Week #13
Week #13
The regular season concludes with the long shot Bandits pulling out the final playoff spot. The Bandits took care of the Filiricans, had just enough for a top 8 finish, and then got the needed help from the Elephants who knocked off the Wapati. The Bandits will move on to the playoffs, while the Wapati and Filiricans certainly are left with bitter disappointment. The Beach Bums beat the Contributors in the showdown for the C Division title, and the reward is a rematch in the first round of the playoffs. The Destroyers had already clinched the division title, and will be the first round opponent for the Bandits. The Death get the win over the Manatees to secure the final wildcard spot in the A/B conference, while the Cossacks got a late PAT to take the #1 wildcard spot and avoid the dreaded first round match up against the season scoring champ Maulers. The Doggy Style get back on track and will face off against the Cossacks in round one.
The sidepots are complete with the Destroyers leading the way with four side pots won, followed by the Maulers with three. The Manatees Priest Holmes was again the overall scoring leader this year, bad hip and all. The Bandits TE Gonzalez comes from behind and wins the TE sidepot, thanks to a 16 point week in the regular season finale.
Here is a look at the week 13 action:
Doggy Style 69
Plague 64
Jeff/Scott get their Doggy Style back on
track with a win over the Plague. Big weeks from K Hanson with 21 and newly
acquired Buffalo Def with 16. Bill/John finish the year below .500 after looking
like a serious playoff contender. A typical week for the Plague, plenty of solid
performances led by Ward with 20, but a -1 from QB Johnson negates all the good.
Machine 59
Cows 49
Two scrub bowl bound teams square off and it
is yet another win for the Machine. Frank/Jim get another solid week from James
and an up week from Boston, who has to be one of the most inconsistent players
in the game. When Boston is on he is real good, when he is off his game, he is
likely to be suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team". Tom's Cows go
quietly into the night, ending a lost season for the Cows. Hasselbeck led the
team with 20, not much else to say about the Cows.
Cossacks 81
Maulers 80
In what was nearly a preview of a round one
match up, the Cossacks get a late PAT from K Anderson to get the 1 point win.
Maze/Mac needed the win due to the Death winning their game, or they would have
had to face the Maulers again. A solid day from many Cossack players, led by
Toomer with 17. The scary part is, the Cossacks finished with the 2nd high
scoring average, tied for the high score in the league this week, and then
promptly made wholesale changes for the playoff run. Could it be Maze over
thinking a bit? Time will tell. Merv/Mike have the Maulers on cruise control
these days, as they keep churning out big weeks and are the obvious favorite
heading into the playoffs. Portis had a big day for the team with 22, supported
by Chad Johnson who is just a flat stud this year. Somehow the favorites always
seem to struggle come playoff time, but I dare you to find a hole in the Maulers
roster. I double dog dare you!
Death 61
Manatees 58
In a one game showdown for the final
wildcard spot, it was the Commish's Death the emerge victorious. The Death
picked up original draft pick Brooks at QB and his two rushing TD's lead to 17
points to lead the team. Next up for the Death is the Mighty Maulers, can you
say one and done? Ratt bows out of the playoff race, despite a big day from
Holmes with 23. The problem this week was the same as it has been all year for
the Manatees, lots of Holmes and not much else. The normally reliable Dallas
defense failed to score a single point, while the Manatees WR's combined for 1
little point. A fine season for Ratt, just had the bad luck of being in the
toughest division in the league.
Elephants 58
Wapati 56
In a must win for the Wapati, it was the
Elephants who get the win and end the Wapati's playoff hopes. Pennington was
solid for Tom/Joel's team with 14, while St. Louis def continues to shine with
16. Boyd/Butch come up a few points short of a playoff birth, and look no
further than their #1 draft pick Owens who had just 2. The Wapati WR's looked
unbelievable in the early season, but they really struggled down the stretch. I
am sure they will get on track the next 4 weeks, adding top the disappointment
for the Wapati.
Beach Bums 72
Contributors 63
In a showdown for the C Division title, it
is Alford's Beach Bums that claim the division crown. Another big day from Moss
along with help from Brady with 14 and 17 from K Stover, and the beach Bums take
home the division title. John/Eric drop the game as they got a respectable
showing from their team, but little WR production and a down day from McNabb
leave them a bit short. No time to dwell on the game for either team, as they
face off again in round one of the playoffs. Those back to back match ups can
get downright nasty!
Bandits 68
Filiricans 56
Many people had written off the Bandits,
probably Al included, but they climb their way back into the playoffs with the
stunning final week turn of events. Al's need a win, check. A top 8 finish,
check. A Wapati loss, check. The Bandits are in! Faulk is looking real good for
the Bandits these days, as he led the team with 28. Next up for the Bandits is
the division rival Destroyers. Johnny/Matt get a solid day from Culpepper, but
Garner, Smith, Wycheck and Pit def combined for just 3 points. Tough break for
the Filiricans to get such a weak effort, a win and they were in the playoffs.
Destroyers 81
Fish 79
These teams put on a show in the final week,
trading blows back and forth. It was Steve/Joe's Destroyers that get the win and
a tie for the high score of the week. Manning wraps up the QB sidepot with 19,
and a return to health for Harrison was just what the Destroyers wanted to see
heading into the playoffs. A tough end to a tough year for the defending champ
Fish. Wayne/Rich get a big week from Chambers with 29, supported by Bulger with
18. AS it was all year for the fish, a solid week still didn't get them win, and
still couldn't crack the top 3. I think we can safely say the William Green will
not even make it onto the Fish's cheat sheet at next years draft.
Week #14 Preview
Last week's record: 3-5
Year to Date: 50-38
Death @ Maulers: Death need new QB & TE to produce, Maulers need Portis to get his usual carries Pick: Maulers
Cossacks @ Doggy Style: Cossacks turn to new QB, TE and K for help, Doggy Style need RB's to step up Pick: Doggy Style
Bandits @ Destroyers: Destroyers look to Indy combo to click, Bandits need Faulk to have another big day Pick: Destroyers
Contributors @ Beach Bums: Contributors need WR production, Beach Bums need Barber to step up Pick: Contributors
Scrub Bowl: Lots of quality teams in this year's scrub bowl, a little redemption in week one for...... Pick: Fish
Good luck to everyone in week #14! I am outta here......
The
Commish
PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE COMMISH'S CORNER:
CLICK ON LINK TO VIEW THAT WEEK'S REPORT