A torrential downpour in the lake town of Karlstad yesterday and an increasingly competitive STU Bulls team were the latest barriers that stood in the way of the Crusader wave that is rolling through Sweden. For 3 hours prior to kickoff the skies shattered on Tingvalla offering the two teams a 30 minute kickoff delay. The rain ceased long enough for the game to get underway by 5:30. With the playoffs on the horizon, the sense of urgency was heightened. The Crusaders were fighting for the top rank and the opportunity to have the 4th ranked team travel to Karlstad for the semi-final, while the Bulls had the focus of passing the Mean Machine for 3rd place in the league.
The battle started with the Crusader's offense attempting to find alternate ways to move the ball besides its high powered downfield passing game. Running the ball from the shotgun provided minimal yards and completing passes was a challenge in that climate. The Bulls had similar issues, but on top of these issues, they faced the top defense in Sweden (9.1 points per game allowed) led by back to back defensive player of the week in Sweden, Olof Flemstrom. With 18.5 tackles, 7 of which for loss in the past two weeks Flemstrom is playing at an unbelievably high level. Johan Bear, the Crusaders middle linebacker was all over the field on Saturday night. He played a huge role in defending the tricky Bulls offense that comes out with unbalanced formations and reverse schemes.
Both teams endured sloppy offensive play with an overabundance of dropped passes, missed footing, and fumbles. The first legitimate Crusaders' chance at points was negated by an interception in the end zone, but a 3 and out did not harm the home team's winning chances. The empty score was lifted when the star of the game Fredrik Isaksson caught an Eli Cranor pass down the home sideline and outraced the defense for over half the field and the game's first score. Both teams traded punts throughout the first quarter and the early second quarter. The Bulls continued to attack and found themselves near the Crusaders endzone following a couple of big plays. A break in the coverage offered the Bulls a free shot at the endzone which they converted bringing the score to 7-6. The next few minutes showed the Crusaders offense hitting straight at the center of the Bulls defense getting them a first and goal at the Bulls 9 yard line. 4 plays offered no points and the Crusaders had to turn the ball over. 2 plays later the Bulls ball carrier found himself on the ground in his own endzone giving the defense a safety and upping the ante, 9-6. The Crusaders received the ball again with just under 5 minutes in the first half. A good running attack gained a couple of first downs just crossing the Bulls 40 yard line. A well timed play action fake gave Fred Ice a chance to sneak behind the defense and again catch a long Cranor throw. The score gave the Crusaders a bit of breathing room at the break, 15-6.
The beginning of the second half came with some misfortune when 2010 player of the year, and Crusaders RB Christian Forsman left the field with what is preliminarily diagnosed as a knee ligament injury. As a result, younger players showed up and stepped up in a big way. The first big play after Forsman's departure was made by rookie WR Josef Nguzo. As the Crusaders were driving Eli tried the left side from approximately the 25 yard line. Josef slipped behind the corner and after the ball was misjudged by the defender and uncontested Josef whipped his body around just in time to snag the pass and slip 2 feet in bounds at the side of the endzone for a highlight that will not be soon forgotten. Backup running back Nabard Palani, at 20 years old, had a coming out party with 119 yards on 19 carries and 2 TDs all in the second half, an outstanding performance from one of the most humble men you will ever meet. The third quarter was his as he broke off 2 touchdown runs, the first of which he patiently waited behind the big Crusaders line, widened the defense with an outside move and made a vertical cut with extraordinary quickness that put him yards behind the defense. He bolted past the secondary and outraced the rest of the Bulls for the score. The first three drives of the second half, sparked by the running game, provided touchdowns to the home side and pushed the Crusaders out of reach of the Bulls. The 4th quarter gave an opportunity to many of the Crusaders youth players, who have been practicing alongside the A-team, a chance in a Super Series game. The Bulls pushed across one final score with under a minute to play ending the game at 39-12.
The Crusaders finished the game outrushing the Bulls 159-75 with similar carry attempts. The offensive line created the space after some adjustments and the Crusaders backs made the plays happen. Eli finished 10-19 with 162 yards and 3 TD strikes most likely keeping him atop the league passing charts. The Bulls lost the turnover battle 3-1 which made it all the more difficult to win in Karlstad. Converting 3rd downs was abnormally hard on this Saturday as neither team was over 33% in gaining first downs in this scenario.
The win allows the Crusaders the opportunity to host a semi-final match. The regular season finale in Tyreso in two weeks will have no bearing whatsoever, whether win or lose, as to the future of the 2011 season. This will provide some interesting dynamic as to whether or not the Crusaders arrive with their entire starting squad. The bye week ahead along with the unimportant final game will give the Crusaders the much needed opportunity to regroup given the injury plagued season that has been. One thing that must be said about this resilient group of players is that the depth and ability for players to move around has kept this team atop a league that is bringing it's best game week in and week out for the current champs. Depth is something that often brings down good European teams, and this 4th ranked team in Europe has had the ability to battle on.
Tyreso won their game this weekend against the 6th place Arlanda Jets 48-7. The win puts them out of reach of the other teams in the Super Series and they too will host a playoff semi-final match. They will get the 3rd ranked team from the regular season. Tyreso takes a week off this weekend, and will have that regular season finale to sort things out and measure up their new second half roster against the 2011 Super Series Regular Season Champions that they came within a touchdown against back in May.
