FWL Bowl VI

Austria DarkKnights 24 San Antonio Riders 19

San Antonio      7  7  0  5 -- 19
Austria          7  0 10  7 -- 24

First Quarter
San Antonio - Carpenter 9 pass from Rylance (Criswell kick), 5:32
Austria - Cadore 79 pass from Penkki (Trainor kick), 11:24

Second Quarter
San Antonio - McGill 1 run (Criswell kick), 10:44

Third Quarter
Austria - Sutherland 2 run (Trainor kick), 4:01
Austria - Trainor 26 FG, 10:00

Fourth Quarter
San Antonio - Criswell 41 FG, 6:47
Austria - Pearson 11 run (Trainor kick), 7:53
San Antonio - Safety (Pearson tackled in endzone by Woodson), 13:17

Austria won their second FWL Bowl thanks to an incredible display by their backup QB Petrus Penkki and a career game by WR Mike Cadore. In his first season Austria GM Bruce Henderson compiled an incredible 17-1 championship season. The San Antonio Riders gave it their best shot however and were unlucky not to tie the game up in the 4Q.

In the first quarter Petrus Penkki was looking nervous and fumbled the snap and the Riders recovered. They took full advantage and silenced the loud Austrian crowd when Heath Rylance found Chad Carpenter in the endzone for the touchdown. After an exchange of punts the DarkKnights had the ball on their 2 yard line, it just took 5 plays to move the ball 98 yards, veteran DarkKnights receiver Mike Cadore who has been amazing in the playoffs took a short pass and ran 79 yards to tie it all up.

The score was still 7-7 into the second quarter but finally the Riders who enjoyed a great season under GM Neil Henderson had a great drive moving 80 yards in 17 plays for FB Owen McGill to barge over from a yard out. At halftime the Riders were surprising the DarkKnights 14-7.

After a great halftime speech by Bruce Henderson the DarkKnights came straight out and marched downfield for FB Jonathan Sutherlands short touchdown run. After forcing the Riders to punt Austria moved downfield yet again, this time settling for the FG and finally Austria were in the lead.

Austria could have moved a further 3 points ahead but Trainor missed a FG which looked to have been costly when the Riders tied the game up in the fourth quarter with a FG, the score was now 17-17. Enter Mike Cadore, on the DarkKnights first play after the kickoff Cadore got onto the edge of a Penkki bomb and ran 70 yards only to be knocked out at the 11 yard line. On the next play HB Pepe Pearson scored a touchdown and the DarkKnights were back in front 24-17. With Rider CB Gary Richard out of the game due to an injury Mike Cadore was taking advantage.

Now the Riders had to move downfield quickly as there were 7 minutes left in the game. On a crucial 3rd down Rylance found former DarkKnights HB Michael Hicks for the first down and the drive continued, Rylance then found WR Maurice Bryant again for a crucial pass and the Riders were driving. Combining passes to his HB's, TE and WR's Rylance was looking efficient against the tough DarkKnights pass rush. With 3 minutes left in the game the Riders had a first down on the Austria 16 yard line and they were looking to tie up the game.

On second down Michael Hicks finally found a hole and looked to be heading for the endzone but DT Tim Beauchamp managed to push him out of bounds, Beauchamp who was only starting because of injury had a great game and should be one to watch for the future. 2:40 left and first and goal on the 1 yard line, then history was made...

1st down - Hicks runs for a short loss, tackled by Terrence Cooks.

2nd down - Hicks stuffed for a 2 yard loss, tackled by Brett Fields

3rd down - Rylance throws a short pass to Hicks in the flat but Kinnon Tatum makes a touchdown saving tackle and stops Hicks for just a yard

4th down from the 1 - Rylance looking to throw is pressured and his pass is knocked down by DE David Sanders who is only in the game because of an injury to Steve Akers.

The DarkKnights had stopped the Riders in an amazing goalline stand. However on the next play Penkki was caught for a safety and the Riders would get one more chance ! With another pass to impressive backup Maurice Bryant the Riders were on the Austria 45 with just over a minute left. However the Austrian defense (who finished with 8 sacks) sacked Rylance on consecutive downs and the Riders now faced a 3rd & 25. Rylance with no receivers open scrambled and ran 20 yards, it was now 4th and 5, their last chance. Fittingly it was DT Tim Beauchamp who came up with a crucial sack. The DarkKnights ran out the ball to celebrate a great FWL Bowl win.

MVP was WR Mike Cadore who caught 5 passes for a FWL Bowl record 196 yards and one touchdown. In the playoffs Cadore appeared to be a favourite of QB Petrus Penkki who found Cadore for two crucial touchdowns in the EFC Championship. Would Penkki possibly push LaRocca out of the starting role next year ? Only time would tell. DT Tim Beauchamp was another great backup who could start next year and push a veteran off the squad. Beauchamp had just 1 tackle and 1 sack in the whole of this season, in the FWL Bowl he had 3 tackles and 2 sacks to lead a vicious Austrian defense.

The Austria DarkKnights were winners of their second FWL Bowl and were also favourites to repeat. For the Riders it was a great season and they will obviously want to go one step further next season in Season 7 of the Fantasy World League.