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Ready to be graded (1112 words)
It was do-or-die for the Central Grizzlies, and boy did they do it.
The Grizzlies faced off against conference rival East Cobras, in a game that would determine the conference winner and a Prospect Bowl playoff spot. A solid drive in the second quarter resulted in a Grizzlies touchdown, but the game was far from over. The Cobras answered back with a field goal, then a touchdown of their own to take the lead in the third quarter. Things were looking grim for the Grizzlies, but a field goal by newly acquired kicker Cameron Clutch tied the game with two minutes left to play. The score remained tied at the end of regulation, so it all came down to a nail-biting overtime. After some tense back-and-forth, the Grizzlies managed to find themselves in field goal range. Kicker Cameron Clutch lived up to his name, as he booted in a forty-two yard field goal to keep the Grizzlies' dreams alive. The Grizzlies advance to the playoffs on their 10-13 win.
Many players contributed to the Grizzlies' victory. Running backs Forrest Gump and Dofus Jimbo both had excellent games: Gump rushed for one hundred and fifteen yards on thirty attempts, and caught three passes for sixteen yards, earning offensive player of the game honors. Jimbo picked up ninety yards on thirteen attempts, averaging a whopping seven yards per attempt. Ahri Espeeyeeseetee earned seventy-seven yards on seven catches, and although he was unable to find the endzonne, he had a significant impact on the game. The Grizzlies defense seemed nearly impenetrable as well. Fraiser Crane recorded four tackles, one tackle for loss, and two sacks. Nick Snider had a very similar statline, making four tackles and two sacks himself. Martavius Mack held down the secondary with four tackles and a forced fumble (one that the Grizzlies were unable to recover).
Quenton Bode was arguably the anchor of the Grizzlies' defense this game. He led the team with six tackles, recorded a sack (his third of the tournament), and broke up a pass. We managed to speak with Bode after the win:
Question: Many people believed that the Grizzlies were done for, and that you'd find yourselves out of the playoffs. How do you respond to the people who doubted you?
Answer: "I mean, I've been telling you for weeks that this team wasn't done yet. This game is just proof that you can't assume anything, or just write anybody off, no matter how bad it seems. I knew that this team was gonna succeed. With the kind of camaraderie we have with each other, and the fact that we were making a home stand, I knew we were gonna be able to win. It was just a matter of time."
Q: How do you feel about your coaches' decision to change up the offense, giving the ball to the running backs more and keeping it out of Gimmy Jaroppolo's hands?
A: "It was a good decision. Gimmy is not a bad quarterback; believe me, I've played with much worse. He just had a rough start, and all the backlash that came with it just made it easy for him to get in his own head. So he felt like he was responsible for the team's failures--which he wasn't--and whenever he struggled, that feeling grew and grew. And it's hard to play when you feel like the team's success is riding on you alone, and when you feel like the whole world is watching. He struggled under that pressure, which is totally understandable. So switching up the offense gave him some room to relax, and without all that weight on his shoulders, he was able to get into his rhythm and just play. Gump and Jimbo played really well too, which we all knew they were capable of. But I think the biggest impact that switch had was on Gimmy, and that stress he's been carrying around this whole tournament. I expect to see a whole new Gimmy during these playoffs."
Q: Speaking of playoffs, you face the Southwest Foxes on the road in the first round. You were in this same scenario in Week Two and lost 13-30, your biggest loss of the tournament. Do you think history is going to repeat itself?
A: "We're a completely different team than we were in Week Two, and so are the Foxes. The Grizzlies have been through a lot of adversity, and we've had to play hard to get through it. All of us are on the same page, we know what to expect from each other, and we know that if we play well, we can beat anybody. The Foxes are still a good team, but they're not the unstoppable juggernaut that everybody thought they were. They're beatable, and if there's any team out in these playoffs that can beat them, it's us. And like I said earlier, making the switch to a run-heavy offense is going to be nothing but beneficial for us. This team is prepared to take on the Foxes, and prepared to leave with a win."
Q: Final question. We know how you feel about the team's success; that is, we know that you view success for the team as a Prospect Bowl championship. But how do you feel about your own success? Separate from the team's success, what would 'success' look like for you personally?
A: "Oh man, that is a really good question. I don't actually think about my personal achievements, I just try to focus on helping the team first and foremost." (Pause.) "What are my stats so far?"
Through five games, you've recorded thirty-two tackles, three sacks, and you've defended five passes.
A: "Gotcha." (Another pause.) "I think, if I had to give you an answer, I'd like to end up with at least forty tackles--you know, a nice, round number. Maybe two more sacks as well, and I'd like to come up with an interception. And again, if I fail to meet any of these numbers, I won't lose any sleep. But, since you asked, there it is. Really, I just want to help my team win."
The Central Grizzlies play the Southwest Foxes in the first round of the S14 Prospect Bowl Playoffs. Both teams are first in their conference, but the Foxes defeated the Grizzlies in their first matchup. Tune in at 8:00 PM Eastern to see the action.