“A fast paced, frenzy of a game like I have never played.

Of course, my turns are still slow, and my kind opponent does not time me out, but the tempo of the game was on another level. The Coach Valen shoots from the hip and makes extraordinary plays that my mind cannot comprehend. A testament to his experience, skill and vision. He gives me many headaches and puzzles to solve, to which I am lucky to escape.

For the first time, we are able to generate more blocks and casualties against a gnome team. Usually the boot is on the other foot. This I put down to heavier engagement.

Coach Valen uses the trees well, freeing them up for play, and is able to tie down my players well and remove some zombies. He attacks my mummies too, but the armour holds (this time).

In turn 1 of my offensive drive I make the mistake of bringing the ball too far forward. Gnomes recognise this and hit all re-rolls hard to make the big play happen- wrestle sacking the ghoul (two dice!). Exceptional. The foxes have speed. We are able to dig out, in part due to some unlucky dice (with no re-rolls) for my opponent.

In the 2nd half I make another mistake, leaving his trees un marked, free to roam, and enter the straight line defence I had created. This is great vision from the Coach Valen, to orchestrate available trees.

We are down on numbers (9v11) and the fox makes a break through the line, to which the gnomes screen off well. We are able to both down sack the fox (in hopes of armour break to fox, not our ghoul!) but fox recovers well, and Coach Valen covers well. The Ghoul makes a 52% play, 4+ 3+ pows or both down 2DB to sack again (going down herself) but this time armour breaks and fox is CAS. 48% chance of fox score and overtime forced was on the table.

T6 of 2nd half should have been a blitz to advance Ghoul further down field, in hopes of a T8 touchdown.

Learnings:

1) Protect ball better, consider GFI and re-roll potential of opponent to reach ball. We were vulnerable to a big play from an exciting coach.

2) Re-roll management is critical, but risk vs reward must also be considered.

3) Always keep eye on turn counter for ball advancement, to have scoring threat.We did not have this in final two turns of game.

Findings:

1) Block players (blitzers) are perfect fox hunters. If available, one in backfield as linebacker would be smart.

Thank you Coach Valen for the exciting game, even with Nuffle on side of the Undead. ”