The game I tried so hard to lose

The GFL made it's less-than-spectacular return last week.

I drew a total of 8 players. Me, Chuck, Pat, Joe, 2 of Chuck's friends, Jenks and the infamous "Rye laof" who quit after about a half.

It was cold out, real damn cold. The ground was frozen. Going without gloves was not an option.

I didn't figure I'd be a reciver for the whole game, so I didn't plan on bringing any gloves. I was at Target before the game, and passed a $2 pair of wool gloves, and thought they might be alright for defense.

I intercepted a pass on the first drive, like my 10th pick all-time. Trying to lateral the ball to another teammate, I fumbled.

The gloves would plague me all day.

The gloves, or the Troy Williamson's (dropsies).

At one point, we had a 4 play series, and I dropped three passes.

The horrible thing was, Gunder HAD to throw me the ball. Chuck was on Pat, so Pat was largely neutralized. Shak had a huge first half, and was well on the way to game MVP if we won, when he quit.

Joe covered me by backing up a couple of steps and then letting me run. I was open most of the plays. Gunder hit me on a lot of them. They weren't all perfect passes, but I got my hands on a lot of them, and just couldn't reel passes in. It was terrible.

I bounced back and had a pretty good second half. I made one unbelievable catch. I was looking over my right shoulder, and the ball was coming in over my left, I lost the ball trying to turn so I just stuck my arms out and somehow the ball landed in my hands.

Really, for the most part, I played a pretty outstanding second half. I picked up where Shak left off and started hanging onto passes.

It got to a point where it was either 9-8 them or 9-9. We had a 4th and short, maybe a couple of feet. We made them think we were going to run it, I hit Joe, and then took off. I was just beyond the marker, all alone and Gunder lofted me one. His me in the chest. Fell through my hands. Probably cost us the game.

The next series, the other team threw a lateral that I intercepted. It was a hazy moment. Normally, we play a fumble is down where it hits the ground. But this never hit the ground. If the other team would have called bullshit, I probably would have given the ball back. But they didn't, and play went on. No one scored for a couple of series. We had the ball, first down, just beyond the marker, first and goal, and I asked to take over at QB.

I'm a QB, I want the ball in my hands, especially when the game is on the line.

We moved the ball some, and were probably half way to the endzone on third down.

I wanted to hit Pat for the win.

To stick it in Chuck.

The pass rush hit 5 dot, and the rusher came after me. I threw an off-balance pass in Pat's general direction. I turned and started walking the other day.

I threw maybe 5 passes the whole game, and Chuck caught one.

Chuck always catches one.

We wound up losing 10-9, largely because of my play.

It's tough. But I am fired up for the chance at redemption next week.