Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Championship Edition)

Peyton Manning, once again, found a way to win and keep the Golden University Cinderella season alive. Will he have enough left in the tank to take down the heavily favored, regular season champions, Twin City Tech?


Gridiron Gazette: Goal Line Stand (Championship Edition)
By Joe Heisman, EhSPN


Here we are, finally, and once again without Cam, how could he be so foolish to miss the two most important weeks of the football season. Anyways, Joe Heisman here to give you all of your necessary information for the most anticipated game of the year, the Conference Championship game presented by Pabst Blue Ribbon.

This year we have a true David vs. Goliath match-up after top seeded Twin City Tech dismantled (4) Bud Heavy University, and (6) Golden University embarrassed (2) Busch University on their home turf to advance.

Will we finally see a regular season champion show why the earned the best record in the league, or will we have another upset from Golden University, who can’t seem to lose behind leader Peyton Manning. Let’s break down the position-by-position match-ups and see if we can come to a conclusion.

Quarterback
2 Veteran leaders. 2 Quarterbacks whom each have a Conference Championship with different schools. Both teams have a great foundation here with their leaders under center. Peyton Manning (GU) is averaging 18ppg in the playoffs, while Kurt Warner (TCT) is averaging just under 10ppg. If Warner wants to lead his team to the trophy, he is going to need to bring a little more output to the table. For now, I’ll stay with the hot hand.
Advantage: Golden, by a slight margin

Running Back
In his first year as a starter, Michael Turner (GU) has torn up the opposing defense to the tune of 1,421 yards and a league leading 15 TDs on the ground. You don’t get better than that in the FAC-10 this year. With Stephen Jackson (GU) running by Turner’s side the Golden backfield will look to shred through the Twin City Tech defense this weekend.

However, the Raiders have no slouches in their backfield. Clinton Portis (TCT) has run for 1,337 yards (3rd best in the conference) and 7 TDs, while Dominic Rhodes (TCT) has done a nice job coming into replace injured Joseph Addai, finding pay dirt 8 times (6 rushing, 2 receving) for himself.

With Turner and Jackson averaging just under 100ypg and a TD a piece, its tough to pick against them.
Advantage: Golden

Wide Receiver
If the Golden is going to be able to win this game, this is whom they need to stop. Twin City Tech boasts 3 of the conferences best WRs, with their three headed monster of Randy Moss (TCT), Roddy White (TCT), and Andre Johnson (TCT). Together they have accumulated 3,626 yards to go with 22 TDs on the year, including 12ppg in the playoffs. It is impossible to find that production in any other receiving core within the FAC-10.

Golden counters with Reggie Wayne (GU), Antonio Bryant (GU) and Santonio Holmes (GU). The core of receivers has been able to amass totals of 2,733 yards through the air with 15 TDs on the season. However, Bryant has been the best receiver of the playoffs by far turning in 308 yards and 3 TDs in two games, while making the best catch of the season to propel Golden past DUBA in the 1st round. If Golden has any chance, they will need another Superman type effort from Antonio.
Advantage: Twin City Tech, its not even close

Tight End
Again, showing that Twin City Tech is superior in their Air Attack to Golden, Tony Gonzalez (TCT) has been head and shoulders above everyone else in the TE category this year. The 32 year old has kept true to his Hall-of-Fame form, leading the conference with 941 yards receiving and 8 TD grabs. Tony Scheffler (GU) has come nowhere close to that gathering just 514 yards through the air with 2 TDs.
Advantage: Twin City Tech, again, its not even close

Kicker
In what could be a deciding factor for the Championship game, each team features one of the top 2 kickers in the league. Rob Bironis (GU) is averaging 9.82ppg, while Stephen Gotskowski (TCT) is averaging 9.67ppg. That is as close as it gets in the position match-ups for these squads, it’ll come down to who gets the most chances this weekend.
Advantage: Push

Defense
Patrick Willis (TCT) has been a model of consistency for the Raiders all season, coming into the league 2nd in solo tackles and 3rd in total defensive points. But on the other side, the Gryphons have the best big play defender in the league with Ed Reed (GU). If Reed can come up with the big plays he has all season Golden has a chance.
Advantage: Twin City Tech, slightly


We have two teams with differencing philosophies, and it will be interesting to see what happens with the two bang heads. Golden keeps the ball on the ground and Twin City Tech airs it out. On paper, Twin City Tech appears to be the favorite and the bookies in Vegas seem to agree making them a 7pt early favorite. If Golden can keep the ball out of the hands of Warner and the TCT receivers though, anything can happen.

That is just something that is too tough to do with all those weapons.

Let the league know who you think is going to win by voting in this poll and commenting below.

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Pabst Blue Ribbon Llama Bowl (Finals)
(1) Twin City Tech 100, (6) Golden University 76

Keystone Light Ghetto Bowl (Consolation)
(2) Busch University 90, (4) Bud Heavy University 74

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League Notes
-Andre Johnson was recently referred to as Superman by Twin City's hometown publication. When Andre was questions by reporters about it, he said, "Isn't Superman white? I see myself as more as the Nighthawk."
-Wilmington, MA natives and Athletic Directors for Bud Heavy University and Busch University, Kevin Neville and Dave Celli were seen together, consoling each other after their loses on Monday night. They each had no comment on the event, however, they were sure to announce it was strictly heterosexual consoling.
-DUBA Oktoberfests top official, Brad Bodell, has reportedly not stopped drinking since last weeks last second loss to Golden. In an effort to keep the record going and to pay him for his teams effort, the President of Golden University has sent Mr. Bodell enough of a supply of Coors Light to last until next seasons training camp.