The previous I game I finished tonight between Purdue and Kentucky showed exactly why I love playing solitaire.
Purdue vs. Kentucky. Both teams won their openers, this is the conference debut for both teams. Kentucky is the defending national champion, having gone 3-0 and then winning the Commonwealth Bowl over West Virginia, which is my national championship game, 21-9.
With the season-opening, 27-17 win over Michigan, Kentucky had won all 5 games it had ever played. The Wildcats had never been held without a touchdown.
Yet, on a night where nothing went right, the Wildcats managed a defensive stop, used their three time outs in the process, and with 3 minutes, 13 seconds left, stood on their own 10, down four points. 90 yards separated Kentucky and continuing its winning streak.
1st-and-10 from the 10: Tight end open over the middle for about a 15-yard game .... shake The Box ... INCOMPLETE!
2:53 to go. 2nd-and-10 from the 10: Running back slips out to the right for what would be a short gain ... shake The Box ... INCOMPLETE!
2:36 to go. 3rd-and-10 from the 10: Wide receiver open to the left about 20 yards down the field ... shake The Box ... throw it! Ball short-hops receiver. INCOMPLETE!
2:21 to go. 4th-and-10 from the 10: Wide receiver runs a deep cross behind linebackers and underneath fading safeties ... shake The Box ... throw it! COMPLETE!!! But he's down in bounds, and the clock doesn't stop for first downs in the ECFA. Pass plays take a long time, as well, because of the defensive run off, pivots, etc.
The WR is tackled at the 35 ... players separated ... tick, tock, tick, tock ... have to get both teams lined up in accepted formations .... done ... snap board on, then right back off to serve as the quarterback spiking the ball ... DONE! .... stop the clock ...
... 4 seconds left!
Time for one last play. I paused before lining it up, thinking about the rush of trying to get both teams lined up and set, properly, to execute every part of the play with something left on the clock. It was amazing; and more importantly, it was a whole lot of fun!
On the final play, a receiver came open on a short route, and Purdue locked up everyone else. The pass was thrown and incomplete. Game over. Streak over! Kentucky goes down!
There is no predicting what these players are going to do on the field, what way they will turn, who will show surprising strength and speed. Now there's a bit of history, too, as Purdue is the first team to ever declaw the mighty Wildcats.
That's why I play.
Ed
