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1998
Cereal Kilurz |
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Team Notes and Weekly Recaps Season Outlook: Mark Petrillo is making his debut as an Owner/Coach with the EFFL this year. This is his first Coaching experience, but after a solid draft, Petrillo thinks the Cereal Kilurz could make a run at the championship. Drew Bledsoe will be the Kilurz starting QB in 1998, and Green Bay will anchor the defense. Petrillo thinks the key to his team's success this year is staying healthy. With starters like Bledsoe, Eddie George, Robert Smith, and Rickey Dudley, this team should have no problem putting up big numbers... Week 1: The Cereal Kilurz began the 1998 EFFL season with a victory, pounding the Second Half Slide, 79-44. Green Bay's defense led the Kilurz in scoring with 19 points, including two touchdown returns and three sacks. Drew Bledsoe scored 15 points against the Denver Broncos, throwing for 289 yards, including two TD passes. Eddie George (10) and Marvin Harrison (11) each racked up double digits in points for the Kilurz this week, and Jason Hanson (9) kicked two 40+ yard field goals. Rickey Dudley (4), Robert Smith (5), and Isaac Bruce (6) also contributed to the scoring. Week 2: The Cereal Kilurz lost a heart-breaking game to the Junkyard Dogs this week, being outscored 69-68. The Kilurz were winning 58-36 going into the Patriots/Colts Sunday night game, but then they fell apart. Quarterback Drew Bledsoe scored 9 points, but Marvin Harrison was held to only 1, while the Junkyard Dogs put up 33 points - 10 from Robert Edwards and 23 from New England's Defense... In a wasted effort for the Kilurz, Green Bay's Defense had another big week, scoring 15 points, including 6 sacks... Robert Smith and Eddie George, the Cereal Kilurz starting running backs, were seen exchanging words after the game. Teammates say that Smith, who scored a team high 20 points (2 TD, 179 yards rushing, 7 yards receiving) blamed George for today's loss and may have made a comment about his mother. George (11 yards rushing, 8 yards receiving) was held pointless today after 15 carries, and his frustration was evident as he trashed the locker room and was fined $1000 by Coach Petrillo. Petrillo declined to comment. Week 3: After a disappointing Week 2, Eddie George scored 14 points (100 yards rushing, 60 yards receiving, TD), leading the Cereal Kilurz in a victory over the Rebel Yell. The Kilurz combined for 52 points (their lowest total for the season), but that was more than enough to beat the Rebels, who were limited to 30. Drew Bledsoe had another solid week, scoring 10 points (250 yards passing, TD), and Green Bay's defense (10) put up double digits in points for the third straight week... Robert Smith (1), who scored a season high 20 points for the Kilurz last week, was limited to only 39 yards rushing... Isaac Bruce was a late scratch with a bad hamstring, but hopes to play next week. Week 4: The Cereal Kilurz improved their record to 3-1 with a 49-23 victory over the Crushin Craneiacs this week. Robert Smith (13) was the only starter to score double digits in points for the Kilurz, while fellow running back Eddie George (1) contributed the least to the scoring. Smith and George have now combined to score 57 points during road games, and only 7 points at home. Week 5: The Cheezy Cheetahs handed the Cereal Kilurz their second defeat of the season, outscoring them 50-43. Robert Smith (11) led the team in scoring for the second week in a row, and leads all of the individual Cereal Kilurz with 50 season to date EFFL points (he's scored all but 6 of those points during 3 road games). Week 6: The Cereal Kilurz lost for the second straight week, being outscored 67-53 by the undefeated Critters In My Beer. Drew Bledsoe had a big week, scoring 19 fantasy points with 3 TD passes and 226 yards. St. Louis' defense also put up 19 points for the Kilurz, but despite their solid performance, Coach Petrillo plans to drop them this week and use Green Bay for the rest of the season. Asked if he was concerned about his team's recent performance, Petrillo said, "Absolutely not. The bye weeks have really hurt us recently, but with Eddie George and Robert Smith both back in the lineup and with Drew Bledsoe finally living up to his potential, I have no doubt we'll beat the Kodiak Bears this week." After another loss in Week 6, the Kodiak Bears remain one game behind the first place Cereal Kilurz in the Lambert Division. Week 7: The Cereal Kilurz improved their record to 4-3 after beating their division rivals, the Kodiak Bears, by a score of 43-22. The win increased the Kilurz lead in the Lambert Division to 2 games. Robert Smith (12) and Eddie George (5) each rushed for over 100 yards, but were still outscored by their backups - Leroy Hoard (13) and Rodney Thomas (8) - who were on the Kilurz bench. Marvin Harrison (22), who was also on the Kilurz bench this week, caught 3 touchdown passes, leading the team in points scored... Coach Petrillo had no comment about recent trade rumors, but had this to say about his team's chances of making the playoffs: "I think we have a very solid shot at winning the division. We're definitely through the toughest part of our schedule now, and I think us entering the playoffs with a 9-5 record is realistic." Week 8: The Cereal Kilurz lost 60-51 to the Strawmakers this week, dropping their record to 4-4. The Kilurz were leading their opponents 51-40 going into Monday night's game, but a huge night from Pittsburgh's Defense (20) sealed the Strawmakers victory. Highlights for the Kilurz included 137 and 134 rushing yards from Eddie George (7) and Robert Smith (10) respectively, and a solid game from Green Bay's Defense (18). Lowlights from the game included Drew Bledsoe (2) who couldn't connect for a TD pass despite 240 passing yards, and Isaac Bruce (0) who left early in the first quarter with hamstring pain. Despite only a 1 game lead over the Second Half Slide, Coach Petrillo claims he isn't worried yet: "I have no reason to believe we won't make the playoffs. That's all I have to say. No more questions." Week 9: The Cereal Kilurz tied their season high scoring total this week, pounding the TECtonic Movement 79-37. Green Bay's Defense (15) lead the Kilurz in scoring, followed closely by Drew Bledsoe (14) and Eddie George (13) - Bledsoe threw for 306 yards and 2 touchdowns, and George's 153 yards give him 4 straight games with at least 100 yards rushing. Robert Smith (9), Rickey Dudley (9), and Muhsin Muhammed (7) all found the end zone this week, and Jason Hanson (11) kicked 3 field goals. After a one point win by the Second Half Slide, the Cereal Kilurz remain in first place by one game in the Lambert Division. Week 10: The Cereal Kilurz won for the second week in a row, beating the Crushin Craneiacs 67-43. The Kilurz second victory over the Craneiacs this season allowed them to remain in first place in the Lambert Division, one game ahead of the Second Half Slide. The Second Half Slide have refused to actually slide during the second half of the season, winning their 4th straight game this week. Coach Petrillo claimed he wasn't worried about the Slide's winning streak: "In order to win the division, the Second Half Slide are going to have to beat us in Week 14... and that's just not going to happen." Highlights for the Kilurz this week included Eddie George's (10) fifth consecutive 100 yard rushing game, Rickey Dudley's (16) 105 receiving yards and TD reception, and Robert Smith's (12) 137 rushing yards and TD run. Smith has now scored 92 fantasy points this season, leading all the Kilurz except for Green Bay's defense (107). Week 11: The Rambling Gophs were the latest victims for the Cereal Kilurz this week, who increased their winning streak to three games by defeating the Gophs 61-47. Green Bay's Defense (18) led the Kilurz attack and good games from Marvin Harrison (12) and Rickey Dudley (9) compensated for unusually low performances from Robert Smith (2) and Eddie George (3). Following yet another win by the Second Half Slide, the Cereal Kilurz remain one game up in the Lambert Division. Week 12: Drew Bledsoe (14) threw for 423 yards and 2 TD passes in a wasted effort for the Cereal Kilurz, who lost to the Shipyard Sharks by a score of 55-48. Bledsoe finished the game with a broken index finger on his throwing hand and is questionable for next week. Coach Petrillo had this to say about the possible loss of his starting QB: "Drew says he'll be able to play, so we're not panicking. That kid's got something this team is going to need in these final two weeks - heart." WR Marvin Harrison (10) and TE Rickey Dudley (8) each found the end zone this week, but the Kilurz star running backs were "extremely disappointing," in the words of Coach Petrillo. Robert Smith (1) and Eddie George (3), who have each frequently surpassed the 100 yard mark this season, combined for only 99 rushing yards this week. Jason Hanson (4) and Green Bay's Defense (4) also put up unusually low numbers for the Kilurz. Thanks to a Second Half Slide loss to the Strawmakers this week, the Cereal Kilurz still have a one game lead in the Lambert Division. Week 13: The Cereal Kilurz were limited to 50 points out of a potential 93 this week, due mostly to early game injuries to starters Marvin Harrison (1) and Robert Smith (2). The usually pathetic Kodiak Bears put 75 points on the board (46 from Randy Moss and Priest Holmes alone), sending the Kilurz to their 6th loss of the season. In order to make the playoffs, the Kilurz must beat the Second Half Slide in week 14. If the Kilurz lose, the Slide will win the division thanks to the third tie-breaker criteria (division points) - The two teams would have identical 7-7 overall records, 1-1 head to head records and 4-2 division records. However, because the Second Half Slide have the edge in division points, they would be awarded the Lambert division title. Coach Petrillo thinks the tie-breaker criteria is a moot point: "I have no doubt we're going to win next week. Print it." Petrillo declined to comment on recent trade rumors. 12/1/98 Trade: Earlier today, the Cereal Kilurz announced a trade that sent RB Bam Morris and WR O.J. McDuffie to the Strawmakers for WR Chris Carter and QB Charlie Batch. Reading from a prepared statement, Coach Petrillo said, "Chris Carter is a very solid addition to this team - we think he is what we need to guarantee a win against The Second Half Slide this weekend. With Isaac Bruce and Marvin Harrison out for the rest of the season and Robert Smith out for at least 2 weeks, we felt Carter was the perfect solution. He replaces Harrison as our number one receiver, and as an added bonus, he should be an excellent compliment to fellow Viking Leroy Hoard." The Kilurz need to win this weekend in order to advance to the playoffs. Week 14: The Second Half Slide, led by rookie Randy Moss, knocked the Cereal Kilurz out of the playoffs this week, beating them by a score of 71-49. The Slide acquired Moss in a trade late last week, and he scored 3 TDs against the Kilurz for the second week in a row. The Kilurz recent trade for Chris Carter ended up backfiring, as Carter pulled a muscle in warm-ups and did not play. Leroy Hoard was the Kilurz only bright spot, filling in for the injured Robert Smith and putting up 18 points. The Cereal Kilurz and the Second Half Slide ended the season with identical records (7-7), identical head to head records (1-1), and identical division records (4-2). The Kilurz had more total points (789-745) and head to head points (128-115), but due to the current tie-breaker structure, the Slide will advance to the playoffs because they had more division points (380-335). Coach Petrillo commented, "There's nothing we can do about it now, but I plan to make an appeal to change the tie-breaker process next year. If head to head record is more important than division record, surely head to head points should be more important than division points." After a slight pause, Petrillo added, "Of course, I'm planning on dominating the league next season, so we won't have to worry about the tie-breakers anyway, now will we?" |