[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: And then there were four... including us!
We're still going strong!

Boy, oh boy. The Orlando Tallons were quite the test. In fact, we were down on our backs, but somehow recovered late in the fourth quarter to overcome an 11-point deficit, to force overtime and, lo and behold, pull of the upset!

In the first quarter, we had no defense to Orlando's first drive, but responded with the Blazewicz special for a 60-yard gain and saw Leo Belin run it in for a 2-play touchdown drive, only to see our kicker shank the tying kick. Orlando scored another touchdown on their second possession, which were the last points put on the board for the first 15 minutes.

We started the second quarter inside Tallons turf and settled for a field goal to make it 14-9 for Orlando. A goal line stand forced them to go for 3 points, which started another period of defensive supremacy. With the two-minute warning called, we drove downfield, but not efficiently enough to get in the end zone. Still, with a time expiring field goal, we trimmed it to 17-12 at the big break.

Our first possession in the second half didn't go so well. A screen pass from McAlister got picked off near midfield and after the return, we would have been happy to hold them to three, which we failed to do. Down by 12, Theo Bondy had one of his awesome plays where he turned a short pass into a 27 yard gain, shortly after followed by tight end Jessie Taylor going into the endzone from 32 yards out. We stopped Orlando, but found ourselves at our own 8-yard line and after three and out were just happy to pin them back to their own 32-yard line. Jerald Harrison found his receivers Giles and Fields for big gains and once again we were happy to hold them to a field goal, meaning we were trailing 27-19 at the end of the third quarter.

After another short drive, we were struggling against the Tallons' time draining drive that ended up in a 44-yard field goal, meaning an 11-point deficit. On a time draining drive of our own, we had to settle for a 43-yard field goal, with less than 4 minutes remaining. A quick three and out and with one time out used, we were back at our own 25 yard-line with 2:22 remaining. Theo Bondy got the first two big catches for first downs and then with still 84 seconds to go, McAlister completed another Blazewicz special into the endzone. Still down 2 points, we went for the obvious and McAlister somehow found Theo Bondy to tie it up 30-30. Orlando tried, as did we, to thrown to get into field goal range, but both teams got three-and-outed, summoning over time.

We got the ball first and despite that we didn't get all that far, McAlister's scramble was just enough to give Doug Gynes a chances to pin Orlando deep, and we did, all the way to their 1-yard line. After two short runs, our pass rush broke their pass play and a short punt later, we were inside Orlando territory. McAlister found Bondy on back-to-back plays to get into field goal range with a fresh set of downs. Monty Digler shortened the distance, Leo Belin (to my surprise) got the third and short carry and got stuffed deep, but 46 yards proved to be no problem for Thomas Robertson: Merchantmen win! 33-30 in overtime, what a heartbreaker for the Orlando fans, thinking their team was ready to avenge the AOC Championship game loss last season, only to see them trip over one hurdle earlier. Their last bowl appearance and victory remains to be from the 2018 season.

Merchantmen fans were ecstatic across the pond. Ellis McAlister finally got the monkey off his back for not being able to win in the playoffs and now he's finally a true Merchantmen franchise quarterback as he guided his team to the AOC Championship game. Obviously, like the fans, McAlister now wants to prove he can win the conference and get his team to the IHOF Bowl. And the fans have one simple message to McAlister, throw it to Theo, often and well enough for him to be able to catch it. The game plan will be balanced enough to keep the opponent from focusing everything on Bondy. The running game has been solid and Artie Blazewicz has proven to be a dangerous player when he gets room to get downfield.

Flannery, Harrison, McGee, Chow, Lowe, Hickman, Morris and now McAlister. Of all these names, just McGee, Lowe (twice) and Hickman got the Merchantmen into the bowl game, freakishly enough the hall of famers failed at that. For Ellis McAlister, a hall of fame career was pretty much a non issue after sitting out the first five seasons of his career. Getting that championship ring will be that much sweeter after having already seen from the bench how to lose at this stage.

So yes, fans and readers, we're closing in on living up to the hype. We're in the playoffs, deep into it now, where regular season losses no longer count. The AOC Championship game will be contested between the number three and four seeds. All that matters for us, we're one step closer. One game at a time, the North Plainfield Plague are no pushovers, we'll have to bring our A game once again to win our 5th AOC Championship.

Let's go Merchantmen!