1) Houston Texans (5-0) Previous Rank 1 - Super Bowl bound? Still too early to tell if this team has what it takes but the Texans by far have been the most impressive team this season. Arian Foster is averaging 106.2 rushing yards per game and Matt Schuab has yet to have a 300 yard passing game largely in part to the fact that the Texans have a well balanced offensive scheme keeping opposing defenses on their toes. Now they didn't humiliate the Jets on Monday Night but they did get the win. Texans now will face Green Bay and Baltimore without star linebacker Brian Cushing who may be suffering from a torn ACL. Houston definitely will face its stiffest competition thus far in the weeks to come and we can finally get a true evaluation of what this team is all about.
2)Atlanta Falcons (5-0) Previous Rank 2 - A lot like the Houston Texans the Atlanta Falcons have yet to face stiff competition but have gotten the job done against lesser opponents. After an exciting matchup with the Redskins this past weekend the Falcons find themselves at 5-0 for the first time in franchise history. Another huge game for Tony Gonzalez 13 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown he is by far Matt Ryan's favorite target. The Raiders come to town this week lets just say if you have any Falcons on your fantasy be sure to start them.
3)San Francisco 49ers (4-1) Previous Rank 4 - The only blemish with the 49ers is they rank 27th in passing yards but who cares when you rank 1st in rushing and have the best defense in the NFL. The 49ers racked up 621 yards a new franchise record ironically enough the last time they broke this record was against the Bills. Alex Smith cracked the 300 yard mark for the first time this season. In doing research I discovered that this was his 3rd career 300 yard game and the only time the 49ers have won when he has reached that mark. The 49ers are a very legitimate contender this season and now have an opportunity to flex their muscle against the New York Giants this week.
4)Baltimore Ravens (4-1) Previous Rank 3 - The Ravens couldn't find the end-zone this past Sunday in Kansas City luckily for them the Chiefs had offensive woes of their own. This should have been a blow out game for the Ravens but it wasn't Jamaal Charles rushed for 140 yards against the aging Baltimore defense. For the first team this season we get a glimpse of what happens when the offense doesn't show up for the Ravens. Nonetheless the Ravens now boast a 4-1 record and find themselves atop the AFC North and will now get a chance to pat their defensive statistics as none other than gun slinger Tony Romo and his Dallas Cowboys come to town.
5)New England Patriots (3-2) Previous Rank 9 - The rushing game of New England is opening things up for Tom Brady. New England ranks 3rd in rushing and as a result ranks 9th in passing. Even without tight end Aaron Hernandez the Patriots offense is looking the best it has in years. As far as defense goes they rank 30th in passing yards allowed at 291.6 yards per game and 8th in rushing yards. Teams definitely can attack New England through the air but cannot out shoot Tom Brady and his arsenal of unlimited weapons. They will now face the stingy Seattle Seahawks defense.
6)New York Giants (3-2) Previous Rank 6 - Ahmad Bradshaw and Victor Cruz each had a great performance against the Cleveland Browns this weekend. Bradshaw rushed for 200 yards and a touchdown. Cruz 5 receptions for only 50 yards but 3 of them for touchdowns. The Giants did everything right as they should have facing a very week Browns team. The Giants now face stiffer competition this week as they face the number one defense of the 49ers.
7)Chicago Bears (4-1) Previous Rank 10 - The Bears defense held the Jaguars to 3 points and only one failed trip to the red-zone. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall have connected 19 times for 279 yards and two touchdowns in the last two games. As long as the Bears Defense continues to stop teams and Jay Cutler doesn't cough it up the Bears have a very prosperous season ahead of them. Chicago has a bye week and will face Detroit in week 7.
8)Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) Previous Rank 7 - The Eagles struggled this past Sunday in a loss to a banged up Steelers defense. Michael Vick fumbled the ball 3 times and now has 11 turnovers for the season. With a QBR of 51.7 he's been very careless with the ball but has yet to point the finger at anyone but himself. The offensive line is clearly built for the rush and continue to struggle when Vick is in the pocket. If Philadelphia plans on getting into the playoffs they need to stop turning the ball over.
9)Minnesota Vikings (4-1) Previous Rank 14 - The Vikings keep climbing up these rankings as they keep winning and are doing it very convincingly. They control the running game on both sides of the ball. Christian Ponder threw his first 2 interceptions of the season this past Sunday but other than that the Vikings were in complete control as they beat the Titans 30-7. They now will face the Washington Redskins.
10)Arizona Cardinals (4-1) Previous Rank 3 - It was bound to happen the Cardinals got their first loss at the hands of the St. Louis Rams. Its mind boggling to see a team ranked 25th in passing 31st in rushing offense and still have a 4-1 record. Arizona can improve to 5-1 as they face the Buffalo Bills.
11)Green Bay Packers (2-3) Previous Rank 7 - They lost to an emotional Indianapolis Colts team this week and Green Bay finds themselves below .500 for the 3rd time this season. Green Bay ranks 17th in both defensive categories and have given up 27 points in back to back weeks. They now head to Houston in a crucial game that can put them in a deeper hole if they can't pull out a win.
12)San Diego Chargers (3-2) Previous Rank 11 - San Diego didn't look that bad in their loss to the Saints this weekend. Phillip Rivers passed for 354 yards and a pair of TDs while spreading the ball to 8 different receivers. Sand Diego was in it this past week and if it wasn't for the two turnovers they might have gotten another victory. They face Denver this week in a crucial game that can get them a nice 2 game lead in the AFC west.
13)Denver Broncos (2-3) Previous Rank 12 - Three consecutive 300 yard passing games for Peyton Manning he truly is doing everything he can for the Broncos. Defensively the Broncos struggle when it comes to stopping the run ranking 21st. The Broncos for the most part have been very competitive in all three losses but as said earlier in the season they are relying on Peyton to be the savior and its starting to become a reciepe for disaster.
14)Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) Previous rank 13 - They finally loss to a lesser opponent. The Bengals found themselves in a position to win in the final minutes of the game until Andy Dalton threw an interception to seal a Miami Dolphins victory. Heading into Cleveland this week the Bengals have another shot at beating up on a bad team.
15)Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) Previous Rank 16 - The Steelers got Rashard Mendenhall back this past Sunday and he rushed for 81 yards and a TD. Pittsburgh got a win on a final drive in which Big Ben converted 2 crucial third downs and ate up over 6 minutes off the clock. Big Ben now has 29 game-winning drives under his belt. Pittsburgh will face the struggling Tennessee Titans without Troy Polamalu.
16)New Orleans Saints (1-4) Previous Rank 27 - The Saints finally got a win after the awful first quarter to their season. The bye couldn't come at a better time as they now get a chance to focus on the road ahead. For now the Saints get to enter their bye week with the best passing offense in football but rank nearly dead to last in all other categories offensive and defensively. The Saints clearly have displayed how dangerous and unstoppable they can be offensively. If they come out of the bye week with a more focused defense they can certainly salvage whats left of their season. Many may disagree where I currently rank the Saints but honestly the following 16 teams would have a tough time matching them offensively.
17)Dallas Cowboys (2-2) Previous Rank 17 - Coming off a much needed bye week, Tony Romo gets a chance to redeem himself against the Baltimore Ravens defense. The Cowboys are currently ranked first in passing defense and will certainly need to stop Joe Flacco this week to have a shot at getting above .500.
18)Seattle Seahawks (3-2) Previous Rank 18 - The Seahawks have the stingiest defense in the league giving up only 258.6 yards per game. They picked up another win (this time legit) against the Carolina Panthers. The Seahawks can definitely run the ball and have a strong defense but will they be able to stop the high powered Patriots this week?
19)St Louis Rams (3-2) Previous Rank 19 - The Rams are the first team to get a win against the Arizona Cardinals holding them to just a field goal. After losing their best receiver Danny Amendola due to injury, the Rams now have to figure out a way to move the ball through the air as they rank 30th in passing offense. Sam Bradford continued with yet another unimpressive game completing only seven passes on 21 attempts - a 33.3 completion percentage. Bradford's QBR is still at an awful 37.3 and losing Amendola won't help his cause. The Rams head to Miami this Sunday in what seems to be a coin flip of a game.
20)Detroit Lions (1-3) Previous Rank 20 - The Lions are coming off a bye week to face Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles. If the Lions lose this week it'll be four straight losses and a lot of ground lost in their division. The Lions' defense is ranked 10th in passing yards allowed and 13th in rushing. Getting to Vick and slowing down his receivers will be key for the Lions to avoid another loss.
21)Miami Dolphins (2-3) Previous Rank 25 - The Dolphins are the best team when it comes to stopping the run allowing only 61.4 yards per game. Reggie Bush currently has 417 rushing yards - ranked 10th - and three touchdowns. Brian Hartline now has 514 receiving yards - ranked first - but only one TD. Miami will host the Rams this week and will need further production from their offense.
22)Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-3) Previous Rank 22 - The Buccaneers host Kansas City this week, they will need a win to avoid digging themselves deeper. Coming off the bye week, Josh Freeman has had time to regroup with his offense and looks for a chance to display improvement.
23)Washington Redskins (2-3) Previous Rank 15 - Robert Griffin III gave his fans a scare this past Sunday when he suffered a concussion. The Redskins are now 0-2 at home and will host the Minnesota Vikings. RG3 listed as questionable for the game.
24)Buffalo Bills (2-3) Previous Rank 21 - The Bills have now given up a total of 176 points to start the season and after a 45-3 loss this weekend to the 49ers, the Bills are looking for answers to fix their defense. Buffalo's defense ranks at the bottom, 24th in passing and 30th in rushing yards allowed per game. In their two victories this season, Ryan Fitzpaterick had QB ratings of over 100 and the Bill's defense held the opposition under 20 points. The Bills travel to Arizona this week needing a victory to get back to .500.
25)New York Jets (2-3) Previous Rank 24 - Mark Sanchez is under scrutiny and rightfully so. With only a QBR of 28.2 a completion percentage of 48.4 to go along with six INTs and three fumbles. Sanchez has shown no signs of progression this season. The Jets have lost two straight at home and now host Andrew Luck and the Colts. In Week-2, I would have said this is a favorable match up for the Jets but now there is no telling which Jets' team will show up.
26)Tennessee Titans (1-4) Previous Rank 26 - Touchdown Titans! That was all the Titans managed to get in their loss to the Vikings this past Sunday. As expected, Chris Johnson did nothing against the Vikings stingy run defense being held to a total of 29 yards from scrimmage. Matt Hasselbeck threw 43 times and only managed to get 200 yards. However, he did spread the ball connecting with 10 different receivers. Hasselbeck and the Titans have a lot of issues to address on offense.
27)Carolina Panthers (1-4) Previous Rank 23 - Three straight losses for Cam Newton and the Panthers. With the bye week coming up Newton will need to regroup and figure out why he has regressed this season. Newton has only four passing touchdowns and five INTs. The running game is also a problem for Carolina as Newton is their rushing leader with 209 yards for the season, making the Panthers one dimensional.
28)Kansas City Chiefs (1-4) Previous Rank 26 - The Chiefs held the Ravens to only nine points this past weekend in their loss. Matt Cassel was injured and Chiefs' fans celebrated him coming out of the game. The cheering is inexcusable but Cassel did have a QBR of 11.9 last week and had 27.5 this week before he came out. Brady Quinn will now have shot at the starting job as Cassel is listed as questionable and has yet to be cleared to practice as he is suffering from a concussion. The Chiefs travel to Tampa Bay this week.
29)Oakland Raiders (1-3) Previous Rank 29 - The Raiders are coming off a bye week heading to face the undefeated Falcons on the road. Oakland can find themselves in a 1-4 hole with a defense ranking 28th against the pass facing Matt Ryan. The Raiders secondary will have their hands full this week.
30)Indianapolis Colts (2-2) Previous Rank 31 - They did it for Chuck Pagano, the Colts upset the Green Bay Packers in what was the headline of the weekend. Andrew Luck threw for 362 yards (the most by any Colts' rookie in a game) and a pair of TDs, including the game winner to wide receiver Reggie Wayne. The Colts head to New York to face the Jets with a lot of emotion and momentum. It should be very interesting game to watch. Prediction - Andrew Luck gives Mark Sanchez and Tebow a lesson on what a Quarterback really is.
31)Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4) Previous Rank 30 - Blaine Gabbert now finds himself with a QBR of 38.6 and has only reached 200-yards once this season. Maurice Jones-Drew has 408 rushing yards and only one TD. The Jaguars continue their offensive downfall and get a bye week to sort this mess out. It's not looking too good for the Jaguars this season.
32)Cleveland Browns (0-5) Previous Rank 32 - It's still a work in progress in Cleveland as the Browns are looking for their first win this season. Brandon Weeden starts his campaign at a pitiful 12.6 QBR, five TDs and nine INTs. The Browns receiving corp doesn't have anybody with more than 200 receiving yards. Trent Richardson's 303 rushing yards ranks him 16th among backs. The Browns host the Bengals this Sunday and a win will mark the first time the Browns have beaten an AFC North Opponent since October 3, 2010.
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Football. Show all posts
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Jose's First Volleyball Game
Fun is Key for Apple Valley
The Apple Valley volleyball team is using the banner hanging in their gym as motivation to add a league championship to the school’s volleyball banner. The school hasn’t accomplished that feat since 1996.
The Sun Devils beat Serrano 3-1 in a Mojave River League match. The Diamondbacks took a 1-0 lead after winning the first set 25-20. Apple Valley didn’t have answer for Serrano’s Savannah Ekis. Ekis led the team with seven kills, Annie Smolenski added three in the first set.
A bit of controversy in the second set tied the score at 24-24, when a point was awarded to Serrano (3-1) after the Sun Devils’ Morgan Lyneis was ruled a late substitution. Apple Valley took the lead after a kill from Lyneis. Lauren Coffee won the set after scoring an ace to even the match 1-1.
The Sun Devils (4-0 MRL) rode the momentum with a 25-23 third-set win capped with a kill from Courtney Klein.
Apple Valley didn’t let up in the fourth and final set after taking a 4-3 lead. Klein managed four straight aces to put the Sun Devils up 15-8, sending the home crowd wild.
After a game winning spike from Sydni Ulibarri, the Sun Devils celebrated at center court. The team and their coach Casie Brooks did something not many teams do with their coach — they were having fun, while still keeping the competitive edge. The team gathered up and did a special dance inspired by the Green Bay Packers.
“I watch football, and everyone knows Aaron Rodgers’ ‘Discount Double-Check’. And they know (B.J.) Raji State Farm (commercial)” said Brooks. “We’ve been having problems with our energy, and just having fun, and them getting serious with working out. So I kind of wanted to make it fun for the girls and I brought in the ‘Discount Double-Check’ and the Raji dance. I told them they better do it tonight. It brought some fun and we’re going to keep doing it.”
The Sun Devils had fun playing, and their hard work paid off. Ulibarri and Lyneis ended the match with double digit kills, Ulibarri with 14 and Lyneis with 11 — Klein ended with nine kills, one block, and and five aces.
Serrano’s Elers ended her night with 14 kills, Nohelly Brown led the D-Backs with 19 kills in a game where the team commited 19 errors — four more than Apple Valley.
The win was huge for the Sun Devils in their quest for the league championship. It was the first victory for Apple Valley over the Diamondback in the last six contests.
“To have that win makes all the work that we’ve put in all these years, the late-night practices, working at home practicing, all come together,” Klein said. “It feels so good to have that win.”
“It was all mental in our head, and we wanted this. We wanted the game, we all knew we wanted it and came together as a team.”
Serrano looks to rebound when the travel to face Sultana on Thursday. Apple Valley hosts Hesperia on Thursday in the hopes to keep the quest for the league championship alive.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Jose's Fantasy Football Column for the Daily Press
It’s about time I start a column talking about a running back other than C.J. Spiller. Did you see Kansas City’s Jamaal Charles carrying the ball 33 times for 233 yards coming? I certainly didn’t.
Charles got so many touches because Peyton Hillis left the game with an ankle injury. Charles is a good option at RB, just don’t expect that kind of performance again.
Congratulations to Washington’s Alfred Morris on surviving the “Alfred Morris Three Weeks of Consistency Countdown.” The rookie’s Week 3 stat line of 17 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown is worthy of keeping the streak alive. Morris now has 263 yards and three TDs on the season.
Before the season started, a reader sent us an email predicting Morris as the biggest sleeper of the season. Jose Sanchez, the Daily Press proudly awards you with the inaugural “Deepest Sleeper Ever” award.
How did Buffalo’s “Fool’s Gold” Spiller fare this week? He had four carries for 16 yards and caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 32-yard TD, before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. If you took my advice of trading him, I accept PayPal payments.
Early indications are pointing to Spiller sitting out this week against New England. Fred Jackson has been progressing faster than expected from a sprained right knee ligament, but might not be ready this week. If neither are able to suit up, Tashard Choice will get the call. Choice filled in for Spiller and carried the ball 20 times for 91 yards against Cleveland.
Is it just me, or do you think there’s something special in the water in Buffalo? Possibly some of the “Mike’s Secret Stuff” that Bugs Bunny gave to his team in the film “Space Jam”?
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning didn’t have the big game I anticipated against Carolina, but it was mostly due to the lopsided score and the emergence of RB Andre Brown. Manning torched the Panthers’ defense in the first half for 208 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett to finish the Giants’ first drive of the game. Manning finished with 288 yards, the lone TD, and didn’t throw an interception.
Atlanta hosts the Panthers this week. As easy as it is to point to any QB going up against the Panthers’ defense, this is a dream matchup. I just love Matt Ryan’s chances against one of the worst defenses in the league. Matty Ice is coming off a 275-yard, three-TD performance against San Diego. The Falcons have been airing the ball out and should continue to do so against Carolina.
This week’s hottest pickup will be the Giants’ Brown. He followed a strong Week 2 performance with 20 carries for 113 yards and two TDs. But it was against Carolina. Ahmad Bradshaw has been cleared to return to practice this week and is expected to retain his starting gig. New York heads to Philadelphia for a tough divisional matchup and the Eagles’ defense hasn’t been very good. With Manning spreading the field, whoever the Giants have in the backfield should have a productive game. Even if the injury-prone Bradshaw plays this week, Brown should be worth a spot on your bench.
Personally, if I’m going to make a claim on a RB it’s going to be Detroit’s Mike LeShoure. The second-round pick finally made his NFL debut after missing the 2011 season due to a torn Achillies tendon, then getting suspended for the first two games of this season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The Lions host Minnesota this week and LeShoure, coming off a 100-yard performance, is worth a shot given the injuries in the Lions’ backfield.
I think the best pickup will be Giants tight end Martellus Bennett, who is turning into one of Manning’s favorite red zone targets. The 6-foot-6 TE is a perfect red zone target and has proven capable of reeling in Manning’s passes. Through three games, Bennett has 185 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been heavily involved in the Giants’ offense and should be a viable option to start, or a good bench option if you already have a good TE.
I haven’t focused much on special team/defenses because I feel they aren’t all that important as waiver wire pickups. But if you need a defensive improvement, Arizona — which held Philadelphia to just two field goals — should fit the bill. Through three games, the Cardinals have allowed 206 passing yards per game — the seventh fewest in the NFL. They’ve forced five fumbles, recovered four and have two interceptions.
Charles got so many touches because Peyton Hillis left the game with an ankle injury. Charles is a good option at RB, just don’t expect that kind of performance again.
Congratulations to Washington’s Alfred Morris on surviving the “Alfred Morris Three Weeks of Consistency Countdown.” The rookie’s Week 3 stat line of 17 carries for 78 yards and a touchdown is worthy of keeping the streak alive. Morris now has 263 yards and three TDs on the season.
Before the season started, a reader sent us an email predicting Morris as the biggest sleeper of the season. Jose Sanchez, the Daily Press proudly awards you with the inaugural “Deepest Sleeper Ever” award.
How did Buffalo’s “Fool’s Gold” Spiller fare this week? He had four carries for 16 yards and caught two passes for 42 yards, including a 32-yard TD, before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. If you took my advice of trading him, I accept PayPal payments.
Early indications are pointing to Spiller sitting out this week against New England. Fred Jackson has been progressing faster than expected from a sprained right knee ligament, but might not be ready this week. If neither are able to suit up, Tashard Choice will get the call. Choice filled in for Spiller and carried the ball 20 times for 91 yards against Cleveland.
Is it just me, or do you think there’s something special in the water in Buffalo? Possibly some of the “Mike’s Secret Stuff” that Bugs Bunny gave to his team in the film “Space Jam”?
New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning didn’t have the big game I anticipated against Carolina, but it was mostly due to the lopsided score and the emergence of RB Andre Brown. Manning torched the Panthers’ defense in the first half for 208 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Martellus Bennett to finish the Giants’ first drive of the game. Manning finished with 288 yards, the lone TD, and didn’t throw an interception.
Atlanta hosts the Panthers this week. As easy as it is to point to any QB going up against the Panthers’ defense, this is a dream matchup. I just love Matt Ryan’s chances against one of the worst defenses in the league. Matty Ice is coming off a 275-yard, three-TD performance against San Diego. The Falcons have been airing the ball out and should continue to do so against Carolina.
This week’s hottest pickup will be the Giants’ Brown. He followed a strong Week 2 performance with 20 carries for 113 yards and two TDs. But it was against Carolina. Ahmad Bradshaw has been cleared to return to practice this week and is expected to retain his starting gig. New York heads to Philadelphia for a tough divisional matchup and the Eagles’ defense hasn’t been very good. With Manning spreading the field, whoever the Giants have in the backfield should have a productive game. Even if the injury-prone Bradshaw plays this week, Brown should be worth a spot on your bench.
Personally, if I’m going to make a claim on a RB it’s going to be Detroit’s Mike LeShoure. The second-round pick finally made his NFL debut after missing the 2011 season due to a torn Achillies tendon, then getting suspended for the first two games of this season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The Lions host Minnesota this week and LeShoure, coming off a 100-yard performance, is worth a shot given the injuries in the Lions’ backfield.
I think the best pickup will be Giants tight end Martellus Bennett, who is turning into one of Manning’s favorite red zone targets. The 6-foot-6 TE is a perfect red zone target and has proven capable of reeling in Manning’s passes. Through three games, Bennett has 185 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been heavily involved in the Giants’ offense and should be a viable option to start, or a good bench option if you already have a good TE.
I haven’t focused much on special team/defenses because I feel they aren’t all that important as waiver wire pickups. But if you need a defensive improvement, Arizona — which held Philadelphia to just two field goals — should fit the bill. Through three games, the Cardinals have allowed 206 passing yards per game — the seventh fewest in the NFL. They’ve forced five fumbles, recovered four and have two interceptions.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
My Night Covering a High School Football Game
"What a success story, when the film plays it gets less gory." - Joe Budden
6:15 p.m. - I arrived to Oak Hills High School earlier than usual since I had never been there. I realize, I got there far too early when kick-off is at 7 p.m. So I hang out in my car and text back somebody special. (Yes, you)
6:30 p.m. - I make my way into the stadium, get in for free with my press badge, use my charm when the Mom in charge of the booster club didn't want to give me a free program. I found both head coaches and made my way to introduce myself to them. Tonight, I happened to run into my old coach from my short-lived playing days in high school.
6:45 p.m. - I make sure i have my rosters, my stat sheets, my notebook, different color pens (when I keep play-by-play, I use different color pens to show which team has possession of the ball), make sure I have all my "tools of the trade". I posted a picture via Facebook and gave my prediction of the outcome of the game. I predicted - Oak Hills would win the game by 35.
7 p.m. - As kick-off approaches, I met up with a co-worker who happens to be covering the game for the Daily Press (I cover games for the Sun, but intern at the Daily Press). Chat about the game and wait for the kick-off.
7:13 p.m. - A.B. Miller jumps out to a 7-0 lead, wide receiver Kieth Moorefield caps off a 79 yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
7:19 p.m. - Miller promptly scores again, this time on a 26-yard pass from Michael Watkins to Rashaun Moore. 14-0 Miller.
7:25 p.m. - Well, what do you know? Miller is up 21-0 after Watkins connected with Moorfield with a 57-yard pass. Boy am I looking silly picking Oak Hills, and with a margin of 35 points.
8:14 p.m. - Halftime. I shake my head wondering where is the relentless Oak Hills defense I had heard so much about entering tonight's game?
8:19 p.m. - I tally up my first half stats, and I start writing out my capsule. I have found the easiest method to writing my capsule is to start as much of it I can as a draft in my email and use my phone on the sidelines to fill in as the game progresses. I tally up my stats and Miller's quarterback already has 227 throwing yards.
8:40 p.m. - Oak Hills gets on the board four minutes into the second half. Gino Masandrea muffs a punt, then picks it up at his team's 41 yard line. He shakes and bakes, gets a few blocks, and burns the punter as he sprints into the endzone, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. 21-7 Miller.
8:44 p.m. - Oak Hills' strong saftey, Phillip Hernandez picks off Watkins.
8:53 p.m. - Sophomore running back DeZhontaey Flecher finds the end-zone after a one yard run to chip Miller's lead to seven. 21-14 Miller
9:01 p.m. - Masandrea reels in a 34-yard touchdown pass from Nolan Brammer to tie game at 21
9:09 p.m. - Watkins finds his favorite receiver, Marte Witt for a 18-yard touchdown after driving the Rebels from their own 20-yard line. 28-21 Miller.
9:14 p.m. - Two plays into the Bulldogs' following drive, Flecher burns through the Rebels' defense for a 74-yard TD run, tying the game at 28 with 9:13 left on the play clock. Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a football game here.
9:20 p.m - Watkins tries to run the ball but is tackled by Kennedy Emesibe, the football comes loose, and Austin Beltrame runs back the fumble 36 yards, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the contest. 35:28 Oak Hills.
9:25 p.m. - With 7:41 left on the clock, Hernandez completes his second pick of the game at the Rebels' 25 yard-line.
9:27 p.m. - The first play of the drive, Flecher carries the ball into the endzone, only to have the play called back due to a block in the backfield.
9:32 p.m. - Josh Goodman connects on a 33-yard field goal with 4:50 left on the clock, cushioning the Bulldogs' lead. 38-28.
9:38 p.m. - Watkins leads the Rebels down to the Oak Hills' 21-yard line. He throws his fourth pick of the game, and third to Phillip Hernandez.
9:39 p.m. - with 2;06 left on the clock, and the ball on the Bulldogs' own 3-yard line, Flecher bounces off his tackle, and torches the Rebels' defense again. This time setting a school recored, the 97-yard TD run is the longest in the school's short history. Suddenly the game is out of the reach of the Rebels. 45-28 Oak Hills.
9:44 p.m. - with 3 seconds left on the clock, Watkins connects with Witt again for a 32-yard TD, ending the game with a score that sounds better than losing by 17. Final score - Oak Hills 45, Miller 34.
9:46 p.m. - now is the time I start to tally up my stats, and start piecing together my capsule together in my head. My final numbers for the game were; The Rebels' QB, Michael Watkins threw for 471 yards including four touchdowns. Wide receiver Marte Witt reeled in 11 passes for 213 yards - The Bulldog's sophomore RB Fletcher ran the ball for 221 yards and three touchdowns, including a school-record 97-yard TD. Senior strong safety Phillip Hernandez ended the game with three interceptions.
9:52 p.m. - Once Oak Hills' coach Robert Kistner addressed the team it was time to interview him. I came away with this interesting quote. "At halftime we told our boys, we have to go out there and see how much heart we have and come out as a team. Down by 21, it would be easy to fold our tents, but these guys showed how much heart they have tonight. Our defense made adjustments,and we battled through injuries. Our back-ups of the back-ups were playing. We had the sophomores Flecher and Gino both step up big tonight. We have a saying, 'start them young, raise them right'. That's what we did tonight."
9:58 p.m. - I rush back to my car and start on my capsule. My deadline of 10:15 is quickly approaching. I realize I'm not going to make my deadline, but I realize I got to watch a great game. So what if my capsule doesn't make tomorrow's paper, it will be online anyways. I bust my but, looking through my important stats, scoring plays, key moments. Anything that will give my capsule some personality. (My editors don't happen to like personality in the capsules. They want it direct, bland, and to the point.) I don't know if you can tell by reading my previous blog entries, but I'm not bland and I feel my writing never lacks personality.
10:21 p.m. - I missed my deadline by six minutes. I didn't feel like it was my best work, I felt rushed, but I got the job done. I look up and realize I'm sitting in a dark and empty parking lot. Mostly everybody has left. I get a call from my sister, she needs a ride home. Lucky me, brotherly duties. And to top it off, my phone dies just as I hang up with her. I have a long drive home, and no Pandora to listen to. I turn up the volume on my cd player and guess what is blaring through the speakers. If you guessed Taylor Swift, you know me far too well.
-Jose
6:15 p.m. - I arrived to Oak Hills High School earlier than usual since I had never been there. I realize, I got there far too early when kick-off is at 7 p.m. So I hang out in my car and text back somebody special. (Yes, you)
6:30 p.m. - I make my way into the stadium, get in for free with my press badge, use my charm when the Mom in charge of the booster club didn't want to give me a free program. I found both head coaches and made my way to introduce myself to them. Tonight, I happened to run into my old coach from my short-lived playing days in high school.
6:45 p.m. - I make sure i have my rosters, my stat sheets, my notebook, different color pens (when I keep play-by-play, I use different color pens to show which team has possession of the ball), make sure I have all my "tools of the trade". I posted a picture via Facebook and gave my prediction of the outcome of the game. I predicted - Oak Hills would win the game by 35.
7 p.m. - As kick-off approaches, I met up with a co-worker who happens to be covering the game for the Daily Press (I cover games for the Sun, but intern at the Daily Press). Chat about the game and wait for the kick-off.
7:13 p.m. - A.B. Miller jumps out to a 7-0 lead, wide receiver Kieth Moorefield caps off a 79 yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
7:19 p.m. - Miller promptly scores again, this time on a 26-yard pass from Michael Watkins to Rashaun Moore. 14-0 Miller.
7:25 p.m. - Well, what do you know? Miller is up 21-0 after Watkins connected with Moorfield with a 57-yard pass. Boy am I looking silly picking Oak Hills, and with a margin of 35 points.
8:14 p.m. - Halftime. I shake my head wondering where is the relentless Oak Hills defense I had heard so much about entering tonight's game?
8:19 p.m. - I tally up my first half stats, and I start writing out my capsule. I have found the easiest method to writing my capsule is to start as much of it I can as a draft in my email and use my phone on the sidelines to fill in as the game progresses. I tally up my stats and Miller's quarterback already has 227 throwing yards.
8:40 p.m. - Oak Hills gets on the board four minutes into the second half. Gino Masandrea muffs a punt, then picks it up at his team's 41 yard line. He shakes and bakes, gets a few blocks, and burns the punter as he sprints into the endzone, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. 21-7 Miller.
8:44 p.m. - Oak Hills' strong saftey, Phillip Hernandez picks off Watkins.
8:53 p.m. - Sophomore running back DeZhontaey Flecher finds the end-zone after a one yard run to chip Miller's lead to seven. 21-14 Miller
9:01 p.m. - Masandrea reels in a 34-yard touchdown pass from Nolan Brammer to tie game at 21
9:09 p.m. - Watkins finds his favorite receiver, Marte Witt for a 18-yard touchdown after driving the Rebels from their own 20-yard line. 28-21 Miller.
9:14 p.m. - Two plays into the Bulldogs' following drive, Flecher burns through the Rebels' defense for a 74-yard TD run, tying the game at 28 with 9:13 left on the play clock. Ladies and gentlemen, we have ourselves a football game here.
9:20 p.m - Watkins tries to run the ball but is tackled by Kennedy Emesibe, the football comes loose, and Austin Beltrame runs back the fumble 36 yards, giving the Bulldogs their first lead of the contest. 35:28 Oak Hills.
9:25 p.m. - With 7:41 left on the clock, Hernandez completes his second pick of the game at the Rebels' 25 yard-line.
9:27 p.m. - The first play of the drive, Flecher carries the ball into the endzone, only to have the play called back due to a block in the backfield.
9:32 p.m. - Josh Goodman connects on a 33-yard field goal with 4:50 left on the clock, cushioning the Bulldogs' lead. 38-28.
9:38 p.m. - Watkins leads the Rebels down to the Oak Hills' 21-yard line. He throws his fourth pick of the game, and third to Phillip Hernandez.
9:39 p.m. - with 2;06 left on the clock, and the ball on the Bulldogs' own 3-yard line, Flecher bounces off his tackle, and torches the Rebels' defense again. This time setting a school recored, the 97-yard TD run is the longest in the school's short history. Suddenly the game is out of the reach of the Rebels. 45-28 Oak Hills.
9:44 p.m. - with 3 seconds left on the clock, Watkins connects with Witt again for a 32-yard TD, ending the game with a score that sounds better than losing by 17. Final score - Oak Hills 45, Miller 34.
9:46 p.m. - now is the time I start to tally up my stats, and start piecing together my capsule together in my head. My final numbers for the game were; The Rebels' QB, Michael Watkins threw for 471 yards including four touchdowns. Wide receiver Marte Witt reeled in 11 passes for 213 yards - The Bulldog's sophomore RB Fletcher ran the ball for 221 yards and three touchdowns, including a school-record 97-yard TD. Senior strong safety Phillip Hernandez ended the game with three interceptions.
9:52 p.m. - Once Oak Hills' coach Robert Kistner addressed the team it was time to interview him. I came away with this interesting quote. "At halftime we told our boys, we have to go out there and see how much heart we have and come out as a team. Down by 21, it would be easy to fold our tents, but these guys showed how much heart they have tonight. Our defense made adjustments,and we battled through injuries. Our back-ups of the back-ups were playing. We had the sophomores Flecher and Gino both step up big tonight. We have a saying, 'start them young, raise them right'. That's what we did tonight."
9:58 p.m. - I rush back to my car and start on my capsule. My deadline of 10:15 is quickly approaching. I realize I'm not going to make my deadline, but I realize I got to watch a great game. So what if my capsule doesn't make tomorrow's paper, it will be online anyways. I bust my but, looking through my important stats, scoring plays, key moments. Anything that will give my capsule some personality. (My editors don't happen to like personality in the capsules. They want it direct, bland, and to the point.) I don't know if you can tell by reading my previous blog entries, but I'm not bland and I feel my writing never lacks personality.
10:21 p.m. - I missed my deadline by six minutes. I didn't feel like it was my best work, I felt rushed, but I got the job done. I look up and realize I'm sitting in a dark and empty parking lot. Mostly everybody has left. I get a call from my sister, she needs a ride home. Lucky me, brotherly duties. And to top it off, my phone dies just as I hang up with her. I have a long drive home, and no Pandora to listen to. I turn up the volume on my cd player and guess what is blaring through the speakers. If you guessed Taylor Swift, you know me far too well.
-Jose
Friday, September 21, 2012
Game 162
As the 2012 MLB season dwindles down to the final home-stretch, we as Baseball fans are looking forward to the final day of the season.
Last season, the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and the St. Louis Cardinals saw their seasons come down to the 162nd game of the season.
The Red Sox needed a win in Baltimore or a Tampa Bay loss, as the Rays hosted the New York Yankees. In a weird turn of events, the Red Sox lost after Carl Crawford couldn't field a sinking line-drive off the bat of Robert Andino. The Orioles walked off the field, celebrating knocking off the powerhouse Red Sox. Over in Tampa Bay, the Rays fought back after the Yanks took a 7-0 lead. In the 9th inning, pinch hitter Dan Johnson steps to the plate. Crack! Johnson ties the game at 7.
Moments after the Red Sox lost in Baltimore, Evan Longoria steps to the plate to face Scott Proctor. Longoria, sent a fastball just over the fence in left field to vault the Rays in to the final wild-card spot.
What was special about this moment, was the whole sports world was watching. Prior to 2011, the regular MLB season would end on a Sunday. If we were lucky, we would get a one-game playoff the following night. The only dilemma, Baseball was losing viewers to Football. So what's the best way to gain back viewers? Move the season's ending date to a Wednesday night.
Baseball, if even for one night, had the sports-world on the edge of their seats. The MLB is looking to recreate that same feeling. What better way than adding one extra wild-card team? More contenders involved mean for more meaningful games in early October.
The Dodgers have seen their hopes for a division crown flush slowly down the toilet. Had it not been for the final wild-card spot, their season would essentially be done after losing two of three in Washington.
More contenders = more viewers, more viewers = more excitement, more excitement = more revenue. The MLB has figured out a formula that they will test to see how it fares.
What better story is there in Baseball, than the team who had no business being in the playoffs wins the World Series? That's exactly what the 2011 Cardinals did.
The Cardinals found their way into the playoffs after beating the Houston Astros and Atlanta lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the final game of the season. The Cardinals carried that momentum in to the World Series against the Rangers.
The Cardinals proved what happens when you give a reluctant team another chance. Who can forget that memorable Game-6 between the Texas Rangers and the Cardinals? Hometown-hero David Freese circling the bases after hitting a walk-off homerun in extra innings after Josh Hamiliton gave Texas a lead. That is a moment Hollywood can't even script.
Stay tuned over the course of the final games of the season. You can be sure to expect fireworks, maybe a little bit of history, or maybe a little bit of David vs. Goliath. The great thing about the game of Baseball - it is not over until the fat-lady sings. A play clock doesn't determine your fate in Baseball. You can't hide from the final three outs in baseball. You can drop to a knee to run down the clock in Football. In Basketball, you can dribble around the court to make sure your opponent doesn't get the ball back. When it comes to Baseball, you can't do anything to take the 27th out of the picture.
This is Baseball at it's finest. Don't take it for granted, you never know what kind of action you will miss. Even in a 7-0 blow-out heading into the seventh inning as the Rays did, you never know what you can miss. Tune in and enjoy what looks like it will be a great post-season.
- Jose
Last season, the Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and the St. Louis Cardinals saw their seasons come down to the 162nd game of the season.
The Red Sox needed a win in Baltimore or a Tampa Bay loss, as the Rays hosted the New York Yankees. In a weird turn of events, the Red Sox lost after Carl Crawford couldn't field a sinking line-drive off the bat of Robert Andino. The Orioles walked off the field, celebrating knocking off the powerhouse Red Sox. Over in Tampa Bay, the Rays fought back after the Yanks took a 7-0 lead. In the 9th inning, pinch hitter Dan Johnson steps to the plate. Crack! Johnson ties the game at 7.
Moments after the Red Sox lost in Baltimore, Evan Longoria steps to the plate to face Scott Proctor. Longoria, sent a fastball just over the fence in left field to vault the Rays in to the final wild-card spot.
What was special about this moment, was the whole sports world was watching. Prior to 2011, the regular MLB season would end on a Sunday. If we were lucky, we would get a one-game playoff the following night. The only dilemma, Baseball was losing viewers to Football. So what's the best way to gain back viewers? Move the season's ending date to a Wednesday night.
Baseball, if even for one night, had the sports-world on the edge of their seats. The MLB is looking to recreate that same feeling. What better way than adding one extra wild-card team? More contenders involved mean for more meaningful games in early October.
The Dodgers have seen their hopes for a division crown flush slowly down the toilet. Had it not been for the final wild-card spot, their season would essentially be done after losing two of three in Washington.
More contenders = more viewers, more viewers = more excitement, more excitement = more revenue. The MLB has figured out a formula that they will test to see how it fares.
What better story is there in Baseball, than the team who had no business being in the playoffs wins the World Series? That's exactly what the 2011 Cardinals did.
The Cardinals found their way into the playoffs after beating the Houston Astros and Atlanta lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the final game of the season. The Cardinals carried that momentum in to the World Series against the Rangers.
The Cardinals proved what happens when you give a reluctant team another chance. Who can forget that memorable Game-6 between the Texas Rangers and the Cardinals? Hometown-hero David Freese circling the bases after hitting a walk-off homerun in extra innings after Josh Hamiliton gave Texas a lead. That is a moment Hollywood can't even script.
Stay tuned over the course of the final games of the season. You can be sure to expect fireworks, maybe a little bit of history, or maybe a little bit of David vs. Goliath. The great thing about the game of Baseball - it is not over until the fat-lady sings. A play clock doesn't determine your fate in Baseball. You can't hide from the final three outs in baseball. You can drop to a knee to run down the clock in Football. In Basketball, you can dribble around the court to make sure your opponent doesn't get the ball back. When it comes to Baseball, you can't do anything to take the 27th out of the picture.
This is Baseball at it's finest. Don't take it for granted, you never know what kind of action you will miss. Even in a 7-0 blow-out heading into the seventh inning as the Rays did, you never know what you can miss. Tune in and enjoy what looks like it will be a great post-season.
- Jose
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