Captain Mort 3D wrote:

Man I’m on the Gold Stars hype train now for real as long as Brazeau stays dominant. If he continues to play lights out it could create problems for Worcester despite their great defense in the playoffs.

The move seems to be working well out of the gate for the Gold Stars. Brazeau just adds the run-game that Providence has always lacked. If the "Brooks Brothers" keep it up in the pass-game they are a real threat to Worcester.

Slapshot Kirby wrote:

I’m just happy Ottawa stopped that losing streak, but I am a little worried about Long Island, as they seem to have been hung over from losing the McCallister Cup last year. Hopefully last season’s Raiders aren’t the NAAF’s answer to the 1998 Atlanta Falcons or anything. Oh well.

I would say don't get too worried about the Raiders. They are only 2 years removed from a 0-10 season, and last season they heavily exceeded expectations, it's not too much of a surprise that they feel back to a Earth a bit so far this season. They have a very young team with Lyle Painter and Slay Mitchell leading the way and I am sure they will be a competitive team for the next while. And this season is far from over being that if they pull off a win over Providence they could still beat them or Ontario out for the final playoff spot.

1956 Week 9

Boston Independents - 7, Worcester Athletics - 35 - Richardson Stadium - September 8, 1956 - 1 PM ET - CBS
1st
0-7 WOR - TD WR Christian Venegas
0-14 WOR - TD RB Marcus Devonshire
2nd
7-14 BOS - TD RB Joel Bonner
7-21 WOR - TD DB Alexander Bradley
3rd
7-28 WOR - TD RB Marcus Devonshire
4th
7-35 WOR - TD RB Lawrence Sharp 

Worcester dominated the Independents with Devonshire leading the way on the ground
They would give the RB a break in the 4th with Lawrence Sharp taking over and scoring a touchdown as well
Boston had nothing for the Athletics and drop to 1-8 and a very likely 3rd overall pick coming to the team this season
Worcester also officially breaks Providence’s unbeaten streak with a 9-0 record to their 8-0 record in 1953 

Long Island Raiders - 13, Providence Gold Stars - 22 - Long Island Stadium - September 8, 1956 - 4 PM ET - CBS
1st
2nd
3-0 LI - FG K Thomas McFadden
6-0 LI - FG K Thomas McFadden
6-1 PRO - Single K Bernard Barnett
3rd
13-1 LI - TD RB Timothy Weeks
13-8 PRO - TD RB Laurent Brazeau
4th
13-14 PRO - TD WR Willard Brooks
13-16 PRO - 2PT RB Laurent Brazeau
13-22 PRO - TD LB Daevion Shelton 

The Gold Stars had a rough start but QB Connor O’Rourke would make his mark in the 2nd half leading the Gold Stars back into the game and to their first playoff appearance since 1953
The game was sealed on a blocked field goal which Daevion Shelton took back the distance to make it 13-22 on the final play of the game
This also eliminates the former New England Division Champion Raiders from the playoffs 

Ottawa Royals - 27, Ontario Tigers - 12 - Royals Stadium at Brewer Park - September 9, 1956 - 3 PM ET - CBC
1st
7-0 OTT - TD RB Alexei Volkov
7-3 ON - FG K Nathaniel King
2nd
10-3 OTT - FG K Maurice Lafayette
10-6 ON - FG K Nathaniel King
17-6 OTT - TD WR Chester Bennett
3rd
17-9 ON - FG K Nathaniel King
20-9 OTT - FG K Maurice Lafayette
4th
27-9 OTT - TD RB Alexei Volkov
27-12 ON - FG K Nathaniel King 

Despite their hot streak, the Tigers were unable to find the endzone against the Royals
The Royals defense held the Tigers at bay with a great performance from former Tiger, LB Roland Hensley, and DB Mingan Oliver
Volkov also found the endzone twice to help the Royals clinch their 3rd North Division title 

Montreal Rouge - 24, Buffalo Blue Wings - 28 - Mount Royal Stadium - September 9, 1956 - 6 PM ET
1st
7-0 MTL - TD RB Élisée Marchal
14-0 MTL - TD DB Quentin Xavier
2nd
14-7 BUF - TD RB Arthur Conner
14-14 BUF - TD WR Samuel Floyd
3rd
21-14 MTL - TD RB Élisée Marchal
24-14 MTL - FG K Arthur Kettinger
4th
24-21 BUF - TD RB Arthur Conner
24-28 BUF - TD RB Arthur Conner

A scary game for the Blue Wings as the Rouge almost took them out of the playoffs
The Blue Wings managed to stay alive with Arthur Conner coming alive in the final quarter
The defense also played a part with DB Louie White taking in a pick and DL Sean Bowen knocking the ball out of Marchal’s hands to set up the game-winning TD
Montreal’s defense had a good first half with Xavier taking in a pick-6 and LB Rusty McVee coming up with a fumble off of WR Nathan Green 

Players of the Week

OFF: RB Arthur Conner BUF - 3 Rushing Touchdowns, 146 Rushing Yards 

DEF: LB Roland Hensley OTT - 9 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble

Standings
NORTH
Ottawa 7-2 -y
Ontario 4-5
Buffalo 4-5
Montreal 2-7

NEW ENGLAND
Worcester 9-0 -y
Providence 6-3 -x
Long Island 3-6
Boston 1-8

Power Rankings
1 - Worcester -
2 - Ottawa +2
3 - Providence -1
4 - Ontario -1
5 - Buffalo +1
6 - Long Island -1
7 - Montreal -
8 - Boston -

Week 10 Games
WOR (9-0) @ BUF (4-5) - SEP 15 - 1 PM ET - CBS
*BUF clinches playoff with Win + ON Loss
OTT (7-2) @ PRO (6-3) - SEP 15 - 1 PM ET
MTL (2-7) @ ON (4-5) - SEP 15 - 4 PM ET - CBC
*ON clinches playoff with Win or BUF loss
LI (3-6) @ BOS (1-8) - SEP 15 - 4 PM ET - CBS

Come on Montreal, I need you to help get my Wings to the playoffs... Assuming we don't just lose lol

1956 Week 10

Buffalo Blue Wings - 27, Worcester Athletics - 16 - Buffalo Civic Stadium - September 15, 1956 - 1 PM ET - CBS
1st
7-0 BUF - TD RB Arthur Conner
7-3 WOR - FG K Tevoris Francis
10-3 BUF - FG K Donald Brewer
2nd
17-3 BUF - TD WR Joseph Barry
3rd
17-10 WOR - TD RB Lawrence Sharp
17-16 WOR - TD WR Christian Venegas
20-16 BUF - FG K Donald Brewer
4th
27-16 BUF - TD RB Arthur Conner

The Athletics unbeaten season came to an end here with a loss to the Blue Wings trying to hold onto their playoff hopes
Worcester did start backup QB Andrew Glover, however, the QB took a massive hit after throwing the ball which had him unable to get off the field on his power, the hit could spell an early end to his career
QB Riley Kiernan took over from there and would almost tie the game up at 17, with a missed convert before the Blue Wings pulled away in the 4th and the Athletics didn’t want to risk any more injuries 

Providence Gold Stars - 19, Ottawa Royals - 20 - New Providence Stadium - September 15, 1956 - 1 PM ET
1st
7-0 PRO - TD RB Laurent Brazeau
2nd
7-7 OTT - TD RB Jacque Montier
10-7 PRO - FG K Bernard Barnett
3rd
10-14 OTT - TD WR Chester Bennett
16-14 PRO - TD QB Alex Agramonte
4th
19-14 PRO - FG K Bernard Barnett
19-20 OTT - TD WR Allen Atkins 

QB Duane Logan made his first start for Ottawa since 1951
Many other backups were also getting a chance, including Gold Stars’ backup QB Alex Agramonte
Agramonte was able to run in an 18-yard touchdown to give the Gold Stars a late lead, but an excellent drive from Logan would end in a passing touchdown to his old teammate Allen Atkins 

Ontario Tigers - 15, Montreal Rouge - 7 - Kitchener-Waterloo City Field - September 15, 1956 - 4 PM ET - CBC
1st
2nd
3-0 ON - FG K Nathaniel King
3-7 MTL - TD RB Scott Mallard-White
3rd
4th
6-7 ON - FG K Nathaniel King
12-7 ON - TD WR Wilbert Benjamin
15-7 ON - FG K Nathaniel King 

For a game that had playoff implications for Ontario, it was pretty lackluster, with Montreal’s defense able to shut down any offense until the 4th quarter
LB Rusty McVee had a pick and a fumble, and DB Quentin Xavier had a pick as well
Ontario’s defense was very much keeping the team in the game with LB Aengus Lynch keeping Mallard-White at bay for the most part and even coming up with a fumble to set up the last field goal
In the end, the Tigers pull off the unthinkable and make the playoffs for the first time in team history 

Boston Independents - 17, Long Island Raiders - 21 - Richardson Stadium - September 15, 1956 - 4 PM ET - CBS
1st
0-7 LI - TD WR Travis Gallagher
7-7 BOS - TD WR Clifford Church
2nd
3rd
14-7 BOS - TD RB Joel Bonner
14-14 LI - TD RB Conner Riley
4th
14-21 LI - TD WR Robert Lang
17-21 BOS - K Johnnie Berg 

Long Island finishes their season with a win as QB Stanislav Ovechkin makes a case for being a possible NAAF start for a team to look out for
Boston’s QB Caldwell Higgins III also played well and looks to be the future for the Independents
Defense’s both had a rough day, but DB Carson Scott and DB Slay Mitchell both had interceptions on the day

Injury Report
WR Darryl Duke LI - Day-to-Day
OL Samuel Weston LI - Day-to-Day
TE Paul McDowell ON - 1 Week
OL Ulysses Fairgrove ON - Day-to-Day
OL James Knowles OTT - Day-to-Day
LB Mickaël Beaumont OTT - Day-to-Day
RB Lawrence Sharp WOR - Day-to-Day
QB Andrew Glover WOR - Season 

Players of the Week

OFF: RB Arthur Conner BUF - 2 Rushing Touchdowns, 95 Rushing Yards

DEF: LB Aengus Lynch ON - 9 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble 

Standings
NORTH
Ottawa 8-2 -y
Ontario 5-5 -x
Buffalo 5-5
Montreal 2-8

NEW ENGLAND
Worcester 9-1 -y
Providence 6-4 -x
Long Island 4-6
Boston 1-9

Power Rankings
1 - Worcester -
2 - Ottawa - 
3 - Providence -
4 - Ontario -
5 - Long Island +1
6 - Buffalo -1
7 - Montreal -
8 - Boston -

Playoff Preview
NEW ENGLAND SEMI-FINAL
Worcester Athletics VS. Providence Gold Stars - Worcester Stadium - September 22, 1956 - 6 PM ET - CBS
Head-to-Head: W1: PRO 18-30 WOR, W7: WOR 27-21 PRO
Worcester looks to be the favourites based on their skill and the season they just put together, but the Gold Stars are not the opponents to write off. RB Laurent Brazeau has been great for the Gold Stars and could be a big impact in the game alongside the veterans of Providence like DB Lee Wolfe and WR Peter Brooks. Worcester has come a long way since last year’s semi-finals and they have a great shot, especially if QB Riley Kiernan can get going with his RB, Marcus Devonshire. Worcester will be playing for Richard Paul and a chance to head home for the McCallister Cup 

NORTH SEMI-FINAL
Ottawa Royals VS. Ontario Tigers - Royals Stadium at Brewer Park - September 23, 1956 - 6 PM ET - CBC
Head-to-Head: W7: ON 27-24 OTT, W9: OTT 27-12 ON
​Ontario has shocked the league with their second half, but they will have a steep hill to climb against a much healthier Royals squad than the week 7 win. Ottawa has loads of championship experience that will have an advantage over the Tigers who have 1 player that has started a playoff game before in LB Jim Daniels with Long Island last season. The Royals will flex their strong offense for sure, but the improved defense will be as big a factor against first-year starter QB Christian Stewart. 

Who's headed to Worcester for the McCallister Cup?

Last edited by Wallflower (8/19/2020 10:48 am)

Going with my Royals over Ontario and Worcester over Providence