[MIJB#19]

Maassluis versus Chesapeake recap
The Chitterlings were warned and today they learned the hard way how amazing the Merchantmen can be against their stronger opponents. The score and stats make you think the game was close, but at half time, the 14-0 lead tells you all there needs to tell. The Merchantmen pulled the biggest upset of the week with a 17-10 victory on the road.

Looking at the game stats, you see similair rushing totals (Chesapeake 86, Maassluis 84), similair passing totals (Chesapeake 263, Maassluis 237) and sack and interceptions totals look similiar as well. Even the first downs totals (Chesapeake 21, Maassluis 19) and time of possession (Maassluis 31 minutes) make you think the game was close.

The Chitterlings were taught a lesson in third down efficiency, but also setting up covertable third downs. The Merchantmen had 6 yards to go, compared to Chesapeake's 13 and all of sudden you understand why Maassluis converted 53% and Chesapeake only 31% of third down plays. Question then arises, why did Chesapeake have to make up 7 yards more?

First, there's an intersting figure on penalties. Over the lenght of the game, the Chitterlings were penalized 10 times versus 1 time and had to give up 70 yards more. devide it by the total number of plays (roughly 70 on both offense and defense) and you give up half a yard on every play of the game. Add three turnover compared to one and you have your reasons.

Or was it? Let's recap some of the drives. First drive of the game, the Merchantmen slowly advance into the Chesapeake red zone, fake a field goal and lose possession. Two penalties push the Chitterlings back to their own four yard line and the eventual punt is caught at the 41. Maassluis has a big 32-yard pass and Gregory Monti scores on a short pass from Leonard Lyon.

On their second possession, the Chitterlings get flashbacks. Three penalties draw them back and on third and fourty from their own three, they advance six yards, punt and Lyon immediatly respons with shortening the 43 yard distance to 21 on a 22-yard pass to Jim Reiser. On two of the next four plays, Lyon and Reiser fumble, but team mates save the day and Randy Harris scores a rushing touchdown.

The following drive, Chesapeake fails once again and, as Maassluis marches into Chesapeake's red zone again, with beatiful 23-yard and 180yard passes to Bryce Ewald and Harris, Lyon makes a mistake and his pass is intercepted at Chesapeake's six yard line. Of course, Chesapeake is drawn back again, a 63-yard punt get the ball far away from their endzone. But the half ends shortly after.

On the first drive of the second half, Chesapeake strarts moving, but they are stopped at the Maassluis 39 yard line. Deangelo Royston attempts the 56-yard field goal, but misses. A three-and-out later, Jamie Canter marches his men forward in no time. Then, a great 16-yard rush from Phillip Hough is nullified on a holding penalty and before Canter realises what happened, He tosses an interception.

The guy who pulled the stunt was a familiar face. Ellsworth Thelen played for Astoria Heroes last season, but never had an impact against division rivals Chesapeake. Thelen started running and returned it to the line of scrimmage. The Merchantmen offense failed on the next drive, but the tome was set, this game was in the pocket, no matter what Canter would try in the coming drives.

As expected, the Chitterlings were forced to punt and the Merchantmen took advantage with Lyon completing a set of passes to rookie Lonnie O'Reilley to eventually set up a 31-yard field goal for a 17-0 lead. Canter seemed to get the control back, starting the next drive with a 12-yard pass to David Marquis, but on the next play he got sacked, fumbled and Maassluis got the ball at the 28.

The Merchantmen failed to take advantage of the mistake, Cary Coles missed a 36-yard kick and the Chitterlings tried to get back into the game. Canter set up a fast drive, but when Hough fumbled and possession was lost again, even the most optimistic Chitterlings' fans must have given up. Lucky for them, the Merchantmen gave the ball back on a punt, and Canter was given the opportunity to avoid a shutout.

Jamie Canter looked more focuses and completed pass after pass. On a magnificent drive, he completed eight of nine passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, scored by Darrell Spears. The onside kick failed, but possession came back with a minute left. Canter tried to copy the stunt and the game ended when Albert Bernardo first pressured Canter on third down and on fourth he blocked a pass to end the game.

The Merchantmen defensive line was the unit that got most of the credit, despite Leonard Lyon's MVP honors. The fearsome pass rush broke up 16 of 46 passing plays and had their share in the heavy pressure on Chesapeake with their back against their own end zone. As a unit they took advantage of the weakened offensive line and Jamie Canter's passing excellence looked invisible in the first half.

Sure, the Merchantmen got lucky at times, but with the big 17-0 lead, all they had to do was avoid big plays and wait for the Chitterlings offense to make a mistake, and they did at least twice. Amazingly, an Astoria Heroes loss elsewhere ment a little party afterall for he Chitterlings as they did clinch the division title. The second seed spot in the NAC is in jeopardy, but this looked like a fluke.

In the meanwhile, the Merchantmen go home at 6-7 and have three home games left to try to end up as a winning team or at least at .500 percent at 8-8. Winning record or not, the earlier set goal of winning 6 games all season has been reached and the victory makes the Merchantmen 3-1 against teams in a playoff spots. Until next week, when the two-time European Champions from Bordeaux come to town.