Finally! Ballers Beat Storm 20-16

THUNDER BAY (BP) -- The Blacksburg Ballers have finally done it. After losing to the Storm 2 straight times including a heartbreaking loss in the season 2 playoffs, the Ballers have pulled off a victory against their archrivals 20-16.

"It feels like a huge weight has come off our shoulders," QB Khari Jones said who was mobbed by teammates following the victory. "We prepared and prepared for this game and we just executed like I knew we could. I just have to give a huge shoutout to everybody on the Ballers and say we've done it!"

The Ballers certainly "did it" during the game. They were able to have success on offense, gaining 72.5 yds on the ground and 273 yds through the air. Khari Jones threw 2 TD strikes as well and Jesse Lumsden and Russell Roch combined for 67.5 yds on the ground.

"The success we had on offense was really surprising," Starting guard Hank Hitch said who finished with 3 pancakes. "Not to say we aren't capable of making plays, but to have a really solid offensive game against one of the best defenses in the league was very unexpected. I thought we would see a 6-3 or 9-7 game, but for us to get some nice scores was a real boost for our confidence."

The confidence carried over to the defense as well where the Ballers held one of the more potent offensive attacks to 320 total yds. Thunder Bay star running back Bucho Jones-Drew, who had 10 rushing touchdowns coming into the game, was held scoreless and only managed 48 yds on the ground.

Through the air the Ballers allowed only 217.5 passing yds and QB Bill Butcher was harassed all day, hurried 9 times by the Baller defense.

"We were just relentless on the line," Defensive end Tommy Canada said who had 3 hurries and 1 tackle for loss. "There was pressure from all sides and we were able to get by their tackles and get on the edge. Their quarterback wasn't real mobile either so disrupting him wasn't too much of a problem."

Another disruption happened at the end of the game. With the game on the line and down by 4, the Storm marched down the field from their own 36.5 yard line to the Ballers 4.5 yard line. The Ballers then dug themselves in and forced QB Bill Butcher into 4 straight incomplete passes ending the game. Including the final 4th and goal pass which was broken up by cornerback Slasher Evans.

"I can't tell you how happy I am," Evans said who finished with 4 tackles and the crucial pass breakup. "I just made a read on the quarterback and just broke up the play. It fells great to accomplish something like this especially since this is my first year as a Baller. It almost feels like I've initiated myself into the team and really proved what I can do."

Next week the Ballers will have to prove what they can do again against the Los Angeles Trojans. The Trojans are in a rebuilding year and are currently 0-8 and tied for last in the western conference. This should be a game where Blacksburg can try new strategies and give backups some playing time.