Pack earn bye, Edge lose ground
The Pack effectively clinched second place and a first round playoff bye with a comeback win over the defending champion Mustangs, while the Greensleeves Edge suffered a major setback in their bid for the sixth and final playoff spot.
A short-handed Pack team defeated the Mustangs 26 22 with a late fourth quarter touchdown. Quarterback Jeff Tessier threw four touchdown passes to increase his league-leading total to 65. Mark Dawson had two touchdown catches while league-speedster Jeff Snook and Nick Pearson had one each.
The Pack won despite only having seven players, many of them long-time veterans who nearly qualify for the senior s discount at the Ponderosa. Tessier, a rare but recent sight on the Pack defence, was forced to rush and had an impressive three sacks. The much younger Mustangs were once again without star quarterback Harry Tackleberry Patterson and dropped their fifth game of the year. The Mustangs are now in a battle with the Hurricanes for third place.
In another key game, the Wolverines avenged an early season loss with a 23 21 comeback win that dealt a serious blow to the Edge s playoff aspirations. The Wolverines were trailing at the start of the fourth quarter when quarterback Jeff Hart hit a streaking Owen Penney for a long touchdown bomb to cut the Edge s lead to four.
Then late in the fourth quarter, the Edge tried a bit of trickery that backfired and ultimately cost them the game. On third down, deep in their own zone, the Edge lined up to punt, but it was a fake. Punter/backup quarterback John Dawe threw the pass at a trio of Edge receivers who played hot potato with the pigskin until it fell into the hands of Wolverine defender Brad Kearley. Kearley returned the pick deeper into Edge territory and several plays later scored the go-ahead touchdown to seal the win.
The loss makes the road to the playoffs much tougher and longer for the Edge. The Edge will likely need to upset the Hurricanes and win a key October 9th showdown with the Mud Pigs to guarantee a trip to the post-season.
News and Notes
The magic is gone. Longtime teammates Chris Wheeler and Craig Cooper have superb football chemistry, but even the most dynamic duo can have its problems. A distraught Wheeler was lamenting the normally sure-handed Cooper s performance after the Outlaws 38 6 win over the Hurricanes. He dropped eight balls, Wheeler told News and Notes. I m not throwing it to him anymore. One went off his fingers for a pick. And you can quote me on that Cooper says he only dropped one pass, and that one was a bad throw.
He should at least buy him dinner. Greg Woolgar s audibles were noticeably higher after the Outlaw quarterback had an intimate encounter with Gulls rusher Steve Kelly in the Outlaws 30 12 victory. It seems that Kelly managed to grope Woolgar s naughty bits on one particularly arousing sack. It was more of a grab and tear, said a grimacing Woolgar as he assumed the fetal position on the sidelines.
Casey got off easy. Mud Pig Kevin Casey has become a News and Note regular more for his off-field bribery than his on-field performance. But now it seems Moneybags Casey may have some competition. On two separate occasions Casey has paid teammate Sheldon Penman a total of 50 bucks to cover his line duty. But this weekend Mustangs quarterback and Rick-the-Temp clone Robin Park took things a step further. Park bribed teammate Dwayne Taverner with a free round at Clovelly golf course to cover his line duty for the Outlaws-Gulls game.
At least the trailer park was safe. Hurricane Ivan found its way to Pleasantville this weekend forcing games to be played in wet and muddy conditions. By late afternoon the downpour was so bad it forced the cancellation of Hickman s game against the Sterling Syrens. That game will be rescheduled.
He was tired of calling timeout to get into the huddle. Edge head coach Jeff O Keefe hung-up his Tom Landry hat and laced-up a pair of cleats this weekend when he suited up for the first time this season. O Keefe made his season debut in the Edge s 6 0 win over the Thunder. Now that O Keefe is no longer coaching, Edge players are threatening to cut him.
One and done. Because of poor weather there was only one women s game this week. The Renegades cemented their hold on third place with an 8 6 win over the defending champion Heat. The game was tied 6 6 until late in the fourth quarter when Pam White lashed a pair of kicks through the end zone for two points and the win.
Not all of them are Outlaws. Shawn Gibbons of the Falcons (Version 2.0) is still Greg Woolgar s favourite receiver and he leads the league in scoring with 129 points. Jason Kelly of the Gulls holds the interception lead with 18 picks. Paul Smith of the Edge has 29 sacks.
The Outlaws are already recruiting them. Sue Hickman of Hickman Motors continues to hold a commanding lead in the women s scoring race with 73 points. Pam White of the Renegades holds the interception lead with an impressive 21 picks. Karen O Neill of the Republic has 20 sacks.
Golden Arms. Jeff Tessier of the Pack is the top passer in the men s league with 65 touchdown passes. Greg Woolgar of the Outlaws is second with 55, while Jason Reynolds of the Gulls has 36 TD passes. Sharon Gregory of the Republic continues to lead all women with 48 touchdown passes. Michelle Healey of Hickman s is second with 26 touchdown passes, while Bobbi Benson of the Renegades has nine.
Obligatory Shayne Menecola update. Much to the relief of the Gulls, News and Notes feels this joke has gone on long enough.
