1952 Week 3

Buffalo Blue Wings - 14, Hartford Hawks - 16 - Buffalo Civic Stadium - July 25, 1952 - 7 PM ET
The Blue Wings can’t catch a break as they drop their third straight. There may have been a feeling of relief coming into a game against an easier opponent, but they completely underestimated the Hawks. To make matters worse, RB Artur Conner had to leave the game in the first due to a hit from DL Sean Bowen. The good news is he should be back next week. The Blue Wings could not keep the ball all day with 4 turnovers including 3 fumbles. The other turnover was an interception to DB Eugene Christensen. The Hawks had jumped out to a solid lead behind QB Michael Kramer making his first start. While they weren’t flashy, they were able to get the ball within field goal range multiple times. RB Johnnie Stafford would get his first career touchdown after a strip-sack from Sean Bowen. The Hawks led 13-0 at the half. The Blue Wings would score a touchdown in the third to 1951’s rookie of the year WR Clifford Church. They would be slowed again but would take the lead in the fourth on a second touchdown to WR Joseph Barry. The Hawks would get the ball and get to the 40 before giving K Thomas McFadden the chance to win. He would drill the kick and the defense would stall Buffalo again to win the game.  

*(Apparently Hartford has this thing where they upset people in Week 3 - MTL in ’50, PRO in’51, and now BUF in ‘52. In fact, when playing during the third week of the season Hartford in undefeated and that would also apply to their 3rd game of every season beating BUF in ‘49 to improve to 1-2) 

Toronto Tigers - 31, Ottawa Royals - 26 - Kitchener-Waterloo City Field - July 26, 1952 - 2 PM ET
The city of Kitchener gets another great showdown as the Tigers face off against their provincial rivals. QB Duane Logan was playing the Royals for the first time in his career and he came to play. The veteran QB immediately started lighting up the field moving the ball quickly. The Tigers were up 10-0 early off of a WR Wilbert Benjamin touchdown. After Jean Matieau led the Royals to a field goal, the Tigers would score again this time with a huge run from RB Laurent Brazeau. In the second, down 17-6, Ottawa would have a strong drive that would end in a WR Willard Brooks touchdown, though the convert was missed to make it a 3-point game. The Tigers held the lead into the half. The third quarter ended up being all Tigers. On their second drive of the half, Logan would find WR Marqués Gardner for a 22-yard gain and would set Brazeau up for a 16-yard touchdown run to extend the lead. On a later Royals drive, DB Louie White would snag the ball away when Matieau was under pressure and tried to get the ball to WR Allen Atkins. The Interception would allow Brazeau to score his third touchdown for the second straight week. The fourth started with the Tigers up 31-12. A determined Matieau and Atkins would lead the Royals back into the game in the fourth. Early on, Matieau would lead a quick drive, only needing 6 plays to score with Atkins in the endzone. They would get the 2-point convert this time to cut the lead to 11. A few drives later Matieau would fire a rocket downfield for Atkins who would catch the ball even with DB Louie White and S Mason Parker right on him. The Royals would end up in the endzone again on a jet sweep from RB Alexei Volkov who had lined up in the slot with Ellis Love in the backfield. Unfortunately, they would miss the convert, and Toronto would run out the clock to give themselves their first 3-0 start in franchise history.   

Providence Gold Stars - 35, Montreal Rouge - 15 - New Providence Stadium - July 26, 1952 - 6 PM ET
The Gold Stars bounced back big time in their return home against the defending champs. It came early too as they would score on their first drive just over a minute into the game. WR Peter Brooks found a bit of open space and got the catch in the corner of the endzone. On Montreal’s first drive QB Oliver Callahan would make a bad decision and throw across the field to WR Richard de la Fontaine and it was picked off by DB Victor Bean. This would set up another Peter Brooks touchdown and the Gold Stars were up 14-0 quick. The Rouge were reeling and struggled to get back much. They got a field goal, but Providence came back with another strong drive and extended their lead with RB Gene Fischer on the ground to make it 21-3. The Rouge would add another field goal just before the half. The second half started with a 3rd Rouge field goal but quickly went further downhill for the Rouge when DB Lee Wolfe would pick it off and set up Peter Brooks’ 3rd TD. Heading into the fourth the Rouge found a little momentum with Marchal getting a touchdown, but the Gold Stars would steal it right back and score again this time to TE Marion Warren. The Gold Stars win a huge game at home and end the Rouge’s 14-game unbeaten streak.  

Boston Independents - 24, Worcester Athletics - 14 - Richardson Stadium - July 27, 1952 - 3 PM ET
The Athletics keep showing improvement from week to week and it is noticeable here. While Boston opened this game well with a touchdown drive in the 1st quarter with Joel Bonner scoring, the Athletics were able to return with a couple of field goals after some strong drives. However, just before the half, WR Samuel Floyd would finally break free for a huge Boston touchdown to extend the lead. The lead was extended to 17-6 in the 3rd, but QB Riley Kiernan would lead a huge drive late in the 3rd that would end in his first career touchdown pass to WR Clyde McIntosh. Kiernan would also run in the 2-point convert to make it a 3 point game. Unfortunately, the Independents would come back with another strong drive of their own leading to another Joel Bonner touchdown and the 24-14 lead.  

Players of the Week

OFF: WR Peter Brooks PRO - 3 Touchdowns, 93 Receiving Yards

DEF: DL Sean Bowen HAR - 2 Sacks, 2 Forced Fumbles, 7 Tackles 

Standings
NORTH
Toronto 3-0
Ottawa 2-1
Montreal 2-1
Buffalo 0-3

NEW ENGLAND
Providence 2-1
Boston 2-1
Hartford 1-2
Worcester 0-3

Power Rankings
Toronto +3
Providence +4
Montreal -2
Ottawa -2
Boston -1
Hartford +2
Buffalo -2
Worcester -1

Week 4 Games
BOS (2-1) @ HAR (1-2)
BUF (0-3) @ OTT (2-1)
PRO (2-1) @ WOR (0-3)
MTL (2-1) @ TOR (3-0)

Last edited by Wallflower (4/24/2020 10:42 pm)

Wow Toronto at 3-0?! What is happening in '52?

It's a sad day. A very sad day indeed.

joho42x wrote:

I think the North Division should be renamed the Canadian Division, since 3 of the 4 teams are from Canada, and the only non-Canadian team in that division -- the Buffalo Blue Wings -- is just across the border from Canada.

It is definitely a consideration, and I had thought of it before, but just felt North division made more sense. While Buffalo is close, it still isn't Canada, that's my reason anyway.

Also for Week 4, I realized that I goofed when putting the schedule together and the Athletics were supposed to host the Gold Stars this week. It doesn't change the results, just updated the graphics. 

1952 Week 5

Montreal Rouge - 20, Ottawa Royals - 36 - Mount Royal Stadium - August 9, 1952 - 2 PM ET
The Royals offense rolled over the usual brick wall of a Rouge defense and stole a game in Montreal. This game was close in the first few quarters as the teams traded touchdowns early on. Ottawa started things off with WR Willard Brooks finding the endzone, Montreal would follow up with their star RB Élisée Marchal scoring once again. The touchdowns would stand for a bit before Ottawa would reclaim the lead on a TE Morris Lindsey touchdown who snuck out underneath the coverage for his first TD as a Royal. The Rouge would have a big drive but fall just short of the endzone resulting in a field goal. The Royals would sneak another field goal in just before the half after DB Uzzia Hayes picked off QB Oliver Callahan. The Royals would add to the lead again in the 3rd with WR Allen Atkins’ first of the game, however, K Clint Hudson would miss the extra point. Montreal would find the endzone again after the Royals scored, once again with Marchal cutting the lead to just 6. Even with Marchal keeping the Rouge in the game, their aging defense had no answers for QB Jean Matieau. Matieau would lead another long drive which would end on a trick play finding RB Ellis Love open in the endzone for another passing touchdown. After another Rouge field goal. The Royals would put the nail in the coffin when WR Allen Atkins broke past everyone and took it to the house on a bomb over the top. The Royals rebound after back-to-back losses and Montreal starts to worry about their position. 

Boston Independents - 23, Providence Gold Stars - 20 - Richardson Stadium - August 9, 1952 - 2 PM ET
The Gold Stars demons still haunt them in Boston. Even with the team fielding the best defense in the league so far, they could not stop the Independents when it counted most. This game was all Boston early on with a field goal followed up by a RB Rahil Boone Touchdown after RB Joel Bonner left the game with a minor injury. Following the touchdown, both teams were able to slow each other down while also gaining traction on offense. The two sides traded several field goals making the score 13-6 Boston. Things changed when QB Bruce Woodard tried to find Peter Brooks downfield but was picked off by DB Lester Murphy. This would become another Boston major from WR Ethan Walters. Following the mistake, Woodard led the Gold Stars on a big drive that would end with RB Gene Fischer breaking through to the endzone. After DB Lee Wolfe would grab another interception off of QB Larry Larson, they would tie the game up at 20 with WR Lloyd Marshall. The Gold Stars had loads of momentum and plenty of time to take the lead. On their next drive, Providence would move quickly, but Woodard got a little excited and thought he had Peter Brooks open downfield. The throw was slightly short and was picked off by S Michael O’Brien. That zapped the momentum from Providence. The Independents wouldn’t score on the ensuing drive but would get the ball back once again late. QB Larry Larson would find himself in a similar position as last year without RB Joel Bonner, and once again he was able to pull off the win. Getting to field goal range and allowing K Arthur Wall to seal it on a 32-yard kick. The Gold Stars are frustrated again by another loss in Boston.  

Buffalo Blue Wings - 19, Toronto Tigers - 17 - Buffalo Civic Stadium - August 10, 1952 - 3 PM ET
After both games from last year ended with only 2-points separating the teams, it was no surprise that once again it was a close game. The opening quarter had no scoring as both teams traded drive after drive. Each team had fumbled the ball as well with a little rain on the field early on. The second quarter would have Buffalo put up back-to-back field goals going up 6-0 however, with the half winding down and the rain halting, the Tigers moved the ball downfield and RB Laurent Brazeau would find the endzone to give the Tigers the halftime lead. The second half started with Toronto scoring again, this time on a field goal. The Blue Wings would get it back late in the 3rd on a bomb to WR Clifford Church who had snuck behind Tigers coverage. The Blue Wings now had the 13-10 lead. In the fourth, the Tigers would make a strong drive with about 4 minutes to go and score another touchdown. RB Laurent Brazeau had his second of the game and the Tigers had the late lead. Their defense was able to stop Buffalo twice while running down the clock. Buffalo got the ball back a third time with only 35 seconds left. QB Angelo Medina started working his magic and would in a couple of plays have the Blue Wings in the redzone. After a 1st down incompletion, Medina was able to find WR Travis Gallagher at the 4-yard line, where he was tackled. However, the Blue Wings still had one last play as the clock still had 1 second left when he was tackled. On the final snap, QB Angelo Medina dropped back and found no one open. With the coverage, Medina rolled out of the pocket and then took off towards the endzone. LB Aengus Lynch came rumbling in to tackle Medina and he got his arms around him, but Medina was able to stretch his arms over the line for the score. The Blue Wings would kneel the convert to prevent giving Toronto a chance to tie. 

Worcester Athletics - 23, Hartford Hawks - 16 - Worcester Athletic Club Grandstands - August 10, 1952 - 3 PM ET
QB Riley Kiernan grabbed his first career win in a battle with the Hawks. The Young QB was solid throwing one touchdown to fellow rookie WR Christian Venegas. The touchdown was Venegas’ first and he had almost dropped it but gained control after juggling it. The other 2 touchdowns for the Athletics came from RB Jacque Montier, including setting up the game-winner on a 34-yard run, which he would put into the endzone a couple plays later. LB Scotty Williams continued to be a force down the middle, absolutely rocking the Hawks rookie RB Johnnie Stafford who would fumble the ball on the play. He also came up with 12 tackles in the game. The Hawks were just as competitive with the game coming down to the final few minutes tied at 16. DB Slay Mitchell also reeled in his first interception of his career and had his best game. Unfortunately, their defense just couldn’t stop Montier on the final drive and that ended their day. Offensively, QB Michael Kramer had a minor set back in the game throwing a pick and fumbling the ball. He still was able to get WR Michael Mcleod a touchdown in the 3rd quarter. 

Players of the Week

OFF: QB Jean Matieau OTT - 5 Passing Touchdowns, 426 Passing Yards

DEF: LB Scotty Williams WOR - 1 Forced Fumble, 12 Tackles

Standings
NORTH
Ottawa 3-2
Toronto 3-2
Montreal 3-2
Buffalo 2-3

NEW ENGLAND
Boston 4-1
Providence 3-2
Worcester 1-4
Hartford 1-4

Power Rankings
Ottawa +3
Providence -
Boston +2
Montreal -2
Toronto -2
Buffalo -
Worcester +1
Hartford -1

Week 6 Games
BOS (4-1) @ PRO (3-2) - AUG. 16 - 2 PM ET
MTL (3-2) @ OTT (3-2) - AUG. 16 - 2 PM ET
WOR (1-4) @ HAR (1-4) - AUG. 17 - 3 PM ET
BUF (2-3) @ TOR (3-2) - AUG. 17 - 6 PM ET