Types can't put down Ghosts

Boulder used an interception and bad punt to score in the first half, then after Casper took over and gained a two-touchdown lead, Boulder had two lightning drives, five plays each, to rally and tie the game before the end of regulation. In overtime, though, Casper dominated the way they really did statiscally the game overall, moving the ball much more effectively and finally getting the winning score, a 2-yard run by running back Rip Yanuwan.

Just like in their regular season meeting, Casper quarterback Peter Andy Wolff upstaged Boulder QB Pierre Pressure, who was the leading passer in the league much of the season. On Casper's second drive of the game, Wolff ran on six of the seven plays for 99 yards, including a 41-yarder and the 1-yard TD. And Casper RB Jock Kitsch added his usual workhorse performance of 82 yards rushing and 50 receiving. Tight end Phil Ashio had 6 catches for 77 yards and a TD. Boulder, with TE Bud Wipe and wide receiver Donald DeDedd, was held to 115 yards passing, though DeDedd had two TD catches.

The Casper win gives them a home playoff game, since their regualr season record was better than Central West Division winner Oklahoma, their opponent in the next round.

Wounded Natives manage to beat injured Monroes

Columbus and Maryland led the Eastern Conference and their division much of the season. Then Maryland lost starting QB Jethro Upp and Columbus lost starting TE Phil Awful and each team lost its division lead. They had still put up records good enough for the playoffs, but their meeting in this wildcard game threatened to be a clumsy affair, as their offenses sputtered after the key injuries. It proved to be the lowest scoring game in playoff history.

It didn't start that way. The first play from scrimmage was a 23-yard pass from Columbus QB Bug Zappa to WR Hugh Hoo, and the Natives rolled down the field, finishing off the 73 yards in five plays. Zappa scored on a four-yard run. Columbus was the favorite, especially as the Monroes had lost their starting QB, and backup Rich Landoner was nothing like the play action threat.

It was the only score of the game. There was only one field goal attempt, by Columbus in the third quarter. Maryland drove to the Natives' four-yard line once, then lost yards and turned over on downs. Columbus drove to the Maryland six in the last minute, then also turned it over on downs. The Natives held Landoner to 152 yards passing, but Zappa passed for only two yards more, 154. Zappa did rush for 40 yards and the score. Rath was the leading rusher and Columbus WR Gunther Pott had 9 catches for 85 yards. The Monroes had 63 total rushing yards, though RB Leveon Rose had two catches for 59 yards.

Maryland was that close to the chance of getting Upp back for the next game, which would have really changed the complexion of the playoffs. Columbus must now travel to Manhattan for a rematch with the tema they lost the divsion to, and who whipped them 38-13 after they lost Awful.