Hello and welcome to Week 10 of the East Europe AA #4 Power Rankings! Things were shaken up a bit this week after a surprise team jumped into the Top Ten with a very convincing win over another Top Ten team. And things look to shake up even more this week, as we have not one, but three Games Worth Watching, with Lowell facing Krakow, London facing Hat Creek, and Warsaw facing Volgograd.
Game of the Week
#6 Hat Creek Cattle Company vs. #16 Chernobyl Radionuclides
Who would have thunk that this game would have turned out the way it did? With Hat Creek dropping two undefeated teams in games prior to this one, they had to win outright... right?
Not if Chernobyl had anything to say about it. Going into the 4th quarter, the Radionuclides were up 17-10 and had the game firmly in control. Hat Creek did their best, and with 13:09 left to go in the game, K Howard Phillips nailed a 44.5-yard field goal to bring them within 4. They forced Chernobyl to punt on their next possession, but P Jon Big Foot downed the kick on the Hat Creek 2.5-yard line. Hat Creek couldn't get anything going, and ended up punting from their own 6-5-yard line, which left Chernobyl deep in their own territory after their return. Hat Creek almost stopped them, forcing a fumble on 3rd & 0.5 but Chernobyl recovered and got the first down. Another 3rd down conversion brought them into the red zone, and three plays later QB Napoleon Terrien found WR Gotta Catchit for the touchdown, and put the game firmly out of reach.
End Result: Chernobyl won, 24-13
Power Rankings
None of these rankings are done by 'feel' or 'intuition'. I use straight up math and when Excel is done sorting them, that's how I rank them. It's as fair as I can mathematically make it. If you have any questions or comments feel free to mail me.
The Top Ten
1. Lowell Bengal Tigers (10-0) Last Week (LW): #1
The Bengal Tigers continue their reign at the top of the Power Rankings, but their last big test of the season is this week, as they face off against the Cows, the team that just barely missed out on being promoted last year. With only 6 weeks left to go in the season, it's now or never for both teams.
Last Game: vs. Moscow Bears, won 26-6
Next Game: vs. Krakow Cows (9-1)
2. Minsk Ninjas (9-1) LW: #4
Minsk is such a good team, that even with a loss they're ranked higher than the one undefeated team left besides the Bengal Tigers. By dropping their single loss of the season from their recent schedule, coupled with very convincing wins over some middle-of-the-road teams, Minsk just barely edges up into the #2 spot.
Last Game: vs. Texas Aggies, won 30-6
Next Game: vs. Bratislava Vampires (3-7)
3. London Head Hunters (10-0) LW: #2
Despite being undefeated, the Head Hunters find themselves in the #3 spot of the Power Rankings. They can't let that little mathematical fact deter them from their goal of perfection though, as they run up against the Cattle Company this week, a team that has already offed two undefeated teams this season.
Last Game: vs. Tricity Hares, won 28-3
Next Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company (7-3)
4. Krakow Cows (9-1) LW: #3
The Cows fall a spot this week but that is the least of their worries as they go head-to-head with current Alpha top dog and the Power Rankings #1, the Bengal Tigers. Can the Cows to what Minsk failed to and bring the Bengal Tigers back down to earth? Or will they suffer the same fate, as Lowell seeks retribution for being relegated at the conclusion of Season 2...
Last Game: vs. Tallaght Outlaws, won 29-14
Next Game: vs. Lowell Bengal Tigers (10-0)
5. Warsaw Warriors (9-1) LW: #5
The Warriors hold strong to the #5 spot after escaping unscathed from their contest with the Storm. They contnue a two-game stretch of games against very good Zeta teams with a matchup against the Berserks.
Last Game: vs. St. Petersburg Storm, won 30-21
Next Game: vs. Volgograd Berserks (9-1)
6. Volgograd Berserks (9-1) LW: #7
The Berserks jump up a spot after a field goal laden game kept things tight in their contest against the Coyotes. Fiels goals are unlikely to do the trick this week, as the Warrior roll into volgograd seeking to win out the rest of their season.
Last Game: vs. Haguenau Coyotes, won 12-6
Next Game: vs. Warsaw Warriors (9-1)
7. Hat Creek Cattle Company (7-3) LW: #6
This is a team that has to be scratching their heads at the moment. After dropping two undefeated teams in a row, and a nice win over The Look, the Cattle Company was all set up to be the Dark Horse team of Zeta. But then they go and lose to the Radionuclides, who simply did the little things that were necessary to win. The Cattle Company better hope that this isn't a sign of things to come, as they go up against the undefeated Head Hunters in one of three Games of the Week.
Last Game: vs. Chernobyl Radionuclides, lost 13-24
Next Game: vs. London Head Hunters (10-0)
8. Fehérvár Enthroners (7-3) LW: #10
The Enthroners jump up two spots in the Power Rankings and look to remain in this general vicinity for the rest of the year, as their last matchup against a top team isn't until week 15 against the Ninjas. In the meantime, the Enthroners are hoping to make a case for one of the top 4 spots in Alpha for that all important, money generating Home Playoff Game.
Last Game: vs. NISSA Dauphins, won 22-7
Next Game: vs. Leicester Lynxes (2-8)
9. St. Petersburg Storm (7-3) LW: #8
The Storm drop a spot after their loss to the Warriors. Despite their best defensive efforts, Warsaw scored more points on them than any other team so far this year. One hopes that this is simply a testament to the Warrior Offense, as opposed to any perceived flaws in what has been a very stout defensive unit.
Last Game: vs. Warsaw Warrios, lost 21-30
Next Game: vs. Longreach Wildcats (2-8)
10. Chernobyl Radionuclides (6-4) LW: #16
In what has to be one of the biggest surprises of the season so far, the Radionuclides vault up into the Top Ten after a very convincing win over the Cattle Company last week. They hope to repeat the magic this week as they go up against the Buckaroos, who were just barely edged out of the top ten.
Last Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company, won 24-13
Next Game: vs. Grodno Buckaroos (7-3)
Hanging on to a Playoff Spot
11. Grodno Buckaroos
12. Moscow Vandals
13. Texas Aggies
14. The Look
15. Tallaght Outlaws
16. Moscow Bears
On the Outside Looking In
17. International Players
18. Tricity Hares
19. Charleston Roadwarriors
20. NISSA Dauphins
21. Bratislava Vampires
22. Prague Panthers
Outside looking through Binoculars
23. C-Town Hoodlums
24. Haquenau Coyotes
25. Longreach Wildcats
26. Carluke Cobras
27. Florida Buccaneers
28. Sydney Tire Irons
Outside looking through the Hubble
29. Leicester Lynxes
30. Warsaw Cossacks
31. London Dolphins
32. Subotica Scorpions
Game of the Week
#6 Hat Creek Cattle Company vs. #16 Chernobyl Radionuclides
Who would have thunk that this game would have turned out the way it did? With Hat Creek dropping two undefeated teams in games prior to this one, they had to win outright... right?
Not if Chernobyl had anything to say about it. Going into the 4th quarter, the Radionuclides were up 17-10 and had the game firmly in control. Hat Creek did their best, and with 13:09 left to go in the game, K Howard Phillips nailed a 44.5-yard field goal to bring them within 4. They forced Chernobyl to punt on their next possession, but P Jon Big Foot downed the kick on the Hat Creek 2.5-yard line. Hat Creek couldn't get anything going, and ended up punting from their own 6-5-yard line, which left Chernobyl deep in their own territory after their return. Hat Creek almost stopped them, forcing a fumble on 3rd & 0.5 but Chernobyl recovered and got the first down. Another 3rd down conversion brought them into the red zone, and three plays later QB Napoleon Terrien found WR Gotta Catchit for the touchdown, and put the game firmly out of reach.
End Result: Chernobyl won, 24-13
Power Rankings
None of these rankings are done by 'feel' or 'intuition'. I use straight up math and when Excel is done sorting them, that's how I rank them. It's as fair as I can mathematically make it. If you have any questions or comments feel free to mail me.
The Top Ten
1. Lowell Bengal Tigers (10-0) Last Week (LW): #1
The Bengal Tigers continue their reign at the top of the Power Rankings, but their last big test of the season is this week, as they face off against the Cows, the team that just barely missed out on being promoted last year. With only 6 weeks left to go in the season, it's now or never for both teams.
Last Game: vs. Moscow Bears, won 26-6
Next Game: vs. Krakow Cows (9-1)
2. Minsk Ninjas (9-1) LW: #4
Minsk is such a good team, that even with a loss they're ranked higher than the one undefeated team left besides the Bengal Tigers. By dropping their single loss of the season from their recent schedule, coupled with very convincing wins over some middle-of-the-road teams, Minsk just barely edges up into the #2 spot.
Last Game: vs. Texas Aggies, won 30-6
Next Game: vs. Bratislava Vampires (3-7)
3. London Head Hunters (10-0) LW: #2
Despite being undefeated, the Head Hunters find themselves in the #3 spot of the Power Rankings. They can't let that little mathematical fact deter them from their goal of perfection though, as they run up against the Cattle Company this week, a team that has already offed two undefeated teams this season.
Last Game: vs. Tricity Hares, won 28-3
Next Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company (7-3)
4. Krakow Cows (9-1) LW: #3
The Cows fall a spot this week but that is the least of their worries as they go head-to-head with current Alpha top dog and the Power Rankings #1, the Bengal Tigers. Can the Cows to what Minsk failed to and bring the Bengal Tigers back down to earth? Or will they suffer the same fate, as Lowell seeks retribution for being relegated at the conclusion of Season 2...
Last Game: vs. Tallaght Outlaws, won 29-14
Next Game: vs. Lowell Bengal Tigers (10-0)
5. Warsaw Warriors (9-1) LW: #5
The Warriors hold strong to the #5 spot after escaping unscathed from their contest with the Storm. They contnue a two-game stretch of games against very good Zeta teams with a matchup against the Berserks.
Last Game: vs. St. Petersburg Storm, won 30-21
Next Game: vs. Volgograd Berserks (9-1)
6. Volgograd Berserks (9-1) LW: #7
The Berserks jump up a spot after a field goal laden game kept things tight in their contest against the Coyotes. Fiels goals are unlikely to do the trick this week, as the Warrior roll into volgograd seeking to win out the rest of their season.
Last Game: vs. Haguenau Coyotes, won 12-6
Next Game: vs. Warsaw Warriors (9-1)
7. Hat Creek Cattle Company (7-3) LW: #6
This is a team that has to be scratching their heads at the moment. After dropping two undefeated teams in a row, and a nice win over The Look, the Cattle Company was all set up to be the Dark Horse team of Zeta. But then they go and lose to the Radionuclides, who simply did the little things that were necessary to win. The Cattle Company better hope that this isn't a sign of things to come, as they go up against the undefeated Head Hunters in one of three Games of the Week.
Last Game: vs. Chernobyl Radionuclides, lost 13-24
Next Game: vs. London Head Hunters (10-0)
8. Fehérvár Enthroners (7-3) LW: #10
The Enthroners jump up two spots in the Power Rankings and look to remain in this general vicinity for the rest of the year, as their last matchup against a top team isn't until week 15 against the Ninjas. In the meantime, the Enthroners are hoping to make a case for one of the top 4 spots in Alpha for that all important, money generating Home Playoff Game.
Last Game: vs. NISSA Dauphins, won 22-7
Next Game: vs. Leicester Lynxes (2-8)
9. St. Petersburg Storm (7-3) LW: #8
The Storm drop a spot after their loss to the Warriors. Despite their best defensive efforts, Warsaw scored more points on them than any other team so far this year. One hopes that this is simply a testament to the Warrior Offense, as opposed to any perceived flaws in what has been a very stout defensive unit.
Last Game: vs. Warsaw Warrios, lost 21-30
Next Game: vs. Longreach Wildcats (2-8)
10. Chernobyl Radionuclides (6-4) LW: #16
In what has to be one of the biggest surprises of the season so far, the Radionuclides vault up into the Top Ten after a very convincing win over the Cattle Company last week. They hope to repeat the magic this week as they go up against the Buckaroos, who were just barely edged out of the top ten.
Last Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company, won 24-13
Next Game: vs. Grodno Buckaroos (7-3)
Hanging on to a Playoff Spot
11. Grodno Buckaroos
12. Moscow Vandals
13. Texas Aggies
14. The Look
15. Tallaght Outlaws
16. Moscow Bears
On the Outside Looking In
17. International Players
18. Tricity Hares
19. Charleston Roadwarriors
20. NISSA Dauphins
21. Bratislava Vampires
22. Prague Panthers
Outside looking through Binoculars
23. C-Town Hoodlums
24. Haquenau Coyotes
25. Longreach Wildcats
26. Carluke Cobras
27. Florida Buccaneers
28. Sydney Tire Irons
Outside looking through the Hubble
29. Leicester Lynxes
30. Warsaw Cossacks
31. London Dolphins
32. Subotica Scorpions
