Chester Paul burning down his own team's stadium? I'll say it now: YouTuber UrinatingTree would probably be licking his chops at the opportunities to grill the Athletics right about now. Although it does make me wonder: if the Athletics end up moving in the offseason (which has a 99.9% chance of happening), will they still be the called the Athletics or will they have a new name to distance themselves from Chester Paul?

Anyway, good luck on your midterms!

1961 Week 12 

Worcester Athletics - 19, Indiana Victors - 17 - Richardson Stadium - September 9, 1961 - 3 PM ET - Weather: Partly Cloudy
1st Q
3-0 WOR - FG K Elvis Franklin
2nd Q
6-0 WOR - FG K Elvis Franklin
9-0 WOR - FG K Elvis Franklin
9-3 IND - FG K Ross Poindexter
9-4 IND - Single K Ross Poindexter
3rd Q
16-4 WOR - PTD QB Caldwell Higgins III -> WR Zachariah Pembroke
16-11 IND - RTD RB Johnnie Stafford
4th Q
19-11 WOR - FG K Elvis Franklin
19-17 IND - PTD QB Lee Rogers -> WR Ed Edwards 

The news of the owner’s arrest seemed to fire up the Athletics in their final game of the season. 
LB Scotty Williams would light the match on defence in the first half which held the Victors to only 4 points; he grabbed a forced fumble and an interception to go with 13 Tackles on the day.
The Victors played rough until the end of the 3rd quarter, but their comeback came too late and they fell short.
LB Scotty Williams made sure that the Athletics got the win by deflecting the pass intended for WR Silas Peyton, on what would have been the game-tying 2-point convert.
On the bright side, the team will get the #1 overall pick in the draft. 

Buffalo Blue Wings - 33, Long Island Raiders - 20 - Buffalo Civic Stadium - September 9, 1961 - 7 PM ET - Weather: Clear
1st Q
0-7 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields
7-7 BUF - RTD RB Jimmy Golden
2nd Q
8-7 BUF - Single K Donald Brewer
8-14 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields
3rd Q
8-17 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
15-17 BUF - PTD QB Charles Lemieux -> WR Ronald Vernon
21-17 BUF - PTD QB Charles Lemieux -> WR LeRoy Krueger
23-17 BUF - 2PT RB Jimmy Golden
4th Q
23-20 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
26-20 BUF - FG K Donald Brewer
33-20 BUF - RTD RB Jimmy Golden 

The Blue Wings pulled off what would have been impossible at the midpoint of the season. 
QB Charles Lemieux tossed a pair of TDs in the win putting the Blue Wings into the playoffs after starting 1-5 during this season. 
DB Dean Hawkins had his first career pick in the final game as well.
The Long Island Raiders season was one to be split into three parts, and 0-4 start before a 4 game win-streak followed by losing their last 4 games.
It seems that there will be some big changes coming to the Raiders this offseason. *Buffalo clinches the final playoff spot 

Louisville Thunder - 10, London Tigers - 30 - Thunder Stadium - September 10, 1961 - 1 PM ET - Weather: Cloudy
1st Q
0-7 LDN - RTD RB Eric Sydney
0-10 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
2nd Q
3-10 LOU - FG K Theodore Provost
3-17 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Max Sutton
3rd Q
10-17 LOU - RTD RB Rodney Clark
10-20 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
10-27 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Max Sutton
4th Q
10-30 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth 

After the last 3 seasons of falling just short of the West Division title, the Tigers cruised past the Thunder to win the West Division title.
The Thunder didn’t look great in the game and it was not helped by several injuries to DL Tyrone Affalo and more importantly, DB Jayden Mills and DB Alexander Bradley.
Mills and Bradley will be done for the playoffs which means the team will certainly be shorthanded heading into the playoffs. 
*London clinches West Division - 1st division title* 

Boston Independents - 15, Ottawa Royals - 28 - Richardson Stadium - September 10, 1961 - 4 PM ET - Weather: Cloudy
1st Q
3-0 BOS - FG K Johnnie Berg
3-7 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Mackenzie Jones
2nd Q
6-7 BOS - FG K Johnnie Berg
6-14 OTT - RTD RB Alexei Volkov
3rd Q
9-14 BOS - FG K Johnnie Berg
4th Q
15-14 BOS - PTD QB Nathaniel Braddock -> WR Ellis Lindholm
15-21 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Angus Stevenson
15-28 OTT - DTD DB Mingan Oliver

Ahead of the final game of the season, QB Jean Matieau was fed up with the play and would give a pre-game speech that would inspire the team into a strong performance to close out the season. 
He would lead the Royals in a 2 touchdown performance in the win, and then would let DB Mingan Oliver close out the win with a defensive touchdown.
Boston looked flat at home and was completely taken aback by the Royals who had flashed their old selves in the win. 
The loss also means they will not be getting the division title this season.  

Providence Gold Stars - 25, Montreal Rouge - 28 - New Providence Stadium - September 10, 1961 - 7 PM ET - SNF - Weather: Partly Cloudy
1st Q
3-0 PRO - FG K Ira Foster
3-7 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
2nd Q
9-7 PRO - RTD RB Marcus Devonshire
9-14 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Taylor Karis
3rd Q
12-14 PRO - FG K Ira Foster
12-17 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
18-17 PRO - PTD QB Connor O’Rourke -> WR Cedric Peterson
4th Q
25-17 PRO - RTD RB Marcus Devonshire
25-23 MTL - RTD QB Gene Bishop
25-25 MTL - 2PT RB Scott Mallard-White
25-28 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger 

The Gold Stars would fight back from a deficit to take an 8 point lead, but the Rouge were not out of it and would climb back to take a lead to win the game for the Rouge.
WR Taylor Karis would score his first career touchdown in the win giving the Rouge a lead in the 2nd. 
S Shawn Jensen would get an interception and LB Rusty McVee would get a forced fumble and then S Garet deVale would have an interception for the Rouge.
*The Rouge clinch the East Division title - 1st since 1953* 

Injury Report
OL Simeon Clarke LDN - 1 Week
OL Bernhard Altermann LOU - Day-to-Day
DB Jayden Mills LOU - 6 Weeks
DB Alexander Bradley LOU - 7 Weeks
DL Tyrone Affalo LOU - 1 Week
WR Chester Bennett OTT - Day-to-Day
DB Uzzia Hayes OTT - 2 Weeks
OL Fabrice Beaufort OTT - Day-to-Day
DL Xander Devereaux PRO - 1 Week
DL Billy Melton WOR - Day-to-Day

Players of the Week 

OFF: QB Gene Bishop MTL - 1 Passing Touchdown, 1 Rushing Touchdown, 214 Passing Yards, 38 Rushing Yards 

DEF: LB Scotty Williams WOR - 1 Interception, 1 Forced Fumble, 13 Tackles 

Power Rankings
1 - London -
2 - Montreal +2
3 - Louisville -1
4 - Providence -1
5 - Boston -
6 - Buffalo -
7 - Ottawa +1
8 - Long Island -1
9 - Worcester +1
10 - Indiana -1

Regular Season Round-Up


1961 Division Semi-Finals Preview
East Division Semi-Final
Boston Independents VS. Providence Gold Stars - Richardson Stadium - September 16, 1961 - 3 PM ET
Head-to-Head: W6 BOS 22-17 PRO, W9 PRO 19-6 BOS
The 7th postseason meeting between the New England rivals will kick off the 1961 NAAF Playoffs. The two teams come into the playoffs heading in different directions. Boston started off really strong, but have dropped 3 of their last 4, while Providence had won 5 straight before this past week’s loss to the Rouge. Both teams have strong potential for both sides of the ball and should lead pretty much a tossup in this one. Boston is hoping they can finally get over the hump with QB Nathaniel Braddock, while Providence is looking to finally shake the choking storyline in the playoffs leaving a lot at stake in this one. I think the red-hot Gold Stars will manage to pull off the win in this one.
My Pick: Gold Stars 

West Division Semi-Final
Louisville Thunder VS. Buffalo Blue Wings - Thunder Stadium - September 16, 1961 - 7 PM ET
Head-to-Head: W1 LOU 35-22 BUF, W5 BUF 21-24 LOU
Each team’s record certainly makes this game feel a lot less competitive than it seems. However, with the major injuries that the Thunder suffered this week and Buffalo being red-hot, this game could be really tight. Buffalo only lost to the Thunder by 3 in their week 5 matchup which was before the young sensation of Charles Lemieux had taken over for the team. The Thunder are going to have to rely on QB Leonidas Dumont and the offence to get them through this tough game, while the Blue Wings are going to have to work as a team to find the Thunder’s weaknesses. I still like the Thunder in the game, but won’t be surprised if the Blue Wings find a way to make it a tight game.
My Pick: Thunder 

Last edited by Wallflower (3/13/2021 1:33 am)

Well I guess we have to go all in now, lets make a miracle run Wings!

It's redemption time, Reds

Playoff predictions

Louisville 30 - Buffalo 3
Providence 17 - Boston 7

London 31 - Louisville 20
Montreal 19 - Providence 21

London 34 - Providence 27

Should be a good playoffs! Cheering on the Rouge, as they seem like and underdog type of team.