November 1, 1932
Lia Kompos third string QB Brian Berton is the darling of the league after putting together three big wins to Keep the Pumas atop the SC. This week, he not only won, but broke 2 league records with 467 yards passing and 6 TDs. Over the last 3 games, his TD to INT ratio is 10 to 1, and his QB rating is 137.5.
On defense, Tiny Sea Titans CB Christopher Johnson is Week 9’s Player of the Week. He had 5 tackles, an INT, and a strip sack that he recovered himself and returned 18 yards for a TD, as the Titans won a tight game in Taawa.
Unfortunately, due to ISP issues, Uplantic Football is back to a blog-only format, indefinitely. The connection just isn’t reliable enough for streaming to work on a regular schedule. I’ll still be doing retro game streams on twitch.tv/lowkisapfoot when the ISP allows for it. Maybe we can figure out a stable connection for a playoffs special or something.
Follow LowkiSapfoot on twitch to watch live broadcasts, someday, again, maybe!
(Jump to current UPFF Standings)
Week 9 Scoreboard:
ELD (3-4) @ NOR (6-1): The Northsouth Athletics met the Elderwood Archers as the Athletics looked to keep rolling with the UPFF’s best record. The Archers had lost 3 straight games, hoping to right the ship against the league’s top team. Northsouth stomped the Achers two weeks ago in Elderwood, 47-24. The Archers struck first as QB Jerry Pettis led a smooth opening drive to set up a 3-yard TD pass. After a strip sack by Archers LB Dallas Amalla, the Archers had a chance to extend their lead, but Robert Vang sent a 29-yard FG wide right. Athletics QB Branden Warren answered with a swift TD drive to tie the game at 7. Early in the second quarter, Jerry Pettis was hit on an incomplete pass play and injured his ankle, having to leave the game. Pettis did not return, and after the game revealed that his ankle is badly sprained and that he will likely miss the remainder of the season. Warren led 2 more Athletics scoring drives culminating in short TD runs by RB Jake Wood to give the A’s a 21-7 lead at the end of the third quarter. A’s CB Jonathan Hoalohanani’i intercepted a pass by Archers backup QB Derek Alavarrdo in the third quarter, but would later leave the game with blurred vision after a big helmet-to-helmet collision. Alvarrdo got things going in the fourth quarter for a pair of Archers TD drives, but Warren and the Athletics continued to dominate the Elderwood defense, scoring 2 TDs of their own. A’s RBs Anthony Gasporra and Jake Wood combined for 101 yards on the ground. Wood scored 4 TDs as Northsouth cruised to their 5th straight win. The Archers, meanwhile have lost 4 in a row and are now without their quarterback for the rest of the season. Final: NOR 35, ELD 21.
DEL (4-3) @ PLA (3-5): The Delle Chaparrals played the Platte Cragsmen for the first time this year. The Chaparrals looked to keep pace with the Pumas and Jackals in the SC, while the Cragsmen had won 3 of their last 4 games, with all 3 wins coming as upsets against formidable opponents. It was a chilly, windy day in Platte. On the Cragsmen’s first play from scrimmage, QB Alvin Crane threw a 12-yard pass to WR Harry Helu, who broke away from defenders and scored a spectacular 81-yard TD. The Chaparrals tied the game early in the second quarter after a big 54-yard pass from QB Hubert Aguirre to WR Amarina’a Martin to set up a TD run by RB Robert Lavender. Crane unloaded another huge TD bomb, this time on an 85-yard streak to WR Apari Najela. Crane threw another 15-yard TD pass to Harry Helu after CB George Taber intercepted a Hubert Aguirre pass. Platte led 21-10 at halftime. In the third quarter, a pair of Robert Lavender TDs, including a 46-yard beauty, gave the Chaps a 24-21 lead heading into the final quarter. After a back-and-forth stalemate for the majority of the fourth, Crane put together a solid drive, ending in an 11-yard TD pass to WR Dorian Sandberg to take the lead with 1:43 to go. The Cragsmen defense held on the Chaparrals’ final drive for another huge win. “At some point y’all have to stop calling these ‘upsets'” Cragsmen head coach Jason Salduar joked to the press after the game. Final: PLA 28, DEL 24.
TS (4-4) @ TAA (4-3): The Taawa Jackals hosted the Tiny Sea Titans with a chance to jump back into the top two in the Southern Conference after Delle’s loss earlier in the day. The Titans came into the game as the second place NC team. The weather was windy and grey, but the Jackals faithful were loud and rowdy as always. The game was an all-out slug fest. The Jackals fought hard, but could ultimately not overcome 4 turnovers by Taawa QB James De La Cruz, inlcuding 2 INTs and 2 strip sacks, one of which was returned 18 yards for a TD by Titans CD Christopher Johnson. A 17-point second quarter gave the Titans a 27-21 lead at halftime. The Jackals fought back to take the lead on a 33-yard FG by K Derick Polk with 1:13 left in the third. However after going back down by a field goal, with 4:27 remaining in the game, De La Cruz’s 2nd lost fumble of the game set up a 13-yard TD pass by Titans QB Robert Calbrese to WR Joseph Bachiller to extend their lead to 10 points. De La Cruz led a TD drive to pull within 3 points, but with only 0:12 to go, the Taawa onsides kick attempt failed and the Titans kneeled to run out the clock and take home the win in a barn burner. Robert Calabrese was 34 for 45 for 353 yard and 4 passing TDs in the game. Christopher Johnson had an INT in addition to his fumble recovery for a TD. The Titans have given themselves a bit of breathing room with a 1.5-game lead for the second playoff spot in the NC. Final: TS 44, TAA 41.
PC (3-4) @ LK (5-2): The Lia Kompos Pumas hosted the Plains City Travelers. The Pumas have had a wild ride through multiple QB injuries to a 5-2 record, and hoped to extend their SC lead after losses earlier today by both Delle and Taawa. The Travelers were in a bad way, losers of 4 straight and dealing with the loss of their own starting QB Phillip Marinna’a for the year. There were no surprises here, as the Pumas punished Plains City in a 33-point beat-down win. To say that third string Pumas QB Brian Berton was once again brilliant is something of an understatement. He completed 68.6% of his passes and set UPFF records with 467 yards passing and 6 passing TDs. WR Henry Salomin caught 3 of those TD passes, and WR Joesph Kardenas caught 6 total passes for 147 yards. Travelers Back QB Neal Valentin, on the other hand, was less than stellar, going 11 for 29 for 219 yards and an INT. The Pumas defense kept the Travelers out of the end zone for the entire game. The dominant victory gives the Pumas a 2-game lead over Delle and Taawa in the SC. Final: LK 45, PC 12.
SAL (2-6) @ GR (3-5): The Salvation Brothers visited the Green Rock Warriors. Both teams hoped they could salvage their seasons, which would start with a win in this game. Salvation QB Terry Odom was great, going 14 for 15 with 2 TDs, before being knocked out of the game in the third quarter on a brutal hit that resulted in a fractured cheekbone. Odom’s play was good enough to give his team a 20-7 lead when he exited, extended by a 36-yard FG by K Charles Guardarramas to end the drive. Green Rock QB William Kastaneda threw a pair of interceptions in the game, and his 2 TD passes were not enough to make up for it. The Brothers backfield combined for a 166 yards on the ground, including 88 yards on 18 carries for RB Milo Whaley, the UPFF’s leading rusher. Final: SAL 23, GR 13.
News:
- With four teams on a bye, Week 10 will only feature 3 games, but they will all have major implications. The A’s and the Pumas will meet in Northsouth in a possible preview of the Uplantic Bowl. The Chaps and the Jackals will play in Taawa, currently tied for the second SC playoff spot. The Archers and Travelers will both look to stop horrific skids and maintain playoff hopes as they go head-to-head without their top quarterbacks in Plains City.
- “Yes, you will see us in the playoffs. I have zero doubts. Get ready.” These were the words of Platte QB Alvin Crane, whose offense is red-hot and riding high after winning 4 of their last 5 games. The Cragsmen were considered DOA after an 0-4 start, but their recent play has put the league on notice with 4 games to go. They are currently just 1/2 game back of a playoff spot.
- Elderwood Archers QB Jerry Pettis (sprained ankle) is done for at least the Regular Season, as his team is reeling after 4 straight losses.
- Green Rock Warriors RB Vincent Williams will miss 1-2 weeks with a sprained ankle.
- The Pumas have a quarterback controversy on their hands, with second stringer Solomon Brito probable to be able to return in Week 10 for the team’s biggest test to date against the 7-1 Northsouth A’s. Meanwhile, original starter John Parva (stress fracture) is listed as “questionable.” Third stringer Brian Berton has captivated the nation with his record setting play the last three weeks. No matter which quarterback the Pumas go with, they can feel confident, since all three have been successful on the field this season.
- Northsouth CB Jonathan Hoalohanani’i is “questionable” in Week 10 against Lia Kompos, dealing with blurred vision and headaches.
- The Brothers have Week 10 off, but Salvation QB Terry Odom could miss Week 11 with a broken cheekbone.
Current UPFF Standings:
League Leaders:
Top Rated QBs
Top Rushers
Top Receivers
Sack Leaders
INT Leaders
Uplantic Sports Today 