05-10-2018, 12:11 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-10-2018, 04:50 PM by Supersquare04.)
Week 14 was a magical week in the DSFL, what many describe to be a legendary game, and some argue to be the best game that the NSFL or DSFL has seen was one that led to many memorable moments and league records. The game also featured one of the strongest single player performances in the entire league from an offensive player. The game concluded with the Pythons toppling the Coyotes with an overtime strike led by wide receiver Mark Grau, returning a punt return to put the nail in the coffin. This was a fantastic game, and we're going to take an in-depth look at just how special this game was.
Box Score
44 - 38
Pythons Leaders:
Passing - Cole McCoy - 21/37, 268 yards, 12.8 yards per completion, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 115.6 passer rating
Receiving - Mark Grau - 6 receptions, 123 yards, 20.5 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns.
Rushing - Ariel - 10 Rushes, 65 yards, 6.5 yards per rush, 0 touchdowns
Special Teams - Mark Grau - 8 total returns, 199 yards, 2 touchdowns
Defense - Shroeder - 11 tackles, 2 passes defensed, 1 interception
Coyotes Leaders:
Passing - Mark Strike - 24/43, 224 yards, 9.3 yards per completion, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 76 passer rating
Receiving - Stone Hans - 7 receptions, 95 yards, 13.6 yards per catch, 1 touchdown
Rushing - Mark Strike - 9 rushes, 70 yards, 7.8 yards per rush, 2 touchdowns
Special Teams - Maslin - 4 returns, 110 yards, 0 touchdowns
Defense - Beau-Boucher - 5 tackles, 2 sacks 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
MVP
Mark Grau - 4 total touchdowns, 323 total yards, game winning touchdown
Notable performance
Mark Strike - 4 total touchdowns, 294 total yards, dual-threat scare
Quarter 1:
7 - 10
The Coyotes started strong, making their presence known straight from the first drive. Quarterback Mark Strike led a fantastic drive with fantastic accuracy, completing every pass on this drive, concluding in a 5 yard touchdown pass to Ball, putting the Coyotes at a 7 point lead after a successful field goal by Meoff.
It wasn't just the Coyotes offense that came out of the gate ready to play, in the first of many fumbles, Coyotes defensive player Gambino made his presence known with a quick forced fumble on the usually secure handed Michael Scott. In-fact this is the first of two fumbles in this quarter alone, Beau-Boucher hit Cole McCoy on the blindside to force a fumble almost immediately on the Pythons second drive. This concluded with a 36 yard field goal from Meoff, putting the Coyotes up 10-0 with 2 turnovers.
It's no surprise that the Pythons have struggled against the Coyotes this year, and the Coyotes immediately showed why they're one of the DSFLs most underrated team.
The Pythons weren't going to lay down to die. McCoy looked fired up on the sideline, ready to make up for the fumble. In what started looking like an iffy drive, Mark Grau and Cole McCoy connected on an incredible 37 yard touchdown pass that sparked fire into Pythons. Bringing the game back into field goals reach, the Pythons looked charged up, ready to strike again.
The gritty opening quarter concluded with the 7-10 score with the Coyotes up. The score does nothing to indicate how hard both teams were playing, plenty of hard hits, and another fumble by McCoy which was forced by Richard D'Attoria III on a weak side strong safety blitz that gave the Coyotes the ball back going into the second quarter.
Quarter 2:
14 - 24
This was another strong quarter for the Coyotes, seemingly pulling ahead of the Pythons. Mark Strike showed why he's one of the top quarterbacks in the league with his dual-threat capabilities, ending the drive off of a fumble with a 3 yard rushing touchdown putting the Coyotes up 10 points over the Pythons, totaling 17 points to the Pythons 7.
The next drive many viewers thought was the nail in the coffin for the Pythons. McCoy was getting hit on every single pass, not much help from the offensive line. Two sacks for the Coyotes on this short-lived drive, they looked primed to win.
The quarter was a defensive back and forth for a few drives before Cole McCoy connected with Mark Grau for another long touchdown, 38 yards. "Boys, we're back in this!" you could hear Mark Grau scream to his teammates. Mark Grau started to show why he's the team's leader and why he's considered the league's top receiver.
Just as quickly as the Pythons scored, the Coyotes quickly responded with a 64 yard run by running back Jamal Speedy. It's a wonder where Speedy has been all season, but he has been absolutely electric and the Coyotes have certainly been under utilizing him.
Quarter 3:
31 - 30
The Pythons received the ball going into the third quarter, but the Coyotes defense continued to hold strong, getting the ball back with a drive concluding in a passing touchdown from Mark Strike to Stone Hans, though Meoff wasn't able to keep the ball through the uprights, which would show to be a crucial miss. This brought the Coyotes up 30 points to the Pythons 14, and some fair-weather Pythons fans started to leave the stadium, not knowing one bit what they were about to witness.
The third quarter became the Pythons quarter. Starting slow with McCoy continuing to be sacked, but Pythons kicker Simpson finishing the drive with a 44 yard field goal. The Pythons defense woke up, and held the Coyotes from scoring on multiple drives, which gave the Pythons offense the chance it needed to ignite the spark to forge a comeback.
Mark Grau started the Pythons fire with a 71 punt yard return after a stout Pythons defensive hold up with linebacker Mason Brown getting a crucial sack. Then Shroeder picked off Mark Strike which led to a crucial offensive drive for the Pythons, concluding in a passing touchdown from McCoy to underrated wide receiver DeMarco. This gave the Pythons their first lead of the game following a successful Simpson extra point kick. The Pythons were now burning bright, filled with excitement and fire that seemingly disappeared earlier in the game.
Quarter 4:
38 - 38
The unstoppable force meets the immovable object. This was a tough fought quarter with the Pythons taking the lead thanks to a pass from McCoy to the rookie tight end Maxwell Macbeth. The Pythons made a quick stop and got the ball back, but Beau-Boucher forced his second fumble of the game, this time on Macbeth.
Mark Strike was surgical and determined this drive, with 100% accuracy ending the drive in a QB sneak at the 1 yard line for a touchdown, which was quickly followed by a designed bootleg run from Mark Strike to tie the game up at 38.
Multiple defensive stops from both sides brought the game into overtime where the Coyotes got the ball first.
Overtime:
44 - 38
The Coyotes got the ball first, but the Pythons defense held strong which forced a punt from the Coyotes hoping to hold the Pythons offense for another series. Mark Grau was determined to end this though and didn't give the Coyotes a chance to get the ball back. We call this a walk-off touchdown on a punt return. If this doesn't solidify Grau as a gritty, strong, and determined player than I don't know what does. Breaking a sure tackle, and running for 51 yards Grau flipped into the end-zone and dunked on the goal post in celebration
What made this special?
Three records were set this game. The first is that Mark Grau set the single-game punt return touchdown record at 2 as well as the single-game punt return yard record for a game at 139 yards. Lastly the Pythons 12-2 record is the best any team has ever finished in the DSFL, marking a dominate end to the dominate season.
In addition to the records, it was quite a struggle and an interesting game displaying dominance from both teams and a phenomenal finish. This is my game of the year in a season of many incredible games.
(1,378 words, ready for grading
Box Score
44 - 38
Pythons Leaders:
Passing - Cole McCoy - 21/37, 268 yards, 12.8 yards per completion, 4 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 115.6 passer rating
Receiving - Mark Grau - 6 receptions, 123 yards, 20.5 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns.
Rushing - Ariel - 10 Rushes, 65 yards, 6.5 yards per rush, 0 touchdowns
Special Teams - Mark Grau - 8 total returns, 199 yards, 2 touchdowns
Defense - Shroeder - 11 tackles, 2 passes defensed, 1 interception
Coyotes Leaders:
Passing - Mark Strike - 24/43, 224 yards, 9.3 yards per completion, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 76 passer rating
Receiving - Stone Hans - 7 receptions, 95 yards, 13.6 yards per catch, 1 touchdown
Rushing - Mark Strike - 9 rushes, 70 yards, 7.8 yards per rush, 2 touchdowns
Special Teams - Maslin - 4 returns, 110 yards, 0 touchdowns
Defense - Beau-Boucher - 5 tackles, 2 sacks 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
MVP
Mark Grau - 4 total touchdowns, 323 total yards, game winning touchdown
Notable performance
Mark Strike - 4 total touchdowns, 294 total yards, dual-threat scare
Quarter 1:
7 - 10
The Coyotes started strong, making their presence known straight from the first drive. Quarterback Mark Strike led a fantastic drive with fantastic accuracy, completing every pass on this drive, concluding in a 5 yard touchdown pass to Ball, putting the Coyotes at a 7 point lead after a successful field goal by Meoff.
It wasn't just the Coyotes offense that came out of the gate ready to play, in the first of many fumbles, Coyotes defensive player Gambino made his presence known with a quick forced fumble on the usually secure handed Michael Scott. In-fact this is the first of two fumbles in this quarter alone, Beau-Boucher hit Cole McCoy on the blindside to force a fumble almost immediately on the Pythons second drive. This concluded with a 36 yard field goal from Meoff, putting the Coyotes up 10-0 with 2 turnovers.
It's no surprise that the Pythons have struggled against the Coyotes this year, and the Coyotes immediately showed why they're one of the DSFLs most underrated team.
The Pythons weren't going to lay down to die. McCoy looked fired up on the sideline, ready to make up for the fumble. In what started looking like an iffy drive, Mark Grau and Cole McCoy connected on an incredible 37 yard touchdown pass that sparked fire into Pythons. Bringing the game back into field goals reach, the Pythons looked charged up, ready to strike again.
The gritty opening quarter concluded with the 7-10 score with the Coyotes up. The score does nothing to indicate how hard both teams were playing, plenty of hard hits, and another fumble by McCoy which was forced by Richard D'Attoria III on a weak side strong safety blitz that gave the Coyotes the ball back going into the second quarter.
Quarter 2:
14 - 24
This was another strong quarter for the Coyotes, seemingly pulling ahead of the Pythons. Mark Strike showed why he's one of the top quarterbacks in the league with his dual-threat capabilities, ending the drive off of a fumble with a 3 yard rushing touchdown putting the Coyotes up 10 points over the Pythons, totaling 17 points to the Pythons 7.
The next drive many viewers thought was the nail in the coffin for the Pythons. McCoy was getting hit on every single pass, not much help from the offensive line. Two sacks for the Coyotes on this short-lived drive, they looked primed to win.
The quarter was a defensive back and forth for a few drives before Cole McCoy connected with Mark Grau for another long touchdown, 38 yards. "Boys, we're back in this!" you could hear Mark Grau scream to his teammates. Mark Grau started to show why he's the team's leader and why he's considered the league's top receiver.
Just as quickly as the Pythons scored, the Coyotes quickly responded with a 64 yard run by running back Jamal Speedy. It's a wonder where Speedy has been all season, but he has been absolutely electric and the Coyotes have certainly been under utilizing him.
Quarter 3:
31 - 30
The Pythons received the ball going into the third quarter, but the Coyotes defense continued to hold strong, getting the ball back with a drive concluding in a passing touchdown from Mark Strike to Stone Hans, though Meoff wasn't able to keep the ball through the uprights, which would show to be a crucial miss. This brought the Coyotes up 30 points to the Pythons 14, and some fair-weather Pythons fans started to leave the stadium, not knowing one bit what they were about to witness.
The third quarter became the Pythons quarter. Starting slow with McCoy continuing to be sacked, but Pythons kicker Simpson finishing the drive with a 44 yard field goal. The Pythons defense woke up, and held the Coyotes from scoring on multiple drives, which gave the Pythons offense the chance it needed to ignite the spark to forge a comeback.
Mark Grau started the Pythons fire with a 71 punt yard return after a stout Pythons defensive hold up with linebacker Mason Brown getting a crucial sack. Then Shroeder picked off Mark Strike which led to a crucial offensive drive for the Pythons, concluding in a passing touchdown from McCoy to underrated wide receiver DeMarco. This gave the Pythons their first lead of the game following a successful Simpson extra point kick. The Pythons were now burning bright, filled with excitement and fire that seemingly disappeared earlier in the game.
Quarter 4:
38 - 38
The unstoppable force meets the immovable object. This was a tough fought quarter with the Pythons taking the lead thanks to a pass from McCoy to the rookie tight end Maxwell Macbeth. The Pythons made a quick stop and got the ball back, but Beau-Boucher forced his second fumble of the game, this time on Macbeth.
Mark Strike was surgical and determined this drive, with 100% accuracy ending the drive in a QB sneak at the 1 yard line for a touchdown, which was quickly followed by a designed bootleg run from Mark Strike to tie the game up at 38.
Multiple defensive stops from both sides brought the game into overtime where the Coyotes got the ball first.
Overtime:
44 - 38
The Coyotes got the ball first, but the Pythons defense held strong which forced a punt from the Coyotes hoping to hold the Pythons offense for another series. Mark Grau was determined to end this though and didn't give the Coyotes a chance to get the ball back. We call this a walk-off touchdown on a punt return. If this doesn't solidify Grau as a gritty, strong, and determined player than I don't know what does. Breaking a sure tackle, and running for 51 yards Grau flipped into the end-zone and dunked on the goal post in celebration
What made this special?
Three records were set this game. The first is that Mark Grau set the single-game punt return touchdown record at 2 as well as the single-game punt return yard record for a game at 139 yards. Lastly the Pythons 12-2 record is the best any team has ever finished in the DSFL, marking a dominate end to the dominate season.
In addition to the records, it was quite a struggle and an interesting game displaying dominance from both teams and a phenomenal finish. This is my game of the year in a season of many incredible games.
(1,378 words, ready for grading
WR/RB | Portland Pythons | Colorado Yeti Star RB | Awards Committee Member