Editor's Note: This is a reprint of the Dec. 17, 1997 Sports Page article recapping the Fantasy Bowl contest between the Cosmic Monsters and LTP. LTP won the championship 60-59.

LTP wins league title, 60-59

Thanks to the leg of placekicker Gary Anderson, LTP rallied to defeat the Cosmic Monsters and capture their first Erie League championship, 60-59.

The one-point margin of victory marked the closest Fantasy Bowl contest in five years. After the Assassins defeated the Brews Brothers 29-28 in 1992, the next four title games were decided by an average of 23 points.

As Erie League champions, LTP co-owners Don Jones (pictured right) and Steve Suder will split a pot of $470.25. The Cosmic Monsters and their GM Brad Rzyczycki, runners-up two of the past four years, will receive $235.13.

Heading into the Monday Night contest, the Monsters held a 56-47 advantage. However, Jones' squad outscored Rzyczycki's 13-3 in the final game to bring home the crown. Anderson, San Francisco's kicker, tied the contest with a field goal 5 minutes and 55 seconds into the fourth quarter and won it with an extra point with just over four minutes remaining in the game.

LTP finishes the season at 12-4 while the surprising Monsters, winners of four of their last five, bowed out at 8-8.

Scott Mitchell (left), LTP's quarterback, was named Most Valuable Player thanks to his 18 point performance. Wide receivers Herman Moore and Rickey Dudley also stepped up big for the champions, contributing 12 point performances.

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe led the Cosmic Monsters with 19 points while wide receiver Michael Irvin chipped in with 11. Other than Bledsoe, none of Rzyczycki's squad could manage a touchdown.

In the battle for third place, Storm Thomas' Gargoyles (11-5) hammered Captain Tripps (11-5) and their owner Matt Rzyczycki, 76-54. Quarterback Brett Favre's 22 and wideout Darnay Scott's 17 helped the Gargoyles cash in on a $141.08 payday. Leading playoff scorer Boomer Esiason paced Captain Tripps with 19 points. Rzycyzcki will receive $94.05 for placing fourth.

Charter member clubs the Bonecrushers and the Atomic Punks squared off in Consolation Bowl Two, with Dave Bell's club taking the prize over Keith Kuratko's 63-60. By winning the Erie League's Toilet Bowl equivalent game, Bell collects a refund on his initial $65 entry fee, despite finishing with a 6-10 mark. The Punks closed out the year with a record of 7-9, the second straight sub-.500 season for Kuratko's club.