Through 9 Turkey Bowls we’ve seen some TFL players do some amazing things. But, after careful consideration, we present you with what we believe are the Top 10 Individual Performances by any TFL member throughout the organization’s history.
* signifies an MVP performance
10. Tim Dougherty* - Turkey Bowl I
Even in a losing performance, Tim Dougherty still shines, especially in this particular game's 2nd half. Doc threw/ran for 9 TD's on November 23, 2000. You're probably saying to yourself, "9 TD's; it's been done before." But you forget 8 of his 9 total touchdowns came in the 2nd half of the inaugural Turkey Bowl. With his team down 5-1 at the half, Tim led The Unphairs to the end zone 8 times, and came within inches of actually winning the game. No other TFL player has scored or thrown 8 TD's in one half of play.
9. Tim Dougherty - Turkey Bowl IX
Dougherty
TB IX was almost a repeat performance of TB I for Tim "The Doc", but, unlike TB I, Tim and his team took a victory in TB IX. Timothy Shawn Dougherty threw 9 touchdown passes, and, what makes this 9-touchdown performance even more amazing, is the fact that it wasn't the first time he did it. Tim was criticized relentlessly for his draft picks of TB IX, but he proved, as he does so often, that, no matter whom his receivers are, he just wins games.
8. Rich DiNofia - Turkey Bowl VII
DiNofia
Rich DiNofia made TB VII his own personal coming out party. After scoring one receiving TD in TB V, and none in TB VI, DiNofia stunned the opposition by reaching the end zone 4 times in TB VII, setting a TFL receiving record. The only problem was that, even with Rich's 4 receiving TD's, the Doc F*ckers still couldn't defeat Team Zissou. Good job Doc F*ckers, way to support Rich's effort.
7. Kevin Rayer* - Turkey Bowl VII
Rayer
Accompanying Rich's TB VII performance was that of one of his opponents: Kevin Rayer. Rayer led his team to victory in TB VII by supplying Team Zissou with three total touchdowns: 2 receiving & 1 INT return. Even though Kevin showed up to Pritchard Field after kickoff, he immediately made an impact. With his team down 2-0 during his absence, Kevin Rayer came, saw, and conquered. He quickly helped his team turn a deficit into a lead, and eventually a victory.
6. Mark Marcelli - Turkey Bowl IV
Marcelli
We should all remember Mark's great performance in TB IV, especially Tim Doc. Mark not only helped New School claim their first and only victory in the New School – Old School series, but also laid claim to, officially, the greatest play in TFL history: "The Strippage at Pritchard". Mark found pay dirt three times in Turkey Bowl IV, but, even if he didn't score once, he solidifies his place on this list by saving and truly winning the game for his team by taking Doc's candy, right before the ogre reached the end zone for, what would have been, Old School's winning TD.
5. Mike Trill - Turkey Bowl IV
Trill
Mike Trill, Mark Marcelli's teammate in TB IV, edged him out for the #5 spot on our list. Trill, through this performance, illustrated to the TFL faithful that there's more than one Turkey Bowl quarterback capable of dominating a game. In, as stated earlier, the first meeting of New School and Old School, Mike Trill helped his team battle out from under the shadow of defeat by throwing 9 TD passes. In addition, he hit every one of his receivers for at least 2 TD's.
3. Paul Middleton* - Turkey Bowl III
Middleton
Only six total touchdowns were scored in TB III, and Paul Middleton accounted for 2 of them. In the only shutout registered in TFL history, Paul Middleton was a force on both sides of the ball. Paul reached the end zone twice, but, more importantly being that his team, THC, recorded the shutout, Middleton had 3 INT's. It was his inaugural performance, probably his best overall, which foreshadowed things to come in Paul's career.
3. Sergeant Slaughter - Turkey Bowl VIII
Slaughter
Before TB VIII, Sergeant was considered an average TFL player. After November 22, 2007, that changed. Sergeant helped lead his team to a victory in TB VIII by scoring five total touchdowns. Sergeant blasted the opposition's secondary, especially Chris Crooks, by registering 4 receiving TD's. In addition, Sergeant collected an interception return for a touchdown as well. Finally, as if all that wasn't enough, he tied a TD record set by Rich DiNofia. Little did we know, Sergeant would eventually break the record.
2. Sergeant Slaughter - Turkey Bowl IX
Slaughter
Record set, record shared, record broken. Sergeant, who shared the record for most touchdown receptions in a game with Rich DiNofia, decided that he wanted the record all to himself. In TB IX, Slaughter once again annihilated the competition's secondary by reaching the end zone for 5 offensive touchdowns. It was quite a fitting performance for Sergeant, who announced his official retirement from Turkey Bowl play after the game.
1. Tim Dougherty* - Turkey Bowl VIII
Dougherty
Nine touchdowns? Again? The top individual performance goes to, surprise surprise, Tim Dougherty. If playing TFL football were a paying job, Dougherty would be our Bill Gates. Tim, in what would be the most dominating performance by any team or player in Turkey Bowl history, threw for 9 touchdowns leading his team to a 12-4 victory. Some of us thought that Tim, after age and injury set in, would lose a step or two, but Tim has proven, like a fine wine, he just gets better with age.
