When this paper last covered UMBC’s new blood bowl team, it had just succeeded in a surprising upset, managing to tie the favored BGSU Falcons. This surprising success led to blood bowl fever reaching an all time high on the campus, and a packed stadium after the team’s bye for their matchup against U.C. Sacred Lentil.

That matchup ended in a 4-0 blowout loss. The team was brought back down to earth, and like most sudden crazes, interest in the team faded away. But perhaps the decreased attention on the team helped relieve some pressure, as the team went on to rattle off three straight wins against Vestern Kentooky, ENC, and Queen’s Malevolent. Slowly, attention from the student body turned back to the blood bowl team, and campus excitement grew.

But once more this excitement would be short-lived, as freshman skink Chaydon Stone would fumble receiving a handoff against South Salem turning a likely win into a loss. A dejected and demoralized team would then once more be blown out by Texas State 4-1, as the vampires routinely blitzed by the lizards on the kickoffs to steal the ball and score. And a tie against George Washington meant the team would have to win out to qualify for a bowl game.

But the Bay Reptiles were not to be written off lightly. Despite wavering support from the fans, UMBC secured a shutout win against Bull-or-Miner and, in the final game of the season, smashed Biola 2-0. The Bay Reptiles had managed to become bowl eligible in their first season.

Wary, because of the team’s bad stretches, but invigorated by the overall success, fans packed the stadium for the Planter’s Goober Bowl. Outclassed by the Georgia Khornedogs, the athletic department scrounged together every bit of gold they had to purchase the time of a couple of star players. This gambit paid off immediately, as the receiving Bay Reptiles were able to remove one of the dangerous Bloodseekers with a well placed boot by the star Dribl. And on turn 2 of the half, Drull got in on the action, knocking out the bloodspawn with an expert stab. Up in numbers, the Bay Reptiles dominated the blocking in the first half, knocking out half of the opposing team, and injuring another Bloodseeker with another brilliant foul by Dribl.

Enough of the Khornedog players were able to be roused to consciousness for the second half for even teams to still be fielded. A quick blitz turned Georgia's drive immediately into a scrum. But the lizards’ blows were less mighty, and Dribl’s fouls less effective. Though UMBC was able to put pressure on the ball, and the Khorne Bloodspawn injured itself on an ineffective block, they were unable to stop the score. And worse, multiple Saurus Blockers had been removed.

With little time left in the half, the weather suddenly changed, as the already exhausted players now had to deal with sweltering heat. UMBC hoped to end the match with a quick score, but a failed block by Dribl stopped the team as time ran out. All was not lost, however, as several blocks beforehand had removed Khornedog players, giving the lizards numbers advantage for overtime.

Though Georgia started with the ball in overtime, the numbers discrepancy was just too large to overcome. Another stab by Drull took out a marauder, and quickly the lizards had stolen the ball, and surrounded the downed opponents. The Khorne players wisely did not stand back up.

Seeing such success from the team in its first season, all of UMBC is excited to see what they can do next season moving into the BCS. Standout Saurus K.J. Maura led the team in blocks and casualties, and looks to be team captain next season, while JC Harris looks to continue to rack up touchdowns, having led the team with 8. The whole team mourns the loss of Kroxigor Dan Akin, who was second on the team in casualties, before their untimely death against George Washington, but are confident in their replacement Jake Stout, who showed their ability to thrive under pressure, scoring a casualty in the bowl game.