The Big Game

So here we are sitting at 3-0 and I have to say that it feels pretty good. I figured that we had a shot at 2-1 before the season started, but I didn't think that we'd be sitting at 3-0. It's pretty amazing that we've come this far so quickly, but now the real test is upon us.

During the NIFL Jamboree this summer, some of us got a pretty good look at Mass Fury and they made us very nervous. They are big, tough, physical football players and you can definitely tell that most, if not all, of them have played high school and college football. Compared to other teams we've seen and scouted, they haven't yet revealed a weakness. Although they did seem a little flat against the Vermont Ravens, they rallied when it mattered most and won the game - a sign of a good football team.

I can't exactly say how this one will turn out. This is the only team on our schedule that has the speed to run with us - and boy can they hit. We think that we have the right gameplan and, if we can keep the score close, we think we might have a chance to win. If these guys show up at full strength, that could be a pretty big "IF".

We know how important this game is; there's a lot to play for. The winner effectively takes a two-game lead in the fight for home-field advantage in the playoffs. For us, that's pretty big - it's a long drive to Burlington for all of our potential opponents. A win would also match the best start for any team in school history.

But most of all, I think we're playing for respect. I don't think that many teams in the League are taking us seriously yet. They think the team is a bunch of college kids playing football between classes and keg parties. They don't see how hard we've actually worked to get to 3-0. We get a chance to showcase our hard work on Sunday.

So, it's 3-0 vs. 3-0. The leaders of the Eastern Division vs. the leaders of the Western Division. Anyway you look at it, it's the biggest game of the year so far. The Big Game. We'll be ready for the challenge.