I know I’ll inevitably by the Rouge in the playoffs, but 🙏

1964 Week 12

Louisville Thunder - 23, Toronto Steelheads - 30 - OT - Thunder Stadium - August 28, 1964 - 7 PM ET - FNF - Weather: Partly Cloudy - TV: Clint Georgetown and Jamar Swinton
1st Q
0-3 TOR - FG K Bob Randall
0-10 TOR - PTD QB Todd Baker -> WR Samuel Petri
2nd Q
7-10 LOU - RTD RB Rodney Clark
7-13 TOR - FG K Bob Randall
3rd Q
10-13 LOU - FG K Frank Hughes
17-13 LOU - PTD QB Leonidas Dumont -> WR Piers Key
20-13 LOU - FG K Frank Hughes
4th Q
20-16 TOR - FG K Bob Randall
20-23 TOR - PTD QB Todd Baker -> WR Edmund Landry
23-23 LOU - FG K Frank Hughes
OT
23-30 TOR - PTD QB Todd Baker -> WR Samuel Petri

The Steelheads put an end to the Thunder’s 4-game win streak with an overtime win on the road.
QB Todd Baker was the key to the win, throwing 3 touchdowns in his return to the starting lineup.
The Thunder were right in the battle, but the offence could not find the endzone in overtime, and Dumont threw an interception that pretty much sealed their fate. 
DB Luke Warren was the one with the interception for the Steelheads.
To make matters worse the Thunder now are in a very difficult spot as they now have 0 tiebreakers over the other 3 teams they are battling with for a playoff spot and have only one game left. 

Halifax Mariners - 10, Montreal Rouge - 41 - Atlantic Stadium - August 29, 1964 - 3 PM ET - Weather: Clear - TV: EN Benjamin O’Donnell and William Arland, FR Cyril Etienne and Quinton Jacques
1st Q
0-3 MTL - FG K Athur Kettinger
0-10 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
0-17 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> TE Eli Grant
2nd Q
7-17 HFX - RTD RB Ronald O’Sullivan
7-20 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
3rd Q
7-27 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Derek Cross
7-34 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Derek Cross
4th Q
10-34 HFX - FG K Elvis Franklin
10-41 MTL - RTD RB Hugo Hughes

The Rouge earned their second straight win in a rout against the Mariners. 
QB Gene Bishop looked sharp with 3 touchdowns, before being replaced by QB Mike Key in the 4th to give their new backup some time to get used to the offence.
The defence played really well giving Halifax many problems; LB Elijah Goldwater had a forced fumble in his return, DL Lucas Kipling had one as well with S Garet deVale getting an interception along with DB Jayson Klyde.

Ottawa Royals - 31, Buffalo Blue Wings - 34 - Royals Stadium at Brewer Park - August 29, 1964 - 7 PM ET - SNF - Weather: Partly Cloudy - TV: George Leblanc and Maurice St.Louise
1st Q
3-0 OTT - FG K Ira Foster
3-7 BUF - RTD RB Jimmy Golden
3-10 BUF - FG K Ryan Perch
2nd Q
3-13 BUF - FG K Ryan Perch
10-13 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Mackenzie Jones
3rd Q
10-20 BUF - RTD RB Jimmy Golden
17-20 OTT - RTD RB Don Gregson
17-27 BUF - RTD RB Jimmy Golden
4th Q
24-27 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> TE Ryan Hatcher
31-27 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Marshall Leonard
31-34 BUF - PTD QB Charles Lemieux -> WR Julius Drake

It was an emotional night for the Royals fans, as many were thinking this might be Jean Matieau’s last game in Ottawa with the team playing their final 2 games on the road.
Matieau put on a great performance for the home crowd but came up just short of the win with the younger Lemieux leading the Blue Wings on a game-winning drive.
TE Ryan Hatcher had his first career touchdown for the Royals to give them a shot late in the game.
RB Jimmy Golden once again had a 3 touchdown performance continuing his amazing season and becoming just the 3rd RB in league history to reach at least 21 rushing touchdowns in a season. 

Indiana Victors - 17, London Tigers - 27 - Victory Stadium - August 30, 1964 - 1 PM ET - Weather: Partly Cloudy - TV: Harold Mansfield and Jim Earnest
1st Q
0-3 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
7-3 IND - RTD RB Cody Barnes
2nd Q
7-10 LDN - RTD RB Clifford Russell
3rd Q
7-17 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Max Sutton
7-24 LDN - RTD RB Clifford Russell
4th Q
10-24 IND - FG K Ross Poindexter
17-24 IND - PTD QB Lyle Painter -> WR Denis Langlois
17-27 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth

The Tigers got an important almost-must win over the Victors to keep themselves in the hunt with back-to-back games against the Steelheads coming up.
DB Jackson Miles played an important role with a pick in addition to only allowing one completed pass to any WR he was covering in the game.

Long Island Raiders - 20, Providence Gold Stars - 10 - Long Island Stadium - August 30, 1964 - 5 PM ET - Weather: Partly Cloudy - TV: Frank Dijon and Kevin Holcombs
1st Q
7-0 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields
2nd Q
7-7 PRO - PTD QB Connor O’Rourke -> WR Cedric Peterson
10-7 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
3rd Q
17-7 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields
4th Q
17-10 PRO - FG K Maurice Lafayette
20-10 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher

The Raiders took home their 7th win in 8 games on the back of another strong performance from RB Dareion Fields.
Defensively the Raiders had some solid performances with DL Pionk Bjorkkstrand grabbing a fumble, and DB Rutherford Winters getting an interception; LB William Washington II also had a pick in his return to the lineup.
As for the Gold Stars, The trades that they made haven’t seemed to have helped too much, as the team did not look great in the game putting themselves in a tough position down the stretch.
*Long Island and Buffalo clinch playoff spots

Injury Report
DL Tournel Guay BUF - Day-to-Day
RB Corbyn Knight OTT - 9 Weeks

Players of the Week

OFF: QB Todd Baker TOR - 3 Passing Touchdowns, 268 Passing Yards

DEF: DB Jackson Miles LDN - 1 Interception, 3 Passes Defended, 4 Tackles

Standings
WEST
Buffalo 7-4 -x
Toronto 6-4
Louisville 6-5
London 5-5
Indiana 2-8

EAST
Long Island 7-3 -x
Montreal 6-3-1
Boston 5-4-1
Providence 5-5
Ottawa 4-6
Halifax 2-8

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

Week 13 Games
LI (7-3) @ MTL (6-3-1) - SEP 4 - 7 PM ET - Friday Night Football
*LI clinches East Division with Win
*MTL clinches playoff spot with Win
TOR (6-4) @ LDN (5-5) - SEP 5 - 7 PM ET - Saturday Night Football
*TOR clinches playoff spot with Win
HFX (2-8) @ PRO (5-5) - SEP 6 - 2 PM ET
LOU (6-5) @ IND (2-8) - SEP 7 - 1 PM ET - Labour Day
*LOU clinches playoff spot with Win + LDN Loss
OTT (4-6) @ BOS (5-4-1) - SEP 7 - 5 PM ET - Labour Day
*BOS clinches playoff spot with Win + PRO Loss + LDN or LOU Loss
BYE: BUF (7-4)
*BUF clinches West Division with TOR Loss

1964 Week 13 

Montreal Rouge - 30, Long Island Raiders - 27 - OT - Mount Royal Stadium - September 4, 1964 - 7 PM ET - FNF - Weather: Partly Cloudy - TV: FR Cyril Etienne and Quinton Jacques, EN George Leblanc and Kevin Holcombs
1st Q
7-0 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
2nd Q
7-7 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields
3rd Q
10-7 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
10-10 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
13-10 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
4th Q
13-13 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
13-20 LI - PTD QB Stanley Troyer -> WR Casey Coleman
20-20 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Derek Cross
OT
23-20 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
23-27 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields
30-27 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Taylor Karis

It was a thrilling back and forth match between the Rouge and Raiders, that ended with an excellent Gene Bishop-led drive. 
The win gives the Rouge the top spot in the East and clinches them a playoff spot. 
The Raiders were frustrated by the loss, but they will still have a chance to clinch the division in the final week of the season. 
*Montreal clinches playoff spot

London Tigers - 24, Toronto Steelheads - 29 - Western Fair Stadium - September 5, 1964 - 7 PM ET - Weather: Clear - TV: Bob Litchfield and Eric O’Brian
1st Q
0-7 TOR - RTD RB Max Tracy
7-7 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Russell Wilcox
2nd Q
7-10 TOR - FG K Bob Randall
7-13 TOR - FG K Bob Randall
7-16 TOR - FG K Bob Randall
3rd Q
14-16 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Max Sutton
14-22 TOR - PTD QB Todd Baker -> WR Edmund Landry
4th Q
17-22 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
17-29 TOR - RTD RB Tommy Allen
24-29 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> WR Russell Wilcox

The Steelheads came through with a huge win on the road against the Tigers to officially book their ticket to the playoffs in their first season in the NAAF. 
The loss means the Tigers face potentially being completely knocked out of contention if both Louisville and Boston win their games later in the week. 
K Bob Randall had quite the 2nd quarter nailing 3 field goals on 3 straight drives due to the Tigers defence being able to stall out the Steelhead offence. 
LB Dallas Dillard still had a strong showing for the Tigers with a forced fumble and 8 Tackles, but it wasn’t enough.
*Toronto clinches playoff spot

Providence Gold Stars - 14, Halifax Mariners - 34 - New Providence Stadium - September 6, 1964 - 2 PM ET - Weather: Clear- TV: Bob Walton and Steven Kelly
1st Q
0-7 HFX - PTD QB Buck Murphy -> WR Nick Nacker
0-10 HFX - FG K Elvis Franklin
2nd Q
0-17 HFX - RTD RB Ronald O’Sullivan
3rd Q
7-17 PRO - PTD QB Connor O’Rourke -> WR Cedric Peterson
7-24 HFX - DTD DL Pat Butler
4th Q
14-24 PRO - PTD QB Connor O’Rourke -> WR Ben Roland
14-27 HFX - FG K Elvis Franklin
14-34 HFX - PTD QB Buck Murphy -> WR Jav Kerrigan

QB Buck Murphy made the QB decision a whole lot tougher for the Mariners with a stellar performance against the Gold Stars. 
It seemed like QB Michael Benedict had the advantage going into the final two games of the season, but a 2 touchdown performance from Murphy leaves the team at a complete crossroads going into the offseason.
Providence looked terrible in the first half with 3 turnovers and no points; it was only made worse with DL Wayne Baxton knocking the ball off of O’Rourke in the third which allowed DL Pat Butler to scoop the ball and score.
Providence's gamble to trade for several pieces to push for the playoffs has not paid off at all.

Indiana Victors - 11, Louisville Thunder - 18 - Victory Stadium - September 7, 1964 - 1 PM ET - Labour Day - Weather: Clear - TV: Harold Mansfield and Jim Earnest
1st Q
1-0 IND - Single K Ross Poindexter
1-7 LOU - RTD RB Rodney Clark
2nd Q
4-7 IND - FG K Ross Poindexter
4-10 LOU - FG K Frank Hughes
3rd Q
4th Q
11-10 IND - PTD QB Lyle Painter -> WR Ed Edwards
11-16 LOU - PTD QB Leonidas Dumont -> WR Sammy Moss
11-18 LOU - 2PT RB Rodney Clark

The Thunder were able to escape a scary situation with a defensive win over the Victors to close out their regular season. 
The Victors put up a fight with Painter continuing to show he can still play well, but he needed a little more to get a win.
Louisville’s defence did cause the Victors some trouble with LB George Yokoi grabbing a fumble and LB Scotty Williams taking in an interception.
*Louisville clinches playoff spot 

Boston Independents - 28, Ottawa Royals - 21 - Richardson Stadium - September 7, 1964 - 5 PM ET - Labour Day - Weather: Clear - TV: Benjamin O’Donnell and William Arland
1st Q
7-0 BOS - RTD RB Kendall Morgan
14-0 BOS - PTD QB Nathaniel Braddock -> WR Alexei Dubois
2nd Q
14-7 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Mackenzie Jones
14-14 OTT - RTD RB Don Gregson
3rd Q
21-14 BOS - PTD QB Nathaniel Braddock -> WR Chester Bennett
4th Q
21-21 OTT - PTD QB Jean Matieau -> WR Mackenzie Jones
28-21 BOS - PTD QB Nathaniel Braddock -> WR Ellis Lindholm

It was potentially the last battle between Braddock and Matieau would be a touchdown fest.
In the end, Boston would get the last laugh to officially lock up the final playoff spot in the NAAF. 
There were a couple of turnovers in the game with DB Jerome Caldwell getting his second career interception for the Royals and LB Konrad Aust had a pick as well. 
A standing ovation was given out by the Boston faithful for Matieau after the game, showing their respect for the great QB.
*Boston clinches playoff spot

Injury Report
LB Brent Harper BOS - 2 Weeks
LB Bastiano Cerutti IND - Day-to-Day
LB Patrick Terry PRO - 10 Weeks

Players of the Week

OFF: QB Gene Bishop MTL - 2 Passing Touchdowns, 321 Passing Yards

DEF: DL Pat Butler HFX - 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Defensive Touchdown, 4 Tackles, 1 Sack

Standings
WEST
Buffalo 7-4 -x
Toronto 7-4 -x
Louisville 7-5 -x
London 5-6
Indiana 2-9

EAST
Montreal 7-3-1 -x
Long Island 7-4 -x
Boston 6-4-1 -x
Providence 5-6
Ottawa 4-7
Halifax 3-8

*With the playoff teams set, this would mark the time both teams that were in the McCallister Cup the previous season would miss. This also means we will once again have a different final. Also marks the first time the defending champion will miss the playoffs since the Buffalo Blue Wings in 1953.

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

Week 14 Games
HFX (3-8) @ MTL (7-3-1) - SEP 12 - 3 PM ET
*MTL clinches East Division with Win
LDN (5-6) @ TOR (7-4) - SEP 12 - 7 PM ET - Saturday Night Football
*TOR clinches West Division with Win + BUF Loss
OTT (4-7) @ PRO (5-6) - SEP 13 - 12 PM ET
IND (2-9) @ BUF (7-4) - SEP 13 - 3:30 PM ET
*BUF clinches West Division with Win or TOR Loss
BOS (6-4-1) @ LI (7-4) - SEP 13 - 7 PM ET - Season Finale
*BOS clinches East Division with Win + MTL Loss
*LI clinches East Division with Win + MTL Loss
BYE: LOU (7-5)

Last edited by Wallflower (7/29/2021 5:22 pm)

1964 Week 14

Montreal Rouge - 34, Halifax Mariners - 13 - Mount Royal Stadium - September 12, 1964 - 3 PM ET - Weather: Clear- TV: FR Cyril Etienne and Quinton Jacques, EN George Leblanc and Kevin Holcombs
1st Q
0-3 HFX - FG K Elvis Franklin
7-3 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
2nd Q
14-3 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Derek Cross
14-6 HFX - FG K Elvis Franklin
3rd Q
21-6 MTL - RTD RB Scott Mallard-White
21-13 HFX - RTD RB Stavros Black
28-13 MTL - PTD QB Gene Bishop -> WR Taylor Karis
4th Q
31-13 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
34-13 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger

Montreal went out during their final game of the season and claimed the East Division title with a dominant win over Halifax.
The Rouge offence played really well with Gene Bishop controlling the game and continuing his excellent season.
The Mariners were hoping for more of the same from QB Buck Murphy after last week’s strong performance, but he was not able to replicate it struggling against the Rouge defence where he threw 2 interceptions (S Garet deVale and DB Quentin Xavier).
*Montreal clinches East Division

Toronto Steelheads - 18, London Tigers - 25 - Anderson Stadium - September 12, 1964 - 7 PM ET - SNF - Weather: Partly Cloudy - TV: Bob Litchfield and Eric O’Brian
1st Q
3-0 TOR - FG K Bob Randall
3-7 LDN - PTD QB Riley Kiernan -> TE Tranquille Rousseau
2nd Q
6-7 TOR - FG K Bob Randall
6-14 LDN - RTD RB Austin Andrews
3rd Q
12-14 TOR - PTD QB Todd Baker -> WR Edmund Landry
12-17 LDN - FG K Nimrod Handsworth
4th Q
18-17 TOR - PTD QB Todd Baker -> WR Samuel Petri
18-23 LDN - RTD RB Austin Andrews
18-25 LDN - 2PT QB Caldwell Higgins III -> TE Tranquille Rousseau

It was the Tigers that would be the ones to help out the Buffalo Blue Wings with a revenge win over the Steelheads. 
With the Steelheads losing the Blue Wings clinched the West Division for the first time since 1957. 
RB Austin Andrews got the opportunity to start, and he would have a strong game with a pair of touchdowns.
QB Caldwell Higgins III also got an opportunity to take some snaps for his hometown team in the 4th, while QB Rigobert St-Hilaire took some in the 3rd. 
QB Todd Baker tried to get the Steelheads back into it late with a pair of touchdown passes, but it would not be enough.
*Buffalo clinches West Division

Providence Gold Stars - 12, Ottawa Royals - 15 - New Providence Stadium - September 13, 1964 - 12 PM ET - Weather: Cloudy - TV: Bob Walton and Steven Kelly
1st Q
3-0 PRO - FG K Maurice Lafayette
2nd Q
6-0 PRO - FG K Maurice Lafayette
6-7 OTT - RTD RB Don Gregson
9-7 PRO - FG K Maurice Lafayette
3rd Q
12-7 PRO - FG K Maurice Lafayette
4th Q
12-13 OTT - PTD QB Landon Ross -> WR Marshall Leonard
12-15 OTT - 2PT QB Landon Ross -> WR Marshall Leonard

The Royals would start QB Landon Ross in their final game of the season, to see what the young QB could bring to the table as a potential starter of the future. 
Ross was able to pull off the win with a game-winning touchdown to Marshall Leonard. 
Providence’s offence with QB Terry Bourbon under center was far from perfect, in fact, they turned the ball over 3 times in the game. 
DB Jerome Caldwell had yet another pick as well as DB Wesley Nires, while DL Zane Tannith had a forced fumble. 

Buffalo Blue Wings - 35, Indiana Victors - 13 - Milton Charles Stadium - September 13, 1964 - 3:30 PM ET - Weather: Clear - TV: Jerry Goldbridge and Jackie Calhoon
1st Q
7-0 BUF - RTD RB Jimmy Golden
7-3 IND - FG K Ross Poindexter
2nd Q
14-3 BUF - RTD RB Jimmy Golden
21-3 BUF - PTD QB Charles Lemieux -> WR Daniel Irons
3rd Q
28-3 BUF - PTD QB Jack Owens -> WR Moe Schafer
28-10 IND - RTD RB Raymond Green
4th Q
28-13 IND - FG K Ross Poindexter
35-13 BUF - RTD RB Jimmy Golden

He did it, RB Jimmy Golden was able to put up 3 touchdowns in the Blue Wings’ final game of the season which would set the new record for rushing touchdowns in a season.
After he had scored twice in the first half, RB Théodore Lemieux took over for most of the second half alongside QB Jack Owens, but Golden was given a shot to break the record from 2-yards out late in the game.  
Indiana had started QB Tom Applewhite, but he didn’t last very long before taking a big hit from DL Mickey Daly that would take him out of the game leaving fellow young QB Jimm Kidd to take over. 

Long Island Raiders - 16, Boston Independents - 27 - Long Island Stadium - September 13, 1964 - Finale - Weather: Cloudy - TV: Benjamin O’Donnell and William Arland
1st Q
0-7 BOS - PTD QB Nathaniel Braddock -> WR Ellis Lindholm
0-14 BOS - PTD QB Nathaniel Braddock -> WR Chester Bennett
2nd Q
7-14 LI - RTD RB Dareion Fields
7-17 BOS - FG K Johnnie Berg
3rd Q
10-17 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
13-17 LI - FG K Henderson Schumacher
13-24 BOS - PTD QB Nathaniel Braddock -> WR Ellis Lindholm
4th Q
16-24 LI - FG K Henderson Schmacher
16-27 BOS - FG K Johnnie Berg

A great game from QB Nathaniel Braddock would help give the Independents a home playoff game officially by clinching the East’s second seed.
It was a fast start for Braddock who threw touchdowns on the first two drives of the game.
The Raider struggled to recover with Boston controlling the game from that point on, they would not get anything defensively as Boston kept it clean without any turnovers.
Boston’s defence did have success with Lawrence Ralph grabbing a pick and DL Timmy Kerr getting a forced fumble.

Injury Report
RB Ronald O’Sullivan HFX - 5 Weeks
OL Kurt Booker HFX - Day-to-Day
QB Tom Applewhite IND - 2 Weeks
DB Michael Cornell III IND - 3 Weeks
DL Dexter Barbarcos MTL - Day-to-Day
LB Sam Fitzroy MTL - 7 Weeks
WR Owen Paisley PRO - 8 Weeks
DB Luke Warren TOR - 1 Week

Players of the Week

OFF: QB Nathaniel Braddock BOS - 3 Passing Touchdowns, 321 Passing Yards

DEF: S Garet deVale MTL - 1 Interception, 5 Tackles, 2 Passed defended

Standings
WEST
Buffalo 8-4 -y
Toronto 7-5 -x
Louisville 7-5 -x
London 6-6
Indiana 2-10

EAST
Montreal 8-3-1 -y
Boston 7-4-1 -x
Long Island 7-5 -x
Providence 5-7
Ottawa 5-7
Halifax 3-9

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



Playoff Preview 

East Division Semi-Final - Boston Independents VS. Long Island Raiders
Head-to-Head: W1 BOS 25-24 LI, W14 LI 16-27 BOS
Boston was able to take home field in the final game of the season in the win over the Raiders. They have the momentum heading into the game, but the Raiders are certainly not going to go down without a fight. The big question for the Raiders will be if they can beat a good team since all 7 of their wins came against non-playoff teams this season. Either way, it should be a close battle based on the previous battles this season. In the end, I think the best QB will be the one to come out on top, so I’m taking Boston in this one.
My Pick: Independents

West Division Semi-Final - Toronto Steelheads VS. Louisville Thunder
Head-to-Head: W6 TOR 34-33 LOU, W10 TOR 20-31 LOU, W12 LOU 23-30 TOR OT
It will be the 1st time two teams have met for a 4th time in a season in league history. Toronto had the advantage during the regular season, and they may have an advantage with playoff success with their multiple OFU titles in recent years. Louisville’s defence will need to play well, however, the game could depend more so on the offensive attack. I think the Steelheads are coming in with a chip on their shoulder and I am concerned with Louisville’s consistency, so I like the Steelheads in this one.
My Pick: Steelheads

Last edited by Wallflower (7/29/2021 7:15 pm)

Lets Go Buffalo!

Time to do some damage Blue Wings