1956 Playoffs
Worcester Athletics VS. Providence Gold Stars - Worcester Stadium - September 22, 1956 - 6 PM ET - CBS
1st QThe first playoff game in Worcester since the 1940s started with the Athletics getting an early upper hand. RB Marcus Devonshire, who missed the playoffs last season due to injury, was the fuel for the offense and would get into the endzone to make it 6-0 early for the Athletics. K Tevoris Francis missed the extra point. Providence’s offense didn’t have the same success but they would be able to get a field goal to cut the lead in half going into the second quarter.
2nd Q
The Gold Stars would find their rhythm in the second and started to shift the field position in their favour. Eventually, RB Marcus Devonshire would make his first mistake losing the football to LB Roger Morrow. The Gold Stars would take over in Athletics territory. QB Connor O’Rourke, starting his first playoff game, would get the offense to the endzone finding WR Willard Brooks open just over the goal line. The Gold Stars were now up 6-10. Worcester would retaliate with Kiernan leading the team down the field to get a field goal and make it a 1-point game at the break.
3rd Q
Providence’s defense was playing strong and kept it up early in the 3rd stopping Worcester's first three drives of the half. On the offensive side, O’Rourke was able to get the Gold Stars back to field goal range to extend their lead, 9-13 Gold Stars. Frustration was slowly creeping in on the Athletics sideline, especially after WR Michael Mcleod would have to leave the game with an injury forcing RB Lawrence Sharp to take over the spot. QB Riley Kiernan tried to keep it strong, his confidence was way up this season and he was able to get the offense rolling again. They would also get a big boost from DB Alexander Bradley who would pick off O’Rourke and give Kiernan great field position. It wouldn’t take long for Kiernan to find WR Christian Venegas in the endzone for the touchdown to give them the 16-13 lead. Providence didn’t seem too fazed as a RB Laurent Brazeau led drive would end with a game-tying field goal to make it 16-16 going into the final quarter.
4th Q
During the break, the Athletics huddled up and LB Scotty Williams got the team together and reminded them what they were fighting for. Pointing to the heart on his jersey at the end of his small speech finishing with a simple line, “Let’s make him proud.” The Athletics were fired up out of the gate and seemed more like the team that no one could stop this season. On their second drive of the quarter, Marcus Devonshire would find himself back in the endzone to take the lead 23-16. The Gold Stars were reeling from the sudden surge of the Athletics. however, they didn’t back down. RB Laurent Brazeau was not ready to lose and took the offense on his back. It was still his first playoff appearance despite his own success over the past 7 years, but he was playing like a weathered playoff veteran. Brazeau would eventually push his way into the endzone tying the game with 4 minutes to go. The crowd in Worcester was tense. Kiernan would have to get the offense down the field, but he would fail, as DB Lee Wolfe picked him off at midfield. The crowd was in shock. Brazeau would safely get the Gold Stars into field goal range and even further down to the 30-yard line. An easy kick for K Bernard Barnett, so it would seem, as the kicker would miss the kick wide right. Luckily for the Gold Stars, the kick was far enough that the returner, Lawrence Sharp, couldn’t keep the ball in bounds, scoring the single. The Gold Stars had now a late 23-24 lead, but there was hope still in Worcester to end it. Kiernan wouldn’t make the same mistake on the next drive. He would get the Athletics down to field goal range and K Tevoris Francis would not miss sending the Athletics to the McCallister Cup for the first time since 1940 which was before the team had left the NEFC.
Ottawa Royals VS. Ontario Tigers - Royals Stadium at Brewer Park - September 23, 1956 - 6 PM ET
1st Q
The Tigers finally made their playoff debut against the 2-time defending champion Royals. Playoff experience between the two teams was very one-sided with the Royals, full of players who have now won 2 championships, while the Tigers had only 1 player who had started a playoff game at all. The difference showed early on in the game with the Royals jumping out to a lead on their second drive of the game. QB Jean Matieau was able to get the Royals to the endzone finding WR Chester Bennett open for the score. Not long after, the Tigers seemed to get some offense going, but it would be cut short by DL Olaf Viktorsson knocking the ball loose from RB Clifford Russell. Ottawa would take over and their own RB, Alexei Volkov, would give the Royals a 14-0 lead after the first.
2nd Q
Ontario was not letting the early mistakes faze them, and they would find themselves in scoring range midway through the quarter while their defense was holding up the Royals' attack. Eventually, RB Clifford Russell would make up for his earlier mistake and cut the lead in half with a touchdown. Ottawa was quick to retaliate and on the very next drive, they would be back in the endzone with WR Allen Atkins. The drive sapped any momentum the Tigers had gained in the 2nd.
3rd Q
The Tigers kept their foot on the gas out of the break and would find themselves back in scoring range again. A big help was a 43-yard play to WR Wilbert Benjamin. K Nathaniel King would cut the lead to 11 with a field goal. 21-10 Royals. The Royals kept their pressure but the Tigers defense was playing strong. LB Aengus Lynch would stand up Volkov on a 2nd and 3 forcing the Royals to a 3rd and 1. The Royals would not be able to get it with the short-yardage unit and Tigers took over at midfield. The stop gave the Tigers a pinch of momentum and QB Christian Stewart would try to make the most of it. The young QB would get the Tigers closer and closer to the endzone. Eventually, he would take a shot to WR Wilbert Benjamin but DB Uzzia Hayes would make an excellent play to stop the threat and force another field goal. 21-13 Royals.
4th Q
The Tigers were inching closer to the Royals, but the 4th quarter would bring an end to the threat. Ottawa would force the Tigers to back-to-back 2 and outs before DB Mingan Oliver would pick QB Stewart off and give the Royals excellent field position. Matieau wouldn’t take long finding WR Mackenzie Jones to make it 28-13. The Tigers gave it the best shot but the Royals held strong and would be headed back to the McCallister Cup for the 3rd year in a row.
Injury Report
OL Eugésippe Chalifoux PRO - Day-to-Day
WR Michael Mcleod WOR - 2 Weeks
Players of the Week
38th McCallister Cup
Head-to-Head: W6: OTT 17-27 WOR
The Athletics took the only meeting between the teams this season. They look to be slim favourites on home-field. Many are expecting a much closer game than the week 6 battle, as the Royals are much healthier and will be in full playoff mode while the Athletics were a bit cold against the Gold Stars after clinching the division back in week 7. Ottawa’s experience gives them the advantage again, but the Athletics are looking just as good with several Boston veterans from their successful days. It’s anyone’s game at this point, get ready for some premiere NAAF football.
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