Blog: Strong Side
Fairbanks Grizzlies 2009 home opener
Published Thursday, April 2, 2009
End 3rd quarter: Just when I slam Purvis, he proves me wrong, finding Sanders at the the 1-yard line for a TD.
OK folks, this one's 58-29 in Fairbanks favor. I'll post a final score later.
2:55 3rd quarter: The Grizzlies' dancers practiced this time around, apparently, and Keith Smith is back on the field.
That's been the only development in the past 15 minutes, as Fairbanks' offense is slowly chugging down the field with Purvis under center. He nearly threw another INT in the end zone, but the defender bobbled the ball.
Speaking of chugging: It's last call folks!
6:38 3rd quarter: Monte Purvis is in at QB for the Grizzlies. He's shown some mobility with an 18-yard TD run, but he's also thrown a pick and hit just one of his four passes.
The Grizzlies D-line, though, is dominating Maryland and giving Purvis all the breathing room he needs.
Fairbanks 52-29.
Halftime: Fairbanks 46-29.
Maryland's Darryl Overton Jr. keeps the Maniacs alive with a touchdown catch with 1:15 remaining. He then ran a screen play in for a 2-point conversion.
Josh Crawford reeled in a 44-yard TD just 11 seconds later.
Daudi White got a stunning amount of air as he picked off a pass with 44 seconds remaining, but offsetting penalties nullified the play. Grizzlies WR Keith Smith was hurt on the play, though.
That brings the Grizzlies' injury total to three this half: DB Johnell Brown, K Ikeka Neisman and Smith.
1:30 second quarter: As a fan straddles a keg at the 10-yard line, I'll inform you that the Grizzlies are up 40-21 thanks to a 25-yard pass to Josh Crawford.
Rummell has one incomplete pass so far.
8:24 second quarter: After a spirited round of Plinko, the Maniacs reach the end zone with a short pass to No. 10 and get the 2-point conversion.
Rummell responds with yet another TD to Sanders, who now has three. Fairbanks 34-21.
9:47 second quarter: Lonnie Sanders makes up for his fumble by finding an open piece of real estate in the end zone. Rummell finds him for a 16-yard TD, then splits defenders at the end-zone line to rush in for the 2-point conversion. Fairbanks 28-13.
11:23 2nd quarter: Sanders fumbles a pitch at Fairbanks' 18 and sets up a passing TD by Maryland. Extra point attempt is missed. Fairbanks 20-13.
Oh, and Rummell's TD streak is over. He was sacked before the end of the first and threw a 20-yard strike to Smith to open the second.
3:51 1st quarter: Rummell's three passes this game have all resulted in touchdowns. This time it went to Lonnie Sanders.
Kicker Ikeka Neisman hasn't appeared on the field since the tackle into the wall, and a 2-point conversion failed. Fairbanks 20-7.
4:10 1st quarter: Johnell Brown seems fine, what with an interception and 24-yard return and all. Fairbanks is knocking on the door, beginning its posession at the 16-yard line.
5:44 1st quarter: The Grizzlies get a stop, but have taken some hard hits to get it. Kicker Ikika Neisman is gimping off the field after making a tackle on the kickoff. Johnell Brown gets laid out on a return after Maryland kicks it away.
In a mid-quarter contest, a guy in a Chargers jersey throws a football through the uprights while sitting in an armchair 25 yards away. Local radio host and comedian Glenn Anderson reacts with "Wow! You can throw from you butt well!" Do I need to make a joke after that?
Rummell then one ups the Chargers guy with a 31-yard strike, again to Keith Smith. Fairbanks 14-7.
11:42 1st quarter: Fairbanks QB Justin Rummell's first pass in the Carlson Center is a good one. He has all day in the pocket to find Keith Smith downfield for a 30-yard TD. The hold for the extra point was botched, thought. Maryland 7-6.
12:48 1st quarter: Mayor Terry Strle's coin flip gives Maryland the ball. Shortly thereafter, a deception play ends in a 15-yard TD run. Maniacs 7-0.
1 minute until kickoff: Anybody got a candle?
The Grizzlies entered one-by-one through a row of cheerleaders who instantly appeared when the spotlights moved to their corner of the field. Were they dancing the whole time? Could anyone see them?
Fairbanks owner and GM Ricky Bertz launches a pair of footballs into the pitch blackness of the stands. They may have gone to a lucky kid; they could have plunked an elderly lady in the forehead. Only the appearance or absence of a lawsuit can confirm either.
19:30 until kickoff: The Grizzlies have apparently gone to the dark side.
Twenty-two minutes before kickoff, many fans have yet to find their seats and the Carlson Center lights are off. The dancers entered in a stretch SUV and stealthily scampered from the SUV to a lone spotlight in the center of the field.
Inch by inch, the SUV carefully maneuvered off the field at an astonishing rate of 5 feet/minute while the Maniacs entered the field under the glow of spotlights and the occasional brake lights of the SUV.
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