[MIJB#19]

General Manager Notes: Back in business?
Or how the surprisingly better than rated Monty Truitt played well enough to keep us alive.

European Division:
1. Gothenburg 4-3
2. Bordeaux 4-3
3. Maassluis 3-4
4. Paris 2-5

The Giants have lost a couple of road games and dropped to a game above .500, while the Vineyards are moving up and down in their efforts to overcome their 41-0 loss at Gothenburg. Paris has lost the last 3 straight, not scoring a touchdown in their last two games. It gave us the opportunity to sneak back into the division title race.

Although it didn't feel that way after we returned home from a 23-10 loss at the Augusta Greenjackets. QB Monty Truitt was held to 121 yards passing, struggling to connect with the tight ends all game long. On the other end of things, the hottest running back in the league right now, Ted Meza, ran for 256 yards on us scoring the Greenjackets two touchdowns. RB Van Goodwin pounded our only touchdown in.

And then we got our confidence boosting 34-9 victory over the Paris Musketeers. The total yardage figures were misleading as we dominated the field position, starting our drives on average at the Paris 46-yard line. QB Monty Truitt played acceptable, throwing for 199 yards with touchdown passes to TE Wesley Martin and WR Vinny Buysse, who finally returned back to the land of 100-yard receivers after 2 full seasons without. RB Van Goodwin made the other two touchdowns.

The winning streak improved by 100% with a 41-23 victory over the Snapfinger Jazz. We were 17-0 before the fans even realized it as CB Dennis Finley had one of his special punt return touchdowns (a 89-yarder), which was followed up by a field goal after Snapfinger fumbled on their kickoff return and another fumble on their first play from scrimmage after the next kickoff return, we had gained only 38 total yards. From there on, it was cruising on, albeit the defense decided to vanish again, allowing a 200-yard rusher. QB Monty Truitt threw for 266 yards with touchdowns to WR Calvin Maxwell (twice, while gaining 139 yards for the game) and WR Vinny Buysse. RB Van Goodwin scored yet another rushing touchdown.

Next up? A visit to Bordeaux. A chance to continue the comeback to the race for the playoffs tickets. QB Evan Drake is cleared to play. He was questionable already for the Snapfinger game, but it felt too risky to let Drake play with that kind of injury that could quickly aggravate and put him out for more games. I believe we have a stronger team, but we'll have to up our game to prove it. Especially on the road. So, team, the last two games were good, but we need a little bit more to make this turn into a 3-game winning streak.