“(Game 13 of the 14-game NWFL season IX, and the Midnight Sons knew they needed at least 3 points (1 win, 1 tie) from their last 2 games to take the Division Title, otherwise it goes to the Raptors, who win any tie-breaker.)


Both coaches knew this game had a high potential to get bloody (or perhaps "dusty" in the case of Khemri), but altho' the Pows rained down on both sides, the Cas fell far more heavily on the Priest Kings - 8 casualties (vs. 1 RIP total), a team record for the Midnight Sons, and THE primary contributor toward their narrow win. And doubly so for first-half knockouts, which turned out to have both a tactical and strategic effect on the game.

The 'Sons chose to receive, and the P-Kings took advantage of a broken formation to immediately apply pressure on the ballcarrier in the backfield. That kept up for 5 turns, when, with 10 Norse still on the field (their DP off early) against only 7 Khemri, the 'Sons were able to break free and get (well) past the LoS. They shook off the 1 TG who was able to mark Turn 6, and walked in for the Turn 8 score with only 4 Priest Kings on the field - their MB-only TG RIP'd and their killer TG KO'd, a rookie Skellie MNG'd and another KO'd, and their +Ag Throw-Ra KO'd as well.

But of the 3 KO's, only 1 woke up despite the Bloodweiser Babes - and that only just forced Sinnedbad to have to take the field for the Turn 8 reply Kickoff, and wave goodbye after that one turn to no effect (made worse by a Perfect Defense).


2nd Half a freak kick went OB deep to put the ball in the hands of the P-Kings' St 4 Blodge KoR at the 3 yard line, and he only advanced to the 9. In part thanks to the ejection of a skeleton from one end of the LoS (along with a Norse lino KO'd from the foul), the 'Sons were able to getrfv around both ends and pressure the ballcarrier with an Ulf and a Sidestepper (and BH'ing the Guard Skellie). The 'Kings responded by RIP'ing rookie lino on the LoS and flooding to the marked ballcarrier, surviving the Turn 2 RR'd 2d blitz, and breaking clear in their own backfield (to their 9) to end Turn 3, to which the 'Sons could only mark the ballcarrier with an Ulf (and BH the Block/Tackle/Strip skellie).

Turn 4 the P-Kings' St 4 Blodger ran clear and across to the 'Sons' 10 yard line, well away from all but 1 marked lino. The 'Sons responded by maneuvering several players toward the ballcarrier, and BH'ing the 'Kings' Ag 3 Blitz-Ra, putting the Norsers now up 9 players to 7. The 'Kings answered by KO'ing the nearest lino and moving the naked Blodge ballcarrier to the 4 yard line and marking almost every nearby threat. But the 'Sons were able to use Dodge to get a 2d Blitz on the ball, and popped it loose, KO'ing the carrier in the process but unable to mark the ball due to Fend. A GFI to mark the nearby TG snaked to end Turn 5 before a Sure Hands Dodger could try for the recovery, leaving the ball alone on the sidelines 5 yard line until he successfully did so Turn 6. Dodging from a TG Turn 7 but still on the 2 yard line, the Priest Kings had an outside chance for a Turn 16 no-RR Ag 1 dodge, 2d blitz-Pow (on the Blodge-stepper), lucky bounce, pickup and gfi for the tying score - which never got past the failed dodge, Sons win 1-0.”