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Vigilantes win 3rd league crown

Pavelich repeats as champ, sends Profio to third fantasy bowl loss

The Midnight Vigilantes became the first team in the history of the Erie League to repeat as champion, handing the Donikers-DTL a 122-95 loss in Fantasy Bowl 12 last night.

In the end, the aerial attack of the Vigilantes proved to be too much for the one man ground show the Donikers feature in running back Marshall Faulk. Even though Faulk set a Fantasy Bowl record by scoring 39 points (118 rushing yards, 47 receiving yards, four TD's), it wasn't enough to offset WR's Torry Holt (32 points) and David Boston (24 points). The two receivers combined for 330 yards and four scores.

The victory enabled Kirk Pavelich (right) to become the first owner in league history to win a third title. The ten year veteran of the league, whose record stands at 89-62, has now guided the Vigilantes to eight consecutive post-season victories. Click for Gallery of Champions 

"This just proves that timing is everything," Pavelich said. "Most times when you give up 39 points to one guy you're gonna lose. I'm just thankful that Torry Holt and Eddie George (27 points) picked this week to go off."

In defeat, Sam Profio and the Donikers now have the distinction of being the first team in league history to appear and lose in three consecutive championship games. The '96 Donikers lost Fantasy Bowl Six to the Psychedelic B's while the '95 club dropped the title game to the Vigilantes.

During the playoffs, Pavelich's club scored 378 points in four games (94.5 per game). However, his team always seems to rise to the occasion when a championship is on the line. In three Fantasy Bowl appearances, the Vigilantes have now scored 359 points (119.6 per game).

The championship drought for the Browns Conference has now reached eight years, with Jim Damicone's 1993 King Salmons still holding the distinction of winning the last championship for a team in the senior circuit.

"Pav, way to represent!" said Blockheads GM Jody Barth, a member of the All-American Conference. "Not only did you represent but you embarrassed the Browns Conference and manhandled their representative. At the league meeting, I move to change the Browns Conference's name to the Lions Conference!"

The game's MVP, Torry Holt (left), scored 32 points on the strength of a 7 catch, 203 yard receiving, two touchdown performance. The speedy St. Louis wide out is now the all-time leading scorer in Fantasy Bowl history, having scored 54 points in just two appearances. Click here to see a complete list of Fantasy Bowl Records. The Vigilantes franchise player for 2001 at 10 units, Holt will now be returned to the player pool for the rest of the All-American Conference to bid on next August.

Pavelich -- who will cash in on nearly $650 -- used a much different method over previous seasons in building a championship squad. Unlike 2000, when every player except for the kicker was brought in via the trade, Pavelich relied on the draft to win the title. Quarterback Aaron Brooks, WR's Holt, Boston, and Joe Horn and PK Jason Elam were all on the opening day roster.

The annual awards and rules banquet will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2002 at Twin City Pub and Grille in Twinsburg, located at 10735 Ravenna Road in the Masarra's Shopping Plaza. It will start at 6:30 p.m. and Pavelich has vowed to continue the six-year-old tradition of buying a round of drinks for all in attendance. Please contact the commissioner as soon as possible if you cannot attend so that other arrangements can be made regarding the distribution of prize money.

Click here to read the feature story -- ERIE OWNERS FIRE PARTING SHOTS

Click here to read the owner profile story on KEITH KURATKO

Click here to read the feature story on THE EVOLUTION OF SMACK TALKING

Click here to read the owner profile story on STORM THOMAS

Click here to read the owner profile story on JODY BARTH

Click here to read the owner profile story on BRYAN VINCE

Click here to read the owner profile story on JASON GILLESPIE

Click here to read the owner profile story on JOHN THIEM

Click here to read the owner profile story on JOE NUNNEY

CLICK HERE FOR BACK ISSUES OF THE SPORTS PAGE:

• Vigilantes, Donikers set to battle - Fantasy Bowl 12 Preview (December 29, 2001)

• Four teams remain in the hunt (December 18, 2001)

• Eight teams remain in the race for the 2001 Erie League title (December 11, 2001)

• Field of 16 will vie for Fantasy Bowl 12 berth; 3 rookies qualify (December 4, 2001)

• Little talking takes place as owners jockey for post-season position (November 27, 2001)

• Trash talking develops a rivalry (November 20, 2001)

• Trade deadline passes with several owners deciding to stand pat (November 13, 2001)

• GM's come out of the woodwork to answer Vince's trash talking (November 6, 2001)

• Start of second half not kind to Jones and LTP (October 29, 2001)

• Trade offers lead to trash talk (October 22, 2001)

• Browns Conference reigns supreme (October 15, 2001)

• Interleague Play - Round Three Preview (October 8, 2001)

• Veterans Vince and Kuratko fire first shots of the season (October 1, 2001)

• Atomic Punks, Black Diamond jump to All-American Conference (August 11, 2001)

• Erie League set to kick off 12th season (July 8, 2001)