By Tom O’Brien
NEFJ Correspondent

MALDEN – Week two of the league has already come and gone.

Last week defense was the main story of most of the games. That reign true again this week, but when it came to crunch time, the offenses came to life in thrilling fashion.

“Every game was close, the last one came down to the last play,” said The League founder Mike Wiley.

The first game was between the Boston Junkyard Dogs and the Metrowest Maulers.

Both teams came up empty on its first two possessions. The Dogs’ offense got going on the next drive as Dogs quarterback Ethan Hatch hit a wide open tight end Ryan Kelley for a 13-yard score.

The Maulers were unable to respond on the next offensive drive, but it didn’t take long for the Maulers defense to make a statement as Daniel Nichols picked off Hatch for the 38-yard pick six.

The Dogs’ fumbled on the very next play from scrimmage and the Maulers capitalized, driving back down the field. Eventually, Mason Wattles scored from one-yard out to take the lead.

JYD immediately responded with a scoring drive to take the lead back, capped off by a Colin Hoffman score from three-yards out.

Both teams came up empty on their next possessions. On the final series, Maulers quarterback Jayce Lyons threw a pick to Dogs’ linebacker Darin Shaw.

With three teams in this year’s version of The League, Junkyard Dogs pulled back-to-back duty first this time around, facing the Southeast Cobras in game two.

After the JYD offense failed to capitalize on its opening drive, they would get the ball back quickly as the defense scored a safety to take the early lead.

Both teams turned the ball over on downs before the Dogs’ offense came to life when quarterback Angus McKenna hit Brayden Huber for a 28-yard strike for the score, extending the lead.

Both teams once again came up empty on their next drives.

The Cobras had one last chance to respond and Cobras quarterback Alex Weaver did just that, hitting wide receiver Logan Prock for the 18-yard score with no time left.

But, the Dogs held on as the two-point conversion was no good.

The last game was the Maulers and the Cobras.

Both teams came up empty on its opening possessions. The Maulers struck first as Lyons hit wide receiver Finnegan Reardon for a 15-yard touchdown pass.

The Cobras immediately responded as Weaver hit Logan Prock on a jump ball for a 53-yard touchdown after he broke defenders. The ensuing-two point conversion was also successful.

Southeast marched down the field one last time, and like the previous game, it came down to one last play.

Lyons found receiver Aidan Curry for a 28-yard Hail Mary with no time left to give the Maulers the win.

“So we had corner posts and then pitch on the left side, and it kinda fell apart, so I scrambled out, stepped up, made a few guys miss, and gave my guy a chance in the back of the end zone, and he came down with it,” Lyons said.

“Awesome football, guys getting better. That’s what we want,” added Wiley.

The League is back in action next Sunday, again at Malden Catholic High School.