Oct. 29, 2005
Life 20 - Nashville 19
Matrix Game 2

Life went up 12-0 with great pace from the speedy #15 on two nice back movements after Nashville couldn’t capitalize on two golden opportunities to score in the first 5 minutes only to mishandle the last pass sending a man to the line. But the Outlaws came back with excellent pack play and a 40 meter pick and go session to score a try to make it 12-7 at half.

Then Nashville took a brief lead with more strong pack play to dot down a try before a penalty kick lead of 15-14 for Life. Nashville then took the lead again and momentum 19-15. But Life’s poise and adept feet from the flyhalf gave them the final points with 4 minutes left after he pop kicked over the defensive line and scooped the ball to score the try. Nashville applied heavy pressure in the final minutes but ran out of time as Life cleared the ball for the final whistle.

October 8, 2005
Atlanta Renegades 22 - Nashville 6
Matrix Game 1

The Outlaws traveled to Atlanta this weekend and returned home a bit shot up after dropping the contest to an envigorated Renegades side 22-6. Nashville scored first after applying heavy pressure for the first 10 minutes, getting a penalty shot inside the 22 which Gower slotted. 3-0. More pressure, but the Gades's defense stood firm and didn't give up the big gain, frustrating the visitors. Atlanta evened the score with a penalty kick of their own
after coming in from the side penalty. 3-3

Atlanta then gained some confidence in their running game and got it wide several times due to a lack of in-your-face tackling at the centers. They finally punched it in off a lineout with a nice back play which saw the fullback running across the grain to slice through and dot it down. Nashville again made attempts to score before the half but were denied, then
often gave up overlaods before making tackles on the wings. Halftime.

After an injury to wing Silkwood, we shuffled the line a bit and brought the Rock out to the center to shore up our defense. Atlanta used the half to begin a kicking game which Nashville never adjusted to. Atlanta got a fortuitous bounce away from Nashville hands on a pop kick, then soccer kicked it ahead and raced for the line. A penalty try was awarded as we
impeded the player making an attempt on the ball. Conversion made. 17-3. More back and forth action and multiple field changes on the small pitch.

The pack then turned up the heat and started some great pick and goes and rocket groups to apply heavy pressure only to be denied an apparent try due to lack of clear vision of the downward pressure in a pack of players. Nashville were then awarded a penalty in front of the posts and took the sure points (Gower) despite a hunger to drive it in from the momentum
gaining pack. 17-6.

Nashville got the ball back and gave up possession after the kickoff, then had to play defense for a long spell. After winning possession, a scrum down at the 5m saw a low pass dropped in the try zone where two Gades swiftly slid in and applied downward pressure to put the nail in the coffin. Unconverted. 22-6.

1 Forbes
2 Brown
3 Shirley, Maddox at 60m
4 Shuck
5 Kutz
6 Lane
7 Ryan, Balicki @ 40m, Jones @ 60m
8 Bone
9 Mitchell
10 Nicolau
11 Silkwood, Gower @ 40m
12 Gower (2 P), Ryan @ 40m
13 Hice
14 Ramoneda
15 Ewton

In a psuedo state championship challenge, Nashville defeated Knoxville 42-10 and Memphis 31-14 at the Heart of Dixie Tournament.

Oct. 1, 2005
Nashville 42 - Knoxville 10
Referee: Neely
Captain: Dace Shuck

Nicolau scored first with a great individual effort to dance down the sideline from the 40m shaking and dragging tacklers over the line to dot down near the flag. Chris Gower nails the conversion from the sideline to start his 9 for 10 day. Nashville struck soon after with a nice backline play when Cayo made the dummy, then sent Gower slicing through the defense across the grain to dot under the posts. Conversion made. A bit of poor tackling and slow arrival at the breakdown added to the numerous knock-ons to keep Nashville off the board for 10 minutes. Then, a nice set of rucking and pick and go's provided a platform just outside the goal line where Pinhead gave a nice dummy (so I hear, I was under the pile) and walked in to score. Conversion made. 21-0. Halftime.

Knoxville came out reinvigorated after the break, aided by a plethora of knock-ons and spilled ball. Off a ruck, a seemingly covered switch slipped through and the Knoxville Center scored to give them life. They scored again when they sent the young beef at us and ran through many tacklers to score with the large prop pumping his fists and shaggy hair to signal a momentum shift.

Then the Outlaws got it together to score 21 points and put the game out of reach.

A beautifully executed backline play off another solid ruck platform saw Jamie Ewton cutting through 3 confused defenders to score the easy try. Then some open play and much handling and good passing setup Mike Gower with a crossing 2 on 1 who froze the defender with a sweet dummy and scored. The last try, a rolling maul off of one of Dusty Brown's many long runs, sealed tons of possums, creating an overload with great teamwork and ball handling. New Outlaw Brian Silkwood had the opportunity to a go over for the score, but gave the nice pass around hand off to Maddox for the easy score to thank
him for playing with us.

1 Forbes
2 Will Maddox (1T)
3 Pledger
4 Shuck
5 Kutz
6 Brown
7 Miller
8 Tyson
9 Mitchell (1T)
10 Nicolau (1T)
11 Gower, M (1T)
12 Wright
13 Gower, C (1T, 6C)
14 Silkwood
15 Ewton (1T)

Nashville 33 - Memphis 14
Referee: McLemore
Captain: Shuck

45 Minutes after our first game, we regathered to play a short game against Memphis as both teams had players that needed to leave. Losing two players, we got some help from some MTSU boys to fill out the side who made decent
contributions. The heat and short rest played its toll as we started off very lethargic and slow to breakdowns before Cayo Nicolau scored on a long run from a counter. Conversion missed after some taunting from the ref and lost concentration. Memphis came charging back after a stolen ruck and run from their center who slipped through many shirt grabbers to score under the posts. Conversion made. 5-7.

Nicolau changed the game plan for a bit with the boot and put pressure on the Blues' back 3. Gower and Nicolau charged down to poach the ball from the isolated fullback who held on, forcing the ref to award a penalty try. Conversion made. 12-7. Some nice forward play and lineout breaks/foils produced the next try. All hands to Brad Wright who made a beautiful long
pass to an oncoming Ewton who glided in. Conversion made. 19-7. Then fatigue set in. Lost my legs and my brain. Don't quite remember the next score. Pack try after a well executed Eight man pickup, back 1 to Mike Gower, who moved to flanker, and further progression from the forwards??? 24-7. Sounds good. Then some bad handling in the backs from a kick and poor decision making worsened the situation. Memphis gained the ball and charged through, runner made a few players miss and scored. Conversion made. 24-14. Nashville then finished the day with a solid defensive effort pushing the Memphis backline back, forcing a dropped ball, then a soccer game broke out as three different feet made a touch
before Brad Wright dribbled the ball 40 meters, then made a nice scoop and roll over the final for the score at the whistle. No conversion attempt. 31-7.

1 Forbes
2 Brown
3 Pledger
4 Shuck
5 Kutz
6 Noah, MTSU, Gower, M @ 20m
7 Miller
8 Tyson
9 Mitchell
10 Nicolau (1T)
11 Gower, C (3C), Hodgens from MTSU @ 20m
12 Box, Wright @ 20m (1T)
13 Wright, Gower, C @ 20m
14 Gower, M, John from MTSU @ 20m
15 Ewton (1T)

Perseverance was the word of the day as the Outlaws overcame short numbers, heat, no help from the sidelines for water breaks, and short rest to finish the day 2-0 with no injuries, save Tyson laid after on the ground after nearly every stoppage and Dusty's Addidas logo on his back.