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2226 wprds[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Chad Pennington's Rookie Season in Review[/div]
Preamble
In his first season Chad Pennington was able to do many things. It started with the assurance of being with his brothers in Tijuana. After spending an entire season prior worrying about that, he received his wish. And so the brothers began their campaign through the DSFL. Chad Pennington would end his rookie season in the DSFL by attaining three awards (Rookie of the Year, Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year). Now it's time to see how he got there.
Preseason
Week 1 - Kansas City Coyotes vs Tijuana Luchadores
Chad's season was defined his league leading 130 tackles, and he got off to an incredible start in his first preseason game. In the first quarter alone he made four tackles and was able to end the game with nine. Unfortunately the game ended with the Luchadores losing 31 - 9. Although Chad had an impressive number of tackles and was a standout defensive player for the Luchadores, he was second the team in terms of play behind teammate H. Goertz.
Week 2 - Tijuana Luchadores vs Portland Pythons
The second preseason game went only mildly better for the Luchadores. Once again they lost, this time to the Portland Pythons. Chad made seven tackles throughout his second game and forced a fumble. Teammate M. McNoodle led the way defensively for the Luchadores this game, with eight tackles, although one could say that the forced fumble outweighs the extra tackle.
Week 3 - Norfolk Seawolves vs Tijuana Luchadores
The Norfolk Seawolves were the third team of the preseason to assert their dominance over the Luchadores. The Seawolves would defeat the Luchadores 37 - 12. Chad had a very poor game this go around, gathering only four tackles through the four quarters. His Brother, Thad Pennington however would get a team high 11 tackles, two sacks, and one safety. A statistical line worth of an all star in my opinion.
Week 4 - San Antonio Marshalls vs Tijuana Luchadores
In the final game of the S7 DSFL preseason the Luchadores would lose 44 - 13 to the San Antonio Marshalls, dooming them to a 0 - 4 preseason. Although the Luchadores did not do well as a team, Chad regained his previous form though, scoring 10 tackles. Additionally he ended the game with one pass defended, he teammate H. Goertz once again was able to best Chad's stat line with not only a pass defended as well, but also 12 tackles, two more than Chad.
Final Preseason Notes
Although Chad was unable to show his full abilities during the preseason. However, he was still generally consistently a net positive for the Luchadores on the defensive side of the ball. The Seawolves were able to find a way to exploit him, but it seemed that he learned from his mistakes and regained his form in the final preseason game. The team as a whole had an abysmal preseason that no one, player or management can be happy with.
Regular Season
Week 1 - Norfolk Seawolves vs Tijuana Luchadores
To begin the season the Luchadores were finally able to turn around losing streak. Starting their regular season against the Seawolves, the Luchadores finally tasted victory by a score of 38 - 9. Chad finally had his first game leading the Luchadores in the game that mattered of the season. With seven tackles, one sack and one pass defended the Seawolves were kept to 70 rushing yards throughout all four quarters. A fine game indeed for Chad’s first in the DSFL regular season. On top of all of that he received defensive player of the game.
Week 2 - Palm Beach Solar Bears vs Tijuana Luchadores
In a much more defensively intensive game the Luchadores were able to defeat the Solar Bears 14 - 3. Chad contributed six tackles in this game. Additionally, he started off the game by getting a sack within the first 30 seconds of play which eventually forced the Solar Bears to punt the ball toward the Luchadores. Although he had a great effort, he was only the second best defensive player on the team this game, behind H. Balzac.
Week 3 - San Antonio Marshalls vs Tijuana Luchadores
The Luchadores kept their season going with an away game against the Marshalls, however it was their first loss of the season 14 - 24. Chad played the game like an absolute monster, despite their loss. The 10 tackles he scored alone would have been enough to show his worth as a linebacker, but on top of that he was able to get a sack, an interception, and pass defended. For his efforts he received defensive player of the game for the second time in his career.
Week 4 - Tijuana Luchadores vs Portland Pythons
Tijuana’’s initial winning streak (of a mere two games) would be met with a losing streak. Such a young team is expected to be at least somewhat inconsistent. However, Chad showed how consistent he can be in this game. Though the Luchadores lost 34 - 17, he completed eight tackles and got another sack in this game. It’s worth noting that his brother Thad had nine tackles and a tackle for a loss. H. Balzac led the Luchadores defense this game with 10 tackles and one sack. This was a great defensive game for the Luchadores individually, despite allowing 34 points against.
Week 5 - Tijuana Luchadores vs Palm Beach Solar Bears
The Tijuana Luchadores were out in full force this game, winning by a convincing score of 42 - 14. Chad was able to break double digits in tackles with 11 this game. No other teammates were able to break 10 tackles, but H. Balzac had a stellar game with four tackles, as well as a defended pass, one interception, and a defensive touchdown. Though Chad was able to get far more tackles, Balzac was far more deserving of the defensive player of the game award this game.
Week 6 - Tijuana Luchadores vs San Antonio Marshalls
In an excitingly close game, the Luchadores were able to win the game in overtime by a score of 27 - 24. Chad scored 14 tackles throughout this game, one of which was a tackle for a loss. Although this seems like an exceptional stat line, H. Balzac was able to eight tackles and incredibly one fumble recovery, one pass defended, and one interception. Once again, Balzac was worthy of defensive player of the game over Chad Pennington.
Week 7 - Tijuana Luchadores vs Kansas City Coyotes
The Coyotes absolutely rolled over the Tijuana Luchadores in this game. Losing by a score of 44 - 3, the Luchadores defense had a very tough game, both individually and as a team. This was one game, however, where Chad was able to distinctly lead the way. Chad made 12 tackles during the game, seven more than the next highest by Balzac who had five. Two of those tackles were for a loss and scored one sack. This, however, was not enough for defensive player of the game, as a Kansas City was able to take that from his clutches, but Chad was the best defensive player this game for Tijuana.
Week 8 - Portland Pythons vs Tijuana Luchadores
Tijuana lost another game, this time to the Pythons by a score of 17 - 31. This was another game where the Luchadores had a tough game individually and as a team. Chad led the way for the team once again with 12 tackles and one sack. Though he was not defensive player of the game, he was the defensive player of the game for the Luchadores.
Week 9 - Norfolk Seawolves vs Tijuana Luchadores
The Luchadores defeated the Seawolves again 27 - 14 with a great game from all players involved. Chad had a rough game compared to his previous ones, only scoring six tackles throughout all four quarters. T. Flenderson had an incredible game, scoring nine tackles and two sacks and he won defensive player of the game. He was well deserving of the award too, as other than tackles there were very few defensive plays by the Luchadores squad.
Week 10 - Palm Beach Solar Bears vs Tijuana Luchadores
The Palm Beach Solar Bears were able to bes the Luchadores for this game by a score of 20 - 31. Chad was able to complete a total of nine tackles throughout the course of the game, leading the way defensively for Tijuana. Reggie Phillips of the Solar Bears was able to best the stat line that Chad created throughout the game with 13 tackles, two passes defended and one interception, and was therefore worthy of defensive player of the game over Chad.
Week 11 - San Antonio Marshalls vs Tijuana Luchadores
In another close game been San Antonio and Tijuana, the Luchadores were able to best the Marshalls. This time the Luchadores won by a score of 16 - 14. Chad carried the offense for the Luchadores this game with 10 tackles (six more than the next player, B. Horne who had four), two tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. In a very controversial decision, Chris Jones was given defensive player of the game over Chad, with 11 tackles, one sack and one pass defended. Still, Chad was the defensive player of the game for Tijuana.
Week 12 - Kansas City Coyotes vs Tijuana Luchadores
The Luchadores lost the Kansas City Coyotes again, by a score of 20 - 30. Chad made seven tackles during the four quarters of the game, as well as two sacks. The team as a whole had the defensive load spread across the board. Chad lead the team and game in defensive stats and therefore received defensive player of the game over Childish Gambino who had 11 tackles but no other defensive plays made.
Week 13 - Tijuana Luchadores vs Palm Beach Solar Bears
The Luchadores were able to get payback over the Solar Bears for their last loss to them, winning by a score of 13 - 9. Chad led the Luchadores defense with nine tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Flenderson could defensively be defensive player of the game for Tijuana with seven tackles and three sacks. However, Steve McMichael bested both of them with eight tackles, one tackle for a loss, two sacks, and one safety. A stat line for the record books in this writer’s opinion.
Week 14 - Tijuana Luchadores vs San Antonio Marshalls
In their final game of the regular season the Luchadores lost to the Marshalls by a score of 10 - 19. This did not bode well for the Luchadores being that they would have to face San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs. As an individual Chad was able to score nine tackles during the game and lead the Luchadores defensively. Next they would head into the playoffs, hoping for a different outcome.
Final Regular Season Notes
Although the Luchadores ended the season with a record of 6 - 8 - 0, they were still able to take the first seed in the conference. Unfortunately due to the small number of teams in the DSFL the Luchadores would have to face their rival the San Antonio Marshalls in the first round like nearly every other season.
[div align=\\\"center\\\"]Season Records:
(0 - 2 - 0) VS Kansas City Coyotes
(1 - 1 - 0) VS Norfolk Seawolves
(3 - 1 - 0) VS Palm Beach Solar Bears
(0 - 2 - 0) VS Portland Pythons
(2 - 2 - 0) VS San Antonio Marshalls[/div]
Post Season
San Antonio Marshals vs Tijuana Luchadores
In an exciting 22 - 10 win, the Chad Pennington and the Tijuana Luchadores were able to defeat the San Antonio Marshalls the game which really mattered, the first round of the playoffs. Chad lead the team in tackles while also getting one tackle for a loss and one sack. Although many players are able to perform in regular season games, Chad was able to show that he can perform in a post season game where it really matters. For his efforts Chad received defensive player of the game, an award that he did not take being bestowed with lightly.
Tijuana Luchadores vs Portland Pythons
In the Ultimini the Luchadores made the game much closer that most fans expected. Although they lost, it was by a score of only 17 - 24. Chad lead the team with eight tackles in his final game with the Luchadores, once again leading the team.
Post Season Notes
Although the team was not able to capture the Ultimini, the Pythons were a worthy team to win it and the Luchadores should feel no shame in having lost in the finals, especially by such a close score. Chad was able to come up with great stat lines in both games, getting defensive player of the game in the first playoff game.
Season Review
As shown above, Chad was able to consistently (save for one game) make tackles and defensive plays for the Luchadores. At the awards show he was able to get the rookie of the year award, the defensive rookie of the year award and the defensive player of the year award. A very successful season for the rookie. Chad is ready for the seasons ahead with the Yellowknife Wraiths and will be watching from afar hoping the the Luchadores will be able to improve on their S7 campaign without him and hoping that there is another player who can do even better than he did in his season with them.
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