1952 Week 9

Ottawa Royals - 32, Toronto Tigers - 25 - Lansdowne Park - September 6, 1952 - 2 PM ET
Playoff implications are in the air for the rematch between the Royals and the Tigers. With a win, the Royals would clinch the division and host their first playoff game in the NAAF, while Toronto is trying to hold onto their playoff hopes. The Royals got off on the right foot, with QB Jean Matieau taking the offense to the endzone,  finding WR Allen Atkins for the score. The Tigers would answer the touchdown with one of their own via RB Laurent Brazeau. Neither team scored until the second where Allen Atkins would catch his second touchdown over DB Louie White. The Tigers would get a field goal shortly after, but the Royals would find the endzone again before the half came to an end on a run from RB Alexei Volkov. The second half started with QB Duane Logan, who was playing his first game back in Ottawa, leading the Tigers down the field. He would eventually throw a touchdown to WR Jake Hadder and then RB Laurent Brazeau would tack on the 2-point convert. The Royals would add a field goal to double their lead from 3 to 6. However, the Tigers would find the endzone once again this time to RB Laurent Brazeau and take the 24-25 lead. Nearing the end of the game the Royals would be moving the ball slowly up the field and were at their own 44-yard line and had 3rd and Inches. Backup and former Tiger QB Evan Morrow was on the field with the short-yardage unit. Morrow was about to dive forward, but he would instead step back and fire a pass to WR Allen Atkins who had snuck out and behind everyone. Atkins would take the ball the rest of the way to retake the lead. The Tigers couldn’t answer and the Royals officially clinched the North Division. 
*OTT Clinch North Division* 

Buffalo Blue Wings - 24, Montreal Rouge - 15 - Buffalo Civic Stadium - September 6, 1952 - 2 PM ET
DB Oscar Patterson, the team’s long time captain and one of the greatest to play in Buffalo, was considering retirement after this season. Over the week off, Patterson decided to do something he always wanted to do and painted white wings on either side of his blue helmet. When he went onto the field with the wings, it created quite the conversation with announcers and the crowd in attendance. However, once the game started, the conversation went away as the Rouge looked to have control of the game from the start. Their offense was not reaching the endzone but Marchal was able to get them into field goal range again and again. The turning point came halfway through the 2nd when QB Oliver Callahan tried throwing the ball to WR Ray Lopez. Patterson was the one to jump the route and snag the ball. He would turn and fly down the field scoring the touchdown and igniting the Blue Wings heading into the half. The Blue Wings offense turned it up scoring a field goal and would follow it up with QB Angelo Medina finding WR Joseph Barry for a touchdown. RB Élisée Marchal would try to pull Montreal back into the game with a huge touchdown, but the team would miss the convert. The Rouge would get another chance but Callahan would be stripped by DL Johnathan Brown and the Blue Wings would recover, setting up RB Arthur Conner for a touchdown. The game would end on a second interception for DB Oscar Patterson as the Blue Wings beat the Rouge for the first time. With Patterson and his winged helmet leading the way, the symbol of the winged helmet would stick for Buffalo as they continue their hunt for the playoffs.

Boston Independents - 23, Hartford Hawks - 6 - Richardson Stadium - September 7, 1952 - 3 PM ET
The Independents put themselves in prime position to clinch the New England Division once again with a win of Hartford. While they didn’t dominate, their defense held the Hawks offense back. RB Joel Bonner had another touchdown in the game giving Boston the 10-0 lead. They would add a couple of field goals in the second half before WR Samuel Floyd broke free for a touchdown. Hartford’s offense suffered from a lack of weapons again against a good defense. It is clear the team needs loads of help on the offensive side of the ball. QB Micheal Kramer was able to get them in range for a couple of field goals, but that was all they could manage. Boston is now just one win away from clinching the New England Division. 

Providence Gold Stars - 34, Worcester Athletics - 13 - New Providence Stadium - September 7, 1952 - 3 PM ET
The Gold Stars dominated the Athletics in their second meeting of the season. WR Peter Brooks would grab two touchdowns on the day with WR Eugene Burns taking in another. The fourth touchdown would come from RB Clayton Owen who is in for the injured RB Gene Fischer. Their defense came up with several more turnovers from DB Lee Wolfe and DB Victor Bean who have been the top DBs in the league this season. QB Bruce Woodard was on point throwing for 358 yards and 3 touchdowns leading the way for the Gold Stars as they hold on to hope that maybe they can still win the division. Worcester was able to get the ball into the endzone but came at the cost of losing RB Jacque Montier. The RB would be hurt after being tackled on a 14-yard run. A couple plays later former Tigers RB Glenn Matthews would take it in for the score. They would get a couple more field goals but that was all they could grab in the loss. 
*PRO Clinches Playoff Spot* 

Players of the Week 

OFF: WR Allen Atkins OTT - 3 Touchdowns, 124 Receiving Yards 

DEF: DB Oscar Patterson BUF - 2 Interceptions, 1 Touchdown, 3 Tackles

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

NEW ENGLAND
Boston 6-3 -x
Providence 5-4 -x
Worcester 2-7
Hartford 2-7

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

Week 10 Games
PRO (5-4) @ HAR (2-7) - SEP 13 - 2 PM ET
PRO Clinches Division with Win + BOS Loss
TOR (4-5) @ MTL (5-4) - SEP 13 - 2 PM ET
MTL Clinches Playoffs with Win or Tie + BUF Loss
TOR Clinches Playoffs with Win >3 points + BUF Loss
OTT (7-2) @ BUF (5-4) - SEP 13 - 2 PM ET
BUF Clinches Playoffs with Win
BOS (6-3) @ WOR (2-7) - SEP 13 - 2 PM ET
BOS Clinches Division with Win or PRO Loss
 

MyTeamIsDr.Pepper wrote:

Oh boy, are we gonna see Buffalo adopt those full time next season? Those look great!

Also just going to ignore Toronto losing again, maybe if i don't see it it won't happen.

Patterson is opening a whole new window for not only Buffalo but the whole league. There's going to be some updates this offseason. I've been planning this Patterson story since '49, I'm pumped.

Last edited by Wallflower (4/29/2020 11:11 pm)

Wallflower wrote:

Patterson is opening a whole new window for not only Buffalo but the whole league. There's going to be some updates this offseason. I've been planning this Patterson story since '49, I'm pumped.

Color me excited!

Montreal didn't make it! There will be a new champion in the North! I'd love to see a Royals v Gold Stars game, that would look great!

I’m gonna go with the two upsets here. Gold stars over Boston and Buffalo over Ottawa. Going with my team in PRO and the hot streak in BUF.