[MIJB#19]

Maassluis versus Paris preview
The playoffs are out of sight, but honor is still at stake. Especially the home playing Merchantmen have something to show to the fans. The Musketeers won all three previous head-to-head games and the Merchantmen lost the previous three home games. Losing this game would really damage the feeling after a season of improvement from one to at least six wins.

Rookie quarterback Mario Hudson will be the main person to spoil the Merchantmen's party. Hudson lead his men to a second victory last week against the Frederick Red Menace and was a relative weak link in the home victory over Maassluis. Besides that, Hudson can take away injured Merchantmen's quarterback Justin McDavid's rookie passing records, yet he needs 573 yards and 5 scores to tie.

The Merchantmen pass defense will once again be the do or die of the team. So far this season, the Merchantmen have been going easy on giving away yards. Rumors are that the Merchantmen have drastically changed the pass defense schemes and will be using it on a team known for it's desire to throw the ball. The Musketeers also miss their normal top rusher Kevin Wiggins due to injury.

In recent games the Merchantmen defense showed their skill of stopping the run and then allowing opponents to get close, but not score the touchdown. The Musketeers problem hasn't been the scoring, but rather allowing points. Lucky for them, scoring points is one of the problems the Merchantmen have. That said, this game will be one of the Paris offense versus the Maassluis defense.

Mario Hudson is clearly a key player in that matchup, for Maassluis the defensive line seem to be the main reason of their improvement. Albert Bernardo is new and seems to inspire the younger star Harold Wells, Charles Gomez and John Bryant to big things. Hudson has a good offensive line to protect him, but rookie left tackle Louis Bell looks like a very weak link.

Wilson Grimaldo left Paris for Maassluis in an off-season trade and is the biggest man on the now complete Merchantmen offensive line. The injury of Russell Malave hurts the cohesion, but with Alvin Causey's comeback the top five talented linemen are finally together. Their job is to protect Leonard Lyon and last week they did a good job against the Astoria Heroes' strong defensive line.

The Paris Musketeers defense has been very bad all year. They have been terrible in stopping both the pass and the run. The loss of the lock for Defensive Player of the Year Joe Teeters (27.5 sacks and 143 tackles for Syracuse) really hurt. The addition of defensive backs Steven Randall, Joey Browning, Edward Boatwright and Randall Smith were all to create the secondary of the future.

Whether Leonard Lyon can again show his lionhearted nature is yet to be seen. The Merchantmen miss their top receiver Bryce Ewald due to injury, which means that rookies Lonnie O'Reilley and especially Devin Henson will have to play well. Or else all will rely on Randy Harris' rushing legs and Cary Coles' kicking. Leonard Lyon has to step up and beat the other round quarterback through the air.

Whoever wins this game ends a losing season with a good feeling. The Musketeers made drastic changes to become a contender with Hudson at the helmet in some years. Winning the last two games would be a nice finish. The Merchantmen have been the most improved team of the IHOF, but losing all of the last three games, all at home, after such an amazing season it will be a major dissapointment.