With two MAAFL Championship wins, the Nashville Kangaroos were optimistic about their road trip to St Louis. However, St Louis had been a formidable opponent over the past few years, and the winless record of Championship Division “away” teams provided serious reason for doubt. The Roos brought a strong team that trained hard for this challenge.

Due to the flooding conditions in St. Louis’ home field at Buder Park in southwest St. Louis, the game was shifted to Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, IL. The game time temperature was a hot 92F (34C), with a bit of humidity thrown in and for good measure, a gusting crosswind of 25-35 mph, making kicks high in the breeze take interesting flight paths.

The Roos were much more productive in their turn with the breeze. The ferocious Mischa Nemeth kicked from the center square to find an unmarked Dee “Weeman” Vsetecka, who kicked the Roos first goal of the quarter. Most of the period was even with the teams trading behinds. It wasn't until 3:45 to go in the half when the Roos exploded as Jeff “Peeps” Persson “sold the dummy”, a fake handpass to evade his opponent, and kicked a rocket 50-yard goal from the edge of the center square. Damian Serong went one better, faking a kick to get around his opponent, taking advantage of a great shepherd from Kevin "Spoons" Smyth, and then bombing in to Bo “Missing” Link, playing in his first game after a two-year hiatus to complete his master’s degree. Bo produced his first goal from a sharp angle followed immediately by his second one minute later, assisted by Ross Flemming and Matt Wheatley coming out of the center square. The first half ended with the Roos again outmarking the Blues 17-12 and holding a handy lead despite fewer scoring shots, 5.2.32 to 1.7.13.

Kicking with the wind again in the third quarter, the Blues were more efficient with their scoring shots. After the Blues opened the scoring with Andy Buchanan getting his second of the match, Dave “Walka” Walker and Blair Morris both kicked goals from set shots for Nashville. The Blues, undaunted, and led by a trio of Dans (US Revolution starting ruckman Dan Sergott, fellow Revolution wingman Dan “Sars” Sarbacker, and Dan Brown), came roaring back with two more goals from Sergott and Jeremy Smith. Even though he was not named Dan, Jared Petersmith contributed to the Blues efforts to overcome the deficit, but when the horn sounded, they still trailed by more than two goals. In a tribute to accuracy, the teams were “perfect” on the quarter with five majors and zero behinds. Despite being outmarked 15-10, the Blues had shaved Nashville’s lead to 7.2.44 against 4.7.31.

The Kangaroos were haunted by memories of the 2007 Lake Elmington match, when the Blues came back in the final quarter, scoring four straight majors including the winning goal moments before the final horn. Coach Marty Thompson fired up his team by emphasizing that thirteen points were not enough. He expected a big quarter from the Rooboys, and boy-oh-boy, did they oblige.

The tiring Blues were shell-shocked by a fierce and determined Roo attack that was sustained for almost the entire fourth quarter as the Roos scored an amazing 39 consecutive points during the outburst led by the Roo veterans. Luke “Ooga Booga” Nemeth stormed across half forward and kicked across his body for a booming goal. Dee “Weeman” Vsetecka kicked to Jeff “Peeps“ Persson, who took an incredibly athletic diving mark against St. Louis champion Dan “Sars” Sarbacker and completed the mission by sending the ball straight through the middle of goal from 40 yards. Dave “Walka” Walker displayed his versatility by crumbing in front of the goal and quickly snapping the ball through for another six points. Jeff “Peeps” Persson took another courageous mark as he continued to play beyond himself and was rewarded with his third goal for the match. Dee “Weeman” Vsetecka, co-captain Travis “Quig” Quigley, and Gilberto Ortiz, displaying the skills instilled by coach Marty Thompson, combined for three pinpoint passes that covered almost 100 yards of the field, culminating in a moment center halfback Nick Parker will never forget - his first career goal! Dave “Walka” Walker finished the Roo outburst with his third goal from about 45 yards out.

As the clock wound down, St. Louis at last fought their way past the Roo fullback Justin “JD” Davis as Jamie Wilson scored their lone goal of the quarter to reduce the deficit. However, it was too late to turn it around with the final whistle sounding and the Roos elated to win 13.5.83 to 5.8.38. The Roos also won the marks for the quarter (17-9) and the game, 64-39.

The Blues drop to 1-2 while the Roos advance to 3-0, reinforcing their position at the top of the MAAFL Championship ladder. The pressure now mounts for Milwaukee and Chicago to keep pace. Milwaukee begins their season later this month, and Chicago advanced to 2-1 with a solid win at home over Ohio Valley.

Quarter-by-quarter:

Nashville 1.0.6, St Louis 1.5.11

Nashville 5.2.32, St Louis 1.7.13

Nashville 7.2.44, St Louis 4.7.31

Nashville 13.5.83, St Louis 5.8.38

Goals:

Nashville: Jeff Persson 3, Dave Walker 3, Bo Link 2, Blair Morris 2, Dee Vsetecka, Luke Nemeth, Nick Parker.

St. Louis : Andy Buchanan 2, Dan Sergott , Jeremy Smith, Jamie Wilson

Best Players:

Nashville: Mischa Nemeth, Luke Nemeth, Nick Parker, Jeff Persson , Dave Walker , Justin Davis

St. Louis: Brad Coultas, Dan Sergott , Jared Petersmith, Dan Sarbacker, Dan Brown