[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Optimism, pessimism, we're all over the place
At least we're still in the lead.

Gothenburg, our most disliked division rival. Our ancient fans remember the day Justin McDavid's career came to a halt on the terrible turf of the Palace of Ice and Frost. And then there was that game where we choked a 21-point lead in less than 10 minutes. It's just two games from 50+ seasons ago, but we still remember. At the same time, last season the Giants snapped our 6-game winning streak in their place. Ellis McAlister learned to love leading us there.

It was Brandon Bell's first visit and in the first drive of the game, it was a familiar sight: he was throwing the ball all over the place to lead us to a touchdown. In particular a triplet of completions to Theodore Bondy was very encouraging. The Giants needed just three plays to pound back on a 35-yard run from Jack Crane. Their next drive was cut short by penalties, but the 32-yard field goal was enough for the Giants' 10-7 lead.

The second quarter saw the defenses get stronger, as both teams got stopped after a handful of plays. We got into their turf as Theodore Bondy turned Brandon Bell's screen pass into a 30-yard gain. Francisco Patter followed up with 13 and 14-yard gains, to set up Bell's scramble for a 1-yard touchdown. Leading 14-10, Kirk Hitchcock accounted for the first turnover of the game. Only to see Brandon Bell return the favor four plays later in the Giants' redzone. With three minutes remaining, the ensuing drive also ended with a pick in Giants' territory, Courtney Blackwell made the play. After the two-minute warning and our punt, we gave up an 80-yard touchdown pass from Mercury Pierce to Frederick Wight to give them a 16-14 lead at half time as they missed their extra point.

The Giants drove downfield on their first drive of the second half, but linebacker Moe Iveans prevented a touchdown pass by picking the ball off at our 1-yard line. After two risky 0 yard runs from Reggie Thongchanh, Brandon Bell found Theodore Bondy for the 11-yard first down catch. Bell did it again on third and one to Bondy and a 19-yard pass to Ronnie Hammond brought us within field goal range. Braxton Szporluk got his rare third and long carry to extend the drive and as Bell found Branden Sandlin for 18 yards, we were only 3 yards shy. Their goalline stand was strong and we settled for a 20-yard field goal, yet taking the 17-16 lead.

We stopped them on their first drive in the fourth quarter, but got pushed back to our own 20-yard line. Brandon Bell got strip-sacked, but possession was saved by All-IHOF right tackle Howard Humphrey. On third and long, Bell got his payback with a 27-yard pass to Theodore Bondy. On third and eight, it was Bondy again as the receiver, this time for 15 yards. On third and six, Branden Sandlin came short, followed by a bad hold from Bell to see Emmett Wells miss a 45-yard field goal. Still leading 17-16, we had to not just stop them, but really keep them from reaching field goal range as well. After three and out by our defense, things were feeling pretty good. On our next drive, Reggie Thongchanh converted three and one with a trick play, although just barely. We ended up punting three plays later, but the defense was strong again with a three and out. Instead of running out the clock, we decided to throw, or rather, hope to do that. Brandon Bell was hurried on three consecutive plays, twice by our former All-IHOF defensive tackle Heath Oliver.

By the time of the two-minute warning, the Giants had reached our 44-yard line and on third and 2, Mercury Pierce found Frederick Wight for 13 yards. A sack couldn't avoid their 43-yard field goal attempt, that got converted for the 19-17 lead for the Giants. With 32 seconds to go, it was a tough task, but starting at our 25-yard line and with 3 time outs in hand, not impossible. First attempt, Brandon Bell's pass got batted down by the front seven. Second and ten, the obvious choice to throw to Theodore Bondy, but a safety got in between to break up the play. Third down, Bondy gets open, but fails to make the catch. Fourth down, Bell fails to see an open receiver and goes for a scramble that ends up way short. With 6 seconds remaining, all our time outs remain unused, they can go into victory formation for the 19-17 win.

A disappointing result of what felt like a game where we had control, took advantage of the three interceptions and really were a non-shanked field goal or not giving up an 80-yard play away from pretty much eliminating the Giants in what now is a three-horse race. Three, as the Paris Musketeers pulled off an ugly but effective 33-13 victory over the Bordeaux Vineyards.

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

With these standings, we really can't afford any more hiccups. The week 17 clash in our place against the Musketeers could end up being a winner takes all, but we can't rule out the Giants just yet. That week 17 clash does mean we can potentially come back from 1 win behind, but that not something we can bank on, we have to get back into the swing we had going for us.

Brandon Bell today completed 24 of 40 passes for 257 yards, with 1 interception and saved fumble on his only sack taken, with his only touchdown that 5-yard scramble. Theodore Bondy was his old self with 12 catches for 172 yards. Francisco Patter ran for 70 yards and a touchdown, despite that our running game struggled today.

No time to mourn, we're going back home to host the Brooklyn Fightin' Bums. In this season, we have no opponents that we can afford to underestimate, because even a 3-7 team like the Bums will likely claim they have the superior roster. Surely, we'll disagree here, but the neutral football scout will probably agree with them. It's up to us to prove them wrong and extend our winning streak at home to 7 games, dating back to week 12 of last season, basically a full season away.

I'm all for it, so let's regroup and make it happen, team.