The Rockets overcame being shorthanded (Chad, Stefan out), Mark R’s kidney stones and Rick’s screaming lower back to survive this slugfest. Good teams find ways to win games like this, and so the Rockets did – but the gameplay was as muddy as the middle of the field!

The Bullsharks opened on offense and moved the ball a bit against the Rockets cover-2 base defense. But Jason made the call quickly to switch it up – and the Rockets moved to a single high safety (Richie) and rushed three. For the most part this worked well, and the Rockets were able to contain and frustrate the Bullsharks QB the rest of the game.

After stopping the Bullshark’s initial drive, the Rockets first possession ended with an unlucky pick that bounced off Diesel’s shoulder right into the hands of the defender. But, as they did all game, the defense held. The Rockets offense then hit the gas on their second drive. After a big gain to Diesel, and a sweet lineman release to Jason, Grobo came up big, vulturing Jason’s TD and also grabbing the extra point on nice crisp passes from Rick. Who knew at the time that would be the game winner! The rest of the way, the offense suffered from a few windblown balls and a few drops, and just could not string enough plays together to create another scoring drive.

The Rockets 7-0 halftime lead held until the very end of the game when the Bullsharks completed two really nice passes, one for a toe-tap first down on the sideline and the second for another equally unlikely catch on the opposite sideline, this time in the end zone. With score was 7-6, 40 seconds left and no timeouts, the Bullsharks elected to try to tie it and go for a single extra point. The sting of two consecutive last second losses to the Hitmen in 2016 were dancing through Rick’s head as the ball was snapped. But a miracle was not shat from the opponent’s ass this time, as good pressure by the D-line forced a low throw to an open BS receiver in the back of the end zone. The ball skipped into his hands, the refs blew the whistle as an incomplete pass, and the Rockets survived.

The offensive line kept Rick pretty clean most of the game. But the defensive line won the game for the Rockets, and while Kevin, Vince, Jason, Fleet and Jovan all contributed on D-Line, Dan the Man gets the game ball this week for three timely sacks of the much prettier, younger, faster (but not smarter) Bullshark QB. Great effort Dan-O!

We are 4-0 and in the league driver’s seat. Next week our depth will really be tested as we have Diesel, Chad, Dan and Stefan out. Let’s rally everyone else to get past the 12- Pack and stay undefeated!