Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Championship)

Philip Rivers put the QB controversy in Athol to rest with 308 yards and 3 TDs versus Twin City Tech. Busch takes on the top-seeded Alckys in the FAC-10 championship game, and you'll never guess who picked A&M to take home the title (hint: it's me).




Goal Line Stand (Championship)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette



It was a Cinderella story that just had to come to an end eventually. Bud Heavy defied all fantasy logic, taking the 10th ranked offense in the league to the 6th seed of the playoffs. They took down the top-ranked offense and hottest team in the conference despite -2.5 points from their quarterback. Then they pushed the #2 seed to the brink with a well-balanced 91 point effort, but fell just short of their second championship in school history.

On the other side of the bracket, the most dominant team over the past three seasons laid a big fat egg in their semi-final matchup. Twin City Tech has been very inconsistent lately, and had to come from behind in the first round just to get that far. For the team that averaged 84.36 PPG this season, the 66 they scored in a loss to Athol was simply pathetic.

And because of this, we are left with two teams. Since the conference's inception in 2005, the top two seeds have never faced each other in the championship. Twice the 2nd seed has reached the finals, winning in both 2005 and 2006. The 1st seed has made it just once, losing to the 6th seed last season. Busch and Athol A&M have both had fantastic seasons, but who has the edge head-to-head? Let's break it down:

Defense
Individual players are a dime a dozen, and often the bane of an owner's existence. Do you go with a linebacker, who is the safe play to get guaranteed tackles? Or do you use a cornerback or lineman, who is the riskier play but will give you bigger points with interceptions or sacks, respectively. IDP aside, this position comes down to opponent. I'm a big advocate of playing matchups when it comes to defense, and neither looks good. One faces Pittsburgh, coming off a huge offensive game, and the other battles Denver, who's offense is the most conservative in the league (impossible to force turnovers).
Advantage: Push

Kicker
The only things tougher to predict than IDP are kickers. Not only that but 99% of them are a dime a dozen, easily interchangeable and easily forgotten. Luckily for these two teams, they each have a kicker who puts up solid numbers. One gets a ton of chances from far away, the other simply never misses. The game won't be won or lost here, but both teams will be able to sleep at night knowing they have the 1% of kickers that actually are worth keeping.
Slight Advantage: Busch

Tight End
Remember the good 'ol days when Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez were MUST HAVE guys? Now the tight end position has been reduced to grabbing solid mid-teir players that cost nothing. Fred Davis and Kellen Winslow are tops in this category, putting up respectable numbers each and every week, while also throwing out that random game of grandeur now and again (see: Fred Davis Week 14). If Winslow ever finds the end zone again, it'll be a close battle. Otherwise, look for Sherm Lewis to continue calling Davis's number.
Advantage: Busch

Wide Receivers
With a subtle nod to Twin City and Gillespie State, these are two of the best receiving corps in the league. All seven receivers in this game are in the top 25, three of which are in the top 10. It's no surprise two of the three are on the Lattes, who traded away a plethora of youth to get Larry Fitzgerald earlier in the season. He and Brandon Marshall have been a formidable duo, and the main reason Busch is 8-2 in their last 10 games.
Advantage: Busch

Running Backs
The Busch backfield has been the best in the conference this season (cut to a shot of the Dublin head coach saying, "WHAT?! No way, we're.... ahh, screw it."), but studly DeAngelo Williams going down has killed the one position they could always rely on. Adrian Peterson will still be Adrian Peterson, but Tim Hightower has been horrific lately, especially with Beanie Wells stealing his carries. On the other side, Cedric Benson will have the best numbers of all four backs in this game, playing against a horrible opponent, which just leaves Matt "First Rounder" Forte. Nobody expects much from the Fantasy Goat of 2009, but if he can manage any respectable numbers they will look great combined with Benson's.
Advantage: Athol

Quarterback
The problem with the FAC-10 is that you are only allowed to start one quarterback... at least, thats what these teams would have said 5 weeks ago. Nowadays, Matt Schaub and Philip Rivers have distanced themselves from their backups, and have proven they can lead their teams with big numbers each and every week. Both have put up big yardage this year, both can throw touchdowns at any time, and both have been smart with the ball to prevent interceptions. This will come down to opponents, and with Rivers facing a weak secondary, look for his points to easily hit double-digits.
Advantage: Athol

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Samuel Adams Falcon Bowl
(6) Bud Heavy over (4) Twin City Tech

Labatt Blue Hula Bowl
(1) Athol A&M over (2) Busch

Last Week: 2-1
Playoffs: 2-3
Reg. Season: 43-35

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Final Regular Season Power Rankings
1. Arizona-Kickery ( - )
2. Twin City Tech ( - )
3. Mexico ( - )
4. Athol A&M ( - )
5. Golden ( - )
6. Weymouth ( - )
7. Busch ( - )
8. Bud Heavy ( - )
9. Gillespie State ( - )
10. Dublin ( - )
11. Stardust ( - )
12. Rakeville ( - )

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League Notes
- After their victory over Kickery in the Beer Bowl, Gillespie State players agreed to forget all about it and go on with their lives.

- Golden held their annual Powder Puff game on Wednesday. RB Jerome Harrison, wearing a wig and fake breasts, rushed for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was, sadly, the highlight of the Gryphons' 2009 season.

- Bud Heavy WR Louis Murphy was named FAC-10 player of the week by his mom.

Read more!

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Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Semi-Finals)

Wes Welker and the Gillespie State offense could barely stand to watch as their late-game lead was destroyed by the hands (or feet) of Frank Gore and Twin City Tech. Did the Black Diamonds' sixth-ranked offense even deserve a chance at a championship in the first place? Golden says "No."





Goal Line Stand (Semi-Finals)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette



Editor's Note: We apologize for an error in last week's column. We accidentally referred to Stardust RB Julius Jones as a Tight End, and how he was angry at the outcome of the Crazy Horses' season. In actuality, nobody cares how their players feel.


"The FBCS isn't perfect," said former FAC-10 Commissioner Terrell Davis. "But it's the fairest system we can have to give everyone a chance."

The comments were made in response to Golden Athletic Director Michael Comtois's anger that his Gryphons finished third in the conference in points yet failed to make the playoffs. Comtois, who's team won the title last year, called the FBCS "...a joke" and "...a ridiculous way to decide who is the best team in the league." He went on to compare it to the FAC-10's sister league, and their method of ultimately deciding a champion:

"The BCS is great. It doesn't allow teams who stack their schedule with cake games a shot at the title just because they're 10-0, 11-0. Why should six or eight teams get a shot at finishing in the top two? It [the BCS] puts the two BEST teams in the national championship. That's how it SHOULD be done."

However, the NCAA is a much different system than the FAC-10. Instead of 100+ schools competing for the title, we have 12. Instead of allowing schools to decide their own schedule, each team plays every other one in the conference at least once. Instead of recruiting and letter-signing, we have drafts that allow the worst teams from the previous season to get better.

The proof is in the plaque: 11 different teams have made the 6-team playoffs in the past 5 years, including 3 different conference winners (4, since none of the past champions are still in the post-season). We've also had 4 difference regular season champions, proving that parity is alive in the FAC-10.

In defense to Comtois's comments, however, he never actually promoted parity. He simply stated that the best teams should be given a chance to finish on top. But how do you determine the best? Is it Twin City Tech and Arizona-Kickery, who beat up on teams each and every week and finished 1-2 in the conference in points? Is it Athol A&M and Busch, who finished 4-5 in scoring yet earned the first-round byes by reaching 9 wins? Or is it Bud Heavy, who finished TENTH in total offense but won when it mattered, got blown out by better teams but beat the ones they were supposed to, and is headed to their fourth conference semi-final in five years after scoring 80 points even though their quarterback only managed NEGATIVE THREE?

"Fuck Kevin," said Comtois.

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Semi-Final Matchups
(1) Busch over (6) Bud Heavy
(2) Athol A&M over (4) Twin City Tech

Miller High Life Beer Bowl
(3) Arizona-Kickery over (5) Gillespie State

Last Week: 0-2
Playoffs: 0-2
Reg. Season: 43-35

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Final Regular Season Power Rankings
1. Arizona-Kickery ( - )
2. Twin City Tech ( - )
3. Mexico ( - )
4. Athol A&M ( - )
5. Golden ( - )
6. Weymouth ( - )
7. Busch ( - )
8. Bud Heavy ( - )
9. Gillespie State ( - )
10. Dublin ( - )
11. Stardust ( - )
12. Rakeville ( - )

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League Notes
- WR Steve Smith called Golden "the worst school to be at right now" in regards to missing the playoffs with the third-ranked offense in the conference. When reminded he played for Stardust earlier this season, he immediately apologized for his mistake.

- Rakeville Athletic Director Mike "The Miz" was removed from the AD of the Year ballot when FAC-10 officials decided that a team that bad can't possibly have anyone in charge of it.

- In a related story, Rakeville is targeting future-Rookie QB Tim Tebow as the #1 pick in next year's draft. The Grays plan of signing as many terrible pro quarterbacks as they can is finally coming to fruition.

Read more!

Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Quarter-Finals)

Bud Heavy University jumped on the shoulders of QB Kurt Warner, took down #1 seeded Busch, and stunned the FAC-10 by sneaking into the playoffs. Warner and The King start their quest for a title this week against Arizona-Kickery and the top ranked offense in the league.






Goal Line Stand (Quarter-Finals)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette



In 2008, Athol A&M set a precedent for FAC-10 bitterness by finishing second in total points, yet eleventh in the standings. Last week, we (I) thought we (I) knew for a fact which six teams were going to be in the playoffs this year, and it just so happened to be the six highest-scoring teams in the conference.

Then Bud Heavy, led by 2007 FBCS title winner Kurt Warner, ruined everything by beating top-seeded Busch, while defending champion Golden fell to the hands of tenth-ranked Weymouth. The entire ordeal was a mess, but the ultimate result is the tenth-highest scoring offense in the league with the sixth spot in the playoffs, and a certain Gridiron Gazette columnist with egg on his face (cut to a picture of me trying to make omelets).

We'll have plenty of time to analyze the contending teams next week, but first let's see where it went wrong with Golden and the other five schools with their seasons over:


#12 Rakeville
Rakeville ruined their season in Week 4 after their win over fellow bottom-feeder Stardust. The victory almost cost them the #1 pick, as they tried their hardest to lose each and every week. A couple other early-season games almost ruined everything as well, including Week 1 vs. Gillespie State (2 point loss) and Week 3 vs. Az-Kickery (8 points), but they got things together in the second half; The Rockets lost their final 8 games by an average of 39.02 points.

#11 Stardust
In contradiction to Rakeville's "2010" attitude from the get-go, Stardust went out of the gates fast and got their sole win of the season in Week 1 vs. Weymouth. Week 2 is where everything went completely wrong: The backfield of LenDale White and "Fast" Willie Parker were nowhere near the studs from last year, and QB Eli Manning was the only offensive player to crack double-digit points. The 24-point beatdown at the hands of Athol A&M was a foreshadow. The result was 12 straight losses and the #2 pick in next year's draft.

#10 Weymouth
Sometimes a team cannot be held responsible, whether its due to injuries, lack of action, or just your run-of-the-mill bad game. One thing that can never be excused, however, is poor roster management. Weymouth was guilty of this throughout the season, most notably in Week 10 against top-ranked Busch. The Islanders had some great matchups (Aaron Rogers vs. Dallas, Ray Rice vs. Cleveland), yet for some inexplicable reason they decided to play WITHOUT a WR and Defensive Player. Rather than finding replacements, Weymouth chose to keep some relatively terrible players on their bench, and it cost them a victory. The 93-87 loss eliminated them from playoff contention.

#9 Dublin
In 2008, DUBA just found ways to lose games. 3 amazing running backs and just 2 spots to play them in, and the coaching staff always managed to pick the wrong guy to bench. 2009 was a new year, with new rules to prevent this from happening again, yet it was the same old story in Dublin: Find ways to lose. In their Week 8 game against defending-champion Golden, RB Chris Johnson and QB Tony Romo each put up at least 20 points, but nobody else on the team was in double-digits. The Oktoberfests took a 79-63 lead into Monday night, but ultimately lost 80-79 while RB Ryan Moats sat on their bench with 25 unused points.

#8 Mexico
It was supposed to be the Wildcats' coming-out party: just coming off a big game with their two newest offensive weapons (WR Sidney Rice, TE Visanthe Shiancoe), facing a team who just put up 58 points... all the signs were there. Unfortunately, so was the Great Show on Fantasy Turf: Arizona-Kickery. In Week 11, Drew Brees and Co. avenged their Week 2 loss, and even 94 points couldn't get Mexico a much-needed win versus AZK.

#7 Golden
The Gryphons' downfall ended in Week 13, but it began in Week 9 in Mexico. The Wildcats had lost two straight, while Golden was riding the high of a comeback win against Dublin. RB Michael Turner came to play, putting up 21 points, but the rest of the team was nowhere to be found. They were tops in the league in points at the time, yet the Gryphons offense struggled and fell to Mexico, 69-68.

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Quarter-Final Matchups
(3) Arizona-Kickery over (6) Bud Heavy
(5) Gillespie State over (4) Twin City Tech

Last Week: 2-4
Season: 43-35

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Final Regular Season Power Rankings
1. Arizona-Kickery ( - )
2. Twin City Tech (+2)
3. Mexico (+1)
4. Athol A&M (+2)
5. Golden (-3)
6. Weymouth (+2)
7. Busch (-4)
8. Bud Heavy (+2)
9. Gillespie State (-2)
10. Dublin (-1)
11. Stardust (+1)
12. Rakeville (-1)

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League Notes
- Rakeville and Stardust finished the regular season with the worst winning percentage in FAC-10 history. Crazy Horses' TE Julius Jones was furious at the outcome of their season, while the entire Gray's coaching staff danced for two straight days knowing they have the top pick in next year's draft.

- Following their loss to Weymouth, Golden players retreated to the locker room to watch the Busch/Bud Heavy game. Before they could catch a glimpse of the matchup, Islanders WR Robert Meachem ran in and ripped the remote right out of Peyton Manning's hands.

- Teams finishing below 9th place Dublin should still be proud knowing they can spell better than the Oktoberfests' front office.

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Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Week 13)

Tom Brady spent most of the 4th quarter on the sidelines as 8th ranked Dublin had its way with the Twin City defense. Even with the loss the Red Raiders are still a lock for the playoffs, but they'll need their quarterback playing like his old self with lowly Stardust coming to town.






Goal Line Stand (Week 13)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette



Editor's Note: With the 6 playoff teams unofficially selected, we decided to give Pannalist the week off. However, he still wanted to send out his picks and power rankings. GLS will be back next week for the post-season analysis.

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Week 13 Matchups
(1) Busch over (7) Bud Heavy
(2) Gillespie State over (5) Arizona-Kickery
(8) Dublin over (3) Athol A&M
(4) Golden over (10) Weymouth
(6) Twin City Tech over (11) Stardust
(9) Mexico over (12) Rakeville

Last Week: 4-2
Season: 41-31

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Week 13 Power Rankings
1. Arizona-Kickery (+4)
2. Golden (+2)
3. Busch (-2)
4. Mexico (+3)
5. Twin City Tech (-3)
6. Athol A&M (-3)
7. Gillespie State (+2)
8. Weymouth ( - )
9. Dublin (+1)
10. Bud Heavy (-4)
11. Rakeville (+1)
12. Stardust (-1)

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League Notes
- Rakeville jumped out of the bottom spot in the Power Rankings for the first time since Week 5. Apparently the team is no longer "Wacko for Flacco" but is instead "Hung for Young."

- For the second straight week, Arizona-Kickery recorded the highest point total in the conference. Unfortunately, nobody told Patrick Crayton.

- For the second straight week, Mexico recorded the second-highest point total in the conference. Unfortunately, nobody told the FBCS Selection Committee.

Read more!

Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Week 12)

DeAngelo Williams and the Busch University running game have come up huge this season. Even without a TD the backfield solidified a victory in Week 11 and clinched a playoff birth for the Lattes, and for that they are thankful.





Goal Line Stand (Week 12)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette



There has been a lot of disappointment for some teams this season. A 10-game losing streak, two franchise running backs out for the season, forgetting when the trade deadline is; Sometimes, things just don't go right.

And so, on this Thanksgiving Day, we should try to find the silver lining in an otherwise cloudy year. Sure you're 1-10, but your team has loads of potential AND the #1 pick next year. So what if you have 3 running backs and only one of them actually knows how to run, your guy has a great shot at Player of the Year honors. Find the good amongst the bad, eat some turkey... and pray you don't have to face Busch in the playoffs.


Rakeville is thankful for...
2010. The U-Rake offense is young and loaded with potential, especially with a receiving corps of Michael Crabtree, Calvin Johnson, and Jeremy Maclin. If the Grays find a back to compliment Kevin Smith, this team will be sniffing a playoff spot in 2011. In 2010, anything more than 1 win will be nice.

Stardust is thankful for...
excess roster space. If it weren't for a lost season and a gigantic bench, S.U.C.H. wouldn't be able to keep QB Michael Vick on their roster. What they plan for the 29-year old felon is beyond me (with Stardust's roster, he is not worth a keeper spot), but the steady paycheck looks good in mailbox of Vick's halfway house each week.

Weymouth is thankful for...
a chance. Their 2008 rookie campaign was nothing to brag about, yet the Islanders still managed 4 wins. The 4 wins they already have this year (most notably Week 6 vs. Golden) is a testament to their hard work and dedication to success. While Weymouth has struggled, the rest of the conference has seen they truly have a plan, and its finally coming to fruition.

Mexico is thankful for...
2005 and 2007. Remember those years, when Mexico was good? 2 championships in 3 years, a running game that could not be stopped, and receivers that caught every ball. Those receivers (Torry Holt, TJ Houshmandzadeh) don't have the speed to get open anymore, and those backs (LaDanian Tomlinson, Willie Parker) are now shells of their former selves. Thankfully, whoever wins the championship this year will be able to see Mexico's name on the FAC-10 plaque.

Dublin is thankful for...
Chris Johnson. In a season when the running back trio in Dublin was supposed to conquer the conference, Johnson has been the only one showing up. Brian Westbrook is concussed, Brandon Jacobs is splitting carries, and Glen Coffee gave his job back. DUBA lives and dies in the shoes of Chris Johnson, and lucky for them, those shoes haven't stopped moving all season.

Arizona-Kickery is thankful for...
revenge. In Week 2 they lost a tough one to Mexico by 2 points, and with just 3 weeks left in the season Kickery needed to come up big in their Week 11 rematch. Greg Jennings, Vernon Davis, and Joseph Addai all found the end zone, and Drew Brees threw 3 scores of his own. In the end, the Kickers won a barn burner, 97-94, and gave a huge boost to their playoff chances.

Golden is thankful for...
their next 2 games. Not only do the Gryphons have the most points scored in the league (the #1 playoff tiebreaker), but their remaining opposing clubs are a combined 5-17. Which Weymouth club shows up in the season finale remains to be seen, but with the Golden offense clicking on all cylinders, they have all-but locked up a postseason berth.

Bud Heavy is thankful for...
injuries. Not to their own players, but those that The King's players have replaced. When Brian Westbrook went down with a concussion, RB LeSean McCoy slid into the starting role seamlessly. The season-ending injury to Ronnie Brown killed Golden, but for Bud Heavy it was just more opportunity for RB Ricky Williams. These two backups are now the focal point of the team's offense, and thankfully they're taking advantage of the opportunity.

Gillespie State is thankful for...
Maurice Jones-Drew. Over the last 4 weeks, MJD is averaging 14.57 PPG. On the season he's averaging 13.62, which is tops in the conference among non-QBs. The Black Diamonds are 7-4, and nobody on the team has contributed more to that than Jones-Drew.

Twin City Tech is thankful for...
regular season football. The Red Raiders have had the best offense in the league over the past two seasons, winning two regular season titles, yet have faltered in the playoffs. Tech finally has a roster that won't be taking weeks off in December, so this just might be the year they don't get bumped early... and that would truly be something to be thankful for.

Athol A&M is thankful for...
their Week 11 matchup. Not only did A&M bench QB Brett Favre (22-25, 213 yards, 4 TD), but only one of their starters actually broke 10 points against lowly Stardust. Luckily, S.U.C.H. is terrible and the Alchys won their 8th game, 57-50.

Busch is thankful for...
Stardust University. The Crazy Horses still got a good deal out of their Wide Receiver swap on October 27th, but when you're 5-2 and can add a top-3 receiver to your roster, you're in pretty good shape. The Larry Fitzgerald-Brandon Marshall tandum have rattled off 4 wins in a row, as well as a clinched playoff spot.

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Week 12 Matchups
(4) Gillespie State over (1) Busch
(2) Athol A&M over (10) Weymouth
(3) Twin City Tech over (8) Dublin
(9) Mexico over (5) Bud Heavy
(6) Golden over (11) Stardust
(7) Arizona-Kickery over (12) Rakeville


Last Week: 3-3
Season: 37-29

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Week 12 Power Rankings
1. Busch ( - )
2. Twin City Tech (+2)
3. Athol A&M ( - )
4. Golden (-2)
5. Arizona-Kickery (+2)
6. Bud Heavy (+2)
7. Mexico (-2)
8. Weymouth (+2)
9. Gillespie State (-3)
10. Dublin (-1)
11. Stardust ( - )
12. Rakeville ( - )

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League Notes
- After going 6-7 last season and 1-10 thus far in 2009, Stardust A.D. Adam Howe may be out of the job soon. Apparently, Vegas actually DOESN'T like it when the house loses.

- Weymouth eliminated themselves from contention for the 2010 top draft pick with a win over DUBA last week. This was a relief for potential #1 pick Sam Bradford, who doesn't own a boat.

- Bud Heavy signed QB Mark Sanchez on Monday, and he's already thrown 2 interceptions.

Read more!

Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Week 11)

It was a nail biter, but Stephen Gostkowski kicked Athol A&M to a .18 point victory. Did the Alchys destroy Bud Heavy's chance at a playoff berth, or can The King run the table and still have a shot at the championship?





Goal Line Stand (Week 11)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette



It was the shot heard 'round the world. Week 6, 1-4 Weymouth traveled to Golden to battle the 4-1 Gryphons, and everyone THOUGHT they knew what was going to happen. Imagine my colleagues' amusement when my GLS column came out and they read "(11) Weymouth over (1) Golden" in my matchups. As the final whistle blew on Monday night and the Islanders walked off the field victorious, I stood up off my couch, turned off my TV, and self-proclaimed the season over.

While on my 5 week hiatus, I continued to send in my weekly picks, but was too busy sunbathing and drinking Mai Tais to write anything more than "(Insert Team Name) over Rakeville." But now I'm back, and ready to contribute to the half-dozen fans of this publication. 9 teams are still in the hunt for the playoffs, and with just 3 weeks left things are finally starting to make sense...


Sure Things
1. Busch (8-2) - RAK, GS, BHU
What's better than having two top 10 running backs? Also having two top 10 receivers AND a top 5 quarterback. Busch can (will) clinch a playoff berth this week vs. 1-9 Rakeville, then go after the regular season title after finishing 2nd a year ago. The offense is clicking on all cylinders and they're in perfect position for their 2nd FAC-10 championship appearance in 3 years.
Final Record: 11-2

2. Athol A&M (7-3) - SUCH, WEY, DUBA
If A&M's Dave Grubb doesn't win A.D. Of The Year it'll be a travesty. The Alchy's finished 5-8 in 2008, but scoring wasn't their problem. The team finished 2nd in points scored but 11th in the standings, pushing Grubb to light a fire under the team's proverbial asses. The result was a team-first attitude in Athol, and with 3 weeks left the Alchys are 2nd in the FBCS polls and 4th in scoring. Their next two games will get them into the playoffs, while their season finale in Dublin will demonstrate how they will perform once they get there.
Final Record: 10-3

3. Golden (6-4) - TCT, SUCH, WEY
Golden started the season riding the emotion of their 2008 championship but have recently come back down to earth, going 2-3 over their last 5. Luckily for the Gryphons, their offense has been the best in the FAC-10 this year, so any tiebreakers will most-likely go to the defending champs. Having your final two games against teams who are a combined 4-16 doesn't hurt either.
Final Record: 9-4

4. Gillespie State (7-3) - BHU, BU, AZK
How this team survived the first half of the season with David Garrard at QB is beyond me, and yet they managed to build a 7-2 record with him under center. The Black Diamonds have a truly well-rounded team: A top TE in Antonio Gates, two solid RB in Maurice Jones-Drew and Thomas Jones, and an amazing sleeper WR in Miles Austin. If new QB Carson Palmer continues his good season, they'll be a surprise force in the postseason.
Final Record: 9-4

5. Twin City Tech (6-4) - GU, DUBA, SUCH
The Red Raider's Week 11 matchup vs. Golden will be their only test for the rest of the season, reiterating the fact that this offense is very, very good. Their quarterback is 3rd in the league in scoring, and 6 of their 7 starting offense for Week 11 has over 50 points this season (TE Tony Gonzalez has 49.5). Their record would have been better if they had produced backups for their stars' bye weeks, but A.D. Matt Austin insists on carrying 3 defenses. Lucky for the Red Raiders, there are no more byes for the rest of the season.
Final Record: 8-5


On The Bubble
6. Mexico (5-5) - AZK, BHU, RAK
5 teams have the playoffs locked up, and the only thing left to figure out are the seedings... oh yeah, and that pesky 6th spot. In 2007 it was the 5th seeded Wildcats who took home the FAC-10 championship, and in 2008 Golden won the title as the 6th seed. Just getting in is the key, and then it's placed in the hands of the football Gods. Mexico has a relatively weak schedule for the rest of the season, but they'll need some help. If it comes down to a tiebreaker for the second straight season, they'll be on the outside looking in once again: The Wildcats are 10th in the conference in points scored.
Final Record: 8-5

7. Dublin (5-5) - WEY, TCT, AAM
This was supposed to be Dublin's year! After a frustrating 2008 of micromanaging their running backs, the league added a Flex spot this season and everything was set for a dominant year. Unfortunately, nobody told the rest of the team, and their record has suffered. Brandon Jacobs is a shell of his former self, and the receivers have been above-average at best. Chris Johnson has been the lone star of the offense, but that isn't enough to carry the failed expectations of the rest of the roster.
Final Record: 6-7


Need Some Help
8. Bud Heavy (6-4) - GS, UM, BU
When your offense can only crack 80 points twice in a season, a 6-4 record is phenomenal. Unfortunately for The King, their remaining schedule is harder than a teenage boy at a Miley Cyrus concert. Over the past 5 weeks their scheduled opponents are 15-5 while Bud Heavy is 3-3, beating only lowly Stardust, Weymouth, and Rakeville. A team can only ride the 38-year old arm of QB Kurt Warner for so long, and that arm is about to fall off.
Final Record: 6-7

9. Arizona-Kickery (5-5) - UM, RAK, GS
Kickery has had quite the roller coaster season, scoring as many as 113 points (Week 1 vs. Bud Heavy) and as little as 58 (last week vs. Stardust). They have been unable to capitalize in certain situations, most notably Week 2 vs. Mexico in which they lost a tough one by 2 points. QB Drew Brees is 4th in the conference in total points, and is poised for a solid finish to the season, but the Kickers will need their entire roster to come through to get them into the postseason.
Final Record: 6-7


Preparing For Next Season
10. Weymouth (3-7) - DUBA, AAM, GU
On paper, Weymouth has done a fantastic job at making its 2008 expansion project a success, but it has yet to formulate into wins. They've placed their faith in QB Aaron Rogers, and rightfully so since the rest of the roster has yet to live up to their potential. Ray Rice, Beanie Wells, and Anthony Gonzalez are all going to need to step up their game next season, and WHEN they do, the Islanders will be sniffing the playoffs.
Final Record: 3-10

11. Stardust (1-9) - AAM, GU, TCT
The Crazy Horses have arguably the toughest remaining schedule... which would be terrible if they had any chance at making the playoffs. Even if they weren't mathematically eliminated, this team is just awful, and has already begun the rebuilding process by trading away a couple studs (Larry Fitzgerald, Sidney Rice) for much-needed depth. Their receiving corps is retooled, they still have a top-5 TE, and their A.D. is always looking to deal... they'll be just fine, in 2010.
Final Record: 1-12

12. Rakeville (1-9) - BU, AZK, UM
Their season was over in Week 6, when the team decided to play without a kicker or defense. Their future was boosted in Week 7 when they decided to finally cut ties with long-time quarterback flop JaMarcus Russell. Grays A.D. Mike "The Miz" clearly had next season in his sights all year, much to the chagrin of his fellow league mates. The passing game will be great in a year or two, and the running game (when healthy) is coming around. They have an opportunity to pull off an upset in Week 13 vs. Mexico, but that's their ONLY chance at redemption in 2009.
Final Record: 1-12

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Week 11 Matchups
(1) Busch over (12) Rakeville
(2) Athol A&M over (11) Stardust
(3) Gillespie State over (6) Bud Heavy
(5) Twin City Tech over (4) Golden
(9) Mexico over (7) Arizona-Kickery
(8) Dublin over (10) Weymouth

Week 6: 5-1
Week 7: 4-2
Week 8: 2-4
Week 9: 2-4
Week 10: 6-0
Season: 34-26

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Week 11 Power Rankings
1. Busch
2. Golden
3. Athol A&M
4. Twin City Tech
5. Mexico
6. Gillespie State
7. Arizona-Kickery
8. Bud Heavy
9. Dublin
10. Weymouth
11. Stardust
12. Rakeville

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League Notes
- TE Visanthe Shiancoe fled the struggling Stardust to Mexico last week. Apparently, that fence isn't very high.

- Jon Beason was taken by surprise last week when Rakeville K Nick Folk lined up for a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter. "I had no idea they even had a kicker," said the Twin City Tech LB. "I try to ignore terrible players."

- RB Larry Johnson signed with Athol A&M this week, proving once again that A.D. Dave Grubb loves gay-bashers.

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