GAT Dukes pulled off a game winning drive near expiration time to end the maelstrom with SBB Vukovi end lift the trophy for the first time. Putting two points more on the board than SBB Vukovi, GAT Dukes have directed yet another CEFL Bowl for the ages in its tenth year. SBB Vukovi hand over the title they kept the last two years.
Due to injuries both teams have played the game without the quarterbacks that started the season for them. The changes were nothing new because they have tested the replacement signal-callers already during the season.
GAT Dukes have opened with their star wideout, William Powell at the helm in shotgun position. He started forcing his will on the opponents from the opening drive, completing three passes and capping off the drive by breaking the plane with a 1 yard run. The PAT kick was blocked.
SBB Vukovi had an outstanding receiver of their own behind the center. Tony Washington took over the ball committed to not letting it out of his hands much. After running himself through the first drive and handing it off, his first pass attempt ended in an interception by Kyle Theret who returned it to SBB Vukovi’s red zone. After a few plays, Powell rushed for an 11 yard score but was unable to convert the try.
Trying to jump their rivals again on the very next play GAT Dukes elected for an onside kick but the plot backfired on them with SBB Vukovi’s Nikola Simovic returning it untouched for a 41 yard touchdown.
On their following drive GAT Dukes learned why trouble never comes alone. This time Powell threw a pick-six when Danijel Maksimovic jumped his pass and returned it home for 30 yards. SBB Vukovi managed to take a two point lead after scoring two touchdowns while having one offensive drive that resulted in an interception! This feat ended the first quarter.
Two drives later Powell scrambled to get away from defenders and lofted an 80 yard pass to Ivan Klaric, who was tackled at the 1 yard line. After a call for holding, Powell scored again for 11 yards, this time finding Theret in the end zone, but his rush for conversion points failed for the second time. Playing on defense, Theret intercepted another one of Washington’s passes and ended the half, 18-14.
After the break SBB Vukovi came out determined to move the chains over the ground. In a three-yards-and-a-cloud-of-dust type of drive that took half the third period, Washington, Josovic and Bakovic ran tirelessly but only to come close enough for a field goal of 27 yards by Sasa Tesic.
After a three-and-out by GAT Dukes, Josovic and Washington continued ploughing the field, the latter finally taking it the distance for a 1 yard touchdown in the last quarter. A 15 yard penalty for SBB Vukovi applied on the try put too much air between the ball and the goal post for their kicker to boot it so they went for a 2 point conversion but Washington’s pass sailed over the head of a potential receiver, leaving the scoreboard at 18:23, a five point difference that proved to be fatal at the end.
After another short drive by GAT Dukes, SBB Vukovi had a shot of putting the game to bed, sustaining another long drive with persistent running by the trio of backs. Backed off by penalties, turnover on downs was the result of the effort.
That left a favorable field position for GAT Dukes to push once more with under four minutes to go. Playing for all, Powell seemed to have borrowed the recipe for ground attack from the opponents. The game clock was showing its last ticks as he drew closer to the end zone repeatedly running the ball himself. He was almost called for speeding as he crossed the goal line for a 2 yard touchdown with 9 seconds to spare. There was nothing SBB Vukovi could do after that but feel heartbroken.