[MIJB#19]

Maassluis versus Bordeaux recap
The season is over, the playoff hopes are gone. The Maassluis Merchantmen kept it a tight game but three interceptions thrown by quarterback Leonard Lyon were pretty crucial to the 10-12 loss to the AOC top seed Bordeaux Vineyards.

The Merchantmen went into the second half leading 7-6 as Fernando Ramsey pulled his trick with a last second field goal to shorten the lead from four to one just before half time. Tight end Jim Reiser had scored on a 26-yard pass from Leonard Lyon to put the home team up with a minute left in the first half.

For he game, the Merchantmen defense was very split. The defensive front kept the opponent busy with holding stud running back Rashad Burse to 52 yards and sacking quarterback Joe Johnson 6 times, while breaking up 13 of 39 passing plays. The pass defense allowed no less then 30-4 yards by the same Johnson.

Still, the Merchantmen pulled their trick once again, the Vineyards visited the red zone four times, but every single time they were forced to settle with a field goal. Especially defensive tackle John Bryant excelled with 11 tackles and 2 sacks, while Harold Wells had 6 tackles, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery.

Player of the game was definatly Bordeaux wide receiver Toby Williams, who caught 9 passes for a total of 195 yards gained and added three punt returns for 21 yards as well. Yet, the Bordeaux defense was crucial as well as they allowed just 59 yards rushing on 17 carries, all from Randy Harris.

The Merchantmen lost promising right tackle Russell Malave during the game due to injury and his season seems over with a strained deltoid muscle. Good for them, guard Alvin Causey has just recovered from a torn deltoid muscle and will be replacing him on the line, as Butch White moves from left to right.

For Bordeaux, the top seed position in the AOC has gotten a little bit closer at 11-3. They still have two tough test to go with a road game at 11-3 Chesapeake and then at home against Gothenburg. It will be a tough streak, but the division is in the pocket, so there is little to lose.

The Maassluis Merchantmen will try to do one last trick as playoffs spoilers as the host the Astoria Heroes in an exciting matchup. Before the season, the Heroes management dared to call the Merchantmen a weaker team, but next Thursday, the Merchantmen are favored to win by three and get even in wins at seven.

If the Merchantmen pull of the home victory, they will accomplish an unique feat by beating all four opponents from the other conference. So far, not a single IHOF team managed to do that and victories from Rochester over Ann Arbor and Chespaeke over Bordeaux will make keep the Merchantmen as the only ones.

Despite the loss, the Merchantmen moved up in the run defense charts and third down defense charts. Their defensive is becoming more and more one to fear, especially after now becoming the best red zone defense in the IHOF. Today, Bordeaux had no message to it and kept their perfect record against Maassluis.