TFL Top 10 Careers
posted Monday November 16th, 2009 by Marce

Through the years 25 individuals have stepped on Pritchard Field to take part in at least one Turkey Bowl. Most of those players have participated in many more than just one, and have fashioned impressive careers along the way. Shrinking a list of 25 down to a list of the Top 10 Careers in Turkey Bowl history wasn't easy. And there may very well be some deserved people who were left off the list; but to the best of my ability what follows is a listing of 10 people who have had the most success during the past nine Thanksgiving mornings...

10. Jon Hart
Record: 1-6
Touchdowns Scored: 0
Touchdown Passes: 0
It's hard to believe that it has been six year's since Hart's MVP performance in Turkey Bowl IV. That day can be looked back on in a similar light as Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier for Major League Baseball. Before that day the line position was merely an after thought, with people rotating in and out, and only doing so because someone had to play line. Hart has made it not only a position of pride, but a vital key to any team that wants to be a winner. But Hart is not a one trick pony, since legitimizing the offensive/defensive line positions he has put together seven strong outings as a two way threat.

9. Chris Crooks
Record: 4-5
Touchdowns Scored: 5
Touchdown Passes: 0
An always steady WR/DB, Crooks comes in at #9 on our list. Although never classified as a game breaker, Crooks put together a consistent scoring string at the start of his career (5 TDs in 4 games from TBIV - TBVII). He usually handles return duties and also provides solid coverage on defense. His recent touchdown drought (0 TDs in the last 2 years) explains his high ranking on the list.

8. Rich DiNofia
Record: 6-3
Touchdowns Scored: 7
Touchdown Passes: 2
On the strength of his defensive efforts, and an occasional offensive outburst, Rich secured the #8 spot on our list of Top 10 Careers. A one time MVP (TBII - 2001) and one time runner up (TBVII - 2006), DiNofia makes his name more as a defensive back than as a receiver. His co-MVP campaign in 2001 was awarded for collecting multiple interceptions in a 10-5 win for his team. In 2006 he came out of nowhere to score a then record 4 TDs in one game and finish second in the MVP voting. He also shows versatility with his 2 passing TDs (one of only 5 people to ever record that stat) and single defensive touchdown.

7. Kevin Rayer
Record: 3-5
Touchdowns Scored: 9
Touchdown Passes: 0
Coming in at 7th on our list, Kevin Rayer has had an extremely under the radar career to date. A quick glance at his career statistics shows that Rayer has scored at least 2 touchdowns in every game he has played in. His reputation, and career as a whole, is hampered by his disappearing act in Turkey Bowl V when he became the first person ever to sleep through an entire game. If it wasn't for this absence I believe Rayer's statistics are strong enough for him to have been higher on this list.

5. Mark Marcelli
Record: 5-4
Touchdowns Scored: 6
Touchdown Passes: 0
Tied for 5th place on our Top 10 list, Mark Marcelli has a penchant for coming up with some of the biggest plays at the biggest times in the history of the league. It started back in Turkey Bowl I, when Mark was just a 15 year old high school freshman. With his team down 9-8 he pulled in an interception in his own end zone and returned it the length of the field to tie the score at 9. Three years later, in Turkey Bowl IV, he tracked down Tim Doc on the goal line and caused a fumble in a tie game to prevent the winning score. Add all his big plays to 6 career receiving TDs and its easy to see why Mark comes in tied for #5 on our list.

5. Sergeant Slaughter
Record: 4-2
Touchdowns Scored: 11
Touchdown Passes: 0
Sharing the #5 spot on the list is everyone's favorite military man, Sergeant Slaughter. Slaughter occupies the top spots in both career TD receptions and career TDs scored but isn't higher on our list because the majority of his scoring came in the last two years and a good two year span does not a career make. With that said, his stats were too good to put him any lower on the list. On top of his career accomplishments Slaughter also owns the record for touchdown catches in a game, and twice set the mark for touchdowns scored in a game.

4. Mike Trill
Record: 4-5
Touchdowns Scored: 2
Touchdown Passes: 24
One of two perennial QBs, Mike Trill lands the four spot in our Top 10 list. Trill currently sits second on the list for career touchdown passes and also set the single game record with 9 in Turkey Bowl IV, the first year that individual stats were kept. That record still stands today, but has been tied in recent years. All of Trill's 24 TD passes have come spread out in a four game span over five years, showing consistency throughout his career.

3. Matt Marcelli
Record: 4-5
Touchdowns Scored: 10
Touchdown Passes: 0
Coming in at #3 on our list, Matt Marcelli garnered this spot by displaying remarkable consistency. Starting in Turkey Bowl IV, Marcelli recorded a TD in every game he played through Turkey Bowl VIII; recently having that streak snapped last year. On top of his consistency, many of his games have been multiple scoring affairs, as he sits second all time in career TD receptions (8) and career TDs scored (10). Also, his scoring prowess is not limited to the offensive side of the ball, as he is the only person in league history with multiple defensive touchdowns to his name.

2. Paul Middleton
Record: 3-3
Touchdowns Scored: 7
Touchdown Passes:6
The number 2 spot belongs to versatile threat Paul Middleton. This versatility is easily spotted after looking over Paul's Turkey Bowl resume. He sits as the only person with more than 5 touchdowns both catching and throwing and is equally effective as both a receiver and a quarterback. A perfect example of Middleton's effectiveness is Turkey Bowl VIII, where he recorded a TD by throwing, catching and returning. In that game he also became the only player ever to return a kickoff for a score.

1. Tim Dougherty
Record: 7-2
Touchdowns Scored: 2
Touchdown Passes: 32
And our #1 career belongs to none other than Tim Doc. Dougherty sits alone atop the career passing TD list, and has twice tied the single game mark of 9 TDs in a game. On top of his individual statistics he is also the league leader in career wins and sports an all time winning percentage of 77%. He has lined up at every position from his regular QB spot, to offensive and defensive line, to safety and even defensive back in his younger years. The statistics, versatility and leadership make Tim Doc a clear choice as our #1 career in the first 10 years of the TFL.