Week 16's review starts off with what would have been the MOTW. The Pirates visited the Sultans in a make or break bid for the NC West Crown. After a interception was given away by the Sultans they then got a fumble recovery back, but could not get going until the 12th minute of the 1st quarter when a 3 yard TD pass gave them the lead. In the 2nd minute of the 2nd quarter they increased their lead with a 11 yard TD pass. A 38 yard punt return led to the next scoring drive which was capped off with a 3 yard TD run. Then on their next drive they scored a FG to lead at half time 24-0. There must have been some heated words in the Pirates dressing room at half time as in the 3rd minute of the 3rd quarter they intercepted the Sultans again and this time got on the scoreboard with a 20 yard TD pass. The Sultans missed a 54 yard FG 3 minutes later then a 3rd interception by the Pirates was followed directly by a 5 yard TD pass. Another interception by the Pirates was finished off with a 2 yard TD pass, PAT missed, a further interception was made by the Pirates and as the 3rd quarter closed down the Pirates were only behind by 4. In the 4th quarter neither team could get going until a promising drive by the Sultans was ended by yet another interception, but they were fortunate the Pirates missed a 48 yard FG from the resulting drive. The 7th interception by the Pirates led to them taking the lead on the next drive with a 1 yard TD run and on their next drive they extended their lead to a winning one with a 7 yard TD pass. The 34-24 win to the Pirates was good to the fact they hold the advantage over the Sultans going into the last match, but they know they still have to beat the llamas to claim the divisional title as the Sultans are guaranteed a win as they play the Bot P.G.I.
The Alligators must be thankful they play the Bot Ravens in their last game as the way they were taken apart by Xu Da on their own turf would not have inspired any confidence against another opponent. Although in the 1st quarter the Alligators hit a FG and missed a FG while moving the ball well and having some control over Xu Da, it's the 2nd quarter that changed the game. First off Xu Da drew level with a FG then the QBs of the Alligators blew up, starting with a 63 yard pick 6 which was followed by a 100 yard pick 6 on the Alligators next drive then a 33 yard pick 6 on the very next play. The Alligators scored a FG with 1 minute left in the half to go in 24-6 at the break. The 3rd quarter did not particularly start well for the Alligators as their first play was pick off and the resultant drive for Xu Da was capped off with a 2 yard TD run. Alligators replied with the next drive going 80 yards and finished off with a 6 yard TD pass. Xu Da then stopped a promising Alligators drive with a fumble recovery which led to them scoring a FG.The 3rd quarter ended with Xu Da leading 34-13. 2 minutes into the 4th and the Alligators scored a 51 yard FG, they then hit a 35 yard FG and scored a 3 yard TD pass to reduce the deficit to 8 with just over 3 minutes to play only for Xu Da to put the final nail in the coffin in the final minute of the game with a 38 yard TD pass. 41-26 Xu Da.
Deflators totally mugged the Bot Ravens 167-0.
The Bobble popped down the road to the Crushers and game home with a relatively easy 42-3 win.
The Wolves visited the Knuckleheads and added 4 more interceptions to their already impressive tally for the season, all of them return for TDs. They also had 4 long passing TDs 31,37,97 and 31 yards included in their 87-0 win.
The Whalers visited Pamplona still just in the hunt for the final play off spot in the NC. They took a 13 point lead by half time only to see Pamplona claw back 10 points in the 3rd quarter. Pamplona then took the lead early in the 4th with a 3 yard TD run from a drive that was the result of an interception. Then Pamplona stopped a 4th and goal on their own 2 yard line and must have thought it was their day until their QB was intercepted two plays later which led to the Whalers scoring on a 12 yard TD pass on the next drive, then not a minute later Pamplona were intercepted again from which the Whalers next dirve led to a 19 yard TD pass that confirmed the win for them 27-17.
Narann visited the Hedgehogs and for all the play they had in the first half they went in at half time 7-6 down with the Hedgehogs hitting them for a 87 yard bomb in between two FGs for Narann. The 3rd quarter saw Narann hit a 63 yard TD pass, score a FG, run in a 1 yard TD and close the quarter with a 67 yard TD pass.Early in the 4th Narann got a 42 yard pick 6 only to se the hedgehogs next play go 75 yards to the house and with the game won Narann closed the scoring with a 6 yard TD pass to complete the scoring 43-14.
The Whitings kept the pressure on the Jockstraps with a 44-13 win over Balenghi. Scoring a 58 yard pick 6, 2 yard TD pass twice, a 53 yard fumble return TD, a 6 yard TD run and 3 FGs to Balenghi's 9 yard TD pass and 2 FGs.
The Jockstraps visited Juggernaut knowing if they won here then the AC East title should be theirs as they have a easier final game than the Whitings. So they set about Juggernaut in the 1st quarter firstly with a FG which was followed by a 43 yard pick 6, another FG and then a 32 yard pick 6. In the 2nd quarter they added a 4 yard TD pass to lead 27-0 at the half. Juggernaut scored on a 8 yard TD run only for the Jockstraps to come back with a 5 yard TD pass and a 16 yard TD pass in the 3rd quarter. In the 4th quarter Juggernaut scored on a 5 yard TD pass in between 2 Jockstraps FGs as they headed back to Limerick with a 47-14 win.
Jinonice kept their play off hopes alive with a 103-0 win over the Bot DV.
Cougars welcomed Wild Thangs knowing a convincing win will more or less guarantee them the divisional title and they set about it with some urgency in the 1st quarter firstly scoring a 3 yard TD run followed by a 2 yard fumble return TD. Wild Thangs were not going to roll over easily as they had a 48 yard fumble return TD, but Cougars slapped them back with a 39 yard pick 6 before the quarter was over. A early FG for Wild Thangs in the 2nd quarter was only followed by a Cougars 8 yard TD pass. 2 TDs in the 3rd, a 4 yard run and a 5 yard run, by Cougars took the game away from Wild Thangs and even though they hit a 80 yard bomb and a 18 yard TD pass Cougars rounded off this 49-24 win with a 1 yard TD pass.
The Cardinals went to the Miners knowing they have to win their last two games to make the play offs and in the 1st quarter they scored a FG, gained a Safety and hit a 8 yard TD pass to take control of the game early. Despite giving up 2 interceptions they did not relinquish control as they hit 2 further FGs along with 2 rushing TDs of 6 and 10 yards only letting the Miners get a FG in this 32-3 win.
The Machine went 15-0 with a convincing 115-0 win over the Bot P.G.I.
The Bolts celebrated their divisional title by crushing the Llamas 59-3 scoring 8 TDs in the process, 2 pick 6s, 3 passing TDs of 47,67 and 6 yards and 3 rushiung TDs of 3,3 and 6 yards to the Llamas one FG.
The Mantis visited epics and came home with a 23-9 win from a 2 yard TD run, a 26 yard pick 6 and 3 FGs to epics 3 FGs.
The Patriots played host to the Frogs and sacked the Frogs QB for a Safety early on then in the remainder of the 1st quarter scored a FG and got a 20 yard fumble return TD to lead 12-0. The Frogs then hit a 11 yard TD pass in the 2nd quarter before the Patriots hit a FG before half time. The Frogs got within 1 point with a 13 yard TD pass mid way through the 3rd quarter, but the Patriots closed the quarter with a 3 yard TD run and then hit a FG and another 3 yard TD run in the 4th to take the win 31-14.

The Play Off Picture
AC
Machine - bye
Jockstraps/Whitings - bye

Wild Card Match Ups
Alligators v Whitings/Jockstraps
Cougars v Cardinals/Wolves

NC
Bolts - bye
Deflators - bye

Wild Card Match Ups
Pirates/Sultans v Narann
Bobble v Pirates/Sultans/Jinonice

Relegated
Ravens (Bot)
DV (Bot)
Crushers
Balenghi/epics/P.G.Ii. (Bot)/Frogs

Relegation Play Offs
Balenghi/epics/P.G.I. (Bot)/Frogs/Knuckleheads/Pamplona/Miners

AC playoff picture will be be resolved if Jockstraps win their last match they win the division and are seeded 2 even if Whitings win. If they loose and Whitings win then Whitings will be seeded 2. Whoever finished second out of these two in the division will be seeded 5.
If Cardinals win they will be seeded 6, but if they loose and Wolves win then the Wolves will be seeded 6. If both loose then Cardinals will be seeded 6.

NC playoff picture will be resolved if Pirates win they will be seeded 4, if Pirates loose and Sultans win, Sultans will be seeded 4. If Jinonice win and Pirates loose, Jinonice will be seeded 6. Sultans playing a Bot in their final game will be at least seeded 6 with the win no matter what Jinonice do.

In the relegation zone if Balenghi and epics win then the Bot P.G.I. will be automatically relegated if Balenghi win and epics loose then epics will be relegated otherwise Balenghi will go down if they loose.

The relegation play off picture initially shows epics, Bot P.G.I., Frogs and Knuckleheads in those positions, but if Knickleheads win and Pamplona loose, then Pamplona could be dragged down, or if Knuckleheads and Pamplona win and Miners loose then Miners could be pulled down into it.

Transfer News
Jockstraps - 1 in for 216k
Machine - 1 in for 23k
Wolves - 3 out for 3.2M
Cougars - 1 out for 50k
Bolts - 1 out for 500k
Jinonice - 1 out for 2.5m
Pamplona - 1 out for 1M
Sultans - 1 out for 1M
Llamas - 4 in for 354k

All set for the final game of the regular season. Good luck to you all in those games.

Apologies for some match reviews being very short, but doing this thing can easily take up 4 or more hours of my time, not that I don't like doing it, but if a match doesn't look interesting enough on this face of it then it will be short and sweet. Hope to have the stats lined up nicely for a regular season review after week 17 review done. Already thinking how to do this next season and hopefully with more witty remarks through the season.

That is it for now see you all soon.

Bova

I think it will be one of either Jockstraps, Green Machine, Bolts or Deflators to taste the glory of Thunder 1 league victory.

Very close competition and maybe one of the other playoff teams can pull off an upset or two along the way.

Please no not the cougars again

It would be the best of three series for us for the season, we are currently 1-1.

Great write up again. I do agree with you, I would only go after the more interesting games. Keep up the great work! Was fun reading these this season!