Prairie Bowl II

Who’s winning it?

IFL Week 13 Preview

We have reached the final week of the 2011 season in the Illinois Football League.  After 12 weeks of play, 4 teams have clinched berths to the playoffs, while 5 teams are still alive for the 4 remaining berths.  Here’s a look at the final week of the season:

High School Football PBP Debut Tonight

One of the reasons that I don’t update the blog as often as I do it due to my job and the restraints it can put on me.  That is especially true this week.  This week I have another title being added to my experience here.

Play-by-play broadcaster.

It is my debut doing such a thing.  Click and listen live at 7:30!

IFL Week 1 Summary

The first week of the season is now complete.  Here’s a recap of all the matchups from Week 1:

The Other Side defeats DaBearColts (99.90-88.36)

The league’s defending champion started off their title defense with a good win in the Obama Division.  The Other Side used strong performances from their wide receivers in a combined 40.20 point effort, along with 23 points from the Philadelphia defense, to pace their way for the week.  DaBearColts got a dream start to the week, when matchup MVP Drew Brees turned in a great Thursday night performance into 35.06 points.  But DBC couldn’t get quality performances from their other members, even suffering a 0 point day from an injured Arian Foster.  All in all, TOS is starting their title defense 1-0.

Player of the Game – Drew Brees, QB, DaBearColts; 419 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 3 rushing yards (35.06 points)

Peyton in the neck defeats 4th and Inches (111.78 – 109.06)

In the week’s closest matchup, last year’s runner-up Peyton in the neck (formerly known as Da Winner) defeated league newcomer 4th and Inches by 2.72 points.  This matchup was as even as you could get.  Pitn had better performances in this matchup from their WRs, TE, and DEF, while 4th had the better QB, RBs, and K.  In the end, it was Pitn squeaking out the victory, and picking up a vital Reagan Division win.

Player of the Game – Ray Rice, RB, Peyton in the neck; 107 yards and 1 TD rushing, 42 yards and 1 TD receiving (26.9 points)

Bad News Bears defeats Tim TebOwned (125.68 – 106.46)

Last year’s best regular season team is off to another fast start, picking up a big Obama Division win and putting up the second most points in the league in Week 1.  The matchup was even on WRs, with BNB picking up 29.8 points from Steve Smith and TTO earning 28.0 from Wes Welker.  TTO had the stronger RBs, but BNB led the rest of the categories to help secure victory.

Player of the Game – Steve Smith, WR, Bad News Bears; 178 yards, 2 TDs receiving (29.80 points)

Muse Academy Muses defeats TD’s n’ Beer (90.70 – 68.72)

The Muses began their season on the right side in a convincing victory over league newcomer TD’s n’ Beer in a Grant Division battle.  Last season, the Muses suffered numerous close victories that led to keeping them out of the playoffs.  They were able to grab the victory with a stifling Baltimore defense that netted 28 points, and the Rivers-to-Gates connection on the Chargers.  TD suffered from low performances, with QB Eli Manning the only starter to break double digits.  They did receive a good boost with the pick up from RB Derrick Ward for 9.9 points.

Player of the Game – Baltimore DEF, Muse Academy Muses; 7 points allowed, 4 sacks, 3 INTs, 4 fumble recoveries (28.00 points)

Most Daring defeats hangembangem69 (74.90 – 61.42)

This Lincoln Division battle was the lowest scoring matchup of the week, with hangembangem69 having the lowest total, and Most Daring having the third lowest total of the week.  Of the 18 possible starting positions, only 7 combined saw double digits.  Overall, MS led in every position, except for DEF, but did not blow away in any category, apart from kicking.  In a week that would have seen both teams defeated by nearly everyone else in the league, MD defeats the newcomer to start the season 1-0.

Player of the Game – David Akers, K, Most Daring; 4 FG (0-19, 2 20-29, 30-39), 3 PATs (16.00 points)

ItsonlikeNdamukong defeats Sparland Hilltoppers (116.08 – 81.10)

Offensively, this matchup was about as even as possible.  SH led in WRs, RBs, and TE, while Itson led in QB and K.  The difference in this matchup was the defenses.  Itson started the Chicago DEF and picked up a solid 32 points, while SH suffered bad luck and lost 7 points with the Kansas City DEF.  That makes for a 39 point swing, in a matchup where the difference was 34.98 points.  Itson takes the victory in the Lincoln Division matchup.

Player of the Game – Chicago DEF, ItsonlikeNdamukong; 6 points allowed, 5 sacks, INT, 2 fumble recoveries, defensive TD (32.00 points)

The Brady Bunch defeats Jay Cutler’s Insulin (132.58 – 82.38)

After an 11-3 season in 2010, The Brady Bunch begins 2011 with the biggest margin of victory in Week 1.  Led by a record-setting performances by the team’s namesake, Tom Brady, along with kicker Sebastian Janikowski, TBB picks up a big Reagan Division win.  TBB also picked up the most points for the week, leaving them at the top of the standings after Week 1.  JCI performed well too, with strong performances by their namesake, Jay Culter.  But in the end, TBB’s RBs, QB, and K propelled them to victory.

Player of the Game – Tom Brady, QB, The Brady Bunch; 517 yards, 4 TDs, INT passing, 3 yards rushing (42.98 points)

Niemi No No defeats 2001 Redskins (105.36 – 95.58)

This matchup was another close Week 1 battle.  The difference in this matchup was the defenses.  NNN rode matchup MVP San Francisco DEF to 28 points, while 2001 had a respectable 18 from the New York Jets DEF.  That 10 point difference was the difference in the matchup.  Looking at the other stats, NNN had the better performance in WRs, while 2001 took every other category, apart from DEF.  In that one stat though, NNN WRs were 24.8 points better.  Both teams missed the playoffs last year, but NNN is off on the right foot for 2011.

Player of the Game – San Francisco DEF, Niemi No No; 17 points allowed, 5 sacks, INT, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 return TDs (28.00)

And now a look at the matchups in Week 2.  Every matchup this week is still in divisional play.

• The Brady Bunch (1-0) vs. Peyton in the neck (1-0)
• 4th and Inches (0-1) vs. Jay Cutler’s Insulin (0-1)
• ItsonlikeNdamukong (1-0) vs. Most Daring (1-0)
• Sparland Hilltoppers (0-1) vs. hangembangem69 (0-1)
• Bad News Bears (1-0) vs. DaBearColts (0-1)
• The Other Side (1-0) vs. Tim TebOwned (0-1)
• Muse Academy Muses (1-0) vs. 2001 Redskins (0-1)
• Niemi No No (1-0) vs. TD’s n’ Beer (0-1)

The 2011 Illinois Football League Divisions

With the draft complete, there is only one thing left to do before the IFL season gets underway; find out who is playing who.  And that can’t be done until you determine what divisions teams are in.  That is now know, after the completion of tonight’s draw for divisions.

There were no rules restricting who went where in the draw.  The growth of the league from 14 to 16 teams meant there could be four divisions instead of two this season.  With that, here is how the draw for the divisions ended up:

2011 Illinois Football League Primer

One week from today, professional football will be back.  That means fantasy football is just on the horizon as well, so it’s time to run down the basics of the 2011 Illinois Football League season.

If you haven’t done so yet, you have until Saturday at 11:59 P.M. to claim a keeper player.  You do not have to keep a player this year, but if you do, here’s how you do it:

• Go to the archive page from last season.  Then click on ‘Final Rosters’ and select your team, if it didn’t pop up already.  There you can find players that you can keep.
• You can only keep ONE player from your roster from last season.  You can change it any time before the deadline, but the player you have chosen at the time of the deadline will be the one you keep.
• The player you keep will be selected in the round that corresponds to the latest Yahoo! ranking, according to their Draft Kit, no later than Saturday at 11:59 P.M.  That player will be the selection that matches up with their ranking on the cheat sheet.  For example, a player that is ranked 43rd will be a 3rd round selection.

The draft for the league is scheduled for Sunday, September 4th, at 7:00 P.M. CDT.  Here is a list of the draft order for the 16 teams, followed by their keeper player selection if they have one:

1. DaBearColts – Drew Brees, QB
2. 2001 Redskins
3. Niemi No No – Jamaal Charles, RB
4. Muses Academy Muses – Antonio Gates, TE
5. Tim TebOwned – Reggie Wayne, WR
6. Most Daring – Adrian Peterson, RB
7. ItsonlikeNdamukong – Aaron Rodgers, QB
8. Sparland Hilltoppers
9. The Brady Bunch – Tom Brady, QB
10. Bad News Bears – Michael Vick, QB
11. Da Winner – Ray Rice, RB
12. The Other Side
13. 4th and Inches
14. Jay Cutler’s Insulin
15. hangembangem69
16. TD’s n’ Beer

The draft will be a snaking draft, which means the order will reverse for every round.  There are 15 rounds to the draft.

The following positions will be the starting positions for the league in 2011; QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE, K, DEF.  There will also be 6 bench spots, enough for a backup at each position, and 3 IR positions for injuries.

The schedule will follow a 13-week schedule, followed by a 3-week playoff.  The 16 teams will be split into four divisions (Reagan, Lincoln, Grant, Obama).  The playoffs will consist of the four division champions receiving top seeds, and the best four records after that will be wild card teams.

Although the divisions have not been drawn yet, here is a look at the outline for the schedule for 2011:

For any other details that may have been missed, check out the league’s settings page.

IFL Road Trip #3: Lacon Old Settler’s 2011

IFL Road Trip #1: Busch Stadium, St. Louis

IFL Road Trip #2: Chicago/Milwaukee

Welcome to the third edition of the IFL Road Trip.  Originally, I wasn’t going to include this as a road trip, because in a way it isn’t.  It’s more of a homecoming.  A significant portion of league members in the IFL and the IFB are natives of the small Marshall County seat of around 2,000 residents.  Here’s list of who has played in the leagues and came from the Lacon/Sparland/Midland School District area:

• Anabolic A Rods (2010 IFB)/4th and Inches (2011 IFL)
• BJ Penn (2010 IFB)
• Bambinos (2010 IFB)
• Bushwackers (2010 IFB)
• JSloan (2010 IFB)/Bad News Bears (2010 IFL, 2011 IFB, 2011 IFL)
• Muse Academy Muses (2010 IFB, 2010 IFL, 2011 IFB, 2011 IFL)
• Sparland Hilltoppers (2010 IFB, 2010 IFL, 2011 IFL)
• B1R (2010 IFL)
• The Grove Johnsons (2010 IFL)
• NIU Huskies (2011 IFB)

It may not be a majority, but a good portion of league members have a base in Lacon.  If there was an official home for the leagues, it would be Lacon.

But many of the people move on to different things; bigger jobs, college, general moving out of the area.  It happens, but Lacon is still home, with family and friends based here.

That is why Old Settler’s is a big event.  It’s the town’s biggest festival event of the year, and everyone comes back for at least a visit.  I couldn’t tell you how many friends from the past I ran into this past weekend, and it was superb to catch up with them all.  Some of things that occur during the festival have changed over the years, some for the worst, but the basic elements have stayed the same.

And that will be the theme of the photos taken from the 141st edition of the Lacon Old Settler’s festival.  The theme will be staples, staples of the event that you know will be there, and are true of every small town festival.  So come join us on this journey.

Weeks 19-21 Recap and FINAL WEEK OF THE SEASON!

Before we look at the final week of the 2011 IFB season, here’s a look back at Weeks 19, 20, and 21 in the form of the weekly leaders.

• Bugs Bunny Best Record
• Week 19 – Quiet TheRiot (10-1-1)
• Week 20 – PujolsalwaysCardinal (10-2-0)
• Week 21 – All Balls No Strikes/Quiet TheRiot (10-2-0)
• The Simpsons Runs Leader
• Week 19 – Good Wood Gang (38)
• Week 20 – Muse Academy Muses/NIU Huskies (40)
• Week 21 – Quiet TheRiot (41)
• Josie and the Pussycats Hits Leader
• Week 19 – Good Wood Gang (67)
• Week 20 – PujolsalwaysCardinal (81)
• Week 21 – Quiet TheRiot (67)
• Homer Simpson Home Runs Leader
• Week 19 – Good Wood Gang (11)
• Week 20 – Muse Academy Muses/Funky Cold Molina (11)
• Week 21 – Funky Cold Molina (14)
• Fat Albert RBI Leader
• Week 19 – South Side Cubs Fan (37)
• Week 20 – SouthSideSluggers/South Side Cubs Fan (42)
• Week 21 – Funky Cold Molina/BooBooCubs/Muse Academy Muses (37)
• Speedy Gonzalez Stolen Base Leader
• Week 19 – Triple Crown (10)
• Week 20 – NIU Huskies (9)
• Week 21 – NIU Huskies/All Balls No Strikes (7)
• Heather Average Leader
• Week 19 – Good Wood Gang (.309)
• Week 20 – NIU Huskies (.356)
• Week 21 – BooBooCubs (.315)
• Rainbow Dash Wins Leader
• Week 19 – SouthSideSluggers (5)
• Week 20 – Good Wood Gang (6)
• Week 21 – All Balls No Strikes/The Chosen People
• Timmy Turner Loss Leader
• Week 19 – NIU Huskies (0)
• Week 20 – PujolsalwaysCardinal/Most Daring/NIU Huskies (1)
• Week 21 – SouthSideSluggers/Triple Crown/Quiet TheRiot (0)
• Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers Saves Leader
• Week 19 – NIU Huskies (8)
• Week 20 – NIU Huskies/All Balls No Strikes (6)
• Week 21 – The Chosen People/South Side Cubs Fan/Most Daring/All Balls No Strikes/Quiet TheRiot/Good Wood Gang/SouthSideSluggers (3)
• Herbert Walks Leader
• Week 19 – NIU Huskies (4)
• Week 20 – PujolsalwaysCardinal/All Balls No Strikes/Quincy Dirtbags (10)
• Week 21 – SouthSideSluggers (5)
• Wile E. Coyote Strikeout Leader
• Week 19 – Bad News Bears (83)
• Week 20 – Good Wood Gang (63)
• Week 21 – Muse Academy Muses (56)
• Peppermint Patty ERA Leader
• Week 19 – SouthSideSluggers (2.14)
• Week 20 – South Side Cubs Fan (2.19)
• Week 21 – Funky Cold Molina (1.80)

And now a look at the overall standings, minus the division races:

Teams highlighted in green have clinched a playoff spot, and teams in red have been eliminated.

Four teams have clinched playoff spots so far.  South Side Cubs Fan, All Balls No Strikes, and Quiet TheRiot have clinched spots by winning their divisions.  PujolsalwaysCardinal has not won their division, but is far enough ahead of the 8th-placed overall team that they can not miss the playoffs.  The worst PaC can do is 7th overall, and needs to win at least 5.5 games this week to clinch the Grant Division without any help.

The three teams that have been mathematically eliminated from playoff contention are FernandoVinas Goatee, Bad News Bears, and Triple Crown.  FVG will finish in dead last this season, and thus have the first pick in the 2012 IFB Draft.

Nine teams are mathematically alive for the four wild card slots.  The nine does not include the PaC, who can still finish in the wild card, or as a division champion.  Here is a look at the range in which each of the nine teams can finish after Week 22:

• (5) Good Wood Gang: 5th place to 11th place
• (6) SouthSideSluggers: 3rd place to 11th place
• (7) Funky Cold Molina: 4th place to 11th place
• (8) The Chosen People: 5th place to 13th place
• (9) BooBooCubs: 5th place to 13th place
• (10) Most Daring: 5th place to 13th place
• (11) Muse Academy Muses: 5th place to 13th place
• (12) Quincy Dirtbags: 8th place to 14th place
• (13) NIU Huskies: 8th place to 15th place

FCM and SSS can climb higher than 5th, because both teams are still alive in the race to win the Grant Division, which would give them a top 4 seed.  The other places were determined by where they could go by winning or losing all 12 stats for the week, and what teams they could potentially jump with it.

And, here’s some other tidbits on the final week of the season.

• South Side Cubs Fan currently sits at 155-82-15.  They can not match or top the league’s top record from last season, Sparland Hilltopper’s 165-79-20.  The best they can do is come within a half-game of the mark.  But they have clinched the top overall seed for next week’s playoffs.
• As mentioned earlier, FernandoVinas Goatee will finish with the league’s worst record, and pick first in next year’s draft.
• The matchups for next week’s playoffs are as follows:
• South Side Cubs Fan vs. 4th Best Wild Card
• 2nd Best Division Champ vs. 3rd Best Wild Card
• 3rd Best Division Champ vs. 2nd Best Wild Card
• 4th Best Division Champ vs. 1st Wild Card

And if you need a reminder on the matchups and why they are what they are, click here.  Good luck to everyone!

Week 22 Matchups Announced

Before the season began, it was announced that Week 22, the last week of the Illinois Fantasy Baseball League season, would be a wild card week.  That meant that matchups would be coordinated to make as many matchups as possible matter in the final week of the season.

Well, it’s Friday of Week 21.  So it’s time to announce next week’s matchups.

There was one criteria that was set in place while developing these matchups.  No matchup could have occurred for a third time this year.  That means no inter-division matchups in Week 22, and teams from other divisions that you’ve played twice would not happen for a third time.

The data I used is what the projected standings would be is if the results as of this morning stand.  Now, here’s the matchups, with projected overall standings, as of this morning, next to them:

Weekly Updates Delayed…Again

Once again…real life has overtaken the blog.  Time and resources have to be focused on a job hunt right now.  Stay tuned.