AFLL Week in Review (Week 16)
Beowulf 30 at ELITE 58
GAME STORY: Beowulf (9-7) may be heading to the playoffs, but Elite (7-9) sent one final message to the Walter Camp Division champs. Be ready for next season. Elite QB JOHN ELWAY put on a clinic throwing for 503 yards and six touchdowns and his Denver Bronco teammate RB TERRELL DAVIS rushed 25 times for 66 yards and a touchdown. Beowulf QB BART STARR didn’t throw any interceptions in his 555-yard, three touchdown performance but fumbled four times. TE DAVE CASPER led the way with 16 receptions, 278 yards and a touchdown for the losing side.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Beowulf DB CLIFF HARRIS is the 2022 AFLL tackles leader with 213, 38 more than MEL RENFRO. RB ERIC METCALF finished second in rushing touchdowns with 12.
Valhalla 30 at THROWBACKS 33
GAME STORY: Two non-playoff teams closed out the regular season with the Throwbacks (7-9) thrilling the home crowd with a comeback victory. Throwbacks QB TERRY BRADSHAW passed for 353 yards and three touchdowns, and he spread those around with DB KENNY EASLEY, RB BARRY SANDERS and WR LANCE ALWORTH each grabbing one major. Valhalla (3-13) QB MICHAEL VICK went for 480 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. His favourite target was WR GARY CLARK who had a team leading seven receptions and 244 yards plus one touchdown.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Throwbacks RB BARRY SANDERS is the first ever AFLL rushing champion with 946 yards and his teammate RB JIM TAYLOR led the league with 13 rushing touchdowns. Valhalla RB JIM BROWN finished second in rushing with 903 rushing yards.
Heroes FC 12 at FURY 60
GAME STORY: Fury (14-2) closed out their impressive 2022 campaign with another win over a divisional opponent. Heroes FC (7-9) hung in through the first quarter and then the home side took over from there. Fury QB PEYTON MANNING spread the ball around to seven different receivers with WR MARVIN HARRISON leading the way with 132 yards and two touchdowns. RB MARSHALL FAULK had an unbelievable day with 144 rushing yards and one score. DL WARREN SAPP had seven sacks after being unable to get to the QB the week before. WR TIM BROWN was the lone bright light for Heroes FC with seven catches for 175 yards.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Manning led the way in passing yards this season with 15626 and finished third in TD passes with 143. DB RONNIE LOTT was tied for second in interceptions with nine. LB LAWRENCE TAYLOR ran away with the sack title with 132.
EOD DEMO GODS 46 at Birds of Prey 37
GAME STORY: Birds of Prey (1-15) may have finished the 2022 campaign with one win, but they sure made things interesting for playoff bound EOD Demo Gods (11-5). It looked like the game was going to be a blowout with the Demo Gods rolling to a 17-point halftime lead, BOP outscored them 20-12 in the second half to cause a little stress for the visitors. BOP QB JOHNNY UNITAS threw for 491 yards and four touchdowns, WR ED McCAFFREY scored a couple touchdowns to go with 127 receiving yards. As for EOD Demo Gods, WR STERLING SHARPE caught three of QB WARREN MOON’s five touchdown passes.
ANVILS 45 at Hunters 12
GAME STORY: The Tony Dungy Division champion Anvils (12-4) made quick work of the Hunters (3-13). QB JOE MONTANA passed for 820 yards and four touchdowns, WR REGGIE WAYNE caught two of those touchdowns. TE MIKE DITKA may not have found the end zone, but he was a threat downfield with 342 yards including a 77-yard reception. DE ART DONOVAN made his way to Hunters QB DAN MARINO all game long with eight sacks. Hunters RB CURTIS MARTIN may have been held to -5 yards rushing but he led the team with 130 yards receiving on six receptions’.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Anvils DL ART DONOVAN finished third in sacks with 83.
Immortals 80 at TIME BANDITS 91
GAME STORY: A legendary tilt between two division rivals from the group of death known as the Don Shula Division. The Time Bandits (11-5) raced out to a 41-7 lead after the first quarter and then the two teams combined for 75 points in the second before the dust settled on an epic game with Time Bandits coming out on top and finishing one game behind Immortals (12-4). QB BRETT FAVRE (989-10-0) and QB FRAN TARKENTON (932-6-5) both went over 900 yards passing. Immortals WR TERRELL OWENS scored four touchdowns and Time Bandits WR DREW PEARSON had three scores on the day. Time Bandits LB RAY LEWIS had a game high 13 sacks.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Immortals QB BRETT FAVRE finished second in passing yards (14869) and touchdown passes (152), WR JERRY RICE led the league in receiving yards (4733) and WR TERRELL OWENS was tops in touchdown receptions (54). DB MEL RENFRO finished second in tackles (175) and DB EMMITT THOMAS was tied for second in interceptions (9).
GOATS 105 at Originals 55
GAME STORY: Another 100-point performance from the Jim Thorpe division champion GOATS (13-3) who closed out the regular season denying the Originals (7-9) from reaching the .500 mark. GOATS QB OTTO GRAHAM threw 10 touchdown passes and threw four of them to WR STEVE LARGENT. TE JASON WITTEN had 277 yards receiving and was closely followed by TE JOHN MACKEY who had 276 yards. DB WILLIE BROWN was a tackling machine with an incredible 26. Originals QB DREW BREES really caught onto his teams offensive plan as the season closed out with 957 passing yards. WR ERIC MOULDS will be someone to watch in 2023 as caught 48 passes for 627 yards and four touchdowns for the Originals.
LEAGUE LEADERS: GOATS QB OTTO GRAHAM led the league in touchdown passes (158) and finished third in passing yards (14415). TE JASON WITTEN led the league with 287 receptions and led all tight ends in touchdowns (43).
Diamonds 13 at FANCENTRIC FRENZY 96
GAME STORY: FanCentric Frenzy (9-7) ended their 2022 season with a world class beating of Diamonds (2-14) on Frenzy Fan Appreciation night. QB RANDALL CUNNINGHAM with the performance of Week 16, 1139 passing yards and 11 touchdowns. It truly was an incredible turnaround for a player who was prone to interceptions early in the season. WR ANDRE REED had 13 receptions and a team leading 472 yards and five touchdowns for the Frenzy. The Minister of Defence, DE REGGIE WHITE had 13 sacks of Diamonds QB ROGER STAUBACH. RB THURMAN THOMAS was the man for Diamonds with a 100-yard performance (109).
LEAGUE LEADERS: DE REGGIE WHITE finished second in sacks with 88.