| editorials | letters | features | contact | links |
|---|
|
| editorials | letters | features | contact | links |
|---|
It was like watching paint dry or counting tiles on the ceiling or sitting through a whole day of day-time television fodder, boring; uneventful and nothing to comment about. But enough about the 5 minutes it took to drive to the match.
This was the nail bitter of all nail bitters. With the Claymores Secondary missing presumed still on the plane back from Germany, the Monarchs managed to make big BIG plays. Compared to the slow methodical approach of the Claymores (That is when Ballard wasn't throwing into triple coverage or similar) it gave a very interesting view of the game. But we have to remind you of one very important thing....
By now you will have read proper game reports. You'll have seen the box score perhaps. But that doesn't tell you how it felt when the Monarchs scored that opening Touchdown. Of the Blunt Views Zone (12 people this week !) everyone was shattered. There was a hush of fear like a small animal about to be devoured by a predator, no sounds could escape our mouths. This was our game, we deserved it ! How could they how dare they....
Then the Claymores offense took the field. Then they marched down the field. With the MVP of the game and possibly the week Vernon Turner (Thanks to Dick Curl for giving us a healthy back !) making the sort of runs up the middle we haven't seen all year then making the sweeps. With Chris "I can't believe he's not butter fingers" Miller catching the ball. With Jimbo Ballard even looking a little sharper than before. With the excellent line. With the help of Penalties. With the help of a Trick Play ! We were in the red zone. We were in the END ZONE.
Suddenly everything was right in the world. Two possessions in the game each one resulting in a Touchdown. They it hit us. This was going to be a Shoot-out. Who ever had the ball last would win. Oh boy how true that was.
Then the Monarchs spoiled the party by scoring ANOTHER Touchdown. Again we thought all was lost. Again our Secondary was made a mockery of. Perhaps we couldn't stop their offense with our Defense. So the Claymores took the field once more and attempted to drive downfield. Ballard didn't look as sharp. He didn't seem to want to throw and took a few big hits. Then there was the one throw that by all rights he shouldn't have thrown, should have been intercepted, shouldn't have become the most amazing mistake by a defense I've ever seen. (We are of course glossing over the Chris Miller out of bounds catch). Trying to avoid the sack, Ballard seemed to throw the ball away, only he didn't throw it near a Claymore or even the side line it was thrown into almost triple coverage. There were 3 Monarchs who could catch that ball. But somehow some way Terence Davis of the Claymores popped out of nowhere to collect the pass and get to the 1 yard line. It was the play that couldn't have been. From there a quarterback sneak brought the game level.
But that didn't last.
The Monarchs managed to score another soft touchdown thanks to the Claymores "couldn't intercept a pass couldn't catch a ball, couldn't cover a school book in brown paper," Secondary. We went in at the half down 21-14. With a spluttering offense, and a break but couldn't bend defense.
One of the many highlights of the whole day was seeing that Yes General Manager is actually more true to life than we thought possible. To get the joke about the half time display run off and read Episode 4 of Yes General Manager then come back here and remember it was a gymnastics display team with a human Pyramid. And before you think we copy the Claymores, we wrote in two punters before the NFLEL season started. Just remember the Claymores are probably the only team in NFLEL/NFL/WLAF/CFL that have their 2nd String Punter (well possibly the only team to HAVE a 2nd String Punter) play punt RETURN COVERAGE.
Back to the game - With the Claymores getting receiving the kick-off we knew that there was every chance of tying the game up at 21-21. But those chances never even turned up, leading to a Claymores punt. At this point the boneheaded call of the play was made. Well that's not entirely true as it was more than one play. Perhaps it was divine intervention by The Great Vince who chose us to win, perhaps it was insanity, perhaps it was something in the water.... perhaps it was a top secret plan of STA (Yes GM readers know what we mean). But Lionel Taylor sent in Wally "Where's the Bally" Richardson. Not for one series of downs.... but 2 in the end. Richardson's Stats.... Attempts 5 completed 1 for 3 yards.
For two possessions the Monarchs were unable to move the ball far less score. Meanwhile the Claymores offensive unit was starting to click again. Before we knew it the game was level following another Claymores Touchdown thanks to Vernon Turner. 21-21... someone said what we had been all thinking ... Over time. It was looking that way. Meanwhile the Monarchs were looking dangerous again. La Rocca was back in at Quarterback. Soon the Monarchs were in the Claymores half but this time the Defense held them... to a field goal that should never have been. At 24-21 the feeling was one of dejection.
But with 5 minutes left in the game the Claymores once again were on the march. We all knew this could be the game winning drive. Should the Claymores score a Touchdown, the Monarchs had no time outs to get down field to reply. Should the Monarchs stop the Claymores scoring at all you could start heading home now. But there were 3 drives to go. 3 drives that almost resulted in 9,500 hearts stopping. This was down to the wire.
Drive 1- Claymores move downfield with 5 minutes on the clock. Only to stall in the redzone as Jimbo Ballard over throws Willy Tate and in the process picks up a knock. Gary Parker takes the field for the nerve wracking game deciding kick. The Claymores are silent..... The kick goes up it's good. The crowd explodes ! The Monarchs have no time-outs left and barely a minute on the Clock. We can't lose, it's going to be overtime.
Drive 2 - Following the Kick off - Monarchs possession. With La Rocca at Quarterback the Monarchs can pass and pass well. Using the side-lines with in game seconds La Rocca has moved 20 yards bring in 2 first downs. Through all this the Crowd are making more noise than thought possible. Screaming, shouting, waving anything to put the Monarchs off. There's little over 40 seconds on the clock but it's not impossible they could make field goal range. Everyone is thinking overtime, if only so that Monarchs don't win with a last seconds kick. But out of nowhere came a defensive surge that brings a sack of La Rocca. The crowd goes insane. No way can the Monarchs win in regulation now. Then someone shouts the miracle word. "Fumble". Instantly everyone is pointing to the Monarchs endzone, we all want it to be a fumble we need it to be a fumble - it was. There are no words to describe the feeling at that point - the closest I could get was optimism. 100% Optimism. We had the ball in the Monarchs half. There's 30 seconds left on the clock. We've got the ball and just in case you missed it... it's 24-24 WE CAN WIN !
Drive 3 - The offense takes the field. Grieb is in. Ballard is out on the sideline. Grieb our game winning quarterback. Grieb who rarely risks a ball - there was somehow an air of clam amongst the Claymores fans. "Grieb won't turn the ball over. He just won't." A run from MVP Turner, a catch by Chris Miller and then with 4 seconds left in regulation.... Gary Parker came on to kick.
The Crowd quiets down.
The ball is snapped.
Some closes eyes, others look away, most however are unable to do anything but watch the fight of the ball.
A hand touches the ball
A small gasp from everyone.
The ball is blocked it's not going to make the bar
Hearts stop dead.
The ball falls dead - no good
Heads fall in hands, screams of agony. It's overtime. They can still win ! No no no ! Tears form in eyes... "we were so close".
There's a flag.
"There's a Flag !" "THERE'S A FLAG !" Please against them please please please.... "If you can see us Vince please against them !"
Offsides on the defense. Half the distance to the goal. Re take the kick. No time on the clock, untimed play.
YES ! YES ! YES ! "Thank you Vince, thank you thank you" Hearts pump once more.
Re-set for the kick.
Near silence
The snap
No-one dares looking away. No-one could ever tear their eyes off this play.
The Kick
Hearts Stop, breath is held, arms are loose.
The sign...
IT'S GOOD !!!!! The roar is deafening. The Score is unbelievable, the game is WON ! Hearts start again, eventually we remember to breathe. Every single Claymore Fan's arms are in the air. Then the cheering starts, the chanting, the high-fiving, the smiling, the weeping, the hugging.
If you weren't there. That's what you missed. That's what made it all worth it. It wasn't the kick it wasn't the win it was the 9500 screaming fans jumping in unison. The relief the pride the joy the ecstasy. We asked at the beginning of the season...
For that one night no-one cared about other results, no-one moaned about anything. It didn't matter. There will be perhaps no better Claymores Monarchs game at Murrayfield. This was down to the wire, the final kick. If you ever thought American Football is boring before then you could NEVER say that again. If you thought the games were meaning less before then you have no complaint. This was the Claymores World Bowl for the season. In their house, with a team so patchworked it made a rag doll look to be perfect, they managed to come from behind, to counter every single punch and in the end give the Knockout Blow.