July 11, 2024
By Daniel Cohen
With 10 of 12 playoff spots currently claimed, all eyes are on the Central Division heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. This week’s watchlist features a handful of veterans and team leaders looking to propel their teams into the playoffs.
Travis Carpenter, Indianapolis AlleyCats
The AlleyCats will be missing two of their top O-line guys in Xavier Payne and Rick Gross this week, so expect the offense to run through Travis Carpenter. Carpenter is coming off one of his better games of the season against Colorado, in which he finished with a team-high five scores on 27 touches without a turnover. He’s continued to be the backbone of this Indy offense in his 11th pro season and looks comfortable operating in their new system built on short throws, give-and-gos, and quick decision-making. Carpenter was absent for Indy’s first trip to Pittsburgh when the Thunderbirds set a then-record for fewest turnovers in a regular season game with five in their 26-18 win, so we’ll see if his presence brings more consistency in this must-win matchup.
Sam Kaminsky, Chicago Union
Coming off his best game of the season, Sam Kaminsky will look to stay hot in a potential playoff preview against Madison tomorrow night. Kam set season highs last week against Minnesota in assists (4), hockey assists (7), scores (7), completions (64), and throwing yards (410). And while he’s not normally the guy to stretch the field for Chicago, he notably went 3-for-3 on throws of 40-plus yards against the Wind Chill, marking a career high in huck completions. Whether that was a random one-off or a sudden green light worth paying attention to, if he can continue finding the right balance of aggressiveness and reliability as a thrower, look for Chicago’s offense to really hit their stride and start peaking at the right time late in the season.
Kevin Pettit-Scantling, Madison Radicals (Pictured)
The Return of the King. After a preseason injury forced him to miss the entire 2023 season, Kevin Pettit-Scantling will be back on the Breese Stevens Field turf tomorrow night for the first time in nearly two years. Seventh in league history in career blocks, the two-time All-Star has been the face of the Madison Radicals for the last decade, and his presence both on the field and in the locker room has been invaluable for the franchise. This Madison defense has allowed opponents to convert on just 42.6 percent of possessions this year, the second lowest rate in the league, and they lead the league in blocks per game (14.0). If KPS looks like his old self and provides additional playmaking ability to this already stellar unit, Madison could cruise into their first playoff berth since 2018.
Quinn Snider, Minnesota Wind Chill
Back in the lineup after missing the last five games, Quinn Snider returns to TCO Stadium for the first time since scoring Minnesota’s go-ahead goal with 17 seconds left in regulation in last year’s semifinals. While the Wind Chill of course went on to lose in heartbreaking fashion, Snider played great against Salt Lake on the league’s biggest stage, as he tied for a game-high with three goals and was second only to teammate Bryan Vohnoutka in receiving yards (228). Snider enters this week’s game against the two-time reigning champs with four goals and 250-plus receiving yards in each of his last two games, and the Empire have been susceptible to big plays this year—teams are completing 66 percent of their hucks against New York, the fourth highest rate in the league. If Minnesota’s throwers can find a rhythm, expect Snider to be busy downfield as a primary finisher.
Jack Williams, New York Empire
With another interdivisional test for New York this weekend, Jack Williams should have a strong showing in Minnesota. Similar to Playoff Jack, Williams has a tendency to show up for these big out-of-division games; against Atlanta earlier this year, he completed a season-high 39 throws with four scores and over 450 yards of offense, and he just had a 21-touch, turnover-free performance against Salt Lake. His usage has been interesting to watch this year, as he’s been used more as a receiver this year than any previous year with the Empire—he currently leads the team in receiving yards with 2,152. The Empire offense will have all their usual throwers this week, which should keep Williams freed up to do whatever it takes to overcome a Wind Chill defense allowing the fourth-lowest O-line conversion rate in the league this year.
Alec Wilson Holliday, Dallas Legion
Tied for the league lead in plus/minus, Alec Wilson Holliday has been one of few bright spots for the Dallas Legion all season. With 43 goals in nine games so far (4.8 per game), he’ll have a chance to set the single-season franchise record for goals this weekend against Carolina and Atlanta—he needs just four more goals to break Jay Froude’s regular season record of 46 set in 2018. If you include playoffs, Wilson Holliday needs 13 over his final three games to top Froude’s 55, and he’ll also have a chance to become the first Dallas player ever to finish at the top of the league in goals. It’s been a disappointing season for the Legion to say the least, but Wilson Holliday’s electric playmaking has made them one of the more entertaining teams to watch with a nothing-to-lose playstyle.
Tristan Yarter, Pittsburgh Thunderbirds
Acquired from New York in a midseason trade, Tristan Yarter slotted in at D-line quarterback for Pittsburgh last week and played the role to perfection, going 30-for-30 on throws with three assists. Part of me wonders if we see him at all on offense this week with Jonathan Mast notably out of the lineup, but even if he stays on D-line, he should see his fair share of possessions against Indy. The AlleyCats allow an average of 12 break opportunities per game, ranking middle of the pack, and without Xavier Payne out there to get the disc back for Indy, Yarter and the D-line might have an easier time than usual punching in scores this week. While it’s a longshot for the Thunderbirds to make the playoffs, they can still end this season on a high note as they continue to develop their young talent and look towards the future.
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