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WEEK 3
Game of the Week
Louisiana VooDoo (36) over Portland Seals (30)
Easily one of the better games so far this season. Louisiana arrived in Portland looking for what they felt would be an easy win against the 0-2 Seals. It did not take long for Louisiana to realize that Portland was not going away quietly. The Seals started the game with a big defensive stand and on their first possession drove 83 yards for the first score of the game. The teams spent much of the first half trading punches and walked into halftime tied 13-13. The crowd in Portland was thumping as the teams took the field for the second half, and Portland fed off the energy. The Seals totally dominated the first 27 minutes of the second half and lead 30-16 with a little over 2 minutes left in the game. But that was before VooDoo QB Manuel Willoughby found the groove he had in the first half, Willoughby led the VooDoo to 14 unanswered points in 2 minutes to tie the game and send it into overtime. Portland gets the ball to start OT and drives all the way to the VooDoo 37 but Seals QB Jay Caro throws a crucial interception, which put the ball back in Willoughby’s hands. Willoughby finished by leading his team down the field for the game winning score.
Upset of the week
West Virginia Beast (14) over Wichita Outlaws (13)
WOW… In a game that many at the IFL fan club thought would end up being the “Blowout of the Week”, we where shocked to hear from local Beast ticket holders that it was West Virginia that ended up on walking away with the win. Wichita started out the game in total control, even keeping West Virginia from crossing the 50 yard line until halfway thru the 2nd quarter. But down 13-0, West Virginia never backed down and finally put together a solid 77 yards drive that chewed up five minutes and on their first drive past midfield, the young Beasts QB Matthew Mills tossed his first TD pass of the season. The second half started just like the first with Wichita’s defense in total control, unfortunately for the Outlaws their offense did not come out after halftime. It was late in the 3rd, when the Beast’s started another time consuming drive, and got all the way down to Wichita’s 10. Even though the fan’s where screaming for the team to go for it on forth down, the Beast lined up for a field goal. Like many in the stands, the Outlaws where caught off guard with by the Beast fake field goal attempt that netted West Virginia a new set of downs deep in Outlaw territory. 2 plays later, the young gun Mills found FB Reyes in the end zone and gave the Beast a 14-13 lead. Not much happened after that as the Beast D held strong and secured a shocking upset in week 3 of the season. Maybe there is life in West Virginia after all…
Fan Club Players of the Week
Offensive Player – Manuel Willoughby – QB – Louisiana VooDoo
31 Completions on 44 Attempts
420 Yards
4 TD’s
Defensive Player – Sedrick Vance – LB – Cleveland Claws
9 Tackles
4 Assists
1 Interception
1 TD
Special Teams – Alonzo Boohar – K – Hartford Grizzlies
4/4 FG’s 3/3 PATs
Rookie – Offense – Matthew Mills – QB – West Virginia Beast
Rookie – Defense – RJ Kley – LB – Lawrence Phantoms
Stewie’s Thoughts (Top 10) – Week 3
1. We where right about Matthew Mills starting in West Virginia. Nice to see the Beast listen (Yeah like they take advice from us) and get a BIG win at home.
2. Despite the one win do not expect a playoff run from the Beasts. But I am sure they would love to end the season so they can recover from cap hell.
3. What the heck is going on in Reno and Texas? Two offensive juggernauts last season and they can not seem to do anything right now.
4. Columbia knocked a little reality back into Vancouver this week. The Whales are playing better this year but so is Salt Lake.
5. Justin Whitaker (Columbia) is only 65 yards from voiding his contract after this season. He could be one of the biggest FA targets during the off season.
6. Manuel Willoughby starts for injured starter Angelo Harriston in Louisiana and put up 420 yards in the air. That is just 86 yards short of the total he combined in his last 4 starts.
7. Madison rookie RB Charles Bell rushed for 8 yards on 3 carries. Just under his 96 yard average from the first 2 games.
8. 3 teams that finished in last place in 2007 currently control 1st place this season. Tulsa dropped out with a loss this weekend, but Wichita, Salt Lake and Orlando still own top billing.
9. Columbia’s move to add DT Wes Goad did not do much in the first game, but Goad did lead all Fire Players in tackles in their game against Vancouver.
10. Defending Champs 1-2 start does raise some concern since teams like Tulsa and Salt Lake are on the rise. The Toads can still bounce back, they still have 5 games against their division and Texas is first on the chopping block. The toads are still looking for their first win inside the division this season.
Game of the Week
Louisiana VooDoo (36) over Portland Seals (30)
Easily one of the better games so far this season. Louisiana arrived in Portland looking for what they felt would be an easy win against the 0-2 Seals. It did not take long for Louisiana to realize that Portland was not going away quietly. The Seals started the game with a big defensive stand and on their first possession drove 83 yards for the first score of the game. The teams spent much of the first half trading punches and walked into halftime tied 13-13. The crowd in Portland was thumping as the teams took the field for the second half, and Portland fed off the energy. The Seals totally dominated the first 27 minutes of the second half and lead 30-16 with a little over 2 minutes left in the game. But that was before VooDoo QB Manuel Willoughby found the groove he had in the first half, Willoughby led the VooDoo to 14 unanswered points in 2 minutes to tie the game and send it into overtime. Portland gets the ball to start OT and drives all the way to the VooDoo 37 but Seals QB Jay Caro throws a crucial interception, which put the ball back in Willoughby’s hands. Willoughby finished by leading his team down the field for the game winning score.
Upset of the week
West Virginia Beast (14) over Wichita Outlaws (13)
WOW… In a game that many at the IFL fan club thought would end up being the “Blowout of the Week”, we where shocked to hear from local Beast ticket holders that it was West Virginia that ended up on walking away with the win. Wichita started out the game in total control, even keeping West Virginia from crossing the 50 yard line until halfway thru the 2nd quarter. But down 13-0, West Virginia never backed down and finally put together a solid 77 yards drive that chewed up five minutes and on their first drive past midfield, the young Beasts QB Matthew Mills tossed his first TD pass of the season. The second half started just like the first with Wichita’s defense in total control, unfortunately for the Outlaws their offense did not come out after halftime. It was late in the 3rd, when the Beast’s started another time consuming drive, and got all the way down to Wichita’s 10. Even though the fan’s where screaming for the team to go for it on forth down, the Beast lined up for a field goal. Like many in the stands, the Outlaws where caught off guard with by the Beast fake field goal attempt that netted West Virginia a new set of downs deep in Outlaw territory. 2 plays later, the young gun Mills found FB Reyes in the end zone and gave the Beast a 14-13 lead. Not much happened after that as the Beast D held strong and secured a shocking upset in week 3 of the season. Maybe there is life in West Virginia after all…
Fan Club Players of the Week
Offensive Player – Manuel Willoughby – QB – Louisiana VooDoo
31 Completions on 44 Attempts
420 Yards
4 TD’s
Defensive Player – Sedrick Vance – LB – Cleveland Claws
9 Tackles
4 Assists
1 Interception
1 TD
Special Teams – Alonzo Boohar – K – Hartford Grizzlies
4/4 FG’s 3/3 PATs
Rookie – Offense – Matthew Mills – QB – West Virginia Beast
Rookie – Defense – RJ Kley – LB – Lawrence Phantoms
Stewie’s Thoughts (Top 10) – Week 3
1. We where right about Matthew Mills starting in West Virginia. Nice to see the Beast listen (Yeah like they take advice from us) and get a BIG win at home.
2. Despite the one win do not expect a playoff run from the Beasts. But I am sure they would love to end the season so they can recover from cap hell.
3. What the heck is going on in Reno and Texas? Two offensive juggernauts last season and they can not seem to do anything right now.
4. Columbia knocked a little reality back into Vancouver this week. The Whales are playing better this year but so is Salt Lake.
5. Justin Whitaker (Columbia) is only 65 yards from voiding his contract after this season. He could be one of the biggest FA targets during the off season.
6. Manuel Willoughby starts for injured starter Angelo Harriston in Louisiana and put up 420 yards in the air. That is just 86 yards short of the total he combined in his last 4 starts.
7. Madison rookie RB Charles Bell rushed for 8 yards on 3 carries. Just under his 96 yard average from the first 2 games.
8. 3 teams that finished in last place in 2007 currently control 1st place this season. Tulsa dropped out with a loss this weekend, but Wichita, Salt Lake and Orlando still own top billing.
9. Columbia’s move to add DT Wes Goad did not do much in the first game, but Goad did lead all Fire Players in tackles in their game against Vancouver.
10. Defending Champs 1-2 start does raise some concern since teams like Tulsa and Salt Lake are on the rise. The Toads can still bounce back, they still have 5 games against their division and Texas is first on the chopping block. The toads are still looking for their first win inside the division this season.