HOBOKEN, December 7 - The long awaited Northern Championship for ABL Flag Football was settled last night. It felt like a championship boxing match between two bruising heavy weights. They both exchanged crushing blows and staggered in their own ways.
The game started with 3 N Out showing why they truly belonged in this game, as they seemed to have the Getcha Popcorn offense stifled and confused in their first few offensive attempts.
The 3 N Out defense was shutting down the high powered Popcorn offense by pressuring Popcorn QB Lou Viggliotti, and then proceeded to put up points with a TD from John Schleppenbach to Steven Bovo.
Then, in a rare occasion, Lou Vig dropped a snap in the endzone for a safety putting 3 N Out up by eight rather quickly.
3 N Out would continue their defensive dominance as Matt Grasso picked off a pass in Popcorn's next offensive effort. While this seemed like a point that 3 N Out would take complete control of the game the Popcorn defensive came up huge and stopped them dead in their tracks, and would then go onto score with a TD pass from Lou Vig to Greg Stripe followed by a two point conversion to tie up the game right before the half ended. This two-pointer, which was caught by Christian Vercollone would prove quite beneficial later.
On the scorecard it seemed 3 N Out had completely won the first round, but somehow the score was tied, and it was anybody's game.
In the second half both teams were slinging it with grace. John Schleppenbach showed in this game that he has a golden arm. A few of the throws he pulled off were just works of art. Floating passes to precise points on the field under pressure. Schlep hit his favorite target Matt Grasso for two scores, but the determining factor in this game was that 3 N Out did not convert any extra points and Popcorn had no problem in this arena.
Lou Vig was also in his usual form and hit Chase Nadell for two scores as well, but Popcorn managed to snag those extra points resulting in a final of a 22-20 score in favor of Popcorn.
It truly was a pleasure to watch these two talented squads face each other. Both teams have so much talent, and both teams are composed of true sportsman. Congratulations to Popcorn for their title and to 3 N Out on an amazing season.
Tag(s): Home '15 Fall League ABL North ABL South
