[MIJB#19]

2081 week 2: Merchantmen pick off Red Menace
When the Frederick Red Menace took the plane to Maassluis, the figured throwing the ball a lot was a good idea. Think again, pals. It proved to be a horrible mistake. The Merchantmen defense knew their way with the commies' quarterback Alvin Mills, picking him off 5 times, sacking him 4 times, hurrying him 5 times, blocking 6 pass attempts and deflecting 7 passes. The kid was pulled in the fourth quarter with a 8.6 passers-by rating.

The Merchantmen offense struggled to punt points on the board though, attempting a field goal 7 times, 5 of those bring shorter than 40 yards. But with the supreme defense, they didn't need it. Walt Blair ran for 112 yards on 28 carries, while Ellis McAlister threw for 265 yards, 2 touchdowns and a couple of picks to give the visitors a fighting chance. Dennis Nadell recovered with 9 catches for 117 yards and a score.

Elsewhere in the league, the Paris Musketeers rolled on, beating the Williamsburg Colonials 47-34. The Bordeaux Vineyards recovered with a 17-10 victory at the Brooklyn Fightin' Bums. The Gothenburg Giants dropped hard, 49-30 at the Chesapeake Chitterlings.

Division standings:
1 Paris 2-0
2. Maassluis 2-0
3. Bordeaux 1-1
4. Gothenburg 0-2

Next up
Paris visits 2-0 league champions Tucker Tigers, Bordeaux visits the 1-1 Jerald Harrison lead Orlando Talons, Gothenburg hosts the 1-1 Fort Wayne Fury and the Merchantmen will host the 1-1 Atlanta Vipers.