Muncie 31, Hermitage 19

The Packers released Kryptonite on the Heroes this weekend, defeating them soundly 31-19 with the hot hand of Peyton Manning (21 of 29, 287 yds, 4 tds, 143 rating). Muncie deployed a defense in the first half to throttle RB LaDainian Tomlinson (16 carries, 64 yds, 1 td, 4 receptions) and dare Hermitage to beat them in the air with Jon Kitna and Andre Johnson, Joe Jurevicius and Jeremy Shockey. This would appear to be a bold strategy considering Tomlinson was the top rusher in the league coming into the game with 774 yds and a 6.5 avg. Although the stats show Muncie's defense as 2nd against the run, allowing only 76 yds per game, they hadn't played anyone with a running game like Hermitage's except perhaps Nashville.

 

The strategy was effective although Tomlinson can only be contained, not shut down. One key play in putting Hermitage in a hole, 17-3, was a Packer pick off Kitna on his own 8 yard line while keying on Tomlinson. It was a short out pass into a tight man defense but you'd expect the odds to be in the Heroes favor to complete that one, especially at home.

 

Hermitage did put together a nice 72 yard drive to end the half with Tomlinson contributing 22 yards on 3 carries and 2 receptions for 15 yards. A 15 yard seam to Jurevicius for a TD put the favorite Heroes back in the game 17-10.

 

They closed the gap even more with another field goal 6 minutes into the 2nd half but Muncie delivered the fatal blows with back-to-back touchdown drives where Manning went 10 of 11 and TD passes of 2 and 17 yards. Manning was the Lex Luthor to the Heroes.

 

Hermitage's final TD drive had one of the most interesting plays. On a 2nd and 40 (because of a 10 yard sack and two 10 yard penalties) Kitna tosses a pass to Dennis Northcutt in the flat against a loose man defense in a dime package. He's able to take in 46 yards for the first down! It's like the game engine was compensating for denying much for Tomlinson by allowing a ridiculous pass result. It wasn't so sorry that it didn't force the Heroes to take 4 plays from the 4 to punch it in for the TD.

 

Hermitage goes to 3-3 probably staying a game up in their division unless, by some miracle, San Pedro defeats Nashville. They'll be 9 pt underdogs next week at Great Lakes. Muncie continues to confound the pundits rolling at 5-1 not letting up on undefeated division leader Nashville. They will only be 1 pt favorites at home against Philadelphia.