Homes tidy up Jerseys score

In 2013 the New Jerseys kept Mobile from the Hyperbowl in a memorable Eastern Conference final, 19-17. Last year, without the New Jerseys in the playoffs, Mobile won the Hyperbowl. This time, after the New Jerseys won the wildcard game, they were Mobile's first playoff foe. With Mobile now the perennial league favorite, but the New Jerseys one of the powers, like Boston, to contend with and that has thwarted them, they now have a chance to add to their Hyperbowl legacy.

Mobile WR Guy Nicologi came back another season, instead of retiring, for the chance at back-to-back league titles. Nicologi made sure of the chance in this game.

The Homes settled for a field goal on the first drive of the game, then played opportunistic defense and offense to stay ahead of the New Jerseys the rest of the game. The New Jerseys seemed to control possession, but it was also because the Homes nagged them, and mired them in a nickel and dime offense. Then each time the New Jerseys scored, Mobile struck back much more efficiently. The Homes intercepted New Jerseys QB Upton O'Good twice, although Mobile QB Jethro Ittaway turned it over twice as well, once on an interception, and then in a more crucial moment on a fumble.

Mobile led 16-7 at the half, thanks to a TD on a blocked punt and a 33-yard run by RB Torpedo Lovecraft. After stopping two New Jerseys drives in the 3rd quarter, had a chance to put the game away. Ittaway had just thrown a 23 yard pass to TE Jorge Girl to set up at the Mobile 43-yard line. It was on that next play Ittaway fumbled, apparently bobbling the snap and trying to move forward to cover it. The New Jerseys recovered and drove 46 yards to score, on a 7-yard pass from O'Good to TE Bud Ugly, though Mobile made even that drive difficult: 9 plays. The New Jerseys were right back in it, a field goal away, 16-14.

It was then near the end of the 3rd quarter and the New Jerseys tried a surprise onsides kick. The gamble failed even worse when Mobile recovered at their 44, then ripped that distance in 4 plays. Lovecraft had a 17-yard run, and Ittaway completed 3 passes, one of 22 yards to Girl, and the 6-yard TD to Nicologi. Just like that, the New Jerseys were in the hole again.

The New Jerseys had a long drive to a field goal near the end of 4th, then recovered a set onsides kick to give the game some drama. But they could not make a first down in 4 plays, and that ended the game. Perhaps most impressive was the way Mobile shut down the New Jerseys running game: Juan Moorehead, who had the best seasons he's had in a long time, led the league in total yards for an RB, had only 17 yards rushing in this game, and his mate Hyam D. Wahlroos only 29.

Projects stump Monroe efforts

Maryland 5-time All-East RB Igor Beaver has never been to the Hyperbowl. After playing his heart out in this game, he and his fellow Monroes must feel the young upstart Manhattan projects stole another chance from them. They did it with opportunistic plays. Manhattan RB Anthony Kistmi, East newcomer of the year, upstaged Beaver's great performance with an 80-yard put return for a TD, a 2-yard run following a blocked Maryland punt, then a 43-yard TD run that accounted for all but 10 of his yards from scrimmage. Maryland out-gained Manhattan, doubling their passing yards, but as well as the punt return and blocked punt, Manhattan got a short field when they sacked Monroe QB Jethro Upp and he fumbled. They went 26 yards in 3 plays to take a 31-17 lead at the beginning of the 4th quarter.

This young Manhattan team returns the franchise to the Eastern Conference final for the first time since 2008. Manhattan was once the Eastern perennial leader, when Lance Boils was QB, and went to the Eastern Championship 4 years in a row from 2001 to 2004, winning two of them. But they never won a Hyperbowl. They now move ahead of Montgomery again for the most Eastern Conference Championship appearances with 8.

Ghosts have no trouble playing Fair

The Casper Ghosts had the best record in the league, 13-2, the West top seed, and many of their wins were even impressive this season than when they were the West perennial power a few years back. They were entering debates about whether they were even better than Mobile or Eastern powers. A large reason for this was the resurgence of QB Peter Andy Woolf. And then Casper lost their starting QB in the last game of the season. Would they be the same with backup QB Ferris Fair?

No problem. The Ghosts rolled over the Baton Rouge Swamp Rats as impressively for a playoff contest as any win in the regular season. Fair was 17/32 for 214 yards and 2 TDs, with All-West WR I.B. Long getting 6 catches for 94 yards. But Fair was just as savvy a veteran QB, as he found WR Barry Smelly for the first 2 Casper TDs in the first quarter. To be sure, Fair has plenty of help on this team. Both those early TDs came with short fields thanks to great Casper defense and big punt returns. All-West RB Jock Kitsch played his workhorse roll as expected, but that was along with opening up the passing offense for Fair, and not simply carrying it all for him.

Potatoheads bounce Jacks

Move over Central West Division. The Northwest Division is here. The Idaho Potatoheads swept aside the Monterey Jacks a week after beating the other Central power Wichita to set up a Western final matchup with division foe Casper. Idaho's number one draft pick and West newcomer of the year, TE Hans auf der Butt, who turned this into a playoff team, was instrumental in this step, too, with 5 catches for 75 yards and a TD, but though it was thanks also to his being a constant threat, the Potatoheads spread it around.

QB Howard Juneau was 19/33 for 214 yards and 3 TDs. WR Milo Sefastim had 8 catches for 85 yards and 2 TDs. RB Roy Dreige, who was big in the wildcard win over Wichita, added 40 yards and a TD rushing to running mate Ruud van Nastibooy's performance. Most impressive, though, was the Idaho defensive effort. They held league rushing leader Buster Hymen to 27 yards rushing.

Despite the finally tally, the game was close and tense, knotted up at 19-16 Idaho when Monterey scored at the beginning of the 4th quarter. It was there the Potatoheads ran -- or perhaps better, passed -- away with it, Juneau neatly moving them 81 yards in 7 plays, 6 of them pass completions. The big play was a 26-yard pass to Auf der Butt. On the next Monterey play from scrimmage, Idaho intercepted. Juneau and Auf der Butt covered the distance in 2 plays, one a 23-yard pass, and then the 7 yards left for the end zone.