt, as the ball came to rest in the endzone. The eyes of all Miami fans turned to Camden Relict, as the blitzer lept up, hopped over a defender, dodged away, and blitzed down the thrower who was marking the ball, before stepping forward and collecting the ball in the endzone, unmolested. BallHawks take the lead, 2-1.

MUR receiving, playing with a massive 11-on-7 advantage, which quickly turned into an 11-on-6 advantage when the ref decided to bean one of the Miami players. And then it was 11-on-5. 11-on-4. 11-on-3. MUR marched the ball forward, looking determined to walk in the tying score. Somehow two of the remaining Miami players were able to sandwich the ball carrier, but he just blitzed free and continued down the pitch. In the final defensive play of the match BallHawk blitzer Quentin Hogsback (who had just recovered from his "talking to" by the ref) lept over a wall of defenders, dodged to the ball carrier, and delivered a 1d POW, stunning the ball carrier, and the entire stadium, and followed up by marking the loose ball. MUR sent in a player to assist, after which a block was thrown, and the CRACK! of the block reverberated through the entire stands. Later on, those who were there would tell tales of the silence which followed the deafening sound, as they watched Quentin Hogsback, the lifeforce draining out of him, make one last choice before Death claimed him. Hogsback stepped forward, falling over on the ball, and causing it to bounce into the hands of the assisting MUR player. In death, Hogsback secured the victory for his teammates, as the whistle blew, ending the match 2-1, Miami.

Good game.”