Coming down to the end of the season, injuries have started to take their toll and it showed on both teams as we noticed some of their normal starters were out and they had low numbers dressed on the sideline.  It showed with us too as a lot of our starters didn’t practice and a couple of injured players didn’t make the trip with us.  Also, Coach Tracey has grown superstitious lately because of the things that have happened to the team in the past, so he wanted as many starters taken out the moment the game looked decided.  It was another reminder of the unexpected crazy coincidences that have plagued the team in the past.

The game started with the “O” on the field... After a kick return that gave us great field position, we struggled to get anything going.  Goteborg came out in a defense that they didn’t show on film... I don't know if it was something they had drawn up just for us or whether it was because of their personnel issues, but it gave us problems the first two and half drives.  Also, the holding calls and missed opportunities in the passing game didn’t help, but we managed to find the end zone on the third drive.  Our defense gave them problems as they couldn’t move the ball against us, and a key loss for them was their American RB, who played well against us the previous meeting.  Offensively, we picked it up after adjusting to their defensive scheme and our o-line dominated them for the most part as Monclair gashed them with gains up the middle.  The highlight of the half came just a few minutes before it ended. On third down, I dropped back to pass and there was a blitz on with cover 1 behind it.  The line, however, picked it up.  I rolled out left to the sideline and eluded a tackle and saw a cut back lane. When I did, a wall of lineman flowed from the right, so I jumped behind them and raced across the field.  The springing block came about 30 yards down field as the right tackle Johan Asker dove to cut block the safety.  As he rolled, he also picked off the corner who was behind him, allowing me to beat the last guy to the right sideline for the score.  It was an exciting play that fueled the team and carried us into halftime full of energy and enthusiasm with the score reading 37-0 Crusaders

The second half was used more for experience for younger players and rest for those who needed it, as the second and third stringers rotated after the first series for both the offense and defense.   Offensively, we drove down the field on our opening possession of the half pounding the ball away.  After that, new guys rotated in on the line and I retired to the sideline and signaled in plays.  We moved the ball for the most part during this period of time but couldn’t put together a whole drive.   Most of this was due to mental mistakes.  We didn’t find the end zone anymore the second half, but neither did they.

For the past couple of games the o-line has enforced a no sack rule, and for the second game in a row, they achieved it as I was only touched 4 times the whole game (all on QB designed runs).  Our defense pitched a shutout against a team who put up 22 against us the last meeting.  On the negative side, penalties and dropped balls were a hazard for us as it has been at times all year, and they will have to be cut out at some point or I'm afraid it will come back to haunt us.   We play the #2 team in the league next weekend @ home and it will be the final game of the regular season.  Arlanda Jet vs. Carlstad Crusaders... the results will hugely affect the seeding for the playoffs.