AFLL Week in Review (Wk 9)
Diamonds 34 at ELITE 58
GAME STORY: ELITE (3-6) revamped their offensive line during the bye week to try and help out the AFLL’s leading rusher RB ERIC DICKERSON. While Dickerson ended up with modest numbers on the day (26-43), it sure helped out the passing game. QB JOHNNY UNITAS had more time to throw, and it showed with 552 passing yards and six touchdown passes. Unitas was only sacked three times as well. WR MICHAEL IRVIN scored a couple of touchdowns and RB TERRELL DAVIS found the end zone once on the ground. Diamonds (2-7) TE HEATH MILLER made the most out of his three receptions, scoring twice and ending the night with a team leading 138 receiving yards.
GAME BALLS: (O) – ELITE TE JAY NOVACEK was part of the dynamic TD duo that combined for 14 catches, 295 yards and four touchdowns. TE KELLEN WINSLOW was the other half, but Novacek had all four TDs for the game ball.
(D) – ELITE had 15 sacks on the night, eight of those belonged to DL LEN FORD. The Washington DC product had his best day of the season.
FanCentric FRENZY 37 at FURY 103
GAME STORY: The Frenzy (5-4) defence had been rolling heading into the ultimate challenge in Week 9. “Had” ended up being the key word with the Fury (9-0) staying unbeaten. RB MARSHALL FAULK was one of five players with multiple touchdowns as he scored two rushing touchdowns. WR TORRY HOLT, WR DEVIN HESTER, TE ANTONIO GATES, and WR RANDY MOSS all went over 200 yards receiving. QB RANDALL CUNNINGHAM had a solid morning throwing for 546 yards, four touchdowns and only one interception.
GAME BALLS: (O) – FURY QB PEYTON MANNING is starting to really take over the conversation as best player in the AFLL with 1297 passing yards and another double-digit TD day (11).
(D) – FURY DB RONNIE LOTT and his 12 tackles, one INT and three knockdowns gave him the defensive game ball.
Anvils 37 at TIME BANDITS 64
GAME STORY: Both teams came into this matchup coming off losses, so they were hungry to get back into the win column. The Time Bandits (6-3) were the better team on this day with QB FRAN TARKENTON putting up 555 yards and four touchdowns, WR DREW PEARSON caught two of those TD’s. WR ERIC DECKER led the Bandits with 13 receptions and 198 receiving yards. As for the Anvils (7-2), they drop two in a row for the first time this season. QB JOE MONTANA leaned heavily on WR JOHNS STALLWORTH (9-231-3) and WR CALVIN JOHNSON (13-161-2) as his run game was invisible.
GAME BALLS: (O) – Time Bandits RB FRED TAYLOR put up 105 yards rushing and a couple of touchdowns, hard to believe this wasn’t one of the top RB performances of the week.
(D) – Time Bandits LB BOBBY BELL put the pedal to medal into the Anvils backfield sacking Montana six times and even intercepting him once for good measure.
EOD Demo Gods 30 at IMMORTALS 107
GAME STORY: Immortals (7-2) kept pace with the Fury in the Don Shula Division with the 77-point victory. The former 49er duo of WR JERRY RICE and WR TERRELL OWENS were part of an air attack that the Demo Gods (6-3) could not contend with. Rice and Owens combined for 31 receptions, 782 yards and seven touchdowns. RB WARRICK DUNN was one of the bright spots for the Demo Gods rushing 32 times for 107 yards and a touchdown. QB WARREN MOON was not his usual self, turning the ball over four times with two interceptions and two fumbles.
GAME BALLS: (O) – Immortals QB BRETT FAVRE had the top performance of the week with his 1183 passing yards and 13 touchdowns, one TD off the league record.
(D) – Immortals LB CHUCK BEDNARIK had two sacks and a team leading 11 tackles.
BEOWULF 51 at Originals 16
GAME STORY: Beowulf (5-4) kept their one game lead in the Walter Camp Division with an impressive defensive effort on Sunday. The defence kept Originals (3-6) QB DREW BREES under 230 yards passing, not one player went over 100 yards receiving either. RB ERIC METCALF got his weekly touchdown with one receiving score and WR DON HUTSON had a team leading 219 receiving yards to go with a touchdown. TE DAVE CASPER led Beowulf in receptions (13) and touchdowns (2). TE VERNON DAVIS caught Brees’ lone touchdown pass on Sunday afternoon.
GAME BALLS: (O) – QB BART STARR was his steady, confident self with 858 yards passing and six touchdowns.
(D) – Beowulf DB MIKE HAYNES is a tackle machine putting 14 more up on the board on Sunday.
THROWBACKS 32 at Birds of Prey 25
GAME STORY: A huge win by the Throwbacks (4-5) to stay in the chase for first place in the Walter Camp Division. QB TERRY BRADSHAW played turnover free football with 396 yards passing, a touchdown and NO INTERCEPTIONS. TE KEITH JACKSON found the end zone on Bradshaw’s lone scoring throw of the day. Meanwhile, Birds of Prey (1-8) RB EMMITT SMITH had 110 total yards and a touchdown, QB JOHN ELWAY recorded 335 passing yards, two touchdowns and an INT.
GAME BALLS: (O) – RB BARRY SANDERS had 173 total yards and a touchdown for the Throwbacks.
(D) – Throwbacks DB JACK TATUM had 11 tackles, and three knockdowns.
VALHALLA 40 at Hunters 28
GAME STORY: Valhalla (2-7) ended a four-game losing skid and came out of the bye week with some incentive to get things done after a big trade. They led 27-14 at the half and took care of business the rest of the way. QB MICHAEL VICK didn’t have to do much as his star running back took care of most of the offence, more on that in a second. Vick went for 311 yards and a couple of passing touchdowns. Hunters (2-7) RB CURTIS MARTIN also had a big day on the ground rushing for 106 yards and two scores. QB DAN MARINO chipped in with 249 passing yards and two touchdowns.
GAME BALLS: (O) Valhalla RB JIM BROWN was everything on Sunday night, with 334 total yards and three touchdowns.
(D) – Valhalla LB KEITH BULLUCK had a team leading 14 tackles and one of three team sacks.
Heroes FC 37 at GOATS 97
GAME STORY: The Monday nighter saw Heroes FC (3-6) jump out to a shocking 37-31 lead at halftime. Unfortunately, they couldn’t hold off the GOATS (7-2) offence for long. QB OTTO GRAHAM threw the ball 101 times for 901 yards and 13 touchdowns. One has to wonder how long the GOATS can ignore the run game but whatever they are doing, it’s keeping them in the win column. Heroes FC QB STEVE YOUNG was under siege a lot on Monday night, forcing him into four turnovers (2 INT, 2 fumbles). TE TONY GONZALEZ continues his impressive play with 12 receptions, 314 yards and two touchdowns.
GAME BALLS: (O) – GOATS TE JASON WITTEN had 32 of Graham’s 59 completions to the tune of 429 yards and seven touchdowns.
(D) – GOATS DL COY BACON has the best name in football and had a team best 14 sacks.