Fri, Dec 9 - The top two teams in the league met in the championship game on Friday, playing on the snow-covered "frozen tundra" of the IM field. The game lived up to the hype as it featured several lead changes, but in the end Dream Team Plus Krysiak pulled away to complete their undefeated season and claim the title with a 45-31 victory. The Hooligans' defense was improved over the last time the teams met, but some stalled offensive drives late in the game helped Dream Team to clinch the win. All 11 Hooligans on the playoff roster appeared for the game.
Dream Team Plus Krysiak began the game on offense, and Zach Paustian scrambled from the QB position for a touchdown to open up a 6-0 lead. The Hooligans stopped the 1-pt conversion, however, and on the next series Zeb Hancock used his speed to burn his old team for a long TD off a short reception . The Hooligans took a 7-6 lead and regained possession of the ball after Zach Johnston forced and recovered a fumble, but Dream Team's defense forced a turnover on downs. Zach Paustian hooked up with Kevin Krysiak in the endzone to regain the lead, but Karen Greficz followed the play off a long reception by Ryan Noack and took a lateral for the 9-pt TD. Dream Team again came out and drove down the field, this time with Ryan Neu catching a TD pass from Zach Paustian. The Hooligans had the ball with a chance to score before the half, but a 4th-down run by Zach Johnston was just short of the endzone and time expired. Having played defense first the Hooligans began with the ball in the 2nd half, but after a decent drive a Ryan Neu interception gave possession back to Dream Team. They would eventually score off the turnover as Zach Paustian hooked up with Robbie Lindley in the middle of the endzone to push the lead to 26-16. The Hooligans failed to score on their next series, but Zach Johnston forced a fumble off a run by Erin Dirobbio to give the team the ball back. This time the Hooligans capitalized off a turnover as Breannea King helped her team to "build a frenzy" by catching a quick TD pass, pushing the score to 26-25. After a few long gains down the field Dream Team tried to use their girls to score, attempting runs with Ashley Chang and Erin Dirobbio, but the Hooligan defense would not break. Finally Zach Paustian just looked to Robbie Lindley for his second TD of the game, keeping it a 1-possession game at 32-25. However a key turning point in the game came on an interception return for a touchdown by Tom Sperry on the next series, making it a 2-possession game. After forcing another turnover Dream Team really pulled away off a run by Zach Paustian, essentially placing the game out of reach with a 45-25 lead. The Hooligans would be heard from again as Mike Russell took a short pass from Zach Johnston and ran through the Dream Team defense for the touchdown, finishing the run by Tebowing in the endzone. A wild 3-pt conversion attempt with crazy laterals was no good and that would end the game. For the Hooligans, Zach Johnston did everything he could to will his team to victory, passing for 3 TDs while forcing 3 fumbles and blitzing QB counterpart Zach Paustian. Zeb Hancock had the Hooligans' opening TD and played solid defense. Breannea King and Karen Greficz each finished with a touchdown in the game. Ryan Noack had several receptions and would have scored if he hadn't selflessly lateraled to Karen Greficz for the 9-pt TD. Captain Mike Russell saw time on a few offensive possessions and notched his first career postseason touchdown late in the game. Ethan Anderson played solid defense and had several solid receptions in his time on offense. Josh Ulm had several receptions in the game including a sensational play where he ran through the entire defense and had to be tackled to be brought down. Zach Milner and Robert Myers both had solid defensive play in the game. Cody Cotner was limited in the game due to a hamstring injury sustained in track but played both offense and defense. For Dream Team Plus Krysiak, Zach Paustian finished with 4 passing TDs and 2 rushing TDs. Robbie Lindley had a solid day with 2 TD receptions. Kevin Krysiak notched a receiving TD as well as throwing a PAT to Paustian. Ryan Neu finished with a TD and an interception in the game. Captain Tom Sperry returned an interception for a touchdown to make his mark in the game. Justin Litzner and Kevin Collica saw time on both sides of the ball in the game. Ashley Chang and Erin Dirobbio both subbed for one another throughout the game and received a few handoffs. Hooligans fans Angela Martin, Kara Fox, and Spencer Behmlander were also present to cheer the team on. The Hooligans conclude their season with a 6-2-1 record, falling in their second championship appearance in franchise history. The team still shows great potential for next year as almost all of this year's current roster could return. The late injury to Cody Cotner will remind long-time Hooligans fans of the injury to Zane Johnston in 2009 that may have affected the championship result. Nonetheless this year's Hooligans team fought hard and played well, and appearing in 2 championship games in 3 years as well as recording 3 straight winning seasons shows the franchise is on the right track. Next year could very well be "the year". Until then...ROLL HOOLIGANS! SCORING SUMMARY 1st Half Zach Paustian ran for a touchdown, 1-pt conversion no good (6-0 Dream Team) Zach Johnston passed to Zeb Hancock for a touchdown, Zach Johnston ran for 1-pt conversion (7-6 Hooligans) Zach Paustian passed to Kevin Krysiak for a touchdown, 1-pt conversion no good (12-7 Dream Team) Karen Greficz took lateral for a touchdown, 1-pt conversion no good (16-12 Hooligans) Zach Paustian passed to Ryan Neu for a touchdown, Zach Paustian ran for 1-pt conversion (19-16 Dream Team) 2nd Half Zach Paustian passed to Robbie Lindley for a touchdown, Zach Paustian ran for 1-pt conversion (26-16 Dream Team) Zach Johnston passed to Breannea King for a touchdown, 1-pt conversion no good (26-25 Dream Team) Zach Paustian passed to Robbie Lindley for a touchdown, 1-pt conversion no good (32-25 Dream Team) Tom Sperry returned interception for a touchdown, Kevin Krysiak passed to Zach Paustian for 1-pt conversion (39-25 Dream Team) Zach Paustian ran for a touchdown, 1-pt conversion no good (45-25 Dream Team) Zach Johnston passed to Mike Russell for a touchdown, 3-pt conversion no good (45-31 Dream Team)
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Written by Mike Russell
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