Carolina Oilers Win In First Game Back
Infinity ENDS the game a 20-12 loser
     Finding their way back into the League in a rather unorthodox fashion, after taking a season off, the Carolina Oilers team at least remained consistent in one aspect and that’s they win ball games.  Captain Darris Hodge, who finished last season as member of the Championship Strikers and began Season VIII as a member of Raw Talent, would pounce on the opportunity to enter the Oilers when it was determined the Cold Heat franchise would not see action in Season VIII.
     Inheriting a 0-2 record and taking on an undefeated Infinity team led by Captain Xavier Overton-El, the Oilers would squeeze out an unpretty eight-point victory, 20-12, and began what will be an uphill battle for playoff positioning in the Eastern Conference.  The game, at times, featured more banter from both teams than actual football playing and it was the legs and arms of Donald VanLew, that would help lead the Oilers to the victory.  Normally a starting WR, VanLew would show some not often seen versatility by throwing for a touchdown and rushing for two more. 
     Infinity would take the early 6-0 lead at the halfway mark in the first half, when Overton-El would connect with Rookie wideout Ricky Johns.  However, the Oilers would respond with three unanswered touchdowns to make the score 20-6 with less than four minutes remaining in the game.  Too late to help their cause for winning, but enough to make the score more respectable, Overton-El would hit Trent Chambers, for his second touchdown pass late in the game and the final 20-12

Passing: (CO) D. VanLew 1/0; (INF) X. Overton-El 2/1; Rushing: (CO) D. VanLew 2; Receptions: (CO) D. Thomas 1/1; (INF) T. Chambers 2/1; R. Johns 1/1; Interceptions: (CO) D. Brown 1/0; (INF) S. Bonner 1/0; Sacks: (CO) D. Melvin 1/0; Tackles: (CO) D. Thomas 3; (INF) T. Chambers 4, S. Bonner 3

Assault Puts Bad Boys On Time-Out, 26-20
Bad Boys QB Patty Duke slips into remission throwing three interceptions
   It was touted by some as the early Season VIII game of the year, two of the top teams from the South Conference squaring off in what could possibly be a preview of the conference finals in November.  Steve Bergman and his arm along with a gritty Assault defense would win this first round 26-20, to remain undefeated at 3-0 and atop of the standings in the South.  
   However, it was not as easy as the Assault would have liked and if it was not for three turnovers by Duke and the Bad Boys offense, the results could have been dramatically different.  The Assault would get the scoring started early when Bergman would pass for his first of three touchdowns on the day, by hitting Raleigh native and former St. Louis Rams receiver Jeremy Carter, just three minutes into the game.  It would not take long for the Boys to respond when Duke would connect with Bad Boys All-Time leading receiver Tamaro Johnson, making the score 8-6 in favor of the Assault. 
   Bergman would then find DeFonte Coleman, for the first of his two touchdown catches in the game and Montrell Pittman would intercept the extra point attempt and race into the endzone for 2-points making the score 14-8.  Then just before halftime, Pittman would intercept another Bergman pass racing untouched into the endzone and this time for 6-points.  The teams would enter halftime tied at 14.
   After the break, it was all Bergman and Coleman and indirectly Patty Duke that would see the Assault own the second half.  Coleman would pick-off two Duke passes and Bergman would use his legs to score a touchdown, a stat he had not recorded in almost two seasons.  The rushing touchdown would tie him with Marcus Cole for second on the All-Time list with 23, both still remain thirteen TDs behind the Thunder’s Jon Robertson who holds the record with 36. 

Injuries Instrumental 18-21 Da Inc. Loss
Inc. QB Troy Blaser lost for the year
   No one gave Que Wright and his organization Da Inc. a chance in their Week 3 match-up against the undefeated Raleigh Thunder.  However, if it were not for some very key injuries down the stretch, TAFFL fans could have witnessed one of the greatest upsets in TAFFL history.
   Da Inc. would be all over the Thunder, who for the first time in a very long time did not look in harmony with each other.  Possibly due to the fact that the owners of the franchise knew that this would be the last game that nearly five players would don the Thunder green jersey after being signed away by Darris Hodge and the Oilers.  This phenomena occurring for the second straight season to a very good Thunder team.
   Da Inc. would take an 18-7 lead into the second half off the arms and legs of second year QB Troy Blaser and Jacob Smith.  Blaser connect with Edward Vaughan early in the game and after a Thunder response, would use two rushing touchdowns by Smith and Blaser to gain the two possession advantage.  However, Blaser would go down shortly after that with what looked like a separated shoulder or collar bone and with that Da Inc.’s ability to close the game out.
  Seizing the opportunity with the Da Inc. struggling to move the ball on offense, Thunder QB Ryan Borowitz would rush for a score to get within 4 at 14-18 and a Brent Meyer passed intercepted by Chris Joy would be returned for a touchdown as Da Inc. stood emotionlessly watching the game slip away.  
  With over five minutes left in the game after the Joy interception return and Blaser out, Da Inc. was unable to get the ball into the endzone to regain the lead.  Borowitz who still has not thrown an interception all season, would settle for only one touchdown pass in the game, only the second time in his TAFFL career he would throw for less than two touchdowns in a game.  The first coming in a 26-9 loss at the hands of a tough Royal Flush defense in Season VI that ended the Thunder’s bid for an undefeated season. 
   Derrick Parker was held to only one catch in the game and Jon Robertson would not record any.

Passing: (RT) R. Borowitz 1/0; (DI) T. Blaser 1/0; Rushing: (RT) R. Borowitz 1; (DI) T. Blaser 1; Receiving: (RT) C. Hodge 2/1; (DI) E. Vaughan 4/1; Interceptions: (RT) C. Joy 1/1; Sacks: (DI) 1/0; Tackles: (RT) M. Gilmore 4, C. Hodge 3; (DI) L. Lyles 3, C. Jonassaint 3

Woodpeckers Knock on Victory’s door 26-8
Steel Heels looking softer than cotton, fall to 0-3
   Even though it was only Week 3, both the Steel Heels and the Raleigh Woodpeckers would find themselves in must-win situations entering their contest on Sunday, as both teams stepped on the field winless.  Although the final results would favor the Raleigh Woodpeckers in a 26-8 win over the Heels, the game was anything but fun to watch for fans of either team.
   For the first 32 minutes of the game, it was the Chris Menard and Ryan Bradley show as it would take over eight minutes in the first half, before Menard would break the 0-0 tie with a rushing touchdown to make it 8-0.  It would take the remainder of the first half for either team to score again, when Menard would find Ryan Bradley for the first of three consecutive touchdown pass and catches for the duo.
   Then finally, 14:37 in the second half, the Heels would erase the donut in their scoring column when QB Rob Kolson would find Josh Kerns on a long pass play that would see the score 26-6 with little time remaining.  Both offenses would stall for the next five minutes and it would be Kolson again entering the stat books, when he would sack Menard in the endzone for a safety to make the score 26-8, and the game all but literally over.
   The two teams would combine to set a record in TAFFL for fewest completions in a game with just eight (8), four for each team.  However, Bradley’s game high three catches, all for touchdowns, would shed some light on an otherwise dark day for offenses.  
   This was a game the Heels needed to win desperately as it doesn’t get any easier for the team over their next three games, as the team faces Dazz, the Assault, and the Bad Boys.  However, they will get a chance to redeem themselves, as in Week 7 they take on the Woodpeckers again for the team’s second match-up of the season.

Passing: (RWP) C. Menard 3/0; (SH) R. Kolson 1/1; Rushing: (RWP) C. Menard 1; Receiving: (RWP) R. Bradley 3/3; (SH) J. Kerns 1/1; Interceptions: (RWP) S. Cole 1/0; Sacks: (SH) R. Kolson 1/1; Tackles: (RWP) S. Cole 2, (SH) R. Kolson 4

Talent Manhandles Titans 32 - 13
Game marks the return of Season VII Def. POY Justin Crawford
   When are the Titans’ players going to take the game seriously?
   This is the question a many sports writers have asked over the last three seasons, when it comes to Captain Sherell Dunn and the Titans.  More often than not the preseason scouting reports show great signs of improvements with key veteran and rookie signings, however it seems the preseason is more important to some players of the Titans then the regular season.  For the second game in three weeks, the Titans struggled to field a full team and the results were a 32-13 smashing by a Raw Talent team who was looking to make amends for the 22-point loss they suffered at the hands of Infinity in Week 1.  
   Fans are wondering what has happened to sack expert Eddy Gidney and safety Nick Shinn, both top defensive players in the League, yet neither has showed for games in the last two weeks.  Titans’ fullback Zulu Nwankwo has also not played in a game this season and it looks as if WR Kendrick Wilkerson is out. It appears as if Dunn will have to use the offseason to rebuild another potential pre-season powerhouse.
   Raw Talent, who has never faced a roster dilemma and comes to every game full strength would use their deep bench to their advantage and hand the Titans their second loss of the season.  The game also marked the return of Season VII Defensive Player of the Year, Justin Crawford, who would see his first action of the season and picking up where he left off, would intercept a pass and record two tackles.  The Talent defense would pick-off three Titans’ passes in the game, however it was Captain and QB Quincy Pedew and the Titan offense that would do the most damage.
   Pedew would throw for five touchdown passes (with an interception) in leading his team to the victory.  He would connect with Lawrence Fuller three times for three touchdowns and also manage to find Season VII MVP Clyde Price and Rookie Michael Turner for one each.  It was all Raw Talent in the game and after the teams would exchange scores to tie the game at 7-7 with just over five minutes to go in the first half Pedew and the Talent would rattle off 25 unanswered points to seal the deal.  The Titans would manage to add a final touchdown with :09 second remaining when Shaun Rodgers would connect with Alex Lee to make the final 32-13.

Passing: (RT): Q. Pedew 5/1; (TTNS) S. Rodgers 1/1, J. Praylow 1/2; Receiving: (RT) D. Morrison 4/0, L. Fuller 3/1, C. Price 2/1, M. Turner 1/1; (TTNS) K. Dick 4/1, A. Lee 3/1; Interceptions: (RT) T. Martin 1/0, T. Robertson 1/0, J. Crawford 1/0; (TTNS) S. Rodgers 1/0

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Dazz Loses Heartbreaker 20-19 as time expires
Last season’s runners-up fall to 1-2.  Panic?
   Maybe it was the emotion behind being called out on the message board individually and collectively as a team that played a role into Dazz’s poor second half performance and lack of judgment in their Week 3 match-up with Accounting Squared.  Maybe it was getting too comfortable with what looked like a potentially easy win after building a 19-6 lead early in the second half.  At any rate, whatever reason is attributed, the results will remain the same…a 20-19 come from behind victory for Accounting Squared over Dazz, sending last season’s TAFFL BOWL runner-up to 1-2 on the season and their first losing record in their TAFFL franchise history.
   Dazz would jump out to a 13-0 lead off the arm of Ken Little connecting with Torri Bright and a Jose Frias interception return for a touchdown of a Mike Woolard pass. However, with just :01 before halftime, Accounting Squared would get on the board when Woolard would connect with older brother Brian Woolard to make the score 13-6.  
   Dazz would regain their 13-point advantage slightly after the break when Little would pass for his second touchdown of the game to Antwan Yelverton with 3:23 elapsing.  Then it was all downhill from there. 
   Accounting Squared would manage to add a two-point safety when veteran Hugh Wilson, back after missing two seasons with a knee injury would sack Little in the endzone and at 19-8 the teams would stay stalemated until 18:09.  This would be when Woolard would connect with another veteran in Dion Arnold to make the score 19-14.  For reasons unknown, the Dazz offense just became cold and found themselves having trouble moving the ball against the Accounting Squared defense.
  Still holding a five point lead and less than two minutes to go Dazz would use poor clock management and judgment and give Woolard and the Accounting Squared the chance they needed.  As similarly to the first half, Woolard would connect with his brother again as time expired to shock the TAFFL world and with that the 20-19 come from behind victory.  

Passing: (AS) M. Woolard 3/1; (DZ) K. Little 2/2; Receiving: (AS) B. Woolard 3/2, D. Arnold, 1/1; (DZ) T. Bright 3/1; A. Yelverton 3/1; Interceptions: (AS) M. Bland 1/0, H. Wilson 1/0; (DZ) J. Frias 1/1; Sacks: (AS) H. Wilson 1/1; D. Arnold 1/0; (DZ) L. Leach 3/0; J. Frias 1/0; Tackles: (AS) M. Woolard, B. Woolard 2; (DZ) L. Leach 4, A. Yelverton 3

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Joes Hold Off Dogs’ Attack 21-16
K. Mitchell uses Baby Mitchell’s presence to move to 2-1 on season 
   Watching his dad play for the first time, must have been the motivation Average Joes Captain and QB Kyle Mitchell needed to help his team hold off a Reservoir Dogs team still looking to find an identity, 21-16, in the teams’ Week 3 battle.    
   An interception return for the Joes by Ryan Wells would prove to be the biggest difference in the game as this would be the one stat that separated the two teams and the score.  Both teams would score their first points of the game off safeties and it would be the Dogs, led by Derrick Smith, that would take a 10-2 lead into halftime.   
   However, after a burping and a diaper change of Baby Mitchell at the break, Daddy Mitchell and the Joes would crank up the heat in the second half and score 19 unanswered points to regain the lead, 21-10.  Mitchell would throw two touchdown passes, first to Matt Martin and then to Joe Howard.  In between those TD passes on offense, would be Wells' pick-6.   
   The Dogs would attempt to rally when Smith would find Amos ‘Big Bubba’ Reed for a touchdown late in the game, but unable to get the ball back for a chance to score, the Dogs would watch the Joes wrap up the five point victory.   

Passing: (AJ) K. Mitchell 2/1; (RD) D. Smith 2/1; Receiving: (AJ) M. Martin 4/1, J. Howard 3/1; (RD) T. Wells 5/0, A. Reed 3/1, J. Frye 2/1; Interceptions: (AJ) R. Wells 1/1; D. Smith 1/0; Sacks: (AJ) A. Dunston 1/1; (RD) D. Harris 1/1; Tackles: (AJ) J. Branch 6, J. Howard 5, R. Wells 4; (RD) B. Burnett 5

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THE TAFFL™ EDGE  
WEEK 4 TEAM BY TEAM ANALYSIS:
Each week teams will be compared to their opponents for the week.  The team that has the edge in that category will receive a check mark.  The teams with the most checks will have the TAFFL EDGE.