The Commas were given the task of playing spoiler to Los Touchitos ("Little Touchers"), a team that had to win in order to get into the playoffs. Fighting through picks and some weirdly rough tackles, Oxford began the game with a long drive that couldn't quite get into the endzone. Ebin set the tone by shrugging aside the guy who, frustrated by his inability to get laid, shoved Ebin out of bounds on one of the first plays of the game. In response, the Touchers, easily the mouthiest team in the league, scored two unanswered touchdowns. A deep pass to Brian late in the first half looked like it could even the playing field, but again the Commas were denied on the one-yard line, and the half ended with Oxford down by 14. It was not until late in the second half when the Commas finally punched through on the "Gonzo" play to Iain. Then Ben, playing with a pin in his broken finger, scored on a two-point conversion at the back of the endzone. There was little the Commas could do at that point, though. The Touchers immediately answered with a long touchdown bomb, putting them outside of the 16-point range that would have forced the clock to stop on each incomplete pass. Oxford had to watch as Los Touchitos drained the clock. Happily, the Commas stopped them on the last play of the game when Sam sacked their quarterback. Final score: 26-8.
My final word on the season is this: the sportsmanship, hustle, and good humor that this team showed should make everyone proud. That was the consensus while the Commas, tipsy on Shock Top, contemplated the sequel, a.k.a. the Winter League. It's still up in the air, but hopefully this will not be the final chapter.
Special thanks go to our fans, Tim, Tanya, Kari, Catherine, and Jared. They took some great photos and videos, which you can view here below. (Some of the other photos will appear in another post.)
http://picasaweb.google.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/
Here are the other highlights. Enjoy.
Ash takes a cleat to the head, but holds on:
The camera crew debates the difference between a center and a quarterback. Meanwhile, the ball is thrown away.
Sam with the catch:
Ben chats up the fans on the sideline. He was later seen texting in the huddle. You believe this guy? Oh yeah, the pass sailed wide.
QB sneak:
Ash with the diving reception:
Oxford is denied again at the goal line.
"Skip this part. In fact, never show it again"--Dark Helmet, Spaceballs
The biggest "Little Toucher" bats the ball away:
Desperation throw to Ben in the back of the endzone--incomplete.
Ebin makes a lunging tackle:
Dayne throws:
Matt moonwalks:
Deep to Matt, but thrown too far:
Dayne to Iain for one of the biggest plays of the day:
Dayne to Ben over the middle:
Is there pass intereference on Ben in this play? Robert DeNiro says, "Little bit, little bit."
Shovel pass to Iain for an easy (cheap) first down:
A throw into heavy traffic is broken up by the "Little Touchers" defense. Elyse, Ben, and Dayne all get a hand on it:
The Commas finally connect on a TD to Iain:
Ben scores on the conversion by toeing the back of the endzone:
Sam's hair is messed up on a short pass:
Ninell dives for it:
Brian, be honest: did this hit you in the hands? If it did, you're gonna run wind sprints until you puke.
The Commas never make anything look easy:
Ebin runs right into your living room. Or should I say cubicle? Hey, get back to work!
Dayne to Robert:
Iain beats a growling defender for the catch:
Deep to Brian:
Robert and Ebin try to reenact "The Catch" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Catch_(American_football), but it's not to be:
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