Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Week 9)

Dallas Clark had a career game, but came up 1 yard shy of putting Bud Heavy in sole possession of first place. Now, it's a 7-team logjam atop the FBCS standings.




Goal Line Stand (Week 9)
Cam Pannalist, Gridiron Gazette




It was the greatest game in FAC-10 history. Twin City Tech had an 11 point lead going into the 4th quarter, but it all vanished as Bud Heavy TE Dallas Clark remembered how to play football. 7 catches, 94 yards, and 2 touchdowns later, we had the makings of a fantastic finish.

The final drive for Bud Heavy began at their own 10, as TCT kicker Stephen Gostkowski boomed a kickoff that made his mother proud. The Red Raider special teams swarmed KR Mark Clayton, who did nothing the entire game. Jason Campbell (who hasn't thrown an interception for Bud Heavy all season) went to work, firing strike after strike to Clark as they moved down the field. A game-winning score seemed inevitable.

With 12 seconds left, on their own 37, Campbell hit Clark over the middle. The Red Raider defense was playing the sidelines, leaving a giant gap in the middle of the field. Instead of trying to get out of bounds, Clark's eye glimmered with a chance to score the game-winning touchdown. All 252 pounds of him rumbled towards the end zone as the game clock expired.

Out of nowhere (ala Mike Jones for the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV), Tech's Patrick Willis ran in from behind, wrapped Clark up by the legs, and kept the Tight End from reaching the end zone.... one yard short.



The game will go down as the greatest in FAC-10 history, but even more amazing is how much of a mess it created in the FBCS. Seven teams now have the best record in football at 5-3, while last place Weymouth is just 4 games back with just 5 weeks left. In comparison, here's how the 2007 FBCS stood after eight games:

1. Gillespie State	7-1	556.08
2. Twin City Tech	6-2	768.59
3. Athol A&M	6-2	446.62
4. Busch	5-3	640.59
5. Mexico	4-4	632.73
6. Golden	4-4	552.97
7. Stardust	4-4	490.54
8. Rakeville	4-4	461.51
9. Dublin	3-5	548.87
10. Bud Heavy	3-5	400.17
11. Az-Kickery	1-7	420.17

So we are left with 12 teams still alive for what is shaping up to be the greatest FAC-10 finish in conference history. And if this past week's Bud Heavy/Twin City Tech game was any foreshadow, this thing just might come down to one yard.

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

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

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League Notes
- The Tech/Bud Heavy game was one of the greatest games ever, but barely anybody saw it. Fans protested the game due to an incident the previous week in which Matty J Stadium refused to serve alcohol after the first quarter.

- Even though Bud Heavy played without a defense, which ultimately cost them a win last week, Stardust has opted to follow the same strategy this week against Mexico. "The stupid Wildcats can't score anyway, whats the big deal?" grumbled some middle-aged tourist in a casino.

- Nick Folk is still the worst kicker in the conference.