ISFL Season 28 Game Breakdowns - Austin Copperheads – Defensive Tackle - Owen Isaac
Here we are at game week 9, with the 6-2 Austin Copperheads welcoming the 7-1 Berlin Fire Salamanders, both sides currently sit atop their respective conferences. Austin come into this having lost last week to the Sarasota Sailfish, meaning a big result is needed for Austin if they don’t want to start losing ground before the big conference matchup with Arizona in week 11.
Pre match interview with Defensive Tackle Owen Isaac
Interviewer: So your side come into this after a disappointing result last week, where you really struggled to get consistent point scoring in the second half and let Sarasota be able to claim the victory, how is the team feeling, anything in particular you feel can help improve upon that situation?
Owen Isaac: I mean if we look back at the 2nd half drives Sarasota had, they consistently got into scoring positions with 2 field goals and 2 touchdowns from their 6 possessions, only one of them ended in a takeaway where we got the safety, so id say first up we need to do more defensively to get us field position and get their offence off the field. Then when we do get the ball we need the offence to take their opportunities, which we know they will do this week.
Interviewer: Thanks for answering the questions today
Week 9 - @ Berlin Fire Salamanders
And week 9 kicks off with Berlin receiving to start. They begin with some good passing plays and a couple of rushes, before Kaepercolin gets sacked in 2 consecutive plays, thanks to fantastic work and explosiveness from Thomaslacher and Claxton to force a punt. Zoe Watts begins with a few short rushes before Daytona manages to find some nice yardage through the past game sadly we get held up in the Berlin half and forced into punting ourselves to end our opening drive. Berlin's next drive, once against mainly goes through the hands of Kaepercolin before a couple of penalties against Austin enable them to get free yardage and this puts them in a nice position and Kaepercolin can find Achtfunf for the opening touchdown of the game. And to give Berlin a 7-0 lead to end the 1st quarter.
The second quarter against with us on the ball, Daytona puts some nice throws together to drive us into Berlin territory. Daytona looks for Doug Howlett but the ball is intercepted by Lenkins and we turn it over. Big defence is needed to prevent this game getting away from us Berlin managed to put a good start to their drive together before Hamish MacAndrew manages a big pick off Kaepercolin giving us a chance to get back in this. Our next drive is again interrupted by a bad penalty that overturns a first down mean we have to punt. 4 minutes left of the quarter and Berlin looked to try and control take control of the game. Kaepercolin put together some nice passes as well as the team getting some good rushing yards they end up getting into field goal range and we managed to hold out but they take the field goal to give them a lead at the half of 10-0.
The second half gets underway with us on the ball with a deficit to overturn having now gone 4 quarters of football without a touchdown. The drive begins with a couple of good passes from Daytona to Jeeta before Zoe Watts gets into the game with a reception and two rushes after a completion to Howlett there is a penalty on Berlin this time which gets us deeper into their territory before Jim the vampire rushes in or a 1 yard touchdown to get us right back in the game. Berlin look to take back control but there is a huge interception by Thomaslacher from the Austin’s 36 yard line and he goes for a great 62 yard return brought down at the Berlin 2 yard line just shy of a pick 6. Zoe Watts takes the ball in hand and manages to rush over for the two yard touchdown giving us a big four minute turn around to now be 14-10 in the lead. The quarter ends with both sides having a punt thanks to a good sack from Dex Kennedy and a fumble from Daytona that he managed to recover.
With 13 minutes left on the Clock in the fourth quarter we have the ball but penalty backs up on the Austin 11 yard line before Daytona is sacked by Mario VonPebbles and fumbles the ball before Berlin manage to recover it and take the ball into the end zone for a touchdown and giving Berlin a 17-14 lead in the final quarter. Man it looks like it's going to be another tight finish like we seem to always end up in in these games. Daytona starts us off on a long 8 minute drive with some good passing completions particularly with Doug Howlett over the middle which gets us into Berlin territory we managed to get down to a first and goal but Daytona can't quite find the end zone meaning we'll take a 3 point field goal which Bloomfield converts tying the game with four minutes left on the Clock. Big tackles on Berlin players from Owen Isaac and Tyler Montain mean the Berlin or forced to punt giving Austin the ball with two and a half minutes left. Hopefully we can make this the final drive of the game and take the win Daytona manages to complete some nice passes to three different receivers we have some good rushing yards from what's and Jim the vampire gas down into the Berlin red zone with 30 seconds left on the Clock we end up going for a field goal with big pressure on Leo Bloomfield to take this take the game and give us a great win, steps up, and completed exactly what we wanted with 20 seconds on the clock, Berlin can't do anything on there go and we managed to take away a fantastic win against one of the big rivals from the other conference and take it us to a 7-2 record.
Post match interviews
Interviewer: Hello we have Owen with us here again today I really great win for your side today you must be ecstatic after a couple of these sort type games have gone against you this season what do you think the difference was today and what are your thoughts on the slow start from the side?
Owen Isaac: Yeah it was a fantastic performance I thought by the team in the second half, we really had put ourselves in a difficult position with those four quarters at the end of last game and start this one. We did manage to find a lot more rhythm in the second half, between Daytona and the running backs they managed to get some really good positions, maybe didn't get the touchdowns we wanted but I think I mean Leo at the end there two very great great clutch kicks gave us that win, and we will certainly be buying him a few drinks after the game.
Interviewer: OK I'm now going to welcome into the room Brach Thomaslacher it's the first time I've managed to chat to you this season, today you managed to come up with some really strong plays particularly the early sack and a great interception as well for your side which was your first of the season. How do you feel your game has gone this year in what is a very strong defensive unit and what has been the key to your improvements from last season and how do you see where your game can develop?
Brach Thomaslacher: Oh wow, what can I say... I am playing along side the 2 best Linebackers in the league in Montain and Kennedy. They push me to be better week in and week out and it is really starting to show on the field. The whole team came into this season with a chip on their shoulder and I could not be happier playing along side all these guys out there. I feel like there is still a lot that I can improve on but, I am going to keep putting in the work and hopefully keep helping Austin get wins!
Interviewer: I will just welcome into the room Leo Bloomfield you must be feeling great after 2 clutch field goals to take the victory for your side, how you feeling?
Leo Bloomfield: Oh yeah mate its incredible. When you're called upon in a game-winning situation like that, you've got the whole weight of the team on your shoulders. You are expected to make such a kick 10/10 times. But actually getting the ball through the uprights like that is quite exhilarating. It was a great moment for me, and a massive confidence booster for the team as we head into the final few weeks of the regular season.
Interviewer: Well Austin respond to last weeks defeat with a good win against the Berlin Fire Salamanders. The top of the conferences are heating up with 2 sides in both conferences at 7-2, next up is away to Honolulu Hahalua. Same time next week.
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Here we are at game week 9, with the 6-2 Austin Copperheads welcoming the 7-1 Berlin Fire Salamanders, both sides currently sit atop their respective conferences. Austin come into this having lost last week to the Sarasota Sailfish, meaning a big result is needed for Austin if they don’t want to start losing ground before the big conference matchup with Arizona in week 11.
Pre match interview with Defensive Tackle Owen Isaac
Interviewer: So your side come into this after a disappointing result last week, where you really struggled to get consistent point scoring in the second half and let Sarasota be able to claim the victory, how is the team feeling, anything in particular you feel can help improve upon that situation?
Owen Isaac: I mean if we look back at the 2nd half drives Sarasota had, they consistently got into scoring positions with 2 field goals and 2 touchdowns from their 6 possessions, only one of them ended in a takeaway where we got the safety, so id say first up we need to do more defensively to get us field position and get their offence off the field. Then when we do get the ball we need the offence to take their opportunities, which we know they will do this week.
Interviewer: Thanks for answering the questions today
Week 9 - @ Berlin Fire Salamanders
And week 9 kicks off with Berlin receiving to start. They begin with some good passing plays and a couple of rushes, before Kaepercolin gets sacked in 2 consecutive plays, thanks to fantastic work and explosiveness from Thomaslacher and Claxton to force a punt. Zoe Watts begins with a few short rushes before Daytona manages to find some nice yardage through the past game sadly we get held up in the Berlin half and forced into punting ourselves to end our opening drive. Berlin's next drive, once against mainly goes through the hands of Kaepercolin before a couple of penalties against Austin enable them to get free yardage and this puts them in a nice position and Kaepercolin can find Achtfunf for the opening touchdown of the game. And to give Berlin a 7-0 lead to end the 1st quarter.
The second quarter against with us on the ball, Daytona puts some nice throws together to drive us into Berlin territory. Daytona looks for Doug Howlett but the ball is intercepted by Lenkins and we turn it over. Big defence is needed to prevent this game getting away from us Berlin managed to put a good start to their drive together before Hamish MacAndrew manages a big pick off Kaepercolin giving us a chance to get back in this. Our next drive is again interrupted by a bad penalty that overturns a first down mean we have to punt. 4 minutes left of the quarter and Berlin looked to try and control take control of the game. Kaepercolin put together some nice passes as well as the team getting some good rushing yards they end up getting into field goal range and we managed to hold out but they take the field goal to give them a lead at the half of 10-0.
The second half gets underway with us on the ball with a deficit to overturn having now gone 4 quarters of football without a touchdown. The drive begins with a couple of good passes from Daytona to Jeeta before Zoe Watts gets into the game with a reception and two rushes after a completion to Howlett there is a penalty on Berlin this time which gets us deeper into their territory before Jim the vampire rushes in or a 1 yard touchdown to get us right back in the game. Berlin look to take back control but there is a huge interception by Thomaslacher from the Austin’s 36 yard line and he goes for a great 62 yard return brought down at the Berlin 2 yard line just shy of a pick 6. Zoe Watts takes the ball in hand and manages to rush over for the two yard touchdown giving us a big four minute turn around to now be 14-10 in the lead. The quarter ends with both sides having a punt thanks to a good sack from Dex Kennedy and a fumble from Daytona that he managed to recover.
With 13 minutes left on the Clock in the fourth quarter we have the ball but penalty backs up on the Austin 11 yard line before Daytona is sacked by Mario VonPebbles and fumbles the ball before Berlin manage to recover it and take the ball into the end zone for a touchdown and giving Berlin a 17-14 lead in the final quarter. Man it looks like it's going to be another tight finish like we seem to always end up in in these games. Daytona starts us off on a long 8 minute drive with some good passing completions particularly with Doug Howlett over the middle which gets us into Berlin territory we managed to get down to a first and goal but Daytona can't quite find the end zone meaning we'll take a 3 point field goal which Bloomfield converts tying the game with four minutes left on the Clock. Big tackles on Berlin players from Owen Isaac and Tyler Montain mean the Berlin or forced to punt giving Austin the ball with two and a half minutes left. Hopefully we can make this the final drive of the game and take the win Daytona manages to complete some nice passes to three different receivers we have some good rushing yards from what's and Jim the vampire gas down into the Berlin red zone with 30 seconds left on the Clock we end up going for a field goal with big pressure on Leo Bloomfield to take this take the game and give us a great win, steps up, and completed exactly what we wanted with 20 seconds on the clock, Berlin can't do anything on there go and we managed to take away a fantastic win against one of the big rivals from the other conference and take it us to a 7-2 record.
Post match interviews
Interviewer: Hello we have Owen with us here again today I really great win for your side today you must be ecstatic after a couple of these sort type games have gone against you this season what do you think the difference was today and what are your thoughts on the slow start from the side?
Owen Isaac: Yeah it was a fantastic performance I thought by the team in the second half, we really had put ourselves in a difficult position with those four quarters at the end of last game and start this one. We did manage to find a lot more rhythm in the second half, between Daytona and the running backs they managed to get some really good positions, maybe didn't get the touchdowns we wanted but I think I mean Leo at the end there two very great great clutch kicks gave us that win, and we will certainly be buying him a few drinks after the game.
Interviewer: OK I'm now going to welcome into the room Brach Thomaslacher it's the first time I've managed to chat to you this season, today you managed to come up with some really strong plays particularly the early sack and a great interception as well for your side which was your first of the season. How do you feel your game has gone this year in what is a very strong defensive unit and what has been the key to your improvements from last season and how do you see where your game can develop?
Brach Thomaslacher: Oh wow, what can I say... I am playing along side the 2 best Linebackers in the league in Montain and Kennedy. They push me to be better week in and week out and it is really starting to show on the field. The whole team came into this season with a chip on their shoulder and I could not be happier playing along side all these guys out there. I feel like there is still a lot that I can improve on but, I am going to keep putting in the work and hopefully keep helping Austin get wins!
Interviewer: I will just welcome into the room Leo Bloomfield you must be feeling great after 2 clutch field goals to take the victory for your side, how you feeling?
Leo Bloomfield: Oh yeah mate its incredible. When you're called upon in a game-winning situation like that, you've got the whole weight of the team on your shoulders. You are expected to make such a kick 10/10 times. But actually getting the ball through the uprights like that is quite exhilarating. It was a great moment for me, and a massive confidence booster for the team as we head into the final few weeks of the regular season.
Interviewer: Well Austin respond to last weeks defeat with a good win against the Berlin Fire Salamanders. The top of the conferences are heating up with 2 sides in both conferences at 7-2, next up is away to Honolulu Hahalua. Same time next week.
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