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+---- Thread: *Ducks vs Royals a Tale of Narrow Defeat (/showthread.php?tid=25031)
*Ducks vs Royals a Tale of Narrow Defeat - Vainknight13 - 08-14-2020
Ducks vs Royals a Tale of Narrow Defeat
The Ducks came into this game excited and ready to play, the spirit in the locker room was united around the fact that this year we are going all the way. The camaraderie in the locker only seems to deepen and get better as old vets from the isfl and fresh rookies in the dsfl intermingle freely. The vets are always there giving advice and talking about ways to improve.
While we can all agree the pre-season means almost nothing, having beaten the Royals there gave us confidence, but three narrow defeats in the pre-season didn't leave us feeling down, it left us feeling like we can compete with any team in the league. Despite a loss here in week one, it was such a close game that the spirit hasn't diminished at all, we all feel like we can compete in every game we are in, and we still feel as though that Ultimini is coming home to Minnesota.
With all that said let's dig into the actual game.
First quarter:
The game started off rather slow, with London getting the ball first they were forced to punt rather quickly, after three consecutive runs and failing to find a first down. Minnesota got the ball, and found a first down after a few consecutive runs but a penalty by myself set us back ten yards. Unable to dig ourselves out of that hole we were forced to punt and would set up a doozy of a long drive by London. Lasting roughly six and a half minutes London showed why the time of possession was so skewed to one side in this game. Showcasing their pass heavy offense the Royals majorly got this drive in the endzone through the air mixing in a couple runs, assisted by a pair of penalties by the Ducks. Despite giving up a sack the Royals looked unstoppable on this drive, forcing their opponents to make mistakes they would score on and eight yard touchdown pass. Each team would have one more drive in the first quarter both leading to punts, a rush heavy short drive for the Ducks, and the Royals giving up a second half before a run and a pass failed to yield first down yardage.
Second quarter:
London would punt the ball starting the second quarter, but Minnesota couldn't get anything done with London forcing another three and out. London would have another long drive here taking five and a half minutes off the clock. This time they were hindered by a pair of their own penalties but kept their momentum going strong. Once they made it to the redzone though a trio of passes failed to find their mark and they were forced to kick a field goal, going up ten to zero half way through the second. Minnesota got the ball again, but continued their first half trend of doing nothing with it,getting a single first down before punting and London got the opportunity to show they were a first half juggernaut. They gave up a third sack on this drive but again managed to find the end zone through the air. Minnesota on its. Ext drive looked like we were starting to show some sparks but gave up a sack that seemed to slow their newfound momentum, the only one they would give up for the rest of the game. Forced to punt again London with short time, didn't have a chance to form another drive, great half for London bad half for Minnesota, with London up by seventeen points with the Ducks unable to make anything happen.
Third Quarter:
The second half looked to continue the trend of the first half. Minnesota with yet another three and out London looked to put another long drive together and taking four minutes off the clock aided by two Duck penalties, they were pretty close to finishing it before Sloan forced and recovered a fumble after a London pass. This was a spark Minnesota needed. It was as if the tides had shifted in that moment as the Ducks immediately went on an intimidating drive if their own showing they too were here to play. A big thirty-one yard pass by Snowbow and a handful of runs had Mike Rotchburns score on a one yard run Minnesota's first points of the season. The Ducks were showing signs of life. London got the ball back but gave up a fourth sack and seemed to lose their luck in the passing game and had to punt from their own endzone. Giving the Ducks great field position on a short punt Minnesota capitalized. Nothing but runs here on the way to the endzone although not without flaws Vermillion(me) would fumble at one point before recovering it himself and making it up by putting the ball in the endzone, on another one yard run. Seventeen to fourteen late in the third it was anybody's game. London got the ball back but was forced to punt again before the end of the third giving Minnesota the ball toss tsrt the fourth.
Fourth quarter:
Minnesota started another drive but after a penalty couldn't get the first down yardage needed. London would get the ball back and put together another great drive this time scoring quicker than their other scoring drives taking them to twenty four. Minnesota got the kick return and Vermillion would tear off a huge forty-one yard return. Setting them up well, but their drive would stutter forcing them to kick a field goal that they missed a moment that would haunt them. London would go three and out again after eating just one more sack and give the ball back to Minnesota. The Ducks would start off with a pair of incomplete passes before Vermillion broke off a monstrous eighty two yard touchdown run, showing that this team is dangerous all the time. Twenty four to twenty one unfortunately it was all too little too late for the Ducks. The Royals got the ball back and held onto it, running out the clock on the game.
It was a great game that had signs of a possible comeback, Minnesota's pass rush is going to be a threat to any team looking to throw the ball,but the secondary showed holes giving up three passing touchdowns, despite consistently sacking the quarterback. The minnesota passing game looked anemic, and relied on the running game which saw plenty of success. It is early in the seasons so we will see what changes both teams make as their rookies on both sides look stellar and are constantly trying to improve, when these teams play again we might see a completely different game.