In a heart-breaking battle, the Zizzers fell to high-scoring Glendale on the road. Images from the game are at the ZizzerZone Shootproof page, and a few of them are posted below. To view the complete image series, and others throughout the 2016 season, click here.
The Zizzers visited the Glendale Falcons and immediately executed their game plan to run the game clock down and possess the ball as much as possible. This game plan worked very well at first, as the Zizzers possessed the ball for 18 minutes total in the first half (with all but 30 seconds in the first quarter!). That’s a lot of offense time!
Of course Hoopes carried the ball for most of those plays and eventually grabbed all 4 Zizzer touchdowns in the game. QB Randolph passed or gave the ball to Holloway, Hackworth, Nichols, and Warren as well as Hoopes. But most of the carries were with Hoopes. And with just a few minutes left in the half, the Zizzers appeared to have clinched a nice 14-0 lead over the Falcons.
But, the Falcons are a fast-moving, high-scoring team. And what took the Zizzers 8 and a half minutes to accomplish on the ground, the Falcons did in a fraction of the time in the air, scoring their first aerial attack touchdown with 6:53 remaining in the first half.
Zizzer Andrew Wheeler intercepted the Falcon’s aerial game early on which setup the second Zizzer touchdown with a Hoopes 24-yard run – his longest of the game.
But then the momentum changed after a botched Zizzer punt reception was a perfect setup for another Falcon touchdown, 14-14 at the half. What seemed like Zizzer domination early on, now appeared to be a real battle just to keep ahead of the Falcons. Hoopes again scored in the third quarter (5:26 remaining), and it was the last time the Zizzers would lead the scoreboard, 21-14.
The Falcons found their A-game and made the Zizzer defense run all over the place, chasing the quarterback or chasing receivers. And a tired Zizzer defense was left trying to catch their breath. Meanwhile, the Falcons scored twice. 28-21 Falcons.
The Falcons eventually figured out how to contain Hoopes, allowing him only one more touchdown and making him work hard for every yard he gained (and it was the first time this year that Hoopes was contained under 200 yards in a game). End of the 3rd quarter: 27-28 Falcons lead.
At the beginning of the 4th quarter, Glendale was up, 27-28 but the Zizzers were tired of chasing the Falcons’ QB and receivers – and the Falcons were just beginning to rev their passing game engine. And to make matters worse, Glendale scored off of a Zizzers personal foul setup. 34-27 Falcons. The Falcons went on to earn 14 more unanswered points.
The Zizzers were still within striking distance, but then a long Glendale TD, plus 2-point conversion made it 42-27, Falcons. And it put a lot of frustration into a hard-fighting, but tired Zizzer team. QB Randolph began putting the ball in other places instead of Hoopes since the Falcons were expecting that, but Glendale grabbed an interception which lead to their final TD of the night. 48-27 Falcons.
Finally, Holloway returned the final kick-off zigging and zagging his way down the field. QB Rackley came in for Randolph and made quick work of an 8-yard pass to Holloway, then a first down pass to Hackworth. Then a first down pass to Nichols. Then another 8-yard pass to Cornish. Then a Hoopes carry for 1. But then, Rackley was sacked and Glendale gets the ball on downs.
The Zizzer defense stopped a final drive from Glendale with a terrific take down from Jett 39. Falcons punt and the Zizzers were not able to complete a final drive. Final score: Zizzers 27, Glendale 48.
