Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Week 11)

With the rain pouring down and the field a complete disaster, Golden's Jeff Reed nailed a 24-yard game winning field goal against Stardust University. The kick eliminated three teams from playoff contention, including the defending champion Crazy Horses, in a finish that is sure to go down as the greatest in FAC-10 history.







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



"Clutch" is a difficult label to be celebrated. If a quarterback goes 29-30 for 450 yards and 4 touchdowns but throws an interception in overtime, he's given the blame. However, if another goes 5-30 and his only touchdown caps a game-winning drive with 20 seconds left, he's considered a hero?

It's not exactly fair, but neither is being forced to play on a poorly kept field with 2 weeks remaining in the season and your playoff life on the line. That is what Golden University was given in their Week 10 matchup against Stardust. Las Vegas had gotten rain the entire week, and the field was far from perfect. A win by Stardust would put both teams at 5-5 going into the final week, with just 1 playoff spot available.

Golden, trailing by 2.93 points, marched down the field with 3:45 left in the 4th quarter. Gryphons kicker Jeff Reed had already missed an easy field goal earlier in the game, so the offense took no chances as they got as close as they could. Reed's "clutch" kick not only destroyed Stardust's chances at the playoffs this year, but Bud Heavy and Rakeville's as well.

And so we are left with 7 teams for 6 post-season spots. Barring a 200-point output by Athol, Fitchburg Tech and Gillespie State have locked up the 2 byes. Let's take a look at the rest of the seedings:


(3) Athol A&M
The Alckys hung on by a thread down the stretch, loosing 3 in a row after starting the season 6-0 but winning last week against Anheuser-Busch. The victory clinched a playoff spot for themselves, but they still have a lot of work to do. Their final game is against Gillespie State, and the Black Diamonds would like nothing more than to enter the playoffs with a win. 187 points over the past two games has Athol thinking upset, keeping them in 3rd. A loss could drop them all the way to 6th place.
Predicted finish: 7-4, 6th seed

(4) University of Mexico
The bye week came at a perfect time for the Wildcats, as it allowed the four teams above them to beat the hell out of each other. Although they have not officially clinched a playoff spot yet, their offense is the 2nd best in the conference, which is an excellent tiebreaker for Mexico to have at this point. A win combined with an Athol loss will give them the #3 seed. They face DUBA, who struggled against Bud Heavy (11th rated offense in the league) last week.
Predicted finish: 7-4, 3rd seed

(5) Anheuser-Busch University
It's difficult for a single player to carry a team, but that's exactly what RB Adrian Peterson has been doing all season for AB. A knee injury has held the rookie out the past two weeks, and two losses proves their need for a solid running game. Peterson is back this week against Stardust, who is still recovering from their last-second defeat at the foot of Jeff Reed and Golden U. Momentum is in short supply for both teams, but look for Peterson to step up his game and come through in the clutch.
Predicted finish: 7-4, 4th seed

(6) Golden University
If momentum is anywhere, its in Colorado this week. Even luckier for the Gryphons is that Bud Heavy is in town for the final week of the season. The King has been unable to score points, failing to reach 50 for the past five weeks. Golden has won 4 out of 5 to give themselves this chance, and there's no way they're going to let it slip away at the hands of the worst offense in the league.
Predicted finish: 7-4, 5th seed

(7) Dublin University of Brewery Arts
Unlike Fitchburg Tech in Week 6, DUBA coaches made the decision to bench WR Hines Ward on Monday night with their game already won. Unfortunately, it may come back to haunt them as the tiebreaker to get into the playoffs is total points, and Dublin is far from safe in that department. If the Octoberfests can steal a win in Mexico, they'll need a loss from Golden to have any realistic chance at the post-season. If Golden loses and still manages to outscore DUBA by 8 points, it'll be a cold winter in Dublin.
Predicted finish: 5-6, 7th place

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

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

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League Notes
- After dropping out of Rakeville University over a month ago, QB Matt Leinart was accepted to Arizona-Kickery this week. AZK became his top choice for 2008 after a solid promotion of the school's dance program.

- The quarterback controversy in Athol has students split right down the middle. Carson Palmer supporters have started a "CP = TD" campaign, while Brett Favre fans have been riding around campus in wheelchairs.

- Golden's victory over Stardust eliminated youth-minded Rakeville from the playoffs. When asked to comment, Head Coach Drew Bledsoe said, "Whew, that was a close one."