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+---- Thread: *Muddy's Matchup Review S50: Week 9 (/showthread.php?tid=53385)
*Muddy's Matchup Review S50: Week 9 - Muddym13 - 09-26-2024
Muddy's Matchup Review: Week 9 Week 9 Matchups
Berlin Fire Salamanders (2-7) 42 - 19 Orange County Otters (0-9) 
New York Silverbacks (5-3-1) 29 - 16 Honolulu Hahalua (6-3) 
Sarasota Sailfish (6-3) 31 - 14 Osaka Kaiju (4-5) 
Cape Town Crash (6-3) 13 - 7 Colorado Yeti (2-7) 
Baltimore Hawks (6-3) 31 - 23 Yellowknife Wraiths (6-3) 
Arizona Outlaws (6-2-1) 13 - 3 Austin Copperheads (6-3) 
San Jose Sabercats (3-6) 7 - 44 New Orleans Secondline (4-5) 
Game of the Week: Battle for the Summit, Hawks Take Down Wraiths To Tie for NSFC Lead
The Hawks pulled off a thrilling 31-23 victory over the Wraiths in a tightly contested game. The Wraiths struck first in the opening quarter with Animal Blundetto’s 2-yard rushing touchdown, giving them a 7-0 lead. They extended their advantage in the second quarter when Blundetto scored again on a 2-yard run, but a missed extra point left the score at 13-0. The Hawks responded quickly with Reginald Shrubbery’s 2-yard touchdown run, narrowing the deficit to 13-7. A late exchange of field goals saw the Wraiths head into halftime with a 16-10 lead.
The second half was dominated by the Hawks. Wolfie McDummy Jr. led a militant offense, connecting with Emile Charles for two touchdown passes, giving the Hawks a 24-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. A pivotal moment came when McDummy found María Teresa de la Rosa for a 17-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 31-16 with just over seven minutes remaining. The Wraiths showed signs of life late in the game when Maximus Boudreaux found Bob Kronkowski for a 2-yard touchdown pass, closing the gap to 31-23, but it wasn’t enough to mount a full comeback.
The game was marked by a balanced performance from both teams, but the Hawks' efficiency on key downs proved decisive. The Hawks converted 9 of 15 third downs compared to the Wraiths’ 1 of 10, allowing them to extend drives and control the clock with a slight edge in time of possession. While the Wraiths had the upper hand in rushing yards with 152 to the Hawks’ 82, the Hawks dominated through the air, gaining 283 passing yards compared to the Wraiths' 168. The Hawks’ disciplined play was also evident, as they committed fewer penalties and avoided turnovers. At the same time, the Wraiths fumbled twice, both recovered by the Hawks.
Holy Field Goals Batman!: Silverbacks Win the Boot Battle, New York Outkicks Hahalua in Tense Showdown
In what looked to be a different type of football game, the New York Silverbacks secured a 29-16 victory over the Honolulu Hahalua. The game began with the Silverbacks drawing first blood on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Elijah Dyson to Zayn Feet-Lover Sr., though their extra point attempt failed. The Hahalua responded with a spectacular 57-yard touchdown pass from Lenard McRobinson to Brad Woof as the first quarter ended with a slim 7-6 lead for Honolulu.
The Silverbacks regained control in the second quarter when Dyson connected with Reginald Hammerfall for a 1-yard touchdown, giving New York a 13-7 lead. A field goal from Honolulu's Ray Baker cut the deficit to 13-10 by halftime. Both teams traded field goals in the third quarter, keeping the score tied at 16-16 heading into the final period.
In the fourth quarter, the Silverbacks' defense stepped up, and kicker Wing Wang nailed three consecutive field goals to push New York ahead, 22-16. That made it 6 straight field goals in the game! With just over a minute left, cornerback "The Riddler" sealed the win with a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown. Honolulu's offense struggled with turnovers, as McRobinson threw three costly interceptions. Despite outgaining New York in total yards, the Hahalua’s offensive miscues and penalties proved to be their undoing.
New Sheriff in Town: Outlaws on the Rise, Arizona Rides Past Copperheads to Claim ASFC Lead
In a hard-fought battle, the Arizona Outlaws triumphed over the Austin Copperheads with a final score of 13-3. The Outlaws took control early, with running back Bertie Mannering-Phipps scoring the only touchdown of the game on a 4-yard rush, putting his team ahead 7-0. The second quarter saw no scoring from either side, as both defenses tightened up, leading to a one-score halftime.
As the game progressed into the second half, Arizona continued to build its lead. Wynn Jenkins, the Outlaws' kicker, nailed a 41-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, extending the Outlaws' lead to 10-0. Just a few minutes later, Jenkins struck again, this time from 31 yards, making it 13-0. The Copperheads finally broke the silence late in the game with a 37-yard field goal by Pete Moss, but it wasn’t enough to alter the outcome, as the Outlaws secured their victory with a commanding lead.
Overall, the Outlaws dominated in several key statistical areas, including total yards (342 to 209) and time of possession (41:30 to 18:30), reflecting their control throughout the game.
All-Star Lineup Week 9
QB Octavion Speedings 23/32, 284 yards, 3 TD RB Willie Swaggert - 25 Att, 105 yards, 2 TD | 1 Rec, 5 yards RB Kyle Crane - 20 Att, 172 yards, 2 TD | 4 Rec, 38 yards WR Pitter Patter - 8 Rec, 125 yards, 3 TD WR Emile Charles - 6 Rec, 70 yards, 2 TD WR Hank Mardukas - 4 Rec, 110 yards, 1 TD TE Bob Kronkowski - 4 Rec, 61 yards, 1 TD DL Juan Carrasco - 5 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF/FR DL Carter Goad - 9 Tck, 1 FF/FR LB Ali Star - 8 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF LB Crasher Wake - 14 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 PD LB Bull Dozier - 12 Tck, 5 TFL DB PeePee Poop-Eater Jr. - 6 Tck, 2 Sck, 2 PD, 1 Int DB The Riddler - 5 Tck, 1 PD, 1 Int, 1 TD K King Leonidas I - 4/4 FG (26, 51, 55, 27), 1/1 XP League Overview In the ASFC, the Arizona Outlaws are still riding high with a five-game winning streak, showcasing their still very much legit as they improve to 6-2-1. This was a huge win for them against the Copperheads as they now sit in first place for the first time this season. With another tough matchup next week against the team they tied earlier this year, the Silverbacks, they look to increase their lead. Speaking of the Copperheads from earlier, they’ve hit a small bump in the road, dropping to 6-3 after a tough loss. While their defense remains solid, holding the top-scoring team in the league to just 13 points, their once-potent offense has slowed, now putting them in a scary position for the upcoming playoff race. With the offense officially ranked 12th in the league, they need to get it moving before they keep slipping down the standings. Honolulu Hahalua also finds themselves at 6-3 after falling to a loss. Opposite of the Copperheads, the Hahalua's offense has been great all season, however, the defense hasn't been much help. Can they tighten the ship before facing tougher opponents such as the Hawks next week? The New York Silverbacks, currently at 5-3-1, are looking to regain their momentum after snapping a two-game skid. Their next matchup will be crucial for maintaining playoff hopes as the Secondline might be coming to take that final playoff position. The New Orleans Secondline, now sitting at 4-5, are on a hot streak with three consecutive wins, positioning themselves as dark horses in the playoff race. However, their schedule isn't helping them much as 6 of their final 7 matchups are currently playoff teams. Meanwhile, the San Jose SaberCats continue to struggle, suffering five straight losses and sinking to 3-6. With a combined schedule strength of 23-12-1 for their next 4, it might keep growing. Finally, the Orange County Otters remain winless at 0-9, on pace for letting up a total of 685 points against them!!! That would be the highest total ever, with the next closest being the S27 Baltimore Hawks (618). It’s been a rough ride for them this season, to say the least, especially when you're making the Fire Salamanders offense look like the 2013 Broncos.
In the NSFC, the Baltimore Hawks are much better than that season long ago, as they have climbed to 6-3, riding a wave of momentum with a recent win. They are facing off against Honolulu next week which will sure be a great game. They’re also locked in a tight race with the Yellowknife Wraiths, who also sit at 6-3, albeit on a two-game losing streak. Things aren't getting easier for the Wraiths either as they have Sarasota next week who is right behind them in third looking to take their spot. The Sarasota Sailfish and Cape Town Crash are both at 6-3 to close off the 4-way tie for first. Both are on winning streaks and pushing hard for playoff spots. The Sailfish have been particularly effective on the road, going a perfect 4-0, but will be defending home turf next week which is more shaky at 2-3. Meanwhile, the Osaka Kaiju are still trying to find their rhythm at 4-5, but their last win may be a sign of things turning around. They are a .500 team if I ever saw one so I expect them to continue their see-saw the rest of the season. The Berlin Fire Salamanders secured their second win, moving to 2-7, while the Colorado Yeti remain at the bottom at 2-7 as well, struggling to find their footing in a competitive conference. With the playoff picture starting to come into focus, the race is heating up with many good teams very close!
Muddy's Power Rankings
1.
Arizona Outlaws2.
Austin Copperheads3.
Baltimore Hawks4.
Yellowknife Wraiths5.
Honolulu Hahalua6.
Cape Town Crash7.
Sarasota Sailfish8.
New York Silverbacks9.
New Orleans Secondline10.
Osaka Kaiju11.
Colorado Yeti12.
San Jose Sabercats13.
Berlin Fire Salamanders14.
Orange County Otters