[MIJB#19]

Merchantmen lose game and Bell
A mix of emotions lived amongst the Merchantmen fans as they one by one departed from Oranje Haven. Disappointment after their team lost in overtime. Relief after hearing the Paris Musketeers also lost. But the sight of a carted off quarterback Brandon Bell leaves behind the biggest impact on the fans. The first loss in Oranje Haven in more than a year may have come with an even bigger deception.

A near sold out Oranje Haven was getting ready for a pounding of the visiting Harlem Apollos. Like no others, the Merchantmen fans realize any team can win any day in the IHOF, but the Merchantmen were on a 7-game winning streak at home, while the visiting Harlem Apollos brought in a conference worst 2-9 record. And with Brandon Bell quickly becoming the new popular quarterback in Maassluis, with a rejuvenated Theodore Bondy on the wing, this could be an enjoyable game of football. And entertaining it certainly got, for at least the first three quarters.

The Merchantmen had first possession and came out of the gates like they have done most of their games this season. 6-yard run by Francisco Patter, 7-yard run from Reggie Thongchanh, Brandon Bell scrambling successfully on third down. Then on fourth and two at the Harlem 44-yard line, the Merchantmen tried to go for a homerun, yet Bell's deep pass towards Theodore Bondy was deflected by a nearby linebacker. The Merchantmen defense didn't seem prepared to go on so quickly, but in their red zone they were back at it and forced Harlem to settle for a 32-yard field goal. The Merchantmen running backs looked even more eager to get the job done on the next drive. Patter ran for 27 yards and Thongchanh for 14 yards, shortly after followed by Bell finding Ronnie Hammond on a deep throw for a 33-yard touchdown. Maassluis 7, Harlem 3, that's what the fans had showed up for. Harlem quarterback Eugene Logan responded with a 26-yard throw to his tight end, while his running back Tre Ellison took credits for an 11-yard run and a 12-yard catch to set up Logan's 19-yard touchdown pass to Wyatt Ward. Harlem was unimpressed and took a 10-7 lead with a minute to go in the first quarter.

The run heavy offense continued for Maassluis. Francisco Patter ran for 10 yards, Reggie Thongchanh for 13 yards. Brandon Bell was connected with his receivers left and right, finding Theodore Bondy for a crucial 10-yard gain in the red zone on third and two, only to get picked off in the end zone on the next play. Defensive player of the year candidate Kirk Hitchcock came up big on the next drive, intercepting the ball near midfield and retuning it to the Harlem 30-yard line. Thongchanh ran for 12 yards and Bell found Bondy near the end zone open enough to get the 13-10 lead, the extra point was blocked. Anchored by middle linebacker Daquan Espino's 8-yard sack, a three and out quickly gave Maassluis the ball back in a good position. A pass interference call helped the Merchantmen on seemingly failed third down en route to getting deep inside Harlem territory. A couple of Patter runs were stopped at the 3- and 2-yard lines, then followed by Bell unable to find Branden Sandlin on back to back plays to have the ball turnover on downs. Harlem quickly got out of the situation of being pinned so deep, but could do little more than get the last 2 minutes off the clock to end the half in a 13-10 lead for the Merchantmen.

The second half started with Harlem's quarterback Eugene Logan running on back to back plays to quickly reach midfield. A couple of penalties pushed them back and gave the Merchantmen the ball back after the punt. Brandon Bell found Theodore Bondy for 18 yards, while Reggie Thongchanh ran for 11 yards to get the chains moving. A holding call and a sack put Maassluis in third and twenty, which was enough to force a punt. Logan decided to continue running, although the Merchantmen defense forced him to fumble on his first carry, it didn't turn the ball over and Logan did get a first down on his second scramble. Unable to complete passes, Harlem punted again, which the Merchantmen responded to with Bell finding Bondy for 12 yards and then tight end Renaldo Crawford for 8 yards to get into Apollos' territory. A 19-yard pass from Bell to Branden Sandlin got Maassluis into the red zone, but on the next play, Bell's short pass to Bondy got picked off and returned to the Merchantmen 41-yard line, as cornerback Braden Burnett got chased down and tackled by Bondy himself. The Merchantmen defense stood high, but as Harlem's kicker Austin Ferguson converted the 49-yard field goal, a 13-13 score was making this game much closer than it had need to be. Brandon Bell quickly responded with a 16-yard pass to Bondy and an 11-yarder to Crawford before the third quarter was over.

Then on the second play of the fourth quarter, things went horribly wrong. As Brandon Bell tried to escape the incoming pass rushers and neatly completed a 16-yard pass to Theodore Bondy, he bumped into a defender and was knocked out. Oranje Haven got quieter and quieter as Bell was lying on the ground motionless. Until that point, Bell had completed 21 of 29 passes for 218 yards and 2 scores to wipe away his 2 interceptions. After minutes had gone by, doctors were signaling Bell had retained consciousness, but it was apparent he was getting carted off the field and not to return today.

Veteran Moe Sheldon, last season's street free agent turned into starter for the Merchantmen was all of a sudden back in action. Wide receiver Branden Sandlin looked stunned from what happend earlier, dropping the ball on the next two plays. Oranje Haven erupted as Harlem cornerback Albert Houston shoved Sandlin after the second one of those drops and as the referees called Houston for unnecessary roughness, it was first and one from the 8-yard line. Francisco Patter was stopped after 1-yard gains on back to back plays and as Sheldon was rushed into a bad throw on third down, Maassluis settled for a 23-yard field goal to gain a 16-13 lead. Harlem failed to score on their next drive, but instead managed to pin the Merchantmen at their own 1-yard line. Things got worse as Reggie Thongchanh fumbled on the very next play and Harlem was all of a sudden just 6 yards away. Eugene Logan needed just one play to find Wyatt Ward. As the extra point was missed, Maassluis was now trailing 19-16 in what could have been a steamrolling victory. The Merchantmen continued to struggle and after guard Andre Watson was called for unsportsmanship conduct, they were forced to punt. The Merchantmen pass rush showed up on the very next drive as rookie Darien Fletcher sacked the quarterback on first down, while Gene Kondovski forced two hurried passes right after. Moe Sheldon continued to struggle and Maassluis once again was forced to punt. Harlem all of a sudden seemed ready to roll into Merchantmen territory to complete the upset, but on third and one, Andy Russell added to the pass rush domination by sacking Eugene Logan and forcing Harlem to punt again. On third and long, Sheldon finally found Theodore Bondy for 17 yards and Oranje Haven was at last getting the confidence back this game was still winnable. Sheldon found Bondy again on third down, this time for 12 yards to cross midfield and then found Ronnie Hammond on second and twenty for a 26-yard gain. Maassluis was back on fire and marching for a game winning drive. Sheldon found Bondy again for a crucial third down conversion, but inside the red zone, Maassluis decided to settle for a 29-yard field goal and with 33 seconds to go tying the score 19-19. Harlem actually tried to get the chain moving, but overtime was unavoidable.

Harlem got the ball back and on their second play quarterback Eugene Logan found a wide open Ernie Flood for a 27-yard gain. Well within Maassluis territory, Harlem was forced to punt. A holding penalty pinned the Merchantmen deeper inside their own red zone and they were eventually forced to punt. On third down, Logan found Wyatt Ward for 15 yards and a first down two plays later Flood for another 15-yard gain to reach field goal range. A penalty and a Gene Kondosvki sack pushed Harlem back a little bit, but not enough to avoid a field goal attempt. Austin Ferguson converted the 43-yarder and completed the upset victory for the Harlem Apollos.

Having lost not just the game, but also their quarterback, the Merchantmen and their fans had a lot to be disappointed and worried about. A glimpse of hope returned after word came out the Paris Musketeers had lost 12-9 at home against the Rochester Razorbacks. With the Gothenburg Giants winning 24-12 at the 10-1 San Antonio Tidal Force, this may actually return to being a three-horse race for the division title. The Bordeaux Vineyards won 20-3 at the Atlanta Vipers, but their chances are very slim to leapfrog all three of their division rivals.

Standings:
1. Maassluis 7-5
2. Paris 7-5
3. Gothenburg 6-6
4. Bordeaux 5-7

For the Merchantmen it's back to Moe Sheldon as Brandon Bell was diagnoses with a concussion and quite possibly ruled out for the remainder of the regular season. Unless the Merchantmen management is in for an even bigger turnaround, as this also means the return of Francisco Farley to the active roster and Farley surely showed his eagerness to play in pre-season. Up next a huge test, visiting the 8-4 Chesapeake Chitterlings, who are in desperate need to stop their sudden downfall to second place in their division after a 7-1 start with a still undefeated status at home.

For the Merchantmen, still leading the division, now isn't the time to give up just yet. The Merchantmen are no quitters, they will continue believing it ain't over till the fat lady sings. And even then will probably still hope things will fall their way until long after she's done with her performance and has left the stage.