20120610: Late comeback falls a yard short
AFC Show travelled to Bergen knowing that it was a game that could go either way. The clue for AFC would be stop Bergen's QB Clifford Harris, who undoubtedly is the most potent offensive weapon for the Storm side, and clearly the best import player in the league this season. To a certain extent, Show managed to do just that on this day, keeping Harris from reaching the endzone for TDs himself. However, Storm's best wide receiver, Erik Nødtvedt, would catch two touchdowns from Harris. That would prove to enough, although barely so.
It was the Stavanger side that started best, moving the ball well on the first drive. A crucial drop on a 4th down pass would however mean the drive gave no result on the scoreboard. On Show's second drive, the running game would lead to the first points of the day as AFC Show's RB Jorma Bailey found the endzone for six on a great 30-yard run behind the blocking of Cody McDermott, among others. The two-point conversion attempt was no good, as Show only managed to get 10 guys to stay on the field for the play.
Bergen Storm would answer late in the 2nd quarter, as Harris found Nødtvedt for the TD on a seam route. The two-point conversion saw Harris stopped short of the goalline, and the score was now 6-6. That would also be the score at halftime, as the two teams proved to be very evenly matched.
The 2nd half started poorly for Show, who did not move the ball well at the start of the 3rd quarter and was plagued by incompletions in the passing game. Bergen had gained confidence through tying the game, and it wasn't long before Harris once again found Nødtvedt for a touchdown. With the two-point conversion seeing Harris rumble into the endzone himself, the score was 14-6 at this point.
Both teams moved the ball for the next quarter or so, but Bergen could not score again, stopped by Inge Bodsberg's interception as well as well-made tackles on crucial downs. Show did not fare much better, with several fumbles, dropped passes and batted down passes as DB Dan McClellan played what was perhaps his best game of the season for Bergen Storm, receiving solid help from LB Ryan Bethea on the day.
Despite an injury to RB/LB Jorma Bailey, which would prove to be season-ending, AFC Show was not done. With less than one minute left in the game, Show came out with five wide and went to the air. A 66-yard completion from Dannevig to WR Benedict Gärtner put Show in position to make something happen, and with 7 seconds left Dannevig rolled out to his right, finding Gärtner at the back of the endzone towards the right sideline for an incredible finish as the pass was complete for six. The reception was Gärtner's fifth on the day as he collected a total of 144 yards on the day.
The score was now 14-12, and it was clear AFC Show would have to go for two to even the score and force overtime as time had expired on the touchdown play. RB Simon Bruset got the ball, but could not find the endzone as he was stopped just short, and the game was over.
"This game was a disappointment for us - we performed well below what we're capable of", Head Coach Jarle Magnus Henriksen of AFC Show said. "We once again have plenty of opportunities to score, but we are simply not grabbing enough of those opportunities". The disappointment was easy to see in the Show lockerroom, as the chance to finish 2nd in the league was lost, as was a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. The team now has to win their last regular season game at the same time as other results must play out in the favour of the AFC Show.
You can check out AFC Show highlights from the game in the video below the text in this article.
AFC Show's next game is at home versus the Vålerenga Trolls, 2PM June 23rd. It's a must-win game if Show is to make the playoffs.
It was the Stavanger side that started best, moving the ball well on the first drive. A crucial drop on a 4th down pass would however mean the drive gave no result on the scoreboard. On Show's second drive, the running game would lead to the first points of the day as AFC Show's RB Jorma Bailey found the endzone for six on a great 30-yard run behind the blocking of Cody McDermott, among others. The two-point conversion attempt was no good, as Show only managed to get 10 guys to stay on the field for the play.
Bergen Storm would answer late in the 2nd quarter, as Harris found Nødtvedt for the TD on a seam route. The two-point conversion saw Harris stopped short of the goalline, and the score was now 6-6. That would also be the score at halftime, as the two teams proved to be very evenly matched.
The 2nd half started poorly for Show, who did not move the ball well at the start of the 3rd quarter and was plagued by incompletions in the passing game. Bergen had gained confidence through tying the game, and it wasn't long before Harris once again found Nødtvedt for a touchdown. With the two-point conversion seeing Harris rumble into the endzone himself, the score was 14-6 at this point.
Both teams moved the ball for the next quarter or so, but Bergen could not score again, stopped by Inge Bodsberg's interception as well as well-made tackles on crucial downs. Show did not fare much better, with several fumbles, dropped passes and batted down passes as DB Dan McClellan played what was perhaps his best game of the season for Bergen Storm, receiving solid help from LB Ryan Bethea on the day.
Despite an injury to RB/LB Jorma Bailey, which would prove to be season-ending, AFC Show was not done. With less than one minute left in the game, Show came out with five wide and went to the air. A 66-yard completion from Dannevig to WR Benedict Gärtner put Show in position to make something happen, and with 7 seconds left Dannevig rolled out to his right, finding Gärtner at the back of the endzone towards the right sideline for an incredible finish as the pass was complete for six. The reception was Gärtner's fifth on the day as he collected a total of 144 yards on the day.
The score was now 14-12, and it was clear AFC Show would have to go for two to even the score and force overtime as time had expired on the touchdown play. RB Simon Bruset got the ball, but could not find the endzone as he was stopped just short, and the game was over.
"This game was a disappointment for us - we performed well below what we're capable of", Head Coach Jarle Magnus Henriksen of AFC Show said. "We once again have plenty of opportunities to score, but we are simply not grabbing enough of those opportunities". The disappointment was easy to see in the Show lockerroom, as the chance to finish 2nd in the league was lost, as was a guaranteed spot in the playoffs. The team now has to win their last regular season game at the same time as other results must play out in the favour of the AFC Show.
You can check out AFC Show highlights from the game in the video below the text in this article.
AFC Show's next game is at home versus the Vålerenga Trolls, 2PM June 23rd. It's a must-win game if Show is to make the playoffs.
A well-prepared AFC Show team travelled to Bergen to face the home team Storm for the first time since 2009, when Storm won by a single point in Stavanger and advanced to the 1st Division.
In great weather conditions in the second-most important city on the western coast of Norway, the two teams once again played a nail-biter.
AFC Show proved they could move the ball well on the Bergen team, but struggled to put points on the board. The solid play of Bergen Storm's import QB Clifford Harris was a challenge all day, and kept the Storm in the game.
Ultimately, two TD-passes from Harris to outstanding wideout Erik Nødtvedt would prove enough to prevail, as the Show's early TD by Jorma Bailey and last-second TD pass from Pål Dannevig to Benedict Gärtner left the Show trailing by two points. A failed two-point conversion kept the game from going to overtime, and Bergen Storm could celebrate the victory in a game both teams had high hopes of winning.
In great weather conditions in the second-most important city on the western coast of Norway, the two teams once again played a nail-biter.
AFC Show proved they could move the ball well on the Bergen team, but struggled to put points on the board. The solid play of Bergen Storm's import QB Clifford Harris was a challenge all day, and kept the Storm in the game.
Ultimately, two TD-passes from Harris to outstanding wideout Erik Nødtvedt would prove enough to prevail, as the Show's early TD by Jorma Bailey and last-second TD pass from Pål Dannevig to Benedict Gärtner left the Show trailing by two points. A failed two-point conversion kept the game from going to overtime, and Bergen Storm could celebrate the victory in a game both teams had high hopes of winning.
Photo by Eivind Kalstø.
