Week Two: San Diego Orcas vs Columbus Centurions
It is a very clear and warm day in Central Ohio as the fans of the Centurions pack the William Wagner Memorial Coliseum to cheer on their home teams home opener against the San Diego Orcas. The win last week has the fans energized. For hours before the game, they tailgated the parking lot and surrounding area, vendors sold their wares to anybody willing to buy. Once the gates opened, the fans with tickets soon piled into the stadium, which was just called "The Coliseum" after its famous counterpart in Rome.
In the broadcast booth, Aaron Redding and Harry Curien manned their positions for the first time in the newly built stadium, going over everything they needed to do for the game. When it is time for the pre-game show, they started.
"Hello Centurions fans, and welcome to a very special day for Centurion's history, the very first home opener," Harry said into his microphone, "I'm Harry Curien with Aaron Redding and we are here at William Wagner Memorial Coliseum for Week Two of the Division Four season as the San Diego Orcas take on your Columbus Centurions!"
"Yes it looks like it will be a great game today, the atmosphere is charged after the Centurions win against the Zombies last week, but the Orcas will not go down without a fight," Aaron said after Harry.
"So Aaron, how do you think the Centurions will fare against the Orcas this week?" Harry questions his partner.
Aaron took a few seconds to ponder this question before answering.
"The running game will be important this time around as the Orcas star player DeAngelo People managed two key interceptions last week against the Knoxville Rattlers to win the game. If they decided to pass, Nick Wexler need to be careful and not throw the ball anywhere near him."
"We'll have to see how the Centurions manage to take on this latest challenge!" Harry said in excitement as they continued with their pre-game analyst.
Owners Box, minutes later.
Angela Wagner is sitting in the box reserved for her and any VIP guests of her choosing a little perk she got as majority owner of the Centurions. She had gotten there earlier than expected, excited to see the results of her work trying to get a football team back in Columbus. She felt with all of her heart that her father would have been elated to see the results, and also felt that he would be proud of her accomplishments. Angela is also dressed for the occasion, wearing a crimson business suit with black collared undershirt and tie, the colors of the team.
As she sipped on a glass of her favorite wine, the door opened up and soon another person walked into the room. Said person is a tall African American man wearing a black business suit with a green collared undershirt and blue tie. He had short black hair and determined brown eyes. When Angela saw the man, she stood up and offered a handshake.
"Mr. Vickers, it's good to see you again," Angela said with a warm smile.
The man named Vickers took the handshake and smiled with her.
"It's good to see you too Ms. Wagner," He said, "Hope this will be a competitive game between our teams."
Jackson Vickers, the owner of the San Diego Orcas is one of the friendlier owners of Division Four and he and Angela had become good friends since their first meeting. Vickers made his fortune in the shipping business, a given seeing as he was raised in the city that is a major port for the US. Unlike Angela, he didn't need to lobby hard to get a team in the newly formed division, as the League had already had its eyes set on bringing back football there.
The problem was that he had originally wanted to name his team the Cyclones after the original team, however the owners of the name, who originally moved the team to Cleveland and then sold the team and retired refused to sell them the Cyclones name and history, a petty move in the eyes of many. This is why San Diego was named Orcas.
After some back and forth between the two, the announcer of the stadium soon came over the PA system to announce the teams.
"Welcome one and all to the William Wagner Memorial Coliseum for today's Week Two game between the San Diego Orcas against your Columbus Centurions!"
This got the crowd fired up as the two owners sat down. Angela offered Vickers a glass of wine, which he graciously accepted. After a few more moments the announcer spoke up.
"Coming out of the eastern tunnel, the visiting SAN DIEGO ORCAS!"
The crowd booed as the Orcas came running out of the tunnel to the tune of Star War's Imperial March. This was to be expected, as even the Centurions were subjected to this kind of treatment last week in New Orleans. Once the Orcas got to their side of the field, all eyes are on the west tunnel. Set up were faux Roman pillars and smoke machines to boost the image of the team as they came out, the cheerleading squad was also out there ready with the pom poms, they were clad in colors of the Centurions as well.
Soon a war drum sound began to swift through the PA system before the wail of a war horn sounds and then a Roman-esqe orchestra song begins to play. This brought a smile to Angela's face as she had paid for this piece of music out of her own pocket, she loved the thought of something more original for her team to come out to then licensing some song from a known band or movie OST.
"AND NOW, CITY OF COLUMBUS, PLEASE GIVE A STANDING OVATION TO YOUR COLUMBUS CENTURIONS!"
The crowd stood up and went wild as first person out of the tunnel was the team's mascot, Claudius the Centurion. A man with a sculpted foam head of a helmeted Centurion comes out holding the red flag with the team's logo on it. As soon as he is clear the team soon followed out, their crimson and black uniforms gleaming in the late afternoon sun. The team is also pumped, hooting and hollering, motioning the fans to get even more hyped as well.
As this was going on, Angela and Vickers clinked their glasses together.
"Let the best team win," Angela said.
Fourth Quarter, Orcas: 14 Centurions: 17
It has been a good game, the Centurions managed to come out strong with a touchdown on their opening drive, a twenty-yard run by their running back. Their defense managed to hold off the Orcas and that lead to a passing touchdown by Nick Wexler, who managed to get the ball past DeAngelo Peoples and into the hands of the receiver in the end zone. However, the tides turned when Nick misread the defense and threw an interception to Peoples, who ran it in for a Pick Six at the tail end of the first half.
In the second, the Orcas came out strong and their offense came in roaring and managed to score on a drive. Since then, their defense has hardened and has prevented the Centurions from getting back into the endzone, the home team had to settle for a field goal in the third.
Now with minutes left in the game, and with the Centurions having possession of the ball. They are seeking to run the clock as much as they could to end the game. The team got into a I-formation and got ready to run their next drive.
"The Centurions only need to hold on to the ball for not much longer to win this game," Harry said.
"But the Orcas want that ball back, if they can get it back, they have a chance to either tie the game and go into overtime or even score and win," Aaron added.
Soon after, back on the field, Nick hiked the ball and the play started, Nick handed the ball to his running back who managed to pick up five yards. However, Nick didn't see that DeAngelo Peoples had blitz and came from behind and with vicious intent, hit Nick with everything he had. The blow knocked Nick over and he hit the ground with a thud and a pained groan left the Centurions quarterdeck. Peoples simply gloated at what he did.
"THAT'S RIGHT, PUNK!" Peoples screamed "THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR EMBARRASSING ME!"
Before he could say anything else, Antwan Green came up from the side and shoved him to the ground.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM OR I'LL RIP YOUR HEAD OFF!"
By the time Peoples got up, the referees came in to stop a potential brawl from breaking out. All the while, the Centurions faithful booed the late hit.
"Man, that is very bad hit, hope Nick can walk that one off," Aaron said.
Up in the Owner's box, Angela was displeased with what just happened, which caused her to shoot a dirty look at Jackson Vickers, who could only look at her back with what could pass as "I can't help what my players do," look.
Back down on the field, Nick managed to get back on his feet, much to the cheers of the fans but even his team could tell he was uneasy on his feet. Tyrone decided to call a time out in order to figure something out. Soon an idea formed in his head.
"RANGER!" He yelled out.
The newly acquired running back came to him, he was dressed for the game despite being told he would likely not be playing. However, Tyrone had enough confidence in him after seeing him learn their playbook fairly quickly. He quickly told him what he wanted to do along with their backup quarterback. After that, both men came out into the field and the running back and Wexler came off the field, Tyrone patted Nick on his shoulder pad.
"Good work out there Nick, go sit down for the rest of the game."
All Nick did was nod and he walks over to the bench to sit down.
Back on the field, the backup QB and Ranger joined the huddle and gave out the plan. Once they broke and got into formation, the QB went through the huts before J.R Matthews hiked the ball to him. Once the backup had the ball, he pitched it to Ranger in a sweep play. The line men and the receivers executed their blocking assignments with perfection as Ranger found a wide gap and charged through it. DeAngelo Peoples managed to get free and tried to stop Ranger, however the running back hit him with a perfectly timed stiff arm that sent him to the ground.
The Centurion faithful stood up and roared in triumph as Ranger ran into the endzone. With only ten seconds left in the game, that all but guaranteed the win for the Centurions and the first victory at home. The extra point and subsequent kick off that the kicker sent as deep as he could to make sure the Orcas couldn't get it back to their endzone.
After one more that the Orcas tried to throw a Hail Mary, which saw an incomplete pass. The game was over.
"Well Centurions fans, that's the game! The Centurions win 24 to 14!" Harry announced victoriously.
Back at the Owner's box, both the owners stood up and shook hands, despite the late hit on her QB, Angela was willing to drop the matter in the name of sportsmanship.
"Congratulations Ms. Wagner," He simply said.
All Angela could do is nod. She then looked out to the field and then up to the sky, thinking that her father is watching her.
"This win is for you father!" Angela thought to herself.
XXXXXXXXXX
Again, sorry for the delay, life can get into the way.
But here is the 10th chapter and the second win of the Centurions! Now 2-0!
The whole bit about how Jackson Vickers wanted to name San Diego the Cyclones but couldn't because of a petty owner who moved them is a reference to Bud Adams and the Oilers. He refused to give up the name and history when he moved the Oilers from Houston to Tennessee and when Houston got a football team again, hence why they are called the Texans.
The whole situation with Wexler and Peoples is a reference to the violence of the original game, while I won't be going deep into that in the story similar to Nobel Six's story, I still wanted to reference it.
You also met the mascot of the Centurions here, Claudius. Wanted to give them one. Also, the "Roman-esqe" music that the Centurions came out to is based on a real song called "Legions are Marching" by David Chas, go to YouTube to check it out.
Next few chapters will involve the aftermath of the game and the lead up to the Centurions game against the top team of Division Four, The Dallas Lawmen.