Gulls upset the champs
The Harbour Gulls scored the biggest win in the teams two-year history with a stunning 21 18 victory over the league champion Mustangs.
Jason Kelly of the Gulls had a touchdown and a pair of interceptions, while Craig Rogers was the games top scorer with two touchdowns. But it was the strong play of quarterback Jason Reynolds that sealed the victory. Reynolds had several long drives against the wind and was consistently able to move the ball against one of the leagues strongest defences.
This was the Mustangs first loss this season with Harry Tackleberry Patterson starting the game at quarterback. Patterson threw four interceptions and struggled to move the ball against the wind. Dropped passes on third down killed several of the Mustangs drives. On defence, the Mustangs were about 90 proof after attending a stag en masse the night before.
In the womens league, Hickman Motors and the Republic continued their early season domination. The high-powered Republic offence defeated the Sterling Syrens 26 0 and then thumped the M5 Rockets 53 0. Hickmans defeated the Renegades 14 0 and the defending champion Heat 26 0. Barring stunning second-half collapses, both teams seem destined to battle for first place all season.
News and Notes
Mid-season hardware. This week News and Notes will pick the mid-season award winners for both leagues. But first some of the highlights of the week.
They thought they were playing dodgeball. The quarterbacks seemed to be confused for at least part of the Mustangs-Gulls matchup this weekend. On four consecutive passes Harry Tackleberry Patterson and Jason Reynolds threw interceptions. Patterson managed to hit Gulls safety Jason Kelly between the numbers twice. While Reynolds shared the wealth by throwing picks to Dan Smeagol Gulliver and real-estate magnate Steve Frosty Winters.
The Return of the Gimps. Dale Kearley and 2001 Rookie-of-the-Year Dwayne Keats suited up for the Wolverines this weekend. Both are returning from knee surgery. It was Kearleys first action of the season and Keats first game since his rookie campaign. The two hooked-up for a key score when Kearley hit Keats on a long touchdown pass in the Wolverines 13 12 win over the Hurricanes.
The Return of the Helmet. The first-place Outlaws suffered their first defeat of the season as their attempt to extort beer and line duty from the Wolverines failed miserably. The Outlaws stole the Wolverines coveted Yellow Helmet and issued a series of poorly written demands on the leagues web-forum. Displaying the criminal savvy of the Apple Dumpling Gang, the Outlaws left a trail of clues Ray Charles could follow and ultimately confessed to Mike Wheeler. The Helmet was returned with no ransom being delivered.
She also punted well. Hickmans quarterback Michelle Healey was a one-person wrecking crew in her teams 26 0 win over the Heat. Healey threw three touchdown passes, had four interceptions on defence and also scored a touchdown.
The G stands for Gimme. Outlaw Dave The G is silent Rouagh has scored a lot of touchdowns over the years. But none of them came easier than the one he scored in the Outlaws 66 0 win over the Rutter Rage. Facing third-and-long deep in their zone, the Rage decided to kick it away. But the punt went straight up and strong winds blew it back into the end zone. Rouagh simply picked up the ball in the end zone for the easiest six points of his life.
Their resumes are impressive too. Sue Hickman of Hickmans and Bobbi Benson of the Renegades are the only players in the womens league to record a stat in all four statistical categories. Hickman has 28 points, five interceptions, one sack and one touchdown pass. Benson has one point, three interceptions, one sack and two touchdown passes.
Obligatory Shayne Menecola Update. Cola is the only player in the mens league to record a stat in all four statistical categories. Menecola has 33 points, four interceptions, three sacks, one touchdown pass, and a 10-yard penalty for mouthing off to the referee.
Mid-Season Picks
In a move that is certain to lead to questions, comments, verbal abuse, and anonymous flaming on the forums, News and Notes will offer its mid-season picks for the leagues major awards.
Most Valuable Player
Men: News and Notes gives this award to the Mustangs defence. With Harry Tackleberry Patterson away at Police Academy the Tim Hoskins and Paul Vincent led defence has kept the defending champions focused and competitive. With the exception of the Outlaws and the Gulls, no team has shown any ability to score against the champs. Of course, thats when the Mustangs arent pickled like a bunch of martini olives.
Women: She hasnt scored a single point, doesnt have a sack or an interception. But no player affects the outcome of a game more then Republic quarterback Sharon Gregory. Gregory has thrown 26 touchdown passes in just eight games while the rest of the womens league has combined to throw 28 touchdown passes. The Republic also leads the league in scoring with 236 points. Last year, without Gregory at quarterback, the Republic scored 214 points in 16 games.
Best Offensive Player
Men: The best thing to do with this award is to throw it into Anthony Pauls backyard during an Outlaws team barbecue and let the dominant alpha male claim the prize. The Outlaws have scored 296 points in eight games while Dave Rouagh, Shawn Gibbons and Craig Cooper are the leagues top scorers. Quarterback Greg Woolgar also leads the league with 32 touchdown passes. Because he has scored a touchdown in every game except one this season, the nod goes to Gibbons.
Women: Michelle Healey of Hickman Motors has the distinction of being the second most dominant quarterback in the womens league this season and, with Gregory winning MVP, Healey gets the offensive player award. Healey has eight points, six interceptions and 15 touchdown passes. Hickmans has scored the second most points in the league with 138.
Best Defensive Player
Men: With just 33 points against, the Outlaws have the highest-rated defence in the league. News and Notes is tempted to consider the Alien versus Predator option of the trophy toss into APs backyard for this award too. But the nod goes to Craig Cooper who leads the team with eight interceptions and had a game-turning pick in the Outlaws opening week victory over the Mustangs.
Women: Pam White of the Renegades leads her team in points, interceptions, touchdown passes and decibel levels. But its her league high 12 picks and roaming intensity at safety that makes her the mid-season pick for defensive player of the year. The Renegades boast a smart, solid defence and White is its best player.
Best Rookie
Men: There are several strong candidates for this award. Sandy Peddle of the Edge leads the league with 11 interceptions. Luigi Marshall of the Wolverines has 13 sacks. Mike Reddy of the Mud Pigs has 37 points and two interceptions. But the mid-season pick goes to Reddys teammate Mutema Pittman. The dread-locked Tam has 48 points and four interceptions for the suddenly hot Mud Pigs.
Women: Tanya Campbell of the M5 Rockets is the mid-season favourite for this award. Campbell has 15 sacks despite missing several games. Shes also a solid offensive player for a new team struggling to score points.
Most Sportsmanlike
Men: News and Notes has never fully understood the criteria for this award, except for the fact that not a single member of the Gulls is eligible for reasons that should be obvious to all. But everybody seems to like Jeff Snook of the Pack and hes a helluva player with 60 points, a pick and blazing speed. Snook is the epitome of class and sportsmanship on and off the field, whether his team is winning or losing.
Women: How do you pick this award in a league where every game ends with shouts of Hip, hip hooray! no matter the score? The womens approach to the game makes the mens league look like an open-air jail. But in terms of sporting behavior and effective play Connie Flemming of the Republic deserves to be singled out. Flemming leads the league with 37 points.
Most Improved
Men: Once again there are several strong contenders for this award. And News and Notes is going to pick two. Owen Penney of the Wolverines played just a handful of games last year, but in 2004 he has been the most consistent player in whats been a tough first half for the Wolverines. Jason Reynolds quarterbacked the Gulls to a huge upset of the Mustangs and is third in the league with 19 touchdown passes.
Women: Having had limited exposure to the womens league in 2003, this is a tough award for News and Notes to pick. But Karen ONeill of the Republic deserves notice for an impressive statistical first half. ONeill has 30 points, one interception, and a league-high 17 sacks.
