[MIJB#19]

Maassluis At Bordeaux Recap
In a game dominated by the Bordeaux offense, the score was closer then the statistics would presume. Last second field goals in both the first and second half helped the Bordeaux Vineyards to stay in pole-position for the European title. The Merchantmen look back on just another bad game, where only the turnover margin called for improvement over last season. Bordeaux walked away victorious with a 16-13 score.

For Bordeaux, Joe Johnson wasn't his normal self. The reliable quarterback struggled a bit against the strong pass rush coming from the Merchantmen defensive line. Granted, he completed 58 percent of his passed for 270 yards and a score, but he did lose a fumble in the game. Additionally, the Merchantmen's fearsome four ruined 7 of 37 passing plays, that is almost 1 of 5.

Martin Mathias, an off season additional, had his moment of fame. Mathias received 7 passes for 115 yards and the only Bordeaux touchdown of the game. He made up for a little dissapointing showing from Rashad Burse. Burse was held to 52 yards and a 2.9 average. But, it didn't make much of a difference, the Vineyards defense saved the day.

Look at the Merchantmen offensive stats and you start wondering why they keep Justin McDavid as playcaller. Against Bordeaux, he completed just 52 percent of his passes for a dissapointing 141 yards. The single touchdown pass doesn't make up for the interception and his old habit turning up again. McDavid fumbled twice, but was twice saved by his own linemen.

The scoring pass was passed to Randy Harris, who scored for the sixth time this season, already doubling his 2004 scoring total. With 54 yards rushing, Harris couldn't shake a leg for the Merchantmen, but kept things going a little bit. More then last year, Harris looks like the only threat on the Merchantmen offense. Especially with Jerry Aubrey losing his starting role.

Aubrey watched this game rather then lived through it. His replacement Jim Reiser had 4 receptions for 37 yards, not really what people would have expected from a Merchantmen tight end. Aubrey commented: "Give him some slack, it was a last second decission. I think Jimmy just wasn't ready yet." The almost total absence of Gregory Monti didn't help either.

Talking of Monti, his replacement at flanker, Lonnie O'Reilley had a game of bad luck. McDavid passed four times to the rookie, but only twice they connected. On those receptions, O'Reilley advances just 6 yards. Monti: "Lonnie is more of a deep threat, even more then Vargas was last year." A good point, but with Monti complaining about his neck, who else should play at flanker?

A bright light on the Merchantmen roster is the former Astoria Hero playing strong-side linebacker. Ellsworth Thelen sparkled with 10 tackles and 2 defended passes. Thelen has quietly been outperforming the 2004 Defensive Rookie of the Year, Cody Cluff, in tackles. Some people believe that the improve rushing defense completly relies on the addition of Thelen.

Looking back, the Merchantmen experiment to start the balck-and-blue offensive linemen didn't pay off. Russell Malave had a good game, but Harold Hurtado wasn't the All IHOF second teamer of last season and hot porspect Brant Heinrich is a bit too inconsistent as of now. Big plays are followed by unnecessary mistakes.

Overall, the Vineyards were the better team and deserved to win this game. The victory means that the Merchantmen are more then likely out of the race for the European title and should fear to lose the second place battle to the maturing Duane Davis and his Gothenburg Giants. The Merchantmen's next stop is at another playoff contender, the Orlando Knights. A good showing there looks impossible, but the Knights offensive line misses their tackles and the fearsome four keep making plays on a weekly base. Another stunt is possible.