EVENT: 2005 Nationals
DATE: October 1-2, 2005.
LOCATION: Milwaukee, WI

USAFL Nationals 2005 – (Milwaukee) The North Carolina Tigers earned the right to play in Division II again this year, seeded 3rd with Orange County, Philadelphia, and Seattle also in Pool A. The Tigers arrived in Milwaukee late Friday night with only a few hours to sleep before they found themselves taking the field for an eight o’clock game against EAFL foe, Philadelphia Hawks. With the sun rising and a brisk morning wind, the Tigers and Hawks took the immense MCG-like field (160m x 139m) and played a hard brand of football. The new Burley ball was on the ground for most of the game. Both teams chased the footy around on this chilly morning, the lack of skill displayed keeping the scores low. At the end of the first 20 minute half, the Hawks found themselves in front, 2.1.(13), of the scoreless Tigers. The Hawks kept up the same play in the second half, once again scoring two goals and one behind. The Tigers had their chances inside the forward 50 but only managed to get a couple shots at goal and both of those resulting in behinds.
Final score: Philadelphia 4.2.(26) def. North Carolina 0.2.(2).

With the next game not for a few hours, the Tigers rested, and some slept. The one o’clock game against the Orange County Bombers was on the main field again, this time in front of a growing crowd and GameDay commentator, Grilla. Traditionally the Bombers are a Division I team, but due to a lack of numbers, they elected to move down to Division II. However, their game play remained at a Division I skill level. The Tigers stepped up their play from the early morning appearance and goaled first. The tight Tigers defense held the Bombers scoreless for the 1st half. At the break the score was Bombers 0.4.(4) to Tigers 1.1.(7). The Bombers turned the table on the Tigers in the second half. Despite numerous opportunities, the Bombers held the Tigers goalless while kicking three goals of their own.
Final score: Orange County 3.6.(24) def. North Carolina 1.3.(9). Tigers goals scorer: Heathcote.

While the Tigers found themselves with no chance to make the Division finals on Sunday, they still played a very important role in determining who would play in the Championship. The Tigers’ next opponent, the Seattle Grizzlies (a combined team of Seattle, Portland, and B.C. Canada) had tied with Philadelphia for the top spot in Pool A with only a few percentage points separating them. The 4th seeded Seattle, lead by ex-Tiger captain Martin Coventry, had surprised the field by beating Orange County and falling to Philly by a last minute goal. They sought out the Tigers in an eleven o’clock game on the main field in front of a packed and loud crowd. From the opening bounce Seattle came out strong showing every intention of defeating the Tigers and running up the score to propel themselves into the finals. Having two goals kicked on them early in the first half, the Tigers were behind and on the brink of loosing touch of Seattle. However, the Tigers followed their unspoken creed, “Never give up” and answered back with goals from Jason Heathcote and Will Harvey, bringing the game back to a one point affair by halftime, Tigers 3.1.(19) to Grizzlies 3.2.(20). The table was set for the best game of the entire weekend. The stands were full, the skill level was high, the athletes were becoming fatigued titans, and only one point separated the two teams. The second half was not a letdown as both teams played with the same level of intensity as they did from the opening bounce. Back and forth the ball moved across the field, each team slotting goals. With less than 5 minutes left in the game the Tigers found themselves up almost a goal and with a 30 meter free kick into a slight breeze. Lining up at a tight 45 degree angle, the Tiger forward sent the ball towards the goal. Played perfectly, right to left, the ball arced towards the tall posts. Just as the Tigers were about to lift their arms in jubilation the ball nicked the goal post resulting in one point instead of the six that would have all but sealed the game. Now up by 5 points the Tigers knew their task: Keep Seattle from kicking the game winner. Like mighty walls of a fort, the Tigers defense stood strong. The battle was in their defensive 50. The Tigers pounced on every loose ball, smothered every attempted kick toward goal, and cleared every time they gained possession, save one. With less than a minute, a kicked ball flew just beyond the outstretched Tiger’s fingertips into the hands of a sliding Seattle forward only 20 meters from goal. Pressure did not crack him. He kicked the game winning goal. Time had run out. The Tigers suffered a close loss. It was a loss for the Grizzlies as well as they did not win by enough to make it to the Division Finals.
Final Score: North Carolina 6.2.(38) def. by Seattle 6.3.(39). Tigers goal scorers: Harvey (3), Heathcote (3).

The Tigers’ play was very well received by all who watched on Sunday. The battered and beaten Tigers walked of the field with their heads high as the entire crowd rose to their feet and cheered to show their approval.