The Super
Bowl is a most difficult goal to achieve whether it be the NFL or the
EZFL To win one must first have a great team. Secondly, the coach must manage
his team so that he gives them the best chance at
performing to their abilities .Maximize their strength and adapt to their
weaknesses .Exploit the weaknesses of their opponents. And...oh yes....some luck
.
Two good teams , San
Diego and Miami
were this years candidates.Pete "the Greek" and Vincel Herlovich ,two
battle tested coaches led their respective squads.
Before the game I told Pete the winner would be around 4 points either
way. Something like 28 to 24.
The game was almost all offense. Both teams had difficulties stopping the
others offense.Each team punted only once. Both QB'S had great games. Mcnair -
210 yds. and 1 TD.Palmer -268 yds and 1 TD. The running backs were even more
prolific with Jackson of the Chargers rushing for 161 yds and 2 TD'S.The
Dolphin's Gore ran for 147 yds and 3 TD'S, the last being the most significant.
Coach Pete's brilliant offensive play calling led his team to two ten
point leads.Half time 20 to 10.At the beginning of the 4th , 27 to 17.San
Diego only had the ball, for all practical purposes only once in the 4th
Quarter. Miami
made their only defensive stop in the game. San
Diego had to punt.Miami,too,
only punted once in the game.
To begin the 4th Quarter ,Miami
got the ball on their own 28.Then proceeded on a 9 play 72 yard drive
culminating in a 3rd and one from the 19 yard line,with a play action TD pass to
tight end Clark reducing the Chargers lead to 27 to 24.The Chargers, with their
only possession of the 4th Quarter were stopped . The Chargers sensing that the
game may be slipping away, make a gallant stand at this point,leaving the
Dolphins at 4th and 1 on the 49 yard line.Of course, this is the Super
Bowl and time was becoming a critical factor, the Dolphins go for it.
A game of this stature always has its drama. The following sequence of plays
was deserving of an Oscar nomination. On a play action pass, Palmer completes a
11 yard pass to receiver Cochery for a first down. A penalty flag is thrown.
Each team chewing their nails as to what the call might be. Holding on the
Dolphins. 4th and 11. The Super
Bowl at this point looked beak for the Dolphins. The Chargers were elated
.On Miami's ensuing play , a pass, Hart of the Chargers was called for
defensive holding. 5 yards and a first down, new life, for the Dolphins.The
Chargers hearts sunk.. But the Dolphins were still only on the Chargers 46 yard
line. With the new life the Dolphin coach thinking that the Chargers pretty much
had to play pass defense, ran Gore for +8,+7, -3 and +8 yards.3rd and 5 at the
Chargers 34 yard line, Palmer misconnects with Bryant to make it 4th and 5 at
the 34 yard line .A 51 yard field goal would tie the game.The Dolphins kicker
was capable of making a long field goal. Miami
eschews the field goal attempt and decides to go for the first down at 4th and
5. After all....this is the Super
Bowl. You never know if you will have this opportunity again .Dolphins
call for a short hitch to Cochery for 6 yards and the first down on the Chargers
28 yard line. Cochery is fatigued. Miami
has to replace him with little used, but great runner after the catch, Williams.
Thinking that San
Diego would dismiss Williams as a threat, with his propensity for
dropping passes,Herlovich calls a medium straight to Williams for 17 yards ! A
10 yard out pass to Bryant set up the game winning play on the 6 yard line with
.38 to go in the game..Miami
puts two tight ends in the game to maximize blocking.San
Diego plays basic defense keying on Gore. At the beginning of the season
I told my brother that Gore will take us to the Super
Bowl and, hopefully will win it for us. Miami
calls off tackle left behind their strong guard, tackle and tight end. Gore
blasts through the hole for the Super
Bowl winning touchdown. His 3rd of the day. A 19 play 91
yard drive !! MIAMI WINS EZFL SUPER BOWL OVER SAN DIEGO,31 TO
27.
Make no mistake about it, this game could have gone either
way.Pete certainly was my equal in all aspects of the game.
Miami
finishes the season, 17 and 2 !! I doubt that we will ever equal this
accomplishment .Another note....The Herlovich's keep the trophy in the family.
Chris having won the title last year with his Tampa Bay team. An early forecast.
Tampa Bay will be loaded next year and will be an early favorite to make the Super
Bowl. Another note. Chris won 3 consecutive Super Bowls in 3 different
leagues last year. He was rebuilding this year. Last week, I lost in the Super
Bowl in the other league I am in. It has been a nice run for the
Herloviches.
I must not leave without exalting the character of my opponent, Pete
"the Greek".He always arranges his games in a timely fashion. He never
complains when things go against him.He is always gentleman and a good sport.As
I told him, he is always a pleasure to play. He always brings a real good team
and manages them well....................Who will be next years EZFL SUPER BOWL
CHAMPS ?
* Championship * 02-25-2008
Temp:69 Wind:Calm Line:Even
MVP:Gore
2006 San Diego 7 10
10 0 27
2006 Miami
3 7 7 14
31
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 10:14 Miami FG Lindell 29 (8-61-4:36) 0-3
1 4:07 San Diego TD McNair 10 pass to Jackson (Kasay) (9-73-5:51) 7-3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 12:16 Miami TD Gore 9 run (Lindell) (6-75-3:13) 7-10
2 6:16 San Diego TD Jackson 3 run (Kasay) (10-78-5:51) 14-10
2 0:03 San Diego FG Kasay 42 (9-55-2:52) 17-10
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 9:19 San Diego FG Kasay 29 (9-56-5:30) 20-10
3 2:38 Miami TD Gore 7 run (Lindell) (13-71-6:24) 20-17
3 0:00 San Diego TD Jackson 32 run (Kasay) (4-71-2:24)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27-17
4 11:36 Miami TD Palmer 19 pass to Clark (Lindell) (9-72-3:12) 27-24
4 0:39 Miami TD Gore 6 run (Lindell) (19-91-3:59) 27-31
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SD
MIA
First Downs
20
28
Rushes
30-185
31-163
Passes
22-17-210
32-20-268
Sacked
0-0
1-5
Fumble
0
1
Penalties
7-46
8-50
Turnovers
1
0
Time
32:04
27:56
Third Down
5-8
8-13
Fourth Down
0-0
1-3
Net Offense
395
426
Injuries: none, *Wilkins(MIA-1)
2006 San Diego Chargers
Rushing Att Yds Ave 10 FD Lg TD Receiving Rec Dp Yds Ave 25 FD Lg TD
Jackson,S 27 161 6.0 2 4 32 2 Jackson,D 5 0 61 12.2 0 5 17 1
McNair 2 17 8.5 0 2 9 0 Fitzgerald 5 0 76 15.2 1 3 26 0
Randle El 1 7 7.0 0 1 7 0 Crumpler 4 1 49 12.3 0 2 19 0
30 185 6.2 2 7 32 2 Jackson,S 2 0 13 6.5 0 1 8 0
Kreider 1 0 11 11.0 0 1 11 0
17 1 210 12.4 1 12 26 1
Passing Att Cmp C% Yds Ave Lg Bd 25 In I% Sk TD TD% Rate
McNair 22 17 77.3 210 12.4 26 2 1 1 4.5 0 1 4.5 102.5
22 17 77.3 210 12.4 26 2 1 1 4.5 0 1 4.5 102.5
Kicking XPA XPM XP% FGA FGM FG% 40+ 50+ Lg Pts
Kasay 3 3 100.0 2 2 100.0 100.0 0.0 42 9
Punting No Yards Lg TB BK 20 Ret Yds Net Gross
Moorman 2 85 46 0 0 1 0 0 42.5 42.5
Kick Returns No Yards Ave Lg TD Punt Returns No FC Yards Ave Lg TD
Hall,D 6 145 24.2 31 0 0 1 0 0.0 0 0
6 145 24.2 31 0
Fumbles
Sacks Hurries Stuffs Deflections Forced Fmb Fumble Rec
Thomas,J 1 Smith,A 2 Edwards, 1 James,B 1 Edwards, 1
Thomas,J 1 Farrior 1 Haggans 1
Hart 1
Tackles
Hope 9 Porter,J 6 Edwards, 5 Thomas,J 1 Reese 1 Hampton, 1
Surtain 7 Clark,R 5 James,B 2 Smith,A 1 Gaither 1 Kriewald 1
Haggans 6 Farrior 5 Sheppard 2 McClure 1 Hart 1
Ints No Yds Ave Lg TD
0 0 0.0 0 0
2006 Miami Dolphins
Rushing Att Yds Ave 10 FD Lg TD Receiving Rec Dp Yds Ave 25 FD Lg TD
Gore 28 147 5.3 2 9 11 3 Cotchery 9 0 118 13.1 1 8 30 0
Bennett,M 1 9 9.0 0 1 9 0 Chambers 3 0 31 10.3 0 2 12 0
Palmer,C 2 7 3.5 0 0 7 0 Bryant,A 3 0 53 17.7 1 2 34 0
31 163 5.3 2 10 11 3 Gore 2 1 20 10.0 0 2 12 0
Clark,D 2 0 29 14.5 0 2 19 1
Williams,D 1 0 17 17.0 0 1 17 0
20 1 268 13.4 2 17 34 1
Passing Att Cmp C% Yds Ave Lg Bd 25 In I% Sk TD TD% Rate
Palmer,C 32 20 62.5 268 13.4 34 1 2 0 0.0 1 1 3.1 99.5
32 20 62.5 268 13.4 34 1 2 0 0.0 1 1 3.1 99.5
Kicking XPA XPM XP% FGA FGM FG% 40+ 50+ Lg Pts
Lindell 4 4 100.0 1 1 100.0 0.0 0.0 29 7
Punting No Yards Lg TB BK 20 Ret Yds Net Gross
Koenen 2 95 54 1 0 1 0 0 37.5 47.5
Kick Returns No Yards Ave Lg TD Punt Returns No FC Yards Ave Lg TD
Wilkins,T 2 51 25.5 28 0 0 1 0 0.0 0 0
Miller,J 3 71 23.7 24 0
5 122 24.4 28 0
Fumbles
Gore 1
Sacks Hurries Stuffs Deflections Forced Fmb Fumble Rec
Vasher 1 Mahan 1
Lang 1
Tackles
Poppinga 9 Vrabel 5 Williams 2 James,T 2 Glover 1 Wallace, 1
Demps 8 Russell, 4 Butler,J 2 Lang 2 Hangartn 1
Vasher 6 Kaesviha 4 Haley 2 Phillips 2 Burgess 1
Ints No Yds Ave Lg TD
Burgess 1 0 0.0 0 0
1 0 0.0 0 0