by Dacoda McDowell-Wahpekeche, Student Reporter
With social distancing being enforced on college campuses across the country, in-person sporting events have been canceled or postponed. But virtual events have sprung up in their place.
Officials with the Great American Conference announced the organization’s first virtual gaming tournament. The GAC’s affiliate schools have selected student representatives to play Madden ’21.
Madden ’21 is a video game published by EA Sports. It is available on Xbox, PC and PlayStation. It is an American football game using the likenesses of the NFL and its players.
Northwestern’s football team picked Denzel Davis as their representative in the conference-wide virtual gaming tournament. The GAC announced each schools’ representatives on Sept. 16.
During the 2019 season for the university’s football team, Davis accumulated 223 yards with 24 receptions as a wide receiver. He averaged 9.3 yards per reception on the year.
Davis said he has already gotten off to a great start in the tournament. He has won both of the games he has already played.
“We always play (Madden against) each other in Ament Hall,” Davis said. “I got selected because word got around to coach, and they already knew I could do well, so they selected me.”
Madden ’21 is a player vs. player game. Each player selects a team to control as they use plays from the real-life versions of their teams. Players who are on offense start their plays by using the quarterback.
They can call out a blitz, hot route, and pass protection.
When the ball is alive and in play, the player can choose which receiver to throw to. If the player decides to run the ball, then the player will control the running back or quarterback. The player’s goal on offense is to score points.
On defense, the players select what defensive schemes they will use. Before the snap, the players can control if they will call an audible, switch avatars to control during the snap, and whether they will pressure the receivers.
The player’s goal is to disrupt the play to cause a turnover.
Davis’ first game was against East Central University’s student representative. Kole Poindexter, the ECU player, almost made a comeback, but Davis made a stop towards the end of the fourth quarter to win 28-22.
To set the tone of the second game, Davis — playing as NFL Quarterback Baker Mayfield –threw a 75-yard touchdown to NFL Wide Receiver Odell Beckham Jr, another avatar within the game.
Davis admitted that he was nervous before the game, but when the lights turned on, he was good, he said.
“I really focus on what my opponent is doing so I can find where to attack,” he said. “I stick to the passing game and use a nickel formation on defense. It is tough, but it is fun. I am excited to represent our school.”