[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: So far so good!
We won on the road!

No really, we did. After our near unbeatable road game status in 2087, when we won 7 straight to reach the playoffs and saw the streak end in the divisional round at the Orlando Talons, the 2088 season was an 0 for 8 campaign. Our stop was Frederick to face the Red Menace and their brand new quarterback Angel Henson. Well, no worries, we've got our very own rookie quarterback with a 1-0 record. The #1 overall versus the #13 overall pick. Yes, the media were on it.

Things didn't start that well for us. Despite that sacked Henson on his first all passing drive, it took them three minutes to see their star wide receiver hurdle into our endzone on a 25-yard catch and run. Our respons was a decent drive ending in a 38-yard field goal. After a couple of three and outs, we forced them to punt after 4 plays anchored by Daquan Espino's 9-yard sack of Henson. Yet another three and out for our offense left a minute to play in the first quarter, a couple of neat throws brought them into our territory to end the first quarter with Frederick leading 7-3.

A couple of penalties didn't push them back enough to get into field goal range, but the range turned out to be too much to ask, the kick fell short. Our reply was a quartet of neat runs from Francisco Patter and Reggie Thongchanh, followed by Bell finding Theo Bondy for a 35-yard gain. Two plays later, Patter ran it in for the 10-7 lead. Defenses started to dominate, although our own chances were mostly diminished by penalties. It resulted in thr Red Menace getting a short field and a 38-yard pass from Henson to Jermome Barber put them back in the lead (14-10). Our running game continued to be solid and with a minute to go, Bell threw a short pass to Patter, who managed to turn it into a 24-yard touchdown catch. The defense was stout enough to maintain the 17-14 lead into the half time break.

First drive of the second half, an obnoxiously short kickoff return pushed us deep in our territory. Bell found Ronnie Hammond for 23 yards, Patter ran for 24 yards. It was enough to have a shot at a three-pointer, but Emmitt Wells missed the 47-yarder. Our defense started to bend, but forcing a 19-yard field goal felt like a victory. After an exchange of three-and-outs, we managed to resparkle our confidence. Steadily we marched into the Red Menace territory, Bell found Hammond for 25 yards and on second and goal, Patter ran it in from 3 yards out. We cheered too early, a penalty called it back and we had to settle for a 25-yard field goal, yet a 20-17 lead to end the third quarter.

The fourth quarter started with the play of the game. Henson's pass was picked off by Kirk Hitchcock and he ran it 33 yards back for the touchdown and a 27-17 lead. Now, it was all up to the defense to figure out that all passing offense from the Red Menace and primarily focus on the red zone defense. First drive, crucial third down defended pass by Hitchock. Their second drive, we allowed them to sniff at midfield. Bell responded with a 22-yard pass to Hammond to put them back at their turf on their next drive. Henson found R.J. Wiggins for 30 yards, then Jerome Barber for 33 yards to get into our 6-yard line. Another defended pass by Hitchcock, our alert defender on a Henson scramble and then a dropped pass made us force them to kick a 20-yarder. Leading 27-20, we had an efficient time outs burning drive. We pushed them back to their 19-yard line with 1:51 to go. 8 yards, 35 yards, 7 yards, they quickly marched into our turf. Ball spiked, 27 second to go. Gene Kondosvki pressured Henson into throwing it away, fourth down and three. Henson threw it to Barber, who used his hands illegally, but cornerback Jessie McNeil still managed to bat it away and we gladly declined the penalty. Knee drop Bell for the 27-20 victory!

Bell completed 21 of 37 passes for 259 yards and 1 touchdown without interception. Ronne Hammond lead the receivers again with 6 catches for 90 yards, Theo Bondy was held to 5 catches for 71 yards. Francisco Patter ran 17 times for 80 yards and a score, adding a receiving touchdown to it as well. The Red Menace's Henson completed 37 of 64 passes for 509 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception and got sacked twice.

Sure, we got outgained 517 to 385 yards, but we were clearly more efficient in what was probably an even game, if not for the two-score lead taking pick six from Kirk Hitchcock. We failed to pressure their quarterback, but the defense defended 11 passes, on top of that single interception.

Elsewhere in the IHOF, our division rivals all won as well. Paris won 27-20 at the Williamsburg Colonials, Bordeaux beat the Brooklyn Fightin' Bums 22-16 and Gothenburg beat the Chesapeake Chitterlings 27-23. Rookie Mercury Pierce got the start for the Giants, could this kid be for real?

Division:
1. Maassluis 2-0
2. Paris 2-0
3. Gothenburg 1-1
4. Bordeaux 1-1

Up next, the Houston Mustangs. They'll be motivated to test our rookie quarterback Brandon Bell, given that we picked him with the first round pick we got from them. They picked wide receiver Ruben Lynn for the pick they received back then, he's got 13 career catches, none so far this season. Let's hope we can make them regret that trade even more by bringing our A game. Or B game as we're already jokingly calling it.

But let's not get carried away now, a 2-0 start can still end up in a 2-14 season. Surely, we hope to improve to 3-0, but Houston also had a 2-0 start. They finished last season with a 6-3 series, starting it with a 30-23 win in our place. It's time to avenge that. Go Merchantmen!