Welcome to the Week 6 Power Rankings for East Europe AA #4. This week we had the first real game of the year lined up as the undefeated Lowell Bengal Tigers went head to head with the similarly unbeaten Minsk Ninjas. Who came out on top and now stands heads and shoulders above everyone else in the Power Rankings? Read below to find out.
Game of the Week
#1 Minsk Ninjas vs. #2 Lowell Bengal Tigers
In what might be classified as the best of the year to date, these two unbeaten behemoths met head to head to determine Alpha supremecy. Both teams had questions that they felt needed to be answered, and both had something to prove.
At the start of the 4th quarter, things looked tight, with Lowell holding tenuously to a 1-point lead and Minsk in the red zone. And as the starting whistle of the 4th rang out, Minsk QB Laurent Garnier saw an opening in the Lowell secondary and got off a quick pass to WR Jon Blazin to put them up 29-23. But Lowell had an answer, and on the ensuing kickoff, CB G.W. Bush took one to the house from 88 yards out. Lowell was once again in the lead and things were looking good as the next possession saw Minsk go 3 & out. But the Minsk defense stpped up and forced a fumble on the very next play after the punt which put them deep within LBT territory. Not to be outdone, Lowell CB Manx LaVenture watched as Minsk TE texans fan let his pass slip through his fingers and into Laventure's waiting arms, which he took down the field 61 yards to the Minks 10 yard line. Three plays later, Lowell was up 37-29. Could Minsk make a comeback? Well, the Lowell defense went into shutdown mode, forcing two additional turnovers and stopping Minsk from making any progress down the field, despite throwing an interception themselves. And in the end, it was too much for Minsk as they faced their first loss of the season.
End Result: LBT wins, 40-29.
Power Rankings
I'll forgo the usual speil about how it works. Rest assured, it's as fair as I can mathematically make it. If you have any questions, feel free to mail me and I'll answer to the best of my ability.
And here they are:
The Top Ten
1. Lowell Bengal Tigers (6-0) Last Week (LW): #2
With a very convincing win over the Minsk Ninjas, the Bengal Tigers sit firmly atop the Power Rankings. With their first true test being passed with flying colors, all of Alpha has to be on the lookout for what might just be the team to beat this year to get promoted. And they will be tested, because after their next game against the Cossacks, they face a 4-game stretch of games against the best Alpha has to offer.
Last Game: vs. Minsk Ninjas, won 40-29.
Next Game: vs. Warsaw Cossacks (2-4)
2. London Head Hunters (6-0) LW: #3
The Head Hunters continue to be near the top of the Power Rankings and it doesn't look like they'll be going anywhere as they don't have any real form of competition coming up before mid-season. They start a three game stretch of teams near the bottom of the rankings this week against the Wildcats.
Last Game: vs. Sydney Tire Irons, won 29-3
Next Game: vs. Longreach Wildcats (0-6)
3. Warsaw Warriors (6-0) LW: #4
The Warriors continue to creep up the Power Rankings thanks largely in part to having dropped one of the cupcake teams from their recent schedule. This week they handed the Hares nicely, putting the game away early in the 4th and holding on despite a late game effort by the Hares which brought them within 4. They continue a tough stretch of games this week against the Hat Creek Cattle Company.
Last Game: vs. Tricity Hares, won 20-16
Next Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company (4-2)
4. Minsk Ninjas (5-1) LW: #1
The Ninjas suffered their first defeat this year and yet they remain near the top of the Rankings, even ahead of another undefeated team, thanks in part to their recent schedule. Of course, all this pales in comparison to the one question that has hounded the Ninjas since last year: Can they win the big games? So far, the answer is no, and one wonders what is going on up in their management that'll help them shed the stigma of a team that doesn't quite have it yet.
Last Game: vs. Lowell Bengal Tigers, lost 29-40
Next Game: vs. Leicester Lynxes (2-4)
5. Volgograd Berserks (6-0) LW: #5
So how can a team with a loss on their record stay ahead of the unbeaten Berserks? Simple, this is a team that has yet to face anything resembling competition. That all changes this week as they start up a brutal stretch of games against all the top teams of Zeta. One can only hope that they're ready.
Last Game: vs. Subotica Scorpions, won 28-7
Next Game: vs. Tricity Hares (2-4)
6. Krakow Cows (5-1) LW: #6
The Cows hold on to their #6 spot after manhandling the Vampires this week and dropping the struggling Buccaneers from their recent schedule. They alternate the next few games between weak teams and strong teams and one can only imagine that Moo Nation will find themselves climbing up the Power Rankings before it's all over. All eyes in Alpha are, of course, now firmly locked onto their week 11 contest with the Bengal Tigers.
Last Game: vs. Bratislava Vampires, won 42-10
Next Game: vs. International Players (1-5)
7. Grodno Buckaroos (5-1) LW: #11
The Buckaroos jump back into the Top Ten after eeking one out over the St. Petersburg Storm. They are now about to enter into a very tough stretch of games and will look to prove that the top ten is where they belong. This will be highlighted during their week 8 matchup agaisnt the Warsaw Warriors, the favorites this year to win the Zeta promotion into AAA2.
Last Game: vs. St. Petersburg Storm, won 16-13
Next Game: vs. Haguenau Coyotes (4-2)
8. Moscow Bears (5-1) LW: #7
They won a close game this week thanks largely in part to their special teams unit, which allowed for their kick returner to run one back for a touchdown midway through the 4th quarter. But they'll need to truly be on their game this week as they face off against a strong Enthroners team that is still very good despite dropping 2 of their last 4.
Last Game: vs. International Players, won 20-13
Next Game: vs. Fehérvár Enthroners (4-2)
9. Moscow Vandals (5-1) LW: #8
The Vandals had a huge win this week against the Enthroners and are making some noise that other Alpha teams are going to find hard to ignore. They'll get a chance to prove that they belong in the top ten in 3 weeks as they face the #1 team, the Bengal Tigers. But first they have to get past the Dolphins and the Outlaws.
Last Game: vs. Fehérvár Enthroners, won 21-12
Next Game: vs. London Dolphins (0-6)
10. The Look (5-1) LW: #9
The Look remains in the top ten on the strength of a five game winning streak against the worst Zeta has to offer. They still have one more cupcake to get past before they get into the tough part of their schedule, and you have to wonder if they'll still be here in two week's time.
Last Game: vs. C-Town Hoodlums, won 20-0
Next Game: vs. Subotica Scorpions (0-6)
Pro Level
11. Texas Aggies
12. Hat Creek Cattle Company
13. St. Petersberg Storm
14. Fehervar Enthroners
15. Haquenau Coyotes
16. Chernobyl Radionuclides
College Level
17. Tallaght Outlaws
18. NISSA Dauphins
19. Tricity Hares
20. Warsaw Cossacks
21. International Players
22. Leicester Lynxes
High School Level
23. Carluke Cobras
24. Charleston Roadwarriors
25. Bratislava Vampires
26. Prague Panthers
27. Sydney Tire Irons
28. Florida Buccaneers
Pop Warner
29. London Dolphins
30. C-Town Hoodlums
31. Subotica Scorpions
32. Longreach Wildcats
Game of the Week
#1 Minsk Ninjas vs. #2 Lowell Bengal Tigers
In what might be classified as the best of the year to date, these two unbeaten behemoths met head to head to determine Alpha supremecy. Both teams had questions that they felt needed to be answered, and both had something to prove.
At the start of the 4th quarter, things looked tight, with Lowell holding tenuously to a 1-point lead and Minsk in the red zone. And as the starting whistle of the 4th rang out, Minsk QB Laurent Garnier saw an opening in the Lowell secondary and got off a quick pass to WR Jon Blazin to put them up 29-23. But Lowell had an answer, and on the ensuing kickoff, CB G.W. Bush took one to the house from 88 yards out. Lowell was once again in the lead and things were looking good as the next possession saw Minsk go 3 & out. But the Minsk defense stpped up and forced a fumble on the very next play after the punt which put them deep within LBT territory. Not to be outdone, Lowell CB Manx LaVenture watched as Minsk TE texans fan let his pass slip through his fingers and into Laventure's waiting arms, which he took down the field 61 yards to the Minks 10 yard line. Three plays later, Lowell was up 37-29. Could Minsk make a comeback? Well, the Lowell defense went into shutdown mode, forcing two additional turnovers and stopping Minsk from making any progress down the field, despite throwing an interception themselves. And in the end, it was too much for Minsk as they faced their first loss of the season.
End Result: LBT wins, 40-29.
Power Rankings
I'll forgo the usual speil about how it works. Rest assured, it's as fair as I can mathematically make it. If you have any questions, feel free to mail me and I'll answer to the best of my ability.
And here they are:
The Top Ten
1. Lowell Bengal Tigers (6-0) Last Week (LW): #2
With a very convincing win over the Minsk Ninjas, the Bengal Tigers sit firmly atop the Power Rankings. With their first true test being passed with flying colors, all of Alpha has to be on the lookout for what might just be the team to beat this year to get promoted. And they will be tested, because after their next game against the Cossacks, they face a 4-game stretch of games against the best Alpha has to offer.
Last Game: vs. Minsk Ninjas, won 40-29.
Next Game: vs. Warsaw Cossacks (2-4)
2. London Head Hunters (6-0) LW: #3
The Head Hunters continue to be near the top of the Power Rankings and it doesn't look like they'll be going anywhere as they don't have any real form of competition coming up before mid-season. They start a three game stretch of teams near the bottom of the rankings this week against the Wildcats.
Last Game: vs. Sydney Tire Irons, won 29-3
Next Game: vs. Longreach Wildcats (0-6)
3. Warsaw Warriors (6-0) LW: #4
The Warriors continue to creep up the Power Rankings thanks largely in part to having dropped one of the cupcake teams from their recent schedule. This week they handed the Hares nicely, putting the game away early in the 4th and holding on despite a late game effort by the Hares which brought them within 4. They continue a tough stretch of games this week against the Hat Creek Cattle Company.
Last Game: vs. Tricity Hares, won 20-16
Next Game: vs. Hat Creek Cattle Company (4-2)
4. Minsk Ninjas (5-1) LW: #1
The Ninjas suffered their first defeat this year and yet they remain near the top of the Rankings, even ahead of another undefeated team, thanks in part to their recent schedule. Of course, all this pales in comparison to the one question that has hounded the Ninjas since last year: Can they win the big games? So far, the answer is no, and one wonders what is going on up in their management that'll help them shed the stigma of a team that doesn't quite have it yet.
Last Game: vs. Lowell Bengal Tigers, lost 29-40
Next Game: vs. Leicester Lynxes (2-4)
5. Volgograd Berserks (6-0) LW: #5
So how can a team with a loss on their record stay ahead of the unbeaten Berserks? Simple, this is a team that has yet to face anything resembling competition. That all changes this week as they start up a brutal stretch of games against all the top teams of Zeta. One can only hope that they're ready.
Last Game: vs. Subotica Scorpions, won 28-7
Next Game: vs. Tricity Hares (2-4)
6. Krakow Cows (5-1) LW: #6
The Cows hold on to their #6 spot after manhandling the Vampires this week and dropping the struggling Buccaneers from their recent schedule. They alternate the next few games between weak teams and strong teams and one can only imagine that Moo Nation will find themselves climbing up the Power Rankings before it's all over. All eyes in Alpha are, of course, now firmly locked onto their week 11 contest with the Bengal Tigers.
Last Game: vs. Bratislava Vampires, won 42-10
Next Game: vs. International Players (1-5)
7. Grodno Buckaroos (5-1) LW: #11
The Buckaroos jump back into the Top Ten after eeking one out over the St. Petersburg Storm. They are now about to enter into a very tough stretch of games and will look to prove that the top ten is where they belong. This will be highlighted during their week 8 matchup agaisnt the Warsaw Warriors, the favorites this year to win the Zeta promotion into AAA2.
Last Game: vs. St. Petersburg Storm, won 16-13
Next Game: vs. Haguenau Coyotes (4-2)
8. Moscow Bears (5-1) LW: #7
They won a close game this week thanks largely in part to their special teams unit, which allowed for their kick returner to run one back for a touchdown midway through the 4th quarter. But they'll need to truly be on their game this week as they face off against a strong Enthroners team that is still very good despite dropping 2 of their last 4.
Last Game: vs. International Players, won 20-13
Next Game: vs. Fehérvár Enthroners (4-2)
9. Moscow Vandals (5-1) LW: #8
The Vandals had a huge win this week against the Enthroners and are making some noise that other Alpha teams are going to find hard to ignore. They'll get a chance to prove that they belong in the top ten in 3 weeks as they face the #1 team, the Bengal Tigers. But first they have to get past the Dolphins and the Outlaws.
Last Game: vs. Fehérvár Enthroners, won 21-12
Next Game: vs. London Dolphins (0-6)
10. The Look (5-1) LW: #9
The Look remains in the top ten on the strength of a five game winning streak against the worst Zeta has to offer. They still have one more cupcake to get past before they get into the tough part of their schedule, and you have to wonder if they'll still be here in two week's time.
Last Game: vs. C-Town Hoodlums, won 20-0
Next Game: vs. Subotica Scorpions (0-6)
Pro Level
11. Texas Aggies
12. Hat Creek Cattle Company
13. St. Petersberg Storm
14. Fehervar Enthroners
15. Haquenau Coyotes
16. Chernobyl Radionuclides
College Level
17. Tallaght Outlaws
18. NISSA Dauphins
19. Tricity Hares
20. Warsaw Cossacks
21. International Players
22. Leicester Lynxes
High School Level
23. Carluke Cobras
24. Charleston Roadwarriors
25. Bratislava Vampires
26. Prague Panthers
27. Sydney Tire Irons
28. Florida Buccaneers
Pop Warner
29. London Dolphins
30. C-Town Hoodlums
31. Subotica Scorpions
32. Longreach Wildcats
