Daytona Vs. FSU
10/8/05 @ FSU

What coach thought would be a great fun trip for the team almost turned into disaster. I apologize for the members that did not go because we could not guarantee a B game, and then ended up having a great B game. FSU, turned out to be the South Collegiate Champion and had a very capable backline. We on the other hand used 13 forwards and 2 backs, good job Marshall and Luke. The line up started with Abi, Mark, George, Jason, Henry, Jeremiah, Craig, Eric, Doc, Brian, Dan, Scott, Carlos, and our two backs. Sebastian was brought in for George late in the game.

After the fun trip up late Friday night we found our hotel was in a prime location for the game and the night life, Thank you Kristi. After all team members finally got to sleep, the early wake-up knock from coach was not well received, I knew we would be in for a long day. I tried changing up the warm up routine but we did not get our wakeup call until FSU went up 3-0 off multiple penalties for leaving our feet in the ruck or comeing in from the side or offsides. To our credit this was the only real way they were moving the ball, but they did also convert a lot of their line outs. We were tackling well but to high, as well as running to high and not producing quick ball. Our size in the pack came into play with Big Craig breaking thru for 2 tries and Scott taking it wide for a score as well, with 2 conversions for Doc with no tee. FSU was awarded a penalty try for questionable call on Carlos for playing the man without the ball, FSU might have hustled enough to get the score any way of a good chip chase inside our 22. We will have to review defending kicks when our Full back enters the line, so someone is covering chip kicks. The halftime score was 19-10 daytona.

Early on in the 2nd half FSU went for another penalty kick trying to get the score within a converted try, with a lucky miss Doc was later able to just get his penalty kick a few minutes later over the cross bar to go up 22-10. Later Brian thought he had a sure try when he had only the fullback to beat after a long run with about 5 meters to go, when he was decleated by the hardest hit he say he has ever taken. Who knew a Fullback actually knew how to tackle like that. This helped him mess up another break when we had numbers. Then after a penalty they took it quick and the runner ran right thru us from inside his own 22 to inside our 22 when one of their backs was able to later t! ake it around the wide side on our sucked in defense. This brought the score to 22-17 with around 10 minutes left. We were able to keep some more pressure on FSU and maintain some good possession and ran a new play of a scrum to perfection when once again the Donkey of the day Brian dropped the pass in the try zone. In my defense, Scott had sweated all over it and it was one of our practice balls. Luckily the whistle blew soon after and Daytona avoided Defeat.

The FSU coach asked if we had enough for a 30 minute B game. So I made every player with less than 2 years experience play again. They gave us one true well traveled rugger from up north, Popeye, so Eric was allowed to sit. We lined up Jason, Dan C., George, Sebastian, Henry, Popeye, Jason M., Daniella, Mark, Marshall, Issac, Luke, Bryan, Topper and Kipper. Brian Ref’d the game, and finished without being called to many names. The game was going FSU’s way in the beginning by having! more fresh players on the field and was able to get up 14-0. Daniella actually got hurt ( I thought she was indestructible) and Craig came in, Eric also played some at times as well. Craig was able to put in two more tries in this game. At about half with FSU up 14-10 no one decided to quite so we set out to play another 30 minutes. FSU went up 21-10 when new Winger Bryan G. scored on the outside and had a very good first game ever to bring it 21-15. I am sorry but I can not remember who scored next for Daytona, I would go to the tape but Doc either taped Daniella’s Butt or the grass. Daytona went up 22-21 when FSU’s A side center with 4 minutes to go made his way thru ! the defense again to set up another teammate to go up 26-22. Daytona kept fighting and with time running down, Marshall came up with an amazing effort to dart, dash, and spin his way to classic late minute try in between the posts. Daytona was up 29-26 received the kick and cleared it with no time left for an awesome come from behind victory.

Marshall was player of the B game for that clutch run and Big Craig player of the Day.

Brian

2005 Florida Cup Champions
2005 National Championship Final Four
2005 South Territorial Champions
2005 Florida State Champions
2003 Florida Cup Champions