GLIFL Week Nine in Review

June 6, 2006 - Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) News Release

After a 1-4 start, the Battle Creek Crunch were squarely on the outside of the playoff picture looking in. An upset in Lehigh Valley followed by a big win over the NY/NJ Revolution in Weeks 8 and 9 completely changed that scenario. Marion and Lehigh Valley losses, coupled with the Crunch wins, create a scenario where there are three 3-4 teams vying for the #3 and #4 seeds. This playoff race is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in the history of indoor football, as the three contests in Week Nine have completely turned it upside down. After this week, the league turns its focus to the Port Huron @ Rochester Week Ten game, where former Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien makes his indoor football debut for the Raiders.

PORT HURON 57, MARION 26

A valiant Marion Mayhem effort could not overcome Port Huron in their friendly confines, as the Pirates used 108 Rayshawn Askew rushing yards and seven total rushing touchdowns (four by Askew, three by Shane Franzer). The only blip on the dominant win was a fumble by Askew on the opening kickoff of the second half. An ensuing Mayhem touchdown cut the Port Huron lead to 27-19 with 11:34 left in the third, but Port Huron allowed only one more score in a 30-7 game-ending run. Mayhem quarterback Bobby Corlew finished 11/20 for only 72 yards, with three touchdown passes and an interception. He also fumbled the ball twice, losing one. Marion plays their final home game in Week Ten against NY/NJ, while Port Huron travels to Rochester to face Mark Rypien and the rest of the Raiders.

ROCHESTER 45, LEHIGH VALLEY 33

Reggie Cox rushed for a GLIFL-record 123 yards as the Raiders moved closer to clinching a playoff spot in a 45-33 win at Lehigh Valley. Matt Cottengim threw four more touchdowns on only 17 pass attempts, as the Raiders worked on their solid running game. Outlawz QB Chad Schwenk threw three interceptions to only two touchdowns in the Outlawz' second-straight home loss. Chris Reed helped the Outlawz cause, which was thwarted by two Raiders touchdowns in the fourth quarter, by kicking four more field goals. The Outlawz travel to Battle Creek to rematch their 59-53 home loss to the Crunch, while Rochester and Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien host Port Huron. Information courtesy Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

BATTLE CREEK 51, NY/NJ 22

Eric Gardner scored four more touchdowns (three receiving, one passing) as the Crunch became the first team in GLIFL history to record a shutout through the first half of a game. A 23-0 lead was all the team would need, though they would score 28 more in the second half to secure their first-ever win at Kellogg Arena. Karim McFarlane played the second half of the game and completed two touchdown passes, one being a 42-yarder to Zikoma Richards. Battle Creek tries to keep the momentum going as they host Lehigh Valley, while the Revolution travel to Marion.

GLIFL PLAYOFF PICTURE

After Week Twelve, the top four teams will be in the GLIFL Playoffs. The #4 seed will travel to the #1 seed tentatively on the weekend of July 8. The #3 seed will travel to the #2 seed on the same weekend. The winners will face off for Great Lakes Bowl I on the weekend of July 22 at the home of the higher seed. If Marion clinches a home playoff game in Round One, they'd host on the weekend of July 15 due to arena obligations.

Port Huron (7-0) - Clinched playoff berth, will clinch home field advantage with win in Rochester.

Rochester (5-2) - Will clinch playoff berth with win OR Battle Creek loss OR Lehigh Valley loss.

Battle Creek (3-4) - Cannot clinch playoff berth in Week Ten; will keep current #3 seed with win.

Lehigh Valley (3-4) - Cannot clinch playoff berth in Week Ten; will be current #3 seed with win; will be current #4 seed with loss AND Marion loss; will be current #5 seed with loss AND Marion win.

Marion (3-4) - Cannot clinch playoff berth in Week Ten; will be current #4 seed with win; will be current #5 seed with loss.

NY/NJ (0-6) - Cannot clinch playoff berth in Week Ten; will be current #6 seed regardless of result; will be eliminated from playoffs with loss OR win by less then 50 points AND Battle Creek win.

Continental Indoor Football League Stories from June 6, 2006

• GLIFL Week Nine in Review - CIFL

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.