[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Ashley joins the win column
Futility Bowl is ours!

This game went well, no doubt. The Toronto Lake Monsters visited Oranje Haven and after shortly into the second quarter they already knew today wasn't going to be for them. In contrast with our rookie quarterback Earnest Ashley, he guided the Merchantmen to a 34-14 victory. Ashley completed 23 of 36 passes for 245 yards and 4 touchdowns, without turnovers. He spread the ball around well, Theo Bondy and Clay Gaynor each lead the team with just 6 catches, while speedy Ed Schulz gained the most ground with 86 yards on 3 catches. The tight ends Gaynor (twice) and Gore (once) made the catches in the end zone on the first three drives to get to the smooth 32-7 lead.

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

Yeah, despite today's win, this was one of two games that will be meaningless for the tie-breakers inside the division. It will be much more important if we somehow get into the wild card race, but that's too much to ask for at the moment, this was just the first win of the season after three attempts.

After all, we've played well, but this is just 1 win for now. It's far too early to get overly enthusiastic.

Next up a home game against the San Antonio Tidal Force. A matchup between two rookie quarterbacks, as San Antonio picked Johnathan Freeman #1 overall this past draft. Freeman is already tagged a bust, despite being so young and with plenty of potential still. They are the only two rookie quarterbacks with a starting role, Brooklyn's #8 overall Ramon Patterson is backing up Brooklyn's own Jekyll and Hyde, Ross Grinnell, while second round picks Evan Drake (Arizona) and Grayson Devine (Outer Banks) underwhelmed in pre-season and might already be written off by their respective team owners. With no emerging rookie running backs and wide receivers, they're currently the front runners in the offensive rookie of the year race, by lack of better other candidates.

Again, we're only in week 3. 13 regular season games still to come and hopefully 3 or 4 in the post-season. But the latter is nothing to start thinking about, we'll have to focus on the next home game first.