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Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Week 6)

Bud Heavy is having a quiet season, but is still winning thanks to RB Edgerrin James. With one of the easiest schedules the rest of the way, The Edge just may surprise some teams and carry The King deep into the playoffs.









Goal Line Stand (Week 6)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette




Five games down, and after this weekend, five games to go. That means its time for our Mid-Season awards. Let's take a look at how the FAC-10's teams and players have fared thus far:


Best Offense
At 518 points, 142 ahead of second place, it's no question that the best offense thus far has been Fitchburg Tech. They have the #1 and #2 ranked players in football (Tom Brady, Randy Moss), a superb backfield (Joseph Addai, Clinton Portis), and a hall of fame tight end (Tony Gonzalez). At this pace, the Red Raiders should easily break Gillespie State's 2005 record for points in a season (1179), in which 13 games were played. The schedule in 2007 only consists of 11.


Best Defense
There are a few teams that have had blowout performances on the defensive side of the ball, but nobody has been more consistent than Athol A&M. The Alchys have yet to allow anyone to score more than 60 points against them, on their way to a 5-0 start.


Most Surprising Team
In 2006, the FAC-10 Championships matched up two expansion teams, yet nobody expected any of this year's new blood to perform well. To prove everyone wrong, Anheuser-Busch has kept up in the playoff race. Solidifying the 3rd best offense in the league, the boys of beer exploded in Week 4 for 120 points against Mexico. If they keep this up, we just might have back-to-back expansion champions.


Most Disappointing Team
This award is a little obvious, but it just has to be said. Arizona-Kickery lost a tough championship game in 2006, and spent the offseason building around their solid skill players (Drew Brees, Frank Gore, Marvin Harrison). Unfortunately, early season injuries combined with poor play has them 0-5, with no end to their losing ways in sight.


Best Game
Coming into their Week 5 matchup, Golden had not scored more than 70 points in a single game, while Gillespie State had only broken 60 once. The score was 82.69-82.12 as Monday night approached, with both teams looking for a boost in the FBCS standings. Maurice Jones-Drew came through for the Black Diamonds, giving them a 93-89 win, and kept them near the top of the standings (and power rankings).


Biggest Upset
After suffering two tough losses at the hands of Bud Heavy and Rakeville, 1-2 Anheuser-Busch entered their Week 4 matchup with Mexico very down on themselves. Meanwhile, the Wildcats had held Bud Heavy the week before to just 29 points, the lowest output of any team this season. With QBs Ben Roethlisberger and Marc Bulger inactive for the game, Mexico signed 81 year old Kurt Warner, only to have him get injured in the first quarter. Mexico still scored 92 points, but AB was unstoppable, putting up an amazing 120 points and boosting their confidence (and record) entering a bye week.


Most Valuable Player To His Team
There's no question that the Brady/Moss combo has been the best thing in football, but the 5-0 Alchys would be nowhere without their QB Carson Palmer. While the rest of the offense has been struggling (no offense to Chad Johnson), Palmer has held things together and kept Athol A&M undefeated and at the top of the FBCS for the first time in school history. If the Alchys want to stay there, they'll need #9 to continue his stellar season.


Team Most Likely to Break Out In The Second Half
Bud Heavy has games against Athol A&M and Gillespie State next, but then has a 4 week stretch which includes Rakeville, Golden, and Dublin. It's the best schedule to finish the season in the FAC-10, and it just might be the push The King needs for a run at the championship.


Team Most Likely to Slump In The Second Half
Mexico's bye doesn't fall until Week 10, which could be a blessing in disguise as their schedule consists of Fitchburg Tech (4-1), Athol A&M (5-0), and Gillespie State (4-1) over the next 3 weeks. The Wildcats need at LEAST one win against this trio or their hopes at a 2nd straight regular season title will be completely destroyed.

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Week 6 Matchups
(1) Athol over (6) Bud Heavy
(2) Fitchburg Tech over (4) Mexico
(8) Stardust over (3) Gillespie State
(5) Anheuser-Busch over (11) Arizona-Kickery
(9) Golden over (7) Rakeville
(10) Dublin over Bye (we hope)

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

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League Notes
- Regardless of the fires spreading across Southern California, this weekend's Fitchburg Tech/Mexico game will still be played in Tijuana. To increase safety, fans will only be allowed into the game with fire-retardant sombreros.

- When Rex Grossman heard that Bud Heavy had signed QB Brian Griese, he called former coach and long-time friend Kevin Neville to complain. Coach Neville has yet to return his calls.

- Athol A&M's 87 point output last week was easily their highest-scoring game all season. Sources report that the team has switched to a Light Beer in their water coolers during practices.

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Gridiron Gazette: Power Rankings (Week 5)

On the shoulders of QB Carson Palmer, Athol A&M has found themselves #1 in the FBCS for two straight weeks. As the only remaining undefeated team in the conference, the Alchy's have quite the bullseye on their backs, especially this week against the defending champs.





Power Rankings (Week 5)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette




Hello from sunny Bermuda!

OK, so it's been raining ever since I arrived, but nonetheless I was thrilled that my editor actually gave me my first week off in 8 years. (Editor's Note: He finally re-read his contract. Damn.)

Even though I'm hundreds of miles away, I decided to still put up this week's power rankings. Hopefully, the summaries that follow will help you understand the utterly-chaotic logic I use to decide them.

Check back next week for our mid-season awards. Until then, enjoy!

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1. Athol A&M, 4-0 (+2)
As the only remaining undefeated team in the FAC-10, there's no question as to who should be #1. But their opponents have a combined 5-7 record, so how long can it last? The Alchy's can prove they belong at the top in their next 3 matchups against Stardust (#5), Bud Heavy (#6), and Mexico (#4).


2. Gillespie State, 3-1 ( - )
Three straight 50-point games is not the resume of a #2, yet since a rough opening week, they've knocked off 3 straight wins. They finally achieved their potential last week with 78 points against DUBA, and the conference's best running game should continue to put up huge numbers for the rest of the season.


3. Fitchburg Tech, 3-1 (+1)
The league's best offense (404 points, 103 ahead of 2nd) can only carry you as far as they allow, and in Week 3 the entire team took a vacation. Only scoring 63 points when you've scored at least 100 ever other game can really hurt you, and it shows that this team can lose at any given chance.


4. Mexico, 2-2 (-3)
How can a team score 92 points and fall 3 spots in the rankings? Simple: they lost. Anheuser-Busch picked a great week to come alive, beating the Wildcats 120-92 and removing them from the top spot. U-Mex has the tools to stay competitive, and one unlucky matchup will not deter this team in the slightest.


5. Stardust, 2-2 ( - )
The defending champs also had a tough matchup last week, putting up 80 points but running into a dominant Fitchburg Tech. This team, like Mexico, will not be affected by a tough loss, and with the return of Peyton Manning this week, they'll be just fine.


6. Bud Heavy, 3-1 (+1)
#4 in the FBCS is much more important than #6 in these rankings, yet there is a reason for it. In Week 3, BHU put up just 29 points on Mexico, the lowest point total by any team this season. The King should worry a bit that, with no significant injuries, they have the 10th rated offense in the FAC-10. With games against Fitchburg Tech, Athol, and Gillespie State coming up, their FBCS ranking should be parallel to their ranking here.


7. Golden, 2-2 (-1)
The Gryphons have been one disappointment after another, and nothing was more heartbreaking than last week's game. After a stunning upset of top-ranked Fitchburg Tech in Week 4, they fell to a low-scoring Athol team in Week 5. If RB Steven Jackson and WR Andre Johnson can get healthy quick, this team will be making a serious playoff push... or at the very least, play spoiler down the stretch.


8. Anheuser-Busch, 2-2 (+3)
How does a team that scores 120 points sit at #8? Simple: they're inconsistent. In their 2 wins, AB averages 102 points. In their 2 losses, 47.5. With a team that features 2 true freshmen and 3 sophomores, the fluctuation of their offensive production is no surprise. RB Adrian Peterson is slowly making this "his" team, and if the rest of the players accept it, they'll slowly creep up the standings.


9. Rakeville, 2-2 (-1)
It's tough having a bye week and dropping in the rankings, but that's what happens when the guy below you puts up 120 points. Rakeville really isn't too worried about this season, as they have already stressed their dedication to getting youngsters like WR Calvin Johnson and QB JaMarcus Russell ready for 2008. The recent pickup of 75 year old Priest Holmes may be a bit deceiving, but he should be a great mentor to freshman RB Brandon Jackson.


10. Dublin, 1-3 ( - )
Consistency can sometimes be a bad thing, as in DUBA's case. They've been consistently bad, scoring 52 points per game over their recent 3-game losing streak. If they want any kind of respectable record this season, they'll need to do it now. Dublin has the worst schedule at the end of the year, which includes Stardust, Bud Heavy, and Mexico.


11. Arizona-Kickery, 0-4 (-2)
If Dublin has been consistently bad, Kickery has been downright abysmal. 44 points per game has been hands-down the worst in the conference, and the performance of franchise players Drew Brees, Marvin Harrison, and Frank Gore has explained it. With no players in the league's top-50 in points, there is no silver lining for the Kickers' 2007 season. Their only consolation is a Week 10 bye before finishing up the season against Dublin, which hopefully will give them some momentum going into 2008.

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Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Week 4)

Marc Bulger was supposed to be the final piece of Mexico’s championship puzzle. Instead, his stat line this season includes 0 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, and 2 broken ribs. Can Mexico survive the injury bug that seems to be sweeping the conference?








Goal Line Stand (Week 4)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette




There are many different ways to deal with injuries, some more effective than others. Some teams prefer to make trades, sacrificing productivity in one area to replace lost numbers in another. Some teams enjoy browsing the waiver wire, signing free agents for the few weeks they are needed as replacements.

And some, like the Golden Gryphons, simply fight through it without making too many changes to their core players. When Eli Manning wasn’t ready for their season opener, backup Jake Delhomme simply walked onto the field and threw for 109 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Likewise, Steven Jackson has been absent from the offense for the past two weeks, but A.D. Michael Comtois didn’t panic and brought in fillers Warrick Dunn and Michael Pittman.

Mexico took a similar approach to their situation when transfer Marc Bulger had a horrible opening weekend, then broke 2 ribs. Backup Ben Roethlisberger is no superstar, but has the experience and intelligence to run the Wildcats offense. This week, with Roethlisberger inactive, Mexico signed veteran Kurt Warner. The 35-year old is not expected to be on the roster next week.

Sometimes, doing nothing can be a big mistake, as has been the case in Arizona. RB Laurence Maroney has been hurt the past 2 weeks, yet the team has placed him on their active roster anyway. The result has been 0 points from a very productive position, not to mention a 0-3 record and the last rated offense in the conference.

Injuries are a common, if unfortunate, part of football but should not be taken lightly. If your team has the depth (like Golden and Mexico) to fight through it, take pride in the fact that your coach prepared for the worst. In the case of Arizona, just close your eyes, pray, and be happy that your coach remembered to send a quarterback onto the field.

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FT @ SU
Fitchburg Tech’s title hopes took a huge blow last week, and the Red Raiders really need a rebound game. An offense that scored 115 PPG over the first 2 could only manage 64 against the injury-plagued Gryphons. If they want to regain the #1 spot in the power rankings, they’ll need to perform well against Stardust.

Speaking of the defending champions, their offense is finally starting to click. An 83 point outburst last week has them with the 3rd most points in the conference, and should have no problem against Fitchburg. Look for the S.U.C.H. to top the standings by next week.



UAK @ BHU
There’s nothing like the worst-rated offense in the conference facing off against a team that could only manage 29 points last week, and yet here we are. The Kickers have been tormented by injuries and poor play all season, and with WR Marvin Harrison and RB Frank Gore inactive this weekend, things are not looking any better.

And how a team can score just 29 points against a below-average Mexico defense is mind-boggling. It seems like ages ago that Bud Heavy dominated Stardust University, and yet it was just 3 weeks ago. This week should be Arizona-Kickery’s best shot at a win before they start a 3 game road trip against Mexico, Anheuser-Busch, and Fitchburg Tech.



AB @ UM
As was the case with BHU, it seems like ages ago that Anheuser-Busch dominated the preseason #1 Gillespie State, yet it too was just 3 weeks ago. Since then, AB has scored 45 PPG while going 0-2 against weak Bud Heavy and Rakeville squads. Is there any chance this young team can turn things around?

If so, this week isn’t the time. Mexico’s defense was outstanding last week, while backup QB Ben Roethlisberger has been just good enough while transfer Marc Bulger has been injured. The running game has been mediocre, and their receivers are hit or miss, but the new #1 in the power rankings has enough talent to grab another win this weekend.



AAM @ GU
As the remaining undefeated team in the conference, Athol sits atop the polls. How long that will last, however, will depend on their ability to improve their offense. The Alchys won with just 54 points last week, and have the 8th ranked offense, so they’ll need to do quite better than that against Golden.

The Gryphons pulled off the upset of the year last week by taking down #1 Fitchburg Tech, and even with all their injuries, they find ways to win. Steven Jackson is still hurt, and Larry Johnson is still no good, but Eli Manning has kept the team alive. Some day, the running game will remember who they are and they will start dominating. Until then, expect Athol to pull out a nail-biter in Colorado.



GS @ DUBA
After Arizona, Gillespie State is the disappointing team of the year. It’s impossible to count how many times the word “underachieving” has been said about this team, yet people keep yelling it out. Things didn’t help when RB Travis Henry transferred in, and immediately was suspended for substance abuse.

On the other side, Dublin has been performing just as expected: below-average offense, hanging around the middle of the standings, and a few surprising young skill guys (Brian Westbrook, Kevin Curtis). While the Black Diamonds continue their struggles, DUBA will catch another win at home.

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

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League Notes
- Gillespie State’s latest attempt at salvaging the 2007 season was to release K Jeff Wilkins and sign Lawrence Tynes. Players are skeptical that the change will help their chances, and have been spending a lot of time at Travis Henry’s house.

- Now that it's October, Dublin fans are ecstatic to know that their team’s nickname finally makes sense.

- After earning their first win of the season last week, Rakeville A.D. Mike "The Miz" took the entire team to Las Vegas to celebrate. No word yet as to how many players returned home afterwards.

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Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Week 3)

When a team invests time, effort, and a high draft pick in a quarterback, they'll give them every chance in the world to become a star. Lucky for Golden, Eli Manning has been relatively successful over the past 2 1/2 years, but if they want to win a championship, they'll need him to step up his game in a big way.








Goal Line Stand (Week 3)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette




It’s a simple formula: Successful Quarterback = FAC-10 Championship.

OK, so it's not an exact science, but history has proven that the man under center has the most influence on a team’s success. In 2005, Tom Brady led the Mexico Wildcats to the first conference title. In 2006, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees helped create an all-expansion championship matchup. Sure, running backs are statistically the best players in the league, but the difference between the #1 QB and #10 is so great that you just may find yourself without a leader.

Take Gillespie State, for example. In 2005, a stellar Jake Delhomme led the Black Diamonds to a 10-3 record (the next team went 7-6) and a 3rd place finish in the playoffs. 3400 yards and 26 touchdowns were top-10 numbers, and the team thrived. Then in 2006, Delhomme threw for only 2800 yards and 17 touchdowns for a 7th place Gillespie State team.

After winning the '05 championship behind the golden arm of Tom Brady, Mexico decided to spend last year in a quarterback-by-committee system. Kurt Warner, Jon Kitna, and Ben Roethlisberger all spent time on the roster before the Wildcats settled with Jeff Garcia for the playoffs. 475 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in 2 playoff games just wasn’t enough to lift the team to a repeat championship, even with the top-2 running backs in the league.

You might notice a contradiction to the rule, however, in Dublin this year. On the shoulders of top-rated QB Tony Romo, the Octoberfests have only been able to muster a 1-1 record and the 6th highest scoring offense in the conference. However, with under-achieving receivers and a top-5 running back in Brian Westbrook, this team should be able to turn things around and finish the season strong.

That is, if their quarterback can continue being successful.

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UAK @ SU
Nobody enjoys a championship rematch more than the players. However, the boys from Arizona are not looking forward to this matchup. Kickery is in desperate need of a bye week, but won't see one until Week 13. If Drew Brees can get his act together and Frank Gore returns to 2006 form, they might enjoy a week off before the... playoffs?

Stardust is just as bored with this meeting as Kickery is. A.D. Walter Sobchak called the game "...a lot less exciting than it should." With no silver lining in sight for this one, expect the Crazy Horses to run all over the Kickers.



BHU @ UM
For those who remember, Bud Heavy was actually quite successful in 2005. They finished the season 6-7, but had a Cinderella run in the playoffs only to have their butts handed to them in the finals by Mexico. Their postseason paths crossed again in 2006, when the Wildcats once again defeated The King in the 3rd place Beer Bowl. Needless to say, there’s a little bitterness in Bud country.

Both teams have good quarterbacks, above-average receivers, and a mediocre defense. The x-factor in this game is the backfield, where nobody knows which LaDanian Tomlinson will show up for the Wildcats. If it’s Week 1 LT, they're in trouble. If it’s week 2 LT, they'll win easily. Fortunately for Bud Heavy, we expect the former.



GU @ FT
When your 3rd string running back could start on most teams, you are pretty much set for the season. Fitchburg Tech has done a great job building a solid championship roster from top to bottom, and it's going to be tough for anyone to keep up with them. With 231 points in the first two weeks, while the next team has just 149, they can be confident every week.

They can be especially confident this Sunday as they face the struggling Gryphons. LJ looked like his old self last week, but still failed to find the end zone, while Steven Jackson is listed as doubtful for the matchup. Newcomer Reggie Wayne should ease the pain, but not enough to get a win over the hot Red Raiders.



AB @ RAK
There's nothing uglier than seeing two expansion teams go out on the field and make complete fools of themselves, especially when Matt Leinart is involved. Honestly, has there been a bigger disappointment than that kid from California? URake drafted them in hopes he would lead their team for years, then he gets benched mid-way through both of the Grays' first two games. If this kid doesn’t start performing, there are going to be some angry people in Rakeville.

On the bright side, QB Donovan McNabb and RB Adrian Peterson were given the week off by Anheuser-Busch A.D. Dave Celli. Why he is doing this, nobody knows (ok, some of us know) but it gives Rakeville a glimmer of hope, and most likely a win in Week 3.



DUBA @ AAM
During their bye week, Athol A&M head coach Dave Grubb tried to get his team as relaxed as possible by taking them out for a weekend of fun. Unfortunately, during a motorcycle race at Kellen Winslow's house, 5 players were hurt. Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson, Ronald Curry, and LaMont Jordan will all be on the sidelines for this week’s matchup.

Dublin should still fear Brett Favre and Jamal Lewis, two Alchy backups who’ve been having excellent seasons. Regardless, Tony Romo and company should put up big numbers in his team’s attempt to break away from the expansion disaster at the bottom of the power rankings.

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

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League Notes
- Dublin Head Coach Brad Bodell spoke to the student body before their Week 2 matchup. Students were outraged when they discovered that Bodell didn't have an Irish accent.

- University of Mexico fans were excited to hear about some planned changes at their stadium for the rest of the season. All concession signs will now be displayed in English and not just Spanish.

- Longtime Gillespie State WR Steve Smith was traded to Stardust this week. Coaches decided to get rid of Smith when he began putting an "A" in the middle of his name.

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