The Rams arrived in Aberdeen after an epic, 7 hour trip to face a Roughnecks team that had already handed out a 42-0 defeat in the first game of the season.

To make matters worse, the squad that travelled was even smaller than the one that played the Tigers in Glasgow earlier in the season. With 19 players plus Special Teams Coordinator (and BAFA registered player/coach), Mark Gaze getting kitted up for the game, the optimism on the Rams’ sideline was low but a inspirational talk from Charlie Gough got them fired up and the teams took to the field.

The visitors received the ball to start the game but, after a short drive, were forced to punt and the Roughnecks would find themselves starting from deep in their own territory. The Rams thought they’d got the ball back when Aberdeen fumbled but Chris Lawton was adjudged to have illegally kicked the ball in the ruckus but the home side still couldn’t get the first down and had to punt.

The Yorkshire side got the ball back around halfway and, as has been a trend in this season, ended up going backwards with penalties. A 10-yard gain on an end around on 3rd down was only enough to get back to the original line of scrimmage. Gaze came out to punt for the second time in the game and a well-judged kick pinned the Roughnecks inside their 10.

Another big stand from a makeshift defense, with help from some penalties meant that another punt was required. This one was almost blocked by Nik Kozina but the Rams would once again take over in good field position, this time inside the Aberdeen half.

Penalties would again kill the drive and the away side would end up punting from halfway again. A high snap was coralled by Gaze and the punt was this time downed by a Roughnecks player on the 5 yard line. Aberdeen struggled to get a couple of yards but would be forced to punt from their own endzone and when the snap was high, the punter took a step backwards and touched out of bounds, which was spotted by an eagle-eyed referee and the Rams took a 2-0 lead with a Safety.

For the third time, the Rams would take over near halfway and, again, fail to capitalise but when another punt bounced and rolled it’s way towards the endzone, a Roughnecks player, inexplicably touched the ball down and a group of Rams fell on the ball to take over inside the redzone.

All that would follow, though, was another set of penalties and the Rams couldn’t convert on fourth down but when the home side took over, an interception from Daniel Harris gave the offense another shot at scoring but the drive would end with another punt.

The teams would trade punts for the next few drives, as both offenses struggled to move the ball and were held back by penalties. A good punt from Aberdeen pinned the Rams back and when the visitors had to punt from their own endzone, a high snap threatened to even up the scoreboard, Gaze pulled in the ball one-handed and managed to get the punt off. This gave the Roughnecks good field position though and they would attempt a field goal which was blocked by Kozina and the Rams would take an unlikely 2-0 lead into the half.

The second half started in good shape for the visitors, as the kickoff was fumbled by the Roughnecks returner and the offense would get another drive that they would not have expected to have coming out of the break. This time a great drive saw the Rams move to a first and goal opportunity but it would end in a field goal attempt and Lawton’s attempt was wide left.

Aberdeen had some success on their next drive but would ultimately punt again and the two teams would go back to trading punts with very little movement of the ball in-between. Once again, the Roughnecks lined up for a field goal which hit the post below the bar and the visitors’ narrow lead would survive.

More punts would follow as the weather deteriorated but the Rams defense would take the ball back again as Nick Halfpenny picked off a short pass. The away side couldn’t capitalise on this and another punt from Gaze pinned the Roughnecks inside their 5 yard line again. Another punt each would take the game to the 2-minute warning and when Spencer Whybrow picked off a pass from a desperate Roughnecks offense, the Rams could kneel out the game and take an unlikely victory back to Yorkshire.