04-05-2019, 10:46 AM
(This post was last modified: 04-05-2019, 11:38 AM by TeyonSchavari.)
Ready for grading - 574 words
Led by the QB Cooter Bigsby - the NSFL's first overall pick in the S14 draft - the San Antonio Marshals looked unstoppable this year. The competition looked weak, inferior when playing against this well-oiled machine. Some even said that this team was too good for their respective league, that they should be playing against NSFL competition. Many think they are a lock for the championship.
If you told this to any member of the Portland Pythons, they'd laugh in your face. "Defense wins championships. Period. And we've got the best one. You're clowning if you think we can't stop [San Antonio]", snickers cornerback Xerxes Ridley with a smirk.
In their first meeting, the Pythons traveled to San Antonio with high hopes of knocking them off. With one of the most confident defenses in the league, many felt they might be able to stifle the high-powered Marshal offense.
The result was a disastrous performance all-around for Portland, as penalties proved to be killer, and the league leader in TD's and Passer Rating Franklin Armstrong had an uncharacteristically off game, throwing 3 picks (including 2 pick sixes). Not to take away credit from San Antonio, as their defense made the most of their opportunities while playing a well disciplined game. Despite a late surge by the Pythons, the Marshals would ultimately come out on top, 31-25.
This loss didn't sit well with the Python team. "We needed to do more. We can beat those guys, and they'll get what's coming to them when they come to the Snake Pit," said defensive tackle AJ Lattimer prior to the highly anticipated rematch.
What we saw next was a highly motivated crew battle in a tough game at home. The Marshals came to play, as expected, with two running backs nearing or breaking 100 yards and all three combining for 220 rushing yards in total. Armstrong got back on track, with a touchdown and no picks on the day. San Antonio's defense was able to get to the QB 3 times, but gave up 152 yards on the ground to Portland's four-headed hydra of a RB committee. It was a hard fought, close game all the way to the end.
Remember, according to Ridley, Portland's defense is "the best one". They proved him right last night, with the strong linebacker core of Leighton Lee, Gekyume Stokeley, and Lanzer Greivous each racking up double-digit tackles. Bigsby was forced into throwing two interceptions, including a late game-sealing dagger to Emondov Emoji at the 1 yard line when the Marshals were threatening to score. After the pick, the Pythons were able to run the clock out on their way to a 20-17 victory. The mighty have fallen.
When asked about his late game heriocs, Emoji stated, "It felt great to be on that end of a play like that. I read the pass all the way and made the most of my opportunity. I'm just glad we were able to do enough to win."
There are no more meetings between these two teams in the regular season, so we can be sure that if these two meet up in the playoffs, or even the championship, it will be a heated slugfest. The Marshals (7-1) hope to get back to their winning ways against the Palm Beach Solar Bears (2-6) in their next game, while the Pythons (6-2) look to extend their win streak against the Tijuana Luchadores (4-4) in Week 9.
Led by the QB Cooter Bigsby - the NSFL's first overall pick in the S14 draft - the San Antonio Marshals looked unstoppable this year. The competition looked weak, inferior when playing against this well-oiled machine. Some even said that this team was too good for their respective league, that they should be playing against NSFL competition. Many think they are a lock for the championship.
If you told this to any member of the Portland Pythons, they'd laugh in your face. "Defense wins championships. Period. And we've got the best one. You're clowning if you think we can't stop [San Antonio]", snickers cornerback Xerxes Ridley with a smirk.
In their first meeting, the Pythons traveled to San Antonio with high hopes of knocking them off. With one of the most confident defenses in the league, many felt they might be able to stifle the high-powered Marshal offense.
The result was a disastrous performance all-around for Portland, as penalties proved to be killer, and the league leader in TD's and Passer Rating Franklin Armstrong had an uncharacteristically off game, throwing 3 picks (including 2 pick sixes). Not to take away credit from San Antonio, as their defense made the most of their opportunities while playing a well disciplined game. Despite a late surge by the Pythons, the Marshals would ultimately come out on top, 31-25.
This loss didn't sit well with the Python team. "We needed to do more. We can beat those guys, and they'll get what's coming to them when they come to the Snake Pit," said defensive tackle AJ Lattimer prior to the highly anticipated rematch.
What we saw next was a highly motivated crew battle in a tough game at home. The Marshals came to play, as expected, with two running backs nearing or breaking 100 yards and all three combining for 220 rushing yards in total. Armstrong got back on track, with a touchdown and no picks on the day. San Antonio's defense was able to get to the QB 3 times, but gave up 152 yards on the ground to Portland's four-headed hydra of a RB committee. It was a hard fought, close game all the way to the end.
Remember, according to Ridley, Portland's defense is "the best one". They proved him right last night, with the strong linebacker core of Leighton Lee, Gekyume Stokeley, and Lanzer Greivous each racking up double-digit tackles. Bigsby was forced into throwing two interceptions, including a late game-sealing dagger to Emondov Emoji at the 1 yard line when the Marshals were threatening to score. After the pick, the Pythons were able to run the clock out on their way to a 20-17 victory. The mighty have fallen.
When asked about his late game heriocs, Emoji stated, "It felt great to be on that end of a play like that. I read the pass all the way and made the most of my opportunity. I'm just glad we were able to do enough to win."
There are no more meetings between these two teams in the regular season, so we can be sure that if these two meet up in the playoffs, or even the championship, it will be a heated slugfest. The Marshals (7-1) hope to get back to their winning ways against the Palm Beach Solar Bears (2-6) in their next game, while the Pythons (6-2) look to extend their win streak against the Tijuana Luchadores (4-4) in Week 9.
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