Woody Cavenaugh

Disclaimer: I am not a sports reporter. I have never really read any sports journalism. I am attempting to write about a sporting event I know amazingly little about. Be kind.
Over the weekend our very own Carolina Phoenix drove down 16 hours to Shreveport Louisiana to face off against the Shreveport Aftershock. The game was played at Independence Stadium, home of the Independence Bowl. Yes, that stadium, yes, that Bowl game. The Mayor of Shreveport, came out welcoming everyone to the IWFL season opener. Two IWFL executive council members were on hand, and even Carl "The Mailman" Malone was there enjoying the action.
The Phoenix is what is called an "X Team", a designation given to newer teams that don't yet have the player base, fan base, or sponsorship of other more established teams. In order to help prove themselves and earn street cred with the league, the teams, and the fans, the Phoenix has accepted several long range away games, of these Shreveport is one of the first. The team left Greensboro 8pm Friday night, drove through the night and were ready to play by 7pm Saturday night.
The Aftershock, being a more established team had a roster of twenty-six, a great stadium and four well dressed coaches. They were terrific hosts and the thirteen members and two coaches of the Phoenix would be happy to go back and play any time.
At the kickoff the Phoenix started with eleven on the field and two in reserve. They kept the ball deep in Aftershock territory even after two injuries on the line weakened the tight Phoenix defense. The Phoenix would spend most of the rest of the game with only 10 defenders on the field. The Phoenix defense errors always seem to come in threes and at the end of the first quarter the Aftershock slipped past and put six on the board. Their attempt at a two point conversion was stopped cold at the line of scrimmage, by the short handed Phoenix defense.
Late in the second quarter was a repeat of the first, three defensive errors by the Phoenix coupled with a strong offensive push put the Aftershock up 12 - 0. Again they went for the two point conversion, and again they were stopped cold just before halftime by an understaffed Phoenix defense.
Coming back from Halftime the Aftershock returned the kickoff for a touchdown bringing the score to 18 - 0, but the Phoenix didn't seem to notice. Their spirit could not be broken, even when another of their players went down. With six minutes left in the third the Aftershock score again, and again Carolina stops the extra point attempt. The score 24 - 0. Most teams at this point would likely have had morale problems, but the Phoenix were not phased. Even with half the roster of the Aftershock, they were playing twice as well as their previous season, and you could see their smiles from the stands.
In the forth quarter the Phoenix completes a great pass and runs 40 yards for a stand clearing touchdown, only to have it brought back for unclear reasons. Too late however, the Phoenix had tasted a touchdown and they would not be denied, scoring in the very next play. The final score, 24 - 6 Aftershock, and the promise of great things to come from the Carolina Phoenix.