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

---

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

---

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

---

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.