Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/20/2019

Two games, two overtimes, the Conference Championship Game weekend was full of excitement.  And controversy.  But we leave that for another day.  The New England Patriots are no strangers to the Super Bowl, nor having winning Sportsmen of the Week.  But it's a rookie that stole the show this week.  Running Back Sony Michel was a key factor in the Patriots controlling the clock at nearly a 2:1 ratio and keeping the Kansas City Chiefs offense on the sideline.  Michel toted the rock 29 times for 113 yards, nearly 4 yards a carry but they were tough yards (11 yards was the longest...he was grinding).  Add two key touchdowns (to go with his 3 last week) and it was the respect for the run that opened up passing lanes for Brady to score TD on the last 3 drives.  Michel now has 3 100 yard games out of 4, and seems strong for the Super Bowl.  Yet another key weapon for the Patriots, and our Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/13/2019

The NFL Playoffs are reaching a crescendo as the Division Playoffs yielded the four finalists for the Super Bowl.  While the winners were all the home team favorites, it was a surprise player that carried the Los Angeles Rams to their first NFC Championship Game in 17 years.  Veteran running back C.J. Anderson stepped up as a 50/50 back to superstar Todd Gurley and delivered.  Having been the Rams featured back in the final two regular season games (which were of little importance to the Rams playoff seeding), Anderson eclipsed 100 yards on both occasions.  Now he did it when it mattered most.  Anderson notched 123 yards and 2 TD against what had been considered a stingy Cowboys defense.  And the yards were hard earned, as no carries were longer than 15 yards meaning Anderson made each and every carry count.  The Rams moved on with a 30-22 victory that was less in doubt than the score seemed.  And the 27-year old veteran looks poised to provide balance to MVP candidate Gurley.  Which will be a lot for the New Orleans Saints to handle.  Anderson is the epitome of Sportsman of the Week!

Sportsman of the Week Ending 1/7/2019

Another week, another dominant performance, and another National Championship for the Clemson Tigers.  Led by super freshman Quarterback Trevor Lawrence (and last week's Sportsman of the Week Justyn Ross), the Alabama Crimson Tide were overmatched.  Lawrence torched the Tide defense for 347 yards and 3 TD in a flawless performance with no interceptions.  Lawrence also scrambled effectively for 27 yards on six carries.  The end result was a dismantling of the number one Alabama 44-16, the worst loss in the Nick Saban era.  It marks the second title for Clemson in 3 years, as well as the third straight title game loss for the Southeastern Conference.  And the best may be yet to come for Trevor Lawrence who will have at least two more years at Clemson.  But for now, he is the Longhorndave Sportsman of the Week!