Welcome to the Big Apple, ladies and gentlemens! We are on Thanksgiving here in New York, as the annual game on this festive day is happening this time between the Montreal Royal, and the hometown New York Defiant. Today everyone was buzzing in anticipation for a great quality game on this Turkey day, As everyone was well underway in enjoying joy and feasts. As per tradition, earlier in the day, the city had its big Thanksgiving Macy’s parade, as the UFFL had its own participation in the great event, as Emi Tachibana, New York’s star QB, would once again don her cutest and colorful Idol outfits and delivered an impromptu performance during their parade on an Anime theme car! Not only was she dazzling during her songs, the crowd would be amazed by the gigantic Emi Parade balloon that was following her during the show! (Her balloon float was really popular on tweeter for some reason, hard to say why..:O)

But on to the game in question this afternoon at Pupsi Stadium. The Montreal Royal was coming in hot as they would be undefeated having a record of 5-0. Everything seems to be clicking for Montreal, as Vito Ligustica would be dominating the league as the Royal has the best running attack in the league. Tyron Appleby still remains as sharp as even as the quarterback, even with some minor injury concerns throughout the start of the year, They continue to dominate in their division, as they are aware that the surging Nashville Tuts are breathing down their neck. For the New York Defiant, they still remain on the upper echelon of the league at the moment, vastly helped by the work of their star Emi Tachibana as QB, as their passing attack is one of the best of the league. While being good, things remained challenging, as they fought hard in a shoutout last week against the Chicago Outlaws, which they ultimately lost 45-35. Knowing how tight the race in the division is with Nashville now in the fight, it’s going to be an important game to win in order to make things happen in the future for playoff implications.

The Defiant has won the coin toss as the Royal is going to kick. The Blue Jay Skye Crista will kick the ball for a touchback as we are underway in New York! Happy Thanksgiving game everybody!

Both teams started slowly, as offense and defense went through their paces. Montreal’s first offensive drive was ended on a nice sack from Cory Kane on Tyron Appleby. The big QB is always a tough challenge to bring down. New York could not capitalize on this as Montreal would go on the attack once again. This time, both teams would start getting physical; Deep in the Defiant zone, Tackle Pam Samuelson would get hurt on one play. Then on a rush from Yash Zuro, big acquisition for the Defiant this offseason, Marigold Wu would also have to leave the field for an injury. Soon enough though, the Royal would strike first, as Zuro would punch it home on a 10 yards run to open the score at 7-0 Montreal. Zuro will be working a lot tonight as Vito Lugistica was likely put on the sideline with his tight hamstring report. New York would try to respond once more but again, the drive would be cut short, as Montreal is taking over the possession game for this first quarter. Montreal would keep chipping away until the Defiant would get the ball back late in the 1st, then Montreal would be caught with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which allowed New York to get to midfield and perhaps, get some momentum. After one quarter, Montreal leads 7-0.

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We begin in the second quarter, as the Defiant are in the middle of the field and trying to get back into a steady offensive rhythm. Sadly they are once again put into a stop as they get to kick once more. Gustafson managed to pin Montreal at the one thought thanks to a perfect coffin punt, perhaps some life? Then as soon as the Royal would start to get going, a pass from Appleby directed to Sulzbach would be PICKED OFF by Carthabell, as he would gently trot into the Montreal endzone for a 6 yards pick six! The defense comes in big for New York. 7-7 is the score.Then Montreal would slowly continue to move forward on the field thanks to Appleby passing, until an unnecessary roughness penalty from Appleby would stall the drive.

Then it would then be the turn of Miss Tachibana to finally start to click with her offense. She slowly but surely would manage to charge forward with some quality passing, and even avoid a fumble as she was taken down by Jetty Abrahams, but the Defiant would recover. Finally in the redzone, William Hobbs would punch the TD home with a 14 yards rush. Touchdown New York! 14-7. As things seemed to be going New York way before getting in the halftime, The returning kick after the score would be returned for 54 yards by Koda Brooks.After two tough penalties from Montreal, The Royal would have to work quick if they even want to get points before the end of the half. A 25 yards pass from Appleby to Keonte Hughes in the New York zone would certainly get the job done. Then Tyron connected again with Hughes for 8 yards to tie the game 14-14. Touché Montréal! New York tried to return the favor at the end, but one incomplete pass later, Halftime had arrived. We got a game folk, at Halftime, the game is tied 14-14.

---HALFTIME---

We are back in the game after halftime, as Montreal would receive the ball to start the third quarter. Montreal would try to continue to chip and grind away at New York with a long drive, complemented with a balanced offense on the run and by the pass. Eventually, New York defense would stall the drive as the Royal would kick a 45 yard FG that makes the score 17-14 Montreal. New York would return in the action, but it became clear that the Defiant were having problems getting their offense going as they still had not solved the Royal Stingy’s defense. A holding penalty from New York would bring them back into their zone as the drive would stall out once more.

Then…disaster struck for Montreal, as on a 3rd and 10, Appleby would give the ball to Zuro but as he stepped back he would fall on the ground holding his knee from a non contact injury. A visibly concerned Royal team would help their QB get into a cart as he was driven off the field. Cristian Wright would take over at the QB spot from Montreal, hoping he would manage to take it home. After another uneventful drive from New York, it’s Defiant Defensive End Cory Dane’s turn to be hurt on the play, as Montreal would run the game till the end of the third quarter, as Zuro would avoid a fumble scare of his own as Montreal recovered it. New York fans are starting to wonder if the Defiant can do anything to get back into the game, as the Royal look like they keep having a stranglehold on the action. After three quarters Montreal leads the game 17-14.

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It's now all come to this in the fourth quarter. Montreal continued where they left off, as Wright would move the ball with ease as he would connect with Loera for 6 yards for the Royal Touchdown, as they now led 24-14, Next possession for the Defiant, they manage to sustain a long drive, as a Montreal penalty allowed them to gain some ground. Eventually they would have to set and try for a 47 yards FG by Robert Hansen. The kick is up……..WIDE RIGHT! It's not good! Another defleating moment for the New York crowd as Montreal takes over. With luck, the New York defense would stop the Royal and would go back on offense. As the Defiant is deep in its territory, Emi would then try to connect with Justice Matari…….INTERCEPTED! The veteran Claudio Fox gets it and now the Royal is in the Red Zone and could put the dagger in this game! The Defiant defense needs this stop. 3rd and Goal, Wright gets the ball…..looking….SACKED by Mezzenga! Timeout NYD! The defense holds! Montreal has to settle with a 30 yard FG from Crista. Now Montreal leads 27-14 with 2:22 left in the game. It's now or never for the Defiant, can they do some magic?

It was now the Defiant ball. Tachibana would take the snap…looking….she sees Justice Matari and THROWS a bomb to him……..CAUGHT! TOUCHDOWN DEFIANT! An 85 yards TD rocket from Emi Tachibana! 27-21 Montreal. The New York crowd is starting to wake up! Now it’s the Royal ball, the Defiant needs the ball back if they want to have a chance. After a couple of rushes, New York spend their remaining time outs as Montreal has to kick and the Defiant gets the ball back on their own 29 with 1:02 left in this game, only a TD can seal the deal for New York. First play…5 yards. Atemu Foxtalitac hurt on the play. Another 5 yards pass completed, 26 seconds left…Emi with the snap…she looks…another pass, she dishes…Koriun Masquarde for 19 yards! Tackled by Snow! Then on the next play Tachibana had no choice but to spike the ball to stop the clock. Next play, Tachibana looking once more….Justice Matari for 6 yards! It’s all come to this. 2 seconds on the clock, on Montreal 34 yards line, this is the game. Emi takes the snap….she looking ….. Looking, no more time on the clock….she getting chased by Montreal defense….SHE THROWS!..........MASQUARDE CAUGHT IT! MASQUARDE CAUGHT IT! 34 YARDS FOR THE TOUCHDOWN! AND THE KICK…..BALLGAME! New York wins a thriller 28-27!

Pupsi Stadium is going nuts as Tachibana runs and literally glomps Masquarde as the sideline of New York is going nuts! The Royal is no longer undefeated!