Team Preview by: David Sire
Tooelle – Just like last year, the
Heat are being very quiet about this year’s players. It worked for them last year. The Heat were not
supposed to compete last year and were predicted as the next to last place team
in AAA. The Heat surprised a lot of
people by finishing #5 and making the play-offs. The Heat got some outstanding individual
performances last year. Dannon Handcuff finished 3rd
in rushing in the AAA last year. The
Heat also sported the #1 ranked O-line. Jeff Wissler
finished the season as the #3 ranked passer, the league leader in total yards
passing, and tied for 2nd in TD passes while Brian Simmons finished
as the 3rd leading scorer and 5th leading receiver. His teammate, Jeff Johnson led the league in
receiving. Fisi and Sione Tuatonga finished #2 and tied for #3 in sacks and Chris Laloni was 4th in punt returns. As a team, the Heat finished as the #1 ranked
offensive team and the #4 ranked defensive team. The Heat rolled into the play-offs as the #5
seed only to lose a tough re-match to the Mustangs 21-15.
That’s
the good news. The bad news is that only
O-lineman Des Alvarado shows up on the Heat roster this year. Replacing most of the #1 ranked O-line will
not be an easy task. Also missing from
their roster are Chris Laloni and Dannon
Handcuff. But they do return Jeff Wissler at quarterback, probably the most elusive
quarterback in the league. His top 4
favorite targets at receiver also all return.
Although Handcuff is gone, Tyler Wissler
returns having averaged almost 6 yards per carry last year. If size means anything, the Heat should still
have a solid O-line. They list Myles Miasau (383 lbs), Michael Bailey (330 lbs), JP (320 lbs),
and Desmond Alvarado (315 lbs).
Missing
from this year’s roster on defense are Fisi and Sione Tuatonga. They do return Stan Vrotney,
Siolo Toala, and Angel
Castillo in the secondary. Benny Mafi returns at linebacker and Mike Tooa
and Junior Samoa at D-line.
The
question is whether the players that started for them last year will be
returning and just are not on their roster yet.
Or will they have to replace these players with new recruits and
returning players.
The
Heat last year pretty much won the games they were expected to and lost the
ones they were expected to. Their losses
were to the Rhino-Raiders, Da Bears, Wolverines, and
an upset loss to the Predators. They did
edge the Mustangs at home in the second week of the season. The Rhino-Raiders are gone. If the Heat can match last year’s loss record
minus the Rhino-Raiders, they should be able to roll into the playoffs as the
#4 ranked team. Expect the Heat to start
strong. The key to their success will be
how they finish with
OVERALL RANKING: 4th
