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May 30, 2009
Playoffs
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Jersies Rule ProjectsIn a curious turn, the defending league champs' victory over their arch-rival was both an overturning and a status quo: Manhattan won the division and the top seed in the East while the New Jersies had to squeak into the playoffs as a wildcard and win an extra game to get here; but despite playing at Manhattan as the upstart, the Jersies are defending their league title and they continue Manhattan's long playoff jinx, spanning QB Lance Boils's career. In their regular season meeting, the Projects won with their staunch defensive play, nullifying all-everything TE Bud Ugly most remarkably. This time they were caught in their own noose, as their defensive concentration backfired and Ugly broke out. New Jersies QB Upton O'Good also found WR Shelby Cummin-Roundemounten more often, 7 times for 81 yards and a TD, which helped open up for Ugly, and had a blistering 26 completions of 35 attempts for 276 yards and 2 TDs. RB Juan Moorehead also helped out with 76 yards and a TD rushing. Manhattan's Boils was held to just 198 yards passing, with an interception, and 31 yards rushing. The Jersies will have to travel again for the Eastern final, but if they win that, they will get a home Hyperbowl. |
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Attractions Divert ChoochoosThe Maine Attractions lived up to expectations for at least this playoff match, Chattanooga given the least chance of any team at this stage. While the Choochoos turned around their recent fortune by stealing the Southeastern Division from Orlando on the last week, Maine has been trying to live up to their potential as the East's best team the last few years. There was no question in this contest. It was all Maine, and mostly all QB Jock Rash. Rash spread the passing around so that Chattanooga couldn't concentrate on WR Lou Screws, the younger WR Cole Esterhal getting 81 yards in receptions to Screws's 75. And when he wasn't passing, Rash was running, the game leader there. Veteran RB Xavier Breath, who is hoping for a Hyperbowl before he retires, scored the first two touchdowns of the game, on runs of 4 and 1 yards, despite only 29 yards rushing for the game. The Choochoos' only TD came on a blocked punt, while K Larson E. Charges was able to get them on the board despite the distance from the end zone: he had field goals of 51 and 54 yards. Maine will host the Eastern final against defending league champion New Jersies. |
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Linemen Dizzy RednecksWichita nearly went undefeated, but had several close calls, including the loss to Monterey, whom Tucson beat to arrive at this match. Despite the the challenge Tucson posed, and Wichita's tendency for close calls, the Linemen lived up -- exploded -- to the prospect of being the league's best team. The explosion came in the second half, particularly the fourth quarter, where Wichita turned a grave risk by Tucson into a second touchdown in two minutes. Tucson scored all but 7 of their points in the 4th, too, but it was just face-saving catch-up ath that point. Wichita QB and West MVP Payne Indiass passed for 302 yards, and while league-leading receiver DeFlore was the main target, Veteran WR Ringo Fire also had 106 yards and a TD. Rookie RB Milo Rider, who was the piece Wichita needed to become league class, rushed for 61 yards and a TD. Tucson's dangerous youth squad, RB Dick Burns and rookie WR Avery Cunningham, were just not enough to contend with the Linemen, though they led the effort with 67 yards rushing and 71 receiving, respectively. Wichita will host the Western final, their fifth conference championship appearance and first since 2004. |
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Ghosts Elude DevilsThe Casper Ghosts had all their firepower stymied, QB Peter Andy Woolf, league-leading rusher Jock Kitsch, WR I.B. Long, while Los Angeles All-West WR Kenny Lingis was about the only offensive force in the game. For three and a half quarters, Casper played poorly enough or the Devils well enough, to send this team bulging with talent out of the playoffs immediately for the third straight year. But with about 7 minutes to go, the Ghosts pulled off a 10-play, 47-yard drive, boosted by a 29-yard Long punt return. The big play was an 18-yard pass from Woolf to backup WR Owen Detts. But it was Long who caught the 10-yard TD pass. Lingis wasn't finished doing damage, with an 18-yard catch that moved L.A. to the Casper 30-yard-line on the following drive, but time expired, and the Ghosts managed to make it out of their first playoff game. Woolf and L.A. QB Hugh Wish each threw for 173 yards. Kitsch was held to 40 yards rushing, and had 1 catch for 30 yards. Long had only 3 catches for 25 yards and the TD. Casper heads to their first Western final since 2003. |
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