After winning eight straight games and besting the previously unbeaten Black Cats it's hard to recall the St. John's Salty Dogs were 1-4 after their first five games. The Cheyenne Mountain Air Force are on their own four-game winning streak with the last three coming against the most helpless teams in the East. The Salty Dogs game is just one of three tough matches remaining for the Air Force, will they be able to win?
Not too many weeks ago Cheyenne would've been a decided favorite and the league projector still favors them 21-16; however, after the upset of the Black Cats you can't count St. John's out of this one.
While woefully inaccurate, the matchup screen < http://goallineblitz.com/game/compare_teams.pl?team1=3608&team2=3602 > favors the Dogs, but by a lesser margin than it did against Queen City
St. John's Salty Dogs at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force
Overall....................42 vs. Overall....................42
Receiving...............36 vs. Receiving...............30
Blocking.................45 vs. Blocking.................45
Rush Defense.......39 vs. Rush Defense.......36
Passing..................48 vs. Passing..................48
Rushing..................36 vs. Rushing..................36
Pass Defense.......36 vs. Pass Defense.......36
Kicking....................51 vs. Kicking....................57
The Air Force's MLB, Nar Hawk, boosted three times today and some additional pre-game boosting may alter the matchup screen...and possibly the game's outcome. Time will tell...
Despite being named the Air Force, Level 26 Quarterback Ryan Farsight's arial attack has taken a back seat to their ground game. They've piled up 2,528 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air while allowing only 6 interceptions, 8 hurries, and 4 sacks. Despite some lower levels, a well built offensive line has protected the quarterback had provided wide-open rushing lanes for the running backs who've piled up 3,562 yards on the ground and 53 touchdowns led by RunForest Run's 2,054 yards and 26 TD's.
Throughout an up & down season, the Salty Dogs have been able to move the ball on offense. They lead the league with 3,024.5 passing yards but have scored just 16 TD's through the air. Their offensive line isn't a league-leader in pancakes, but they protect their quarterback and the tandem of Duce McAllister and HB Stud owe them much gratitude for their success. Thier fourth-ranked rushing attack has accounted for 4,054.5 yards and 70 touchdowns...a whopping 51 of which Duce McAllister has carried across the goalline.
Both teams receivers have had the "dropsies" at times this season and have spread the ball around. Champagne Room is the clear leader of the Air Force receiving crew with 14 TD's and 949 yards...the Salty Dogs will have to quiet him to hope for victory. It's hard to key in on a primary receiver for St. John's. Seven different receivers have caught at least one touchdown and 5 have more than 450 receiving yards with none above 600...the definition of "balanced."
With an 11-2 record, it's not surprising to learn that Cheyenne is allowing only 10.5 points per game, a figure St. John's will have to top if they hope to win. The Air Force doesn't miss many tackles (79), hurries the quarterback well (45), and is tied for the league lead in sacks (29). They make the most of their interceptions (13) and forced fumbles (6) returning two of each for touchdowns. Their safeties, Defend This House (FS) and Cyclops Oakleys (FS) are their two leading tacklers with 77 & 63 tackles respectively. If their lineman and linebackers lead this game in tackles, it will bode well for Cheynene.
After a few glitches early on, St. John's defense has rebounded to allow just 15.2 points per game. The Salty Dogs would like to cut down on missed tackles (90), continue to hurry the quarterback (56), and convert a few more of those hurries into sacks (10). Their interceptions (17) and forced fumbles (17) are good numbers, but they've failed to take any of them to the house. Much like their receiving corps distributes catches, their defense spreads around the tackles. Stud linebacker Demeco Ryans Jr (65 tackles) leads their defensive unit. They'll need a whole team effort to slow down the Air Force.
Both teams have locked up a playoff spot, but which one remains very much up in the air. A loss hurts the Cheyenne team more than the victory will help the Salty Dogs, but I don't expect either team will give less than 110% effort.
We know who Microsoft Excel and the magic league projector favor...who do you think will win this game?
Not too many weeks ago Cheyenne would've been a decided favorite and the league projector still favors them 21-16; however, after the upset of the Black Cats you can't count St. John's out of this one.
While woefully inaccurate, the matchup screen < http://goallineblitz.com/game/compare_teams.pl?team1=3608&team2=3602 > favors the Dogs, but by a lesser margin than it did against Queen City
St. John's Salty Dogs at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force
Overall....................42 vs. Overall....................42
Receiving...............36 vs. Receiving...............30
Blocking.................45 vs. Blocking.................45
Rush Defense.......39 vs. Rush Defense.......36
Passing..................48 vs. Passing..................48
Rushing..................36 vs. Rushing..................36
Pass Defense.......36 vs. Pass Defense.......36
Kicking....................51 vs. Kicking....................57
The Air Force's MLB, Nar Hawk, boosted three times today and some additional pre-game boosting may alter the matchup screen...and possibly the game's outcome. Time will tell...
Despite being named the Air Force, Level 26 Quarterback Ryan Farsight's arial attack has taken a back seat to their ground game. They've piled up 2,528 yards and 22 touchdowns through the air while allowing only 6 interceptions, 8 hurries, and 4 sacks. Despite some lower levels, a well built offensive line has protected the quarterback had provided wide-open rushing lanes for the running backs who've piled up 3,562 yards on the ground and 53 touchdowns led by RunForest Run's 2,054 yards and 26 TD's.
Throughout an up & down season, the Salty Dogs have been able to move the ball on offense. They lead the league with 3,024.5 passing yards but have scored just 16 TD's through the air. Their offensive line isn't a league-leader in pancakes, but they protect their quarterback and the tandem of Duce McAllister and HB Stud owe them much gratitude for their success. Thier fourth-ranked rushing attack has accounted for 4,054.5 yards and 70 touchdowns...a whopping 51 of which Duce McAllister has carried across the goalline.
Both teams receivers have had the "dropsies" at times this season and have spread the ball around. Champagne Room is the clear leader of the Air Force receiving crew with 14 TD's and 949 yards...the Salty Dogs will have to quiet him to hope for victory. It's hard to key in on a primary receiver for St. John's. Seven different receivers have caught at least one touchdown and 5 have more than 450 receiving yards with none above 600...the definition of "balanced."
With an 11-2 record, it's not surprising to learn that Cheyenne is allowing only 10.5 points per game, a figure St. John's will have to top if they hope to win. The Air Force doesn't miss many tackles (79), hurries the quarterback well (45), and is tied for the league lead in sacks (29). They make the most of their interceptions (13) and forced fumbles (6) returning two of each for touchdowns. Their safeties, Defend This House (FS) and Cyclops Oakleys (FS) are their two leading tacklers with 77 & 63 tackles respectively. If their lineman and linebackers lead this game in tackles, it will bode well for Cheynene.
After a few glitches early on, St. John's defense has rebounded to allow just 15.2 points per game. The Salty Dogs would like to cut down on missed tackles (90), continue to hurry the quarterback (56), and convert a few more of those hurries into sacks (10). Their interceptions (17) and forced fumbles (17) are good numbers, but they've failed to take any of them to the house. Much like their receiving corps distributes catches, their defense spreads around the tackles. Stud linebacker Demeco Ryans Jr (65 tackles) leads their defensive unit. They'll need a whole team effort to slow down the Air Force.
Both teams have locked up a playoff spot, but which one remains very much up in the air. A loss hurts the Cheyenne team more than the victory will help the Salty Dogs, but I don't expect either team will give less than 110% effort.
We know who Microsoft Excel and the magic league projector favor...who do you think will win this game?
Last edited Aug 27, 2008 12:36:02
