[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Saved by the Bell, No wait...
We're still winning games, how sweet is that?

Hosting the 2-4 Snapfinger Jazz, the unknowing fan would assume that the 4-2 Maassluis Merchantmen would have to be the favorite in a home game. But after last season's mass departure of stars and cohesive veterans, we can't ever feel like we're the clear cut favorites.

First quarter, first drive. Our defense gives up a 15-yard pass, a 21-yarder and an 18-yard run. On third and four in our redzone, Tony Whiting makes the sack to force them to kick the 37-yarder. Our response was the kind of offensive play we've shown more often this season: 15 yards here, 5 yards there, 7 through the air, 6 on the ground, Bell to Bondy for 11 and then the 7-3 lead taking Bell to Bondy for 30 yards. Now that was somewhat new, for whatever reason Bell has had trouble connecting with Bondy. After our defense keeps them short, we continue with another one of those drives: Bell finds the tight end Crawford for a couple of 10-yarders, Thongchanh and Patter make the smooth runs and Bell finds Bondy open in the end zone for the 14-3 lead on the first play of the second quarter.

Things continue to be good for us, when Bart Sword intercepts a third and long pass and returns it to the 50-yard line. Alas, we end up punting and get a 32 and 30-yard passes thrown at us, but no worries, the D-Line overthrows their O-Line and their quarterback loses the ball in the melee. Things get even better on the punt play shortly after, as our guys knock over their punt returner, strip the ball and our guard Michael Szott bulldozes 30 yards downfield for the 21-3 lead. And things would have been swell had we all just shook hands and gone back to the locker rooms. But that wouldn't have been fun for our fans, would it?

Randal Solomon (that's the Jazz's quarterback, the one that we picked off and strip-sacked) finds Riley Doyle (the #2 pick from this draft class) for 27 yards, but as they settle for a 34-yard field goal, we think we can improve our lead from 21-6 to something larger. Francisco Patter runs for 9 yards, Bell finds Ronnie Hammond for 22 yards and just before the two-minute warning, again Hammond for a 44-yard touchdown. 28-6 up, hell yeah. Our defense plays well, but with the ball back in Bell's hands, we get cocky. Rather than running the clock out, we keep trying and Bell gets picked off at our 45-yard line. Two plays later, we get punched back hard: Solomon to Doyle for 45 yards and just like that it's 28-13 for the half time score.

We get the ball first in the second half, but at midfield we get slowed down and punt. First play on their drive, Clayton Jackson blitzes around their right tackle, sacks Solomon and Andy Russell recovers the loose ball at their 6-yard line. A goal line stand later, we kick the 18-yarder for a 31-13 lead. The rest of the third quarter continues with drives that get a bit upfield, but far from midfield. Until the Jazz decides to go run heavy and get to our 49-yard line by the end of the quarter.

Still leading by 18, we know this isn't a closed deal, but we're in good shape. On third and two, our strong safety gets the credits for stuffing their 224 pounds running back to force the punt. Then all of a sudden, our wheels are coming off: Bell throws his second pick of the game (and third of the season). They have a short field and a 21-yard pass on third and 13 is the key play to their touchdown, but after a failed 2-pointer, we're still up by 12 points. We get three-and-outed, return the favor, and get held to a short drive again. Solomon keeps finding open receivers, finds a guy with 3 minutes to go for a touchdown, but a holding penalty stalls them, for a minute. All of a sudden we up 31-26 and with 2 minutes remaining. We need just one more first down to end it and we get it done on second and five. Bell can do it again: knee drop for the victory!

Brandon Bell completed 23 of 34 for 195 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions (tripling his season total). Francisco Patter ran for 72 yards, Theo Bondy had 9 catches for 62 yards with 2 touchdowns, Ronnie Hammond 4 catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. The defense gave up 412 total yards, but most of it came in the second half. Despite the raw numbers, I actually have to like what we displayed today.

Lesson of the day? Don't get too excited when we're leading big just before half time and also get the ball first in the second half. It unnecessarily made it close than it needed to become.

Elsewhere in the league, the Gothenburg Giants had a bye, while the Paris Musketeers lost 40-34 at the Tucker Tigers and the Bordeaux Vineyards won 34-17 at het Augusta Greenjackets. The division is once again a close race.

Standings:
1. Maassluis 5-2
2. Gothenburg 4-3
3. Paris 3-4
4. Bordeaux 3-4

The ugly part is that all four teams have a negative points differential. Some consecutive hilarity too, at 337 yards per game, we rank just ahead the 334 yards per game of all three of our rivals. We do score more points, have the better turnover margin and shockingly give up the most yards: we're bottom five in rushing and passing yards allowed.

The key stat is pointing towards us the most of course: the W-tally. We're going to need the cushion as we've got a rough road ahead, visiting Bordeaux, Orlando (5-2) and Gothenburg in the next three games. Of the last 6 games, 5 are in our place and the only one in the USA will be at the Chesapeake Chitterlings, standing tall with a league best 7-1 record. The home games are all but one against teams with a 3-4 record, which doesn't say a lot, 25% of the league has that record.

So, next up Bordeaux. We lost there the last two times, four out of the last five as well. Time to turn back time to when we used to own them in their place as well. We can do that, Merchantmen.