The Blazers edged past the Midshipmen 10-7 in a regular-season NFL clash on Thursday night. By then, both sides had already shown glimpses of their recent form, though neither could quite find their rhythm against an opponent playing tight defence. And here's the thing — cup football has its own rules, but this was just another Monday night grind.
The hosts came out with something to prove after dropping points against the Ragin Cajuns the previous week. They'd picked up two bookings in five minutes in that defeat and sensed blood when they lined up against the Midshipmen. The visitors had been inconsistent themselves, losing to the Owls before putting up 42 against the Tigers.
What followed was a match decided by three or four moments rather than sustained pressure. The Blazers kept knocking on the door but couldn't quite break through until late in the game. To be fair, the Midshipmen's defence held firm for most of the contest, giving their full-back a torrid evening at times.
The final scoreline tells only half the story. Both teams had chances, but neither could convert them when it mattered most. The stadium fell silent after the final whistle, not from disappointment but from the relief of a hard-fought result.
For the Blazers, this extends their recent struggles but gives them something to build on. They'd lost two of their last three before this, including that heavy defeat to the Ragin Cajuns. A fourth straight win was out of reach, but at least they avoided going winless.
The Midshipmen remain unpredictable. They can raise the tempo when they need to, as shown against the Tigers, but consistency is still a work in progress. This result keeps them in the hunt, even if the table goes out of the window in these games.
