4-0!!! Undefeated; It's a Nice Feeling.

So today, the Kormesser Rangers had another close game against the Swarco Raiders 2 from Innsbruck. The game was a back and forth affair in which the Rangers never trailed but were always in a fight for our lives against a very good team.

After the loss of the first two quarterbacks, Johnathan presented the idea to Coach Weinberger and myself to go to the Wishbone and move Stephan Postel to QB. The idea was to put the ball in the hands of the best athlete as possible that could play the position. Stephan, Lars Gabler, Robert Holocher, Franz Koloshar, Markus Bernas, and others supported the idea by adapting their skills to a crash course in Wishbone play. The team had already run the Flexbone and the O-line of Drago, Phillip Tippow, Benny Rabb, Luki Seidl, and Felix Schildorfer already had an understanding of the blocking assignments. No offense can survive without the blocking from the O-line.

Johnathan, Stephan, Andy Reiter, and others worked on reach step, ride, balance step, get your eyes on the read man, spring downhill, and make a good pitch constantly. Before AND during practice.

We also incorporated our defensive players onto the offense and offensive players onto the defense. We knew that we had to have depth and quality players at practice and the game. Just going one way would not give us enough fire power on either side of the ball. We knew conditioning would be a factor, so subs were necessary when needed.

As usual, our kicking game started us off right by recovering the opening kickoff. Stephan Postel grabbed the ball that Fritz Limbeck knocked loose and the offense proceeded to march down and score. After the kickoff, the Raiders eventually returned the favor for a 7-7 game. We scored again, they scored again, and then Raphael Hackl intercepted a toss and scored. 21-14 at half. It should be noted that Andy Reiter intercepted a pass as the half ended. Another drive was stopped by a fumble recovery by Fritz Limbeck.

The second half saw a good defensive game by the Rangers but the Raiders finally scored to even the score at 21-21 with 5 minutes left. The offense moved the ball down to the field and then the unthinkable happened. The new qb went down. Enter Andy Reiter and Raphael Hackl from the defensive team. Andy lofted a nice pass to Raphael for a first down to keep the drive alive and get into field goal range. On 4th down, Raphie hit the field goal but there was an offsides on the defense. Coach took the points off the board and took the first down with 2:40 left in the game. The drive stalled and Raphie was again called upon to kick the field goal. Like a trained assassin, he drove the ball through the uprights and a stake in the hearts of the Raiders. The had a minute and a half left and drove down inside the 20. On a 3rd down with 5 seconds left, the Raiders kicker missed a field goal and the Rangers come away with the 22nd win in a row and the 4th of 4 this season.

UNDEFEATED BABY!!!!!!!!!

We didn't hold them scoreless but we scored on "D", we had more than 3 turnovers, and more than 5 sacks or tackles for losses, and we held them to less than we scored. The offense did what it had to do and ALL the players contributed in some way or the other.

We enjoyed a great post-game meal at a biergarten called Fabrik (factory, in English). I just got home to pack. Did I mention that tomorrow, I board a jet to leave to OKC via Paris and Dallas? Uh, yeah. I am ready and I am energized to come back after an off week, energized, with a team that has healed up from some tough games.

39 year-old Franz Koloshar played with a pulled hamstring and is among those that need a while to heal. Max Boder has a cast to get off of his hand. Luki Seidl may be playing with a cast on his hand. Others, like Mike Graetz need to heal all over. We ALL need to be in better condition since we may play both ways.

I am so proud of our team for accepting the changes we introduced. I am proud of Coach Weinberger for trusting us to institute the changes and overseeing the whole thing. The groundwork he laid in the preceding years allowed this to be done. His play calling was good and our team executed on both sides of the ball and on special teams well enough to win.

So I go home to Altus, Oklahoma for a long-overdue visit with my best friend. I plan to return and see what more the Rangers will accomplish. Stay with us, pray for us, send good thoughts our way.

"We believe that we will win"