Projects solve Swamp Rat problem again

RB Avery Nastibooy takes turn at Hyperbowl MVP honor

The Manhattan Projects extended their league-leading number of titles to 6 and added a second back-to-back set, also winning a 5th in 7 years, unprecedented feats in a league that had been far more democratic for most of its history. After losing WR Orlando Difri to retirement, their passing game lost a step, and they were passed up by the Flint Stones and Baton Rouge in season record, but they still dominated their division, RB Anthony Kistmi had his best season ever to compensate for the pass production, and they've been nothing but their winning form in the playoffs, including late game rallies.

Here, they dominated the 1st half and looked headed for another blowout like last year's Hyperbowl. But then Baton Rouge proved why they got here and dominated the 2nd half, with 2 quick scoring drives to start, a defense that set in and shut down the Projects, and a touchdown and safety streak of scores in the 4th quarter, where Manhatten usually dominates.

And then, just as incredibly, it turned right back to Manhattan. On their possession after the safety, the Swamp Rats stalled out with a 4th and 5 at the Manhattan 43-yard line. Hoping to deliver the fatal blow, they attempted a play and failed to get 1st down, QB Lewton Lasivius carrying for just a yard. The Projects drove the 56 yards in 8 plays to a 3-yard TD run by RB Avery Nastibooy, with 7 seconds remaining. They kicked off to the end zone for a touchback, then even picked off the Swamp Rat pass on the last of the game.

Baton Rouge forced the Projects to drudge through their opening drive, taking 9 plays to get to the 50 where they had to punt. But the Swamp Rats botched their own punt play at their own 32 and turned over on downs. Two plays later, Manhattan's 4-time Hyperbowl MVP RB Anthony Kistmi slashed through 28 yards for a score.

The Projects used a long drive into the 2nd quarter to get to a 35-yard field goal by K Cappy Collarneck, then after forcing a 3-and-out, drove even more quickly to another TD, Nastibooy's first, a 6-yard run. The big play on the drive was a 20-yard pass from QB Oliver Klozov to WR Jason Skurtz. Their defense was stifling the Swamp Rats and they had a commanding 17-0 lead at halftime.

Baton Rouge began the 2nd half as if it were a different game. They chopped up the field, going 84 yards in 8 plays, including 5 complete passes on 5 attempts, and a 20-yarder to WR Noah Fence and a 22-yarder to TE Stanko Szit on consecutive plays. After forcing a Project punt on one possession, the Swamp Rats had a short field and covered 61 yards in 5 plays, scoring on the biggest, a Lasivius 27-yard strike to Fence. Just like that, it was game, with Baton Rouge seeming in charge if not the lead.

Manhattan then ground out a long drive and settled for a 44 yard Collarneck field goal, to extend the lead beyond a field goal, 20-14.

In the middle of the 4th quarter, the Swamp Rats got a 19-yard punt return by RB Bubba Butt, then a 25-yard run by RB Mister Period on the first play from scrimmage to start off a drive that went 6 more plays. The last was a 2-yard pass to WR Gabe Ashe for a TD and the lead, 21-20, the first in the game for Baton Rouge and a 4th-quarter rally. The next play from scrimmage, the Swamp Rats sacked Klozov for a 16-yard loss and a safety, putting them up 23-20. And them came the equally fateful turn.

Baton Rouge checked all the boxes on their to-do list to win: held Kistmi and Skurtz each to under 100 yards, Klozov to under 200 passing. Lasivius upstaged Klozov, who was also his model for comparison during much of this season. Fence led all receivers with 90 yards. But while Kistmi didn't get a 5th Hyperbowl MVP, his stalwart running mate, Nastibooy, who has helped make them the best backfield in the league for at least 7 years, got one for his reward.