AFLL Week in Review (Wild Card Weekend)
Wild Card Game #1
Time Bandits 31 at GOATS 94
GAME STORY: The GOATS made quick work of the Time Bandits in this one jumping out to a commanding 38-0 lead after one quarter and never looked back. In fact, they almost seemed to pull back after the first half in which they had the 64-point lead. QB MVP nominee OTTO GRAHAM only threw 30 passes and still managed to put up 666 yards and six touchdown passes. The Illinois product did have one of the stranger stat lines of the day with -78 yards rushing. We reached out to the league office to get an explanation, but no calls have been returned. TE JASON WITTEN led the team in receptions with seven and had 166 yards receiving, WR STEVE LARGENT had six catches for 195 yards and two scores. Time Bandits QB FRAN TARKENTON did his best to stay in the game but was forced into eight interceptions facing a relentless GOATS pass rush. The GOATS had 30 sacks led by TE WESLEY WALLS and that’s no typo.
GAME BALLS: (O) – Graham only used three receivers and TE JOHN MACKEY was the most effective with six receptions for 305 yards and a game leading four touchdowns.
(D) – GOATS LB WILBER MARSHALL had three defensive TDs, two interceptions and four sacks in a performance that will be hard to match in these playoffs.
Wild Card Game #2
IMMORTALS 93 at Beowulf 50
GAME STORY: In another game that was over by halftime, the top seeded wild card team, Immortals, dominated the opening 30 minutes and put it into cruise control the rest of the way. Immortals focused on shutting down Beowulf Rb ERIC METCALF who was second in the AFLL in rushing touchdowns. While Metcalf found the end zone one, he was held to 42 total yards. Three members of the Immortals had at least 200 yards receiving, WRTE MVP nominees TERRELL OWENS (8-325-3), JERRY RICE (12-200-1) and TE SHANNON SHARPE (10-230-3). WR JIMMY SMITH did his part for the home side with seven receptions for 266 yards and two touchdowns. While Beowulf QB BART STARR was sacked 30 times and could be seen yelling at his offensive line after his eighth fumble of the day.
GAME BALLS (O) – QB MVP nominee BRETT FAVRE didn’t even complete 50 per cent of his passes but who cares? Dude threw for 862 yards and nine touchdowns.
(D) – We’d like to say that 24 tackles were the most impressive part of LB KEVIN GREENE’s performance on Sunday, but it wasn’t. Greene also had eight sacks, six tackles for losses and two forced fumbles.
Wild Card Game #3
EOD Demo Gods 73 at ANVILS 79
GAME STORY: In a playoff game that will be talked about for a long time, the Anvils barely hung on to hold off EOD Demo Gods with a six-point victory. Demo Gods were in the red zone looking for the game winning touchdown but a late sack of QB WARREN MOON allowed the Anvils to celebrate in front of their fans as they move on to the semifinals. WR REGGIE WAYNE and WR JOHN STALLWORTH each had a couple of touchdowns for the Anvils, while WR CALVIN JOHNSON led the team with 243 yards receiving. Moon had a heroic day for the visitors going over 1000 yards passing, and a Wild Card Week record 10 touchdown passes. He leaned heavily on TE MARK BAVARO who had team highs in receptions (15), yards (324) and touchdowns (5). WR ISSAC BRUCE really stood out in the second half of this classic football game with 11 receptions for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Team captain CB DEION SANDERS was everywhere with 14 tackles and numerous passes defended.
GAME BALLS (O)- QB JOE MONTANA beat Moon in a playoff game in 1993 and he did it again Monday night. Montana had 938 passing yards and eight touchdown passes to push the Anvils into the semis against GOATS.
(D) – LB RAY NITSCHE came up huge in the fourth on the final drive for Demo Gods and gets the game ball for his defensive touchdown, forced fumble, knock down and two sacks.