1999 Playoff Preview

Vince's B's come into the playoffs with a league-best
11-1 record, having scored an astounding 1,162 points during the
regular season, an average of 96.8 per game. Pavelich's Vigilantes
had to win their final two games to qualify and even then barely
squeezed in thanks to an advantage of three in total points scored
over Steve Suder's PP Brains. Vince's all-time record now stands
at 39-31 (.557), including a 4-3 post-season mark. The Psychedelic
B's were the 1996 Fantasy Bowl Champs. Pavelich's all-time record
is now 63-55 (.534), including a 6-6 post-season mark. The Midnight
Vigilantes won the 1995 EFFL title. This is the fourth trip to the
playoffs in five years for the B's while the Vigilantes are back in
the post-season for the seventh time in eight years. Vince's squad
enters riding a five game win streak while Pavelich's club has won
two in a row. The B's lead the all-time series 4-1. The two teams
have never met in the playoffs.

Jones and LTP come into the playoffs as champions of
the Red Division with a record of 9-3. Barth's Couch Potatoes dropped
to the number seven seed by virtue of losing their final game - and
the division title - to Mike Szydlowski's Polish Monarchs. Jones'
all-time record now stands at 29-26 (.527), including a 3-1 post-season
mark. LTP won the 1997 EFFL title. Barth's all-time record
is now 43-27 (.614), including a 4-3 post-season record. Barth's club
won last year's title when they were known as the Kardiac Kids.
This is the second trip to the playoffs in four years for LTP while
the Couch Potatoes are back in the post-season for the fourth time
in five years. Jones' squad enters having lost their final game of
the season to the Masons while Barth's club dropped a chance to win
the White Division by losing a week 12 contest to the Polish Monarchs.
LTP leads the all-time series 3-2. The two teams have never met in
the playoffs.

Szydlowski's Monarchs come into the playoffs having
won the White Division with a record of 7-5. Captain Tripps and
GM Matt Rzyczycki qualify as the six seed by virtue of a 6-6 record
and week four victory against the Couch Potatoes. Szydlowski's
all-time record now stands at 16-13 (.552), including a 2-1
post-season mark. The Monarchs finished in third place in the 1996
playoffs, their only other year of existence. Rzyczycki's all-time record
is now 49-39 (.557), including a 4-7 post-season mark. Captain Tripps
lost the 1998 title game to Jody Barth's Kardiac Kids. This is the second
trip to the playoffs in two years for the Monarchs while Captain Tripps
is back in the post-season for the fifth time in six years. Szydlowski's
squad enters riding a two game win streak while Rzyczycki's club has lost
two in a row. The Monarchs lead the all-time series 1-0. The two teams
have never met in the playoffs.

Thiem's Masons enter the playoffs with an 8-4 record, a
very respectable mark for a first year club. Thomas' Gargoyles
finished with a 7-5 record, good for only third place in the tough
Red Division. Thiem's all-time record now stands at 8-4 (.667) and
as mentioned, this will be his club's first post-season appearance.
Thomas' all-time record is now 46-41 (.529), including a 6-4
post-season mark. Thomas' first year in the league resulted in an
EFFL title, when his Stormtroopers won the championship in 1994.
This is the fifth trip to the playoffs in six years for the Gargoyles.
Thiem's squad enters riding a two game win streak while Thomas' club won
their final game of the season. The all-time series is tied 1-1.
The two teams have never met in the playoffs.

Kuratko's Punks come into the playoffs with a Browns
Conference best 10-2 record, having scored 1,081 points during the
regular season. Averaging just over 90 points a game would be
remarkable in any season, yet the output by the Punks still ranks
nearly six points lower than Vince's Psychedelic B's. White's Eagles
had to win their final two games to qualify after losing a chance at
the White Division title to Joe Nunney and Black Diamond back in week
10. Kuratko's all-time record stands at a league best 91-65 (.583),
including a 12-10 post-season mark. Kuratko's club won the league's
first title as the Punishers back in 1990. White's all-time record
is now 18-23 (.439), including a 2-2 post-season mark. This is the
ninth trip to the playoffs in ten years for the Punks while the
Screaming Eagles are back in the post-season for the second time
in three years. Kuratko's squad enters riding a four game win streak
while White's club has won two in a row. The Punks lead the all-time
series 1-0. The Punks beat the Eagles 55-40 in a 1997 Consolation
Tournament contest.

Mortland's Morticians were the only first-year club to
win a division title in 1999, finishing at 8-4 and champions of the
Orange Division by virtue of a better division record over Mike
Kuratko's Hostile Omish. Bell's Bonecrushers rebounded from an 0-3
start to win six of nine and qualify as the seventh seed. Mortland's
all-time record now stands at 8-4 (.667) and as mentioned, are
appearing in the post-season for the first time. Bell's all-time record
is now 79-69 (.534), including a 5-9 post-season mark. This is the
eighth trip to the playoffs in ten years for the Bonecrushers. Mortland's
squad won their final game of the regular season against the Bonecrushers
97-75. Bell's club had won four in a row before that contest. The Morticians
lead the all-time series 2-0. The two teams have never met in the playoffs.

Nunney's Black Diamond club made a triumphant return
to the Erie League by finishing 6-6, champions of the Browns Conference
White Division. Damicone's identical mark of 6-6 was good only for third
place in the conference's tough Brown Division. Nunney's all-time record
now stands at 25-43 (.368), including a 2-1 post-season mark. Many are
considering Nunney for General Manager of the Year in the All-American
Conference for the outstanding draft work he turned in on Vince's unbelievable
Psychedelic B's club. Damicone's all-time record is now 73-73 (.500),
including a 6-6 post-season mark. The King Salmons won the 1993 EFFL title.
This is the first trip to anything other than the Consolation Tournament in
Black Diamond's five years of existence. The King Salmons are back in
the post-season for the seventh time in ten years. Nunney's squad
enters riding a one game win streak while Damicone's club took the
conference-leading Atomic Punks to overtime before dropping an 81-72
decision in week 12. Black Diamond leads the all-time series 5-0. The two teams
have never met in the playoffs.

Despite finishing tied record-wise with the two-seeded
Morticians, Mike Kuratko's Hostile Omish fell to the fourth playoff
position thanks to winning one fewer division contest. Labonte's
Shadow Bandits hung with the Atomic Punks all season before losing
a week 11 contest which could have netted a division title. Kuratko's
all-time record now stands at 78-54 (.591), including a 5-7
post-season mark. The Omish finished in third place in the run for
the 1994 league title while winning the 1996 Consolation Tournament
championship. Labonte's all-time record is now 46-65 (.414),
including a 1-4 post-season mark. This is the seventh trip to the
playoffs in nine years for the Omish while the Bandits are back in
the post-season for just the fourth time in eight years. Kuratko's squad
enters riding a two game win streak while Labonte's club won their
week 12 matchup with the Donikers, knocking Sam Profio out of the
playoffs for the first time in five years. The Omish lead the all-time
series 6-1. The two teams have never met in the playoffs.