Watervliet Press Box by John Oliphant
Alex Isbrecht gets 100th career win as Panther wrestlers sweep McKinney Memorial
The Watervliet High School gymnasium was full and noisy last Wednesday, Jan. 22, for the Trent McKinney Memorial Meet. The Watervliet Panthers and Coloma Comets each took on Gobles and Fennville. It was also Senior Night for the Panthers. Trever Pelton and Alex Isbrecht along with their parents were honored between matches of their final sporting event in the Panther gym. The Panthers easily beat Gobles, 45-30, and dominated Fennville, 57-12.
100th WIN… Senior Alex Isbrecht claims his 100th win at Panther Gymnasium on Wednesday, January 22 at the annual Trent McKinney Memorial Wrestling Meet. Alex, pictured here with his parents Tom and Kim Isbrecht, is a 2019 state finals qualifier and expects to return to the Division 3 finals this season. (TCR photo by John Oliphant)
The real excitement that evening was Alex, who was at 98 career wins heading into the meet. His first match was the most exciting of the entire evening. Alex came out strong in the first period, going up 4-0 with a takedown and two-point near fall. He was on the bottom the entire second period with his opponent riding him for two minutes and getting a near fall to make the score 4-3. The third period was more of the same, with Alex falling behind 6-4 with under 20 seconds left. At one point he had his opponent pinned while still on the bottom, but the referee wasn’t in position to see it. But then, in the style typical of his career he managed a late reversal to tie the score at 6. Then with less than five seconds to go he scored two more near fall points to get his 99th win.
His 100th win was a bit less dramatic as he pinned his opponent in 14 seconds.
There wasn’t much wrestling otherwise as both Gobles and Fennville have small teams. Jimmy Kolosowsky got a pin at 2:20, Trever Pelton got a pin at 2:09, Dominick Morrison won a tight match, and Evan Orlando won a decision.
Saturday, Jan. 25 was their scheduled rest weekend. The team heads to the Greater Berrien County meet in St. Joe on Saturday, Feb. 1, then to the SAC championship on February 8 in Lawton.
Panther boys basketball playing shorthanded
The Panther boys are on an extended road trip, having played at home on December 20 and not coming back until Senior Night on February 21. Playing on the road is always a disadvantage and being shorthanded makes the games that much tougher. Despite these challenges the team is playing well and improving every week.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Jan. 20) they took on the Lake Michigan Catholic Lakers in their storied “House of Noise”. The Panthers neutralized the noise early on when Andrew Chisek grabbed the opening tipoff from Danaveon Gilbert and scored three seconds into the game, and then took a 13-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Panthers then dominated the over-matched Lakers, leading 28-7 at halftime and eventually winning the game 58-15.
Every Panther scored in the game, led by Andrew Chisek and Danaveon Gilbert with 12 points each. Sharpshooter Davis King scored 11, and speedy guard Brennan Bornas put up nine points. Evan Hutchins scored five and Curtis White hit one shot for three points. Cole Pline scored two while leading the team in rebounds. Rylee Carter and Brady Bornas were called up from the junior varsity and each scored two points in their first varsity action.
Friday night, Jan. 24, saw the Panthers at Coloma. With just seven players dressed for the game and six out for various reasons they would need a super-human effort to keep up with the potent Comets, but it wasn’t in the cards. The game was hard-fought by both teams and the Comets came out ahead, 61-50. The Panther scoring was led by Danaveon Gilbert with 14 points, including three three-pointers and a breakaway dunk, all in the final quarter. Andrew Chisek scored 11 points, and Davis King hit three long shots for nine points. Curtis White came on strong and scored seven, and Cole Pline was solid underneath with five points. Evan Hutchins and Rylee Carter each scored two points.
100th WIN… Senior Alex Isbrecht claims his 100th win at Panther Gymnasium on Wednesday, January 22 at the annual Trent McKinney Memorial Wrestling Meet. Alex, pictured here with his parents Tom and Kim Isbrecht, is a 2019 state finals qualifier and expects to return to the Division 3 finals this season. (TCR photo by John Oliphant)
Because one big rivalry game in a weekend is never enough, on Saturday night the Panthers played at Hartford. The Indians were looking for revenge after losing to the Panthers last month. They got that revenge, beating the Panthers 61-54 in a game that was much closer than the final score.
The Panthers led most of the game and were in charge midway through the third quarter, but with just those same seven guys playing for the second night in a row, plus some foul trouble, they got worn down by the fully loaded Indians and were outscored in the final quarter 20-11.
Chisek again led the way with 17. Evan Hutchins came up big with 13 points. Gilbert scored 10 and King scored five points. Pline led in rebounds and blocked shots while scoring four points. White chipped in a late three-pointer and Carter scored two points.
The boys play at Fennville on Friday (Jan. 31) and at Gobles on Feb. 7.
Girls hoops splits a pair
On Tuesday, Jan. 21 the Lady Panthers went to Lake Michigan Catholic and came away with a 37-33 win. A sluggish start found the Lady Panthers down 6-2 at the end of one quarter, and 13-10 at halftime. Coach Ken Dietz said the offense didn’t get off the bus until the second half. Whatever he told them at halftime (Get off the bus!) worked and they outscored the Lakers 16-8 in the third quarter to take the lead for good.
The win was secured by free throw shooting down the stretch from freshman point guard Madison Flowers, going 4 for 5 in the last quarter. Samantha Dietz and Flowers led the scoring with 25 and 6. Addison Riley scored four points and Myah Hobson chipped in two points. Top rebounders on the night were Dietz and Riley.
On Friday night Jan. 24 the girls took on the Coloma Comets in the opening game. They hung on for a while, but the bigger and more experienced Comets eventually wore down the Lady Panthers, winning 44-25. Dietz led the scoring with 14 points, and Flowers scored six. Madison Saunders and Serena Reyna scored two points, and Adriyanna Winters hit one free throw.
The girls travel to Fennville Friday night (Jan. 31), and then host Portage Northern on Tuesday, February 4.
Hartford Prress Box By Jerrod Birmele
Hartford boys basketball splits pair of games, remains above .500
Last week, the Hartford Indian boys basketball team played in two key midseason games, one of the conference variety and the other in non-conference action. The Indians, despite coming into action at 4-3 on the season, has experienced the growing pains that many have with young teams. However, the ability and firepower of this team is not in question; when they are clicking on all cylinders, they can win on just about any given night.
In their game on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at White Pigeon, the Indians fell in heartbreaking fashion, as they were defeated by the Chiefs, 47-45. White Pigeon was in command after the opening stanza, as they took an 8-2 lead over Hartford after the first quarter. The game became much more competitive in the second quarter, with the Indians outscoring the Chiefs, 12-9, in the stanza, cutting the lead to three, 17-14, at halftime. The third quarter saw Hartford have one of their biggest scoring quarters of the year, as they outscored White Pigeon, 24-14, and took a seven point lead, 38-31, into the final eight minutes. The Indians went cold from a scoring standpoint in the fourth quarter, as the Chiefs used a 16-7 scoring blitz in the final stanza to come from behind and score the two-point victory.
The Indians had six players score in the game, with three finishing in double figures. Kaden Johnson tied a career-high in scoring, pacing Hartford with 14 points. Aaron Sinclair and Elijah Rodarte were the other Indian players in double figures, with Sinclair finishing with 13 points and Rodarte adding 11 points in the loss. Other players that scored for the Indians were Tanner Kinchen (4), Elijah Ledesma (2) and Elijah Smith (1).
In their home game on Saturday, Jan. 25 versus Watervliet, the Indians came out victorious, defeating the rival Panthers, 61-54. The game was very tight throughout, with one quarter being the difference. The two teams battled to a draw after the first quarter, with the game deadlocked at 10 after the opening eight minutes. Watervliet took a 26-24 lead into halftime, courtesy of a 16-14 scoring advantage in the second quarter. The second half started just as tight, with the teams exchanging the lead several times in the third quarter, but in the end, the Panthers led 43-41 after three, with both teams scoring 17 points each in the frame. The game was decided in the fourth quarter, when Hartford made timely shots and sunk their free throws, outscoring Watervliet, 20-11, in the final stanza to grab the win.
Hartford had six players score in the game, with a pair of players scoring in double figures. Elijah Rodarte and Aaron Sinclair combined to score 43 of the team’s 61 points, with Rodarte scoring 22 points and Sinclair adding 21 points in the win. Other players that scored for the Indians were Kaden Johnson (8), Tanner Kinchen and Elijah Ledesma (4 each) and Elijah Smith (2).
Hartford girls basketball falls to White Pigeon in close contest
Last week, the Hartford Lady Indian Basketball team did not have one of their busiest weeks of action, but the one game they did play would be against a solid conference opponent. The Lady Indians, up to this point, have had a good first nine games of the season, starting 6-3 and placing themselves in the middle of the Southwest 10 Conference standings. However, the team is still learning new skills every day, and the learning curve has been steep, yet rewarding.
In their home game on Tuesday, Jan. 21 versus White Pigeon, the Lady Indians suffered a tough loss, falling to the visiting Lady Chiefs, 33-30. White Pigeon was in control for a majority of the first half. The first quarter saw the Lady Chiefs come out and outscore the Lady Indians in a hotly-contested opening stanza, 11-7. The difference in the final score can be attributed to the second quarter, when White Pigeon held Hartford scoreless, winning the frame by a 6-0 margin, and extending their halftime lead to 17-7. The Lady Indians managed to win the second half, outscoring the Lady Chiefs, 14-11, in the third quarter and 9-5 in the fourth quarter. Hartford had chances in the final minutes to cut the lead or even tie the game, but a couple missed shots and missed free throws doomed their comeback aspirations.
Six players scored for Hartford, with only one player scoring in double figures. Megan Nelson led the Lady Indians with her 16-point effort, which included four made three-pointers. Alexis Snodgrass added four points in the loss. Other players that scored for the Lady Indians were Vanessa De La Rosa and Jaelyne Galvan (3 each) and Khashya McCoy and Descenya Rodarte (2 each).
Hartford Competitive Cheer finishes 2nd twice in busy week
Last week, the Hartford Indian Competitive Cheer team’s schedule was jam packed, as they returned to the mats for three competitions, including one that had implications on the conference race. In their four prior competitions, the ladies have been very competitive with the rest of the field, scoring 500 or more points in every competition, and eclipsing the 600-point mark once. Despite their early success, the ladies are still very eager to improve.
In their competition on Monday, Jan. 20, the Coloma Comet Invitational, Hartford placed in the runner-up position in Division 4, finishing with a total score of 583.9 points. The team finished round one with a total of 190 points, which came with no deduction in penalty points. The second round saw the team put together a performance worthy of 160.3 points, but was reduced to 152.3 points, after eight points in penalty deductions. The third and final round, which is always the highest scoring round in a competition, saw the team score 261.6 points, but after a 20-point deduction in penalty points, the score was reduced to 241.6 points.
In competition on Tuesday, Jan. 21, the third SMCCC Jamboree of the year held at Coloma, Hartford finished in 6th place out of eight teams, finishing with a total score of 621.3 points. This was their highest score in a conference jamboree this season. The team finished round one with a total of 197.2 points, which came with no deduction in penalty points. The second round saw the team put together a performance worthy of 164.7 points, and also came with no deduction in penalty points. The third and final round saw the team score 259.4 points, and, for the third straight round, saw no deduction in penalty points.
On Saturday, Jan. 25, in the Bulldog Classic held at Otsego, Hartford finished in the runner-up position in Division 4, finishing with a total score of 611.8 points. The team finished round one with a total of 191 points, which came with no deduction in penalty points. The second round saw the team put together a performance worthy of 166.4 points, and also came with no deduction in penalty points. The third and final round saw the team score 260.4 points, but after a 6-point deduction in penalty points, was reduced to 254.4 points.
Hartford wrestling wins first Southwest 10 Conference dual of season
The Hartford Indian Wrestling team returned to the mats for two meets last week – one team event and one individual event. After starting the year with plenty of bodies and a whole lot of promise, things have hit a bit of a rough patch for the wrestlers. While they have done an amicable job in the individual tournaments, the team has lost four consecutive Southwest 10 Conference team duals. However, they can always start fresh – and get back on the right track.
In their team event, a conference dual on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Eau Claire, which also included a non-conference opponent, Niles “B”, Hartford split with the host Beavers and the Vikings. In their first dual of the night, the Indians defeated Eau Claire, 60-18, before Hartford and Niles “B” tied at 42 in the second dual, with the Vikings taking the victory on criteria.
In their dual against Eau Claire, victorious Hartford wrestlers included Kevin Parra at 145 pounds (by forfeit), Govani Perez at 171 pounds (by fall in 2:29), James Terry at 189 pounds (by fall in :42), Angel Rocha at 215 pounds (by fall in 3:21), Uberth Morales at 285 pounds (by fall in :33), Ernesto Rodarte at 103 pounds (by forfeit), Armando Garcia at 119 pounds (by forfeit), Tim Dumont at 130 pounds (by fall in 1:41), Gonzalo Pedraza at 135 pounds (by fall in :45), and Jose Rios at 140 pounds (by forfeit).
In their dual against Niles “B”, victorious Hartford wrestlers included James Terry at 189 pounds (by fall in 1:47), Angel Rocha at 215 pounds (by fall in :40), Uberth Morales at 285 pounds (by fall in 5:27), Ernesto Rodarte at 103 pounds (by forfeit), Jorge Liborio-Davila at 119 pounds (by fall in 1:43), Tim Dumont at 130 pounds (by fall in :28), and Jose Rios at 140 pounds (by fall in 1:01).
In their individual event, the Comstock Friday Night Tournament, Hartford finished in 11th place out of 12 teams, scoring a total of 30 team points. The event was won overall by Portland, with a total of 216.5 team points.
One Indian wrestler managed to finish on the podium. Ernesto Rodarte placed 2nd at 103 pounds. Ernesto went 2-1 on the evening. His first match came against Gabe Spencer of Galesburg-Augusta, and he won the match by fall. His second match, in the semifinals, came against Alex Sayer of Hesperia, and he won that match, also by fall, in :43. His third match came against Thomas Zielinski of Grand Rapids West Catholic, and unfortunately, he lost by fall in 2:22, to end up as the runner-up.
As always, GO INDIANS!
Hartford Council for Recreation Baseball/ Softball Signups
The Hartford Council for Recreation has announced sign up dates for the 2020 Baseball, Softball and T-Ball seasons. From now until March 15, parents or guardians will be able to register participants online at http://www.hartfordrecreation.org.
On the left hand side of the home page under the “Links of Interest” section is the online registration form access. Parents will need to create an account on the website before adding participants in that section. Once that is accomplished then the proper division can be viewed.
In the future, the only information to update is changes in address or phone number. A child’s information will carry over, season-to-season and year-to-year and an annual form will need to be completed. For more information on how to sign up your child online, please visit their social media platforms, or use this link: https://sportsconnect-parents.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360023881873-Club-Platform-Online-Registration-Instructions. In addition, in-person sign up will be available on Thursday, Feb. 6 (6 to 8 p.m.), Monday, Feb. 17 (6 to 8 p.m.), Thursday, March 5 (5 to 8 p.m. during conferences) and Friday, March 6 (1:30 to 4:30 p.m. during conferences). These signups will take place at Redwood Elementary School.
Parents are reminded that payment is due at signup, and no exceptions will be made. The Hartford Council for Recreation accepts cash, check and most major credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and Discover Card. For families needing financial assistances, sponsorship programs are available. Please see a member of the Hartford Council for Recreation for more information on how they can help.
Community members are reminded they may stop by on any of those dates to register to coach, umpire or to become a volunteer. Help is always needed! Inquire about these opportunities by speaking with a representative of the organization. Also, be sure to follow them on their website, on Facebook (Hartford Council for Recreation) and Twitter (@IndianPridePark) all season long for more information and updates!
Press Box Player of the Week!
By Jerrod Birmele
Destiny Chacon, a senior at Hartford High School, and a member of the Indian Competitive Cheer team, is this week’s Tri-City Record Press Box Player of the Week.
This winter, Destiny has been an integral leader for the Hartford Competitive Cheer team that has been consistently improving in every competition, and is helping to lead the charge towards the possibility of conference and district honors. This is her third year on the competitive cheer team, and she is serving as a team captain this year. Despite having not been in the sport her entire high school career, she has adapted very well and has done an outstanding job as one of the main flyers for the team.
Athletically, off the competitive cheer mats, Destiny was a member of the Hartford Lady Indian Volleyball team in the fall, and will be a member of the Hartford Lady Indian Softball team in the spring. Along with her teammates, she was a member of two academic all-state teams in 2019: one for softball last spring, and the other for volleyball this past season.
Outside of athletics, Destiny has been honored as a Hartford High School “Student of the Week”, is a four-year member of the Hartford Indian Emerald Vanguard and is a member of the Hartford Chapter of the Jobs for Michigan Graduates Association. In December, she was crowned as Miss Hartford 2020, and was also the 2019 Hartford High School Prom Princess.
Congratulations on this great honor, Destiny! We look forward to hearing the loud cheers from you and your team throughout the remainder of the season!
Coloma Press Box By Dave Vollrath
Comet boys and girls hoop it up at home, leads to a pair of victories over Watervliet
It wasn’t quite a packed Coloma gym Jan. 24, but it was Coloma’s biggest crowd of the year, as you would expect it to be. When next door neighbors in any of the high school sports play each other, fans from both sides have something to cheer about, even though in this case the home team won both ends of the boy/girl doubleheader. The Lady Comets won 41-25, and the boys came away with a 61-50 victory.
REW DRIVES THE LANE… Coloma’s Drew Goodline scores two of his team high 19 points on this drive to the hole. His shot was at the end of the first half of Coloma’s 61-50 win over Watervliet. The annual rivalry was played in the Comet gym on Friday, Jan. 24. (TCR photo by Dave Vollrath)
In the first game, both ladies teams had an extremely cold shooting start to the game. Many of the shots were uncontested. They just didn’t seem to find the hole in the bucket. The game was tied 2-2 more than half way through the first quarter, but Coloma did manage a couple more buckets to lead 7-3 at the end of the 1st.
The second quarter found both teams shooting a little better. The Panthers closed the gap and trailed 16-13 at the half, which was much closer than most would have expected coming into the game. Coloma was riding a 3-game winning streak including a comeback victory a week earlier on the road against a previously undefeated Gobles team. The Panthers only had two wins on the season.
The Comets scoring was spread around, as seven of the girls put points on the board. No one on the squad made it into double figures, but Coloma was able to steadily build on their lead in the second half.
The Comets inside game was working with Megan Neubecker dominating under the bucket, and the Comet ball handlers, Megan Koenigshof and Marissa Sherburn, were able to penetrate the lane to get off shots inside, or dish off to open team mates. Both teams had a forgettable night shooting from the free throw line, as Watervliet made only five of 18 from the charity stripe, while Coloma was a little better, hitting on five of 11.
The leading scorer for Coloma was Amaria Echols who had nine points. Megan Koenigshof had eight points, along with nine rebounds and four assists. Megan Neubecker had six points, and pulled down a team high 12 boards. Marissa Sherburn had seven points including one from 3-point range. Addy Kimmerly had six points and Adian Allmon also hit a 3-pointer for Coloma.
With their fourth straight win, all coming since the first of the year, Coloma is 4-6 overall and 3-2 in the Lakeshore Division of the SAC.
The boy’s game also was close most of the way. Even though the Comets seemed to lead throughout the contest, they could never get a run going that would put the game away until the fourth quarter. And even then, the Panthers stayed in it until the final few minutes.
The Comets led by 11 with a score of 17-6 after the first quarter. But Watervliet outscored Coloma in the second quarter by three points, as they fought valiantly against the Coloma full court press, which had them rattled at times. But still they only went into the locker room at half down by eight points, 27-19.
Drew Goodline is beginning to come into his own and take a bigger leadership role on this team, although still only a junior. He was held to only seven points in the first half; his shots were just not falling. The second half however, the junior guard began knocking down the 3-pointers, including three in the fourth quarter. That stopped any kind of run the Panthers tried to make in getting back into the game. The Comets were able to build their fourth quarter lead at one point to 16. With a few minutes left, Coloma Coach Curtis McFall emptied the bench and rested the starters.
Goodline who is averaging 20 points a game, finished just below that mark with 19, including 15 on three-pointers, and had six rebounds and five assists. The Comets had eight more players who scored in the game. Isaiah Reinhardt scored 11, with one being a 3. Karon Smith had a 3-pointer and eight points overall. Michael Dancer, another of the Comet leaders, scored six points and also grabbed eight rebounds and dished out five assists. Brendan Jacobs added a 3-pointer to the Comet total.
Coloma will play at Martin on Friday night, Jan. 31.
Comet wrestlers finish 2nd at Comstock Invitational
The Coloma Comet wrestlers competed at an unusual event last week, unusual because the wrestlers usually do most of their work during the season on Saturdays. This was the Comstock Friday night invitational, and the Comets competed very well as a team, and finished in 2nd place. They had three wrestlers undefeated on the night, and placed six wrestlers overall.
Finishing the night undefeated and winning first place medals were Caeleb Ishmael at 112 pounds, Ian Ishmael at 152 pounds, and Cole Alsup wrestling at 285 pounds. Alec DeLaTorre finished 2nd, losing in the finals at 152 to Ian Ishmael. Travis Borr at 215 finished in 3rd place, and Logan Furgeson finished in 4th place for the Comets.
Coloma lady bowlers once again get the best of new rival Bronson
The Coloma Comet lady bowling team has had a new rivalry develop over the last few years with a formidable opponent in Bronson, who won the Division 4 state championship last season. The Comets were Division 3 regional champs.
BOWLING STARS… The Coloma girls bowling team came home with the championship trophy, won at the Bronson Invitational, on Friday, Jan 17. The Comets were first seed after the qualifying, and then went on to beat the no. 2 seed, Bronson, in the championship match. Pictured (from the left): Back row – Ashley Ikerd, Emily Feldten, Carissa Richmond, Morgan Hosbein; Front row – Madison McQuillan and Eadie Needham.
Earlier this season the Comets beat Bronson 22-8 in a regular season match at home, and then Friday, Jan. 17, they faced them again in the Bronson Invitational on their home lanes, and came home with the first place champion’s trophy. The tournament format consisted of two individual games and six Baker format games. Following this round the teams were cut to four qualifiers, and Coloma finished as the top team going into bracket play.
Coloma easily defeated Portage Central to move on to the championship match, of course against the home team, Bronson. Coloma held a huge 141 pin advantage following the singles matches, and had two very close Baker games to close it out, with Bronson winning the second by a single pin, 146-145. But Coloma had too large a lead for Bronson to overcome and the Comet ladies again came home with the championship trophy. The ladies bowling for the Comets on this day were, Ashley Ikerd, Emily Feldten, Carissa Richmond, Morgan Hosbein, Madison McQuillan, and Eadie Needham.
Comet boys bowling roll out a big win against Schoolcraft
The Coloma boys, at home in the friendly confines of Kelley’s Bowl, easily defeated the Schoolcraft Eagle, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, by a final count of 25-1/2 to 4-1/2 points. Coloma won all 10 of the Baker points, and lost only four singles points and had one game end in a tie. Jonathon Swetay rolled 200-212 for a 412, to lead the Comets. Damian Gomez shot a single game 198, and Ryan Wilson had a high game of 191.
Final game for AQBs, Chiefs and 49ers ready to kickoff Super Bowl LIV
By Dave Vollrath
The annual two week wait for the Super Bowl is almost over. The time between the National Football Conference championship games and the big game seems never ending; along with all the hype and mind numbing questions the players and coaches have to endure leading up to the actual game.
For Tri-City Record Armchair Quarterbacks who have been predicting the outcomes of high school, college and professional football games every week for almost six months, the season is coming to a close. With their picks on the board, there is only the playing of the Super Bowl remaining. Since the Chiefs and 49ers won their way into the Super Bowl, San Francisco has been about a 1-2 point underdog. This panel of pigskin prognosticators are split in who they believe will be hoisting the Lombardi trophy when all is said and done on Sunday night, Feb. 2, 2020.
Rodney Lynch, the three-peat champion after this season, believes Kansas City will prevail. Third place Tim Hildebrand, 4th place Kathy Summers, and Greg Krell agree with him. RoxAnn Rodney-Isbrecht, who will finish in 2nd place this year, is going with the underdog 49ers to win. She has Dan Jones agreeing with her. This should be a great game for more than just the commercials, as the great offense of the Chiefs tries to solve one of the best defenses provided by the 49ers.
The TCR, AQB competition is held weekly from the beginning of the high school football season in late summer, until it finishes with the playing of the Super Bowl in February. There are six Tri-City area football fans competing against each other to predict the winners of a group of pre selected games from the high school, collegiate, and professional ranks. Following the conclusion of the Super Bowl, one winner is crowned champion and will have the honor of wearing the Tri-City Record Armchair Quarterback Championship hat.
In the event that two or more ‘backs have the same record for the week, or the yearly total, their place in the standings will be determined by a weekly tiebreaker game. In addition to trying to correctly pick the winners of each week’s games, they predict the score from a specially selected game. The AQB panelist that comes the closest to the total number of points scored by both teams will get the higher spot in the standings.
Super Bowl LIV is being played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, which is about 10 miles north of Miami. This is the sixth time the Super Bowl has been played in this stadium, although this is the fifth different name for the venue. It has also been played under the names of Sunlife Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, Pro Player Stadium, and Joe Robbie Stadium.
The matchup for this Super Bowl is also an interesting one, as the Chiefs come in as the favorite with a quick strike offense led by their quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the NFL’s MVP. He can take the Chiefs down the field and score in the blink of an eye, as they averaged 40 plus points in their two playoff games with most of their scoring drives in three or four minutes.
The 49ers on the other hand won their way into the championship game mostly riding their defense. Their front four are all big and fast and get to the quarterback as good as any defensive front line in the last 30 years. Their offense is largely built on running the ball, but they are also very balanced as they were in the top five this year, in both most yards gained on offense and fewest yards allowed on defense.
It should be a great game. San Francisco has won five Super Bowls, and a sixth would tie New England and Pittsburgh for the most won. Kansas City is playing in their first Super Bowl since they won the big game against the Vikings back in 1970. Be sure and check back next week to see how our panel of experts ended their season.