The Rematch

The long-awaited rematch with the Family (formerly known as the Swingers) took place on Sunday. The Family are notorious for talking trash, although I personally would take that over the passive-aggressive bush league tactics of some of the hipster teams we've faced.

The Commas were missing quarterback Dayne and defensive guru Daniel to "injury" (a.k.a. vacation). To compensate, Elyse stepped in admirably at QB, while Michelle recruited her sister's boyfriend Matt to add some additional help to the lineup.

Surprisingly, the game started as a genuine defensive battle, with both offenses bogging down and the score remaining stuck at 0-0 for several drives. The Family finally scored but failed to convert the extra point. On the very next play, Oxford was able to connect on a deep touchdown to Brian. Jon "The Baron" followed that up with a tough conversion catch to make the score 7-6, but the lead would not last long, as the Family was able to score before halftime. The Commas attempted a deep pass with time expiring, but it was thwarted when several Family members collided with Iain on what the ref described as "incidental contact". Iain was out for the rest of the game. We're told that Katie wants to kick some ass over this.

To start the second half, the Family decided to go for it on fourth and long in their own territory. When they failed to get the first down, Oxford took advantage. It took about ten plays and several disputed calls to move a mere fifteen yards, but Oxford finally managed to retake the lead with a touchdown pass to Brian.

What happened next is a blur to me. Using their super-fast receivers, the Family scored two unanswered touchdowns. The Commas had one last big drive that ended on the Family one-yard line. When it appeared that Oxford had scored on a QB sneak, it turned out that the league rules prohibit any kind of jumping or diving, which pushed the team back a few yards. On the very next play, the Commas failed to complete a pass, and turned the ball over. From then on, Oxford was reduced to throwing desperation passes to score quickly, while the Family ate up the clock. Thanks to a last second touchdown to pad their lead (yes, we faced yet another team that went for it with the game out of reach), the Family prevailed 38-13.

There was some good news, however. The Black Sheep pub had "life-sized" Jenga, i.e. the blocks are actual pieces of wood. Watching one of those towers fall is pretty friggin' cool.

Special thanks to the injured Iain, who provided the highlights below:

The Family goes for it on fourth and long, but turn the ball over on downs. Elyse lofts a pass into the endzone, but the Commas come up empty.



On a disputed call, Brian snags a hard pass in the corner of the endzone. The Family claimed that his feet were in the endzone, but that the ball was not. The video shows otherwise.




Matt reaches for a batted ball on the conversion, but it drops out of bounds.



Elyse makes it look easy.



The Family used some choice four-letter words after Elyse caught another pass over the middle.



A deep throw to Brian salvages a drive that was mired in Oxford territory.



Brian gets to the one-inch line.



Another disputed call, this time involving a lunge into the endzone. ZogSports declares that a player shall not jump or dive to gain yardage, so the touchdown was nullified.



The Commas' last shot at keeping the game close ends with a long scramble and an incomplete pass.

Coco Too Sexy for the Commas

After a two-week hiatus, the Commas began the second half of the season with a tough loss to Sexy Coco, the team formerly known as Sexual Chocolate. I believe that's a Coming to America reference. Anyway, the game began with Oxford's zone defense bending but refusing to break at the goal line, allowing the offense to roar down the field for the first touchdown, a quick strike to Alex over the middle. Coco answered with one of the most amazing plays of the year, an endzone-to-enzone scamper by their lanky superstar player that faked out the entire Commas defense, including those people standing on the sidelines. Sexy Coco put up another touchdown following an Oxford interception, but the Commas put together another drive that ended with a TD for Brian. With the score 13-12, Oxford went for a two-point conversion and got it when Daniel muscled his way past two defenders for the catch (the video doesn't do it justice). After the defense came through with a goal-line intereception Oxford tried for another score on a trick play, but it didn't work.

Perhaps it was their annoying war chant, but Sexy Coco was able to take the lead with some quick touchdowns to start the half. Oxford tried to play catch up, thanks to a tough TD catch by Matt (again, the video doesn't do it justice). After the defense gave the team another chance, the Commas had the ball with about two minutes left, down 33-20. But they were out of time, and the last pass of the game was intercepted by Sexy Coco's freak-of-nature player. Only the smooth taste of Shock Top could soothe the pain.

Special thanks to Tanya for capturing the highlights.

Daniel hangs on.



Dayne to Brian:




Alex puts the Commas in the lead.




The conversion attempt to Matt fails.




A deep pass...doesn't quite make it.



QB sneak.




A close play at the goal line:




A touchdown for Brian.



The Commas take the lead on a two-pointer to Daniel, who boxes out two people for the one-handed grab.



Another sneak.



Alex pulls one in.




Deep pass, take two. Nada.




It's hard to catch a ball when you're getting humped.




Dayne catches and runs.



Iain over the middle.




Brian gets tangled up.



Iain high-stepping.



Matt hangs on for the score.



"Watch Superman!"



Alex, looking good in jeans.



Brian, still wearing the Superman hat he stole from a nine year old.



Another clutch reception for Alex.


The Commas come up empty on the goal line.



Matt gets some love.



On the last drive, the Commas stay alive with a first down reception.



Not to be.