“Pitter Patter took the pitch against the Derwint Devils in the pouring rain today. As fate would have it, their third match, against a Human team and their toughest opponents thus far, would be played on a wet and muddy field. The conditions would test their toughness, their discipline, and, in the end, their faith in their teammates.

The Skaven won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. Everything seemed to be going well for them as they marched their way down the pitch toward an early lead. Unfortunately, some oversight on the field left Snatch Strongarm unprotected and within range of the Human players as he broke free toward the endzone. Lineman Snoz provided the help as blitzer Ozzy liberated the ball while sending Snatch onto his face in the mud. Gutter Runner Krin Quickpaw was able to quickly recover the ball and would have succeeded in delivering it to Fang Bloodletter for safekeeping had not the Storm Vermin botched the exchange. The ball fell to the mud where it was kicked about a bit by both teams. Blitzer Bam managed to come away with it and ran it to the endline where he tried to hand it off to Ozzy. However, much like his Skaven counterpart, Ozzy also failed to secure the exchange and spent the rest of the half trying to pick it up. Meanwhile, the rest of the team was gaining a numerical advantage on the rats, knocking out three while ony having suffered one serious injury when Lineman Mack met Linerat Shawn Widebody early on in the contest. Determined to the end, Ozzy was able to recover the ball and stumble into the endzone just as the first half expired.

The second half brought more of the same. Again the Humans had the ball, by virtue of receiving the second half kickoff. And again, there was much pushing and shoving in the slop created by the heavy downpour. Human Thrower Wazza held the ball well behind the contested section of the pitch until the opportune moment when he rushed forward and passed it to Ozzy. Ozzy waited a bit and then risked a handoff to Catcher Macca, but again the ball fell to the mud where it sat until some bodies were shoved clear and Macca was able to retrieve it. Before long, enough rats had been displaced that a small gap revealed itself in the scuffle and Macca made a dash for the endzone. Mere steps before crossing the line however, Krin Quickpaw rushed up just in time to assist Skad Skittfeet in upending Macca and recovering the ball for the rats. It was then that the rats made their stand.

Both Gutter Runners, Skad with the ball, sat awaiting the onslaught of Humans. By now, the Humans had the rats down to six players on the pitch to their nine and they were rushing headlong toward the Gutter Runners pinned against their own goal line. While the Humans were surrounding the pair, Spike Snaptail and Fang Bloodletter threw two key blocks to spring Snatch Strongarm free just past midfield. Blitzer Bam, with the aid of four of his teammates, failed miserably in an attempt on the valiant duo, and came crashing down at Skad's feet. The Gutter Runner dropped back into the corner of his own endzone and launched a long bomb that sailed toward the awaiting arms of the Skaven Thrower. Despite the pouring rain, Snatch was able to catch the ball and rush downfield, to score the tying touchdown in the final moments of the match.

I interviewed Snatch Strongarm after the game and found out some very interesting details about his training. "I've been doing a lot of work on other aspects of my game," said Snatch. "I've been learning how to block, and I've gotten much better at it. I want to be more of a ball carrier. I'm not as fast as I used to be and I'd like to contribute in other ways. Throwing blocks, keeping the ball safe, these are things I think I can do well if I focus on them a bit more."

When I caught up with Skad Skittfeet to ask him about the pass that led to the tying score he said, "I tried to buy some time. I knew the big guys downfield would make an opportunity and I just had to believe that. When I saw it, I took it. I can throw the ball. Everyone knows that. I just don't think anyone thought I'd do it today. When I dropped back, it felt right. When I let it go, it felt right. And when I saw it coming down on target, I knew I had done all I could. I'm just glad Snatch was able to catch it in this rain. It's something we mess around with sometimes at practice. It's not something we ever thought we'd need to use, but it's there if we need it."

When asked about his team's last minute heroics, Coach Shorty commented, "A lot of things didn't go our way most of the game. That one did."

Players of note:

Snatch Strongarm, MVP, long bomb catch in the pouring rain and half-field dash to last-minute game-tying touchdown. Need I say more?

Skad Skittfeet, threw the blitz that stripped the ball from a sure touchdown for the humans then recovered it, bought some time, and threw the long bomb dead-on target to Snatch Strongarm.

Spike Snaptail, threw key block late in the game to spring Snatch Strongarm despite frustrating coach and fans alike with sporadic wildness throughout most of the game.

Fang Bloodletter, though he won't get anything down in the books for it, his key block late in the game made the tie possible.

Krin Quickpaw, for sticking by his counterpart, Skad Skittfeet, when the chips were down.

Shawn Widebody, for continuing to be a presence on the line with consistantly powerful blocks.

Team news:

Igor Ironside has signed on to play at the linerat position starting next game.”