After an uber exciting set of games in Session One in Week Three of the Fan Controlled Football’s v2.0 Season, Session Two looked to keep pace. Our first matchup featured a battle of season v1.0’s biggest rivalry in the undefeated Shoulda Been Stars against the Glacier Boyz. The night cap was the Knights of Degen taking on the winless Zappers.
Session 2 - 7PM EST Start Time
Game 1: vs (2-0) Shoulda Been Stars vs (1-1) Glacier Boyz
First Half
The Shoulda Been Stars won the Rock-Paper-Scissors and decided to keep the ball. With no LaDarius Galloway to push the chains, the Stars would turn to Tracy Gaston to lead the rushing attack. After a few runs, the Stars would use a trick play. It would be a Jet Sweep of sorts to Wide Receiver Travelle Calvin, who would throw a pass to Quarterback Slade Jarman. Jarman would catch the pass and go all the way to the end zone for 6! The Shoulda Been Stars would take an early 6-0 lead in this one.
The Glacier Boyz and Quarterback Devlin Isadore would possess the ball next. They wasted no time getting towards the Blue Zone. Isadore would hit Wide Receiver Andrew Jamiel for a pass completion. Next, Superback Brycen Alleyne would rush for 15-plus yards. Two plays later, Izzy would rush it in for a touchdown. Following a successful conversion attempt, the Glacier Boyz would lead 8-6.
The Stars would run just one play on it’s next drive. Tracy Gaston would cough up the football and it was recovered by the Glacier Boyz. Starting with excellent field position at the 17 yard line, the Glacier Boyz looked to add to their lead. They’d be able to capitalize off the turnover with a Brycen Alleyne rushing touchdown. The Glacier Boyz would extend the lead to 14-6.
The Stars offense looked a bit out of sync on the next drive. They’d be forced with a 4th and 3 and Slade Jarman would get sacked for a five yard loss, the pressure put on by Defensive Tackle Keith Wainwright. The Wendy’s Flip The Field would be deployed by the Stars, backing for Glacier Boyz up to start their next drive.
The Glacier Boyz would run into some offensive trouble of their own on the next drive. They too would be faced with a 4th down situation. A roughing the passer penalty would give the Glacier Boyz a fresh set of downs to work with. In the end, the score would stay at 14-6 heading into the half.
Second Half
The Glacier Boyz possessed the ball first coming out of the break. They’d push the ball downfield via Wide Receiver Andrew Jamiel and Brycen Alleyne. Alleyne would end the drive for his squad with a rushing TD. The Glacier Boyz extended the lead to 20-6 following the score.
The Shoulda Been Stars needed to get back in track in order to keep pace in the second half. Following a few nice gains by Wide Receiver Tyis Boykin on the ground, Slade Jarman would also pick up some yardage with his legs. Boykin would finish off the drive with a touchdown. A successful two-point play would bring the game to 20-14 with just 5:54 to play.
Much like the first half, a turnover would change the scope of the game. Glacier Boyz Brycen Alleyne would fumble to ball and it was recovered by the Stars. The Stars would immediately deploy the Power Play Power Up, giving them a 7-6 advantage on the field. Once again Tyis Boykin would punch it in for 6. After a successful conversion attempt, the Stars would take the lead 22-20.
The Glacier Boyz would get a huge chunk play from Andrew Jamiel to start the next drive. The 30-yard connection would set up a Brycen Alleyne rushing touchdown, giving the Glacier Boyz a late lead at 26-22.
Now with about a minute to play, the Stars would try and get some points and reclaim the lead. The drive would start off pretty rocky as Slade Jarman would be sacked and then botch a snap on the next play. With just 9 seconds remaining, Slade Jarman would scramble to the end zone for a TD! He’d give the Stars a 26-24 lead with just four seconds to go. The Glacier Boyz would heave a pass into the end zone towards Andrew Jamiel’s way… but it would fall incomplete. The Stars would hang on to win 28-26.
FINAL - SHOULDA BEEN STARS 28 / GLACIER BOYZ 26
STARS
Slade Jarman - 6/8, 60 Yards, 1 Rushing TD, 1 Receiving TD
Tyis Boykin - 8 Carries, 34 Yards, 2 TDs
Travelle Calvin - 2 Receptions, 36 Yards, 33-Yard Passing TD
Justin Foster - 6 Tackles, 2 Sacks
GLACIER BOYZ
Devlin Isadore - 4/9, 66 Yards, 6 Carries, 12 Yards, 1 TD
Brycen Alleyne - 12 Carries, 79 Yards, 3 TDs
Andrew Jamiel - 3 Receptions, 57 Yards
Darius Doakes - 5.5 Tackles
Game 2: (1-1) Knights of Degen vs (0-2) Zappers
First Half
The Zappers would win a great game of Rock-Paper-Scissors and elect to start on Offense. With Zappers Quarterback Johnny Manziel out for this game, the team would turn to former University of Missouri Quarterback Kelly Bryant. Bryant, who was freshly signed this week, did carry some arena football experience into this one, having played for the IFL’s Bismarck Bucks in 2021. Bryant’s presence would be felt almost immediately. The Zappers would complete a quick pass to Wide Receiver Terrance Williams and follow that up with a nice RPO play to Bryant. That play would set up another RPO, but this time it was Superback Shun’Cee Thomas keeping it and rushing in for a touchdown! The Zappers would lead 6-0 after the hot start.
Not to be overshadowed by the star power the Zappers possessed, Knights of Degen and Quarterback Ed Crouch would take the field next on offense. After a few runs, a penalty on the defense would move the chains. On a 4th and 8, Wide Receiver Drake Wells would find itself all alone in the end zone, and with a strike from Ed Crouch KOD would get on the board. We would be all tied at 6 with about 11:45 left to play in the half.
The Zappers would try some trickeration on the next drive. Kelly Bryant would attempt to haul in a pass from Terrance Williams, but it would fall incomplete. On a 4th and 7 play, Bryant would find Wide Receiver Terrell Owens to keep the drive alive. Superback Josh Robinson would get some carries as the Zappers would push towards the Blue Zone. After an intention grounding by Kelly Bryant, he’d connect with Terrance Williams to keep the drive going. A pass interference call would set the Zappers up at the 1 yard line. Terrell Owens would catch a TD pass two plays later. The twelve-plus minute drive resulted in more points for Zappers, breaking the tie and giving them the lead 12-6.
With 21 seconds remaining in the half, KOD needed to keep pace with the Zappers. A huge completion to Wide Receiver Yedidiah Louis put his team towards midfield. A few plays later, Ed Crouch tossed a rocket towards the end zone that was caught by Louis for a TD. A successful two-point conversion gave KOD a 14-12 lead with just seconds to go in the half. That score would hold as the clock hits 0:00 in the first twenty minutes of play.
Second Half
Knights of Degen started on offense to begin the second half. Things got hairy right away for KOD. Ed Crouch would get sacked just inches from the goal line. They would recover however as Yedidiah Louis showed off some incredible break-tackle capabilities. He would break free from a would be tackle and take it distance for 6. KOD extended their lead to 20-12 at this point in the game.
The Zappers used a nice play to get down the field in a hurry. Terrance Williams would reel in a pass for 20+ yards and move the sticks. Kelly Bryant would run for a TD later in the drive, tying the game at 20 a piece.
KOD would get a huge play from Wide Receiver Jordan Williams on the next drive. Ed Crouch fired a bomb to Williams who would be ruled down at the 1 yard line. Crouch ran it in for a TD in the next play, breaking the tie and giving KOD the lead at 26-20. A two-point try and it 28-20 in favor of the Knights.
With under 7 minutes to play, how would the Zappers respond? Newly signed Quarterback Kelly Bryant showed why he was brought in to play for the Zappers. After a triple option play to Wide Receiver James Harden, Bryant would rush for a TD the very next play. He’d get some help from his O-Line as they pushed him (and the pile) last the pylon for the touchdown. After a successful conversion attempt, the game was once again tied, this time at 28 all.
KOD possessed the ball next as the clock hit 1 minute left to play. Ed Crouch once again showed some great throwing ability in this drive. The season v1.0 People’s Championship MVP found Tight End Tommy Auger for a TD with 50 seconds left to play. KOD once again took the lead 36-28 with time winding down in the game.
The Zappers would use some short pass completions to get down the field with the seconds ticking away in this one. After an incomplete pass in the end zone to Terrance Williams, he’d haul in a beautiful ball from Bryant for a TD. The Zappers would pull to within two of KOD AT 36-34. Following the unsuccessful conversion attempt, the Zappers elected to use the comeback rules. They would get one play, a 4th and 10, to try and convert and keep possession of the ball. Kelly Bryant would rush for 15-plus yards and keep the Zappers hopes alive. After a heave into the end zone that was incomplete, KOD Defensive End Jordan Harold would sack Kelly Bryant on the final play of the game, giving his team the 36-34 win!
FINAL - KNIGHTS OF DEGEN 36 / ZAPPERS 34
KNIGHTS
Ed Crouch - 10/11, 162 Yards, 4 TDs, 1 Rushing TD
Yedidiah Louis - 5 Receptions, 84 Yards, 2 TDs
Tommy Auger - 1 Receiving TD
Jordan Harold - 5 Tackles, 1 Sack
ZAPPERS
Kelly Bryant - 12/20, 130 Yards, 2 TDs, 10 Carries, 37 Yards, 2 TDs
Shun’Cee Thomas - 3 Carries, 28 Yards, 1 TD
Terrance Williams - 7 Receptions, 79 Yards, 1 TD
Terrell Owens - 3 Receptions, 29 Yards, 1 TD
Standings
Week Four Schedule
Session One - 1 PM EST
(3-0) Bored Ape FC vs (1-2) Glacier Boyz
(2-1) Knights of Degen vs (2-1) 8oki
Session Two - 7 PM EST
(1-2) Beasts vs (0-3) Zappers
(3-0) Shoulda Been Stars vs (0-3) Kingpins
Final Thoughts
Another action packed week in the FCF did not disappoint in the slightest. With the third and “final” draft out of the way, you can start to see some continuity forming within each offense. This might’ve been the best week of games thus far. High intensity, high intrigue, and plenty of nail-biting finishes across the league. Spring Football Frenzy looks forward to Week Four and the rest of the FCF season! #LFG