1. Green Bay (2-0) - Ummm, I'm scared. As should be every other team in GLB and USA Pro after Green Bay easily dismantled a top team in OTR by the score of 79-31. The three headed monster of Sledge, Tricon, and PP have put together an efficient juggernaut that will be hard to stop. Three punt returns made a huge difference in this contest. Up next is a huge battle with their rivals, the #2 Shockers.
2. Cincinnati (2-0) - the Shockers had a bit tougher time with the Royals than they did with the Evil Monkeys. A bit of a surprise but a testament to how good this league is. Richey cut the gap to 7 with 2 minutes left in the game and managed to get the ball back with 30 seconds, but no miracles arrived and Cincy heads into their show down with Green Bay at 2-0.
3. Las Vegas (2-0) - K Zoo has 32 players level 55 and above so I don't really think they are as bad as the 195-7 thrashing the Gamblers handed them makes it seem. When your CB punt returner fumbles 13 times and 11 of those are returned for TD's, it might be time to look for a new return man. The Gamblers take on their old friends the Gurupies who I am sure are out for revenge.
4. Detroit (2-0) - it wasn't pretty, but a win is a win and after their 49-48 thrilling victory over Northwest Arkansas, the Demon Lions find themselves at 2-0. Some holes were exposed by the Naturals, however, and Detroit will have to get busy patching them up.
5. Over The Rhine Red Dots (1-1) - normally a loss would get you out of the top 5, but I still feel OTR is one of the top 5 teams in the East and that the Green Bay loss will only motivate them to do better. We'll find out soon enough as they take on a Carolina Hammer team that is 2-0 and looking good on the defensive side of the ball.
Others considered - Alpine (2-0), Carolina (2-0), Washington (1-1)
1. Monmouth (1-1) - uh oh, looks like Monmouth has started to figure things out. An impressive thrashing of BSB coupled with a less than impressive showing by the Wolfpack has this team back where they started... at the top.
2. Washington (2-0) - I know I said a win is a win, but when you beat a team that has lost 7 straight by only 5, then something is wrong. Must be the crappy OC (no, really, it must be). Can the Wolfpack right the ship before the tough part of their schedule arrives?
3. Lincoln (1-1) - another team that is back on track is the Navigators. It wasn't easy, however, as they had to score 28 unanswered points in the 2nd half to pull out a 45-27 victory over Parma. On a positive note, they did outgain by Parma by 200+ yards and completely controlled the game when it mattered. Lincoln faces those pesky Hedgehogs next in a game that has important early season implications.
4. Minnesota (2-0) - Minnesota didn't have an answer for the Larry Smith show, but fortunately their offense did just enough to pull out the win in a 38-33 squeaker over South Bay. It looked like a runaway victory for the Marauders when they went up 38-19 with 7:29 left but two late scores made the final score much more respectable.
5. Chicago (2-0) - the Hedgehogs had never beaten the Ground Pounders but somehow were able to beat them in one way prior to this season -- getting to USA Pro. Chicago continued NY-CA's rude introduction to Pro Ball with a 45-13 whoopin' led by 31 2nd half points. Tom Koziol continued to lead an impressive Hedgehogs offense with 356 yards passing and 4 TD's. Chicago gets a chance to prove just how for real they are this week as they take on Lincoln.
Others considered - Spicewood (2-0), Honolulu (1-1), South Bay (1-1)
2. Cincinnati (2-0) - the Shockers had a bit tougher time with the Royals than they did with the Evil Monkeys. A bit of a surprise but a testament to how good this league is. Richey cut the gap to 7 with 2 minutes left in the game and managed to get the ball back with 30 seconds, but no miracles arrived and Cincy heads into their show down with Green Bay at 2-0.
3. Las Vegas (2-0) - K Zoo has 32 players level 55 and above so I don't really think they are as bad as the 195-7 thrashing the Gamblers handed them makes it seem. When your CB punt returner fumbles 13 times and 11 of those are returned for TD's, it might be time to look for a new return man. The Gamblers take on their old friends the Gurupies who I am sure are out for revenge.
4. Detroit (2-0) - it wasn't pretty, but a win is a win and after their 49-48 thrilling victory over Northwest Arkansas, the Demon Lions find themselves at 2-0. Some holes were exposed by the Naturals, however, and Detroit will have to get busy patching them up.
5. Over The Rhine Red Dots (1-1) - normally a loss would get you out of the top 5, but I still feel OTR is one of the top 5 teams in the East and that the Green Bay loss will only motivate them to do better. We'll find out soon enough as they take on a Carolina Hammer team that is 2-0 and looking good on the defensive side of the ball.
Others considered - Alpine (2-0), Carolina (2-0), Washington (1-1)
1. Monmouth (1-1) - uh oh, looks like Monmouth has started to figure things out. An impressive thrashing of BSB coupled with a less than impressive showing by the Wolfpack has this team back where they started... at the top.
2. Washington (2-0) - I know I said a win is a win, but when you beat a team that has lost 7 straight by only 5, then something is wrong. Must be the crappy OC (no, really, it must be). Can the Wolfpack right the ship before the tough part of their schedule arrives?
3. Lincoln (1-1) - another team that is back on track is the Navigators. It wasn't easy, however, as they had to score 28 unanswered points in the 2nd half to pull out a 45-27 victory over Parma. On a positive note, they did outgain by Parma by 200+ yards and completely controlled the game when it mattered. Lincoln faces those pesky Hedgehogs next in a game that has important early season implications.
4. Minnesota (2-0) - Minnesota didn't have an answer for the Larry Smith show, but fortunately their offense did just enough to pull out the win in a 38-33 squeaker over South Bay. It looked like a runaway victory for the Marauders when they went up 38-19 with 7:29 left but two late scores made the final score much more respectable.
5. Chicago (2-0) - the Hedgehogs had never beaten the Ground Pounders but somehow were able to beat them in one way prior to this season -- getting to USA Pro. Chicago continued NY-CA's rude introduction to Pro Ball with a 45-13 whoopin' led by 31 2nd half points. Tom Koziol continued to lead an impressive Hedgehogs offense with 356 yards passing and 4 TD's. Chicago gets a chance to prove just how for real they are this week as they take on Lincoln.
Others considered - Spicewood (2-0), Honolulu (1-1), South Bay (1-1)
), but great work and thanks.
