The Disapperators (Ethereal) vs. Dead Men Walking (Zandri)
https://fumbbl.com/ffblive.jnlp?replay=1076716

i wasn't planning on writing blogs for the 3 friendly matches, but... well, you'll see why it being written.

You'd think ghosts would be immune to nerves before a match, but Wini floated back and forth in front of the benches in the locker room before the game. The skeletons from Dead Men Walking were a tiebreaker away from the playoffs last season, with the league blocking leader in Pharoh Semerus and some above average agility skeletons, she knew the spirits would have a hard time if they got sucked into playing a blocking game.

Fans of the ghosts provided a FAME boost, and winning the toss the Disapperators chose to kick. Their idiot coach forgot his rules about playing Matilda, and she lined up with the other ghosts so they had all 6 ball handlers on the pitch. The kick was short, but Tama and Pharaoh Hesthepsut failed to catch the bouncing ball, and it bounced into the Disapperators side of the pitch and was given to Dherquii, who swiftly moved up behind the Zandri line of scrimmage. Pharaoh Hesthepsut blasted Tookuloo, Badly hurting them and removing them from the game, and a blitz of Dzagun on the south side of the pitch knocked him down, but no other blocks broke armor, and a skeleton moved up into base contact with Matilda. Haani and Boolearnoo stood back up, and Dzurgen blitzed leaping into the cage and tried the touch of death on Dherquii with less than impressive results. Matilda tried to dodge away, using a TRR to get to safety, and Dzagun got up and leapt over the skeletons to get off the sideline, but failed the leap without any lasting damage.

Pharoh Semerus smashed Dzurgen, but was unable to break armor while freeing up Dherquii. Tamaji blocked Boolearnoo and stunned it, While Pharaoh Hesthepsut stunned Haani. Dead Men Walking pushed into the Disapperators side of the pitch and Ahkuris blitzed Matilda, killing her (regen worked or this game would have a different reason for being written up, and Coach Tz learned his lesson this time, we think...). Down two players, the ghosts kicked into desperation mode, and Wini hypnotic gazed Smerahtok III to set up a blitz on the ballcarrier with Horat. the push TRR Pow knocked the ball free, with Ahkuns and Tama each failing to catch the bouncing ball due to the Disturbing Presence of the Wraiths. Horat Leapt from the spot of his block into contact with the ball and 3 of the Zandri players, Crezgan moved down to mark a skeleton, Dzurgen got up and floated downfield into the Zandri zone, and Hooderdoo tried to move in position to assist with the ball but snaked a dodge to end the ghosts turn. Wini's Dodge skill prevented Smerahtok III from knocking her down, Tama pushed Horat off the ball, and Tamaji was able to knock down Chookuoo. Dherquii was able to collect the ball, but the handoff to Ahmose-Inhapi failed due to the 2 wraiths in the area, and the ball bounced closer to the wraiths. Horat was able to tackle Snem-Sem to the pitch, and Crezgan blitzed Ahmose-Inhapi skull/bothdown TRR to Pow BD, knocking the other catcher to the turf and knocking the ball away from the Zandri team. the stunned spirits were able to stand back up, and Haani moved to engage a skeleton and Pharaoh Hesthepsut. Wini dodged away from the skeleton marking her, picked up the ball, and attempted to throw it to Dzurgen, Dotama failed the intercept, the pass wasn't accurate, but sailed over the wraiths head, bouncing to the square in front of him.

The Zandri team attempts to block their way free from the spirits, but pushes are all that are accomplished, with a few both down results where both players had block, Foul Appearance finally raised its head, but a TRR allowed Dherquii to block Crezgan (my Blodge wraith) with a 1db, Pow, 6+6 on armor, 4+6 for injury, 5+8 smashed collarbone, regen 1. Regardless of the rest of the game, this is a loss. Crezgan never got an MVP, 4 TDs, 2 CAS over 13 games, and he'd finally gotten dodge in the last match they'd played. played all 13 games with this team (only Wini, Horat, and 2 spirit hosts had made it as long as him, and he's been my most consistent wraith since the team's first game). Dzurgen may have the stat bump, but he's caused more turnovers in one game than Crezgan did his whole career. So, Crezgan, fare you well in your haunting post football career, you will be missed!

Dzurgen was able to pick up the ball and run in a score in turn 4, saving the ghosts from taking more of a beating there. The crowd swarmed the ref on the subsequent kick, no help to the ghosts and i don't think the Zandri took advantage of the bribe either. One spirit host was knocked down by the line blocks, but pushes and foul appearance kept the rest upright, and a failed pickup of the ball allowed Dzagun to blitz the skeleton by the ball, using a TRR to knock it down. Wini hypnotized Ahmose-Inhapi, which let Zaoolitoo to mark one of the skeletons in the Zandri side of the pitch, and Dzurgen was able to leap over the line, but failed the dodge to go collect the ball. Pharoh Semerus stunned Zaoolitoo with his block skill, Tama knocked out Cooslioo, FA struck against Tamaji and Pharaoh Hesthepsut, preventing them from blocking the ghosts, and Dherquii picks up the ball and the skeletons cage near midfield. Wini hypnotizes a cage corner, and Dzurgen leap blitzes the ballcarrier, getting a Pow and knocking Dherquii down and freeing the ball. Matilda is able to pick up the ball, dodge away, but dumb coach forgot to do a pass action, so his gfi to get out of base contact with a skeleton failed and Matilda tripped and stunned herself (at least she wasn't hurt lol). Pharoh Semerus blitzed Dzagun, but was unable to break armor after RR FA, Wini got stunned from a Pow by Smerahtok III, a few ghosts get pushed around and Anem-Sem picked up the ball. Horat gets knocked down, but his armor held. a failed dodge ended the Zandri turn, and the Disapperators swarmed the ballcarrier in their next turn, getting a spirit host providing an assist but the blitz only resulted in pushes, so the ghosts settled with surrounding the ballcarrier. Dead Men walking attempted to block their ballcarrier free, but FA reared its ugly head, and the blocks that went through were just pushes, and the disapperators started their turn 8 with 2 spirit hosts in contact with the ballcarrier. the first block was a push due to dodge, the second block pow freed the ball, and Dzurgen dodged away and picked up the ball, running into the endzone for score 2. 2-0 at the half.

Well, this has gotten longer than i intended, so i'll summarize the second half in this way, Matilda made a nice pass off the opening kickoff, and the ghosts were able to set up a turn 10 score by Dzurgen (hat trick!). the subsequent kickoff saw the skeletons get the ball, but they were separated from the main line, and the ghosts swarmed the ballcarrier, with a blitz on the ballcarrier seeing Horat's touch of death KO Dherquii and horat catching the ball. Horat is knocked down, but the ghosts are able to collect the ball, Wini's pass to Dzagun was dropped, but the wraith is able to score in turn 13 for a 4-0 lead. trying to protect my remaining players, i used spirit hosts as a screen, and gave ground so the Zandri team scored in turn 15 for a 4-1 final.

made enough from this game to replace Crezgan with a rookie wraith, as a -St wraith, even with Blodge, just can't be kept. So, this was my farewell to Crezgan, the rook for queen Wini. Thanks Razmus for the friendly, and i'm not looking forward to having to face you once a year. ;) an interesting note to me, i was outblocked 58 - 17, so i either stayed out of the blocking war, or i was just beaten at it that badly...

team update - Dzurgen got the MVP, so 14 SPPs which got him to 32, so he's now +AG, Wrestle, Strip Ball. perfect sacker.
Dzagun got to 16 SPP with his TD, so he's now Block Tackle just like Horat. they will both take guard or MB on next rolls, haven't decided which for sure. New wraith Crenzul the demented got signed by the idiot coach, so we'll see if we can get him leveled up before the start of the next season.

Congrats to Bazakastine and MrNomad for your appearances in the Season 4 finals! The Shogun vs. Ecstasy match was pretty intense last night, and Baz worked over this ethereal team like a pro in our matchup. can the Builder division champ win the whole thing? should be interesting...