[MIJB#19]

Bell leads Merchantmen to solid season start
Brandon Bell began with a big bang, the Maassluis Merchantmen beat the reigning conference champions Gothenburg Giants 28-14 in Oranje Haven. Bell earned his first game MVP honors in a solid showing. Especially the connection with another off-season acquisition, Ronnie Hammond worked surprisingly well. The 2089 season has started well for the Merchantmen.

For days it was the biggest question in and around Oranje Haven: who would be the starting quarterback for the Merchantmen? Fans were split on the issue. Some felt Moe Sheldon deserved the credits after an acceptable 2088 campaign. Other felt the first round pick Brandon Bell should be thrown out there, regardless of what happened in pre-season. And then there were the fans that saw a near perfect Francisco Farley in the last pre-season game almost single-handedly beat the Arizona Miners. Merchantmen management released their depth chart two days before game day. It turned out it wasn't a diversion tactic, but the actual lineup: Bell the opening day starter.

Brandon Bell steps in the footsteps of big names. Five times before Bell, a rookie was the opening day starter. In 2004 through 2006, three different names got their moments of fame. 2004 starter Calvin Snider's spotlight lasted one game, 2005 rookie Leonard Lyon's a full season. Louie Flannery got the nod in 2006 and was the first one to become a franchise quarterback, The first Merchantmen quarterback to get elected into the IHOF's Solecismic Hall of Fame. In 2020 and 2045 number one overall picks "Rusty" Harrison and Bryson Chow got the confidence of Merchantmen management and both responded with a Hall of Fame career as well. Their careers pretty much followed up. Merchantmen fans got spoiled with self-grown quarterbacks, albeit without that big win.

And then it was a different story. Quarterbacks came and went. 9 quarterbacks were drafted in between, in 2071 Robbie Howe was the #19 overall pick, but he was unable to unseat IHOF Bowl winner Alfred Hickman. Howe was the only first round pick between Chow and now. Howe's stint in Maassluis lasted 4 seasons, only the final one as a starter. Now, in 2089, 44 seasons after Chow, there's finally a new rookie quarterback that received the confidence from management.

But one thing turned out to be very different. Snider, Lyon, Flannery, Harrison and Chow, all had to live with losing their first start for the Merchantmen. But Brandon Bell showed no mercy with the Gothenburg Giants defense. Bell used his arm, his legs and his head. The Merchantmen offense put a solid game of football on the grass, but Bell was the quarterback the Merchantmen fans had been hoping for to see. Yes, Ellis McAlister got them deep into the playoffs, but after last season's disaster, the spoiled fans want more than just a 9-7 record.

Superlatives were too little. Bell completed 24 of 32 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown, while running 5 times for 24 yards with several crucial first downs. Especially under pressure, Bell excelled and kept connecting with primarily Ronnie Hammond for first downs. By the time the third quarter was about to end, the Merchantmen had a 28-7 lead, with a missed field goal on both ends.

Sure, the Merchantmen defense was quite okay, holding the Giants under 300 total yards. Especially starting quarterback Kenny Reese was pounded out of the game. On the first drive of the third quarter, Reese was sacked on third and five, getting thrown on his back for the third time and subsequently got pulled from the game. Fourth round rookie Mercury Pierce played admirably well in relief, but it was far from sufficient to orchestrate a comeback.

Merchantmen management i optimistic about the result, but also realistic and trying to temper the expectations for the near future. "Rebuilding" isn't part of their vocabular, but it's way too early to think this will be the great revival. A good, strong start after such a disappointing season.

In the mean time, the 37-year old quarterbacks Ellis McAlister and Tre Lynn had to watch this game on television, both still being a free agent after a long off-season without any phone calls for a new opportunity. After 19 consecutive clashes against each other in this division rivalry, which ended last season with McAlister's departure, today both franchises hope to have seen their new longterm starters in action in their respective encouraging debuts.