Results from my "Playtest League"

[Orleanian In Exile]

TROJANS 21
TIGERS 21

For my first chance to get back to actually running a game in a little over a month because of a slew of outside commitments, I decided to playtest a clocked game: four 15 minute quarters with no stoppages and with multiple first downs just to see how well it would work out in terms of what I'm looking for. Well, there did not seem to be the balance between timing and scoring opportunities I'd like for the timeframe I have to run games within, so it's likely that this will be the only experiment in this format. But that's not to say that this game didn't have it's thrills. Fourth quarter and with the score knotted 14-14, the Tigers are starting their next drive after the Trojan score when the QB throws an interception which gets returned for a TD to give the Trojans the late lead. And with time starting to run out, the Tigers commit two holding penalties which force them back to their own 20 while the minutes melt away and the game is about to elude their grasp. It is just as the timer goes off at 0:00 when the Tigers get their last play off and hit for a 80-yd TD completion to escape with the tie.

[Orleanian In Exile]

GREENIES 7
WILDCATS 7

A father/son contest today, using the very basic run-only/no-kick rules for our games but going back to the possession-set format. Today's game was a defensive slogging match; especially in the respective red zones. My Greenies managed to score in the second quarter but never got into the endzone again, while my son's Wildcats managed after three and a half quarters to put a man across the plane on his last possession to end the game in a tie. Elapsed time for today's outing clocked in at 1.04.

[Orleanian In Exile]

TROJANS 24
SEAHAWKS 28

Long runs of 65 and 80 yards characterised a game divided into a first-half offensive slugfest, and a more evenly-paced 2nd half. A missed FG attempt by the Seahawks which would have put the game out of reach for the Trojans opened up one last opportunity but they were only able to get one play off before the clock struck zero. Today's contest was, again, a timed-format game but going back to the four-down limit on possessions. I am still not finding any satisfaction with clocked games as far as the timing/scoring opportunity balance goes so I am likely to abandon this format and stick with possession-sets for the remainder of this series.

[Orleanian In Exile]

CHIEFS 17
BRONCOS 28

This time a pair of NFL teams right out of their unopened bags from the lot I got two years ago matched up in a game marking the return to the possession-set format. First half was very much a shootout between the two teams, taking them into a 14-14 half. Second half, however, was when the Bronco defence stepped up to nullify the Chiefs striking power, holding them to only a field goal after having run up another touchdown after receiving the kick to make it a 21-17 game. Fourth quarter and the Broncos widen their lead with two quick-strike passing plays to cover 80 yards and score their fourth touchdown of the day. It then comes down to the Chiefs needing a touchdown and then hoping for an onsides-kick to grab another scoring opportunity. This time, they go with three receivers on the right wing for two plays which puts them in Broncos territory, but on their critical drive for the goal the WR gets sandwiched between a safety and a cornerback on fourth down and it's all over. Elapsed time for this contest came in at 1.06 —right within the range I'm looking at for my game requirements.