GG, Masked.
I'm not sure what happened here, other than our magical/mystical ability to come out strong against Hartford once again shined for us.
This match up featured the two longest tenured owners in the game going head-to-head in a Conference Championship game: Masked, owner from CFL inception, and myself, owner from inception +1 season. Hard to believe we've been in this league 15+ years. Over 1000 CFL victories between the two owners.
Perhaps, it was an omen that the game would be a little odd, with our 17 year veteran QB, Brantley Gilmore, coming out to return the opening kickoff? WTF? Pulling out all the stops! Fortunately, he survived and returned the kick for 19 yards. As this is likely his last season, perhaps he told coach that he wished that just once in his career he would get to return a kick.
We got lucky with a Kick Return by The Beast, Devin Yeast after an opening drive FG by The Attack. After that the name of the game was field position. Two 1st half change of possession plays led to TD's for The Pride - a 4th & 1 failure from the Hartford 40 (running a reverse?) and a pooched 34 yard punt that Morey returned 17 yards to the Hartford 35 gave us short fields and 2 touchdowns. Our punter, Bollinger, kept The Attack pinned inside their own 20 for most of the game.
We were able to convert a 3rd & 2 into a TD when Gilmore checked through his progressions to find an outlet, WR Buddy Harden, wide open on a Deep Fade route. Our kicking struggles continued on the snowy field, missing 2 FG's during the game.
Hartford mounted a fantastic drive in the 3rd Quarter that consumed over 5 and a half minutes of game clock and ended with Archie Blanchard doing what Archie Blanchard does best - evading the pass rush and scrambling for a 12 yard score. But that would be it for scoring in this game. The stingy Pride defense (allowing only 16.5 pts/game during the regular season) clamped down on The Attack's attack and that was the end of it.
Congrats on a great season, Masked. Good luck next year. I have a feeling Gilmore is going to retire regardless of the result of the Championship and I'll be begin the painful process of rebuilding.
I look forward to the Championship against a very strong Death Valley team. Good luck, Jander!
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Deep South Division Champions
2006, 2009-10, 2019, 2023-24, 2027, 2031-32, 2034-35, 2040, 2044, 2046-47, 2051-53, 2055-56, 2058-62
Eastern Conference Champions
2009, 2031, 2055
CFL Champions
2031, 2055
Hall of Fame
Joshua Mask, Douglas Hartman, Carl Bradford, Leland Wellins, Wally Wooden (#80), Brantley Gilmore (#9)
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