Iowa Rangers (3-2) at Madison Timberwolves (1-4)
16 to 51
Madison really stepped up the offense in this game, once again showing that they would succeed in most other divisions in the league right now. The NFC North is just tough to play in.
Boston Liberty (4-1) at Hartford Lightning (2-3)
30 to 17
Boston continues to win consistently, but faces an uphill battle in a tight division. Hartford put up a good fight considering their skill.
Dover Deer (2-2) at Kentucky Stallions (3-1)
13 to 24
Kentucky took the reins and went the distance when it mattered, pulling out a fairly easy victory. They look on track to secure another wildcard spot.
Spokane Ospreys (2-3) at Edmonton Beavers (0-5)
41 to 13
The Beavers aren't a match for anyone but the lowest teams in the league right now. Spokane easily pulls off a win.
Mexico Bulls (4-1) at Tiburon Sharks (2-2)
27 to 24 (OT)
Mexico continues to be successful in their division when it matters, but the tightness of this game revealed that they can't yet compete with the top tier teams in the league.
Bar Harbor Captains (2-2) at Montana Grizzlies (2-2)
24 to 17
Bar Harbor played hard when it mattered in this tight game against division rival Montana. It is essential that the Captains play above the Grizzlies this year as their team looks strong enough to put together a passable wildcard run in an AFC North dominated by the Yukon Yeti.
Atlantic Tide (3-2) at West Virginia Wizards (1-3)
10 to 6
The Tide barely pulled this low-scoring game out of the bag. The Wizards aren't bad, but they're not quite to the level of the Tide yet.
Topeka Oilers (0-4) at Santa Fe Bandits (2-2)
27 to 21
Topeka's first victory of the season comes against the rising Bandits, a team that has traditionally struggled. This is an interesting matchup for two teams that are looking to build their teams and likely won't make the playoffs this year.
Dakota Vipers (4-1) at Carson City Comets (3-1)
10 to 26
The win couldn't be bigger for Carson City. The Comet defense was able to effectively hold back Dakota and they're strong running game led by HB Will Reynolds powered through when it mattered, giving Carson City the 16 point margin of victory. The Comets are still a force to be reckoned with. This game has the potential to be a super bowl preview a few years down the road.
Puerto Rico Piranhas (2-3) at Little Rock Crocs (2-3)
13 to 17
Puerto Rico has backslid a little this season while the Crocs look to surge to the front of the middle tier in the league. This game is evidence.
Salt Lake Scorpions (2-3) at Oklahoma Twisters (4-0)
10 to 17
While no doubt closer than the Twisters would've liked it, a win is a win. Oklahoma, led by QB Marc Madison, is a force to be reckoned with.
Springfield Knights (4-1) at Portland Flyers (1-4)
24 to 14
The Knights stuck to their game plan, running the ball and holding off the lowly Flyers. Both the Knights and Comets are running very similar game plans this year and meet each other in week 9. That'll be a game to watch.
Jackson Dragons (2-2) at Hawaii Warriors (3-2)
20 to 33
Jackson is inconsistent and Hawaii is trying to prove that they can still compete. The Warriors have a slim chance at the playoffs this year.
Lincoln Tribe (0-4) at Wyoming Wildcats (2-3)
9 to 26
Lincoln could lose to almost anyone this year and are in desperate need of a win to boost morale. Wyoming doesn't give it to them here.
Thursday, December 26, 2013
League News Update 4-5
Santa Fe Bandits (1-2) at Boise Bison (2-2)
34 to 24
Santa Fe looked strong in this one, pulling off an unexpected victory against Boise.
Hawaii Warriors (3-1) at Mexico Bulls (3-1)
6 to 22
This victory is sure to give the Bulls momentum, but I don't put much stock in their chances of succeeding in the league this year. They can walk away with the NFC South, but not much else.
Edmonton Beavers (0-4) at Springfield Knights (3-1)
6 to 24
Hardly an unpredictable result, Springfield uses their effective running game to burn clock and get the win.
Lincoln Tribe (0-3) at Concord Hawks (2-2)
10 to 17
Despite this victory, Concord is really beginning to struggle after a promising start. Lincoln is easily among the worst 5 teams in the league right now.
Salt Lake Scorpions (2-2) at Hartford Lightning (1-3)
24 to 31
I'm inclined to think Hartford is slightly above most of its mid-ranked counterparts in the league, but their record won't show it this year due to their tough division.
Yukon Yeti (4-0) at Bar Harbor Captains (2-1)
87 to 14
After a fairly even first quarter, Bar Harbor crumbled in the face of Yukon's effective offense and stifling defensive sets. Bar Harbor rookie QB Lennox Stanley threw 7 interceptions, 3 of which were returned for touchdowns by Yukon CB Ted Watts. Yukon is really looking strong this year.
Madison Timberwolves (1-3) at Boston Liberty (3-1)
3 to 49
I was hoping Madison would at least make this close. Boston is clearly still the top team in the NFC.
Portland Flyers (1-3) at Dakota Vipers (3-1)
3 to 42
This was a predictable result due to the presence of the hot Dakota Vipers. Week 2's 18 to 17 decision between the Liberty and Vipers is looking like it could easily be an early playoff preview.
Atlantic Tide (3-1) at Spokane Ospreys (1-3)
14 to 17
Atlantic doesn't possess the solid and consistent offense or defense it once had. Spokane took advantage of it here and hands the Tide their second loss of the season.
Kentucky Stallions (3-0) at West Virginia Wizards (0-3)
21 to 31
West Virginia comes up with a surprise upset against a Kentucky team that's still super bowl capable in a tough division. Both of these teams compete at a high caliber on a regular basis, West Virginia lacks Kentucky's consistency, but is capable of pulling off this win.
Wyoming Wildcats (1-3) at Tucson Kings (2-2)
24 to 13
This was a fairly even game that went the direction of the Wildcats. Both of these teams sit around in the middle tier of the league.
Puerto Rico Piranhas (2-2) at Carson City Comets (2-1)
16 to 24
Carson City's emphasis on defense and the running game makes the score of their games appear closer than they actually are. This is one of those cases. The Comets might not be as powerful as previous years, but they're running game has only gotten better.
Dover Deer (2-1) at Iowa Rangers (2-2)
7 to 13
An interesting result from two inconsistent teams. Iowa is looking to move up in the league while Dover remains something of a success enigma.
Little Rock Crocs (2-2) at Oklahoma Twisters (3-0)
7 to 31
Oklahoma will be a problem for most teams right now. They're no doubt in the top 3 teams in the league this year.
34 to 24
Santa Fe looked strong in this one, pulling off an unexpected victory against Boise.
Hawaii Warriors (3-1) at Mexico Bulls (3-1)
6 to 22
This victory is sure to give the Bulls momentum, but I don't put much stock in their chances of succeeding in the league this year. They can walk away with the NFC South, but not much else.
Edmonton Beavers (0-4) at Springfield Knights (3-1)
6 to 24
Hardly an unpredictable result, Springfield uses their effective running game to burn clock and get the win.
Lincoln Tribe (0-3) at Concord Hawks (2-2)
10 to 17
Despite this victory, Concord is really beginning to struggle after a promising start. Lincoln is easily among the worst 5 teams in the league right now.
Salt Lake Scorpions (2-2) at Hartford Lightning (1-3)
24 to 31
I'm inclined to think Hartford is slightly above most of its mid-ranked counterparts in the league, but their record won't show it this year due to their tough division.
Yukon Yeti (4-0) at Bar Harbor Captains (2-1)
87 to 14
After a fairly even first quarter, Bar Harbor crumbled in the face of Yukon's effective offense and stifling defensive sets. Bar Harbor rookie QB Lennox Stanley threw 7 interceptions, 3 of which were returned for touchdowns by Yukon CB Ted Watts. Yukon is really looking strong this year.
Madison Timberwolves (1-3) at Boston Liberty (3-1)
3 to 49
I was hoping Madison would at least make this close. Boston is clearly still the top team in the NFC.
Portland Flyers (1-3) at Dakota Vipers (3-1)
3 to 42
This was a predictable result due to the presence of the hot Dakota Vipers. Week 2's 18 to 17 decision between the Liberty and Vipers is looking like it could easily be an early playoff preview.
Atlantic Tide (3-1) at Spokane Ospreys (1-3)
14 to 17
Atlantic doesn't possess the solid and consistent offense or defense it once had. Spokane took advantage of it here and hands the Tide their second loss of the season.
Kentucky Stallions (3-0) at West Virginia Wizards (0-3)
21 to 31
West Virginia comes up with a surprise upset against a Kentucky team that's still super bowl capable in a tough division. Both of these teams compete at a high caliber on a regular basis, West Virginia lacks Kentucky's consistency, but is capable of pulling off this win.
Wyoming Wildcats (1-3) at Tucson Kings (2-2)
24 to 13
This was a fairly even game that went the direction of the Wildcats. Both of these teams sit around in the middle tier of the league.
Puerto Rico Piranhas (2-2) at Carson City Comets (2-1)
16 to 24
Carson City's emphasis on defense and the running game makes the score of their games appear closer than they actually are. This is one of those cases. The Comets might not be as powerful as previous years, but they're running game has only gotten better.
Dover Deer (2-1) at Iowa Rangers (2-2)
7 to 13
An interesting result from two inconsistent teams. Iowa is looking to move up in the league while Dover remains something of a success enigma.
Little Rock Crocs (2-2) at Oklahoma Twisters (3-0)
7 to 31
Oklahoma will be a problem for most teams right now. They're no doubt in the top 3 teams in the league this year.
League News Update 4-4
Here's the list of this week's games with some (very) brief analysis...
Edmonton Beavers (0-3) at Kentucky Stallions (2-0)
3 to 45
Nothing surprising here. Last year's NFC champion takes down a team that's been struggling for years.
Wyoming Wildcats (0-3) at Boise Bison (2-1)
17 to 6
Boise has gotten knocked off their game after their loss to the Yeti. Wyoming walks away with this one and the NFC West is up for grabs.
Hawaii Warriors (2-1) at Tiburon Sharks (2-1)
16 to 10
Not an unpredictable result. Hawaii is used to playing some fairly tough teams in its own AFC South and the NFC South is nothing in comparison.
Dover Deer (1-1) at Boston Liberty (3-0)
30 to 24
Boston turned the ball over 5 times. Dover played mistake free football. Other than that, this game should've gone to the Liberty. Props to Dover for outsmarting a more athletic team. The NFC East gets more interesting by the week.
Concord Hawks (2-1) at Atlantic Tide (2-1)
21 to 38
The Tide get revenge for their week 1 loss in Concord with this victory. Their offense cruised past that of the Hawks. The Tide are still the leading team in the AFC East.
Little Rock Crocs (1-2) at Madison Timberwolves (1-2)
32 to 27
No doubt Little Rock understands that the AFC West is attainable this year. This victory against a fairly decent team in Madison shows it. I'm surprised at the result here, but at least it was close.
Dakota Vipers (2-1) at Springfield Knights (3-0)
17 to 7
I've been waiting for the Knights to lose all year because their schedule to this point has been way too easy. If the Knights are serious about winning the NFC North, they have to do more than beat the struggling Edmonton Beavers. Dakota is looking the strongest in the NFC North so far with Madison and Springfield in close contention. The division could still go to any of these three teams.
Jackson Dragons (1-2) at Puerto Rico Piranhas (2-1)
16 to 10
I was not expecting this. Puerto Rico doesn't have much of an offense, usually relying on their defense to shut down opponents. It looks like the Dragons overcame it in a surprise victory. The Piranhas need to stay strong in order to compete in the AFC South and after Hawaii's win over Tiburon, this loss makes them look bad.
Santa Fe Bandits (1-1) at Yukon Yeti (3-0)
7 to 42
Yukon got the ball right away and put up 14 points on the board before the Bandits knew what hit them. The third play of the first drive was a deep 73 yard pass from Yukon QB Torry Mathis to Wideout Mack Pleasant. The Yeti continued last week's trend, emphasizing the running game more than usual. The Bandit's only TD came on a deep pass late in the first half, taking advantage of poor defensive play calling and the mismatches that resulted. Regardless, this was a Yeti show through and through. Yukon will certainly need to step it up for next week's game against division rival Bar Harbor, a team which is more than prepared coming off of a bye week.
Player of the game: Yeti Free Safety Jon Baker
Topeka Oilers (0-3) at Mexico Bulls (2-1)
14 to 24
If the NFC South has to go to someone, Mexico looks up to the task.
Salt Lake Scorpions (1-2) at Portland Flyers (1-2)
23 to 20
This was a good showing on the part of the Flyers, but a predictable result.
Hartford Lightning (1-2) at Iowa Rangers (1-2)
23 to 31
I was very surprised by this result. The Lightning look to be lagging behind in the AFC East after a promising start. On the flip side, Iowa won't be going anywhere soon in the competitive NFC East, but they're getting there.
Montana Grizzlies (2-1) at Tucson Kings (1-2)
14 to 26
The bottom two teams in the AFC North, Montana and Lincoln, look to be struggling this year in comparison to up and coming teams like the Kings who are hoping to compete with fellow NFC West rivals such as Boise, Wyoming, and Santa Fe.
Oklahoma Twisters (2-0) at Spokane Ospreys (1-2)
28 to 11
Oklahoma looks awfully good this year. They were a step ahead of Spokane all the way.
Next week features the first of two regular season Yeti and Captains matchups. These are always interesting games to watch so keep your eyes peeled for related features on the blog. In the meantime, my analyses for the next week or two will be shorter due to time constraints. I'll pick up the more detailed aspects again in my week 7 update.
Edmonton Beavers (0-3) at Kentucky Stallions (2-0)
3 to 45
Nothing surprising here. Last year's NFC champion takes down a team that's been struggling for years.
Wyoming Wildcats (0-3) at Boise Bison (2-1)
17 to 6
Boise has gotten knocked off their game after their loss to the Yeti. Wyoming walks away with this one and the NFC West is up for grabs.
Hawaii Warriors (2-1) at Tiburon Sharks (2-1)
16 to 10
Not an unpredictable result. Hawaii is used to playing some fairly tough teams in its own AFC South and the NFC South is nothing in comparison.
Dover Deer (1-1) at Boston Liberty (3-0)
30 to 24
Boston turned the ball over 5 times. Dover played mistake free football. Other than that, this game should've gone to the Liberty. Props to Dover for outsmarting a more athletic team. The NFC East gets more interesting by the week.
Concord Hawks (2-1) at Atlantic Tide (2-1)
21 to 38
The Tide get revenge for their week 1 loss in Concord with this victory. Their offense cruised past that of the Hawks. The Tide are still the leading team in the AFC East.
Little Rock Crocs (1-2) at Madison Timberwolves (1-2)
32 to 27
No doubt Little Rock understands that the AFC West is attainable this year. This victory against a fairly decent team in Madison shows it. I'm surprised at the result here, but at least it was close.
Dakota Vipers (2-1) at Springfield Knights (3-0)
17 to 7
I've been waiting for the Knights to lose all year because their schedule to this point has been way too easy. If the Knights are serious about winning the NFC North, they have to do more than beat the struggling Edmonton Beavers. Dakota is looking the strongest in the NFC North so far with Madison and Springfield in close contention. The division could still go to any of these three teams.
Jackson Dragons (1-2) at Puerto Rico Piranhas (2-1)
16 to 10
I was not expecting this. Puerto Rico doesn't have much of an offense, usually relying on their defense to shut down opponents. It looks like the Dragons overcame it in a surprise victory. The Piranhas need to stay strong in order to compete in the AFC South and after Hawaii's win over Tiburon, this loss makes them look bad.
Santa Fe Bandits (1-1) at Yukon Yeti (3-0)
7 to 42
Yukon got the ball right away and put up 14 points on the board before the Bandits knew what hit them. The third play of the first drive was a deep 73 yard pass from Yukon QB Torry Mathis to Wideout Mack Pleasant. The Yeti continued last week's trend, emphasizing the running game more than usual. The Bandit's only TD came on a deep pass late in the first half, taking advantage of poor defensive play calling and the mismatches that resulted. Regardless, this was a Yeti show through and through. Yukon will certainly need to step it up for next week's game against division rival Bar Harbor, a team which is more than prepared coming off of a bye week.
Player of the game: Yeti Free Safety Jon Baker
Topeka Oilers (0-3) at Mexico Bulls (2-1)
14 to 24
If the NFC South has to go to someone, Mexico looks up to the task.
Salt Lake Scorpions (1-2) at Portland Flyers (1-2)
23 to 20
This was a good showing on the part of the Flyers, but a predictable result.
Hartford Lightning (1-2) at Iowa Rangers (1-2)
23 to 31
I was very surprised by this result. The Lightning look to be lagging behind in the AFC East after a promising start. On the flip side, Iowa won't be going anywhere soon in the competitive NFC East, but they're getting there.
Montana Grizzlies (2-1) at Tucson Kings (1-2)
14 to 26
The bottom two teams in the AFC North, Montana and Lincoln, look to be struggling this year in comparison to up and coming teams like the Kings who are hoping to compete with fellow NFC West rivals such as Boise, Wyoming, and Santa Fe.
Oklahoma Twisters (2-0) at Spokane Ospreys (1-2)
28 to 11
Oklahoma looks awfully good this year. They were a step ahead of Spokane all the way.
Next week features the first of two regular season Yeti and Captains matchups. These are always interesting games to watch so keep your eyes peeled for related features on the blog. In the meantime, my analyses for the next week or two will be shorter due to time constraints. I'll pick up the more detailed aspects again in my week 7 update.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
League News Update 4-3
This week's writeup is going to be a bit lengthy with the qualification that next week's will just be posted scores and possibly some brief analysis. There were only a few tight games this week. Here are the scores, analysis, and some statistics...
Yukon Yeti at Boise Bison
56 to 0
The score says it all. The Bison aren't a bad team, but they didn't stand a chance in this game. The stat that should jump out almost immediately is time of possession. The Bison were on offense for less than 25% of this game. Yukon slowed the game down beyond their usual fast hitting and high flying offense. They tried time and time again to run the ball despite the fact that the Bison yielded very little yardage on straight rushing plays. This led to a lot of short passes on second down and a high third down efficiency. Boise came into this game with one of the top ranked defenses in the league, obviously this will knock that statistic down a notch. Although Yukon won the coin toss, they chose to kick. Boise went three and out on their first two possessions, leading to two long Yukon drives that resulted in touchdowns. On their third possession, Boise finally looked to have found their groove, working their way into the redzone. This was brought to an abrupt halt by an interception thrown by Boise QB Corey Maguire and returned 103 yards by Yukon CB Andre Harry for a score. The bulk of time Boise had the ball was on this possession. On the ensuing kickoff, Yukon WR Lamar Craig delivered a special teams hit to Boise WR and kick returner, Dee Kirby, forcing a fumble. Yukon corner Patrick Andrews fell on the ball and set Yukon up for another score. It only took them two plays to strike gold with a pass to Mack Pleasant in the left corner. Boise's offense was shut down once again on their fourth offensive possession, leading to a Yukon opportunity with 0:46 to play in the half. Driving around 60 yards down the field, Torry Mathis threw his fourth touchdown pass of the day, setting up a 35-0 halftime situation in favor of the Yeti. Coming out of halftime, the Boise defense had a renewed energy, stopping Yukon's first possession and taking over about halfway through the quarter. No more than a few plays had gone by when Corey Maguire threw his second interception of the day to Yukon MLB Lionel Nipper. Nipper ran 26 yards into the endzone for the score. Yukon's defense continued to shut down Boise time and time again. After another Mathis TD pass about midway through the fourth quarter, Yukon pulled him in favor of backup Ben Harris in order to avoid a chance of injury. The Yeti maintained possession carefully, running the ball and making short passes when necessary to pick up first downs. It was during this last half of the fourth quarter that Yukon rookie HB Marcus Green came in for a tired Tim Peterson and punched in the ball for his first ever score in professional regular season action. With no other score forthcoming, the Yeti shutdown another Boise offensive possession, got the ball back, and ran down the clock for the win. Perhaps the only success for Boise was the running game, but with such a deficit they turned to it little. Yukon played a different style of ball than what we usually see, using a lot of WR bunch sets and running the ball before passing it. This allowed them to run misdirection plays more effectively and wind down the clock, gradually forcing the Bison to play with a sense of unwanted urgency and likely leading to the two interceptions. Yukon played some of the best football I've seen all year and I know I said last week that their performance against Concord was probably one of the best we'll see all year, but this was nothing short of dominating. Perhaps Boise has a way to go if they want to compete with the best. Boise is a top team in the NFC West, but that had nothing on Yukon in this one. Next week they take on division rival Wyoming, a team which Yukon beat in week 1. It will no doubt be a test to see if they are truly of a higher caliber. The Yeti keep rolling with this one and look to take on a slowly developing middle tier team in the Santa Fe Bandits next week.
Passing:
Yukon QB Torry Mathis: 138.9 passer rating, 250 yards passing, 5 TD, 19/27, 70% completion rate, 9.3 average yards per pass, 3 sacks
Yukon QB Ben Harris: 85.4 passer rating, 40 yards passing, 2/4
Boise QB Corey Maguire: 9.8 passer rating, 73 yards passing, 2 INT, 7/28, 2.6 average yards per pass
Rushing:
Yukon HB Tim Peterson: 51 yards, 18 attempts, 2.8 average yards
Yukon QB Torry Mathis: 19 yards, 3 attempts, 6.3 average yards
Yukon QB Ben Harris: 18 yards, 1 attempt
Yukon HB Marcus Green: 7 yards, 1 attempt, TD
Boise HB Martin Simpson: 38 yards, 6 attempts, 6.3 average yards
Receiving:
Yukon WR Mack Pleasant: 5 receptions, 99 yards, 3 TDs
Yukon WR Lamar Craig: 4 receptions, 50 yards
Yukon FB Charles Burnett: 3 receptions, 42 yards
Yukon WR Richard Cummings: 2 receptions, 13 yards, TD
Yukon WR T.J. Oliver: 2 receptions, 24 yards
Yukon HB TIm Peterson: 2 receptions, 16 yards
Yukon TE Neil Parker: 1 reception, 24 yards, TD
Yukon TE Derek Pruitt: 1 reception, 19 yards
Yukon WR Roscoe Terrell: 1 reception, 3 yards
All Boise receivers were held under 20 yards. Only WR Cornell Billups caught the ball more than once.
Yukon Defense:
Yukon WR Lamar Craig: 4 tackles, FF
Yukon MLB Lionel Nipper: 3 tackles, INT, TD
Yukon CB Andre Harry: 1 tackle, 103 yard INT, TD
Game Stats:
YY: 372 total offense, BB: 111
YY: 95 rushing yards, BB: 38
YY: 277 passing yards, BB: 73
YY: 19 first downs, BB: 7
YY: 7/8 (87%) 3rd down conversions, BB: 1/8 (12%)
YY: 15:07 time of possession, BB: 4:53
3 turnovers by BB (2 INT, 1 fumble)
Box Score
1Q:2Q:::3Q:4Q
7::28:::7::14
0::0::::0::0
Player of the game: YY QB Torry Mathis
Torry Mathis was also named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Tiburon Sharks (1-1) at Topeka Oilers (0-2)
28 to 3
By all appearances, Tiburon had this one in the bag from the get go, maintaining a shutout until the fourth quarter. Topeka was in the redzone 3 times and only turned a field goal once. Tiburon was in the redzone twice and both times had a TD. The inferred statistical explanation is Topka's 3 interceptions. Another thing to note is that Topka played three players at QB, despite only having two on their roster. Rookie Evan Turner did most of the passing after 9 year pro starter Larry Taylor was pulled, likely due to a brief injury. Turner threw 1 interception before being pulled himself, again likely due to an injury. Punter Marcus Clement had 2 interceptions at the quarterback position. Obviously things got pretty desperate for Topkea. Perhaps the game would've been more even if it was injury free. Despite losses for both teams last week, they put up decent numbers against tough teams. I don't think this game is indicative of the state of the NFC South. Right now, that division is up for grabs.
Wyoming Wildcats (0-2) at Montana Grizzlies (1-1)
16 to 21
All scoring was in the first half other than a pair of Wildcat field goals early in the third quarter. Wyoming had three redzone attempts and only converted one into a score on a Tee Franklin field goal. Montana had four redzone attempts and turned three of them into TDs. Wyoming's 2 years pro DT Kurt Johnson racked up 11 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in an impressive performance. However, Montana's defense made stops when it mattered and Wyoming's did not. Wildcat kicker Tee Franklin was 3/4 on field goals, draining a 54 yarder early in the second quarter. Montana's ability to limit Wyoming to field goals was a big factor in this win featuring two mid to lower tier teams. The AFC North has a lot of games against the NFC West this year and, with the exception of Boise's games against Bar Harbor and Lincoln, they have gone in the favor of the AFC North.
Puerto Rico Piranhas (1-1) at Mexico Bulls (2-0)
30 to 3
3-6 is the closest the Bulls ever came to winning this game. After this brief moment in the the second quarter, Puerto Rico shut the door and never looked back. Mexico never made it into the redzone and both their passing and rushing totals were held to double digits. Mexico QB Lester Atwater threw four interceptions, keeping the Bull offense from developing a steady rhythm. Mexico's defense didn't perform poorly. After all they held Puerto Rico to five field goals; kicker Ben Henson was 5/6 for the Piranhas. Still, it's clear that Mexico's defense can't compete compared to Puerto Rico, who came up with turnovers when they needed it. This game is leading me to believe the NFC South is the weakest division in football right now. The Bulls, Sharks, Oilers, and Dragons play shaky defense and inconsistent offense.
Iowa Rangers (1-1) at Boston Liberty (2-0)
17 to 27
After a fast start for the Liberty, Iowa was able to rebound, giving them the lead 14-13 with 2:38 to play in the second quarter. Boston was able to run a quick 52 second drive, resulting in the answering score and putting them ahead permanently. I was surprised that Iowa even made it that close at one point. The Rangers are in the cellar of the NFC East and this divisional matchup shows that the distinction isn't actually all that apparent. Iowa was able to make it 17-20 in the third quarter, but Boston was able to seal the deal with a late fourth quarter score. Total offensive production was similar. In fact, Iowa actually out-passed Boston, 154 to 149 yards. The deciding factor could be turnovers. Iowa lost four fumbles and Boston turned it over twice, once on a fumble and once on an interception. I'm chalking this game up as a fluke on Boston's part. This was the computer game of the week.
Concord Hawks (1-1) at Hartford Lightning (1-1)
24 to 23
The AFC East is a tight division full of teams rising to prominence and struggling to hold on to it. The Hawks and Lightning are two of the rising teams, hoping to eek out playoff berths over the traditionally dominant Tide and Wizards. This matchup was even throughout the first two quarters, leading to a 10-10 halftime score. Hartford was able to go up by 10 after two consecutive successful drives early in the fourth quarter, leaving Concord in a rough spot with 11:36 to play in the game. Late, long, and well constructed drives on the part of the Hawks helped them get the win; the last TD came with 0:57 to play in the game. Concord's offensive production was far greater than Hartford's (403 yards compared to 243), but Concord turned the ball over 7 times (4 INTs, 3 fumbles) compared to Hartford's 1 lost fumble. I'm surprised that the Hawks were able to pull off a comeback after so many mistakes. Perhaps a big reason was the contribution of Concord HB William Collins who rushed for 181 yards on 33 attempts with a TD (averaging 5.5 per carry). Regardless, the Lightning mean business this year even if they're not up to the level of the Hawks. Right now I see the Hawks and Tide competing at the top of the division with the Wizards struggling to keep up and the Lightning hoping to either hold back the rising Hawks or take advantage of the weakening Tide.
Madison Timberwolves (1-1) at Dakota Vipers (1-1)
9 to 13
A Dakota TD with 0:23 to play in the first quarter kept the Vipers up all game (making the score 10-3 at the time). The only score in the second half was a fourth quarter field goal by Madison with 6:09 to play. Both teams were fairly efficient with similar stats, revealing a tight, mistake free, and competitive divisional matchup. The NFC North, with the exception of Edmonton, is up for grabs. Springfield takes on Dakota next week, a game that will no doubt reveal if the traditionally powerful Dakota Vipers are prepared to deal with the rising Knights, one of the few teams that is undefeated thus far.
Portland Flyers (1-1) at Little Rock Crocs (0-2)
7 to 34
Little Rock was up 10-0 at half, but Portland was able to respond on their first drive of the second half on a 31 pass from QB Donald Bever to WR Phillip Grant (Grant finished as the top receiver with 10 receptions, 115 yards, and a TD). Little Rock was able to quickly respond and they never looked back. Their offensive production outmatched the Flyers easily, compiling 4 perfectly efficient redzone trips. Both teams turned the ball over twice, leading me to conclude that the more effective defense of the Crocs was able to secure the victory. This was an interesting matchup from a divisional standpoint as both teams are no doubt hoping to one day be able to knock off the Carson City Comets from the top of the AFC West.
Springfield Knights (2-0) at Edmonton Beaver (0-2)
23 to 7
The Bevers were down 10-7 at half after scoring with 2:13 to play in the second quarter. Springfield simply put them away in the second half. Comparing offensive production is very telling as far as the ability of these two teams. Springfield came up with 496 yards, Edmonton had a meager 174. The only turnover of the game was a interception thrown by the Beavers. This game is solid evidence of Springfield's rising team, particularly its offense and running game. Springfield HB Terrance Griffith compiled 194 rushing yards on 35 attempts with the longest being 25 yards. He also had a TD and while he did lose a fumble, his team was able to recover it. Springfield kicker Keith Parker was only 3/5, his longest coming at 38 yards. The Knights still have some work to do, but they're obviously above the lowly Beavers. Next week's matchup against Dakota will be a true test of Springfield's ability and its undefeated record. No surprise in the result here.
Salt Lake Scorpions (0-2) at Spokane Ospreys (1-1)
27 to 22
Salt Lake started the game on the right foot, immediately jumping in front with a 98 yard kick return for a touchdown by CB Lonnie Fuller on the opening kick. Spokane recovered and answered with 13 points in the first quarter. The momentum shifted back to Salt Lake in the second as they put up 10, making the halftime score 17-13, Salt Lake. Spokane QB Jon Waters threw a 53 yard interception return to FS Ronyell Atkinson sealing the deal for the Scorpions in the third quarter. A Spokane TD and field goal in the fourth were unable to help them catch up. Spokane produced more offensively, but turned the ball over when it mattered even though the Scorpions had 4 turnovers and the Ospreys only had 1. This was a good game for a team at the bottom of the AFC South and a troubling one for a team looking to stay competitive in the AFC West.
Hawaii Warriors (1-1) at Carson City Comets (2-0)
23 to 17
Hawaii jumped out front immediately, holding a 17-0 lead at the half and maintaining a 23-0 shutout by the time the fourth quarter started. By the time Carson City began to find successful offense it was too late. 17 fourth quarter points weren't enough to help them avert the loss. Each team boasted similar offensive production, but 4 turnovers for the Comets resulted in the Warrior victory. Comet QB Darren Keys was 26/34 with 196 yards and a TD, but threw 3 interceptions. Could this season signal the end of Comet dominance in the AFC West? Two lower ranked AFC South teams beat the usual top two teams in the AFC West this week. Are the Crocs primed to rise? The AFC South has suddenly become a lot more competitive. Oklahoma had a bye this week, but all the other AFC South teams won. The division is heating up. Warrior backup strong safety Brent Jansen started at free safety because of the injured Dana Parrish and was a surprisingly big factor for Hawaii. He made 8 tackles, had a sack, and picked off two passes. This game raises a lot of questions about the stability of the AFC West and AFC South. Is this a fluke?
Bar Harbor Captains (1-1) at Lincoln Tribe (0-2)
42 to 21
Bar Harbor's first divisional matchup of the season against the Lincoln Tribe was on track to be a shutout if not for some last minute oddities. As expected, Bar Harbor won the game; the Tribe and Grizzlies make up the lower tier of the AFC North with Yukon and Bar Harbor making up the top. Bar Harbor took command of this game early on and had a 28-0 lead at the half thanks in large part to their dominating defense. The game was going downhill for the Tribe from the moment they fumbled the ball and turned it over on their first drive. Bar Harbor never let up, setting the game on track for a shutout by the time the fourth quarter started. However, the Tribe lit a spark in the second half with a scoring rally of 21 points in the fourth quarter, largely due to two successful onside kicks (what Lincoln was trying to accomplish with these down more than 4 possessions is anyone's guess). Bar Harbor held on for the win, 42-21, but it showed many Bar Harbor weaknesses. Bar Harbor cannot be happy with the way they played in the fourth quarter. They need to close out games, especially against tougher opponents. When Bar Harbor starts playing better teams in the league and as the season deepens, opposing teams will more effectively take advantage of their inconsistencies. Bar Harbor has a bye in week 4 and it will be well needed as they play another division rival the following week, the Yukon Yeti. The Yeti will be coming into the game looking to make a statement in the first matchup of the two teams. The Yeti defense will likely look to take advantage of Bar Harbor rookie quarterback Lennox Stanley, as he had a subpar game against Lincoln with 4 interceptions. Stanley's job as a starter is not locked in yet and he will have to prove that he can be the quarterback for the Captains this year and years to come.
Bar Harbor Post-Game Stats
Passing:
QB Lennox Stanley: 30.4 passer rating, 162 yards passing, 1 TD, 4 int
Rushing:
HB Luther Hodges: 58 yards, 17 attempts, 3.4 average yards, 2 TD
Lennox Stanley: 41 yards, 4 attempts, 10.2 average yards, TD
Receiving:
Kendrick Doss: 6 receptions, 58 yards, 9.6 avg, 26 YAC, TD
Antwaan Peterson: 4 receptions, 49 yards, 12.2 avg, 25 YAC
Jay Boone: 4 receptions, 55 yards, 13.7 avg, 9 YAC
Defense:
Kendrick Fox: 4 tackles, sack, INT
Terrence Bryant- 4 tackles, INT
Ricky Caldwell- 3 tackles, sack
Duane Lewis- 2 tackles, sack, INT, TD
Ryan Diamond- 1 tackle, 2 INT, TD
West Virginia Wizards (0-2) at Atlantic Tide (1-1)
17 to 27
It's the week of AFC East divisional matchups. While the Lightning and Hawks fought it out to see which of the rising teams would stay on top, the Tide and Wizards competed to maintain their positions as divisional powers. I watched this one while doing writeups for other games this week and I wasn't disappointed by its competitiveness. The Tide went on offense first and almost had their drive derailed by a fumble. The Tide challenged the ruling, which came after a reception and was over the issue of whether the knee was down or not. The ruling was overturned, much to the relief of the wideout who had caught the ball, and the drive proceeded. A couple plays later, Atlantic QB Cade Lewis hit WR Jamie Philips on a quick route to the left side, allowing him to use his speed to get away from the defense and run in for the score, 45 yards in all. After some back and forth scoring, the score was 14-7, A throw into coverage with a minute to play in the half resulted in West Virginia getting another opportunity to work the ball into the endzone and conclude the first half with a tie. Solid pass defense resulted in a field goal instead, putting the score at 14-10, Tide, with 0:40 to play in the half. The Tide wasted no time running their hurry-up offense, able to complete a deep pass down the field, putting them on the WV 21 yardline. A short pass failed to achieve the first down, but set up a 29 yard field goal with 0:15 on the clock. At the half, the score was 17-10, Tide. West Virginia wasn't able to get anything going on their first drive of the second half. A powerful hit by the Tide pass rush forced a fumble from Wizard QB Dre Thomas, luckily it was recovered by one of his lineman, resulting in the punt. At this point, the game seemed to settle into a defensive stalemate. The score, however, was changed with a 38 yard fumble recovery off of a failed punt reception on the part of the Tide. With the game knotted up 17-17 and 1:20 to play in the third quarter, the Tide took over on offense and after some brief success, were forced to punt at mid field, setting the stage for the fourth quarter. A huge 81 yard rushing play with 2:25 left to play broke the defensive stalemate and put the Tide back on top. Just when it looked like the Wizards weren't going to be able to mount a successful drive, a deep pass down the middle put them at midfield with 2 minutes to play. It was, however, the Tide defense that prevailed at this point, intercepting the ball with 1:44 to play and drastically reducing the chance of a Wizard comeback. With the Tide offense now working effectively, they were able to run down the clock into field goal range, prompting a 43 yard field goal with 10 seconds to play, sealing the victory. Tide wideout Jamie Philips was named player of the game with 5 receptions for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns. Overall, this was not an unexpected result, but still a tight game demonstrating the increasing competition in the AFC East.
Jackson Dragons (1-1) at Tucson Kings (0-2)
7 to 26
I can't figure out the NFC South or the NFC West. The NFC South, after producing some playoff contenders and even a super bowl team a couple years ago, is now in shambles. The NFC West, has been weighed down in the past by both Tucson and Santa Fe, leaving Boise and Wyoming to get into the playoffs with records just over .500. Now it looks like Tucson and Santa Fe are on the upswing as the NFC South continues to fall. Tucson took their time working the ball in the first half in this one, putting together two long drives that amounted to field goals. On the flip side, Jackson's only touchdown came midway through the second quarter on a 77 yard pass from Sedrick Redding to Darrin Douglas. With the score 7-6, Dragons, the Kings went into halftime looking to play consistently good offense. This was demonstrated very clearly with a late 3rd quarter drive that took them 98 yards down the field, culminating in a field goal. Tucson broke it open in the fourth with 2 TDs, sealing the victory. They simply played better ball than Jackson, who never made it into the redzone. Tucson achieved 25 first downs compared to Tucson's 8. Tucson's HB, Otis Bell, led the way, rushing for 126 yards on 31 attempts and acquiring a TD. Tucson kicker Josh Jones had a busy day and was 4/5 on field goals. Jackson is a total wild card right now. They had a perfect preseason, lost to Tiburon, but beat Salt Lake (who beat Spokane this week). I can't figure it out, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they lack a strong defense.
Next week's game of the week is the Dover Deer (1-1) at Boston Liberty (3-0). The Deer had a bye this week and look to upset the division rival Liberty. The Deer were actually the first team in league history to defeat the Liberty, handing them a defeat two years ago, snapping their 20 game plus winning streak. We will see if the Deer are up to the task again as Boston is still the dominant force in the NFC. Over in the AFC East, the Concord Hawks (2-1) take on the Atlantic Tide (2-1) in Atlantic City. This is a rehash of week 1 in which the Tide were handed a 20-10 defeat. Concord has a solid team this year and is poised to do it again. Will home field advantage help the Tide even the series? The other big game to watch in week 4 is the NFC North divisional matchup between the Dakota Vipers (2-1) and the Springfield Knights (3-0). Playing at Springfield, the Vipers look to hand the Knights their first loss of the year and prove that their schedule has been easy thus far. All of these games look to be nail biters. Stay tuned for next week's results.
Yukon Yeti at Boise Bison
56 to 0
The score says it all. The Bison aren't a bad team, but they didn't stand a chance in this game. The stat that should jump out almost immediately is time of possession. The Bison were on offense for less than 25% of this game. Yukon slowed the game down beyond their usual fast hitting and high flying offense. They tried time and time again to run the ball despite the fact that the Bison yielded very little yardage on straight rushing plays. This led to a lot of short passes on second down and a high third down efficiency. Boise came into this game with one of the top ranked defenses in the league, obviously this will knock that statistic down a notch. Although Yukon won the coin toss, they chose to kick. Boise went three and out on their first two possessions, leading to two long Yukon drives that resulted in touchdowns. On their third possession, Boise finally looked to have found their groove, working their way into the redzone. This was brought to an abrupt halt by an interception thrown by Boise QB Corey Maguire and returned 103 yards by Yukon CB Andre Harry for a score. The bulk of time Boise had the ball was on this possession. On the ensuing kickoff, Yukon WR Lamar Craig delivered a special teams hit to Boise WR and kick returner, Dee Kirby, forcing a fumble. Yukon corner Patrick Andrews fell on the ball and set Yukon up for another score. It only took them two plays to strike gold with a pass to Mack Pleasant in the left corner. Boise's offense was shut down once again on their fourth offensive possession, leading to a Yukon opportunity with 0:46 to play in the half. Driving around 60 yards down the field, Torry Mathis threw his fourth touchdown pass of the day, setting up a 35-0 halftime situation in favor of the Yeti. Coming out of halftime, the Boise defense had a renewed energy, stopping Yukon's first possession and taking over about halfway through the quarter. No more than a few plays had gone by when Corey Maguire threw his second interception of the day to Yukon MLB Lionel Nipper. Nipper ran 26 yards into the endzone for the score. Yukon's defense continued to shut down Boise time and time again. After another Mathis TD pass about midway through the fourth quarter, Yukon pulled him in favor of backup Ben Harris in order to avoid a chance of injury. The Yeti maintained possession carefully, running the ball and making short passes when necessary to pick up first downs. It was during this last half of the fourth quarter that Yukon rookie HB Marcus Green came in for a tired Tim Peterson and punched in the ball for his first ever score in professional regular season action. With no other score forthcoming, the Yeti shutdown another Boise offensive possession, got the ball back, and ran down the clock for the win. Perhaps the only success for Boise was the running game, but with such a deficit they turned to it little. Yukon played a different style of ball than what we usually see, using a lot of WR bunch sets and running the ball before passing it. This allowed them to run misdirection plays more effectively and wind down the clock, gradually forcing the Bison to play with a sense of unwanted urgency and likely leading to the two interceptions. Yukon played some of the best football I've seen all year and I know I said last week that their performance against Concord was probably one of the best we'll see all year, but this was nothing short of dominating. Perhaps Boise has a way to go if they want to compete with the best. Boise is a top team in the NFC West, but that had nothing on Yukon in this one. Next week they take on division rival Wyoming, a team which Yukon beat in week 1. It will no doubt be a test to see if they are truly of a higher caliber. The Yeti keep rolling with this one and look to take on a slowly developing middle tier team in the Santa Fe Bandits next week.
Passing:
Yukon QB Torry Mathis: 138.9 passer rating, 250 yards passing, 5 TD, 19/27, 70% completion rate, 9.3 average yards per pass, 3 sacks
Yukon QB Ben Harris: 85.4 passer rating, 40 yards passing, 2/4
Boise QB Corey Maguire: 9.8 passer rating, 73 yards passing, 2 INT, 7/28, 2.6 average yards per pass
Rushing:
Yukon HB Tim Peterson: 51 yards, 18 attempts, 2.8 average yards
Yukon QB Torry Mathis: 19 yards, 3 attempts, 6.3 average yards
Yukon QB Ben Harris: 18 yards, 1 attempt
Yukon HB Marcus Green: 7 yards, 1 attempt, TD
Boise HB Martin Simpson: 38 yards, 6 attempts, 6.3 average yards
Receiving:
Yukon WR Mack Pleasant: 5 receptions, 99 yards, 3 TDs
Yukon WR Lamar Craig: 4 receptions, 50 yards
Yukon FB Charles Burnett: 3 receptions, 42 yards
Yukon WR Richard Cummings: 2 receptions, 13 yards, TD
Yukon WR T.J. Oliver: 2 receptions, 24 yards
Yukon HB TIm Peterson: 2 receptions, 16 yards
Yukon TE Neil Parker: 1 reception, 24 yards, TD
Yukon TE Derek Pruitt: 1 reception, 19 yards
Yukon WR Roscoe Terrell: 1 reception, 3 yards
All Boise receivers were held under 20 yards. Only WR Cornell Billups caught the ball more than once.
Yukon Defense:
Yukon WR Lamar Craig: 4 tackles, FF
Yukon MLB Lionel Nipper: 3 tackles, INT, TD
Yukon CB Andre Harry: 1 tackle, 103 yard INT, TD
Game Stats:
YY: 372 total offense, BB: 111
YY: 95 rushing yards, BB: 38
YY: 277 passing yards, BB: 73
YY: 19 first downs, BB: 7
YY: 7/8 (87%) 3rd down conversions, BB: 1/8 (12%)
YY: 15:07 time of possession, BB: 4:53
3 turnovers by BB (2 INT, 1 fumble)
Box Score
1Q:2Q:::3Q:4Q
7::28:::7::14
0::0::::0::0
Player of the game: YY QB Torry Mathis
Torry Mathis was also named AFC Offensive Player of the Week.
Tiburon Sharks (1-1) at Topeka Oilers (0-2)
28 to 3
By all appearances, Tiburon had this one in the bag from the get go, maintaining a shutout until the fourth quarter. Topeka was in the redzone 3 times and only turned a field goal once. Tiburon was in the redzone twice and both times had a TD. The inferred statistical explanation is Topka's 3 interceptions. Another thing to note is that Topka played three players at QB, despite only having two on their roster. Rookie Evan Turner did most of the passing after 9 year pro starter Larry Taylor was pulled, likely due to a brief injury. Turner threw 1 interception before being pulled himself, again likely due to an injury. Punter Marcus Clement had 2 interceptions at the quarterback position. Obviously things got pretty desperate for Topkea. Perhaps the game would've been more even if it was injury free. Despite losses for both teams last week, they put up decent numbers against tough teams. I don't think this game is indicative of the state of the NFC South. Right now, that division is up for grabs.
Wyoming Wildcats (0-2) at Montana Grizzlies (1-1)
16 to 21
All scoring was in the first half other than a pair of Wildcat field goals early in the third quarter. Wyoming had three redzone attempts and only converted one into a score on a Tee Franklin field goal. Montana had four redzone attempts and turned three of them into TDs. Wyoming's 2 years pro DT Kurt Johnson racked up 11 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in an impressive performance. However, Montana's defense made stops when it mattered and Wyoming's did not. Wildcat kicker Tee Franklin was 3/4 on field goals, draining a 54 yarder early in the second quarter. Montana's ability to limit Wyoming to field goals was a big factor in this win featuring two mid to lower tier teams. The AFC North has a lot of games against the NFC West this year and, with the exception of Boise's games against Bar Harbor and Lincoln, they have gone in the favor of the AFC North.
Puerto Rico Piranhas (1-1) at Mexico Bulls (2-0)
30 to 3
3-6 is the closest the Bulls ever came to winning this game. After this brief moment in the the second quarter, Puerto Rico shut the door and never looked back. Mexico never made it into the redzone and both their passing and rushing totals were held to double digits. Mexico QB Lester Atwater threw four interceptions, keeping the Bull offense from developing a steady rhythm. Mexico's defense didn't perform poorly. After all they held Puerto Rico to five field goals; kicker Ben Henson was 5/6 for the Piranhas. Still, it's clear that Mexico's defense can't compete compared to Puerto Rico, who came up with turnovers when they needed it. This game is leading me to believe the NFC South is the weakest division in football right now. The Bulls, Sharks, Oilers, and Dragons play shaky defense and inconsistent offense.
Iowa Rangers (1-1) at Boston Liberty (2-0)
17 to 27
After a fast start for the Liberty, Iowa was able to rebound, giving them the lead 14-13 with 2:38 to play in the second quarter. Boston was able to run a quick 52 second drive, resulting in the answering score and putting them ahead permanently. I was surprised that Iowa even made it that close at one point. The Rangers are in the cellar of the NFC East and this divisional matchup shows that the distinction isn't actually all that apparent. Iowa was able to make it 17-20 in the third quarter, but Boston was able to seal the deal with a late fourth quarter score. Total offensive production was similar. In fact, Iowa actually out-passed Boston, 154 to 149 yards. The deciding factor could be turnovers. Iowa lost four fumbles and Boston turned it over twice, once on a fumble and once on an interception. I'm chalking this game up as a fluke on Boston's part. This was the computer game of the week.
Concord Hawks (1-1) at Hartford Lightning (1-1)
24 to 23
The AFC East is a tight division full of teams rising to prominence and struggling to hold on to it. The Hawks and Lightning are two of the rising teams, hoping to eek out playoff berths over the traditionally dominant Tide and Wizards. This matchup was even throughout the first two quarters, leading to a 10-10 halftime score. Hartford was able to go up by 10 after two consecutive successful drives early in the fourth quarter, leaving Concord in a rough spot with 11:36 to play in the game. Late, long, and well constructed drives on the part of the Hawks helped them get the win; the last TD came with 0:57 to play in the game. Concord's offensive production was far greater than Hartford's (403 yards compared to 243), but Concord turned the ball over 7 times (4 INTs, 3 fumbles) compared to Hartford's 1 lost fumble. I'm surprised that the Hawks were able to pull off a comeback after so many mistakes. Perhaps a big reason was the contribution of Concord HB William Collins who rushed for 181 yards on 33 attempts with a TD (averaging 5.5 per carry). Regardless, the Lightning mean business this year even if they're not up to the level of the Hawks. Right now I see the Hawks and Tide competing at the top of the division with the Wizards struggling to keep up and the Lightning hoping to either hold back the rising Hawks or take advantage of the weakening Tide.
Madison Timberwolves (1-1) at Dakota Vipers (1-1)
9 to 13
A Dakota TD with 0:23 to play in the first quarter kept the Vipers up all game (making the score 10-3 at the time). The only score in the second half was a fourth quarter field goal by Madison with 6:09 to play. Both teams were fairly efficient with similar stats, revealing a tight, mistake free, and competitive divisional matchup. The NFC North, with the exception of Edmonton, is up for grabs. Springfield takes on Dakota next week, a game that will no doubt reveal if the traditionally powerful Dakota Vipers are prepared to deal with the rising Knights, one of the few teams that is undefeated thus far.
Portland Flyers (1-1) at Little Rock Crocs (0-2)
7 to 34
Little Rock was up 10-0 at half, but Portland was able to respond on their first drive of the second half on a 31 pass from QB Donald Bever to WR Phillip Grant (Grant finished as the top receiver with 10 receptions, 115 yards, and a TD). Little Rock was able to quickly respond and they never looked back. Their offensive production outmatched the Flyers easily, compiling 4 perfectly efficient redzone trips. Both teams turned the ball over twice, leading me to conclude that the more effective defense of the Crocs was able to secure the victory. This was an interesting matchup from a divisional standpoint as both teams are no doubt hoping to one day be able to knock off the Carson City Comets from the top of the AFC West.
Springfield Knights (2-0) at Edmonton Beaver (0-2)
23 to 7
The Bevers were down 10-7 at half after scoring with 2:13 to play in the second quarter. Springfield simply put them away in the second half. Comparing offensive production is very telling as far as the ability of these two teams. Springfield came up with 496 yards, Edmonton had a meager 174. The only turnover of the game was a interception thrown by the Beavers. This game is solid evidence of Springfield's rising team, particularly its offense and running game. Springfield HB Terrance Griffith compiled 194 rushing yards on 35 attempts with the longest being 25 yards. He also had a TD and while he did lose a fumble, his team was able to recover it. Springfield kicker Keith Parker was only 3/5, his longest coming at 38 yards. The Knights still have some work to do, but they're obviously above the lowly Beavers. Next week's matchup against Dakota will be a true test of Springfield's ability and its undefeated record. No surprise in the result here.
Salt Lake Scorpions (0-2) at Spokane Ospreys (1-1)
27 to 22
Salt Lake started the game on the right foot, immediately jumping in front with a 98 yard kick return for a touchdown by CB Lonnie Fuller on the opening kick. Spokane recovered and answered with 13 points in the first quarter. The momentum shifted back to Salt Lake in the second as they put up 10, making the halftime score 17-13, Salt Lake. Spokane QB Jon Waters threw a 53 yard interception return to FS Ronyell Atkinson sealing the deal for the Scorpions in the third quarter. A Spokane TD and field goal in the fourth were unable to help them catch up. Spokane produced more offensively, but turned the ball over when it mattered even though the Scorpions had 4 turnovers and the Ospreys only had 1. This was a good game for a team at the bottom of the AFC South and a troubling one for a team looking to stay competitive in the AFC West.
Hawaii Warriors (1-1) at Carson City Comets (2-0)
23 to 17
Hawaii jumped out front immediately, holding a 17-0 lead at the half and maintaining a 23-0 shutout by the time the fourth quarter started. By the time Carson City began to find successful offense it was too late. 17 fourth quarter points weren't enough to help them avert the loss. Each team boasted similar offensive production, but 4 turnovers for the Comets resulted in the Warrior victory. Comet QB Darren Keys was 26/34 with 196 yards and a TD, but threw 3 interceptions. Could this season signal the end of Comet dominance in the AFC West? Two lower ranked AFC South teams beat the usual top two teams in the AFC West this week. Are the Crocs primed to rise? The AFC South has suddenly become a lot more competitive. Oklahoma had a bye this week, but all the other AFC South teams won. The division is heating up. Warrior backup strong safety Brent Jansen started at free safety because of the injured Dana Parrish and was a surprisingly big factor for Hawaii. He made 8 tackles, had a sack, and picked off two passes. This game raises a lot of questions about the stability of the AFC West and AFC South. Is this a fluke?
Bar Harbor Captains (1-1) at Lincoln Tribe (0-2)
42 to 21
Bar Harbor's first divisional matchup of the season against the Lincoln Tribe was on track to be a shutout if not for some last minute oddities. As expected, Bar Harbor won the game; the Tribe and Grizzlies make up the lower tier of the AFC North with Yukon and Bar Harbor making up the top. Bar Harbor took command of this game early on and had a 28-0 lead at the half thanks in large part to their dominating defense. The game was going downhill for the Tribe from the moment they fumbled the ball and turned it over on their first drive. Bar Harbor never let up, setting the game on track for a shutout by the time the fourth quarter started. However, the Tribe lit a spark in the second half with a scoring rally of 21 points in the fourth quarter, largely due to two successful onside kicks (what Lincoln was trying to accomplish with these down more than 4 possessions is anyone's guess). Bar Harbor held on for the win, 42-21, but it showed many Bar Harbor weaknesses. Bar Harbor cannot be happy with the way they played in the fourth quarter. They need to close out games, especially against tougher opponents. When Bar Harbor starts playing better teams in the league and as the season deepens, opposing teams will more effectively take advantage of their inconsistencies. Bar Harbor has a bye in week 4 and it will be well needed as they play another division rival the following week, the Yukon Yeti. The Yeti will be coming into the game looking to make a statement in the first matchup of the two teams. The Yeti defense will likely look to take advantage of Bar Harbor rookie quarterback Lennox Stanley, as he had a subpar game against Lincoln with 4 interceptions. Stanley's job as a starter is not locked in yet and he will have to prove that he can be the quarterback for the Captains this year and years to come.
Bar Harbor Post-Game Stats
Passing:
QB Lennox Stanley: 30.4 passer rating, 162 yards passing, 1 TD, 4 int
Rushing:
HB Luther Hodges: 58 yards, 17 attempts, 3.4 average yards, 2 TD
Lennox Stanley: 41 yards, 4 attempts, 10.2 average yards, TD
Receiving:
Kendrick Doss: 6 receptions, 58 yards, 9.6 avg, 26 YAC, TD
Antwaan Peterson: 4 receptions, 49 yards, 12.2 avg, 25 YAC
Jay Boone: 4 receptions, 55 yards, 13.7 avg, 9 YAC
Defense:
Kendrick Fox: 4 tackles, sack, INT
Terrence Bryant- 4 tackles, INT
Ricky Caldwell- 3 tackles, sack
Duane Lewis- 2 tackles, sack, INT, TD
Ryan Diamond- 1 tackle, 2 INT, TD
West Virginia Wizards (0-2) at Atlantic Tide (1-1)
17 to 27
It's the week of AFC East divisional matchups. While the Lightning and Hawks fought it out to see which of the rising teams would stay on top, the Tide and Wizards competed to maintain their positions as divisional powers. I watched this one while doing writeups for other games this week and I wasn't disappointed by its competitiveness. The Tide went on offense first and almost had their drive derailed by a fumble. The Tide challenged the ruling, which came after a reception and was over the issue of whether the knee was down or not. The ruling was overturned, much to the relief of the wideout who had caught the ball, and the drive proceeded. A couple plays later, Atlantic QB Cade Lewis hit WR Jamie Philips on a quick route to the left side, allowing him to use his speed to get away from the defense and run in for the score, 45 yards in all. After some back and forth scoring, the score was 14-7, A throw into coverage with a minute to play in the half resulted in West Virginia getting another opportunity to work the ball into the endzone and conclude the first half with a tie. Solid pass defense resulted in a field goal instead, putting the score at 14-10, Tide, with 0:40 to play in the half. The Tide wasted no time running their hurry-up offense, able to complete a deep pass down the field, putting them on the WV 21 yardline. A short pass failed to achieve the first down, but set up a 29 yard field goal with 0:15 on the clock. At the half, the score was 17-10, Tide. West Virginia wasn't able to get anything going on their first drive of the second half. A powerful hit by the Tide pass rush forced a fumble from Wizard QB Dre Thomas, luckily it was recovered by one of his lineman, resulting in the punt. At this point, the game seemed to settle into a defensive stalemate. The score, however, was changed with a 38 yard fumble recovery off of a failed punt reception on the part of the Tide. With the game knotted up 17-17 and 1:20 to play in the third quarter, the Tide took over on offense and after some brief success, were forced to punt at mid field, setting the stage for the fourth quarter. A huge 81 yard rushing play with 2:25 left to play broke the defensive stalemate and put the Tide back on top. Just when it looked like the Wizards weren't going to be able to mount a successful drive, a deep pass down the middle put them at midfield with 2 minutes to play. It was, however, the Tide defense that prevailed at this point, intercepting the ball with 1:44 to play and drastically reducing the chance of a Wizard comeback. With the Tide offense now working effectively, they were able to run down the clock into field goal range, prompting a 43 yard field goal with 10 seconds to play, sealing the victory. Tide wideout Jamie Philips was named player of the game with 5 receptions for 139 yards and 2 touchdowns. Overall, this was not an unexpected result, but still a tight game demonstrating the increasing competition in the AFC East.
Jackson Dragons (1-1) at Tucson Kings (0-2)
7 to 26
I can't figure out the NFC South or the NFC West. The NFC South, after producing some playoff contenders and even a super bowl team a couple years ago, is now in shambles. The NFC West, has been weighed down in the past by both Tucson and Santa Fe, leaving Boise and Wyoming to get into the playoffs with records just over .500. Now it looks like Tucson and Santa Fe are on the upswing as the NFC South continues to fall. Tucson took their time working the ball in the first half in this one, putting together two long drives that amounted to field goals. On the flip side, Jackson's only touchdown came midway through the second quarter on a 77 yard pass from Sedrick Redding to Darrin Douglas. With the score 7-6, Dragons, the Kings went into halftime looking to play consistently good offense. This was demonstrated very clearly with a late 3rd quarter drive that took them 98 yards down the field, culminating in a field goal. Tucson broke it open in the fourth with 2 TDs, sealing the victory. They simply played better ball than Jackson, who never made it into the redzone. Tucson achieved 25 first downs compared to Tucson's 8. Tucson's HB, Otis Bell, led the way, rushing for 126 yards on 31 attempts and acquiring a TD. Tucson kicker Josh Jones had a busy day and was 4/5 on field goals. Jackson is a total wild card right now. They had a perfect preseason, lost to Tiburon, but beat Salt Lake (who beat Spokane this week). I can't figure it out, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that they lack a strong defense.
Next week's game of the week is the Dover Deer (1-1) at Boston Liberty (3-0). The Deer had a bye this week and look to upset the division rival Liberty. The Deer were actually the first team in league history to defeat the Liberty, handing them a defeat two years ago, snapping their 20 game plus winning streak. We will see if the Deer are up to the task again as Boston is still the dominant force in the NFC. Over in the AFC East, the Concord Hawks (2-1) take on the Atlantic Tide (2-1) in Atlantic City. This is a rehash of week 1 in which the Tide were handed a 20-10 defeat. Concord has a solid team this year and is poised to do it again. Will home field advantage help the Tide even the series? The other big game to watch in week 4 is the NFC North divisional matchup between the Dakota Vipers (2-1) and the Springfield Knights (3-0). Playing at Springfield, the Vipers look to hand the Knights their first loss of the year and prove that their schedule has been easy thus far. All of these games look to be nail biters. Stay tuned for next week's results.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
League News Update 4-2
Here's the scores for Week 2 of 2007, the fourth year of the franchise in the NFA. It's still going strong.
Boston Liberty (1-0) at Dakota Vipers (1-0)
18 to 17
Both the NFC East and the NFC North are difficult divisions to play in this year. With the Stallions coming off a Super Bowl appearance in 2006 and the Liberty still on the upside after winning the title in 2004, both teams are major playoff contenders in the NFC. Now the Dover Deer are starting to show signs that they might be playoff worthy. Needless to say, the competition in the NFC East is reaching a fever pitch. Last year the Deer, Stallions, and Liberty all posted better than .500 season winning percentages. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the same thing happen again. Likewise, the NFC North, with the exception of the struggling Edmonton Beavers, has traditionally been one of the most competitive divisions in football. With the rise of the Springfield Knights this year and the still competitive Vipers and Timberwolves coming off of playoff runs cut short by surprise losses to the Bulls and Stallions respectively, I think this will be the most tightly contested division in the league this year. In this environment it's only natural that the Dakota Vipers and the Boston Liberty are used to playing big games against tough opponents. As the predicted Game of the Week, this one did not disappoint. Dakota started strong with a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. Boston responded in the second with two field goals, leaving the halftime score at 10-6 in favor of the Vipers. Dakota scored a TD in the latter half of the third quarter, setting the stage for a Liberty comeback. Boston remained persistent throughout the fourth quarter, converting two drives into field goals. Then, with 21 seconds left in the game, the Liberty went from being down 12-17 to being up 18-17 with a huge 27 yard touchdown pass from backup QB Ty Holmes to second string wideout Dwight Whitfield. After a failed 2 point conversion, Boston kicked the ball off and was able to stave of the Vipers for the victory. The Vipers defense tore up Liberty QB Ty Holmes with 7 sacks. However, Dakota turned the ball over 4 times, 2 interceptions and 2 fumbles prevented them from completing drives that would've sealed the victory. Boston was able to kill Dakota's momentum when it mattered, resulting in a tight game that the Liberty were eventually able to swing in their favor. The Vipers put together 208 yards of total offense while the Liberty amassed only 142 total yards. Ultimately, this proved to be a hard fought defensive struggle with the Boston Liberty barely coming out on top. This one was definitely worthy of Game of the Week status.
Tucson Kings (0-1) at Mexico Bulls (1-0)
6 to 14
Not really a surprising result here. Mexico has been playing pretty average lately, but in the NFC South it was enough to get a playoff berth last year. Meanwhile Tucson has been struggling to get the players it needs to put together another 8-8 year. Mexico got its offense going early with all 14 points coming before the half. Turnovers also factored big in this one with 4 coming from Mexico and a whopping 6 coming from Tuscon. With Mexico QB Stephen Garner out for this season with an injury, I think the Bulls are going to face more competition from similarly average division rivals. I don't think they'll last too long if they continue to turn the ball over like they did here. Predictably, Mexico walks away with the win.
Edmonton Beavers (0-1) at Iowa Rangers (0-1)
10 to 16
In a game between two struggling teams at the bottom of very tough divisions (NFC North and NFC East, see the writeup for the Dakota and Boston game for more details), this is probably one of the best shots either will have all year at winning. Iowa just jumped out on top first and kept pace with Edmonton, allowing them to pull out the win. It looks like it's going to be another long rebuilding year for both the Beavers and Rangers.
Kentucky Stallions (1-0) at Dover Deer (1-0)
29 to 28
While the Dover Deer may be third to the Stallions and Liberty in the NFC East, I think this game shows it's not for lack of trying. Last game we saw the Deer unleash some explosive scoring in the 4th quarter to top the Hartford Lightning and they almost held on for the victory in this one. This time it was they who failed to stem a Kentucky comeback that began with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the first of which came with about 8 minutes to play. It certainly looks like Dover's offense is a force as they posted 392 total yards as compared to Kentucky's 235 in this one. However, Dover turned it over twice and the Stallions played mistake free, allowing them to come out with the win. The top 3 teams in the NFC East finished last season above .500 thanks to the tie these two teams came to when they met the second time last season. It's not hard to see why with this result. Expect to see a battle for the wildcard spot all year between these two teams.
Lincoln Tribe (0-1) at Boise Bison (1-0)
3 to 30
Fresh off a victory against the Captains, the Bison beat another AFC North team. It was clear early on that Lincoln was going to have a hard time competing. Boise looks to be the top team in the NFC West this year. With both Santa Fe and Tuscon near the bottom of the league totem pole, Wyoming is really the only competition Boise has. After this strong start to their season it's certainly looking like Boise is going to be a playoff contender this year.
Salt Lake Scorpions (0-1) at Jackson Dragons (0-1)
18 to 41
It certainly looks like Jackson has recovered from their unexpected loss to division rival Tiburon last week as they roll past the Scorpions in a game that amounted to 59 total points scored. Jackson had a better mix of run and pass, which helped them swing the momentum in their favor when they needed it. The Scorpions just never recovered. Granted Salt Lake isn't looking like anything special this year, but the disparity in this one is still surprising. Jackson is going to need stronger defense if it's going to compete against its division rivals. Both these teams are still rebuilding after rough seasons last year.
Montana Grizzlies (1-0) at Atlantic Tide (0-1)
3 to 31
The Grizzlies and Tribe may be on an even playing field during their divisional matchups, but the Tide are certainly still above them. Although it appears Atlantic City is losing its momentum this year, the team is still strong enough to roll through its lower end AFC schedule. The Grizzlies didn't score until there was a minute left in the game. Almost a shutout.
Hartford Lightning (0-1) at West Virginia Wizards (0-1)
15 to 6
This turned out to be an interesting divisional matchup in the AFC East. Last year West Virginia won the division; it doesn't look like the same will happen this year. With the Concord Hawks making a strong showing and the Atlantic Tide staying above average, the Wizards are going to have to compete better than this. Now it looks like the Lightning want a piece of the action. I'm still not sure what to make of the AFC East this year, but if this game showed anything, it's that it could go to anyone right now. This was a hard fought game with lots of field goals.
Springfield Knights (1-0) at Tiburon Sharks (1-0)
24 to 16
Springfield has been on a roll so far, winning all their preseason games and demolishing the Crocs last week with a 39 point margin of victory. While Tiburon showed themselves to be competitive in winning last week's game against the division rival Jackson Dragons, this was a pretty predictable result. Springfield keeps rolling with consistent scoring. They're going to need all the momentum they can get to stay on top of the always tight NFC North. After finishing in 3rd last year, it looks like Springfield has the team this year to beat out both the Timberwolves and Vipers.
Oklahoma Twisters (1-0) at Topeka Oilers (0-1)
23 to 20
Oklahoma has been looking good lately and while the score was a little tight, the outcome was predictable. The Oilers put up a good fight for an average team, but were just short of taking control. At the half the Oilers led 20 to 17, but two field goals in the third and fourth quarters respectively sealed a Twister victory. Props to Oklahoma kicker, Donny Anderson, for two long field goals in the second half resulting in the win, 45 and 52 yards each. Look to see another battle between Puerto Rico and Oklahoma for control of the AFC South this year.
Yukon Yeti (1-0) at Concord Hawks (1-0)
45 to 20
Both Yukon and Concord are two of the better teams in the AFC this year and if Boston hadn't played Dakota this week, I'm fairly certain this would've been the game of the week. Offensively, both teams put up impressive performances with only a 15 yard difference between their total yard output. Yukon's win came down to three factors: a top tier performance from star QB Torry Mathis, better balance and more versatility when it came to running and passing, and two big interceptions thrown by Concord QB Craig Burns. Mathis posted a perfect passer rating of 158.3 while throwing for 3 touchdowns and rushing for one. Mathis also showed a lot of mobility. Although he threw for 262 yards compared to Burns' 369, Mathis rushed for 46 and kept the defense second guessing their ability to contain him, leading to more offensive opportunities. This leads into the second factor, versatility. Yukon's stout run stopping defense allowed only 17 rushing yards from Concord, all of which came from HB Bernie Warren. In contrast, Yukon saw rushing contributions from HBs Tim Peterson and Marcus Green for a combined total of 61 yards, and QBs Torry Mathis and Ben Harris for a combined total of 62 yards. Being able to post 123 rushing yards was a big part of keeping Concord's defense off balance all day while all Yukon had to do was stop big plays from developing amid its secondary. While Yukon did have some difficulty from preventing Concord QB Craig Burns from connecting with veteran (12 years pro) wideout Otis Clausen and TE Daryl Pritchett for over 100 yards each, they were able to come away with two big interceptions that reversed momentum and stopped Concord from putting together any game contesting drives. Yukon CBs Ted Watts and Patrick Andrews came away with an interception apiece with Watts being able to turn his into a TD. Yukon's offense was firing on all cylinders during this game with a dynamic short passing attack leading to receiving touchdowns for WR T.J. Oliver and FB Charles Burnett. This opened up the field for deeper balls, caught by WR Mack Pleasant and TE Derek Pruitt for a touchdown each. Throughout the game Yukon remained in command, putting on a dominating performance. It should also be noted that Concord Kicker Vinnie Cook spent 2004 at Yukon before being replaced by draft pick Ronnie Johnson, the current Yukon kicker. Similarly, WR Alex Gilbert for Concord was a strong rookie prospect for Bar Harbor before he was traded to Concord and a WR that Yukon always had some difficulty covering. Gilbert posted 74 yards and a TD for Concord's passing attack. Despite the statistical appearance of an even game, the box score reveals the Yukon was always several steps ahead of Concord with a dynamic offense and a strong running defense. This may be one of the best performances we see from Yukon all season. Here are some detailed stats from the game...
Passing:
Yukon QB Torry Mathis: 158.3 passer rating, 262 yards passing, 3 TD, 16/18, 88% completion rate, 14.5 average yards per pass, 3 sacks
Yukon QB Ben Harris: 128.1 passer rating, 23 yards passing, TD, 3/4, 5.7 average yards per pass
Concord QB Craig Burns: 88.0 passer rating, 369 yards passing, 2 TD, 2 INT, 32/47, 68% completion rate, 7.8 average yards per pass, 1 sack
Rushing:
Yukon HB Tim Peterson: 58 yards, 9 attempts, 6.4 average yards
Yukon QB Torry Mathis: 46 yards, 6 attempts, 7.6 average yards, TD, Fum (out of bounds)
Yukon QB Ben Harris: 16 yards, 1 attempt
Yukon HB Marcus Green: 3 yards, 2 attempts
Concord HB Bernie Warren: 17 yards, 15 attempts, 1.1 average yards
Receiving:
Yukon WR Mack Pleasant: 5 receptions, 98 yards, TD
Yukon TE Derek Pruitt: 3 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Yukon WR T.J. Oliver: 2 receptions, 11 yards, TD
Yukon FB Charles Burnett: 2 receptions, 13 yards, TD
Yukon WR Roscoe Terrell: 2 receptions, 25 yards
Yukon WR Richard Cummings: 2 receptions, 31 yards
Yukon HB Marcus Green: 1 reception, 7 yards
Yukon TE Neil Parker: 1 reception, 16 yards
Yukon WR Lamaar Craig: 1 reception, 10 yards
Concord WR Otis Clausen: 10 receptions, 134 yards
Concord WR Daryl Pritchett: 7 receptions, 107 yards, TD
Concord TE Chris Williams: 5 receptions, 53 yards
Concord WR Alex Gilbert: 5 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Yukon Defense:
LB Terrell Edwards: 9 tackles, 2 TFL
CB Ted Watts: 7 tackles, INT, 25 yard TD
CB Andre Harry: 7 tackles
MLB Lionel Nipper: 6 tackles, 3 TFL
LB Warrick Walton: 5 tackles
FS Jon Baker: 4 tackles, 1 TFL
CB Patrick Andrews: 38 yard INT
Kicking:
Yukon K Ronnie Johnson: 38 yard FG
Concord K Vinnie Cook: 2 FG
Game Stats:
YY: 396 total offense CON: 381
YY: 123 rushing yards CON: 17
YY: 273 passing yards CON: 364
YY: 18 first downs CON: 21
YY: 4/5 (80%) 3rd down conversions CON: 10/14 (71%)
YY: 8:49 time of possession CON: 11:11
2 turnovers by CON
Box Score
1Q:2Q:::3Q:4Q
7::21:::7::10
0::10:::3::7
Player of the game: YY QB Torry Mathis
Little Rock Crocs (0-1) at Spokane Ospreys (0-1)
21 to 34
Spokane was able to hit hard and early in this AFC West divisional matchup. The first three Osprey drives resulted in touchdowns. After finishing the first quarter with a 14 point lead, the Ospreys kept pace with Little Rock and prevented a comeback. The running game really worked for Spokane as they put together 180 yards to Little Rock's 93. This was a pretty predictable result for the first of two AFC West divisional matchups that occurred this week.
Bar Harbor Captains (0-1) at Santa Fe Bandits (1-0)
31 to 28
This was an unusually high scoring game for teams with weakly ranked offenses. In fact, Santa Fe and Bar Harbor came into this game after the first week of play with the lowest rushing yards in the NFA. Running was a big factor in this game, with Bar Harbor starting rookie Lennox Stanley over last year's rookie prospect, Darren Poole, and expecting him to run a more aggressive QB scramble version of the west coast offense. Former NFL player and Bandit QB Jake Plummer deferred to a more balanced attack, favoring wideout Bam Weaver and sticking to conventional running plays. Indeed, Santa Fe started with a strong running game on first drive. After a few short gains, Santa Fe broke a double digits run followed by a short pass to the left side, putting them in field goal range. Another pass up the middle put the Bandits in the red zone, priming the offense for the score. However, the Captains run defense came up with a big stop to force a 27 yard field goal by Whitfield. The first play on drive for the Captains was a double digit run to the left side by Luther Hodges. Unfortunately, miss-communication on the next play resulted in a big loss by Hodges, negating the yardage from the previous play and forcing the Captains to eventually punt. A follow up miss-communication in the Captain's secondary resulted in a 42 yard pass to a wide open Bam Weaver who broke to the right side for the touchdown, giving Santa Fe a 10-0 lead. After the ensuing kickoff, Bar Harbor only stuttered briefly, soon finding a groove and working their way into the red zone by the end of the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Bar Harbor QB Lennox Stanley scrambled to the right side for the TD, putting the score at 7-10. After some back and forth play, Santa Fe was able to score with 1:45 to play in the second, nailing a 50 yard field goal to put the Bandits up by 6. Looking to respond with their two minute offense, the Captains converted a 30 yard TD pass to Jay Boone with 0:38 to play in the half. The Bandits were almost able to respond, but were not able to spike the ball soon enough to kick a deep field goal. Despite a slow start, Bar Harbor was able to come into halftime with a 14-13 lead. After a failed Bar Harbor drive, Santa Fe got the ball back deep in their own territory. With 3:40 to play in the 3rd quarter, Bar Harbor MLB Terrance Bryant picked off Jake Plummer, setting up the Captains for an easy score. After two failed goaline plays, Captain QB Lennox Stanley was able to sneak by the defense for the TD, putting the Captains up after the PAT 21-13. It seems this TD sealed the momentum of the game ensuring it would shift in the Captain's favor for the next few drives. Sure enough, Bar Harbor made a quick stop and were able to work their way into the redzone again, resulting in a 28 yard field goal with 0:45 to play in the 3rd quarter. After another successful defensive stop, the Captains were pinned on their own 4 yardline. On the first play of the drive, Lennox Stanley made a last second dump to the right side, finding Antwaan Peterson, who, after breaking a tackle, ran all the way down the field, resulting in a 96 yard touchdown to close the third quarter. It appeared the Captains had the game sealed with an 18 point lead. However, The Bandits were able to put together a two minute drive together to start the 4th quarter, closing it with a Jake Plummer QB sneak. The two point conversion was successful, but the onside kick was not, putting the score at 31-21, Captains. After only progressing about 30 yards on their drive, the Captains were forced to attempt a 50 yard field goal. Dwayne Payton's kick feel short, putting the Bandits in a position to drive down the field under 2 minutes and down 10. A holding penalty with 0:54 called back a Bandits TD, delaying the touchdown until 0:47 when Jake Plummer snuck a pass to the left side, putting Santa Fe within 3. The failed onside kick led to a Captains possession, allowing them to run down the clock for the 31-28 victory. Santa Fe came remarkably close with their two 4th quarter scores and the successful two point conversion. Still a win is a win for Bar Harbor. Rookie QB Lennox Stanley had the privilege of adding both his first rushing TD and his first passing TD to the books of what could possibly be an illustrious career at Bar Harbor given their renewed focus on QB versatility. I think this game shows how unpredictable things are in the early going. I would've called this game along the lines of a 24-7 victory for the Captains. Bar Harbor moves on with the win against Santa Fe this week to face a similarly struggling team and divisional rival Lincoln Tribe.
Carson City Comets (1-0) at Portland Flyers (1-0)
38 to 7
In this other AFC West divisional matchup, the Comets were able to predictably come out on top. Portland was able to strike on their first drive, resulting in a early 7-0 lead, but from there on out, they couldn't get anything going. At the half Carson City was ahead 10-7. The second half was a scoring fest from the Comets which finished off the underdog Flyers. Portland's offense really struggled against Carson City's playoff caliber defense.
Wyoming Wildcats (0-1) at Madison Timberwolves (0-1)
6 to 31
Wyoming had a rough start and it was apparent pretty quickly that Madison would run away with this one. After a 28-0 score in favor of the Timberwolves at the half, there was no question this game was a blowout. While the statistics for this game look very even, it just looks like Madison was always able to get better field position. Even though this game should've been closer, it just goes to show how competitive the NFC North is as the Timberwolves were easily able to knock off last year's leader of the NFC West.
Puerto Rico Piranhas (0-1) at Hawaii Warriors (1-0)
31 to 17
After finishing the first quarter ahead 10-0 the Warriors faltered and gave up 31 unanswered points, leading to the Piranha victory. That isn't to say Hawaii's offense wasn't productive, it produced 365 yards while Puerto Rico only put together 272. However, 2 big turnovers made a world of difference. Strong defense for the Piranhas made an impact and upheld the status quo of the AFC South.
Next week we've got two matchups to watch. The first is the defending champion Yukon Yeti on the road in Boise against the red hot Bison. The Bison has already knocked off Yukon's division rival Captains and Tribe in the first two games of the season, but will they be able to do the same to the Yeti? Both teams are undefeated to this point and somebody has to lose. In a big divisional clash, the Madison Timberwolves play in North Dakota against the Vipers. With the Knights currently on top of the division, we'll have to see which of these two teams looks up to securing another playoff berth. Other than those two contentious games, it looks like the week will be pretty uneventful with most matchups looking fairly predictable.
See you around.
Boston Liberty (1-0) at Dakota Vipers (1-0)
18 to 17
Both the NFC East and the NFC North are difficult divisions to play in this year. With the Stallions coming off a Super Bowl appearance in 2006 and the Liberty still on the upside after winning the title in 2004, both teams are major playoff contenders in the NFC. Now the Dover Deer are starting to show signs that they might be playoff worthy. Needless to say, the competition in the NFC East is reaching a fever pitch. Last year the Deer, Stallions, and Liberty all posted better than .500 season winning percentages. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw the same thing happen again. Likewise, the NFC North, with the exception of the struggling Edmonton Beavers, has traditionally been one of the most competitive divisions in football. With the rise of the Springfield Knights this year and the still competitive Vipers and Timberwolves coming off of playoff runs cut short by surprise losses to the Bulls and Stallions respectively, I think this will be the most tightly contested division in the league this year. In this environment it's only natural that the Dakota Vipers and the Boston Liberty are used to playing big games against tough opponents. As the predicted Game of the Week, this one did not disappoint. Dakota started strong with a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. Boston responded in the second with two field goals, leaving the halftime score at 10-6 in favor of the Vipers. Dakota scored a TD in the latter half of the third quarter, setting the stage for a Liberty comeback. Boston remained persistent throughout the fourth quarter, converting two drives into field goals. Then, with 21 seconds left in the game, the Liberty went from being down 12-17 to being up 18-17 with a huge 27 yard touchdown pass from backup QB Ty Holmes to second string wideout Dwight Whitfield. After a failed 2 point conversion, Boston kicked the ball off and was able to stave of the Vipers for the victory. The Vipers defense tore up Liberty QB Ty Holmes with 7 sacks. However, Dakota turned the ball over 4 times, 2 interceptions and 2 fumbles prevented them from completing drives that would've sealed the victory. Boston was able to kill Dakota's momentum when it mattered, resulting in a tight game that the Liberty were eventually able to swing in their favor. The Vipers put together 208 yards of total offense while the Liberty amassed only 142 total yards. Ultimately, this proved to be a hard fought defensive struggle with the Boston Liberty barely coming out on top. This one was definitely worthy of Game of the Week status.
Tucson Kings (0-1) at Mexico Bulls (1-0)
6 to 14
Not really a surprising result here. Mexico has been playing pretty average lately, but in the NFC South it was enough to get a playoff berth last year. Meanwhile Tucson has been struggling to get the players it needs to put together another 8-8 year. Mexico got its offense going early with all 14 points coming before the half. Turnovers also factored big in this one with 4 coming from Mexico and a whopping 6 coming from Tuscon. With Mexico QB Stephen Garner out for this season with an injury, I think the Bulls are going to face more competition from similarly average division rivals. I don't think they'll last too long if they continue to turn the ball over like they did here. Predictably, Mexico walks away with the win.
Edmonton Beavers (0-1) at Iowa Rangers (0-1)
10 to 16
In a game between two struggling teams at the bottom of very tough divisions (NFC North and NFC East, see the writeup for the Dakota and Boston game for more details), this is probably one of the best shots either will have all year at winning. Iowa just jumped out on top first and kept pace with Edmonton, allowing them to pull out the win. It looks like it's going to be another long rebuilding year for both the Beavers and Rangers.
Kentucky Stallions (1-0) at Dover Deer (1-0)
29 to 28
While the Dover Deer may be third to the Stallions and Liberty in the NFC East, I think this game shows it's not for lack of trying. Last game we saw the Deer unleash some explosive scoring in the 4th quarter to top the Hartford Lightning and they almost held on for the victory in this one. This time it was they who failed to stem a Kentucky comeback that began with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the first of which came with about 8 minutes to play. It certainly looks like Dover's offense is a force as they posted 392 total yards as compared to Kentucky's 235 in this one. However, Dover turned it over twice and the Stallions played mistake free, allowing them to come out with the win. The top 3 teams in the NFC East finished last season above .500 thanks to the tie these two teams came to when they met the second time last season. It's not hard to see why with this result. Expect to see a battle for the wildcard spot all year between these two teams.
Lincoln Tribe (0-1) at Boise Bison (1-0)
3 to 30
Fresh off a victory against the Captains, the Bison beat another AFC North team. It was clear early on that Lincoln was going to have a hard time competing. Boise looks to be the top team in the NFC West this year. With both Santa Fe and Tuscon near the bottom of the league totem pole, Wyoming is really the only competition Boise has. After this strong start to their season it's certainly looking like Boise is going to be a playoff contender this year.
Salt Lake Scorpions (0-1) at Jackson Dragons (0-1)
18 to 41
It certainly looks like Jackson has recovered from their unexpected loss to division rival Tiburon last week as they roll past the Scorpions in a game that amounted to 59 total points scored. Jackson had a better mix of run and pass, which helped them swing the momentum in their favor when they needed it. The Scorpions just never recovered. Granted Salt Lake isn't looking like anything special this year, but the disparity in this one is still surprising. Jackson is going to need stronger defense if it's going to compete against its division rivals. Both these teams are still rebuilding after rough seasons last year.
Montana Grizzlies (1-0) at Atlantic Tide (0-1)
3 to 31
The Grizzlies and Tribe may be on an even playing field during their divisional matchups, but the Tide are certainly still above them. Although it appears Atlantic City is losing its momentum this year, the team is still strong enough to roll through its lower end AFC schedule. The Grizzlies didn't score until there was a minute left in the game. Almost a shutout.
Hartford Lightning (0-1) at West Virginia Wizards (0-1)
15 to 6
This turned out to be an interesting divisional matchup in the AFC East. Last year West Virginia won the division; it doesn't look like the same will happen this year. With the Concord Hawks making a strong showing and the Atlantic Tide staying above average, the Wizards are going to have to compete better than this. Now it looks like the Lightning want a piece of the action. I'm still not sure what to make of the AFC East this year, but if this game showed anything, it's that it could go to anyone right now. This was a hard fought game with lots of field goals.
Springfield Knights (1-0) at Tiburon Sharks (1-0)
24 to 16
Springfield has been on a roll so far, winning all their preseason games and demolishing the Crocs last week with a 39 point margin of victory. While Tiburon showed themselves to be competitive in winning last week's game against the division rival Jackson Dragons, this was a pretty predictable result. Springfield keeps rolling with consistent scoring. They're going to need all the momentum they can get to stay on top of the always tight NFC North. After finishing in 3rd last year, it looks like Springfield has the team this year to beat out both the Timberwolves and Vipers.
Oklahoma Twisters (1-0) at Topeka Oilers (0-1)
23 to 20
Oklahoma has been looking good lately and while the score was a little tight, the outcome was predictable. The Oilers put up a good fight for an average team, but were just short of taking control. At the half the Oilers led 20 to 17, but two field goals in the third and fourth quarters respectively sealed a Twister victory. Props to Oklahoma kicker, Donny Anderson, for two long field goals in the second half resulting in the win, 45 and 52 yards each. Look to see another battle between Puerto Rico and Oklahoma for control of the AFC South this year.
Yukon Yeti (1-0) at Concord Hawks (1-0)
45 to 20
Both Yukon and Concord are two of the better teams in the AFC this year and if Boston hadn't played Dakota this week, I'm fairly certain this would've been the game of the week. Offensively, both teams put up impressive performances with only a 15 yard difference between their total yard output. Yukon's win came down to three factors: a top tier performance from star QB Torry Mathis, better balance and more versatility when it came to running and passing, and two big interceptions thrown by Concord QB Craig Burns. Mathis posted a perfect passer rating of 158.3 while throwing for 3 touchdowns and rushing for one. Mathis also showed a lot of mobility. Although he threw for 262 yards compared to Burns' 369, Mathis rushed for 46 and kept the defense second guessing their ability to contain him, leading to more offensive opportunities. This leads into the second factor, versatility. Yukon's stout run stopping defense allowed only 17 rushing yards from Concord, all of which came from HB Bernie Warren. In contrast, Yukon saw rushing contributions from HBs Tim Peterson and Marcus Green for a combined total of 61 yards, and QBs Torry Mathis and Ben Harris for a combined total of 62 yards. Being able to post 123 rushing yards was a big part of keeping Concord's defense off balance all day while all Yukon had to do was stop big plays from developing amid its secondary. While Yukon did have some difficulty from preventing Concord QB Craig Burns from connecting with veteran (12 years pro) wideout Otis Clausen and TE Daryl Pritchett for over 100 yards each, they were able to come away with two big interceptions that reversed momentum and stopped Concord from putting together any game contesting drives. Yukon CBs Ted Watts and Patrick Andrews came away with an interception apiece with Watts being able to turn his into a TD. Yukon's offense was firing on all cylinders during this game with a dynamic short passing attack leading to receiving touchdowns for WR T.J. Oliver and FB Charles Burnett. This opened up the field for deeper balls, caught by WR Mack Pleasant and TE Derek Pruitt for a touchdown each. Throughout the game Yukon remained in command, putting on a dominating performance. It should also be noted that Concord Kicker Vinnie Cook spent 2004 at Yukon before being replaced by draft pick Ronnie Johnson, the current Yukon kicker. Similarly, WR Alex Gilbert for Concord was a strong rookie prospect for Bar Harbor before he was traded to Concord and a WR that Yukon always had some difficulty covering. Gilbert posted 74 yards and a TD for Concord's passing attack. Despite the statistical appearance of an even game, the box score reveals the Yukon was always several steps ahead of Concord with a dynamic offense and a strong running defense. This may be one of the best performances we see from Yukon all season. Here are some detailed stats from the game...
Passing:
Yukon QB Torry Mathis: 158.3 passer rating, 262 yards passing, 3 TD, 16/18, 88% completion rate, 14.5 average yards per pass, 3 sacks
Yukon QB Ben Harris: 128.1 passer rating, 23 yards passing, TD, 3/4, 5.7 average yards per pass
Concord QB Craig Burns: 88.0 passer rating, 369 yards passing, 2 TD, 2 INT, 32/47, 68% completion rate, 7.8 average yards per pass, 1 sack
Rushing:
Yukon HB Tim Peterson: 58 yards, 9 attempts, 6.4 average yards
Yukon QB Torry Mathis: 46 yards, 6 attempts, 7.6 average yards, TD, Fum (out of bounds)
Yukon QB Ben Harris: 16 yards, 1 attempt
Yukon HB Marcus Green: 3 yards, 2 attempts
Concord HB Bernie Warren: 17 yards, 15 attempts, 1.1 average yards
Receiving:
Yukon WR Mack Pleasant: 5 receptions, 98 yards, TD
Yukon TE Derek Pruitt: 3 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Yukon WR T.J. Oliver: 2 receptions, 11 yards, TD
Yukon FB Charles Burnett: 2 receptions, 13 yards, TD
Yukon WR Roscoe Terrell: 2 receptions, 25 yards
Yukon WR Richard Cummings: 2 receptions, 31 yards
Yukon HB Marcus Green: 1 reception, 7 yards
Yukon TE Neil Parker: 1 reception, 16 yards
Yukon WR Lamaar Craig: 1 reception, 10 yards
Concord WR Otis Clausen: 10 receptions, 134 yards
Concord WR Daryl Pritchett: 7 receptions, 107 yards, TD
Concord TE Chris Williams: 5 receptions, 53 yards
Concord WR Alex Gilbert: 5 receptions, 74 yards, TD
Yukon Defense:
LB Terrell Edwards: 9 tackles, 2 TFL
CB Ted Watts: 7 tackles, INT, 25 yard TD
CB Andre Harry: 7 tackles
MLB Lionel Nipper: 6 tackles, 3 TFL
LB Warrick Walton: 5 tackles
FS Jon Baker: 4 tackles, 1 TFL
CB Patrick Andrews: 38 yard INT
Kicking:
Yukon K Ronnie Johnson: 38 yard FG
Concord K Vinnie Cook: 2 FG
Game Stats:
YY: 396 total offense CON: 381
YY: 123 rushing yards CON: 17
YY: 273 passing yards CON: 364
YY: 18 first downs CON: 21
YY: 4/5 (80%) 3rd down conversions CON: 10/14 (71%)
YY: 8:49 time of possession CON: 11:11
2 turnovers by CON
Box Score
1Q:2Q:::3Q:4Q
7::21:::7::10
0::10:::3::7
Player of the game: YY QB Torry Mathis
Little Rock Crocs (0-1) at Spokane Ospreys (0-1)
21 to 34
Spokane was able to hit hard and early in this AFC West divisional matchup. The first three Osprey drives resulted in touchdowns. After finishing the first quarter with a 14 point lead, the Ospreys kept pace with Little Rock and prevented a comeback. The running game really worked for Spokane as they put together 180 yards to Little Rock's 93. This was a pretty predictable result for the first of two AFC West divisional matchups that occurred this week.
Bar Harbor Captains (0-1) at Santa Fe Bandits (1-0)
31 to 28
This was an unusually high scoring game for teams with weakly ranked offenses. In fact, Santa Fe and Bar Harbor came into this game after the first week of play with the lowest rushing yards in the NFA. Running was a big factor in this game, with Bar Harbor starting rookie Lennox Stanley over last year's rookie prospect, Darren Poole, and expecting him to run a more aggressive QB scramble version of the west coast offense. Former NFL player and Bandit QB Jake Plummer deferred to a more balanced attack, favoring wideout Bam Weaver and sticking to conventional running plays. Indeed, Santa Fe started with a strong running game on first drive. After a few short gains, Santa Fe broke a double digits run followed by a short pass to the left side, putting them in field goal range. Another pass up the middle put the Bandits in the red zone, priming the offense for the score. However, the Captains run defense came up with a big stop to force a 27 yard field goal by Whitfield. The first play on drive for the Captains was a double digit run to the left side by Luther Hodges. Unfortunately, miss-communication on the next play resulted in a big loss by Hodges, negating the yardage from the previous play and forcing the Captains to eventually punt. A follow up miss-communication in the Captain's secondary resulted in a 42 yard pass to a wide open Bam Weaver who broke to the right side for the touchdown, giving Santa Fe a 10-0 lead. After the ensuing kickoff, Bar Harbor only stuttered briefly, soon finding a groove and working their way into the red zone by the end of the first quarter. On the first play of the second quarter, Bar Harbor QB Lennox Stanley scrambled to the right side for the TD, putting the score at 7-10. After some back and forth play, Santa Fe was able to score with 1:45 to play in the second, nailing a 50 yard field goal to put the Bandits up by 6. Looking to respond with their two minute offense, the Captains converted a 30 yard TD pass to Jay Boone with 0:38 to play in the half. The Bandits were almost able to respond, but were not able to spike the ball soon enough to kick a deep field goal. Despite a slow start, Bar Harbor was able to come into halftime with a 14-13 lead. After a failed Bar Harbor drive, Santa Fe got the ball back deep in their own territory. With 3:40 to play in the 3rd quarter, Bar Harbor MLB Terrance Bryant picked off Jake Plummer, setting up the Captains for an easy score. After two failed goaline plays, Captain QB Lennox Stanley was able to sneak by the defense for the TD, putting the Captains up after the PAT 21-13. It seems this TD sealed the momentum of the game ensuring it would shift in the Captain's favor for the next few drives. Sure enough, Bar Harbor made a quick stop and were able to work their way into the redzone again, resulting in a 28 yard field goal with 0:45 to play in the 3rd quarter. After another successful defensive stop, the Captains were pinned on their own 4 yardline. On the first play of the drive, Lennox Stanley made a last second dump to the right side, finding Antwaan Peterson, who, after breaking a tackle, ran all the way down the field, resulting in a 96 yard touchdown to close the third quarter. It appeared the Captains had the game sealed with an 18 point lead. However, The Bandits were able to put together a two minute drive together to start the 4th quarter, closing it with a Jake Plummer QB sneak. The two point conversion was successful, but the onside kick was not, putting the score at 31-21, Captains. After only progressing about 30 yards on their drive, the Captains were forced to attempt a 50 yard field goal. Dwayne Payton's kick feel short, putting the Bandits in a position to drive down the field under 2 minutes and down 10. A holding penalty with 0:54 called back a Bandits TD, delaying the touchdown until 0:47 when Jake Plummer snuck a pass to the left side, putting Santa Fe within 3. The failed onside kick led to a Captains possession, allowing them to run down the clock for the 31-28 victory. Santa Fe came remarkably close with their two 4th quarter scores and the successful two point conversion. Still a win is a win for Bar Harbor. Rookie QB Lennox Stanley had the privilege of adding both his first rushing TD and his first passing TD to the books of what could possibly be an illustrious career at Bar Harbor given their renewed focus on QB versatility. I think this game shows how unpredictable things are in the early going. I would've called this game along the lines of a 24-7 victory for the Captains. Bar Harbor moves on with the win against Santa Fe this week to face a similarly struggling team and divisional rival Lincoln Tribe.
Carson City Comets (1-0) at Portland Flyers (1-0)
38 to 7
In this other AFC West divisional matchup, the Comets were able to predictably come out on top. Portland was able to strike on their first drive, resulting in a early 7-0 lead, but from there on out, they couldn't get anything going. At the half Carson City was ahead 10-7. The second half was a scoring fest from the Comets which finished off the underdog Flyers. Portland's offense really struggled against Carson City's playoff caliber defense.
Wyoming Wildcats (0-1) at Madison Timberwolves (0-1)
6 to 31
Wyoming had a rough start and it was apparent pretty quickly that Madison would run away with this one. After a 28-0 score in favor of the Timberwolves at the half, there was no question this game was a blowout. While the statistics for this game look very even, it just looks like Madison was always able to get better field position. Even though this game should've been closer, it just goes to show how competitive the NFC North is as the Timberwolves were easily able to knock off last year's leader of the NFC West.
Puerto Rico Piranhas (0-1) at Hawaii Warriors (1-0)
31 to 17
After finishing the first quarter ahead 10-0 the Warriors faltered and gave up 31 unanswered points, leading to the Piranha victory. That isn't to say Hawaii's offense wasn't productive, it produced 365 yards while Puerto Rico only put together 272. However, 2 big turnovers made a world of difference. Strong defense for the Piranhas made an impact and upheld the status quo of the AFC South.
Next week we've got two matchups to watch. The first is the defending champion Yukon Yeti on the road in Boise against the red hot Bison. The Bison has already knocked off Yukon's division rival Captains and Tribe in the first two games of the season, but will they be able to do the same to the Yeti? Both teams are undefeated to this point and somebody has to lose. In a big divisional clash, the Madison Timberwolves play in North Dakota against the Vipers. With the Knights currently on top of the division, we'll have to see which of these two teams looks up to securing another playoff berth. Other than those two contentious games, it looks like the week will be pretty uneventful with most matchups looking fairly predictable.
See you around.
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