[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Don't get our hopes up...
We're only 6 games in.

But, with the solid start to this season and ditto continuation today, it's hard to not get excited. The Fort Wayne Fury were next on our schedule and with a road game, anything can happen, right? It turned out to be a very solid victory for us with a convincing 33-13 score line. So, how did we get that job done?

First quarter we followed up an impressive 3 and out with a strong drive, halted by a sack, to settle for a 42-yard field goal. We followed up with another smooth drive, anchored by Moe Sheldon finding rookie Clarence Gore's for a 27-yard gain, shortly after followed by a 1-yard touchdown pass from Sheldon to Gre for the 10-0 lead.

The second quarter was defense heavy, but our continuing improvement of field position eventually resulted in 17-yard punt return from Reggie Thongchanh to get a short field and it was Moe Sheldon finding Clay Gaynor, our other young tight end, for 18 yards and a 17-0 lead. The Fury finally found some room and their first visit to our half of the field put them in a 36-yard field goal situation to make it 17-3. Short drives followed, until the two-minute warning came and Moe Sheldon missed Theodore Bondy, instead tossing pick that got returned 60-yards for a touchdown and a 17-10 score. Anchored by a 33-yard Sheldon to Bondy pass, we eventually got into field goal range and Mark Giles kicked the 44-yarder for a 20-10 half time score as the clock ran out.

The Fury's second strong drive gave them a 41-yard field goal to bring it back to a one-score lead for us (20-13). But Sheldon kept finding his tight ends for big plays, this time Clay Gaynor for 34 yards soon after followed by Reggie Thongchanh' pounding it in for the 27-13 lead. Bend but don't break was up next for our defense and Francisco Patter responded with a 19-yard run to set up a punt that got marked out of bounds at their 2-yard line.

Our defense kept winning the field position battle for us, although Reggie Thongchanh's 16-yard punt return was crucial to start a drive in field goal range. Francisco Patter's 10-yard run was sufficient to make it a shorter kick and Mark Giles converted the 42-yarder for a 30-13 lead. With the Fury feeling the need to go for it, they turned into a very one-sided game plan, throwing every single ball to Sammy de la Rosa. It worked initially as he made 18-yard and 37-yard receptions, but once deep inside our red zone, they decided to go for it on fourth down and as Brandon Brady deflected a pass intended for De la Rosa, We got the ball back without giving up points. Moe Sheldon found Theodore Bondy for a massive third down conversion for 17 yards, then the running backs Thongchanh and Patter alternated solid runs to move the chains. After burning their time outs, we kicked a 39-yard field goal for a 33-13 lead. The Fury brushed away Tony Whiting's 15-yard sack with a bonkers 31-yard pass on third and 20, but time ran out to do anything about our 33-13 lead anymore.

All things considered, a solid victory. We outgained them 411-277, lost the turnover battle 1-0 (their only touchdown), clearly dominating them. Sheldon threw for 264 yards, having 5 receivers with 40+ yards, with Bondy leading them with 66 yards. Patter (74 yards) and Thongchanh (62 yards) were back as a decent tandem. Pass rush was decent (3 sacks, 7 hurries, 2 blocked passes), pass defense quite solid (7 defended passes).

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

I honestly can't explain why Paris has tie-breakers over Bordeaux, I suppose it's common games one way or another. Paris will be our next opponent and it will be yet another big test to see how for real we are. We're currently sitting in the virtual #2 spot. The Southeast division has collectively improved to 5-2 or better, the Northeast division leader has dropped to 2-4. This continues to be an awkward season in the AOC.