Official Homepage Of The Maassluis Merchantmen
The Story of the Maassluis Merchantmen is getting longer and longer. I've decided to write seasonal recaps and will add each season as soon as the recap is finished. Thanks for reading and feel free to comment at my dynasty report at FOFC or the IHOF website.
2004 Season
Rookies with growing pains. That sums up the Maassluis Merchantmen's 2004 season well. A rookie general manager for a team loaded with rookie players. Including some crucial positions as quarterback, wide receiver, middle linebacker, strong safety and all over the offensive line. Well, if you could even call that an offensive line...
The 2004 began in a special way. As the International House of Football was formed, the 32 teams' lead scouts joined together for a 53-round draft. The Maassluis Merchantmen sent their scout away with the mission to build an offensive line, a secondary and get a top-notch quarterback. By doing so, he was pressed to go for young prospects first. Well, things turned out a little bit different than planned.
As the draft unfolded, it became clear that the Merchantmen scout had received different orders. Yes, he was working on putting a young team together, but the preferences on positions had been communicated in some sort of reverse language. Instead of a strong offensive line and secondary, the Merchantmen loaded on defensive linemen and wide receivers. It became clear that Oranje Haven would see a ship stocked with trade ware.
Finger pointing was easy. It was clear that Merchantmen General Manager M.IJ.B. had been making rookie mistakes. After all, he was a rookie, but should have prepared better. As a true inexperienced manager, M.IJ.B. panicked. The Merchantmen put promising wide receiver Amos Collins and defensive tackle Robert Duong on a plane back to the USA, as they were traded to the Rochester Lake Monsters and Fairbanks NorthStars respectively. Both went on to start for their new teams, with Duong even winning IHOF Bowl I.
Coming back where two veterans. Cornerback Dennis Preciado was the first arrival from Fairbanks. Left tackle Harold Hurtado arrived mid-way the pre-season from Rochester. Both players became prominent figures in the locker room to put some hierarchy in the young team. Hurtado did that successfully. With 31 key run blocks and only 5 sacks allowed, he played admirably well. He went on to receive accolades for his role, earning All-IHOF second team honors.
Dennis Preciado had much less success. In a historic first home game of the Merchantmen against the Gothenburg Giants, Preciado had his greatest moment. Preciado deflected 7 passes of rookie Duane Davis. A record that to date hasn't been tied, let alone broken. However, in the rest of the season, Preciado would manage only 4 more defended passes and 2 interceptions. Not really a text book example of a shutdown corner.
The Merchantmen's first game ever was one that received an asterisk. General Manager M.IJ.B., who was responsible for making orders about the depth charts, managed to get private issues in the way. M.IJ.B. was missing in action when the team arrived in New York for their first IHOF game. Freaky enough, shortly before kickoff, the team still had to trim the roster down from 60 to 53 names and the scouting staff decided to exterminate contracts of a couple of projected starters.
With time coming short to practice in the planned starting lineups, the coaching staff decided to make a strange decision. Instead of fielding the best players, they figured that for cohesion reasons, it was best to start the same players as in the last pre-season game. Defensive tackle Charles Gomez and middle linebacker Cody Cluff were amazingly held to backup roles, as were the veterans Harold Hurtado and Dennis Preciado.
Thankfully, not everything that day went wrong. The Merchantmen played respectably well against the North Plainfield Plague. With a 13-10 loss, the Merchantmen kept it close to a team that went on to record a league best 13-3 record. Of course, there was little praise for Calvin Snider. The rookie quarterback went on to complete only 12 of 35 passes for 114 yards, with 3 interceptions and 3 sacks. It turned out to be Snider's first and last IHOF game at the same time.
For the second game of the season, the Maassluis Merchantmen travelled to France. At the Paris Musketeers, the Merchantmen would play their first divisional game. This time the depth chart was set as supposed to be and the Merchantmen played better football. Rookie quarterback Justin McDavid completed only 47 percent of his passes, yet stayed away from turnovers and wrote down a touchdown pass. It was the only score of the game though, as the Merchantmen lost 10-7.
Hope for a good season was still there. After two 3-point losses, the Merchantmen were shaking off an early indication that they would be front runners for having the worst record. In their first home game ever, they would meet the then winless Gothenburg Giants. It would turn out to be a historical game.
The Dutch fans were presented with a great game of football. Both teams were motivated to do well and in points scored it would become the most productive game of that season in Maassluis. Scoring happened left and right, but neither team managed to take a big lead. The Merchantmen went into half time leading 14-10, result of two rushing touchdowns by Randy Harris.
In the second half, the Merchantmen defense kept the Giants offense in check. In return, the Merchantmen offense showed their first signs of what would become their style of play. Good plays were mixed with terribly timed turnovers. The Giants saw their stars cornerback Harley Gowan and defensive tackle Chris Nagel convert it into scores. The Merchantmen saw themselves down 27-24 late in the fourth quarter.
No problem, quarterback Justin McDavid went on to initiate a great drive. With a bomb to wide receiver Bryce Ewald (43 yards) and a go-to pass to Gregory Monti (13 yards), the Merchantmen burst into the red zone. Running back Randy Harris came out with a great run again, hauling the ball in from 19 yards out. It was Harris’ third score of the game, a league-wide single-game record that would only by tied in the following seven years. 31-27 Merchantmen, that should lock it up.
Not quite, the Giants were far from beaten. Quarterback Duane Davis showed his own ability to lead his team to success. However, another feature of the Merchantmen's way of winning was exposed there. The Merchantmen defense came up big, this time with two interceptions in the final two minutes. Strong safety Lincoln Gilmore ended the game by picking off a Hail Mary pass, intended for running back Jerry McGee, at the Merchantmen 4-yard line.
Sadly, the victory over the Giants turned out to be a fluke. In the following two games, the Merchantmen looked green. Despite holding the Columbus Architects to 25 yards rushing, the team lost the turnover battle 3-0 and the game 13-3 with that. Their first game against the Bordeaux Vineyards pointed out how far from competitive they were. The Vineyards won the game 28-7.
Week six saw the start of the Futility Bowl rivalry. Visiting Maassluis were the Rochester Lake Monsters, whom were told to have made the same communication mistake at the day of the inaugural draft. Before the season, the game was dubbed Futility Bowl and both teams wore the tag in pride ever since. Though unlike the Merchantmen, the Lake Monsters were winning games and at 3-2 were flirting with a playoff position.
Lead by quarterback Jackie Williamson, the Lake Monsters started the game well. After both teams had scored a single field goal in the first quarter, the second quarter saw Williamson's unit wake up. He marched his men up field and connected with fullback Nick Nightingale for 22 yards to set up the first touchdown of the game. League legend Joe Boulware made the catch in the end zone to take the lead.
The rest of the second quarter, the game turned into a turnover disaster. But where the Lake Monsters recovered two of their own fumbles, the Merchantmen were less lucky. Quarterback Justin McDavid added two interceptions to his early first quarter mistake, setting up another Rochester touchdown and a field goal in the dying seconds.
In the second half, the Merchantmen bounced back. On the first drive, Justin McDavid found tight end Jerry Aubrey for a 28-yard score to come closer. However, the Lake Monsters scored back and held the Merchantmen to a 46-yard field goal from Cary Coles, to hold a 27-13 lead going into the fourth quarter.
It wasn't over yet. The Merchantmen defense came up big. With two fumble recoveries, the field was made short for the offense and both times it resulted in a field goal. After a bunch of punts, the Merchantmen had just over 2 minutes left to score 8 points and tie the game.
Justin McDavid tried to spread the ball around, but nobody looked able to make a catch. Still, wide receiver Bryce Ewald made a big play on 4th and 13, to keep things going. Fredric Vargas then converted a 4th and 10 and overtime was looming. McDavid found Gregory Monti for 7 yards and a two-point conversion was keeping the team away from a tied score. Sadly, Randy Harris failed to run the ball in and the on side kick wasn't recovered. Rochester wins, 27-25.
From there on, the Merchantmen sailed from disaster to disaster. The Minnesota Miners trashed them 33-13, followed by a Boston Rhinos 24-17 close win. It was the lead up to another marquee moment in team history, the home game against the Conyers Condors.
In week 9 of the 2004 season, the career of quarterback Justin McDavid would make its first big turn. That day, the Merchantmen defense would go on to hold the Condors to 163 total yards, but it didn't suffice. The Merchantmen fumbled the ball 6 times, resulting in 3 turnovers. To make things worse, the Condors defenders would return two of these 62 and 73 yards for touchdowns. Justin McDavid fumbled four times and a nickname was born: Fumblin' Justin.
Despite a bye week following that defeat, Justin McDavid's spirit looked broken. The Paris Musketeers were victorious in Oranje Haven in week 11 with a 23-14 score. That game McDavid threw 2 interceptions to nullify his teams' more productive offense. A week later, the Ann Arbor Anachronism would win 20-16 in Oranje Haven, scoring their winning touchdown with 90 seconds left to play. McDavid threw 3 more interceptions, posting a passer rating of 8.0.
In week 13, the Merchantmen once again found themselves trapped in turnover woes at the Gothenburg Giants. McDavid added two more interceptions, to basically destroy his own 294-yard game. The Merchantmen lost 37-24, despite outscoring the Giants by 124 yards.
Things hardly got better after that. In week 14, the Bordeaux Vineyards win 10-7, as both sides miss two field goals. Cary Coles missed a 22-yarder in Oranje Haven. In week 15, the Syracuse Mohawks leave Maassluis victorious, 20-10. Three McDavid turnovers set up for another outscoring yardage loss. In the last two road games, the scores were closer than it really was. Both the San Antonio Volunteers (22-14) and RayCo Raiders (34-24) won.
The 2004 season ended with a 1-15 record. The Merchantmen ended the season with a 13-game losing streak and 5 games behind the Gothenburg Giants. The Bordeaux Vineyards won the division at 9-7, thanks to the Giants' upset win over the Paris Musketeers. Paris finished the season 8-8, Gothenburg 6-10.
In all the unlucky losses, the Merchantmen did see bright spots. The team, especially the defense, showed an ability to keep it close and to compete with most teams. Middle linebacker Cody Cluff received defensive rookie of the year for his 99 tackles and 33 assists. Tight end Jerry Aubrey received All-IHOF first team honors with his 67 catches for 760 yards and 6 scores.
Justin McDavid posted a league high 13 fumbles, yet he did lead all rookie quarterbacks with 19 touchdowns and 2,904 yards. All in all, no terrible numbers, especially given that the offensive line was by far the league's worst in talent. Still, the Merchantmen had posted the league's worst record and 'clinched' the top pick in the 2005 amateur draft. Around the league, there was no doubt: Maassluis will pick a quarterback #1 overall.
2005 season
Masters of trading, the slogan used by and about the Maassluis Merchantmen. Trading is one of the means to build a roster. The Merchantmen over time have lived up to their franchise nickname and to date traded more than any other team. Although the first two trades were during the 2004 pre-season, the 2005 off-season was were the management lived up to the team slogan.
The 2005 off-season started very early for the Maassluis Merchantmen. Some say it even started before the 2004 playoffs were finished, but reality is that it wasn't. Still, far before free agency kicked off, the Merchantmen announced their first big trade. After their 1-15 record in 2004 they 'clinched' the #1 overall draft pick. They didn't keep it very long.
The Merchantmen management had evaluated their roster and one thing was clear: we don't need a quarterback. Some claimed it on the love affection of Merchantmen general manager M.IJ.B. for 'Fumblin' Justin McDavid, but his reasoning was slightly different. "We had so many holes to fill, quarterback just wasn't one of them." And it showed, the #1 draft pick was on the trade block.
Days before the official list of draft eligible players was revealed, the Merchantmen struck a deal with the Astoria Heroes. Overall picks #12, #31, #44 and #63 were swapped for the #33 and the top pick. Not to mention that linebacker Ellsworth Thelen was added in the traded to fill a glaring hole at the strong side of the defense. Believe it or not, it was only the start of the trading spree.
Before the amateur draft started, the Merchantmen had swapped around more and more picks. They had added the #6 pick from the Springfield Isotopes, right tackle Wilson Grimaldo from the Paris Musketeers and guard Alvin Causey from the Orlando Knights. The latter was one of the best players at his position, yet still recovering from a torn deltoid muscle. Causey eventually played in the last two games of the regular season, showing he hadn't lost much of his ability.
The free agency period didn't fly by without activity either. The Merchantmen signed defensive end Albert Bernardo away from the Springfield Isotopes. Later on, the Merchantmen completed a double signing. Having negotiated contracts with two safeties, the team ended up signing both Richard Muller and Wiley McGhee, despite wanting only one of them. Eventually both started a lot of games, at the expense of Lincoln Gilmore. Gilmore was dubbed 'the comeback kid' when he moved back into a starting role late in the season.
On draft day, the Merchantmen made a couple more deals. The #6 overall pick was sent to the Astoria Heroes for future picks, but it didn't stop the Merchantmen from ending the day holding four first round picks. At #12 overall, cornerback Tai Wayne became the franchise’s first draft day addition. Guard Butch Wilson and center Brant Heinrich were selected to complete the offensive line with veteran left tackle Harold Hurtado. With Causey still out, right tackle Russell Malave was designated to play the fifth starting role.
The fourth first round addition was quarterback Leonard Lyon. Despite all the talk about not needing a quarterback with Justin McDavid around, the Merchantmen sent their 2006 first round pick for the #28 overall pick to make the addition of Lyon possible. A quarterback controversy was born. One that would keep the fans and media busy throughout most of the season.
In pre-season, Justin McDavid and Leonard Lyon shared playing time as much as possible. Lyon clearly struggled with the play book, whereas McDavid used the 2004 starter experience to his advantage. With a completion percentage of 57.5, and 4:1 touchdown-interception-ratio, McDavid beat Lyon's 48.6% and 1:1. It wasn't enough, the Merchantmen management made clear that first round picks should always start.
In week one the Gothenburg Giants were the Merchantmen's first opponents. In 2004 the Giants were the only opponent whom they beat. The game was in Maassluis' Oranje Haven, setting up for perfect scenario to give Leonard Lyon an easy start. Guess again. Behind a revamped offensive line, Lyon had little to fear. The line protected their quarterback well, yet failed to give him a running game to fall back on. As the game progressed, the Merchantmen slowly lost control of a game they were leading 12-7. Leonard Lyon completed only 16 of 37 passes for 150 yards with 2 interceptions. The Merchantmen choked and ended up losing 27-12.
An interesting discussion arose. Leonard Lyon hadn't played well at all and coincidentally got injured. Rumor had it that Lyon faked the injury to get replaced during the game, but team doctors made clear that Lyon did pull a groin. Lyon was listed as questionable and the Merchantmen decided not to get their expensive first round pick hurt long-term in only his second game. All eyes were back on Fumblin' Justin.
Week two saw a tough road game at the Frederick Red Menace, defending Mid-Atlantic division champions. It didn't matter to McDavid. On their first drive, the Merchantmen offense showed what they were made of and they took an early lead through an impressive drive. McDavid took his team 75 yards forward, finishing it off with a 22-yard pass to wide receiver Bryce Ewald.
From there on, McDavid's play started to decline fast. A 68-yard interception return by Cody Cluff and a 54-yard field goal by Cary Coles gave the Merchantmen a 17-7 half time lead, but it couldn't stop McDavid from being unimpressive. McDavid ended the day 16 for 29 with 161 yards and 1 interception. Granted, he didn't fumble, but that was the only good news. Amazingly, the Red Menace struggled through the game as well and came time short to avoid the 27-24 loss.
With Lyon still hurting, McDavid started again in week three, a road game at the Fort Worth Fury. McDavid's play was familiar, going 16 for 33, with 160 yards and 2 interceptions. With great effort from the defense, the Merchantmen did bounce back from 14-0 behind, scoring 10 points in the last 35 seconds of the first half. Randy Harris' second touchdown of the day set up for the 20-14 win.
The Merchantmen had achieved a winning record for the first time ever. After their bye week, Leonard Lyon was expected to return in week five, but he wasn't 100% fit yet. Against all odds it was Justin McDavid again against the Tucker Tigers. It wasn't his day. Before the first half was over, his interception total was two. With help from turnovers on the other end, the Merchantmen were still in it. Cary Coles even missed a 27-yard field goal when the score was 0-0.
The Tigers got better and better and took advantage of McDavid's terrible play. McDavid completed only 12 of 28 passes for 120 yards, again without scores. But with his admirable runs, he kept the fans cheering for his team. With two minutes left, the Merchantmen scored a touchdown to potentially tie the score at 10-10. Potentially, as Cary Coles missed the extra point, pushing Maassluis to .500 again at 2-2.
With Leonard Lyon fit again, it seemed obvious he was going to start again. There were rumors going around that Lyon, who was also the team's kick holder back then, was responsible for the missed kicks in the last game. Lyon was eager to prove his critics wrong and came out strong in his second start, a game at the Georgia Gridlock.
Lyon lead his offense well and was a blessing compared to Justin McDavid's play. Lyon completed 21 of 33 passes for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns. However, Lyon also had 2 interceptions. Both times the Gridlock turned it into a touchdown. The first one with a 50-yard pass, the second one with the game tying touchdown. Combined with a 78-yard touchdown pass, the defense didn't do much to help Lyon at all.
But Lyon still got a chance to set something right. With 40 seconds left, Cary Coles lined up for a 49-yard field goal attempt. Lyon's hold looked good, but Coles missed it, keeping the score 24-24 and forcing overtime. In overtime, the Merchantmen had first possession, but they failed. The Gridlock needed only one big play from wide receiver Tyrus Shaye to get into field goal range. And the win, Georgia 27, Maassluis 24.
Everybody in the league expected that Leonard Lyon had solidified his position in that game. But the worst was yet to come. In a game at the Paris Musketeers, Lyon threw 4 interceptions, paving the way to a franchise worst 31-3 defeat. Lyon's numbers were still better, but his record was 0-3, McDavid's 2-1. The Merchantmen management looked at that and threw McDavid back in.
Justin McDavid got a perfect match up to steal the Merchantmen fans' hearts. A home game against the Conyers Condors, the team that made him fumble four times in the 2004 season. McDavid hardly impressed, yet anchored by an amazing 96-yard interception return from Dennis Preciado, the Merchantmen managed to win the game 21-17. McDavid fumbled again, yet this time his team won, despite being outscored 479 to 261 yards. The Condors would bounce back and eventually lose IHOF Bowl II to the Ann Arbor Anachronism.
Justin McDavid was dubbed the lucky charm, despite being able to get a completion percentage above 50, pass for more than 160 yards, or make less than 2 turnovers. In the following game at the Bordeaux Vineyards, McDavid just continued his tenure. 141 yards and 2 fumbles later, his team was in tied game late in the fourth quarter. Fernando Ramsey converted a 42-yard field goal with 22 seconds left to make his Vineyards win 16-13.
League pundits felt that the Merchantmen management was making a mistake, holding onto the lucky charm. Week ten's road game at the Orlando Knights ended McDavid's turnover streak. With touchdown passes to tight end Jim Reiser and wide receiver Bryce Ewald, the Merchantmen took a 14-0 lead at half time. From there on, the team just ran the ball, resulting in Randy Harris' first 100-yard game. The Merchantmen held on to the lead and won the game 17-10.
But then came the darkest day in Justin McDavid's career. At the Gothenburg Giants' Palace of Ice and Frost, McDavid blew out his knee. His season was over. Even worse, doctors feared for McDavid's career and already ruled out a return in the 2006 season. During the game, the Merchantmen were visibly shocked by the injury and let a close game slip to a 19-9 loss.
In a way, the Merchantmen were liberated as well, the quarterback controversy was over and so the continuing media attention about internal issues. Despite a shaky performance by Leonard Lyon, the Merchantmen won their next game 24-9 against the Brooklyn Fightin' Bums.
Week 13 marked Futility Bowl II. The Rochester Lake Monsters were back in Maassluis to extend their reign of this inter-divisional rivalry. Leonard Lyon had a good game, completing 18 of 32 passes for 214 yards and 1 touchdown, but lack of third down efficiency eventually cost them the game. The Lake Monsters won 15-10.
The next opponent for the Maassluis Merchantmen were the Chesapeake Chitterlings. Given the form of the home team, there was little hope for the Merchantmen to win there. But against all odds, the Merchantmen played a good game there, albeit helped by three first half turnovers from the Chitterlings. For a long time, the Merchantmen looked like posting a shutout win. A late touchdown pass from Jaime Canter to Darrell Spears made the final score 17-7 in Merchantmen advantage.
Between all the talk about quarterbacks, people were quickly missing the good season the Merchantmen were having. The win over the Chitterlings put the Merchantmen at 6-7 and still in the playoff race. Home games against the Bordeaux Vineyards, Astoria Heroes and Paris Musketeers were awaiting to give the Merchantmen a shot at going from 1-15 to a winning season.
Hopes for that ended pretty quickly. Despite holding the Vineyards out of the end zone, the Merchantmen looked awful on offense and saw Leonard Lyon unable to post a fourth quarter comeback. The Vineyards won 12-10 and extended the head-to-head series to a 4-game winning streak. The Astoria Heroes then posted a 20-7 win in Oranje Haven to 'clinch' a losing season for the Merchantmen.
Week 17 then marked a perfect opportunity to finish the season in a good way. The Paris Musketeers were 2-13 and had humiliated the Merchantmen in Paris. Both sides kept it close, but this time Leonard Lyon played it well. Supported by Randy Harris' 129 rushing yards, Lyon guided the Merchantmen to a 16-13 victory.
At the conclusion of the 2005 season, the Merchantmen had a 7-9 record. They finished the two games behind the Gothenburg Giants, four games behind the Bordeaux Vineyards. Compared to the 2004 season, the Merchantmen were, by far, the most improved team in the IHOF.
Individually, the Merchantmen defensive line jumped out in performance. Defensive tackle Charles Gomez (70 tackles, 6.5 sacks) and defensive end Harold Wells (13 sacks, 43 tackles) both earned All-IHOF second team honors. Defensive end Albert Bernardo (6.0 sacks) and defensive tackle John Bryant (7.0 sacks) supported the stars well. On offense, running back Randy Harris flew under the radar. With 1,114 yards on the ground and 10 total touchdowns (fifth in the league), he made a huge contribution to the team.
Leonard Lyon finished the season with a passer rating of 61.6, having a 6:13 touchdown-interception-ratio. No stellar numbers, but good enough to be considered the franchise quarterback from there on, with a good offensive line in front of him. With the age of the team taken into account, it had to be a matter of time to break into the playoffs. Maybe as early as the 2006 season.
