Sunday, December 8, 2024
After meeting with Guarulhos Rhynos QB Catullo Góes last night while handing over the suitcase containing the donated St. Francis H.S. jerseys, we talked about today's big game for the CBFA Brazilian DI American Football National Championship Game.
The game pitted Catullo's Rhynos against a team from parts unknown referred to simply as the Spartans.
Catullo was concerned about the abilities possessed by the Spartans QB.
I tried to remind him that, according to all accounts, the Rhynos QB was a good one too.
Kickoff was set for 11:00 a.m.
The game was originally going to start at 2:00 p.m. but was changed due to a potential conflict with another event scheduled for the same field later in the day.
For an unexplained reason though, the game would still start 20 minutes late.
Traffic being what it is in São Paulo, I left the hotel at about 9:15 a.m. As luck would have it, there was no traffic that early on a Sunday morning and I arrived at the stadium in just 25 minutes.
The #5 seeded Spartans
vs.
The #6 seeded Rhynos
Playoff upsets abounded this post-season in Brazil.
At this time of the year a team's health, desire to keep playing and just simply being hot at the right time are of paramount importance.
The first thing that I saw at the
park surrounding the sports complex
park surrounding the sports complex
The stands were topnotch!
So was the view
A tad nicer than the stadium in Mendoza, Argentina for the American football tournament that we attended last month.
Two early-out Rhynos
skill position players
Hey, the Rhynos have a #99 too!
I got my seat near midfield and
under the overhang to protect me
from the Sun and a slight chance
of rain late in the contest
There was no entry fee, no concessions and no souvenirs.
Just like the NFL's Super Bowl.
Those air horns next to this fan were just the tip of the iceberg that was the arsenal of noise makers both big and small that would become a cacophony of irritating noise and the bane of my existence in the First Half.
Here come the Rhynos . . .
. . . and here come the Spartans
LET'S MAKE SOME NOISE!
The Rhynos Cheerleaders were
ready to "Go for the Gold!"
#16 Catullo Góes warming up
his Golden Arm
The Spartans Kickoff to start the game
Nice block by a Rhyno on the right
Deep in their own territory, the
Rhynos turned to their running game
QB Catullo's first big play of the game
It was not big in terms of the game statistics, but a big play nonetheless.
On Third Down, while attempting to pass, he was stripped of the ball from a backside hit. Catullo was still able to scoop the ball and run for a yard or two. The big point here was that the Rhynos still had the ball, a disastrous turnover had been avoided and the Rhynos had the chance to unleash their devastating Punter.
This player's tremendous punts all game long would have a huge impact on the game.
Lots of action in the Pit with
the Spartans now on Offense
I like the change of direction
movement of the two DBs on the left
Some LARGE human beings are
highlighted on this run
Catullo dropping back to pass
He had enjoyed a tremendous First Half showing tons of poise, great accuracy and making good plays at key moments.
Meanwhile I had had my left eardrum nearly punctured by the nonstop noise from those infernal horns.
I considered moving to that knoll for
an End Zone view of the Second Half
I surveyed the stands and decided
to watch the rest of the game from
the last row to the right, even with
the Goal Line
The view was not as good but the serenity was worth it.
Let's review the First Half Scoring:
First Quarter
No Scoring
Rhynos 0 - Spartans 0
Second Quarter
Spartans 15 yard TD pass, PAT good
Spartans 7 - Rhynos 0
Rhynos 10 yard TD pass, PAT good
Spartans 7 - Rhynos 7
Spartans 20 yard TD pass, PAT good
Spartans 14 - Rhynos 7
Rhynos 2 yard TD run, PAT blocked
Spartans 14 - Rhynos 13
Despite never leading in the game, the Rhynos seemed to have captured the momentum at the end of the First Half.
On both scoring drives for the Rhynos, Catullo had made big plays with his pin point passes to assert his leadership of the team as a good QB must do.
Despite the blocked PAT, the Rhynos' Special Teams were otherwise a big factor as their more than solid punting game was joined by booming Kickoffs and excellent Kickoff Returns to greatly enhance the Rhynos field position game.
It must be noted that a large percentage of the spectators in the stands wore game jerseys from the various teams playing American football throughout Brazil.
Great nickname for a team from
perhaps the Amazon,
but about the spelling . . .
The Rhynos made a big play on the kickoff to start the Third Quarter as they forced the Spartans returner to fumble and then recovered the ball at the Spartans 20 yard line.
Unfortunately, the Rhynos squandered this golden opportunity to finally take the lead by turning the ball over on downs.
I couldn't help wondering, would this be the difference in the game?
Spartans running with their
backs against the End Zone
That's a big hole for this
Spartan RB to exploit
Solid Spartans Pass Protection
This Rhynos CB was able to tip
this pass away from being a TD
Spartans Inside Reverse . . .
. . . became an easy TD followed by
a successful PAT
The Third Quarter Scoring was frenetic, here is the summary:
Third Quarter
Spartans 4 yard TD run, PAT Good
Spartans 21 - Rhynos 13
Rhynos 50 yard TD pass, 2-point PAT incomplete
Spartans 21 - Rhynos 19
Spartans 40 yard TD pass, PAT Good
Spartans 28 Rhynos 19
Three Quarters were now in the books and the Rhynos had not led at any point.
Thanks to the heroics of QB Catullo Góes, and the resiliency of the entire Rhynos squad, that would change in the final stanza.
An excellent Kickoff Return gave
the Spartans the ball at mid-field
Another good Rhynos pass completion
Rhynos stressing the
Spartans secondary
TD RHYNOS!
The Rhynos simply dominated the Fourth Quarter, here is the recap of that fateful final period:
Fourth Quarter
Rhynos 13 yard TD pass, PAT good
Spartans 28 - Rhynos 26
Rhynos 22 yard TD pass, 2-point pass complete
Rhynos 34 - Spartans 28
Rhynos 40 yard Field Goal
Rhynos 37 - Spartans 28
What a great way to close out the game and earn the title of
CAMPEÕES DO BRASIL!
The Rhynos players and fans
were ecstatic!
Nice Gold Medal around this
Rhynos neck
QB Catullo Góes was my choice
for Game MVP
His subdued comment to me across the fence was simply "We did it."
Four TD passes overall, a 2-point pass, several big pass plays along the way, great leadership and an amazingly cool attitude despite the adversity the Rhynos faced for most of the game got Catullo my vote as the game's top player.
The improvement that Catullo has made as a signal caller in the last two years is astounding.
Only one thing left to do now . . .
. . . LIGHT THE FLARES!
In retrospect, it was a fine setting for a National Championship Game, the intensity was great and, most importantly, our team won!
I decided to celebrate too.
The Boteco São Bento Santo André
Rua das Bandeiras 16
Jardim, Santo André, São Paulo
I had stumbled upon this spot two years ago with Bart Iaccarino and Alex Posito after the Brasil Onças National Team Camp had ended. It had been highly recommended by our Uber driver on that long ago day.
To be honest, the steak I ate last night was average at best, especially by Brazilian standards, I needed something much better.
Brazils most revered piece of burnt animal flesh is known as the Picanha cut.
The Picanha Cut RARE!
The only way to celebrate the Rhynos National Championship!
My Abuela would have been proud as I cleaned my plate of this incredible meal.
One more mural to add
to my São Paulo collection
Meanwhile, back on the American college football front . . .
The CFP 12 team National Championship
Playoff brackets were announced
The breakdown by Conferences
BIG-10 four teams
Oregon, Ohio State, Indiana & Penn State
SEC three teams
Georgia, Texas & Tennessee
ACC two teams
Clemson & SMU
BIG-XII one team
Arizona State
Mountain-West one team
Boise State
Independent one team
Notre Dame
No Alabama.
Though far from the playoff hunt, our 6-6 Washington Huskies did make it into a Bowl Game.
The Huskies are going to
BEAUTIFUL El Paso, Texas to play
the 8-4 Louisville Cardinals
from the ACC
Oh, well.
The GREAT football game today followed by one of the best steaks that I've ever tasted and finally hitting the Jet Lag wall head on, left me with only one place left to go, a much needed deep coma early in the evening.
The Black Sleep of Kali Ma was upon me.
IT WAS A GOOD DAY!
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