Heading into week 4, we figured we would see a dominant team start to emerge, and while one team stands undefeated, they’ve by no means been running away with any game. This may be the most competitive season.
 (1-2-0) |
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 (3-0-0) |
In the opening game, we have one team that is barely over-performing up against another that is hot and cold, sometimes as often as period to period. The undefeated Bounty Hunters put it all on the line as they face off against the scrappy Tusken Raiders. This one just may come down to who shows up.
The Tusken Raiders had their game against the R2D2s wrapped up after the first half last week, but a complete offensive collapse saw their 4-goal lead disappear in the last 5 minutes of the game as they gave up 5 unanswered. Determined to not make the same mistake, Raiders captain Mike Mallery has sworn off giving Evan Cumpston a sub opportunity. “I tried him last season. Bust. I tried him last week. Bust. At some point, I have to realize that I’m the problem here because I keep giving him chances.”
The Bounty Hunters have a lot of pressure on their shoulders if they want to maintain that perfect record. After a handy shelacking of the Raiders in week 1, the Hunters have barely scraped together the last two wins, each by a single goal. Said Hunters captain Nicholas McMahon, “I asked (Chris) Read to bring whatever he had last week and share it with the team. He calls it ‘pre-workout.’ We all know what that’s code for.”
Players to Watch
The Raiders Jacob Hernandez is proving to be the heart and soul of this team as he shares the team lead in points. The Raiders are going to need another big game from him to overcome the Hunters this week.
The Hunters relied heavily on Chris Read last week, and all signs indicate to that being the case again this week. Whether it’s scoring goals, running people over, or just being a massive nuisance, Read is going to be a handful for the Raiders.
 (2-1-0) |
VS |
 (0-3-0) |
The late game has one team riding an emotional wave taking on a team that is turning things around. The R2D2s pulled off an immprobable victory last week, but the Jar Jars dropped a heart breaker. Don’t be surprised to see the Jar Jars come out on top of this one.
The R2s are a strong offensive team, but their game goes as Gary Burdge goes. Burdge is on a tear this season racking up just shy of 6 points per game. So far, the R2s have found a way to keep Burdge focused, and if they continue to do so, they will be a difficult team to beat. “It’s fun watching him play right now,” said R2’s captain Andrew Minerd. “But, no, I have no idea when he’s going to crash back down to reality. I do expcet it to be spectacular, though. Like a train wreck.”
The Jar Jars looked like a team with a better record than 0-3. The return of captain David Penn and a surprising jump to forward for goalie Anthony Smith revitalized this team. The absence of forward Preston Kinney was notable, and with a full squad this week, the Jar Jars could be on track to upset the R2s. “I don’t want to say this team was lost without me,” claimed Penn. “But I am a calming presence, and my team responded. Without me, the team was all ‘Bawk! Bawk! Bawk!’. With me here, it’s serenity.” It should be noted that we were not interviewing Penn. And he wasn’t talking to anyone that we could see.
Players to Watch
Dan Kuntzleman of the R2s is looking to have a rebound game this week. Last week was a down week for Dan, but he’s looking to get back to his week 1 game where he netted 4 goals.
For the Jar Jars, a lot of their offense to this point has relied on Evan Cumpston. With the return of Penn, some of the load has been taken off his shoulders. If his ankle is fully healed, Cumpston may just have the confidence to open up on the R2s.