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Assault Prevails in Overtime to Capture Seventh Title
Defeat the Raleigh Thunder 28-26 in TAFFL BOWL X
     Even before the first snap of TAFFL Bowl X, the fans and writers had already anticipated an instant classic of a game. After the last snap no one was disappointed or ridiculed in that early prediction.

     TAFFL Bowl X would pit the defending Champion Assault (8-2) against a Raleigh Thunder (8-1) team only two seasons removed from their first title in an epic battle that would come down to the final minute and then overtime to determine the winner.  Coach and Quarterback Steve Bergman entered the game with the confidence of a seasoned TAFFL Bowl veteran, yet at times in the game it seemed as if that confidence waned, as it was a quiet, determined-looking Bergman who took to the field on Sunday.  The Thunder, despite having been in this position before, did not play like the two-point underdogs the sports betters had determined, and QB Ryan Borowitz shrugged off the critics who said he falters in the big games, with a big game.
     After the coin toss and both teams took to the field, it would be Bergman and the Assault who would set the early tone, as on the first play of the game, only 11 seconds in, Bergman would hit a streaking Charles Futrell, as the 6'7" receiver who would toast the Thunder secondary for the early touchdown (conversion failed), his first of two on the day.  Not to be outdone, Borowitz would then lead the Thunder troops on a drive that would eat away five minutes of the game clock culminating in a Tim Dumas touchdown (conversion failed) to tie the score at 6-6.
     The Thunder would again strike two minutes later on the Assault's subsequent possession when rush specialist Chris Joy would sack Bergman in the endzone to give the Thunder the 8-6 lead nearly midway through the first-half.  Both teams would then play stellar defense, holding each other scoreless for the next 12 minutes, until for a second time Bergman would connect with Futrell, who would make a spectacular catch to the tunes of, "how did he catch that?" and then shake two tackles to get into the endzone (2-pt conversion successful), with just :25 seconds remaining in the first half.  A successful two-point conversion later would watch the Assault take a 14-8 lead into the halftime.
     After the break and on their first possession of the second half, Borowitz would again lead the Thunder on a long drive, consuming over three minutes and again would connect with Tim Dumas for the touchdown and after a failed conversion the score would be knotted at 14-14.  Dumas, also known as the 'Freak Show', would finish the game with six catches to lead all receivers and his performance would remind  fans of his unforgettable game winning catch in TAFFL Bowl VIII as time expired to rob team Dazz and Coach David Wood of their first title.  Then similar to the first half, either due to great defense or struggling offenses, neither team would score again until with one minute remaining in the game, the Assault would seemingly put it away when John Sellars would rush for the game's only score on the ground (conversion failed) to give the Assault, the 20-14 lead.
     Enter Ryan Borowitz...
     If ever a Quarterback stepped up and put his team's fate on his shoulders, even when he's criticized for cracking under pressure, this was that time and Borowitz did not disappoint.  With less than a minute to go and the game on the line, Borowitz would show why he's a future TAFFL Hall of Famer and would put his team right back in position to knock off the mighty Assault when he would elude a sure sack to connect with Dumas, who would snake through the entire Assault defense for the score, but a block in the back would bring the ball back to the Assault's 15-yard line.  On the next play it would be Borowtiz to Jonathan McDougald, who would do what he does best and that is break tackles with a monster flag-guard and elusive slow speed to reach the endzone for the touchdown to tie the game at 20-20 with only :15 seconds remaining.  An extra point away from the win and their second title, the Thunder could not seal the deal as they would fail on their extra point conversion attempt to send the game into overtime.
     The Thunder would win the toss in overtime and elect to go on defense first.  Bergman, poised and knowing the game was on the line would calmly march his posse from the 20-yard line, to finish with a TD pass to DeFonte Coleman (conversion attempt good) to give the Assault the 28-20 lead. 
     This is where it got interesting.
     With the pressure of having to score mounting, the Thunder would get a break on a taunting penalty by the Assault's

Orlando Adwaters, which would set the Thunder up on the 15 instead of the 20-yard line.  This 'gift' of five-yards was detrimental to the Assault, but a blessing for the Thunder as it would help make Borowitz's next pass to Jon Robertson on the screen for the touchdown even easier.  However, Jonathan McDougald, who had just scored the game tying touchdown at the end of regulation, would let emotion take over and he too would be called for taunting after the Robertson touchdown.  Having

to go for two to tie the game, the Thunder were now faced with a 15-yard two-point conversion versus a 10-yarder.  In the end the Thunder could not convert and the game would end with the Assault winning 28-26.    

    DeFonte Coleman of the Assault would be named the TAFFL Bowl MVP for the second consecutive time and third time in his career.  He would finish the game with 5 receptions and the game winning Touchdown to go along with four tackles on defense.  This was also the first overtime Championship game in TAFFL Bowl history.

TAFFL BOWL X STAT RECAP:  Passing TDs: Bergman: - 3; Borowitz - 4; Rushing: Sellars - 1; Receiving: Assault: D. Coleman 5/1, J. Sellars 4/0, C. Futrell 2/2; Thunder: T. Dumas 6/2, J. Robertson 4/1, J. McDougald 2/1; Interceptions: None; Sacks: C. Joy 1/1; Tackles: Assault: D. Coleman - 4, E. Naylor - 3, J. Sellars - 3; Thunder: M. Pittman - 2, Several others at 1

First Half

Second Half

OT

Final

#3 Trojans

12

14

0

26

#1 A-List All-Stars

14

12

6

32