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.
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