[Zamastan]

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[/hr]Zamastan | World - IDU | Politics | Economy | Opinion

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The Tofino Times
Click Here to Visit The Tofino Times Website
Thursday, February 6th, 2020

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[/hr]VOL. XXXII .. Num. 6320 | In the News: ZFL CHAMPIONS

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[color=#FF0000]BREAKING NEWS
TOFINO WHITECAPS WIN TEAL CUP 29-17
Whitecaps beat the Alberni Predators in Thursday's Championship Game

Above: Tofino Whitecaps players celebrate after a touchdown solidifies their team's lead in the Teal Cup Championship Game against the Alberni Predators

In a thrilling game that served as not only an exciting moment for sports fans across Zamastan, but as a resolute sign of the unity of Zamastan in some of its most difficult days in modern history, the Tofino Whitecaps beat the Alberni Predators 29-17 to win the Teal Cup, the Zamastan Football League's championship game.

The Predators won the coin toss and elected to receive. For the first time in Teal Cup history, the game was played in the rain, which was continuous throughout the game.

The rain did not hinder Predators' return man Devin Hester, who ran back the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown to give Alberni the then earliest lead in Teal Cup history, after only 14 seconds. The Whitecaps avoided kicking to Hester for the rest of the game, allowing him only one punt return, and choosing to squib kick whenever Hester was in the deep kickoff return position.

On Tofino's first drive of the game, defensive back Chris Harris intercepted a deep, third-down pass from quarterback Erik Manning and returned it 6 yards to the Predators' 35-yard line. However, Alberni could not gain a first down on their ensuing possession and they were forced to punt. After several short runs and passes, Manning beat the Alberni defense with a 53-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Reggie Wayne, cutting the Predators' lead to 7–6. The touchdown occurred because of a mental error on the Predators' secondary. Cornerback Charles Tillman passed Reggie Wayne onto safety Danieal Manning. However, Manning chose to follow tight end Ben Utecht over the middle, leaving Wayne all alone. The score remained the same, at 7–6, after punter/holder Hunter Smith fumbled the snap on the point-after-touchdown (PAT) attempt. On the ensuing kickoff, Alberni tight end Gabe Reid fumbled Markus Vinatieri's bouncing kickoff while being tackled by Robert Mathis; Whitecaps linebacker Tyjuan Hagler recovered the loose ball. However, on the next play, Indianapolis gave the ball back when running back Joseph Addai fumbled the hand-off and Predators defensive end Mark Anderson recovered it.

On the first play after the turnover, Thomas Jones's 52-yard run moved the ball to the Whitecaps' 5-yard line. Three plays later, Rex Grossman threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to receiver Muhsin Muhammad, giving the Predators a 14–6 lead. After forcing an Tofino punt, Alberni lost another turnover when Cedric Benson's fumble was recovered by Whitecaps defensive end Dwight Freeney on the Predators' 43-yard line. Tofino subsequently advanced to the 36-yard line, but decided to punt rather than risk a 53-yard field goal attempt.

In the Second quarter, following a Alberni punt, Tofino drove 47 yards and scored with Vinatieri's 29-yard field goal to make the score 14–9. Alberni was forced to punt again on their next drive, and return man Terrence Wilkins returned the ball 12 yards to his own 42-yard line. Manning started out the drive with a 22-yard completion to Marvin Harrison. His next pass went to tight end Dallas Clark for 17 yards. Two more completions moved the ball to the Predators' 11-yard line, and then Dominic Rhodes took the ball to the end zone with three consecutive carries, the last one a 1-yard touchdown run to give his team a 16–14 lead with 6:09 left in the second quarter.

After another Alberni punt, the Whitecaps advanced to the Predators' 36-yard line before Tillman ended the drive by forcing and recovering a fumble from tight end Bryan Fletcher. But on the next play, Grossman fumbled a snap, and Whitecaps defensive lineman Raheem Brock recovered the ball. Manning then led the Whitecaps to Alberni's 17-yard line. With two seconds left, Vinatieri attempted a 36-yard field goal, but his kick sailed wide left, and the score remained 16–14 at halftime.

Third quarter.

Wilkins returned the second half kickoff 26 yards to the Whitecaps 38-yard line. On the ensuing possession, Addai rushed five times for 25 yards and caught four passes for 19 yards as the Whitecaps drove 56 yards in 13 plays and scored with a 29-yard field goal from Vinatieri, increasing their lead to 19–14. On the Predators' next drive, Jones started out with a 14-yard run, and then Muhammad caught a 9-yard pass, bringing up second down and one on the Whitecaps' 45-yard line. But on the next play, Grossman was sacked for an 11-yard loss by Anthony McFarland. Then, on third down, he fumbled the snap. Grossman recovered the fumble himself, but the Predators were forced to punt, and Wilkins returned the ball 12 yards to the Whitecaps' 36-yard line. Rhodes then gained 52 yards on four carries, with a face-mask penalty adding another 10. Alberni managed to halt the drive at their own 2-yard line, but Vinatieri kicked his third field goal to make the score 22–14.

Alberni tight end John Gilmore picked up Vinatieri's bouncing kickoff and returned it 9-yards to his own 45-yard line, with an unnecessary roughness penalty on Mathis adding another 15 yards and giving the Bears a first down on the Whitecaps' 40-yard line. Alberni could only gain 14 yards on their ensuing possession, but it was enough for Robbie Gould to make a 44-yard field goal, cutting the score to 22–17.

Fourth quarter.

After an Tofino 7-play drive ended in a punt, Alberni started on their own 20-yard line with 13:38 left in the game. But four plays later, Whitecaps defensive back Kelvin Hayden intercepted a pass intended for Muhammad and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown.

From that point on, the Whitecaps took over the game. Four plays after the ensuing kickoff, Whitecaps defensive back Bob Sanders intercepted Grossman's pass and returned it 38 yards to the Predators 41-yard line. Alberni's defense eventually forced a punt, but Smith's 32-yard kick pinned the Predators back at their own 8-yard line. The Predators drove to their own 47, but on a fourth down conversion attempt, tight end Desmond Clark dropped a potential first down reception after being leveled by defensive back Matt Giordano. The Whitecaps subsequently called eight consecutive Dominic Rhodes runs before turning the ball over on downs themselves, leaving only 1:42 remaining in regulation. Five plays later, the game was over.

See full article here: https://zkcastor.wixsite.com/thetofinotimes