Sunday we played the Argonautes from the south division. It was quite a thrilling/suspensful game that left you guessing all the way until the end. The weather was nice and cool at the beginning of warmups. The overcast clouds helped create a chill in the air. I prayed that it would get sunny because I didn't bring any long sleeves. As we arrived in the lockeroom, we all sat in the same one. See our lockerroom has 4 different rooms. One on gamedays used for the refs and normally the other 3 for the players. This time coach wanted us all together.
We crowded into the small room. Cramped we each tried to make enough room to get our stuff together for the game. Two of the refs were actually smoking cigarettes right outside the lockeroom. Another first for Matt and myself. Struggling to find room to relax and think about the game, we all managed to get ready. We were a team, we were together, and we were united.
The game started much like the weather had...overcast. Slow and grey, with not much happening from either side. We both stalled early going three and out, but there were a few surprises along the way. As we recieved the ball to start the game, we were the first to punt. I snapped the ball and ran down the field. The kick made it's way directly to the back leg of an Argonaute player. LIVE BALL. Unfortunately we were not able to recover. The Argonautes then began driving.
After there failed first 3 plays, they punted as well. In the spread punt formation, which allows greater coverage, but is more susceptable to blocked punts....their snapper delivered the ball to the upback, who in turn spun around and pitched it back to the punter. Our guys on the punt block ran into the punter who was kicking the ball. They called a penalty and gave the Argonautes a first down. Ok so I'm thinking that was definitely the wrong call. 15 yards now they are close to the 35.
They run some more offense, counter, screen, pass. Then Bago intercepts a pass. Wait! Of course there's a flag if any big play actually happens. I don't know what the call was, but Argos you get another shot at it. We stop them on 4th down and get the ball back. By this time the weather has opened up and the sun shined it's way down to the field. We drove the ball a bit and then got an offsides penalty on Loic, which thankfully was cancelled out by the 15 yard personal foul by the Argonautes. I think this is a good time to introduce you to the dumbest football player I have ever met. Yea that's saying something.
Number 75 on the Argonautes was stupid. Not just a jerk, or a mean ass...no he was legitimately stupid. After every pass play when he obviously didn't get to the quarterback and after Matt had thrown the ball up, he would then run and hit Matt. This will be important later, needless to say it was his penalty. However we still ended up stalling and punted away.
The Argos hit the jackpot on the 2nd play following. Their Quarterback an american from Utah State, hit the wide reciever for a 78 yard touchdown. Somehow he broke our coverage and out ran the defense to the endzone. End of the 1st quarter.
We get the ball back and start driving. Dino makes a good run up the middle. Then we hit Jean Michel over the middle down to the 25 before he fumbles. Luckily that idiot hit Matt late again and got a 15 yard penalty. So still our ball. About this time, it's also important that you realize Coach David is going crazy on the sidelines trying to protect his players. Team first. Anyways, this kid is chirpy. The type of character that runs his mouth like he's the king in a movie, only to get shot a few seconds later. Yea that's him.
So a few pass plays go by. On one play he ignores the ball and get's in Matt's face, the other he get's chopped by Loic S. Then it happens. You know it. Normally preceeded by an S and an H. Yea. Matt makes another pass play, rolls out of the pocket towards our sideline and gets hit. Well 75 runs after the play up to Coach David and pushes him. Coach obviously having enough of this character looses his cool and goes back at him. Penalties fly, and it really looks like a Parade of Yellow flying from the sky. The rest of our players start getting upset and it looks like a brawl is about to happen.
Someone eventually pulls Coach back. Because I think he was going after the ref for a little bit. Being that the ref wasn't paying attention. I tried to get the offense to huddle up. It was chaos for a few minutes. We drive to the 10 and then switch into Goaline offense. The first play dino runs for 5 yards or so. Next Matt rolls out to the left on a QB keeper to the 3 thanks to a bad spot. Then a dive to the right and we are on the 2. Fourth down we go for it, run a pass play and turn the ball over.
A solid defensive performance 3 and out and we get the ball back. Matt hits dino over the middle for a big gain, and then another pass and we are on the 14 knocking at the endzone again. Matt then throws a touchdown pass that get's called back for an illegal reciever down field. I watched the tape and it looks like Will is about 2 yards in front of the line of scrimmage as Matt throws the ball. Ahhhh....
We turn over the ball again, being so close to scoring. Matt who was also getting his first shot at defense this game, made some big tackles in the unsuing drive. One of which was on their QB causing an increase in excitement and talking. The announcer yells "Quarterback on Quarterback" The game is getting fun.
The Argos drive to the 6 yard line before stalling out. They grab 2 offsides penalties and try to kick a field goal. As they attempt the 33 yarder, I tell Michel Donati that I want to try and block it. So Johan and Michel rush the guard and I time up my jump. It was a low kick but not to low, I barely get the tip of my finger on it and land back to the ground upset that I almost had it but let it go through my fingertips. Then I look back and the kick hits the bottom cross bar and bounces up. PLEASE DONT GO IN. It flys back to the field and we are safe!
(ok I have to make this clear. They were on the 16 yard line. After the missed kick the ball stayed on the 16 yard line.... point of reference)
We drive the ball to our own 15 yard line before time becomes our worst enemy. We head into the half time with the offense moving the ball and the defense only giving up one huge pass play and one drive that we held strong on.
The second half kicks off and we are hungry. A quick 3 and out by the defense and then it's the offenses turn. Dino takes the first handoff and runs 36 yards to the 20. Another couple runs and finally Matt powers his way into the endzone on a QB toss. The extra point is blocked and we are still down 7-6.
They drive the ball. The QB hits a 10 yard gain over the middle. A few plays later and it's a big 3rd down and 8. Somehow I run past the Guard, the QB steps up into the pocket. I grab his right arm and rodeo him down for a sack. Lucky me. Fabien returns the punt from the 4 yard line to the 20. We drive the ball through the 3rd quarter and half way into the 4th all the way down to the 2 yard line. We tried a field goal to take the lead, but missed wide right.
Remember the point of reference... we'll since we missed on the 2, the ball got moved back to the 20 yard line. A knew rule for me, I guess I had never seen this before. I was confused trying to figure out what was going on, but the ref said it is a rule. Later after the game he would open up his rule book and show Matt P. At the time I thought he had lost his mind. I guess it's because I'm used to fieldgoals from that distance being made most of the time, thanks to T-Bell at Tech.
The Argos get the ball and drive down the field. They make some big plays and come up with conversions at the right time. I am exhausted at this time. My body feels like it's been pushed to the limit. They drive all the way to the 8 or 9 yard line. At one point I made a good read on the shovel pass and tackled the rb for a loss. But it was never enough, because they found a way to move forward. Another time Ben and I tackle the rb on a counter and started pulling the crowd behind us. I pumped my arms up and down...needing their support because my body felt like shutting down. The juniors in the stands and the rest of the Cougar faithful yelled for us.
We stopped them and pushed them back to the 16 before they kicked a field goal to go ahead 10-6. Less than a minute left on the clock. Never losing hope, the cougar offense took the field. A good return by Michel took us only 42 yards away from victory.
The first play Matt scrambled from the pocket and gained a hard earned 2 yards. On the same play a defender from the Argos broke his arm. It reminded me of A.J. Smith popping his elbow out of socket. The guy tried to make an arm tackle and it just came out of his shoulder. Laying on the ground it looked disqusting. The only good thing about that was that it gave us time to come up with our plays and get set. We hurried to the line after the medical time out and ran a passing play. Matt got hit by the rushing lineman at the precise moment that the ball left his hand. The ball flew high into the air and was then caught somehow by Nico, who saw the ball coming up short and ran back to catch it. A small 3 yard gain, but a momentus saving grace.
36 yards to go and only 13 seconds remaining, Matt took the 3rd down snap and fired the ball long to Michel. Michel reaching out grabbed the ball in the back of the endzone with 9 seconds left to take the lead and give the Cougars a 12-10 lead. AMAZING. The stands went crazy. The players went crazy. We all went crazy.
As I sprinted down to the endzone to congradulate my team...all I could think about was this is worth it. This makes it all worth it. Definitely one of the most amazing comebacks I had seen/ played in. I mean Clemson and Calvin Johnson is probably by far the greatest, but the fact that this one was close. A buzzer beater. It means the world to me. I tackled Michel and everyone else piled on. The 15 yard celebration penalty meant nothing. Today the Cougars had fought to the very end. Never quiting, never giving up, and never hanging their head in defeat. New team, new attitude. MY TEAM.
The extra point was good and as we made the tackle on the return, the Argos only had time for one more play. From their own 26. The QB hurled up a deep ball, while getting hit in the chest. Matt Polhemus came down with the interception and gracefully touched the ball to the ground to end the game. Who are you? Cougars. What a great game. Now it's on to the Flash... A team we have never beaten.... I think it's time to write some more history.
FYI- the game should be available to watch sometime soon on http://www.radiossa.com/
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