11-27-2022, 11:50 PM
(This post was last modified: 11-28-2022, 03:23 PM by Caleb_H. Edited 1 time in total.)
As I am sure many of you are aware of, the New Orleans Second Line had one of the most unlucky seasons in recent memory. Going into the season, NOLA, was considered the second best team in the ASFC after only the Arizona Outlaws. Over the offseason, the team had made some aggressive moves to improve after going 9-7 the previous season. They gave up multiple draft picks to acquire left tackle Beniri T'Chawama from the Honolulu Hahalua and right tackle Franz Udo Culman-Kaiser from the Baltimore Hawks to shore up a poor offensive line that had given up a lot of sacks the prior year. That investment paid off, and NOLA saw not only the second fewest sacks allowed (35) and third lowest sack rate, but also saw improved efficiency in the running game. Running behind that stout offensive line, The Stig managed over 1500 yards at a clip of 5 yards per carry. The team rushed for a whopping 27 touchdowns including 16 from Stig and 8 from the outstanding rookie, Armor Queen.
The team also made some moves to shore up their defense this offseason, sending high draft picks to the Baltimore Hawks for defensive end Morpheus Czargyros and safety Orpheus Czargyros. Both had fantastic seasons for the purple and teal. Morpheus led the team in sacks (13) and also racked up 9 TFLs, two forced fumbles, and a safety. Orpheus was arguably even better. His six interceptions and two defensive touchdowns both tied for second best league-wide, and he also added two forced fumbles, three recovered fumbles, 3 sacks, 14 pass deflections, and 57 tackles. As a team, the Second Line allowed the fourth fewest points in the league.
However, as you all know, this was not enough for the team to earn a place in the playoffs this year. The team finished 8-8, just one game out of the playoffs, and one more conference win would have put them in the playoffs. In addition to allowing the fourth fewest points, they also scored the 4th most points on offense, thanks in part to two huge offensive performances against the woeful 0-16 Honolulu Hahalua. The Second Line finished with the second best point differential in the entire league, yet somehow went 8-8 and missed the playoffs, losing all eight games by a single score. This is the story of the most unlucky team in the ISFL.
Game 1: @ Arizona Outlaws
The team opened the season with their most difficult game of the entire year. They played the defending champions, the Arizona Outlaws, on the road. The Second Line had big expectations entering the season, and this was their chance to show the league their quality.
What went right? New Orleans actually outplayed the Outlaws in most facets of the game. They had 4 more first downs, a better third down conversion rate, five more minutes of possession, and a +2 turnover differential and more total yards. The star of the game was veteran cornerback De'Aaron Harper, who picked off Outlaw QB Wendell Sailor twice. The two newly acquired offensive linemen both played well, with 7 pancakes each and no sacks allowed. They did not allow Arizona to score a single point in the second half and forced three turnovers.
What went wrong? Even though they dominated this game in most facets, New Orleans lost, 21-13. After an early interception by the defense, the offense drove down and got a first and goal from the one yard line. Somehow, they weren't able to convert the touchdown with two passes and a rush. Look at this box score entry: a run from the 1 for 1 yard. But no touchdown??? How does that even happen?![[Image: image.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/708117048202625049/1046626989999669278/image.png)
This pretty much ended our chances before they began. The next few possessions were as follows:
Arizona TD, NOLA 3 and out, Arizona TD, NOLA 3 and out, Arizona TD, putting us down 21-3. Finally, on the next drive, we got another opportunity. A big catch by Rockbo set us up with a first down at the 11. After a penalty and and a sack, we were looking at 2nd and 31, resulting in just a field goal. To start the second half, Harper made his second interception, but after five plays the offense settled for a fifty yard field goal attempt, which Dos Santos missed. The defense held Arizona scoreless the entire second half, but here are some of the most frustrating offensive failures, any of which could have been the one score difference between winning and losing after a touchdown by Don Dobbler to pull within 8. NOLA got the ball back with five minutes in the game after a forced fumble by Amari Springer. The offense picked up one first down but after a couple bad plays faced a 4th and 7. They picked up seven yards on the next play, but the officials ruled them inches short of the first (for the second time in the game). Turnover on downs. Final possession of the game: 1st down sack. Second down pass for 4 yards, third down pass for 8. 4th and 3? Incomplete and turnover on downs. Game over.
Game 2: vs Austin Copperheads
With "what-ifs" swirling in their heads after a couple of calls of mere inches kept NOLA from winning week 1, the Second Line fans were eager to get their first win of the season against a perceived weaker team and in their first game at home this season.
What went right? The team again outgained their opponents and had 33 minutes of possession. They dominated in rushing and defending the run, outgaining the Copperheads on the ground 133 to 38. Austin rushed for less than 3 yards per carry. The defense had six sacks by six different players. The Stig had over 130 yards from scrimmage as well.
What went wrong? Quarterback Elessar Jones flat out got outplayed by rookie Queen Elizabeth II, the QB for Austin. Jones threw an interception, was only 17/31 for a pathetic 135 yards and a 63.2 passer rating. The offensive line gave up very poorly timed sacks and the offense showed no ability to recover from sacks or penalties. Here's some examples: First quarter: offensive false start penalty, then next play Jones sacked for a safety. Fourth quarter possession one: 2nd down sack led to 3rd and 20 and a punt. Fourth quarter possession two: Touchdown. Fourth quarter possession three: down three points, the team made it to the Austin 32, easily close enough to kick a game tying field goal. Instead, Jones was sacked on 3rd and 1 (why did we not run it???), resulting in a fourth down incompletion and turnover on downs to lose the game instead of forcing overtime.
Game 3: @ San Jose Sabercats
Okay, the frustration is starting to build. Two weeks to open the season which could very easily have been wins, and both were gut-wrenching losses. Surely we will turn it around eventually, right? Wrong.
What went right? We won time of possession and had more passing yards than San Jose. Harper had another interception and O. Czargyros had a strip sack and fumble recovery. Franz had 10 pancakes. Ganyu had 11 tackles.
What went wrong? Another one score loss. Jones opened the game with an interception which led to a San Jose touchdown. NOLA fell behind 4 times. Each time they tied it back up with an answering score, except at the very end of the game. Let's look at the fourth quarter again. We ran an 11 play drive over seven minutes long, down 24-17. A perfect drive when you are either (1) winning or (2) manage to score a TD. Neither applied here, and a 3rd stuffed QB run means we settled for a 46 yard field goal to go down by 4, 24-20. After our defense forced a great stop, we had a chance to go down and win the game. We got the ball back at our own 7 with 4:30 to play. After a couple of plays of ten plus yards, we were looking pretty good. On 3rd and 3 from his own 38 Jones ended the team's chances with a brutal interception to G. Gibson.
Game 4: vs Honolulu Hahalua
After three disappointing losses, the team exploded against Honolulu. We clobbered them, dropping 58 points against the depleted Hahalua.
What went right? Pretty much everything. We won 58-23. Stig had a kickoff return touchdown. O. Czargyros had a crazy game. 1 FF, 2 FR, 2 interceptions, 1 sack, 3 tackles, and a defensive touchdown. Unbelievably good. Stig had 133 rushing and a touchdown. Mada and Queen both had two TDs. JR Frankenstero got another sack. The offense scored 28 points in the fourth quarter.
What went wrong? Dos Santos missed an extra point.
Game 5: vs Orange County Otters
There was some hope that the early season woes were an aberration and the team would turn it around. It didn't happen in this game though. We lost by 1 score again, 23-21.
What went right? More yards earned (366) than Orange County, and over 105 yards on the ground. Another JR Frankenstero sack, his third straight game with one. 165 total yards for Stig and a touchdown.
What went wrong? Might as well rename this section "How did Elessar Jones choke the game away?" I will tell you how: down two, Jones got the ball at his own forty halfway through the fourth quarter. He immediately threw an interception which was returned 40 yards and led to a score which put OCO up nine. With all the pressure off, he led a nine play touchdown drive on the next possession, hitting Mada for a 24 yard touchdown. They kicked off to OCO with just over 2 minutes left. The defense came up big, with three tackles in the run game along with 3 quick timeouts, giving Jones the ball at his own 17 down 2 with 1:50 remaining and no timeouts. I'm sure you know where this is going given his track record. Sack-fumble recovered by Elessar put him back at his own 5 and a second and 21. On 3rd and 21, he completed a 40 yard pass to Rockbot Rockbo. A few plays later the offense was down to the OCO 36, facing 3rd and 5 with a chance to gain a couple and kick the game winning field goal. Instead, Jones threw an interception to Doc Holliday. Look at this box score, though:![[Image: image.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/410193092876959745/1046641068197818408/image.png)
Which is it? Was it complete to Don Dobbler or was it an interception?
I am running out of time before double media ends so let's skip a couple games:
Game 6: @ Yellowknife Wraiths W 30-10
Game 7: @ New York Silverbacks W 29-28
Finally, some wins! At this point, we were 3-4 and feeling okay about our chances. We won a couple tough road games and felt we could make a playoff push still. Then came another string of cursed games.
Game 8: vs Sarasota Sailfish
Here's the short version: we had a +2 turnover differential, was winning by 14 points in the second half, then gave up seventeen unanswered points. We managed to tie it up with a 54 yard field goal with less than a minute left. Then, of course, we lost the overtime toss, and allowed Nick Kaepercolin Jr. to score a touchdown for a 40-34 victory for the Sailfish.
Game 9: @ Berlin Fire Salamanders
How we blew it: We jumped out to a 17 point lead in the first quarter. We only scored 20 points despite having 410 yards and 34 minutes of possession and 1 turnover. How is that even possible? Oh, btw, yet another fourth quarter interception under two minutes for Elessar Jones.
Game 10: @ Orange County Otters
We had a ten point 4th quarter lead in this one after a pick six by De'Aaron Harper. After giving up a TD, we got into the red zone under two minutes with a chance to ice the game. OCO was out of timeouts. We ran it three times for three yards while taking barely any time off the clock, kicked a field goal to go up six, and kicked off to OCO with 1:12 to go. The next play, Thomas Robinson caught a 75 yard touchdown bomb to win the game.
Games 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16 were all wins, and all but one were by multiple scores. The one loss was in week 14, and eliminated us from the playoffs in the most painful way possible.
Game 14: @ Austin Copperheads
Winning 5 of 6 to close the season was impressive, but this one hurt. After all the horrible luck, if we had won this we would have made the playoffs. Here's the rollercoaster of emotions to end our season. Tie game, 8 minutes to play after a Dos Santos field goal. It's 16-16. Austin drives to the NOLA 42 before sputtering out and punting it away, with a touchback meaning there was a net of only 17 yards. Three and out by NOLA. Everyone thinks NOLA is gonna lose at this point, I'd imagine. First play from scrimmage after the punt, a 42 yard pass to Beeblebrox, to the NOLA 31. NOLA has a bout a 2% chance to win now. Amazingly, Carissa van Campen makes a 2nd down sack to put them out of FG range. Then Austin stupidly spikes the ball and goes for it on 4th down and 19, coming up 2 yards short on a deep pass to Beeblebrox again. Now NOLA thinks they are going to win. We have 52 seconds to go get in field goal range to win the game. And Jones ends the game he ended so many before. He throws an interception. Instead of winning or going to overtime, the purple and gold suffer their 8th and final single score loss.
Loss summary:
Four game losing INTs, one of which the play by play claims was caught by the receiver, a 75 yard hail mary, a 7 yard gain on 4th down and 7 which didn't move the chains, a blown 14 point fourth quarter lead, a blown 17 point lead. All eight losses by a single score.
I hope for better luck next season for the purple and teal. Doot doot! Pay me for double media so I can buy some equipment!
The team also made some moves to shore up their defense this offseason, sending high draft picks to the Baltimore Hawks for defensive end Morpheus Czargyros and safety Orpheus Czargyros. Both had fantastic seasons for the purple and teal. Morpheus led the team in sacks (13) and also racked up 9 TFLs, two forced fumbles, and a safety. Orpheus was arguably even better. His six interceptions and two defensive touchdowns both tied for second best league-wide, and he also added two forced fumbles, three recovered fumbles, 3 sacks, 14 pass deflections, and 57 tackles. As a team, the Second Line allowed the fourth fewest points in the league.
However, as you all know, this was not enough for the team to earn a place in the playoffs this year. The team finished 8-8, just one game out of the playoffs, and one more conference win would have put them in the playoffs. In addition to allowing the fourth fewest points, they also scored the 4th most points on offense, thanks in part to two huge offensive performances against the woeful 0-16 Honolulu Hahalua. The Second Line finished with the second best point differential in the entire league, yet somehow went 8-8 and missed the playoffs, losing all eight games by a single score. This is the story of the most unlucky team in the ISFL.
Game 1: @ Arizona Outlaws
The team opened the season with their most difficult game of the entire year. They played the defending champions, the Arizona Outlaws, on the road. The Second Line had big expectations entering the season, and this was their chance to show the league their quality.
What went right? New Orleans actually outplayed the Outlaws in most facets of the game. They had 4 more first downs, a better third down conversion rate, five more minutes of possession, and a +2 turnover differential and more total yards. The star of the game was veteran cornerback De'Aaron Harper, who picked off Outlaw QB Wendell Sailor twice. The two newly acquired offensive linemen both played well, with 7 pancakes each and no sacks allowed. They did not allow Arizona to score a single point in the second half and forced three turnovers.
What went wrong? Even though they dominated this game in most facets, New Orleans lost, 21-13. After an early interception by the defense, the offense drove down and got a first and goal from the one yard line. Somehow, they weren't able to convert the touchdown with two passes and a rush. Look at this box score entry: a run from the 1 for 1 yard. But no touchdown??? How does that even happen?
This pretty much ended our chances before they began. The next few possessions were as follows:
Arizona TD, NOLA 3 and out, Arizona TD, NOLA 3 and out, Arizona TD, putting us down 21-3. Finally, on the next drive, we got another opportunity. A big catch by Rockbo set us up with a first down at the 11. After a penalty and and a sack, we were looking at 2nd and 31, resulting in just a field goal. To start the second half, Harper made his second interception, but after five plays the offense settled for a fifty yard field goal attempt, which Dos Santos missed. The defense held Arizona scoreless the entire second half, but here are some of the most frustrating offensive failures, any of which could have been the one score difference between winning and losing after a touchdown by Don Dobbler to pull within 8. NOLA got the ball back with five minutes in the game after a forced fumble by Amari Springer. The offense picked up one first down but after a couple bad plays faced a 4th and 7. They picked up seven yards on the next play, but the officials ruled them inches short of the first (for the second time in the game). Turnover on downs. Final possession of the game: 1st down sack. Second down pass for 4 yards, third down pass for 8. 4th and 3? Incomplete and turnover on downs. Game over.
Game 2: vs Austin Copperheads
With "what-ifs" swirling in their heads after a couple of calls of mere inches kept NOLA from winning week 1, the Second Line fans were eager to get their first win of the season against a perceived weaker team and in their first game at home this season.
What went right? The team again outgained their opponents and had 33 minutes of possession. They dominated in rushing and defending the run, outgaining the Copperheads on the ground 133 to 38. Austin rushed for less than 3 yards per carry. The defense had six sacks by six different players. The Stig had over 130 yards from scrimmage as well.
What went wrong? Quarterback Elessar Jones flat out got outplayed by rookie Queen Elizabeth II, the QB for Austin. Jones threw an interception, was only 17/31 for a pathetic 135 yards and a 63.2 passer rating. The offensive line gave up very poorly timed sacks and the offense showed no ability to recover from sacks or penalties. Here's some examples: First quarter: offensive false start penalty, then next play Jones sacked for a safety. Fourth quarter possession one: 2nd down sack led to 3rd and 20 and a punt. Fourth quarter possession two: Touchdown. Fourth quarter possession three: down three points, the team made it to the Austin 32, easily close enough to kick a game tying field goal. Instead, Jones was sacked on 3rd and 1 (why did we not run it???), resulting in a fourth down incompletion and turnover on downs to lose the game instead of forcing overtime.
Game 3: @ San Jose Sabercats
Okay, the frustration is starting to build. Two weeks to open the season which could very easily have been wins, and both were gut-wrenching losses. Surely we will turn it around eventually, right? Wrong.
What went right? We won time of possession and had more passing yards than San Jose. Harper had another interception and O. Czargyros had a strip sack and fumble recovery. Franz had 10 pancakes. Ganyu had 11 tackles.
What went wrong? Another one score loss. Jones opened the game with an interception which led to a San Jose touchdown. NOLA fell behind 4 times. Each time they tied it back up with an answering score, except at the very end of the game. Let's look at the fourth quarter again. We ran an 11 play drive over seven minutes long, down 24-17. A perfect drive when you are either (1) winning or (2) manage to score a TD. Neither applied here, and a 3rd stuffed QB run means we settled for a 46 yard field goal to go down by 4, 24-20. After our defense forced a great stop, we had a chance to go down and win the game. We got the ball back at our own 7 with 4:30 to play. After a couple of plays of ten plus yards, we were looking pretty good. On 3rd and 3 from his own 38 Jones ended the team's chances with a brutal interception to G. Gibson.
Game 4: vs Honolulu Hahalua
After three disappointing losses, the team exploded against Honolulu. We clobbered them, dropping 58 points against the depleted Hahalua.
What went right? Pretty much everything. We won 58-23. Stig had a kickoff return touchdown. O. Czargyros had a crazy game. 1 FF, 2 FR, 2 interceptions, 1 sack, 3 tackles, and a defensive touchdown. Unbelievably good. Stig had 133 rushing and a touchdown. Mada and Queen both had two TDs. JR Frankenstero got another sack. The offense scored 28 points in the fourth quarter.
What went wrong? Dos Santos missed an extra point.
Game 5: vs Orange County Otters
There was some hope that the early season woes were an aberration and the team would turn it around. It didn't happen in this game though. We lost by 1 score again, 23-21.
What went right? More yards earned (366) than Orange County, and over 105 yards on the ground. Another JR Frankenstero sack, his third straight game with one. 165 total yards for Stig and a touchdown.
What went wrong? Might as well rename this section "How did Elessar Jones choke the game away?" I will tell you how: down two, Jones got the ball at his own forty halfway through the fourth quarter. He immediately threw an interception which was returned 40 yards and led to a score which put OCO up nine. With all the pressure off, he led a nine play touchdown drive on the next possession, hitting Mada for a 24 yard touchdown. They kicked off to OCO with just over 2 minutes left. The defense came up big, with three tackles in the run game along with 3 quick timeouts, giving Jones the ball at his own 17 down 2 with 1:50 remaining and no timeouts. I'm sure you know where this is going given his track record. Sack-fumble recovered by Elessar put him back at his own 5 and a second and 21. On 3rd and 21, he completed a 40 yard pass to Rockbot Rockbo. A few plays later the offense was down to the OCO 36, facing 3rd and 5 with a chance to gain a couple and kick the game winning field goal. Instead, Jones threw an interception to Doc Holliday. Look at this box score, though:
Which is it? Was it complete to Don Dobbler or was it an interception?
I am running out of time before double media ends so let's skip a couple games:
Game 6: @ Yellowknife Wraiths W 30-10
Game 7: @ New York Silverbacks W 29-28
Finally, some wins! At this point, we were 3-4 and feeling okay about our chances. We won a couple tough road games and felt we could make a playoff push still. Then came another string of cursed games.
Game 8: vs Sarasota Sailfish
Here's the short version: we had a +2 turnover differential, was winning by 14 points in the second half, then gave up seventeen unanswered points. We managed to tie it up with a 54 yard field goal with less than a minute left. Then, of course, we lost the overtime toss, and allowed Nick Kaepercolin Jr. to score a touchdown for a 40-34 victory for the Sailfish.
Game 9: @ Berlin Fire Salamanders
How we blew it: We jumped out to a 17 point lead in the first quarter. We only scored 20 points despite having 410 yards and 34 minutes of possession and 1 turnover. How is that even possible? Oh, btw, yet another fourth quarter interception under two minutes for Elessar Jones.
Game 10: @ Orange County Otters
We had a ten point 4th quarter lead in this one after a pick six by De'Aaron Harper. After giving up a TD, we got into the red zone under two minutes with a chance to ice the game. OCO was out of timeouts. We ran it three times for three yards while taking barely any time off the clock, kicked a field goal to go up six, and kicked off to OCO with 1:12 to go. The next play, Thomas Robinson caught a 75 yard touchdown bomb to win the game.
Games 11, 12, 13, 15, and 16 were all wins, and all but one were by multiple scores. The one loss was in week 14, and eliminated us from the playoffs in the most painful way possible.
Game 14: @ Austin Copperheads
Winning 5 of 6 to close the season was impressive, but this one hurt. After all the horrible luck, if we had won this we would have made the playoffs. Here's the rollercoaster of emotions to end our season. Tie game, 8 minutes to play after a Dos Santos field goal. It's 16-16. Austin drives to the NOLA 42 before sputtering out and punting it away, with a touchback meaning there was a net of only 17 yards. Three and out by NOLA. Everyone thinks NOLA is gonna lose at this point, I'd imagine. First play from scrimmage after the punt, a 42 yard pass to Beeblebrox, to the NOLA 31. NOLA has a bout a 2% chance to win now. Amazingly, Carissa van Campen makes a 2nd down sack to put them out of FG range. Then Austin stupidly spikes the ball and goes for it on 4th down and 19, coming up 2 yards short on a deep pass to Beeblebrox again. Now NOLA thinks they are going to win. We have 52 seconds to go get in field goal range to win the game. And Jones ends the game he ended so many before. He throws an interception. Instead of winning or going to overtime, the purple and gold suffer their 8th and final single score loss.
Loss summary:
Four game losing INTs, one of which the play by play claims was caught by the receiver, a 75 yard hail mary, a 7 yard gain on 4th down and 7 which didn't move the chains, a blown 14 point fourth quarter lead, a blown 17 point lead. All eight losses by a single score.
I hope for better luck next season for the purple and teal. Doot doot! Pay me for double media so I can buy some equipment!
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