Date Posted:20:11:03 09/28/04 Tue Author: Jimmy Author Host/IP: 68.107.97.246 Subject: Week 9
[editors note]{lost my ISP last week… good thing… think we woulda been skunked} There is a redistribution of power in the FIFL for the 2006 season. It resides in the AFC, especially the Gulf Division. Leading the surge to forefront of the league is Mississippi. The Firedogs DOMINATE this league to date. It appears the 4 playoff teams are already set in the AFC – 3 from the GULF Division and the ever resilient Dayton Flyers from the Eastern Division. The NFC is up for grabs.
QB Craig Strickland (9 TDs/2111 yds) vs. Billings pass D
HB Rickey Blake (649 yds/8 TDs) vs. LB Bart Barnard (53 Tackles)
DE Franklin Thomas (11 sacks) vs. T Eglelagi Clarke
WR Robert Garth (52 rec/721 yds/3 TDs) vs. CB LeRoi Jones (2 INTs)
HB Wesley Cates (730 yds/5 TDs) vs. Colorado run D (3.4 rush avg)
prediction:
Billings 20, Colorado 26
The Thunderbolts pulled out a “Mr. Freeze” bolt last week to shock the Fargo Freeze. Impressive. HB1 Cates had some help last week. FB1 Brain Easter [subbing for the injured Michael Cosey] threw his bonnet into the fray: 7/37, 5.3 avg, 1 TD. That’s a promising combo for the future. Even more shocking is, how did this defense hold ANY FIFL team to 19 total rushing yards for a game? Get out to a 24-3 1st half lead, that’s how! “Billings's QB1 #1 Monte Christo gives to HB1 #22 Wesley Cates. Cates runs for a gain of almost 54 yards. Touchdown, Billings!” That was Run left against Fargo's run outside audible from Pass medium. The defense saw it coming, and still couldn’t stop it. The Wildcats fell victim to the Lightning in the game well documented on the front page. DE Franklin Thomas (11 sacks) leads the league in sacks… seems we have had quite the changing of the guard in that stat for 2 seasons running now. WR Robert Garth (52 rec/721 yds/3 TDs) ranks 4th in the league. Colorado looks so perfect… nice to see that the FIFL humbles all, regardless of their look ‘on paper.’ This week they will play truer to form. Make the Call? BIL 19, COL 27. Playtime is over for the Widcats.
QB Jay McDonagh (12 TDs/2189 yds) vs. Portland pass D
WR Pascal Volz (44 rec/665 yds/1 TDs) vs. CB Pat McGuirk
prediction:
Wichita 20, Portland 22
The Warlords absorbed their 3 obligatory defeats so far. The rest of the with teams with but 2 losses so far will get theirs… THIS IS THE FIFL [?XFL? geauwd, is that McMahon guy effective? Or what?] Their fate now rests on how well they perform in the tough part of their schedule. Was it their own doing that pit bro vs bro in the same division? Regardless, that’s what we get this week. The Prowlers taking the ‘P’ out of Portland this season… NOT good. Can’t see it any other way. Make the Call? WCH 17, POR 20.
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Fargo (5-3) at Lincoln (2-6)
QB John Fourcade (7 TDs/2042 yds) vs. Fargo pass D
WR Barry Wagner (48 rec/611 yds/1 TDs) vs. CB Milton Vaughn
QB Kurt Warner (10 TDs/2101 yds) vs. Lincoln pass D
DE Terrence Simmons (10 sacks) vs. T Anaslow McMillion
WR Alfonzo Browning (42 rec/566 yds/0 TDs) vs. CB Corey Stewart
prediction:
Fargo 21, Lincoln 22
The Freeze looked horrible last week… and the numbers are starting to bear out their poor performance. QB Kurt Warner still the #1 ranked in the league… yet offense barely scores enough to keep pace with defense. The Lightning starting to come on. Much better than it looks now last week. Make the call? FGO 19, LIN 24.
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Honolulu (4-3-1) at Springfield (4-4)
QB Wilkie Perez (9 TDs/2069 yds) vs. Honolulu pass D
HB Brian Edmonds (618 yds/5 TDs) vs. LB Kareem Sears (47 Tackles)
QB Mike Perez (11 TDs/2142 yds) vs. Springfield pass D
DT Alan Donnell (9 sacks) vs. G Derrick Jinks
WR Tyrone Jones (47 rec/591 yds/1 TDs) vs. CB Dennison Robinson
prediction:
Honolulu 19, Springfield 23
The Hurricanes glacially showing signs of defensive improvement… but are they chasing a myth? Granted, strong defence is desirable, but… The Slayers have only lost to 2 teams this season… unfortunately, both teams lead them in their conference… GOTTA win those division games! Here’s a chance for Springfield to even its’ conference record… don’t be against it. Make the call? HON 21, SPR 24.
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Mississippi (6-2) at Black Hills (3-5)
QB Michael Proctor (12 TDs/2189 yds) vs. S Hassan Probherbs (3 INTs)
HB Raphael Cooper (541 yds/6 TDs) vs. Mississippi run D (2.3 rush avg)
TE Eric Alford (50 rec/608 yds/2 TDs) vs. LB Rodney Jiles
WR Jo Jo Justice (47 rec/574 yds/4 TDs) vs. CB Jimmy Lamour
TE Chinedu Achebe (48 rec/529 yds/1 TDs) vs. LB Marc Kimnach
prediction:
Mississippi 21, Black Hills 22
The Firedogs rule the league. Y’all ain’t getting’ squat on the ground vs this squad… and not much else passing. Looking for a defense that will win championships? Here it is. The Machine on a slow rebound cycle. We never believed they are as bad as their record. Make the Call? MIS 10, BLK 17.
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St Louis (4-4) at Mobile (1-7)
WR Bernard Edwards (50 rec/703 yds/2 TDs) vs. CB Tracey Perkins
TE Rufus Bess (37 rec/452 yds/3 TDs) vs. LB Garry Howe
prediction:
St Louis 21, Mobile 19
The Renegades, contrary to management opinion, have arrived. Their defense is one of the best in the league… shutouts are next to impossible to achieve. Couple that with a rushing attack (HB1 Glen Vereen 30/160, 2 TDs [Geeperz, glad we picked him up off the scrap heap{thank you, thank you very much}] Mobile has snowball’s chance in hell this week. Make the Call? STL 21, MOB 17.
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Dayton (6-2) at Austin (5-3)
WR Mercury Hayes (63 rec/775 yds/6 TDs) vs. CB Wayne Williams
HB Rashaan Dumas (571 yds/6 TDs) vs. LB Jon Eberspach (50 Tackles)
prediction:
Dayton 21, Austin 23
GM Ian made the transition to the AFC work in short order. He needed only 1 season to place his pesky team in the midst of another play off chase. The Flyers benefit from the weakest schedule in the league so far… but they are making it stand up. NICE trade to fill their injury hole at WR. GM Miguel is the best at slight-of-hand dealing in the league… just when you think you get over on him, oopsey! Just another of the myriad reasons the Dayton Flyers fly higher than most teams year in and year out. This game will be interesting: Dayton has yet to win VS a .500 team or better this season. Make the Call? DAY 21 AUS 22.
Fort Wayne (3-5) at Madison (3-5)
WR Larry Ray Willis (47 rec/615 yds/1 TDs) vs. CB Mike Morris (2 INTs)
prediction:
Fort Wayne 18, Madison 22
Dudes, a QB experiment that results in a shutout? NOT cool. Mad Dogs bail on this season. Make the call? FWS 19, MAD 18.
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Louisiana (6-2) at Steel Valley (2-6)
WR Calvin Schexnayder (71 rec/1031 yds/5 TDs) vs. CB Quincy Sorrell (1 INT)
HB Rayshawn Askew (612 yds/3 TDs) vs. Steel Valley run D (2.8 rush avg)
TE Michael Montoya (50 rec/756 yds/7 TDs) vs. LB Johnny Shepherd
Week 9