2017 Winter Week 6
Mr. Rogers Neighborhood
If nothing else, this has been the most unpredictable season in years. There has been many upsets this season, more than any other season in my memory, going back to 1983. Teams have either been so closely matched or up and down from week to week that it’s been hard to get a consistent handle on predictable results, which is a good thing for the JFFL, knowing that just about any team can win on any given week. Jokers consistency being the exception to this Winter League’s inconsistency rule. Young Gunz is leading the way to upsets, after starting 0-2 and almost not invited to the play-in games until their week 3 win,has reeled off 3 wins in a row against the highest quality opponents a team could achieve. Now they have another date with the Jokers, will the 3rd time be a charm?
-Bull Gerbil looks like the real deal with their first loss, a close one to the veteran Jokers. Team Elite (Fall League Champions) will have their hands full this week.
-LB Ballers and Just Win Baby will play in a Bowl Game to determine who will be the Charlie Division Champion this year. Over the years, division C champions have gone on to develop into both Division B and A champions.
-Word of advice, leave the officials alone or risk being ejected from a game and the Athletic Commission suspending you for entire seasons or yrs. You can ask the officials questions, but don’t question the officials judgment, at your own risk of participating in the JFFL as an individual or as a team(entire teams have been rejected from invitation to future leagues). Act as a responsible mature adult, or risk being treated as you behave.
Games to Watch
9am John Bushman Memorial Bowl (2-3)Sharks vs (1-4)No Fly Zone +1
No Fly Zone may be more talented, but Sharks maturity gives them the edge here. NFZ started the season off with great expectations, but some close losses and players quitting and little team chemistry has led to to their inconsistent season. If team mgr. Manvir Basra can rally the troops, NFZ might be the favorite, but Shark’s consistency is the best bet.
10:05am JFFL Divisional Bowl B(4-1)Bull Gerbil vs (1-4)Team Elite+1
Don’t let the records fool you, Team Elite,the Fall League Champions, are the best 1-4 team we’ve seen in decades of play in this region. They’ve lost some close games against the best competion this season(PWO twice, Young Gunz and Prime Time). Bull Gerbil really turned some heads in their only loss (18-24) against the Jokers.This is a defacto B Division championship game.
11:10am Sam Dickerson Memorial Bowl (3-2)Dirty Goats vs (3-2)Team JFFL+6
Hard to handicap this game with JFFL players inconsistent attendance week to week. That being said, Dirty Goats might be the most improved team from Fall to Winter.Their team play gets better every week. They beat Team JFFL 12-0 in an earlier matchup this winter. If TJ get’s most of their key players out there, this could be the game of the week.
12:15pm JFFL Divisional Bowl C (3-2)LB Ballers vs (3-2)Just Win Baby+1
Due to the re-classification of some teams after week 1, these 2 didn’t meet during regular season, so it’s only natural that they should meet in a Bowl Game to determine who will win the Charlie Division, both are undefeated in division games.
1:20pm JFFL Divisional Bowl A (3-2)PWO vs (3-2)Prime Time+1
Two of the best teams in the Winter League meet for a 2nd time this season, Prime Time won that game 13-12.Would expect nothing less of just as competitive this time around.
2:25pm Arno Watt Memorial Bowl Game Los Aztecas vs Terror Squad+10
This is a rematch from earlier in the season.These squads have some of the best attitudes out there and seem to have fun just playing football.Seemed to be a natural re-match.
3:30pm JFFL Bowl (5-0)Jokers vs (3-2)Young Gunz+1
Young Gunz lost close games in the first 2 weeks, but beat both those teams decisevly in their 2 play-in games and are on a 3 game winning streak against the best teams in the Winter League. Now they have their sights on the veteran Jokers. Jokers beat Young Gunz in both Spring and Summer league, so Young Gunz are hoping 3rd time is a charm for them.
Upset of the Week
Young Gunz had to win by 8+ pts to win their season series with Prime Time and get the bid to play in the JFFL Bowl. YG did just that with a 28-12 win. This game was much closer than the score. Tied at 6-6 at half and was close until the very end.
Crazy Game
Bull Gerbil was looking to continue their undefeated season against the Jokers, also undefeated. This game was every bit as close as the score. Jokers started out 6-0, then Bull Gerbil tied it 6-6. Jokers took a 12-6 lead, then just as 1st half was about to end,it looked like Jokers were going to go up by 2 scores as they were at the 5y, but Bull Gerbil got the INT and almost the pick 6. 2nd half saw Jokers take an 18-6 lead. Bull Gerbil was able to turn what was going to be a Joker INT into a TD to close to within 12-18. The BG’s got their own INT and worked it down to score and tie the game and tried for the lead but Jokers D denied BG the lead. With 1:39 left Robert Avina led that Jokers O down the field and eventually scored and only left BG :18 on the clock, which wasn’t nearly enough time, as Jokers won 24-18.