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Team Roster
The number of players on a fantasy football team varies from league to league, but generally includes at least two quarterbacks, three running backs, three wide receivers, two tight ends, one kicker and two defensive units.

Lineups
Each week, owners submit a starting lineup taking into consideration injuries, match-ups, and players on bye weeks. Lineup changes must be made prior to the start of each game in which the players in question are involved. If an owner fails to make adjustments in his starting lineup, it will remain the same as the previous week.

The number of players on a team’s active lineup varies from league to league. One of the more commonly used combinations of players includes one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end, one kicker, and one defensive unit.

Scoring
There are variations in scoring systems, but many use the following system or something close to it:

A touchdown results in six points for the scoring player. If the touchdown is the result of a passing play, the quarterback is also awarded the same.

Field goals count as three points for the kicker. Some leagues offer more points as the field goals get longer. Generally, anything more than 40 yards counts as four points and anything more than 50 yards is awarded five points.

Kickers also receive one point for extra points after touchdowns, and a player scoring on a two-point conversion receives two points.

Offensive players can also pick up points based on receiving, passing, and rushing yardage. One of the more common formulas awards one point for every ten yards rushing, one point for every ten yards receiving, and one point for every 25 yards passing.

Offensive players can also lose points by throwing an interception (-2) or fumbling the ball (-1).

On defense, a team’s score is based on how many points they give up, combined with bonus points for sacks, turnovers, and defensive touchdowns scored. There are a number of variations in scoring based on the number of points given up. Sacks generally add one point each to that score while turnovers provide two points each.

A safety results in a two-point bonus for the defense.

Some leagues include special teams play in the defensive score while many do not.

Trading Players
Teams are allowed to trade players as long as the deal is submitted before a predetermined trading deadline. Most leagues offer a system that allows other owners to protest trades that are too lopsided in one team’s favor to prevent team owners from working together to build one super team.

Waivers and Free Agency
Any player that remains undrafted is classified as a free agent and can be signed by any team on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, if the addition puts a team over the roster limit, the owner must release one of the players on his roster.

A player who is released is then put on waivers, generally for a period of three to four days. Until a player passes through waivers, he can be claimed by any other team in the league. If a player on waivers is claimed by more than one team by the time the waiver period ends, he is awarded to the team sitting the lowest in the standings at the time the claim was made.

Playoffs
A playoff tournament is generally held the final two or three weeks of the regular NFL season, depending on how many teams are in the playoff field. Scoring is determined exactly as it is during the regular season with the winner of the contest moving on to the next round while the loser is eliminated.

The league championship is held when the playoff field has been narrowed to two teams, with the winner being crowned as league champions.

Matt Field
TenYards.com Sports Editor

By Jim Walsh

The St. Paul Pioneers topped the Fox Valley Force 27-10 Saturday on the Force’s home turf in Appleton, Wis., to capture the 2010 Northern Elite Football League Championship. The trophy is St. Paul’s second league title in less than 12 months — the Pioneers won the North American Football League championship last November in Miami, Fla.

Appleton, Wisconsin is no Miami. But on Saturday, in the hot, steamy Banta Bowl at Lawrence University, it felt a little like South Florida. And the Pioneers played with the same kind of passion and precision they used in Miami — this time winning their first-ever Elite Bowl. Once again, the Pioneers used an aggressive and smothering defensive attack, mixed in some tough and timely special teams excellence, and rode an opportunistic big-play offense to top the higher-seeded Force.

Wideouts Joseph Mapson and Reggie Houston and fullback John Robinson each caught a touchdown pass from Alex Neist. Jay Harding, a 2010 NEFL all-star, hit two field goals to account for the rest of the Pioneers’ scoring.

The defense, behind stellar games by Josh Hollie, Jeff McGaster, Guillaume Paek, Deventri Jordan, Terry Jones, Nate Beulah, Val Ndikum, Brian Warden, Kym Trueblood, Ukee Dozier, Donte Pettis, Andre Spencer and Patrick Mitambo doused any offensive threat the Force tried to mount. If that sounds like a lot of names to list, it is. It was a true total defensive effort — from Dozier’s interception early to Jones’ pick late. In all, Fox Valley — one of the top offenses in the NEFL — totalled less than 100 yards of offense for the game, including just 28 yards passing. Fox Valley quarterbacks finished just 9 of 26 passing for 28 yards and two interceptions.

The offense did what it has done all season — take advantage of whatever the defense gave them. Neist finished 13 of 27 passing for 160 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Mapson was the leading receiver, with four catches for 60 yards and a score. Houston had a 47-yard touchdown reception and Robinson had one catch for 18 yards and a touchdown. Damien Rochon-Washington had three receptions fof 17 yards, Rashem Sharpe had three catches for 13 yards and Deshay Hudson had one grab for five yards.

The offensive line, missing two regualar starters, did a good job keeping a tough Force defense at bay. Thomas Broussard, Jacob Husnik, Anthony Minus, Shannon Johnson, Jermaine Riley and Michael Bellamy helped the Pioneers held the Force to only one sack and helped St. Paul gain 73 yards on the ground.

Hudson was the Pioneers’ leading rusher, with 27 yards on eight carries. Brian Holmes had 17 yards on nine carries. Robinson had 21 yards on five carries and Will Winters gained eight yards on four carries.

Sharpe and Montae Bailey had fantastic games returning kicks. Sharpe had two kick returns for 55 yards and Bailey had three punt returns for 50 yards, giving the Pioneers terrific field position all game. On the other side, the Pioneers kick coverage units did a great job pinning the Force deep on its end of the field, with special teams stalwards Demario Walton, Tierre Thompson, Jason Bailey and Ben Campbell leading the way.

Put away all the stats, though, and this win, this trophy, this championship, only helps cement St. Paul’s place among the top semi-pro football teams in the nation. Founded in 2002, the Pioneers have now won championships five times in their nine years of existence and have made the playoffs in eight of their nine seasons.

The win is Mark Heiser’s second championship in three years as Pioneers head coach.

TenYards.com takes a swing through the NFC North training camps.

Here is a closer look at all four teams in the NFC North a week into training camp.

Detroit Lions

In With The New: The Lions’ defensive line got an enormous facelift in the offseason. Veteran end Kyle Vanden Bosch came to Detroit in free agency. He’ll line up next to a pair of new tackles in Ndamukong Suh (2nd overall) out of Nebraska, and Corey Williams, acquired from Cleveland in a trade. Can these newcomers make a difference to a bottom-dwelling defense that’s shown very few redeeming qualities in recent seasons?

In The Spotlight: Quarterback Matthew Stafford turned many heads by showing great toughness last season, and he’s expected to build on what he started. His miracle finish in a last-second win over Cleveland with a separated shoulder prompted many to consider him the Lions’ could-be savior. If he can cut down on mistakes and stay healthy, his leadership is expected to shine.

Youth In Revolt: One of the Lions’ biggest goals this offseason was to add a big playmaker in the backfield, and they accomplished that by drafting Cal’s speedy Jahvid Best (30th overall), who is a touchdown threat every time he carries the ball. Best is clearly the “best” of a mediocre bunch of RB options with Kevin Smith’s future uncertain.

Half The Battle: It’s a roll of the dice at cornerback. Eric King is the only corner returning from last season, and he started just one game for the Lions. Detroit got Chris Houston from the Falcons in a trade and have high hopes for third-round choice Amari Spievey (66th overall). The Lions also have Jonathan Wade and 33-year-old Dre’ Bly is making a surprise return to the Lions after his controversial exit in 2006.

Chicago Bears

In With The New: The Bears made arguably the biggest splash in the free agent market by grabbing All Pro defensive end Julius Peppers. If he can do the things in Chicago that made him such a force in Carolina, the Bears’ defense – led by new coordinator Rod Marinelli – could once again become the very heart of this squad.

In The Spotlight: Mike Martz takes the reigns as the Bears’ new offensive coordinator. Pair Martz’s ingenius, pass-happy schemes with the talents of franchise quarterback Jay Cutler, and you get visions of a great NFL air show. The Bears’ receivers and offensive line must step up to the challenge of Martz’s creativity and Cutler will need to tune up the often-erratic arm that caused him 26 picks last season.

Youth In Revolt: Chris Williams, a first-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2008, is now entrenched at left tackle, and offensive line coach Mike Tice has huge expectations for him.

Half The Battle: Chester Taylor was another top addition in free agency, brought in to complement and compete with Matt Forte, whose production dropped last season after an encouraging rookie campaign. They are expected to share the load. Taylor will turn 31 in September but has missed only five games in eight seasons, so don’t doubt his durability.

Minnesota Vikings

In With The New: Behind Brett Favre, the secondary was the biggest question for the Vikings this offseason. With Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield coming off a serious foot injury and Cedric Griffin battling back after suffering a torn ACL in the NFC title game, the team signed veteran cornerback Lito Sheppard on the eve of the draft as insurance. Sheppard, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, was released by the Jets and now should get a chance to start.

In The Spotlight: Once again, the NFL is waiting for Brett Favre to decide whether he will play or retire. After taking the Vikings to the NFC title game with his swagger, the 40-year-old quarterback is recovering from ankle surgery and the team’s biggest challenge is merely to get him to camp, even if it’s in late August. Favre certainly wants to redeem himself after throwing an interception on a potential game-winning drive that cost his team a trip to the Super Bowl. In the unlikely event that Favre doesn’t return, the Vikings will turn the offense over to either Tarvaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels.

Youth In Revolt: To help the questionable secondary, the Vikings drafted second-rounder Chris Cook (34th overall) from Virginia in the second round. At 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds, he brings great size and youth to the cornerback position.

Half The Battle: The Vikings drafted Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart (51st overall), a punishing runnning back from Stanford, to help take some of the burden off Adrian Peterson, who struggled with fumbles last season. The Vikings also like third-year back Albert Young, who will compete with Gerhart for the backup job.

Green Bay Packers

In With The New: The Packers had an impressive run defense last season, and that group should be even better in 2010 with B.J. Raji, the number nine overall pick in the 2009 draft, at full strength and the addition of rookie second-round selection Mike Neal (56th overall) of Purdue.

In The Spotlight: With his ability and talented receiving corps, Aaron Rodgers may very well be on the verge of a record-breaking season as a passer. He shook off some pass protection problems and had a great season in ‘09, throwing for 4,434 yards and 30 touchdowns. After earning his first Pro Bowl berth in his second season as a starter, Rodgers has already joined the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.

Youth In Revolt: The Packers used their first round pick in the draft on Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga (23rd overall), who will back up Chad Clifton and could be forced into action if the 34-year-old’s body falters.

Half The Battle: Jason Spitz, coming off back surgery, will compete with Daryn Colledge for the left guard spot. The offensive line is anything but a certainty, however there is hope that it will be more consistent and productive than it was a year ago when Rodgers took a beating at times early on.

Matt Field
TenYards.com Sports Editor

By Jim Walsh

The St. Paul Pioneers got back into the win column Saturday in convincing fashion, using a smothering defense, an opportunistic offense and solid special teams play to dominate the Rochester Giants on Saturday in Rochester, Minn.

On offense, it was the Alex Neist to Joseph Mapson show, with the Pioneers quarterback hooking up with the team’s leading receiver seven times for 149 yards and three touchdowns. Neist passed for 250 yards, but tossed three interceptions to go with the three scores. Wideout Reggie Houston also had a big game, coming back from a sore knee at Superior the week before to snare six catches for 99 yards. The Pioneers tallied almost 300 yards of total offense on teh day.

“We had a really nice game on the offensive side of the ball,” said Rob Neumann, the team’s offensive coordinator. “The line did a great job protecting Alex and giving us time to find some things downfield.”

On defense, Pioneers tackle Jeff McGaster had a dominating game, tallying three tackles and two sacks. But he also got into the game on offense, plunging in for a one yard TD run as fullback. Middle linebacker Josh Hollie also was back to his old ways, leading the team in tackles with 11 total stops and grabbing an interception. Defensive end Patrick Mitambo and cornerback Terry Jones also had sacks for the Pioneers. Safety Nate Beulah had a big game, with two interceptions and four tackles.

“The whole defensive effort was good,” said defensive coordinator Jim Walsh. “It was nice to have most of our regular guys back in the lineup. It certainly showed.”

In all, St. Paul gave up just 51 yards rushing and garnered four sacks, three interceptions and three fumbles recovered.

St. Paul kicker Jay Harding had a big day, as well. Hitting two field goals and booming the ball deep on kickoffs. He also handled the punting duties well. The 36-14 victory was a solid step back into the team’s winning ways, Head Coach Mark Heiser said.

“We have to keep up this kind of effort to get ready for the playoffs,” Heiser said of the team’s two remaining regular season games, both of which will be at home. “We can really set ourselves up for a good run… if we keep doing the things we know how to do.”

Notes:

Jon Robinson was the Pioneers’ leading rusher Saturday, with 25 yards on eight carries.

The Pioneers defense notched 16 tackles for loss on the day.

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper is still playing professional football, albeit in the United Football League.

Culpepper, 33, who made five starts and appeared in eight games last season for the Detroit Lions, has signed with the Sacramento Mountain Lions. Culpepper will be reunited with his former Minnesota Vikings coach Dennis Green when the season begins this fall.

Culpepper says he wants to get back on the field and be a regular again and insists this opportunity was something he couldn’t resist.

In 11 NFL seasons with Minnesota, Miami, Oakland and Detroit, Culpepper threw for 24,153 yards and 149 touchdowns.

His new team begins minicamp Thursday — held in a high school stadium — and Culpepper is expected to be in uniform.

Matt Field
TenYards.com Sports Editor

QB Romo trying to qualify for U.S. Open outside Houston

Tony Romo’s bid to qualify for the U.S. Open has run into a weather delay.

The Dallas Cowboys quarterback is one of 36 players vying for two spots in Monday’s 36-hole sectional qualifier at The Club at Carlton Woods, just north of Houston. Romo was 2-over par after five holes when air horns halted play about 10:30 a.m. local time. Radar showed heavy thunderstorms just east of the course.

Romo is playing with Thomas Hagler and Dustin Wiginton on Monday. The field also includes former PGA champion Steve Elkington and PGA Tour pro Bob Estes.

Romo survived a four-man playoff May 20 to advance to the sectional qualifier. Romo passed up a qualifier for the Byron Nelson Championship that week because it conflicted with a Cowboys practice. The NFL team resumes off-season training activities Tuesday.

The star quarterback drew a crowd of about 20 fans as he hit balls on the practice range a half-hour before his tee time. A few of them wore Cowboys hats and shirts and one 11-year-old boy wore a blue Romo jersey.

Romo got polite applause when he was introduced by the starter on the first tee, waved to the fans and said, “Thanks, I appreciate it.” He hooked his first drive toward a cluster of trees lining the No. 1 fairway, but scrambled for a par.

The 30-year-old Romo took a triple bogey on the par-5 fourth after hooking his drive on the water-lined hole. He botched two pitch shots from deep rough along the edge of the pond, hit his approach into a greenside bunker and two-putted from about 20 feet for an 8.

Romo dropped his approach to the par-4 fifth hole about 10 feet away and sank the putt for his first birdie. A young fan said, “Nice birdie,” as Romo walked off the green and the quarterback answered, “I appreciate you.”

Air horns sounded off seconds later.

“See you guys in a little bit, hopefully,” Romo said to the fans as the cart drove away.

Wearing a light blue shirt, khaki shorts and a white baseball cap, Romo arrived at the practice range about 8 a.m. and hardly got a second glance from the players already hitting balls.

Romo munched on an energy bar and hit wedges with one hand as fans gradually gathered and clicked photos with their cellphones.

Tony Rodriguez, 61, a season ticket holder who lives in the Houston suburbs, planned to walk with Romo all day.

“I wanted to come and see him. I’d never seen him play golf,” Rodriguez said. “I’m just a fan of the Cowboys; I just came to cheer for him. I follow the Cowboys everywhere.”

Josh Friedman, 11, wore a blue Romo jersey as he watched the quarterback with his father, Dan.

“It’s kind of exciting; it’s interesting,” Dan Friedman said. “He’s a pretty good athlete. Football is such a commitment, so you wouldn’t think he’d be able to practice golf, at least not to the extent of other pro golfers.”

The United States Golf Association says Romo would become the fourth athlete from a professional team sport to qualify for the U.S. Open. He would join a group that includes former San Francisco 49ers quarterback John Brodie (1959, ‘81), former New York Yankees outfielder Sam Byrd (1938-41, 46-47, 1949-51) and former NHL player Bill Ezinicki (1947, ‘52, ‘56, ‘60-61, 63-64, 67-68).

NFL kickers Ryan Longwell and Josh Scobee and former major-league pitcher John Smoltz failed to advance out of local qualifying this year, according to the USGA. Former NHL goalkeeper Grant Fuhr, retired tennis players Ivan Lendl and Michael Chang and former Miami tight end Brian Kinchen have also fallen short in qualifying in recent years.

Matt Field
TenYards.com Sports Editor

By Jim Walsh

Down 7-0 at halftime, the St. Paul Pioneers were looking for someone – anyone – to lift them out of their doldrums and provide a spark in the home opener.

Meet Terry Jones, cornerback.

Jones snatched a Twin Ports Stampede pass early in the second half Saturday at St. Paul Humboldt High School and weaved through traffic for an exhilarating score that pumped new life into the Pioneers. St. Paul would use two more interceptions – one by linebacker Deventri Jordan and another by Jones – to set up its offense for two more scores in a 21-7 victory over the team from the Northland.

Saturday was not the first time that Jones, and others in the Pioneers’ ultra-talented defensive backfield, has taken games literally into their own hands. In Jones, Adrian Mitchell, Ukee Dozier, Montae Bailey, Darrell Young, Nate Beulah and Andre Spencer, the Pioneers boast a deep secondary with seven starters. Good thing, too, because the Stampede came into the game with a wide-open spread offense that had scored 34 points the week before in an overtime win over Rochester.

Not this time.

While Twin Ports was first to hit the scoreboard, the Pioneers defense held the team from Superior, Wis., to just 52 yards passing and 33 yards rushing. Not quite as impressive as last week’s 61-0 blanking of the Minnesota Phoenix, but not far behind.

“At halftime, we asked our players which one of them was going to step up and make the play,” said Kahn Powell, the Pioneers defensive backs coach and guru to a unit that has played lights out for two seasons. “Every game, we know that somebody is going to do it.”

The secondary was helped by a defensive line and linebacking corps that pressured and harassed Stampede quarterback David White into tossing those three picks. Pioneers Val Ndikum, Guillaume Paek and Patrick Mitambo recorded sacks, with the entire defensive line, including Kym Trueblood, Jeff McGaster, Cliff Gordy and Michael Bellamy, proving stout all day. The Pioneers notched 10 tackles for loss – with Paek racking up three — and also recovered two fumbles.

Linebackers Jordan, Brian Warden, Brian Doyle and Josh Hollie helped take away the short passing game, with Jordan’s snare of a White pass adding to St. Paul’s second half momentum.

The Pioneers offense played well at times but struggled with execution in the passing game, as quarterback Alex Neist admitted he was rusty. Still, the Pioneers outgained the Stampede 228 yards to 85. Neist finished 10 of 23 passing for 132 yards and two interceptions. St. Paul had two touchdowns called back due to penalties – one on a punt return by Joseph Mapson and the other a touchdown catch by Damien Rochon-Washington.

Leading rusher for the Pioneers was Brian Holmes, who gained 55 punishing yards on 15 carries and scored twice. In all, the Pioneers pounded out 96 yards on 26 carries. Mapson was the leading receiver, with 58 yards on four catches.

“It was a rough start,” Pioneers Head Coach Mark Heiser said after the game. “We have had a tendency to start slow. But, so far, our guys have shown a real ability to ramp up their intensity when they have had to.”

Notes:

The Pioneers are now 3-0 in 2010, 2-0 in the Northern Elite Football League. In two league games, the Pioneers defense has surrendered 7 points and less than 100 yards per game. In two games, the Pioneers offense has gained 638 yards, or 319 yards per game.

Safety Darrell Young was the Pioneers leading tackler Saturday, with a total of seven stops. Next up, with six tackles and a sack each, were Paek and Ndikum.

Sources: Daunte Culpepper is close to a deal with UFL team

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper is on the verge of going from the NFL’s Detroit Lions to the UFL’s Sacramento Mountain Lions.

Culpepper and the Mountain Lions are putting the finishing touches on a deal that will make him one of the league’s marquee names, according to sources familiar with the talks.

Culpepper will be one of the first big-name players to jump from the NFL to the UFL this offseason, according to sources.

Signing with Sacramento will reunite Culpepper with Dennis Green, the Mountain Lions’ coach and general manager. The two men worked together in Minnesota and enjoyed some of their greatest professional successes together.

Culpepper’s first full season as a starter in the NFL came under Green in 2000, when the quarterback threw for a league-leading 33 touchdowns and rushed for seven more.

Neither Culpepper nor Green returned telephone calls or texts seeking comment.

But the deal is so close to getting done that sources said UFL commissioner Michael Huyghue is in Sacramento on Tuesday for a trip related to the Culpepper deal.

In fact, Mountain Lions assistant coaches told players trying out for the team that Culpepper will be the starting quarterback for Sacramento this season.

Culpepper spent last season with the Detroit Lions but struggled to find work this offseason. He even showed up at the NFL owners’ meetings in Orlando to see if he could find a job.

Matt Field
TenYards.com Sports Editor

By Jim Walsh

Sixty-one points.

Four hundred and 10 yards of total offense.

Six offensive touchdowns.

Three defensive touchdowns.

Zero points allowed.

Any way you do the math, the St. Paul Pioneers 61-0 victory over the Minnesota Phoenix on Saturday equates to a thorough butt-kicking.

St. Paul dominated every statistical category in its league-opener Saturday – on offense, defense and special teams. Nine different players scored touchdowns – with running back Will Winters sprinting 97 yards for one score and racking up 141 of the Pioneers 255 yards rushing.

But, would you believe that the game started out looking iffy for St. Paul? After the Pioneers defense forced a three-and-out on the Phoenix opening drive, the Pioneers muffed the punt return, giving Minnesota the ball deep in Pioneers territory.

It didn’t look good, and Pioneers Head Coach Mark Heiser was livid.

“We came out here thinking we can just show up and win,” he barked at his players. “Get yourselves into the ballgame!”

St. Paul’s defense kept the Phoenix from reaching the end zone. And, after the Phoenix missed the field goal try, they never got close to scoring again.

Patrick Mitambo, playing at defensive end, was the first to hit pay dirt. He scooped up a fumble forced by linebacker Brian Doyle’s sack of the Phoenix quarterback deep in their own territory. It was Mitambo’s first touchdown – ever. And the giddy linebacker-defensive end from Cameroon used it as a springboard to a fantastic game, notching five total tackles and a sack to go with his score.

The quarter ended just 7-0 Pioneers. The flood gates opened soon afterwards.

St. Paul scored by air, on the ground and by defense. Fullbacks Jon Robinson and Joe Sellwood scored on short plunges. Demario Walton had a 22-yard touchdown scamper. In all, the Pioneers gained 255 yards on the ground, with four rushing touchdowns.

Backup quarterback Bryan Trulen, pressed into the starting job by the baptism of Alex Neist’s baby boy, completed six of 10 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. Wideout Joseph Mapson, filling in at quarterback in the Wildcat formation threw a 32-yard scoring toss to Reggie Houston.

Leading receivers were Mapson, with three catches for 63 yards and a touchdown reception; Rasheem Sharpe with a single grab for 44 yards; Houston with a touchdown and 32 yards receiving; Jason Bailey with one catch for 12 yards and Damien Rochon-Washington with a catch for four yards.

For the second game in a row, the Pioneers defense was dominant, with Mitambo, safety Nate Beulah and safety Darrell Young scoring touchdowns. Beulah scored his on a fumble return, although he also had a weaving interception return for a score called back. Young scored his pick six on the game’s final play.

The Pioneers defense completely smothered the Phoenix all day, giving up just 57 yards rushing on 26 carries (a 2.2 yard average) and allowing the Phoenix to finish just three of 11 passing for 18 yards. In all, St. Paul gave up just 75 yards of total offense. Phoenix running back and former Pioneer Tommy Green got most of the rushing total with a couple good runs, but the Phoenix didn’t have much else.

The Pioneers recovered five fumbles for two touchdowns and intercepted Phoenix passes. Four Pioneers earned sacks – Mitambo, Doyle and defensive tackles Guillaume Paek and Cliff Gordy.

Leading tacklers were Doyle, with seven total stops, and middle linebacker Josh Hollie, with seven total tackles. Linebacker Deventri Jordan, Paek and Mitambo all were next with five tackles each.

After the game, Heiser told his players that, with the exception of the first three minutes, he was happy with their effort. Just doing the math, it is hard to argue.

Note: Next up for the Pioneers is the home-opener against the Twin Ports Stampede at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 22, at St. Paul Humboldt High School. Go to www.pioneersfootball.org for more information.

By Jim Walsh

The St. Paul Pioneers continued their winning ways Saturday in Brainerd, Minn., with a sometimes sloppy, but workmanlike 20-7 victory over the Lumberjacks in their first contest of 2010.St. Paul doubled up the Jacks in total offense, but four Pioneers fumbles and an interception stalled what could have been a blowout victory. Of course, that might have had something to do with Brainerd’s inspired play, as the defending champions of the Semi-Pro Football League played a strong game defensively.

Pioneers quarterback Alex Neist, playing his first game in the cardinal and black, threw two touchdown passes to go with a pick, hitting wideouts Rasheem Sharpe and Damien Rochon-Washington for scores. Running back Deshay Hudson also scored on a one-yard scamper. In all, Neist finished the day 21 of 36 passing for 220 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.St. Paul started the day with an impressive drive, following a 37-yard kick return by Joseph Mapson. But the drive ended with a Hudson fumble at the Brainerd 5 yard line and the teams would not score in the opening quarter.St. Paul would hit pay dirt first, however, after defensive tackle Jeff McGaster intercepted a Brainerd screen pass and rumbled 14 yards to the Lumberjacks 13 yard line.

Neist wasted no time, hitting Sharpe with a 13-yard scoring toss. The kick was good and the Pioneers led 7-0 at the half. Sharpe finished the game as St. Paul’s leading receiver, by yardage, with seven catches for 108 yards and a score.

The Pioneers increased their lead to 13-0 in the second half after nickel back Darrell Young, forced into duty at linebacker because St. Paul was missing some starters, stripped the Brainerd running back of the football and returned the steal to the Lumberjacks 7 yard line. Hudson would score four plays later, but Jay Harding’s extra point attempt was blocked. Harding would miss two field goal attempts on the day, but handled the kickoff duties extremely well, keeping the Jacks from getting good field position.

Brainerd would pull back into the contest a few minutes later, after a Pioneers interference penalty and personal foul put the ball at St. Paul’s 1 yard line. The Lumberjacks’ Leo Ashley punched it in to cut St. Paul’s lead to 13-7.

Neist and the offense immediately grabbed back the momentum, however, with an eight-play drive that ended with Washington grabbing a 10-yard scoring pass. The point after was good and St. Paul led 20-7, which would be the final score. Washington enjoyed a stellar day receiving, with eight receptions for 62 yards and a score.

Then it was up to the Pioneers defense to hold on. St. Paul was more than up to the challenge, even missing several starters who could not make the trip to Brainerd.

The defensive line of McGaster, Cliff Gordy, Dan White and Guillaume Paek were solid throughout the day, with Gordy and Paek recording sacks. CJ Sanderson, a leader on the offensive line, filled in well in spots on defense, recording 1.5 sacks. McGaster had eight total tackles, an interception and forced a fumble.Linebackers Deventri Jordan, Young and Brian Warden also played well. Jordan finished with 1.5 sacks and seven tackles and Warden had six stops. Young had three tackles, but forced and recovered a fumble.

In all, the Pioneers D finished the day with five sacks, three interceptions – by Adrian Mitchell, McGaster and Terry Jones – and two fumbles recovered. St. Paul limited Brainerd to 54 net yards rushing on 30 carries. Brainerd quarterback Tony Martin, filling in for the injured Karson Pike, finished 10 of 23 passing for 64 net yards.

Hudson finished the day for St. Paul with 70 yards rushing and a touchdown on 12 carries. Will Winters had 42 yards on nine carries.

The Pioneers have a weekend off before starting Northern Elite Football League play on May 15 against the Minnesota Phoenix in Woodbury. It will be St. Paul’s first game in their new league. The Pioneers in 2009 played in the North American Football League, winning the NAFL national title with a 15-1 record.