Half Time Report: Colts vs. Pumas
Here at the Puma Forest, we have the Plant Pumas facing off against incoming state rivals, the Springs Colts. After one half of play, the score is 7-3, the Colts lead. The Pumas received the ball first, but quickly lost the ball to an interception early on. The Colts capitalized on this, getting a quick touchdown with a run from Joyner, breaking tackles from Seijuro Shin and Sena Kobayakawa. Through rough play, as hard as the Pumas tried, the Colts Stampede was too much, gaining ball control fast.
With the Colts back on offense, the Pumas switched to a 4-5-2 formation, able to shut down the pass and force runs, using 7 rushers to outnumber the 5 linemen. This proved ineffective, as the Colts progressed. While using the 4-4-3, they were getting run over. In the 4-5-2, the progression was slow. After an interception close to the end zone by Wakeen Stroder, the Puma had gained the ball back, with 85 yards to a touchdown.
While the Colts expected a passing formation, using the basic 4-3-4, the Puma came out in a Wild Cat, able to use all plays. The first was an unexpected run, gaining 24 yards. A quick no huddle offense set the Pumas up into a 40 yard positon, with less than 3 minutes left. However, the Colts had caught on to this play set, slowing progression to a halt. Even with all time outs, the Puma were forced to go for a field goal from the 10 yard line, ending the half.
Next half, we expect to see the Colts get a quick touchdown, then shut down the Puma for the rest of the game. It seems they are getting ready for the kick off, Puma kicker will be kicking off. The Colts receive it and take the ball to the 25 yard line. Here we go; second half is on its way.
Down 21: The Second Half: Colts Perfect Stampede
The Colts lined up in their Wing T, with a new member in their line. To the right of Versaci was number 63, his grey eyeshield almost like a mirror. He was in a three point stance on offense, leaning slightly forward. With Sena lined up over him, the two would end up facing each other nearly every play. Before the ball was snapped, the Wing Back moved out into a receiver set, now having two wide receivers. In reaction, Roger moved out along with him, breaking the Pounce 5 set up. With the snap, Evan took several steps back, using the pocket as his home. Versaci perfectly blocked Shin, fanning him outside for 63 to pancake. Sena got through, but the other guard Sampson fanned to him, pushing him out as well. Doug was the only one to get past the lineman blocking him, but his speed was not fast enough, Evan passing before Doug got to him. Wakeen was too far away from the ball to attempt to cover it. It was all down to Roger, who had moved out with the Wing Back.
Roger vs Wing Back
With the ball in the air, Roger followed the ball, not the back. He saw it falling, stretching his arm out ahead of the Wing. In an instant, the Wing elbowed Roger's arm out of the way, grabbing the ball inches away from the ground, running off. His size and power were too much for Roger, who was overall more agile and would have gotten it otherwise.
Victory: Wing Back
The wing took the ball from the 30 yard line, having caught the short pass. With the ball in hand, he ran as fast as he could. His 40 time was only a 5.0, allowing the safeties to get him after another 5 yard progression. The three middle line backers were unable to due to positioning. The Colts ran the same play the next time, this time having the wing run a different route, placing him in the middle of the field where none of the zone coverage was. It was a clean catch, as blocking was as tight as the play before, Sena getting pancaked by 63. The wing ran the ball for another first down.
"This isn't good," Shin said. "Previously, that wing was only a blocker, but now he has gone out for passes. Along with the TE, that creates a mismatch for the pass. Not to mention the pocket forms too fast." He turned to Sena and Doug, "We will start closer, no need to hide out intentions. If we use speed, we will win."
"But, 63 has speed" Sena replied back.
"Oh, the fat muscular one?" Shin said, not noticing the eyeshield used to mock Sena. "He is large, your speed can easily beat his."
With the ball on the 45 yard line, 45 yards were all there were to a touchdown for the Colts. Lined up in the same Wing T formation, the Pumas positioned into a Pounce 5, the middle 3 clogging up the line, making it seem there were seven linemen. "Oh, so you guys want to play rough then?" Versaci looked up.
"Yeah" grunted 63. "We aren't the best for nothing."
"And neither we" Sena replied, implying him and Shin. With the snap, both Sena and Shin attacked their gaps, out pacing 63 and Versaci. Evan received the snap, having Shin in his face. He turned around, handing it off to Joyner, instead of passing it. Sena, having gotten past 63 with pure burst speed, went for the tackle. Instead, 63 blocked him using his arms to knock away Sena's. When Sena got past him, 63 turned around, setting up for the inevitable run play. Both him and Versaci predicted Shin would get through, almost allowing it. Joyner ran up the field, having no line backers able to get to him due to the position of Shin and Sena and Doug after the blitz. Steve and Roger abandoned their zone coverage after realizing it was run, but were unable to take Joyner down as he used his arms and body in tangem, using moves similar to the ghost and Devil Stun Gun, spinning when needed. Roger was able to latch onto his legs, but he instantly was shaken off. The two safeties in the back field stood no chance.
"Joyner breaks tackle after tackle, from Steve to Roger then to Wakeen, all fail. He is at the 20 not, being trailed by Shin and Sena, both having near equal speed, faster than Joyner. However, their position was too far, being unable to get there in time. It is a touchdown" coach Dale announced.
"Darn it, we gotta score some points!" yelled coach Finkle. "Being down 14-3, we have 11 points to make up. Wild Cat was working pretty well, but they caught on pretty fast. Ballista time." Lined up in the Ballista, Greg took the snap while Shin and Carson pushed to open up the gap. Eyeshield 63, as the Colts fans were calling him, chopped down at Carson, creating a pile, forcing Sena and Shin to the outside. The ends, Chouloute (tall and skinny black kid) and Branch (bulky black kid) closed in. Shin chose the left, taking on the skinny Chouloute, allowing Sena to gain some yardage. However, Visca was coming up. Sena jumped over the line pile 63 had caused, evading the arms of the Colts linemen as he jumped. Visca came to him, to which a showdown came.
Visca vs Sena (Eyeshield 21)
"Who is better 21?" Visca said. "I heard the best runner is allowed to wear that eyeshield and use that name. Well, 63 here transferred from his old school, sporting an eyeshield. He started wearing it, and we have called him eyeshield 63 ever since. So, are you better than he is? He has bested me before, I don't think you can."
"Oh yeah, watch" Sena said, using a Puma Dash to dance around Visca, using his speed, getting ahead of him.
"Not. Good. Enough." He said as he shot out his left arm, hitting Sena in the shoulder, knocking him off balance. Sena, as falling, saw Shin in the clear. He tossed the ball to Shin right before hitting the ground. It was ruled a fumble, but Shin quickly picked it up, seeing what Sena was setting up.
Victory: Visca
Introduce: Shin
With the ball in hand, Shin rushed at Visca. The experienced linebacker lowered his shoulders, his legs becoming parallel with the ground. "Eh, the tall one cannot be taken down with pure power, it needs technique. One Shot Stun!" he screamed as he shot his body out, using his powerful arms to dig into Shin's shoulder pads, knocking him face up.
Victory: Visca
Even though both Sena and Shin failed to shake Visca, the play gained 8 yards, letting the team regroup. "This 63 is killing our line. Carson, what is the problem?" Greg asked.
"He is just too fast off the ball. I snap it and he comes down at my knees every play."
"Well, let's see if we can get him to jump. Everyone, this play will go on the 5thhut. Until then, not a person moves. I will say other stuff in between as well." Greg told the offense.
"Hut, twenty-seven, hut" Greg said, watching 63. He didn't budge an inch. "Hut, hut, klight downer, klight downer, Cald sweep, hut" the ball was snapped, and Carson was chopped as he snapped the ball. Greg was lucky to get the ball this time, as 63 planned the ball perfectly, almost causing a fumble. The rest of the line was perfect as well. The Colts lined up in a basic 4-4-3, were doing a perfect stampede, not being fooled by anything.
"4th down" the announcer, Dale, called. "The Puma were unable to advance, forcing a punt." After the punt, "It is a touchback; the Colts will take the ball from the 20 yard line, having 80 yards till the end zone."
The Colts lined up in their shot gun, wanting to end it quickly, already having the 14-3 lead. Evan threw up a pass, being un-pressured again due to the perfect stampede line. Caldwell caught it cleanly for a 30 yard gain, being talked by Wakeen after the catch. The next play was a run up the middle, Shin and Sena making the tackle for a 4 yard gain. The Colts were back to their time usage play set, using short runs to wind down the clock.
"We gotta stop this dwindling," Shin said. "But, everything they have a counter to. We line up in Pounce 5, they shot gun it. We do it again, they get 4 yards. We do .." Shin continued.
"Stop Shin," Sena said. "Back in Japan, we learned to overcome our enemy, which is how the Devil Bats won every game of the Fall Tournament. We were outclassed, but we overcame the beast. Against the Nagas, the best team in all of Kanto, we were down 0-32 by halftime. Come the second half, we rallied back to win 36-35.
"Crap" Shin said as Joyner and the perfect stampede continued to progress, opening up in the 4th quarter, now at the 30 yard line, within field goal distance. "This Perfect Stampede is an incredible front. What will we do?" The clock continued to wind down, coming to 10 minutes, at which time Shin called a time out so the coach could figure something out. The Stampede was working to perfection.