[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: That's my Theo
Individual records? Whatever. Winning games, that's the stuff!

Seasons can go with ups and downs. Today, the road game at the Bordeaux Vineyards, was one of those rising moments. No, we're not quite at the top yet, I hope we have that ahead of us.

So, Bordeaux.

We struggled early, but the D did just enough to make them kick for just a 3-lead. Moe Sheldon found Branden Sandlin (19 yards) and Theodore Bondy (17 yards) for big gains, but once in the red zone, he got sacked and fumbled (not again!?): opportunity vanished. The defense was unamused, but underwhelming as well, allowing them to take a 10-0 lead.

A slow, but steady, drive got us back in the game, seeing Moe Sheldon running it in for 3 yards and the 10-7 deficit. Next drive, we stopped them barely past midfield, but on the very next play, Moe Sheldon tossed a screen pass to Theodore Bondy, who somehow managed to make it all the way to the other end for an 85-yard touchdown and the subsequent 14-10 lead. The defense finally woke up for a three and out, followed by a Reggie Thongchanh 24-yard punt return. With the short field and a couple of long plays, you'd think we would have made it two scores, but we ended up settling for a 25-yard field goal. We actually managed to get the ball back before half time, but came time short to extended the 17-10 lead.

Second half and some guy named Springer makes a decent and a great catch for Bordeaux. A penalty didn't push them back enough, we then allowed them to converted on third and 12 yards and on the next play they run the ball in for a 17-17 tied score. We replied with a solid, but not solid enough drive to make it 20-17 for us after a 38-yard field goal. After a three and out and a short punt, we were starting to win the field position battle, on top of maintaining the 3-point lead. Moe Sheldon next recovered his own fumble, but the turnovers continued as he saw a pass picked off near midfield and returned for what could put Bordeaux in a score tying field goal. A quick sack disrupted their drive and Jessie McNeil, recently activated to fill in for injured Ted Frias, deflected a third down pass to force them to punt. We responded with a couple of big plays to restore field position advantage.

To start the fourth quarter, Doug Guynes directed a short punt well to pin them at their 2-yard line. They 20-yard run was insufficient to get their engines really going and we replied with a 20-yard gain on third and 17 as Moe Sheldon found Theodore Bondy. Francisco Patter's 13-yard run then marched us into their red zone and a 37-yard field goal a couple of plays later put us a touchdown up: 23-17. A punting battle followed, crumbling the clock down to the two-minute warning. On fourth and 4 at midfield, Bordeaux went for it and Tony Whiting twirled around their line to sack the quarterback to stop them. We burnt their time outs, but still needed to punt. They tried, but another well timed sack, credits to Andy Russell, ended the game.

Yes, turnovers hurt once again, but this time the near 100-yard advantage did get the job done. Of course, take away Theodore Bondy's spectacular play and we're, well, actually on the losing end with slightly less production in yardage.

Moe Sheldon completed 22 of 35 passes for 272 yards, 1 touchdown, but also a pick and a fumble lost on one of 4 sacks. Theodore Bondy had 9 catches for 161 yards and a score, Reggie Thongchanh ran for 72 yards.

Bad news of the day was injury to Howard Humphrey, our all galaxy right tackle (I mean, this is american football, it's hardly worth mentioning outside the USA, there's no way it's being played on any other planet, is there?). It's probably just a game or three, but with a couple of other good players already missing, this is one of those not so small things that might come back to hurt is in Gothenburg.

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

So, all of a sudden, we're right back in the mix for the wild cards? Not quite yet. We're stil a game and tie-breakers behind. I'm still hoping we can aim for the division title.

But yeah, Gothenburg. They're on a roll and although it's usual in our rivalry to see the one trying to catch up actually derail the division leader, we'll have to put up our A game out there. Which is certainly possible, so let's do that, team. if you ever want to impress me, now is the time.