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One Down, One to Go
Mars Outlasts Dodge City in Overtime Thriller
By Kevin Pelton (
[email protected]), Sports Illustrated
The 1958 NFL Championship -- not yet the Super Bowl -- between the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants is known as the greatest game in league history, and the game that put the NFL on the map.
There wasn't as much on the line Sunday as the FOFL's last two undefeated teams, the Dodge City Vigilantes and the Mars Martians, squared off in Dodge City, NM, but the game was every bit as dramatic and well-played as the '58 Championship.
As Around the FOFL expected, Dodge City's ultra-conservative offense kept Mars from getting the turnovers it thrives on and kept the game close. Vigilantes quarterback Richard Mui, the dean of FOFL quarterbacks, was not intercepted in 42 pass attempts, completing 29 of them for 259 yards.
On the other side of the ball, the Dodge City defense contained Mars star quarterback Randall Sosa as well as any opposing team has this season. Sosa wasn't intercepted either, but threw for just 182 yards, completing 18 of 32 passes while being sacked four times.
Despite the accuracy of the quarterbacks, turnovers did end up playing a significant role in the outcome of the game. Dodge City scored the game's first touchdown after Mars punt returner Cole DeVries and Jeff Ellis recovered at the Mars 13. (DeVries would later fumble again, though the Martians retained possession.)
On the Vigilantes' next possession, however, running back Robert Roger -- who was limited to 43 yards on 24 carries -- coughed up the ball himself, giving Mars possession at the Dodge City 11. Three plays later, Sosa completed a seven-yard touchdown to David Auer to tie the game.
Roger's woes continued in the second half. Midway through the fourth quarter, with the Vigilantes nursing a 17-10 lead and hoping to take some time of the clock, Roger fumbled and allowed Mars to take possession at the Dodge City 27. The very next play, Sosa hooked up with Auer again, delivering a 27-yard strike to tie the game.
"That was a killer," said a visibly distraught Mui in the locker room afterwards. "Given the way our defense was playing, I think we definitely win that game if Robert doesn't fumble. But that's the way this game goes some times."
Roger did not answer questions after the game.
Neither side seriously threatened during the final half of the fourth quarter, with only a couple of plays run in opposition territory. That set up a thrilling overtime.
Dodge City won the toss but went backwards, with dominant Martians defensive tackle Matthew Santora bringing down Mui on first down for a seven-yard loss.
Mars took possession at its own 40 and then went to work. On third and 10, Sosa found fullback Willie Cole for 12 yards. Cole for four, then George Phelps for 19, and Mars was already in field-goal range. Facing another third and long, Sosa hit Wesley Andersen for 14 yards, and it was only a matter of time before Mars kicker Alfred Gomez took the field.
After three runs by Donald Bigger, who finished with 89 yards on the ground, it was Gomez time. With the Dodge City sideline praying for a miracle, Gomez coolly split the uprights on a 20-yard attempt to win the Battle of Unbeatens, 20-17 (just missing Around the FOFL's 24-21 pick).
"I never had any doubt that we were going to score when we got the ball," said Sosa. "Failure was not an option."
Regardless of the outcome, players on both sides were complementary about their opponents.
"I think -- well, I hope -- we'll be seeing them another couple of months down the line," Sosa added. "They're the best team we've played this season, and when you look at how the NC teams have played this season, I think they're the class of the conference."
"They don't make mistakes," said Mui. "When you do make a mistake, they capitalize it. There are a lot of similarities between our two teams, but they have a lot more firepower. Also, we're just happy to be here."
We're not even halfway through the FOFL schedule, but last Sunday's matchup did feel suspiciously like an FOFL Bowl preview.
Around the FOFL
Conferences Separating
Eight weeks into the FOFL's inaugural season, the AC has already established itself as the clearly dominant conference. In 24 inter-conference games, the AC holds a 15-9 advantage thus far, winning 67.5% of the matchups. The AC has outscored the NC by an average of 5.5 points per game -- as badly as 5-2 Jamaica is beating its opponents.
One caveat: Mars has already played three of its four interconference games. Obviously, the Martians are 3-0 in those games, meaning the rest of the league holds a slimmer 12-9 advantage.
How big of a difference is there between the conferences in the standings? While 5-3 Las Vegas would be staying home in the AC if the season ended today, 3-4 Chesapeake currently leads a gaggle of AC teams tied for the sixth and final playoff spot. An optimist would say there will be an exciting playoff race in the NC.
Quarterback Shakeups
The Chesapeake Chili Dogs and the Hell Creek Tyrannosaurs have significantly improved their fortunes in the past few weeks by going to their second-string QB’s.
The Chili Dogs were expected to be one of the better teams in the FOFL this year, but limped out of the gate with a 1-4 start. This poor play was largely due to the pitiful performance of QB Oscar Ozuna, who had a 60.7 passer rating and 11 interceptions. Luckily Chesapeake had drafted two highly-rated quarterbacks in the FOFL initial draft, and Chesapeake was able to hand the reins over to backup Hilton Boner. Boner has won both starts since he has taken over, with a QB rating of 111, and Chesapeake has found themselves right back in the NC playoff hunt.
Similarly, Hell Creek were 1-3 through the first four weeks, averaging less than a touchdown per game when they made the switch from quarterback of the past Michael Khalil, who had a quarterback rating of 36 with 9 Int’s and 0 TD’s, to quarterback of the future Kevin Flynn. Flynn hasn’t put up numbers like Boner, but his 63.5 passing rating has at least enabled the Tyrannosaurs to put together enough offense to give their solid defense a chance to win the game. Since switching to Flynn, Hell Creek have also improved their record to 3-4, putting them into a seven-way tie for the last two NC playoff spots.
Hell Creek and Chesapeake came to the same conclusion that a change at quarterback was necessary, but got there from different directions. For Hell Creek, the switch to Flynn was a no-brainer: “if we’re going to lose, might as well lose with a young guy QB who has a future,” explained Hell Creek owner/gm Allo. For Chesapeake, however, the choice was between two distinguished veterans: as Chili Dog owner/gm opined, “we’re trying to win now, and we’re willing to use anyone who can get us to the postseason,”
Although the Hell Creek and Chesapeake situations seem to have found a happy resolution, quarterback changes do not always have a salutary effect. The Capital City Nationals have switched from young but untalented Junior Seto to slightly older but also untalented Byron Knotts, and then back to Seto. As Cap City owner/gm Buddy Grant grimly explained, “sometimes you’re just rearranging the chairs on the Titanic.”
- Al Hill
Stud QBs, Part 2
Last week, I did a little study on teams’ success based on the position of the player they chose in the first round. This week, we will look and see if there is a correlation between a team’s record and the round in which they selected their first quarterback. This begs for a graph, but that is beyond the technology we have at the FOFL SI, so you just get a list:
1st 23-6
2nd 10-11
3rd 3-4
4th 6-2
5th 21-16
7th 3-4
8th 5-10
9th 15-14
10th 4-11
12th 9-5
14th 6-8
18th 6-8
26th 1-6
It appears that there is some correlation between where you drafted a QB and how well your team is doing, but not as much as I expected. Obviously the first round performance stands out, but remember than one of the first round teams, Seal Beach, hasn’t actually got to use its QB. Also, please remember that this study is only based on first QB drafted, not on the QB actually playing. So at this point, I don’t think you can say we have unequivocal evidence that QB play is singularly important.
Offensive Player of the Week: QB Jeremy Fowler, Las Vegas
While tempers flare in Eville, another feud simmers in Vegas between QB Jeremy Fowler and WR Michael Cook. Fowler won the Quarterback of the Week award for the second time after completing 25 of 33 passes for 316 yards, with 3 TD’s and no Int’s.
Cook was ambivalent about Fowler’s success: “Jeremy’s a great player, no doubt about that, but I wish that he would at least acknowledge how some of his teammates, including myself, have contributed to his success. He acts like this is a one-man team, but there are a lot of good players on this team, and we’ve all made each other better.”
Fowler responded coldly, “If Michael keeps running his mouth, I may not be able to find him open as much anymore. Sometimes, when players talk too much, fewer balls come their way.”
-AH
Defensive Player of the Week: DE Eric Dong, Eville
Dong captured his second Defensive Lineman of the Week Award with an incredible four sack performance. Dong has used the publicity he has received from the award to carry on his running feud with Triad QB Jacob Shenk: “Shenk is a conceited prick. We have two of the best receivers in the league. Every play, Shenk runs 15 yards backwards and throws a hail mary and hopes that Big and Ugly come down with it. And he thinks he’s the star of the team?”
Dong continued, frothing at the mouth: “Let me tell you something else. Shenk isn’t a MAN, know what I’m saying…not…a…man. I’m the Nestle’s quik in the chocolate milk on this team. You’re just drinking cow mucus until you sprinkle me in and make it taste good.”
Dong’s eyes began to blink wildly: “I’m the wax for this team’s candle, you hear me? YOU HEAR ME? Without me, you’re just trying to set a freaking rope on fire.”
Eventually, a Triad trainer shot Dong with a tranquilizer dart and order was restored in the Triad clubhouse.
-AH
Game of the Week: Austin Amish (6-1) at Shreveport Hurricanes (5-2)
This game is clearly the class of the week, although Dodge City v. Washington should also be a pretty good game. Austin’s a very efficient team, near the top of the league in yards per carry and yards per passing attempt. Offensively, the Amish will run and run and run, using the passing game just enough to keep the defense honest. Defensively, the Amish are also one of the best in the league, playing a disciplined style in which blitzing is out and knowing your assignment is in.
This Austin team is good but has one major weakness: turnovers. The Amish are extremely generous with the ball, donating it to the other team nearly 4 times per game. Among the worst offenders are QB James Redding (11 Int’s) and RB Thomas Booker (4 fumbles).
Austin hasn’t played a particularly tough schedule this year, although it did rack up an impressive win against Burlington in Week 6.
Shreveport is seven points from being undefeated. The Hurricanes have played a relatively tough schedule and have fared quite well, losing only to Jamaica and Fall River. This is QB Paul Jennings’ team, who has thrown for 1678 yards with 14 TD’s and only 4 Int’s.
Defensively, this is a weak team. The Hurricanes don’t force turnovers and are way down the rankings in both passing and rushing yards allowed.
This is going to be a close game. I think Austin is a bad match for Shreveport, and the Hurricanes will have a hard time getting their offense in the groove, as Austin wears them down with the run game. Shreveport’s difficulties forcing turnovers means it is likely that the Hurricane will not be able to exploit Austin’s biggest weakness.
- AH
After last week's showdown, this week's matchups look relatively uninteresting by comparison, but we still have a nice matchup with Amish visiting Shreverport in a battle between two top quarterbacks.
Austin's James Reding is Jacob Shenk lite, throwing 11 interceptions thus far but averaging 7.4 yards per pass attempt, second in the FOFL only to -- you guessed it -- Shenk. Shreveport's Paul Jennings has the FOFL's third-best quarterback rating, trailing only Sosa and Vegas' Jeremy Fowler. Jennings has been somewhere in between the Sosa-Shenk extremes, throwing just four picks but also for 1,678 yards in seven games.
Both teams also have effective running attacks, averaging better than four yards per carry and 140 yards per game. Shreveport has been weaker at defending the run, but the difference in this game will probably come down to turnovers. Austin has won despite a terrible -6 turnover total, while Shreveport is +2. Look for the Hurricanes to return a Reding pick for a TD en route to a reasonably comfortable victory.
-KP
Bold Prediction: Al: Austin 24, Shreveport 20
Kevin: Shreveport 28, Austin 20
Last Week's Bold Prediction: Al: none
Kevin: Mars 24, Dodge City 21
Actual Score: Mars 20, Dodge City 17
Al's Record: 2-2
Kevin's Record: 5-1
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Check out all the rest of the action in week 8 around the league here. (http://www.thefofl.com/box/week8.htm)
Cover Art: Pbot
Articles: Alhill, TDAO
FOFL Web Site: http://www.thefofl.com/