1932-33 UPFF: Week 13

November 29, 1932

^{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.}

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(Jump to current UPFF Standings)

Week 13 Scoreboard:

PC (4-7) @ ELD (5-6): The Elderwood Archers hosted the Plains City Travelers on Thursday night. The Archers found themselves in control of their playoff destiny after a turbulent middle portion of the season. For the Travelers, this game was a must-win to stay alive in the hope of going to to NC Championship. Unfortunately for Elderwood, they had to turn to third string QB Rene Reid, and he was simply dismal. He completed only 29.4% of his passes and gave up 4 INTs, including a pick-six to Plains City CB Wilbur Estep. Estep also had another interception later in the same third quarter that he returned for 69 yards. Meanwhile, QB Neal Valentin was brilliant for the Travelers, but left the game in the third with a hyper extended knee. Third stringer Eddie Savage replaced Valentin and completed the devastating blowout of the Archers. Plains City RB David Samaniega had another great day, racking up 175 yard on 18 attempts (AVG 9.7 yards/carry) with 2 TDs. Both teams are now 5-7, eager to see how this weekend’s games unfold and how the results will affect their playoff chances. Final: PC 58, ELD 7.

NOR (10-1) @ SAL (5-6): The Salvation Brothers had been red hot, winning 5 of their last 6 games, coming into this near must-win against the UPFF’s top team. The Athletics roster suffered a bevy of injuries in the prior week’s win, including key defensive players LB Taylor Maldonado, CB Damon Francis, and FS Roy Gilles, who are all likely done for the year. This would be the first look at Northsouth’s top-ranked defense without some of its key components. Experts expected a bit of a close game with the A’s banged-up defense, but none were prepared for the absolute thumping that the Brothers handed the A’s. Salvation RB Milo Whaley added another 107 yards to his league-best total and scored 2 touchdowns, as the A’s simply did not have an answer for the Brothers running game. The A’s running game, which had been stellar with the one-two punch of RBs Anthony Gasporra and Jake Wood, could only muster 49 yards on 18 rushes. The Brothers shocked the world, handing the Northsouth their first conference loss of the season, and by a huge margin at that. We could very well see these two teams again in a few weeks in the NC Championship. Final: SAL 40, NOR 7.

GR (4-7) @ PLA (4-7): Two teams with just a shred of hope left in their 1932 seasons met in Platte as the Cragsmen hosted the Green Rock Warriors. QBs Alvin Crane (PLA) and William Kastaneda (GR) both performed well for their teams, trading scoring drives in the first half. A defensive stop by Platte to force a Warriors field goal early in the second quarter was the difference in the first half, with the Cragsmen enjoying a slim 28-24 lead at the break. The second half looked to be more of the same and the makings of a drag-out slug-fest, but in the fourth quarter, both defenses tightened up, and Platte thwarted Green Rock’s final drive, stopping Green Rock WR Anton Favsto just short of the first down marker to take over on downs with just over two minutes remaining. The Cragsmen were able to run out the clock for the win. With the loss, Green Rock becomes the first team to be officially eliminated from playoff contention. Platte’s hopes are slim but not quite dashed, as they await the results of Taawa’s and Delle’s games this week. Final: PLA 38, GR 31.

LK (7-4) @ TAA (5-6): The Taawa Jackals hosted the top team in the SC, the Lia Kompos Pumas on Sunday evening. The Jackals would need a win and a Chaparrals loss later in the day to stay alive in the hunt for the postseason. Way back in Week 1, the Pumas beat the Jackals in Lia Kompos in a 26-24 nail-biter. The Pumas have been remarkably successful in the face of near-endless quarterback drama this year. Starting QB John Parva had been great since overcoming a hernia and stress fracture in his foot. In this game, Parva played well, completing 7 of 10 passes and throwing a TD to WR Joseph Kardenas. However, Parva was hit hard on a sack in the second quarter and left the game with a dislocated finger. The Pumas offense was once again in the hands of backup QB Solomon Brito. Brito has played well filling in for Parva this season, but he just couldn’t get it going in this game. He was 6 for 21 for 141 yards and threw a 52- TD to WR Henry Salomin late in the game, but it was not nearly enough, as the Jackals ran up the score on the Pumas. Taawa QB James De La Cruz completed 66.7% of passes for 295 yards and 2 TDs, and RB Dale Moulin topped 1,000 yards on the season with a 90 yard game. Final: TAA 40, LK 14 .

DEL (6-5) @ TS (5-6): The Delle Chaparrals visited the Tiny Sea Titans on Monday night. With a win, the Chaparrals could tie the Pumas for first in the SC going into the final week of the Regular Season. For the Titans, they’d need a win to remain tied with the rival Brothers for the second NC playoff spot. This game was a showcase of two of the league’s top quarterbacks and MVP candidates in Hubert Aguirre (DEL) and Robert Calabrese (TS) and they did not disappoint. Aguirre was 64.1% passing fora whopping 370 yards and a TD to TE Paul Buffington. Aguirre connected with WR Amarina’a Martin 7 times for 158 yards. Calabrese shone bright as well, completing 62.9% of passes for 325 yards and 4 TDs. Delle RB Robert Lavender, another MVP candidate, rushed for 117 yards on 15 carries. Lavender took over in the fourth quarter, eating up 65 yards on a scoring drive to even the score at 27-27 with 3:35 to go. The Delle defense then forced a 3-and-out but turned the ball over on downs at their own 44-yard line. The choice to go for it on 4th and 7 in their own end of the field late in a tie ballgame has been deeply scrutinized by the sports media. Calabrese took the helm and guided the Titans to the go-ahead score with 0:34 remaining. This outcome sets up ties for the second playoff spot in both conferences as we enter the final week of the Regular Season. Final: TS 34, DEL 27.

News:

• We are set for a wild finish to the Regular Season next week. By our calculations, only one team, the Green Rock Warriors, is currently mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, and the Northsouth Athletics are the only team guaranteed a playoff spot. For the Lia Kompos Pumas, Salvation Brothers, and Delle Chaparrals, it’s win-and-they’re-in. A myriad of outcomes is possible, including a 4-way tie for second place in the Northern Conference and a 3-way tie for first place in the Southern Conference. The scenarios and tiebreaker possibilities boggle the mind and would take us hours to unravel and prognosticate upon, so let’s just sit back and watch what’s sure to be a thrilling final week. We can sort things out when the dust settles.
• The Northsouth Athletics showed great vulnerability this week with much of their defensive core injured. They will still be missing FS Roy Gilles and CB Damon Francis, likely for the rest of the year. LB Taylor Maldonado is “questionable” for Week 14 and beyond. The A’s have already wrapped up home field advantage in the NC Championship, but after being dismantled by the Brothers this week, they would surely love a little momentum heading in tot he conference playoff.
• After third string Elderwood Archers QB Rene Reid’s terrible performance this week, QB Derek Alvarrdo is listed as “probable” with a jammed finger for Week 14’s must-win against Delle. Meanwhile, should the Archers somehow squeak into the playoffs, there is a chance that star QB Jerry Pettis could return from an ankle injury in time for the conference championship.
• Pumas QB John Parva (dislocated finger) is “questionable” for Week 14 against Green Rock. With a win, the Pumas will secure home field advantage in the SC Championship.
• The Travelers will have to rely on third string QB Eddie Savage in their season finale against the Brothers in Tiny Sea, as backup Neal Valentin will be unavailable with a hyper extended knee.
• Cragsmen SS Jerry Ferrusquia is “doubtful” with a broken finger in Week 14 against the Jackals.
• If the Brothers complete their fairy tale Regular Season run and make the conference playoff, there is a possibility that original starting QB William Maya could be available to return from his quad tear. With their stunning success in the second half of the season, it could create a controversy between Maya and backup QB Terry Odom, who has been very good for Salvation since taking over in Week 4.

Current UPFF Standings:

League Leaders:

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