A Game For The Ages (NCAA '07 Style)

I played a game two nights ago that took everything out of me, like an intense movie or book would. As I've noted before, I'm currently in a dynasty with the Temple Owls, who were rated dead-last of all 119 teams in year 1 of the dynasty. Late in year 3 of the dynasty, I faced a Maryland squad at the Turtle House. They came into the game ranked 24th in the country and I was 15th. Looking at the letter grades, they definitely had the upper-hand, as my team was at either a B or B- in all the categories. Maryland had an A or B+ letter grade in all the categories. Come gametime, when looking at the match-up stick, every single one of Maryland's players was in the green, most of which were at the maximum green. Not too many of my players were even in the green, let alone the maximum green.

I kicked to start the game and my defense came ready to play, for the first three plays anyway. I forced the Terps to a three-and-out and was pumped about it. But, my All-American running back was stopped on a counter play well behind the line-of-scrimmage on my first play and right then is where I knew I was in trouble. On a draw, an option, a halfback direct, there may be times that a linebacker, corner, or safety will blitz and level the tailback behind the line, but on a counter when the entire defensive line got past the o-linemen and are there to greet the halfback right after the ball is handed off to him? Yeah, not good. I went three-and-out.

On the next drive, Maryland looked like that first series didn't even happen, as they drove it down the field in a few plays to score a touchdown. But, I prevented them from attaining the maximum level of momentum as I blocked the PAT and the lead was 6-0.

To my surprise, I had no problems driving on them the next two times I had the ball. I had learned very early that I wouldn't be able to run much. The only times I tried was when I noticed they were expecting a pass and I'd go into the shotgun and call a halfback direct and run to the outside. Other than that, though, I threw and threw a lot. My first drive was short and sweet and a great response to the opening score by the Terrapins to lead 7-6. The second drive was an 11 play, 76 yard drive that took well over 3 minutes to complete. In a typical game, that may not be much, but for a game where quarters are only 5 minutes, that's well over half a quarter right there. That put me up 14-6 and that's when things started unraveling.

I had all the momentum and stopped the Terps before halftime, so they had to punt. But, my return man muffed the punt and Maryland fell on it. Fortunately, my defense was up to the challenge and kept the Terps to a field goal to keep the lead at five, 14-9. Like the idiot I am, I was greedy right before halftime when I got the ball back and attempted to get into field goal position, but a Maryland corner made a great break on the ball, picked it off to set up another field goal right before the half. At halftime, my Temple Owls' lead Maryland 14-12, but momentum was on the Terps' side.

That momentum would carry over throughout the entire third quarter, as I couldn't get anything going offensively. Three-and-out would be a common theme for me in the third. That was not the case for Maryland, as they used that momentum to the fullest, scoring the go-ahead touchdown to go ahead 18-14. They failed on the two-point conversion, however. They then scored not long after, to go up 25-14. Toward the very end of the third quarter, I felt the game slipping away and knew I needed to score, so I told myself, from here on out, I'd go for it on 4th down. Of course, right when I said that, they stuffed me on a 4th and 1. They added a field goal to lead by two touchdowns, 28-14, very early in the 4th.

Running the ball wasn't even an option anymore. The only way I had been able to move the ball efficiently was through the air and with only a quarter left to play, I couldn't waste any time. After a couple short passes, Maryland was set to bring the house on a blitz. My line gave me just enough time to throw a deep pass to my receiver who had man coverage on him. He caught it and went the distance for a touchdown, to close the gap to 28-21 with under four minutes to play.

Only down a touchdown and with all three timeouts remaining, I reluctantly kicked the ball deep, just hoping for a turnover or my defense to at least step up and make a stop. Maryland did get one first down, but around midfield, the Owl defense stopped them short of a first down to set up a 4th and short. Coach Ralph Friedgen didn't want to take any chances, so he punted the ball. Being wary of the fake at that point on the field, I set up the safe return and fair caught the ball at my own 14-yard line. I had eighty-six yards to go in less than two and a half minutes to tie the game. No deep balls were thrown this drive. A lot of short slants and out routes were all the Terps gave me after the deep ball on the previous drive. I finally got the ball down inside the five with under a minute to go. I had all three timeouts remaining, knew what I wanted to do, but didn't want to score too quickly which would give them the opportunity of moving the ball down the field to set-up the potential game-winning field goal. Fortunately, I was prevented from going into the end zone on 1st and 2nd down, but on 3rd and goal from the one, my quarterback snuck the ball into the end zone with about thirty seconds left. With the PAT, I tied the game at 28-28. Maryland drove the ball to their own forty, but that was as far as they went until overtime was our fate.

The Terps won the flip and chose to play defense. I wasted no time and in four plays, scored the go-ahead touchdown to lead 35-28. Unfortunately, the Terps wasted barely any time as well, scoring the tying touchdown and PAT in five plays.

In the second overtime, Maryland drove the ball down to the 4-yard line, where it was 2nd and 2. I brought the house to stop the run up the middle on second down and stuffed them at the line to bring about a 3rd and 2. I brought a similar defense on third down and stuffed the Terps again to bring about a 4th and 2. What is Friedgen to do? Kick the gimme field goal to go up 38-35 or go for the first down and essentially the touchdown? Not wanting to risk not scoring any points whatsoever, Friedgen chose the former of the two and Maryland led 38-35. My first down pass was incomplete, but on second down, a called a double slants route and completed a ball down to the 4-yard line to set up a 1st and goal. I hadn't run the ball very successfully all game, but I knew what play I wanted to run, the halfback direct out of the shotgun. Unfortunately, a linebacker on Maryland's strong side was flashing (which would make his hits on the tailback harder and make the tailback more apt to fumbling the ball), so I called a flip audible and attempted to specify blocks by the line and the receivers, but the place was so loud and my receivers so young, that they got confused and didn't know where to go. So, I had to call a timeout. I then called the same play, but on the other side of the field. The linebacker followed him over there, so I just said to forget about the blocking and flipped the audible to the other side. The snap went to my tailback and he scampered to the outside on the strong side of the field and in for the go-ahead and winning touchdown! Temple goes to the Turtle House and beats Maryland 41-38 in double overtime. The game had a greatness score of 1,080. My previous high had been 570 when playing a game with a friend of mine. This almost doubled that one! It was unreal! The Owls went on to finish the season undefeated at 13-0 with an Emerald Bowl victory over the Iowa Hawkeyes. They finished the season ranked 10th in the nation.