Reapers vs Razorbacks: Week 7

Wirtten by: Jamie Jenner   

The game opened up on a wet Sunday morning with the Razorbacks sporting 8 men while the Reapers were at a disadvantage with 7 men. As usual we had Simon King (Si) as Quarterback for the Reapers and Dan Guilbert for the Razorbacks – two very good QBs (Editor’s note: Thanks Jamie!) vying for supremacy.

The game started with Razorbacks on offence. The first play was a short pass to James Williams (Wills) who pushed the play a quarter of the way up the pitch. Next was a handoff to Ben Le Maitre which moved up to yards from the halfway line. The third play was another short pass to Wills which was stopped inches from the halfway line. On 4th Down the Razorbacks had inches to go but another short pass to Wills was stopped by Si and the ball was turned over.

The Reapers started in usual fashion with a handoff to Craig Batiste which was stopped 5 yards from the halfway line by Sam Loveridge (Ming) – this was to be a theme in this match. The next play was a short pass to Matthew Jackson (Matt) to push the Reapers over the halfway point. After moving over the halfway line, this side of the pitch was Craig’s; starting with a throw that brought the ball up to 5 yards from the end zone and then finished with a handoff to Craig that scored a rushing touchdown. The conversion was not made. The score is 6 – 0.

Clearly the touchdown from the Reapers incited some fire in Ben Le Maitre’s belly because the first play, a handoff to Ben, ended with him haring down the pitch on the right hand side and only being stopped by a diving tackle by Matt 3 quarters of the way down the pitch. After that run from Ben, the Razorbacks had the advantage with a short throw to Wills that got close to 5 yards and stopped by Si once more. They then followed that up with a pitch to Wills that scored their first touchdown of the match. The conversion was not made. The score is 6 all.

The next possession was rather ineffectual for the Reapers. It began with a pitch to Craig that got a quarter of the way up the pitch but then it went downhill from there. The next play was a false start which pushed the Reapers back 5 yards; the next two throws were to Matt but he missed both catches causing a turnover. Clearly that run from Ben and the clinical touchdown from Wills spooked Si – but that doesn’t last.

The Razorbacks realised they had the skills of the young Ben Le Maitre in their sub box so they brought him out to play with another handoff that got a quarter of the way up the pitch. Note, however, this was missed by 3 defenders before being tackled so it is clear he has some speed on him. Due to run interference, the Reapers were given a penalty of 5 yards – bringing the ball up to 10 yards of the halfway line. The next two plays were dropped due to the defence of the Reapers but on the 4th down, when it really matters, Dan pulled out all the stops and did a long throw to Wills who was sitting merrily in the end zone. The score is 12 – 6.

Realising they were losing at this point, the Reapers decided to stop messing around and to start playing properly (at least this is what Si said). This possession started with a handoff to Craig that got within 3 yards of the halfway line but was tackled by Ming (surprise). Next there was a short pass to Johan Pols to get over the halfway line. To ensure that he wasn’t to be upstaged by Dan, Si decided to throw a long ball to Matt in the end zone. To everyone’s amazement, including Si’s, Matt caught the ball and scored a touchdown. He then caught the conversion ball – the score is 13 -12.

The Razorbacks had unfortunately lost their fire for the time being as the next possession was as ineffectual was the Reapers’ previous one. It started with a dropped ball from Blake, and then the Razorbacks ended up being pushed a yard back by the pitch tackle of Ben by Robert Domaille (Chunky). The next play worked out rather well – due to Josh rolling out, Craig was finally able to get to Dan. Milliseconds before being sacked, Dan threw a short centre pass to Josh Smale who pushed the ball a quarter of the way up the pitch. But this was not to last as the next pass was missed causing the turnover.

As Matt was warmed up, the Reapers started this set with a handoff to Matt which pushed the ball 3 quarters of the way up the field. They followed this with a handoff to Johan which was stopped 8 yards from the End Zone. The touchdown was then clinched by Craig who caught the ball after a short pass from Si and ran it into the End Zone. The Reapers had hoped that Johan had left his ball dropping days behind him, but then dropped the next conversion. The score was 19 – 12.

The Reapers had really found their feet with defending because the Razorbacks’ found it incredibly difficult to attack in this possession. The first play, a pitch to Wilks, was stopped 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage by Johan (making up for his dropped conversion perhaps). The next two plays were throws to Ming, but as payback for stopping Craig every-time with his runs, Matt was there to stop the completion. On the final down, there was a centre pass to Josh who unfortunately dropped the catch.

There was one play before halftime for the Reapers which was a throw to Johan. The Razorbacks’ new defensive corner was there to bat the ball out of Johan’s hands. On this, the whistle was blown. The score is 19 – 12.

Game Stats – Reapers
Passing
Player Name	Touchdowns	1 PAT	2 PAT	Interceptions
Si King	4	3	0	0

Rushing
Player Name	Touchdowns	1 PAT	2 PAT
Craig Batiste	2	0	0
Johan Pols	1	0	0

Receiving
Player Name	Touchdowns	1 PAT	2 PAT
Matt Jackson	1	2	0
Craig Batiste	1	0	0
Johan Pols	2	0	0
Chris Grantham	0	1	0

Defensive Stats
Player Name	Sacks	Interceptions	Touchdowns
Si King	0	2	1
Matt Jackson	1	0	0

The Reapers cracked on with their attack, starting off with a handoff to Craig – stopped by Ming once again. Next there was a throw to Johan which was missed (not dropped, Johan insists on that). Si then got Chris Grantham (the centre) to roll out; he caught the pass and got stopped a yard from the halfway line. On the 4th down, Si did a short pass to Matt who brought the ball up 3 quarters of the pitch. Craig felt like he had not done much recently so he took it upon himself to receive a handoff from Si and then score a touchdown. Matt then got the conversion. The score is 26 – 12.

The Razorbacks began the next play with a throw to Wills which pushed the ball up the pitch. Next there was an unfortunate dropped pitch to Ben, which was followed by a centre pass to Josh who got the ball within 3 yards of the halfway line. To make up for the dropped pitch, Ben received a Handoff from Dan which got the ball 2 yards past the halfway line (Editor’s note: Jaime’s yards are estimates only – the previously mentioned play would have been illegal inside of 5 yards of halfway!); that was further extended by 5 yards when the Referee found the Reapers guilty of run interference. This didn’t stop the Reapers as Si then intercepted a ball from Dan but ran out of bounds seconds after catching the ball.

As usual, the Reapers started the play with a pitch to Matt which really showed off Matt’s future career as a ballerina – his spins to get away from the multitude of defenders showed off enough talent to get himself into the Russian Ballet. Unfortunately, there were no ballet drafters watching the game. Clearly the pitches seemed to be working as the next play was a pitch to Craig which he ran out of bounds 5 yards from the End Zone. To continue the tradition, Johan caught a pitch from Si and scored a touchdown. The conversion was dropped by Chris ‘the centre’ Grantham. The score is 32 – 12.

The Razorbacks’ next possession was a battle of attrition that ended with a touchdown. It all started with a pitch to Wills that got the ball a quarter of the way up the pitch. Next there was another centre pass to Josh after nearly getting sacked by Nick Schofield (Scho). There was another pitch to Ben, but after cutting 90 degrees along the line of scrimmage and getting tackled, there was no movement in ball position. On the 4th down, the unsung hero of the Razorbacks stepped out of the sub box. On a Hail Mary throw, Blake Batiste caught the ball 3 yards from the end zone but was tackled before making the completion. I don’t think I’ve seen Luke Pattimore (Patti) sound so happy when Blake caught that ball.
The touchdown was almost made by the new player Alexander Adams (Sandy) who had been frolicking around the world for the past 2 months, but Si King was there in an instant to bat the ball out of his hands. The Referee called pass interference and the ball was moved back to its original position. Dan then got Josh to roll out but was sacked by Matt, moving the ball back to 7 yards from the end zone. Nonetheless, Josh rolled out again and scored a touchdown after getting passed the ball. The conversion was not made; the score is 32 – 18.

Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, this is when the Reapers got into the swing of things. After a pitch to Johan which was tackled by Sandy a quarter of the way up the pitch, Si did another pitch to Matt which pushed the ball just past the halfway line. Si then did a long throw to Johan, who broke the tradition of dropping the ball and actually caught it! Note that Josh was inches away from sacking Si at that point so that throw was in the nick of time. Chris ‘the Centre’ Grantham then caught the conversion after rolling out which brought the score to 39 – 12.

The Razorbacks were still fighting at this point and Dan tried to use the pluckiness of Blake to push the ball up-field. On the first play, Blake caught a toss from Dan which brought the ball 10 yards from the halfway line. Unfortunately, the next two passes were missed, while the final pass was inches from being caught by Blake but was stopped by Johan.

The Reapers carried on using Craig and Matt with an initial pitch to Craig followed by a throw to Matt – this was stopped 2 yards from the halfway line by Sandy. There was a long throw to Craig who was waiting eagerly in the end zone but the ball fell straight between his hands – taking tips from Johan? With the call of ‘Omaha!’ from Si, the Reapers sprang into action which ended up with a throw to Matt that was stopped three quarters of the way up the pitch. Si then did a very nonchalant throw to Johan in the end zone which was caught; bringing the score up to 45 – 12.

On the final possession of the match with 8 seconds to go, the Razorbacks deciding on a change of Quarterbacks. QB 2, Sam Loveridge stepped up to the mantle. However, the first play was a false start which pushed the Razorbacks back 2.5 yards. On the final play of the game, the pressure got to Ming. Attempting to go for Hail Mary into the Reapers’ end zone, the windy conditions caused the ball to wobble and then fall into a pack of hungry Reapers – Johan and Craig. Nonetheless, the glory hungry Si King wanted the ever-elusive touchdown so as Johan reached eagerly for the interception, Si smashed through the middle of him and Chunky, stole the ball, and scored a touchdown.

This match was well contested with the Razorbacks holding the score until halftime. However, the Reapers were able to clinch the victory with 51 – 18. Well played everyone!

Game Stats – Razorbacks
Passing
Player Name	Touchdowns	1 PAT	2 PAT	Interceptions
Dan Guilbert	2	0	0	1
Sam Loveridge	0	0	0	1

Rushing
Player Name	Touchdowns	1 PAT	2 PAT
James Williams	1	0	0

Receiving
Player Name	Touchdowns	1 PAT	2 PAT
James Williams	1	0	0
Josh Smale	1	0	0

Defensive Stats
Player Name	Sacks	Interceptions	Touchdowns