Saturday, November 11, 2017

Week 15: Big Wheels Keep On Turnin'

Week 15 Roundup 


Henry Prieto, QB, Detroit Wheels
Fans tore down the goalposts in Ypsilanti on Saturday after Detroit QB Henry Prieto threw a 53-yard TD pass to WR Rigoberto Gonzales in overtime to give the Wheels a 23-17 victory over Chicago, the first loss of the season for the Blitz.

The Blitz hadn't lost a regular-season game since falling, 10-9, to Detroit in Week 13 of the 1974 season, a span of 17 games.

The Wheels led, 17-3, in the fourth quarter, but Chicago QB Daniel McKee threw a pair of TD passes to TE Michael Leonard, the second with 1:29 to play when McKee threaded a pass between three defenders. Detroit took the kickoff and Prieto threw to RB Robert Costello for 22 yards before finding Gonzales behind the Chicago secondary for the game-winner.

Wheels CB Chuck Johnson made 12 tackles and RDE Juan Frigo sacked McKee three times.

  • The Wheels (10-5) pulled a game ahead of Oklahoma (9-6) for the final American Conference playoff spot when the Outlaws were upset, 30-13, by the Memphis Showboats. The Memphis defense intercepted three passes and Showboats QB Joseph Cantwell was 18-for-22 for 311 yards and two TDs, including an 85-yarder to WR Gerard Hall. Detroit ends the season with a game at Los Angeles, while the Outlaws host the Boston Breakers.
  •  The Shreveport Steamer nailed down the final National Conference playoff spot by shutting out the Baltimore Stars, 23-0. Shreveport limited the Stars to six first downs and Baltimore QB Victor Gorman ended the game with a 12.36 QB rating as Gorman was picked off three times and sacked seven times, three times by RDE Oscar Rodriguez.
  •  The Georgia Force clinched the South Division title with a wild 72-41 win over the Birmingham Stallions. The Force pulled away in the second half after leading, 35-28, at intermission. Georgia rolled up 706 yards total offense as QBs Phillip Anderson and Dominique Holmes combined to throw for 586 yards and seven TDs.
  • The Portland Storm rallied from a 21-3 halftime deficit to edge the Cleveland Thunderbolts, 27-21. Portland TE Ivory Villaneuva and WR Michael Black combined for 226 yards receiving and Villanueva caught a 16-yard TD pass from QB William Hill.


Week 16 Preview

Only Detroit and Oklahoma will be playing with postseason berths in doubt. The Portland Storm (11-4) face the Oakland Invaders (14-1), a rematch of Oakland's 37-27 victory two weeks ago. Another rematch sees the New York Stars (1-14) facing the Philadelphia Bell (3-12) two weeks after the Stars snapped their 20-game losing streak by beating the Bell.

Coach's Profile

Coach: BabyHuey
Team: Birmingham Stallions
BabyHuey
Playing MFN Since: July 2017
Hometown (town, state): Holmes Mill, Ky.
Current residence (town, state): Evarts, Ky.
Day job: Coal miner (day job); BBQ pitmaster by weekend. I have competed in Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned cookoffs.
Favorite teams (all sports): Steelers, Bulls (Jordan era baby), Red Sox.
A real-life sports experience: Was an all-state football player in high school, coached grades 4-6 football a couple years.
A fantasy sports experience: I have had a team in some sort of league for about 7 years. Play DraftKings now. A lot of video games really got me on the management-type game. Loved the NCAA football game.
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Don't pay too much attention to overall rating on players. Find players that fit your own style. Don't give up to soon if you keep losing. Make little changes at a time and you will get better.
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