Gentlemen at Dixie - 10am

If I'm not mistaken, and I'm not, this is how the season opened up last year. We have strength against strength here, Dixie offense against what has traditionally been a very good Gentlemen defense. When Dixie has all their weapons on offense, they can be hard to stop. If you give Tyler the weapons he needs including a girl TE to checkdown to when the play breaks down, they can move the ball all day. Brent, Kyle and Brett will look to lock down Handsome Joe, Grant, and Tommy with the occasional mix of a hungover Delzotti. I expect Tyler to have more success with his feet than with his arm in this one, but stud middle linebacker Luke might have something to say about that. Keith is back with the Gentlemen under center after hearing possible trade rumors and free agency all off season. Rumor has it his arm is feeling better and he has been pelting his poor 6th grade students with hard slants all winter long in preparation for spring. He will have weapons in Talbot, Fran, Luke and Russ to spread the ball around to and he may even look in the general direction of a female receiver this season. I think these teams trade scores early before the Gentlemen start to take control of the game in the second half. 

Prediction: Gentlemen 28 - Dixie14

Dixie at Assassins - 11am

Dixie will be coming off their early morning game against the Gentlemen. This could work in their favor as they will be warmed up playing an earlier game for the Assassins team. This is by no means an easy double header for Dixie to start the year. If they have the legs, I think they can jump out to a potential early lead against a sluggish Assassins team. The Assassins will be able to move the ball with ease on offense as Kyle will be throwing his receivers open all day. If the Assassins have a full team they have too much speed for Dixie on the offensive side. With Bower, Greg and Ronnie returning to the field, and Armando as one of the best possession receivers in the history of the league, this one could be high scoring. Look for a heavy dose of the girls as well in this. 

Prediction: Assassins 32 - Dixie 24

Sneaky Blinders at Gentlemen - 12pm

First game of the year for a new Sneaky Blinders team. They will catch the Gentlemen on the back end of their split double header. Gentlemen are no spring chickens anymore and could very possibly tighten up with the hour layover. That said, I simply can't pick a new team just familiarizing themselves with the rules and playing in the sand to upset what has been one of the best regular season teams in recent years. Keith should be able to spread the ball around, manage the game clock and put up points. The Gentlemen welcome back previous female MVP Maggie as she looks to get back in the swing of things and joins up with Mary and Carianne who will look to pressure a rookie QB for Sneaky Blinders. Going out on a limb here, but I think Keith looks to make the girls happy and will complete a pass to a female in this one to start the season off right. 

Prediction: Gentlemen 30 - Sneaky Blinders 8

Sandy Cheeks at Peaky Blinders - 1pm

Peaky blinders gets thrown right into the mix with a double header to start the season off. Let's hope they are quick learners as they will look to regroup during the quick break and start to figure out how the league works. They will be taking on a very talented and a team that could have won a lot more games last year in Sandy Cheeks. Sandy Cheeks certainly doesn't lack athletes, they just need to piece it together and start stringing along some wins. If they can finish in that 4-5 range for regular season, they will be a dangerous team come playoffs. Taj will stretch the field vertically and make plays while AJ continues to move the sticks and be a top target for his QB. Eli will use his legs to move the ball and extend plays. I think the experience coming off their first full season will prove to be too much for Peaky Blinders to overcome. 

Prediction: Sandy Cheeks 22 - Sneaky Blinders 16

Sandy Cheeks at Tacos and Hotdogs - 2pm

Sandy Cheeks will have tired legs after playing the previous game. They take on the other new team in Tacos. It's hard to tell how good Tacos will be, but the way Timmy has been hyping them up, they have the potential to be good. In what will be one of the more athletic games of the day. I'm giving slight advantage to Cheeks as they have the experience of being in the league and will shake off the early season mishaps in their earlier game. Darius, Taj, AJ and co will lock down on defense and make enough plays to steal one from Tacos as they familiarize themselves with the league. They got lucky to catch them early. 

Prediction: Sandy Cheeks 26 - Tacos and Hotdogs 24

Season Preview:

Here we are again on the brink of a new season of BAFF. Can you feel the excitement in the air? This year we have 8 teams. Each team will play 10 regular season games and as always every team makes the playoffs. Let's have a good season, and try not to give the refs too hard of a time... they are good people. Below are some odds for each team to get everyone pumped up for the season.

WTDT:

Over/Under Wins: 8.5

Championship Odds: +200

WTDT has emerged as the team to beat in this league over the last few years. They are coming off yet another championship, and if the rumor mill is true they may have acquired a former league superstar. I guess that's where the saying the rich get richer comes from. This is the most complete team in the league, top to bottom, this entire roster can play football. They are led by star QB Timmy, and a ton of speed and size at receiver and on defense. Lindsay and Lauren are an elite tandem of girls who contribute both defensively in the pass rush and offensively as dangerous receiver threats. I originally wanted to set this line at 9.5 but I went with 8.5 because there is typically one week a season where the team is short on people and drops a random game. There are teams in this league who have had some success against WTDT and may be able to steal a regular season win from though. Hammer this under.

Prediction: WTDT goes 8-2 in the regular season and wins another championship.

Assassins:

Over/Under Wins: 7.5

Championship Odds: +250

The Assassins are the winningest team in league history. Before WTDT joined the league, there was nobody who could even compete with this team. Since WTDT joined the league, them and the Assassins have gone back and forth winning championships. People have been saying for years now that the Assassins are too old, and passed their prime. But haven't people been saying the same thing about the Patriots? I'm sure one day this team will decline, but they have shown no signs of it yet. They were 1 play away from beating WTDT in the championship last season, and they will be right back in the mix again this season. A little birdy also told me that will be getting reinforcements from a former teammate this season. Will this be enough to put them back at the top of the league as champions? Time will tell. The Assassins are led by rifle armed QB Kyle and a talented group of versatile and experienced athletes in Bower, Greg, Mando, Cam, Wade and more. This team also has the luxury of having 2 very explosive girls on their roster who wreak havoc on opposing QBs and score touchdowns offensively. I really like this team this season, and think they have a shot to win it all, but history tells me that they tend to start the season slow and round into form come playoff time. Hammer the under on the Wins.

Prediction: Assassins go 7-3 in the regular season.

Gentlemen:

Over/Under Wins: 6.5

Championship Odds: +450

The Gentlemen have consistently been near the top of the league since winning their one championship all those years ago in the Spring 2015 season. However, they have failed to claim another championship. They head into this season another year older, devastated by injury, and mounting pressure to show that this team wasn't just a one hit wonder. There still is a plethora of talent on this team though, you don't consistently get the 1 seed over and over again in the regular season without talent. However, given the new additions to WTDT and the Assassins and the losses that the Gentlemen have had in the offseason, is this team still a contender? If I take a hard look at this roster, I say yes. Expect more from Russ and Fran this year as they will have another season of experience playing with QB Keith. Kyle and Brett will also need to step up this year in expanded roles on the defensive side of the ball, but I think they are up to the task. In true Gentlemen fashion, I think they perform better than expected in the regular season before coming up short yet again in the playoffs. I'm taking the over in this one.

Prediction: Gentlemen go 7-3 in the regular season.

Legion:

Over/Under Wins: 5.5

Championship Odds: +650

Legion has been flirting with the top of this league for years now, but they still haven't seem to have gotten over the hump. They are yet to win a championship or even play in a championship game. However, they have come very close to upsetting teams like WTDT, the Assassins, and the Gentlemen in semi-final games and they have beaten those teams at times in the regular season. The looming question is has this team peaked? Is 4th place the best that they are capable of? My answer is NO. There is more in this team than that . Emmett has been their top receiver on offense and 40 has been their rock on defense for years, and look for them to continue to lead this team on their sides of the ball. Karl and Dempsey provide good options at receiver for dynamic QB Zay. Leah and Rachel are also good receiving options out of the tight end spot. If I had to sum up this team in a sentence it would be that on any given day this team can beat or lose to anyone. Consistency is king in this league though. This is a really tricky line, I want to go over, but I'll chalk up an extra loss due to being short players one week for a wedding/vacation/etc.

Prediction: Legion goes 5-5 in the regular season.

Tacos and Hotdogs:

Over/Under Wins: 4.5

Championship Odds: +600

This is a new team and I know hardly anything about them, so these lines are basically me throwing darts at a wall here. What I do know about this team is that defending champs WTDT has told me that they are very good and will be an elite team in this league. However, they are still the new team in the league and there is typically a steep learning curve. Even WTDT and the Gentlemen struggled their first season in the league, so I am expecting this team to have growing pains. I've heard they are very athletic though, which should make the competitive right from the start. They will need to get familiar with new rules, and of course playing on sand. I think they get off to a slow start but begin to round into form towards the end of the season. I am taking the under here, based on the history of new teams in the league.

Prediction: Tacos and Hotdogs go 4-6 in the regular season, but finish the season strong and are very dangerous in the playoffs.

Dixie:

Over/Under Wins: 4.5

Championship Odds: +1,000

I like this Dixie team. They have a great offensive core built around do-it-all QB Tyler, and a couple of very talented receivers in Handsome Joe and Grant. They are a fun team to watch, and can put up points in a hurry. However, their defense has never seemed to catch up to their elite offense. Perhaps they can cook up something special on defense this season and really make a run this year? I'm not expecting that to happen, but either way their offensive firepower makes them dangerous every game. I expect a lot of shootouts this season that often come down to whoever has the ball last. I also really like that they request the early games, so the rest of the league can typically sleep in a little later. Great team to have in the league, and I think they are one piece away from really making a run at this. This is a tough choice, but I'm leaning slightly towards the under.

Prediction: Dixie goes 4-6 in the regular season.

Sandy Cheeks:

Over/Under Wins: 3.5

Championship Odds: +1,250

Sandy Cheeks had an interesting season in the Fall. They struggled early and lost games that they probably should have won. They have a lot of speed, but seemed to lack consistency on both sides of the ball. There was definite improvement over the course of the season and they did start winning games the last couple weeks. The reason these lines are so low is because I'm not sure how much turnover they have in their roster this season. It seems like outside a couple core players, a new team shows up every season. Therefore, I am expecting growing pains again this year. But hey, this is just a hunch. If they show up with the same team consistently then this team is very dangerous. Maybe I'm feeling generous right now, or maybe I believe in the talent of AJ, Taj, D, and company but I like the over here.

Prediction: Sandy Cheeks goes 4-6 in the regular season.

Sneaky Blinders:

Over/Under Wins: 2.5

Championship Odds: +2,000

The only thing I know about this team is that the person who started this team is "a good athlete". So that's not much to go on here. So let me give some advice to the new team in the league. It is very challenging at first, but stick with it. Focus on improving every game. Get familiar with the rules, and playing the game on sand. Watch other games to pick up on some of their strategies, and have fun. Remember even the best teams in this league really struggled in their first season. The Gentlemen who have won a league championship and consistently finish in the top 3 in the league every year didn't win a game in the regular season, but upset the defending champs in the first round of the playoffs in their inaugural season. My point is, one day it just kind of clicks. It's just a matter of how long it takes. So be patient.

Prediction: Sneaky Blinders goes 2-8 in the regular season, but expect improvement as the season goes on.

Championship Preview:

Assassins (3) v WTDT (1) - 12:30pm

I don't think anyone would have been surprised to see these 2 teams facing each other for another championship. These are historically the 2 winningest teams in league history, and when it's all over, 1 of these teams will add another Championship to their collections. The Assassins won both regular season games against WTDT and are coming off a dramatic 25-24 win over the Gentlemen, which leads to believe that they should be favored in this game. WTDT is coming off a relatively easy 40-22 win over Dixie in the semi finals, and outside of their 2 losses in the regular season to the Assassins, they have been perfect. Both teams can put up points, and both can shut down opposing offenses. You don't make it to the championship without a complete team in this league. Timmy leads the high powered WTDT offense, and he has a plethora of weapons to spread the ball around too including: Jaurice who is coming off a 3TD performance in the semi-finals, Ashante, Joe, Dychel, Mango, Keegan, etc. Dallas leads the WTDT defense along with great pass rushers Lindsay and Lauren. The Assassins are also led by a star QB in Kyle who also has plenty of options to throw to including: Cam, Bower, Greg, Mando, Dave, and Wade. Cam and Wade anchor the assassins defense at corner, along with a lethal pass rush from Allison and Chelsea. This game can really go either way, and it should be thrilling to watch. But I must pick one team to win, that's how this works. My gut is telling me the Assassins. They are older and slower than WTDT, but they have that something special. They are winners. WTDT is loaded with talented athletes, but for some reason the Assassins have had their number over the last few seasons. My brain is telling me WTDT though. My theory is, the more talented team is bound to win at least 1 of the 3 games between these 2 teams, and since the Assassins won the first 2, what are the chances they can make it 3 in a row? So do I side with my gut, or my brain? I'm reluctantly choosing my brain this time. Bold prediction, Dychel makes the game winning catch.

Prediction: WTDT 32 - Assassins 30

Reminder*****
There will be an All-Star game at 11am on Saturday, for those teams who did not make it to the Championship Game. All are welcome to play. The end of the season party will begin at 2pm, so please come out, play in the All-Star game, watch the Championship Game, and then enjoy the end of the season party! Always remember to tip your bartenders! Especially those named Tammie! Thank you everyone for another great season and please spread the word about the Bar A Flag Football league! Ideally we can add a couple more teams for the Spring Season! Cheers - The Commish.

Playoffs - Players of the Week

Cam - CB/WR, Assassins AND Mando - WR, Assassins

It was extremely difficult to pick one player for the Assassins, so I chose 2. Even picking 2 I feel cheated, because I could have easily put some combination of Greg, Wade, Kyle, and Dave on here. But I settled on Cam and Mando. Why? Because I feel like they made the most big plays. The Assassins beat the Gentlemen 25-24 in the semi finals. They took a 25-6 lead into halftime and had to withstand an onslaught in the second half. I feel like if the Gentlemen got one more possession in this game they would have won. But they didn't get that possession, in part due to great clock management, and in part due to these 2 guys moving the chains and keeping the Gentlemen offense off the field. It felt as though every time the Assassins offense needed a big play in this game on a 3rd or 4th down Kyle went to one of these 2 downs, and they came down with the football. I wish I had better stats to explain why these 2 were chosen, but all I can say is that when their teams needed it most they came up clutch. That's championship stuff right there. Cam and Mando will look to continue to make the big plays in the championship game against WTDT on Saturday at 12:30pm. Congratulations guys!

Allison - TE/DL, Assassins AND Chelsea - TE/DL, Assassins

When you win a game by 1 point, every single play is important. Allison caught the first TD pass of the game for the Assassins giving them a 7-0 lead. Neither team converted a PAT attempt this game, meaning the extra point for Allison's TD proved to be the difference in a game where both teams scored 4 TDs. And by no means was this an easy catch. Kyle fired the ball through traffic just passed the outstretched arms of a diving Gentlemen defender, and Allison came up with it in the endzone. Chelsea was also a huge contributor in this game, as she was responsible for 2 of the biggest defensive plays for the Assassins. In the first half she jumped up to deflect a pass over the middle from the Gentlemen QB, she then tracked the loose ball and intercepted it. There are only a handful of defensive linemen in the NFL who can make plays like that, and here she is out there in beer league flag football absolutely dominating. And Chelsea wasn't done yet. With her team up by 1 point with 30 seconds left in the game she sacked the opposing QB on the game winning 2 point conversion attempt to seal the win for the Assassins. These girls have ice-water running through their veins, as no moment is too big for them. They will need to bring their A game again on Saturday as they square off against WTDT at 12:30pm for the championship. Congratulations girls!

Playoff Recap:

Dixie 32 - Legion 21

Legion was short 3 key players (Emmet, Forty, Demps) in this one, and their absence was felt on the field. They battled, but Dixie proved to be too much for them in this game. Dixie jumped out to a 13-0 lead after a great TD catch by Handsome Joe on a pass from Tyler, then a Tyler Interception, and a TD pass from Tyler to Grant. The game looked like it was going to get out of hand, but Legion came up with a huge goaline stop before the half to keep the score at 19-6. Zay then lead a charge back throwing for 3 touchdowns, despite missing 2 of his top receivers. Legion brought the score back to 25-21 before the comeback ran out of gas. Tyler's 40 yard scamper down the left sideline towards the end of the game closed out this one for a 32-21 Dixie win. Dixie advanced to the semifinals to take on the 1 seeded WTDT.

Assassins 24 - Sandy Cheeks 12

This game went about as expected. The Assassins seem to always take care of business and beat the teams that they are supposed to beat. Sandy Cheeks jumped out to an early lead, when Eli connected with D for a TD to go up 6-0. The Assassins answered quickly when Kyle hit Greg in the back of the endzone on a circus-like catch, where he was able to get a foot down in bounds after catching the ball off a deflection. Mando then had an equally impressive diving catch on the 2 point conversion to give the Assassins an 8-6 lead. Both offenses struggled throughout the rest of the game, but the Assassins defense made enough plays to get the win. Dave tipped a pass by Eli which was then intercepted by Wade to seal the win for the Assassins 24-12. The Assassins advanced to the semifinals to take on the Gentlemen.

WTDT 40 - Dixie 22

This game was closer than the final score makes it out to be. Dixie put up a good fight in this one, but fell short in the end to the more talented team. WTDT got off to a sluggish start, and was only leading by a score of 20-14 at halftime. However, they took over in the second half. Dixie got on the board first when Tyler threw a TD pass to Delzotti to take a 7-0 lead. Then up by a score of 7-6 Grant intercepted Timmy to give Dixie the ball back. Just when you began wondering if Dixie could pull off this upset, Ashante intercepted Tyler to get WTDT back on track. Timmy then connected with Jaurice on back to back TDs to put WTDT ahead 20-7. Tyler answered by throwing a TD pass to Tommy to make the score 20-14. WTDT came out hot in the second half, scoring on their first drive on a TD pass from Timmy to Mango. Joe then intercepted Tyler, to get the ball back to WTDT and Timmy threw his 3rd TD pass to Jaurice on the following possession to make the score 32-14. This lead was too much for Dixie to come back from as WTDT won the game 40-22. WTDT will play for another league championship this upcoming week.

Assassins 25 - Gentlemen 24

This game was a tale of 2 halves. The Assassins absolutely dominated the first half of this game and went into halftime with a 25-6 lead. Their lead was built on the back of forcing 3 interceptions defensively, including a pick 6 by Greg, and a J.J. Watt-esque tipped pass interception on the line of scrimmage by Chelsea. Offensively, the Assassins were extremely efficient, as Kyle threw for 3 TD passes, highlighted by a great catch by Allison for a critical 7 points (remember that extra point for a girl TD later). The second half was a complete 180 from the first half. The Gentlemen began to impose their will on the Assassins and out-scored them 18-0 in the second half. The Gentlemen offense regrouped at halftime and got things going as Keith led them with 3 TD passes. The defense also stepped up as they didn't give up another point the rest of the game, and forced an interception of their own. The Gentlemen scored a TD with about 30 seconds left to go down 25-24, and elected to go for a 2 point conversion to win the game. Chelsea sacked the QB on the play to preserve the lead for the Assassins. The Gentlemen's remaining hopes of a comeback were then crushed on a nice throw and catch from Kyle to Cam on 4th and short to clinch the win. The Assassins played a near perfect game. They had 1 dropped pass that sticks out, but other than that I would say they played mistake free football, and they did an excellent job at burning clock in the second half. The Gentlemen's comeback was impressive, and showed that this team does in fact have a lot of heart. However, they built too large of a hole to dig themselves out of. The 3 turnovers, several dropped passes, 0-4 on extra point conversions, and not enough plays made defensively are just some of what the Gentlemen left on the table in this one. All they can do now is hope for a better result next season. The Assassins advanced and will play rival WTDT in the championship on Saturday at 12:30pm!

Playoff Preview:

Round 1 -

Legion (4 seed) v Dixie (5 seed) - 10am

This should be a good game and it can go either way. Legion won both regular season games against Dixie by scores of 34-26 and 37-35. These teams are pretty evenly matched. Dixie has a high powered offense led by star QB Tyler and stud receivers Handsome Joe and Grant. However, the Dixie defense has struggled to get stops all season. Legion has a better defense than Dixie led by corner 40, linebacker Nick, and a strong pass rush from all of their girls. They are no slouch on offense either led by dual threat QB Zay, and a three headed monster at receiver led by Emmet, Carl, and Demps. These teams are pretty evenly matched. I give a slight edge offensively to Dixie, but a moderate edge defensively to Legion. They say defense wins championships right? Well I'm expecting another close game between these 2 teams and another game that could be decided by who converts better on extra points. There's an old saying that it's hard to beat a team twice in the same season... so I imagine that beating the same team 3 times in one season is even harder. Using that theory, I'm predicting the bounces go in favor of Dixie this time around, and they win by the tightest of margins.

Prediction: Dixie 35 - Legion 34

Assassins (3 seed) v Sandy Cheeks (6 seed) - 11am

I think this game will be closer than most people will expect. The Assassins have more career championships than Sandy Cheeks has wins. But Sandy Cheeks showed improvement all year and managed to win their final game of the season. It appears as if Sandy Cheeks is starting to get hot at the right time. Unfortunately for them though, they run into the winningest team in league history in the first round of the playoffs. Dual threat QB Eli leads a dangerous Sandy Cheeks offense, and he has plenty of dangerous weapons to throw to in AJ, D, Taj and others. Defensively Sandy Cheeks has struggled all season, but seemed to play a little bit better the last couple of weeks. The Assassins are led by QBs Kyle and Dave, both of whom have championships to their name, and a combination of both speed and size at receiver in Bower, Greg, Mando and company. The defense is led by standout corners Cam and Wade, and arguably the top pass rush in the league led by Allison and Chelsea. Sandy Cheeks has enough talent to win this game, but the Assassins are too good and too experienced to be knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. Sandy Cheeks will make enough plays to make this one interesting, but experience wins out in the end.

Prediction: Assassins 36 - Sandy Cheeks 22

Semifinals -

WTDT (1 seed) v Winner of 10am game - 12pm

I won't write a prediction here since we do not know who WTDT will be playing against, but wanted everyone to see the time of the game.

Gentlemen (2 seed) v Winner of 11am game - 1pm

I won't write a prediction here since we do not know who the Gentlemen will be playing against, but wanted everyone to see the time of the game.

Week 9 - Players of the Week

Eli - QB, Sandy Cheeks AND AJ - WR/DB Sandy Cheeks

Eli and AJ were both standouts in their team's 42-28 win last week over Dixie. In fact, they both played so well, that I couldn't figure out which one to pick for Player of the Week. So I chose both! Eli led his team offensively throwing for 5 TD passes. He also came up with a very clutch pass break up on 4th down late in the game clinching the win for his team. Eli is known for his playmaking ability with both his arms and legs, as he gives defenses fits by breaking off big runs, or extending plays and buying time for his receivers to get open downfield. AJ was equally as valuable to his team in their win as he combined for 3 TDs on the day. He hauled in 2 receiving TDs, and 1 interception which he returned for a TD. AJ is known throughout the league for his smooth routes, impressive quickness in and out of breaks, and his fantastic hands. He also has some of the most colorful receiver gloves in the league. Eli and AJ will look to continue their great play as they had into the playoffs!

Chelsea - DL/TE, Assassins

The Assassins pulled off the upset against number 1 seed WTDT last week. Chelsea was a huge contributor at the end. She had a few catches throughout the game helping her team extend drives and stay ahead of the chains. She also helps out the entire defense with her relentless pass rush, forcing QBs to rush throws and make mistakes. Chelsea's biggest play of the game was at the end of the game with her team up by 2, and WTDT attempting a game tying 2 point conversion. Chelsea fired off the ball and sacked opposing QB Timmy to seal the win for the Assassins! Chelsea is one of the most dangerous girls in the league on both sides of the ball and is known for her blazing speed which she uses to make plays both after the catch offensively and to rush the QB on defense. She will look to build on last week's excellent performance as the Assassins head into the playoffs!

Week 9 Recap:

Sandy Cheeks 42 - Dixie 28

This game was a thriller! Both teams traded punches throughout this exciting game, and as the clock struck 0, Sandy Cheeks captured their first win of the season. This game featured 2 of the more dynamic quarterbacks in the league, who are dangerous with both their arms and legs. Eli got things going early with a TD pass to one of his big receivers (name unknown), but Dixie answered quickly as Tyler connected with Grant for a TD to tie the game up. After that AJ started taking over the game on both sides of the ball as he caught a TD pass from Eli, and then on the ensuing possession intercepted a pass and returned it for a TD. Tyler connected with Grant for another score before the half. Cheeks took a 20-14 lead into halftime. Tyler then connected once again with Grant for his 3rd TD of the game giving Dixie a 21-20 lead. Eli then connected with jacked guy (name unknown) for a TD to take the lead back. Tyler and Grant then connected for their 4th TD of the game to tie it up at 28-28. Then things got real interesting. Eli threw another TD pass to AJ to take a 34-28 lead. On the following possession, Eli breaks up a pass on 4th down forcing a turnover and giving Sandy Cheeks the ball back late in the game. Then Eli threw another TD pass to seal the game 42-28 for Sandy Cheeks. Dixie will open up the playoffs against Legion in the 10am game this week. Sandy Cheeks will look to stay hot against the Assassins in the 11am game.

Gentlemen 26 - Legion 20

Well, all wins count the same in the standings, no matter how they look. Neither offense played particularly well in this game... I'll attribute it to good defense by both teams though. However, both offenses did make plays to keep it exciting. Keith leaned heavily on his next door neighbors The Scardy's who he connected with on all 4 of his TD passes (3 to Brent, 1 to Craig). However, the Gentlemen offense had 4 turnovers, which kept this game from being a route. Zay on the other side had arguably his best game of the season at QB. He consistently threw into the smallest of windows against the tight defense of the Gentlemen, but he did so with pinpoint accuracy. The result, was consistently moving the ball against arguably the best defense in the league. His receivers, Dempsy and Carl among others, were routinely making difficult contested catches in traffic. Legion proved that they do have depth at receiver in this one, and that will be helpful for them in the playoffs. The Gentlemen proved that they can compete through adversity, also a trait they will need to rely on in the playoffs. At the end of the day, this was a very competitive game against 2 of the better teams that this league has to offer. The Gentlemen just made a couple more plays when it counted to squeak by with a win.

Assassins 30 - WTDT 28

To be fair, neither team was close to full strength in this one, but my estimate of the missing parts on both teams is that it was pretty much even. It is becoming difficult to explain how successful the Assassins have been against WTDT in the last couple of years. That's not a knock against the Assassins, they are a great team, everyone knows that. But you would expect the talented roster of WTDT to pull off more wins against this team than they have... But anyway back to last week's game. Dave put together a great performance at QB. He got off to a good start and connected with Cam for a TD early. After a quick response from WTDT, Dave then connected with Mando for another TD. Timmy then led WTDT on back to back scoring drives (first one to Dychel, second one to Joe) and it looked like WTDT would enter halftime with a lead. But not so fast! Dave tossed an absolute gorgeous 40 yard TD pass to Manasquan Guard (name unknown) for the prettiest throw and catch of the season thus far #SCTop10. Assassins entered halftime with a 24-22 lead. Dave connected with Cam for a second time giving the Assassins a 30-22 lead. Then the defenses began to step up. Wade intercepted Timmy twice, and Dychel picked off Dave once, as both offenses began to stall. Finally to break the scoring draught Timmy hit Joe again for another TD making it a 2 point game. On the following 2pt conversion attempt, Timmy was sacked by star defensive lineman Chelsea preserving the Assassins 2 point lead. That ended the scoring in this one, and the Assassins got the sweep over WTDT in the regular season.

Week 9 Preview (Commissioner Record: 14-3):

Dixie v Sandy Cheeks - 10am

Stop me if you've heard this before, but this is a winnable game for Sandy Cheeks. Heck, from a talent perspective they're all winnable games for Sandy Cheeks. Their defense is slowly improving, and their offense is dangerous with Eli running and slinging the ball to weapons AJ, D, and Taj. Dixie has an equally dangerous offense led by star QB Tyler, and receivers Handsome Joe and Grant... and don't sleep on Delzotti. On paper, I would give a slight edge to Sandy Cheeks because of all the talent they have. But since they haven't shown they can play a complete game for the full 40 minutes,I have to take Dixie in this one. I am expecting another strong performance from Tyler and the Dixie offense, and the Dixie defense led by Kenny will get enough stops to get the W.

Prediction: Dixie 33 - Sandy Cheeks 19

Gentlemen v Legion - 11am

These teams have battled for years now against one another, and it usually ends up being a close game. I have no reason to suspect anything different this time around. Last time these teams faced each other Legion got creative in an attempt to scheme Emmet open against tight coverage. We will see if the Gentlemen defense has adjusted since then. In the end, the Gentlemen will make more plays when needed and escape with a tight win. 

Prediction: Gentlemen 28 - Legion 20

WTDT v Assassins - 12pm

The Assassins are the only team in the league to defeat WTDT this season. Outside of that one game, WTDT has looked virtually invincible. It's worth noting that WTDT has never beaten the Assassins since Kyle became their QB. However, this is a small sample size (3 games). Perhaps the Assassins just have WTDT's number.... but when I look at both these rosters, I see that WTDT is the way more talented team. WTDT has too much speed, too much size, and too much of a football pedigree. No way does this team lose twice to the Assassins in one season. WTDT wins fairly comfortably in this one and sets the tone for their inevitable championship run.

Prediction: WTDT 36 - Assassins 22

Week 8 - Player(s) of the Week

Kyle - QB, Assassins:

Kyle was a force to be reckoned with last week leading his team to a 43-20 victory over Dixie with 5 TD passes. Everyone was expecting a shootout going into this game, and they got what they were not disappointed. Kyle is known for his cannon of an arm, and ability to throw darts threw the tiniest of windows. He showed off his cool demeanor under pressure when he hit Bower on a 40 yard fade down the sideline to counteract the opposing defense's blitz. Kyle will look to continue his good play this upcoming week against the league's defending champs WTDT.

Lindsay - DL/TE, WTDT:

If you've been following this league for awhile than you know who Lindsay is by now. JJ Watt, Khahil Mack, Lindsay... these are the top pass rushers of our generation. No QB in this league sleeps well knowing that they will be chased down by Lindsay's ferocious pass rush. Lindsay contributed to her team's 44-12 win last week in multiple ways. She caused havoc for the Legion offense constantly pressuring the QB leading to 2 interceptions. She also contributed offensively with a few catches to help her team move the chains and keep drives alive. Lindsay will need to continue to dominate this upcoming week against fellow Player of the Week Kyle and the Assassins.

Week 7 Recap:

WTDT 48 - Dixie 6

I expected a comfortable win here from WTDT, and they got one. But I was a little disappointed in the Dixie offense. I was expecting them to do okay offensively, and be able to make plays, but for the most part they were held in check by the WTDT defense. Led by a pick 6 from Nick, a highlight reel interception from Jaurice, and a ferocious pass rush from a very hungover Lindsey, WTDT was able to shut down the normally explosive Dixie offense. Offensively, Timmy continued his hot streak throwing for a quiet 6 touchdowns. Mango made a rare appearance but picked up where he left off with 2 early touchdowns, and Lauren continued her streak finding the endzone for the second consecutive week with another TD reception. Dixie will look to regroup this week in another tough game against the Assassins. WTDT will look to continue this momentum against Legion.

Legion 25 - Sandy Cheeks 13

I feel like I say this almost every week, but Sandy Cheeks could have won this game. They have shown flashes all season of being a competitive team in this league, but once again they failed to play a compete for a full 40 minutes and fell short of a win. It took awhile for either team to get on the scoreboard this game as both offenses came out slow. Sandy Cheeks highest bench presser (name unknown) got an interception on Legion's first drive of the game. And just as I began to think that maybe this would be Sandy Cheeks first win of the season, Nick answered with an interception of his own to give Legion the ball back. Eli and Zay then traded touchdown passes for awhile, and it looked like it was still anyone's game. That all changed after a very clutch interception by Carl to seal the win for Legion. Eli continues to use D as his deep threat, and then connected on another long touchdown in this game. Zay and Emmet continue to share a special bond as they connected for four touchdowns this game. Sandy Cheeks will see if they can get their first win of the season this week against the Gentlemen and Legion will try to extend their winning streak to 3 against WTDT.

Gentlemen 46 - Assassins 12

Well, I was happily proven wrong after taking the Assassins in the weekly preview for this game. Frankly, the Assassins just didn't have it in this one, and the Gentlemen did. Keith got back on track and threw for 6 TD passes: 3 to Brent, 2 to Fran, and 1 to Luke. The Gentlemen defense also rebounded well after the embarrassing loss in the previous week, shutting out the Assassins in the first half and holding them to just 12 points for the game. The Assassins came out flat and made too many mistakes. This was an uncharacteristic game for them, but they will regroup and move forward. This is a veteran team with 8 championship rings to their name. One thing to keep an eye on is after being held scoreless in the first half, the Assassins made a switch at QB to Dave. Reason unknown... but as a beer league flag football reporter, I would love to speculate here. Is there a QB Controversy here? I would love to be a fly on the wall in that locker room... oh wait that's right, we don't have locker rooms. The Gentlemen will take on Sandy Cheeks this week, and the Assassins have an interesting matchup against Dixie in the early game.

Week 8 Recap:

Assassins 43 - Dixie 20

The Assassins rebounded nicely after a tough loss in the previous week. They played well on both sides of the ball. Dixie came out and played the game we expected. They made some big plays on offense but struggled to contain the Assassins on the other side of the ball. Highlights from the game included: a 40 yard bomb from Kyle to Bower for a TD on a fade down the left sideline defeating a Dixie blitz, a beautiful catch by Handsome Joe in the back of the endzone keeping his feet in bounds on a throw from Tyler that was put where only his receiver could catch it, and Mando had a highlight reel tight rope catch of his own in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown #SCTop10. Dixie will close out the regular season this week against winless but dangerous Sandy Cheeks, and the Assassins will end their regular season against first place WTDT.

Gentlemen 30 - Sandy Cheeks 8

The Gentlemen really struggled early in this game, and the score was 8-8 at halftime. Give credit to Sandy Cheeks for playing a very good first half, or blame the hangovers from the Headliner Halloween party.... probably a mix of both. The Sandy Cheeks defense came up with back to back goaline stops on the Gentlemen's first 2 drives of the game. However, the Gentlemen regrouped at half and went on to win 30-8. The Gentlemen have to be better if they hope to win their first championship since Spring 2016. Sandy Cheeks continues to show that they are a dangerous team, but has yet to scrape together a win. Sandy Cheeks will get their last chance at a regular season win this week against Dixie. The Gentlemen will close out their regular season against Legion.

WTDT 44 - Legion 12

The score is a little more lopsided than the game was. After Timmy and Jaurice connected on a TD to end the first half on an untimed down following a penalty as time expired, WTDT went into halftime with a 22-12 lead and they never looked back. Legion was however winning this game early. WTDT got on the scoreboard first with an 8-0 lead, but Zay connected with Emmet to cut the lead to 8-6. 40 then came up with an interception for the Legion defense, and Zay connected with Emmet again for another score giving Legion a 12-8 lead. You really have to wonder if the final play of the first half affected Legion for the rest of the game. In the second half the WTDT defense tightened up. Led by a pick 6 from Joe and another interception by Sterry, the WTDT defense shut the Legion offense out in the second half of the game. Legion will look to rebound against the Gentlemen this week. WTDT will seek revenge against the Assassins who defeated them for their only loss of the season.

Week 8 Preview (Commissioner Record: 11-3):

Assassins v Dixie - 10am

This is an interesting game. Last time these 2 teams played, Dixie pulled off the upset of the season so far with a shocking 50-25 win over the Assassins. Now to be fair, the Assassins were short handed that day and had to start the game playing with only 1 girl. However, the Dixie win was still impressive. Both teams are coming off of blowout losses last week, and both are desperate for a rebound. Dixie has a very explosive offense led by star QB Tyler, and standout receivers Handoms Joe and Grant, but their defense has struggled to get stops all season long. The Assassins are also dangerous on offense led by star QB Kyle the Cannon, and a blend of talented receivers with Bower, Greg, Mando, and occasional appearances from Dave, Cam, and Wade. This game will come down to whoever can get the most stops though. And the Assassins possess the better of the 2 defenses. This unit led by Cam and Wade at corner and Bower at safety will get enough stops to get the win here.

Prediction: Assassins 34 - Dixie 26

Gentlemen v Sandy Cheeks

The story of Sandy Cheek's season has been a lack of consistency. At times this team has looked like the best offense in the league. Eli is dangerous with his arms and legs, and the big 3 receivers of D, Taj, and AJ can cause problems for every defense in the league. However, this team as most new teams do, have struggled defensively all season. They've made some plays defensively, but it seems like they are completely dependent on turnovers to get stops on defense. Unfortunately for Sandy Cheeks, they will be playing a veteran team in the Gentlemen who are coming into the game off a dominant win over the Assassins last week. This team has been in the league for awhile, and they typically don't make too many mistakes. Keith will take care of the ball and the Gentlemen receivers will make plays. I am expecting a back and forth game in this one, but the experience of the Gentlemen will pull through in the end.

Prediction: Gentlemen 42 - Sandy Cheeks 21

Legion v WTDT

WTDT heads into this game on a 3 game winning streak, all of which have been blowouts. Legion is also hot right now after winning back to back games. WTDT won the previous meeting between these teams by a score of 40-31. Legion is dangerous, especially when Zay gets hot at QB, and maybe a perfect game by Legion is good enough to beat WTDT, if they get a little luck as well. However, if both teams play their game, then WTDT will win. WTDT is the deepest and most talented team in the league. There is a reason they always win or at least are in the championship conversation. They have so much speed and size that they are a matchup nightmare for every other team in the league. Timmy will have another good game throwing to Jaurice, Dychel, Ashante, and Joe. Dallas and Nick will lead the defense to a couple of stops. And don't sleep on Lindsey and Lauren who has touchdowns in back to back games.

Prediction: WTDT 40 - Legion 28

Week 7 - Players of the Week

Emmet - WR/S, Legion:

Emmet was a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball leading Legion to a 25-13 win over Sandy Cheeks. Although he is best known for his ruggedly handsome looks and statue like abs, he is actually a very good flag football player too. He scored all 4 touchdowns for the Legion offense and contributed defensively with a sack and an interception. That's quite the stat line! Emmet will look to continue to dominate this upcoming week against a tough WTDT team.

Lauren - TE/DL, WTDT

Lauren helped lead her team to a 48-6 win over Dixie. She had a few catches this game to go along with her second touchdown in as many weeks. On defense her relentless pass rush helped keep the opposition's versatile playmaking QB in check. Lauren has arguably the best hands in the league and has been a staple in that WTDT offense for years, providing a security blanket for Timmy to check down to and keep drives alive. Lauren will look to extend her TD streak to 3 games this week against Legion.

Week 5 Preview:

Dixie v Gentlemen - 10am

These teams squared off week 1 and the Gentlemen came out on top with a convincing 31-9 victory. But things have changed since then. Tyler was not his usual self in that opening game and he is now in mid season form. He is fresh off his 5 TD Player of the Week performance last week against Sandy Cheeks. The Dixie offense has also shown over the last couple weeks that they have more than just Handsome Joe playing receiver. The Gentlemen have been consistent all year, but they will still be down star receiver Steve. I am also hearing rumors that 5 other members of the Gentlemen have appeared on the injury report this week, and although all or most of them are expecting to play, it is unclear whether they will be at 100%. I think we will see a good game in this one, but the experience of the Gentlemen gives them the edge here.

Prediction: Gentlemen 32 - Dixie 27

Sandy Cheeks v WTDT - 11am

Sandy Cheeks lost a close game last week against Dixie, and it appears as though the 0-4 start is beginning to weigh down the team morale. Unfortunately for them, they run into the defending champs this week who should be extra motivated after they were upset by the Assassins last week. I like this Sandy Cheeks team, they have a lot of talent and an explosive offense, but this isn't their week. Timmy will have a field day throwing to wide open receivers all day, as the Sandy Cheeks defense will continue to struggle. Expect big games from Joe, Ashante, Jaurice, and Dychel offensively, and a shut down day for the WTDT defense led by Dallas. This one might get ugly.

Prediction: WTDT 52 - Sandy Cheeks 13

Legion v Sandy Cheeks - 12pm

If it wasn't the backend of a double header, Sandy Cheeks would have a better shot to win this game. Heck, I might have even picked them to win. But something tells me this game will be over before it begins. As noted in the above prediction, I'm expecting WTDT to put a beatdown on Sandy Cheeks in the 11am game. And after what I saw last week, I don't think Sandy Cheeks will be able to recover quickly enough mentally and emotionally to be ready to compete in this game. Legion is coming off 2 tough losses last week, but their defense is usually solid, and as long as they continue to feed Emmet on offense they have a chance to win every game. I think Emmet has a monster game against a disgruntled defense in this one.

Prediction: Legion 33 - Sandy Cheeks 14

Legion v Assassins - 1PM *Game of the Week*

Just last week these teams squared off against each other and delivered the most exciting game of the year so far. Legion had a chance to tie the game on a 2 point conversion with no time left, but Emmet was ruled out of bounds and Legion suffered a heartbreaking loss. This week they get a chance at revenge against the same Assassins team. I'm torn on this one, I really am. A little birdy told me that Assassins star QB won't be there this week so he will be replaced by 5 time championship winning QB Dave... must be nice to have such a good backup at the position. This makes me lean towards Legion, but Legion will be playing this game as the backend of a double header, and the Assassins will be fresh. So now I'm brought back to the middle.... Flip a coin in this one? Eh, I'll bet on the experience and championship pedigree of the Assassins.

Prediction: Assassins 28 - Legion 26

Week 5 - Players of the Week

Russ - WR, Gentlemen:

Russ led the Gentlemen offense to a convincing 42-21 win over Dixie last week. He got started early with a diving catch on 4th down to move the chains on the opening drive of the game and he never looked back. Russ proved too much for the Dixie defense to handle as he finished the game with an imposing 4 TDs. His efforts were extra impressive considering this was only his third game with the Gentlemen! He should continue to get more dangerous as the season goes on and he gains familiarity with his new teammates.

Chelsea - DL/TE, Assassins

The Assassins get their 2nd player of the week winner in as many weeks after a 27-0 victory over Legion last week. Chelsea was a huge contributor in this game on both sides of the ball. Zay (Legion's QB) is known as a great dual threat QB, but he was ineffective as a rusher this week due to relentless pressure from Chelsea and the Assassins defense. Chelsea also took a couple reps at QB this week, where she completed a PAT and had a few nice runs. Chelsea is the type of pass rusher that gives opposing QBs nightmares and you can see why after last week's performance!

Week 5 Recap:

Gentlemen 42 - Dixie 21

The Gentlemen were a little short handed for this game, but it didn't matter. Their defense got a couple stops early in this one against the high powered offense of Dixie and they never looked back. The Gentlemen offense scored on nearly every possession led by Russ who led the team with 4 touchdowns. Fran and Luke each pitched in for another TD. Keith was wheeling and dealing out there, spreading the ball around and leading scoring drive after scoring drive. Fran and Brent each had an interception on defense, as the defense forced enough turnovers to win comfortably. The Dixie offense came into this game red hot, but cooled off in this one. Tyler hit Grant who made a great catch in coverage for a TD early in the game, and then connected with Handsome Joe for another TD later in the game on an incredible contested catch in the back of the endzone. Aside from that the Dixie offense was relatively quiet. Dixie will look to rebound in what should be a great game this week against Legion. The Gentlemen will look to ride this momentum into what should be the Game of the Week against the defending champs WTDT.

WTDT 36 - Sandy Cheeks 18

It is rare to say this in an 18 point game, but the score was actually closer than the game in this one. WTDT came out on fire, as Timmy was leading his understaffed team on both sides of the ball. WTDT jumped out to a very quick 22-0 lead. Timmy connected with Kegan for a TD on their opening drive of the game. Then Timmy re-wound the clock 5 years and had an interception at Safety. The following possession he threw another TD pass on a beautifully executed hook and ladder play for Keegan's second touchdown of the day. If you blinked after that you might have missed Jaurice's interception which set up yet another WTDT touchdown giving them a 22-0 lead. Sandy Cheeks got in a bit of a rhythm after that, but WTDT was already in cruise control at that point. WTDT looks to stay hot against the Gentlemen this week who they beat in a thrilling 35-33 victory earlier in the season.

Legion 34 - Sandy Cheeks 21

This ended up being the most interesting game of the day. Legion appeared to be heading into halftime with a comfortable lead, but then Eli connected with AJ on a beautiful hail mary the last play of the half for a touchdown! #SCTop10. Legion still went into halftime with a 19-15 lead, but Sandy Cheeks showed them there was still plenty of football left to be played. Sandy Cheeks scored early in the 2nd half to take a 21-19 lead, and it appeared they were beginning to take over this game when Eli intercepted Zay to get them the ball back. However, the Legion defense led by Nick came up with a big stop following the turnover to pick their offense back up. Then Zay connected with Dempsy for what would end up being the game winning touchdown in this one. Zay then got his revenge and intercepted Eli to get the ball back for Legion, which led to another Zay to Dempsy TD to seal the deal in this one. Legion will look to ride this momentum against Dixie this week. Sandy Cheeks will try to right the ship in a tough matchup against the Assassins.

Assassins 27 - Legion 0

I picked the Assassins to win a close game here, but this one was never in doubt. In my defense, I didn't know Legion star receiver Emmet wasn't going to be at the game. Dave filled in nicely at QB for the Assassins, leading the offense to 27 points against a stingy Legion defense. He didn't turn the ball over and made plays when he needed to. He did an excellent job extending plays with his legs while looking for receivers downfield, this was most evident on the first touchdown of the game where Dave escaped the pass rush and then found Mando in the endzone for a TD. Legion had a big goaline stand to keep the score at 6-0 before the half, but that was about their only highlight in this game. The second half was all Assassins as Dave went on to throw 3 more touchdown passes and lead the Assassins to a 27-0 victory. The Assassins will look to extend their winning streak this week against Sandy Cheeks.

Week 6 Preview (Commissioner Record: 8-0):

Legion v Dixie - 10am

I am expecting a close game between these 2 teams. They are both currently tied for 4th in the standings. They played each other in Week 2 and Legion won 34-26, but Dixie was both short staffed in that game and on the backend of a double header. Last week Legion went 1-1 in their double header, beating Sandy Cheeks 34-21 and then lost to the Assassins 27-0. Dixie lost to the Gentlemen last week 42-21. I think this game can go either way. Both offenses can move the ball and put up points. Tyler should have a big day along with his top receivers Handsome Joe and Grant. Zay should also have a big game in this one with his legs and throwing to his top receivers Emmet, Carl, and Demps. I'm expecting a shootout in this one, and I think this comes down to whoever converts better on extra points. This is a toss up, but I'll give the slimmest of edges to Dixie who is more familiar with the 10am start time.

Prediction: Dixie 36 - Legion 33

Sandy Cheeks v Assassins - 11am

Sandy Cheeks has been close in most of their games this season, but unfortunately have not won a game yet. They will face the Assassins who are the all-time league leaders with 8 championships. The Assassins are coming off a 27-0 beatdown over Legion last week without their starting QB. I don't know if Kyle will be there this week, but it won't matter. Assassins will keep rolling. I'm not expecting another shutout here. Eli, Taj, and AJ will make some plays and score a couple touchdowns, but they will come up short in the end again this week. Mando, Greg, and Bower will be too much for the Sandy Cheeks defense to handle no matter who is playing QB for them this week. Cam and Ward will continue to lock down the defense. Assassins win this one comfortably.

Prediction: Assassins 28 - Sandy Cheeks 14

WTDT v Gentlemen - 12pm *Game of the Week*

If you've been following this league for the last few years, then you've seen more than a handful of classics between these 2 teams. Both these teams are loaded with star talent. Both teams have previously won at least one championship in this league, and are hungry for another. They come into this game tied for first with 5-1 records, and this could be a preview of this year's championship game. WTDT beat the Gentlemen 35-33 in Week 3. The winner of this game would have sole control of first place for the time being. The loser will likely find themselves tied for 2nd place with another championship contender in the Assassins. So there's a lot riding on this game. Intuition will tell you that WTDT is favored to win, since they won the previous meeting, and the Gentlemen will be without star player Steve for this rematch. However, this isn't a Math equation. This is football! It's an emotional game! So I'm going to ignore my intuition and instead place my trust in my incredibly biased gut. I'll always bet on my team!

Prediction: Gentlemen 99 - WTDT 0

Week 6 Recap:

Legion 37 - Dixie 35

This was clearly the best game of the week. The action was back and forth to the very end. Dixie got the scoring started in this one when Tyler connected with Handsome Joe for a touchdown. Legion quickly answered when Zay connected with Emmet for his first of three touchdowns. Tyler then connected with Joe for another score giving Dixie a 15-7 lead. In the biggest surprise of the game, with 5 minutes left in the first half and his team trailing by 8 points, Nick decided to ask for his drink ticket since he "had somewhere to go after the game" and couldn't wait till the end. Although some may be concerned that he couldn't wait till halftime of the 10am game to get his ice cold miller lite, the beer seemed to spark his team before the half. Soon after, Zay threw a TD pass to Leah for a score, and followed it up by connecting with Rachel on the conversion for 2 points, giving Legion a 16-15 lead. There was a flurry of scoring to end the half as Dixie answered with a Tyler TD pass to Grant. Legion added one more score as Zay tossed another TD to Emmet to give Legion a 23-21 lead at halftime. It looked like Dixie was going to take over the game after their defense finally got a stop on an interception by Jeff and then quickly scored on a Chocolate T TD catch giving them an extra delicious 27-23 lead. Zay then connected with Carl to give Legion the lead back. Finally, Legion got a stop on their own with a huge goaline stand. On 4th down Handsome Joe laid out for a diving catch, but was just short of the endzone. This one stop was all Legion needed to secure the 37-35 win in this thrilling matchup.

Assassins 24 - Sandy Cheeks 18

Sandy Cheeks kept this game interesting, but the score was a little bit closer than the game was. The Assassins have character, and they typically win the games that they are supposed to win. They were up 24-6 before Sandy Cheeks added 2 late touchdowns to bring the score to 24-18. Bower continued his impressive season with 2 more touchdown catches on passes from Kyle. Kyle added another touchdown pass to team captain Mando. Eli accounted for 3 touchdowns for Sandy Cheeks, 2 of which were to a new favorite target Tall Guy (name uncertain). 1 of those touchdown catches was a spectacular catch in traffic where he went up and over the defender to secure the touchdown in what I'm unofficially naming the play of the week #SCTop10. Sandy Cheeks will look to grab their first win of the season this week against Legion. The Assassins will look to continue this momentum against the Gentlemen who they are currently tied for 2nd place with.

WTDT 44 - Gentlemen 14

This was advertised as the game of the week, but it ended up being a blowout. WTDT outclassed the Gentlemen. It was like watching Alabama play (insert random FCS school here).... you see what I'm getting at? Timmy and the WTDT offense was lights out, scoring at a frantic pace. Timmy threw 6 touchdown passes in this game: 2 long ones to Ashante, 1 to Joey, 1 to Dychel, 1 to Jaurice, and 1 to Lauren. How about that balance. The WTDT defense also held the Gentlemen to a season low 14 points led by their 3 interceptions. The Gentlemen struggled mightily on both sides of the ball, obviously their opponent WTDT deserves a lot of credit for that, but some of those wounds were self inflicted. Turnovers, drops, miscommunications, all added up to one disappointing result. The lone bright spot for the Gentlemen was that Fran had a nice game at receiver, hauling in a few tough contested catches. Other than that, there's not much good to say about them this week. Championship-less since Spring 2016, you have to begin wondering if this team's window has officially closed. WTDT looks to keep on rolling this week against Dixie, and the Gentlemen have another tough matchup against the Assassins.

Week 6 - Players of the Week

Timmy - QB, WTDT:

Big time players make big time plays in big time games. Timmy led his team with 6 TD passes in a crucial 44-14 win against the Gentlemen who were tied for first with WTDT going into the game. Picasso... Mozart... Timmy.... watching him play last week was like watching art. The field was his canvas and the football his paint brush, and he covered the field with beautiful passes. He made arguably the best defense in the league look like swiss cheese threading ball after ball through tight coverage to his receivers. Cheers to Timmy, on what defenses around the league are hoping was a once in a lifetime performance.

Leah and Rachel - DL/TE Legion:

Leah and Rachel helped their team to a thrilling 37-35 victory over Dixie last week. Each defense only got one stop, and the game largely came down to who converted better on extra points, since both offenses scored 5 touchdowns. If you're unfamiliar with the scoring system in #BAFF, a girl scoring is worth 1 extra point. Well, Leah and Rachel provided the extra 2 points needed to secure the win for their team. Leah took a pass from QB Zay to the house for a touchdown, and then Rachel followed it up with a catch of her own on the PAT. These 2 points proved to be the difference in the game!

Week 7 Preview (Commissioner Record: 9-2):

WTDT v Dixie - 10am

Dixie is coming off a heartbreaking loss against Legion last week, and WTDT will be riding high after their dominant win over the Gentlemen. Dixie has an explosive offensive led by the three headed monster of Tyler, Handsome Joe, and Grant, but they have struggled on defense all season. WTDT is the most complete team in the league, without any apparent holes in their roster from top to bottom. This should be a high scoring affair and Dixie's explosive offense will get their points. But WTDT will score with them and get a few stops when needed. 

Prediction: WTDT 42 - Dixie 28

Legion v Sandy Cheeks

Sandy Cheeks is still searching for their first win of the season, and Legion is coming off a thrilling win over Dixie last week. This is a winnable game for Sandy Cheeks, and Eli has that offense looking more and more dangerous every week. He seems to have established a new connection with a tall receiver (name unknown) giving him an intimidating top 3 weapons to go along with Taj, and AJ. However, this team needs to figure it out on defense. They have athletes who can make plays, but it seems like its interception or bust for this defense. Zay is a veteran QB in this league, and will control the ball. Emmet will have another big game for Legion, and watch out for Leah and Rachel fresh off their player of the week performances. This is a close game, but Legion makes more plays than Sandy Cheeks to secure the win. Hopefully Nick can wait till the end of the game this time to ask for his drink ticket.

Prediction: Legion 33 - Sandy Cheeks 28

Gentlemen v Assassins

This is a tough one to predict. These teams are currently tied for 2nd place in the standings, and the Assassins control their own destiny to secure the 1 seed in the playoffs if they win out. I truly believe the Gentlemen are the more talented team, but it's close. The Assassins make up the talent gap with experience, mental toughness, moxy, etc. This team reminds me of the Patriots, and they have 8 league championships to back that statement up. The Gentlemen beat the Assassins 28-14 in Week 2, but the Assassins have been lights out since their week 3 upset loss to Dixie. They are coming into the game on a 4 game winning streak which includes an impressive win against defending champions WTDT. Speaking of WTDT, the Gentlemen are coming off an embarrassing 44-14 loss to WTDT in what was the worst game I have ever seen this team play. Maybe I just think it's difficult to beat the Assassins twice in one season, or maybe I think the not so mentally tough Gentlemen will still be emotionally hungover from that loss last week, but I'm taking the Assassins here. Hoping to be proven wrong though.

Prediction: Assassins 32 - Gentlemen 26

Playoff Primer:

Instead of a Preview this week since we have a bye for the Holidays, we will be having our first ever BAFF Playoff Primer! With 1 week left of the regular season there is still much to be decided before Playoffs. This article will discuss all possible playoff seedings for each team pending next week's outcomes. (The article is ordered by Current Standings)

Gentlemen (6-0):

Highest possible seed: 1

Lowest possible seed: 1

Week 7 Seeding Implications: Gentlemen have clinched the number 1 seed.

Avg Points Scored: 36.5

Avg Points Against: 10.7

Avg Point Differential: 25.8

Keys to Success: This team has been dominant all season. They are loaded with weapons on offense and speed on defense. It is hard to say how they match up against some of the other top teams in the league, since WTDT and the Assassins were both short on people when they played the Gentlemen. I think it will come down to QB play and whether or not they can generate a consistent pass rush.

Wildcard: Craig on Offense. The whole league knows who he is and respects him, but he has had a relatively quiet season offensively so far. If and when their backs are up against the wall in the playoffs, Keith will look towards his most familiar target.

WTDT (5-1):

Highest possible seed: 2

Lowest possible seed: 2

Week 7 Seeding Implications: WTDT has clinched the number 2 seed.

Avg Points Scored: 41.7

Avg Points Against: 19.7

Avg Point Differential: 22.0

Keys to Success: This team is loaded with talent. You don't win 3 championships in a row in this league without elite level talent. WTDT boasts the highest scoring offense in the league. Timmy and his plethora (big word) of receivers have been unstoppable again this season. For me, it comes down to whether or not this team can play mistake free football. On paper they are the most talented team. If they play their best game, most teams in this league cannot even compete with them let alone beat them.

Wildcard: Newcomers Keegan and Green Flags (name unknown). These 2 have been more than adequate replacements for the loss of Jerry. They add depth and athleticism to a team that already has plenty of both. These 2 can make an impact on both sides of the ball and are great compliments to the existing core of star players on this team.

Assassins (4-2):

Highest possible seed: 3

Lowest possible seed: 4

Week 7 Seeding Implications: A win or if LOD loses either of their 2 games and the Assassins will get the 3 seed in the playoffs. A loss (to Legion) and Legion also beating Dixie will put the Assassins in the 4 seed.

Avg Points Scored: 21.8

Avg Points Against: 18.3

Avg Point Differential: 3.5

Keys to Success: This team has the talent and more importantly the experience necessary to win a championship. Will this be their first ever 3 peat? We will find out soon. This team will go as far as Kyle's arm takes them. Losing Ronnie hurts their depth, but they still have enough athletes to get it done. They will need to be at their best, but they usually are come playoff time.

Wildcard: Mando's consistency. The guy is like a fine wine, he keeps getting better with age. Of course we expect big plays from Bower, Greg, and Cam on offense, but Mando is the possession guy who moves the chains. He will need to be his usual sure handed self and then some if they want their first ever 3 peat.

Dixie (3-3):

Highest possible seed: 4

Lowest possible seed: 5

Week 7 Seeding Implications: A win in the regular season finale and they get the 4 seed, a loss and they get the 5 seed.

Avg Points Scored: 25.7

Avg Points Against: 32.8

Avg Point Differential: -7.1

Keys to Success: This team may lack the depth of the teams mentioned above, but their big three of Tyler, Handsome Joe, and all world TE (name still uncertain) supply plenty of fire power. They have shown throughout the season, that when rolling, this offense can score with anyone. Will their struggling defense be able to make enough plays come postseason? We will find out soon.

Wildcard: The pass rush. 32.8 is a lot of points to give up per game in this league, but they do have very athletic girls. Perhaps they will be able to carry a mediocre defense which shouldn't need too many stops behind their strong offense to win games. Think 2007 Giants.

LOD (2-3):

Highest possible seed: 3

Lowest possible seed: 6

Week 7 Seeding Implications: The double header makes things confusing, but I'll do my best here. Losing both games will give LOD the 6 seed in the playoffs. Winning both games will put LOD in the 3 seed. A win against Dixie and a loss to the Assassins will put LOD in the 4 seed. A win against the Assassins and a loss to Dixie will give them the 5 seed.

Avg Points Scored: 22.8

Avg Points Against: 32.8

Avg Point Differential: -10

Keys to Success: This defense has to get back on track. This team was built around its defense. They've never been one to go toe to toe with opponents in a shootout style game. They look to win games 21-14. They rely on their defense and hope that Sean and Emmet can provide enough offense to win the game. 40 and company will need to return to form if this team is going to have a shot at making a championship run.

Wildcard: Complimentary offense led by the girls. When you think about the LOD offense, the first 2 players that come to mind are Sean and Emmet. Shut down Emmet and you shut down LOD right? Not so fast! The other offensive weapons, especially the girls on this team, do not get the credit they deserve. Look to the rest of the team to produce while Emmet draws most of the attention from opposing defenses.

2Jacks (2-4):

Highest possible seed: 5

Lowest possible seed: 7

Week 7 Seeding Implications: If 2Jacks wins and LOD loses both games in the final week then 2Jacks will get the 5 seed. A loss and a Rumbuckets win will put 2Jacks as the 7 seed. Any other outcome of events will keep 2Jacks as the 6 seed. 

Avg Points Scored: 24.8

Avg Points Against: 32.0

Avg Point Differential: -7.2

Keys to Success: After a slow start to the season, 2Jacks has reeled off 2 straight wins. Having given up an average of 32 points per game and having little hope for improvement defensively, this team's key to success will be its Offense. More specifically, its Rus. He is an elite talent in this league, and has shown in the past that he is capable of putting a team on his back. Will he be able to do enough come playoffs to put together another unlikely championship run? We will find out in a few weeks.

Wildcard: Jacks legs. Kidding! He won't be doing much running. The real wild card will be Jen and Gina. Jack loves to check down to his girls when blitzed. They will need to be on their A game catching passes and gaining yards after the catch.

Rumbuckets (1-5):

Highest possible seed: 6

Lowest possible seed: 8

Week 7 Seeding Implications: A win and a 2Jacks loss would move the Rumbuckets up to the 6 seed. A win and a 2Jacks win would keep them as the 7 seed. A loss would drop them to the 8 seed.

Avg Points Scored: 12.3

Avg Points Against: 40.5

Avg Point Differential: -28.2

Keys to Success: Fielding a team would be a good start. Despite their 1-5 record, the Rumbuckets are actually 1-1 in games where they have been able to field a full team. They did upset 2Jacks in the regular season, so maybe this team can play spoiler in the playoffs.

Wildcard: Not forfeiting in the playoffs.

BTPU (1-6):

Highest possible seed: 7

Lowest possible seed: 8

Week 7 Seeding Implications: BTPU has a bye this week, but the Rumbuckets will determine whether BTPU finishes 7th or 8th. If the Rumbuckets win, BTPU will finish as the 8 seed. If the Rumbuckets lose, BTPU will finish as the 7 seed.

Avg Points Scored: 18.8

Avg Points Against: 34.3

Avg Point Differential: -15.5

Keys to Success: Consistency is the word that comes to mind here. All season long this team has flashed potential, but they have not been able to perform at a high level over the course of an entire game, let alone be consistent enough for a deep playoff run. AJ leads this team as the lone veteran. Will he be able to whip them into shape for the playoffs? 

Wildcard: Their QBs arm. The BTPU QB is arguably the most athletic and best rushing QB in the league, but he will need to use his arm as well as his legs if they are going to make a playoff run. He has made some nice passes in the season, so we know he is capable. He will need to do it more often in the postseason though if this team is going to find success.

Week 6 Recap:

WTDT 48-Dixie 7

WTDT dominated this game from start to finish. They played a perfect game with the exception of Dallas' pass interference while up 42-7 with 6 minutes left in the game. I admire the effort, but you have to wonder if age is becoming a factor for him, and he can no longer keep up with the kids around the league. Timmy let his team know that he's still running the show at QB, leading the offense to a 48 point performance. Guess he wasn't too worried about being replaced by Keegan after all. It just wasn't Dixie's day as they failed to get things going on both sides of the ball. They had no answer for WTDT's potent offense, and their usually efficient offense never got started in this one. Tyler struggled with an absolutely relentless pass rush from Lindsay and Lauren who kept him on the move all game as they piled up sacks and QB pressures. Combine that with multiple dropped passes, and its a recipe for disaster. Dixie is a better team than they showed in this one. They will look to get back on track next week against Legion.

2Jacks 32-BTPU 23

Shout out to 2Jacks for agreeing to play this game even though BTPU showed up 15 mins late. 2Jacks seems to be getting hot at the right time with just 1 week left before playoffs. Rus once again led the offense who put up a modest 32 points. Unfortunately for BTPU, close only counts for horseshoes and hand grenades, as once again they played well but came up short of victory. With no regular season games left, will BTPU figure out how to get over the hump in the playoffs and pull off their first non forfeit win of the season? We will find out on Saturday May 11th. But if I do say so, this team does remind me of the famed Octagon team who went win-less all year, and pulled off one of the greatest upsets in sports history by beating an undefeated Gentlemen team in the first round of the playoffs (people don't forget). Running QB, check... girls who can play, check... a few athletes who can make plays, check. Don't sleep on this team come playoffs. 2Jacks will look to carry their recent momentum into next week against a tough Gentlemen squad.

LOD 40-Rumbuckets 0 (Forfeit)

Can't say I was surprised by this one.

Gentlemen 37-Assassins 0

This one was a shocker. I was anticipating a grudge match that would come down to who had the ball last, but this game was no contest. To be fair, the Assassins were missing star QB Kyle who is an absolute difference maker on the sand. But to give credit where its due, Dave is no slouch at QB (he has 6 BAFF championship rings to prove it) and this offense was shutout by the Gentlemen defense. The Gentlemen dominated on both sides of the ball. The defense was led by a great pass rush from Michelle and Bri, and lock down coverage from corners Kyle and Craig. Offensively, they did what they wanted out there and couldn't be stopped. Keith connected with Talbot early and often as they both had a monster day. The offense also showed it is more dynamic now, than in seasons past as Mary had 2 big catches to help move the chains on scoring drives (Yes, you read that correctly. The Gentlemen pass to girls now). Perhaps the comparisons to D'jais in last week's recap put too much pressure on the Assassins. They will look to rebound next week against Legion.

Week 6 Preview:

Dixie v WTDT

The only question in this game is if WTDT can adjust to an early start. They welcome veteran QB Timmy back this week as they take on a talented, but overmatched Dixie Wrecked this week. This is a 3/4 matchup on paper but certainly not on the sand. No amount of stellar play from Tyler, Joe, and all world TE (name still unknown) will match up across the board with WTDT. WTDT girls get pressure and limit Tyler's running as they route Dixie. Prediction WTDT 48-Dixie 18

BTPU v 2Jacks

2Jacks comes off their first win of the season against a winless (outside of a forfeit victory) BTPU. 2Jacks are riding high after an impressive win but will run into athletes across the board. This one will come down to Jack and Rus with a dash of check down to the ladies. If Jack and Rus show glimpses of old, they win. If they get off track early they are in for a long day. Both teams look to get some momentum under their belt with only 2 weeks left before playoffs. I think this one is close late and comes down to the last drive. BTPU gets their first real win of the year. Prediction BTPU 24-2Jacks 22.

LOD v Rumbuckets

Prediction- Rumbuckets with another forfeit. I like Sean and he seems like a great kid who shows up and plays every week, but to say I am disappointed is an understatement. After promising a full team to show up and avoid the catastrophe of last season, they have now shown up with less than 5 of their own players in all but 1 week of the season. Dong is in turmoil, after several seasons finishing in the top half of the league and having great playoff appearances, they have a measly 1 win as they look to right the ship and make adjustments with playoffs around the corner. Seeing as how they supply half of the Rumbuckets team each week and they are now squared up against them, I don't see how they lose this game. Dong gets back on track. Prediction LOD 36-Rumbuckets 12.

Assassins v Gentlemen

Stop me if you've heard this before, but Gentlemen are having another great regular season. Assassins are who they always are, coming into the game at 4-1 with their only loss coming to WTDT. Gentlemen have more offensive power than they ever had in the past which gives them fresh legs on both sides of the ball. Keith is using his new toys on offense and has spread the ball around all year. Assassins bring in experience and talent as always. They look to put pressure early on defense with their ladies up front and a middle linebacker who always tip toes the line of bull rushing on every blitz. This one has the potential to determine who gets the top seed for the playoffs. Kyle will look to hit the big play with Bower and Greg and move the chains with Mando and company. I expect this to be more defensive than offensive. No pick from the commish.

Week 5 Recap:

Gentlemen 40-Dixie 20

This game was closer than the final score makes it out to be. These teams battled back and forth all game until Luke had a clutch pick 6 from the endzone in the final minutes of the game to seal the win for the Gentlemen. Captain America Keith put all whispers of a QB Controversy for the Gentlemen to bed with a near flawless game. To put this elegantly, he was a painter, and that sandbox was his canvass. He connected on several perfect throws and catches to big time receiver Fran, who Dixie had no answer for. Keith also shared the wealth mixing in Luke, Cal, and Brent, as this offense was firing on all cylinders. Tyler and Handsome Joe had quite the connection going in the first half, but their red hot offense cooled off in the second half. Perhaps it was the defensive adjustments the Gentlemen made at halftime, or maybe Tyler was just winded from giving Chris an earful at halftime over "missed calls". The world may never know.

2Jacks 35-LOD 26

Although I picked the winner wrong in the Preview, I did say that this would be the Game of the Week, and it did not disappoint. After a back and forth first half LOD went into halftime with a 19-14 lead. LOD appeared to be taking control of this game as Sean and Emmet were looking unstoppable on offense. But the 2nd half told a different story as 2Jacks came surging back. They put all distractions in the rear view mirror while  outscoring Legion 21-7 in the 2nd half and securing the win. Jack and Rus turned back the clock several years and reminded us all why 2Jacks has always been such a dangerous team play against. Tommy also showed us that perhaps its easier to play in this league than to ref in it by making several plays on defense in the second half to help seal 2Jacks first win of the season. This could be the momentum swing that 2Jacks has been looking for all year. I know I wouldn't want to play against them next week after watching that 2nd half. For Dong... well they spent the rest of the day arguing with each other on the sidelines, and you have to wonder if their season is beginning to spiral out of control.

WTDT 37-BTPU 15

This game went pretty much as expected. BTPU, led by another great touchdown catch from AJ, was able to make a few big plays on offense, but in the end it wasn't enough to take down a Timmy-less WTDT. Backup QB Keegan stepped up in this game, and the offense didn't miss a beat. You have to begin to wonder whether this team even needs Timmy. There were rumblings from receivers on the WTDT sidelines (sources prefer to remain anonymous) that Keegan spreads the ball around more, and they prefer him at QB. Is this a divided locker room? Not saying it is, not saying it isn't, but I would love to be a fly on the wall in that room. This game could have been closer, but BTPU was stopped within inches of the goaline on the last play of the 1st half. Had they converted, it would have made for a more exciting finish. One thing is for certain, Timmy will not sleep well this week after that dominate performance from Keegan. You feel that breeze Timmy? That's Keegan breathing down your neck. Side note, if you ask to be mentioned in the write up, I probably won't mention you. You know who you are.... let your play do the talking.

Assassins 39-Rumbuckets 6

In summary, the Assassins did exactly what we all knew they would. This team is a well oiled machine, week after week, year after year, they just take care of business. They started the game short a few players, but it didn't matter. The Assassins are a lot like D'jais, no matter what they do, it just works, and its fun to watch. Rumbuckets failed to field a full team again, so they borrowed a few players from LOD. The good news is, this put a temporary pause on LOD fighting among each other for the day, but thats about the only good that came out of this game. Assassins have already shifted focus to next week's matchup against the Gentlemen, which should be a fun one to watch.

Week 5 Preview:

Gentlemen v Dixie

The outcome and competitiveness of this game will likely be determined by which Dixie team shows up. They have proven to be a very dangerous team when they have a full squad, and they are coming in hot after back to back impressive wins. This high powered offense led by Tyler, Handsome Joe, and their all-world tight end (name still uncertain... sorry I'm not in the exclusive group text) will go up against a very stingy Gentlemen defense. The Gentlemen pass rush led by newcomers Mary and Bri have been ferocious all season, and they will need to continue that trend this week against a very good offense. The Gentlemen are excited to welcome back QB Captain America Keith into the lineup after his one week hiatus. He will lead his offense full of weapons in what will likely be a shootout. This game could come down to whoever has the ball last. No pick from the commish.

2Jacks v LOD

I'm unofficially naming this the Game of the Week, so don't let me down here guys! Will 40 finally show up on time? Will 2Jacks get their first win of the season? This game has enough intrigue to capture my attention. This is a battle of 2 teams who are off to underwhelming starts to the season given the high expectations put on them after years of success in this league. Legion must be feeling good after getting their first win of the season last week and will look to ride that momentum. 2Jacks is scratching their heads after the unimpressive start they've had. I'm expecting a barn burner with heavy doses of Emmet and Rus leading their offenses. 2Jacks will look better this week and begin to figure things out, but they will have to wait at least another week to capture that first win. Legion wins in an exciting game. You're not going to want to miss this one! Prediction LOD 36 - 2Jacks 32.

BTPU v WTDT

BTPU has been exciting to watch all season, but they will be out classed in this one. WTDT is the most talented team in the league, and rumor has it that they hit the Crossfit gym extra hard this week after losing to the Gentlemen. BTPU will make plays, but they are at least a season away from being a threat to WTDT. Timmy will be happy to have a full squad back and will spread the ball around to Crop Top Jon, Ashante, WV, and company. The defense will get a boost from the return of Lindsay and Jaurice, and from having 7 players on the field this week. WTDT gets off to a hot start and doesn't look back. Prediction WTDT 38 - BTPU 18.

Assassins v Rumbuckets

Rumbuckets shocked everyone last week by showing up with a full squad and pulling off the upset against 2Jacks. They have some good athletes on this team, but will they sow up this week? Answer: it doesn't matter. This will be a standard business meeting for the Assassins. They should consider showing up to the game in shirt and ties for a dramatic effect. Kyle will pick the Rumbuckets defense apart connecting with Bower, Greg, Mondo, Cam and company, and the Assassins will make enough plays on defense to win this one comfortably. Rumbuckets will put up some points, but they don't have enough fire power to win this matchup. Prediction Assassins 33 - Rumbuckets 12

Dixie v Rum Buckets

Will this be the week Rum Buckets puts a team together? Bad news for them, they are the early game and should have no teams to pull players from. If Dixie shows up with the same players as last week, it won't matter how many people Rum Buckets show up with. Rum Buckets will have to contain too many weapons in this one. It will be tight early but Dixie will pull ahead late. Prediction Dixie 30- Rum Buckets 12

LOD v BTPU

Dong, you are on upset alert. I have been saying this since week 2, BTPU is talented across the field. They have brought in athletes and it is only a matter of time before they get used to the sand and rules and start connecting. Dong is in turmoil, without a qb in game 2, they dropped their second consecutive game and instead of chirping opponents, have started chirping amongst themselves. It will be a nice change of pace to not have to play one of the top teams from last year, but this is no walk in the park. Dong squeaks by in this one 26-24

2 Jacks v Rum Buckets

In a match up of winless teams vying for their first W of the season, 2 jacks gets rum on the back end of a double header. 2 jacks is a veteran team with talent and always gives the top teams problems. Rum is new and learning the ropes. Jack will look to exploit mismatches at receiver and check down to Jen and co as he extends plays. Jacks will put up some points in this one and the defense will do better. Prediction Jacks 26- Rum 12

WTDT v Gentlemen

In a rematch of last years semi final, Gentlemen will look to recover from an absolute dick kicking lsat year. WTDT is rolling with a 3-0 record and a whopping 126 points scored. Their defense has given up some points, but many of which came late in convincing victories. Both teams will be short as Lindsey is out this week for WTDT and will be noticeably missed on the line while the Gentlemen go into the game without QB Captain America Keith. Timmy has his offense on fire, connecting with crop top Jon, Ashante and co. On paper, this is the most talented team it the league and they are hungry to avenge last years championship loss. HOWEVER, this league is played on sand, not paper. The Gentlemen will look to get something going on offense with back up qb Brent. Expect Talbot (who knew he was so fiery), Fran and Luke to give Brent an earful in this one as they look to put up points. I still think this has a chance to be close if the Gentlemen's defense shows up like it has the first 3 weeks. No Pick from the Commish. 

Week 4 Recap:

Dixie 48-Rumbuckets 6

This game was no contest. Dixie was short on players, but it didn't matter. They dominated this one from start to finish. The good news for the Rumbuckets is that they were finally able to field a full team. The better news is that they did show flashes of potential (more on this later). Rumbuckets looked talented, but were too disorganized on both sides of the ball to compete against a veteran team like Dixie. Tyler commanded the offense and hit Handsome Joe and company early and often. Don't look now, but Dixie is rolling!

LOD 34-BTPU 25

Craig did put LOD on Upset Alert in last week's preview and BTPU almost pulled through. After trailing early in the game LOD reminded everyone why they have made it to the semi-finals in each of the last few seasons. LOD had their backs up against the wall in this one, but rallied behind good QB play and got their offense going in the second half. 40 was late to the game again, and you have to begin to wonder whether LOD will look into disciplining the star corner. I will echo Craig from previous weeks, although BTPU came up short this week, they are very dangerous team and can play with anyone in this league.

Rumbuckets 31-2Jacks 21

In the biggest upset of the season so far, Rumbuckets came away with a BIG W against 2Jacks on the backend of their doubleheader. I said it in the first game, Rumbuckets showed signs of potential in their loss to Dixie in the morning. After just an hour break, they were able to regroup and turn that potential into a reality. They communicated better, seemed to have a better understanding of the rules, and they didn't just compete, they won! You have to wonder if Jack's farewell tour is becoming a distraction to his teammates. 2Jacks will look to regroup and try to scrape together their first win of the season this week against LOD.

Gentlemen 39-WTDT 19

This was an anti-climatic end to the week considering it was the most anticipated game of the day. Both teams were short, Gentlemen were missing starting All-American QB Keith (most patriotic player in the league), stud receiver Cal, and our favorite commisioner Carianne. WTDT was missing key players Ashante, Jaurice, WV, Chody, and star pass rusher Lindsay (apologies if I missed anyone else). The Gentlemen offense proved to be too much to handle for such a depleted WTDT defense who had to play down a player. Neither of these teams will read too much into this game. The Gentlemen could only play the team that was put in front of them, and we all know that WTDT will be better with a full squad in the playoffs. Also, hope everyone that got banged up in the game is doing okay.

Dixie 38-Jacks 35

Dixie brought in the big guns this weekend with all world female tight-end (name uncertain) and handsome Joe and receiver to give Tyler some real options to spread the ball around. Jacks kept the game close with veteran qb Jack Dugan connecting with Rus early and often, but ultimately, Dixie was able to prevail with their new weapons. A message to the league, this team can beat anyone when they have a full squad there and will be dangerous. 

WTDT 46- LOD-18

That score doesn't even do this justice. 30-0 at half and crusing, WTDT took the foot off the gas in route to a blowout victory over a very concerning LOD team who drops to 0-2 after facing off against two of the top two teams from last year. Notable performance, or lack there of, was 40 showing up with 30 seconds left and playing as a fill in in the noon game as opposed to his own teams game at 11. WTDT remains undefeated and looks to continue to roll against playoff foe Gentlemen in week 4. Dong looks to get back on track against BTPU this week and prove last years great season wasn't a fluke

Gentlemen 54- Rum Buckets 6

The score says it all, gentlemen got off to a quick start and never looked back. Keith connected with any receiver he wanted and the gentlemens new offensive weapons were on full display. Noteworthy, Craig gave up an embarrassing td late in the game after preaching about a shutout, has he lost a step? 

Assassins 44-BTPU 12

Assassins bounced back after a loss to Touchdown there last weekend with a convincing victory over an improving BTPU team. Kyle has his offense in mid season form and continues to spread the ball across the filed to weapons at receiver. Business as usual. 

Week 3 Preview

10 am- 2Jacks (0-2) vs Dixie (1-1)

2 Jacks comes into this game off a bye week after going 0-2 in treacherous weather conditions in the opening weekend. Jack was looking extra light on his feet in those outings, not only calling the shots at qb, but playing safety and gracefully navigating around the puddles on the field not making a single play on the defensive end. Dixie comes off a tough loss to Assassins last weekend and looks to get back on track. I expect their offense to click a bit more than last week and move the ball down field. 2 Jacks will get back a much needed Rus to stretch the defense and give Jack a big target to connect with. Should be a close game throughout with Rus taking over down the stretch. Prediction 2Jacks 26- Dixie 22

11am Dong (0-1) v Touchdown There (2-0)

Dong enters this game after a close loss to Gentlemen last weekend. Despite their defense showing up as usual, their offense stalled out in the second half and was held to only 13 points. WTDT enters in familiar undefeated territory coming off a grudge match last weekend against Assassins. Dong's offense who is better than they showed last weekend will be better this week, but they go up against league favorites with athletes across the field. Dong will look to get the ball to incredibly handsome Emmet early and often and stretch the WTDT defense. On the other side of the ball, WTDT will go up against a very aggressive, ball hawking defense. After a below average trash talking week for 40, I think he will be back to form after opening weekend and will look to lock down his left side of the Dong defense. This game should be close at half until WTDT makes some adjustments and takes advantage of their athleticism across the field. Crop top Jon, Ashante, and WV will prove to be too much on offense, Jaurice will lead the defense and get huge help from Lauren and Lindsay on defense to shut down Dong in the second half. Prediction- WTDT- 38- Dong 18

Also, i forgot to mention one of the prettiest moves these eyes have ever seen. Lindsay, looking like Strahan (minus the gap tooth) pressed the outside edge, got the defender to open up as the center went the other way, then with one plant of the left foot, blew past the offensive line for a game changing sack. I havent seen Kyle under that kind of pressure since his glory days at Albany. 

12pm Gentlemen (2-0) v Rumbuckets (0-1)

This game is a tough write up as Rumbuckets had a forfeit in their opening game, but the players that did show up played well and had a hell of a game against a much improved BTPU. Sean promised when entering this year that his team would be much improved, and after a small glimpse in week one, I believe him. We don't know what they have at qb and depth based off of week one, but with a season under the belt and getting caught up on league rules, they will be better in their second season. Gentlemen come in at 2-0 after a convincing win over Dong. Gentlemen have added depth and talent across the board this year. Cal, Talbot and Kyle add much needed depth to a team who constantly shows up in the regular season but runs out of gas come playoffs. Mary and Bri join Carianne and Michelle on the line and this team has officially run out of excuses to not add another championship to their belt. No prediction from the Commish on this one

UPDATE: After being called a bitch for not predicting our own game and very easily giving in to peer pressure,

Prediction Gentlemen 36-Rumbuckets 12

1pm BTPU (1-2) v Assassins (2-1)

BTPU are by far the most improved team in the league. They have added depth across the board and have the athletes and speed to play with anyone. Unfortunately for them, they catch Assassins after a tough loss to WTDT last week. Assassins will look to rebound after an underwhelming performance last weekend. They get back to their late slot and will be prepared for this game. Kyle will hit his targets and test the young BTPU defense. Armando, Bower, and Greg will all see their touches this week and will move the ball consistently. BTPU will surprise the veteran Assassin defense early with athletic qb play and speed out wide at receiver. This game will come down to their qb completing passes down field. We all know he can run and make plays with his feet, but will he be able to complete enough passes down field to lead them to a victory. With all their talent, I am not sure if they have the experience yet to knock off the mighty Assassins. This time Assassins hold on, but watch this talented BTPU stirring things up as they become more familiar with one another as the season goes on. Prediction Assassins 36-BTPU 18

Another week down in BAFF. 

Game 1- Assassins v My Dixie Wrecked

Assassins were forced to wake up early and play the 10am game. True to form, they started off slow before asserting their dominance and handing Dixie a convincing loss. Assassins offense proved to be too much for Dixie to overcome and the defending champs showcased their defensive talent holding Dixe to 6 points on the day. Not to much to say here, Assassins are who we thought they were, and the score does not reflect the real Dixie who always seam to cause problems each week by hanging around and keeping the games close. Assassins roll 36-6

Game 2- BTPU v Rum Buckets

This game will go in the books as a forfeit but we saw plenty of talent on both sides. Rum Buckets under new ownership with captain Sean, proved they are back and brought some additional talent with them this season. While the game was a forfeit, it was a shootout on both ends, going blow for blow. BTPU is a true team to watch. It took them a few seasons, but watch out. Athletes across the field and now a true sense of how the league operates, this team will give others headaches all season long. New comer Brazil is must watch and has some defenders still tripping over themselves from some of cutbacks earlier today. Don't look now, but the league just got much much deeper, and despite their two losses in the first week, this team will win some games and shake things up. 

Game 3 "The Rematch" Assassins v WTDT

In the showcase game of the weekend, we had defending champs coming off a 10am game to face their rival WTDT. WTDT brought everyone and then some and was there to play. As predicted, this one was a showcase of two elite offenses lead by veteran qb's on both sides of the ball. Teams went back and forth answering each others best shots. It was a three headed attack at receiver with Bower, Mando and Greg leading the way, but WTDT was able to make stops when it counted and hold on for a close win 36-26. Timmy connected with Jon "crop top" early and often and found Ashante in the back of the end zone for a beautiful diving catch in the corner. We knew the championship loss was fresh on their minds and they showed up and got their revenge. Everyone (mainly the Gentlemen) are hoping these two teams get to meet earlier in the playoffs as opposed to the championship this year. 

Game 4 Dong v Gentlemen

Two veteran teams with some bad blood that usually goes away after some post game white claws. Dong playing in their first game of the season came out hot and drove the ball down field and put up points early in this game. Keith was able to respond nicely hitting his new weapons (Cal and Steve) at receiver as the teams exchanged scores early. Things settled down in the second half as both defenses stepped up and played stingy defense. "40" was clearly not in mid season form with his trash talking and in my opinion, this may have caused tehm to lose the game. When his trash talk is on point, the whole defense simply rallies around him. Dong fell behind and the gentlemen defense pitched a second half shut out to take the win. While the gentlemen won the game, Leah pancaked Brett, stared him down, and then carried on her way. Brett has entered concusion protocol and is officially listed as "Questionable" for next week. Gentlemen 25-13

Shoutout to the commish, yes myself, look at my predicted scores and the outcomes, some would call that "spot on". Stay tuned for preview of week 3 coming out Thursday/Friday this week. Also, please send pictures to Keith for the Instagram page so we can get that going and keep some traction there.

Back by popular demand, weekly write ups. I can't promise I will be as consistent as Jack, but lets start with week two. 

My Dixie Wrecked vs Assassins

Both teams sit at 1-0 after opening week victories. Dixie held on to a close one late against BTPU and Assassins, true to form, allowed a team to hang around through the first half before opening it up in the second half for a convincing win against a 2 Jacks team with big jack dugan playing safety. 

Dixie brings back a veteran Tyler at qb who continues to keep his team in games and gives them a chance to win both with his arm and legs. They insist on having the early game each week despite constantly complaining of hangovers. Assassins are forced to wake up early and play the 10am game this Sunday. Kyle at qb slinging it around to Greg, Mando and company, this one should be true to form and Assassins will open it up in the second half. Pick Assassins 40-Dixie 14

Rum Buckets v Back That Pass Up

This game showcases a much improved BTPU team who comes off an opening week suffering two competitive losses. Last week they displayed a new qb who proved to be shifty in the wet and windy conditions, extending plays with his legs and moving the team down field. AJ, yes AJ who served about 3 weeks of a lifetime ban until Jack was short players and brought him back to his team the following week, continues to show up and make plays. The neon gloves and leggings are flashy, but he backs it up making one handed catches and constant pass breaks up on defense. Rum buckets are a late addition to the league and even things out at 8 teams. They had growing pains last year being the new team but with a season under their belt they look to improve and have a better showing in their second season. Full disclosure, i know no one on the teams name so it is tough to give all outs. Prediction BTPU 24-Rum Buckets 14

WTDT v Assassins

A repeat of last years championship and two of the odds on favorites to make it back again this year. This is a grudge match in every sense of the word. Timmy is on record as despising this team and Mando, commonly known as the nicest guy in the league, once said he didn't like Timmy very much. Assassins handed WTDT a convincing defeat in last years championship making a statement to the league that they are far from done and in full pursuit of their first ever 3 peat. WTDT, arguably the most talented team across the board bring back veteran qb Timmy and surround him with talent out wide. It appears Timmy joined some teammates in some off season workouts as he scrambled to the outside last week, tip toed the sideline and then high stepped his way into the endzone. i don't see Assassins letting him rush this week and they will match up well with SuperCam at corner. Assassins are playing in the back end of a double header which will work to their advantage and elimiante their traditional slow starts. Kyle and Timmy will go blow for blow and this  one will be a shootout, 42-38 WTDT get revenge from last years championship. 

Dong v Gentlemen

Another showcase game of the top two regular season teams in the fall. Dong had the breakout season they were waiting for and cracked the top 4 with a solid playoff run that was cut short by the Assassins in the semis. They bring back depth on both sides of the ball and look to keep form and remain one of the top teams in the league. This is a big year to prove last year wasn't a fluke and they are here to stay. They had a bye week 1 and will come in hot. Lead by a solid qb who puts the ball where he needs to and uses his legs to extend plays, they will look to hit Emmet early and often and have him stretch the defense. The girls will be a factor and my bet is on Leah having at least two spikes and some type of weird flex after a big catch for a first down (gotta love the trash talk as long as its not directed at you). 40 will look to lock down the left side of their defense while he lets his mouth run but backs up it play after play and is always smiling while handing out insults. The Gentlemen come back from another regular season title and bitter disappointment in the playoffs. Coming off a convincing week 1 win, they will be tested on both sides of the ball this week. Will Craig be good cop or bad cop with qb Captain America Keith. Their defense came out to play last week allowing the fewest points in the league lead by young corner Brent who also scored on 4 of 5 touches from scrimmage on the offensive side of the ball. This one will be close throughout as both teams will be in contention come playoffs this year. No pick from the commissioner.... Gentlemen 26-Dong 14