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+---- Thread: *PMoney's NSFL Week 4 Review (/showthread.php?tid=20193)
*PMoney's NSFL Week 4 Review - PMoney - 03-16-2020
Welcome to PMoney’s week 4 review of the NSFL. This is a quick review of the week’s games with some insight into the big plays, big stories and my personal MVP in all the games if you missed the live action. Let’s jump right into it with the first game of the week:
CHI vs BAL
23-31 
In the first game of the day, the undefeated Baltimore Hawks, travelled to a Chicago side having just arranged a trade with Philly for their first two picks in next years draft. This win-now move indicated CHI trying to capitalise on the situation in the NSFC with only BAL being above 0.500. The Butchers fell to an early deficit after an interception gave BAL great field position which they converted into the first TD. While many worried that this electric BAL offence would then be able to run away with this early lead, CHI kept the game close and stifled BAL, going into the halftime locker room in the lead.
A big play near the start of the 3rd quarter saw Apollo Reed gain 54 yards through the air and change the pace of the game with BAL putting points up on consecutive drives. While CHI managed a field goal in the 4th to bring the game close, BAL sealed the win with a late TD punched in by Reed. The Bal offence continues to impress by carving up the Butchers. With over 100 yards for rookie Chris Kross and over 90 yards and 2 TDs for Errol Maddox, this receiving core is one to watch.
MVP
Apollo Reed had a great game with 70 yards and a TD on the ground to go with his 87 yards through the air. His 54 yard play at the beginning of the 3rd really changed the momentum in Baltimore’s favour.
NO vs COL
37-13 
This one looked early on to be as one sided as their records predicted. The unbeaten NOLA jumped out to an early lead with Deon Taylor returning an Int for a pick-six early in the second quarter and Francisco throwing well. 27-6 at half-time and a real battle for COL to regain some dignity in the second half.
The scoring slowed for NO in the second as they attempted to wind down the clock, but the Yeti never really managed to put enough points on the board to threaten a comeback. The second quarter was too much for Colorado to overcome and while they nearly matched New Orleans in the second half, the Second Line pick up their fourth straight win.
MVP
Stan Francisco had a solid game throwing 3 TD’s and 234 yards. Without some key drops from his receivers, this could have been more, but his early efficiency really helped NO be comfortable in this game.
OCO vs AZ
55-17 
If the previous game was one sided, this was a slaughter. An early fumble from Siddhu Sarvepally didn’t prove costly as a Rapid Eagle sack forced a 3 and out for AZ before OCO drove down the field fot the first Hugh Mongo TD of the game. A fumble at their own 34 yard line proved costly for AZ as OCO capitalized and Hugh Mongo got his second TD in the first quarter. Their next drive switched it up by having J. Blaze haul in the TD pass. Following another 3 and out for AZ, OCO quickly gained another 3 and then topped the first half off with Sarvepally making up for his early fumble with a 4 yard TD.
Leading 31-0 at half time, OCO had a massive lead and never let up. AZ didn’t score a point until nearly the end of the 3rd quarter, by which point Ludicolo Bigby had extended the lead to 41 points and even a 108 yard kick return from L. Knight couldn’t salvage a respectable score as OCO ran rampage over a lacking AZ team. The powerhouse of Orange County seem to have returned.
MVP
A plethora of options to choose from on the OCO team, Armstrong throwing for 3 TD’s, Blaze going for 148 yards but after recovering from his early fumble, my MVP goes to rookie Siddhu Sarvepally racked up 3 TDs and 95 yards, a solid performance from the player many consider to be the backup RB for Orange County.
PHI vs YKW
24-30 
It was a big game for PHI, having already agreed to trading RB Farley Hank and DT Johnson Harding and sitting as one of the 4 teams in the NSFC at a 1-2 record, a win over rivals Yellowknife would show their early promise hadn’t faded.
A close game at halftime with Philly leading 17-14 but for Yellowknife, Bigsby going 13/17 for 161 yards was keeping them in the game when the rushing attack had only managed 37 yards.
After a PHI TD extended the lead YKW drove down the field, only to be stopped at the 1 yard line and have to settle for a field goal. Another FG at the beginning of the 4th kept them close and the YKW defence had stepped. With a quick stop, a 20 yard punt return, and a 41 yard passing play, YKW finally managed to finish off a drive for a TD with a pass to Hanyadi. At this point the Wraiths defence were all over the Liberty offence and forcing another 3 and out put the wraiths in a great spot to finish off the game.
While Hank only recorded 21 yards, Harding racked up 4 tackles and a sack, definitely production PHI will miss if they want to compete this year. The draft pick haul will certainly help out as they will be getting first and second round talent, but with this loss it looks like it may be a rebuilding year for Philly. However, with a deep draft class in S22, there will be talent falling to later rounds so the impact of this trade is still up in the air.
MVP
Bigsby made the difference for Yellowknife, going 26/32 for 363 yards, the most this week. While he only had 1 TD, he held onto the ball and had an excellent completion %, which let YKW edge out this close game. The YKW defence really stepped it up in the second half but they could have been well out of the game if not for Bigsby.
SJS vs AUS
19-22 
In a cagey affair between the two teams in the ASFC sitting at 1-2,scoring started out slowly. Although SJS aired the ball out, quickly racking up 120 passing yards in the first quarter, scoring was minimal, with field goals from both teams. SJS edged ahead in the second but still without a touchdown for either side, Hal Fassingit came up big with a safety for AUS to bring the game back to 6-5 and shift the momentum of the game. While still a low scoring quarter, the SJS passing attack stuttered with only 13 yards.
SJS came out of the blocks strong in the second half and apart from a fumble by Tyerucker that he recovered himself, they looked more confident as they drove to a short field goal. 2 sacks from Tyron Brackenridge meant a 3 and out for AUS which was capitalised on with another FG. However, it was still a 7 point game and a couple of big yardage gains to J. Clay levelled the scoring. Next drive AUS scored again with another TD from Clay but SJS retaliated to level the score once again at 19-19 deep into the 4th quarter.
A 39 yard completion to Net Gaines put AUS in great field position to all but seal the game with a TD, but the defence held them to just a field goal. SJS had the opportunity to drive down the field and win it, but ultimately had to rely on a 50 yard FG to level the game and take it to OT, which was no good. Neither team will be particularly thrilled by the game, but Austin will be glad they came out on top as they chase Orange County and New Orleans for a playoff spot.
MVP
In a slow game for offence to start out. I’m giving the MVP to Hal Fassingit. His safety slowed the SJS offence and kept the stuttering Copperheads in the game. On defence for the Copperheads, rookie Holden Summers was everywhere, with 13 tackles and a sack.
While on the losing side, a shoutout to Brackenridge for his 6 tackles and 3 sacks.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]In the Money this week:[/div]
There weren’t any huge upsets this week, but the Wraiths and Copperheads both won closely contested games away from home. Particularly for Yellowknife, the move to second in the NSFC as they look to make an early push towards those playoff places. The Otters dominated Arizona at home which will give them good confidence going into a big matchup next week against the also undefeated New Orleans Second Line.