DFC VIII Week Seven Results

College Games
Georgia Tech 17, Miami 14
Penn State 38, #9 Wisconsin 7
#6 Oklahoma 41, #11 Missouri 31
#22 Auburn 9, Arkansas 7

NFL Games
Green Bay 17, Washington 14
Jacksonville 37, Houston 17
Carolina 25, Arizona 10
New England 48, Dallas 27 (also TieBreak game--75 points)

The Week That Was
Joining the 5 Week Winner Club alongside of Mark Gainey, Jenn Ernst, Matt Latta, Michael Nipp and Big Wookiee, at 7-1, Drew Morris takes this week's crown, winning it for the first time in exactly two seasons (winning Week 7 of DFC VI in 2005).

Coming in 2nd, with an identical record but killed on TB, Garrett Cheney has a great week, while in 3rd, Daniel Powell also has a 7-1 record. In 4th for the week, Jason Barnette finishes 6-2, while Ryan Sherman rounds out the top 5, with 6-2.

The rest of the top ten includes, in 6th Gary "The Idol" Eubanks, in 7th Matt Halpert, in 8th Yours Truly, Tom Johnson in 9th and Tebe Shaw in 10th, all at 6-2.

Also finishing:
6-2: Jason Demastus, Sarah Hasha
5-3: DMOsborne, Ken Mackey, Justin Fisher, Tommy McLeod, Jennifer Ernst, Big Eddy, Jason Duren, Tyler Campbell, Trey Cartledge, Jonathan Osborne, Eddy Jr, Zack Graves, Michael Nipp
4-4: Mark Gainey, James Hawbaker, Clif Render, Tad Roose, Lori Beirne, Tim Wasyluka, Gina Roose, Joey Thornell
3-5: Jason Turnbow, Scott Latta
2-6: Matt Latta
0-8: Ty Coffey

STANDINGS
ROOSE CONFERENCE
North Division
The battle of the Matts continue, with Matt Latta's collapse almost becoming tragic. Mackey isn't too far out of a playoff berth, while Tom is still rebounding from that missed week. DMO is also trying to rebound, though he'll be really just chasing that elusive 49 win mark, ensuring him of a winning season. Ty Coffey, due to two straight missed weeks, is retiring from the league mid-season.
Matt Halpert, 34-22 (10.5)
Matt Latta, 30-26 (14.14)
Mackey, 29-27 (14.0)
Tom Johnson, 27-29 (24.57)
DMOsborne, 22-34 (22.17)
Ty Coffey, 21-35 (28.0) (final week for Ty)

MidCentral Division
Justin and Jennifer are tied up at the top, as the strong rookie and the all-time winningest player trade wins. Tommy is surging, as is Tebe and Barney, while Turnbow is trying to collect his season and come back in the last part of the year.
Justin Fisher, 34-22 (13.14)
Jennifer Ernst, 34-22 (15.17)
Tommy McLeod, 31-25 (10.67)
Tebe Shaw, 31-25 (19.14)
Jason Barnette, 30-26 (13.17)
Jason Turnbow, 25-31 (15.29)

West Division
Suddenly, a new hat for MVP is in the ring, and it belongs to Drew Morris, who's weeks haven't been stellar, but they've been consistant, and his Week 7 has given him a slight divisional edge. The preseason #1, Gary "The Idol" Eubanks is tied, though off on his TBA, while Jason Duren sits about over four points back. Big Eddy is trying to make his comeback to prove he's still got it, while Sarah is threatening to throw together a winning season. Demastus is recovering from an early season missed week.
Drew Morris, 35-21 (10.0)
Gary Eubanks, 35-21 (12.83)
Jason Duren, 35-21 (14.29)
Eddy McBroom, 30-26 (11.67)
Sarah Hasha, 28-28 (29.33)
Jason Demastus, 26-30 (29.0)

If the Playoffs Started Today:
First Round Bye (seeds)
(1) West Division Champion Drew Morris
(2) North Division Champion Matt Halpert
(3) MidCentral Division Champion Justin Fisher
Wild Card (top two advance from Wild Card Weekend, higher seed gets tiebreak)
(4) Gary Eubanks... (5) Jason Duren... (6) Jennifer Ernst... (7) Tommy McLeod... (8) Tebe Shaw
Outside Looking In (within a game):
(9) Eddy McBroom... (10) Jason Barnette... (11) Matt Latta

LATTA CONFERENCE
East Division
Rookie Clif Render continues to lead the division, trying to snap Mark Gainey's five consecutive East Division titles... in fact, Clif is currently the only one from this division who sits in a playoff spot. Could there be a Gainey-less postseason? James Hawbaker continues to impress, while Yours Truly finally puts together a decent week, though not using my drop in Week 1's debacle haunts me still. Trey and Tyler battle to stay out of the cellar.
Clif Render, 33-23 (16.71)
Mark Gainey, 31-25 (10.0)
James Hawbaker, 31-25 (12.67)
Yours Truly, 31-25 (20.83)
Trey Cartledge, 29-27 (14.14)
Tyler Campbell, 28-28 (13.5)

South Central Division
The absolute, bar none hardest division in the league, and possibly in the DFC's history. This IS the SEC of the DFC. Tad and Jonathan tie up for the lead, with less than a point separate a first round bye (and #1 seed) with a date in Wild Card Weekend. Zack Graves also ties for first, with a worse TBA, while Scott and Lori are still within striking distance of the postseason. Its not over for Eddy Jr, but he's got to start winning quickly.
Tad Roose, 35-21 (13.0)
Jon Osborne, 35-21 (13.83)
Zack Graves, 35-21 (16.5)
Scott Latta, 33-23 (11.71)
Lori Beirne, 32-24 (13.0)
Eddy Jr, 27-29 (11.43)

South Division
Currently, Daniel is the only reigning division champion who sits in first in their division all alone (Tad is tied with Jonathan), though Ryan is but a game back from his first division crown. The Wife of the Dynasty, Gina, had a terrible week at a terrible time, and it could cost her, while Michael's rebuilding year (which makes his, what, fifth in a row?) continues well. Garrett's winning week came at a huge time, as he surges back into the playoff hunt, while Joey's late start combined with just so-so weeks is going to make it hard for a +.500 season.
Daniel Powell, 34-22 (20.5)
Ryan Sherman, 33-23 (18.0)
Gina Roose, 32-24 (17.0)
Michael Nipp, 31-25 (13.29)
Garrett Cheney, 30-26 (18.86)
Tim Wasyluka, 29-27 (11.0)
Joey Thornell, 23-34 (15.43)

If the Playoffs Started Today:
First Round Byes:
(1) Tad Roose
(2) Daniel Powell
(3) Clif Render
Wild Card Weekend (top two advance, higher seeds get tiebreak)
(4) Jonathan Osborne... (5) Zack Graves... (6) Scott Latta... (7) Ryan Sherman... (8) Lori Beirne
On the Outside Looking In (within a game)
(9) Gina Roose... (10) Mark Gainey... (11) James Hawbaker... (12) Michael Nipp... (13) Yours Truly

The DFC Power Poll Top 12
Rank, Record (TBA) (last week)
1) Drew Morris, 35-21 (10.0) (10)
2) Gary Eubanks, 35-21 (12.83) (6)
3) Tad Roose, 35-21 (13.0) (1)
4) Jonathan Osborne, 35-21 (13.83) (5)
5) Jason Duren, 35-21 (14.29) (3)
6) Zack Graves, 35-21 (16.5) (4)
7) Matt Halpert, 34-22 (10.5) (11)
8) Justin Fisher, 34-22 (13.14) (7)
9) Jennifer Ernst, 34-22 (15.17) (8)
10) Daniel Powell, 34-22 (20.5) (NR)
11) Scott Latta, 33-23 (11.71) (2)
12) Clif Render, 33-23 (16.71) (9)
dropped out: Lori Beirne (12)

And... the Bottom Five
33) Jason Demastus.... 34) Jason Turnbow.... (35) Joey Thornell.... (36) DMOsborne.... (37) Ty Coffey

TieBreak Drops... the following still have their drop:
Matt Latta, Mackey, Tom Johnson, Tebe Shaw, Turnbow, Justin Fisher, Jason Duren, Jason Demastus, Clif Render, Trey Cartledge, Tad Roose, Eddy Jr, Scott Latta, Ryan Sherman, Gina Roose, Garrett Cheney, Michael Nipp, Joey Thornell

Lies, Darn Lies & Statistics

• Ah, its The DFC Power Poll... I finally went back and copied each season's Power Poll, from DFC IV to this year, stuck them side by side and looked it over. Remember, some of the stats you'll see will be unofficial, at least until I go back and "recreate" DFC I thru III to see the full picture.
• Also, in seasons IV, V & VI, The DFC Power Poll was a top 10, not a top 12, so I moved #11 and #12 up for those seasons, just for consistantcy... and in all this work, I'll give that info next week. So I can be thorough.
• Can you believe that only 5 weeks remain in the regular season? Suddenly, those 3-5 and 4-4 weeks are beginning to catch up, as is the horrid tiebreak average. The playoffs start at the end of November, and out of 51 to play the DFC game, 25 have made it to the postseason. Only 17 of those have made it more than once, not counting the 6 who made it for the first time last season.
• Longest active playoff streak? Mark Gainey. He's made it 5 straight years... as a matter of fact, he's never missed the post season. The next longest streak belongs to Yours Truly, who has been in 4 straight years... and both are on the fence as to whether we'll make it again.
• For Gainey, another appearance would give him not only 6 total, but 6 straight... and would equal both Drew Morris' and Jennifer Ernst's total, which if they gets in--and it looks like both will--will be 6 playoff appearances.
• Drew is #1 on the list for postseason wins, with a 63-28 record, including 2 straight DeuceBowl appearances. Second is Big Wookiee, at 55-24 and two championships, while 3rd belongs to 3 time champion Tad Roose, 51-21. Big Eddy McBroom has gone from 2nd to 4th in two seasons, as from DFC II to V making the playoffs each year, but has missed the postseason in both the past two years. In 5th is, you guessed it, Jennifer Ernst, at 48-24 (I'm in 6th with a 47-25 record). Jennifer is the highest ranking player on this list who's never been to the championship.
• Scott Latta appears 14th on the list, just behind Lori Smith and ahead of Michael Nipp, and is worth mentioning as he's the highest ranking player to only make the postseason one time--that would be because of his great run to DeuceBowl VI in his first playoff appearance.
• Daniel Powell and Mikey Nipp finally get that 400th win! Tad Roose is on the way (385) and Big Eddy (380) and Drew (379) are up next. This is, of course, regular season, so next up for 400 regular + postseason is Gainey, who is 13 away.
• Sarah Hasha is only 7 away from 300 all time, while Garrett Cheney is 11 from 200. Tyler Campbell is 16 from 200.
• For the 100 win mark, Gary made it this week if you toss in the postseason wins, but he's 3 away from regular season.
• Right now, Drew Morris sits atop the DFC Power Poll, not only his first time at #1, but the first time EVER in the top five... who knew? Anyway, his 35-21 record is matched by 6 others.
• To tell you what kind of season this is, Drew had the exact same record last year after Week 7, with a comparable TBA (10.0 now, 8.17 then), and he wasn't 1.. or 2... or 4... he was 8th.
• Last season at this time, Tad Roose already had 40 wins, en route to a 66 win, MVP & DeuceBowl championship season.
• All is not drastic, however... two seasons ago, DFC VI, the same 35-21 record would put you in a tie for 2nd... behind David Mark Osborne's #1, 38-18 record ranking.