Fantasy Rewind for Week 12
PHILADELPHIA AT NASHVILLE
QB Matt Sauk didn't exactly burn bright, but he didn't exactly fizzle either. Sauk finished with 189 yards and 5 TDs, which was good enough for the Soul against Nashville. Sauk shook off a slow start, throwing 3 of those TDs in 4th quarter. Philadelphia finally remembered about the weapon they have in WR Sean Scott, who finished with 9 catches for 103 yards and 4 TDs, rushed for 9 yards and recorded a sack and 10 tackles (5 solo). WR Mike Brown (3 for 27) also had a good day, recording 6 tackles, picking off a pass and scoring one on the ground and one through the air. FB Wes Ours ran for 25 yards but did not score. DS Eddie Moten had 5 tackles, a pick and a forced fumble.
QB Clint Stoerner was shaking off some serious rust and finished with 254 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs. He threw more incompletions (20) than he did completions (18). OS TT Toliver was his main target, hauling in 5 balls for 100 yards and 2 TDs, running one in from 5 yards as well. FB Dan Alexander ran for 29 yards but did not score. The only other Nashville player of note was WR Jarrick Hillary (5 for 64, 1 TD).
NEW YORK AT COLUMBUS
This was a Rock 'em, Sock 'em Robot sort of game, with the Dragons pulling away with a 27-point 4th quarter. QB Nick Browder continued his impressive play, throwing for 387 yards and 7 TDs against a very good Columbus defense. Browder's two main receivers asserted themselves late in the game, with WR Mike Horacek (10 for 158, 4 TDs) and OS Kevin Swayne (9 for 146, 2 TDs) catching all their touchdowns in the second half. DS DeShane Dennis caught one pass for 10 yards, but had 3 solo tackles, a fumble recovery and returned an INT for a TD. DS Dahnel Singfield returned from the injured list to record 2 tackles and an INT.
QB John Kaleo couldn't take advantage of New York's lenient defense, throwing for only 190 yards and 4 TDs, getting picked off 3 times. WR David Saunders left in the 1st quarter after catching 3 balls for 50 yards and a TD. His replacement, WR Darcey Levy, took over and caught 5 passes for 92 yards and 2 TDs. FB Harold Wells continued his fine, if unheralded, season by running for 20 yards and a TD, while recording 3 solo tackles. DS Cecil Doggette had a great game, recording 10 solo stops.
GEORGIA AT ORLANDO
Orlando broke open a close game in the 4th quarter, holding the Force scoreless until a meaningless Georgia FG as the clock expired. The Predators used the running game early, with FB Idris Price (1 yard rushing, 2 tackles, 1 TD) and FB Marlon Moye-Moore (8 yards, 2 TDs) scoring the first three times Orlando had the ball. QB Joe Hamilton was coolly efficient, throwing for 339 yards and 4 TDs. OS Jimmy Fryzel scored on two 4th quarter passes, finishing with 5 catches for 110 yards and those 2 TDs. The star for Orlando was WR Javarus Dudley, who caught 7 balls for 121 yards and a TD, ran for 10 yards and a TD, and also added a tackle onto his total. DS Khalil Carter, who wasn't supposed to play, ended up making 9 solo tackles. DS Kenny McEntyre played an inspired game, finishing with 7 tackles and two forced fumbles.
QB Matt Nagy didn't have a bad game, but things unraveled for him in the 4th quarter under the intensity of the Orlando defensive effort. Nagy still finished with 256 yards and 4 TDs. OS Chris Jackson continued his assault on the league defensive backs, finishing with 12 catches for 141 yards and a TD. WR Derek Lee (5 for 33, TD) has been quiet of late and the limp rope was taken in by WR Jamin Elliot, who relived his early season effectiveness with a 8 catch, 91 yard, 2 TD, 5 tackle effort. K Nelson Garner was 5 for 5 on extra points and made both of his FG attempts.
LAS VEGAS AT SAN JOSE
San Jose got over the running bug this week and returned to being a prolific passing offense. QB Mark Grieb had one of his better games, throwing for 388 yards and 8 TDs, including three 4th quarter TDs when the game was on the line. OS Ben Nelson (9 for 160, 4 TDs) and WR James Roe (11 for 147, 3 TDs) enjoyed a triumphant return from their own week endzone exile. WR Charles Pauley also pitched in with 4 catches for 44 yards and a TD. DS Clevan Thomas had an excellent game, tallying 12 tackles (8 solo), an INT and a critical James Roe-forced fumble recovery with the game on the line.
Las Vegas just couldn't keep up with the Sabercats in the 4th quarter. QB Jason Fife came through with good fantasy statistics, due mainly to his 28 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs. Fife passed for 205 yards and 3 TDs, for a 44-point fantasy day. WR Junior Lord did most of the receiving damage (9 for 100, 1 TD) and the Gladiators inability to get OS Marcus Nash (4 for 31, 1 TD) the ball is boggling. WR Joe Douglass caught 4 passes for 54 yards and a TD, ran a TD in from 1-yard. DS Chris Canty recorded 10 solo tackles and DS TJ Hill had seven of his own.
TAMPA BAY AT AUSTIN
What a game! After scoring with 5 seconds left in the 4th quarter, the Wranglers elected to go for the win and QB John Fitzgerald converted on his second 2-pt running attempt of the game, sending the Wranglers to a thrilling win over the Storm. Fitzgerald was masterly, completing 25 of 30 attempts for 283 yards and 6 TDs. He also rushed for a TD to go along with those two 2-pointers. Austin finally remembered how dangerous WR Kevin Nickerson can be and Nickerson responded nicely, finishing with 13 catches for 184 yards and 3 TDs. OS Derrick Lewis had less yards than normal (4 for 34) but still managed 2 TDs. FB Dane Krager didn't have a good running night, but made up for it with 2 catches for 14 yards, 4 tackles, and recovered a fumble off the net for a TD.
Tampa QB Shane Stafford led the Storm to a go ahead score with 23 seconds left, but could only watch helplessly as the Wranglers won the game. Stafford finished with 303 yards and 5 TDs. WR Lawrence Samuels led the receivers with 12 catches for 134 yards and 2 TDs, adding 2 fumble recoveries on the defensive side for one of his most well-rounded games of the year. OS Freddie Solomon (5 for 64, 1 TD) was mainly quieted by the Austin defense but WR Lynarise Elpheage took up some of the slack, catching 5 balls for 42 yards and a TD to go along with his amazing 8 solo tackles and INT on defense. K Bill Gramatica mailed home all 8 of his extra points and a 30 yard FG.
LOS ANGELES AT UTAH
Newly signed QB Andy Kelly started this game for the Blaze and did something he hadn't done earlier in the year with Kansas City: He threw for 8 TDs. Kelly finished 21 of 33 for 285 yards and led the Blaze like a true veteran. With Kelly under center OS Siaha Burley flourished, catching 11 passes for 152 yards and 5 TDs. WR Orshawante Bryant also enjoyed a new life with the veteran leadership, catching 5 balls for 57 yards and 2 TDs (and one tackle, but we can hardly credit Kelly for that, can we?) The Blaze won this game by perfectly executing an early 4th quarter onside kick that gave them a chance to record consecutive scores in this seesaw battle. DS Kevin Moffett had 7 solo stops for the Blaze, while DS Kelvin Hunter ended the night with six.
As advertised, the Los Angeles offense shot off some sparks against the boys from Utah. QB Sonnie Cumbie continued his good season, connecting for 337 yards and 7 TDs. Cumbie's late 2-pt attempt to tie the game failed but his passing was sharp and led to a very entertaining contest. The Avengers receivers torched the Blaze, with WR Kevin Ingram (9 for 113, 3 TDs, 3 tackles, INT) and OS Tony Locke (9 for 142, 2 TDs) both excelling. Ingram caught a 39-yard TD bomb on the last play of the 1st half that put the cherry on the top of a combined 49-point 2nd quarter. (Can you tell I enjoyed this game?) WR Lenzie Jackson saw more time for the Avengers and finished with 5 catches for 55 yards and a TD. This was truly an extremely fun Arena Football game, with outstanding offense, very little defense and a result not decided until the clock ran out (proving that teams with less than stellar records can produce some nice results).
GRAND RAPIDS AT DALLAS
I'm not quite sure what's wrong with the Desperados. They let up 7 whole points to the Rampage in the 1st half (that's seven points more than they let up against the Dragons last week in the 1st half) and QB Clint Dolezel only had nine completions for 5 TDs. Maybe they just weren't trying hard enough to keep this one competitive. Dallas is the class of the Arena Football League right now and the Rampage were just fodder. Dolezel finished with 285 yards and 8 TDs, answering the few Grand Rapids charges with instant TDs. OS Terrill Shaw led all receivers with 7 catches for 72 yards and 3 TDs, while WR Will Pettis (2 for 43, 1 TD, 1 tackle) and WR Dialleo Burks (3 for 39, 2 TDs, FR) did damage only when necessary. Up 43-7 midway through the 3rd quarter, the Desperados just put the game on cruise control. DS Hamin Milligan had 8 solo stops on the defensive side.
The Rampage must feel shellshocked after taking on the Crush and Desperados in consecutive weeks. QB Ryan VanDyke is just overmatched by the speed of the Arena game, finishing with only 147 yards and 2 TDs. WR Timon Marshall (7 for 64, 1 TD) and OS Anthony Hines (5 for 44, 1 TD) finished with modest numbers against a dominating Dallas defense. FB Chris Avery ran well, compiling 12 yards and a TD, along with 2 solo tackles. DS Johnnie Harris recorded 5 solo stops and ran back a missed PAT for a defensive 2-pointer.
CHICAGO AT ARIZONA
The Rattlers blew open a close game in the 2nd quarter with 3 consecutive scores, the last being a nifty 50-yard missed FG return by DS Erin Damond to end the half. Damond seemed stopped at his own goalline, hesitated along the boards to allow the Rush to relax, and then burst through the pile to go the distance, putting a stake in the heart of the Rush. Damond also had 6 solo tackles. QB Sherdrick Bonner started hot and stayed hot, connecting on 19 of 25 passes for 195 yards and 7 TDs. WR Randy Gatewood continued on his fiery path, catching 7 for 80 and 4 TDs, giving him 18 TDs over the last 4 weeks. Gatewood also added 6 solo tackles and is the hottest WR/DB in the Arena Football League. OS Damien Groce is back to full health and hauled in 7 catches of his own for 66 yards and 3 TDs.
The big news out of this game for Chicago was QB Micheal Bishop taking over for Matt D'Orazio and his immediate connection with new OS Bobby Sippio. Bishop started out 7 for 7 for 92 yards and 2 TDs, both to Sippio, as the Rush looked much livelier than in recent outings. Unfortunately for the Rush, Bishop first slowed down and then regressed, missing 10 of 11 pass attempts at one point. Bishop finished with 333 yards, 6 TDs and 19 rushing yards, but couldn't keep the Rush in the game against the Rattlers onslaught. Sippio finished with 7 catches for 139 yards and 3 TDs and showed why he is a great and troubled talent, burning the Arizona defenders badly on one play and getting up and instigating rumbles with them on the next. WR Woody Danzler finished with 8 catches for 106 yards and 2 TDs, while WR Etu Molden looked very good, catching 7 for 78 with a TD and adding 3 solo tackles. DS Jeremy Unertl had 3 tackles and an INT for Chicago.
COLORADO AT KANSAS CITY
Two things are obvious watching the Crush offense. First, QB John Dutton looks for OS Damien Harrell on just about every play. Second, it doesn't matter that Dutton telegraphs so much, because no one can stop Harrell in the least. Harrell finished his day with 14 catches for 196 yards and 5 TDs, an amazing 58 fantasy points. Dutton is golden as long as he has Harrell, passing for 280 yards and 7 TDs. Almost as amazing is that with the lock on Harrell, WR Willis Marshall (5 for 47, no TDs) and WR Ahmad Hawkins (3 for 26, 1 TD, 4 tackles) managed to catch anything at all. DS Rashad Floyd did it all again for the Crush on defense, recording 9 solo tackles and an INT.
Kansas City hung with the Crush for the 1st quarter, when they went into a lull that the Crush pounced on promptly. By the time they recovered, it was too late to win, but the Brigade kept fighting, putting on a respectable show in the 4th quarter by tacking 22 points on the board. QB Chris Sanders was victimized by 3 INTs, but managed 244 yards passing, 5 TDs, 10 rushing yards and 2 TDs on the ground. Sanders is a solid producer, even moreso now that he has WR Aaron Boone, who finished with a stunning 12 catches for 124 yards and 4 TDs. OS Jerel Myers added 5 catches for 35 yards and a 2-pt conversion run. The Brigade players will produce for your fantasy team down the stretch, that much is certain.
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