1st Ever Matchup Between Miggle Standard and ProLine 67 Big Man Teams! Panthers vs. Packers
The TUDOR TIMES Solitaire Edition
The Official News Source for the Hardaway Solitaire Electric Football League
TM
Vol. 3, No. 1
Friday, April 9, 2004
Glenn Hardaway
Editor, Publisher
Panthers stop the Pack Attack!
Ahman Green loses two!
PLAY BY PLAY
1. GB KORGreen 23 out of bounds
2. GB 1st Green 22 Pittman
3. GB 1st Green -2 Williams (LSU)
4. GB 2nd Green 8 Peete
5. GB 3rd Green 12 Miller (LSU)
6. GB 1st Green 2 Pittman
7. GB 2nd Green 1 Williams
8. GB 3rd Green -1 Peppers
NEW FEATURE!
Poss/Down Player Yds. Pts.TMB
1st QTR.
2nd QTR.
1. GB 4th Green 2 Donnalley
2. C 1st Delhomme -8SACKReynolds
3. C 2nd Delhomme -4 Favre
pass to Franklin
4. C 3rd Delhomme 68out of bounds
pass to Franklin
5. C 1st Franklin 11 7 Touchdown!
6. GB KOR Green 26out of bounds
7. GB 1st Favre 48 out of bounds
pass to Davenport
8. GB 1stFavre-to-Green 26 7 Touchdown!
CTO1 KOR Franklin 51 Franks
CT02 1st Delhomme Inc.
Did a left-handed thumb pass w/TTQB here!
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Panthers-14 Packers-7 FINAL
New Feature!
(Houston, TX) This historic game was played in the newly- renamed Ken Allen Coliseum (Tudor Model 620). It had all the markings of that first-ever matchup between the heavily-favored NFL and the underdog AFL of Super Bowl I. It just stood to reason that a bigger,heavier team with larger boat-shaped bases would have a physical advantage over smaller, lighter-weight figures. But don't tell that to these fiesty Carolina Panthers! In the first-ever matchup between 2 different solitaire leagues, the Miggle standard figure Panthers took on the ProLine 67 Big Man Packers, the same team used to compete this past season in the HEFL! The game would use HEFL rules with the exception of adding one solitaire rule--if a receiver chooses not to adjust after a catch, no defensive player may adjust.This same Panther team surprised last years Packers, an amber Tudor original hog leg team, by scoring on their very first play ever! (See Story and look for scrimmage photos at bottom of page.) This Packer team was well aware of that humbling experience by its associate team and were determined that this would not be a case of history repeating itself.
Panthers-Packers continued...
Ahman Green carried the opening kickoff out to the 23-yard line. This was the first surprise of the game, albeit an unpleasant one for the Packers who were used to touchdown runbacks, a la Elijah Pitts, from their superstar running back. Green Bay was out to establish a solid ground attack, the newly dubbed "Pack Attack" by Coach Glenn Hardaway. The Pack Attack is just consistent run blocking with Green running to the right side until he breaks free on any given play. Each player must execute perfectly for this play to work, and it has worked in practice and even in the 2003 HEFL playoffs against the powerful Steelers a few.times. It worked on Green Bay's first play from scrimmage as Green reeled of 22 yards before being pulled down by Kavika Pittman, a rookie defensive end from McNeese State in Louisiana. It was Green again on the next carry, but this time the Panthers shut him down with Louis Williams of LSU bolting through the line to drop him for a two-yard loss! "This Louisiana draftting priority is proving to be the perfect formula!" Carolina Coach Hardaway quipped, knowing full well that every EF team in his ownership will be stacked first with LSU and Louisiana players before others are chosen! "You know it's hard to coach against myself, but it sure is fun at the same time!" LOL! Try writing about it while I'm at it. Anyway, back to the game! The Packers faced a 2nd and 12, but did that change the play-calling? Not one bit! Green got it again and pounded off 8 yards with Carolina backup QB Rodney Peete stepping up on D to make the play. Green then waited for his blocking and calmly broke free for 12 yards and a Packer first down to keep the opening drive alive. That play brought the Packers across midfield and down to the Carolina 37 yard line. Green got it again, but managed only 2 yards as the Panther defense dug in. The next play was for just a single yard as Williams made his 2nd tackle of the game. Then North Carolina native Julius Peppers nailed Green behind the line for a one -yard loss to force a 4th and 8 at the Panther 35. Green Bay was confident Green could break a long-gainer again so the Pack boldy ran the ball on 4th and long, also refusing to boot a 3-pointer. It was another Carolina native, Kevin Donnalley, who made teh clutch tackle for the Panters as the Packer drive was stopped ! Back-to-back tackles by Carolina natives got the crowd going wild! The little Miggle
team had stopped a powerful ProLine 67 Big
Man Packer drive! Eyes were bulging wide
and jaws were agaping!
Panthers Possession:
The Pack Attack is designed to break to the right side of the field. Ahman
Green followed his blocking well on this play that was executed perfectly
for a healthy Packer gain. Below: Green cuts a path back inside his blockers instead of the sideline angle. Both plays work well for the Pack.
Now the Panthers would show what they could do on offense. Or, maybe not! Green Bay had a fresh 11-man squad on the field --something the Panthers could not do with just 11 men who had to play both ways. In an obvious attempt to repeat history, Delhomme went back to pass on Carolina's first play. The Packers would have none of that! "Not with this team!" said Packer defensive end Jamal Reynolds of Florida State. He blitzed right up the middle over the center and sacked Delhomme 8 yards back.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Reynolds yelled to his teammates on the field. Bret Favre is another Packer on a mission. He remembered getting bumped off the starting team in Green Bay's very first season as Coach Hardaway opted to go with Lombardi's original Packers only. (See Story). Favre is also well-known for his defensive skills on Hardaway's competition Packer team. For the 2003 season, Hardaway made the new choice to go with a ProLine Big Man team only and Favre was back in charge! He pressured the QB and forced Delhomme to dump off a short pass to avoid a sack. Favre tackled Franklin for a four-yard loss and still nailed Delhomme at the same time for an outstanding defensive play! (see photo) Carolina now faced a 3rd and 22 from its own 21-yard-line. Green Bay was showing Carolina some strong defense now. *Note to self: It is surely time to beef up this fine Panther team of Miggle standard figs with another order! Now, back to the game writeup. Meanwhile, on this dismal 3rd and forever, Delhomme cooly dropped back to pass, unphased by the Packer defensive onslaught. This time the pass blocking was perfect (as you can see in the picture here) and Franklin slipped loose in the flat. I was out of position behind my coffee table and the closet, so I had to make a left-handed thumb pass with the TTQB. Nailed it! Franklin raced uncontested downfield for 68 yards before dust-balling himself out of bounds at the 11!
Darn! I knew I should have gotten the Windex after this field before resuming play. Without the dust layer, this would have been a TD! No matter...the supremely confident Panthers lined up for a bold run up the gut on their next play and once again, the little Panther line powered the ProLine Packer D off to the right side clearing enough real estate to build a small shopping center down the middle and left side of the field! Franklin easily buzzed across the goal line as the Panthers stun the Packers to take a 7-0 lead with just a couple plays left before halftime!
Green gets stuffed
by the Panther D!
Favre tackles two!
Panthers vs. Packers ...continued
Green curled out of bounds again on the ensuing kickoff! Just 26 yards, still a 3-yard improvement over the opening kickoff. Well now, maybe it's time to tweak Green's base! Then he will no longer be able to claim his ProLine double clip rookie base is "out-of-the-bag". But then again, why risk messing with this base that has produced touchdowns consistently; second only to the legendary Hall-of-Famer Elijah Pitts? Guess I'll not mess with it for now. It was time to break the game plan for the Packers. Just two plays left in the half, not counting the timeout plays if needed, meant the Pack Attack would stop in favor of some quality "air time". It was time for Favre's cannon to fire a strike to get Green Bay back in the game before the half. Sure enough--bingo! Favre smacks a wide-open Najeh Davenport for a 48-yard killer strike from the Packer 26 to the Panther 26! (see photo)
On the last play of the first half, Favre was under pressure again. He let go once again at the very last minute, taking another hit, but not before nailing Ahman Green in a crowd who broke free and scored a touchdown to put Green Bay right back in the ball game! (see photo) Man, it just don't get any better than this! Favre is just as exciting in EF as he is in real life! It took the Packers just 3 plays to answer the Panther score!
Carolina called the first of its two timeout plays since the Packer score was the last play of regulation. The Panthers were going to try to get more points on the board with just two plays. Speedster Franklin ran back the kickoff fora nice 51-yard gain to put the Panthers in striking distance at the Packer 49. This was the last play of the first half, unless the Packers used their timeout plays. Delhomme dropped back to chunck the Hail Mary bomb. But Delhomme was under heavy pressure. His only receiver was tightly covered and he threw it incomplete. The half was over. Green Bay-7, Carolina-7.
Favre nails Davenport just before getting hit! A 48-
yard Packer gain!
Favre, the TTQB here, waits until the very last
second to pop off a quick strike to Green -- in
between 4 Panthers -- for a Packer TD!
Green
HUA!!!!------------
3rd QTR.
Panthers score!
Packer TD!
1. C KOR Franklin 45out of bounds
2. C 1st Franklin -2Tauscher
3. C 2ndFranklin3Peterson
4. C 3rd Delhomme Inc
5. C 4th Delhomme to 22 Clifton
Cousin
6. C 1st Franklin 2 Reynolds
7. C 2ndCousin 10 Reynolds
8. C 1st Peete 1Reynolds
Panthers-Packers Game...continued 2nd Half
The Panthers said they would take full advantage of having the board motor behind them to open up the 2nd half. Franklin returned the kickoff out to the Carolina 45 for another fine return to set the Panthers up with superb field position. It could have been much better but again he curled out of bounds with a wide open field in front of him. To throw the Packer defense out of sinc, Carolina opted to go with the running game to begin the 3rd quarter. But it was Carolina that got thrown out of sinc as Wisconsin native Mark Tauscher, usually an offensive tackle, bolted through to nail Franklin for a two-yard loss. But Franklin saw something develop he could capitalize on and asked for the ball again. He got and picked up 3, but a hole had opened up and he could have scored had he not been
Panthers-Packers Game... continued
hooked by his outstretched arm by Rodney Peete who accidently swung him around the wrong direction. He ran into Packer de-
fensive tackle Kenny Peterson (Ohio State). "We really have to be careful in how we set that play up," Panther coach Hardaway said, "because you are running a defensive back figure very close to a running back figure and if the line doesn't execute the blocks just right you are going to have an arm hooking situation with the players spinning each other around. It is a timing thing, but when it works, it works really well." Carolina faced a critical third and nine now at the Panther 46. Delhomme was pressured and had to throw just a split second before a key receiver broke open. He had a man open on the sidelines but it was a sure tackle as soon as he caught the ball. Since it was his only target Delhomme fired in his direction but missed! The Panthers opted to go for it on 4th down. Delhomme had hoped for Terry Cousin (South Carolina) to break free, but on the next play Cousin did just that. He was wide open with a blocker downfield and Delhomme nailed him with no problem for an amazing 22-yard pickup and a Carolina first down in Packer territory! (see photo) Back to the ground game for the Panthers. Franklin picked upp just a pair as Reynolds made another great tackle at the nose guard position. Out of the same formation the Panthers changed things up by giving the ball to Cousin this time and he picked up a quick 10 yards and a Carolina first down. Reynolds made a spectacular tackle as he broke through the line quickly overpursuing the play, then circled around in a complete arc to return and make the stop! He was a looper without being a looper! LOL! The next play, out of the same formation again, the Panthers quick snapped to Rodney Peete lined up at flanker. The field broke open and he had a sure score, but the wicked uncanny play of Reynolds came through agin and Peete was dropped with just a one yard gain! Reynolds fought off the center, plowed thorugh a weak block by Delhomme, then plowed through Franklin and pinwheeled left and charged down the line to nab Peete before he got going good! Unbelievable! It was just like Reynolds was alive and read the play! This will have to go down as one of the most amazing defensive EF plays I've ever seen. I took a pic (see photo), but I wish I had a video of this one! The Panthers were moving the ball around on offense with a different carrier on every play. This time it was Delhomme's turn and he ran straight up the middle, right at Reynolds, and picked up two before Darren Sharper stopped him. It was now the 4th quarter and the Panthers were chewing up the clock.
Cousin was called on again as the Panthers kept the Packer defense guessing on who would carry the ball. Cousin foloowed perfect blocking all the way into the end zone for 17-yard Carolina touchdown! (see photo) The Panthers were up 14-7 now after a perfectly executed ball control drive.
Cousin (#21) breaks open!
Panthers-Packers Game 4th Quarter continued...
Ahman Green had his best kick return of the day and at a crucial time as he brought the ball out to the Packer 34, setting up good field position for Green Bay. There were just five plays left in the game, not counting the Packer timeout plays if they needed to use them. Green Bay moved Reynolds to center on offense and ran Green up the middle behind him. The Panthers went without a nose guard and had the MLB play back a little further causing Reynolds to blow through the line too quickly.
4th QTR.
1. C 2nd Delhomme 2 Sharper
2. C 3rd Cousin 17 7 Touchdown!
3. GB KOR Green 34 Cousin
4. GB 1stGreen -1 Peppers
5. GB 2ndFavre Inc.
6. GB 3rd Favre to 0 Williams
Davenport
7. GB 4th Favre to 11 Williams
Davenport
8. GB 1st Favre Inc.
GBTO1 2nd Favre Inc.
GBT02 3rd Favre Inc.
As a result, Peppers was able to tackle Green for a yard loss on the play. Favre had Bubba Franks wide open for a sure touchdown on the next play and he missed the pass! Third and 11 at the Packer 33 with time running out. Favre hit Davenport but he was immediately nailed for
no gain by Williams. Tension filled the air as Green Bay faced a 4th and 11. This could be their last play. Favre dropped back, only one receiver open far enough for a first down but it would be a very tough throw. Favre hit Davenport again--this time for 11 yards and an unreal
Packer first down! Favre was at his cardiac performance again in the clutch. Green Bay now had to cover 56 yards and had a maximum of 3 plays to do it counting their two timeouts. On the last play of regulation
Franks was wide open again for a sure touchdown, and again, Favre overthrew him! The Packers now had to call the first of their timeout plays. Davenport got wide open down the middle with no Panther in sight! Another sure touchdown, but Favre missed again! Unbelievable!
It was now the last play of the game. Favre had one last desperation
play left. Once again, Davenport was wide open downfield with blockers! A sure score again. Favre missed him! Game over-the Panthers win! The Panthers win! The Panthers win! What an upset! Carolina has done it again. A legend has begun! (By the way, I did a "what if" play with Davenport catching that pass and he made it down to the 7 but a Panther ran him down to save the would-be TD! Panthers would have won anyway!) How 'bout dem Panthers?!!!!!!!
