REFEREE MISTAKES COSTS PACKERS A WIN
Waldorf, MD. (AP) May 13th -- The much-anticipated showdown between the 3-1 Packers and the 4-0 Dolphins lived up to all the hype, but unfortunately, ended on an officiating gaffe. The two highest scoring offenses in the Semi-Pro league clashed at Chaney Field Saturday and the game was like a heavyweight title fight. The teams traded blows, but instead of the offensive show many expected, it was the defenses that stole the show.
At halftime, the teams were tied at ZERO, to the surprise of everyone in attendance. The Dolphins were just as everyone had said, big, fast and athletic. When you can form your own team consisting of select soccer stars, you�re going to have an athletic advantage over most teams who are evenly split up among those who registered. However, the Packers showed that a great team is more than just a group of superior athletes. A great team consists of hardworking kids who play with heart, and a dedicated coaching staff, not just superstar athletes. Just as the Packers coaches were warned, the Dolphins had a player nicknamed �Bush� who is pretty much all of their offense. Of the 24 plays they ran, 15 were runs or throws to �Bush�. While the Packers and all the other teams in the league involve all of their players, the Dolphins use 1 QB, 1 center, 1 rusher and 1 player who is the primary target in 65% of all their plays. Yet, the Packers didn�t let this phase them, as they shut down �Bush� for ZERO points.
The Dolphins definitely have talented players, and lots of them. However, their coaches and playbook are quite limited and the Packers easily shut them down for the entire game. After Curtis �Rocket� Dockett did what he always does, score touchdowns, the Packers found themselves up 6-0 (after an unsuccessful conversion attempt). As the game continued, the Packers� defense, led by Nathan �Smiley� Corsey, continued to stymie the Dolphins and left them desperate. Then, the first of the referee�s two major mistakes occurred. As Jalen �Mr. Versatility� Barnes caught a pass and was heading down the sideline, �Bush� tackled him and the ref immediately threw the flag for a �deliberate tackle�. According to the rules, if a ref determines a player was deliberately tackled, the team is to be awarded a touchdown. However, the ref only gave the Packers a choice of a spot foul or 10 yards. The Packers coaches didn�t catch this in time as the game continued in it�s frantic pace and highly emotional state.
When the Dolphins coaches realized �Bush� wasn�t going to win them another game, they got desperate and started the �hail mary�s�. After multiple unsuccessful deep throws, the Dolphins finally connected on one when their tallest kid went up against 3 Packers players and snagged a tipped ball and ran in for a touchdown. On the conversion, Jonathan �sweet feet� Campbell rushed the QB. As the QB faked a pass, Jonathan jumped up to block it. He came down and took out the QB for an obvious penalty. However, this is where the second mistake by the referee occurred. The ref called the penalty and awarded the Dolphins a free extra point. This again was wrong. Later, the referee agreed and informed the commissioner he assessed the penalty incorrectly. The rule states a free TD or Conversion is to be awarded only when a �deliberate tackle� occurs. The ref stated Jonathan jumped to block a pass and came down on the QB, however, he admits Jonathan DID NOT deliberately tackle the QB. Therefore, the Dolphins should have moved half the distance to the goal and retried the conversion. This didn�t happen and the Dolphins were given the free point, which ended up being the difference in the game.
Even with 2 bad calls that cost the Packers the game, the team still was able to dominate the Dolphins all day. The Dolphins coaches were so upset that they were held in check, that they accused the Packers coaches of scouting. As the teams shook hands, Coach Chris and Coach Craig congratulated the Dolphins� players and coaches on a GREAT game. Unfortunately, the only thing the Dolphins coaches could say was �nice job scouting�. As Coach Craig put it, �I take it as the ultimate compliment that they accused us of scouting. We shut them down so good they figured we must have known their plays. However, all we did was watch them warm up and they ran three plays, a handoff to Bush, a pass and then handoff to Bush, and a deep pass to Bush.� �We spent 45 seconds watching them practice 3 plays and were able to shut them down all day, that shows how poorly coached they are� added Coach Chris. To top it off, the Dolphins coach sent the league commissioner an email stating that if they have to play the Packers in the playoffs, they will not play unless the commissioner HIMSELF is refereeing the game because he claims that the Packers play dirty and run illegal pick plays. �That is what happens when you shut down a team who is used to blowing other teams out, they get desperate. Not one other team has complained about any of the Packers� plays being illegal. Not once this season have the Packers been called for a roughing penalty. Additionally, the Packers NEVER complained once that the Dolphins ran their center as a blocker for Bush on every run play.� �It�s a shame a team full of such great athletes like the Dolphins are stuck with such a weak coach� added Coach Craig. �Our defense was perfect, even on their Hail Mary touchdown we had 3 guys on him tight. I�m proud of everyone and what they contributed to the game�, said Coach Chris.
As it turned out, the Dolphins escaped with the marred victory, 7-6. But the Packers showed everyone in attendance who the superior TEAM was. �We took 10 ordinary, average players and dominated a team full of select athletes from a traveling sports team, we couldn�t ask for anything more from our kids�, said Coach Kelly. �The only thing that kept the Packers from winning the game on the scoreboard was the official and his two game altering mistakes. But everyone knows who outplayed who on that field� she added. The Packers are surely the TEAM of the YEAR!!!