AA MID-SEASON REPORT CARD TIME!!

PLAYOFF PICTURE BECOMING CLEAR IN MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE; COULD THERE REALLY BE A 4-WAY TIE IN THE NORTHERN CONFERENCE?

Feature Story by: Jared Neumeier

RMFL – Each year on or about mid-season, I have attempted to review the success, or lack thereof, of all of the RMFL teams with respect to what we had expected of them before the season even began.  I have called this feature our “mid-season report cards”.  Obviously, a team’s grade is very much affected by the expected position before the season even started. If a team was expected to do well, and they do well, they are still unlikely to earn an “A” grade, which I reserve for teams that actually over-achieve even beyond expectations.  So, if you play on one of the teams that has done quite well, but does not get an “A” grade, try no to take it too personally.

As clear as the Mountain Conference seems to be shaping up, the Northern Conference playoff picture is just getting murkier.  The Muddogs have clinched a playoff spot while the Vipers, Rockets and Marauders possibly battling it out for the #2 and #3 seeds.  If the projections in this article pan out, the Vipers would host the Rockets in the first play-off round with the winner of that game traveling up to play the Northern Conference’s #1 seed in Montana.  The Muddogs seem destined to go undefeated and retain the #1 seed. Even if Morgan should happen to upset them, they hold the head-to-head tie-breaker over the Vipers, the team most likely to catch them… besides Morgan.  If the Muddogs hold on, they would host the winner of the #3 vs. #2 game up in Montana in a game that would be played on June 24th.

The most rare of all situations could easily happen in the Northern Conference.  There could conceivably be 4 teams tied with a 5-3 record when the dust all settles.  Obviously, the only team that would settle for a 5-3 record right now is Bitterroot who has already lost 3 games, but the other teams will want to run the table and ensure themselves of a playoff spot.  Helena is in the weakest position in the event of a multiple tie for first place, since they have given up the most points so far in the season; which will be the most likely tie-breaker that will be required.  In the scenario of this article, Missoula would win the division and host the Vipers/Rockets winner and Great Falls would host Bitterroot with the winner drawing the Muddogs down in Utah.

Regardless of the actual outcomes, it stands to be a great finish in the first season of AA ball in the Rocky Mountain Football League!

Once again, this feature is strictly to stimulate discussion, message board fodder or simply bring forth information not everyone readily knew. Take it for what its worth… Obviously, this is just a “mid-term”.. final grades don’t come out until early July… when Championships are won… or lost.

 

BEAR RIVER VALLEY ROCKETS (4-2): A

I had the Rockets pre-season ranked at #11 of 12 teams… and I wasn’t the only one.  After they were demoralized by the Vipers in a pre-season game on March 25th by a 50-21, very few outside of Rocket-ville felt they would be much more of an improvement on the 2005 version, then called the Brigham City Devil Dogs.  However, in stepped in new quarterback, Mike Jenkins and running backs Mike Messinger and Nate Jackson.  After the Rockets went down to Grand Junction and rolled the promising Scorpions, eyes were opened. “These guys were good”!  The Rockets went on to display the best offense in not only the AA, but the entire RMFL in yards per game behind a great rushing and passing attack.  With the top-ranked offense by almost 100 yards per game and the 4th ranked defense, the Rockets have all of the tools to be contending for a title now. Although tough losses to the Muddogs and Vipers seems to have stymied the fun, this team is more than capable of reversing those outcomes if they see either of them in the playoffs and looms as a very dangerous opponent come mid-June.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 6-2

 

MUDDOGS (6-0) : A

How do you not give the Muddogs an “A” grade.  Although they were expected to do much better than the Rockets, with a pre-season ranking of 4th, who would have thought they would be the team to “run the table” and be the only AA undefeated team in the league?  Maybe Jordan Kjar hasn’t exactly been another Troy Dougherty, but maybe Kjar has actually been better!  With a quarterback rating that is out of this world, tossing 13 touchdowns against only 1 interception thus far and rushing as well as passing, Kjar has taken the Muddog offense to the next level… the second best in the AA.  Defensively, the Muddogs continue to be very good.  Although their 6th place rankings may belie just how effective they have been.  They have yielded the third fewest amount of points and they have played one more game thus far.  What they have been able to do better than anyone in the league so far… is find a way to win, and win and win.  This is also a team that had to endure some management problems and re-organization.  So the Muddog players have had to play well… with more than the usual distractions.  They should finish as the top seed in the Mountain Conference.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 8-0

 

GREAT FALLS GLADIATORS (4-2): A-

The Gladiators have become a doormat for the RMFL since they entered in 2003… until this year.  The Gladiators finally have a team to be proud of, a team that has a serious shot at not only the play-offs, but even a divisional title.  Similar to Madison of the AAA (only reversed), the Gladiators have the top-ranked defense and the lowest ranked offense.  Fighting themselves to a 4-2 record with a highly unspectacular offense has proven just how good their defense is.  With finishing games against Missoula and Helena, the Gladiators need only win one of those games to assure themselves a playoff spot.  With their 4 wins coming against Glacier (2) and Bitterroot (2), these are the two teams the Gladiators have already lost too… and , in fact, have never beaten. Sterling Wynn, however, is stepping up of late as a true offensive weapon and Mike Rhode continues to lead the AA in sacks and is ranked highly in tackles.  I’ll go out on a limb and say they win one of two remaining games, although I have no idea which one… and make their first RMFL playoff tournament.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 5-3

 

MISSOULA RAPTORS (4-1): B+

The Raptors are sitting pretty so far at 4-1 and in sole possession of what will become a hotly contested #1 seed in the Northern Division.  Pre-season ranked 3rd of the competing play-off teams, the Raptors have certainly over-achieved that, thus far.  Shane Jurasek has proven to be a strong addition to their offense and they have shown the ability to replace the many defensive starters lost to the Blaze. In fact, offensively… what should be their strong point, they are ranked 7th thus far and defensively they are sitting at 5th.  Getting star tailback, Gavin Johnson really going well in the final games of  the season will be key for this offense. What keeps the Raptors, however, from pulling an A grade thus far are two things.  First, the loss at home to the Blaze, however, more importantly, their 4-1 record includes two wins over the Knights, so their remaining three games will all be against play-off contending teams and this will be the part of the season where the Raptors earn their way in… or play themselves out.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD:  5-3

 

VIPERS (4-1): B

The Vipers entered the 2006 campaign as the “Team to Beat”.  I’m still not sure that they still aren’t.  Although they lost to the Muddogs, which I might not have expected, they picked up a key road victory over the Scorpions, a game I thought they may not have the road stuff to win.  So, effectively, they sit exactly where you might have thought they would be at this point.  The Muddogs have simply been the team that has, thus far, spoiled their party. The Vipers have proven they can beat the Rockets, beating them in the pre-season and on May 13th, so the Muddogs …  and someone from Montana, will likely be the only road blocks to the Vipers ascending to their pre-season ranking and capturing the RMFL’s first AA title.  Being ranked 5th in offense and 3rd in defense isn’t exactly Rhino-Raider like dominance, so they are going to have to battle come playoff time in a play-off when just about anything can happen. They are, however, finally getting 2005 rushing star, Kyle Curtis back in the fold along side of all-stud, Josh Christensen on offense, however, their passing game may need to pick up come playoff time.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 7-1

 

MORGAN MARAUDERS (3-1): B

Everyone expected that the Marauders would be a good solid team… and they have.  In my pre-season article, I thought they had a chance to really succeed IF they could get a full season out of Mitch Clark…and they have not.  In fact, there are several key players they have yet to get a full season out of, and yet they are still sitting at 3-1 at mid-season.  Looking at statistical rankings alone, the Marauders are a model of mediocrity.  Ranked 6th in offense and 10th in defense, they seem to be capable of beating the weaker teams and losing to the better teams… which is not exactly a way to punch a ticket into the RMFL playoffs.  To make that trip, a team needs to BE one of the better teams.  Quarterback, David Rees has been a great addition to the Morgan offense, leading the team as a passer and a rusher thus far.  Which is the good… and the bad.  Tom Wright has been another solid addition at wide receiver, but this team will need to get stronger on defense and find someone on offense that is an rushing threat in their final 4 games to make it into the RMFL playoffs.  With their next three games against the Muddogs, Vipers and Rockets, this team has a real chance of not only making the playoffs, but capturing the #1 Mountain Conference seed.  If the defense can play better and Rees can find one more weapon, they might just have a chance.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 4-4

 

GLACIER KNIGHTS (0-6): B-

Obviously, little was expected of the Glacier Knights in 2006. And, if you look at record alone, little has been accomplished.  However, as was discussed in the pre-season preview, this team is truly improving.  Their roster has swelled to near 40 players where they never really had more than 30 in any previous season and they are competing well… game after game… for most of the game.  They have been in almost every game going into the second half…even into the 4th quarter.  This team right now is better than say the Gladiators of 2005.  They may be only one year behind the Gladiators now in overall development, which would put them… right square in the playoff race in 2007.  Defending Montana MVP, Jason Zielanski continues to be a stud on offense, defense and special teams, however, now there are others.  Beau Herman has shown signs of being a consistent quarterback and Tony Rojo has proven to be another great defensive baller for the Knights.  The pieces are coming together… just not quite soon enough for 2006.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 0-8

 

BITTERROOT BLAZE (3-3): C+

There is no question that this has been a disappointing season thus far for the Bitterroot Blaze, however, there is a good reason for these Blaze to not be bitter; a big contest looms again with arch-rival Missoula in a week and a half.  Certainly, the recent loss to Helena, a team they beat resoundingly in their first game ever, was a heart-breaker… but who woulda thunk they would have dropped both games to the Gladiators… home and away?  Part of that mystery is simply that the Gladiators turned out to be better than most everyone expected… but are the Blaze really worse?  This is a team that is ranked 3rd in offense and 2nd in defense. This is a team with the most dominating offensive force in the AA division, if not the entire RMFL in Justin Nixon. How does a team with the league’s leading tackler in Jamie Jones and such a great defense and such a big offensive weapon be only 3-3?  So far, the Blaze just seem to have found a way to lose the close games… They now get a week off to prepare for the big showdown against the Raptors, a win at home there… and another in the finale against the winless Knights should have them sitting in prime playoff position.  They key… for the Blaze, will be the Raptors game.  A win… and they are most likely in; a loss… and they flame might just be out for 2006.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 5-3

 

HELENA TITANS (3-2): C

Certainly this grade for the Helena Titans is directly affected by the pre-season rankings of #1.  In a division that is so ripe with parity, someone had to be established as the pre-season #1, the Titans were as good a candidate as any.  Thus far in 2006, they have looked as bad as can be getting blown out by Bitterroot and Missoula and as good as winning over Great Falls and Bitterroot. Even with some quarterback inconsistency, their offense has settled into a #4 ranking while their defense ranks a respectable 7th.  If Brian Gutierrez can play as well in the final games as he did versus Bitterroot, the Titans may very well still finish the season on top of the Montana heap.  Keith Deboo and Eddie Sullivan have been a great combo of offensive weapons… and don’t forget Dave Garza still hurts opposing defenses.  The Titans finish is a little harder to get a handle on, however.  As I mentioned, they can lose easily… or fight and win.  Assuming they pick up the victory over the Knights, I’ll guess that they win one of the other two … which leaves a good old fashioned log jam on top of the northern division.  4 teams… all with records of 5-3! Unfortunately for the Titans, if there is a 4-way tie at 5-3, the tie-breaker that will end up factoring in will be Points Allowed… a stat not currently in the Titans favor.  This team may need to run the table to be certain of a playoff spot. If they do, however, the division will be theirs.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 5-3

 

MAGIC VALLEY BULLDAWGS (1-5): C

Of the Idaho/Colorado contingent in the AA division, all three teams have been disappointments, however, with the Bulldawgs pre-ranked the lowest, the are the least disappointing of the three.  Having notched a victory over a re-grouping Snake River team and with a rematch with the Sabercats in New Plymouth remaining on the schedule, the Bulldawgs could actually finish with two or even three victories if they can pull an upset over Morgan in the season finale.  This team has had its own share of personnel problems, however, not quite to the extent of some of the other struggling teams.  The Bulldawgs have re-grouped around Ben Landrian, both as a team leader and a quarterback, and the results are showing.  Also, Jason Blair is finally emerging as both an offensive and defensive star in the RMFL and deserves watching in the future.  Magic Valley ranks 9th in offense and 8th in defense, which isn’t too bad for a celler-dwelling team.  They have shown some offensive punch and some defensive might but just haven’t had the horses to keep up with the top teams in the Mountain Conference.  This has truly been a rebuilding season for the once-proud Bulldawgs and some of the pieces seem to be coming into place.  Look for the Bulldawgs to continue to scale their way towards a title in 2007.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 2-6

 

GRAND JUNCTION SCORPIONS (1-5): D+

Perhaps I gave this testy team from west centeral Colorado too much credit when pre-ranking them 4th before the season began.  Ranked ahead of the Raptors (4-1), ahead of the Rockets (4-2) and, of course, the Muddogs (6-0).  What the Scorpions had, and continue to have is a lot of talent, a great running back in Jeff Dottson, a leader in Mike Christensen, a game-breaker in Scott Walston and what should have been a swarming defense behind Eric Easterbrook.  More than anything else, however, the Scorpion defense has been the let down. Currently ranked 11th, yielding 180 points in 6 games… or a 30 points per game average.  Not too much a problem if you have the offense that can outscore everyone.  However, the Scorpions do not.  The Scorpions have not gotten the consistency from their passing game and have had to rely too much on the run, however, not stopping the opposition has been their Achilles heel all season and sets them up to spend another off-season asking themselves once again…”Why”??  Regardless, however, this team has a lot of hope for the future. They are about to finish a full season of game to game competition and they are going to do it, once again, with class.  A little off-season recruitment should set them up well for a solid 2007 championship run… No, I really mean it this time!!

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 1-7

 

SNAKE RIVER SABERCATS (0-6): D

The “+” is for their commitment to “compete to the end”, the “D” is because there were ohhhh so many high expectations for this team back in March.  After pulling off the upset over the AAA Idaho Matadors, things were as happy as could be imagined in Sabercat-ville.  Certainly, a AA championship was not out of the question for this franchise that went win-less in 2005; and looks to remain that way in 2006.  Western Division MVP, Tyler Collingwood had picked up where he left off, only this time as the full-time quarterback of the Sabercat offense and after holding down the Matadors to a degree, looked to have solved their big defensive woes from 2005.  NOT.  First off, they were riddled for 55 points by the Muddogs, a team known for their defense. Then after being beaten by Morgan at home in a close game, the quitting began.  Enough players left early to a rain-delayed game against Bear River Valley to stop the game after only a quarter and already being down 21-7.  The next week they were massacred by the Rockets 63-0 and then last weeks loss to the Bulldawgs as more and more players have quit on their teammates.  This team with so much potential and so much hope has simply had too many players lose perspective of what the game is all about. Hopefully, a strong finish and a good off-season will get this team back on track and in the play-off hunt in 2007.

PROJECTED FINAL RECORD: 0-8