After one of the best road games in Roo history, the Nashville Kangaroos returned home to a new home field at Heartland Park in Donelson. The 100 degree heat and scant breeze created challenging conditions, and the extra space at Heartland Park favored an open style of play with plenty of running. With the return of Chris "Bagman" Moerman and former coach and Best and Fairest Bo Link, the Kangaroos had their deepest team in recent memory to face the Ohio Valley River Rats, who came off an impressive win against Columbus.
The first quarter was an exhibition of speed and precision by the Roos. The first ten minutes were a show of absolute teamwork, with full forward Damian "What's" Serong "With That" and Luke "Brawny" Stockdale kicking two goals each before the River Rats finally got it to their full forward. Stockdale's first goal was a spectacular event, with intense pressure from two River Rats forcing Stockdale to crash into the goal post as he kicked. The post was knocked out of the ground and snapped in two, leaving an odd look to the post arrangement at that end.
Nashville's Stockdale snaps a goal!.
Steve Schorch finally broke the Ohio Valley scoring drought with a behind. Soon after, Jeremy Walker overcame unrelenting defensive pressure to kick a goal. It looked like the River Rats had created some scoring productivity. Goal-kicking machine Serong scored his third goal to end the first quarter with the Kangaroos leading 5.5 (35) to 1.1 (7).
The second quarter was a dominating quarter by the Roos as they went on a scoring barrage. Moerman returned to his usual form by kicking three goals, Serong added two to his tally, "Sugar" Kane Harrison came out of the center to boot two goals, Jeff "NOY (Not Old Yet)" Persson ran around every player in the OHV defense for a dizzying goal and Luke "Ooga Booga" Nemeth ran through every player in the OHV defense for a dazing goal. The 56 points (9.2) was the highest team score for a single quarter in MAAFL history. The Roos led an amazing 14.7 (91) to 1.1 (7).
Coach Marty "Thommo" Thompson was pleased so far, but continued to demand improvement of effort. At the other end, Ohio Valley coach Kyle Strenski wisely advised his team to ignore the scoreboard and aim to win one quarter. However, the effect of the pace of the game in the southern heat was clearly showing among the River Rats. The Roos' dominance continued as the Roos scored four more goals, with one each by Nick "Mother Chopper" Parker, Serong, Moerman, and Stockdale. At the final break, the Kangaroos were ahead 18.9 (117) to 1.1 (7).
The final quarter continued the streak of scorelessness for the River Rats. Stockdale and Link each kicked a goal before Serong booted three in a row to bring his match total to nine goals. Ohio Valley at last found a scoring opportunity in the dying minutes, but an exhausted leg propelled the ball out of bounds on the full. With the Roos rebounding from the back line, Moerman kicked his fifth to cap an impressive comeback performance. The Roos defense was tenacious and merciless as they forced errors by the River Rats. Nashville had kicked an accurate 6.0 in the last quarter to win a distant 24.9 (153) to 1.1 (7).
The point total of 153 ranks third all time for the Roos; the 146 point blowout also ranks third in Roo history as well as the biggest in the history of the MAAFL; the 24 goals is tied for third most ever and is a new team MAAFL record, besting the 23 kicked against Chicago in 2002. Over the last four games, the Kangaroos have outscored their opponents by a combined 447-105, bringing their record to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the MAAFL, putting them first in the USFootyNews ladder.
Which brings us to the biggest game in many years for the Kangaroos as the three-time defending MAAFL champion Chicago United comes to town on August 28th for what will effectively be a MAAFL Grand Final. Chicago comes in at 3-2 but 2-0 in the MAAFL, having most recently defeated the Milwaukee Bombers by 64 points.
These two teams last met in May 2009 in Chicago for a heart-stopper of a game that United won 11.7 (73) to 7.17 (59). The Roos know that one got away and that Chicago will bring everything they have as they attempt to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive (and fifth overall) MAAFL Premiership. Be there on August 28th at Heartland Park for the MAAFL championship showdown on the Roos' turf. Game time is set for 3:30 pm.
Scores By Quarter
1st- Nashville 5.5 (35) Ohio Valley 1.1 (7)
2nd- Nashville 14.7 (91) Ohio Valley 1.1 (7)
3rd- Nashville 18.9 (117) Ohio Valley 1.1 (7)
4th- Nashville 24.9 (153) Ohio Valley 1.1 (7)
Goal kickers:
Nashville: Damian Serong 9, Chris Moerman 5, Luke Stockdale 4, Kane Harrison 2, Bo Link, Luke Nemeth, Nick Parker, Jeff Persson
Ohio Valley: Jeremy Walker
Best on Ground:
Nashville: Ben Vaatstra, Luke Stockdale, Damian Serong, Chris Moerman, Cliff Cosnahan, Kane Harrison. Most Improved: Jake Ridings
Ohio Valley: Jeremy Walker, Scott Klink, Patrick Choe, Jaime Wilson, Paul DiGennaro
MAAFL Umpire Votes: 3-Ben Vaatstra, 2-Damian Serong, 1-Luke Stockdale
Umpires:
Field: Craig Warner, Grant White
Goal: Alex Benjamin, Toby Persson
Attendance: 120.
Injuries: None
Article courtesy of NashvilleKangaroos.com.
