Projects repeat history against Potatoheads

Jason Skurtz wins the duel of conference MVPs

As if it weren't enough the same two teams turned up in the Hyperbowl four years later, the game and even the final score were eerily similar to that previous encounter. As in 2015, here Idaho dominated early, led at half, but Manhattan took over and in the second half shut down the Potatoheads and had more offense. The difference was that the Projects this time had more than 200 yards passing, thanks mostly to East MVP WR Jason Skurtz, and it was Idaho RB Ruud van Nastibooy and not All-East TE Hans auf der Butt who made the big play for them.

The difference in the two teams from their last meeting: Manhattan WR Ezra Doctrine-House retired and they picked up veteran WR Orlando Difri in trade and drafted TE Yudong Hang; Idaho this season drafted QB Dan Smother-Falker and replaced QB Howard Juneau. Smother-Falker led Idaho to the NW Division title and was West Necomer of the Year and MVP. He followed the feat of QB Brit Humer, who last season as a rookie led Iowa to the division title and the Hyperbowl. But Smother-Falker would not repeat the feat of winning the Hyperbowl.

As much as Manhattan had to fear the revitalized offense with the mobile Smother-Falker, their defensive performance was ultimately more impressive than in 2015, despite being dominated and not getting the lead back, after a one-point lead in the second quarter that lasted one play, till the fourth quarter. The Projects had been perhaps an even more impressive defensive team this season, despite their famous offensive weapons, with the best record in the league. Here they held Smother-Falker to 122 yards passing and just 9 yards rushing. Auf der Butt, who in the 2015 Hyperbowl burned Manhattan on the first play from scrimmage with an 80-yard TD reception play, here had only four catches for 37 yards.

Instead, Van Nastibooy got the big strike to post Idaho's lead, although they would only cross the goal line one time. After the Potatoheads dominated the first quarter, forcing Manhattan to punt on two possessions, and producing two long possessions of their own to Charlatan Heston field goals, the Projects opened a drive with a 25-yard pass to Skurtz to end the first quarter, then continued for ten more plays to 19-yard TD pass from QB Oliver Klozov to Skurtz. After the extra point, Manhattan led 7-6. On the next play from scrimmage, Van Nastibooy ran 82 yards to take the lead back. Again, despite the differences, it was an amazing similarity to the 2015 Hyperbowl, the single-play drive big strike.

Skurtz also had a 42-yard punt return towards the end of the second quarter to set Manhattan up at the Idaho 16-yard line, but Idaho held and Manhattan's Cappy Collarneck kicked a 32-yard field goal. The halftime score was Idaho 13-10, compared to their 14-0 halftime lead in 2015.

The teams traded field goals on long drives to open the third quarter. Manhattan missed two field goals, including one on another dangerous Idaho turnover on downs deep in their own territory. It did not appear that they called this as they did in their playoff game against Amarillo, but tried to make something out of a broken punt play. Fortunately they held Manhattan on downs and the Projects missed the 33-yard attempt. Idaho clung to 16-13 lead into the fourth quarter. Would we then get to see last-act fireworks from two most dynamic teams in the league this season?

Again, as in 2015, it was all Manhattan in the fourth. Their second possession, after forcing a three and out for Idaho, started with a 26-yard pass play to Skurtz. Klozov ran 17 yards to the Idaho two, then two plays later, carried it in for the score. Manhattan took the lead 20-16.

Again, they held Idaho on three downs. Skurtz returned the punt 19 yards to start them at the Idaho 42. It took them seven plays to cover the distance, including and 18-yard pass to RB Avery Nastibooy, and then the last 11 yards covered by him on a run. After setting up with Skurtz for most of the game, Klozov found Nastibooy. The running back had four catches for 44 yards, second most for the team.

The Potatoheads showed some flash of their own, and zipped down the field, a 17-yard run by Van Nastibooy, a 16-yard pass play from Smother-Falker to Auf der Butt. They moved to the Manhattan 18, but it was too late. The clock killed the drive and left them even one point shy of that previous Hyperbowl total.

The Projects lived up the promise of that young core of talent from the 2015 campaign, Skurtz, Kistmi and Klozov. Since 2005, the only team to repeat a Hyperbowl win is the New Jerseys. Now Manhattan joins their arch-rivals, and they took less time to repeat.