Its down to this. Week 13 and 14 are tonight in the DSFL and, with the entire Western conference undecided and homefield advantage in the East still technically up for grabs, these are the final, most important games in Season 5. Let’s take a look at each of the matchups:
WEEK 13
TIJUANA LUCHADORES (6-5-1) at PALM BEACH SOLAR BEARS (6-5-1)
In the first of the deciding West Conference matchups, the Tijuana Luchadores are visiting Palm Beach to take on the local Solar Bears. With the West currently tied at 6 wins a piece, this is a critical-playoff deciding matchup. Although there is a chance both teams can make it, the winner in this Week 13 showdown will be guaranteed a spot and a shot at homefield advantage. The Luchadores are the underdog, if for no other reason than the hot streak the home-team Polar Bears are sporting. That said, the season series is incredibly even (1-1-1).
PORTLAND PYTHONS (8-4) at SAN ANTONIO MARSHALS (6-6)
In this perennial powerhouse matchup, the Season 5 Python stud-team will be looking to crush the playoff hopes of their rival San Antonio Marshals in enemy territory. Rivalry is perhaps a little strong, considering there’s been only one contest this season and the Pythons won. Looking back to last season, San Antonio is still heated over their championship loss to Portland and losing both the game and perhaps the playoffs on home turf would be devastating. It will be up to rookie Mike Vick, the controversial quarterback who led a spirited win in Mexico two weeks ago, to solve a strong Pythons defense and keep the Marshals playoff hopes alive.
KANSAS CITY COYOTES (3-9) at NORFOLK SEAWOLVES (6-6)
Kansas City will be rolling into Norfolk looking to make some redemption on what has been a forgettable season. However, sources claim that since the hiring of the new KC co-GM, things have perked up for the franchise and two wins to end the season, including this Week 13 matchup in Norfolk, could go a long way towards attracting top notch talent during scouting and beyond. For Norfolk, these are two weeks to steal homefield from the Pythons. If San Antonio at home can upset Portland on the road, Norfolk gets this win against Kansas City, and they then beat Portland in Week 14 the East Championship homefield advantage swings to Norfolk and changes all the momentum going into the DSFL playoffs.
WEEK 14
TIJUANA LUCHADORES at SAN ANTONIO MARSHALS
The West is anyone’s conference at this point, so this matchup could be the deciding game on who makes the postseason and who is the sole non-playoff team in the conference. Of course, if Palm Beach lost to Tijuana and San Antonio beat Portland, this game could also be the deciding factor in homefield advantage. That’s how tight this division is: one game could not only decide who makes the playoffs but who gets homefield advantage. With the season series at 2-1 for the Marshals and the game on home turf for them, they can probably be counted as the slim favourites heading into the matchup. However, all of those games have been decided by a touchdown or less, so this could swing any way.
NORFOLK SEAWOLVES at PORTLAND PYTHONS
In a warmup game before the East Conference Championships, the Seawolves will be visiting the Pythons and looking to maybe steal homefield advantage (provided Norfolk beats KC and Portland lost to San Antonio). If the conditions are right, this could be a major deciding game that could impact the East Conference Championship favourite. If Norfolk is coming off a loss or Portland off a win, though, it will simply be a testing ground for gameplanning by both GMs.
KANSAS CITY COYOTES at PALM BEACH SOLAR BEARS
The Kansas City Coyotes finish on the road in sunny Palm Beach against the Solar Bears in a game that means nothing for one team, but a lot for the other. Palm Beach will be looking to either make the playoffs (if they lose to Tijuana) or shore up home advantage (if they beat TIJ), depending on the outcome of Week 13. Either way, its close to a must-win for the Solar Bears. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Coyotes are playing in garbage time at this point in their season but will be looking to end the season on a very high note by beating one of the better DSFL teams this season. If they can pull off the perceived upset, it could make dividends attracting young rookie talent in the offseason.
Games start tonight at 8:00 pm EST. Tune in to catch who’ll make the playoffs and who’s going home early.
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READY FOR GRADING
GRADED
WEEK 13
TIJUANA LUCHADORES (6-5-1) at PALM BEACH SOLAR BEARS (6-5-1)
In the first of the deciding West Conference matchups, the Tijuana Luchadores are visiting Palm Beach to take on the local Solar Bears. With the West currently tied at 6 wins a piece, this is a critical-playoff deciding matchup. Although there is a chance both teams can make it, the winner in this Week 13 showdown will be guaranteed a spot and a shot at homefield advantage. The Luchadores are the underdog, if for no other reason than the hot streak the home-team Polar Bears are sporting. That said, the season series is incredibly even (1-1-1).
PORTLAND PYTHONS (8-4) at SAN ANTONIO MARSHALS (6-6)
In this perennial powerhouse matchup, the Season 5 Python stud-team will be looking to crush the playoff hopes of their rival San Antonio Marshals in enemy territory. Rivalry is perhaps a little strong, considering there’s been only one contest this season and the Pythons won. Looking back to last season, San Antonio is still heated over their championship loss to Portland and losing both the game and perhaps the playoffs on home turf would be devastating. It will be up to rookie Mike Vick, the controversial quarterback who led a spirited win in Mexico two weeks ago, to solve a strong Pythons defense and keep the Marshals playoff hopes alive.
KANSAS CITY COYOTES (3-9) at NORFOLK SEAWOLVES (6-6)
Kansas City will be rolling into Norfolk looking to make some redemption on what has been a forgettable season. However, sources claim that since the hiring of the new KC co-GM, things have perked up for the franchise and two wins to end the season, including this Week 13 matchup in Norfolk, could go a long way towards attracting top notch talent during scouting and beyond. For Norfolk, these are two weeks to steal homefield from the Pythons. If San Antonio at home can upset Portland on the road, Norfolk gets this win against Kansas City, and they then beat Portland in Week 14 the East Championship homefield advantage swings to Norfolk and changes all the momentum going into the DSFL playoffs.
WEEK 14
TIJUANA LUCHADORES at SAN ANTONIO MARSHALS
The West is anyone’s conference at this point, so this matchup could be the deciding game on who makes the postseason and who is the sole non-playoff team in the conference. Of course, if Palm Beach lost to Tijuana and San Antonio beat Portland, this game could also be the deciding factor in homefield advantage. That’s how tight this division is: one game could not only decide who makes the playoffs but who gets homefield advantage. With the season series at 2-1 for the Marshals and the game on home turf for them, they can probably be counted as the slim favourites heading into the matchup. However, all of those games have been decided by a touchdown or less, so this could swing any way.
NORFOLK SEAWOLVES at PORTLAND PYTHONS
In a warmup game before the East Conference Championships, the Seawolves will be visiting the Pythons and looking to maybe steal homefield advantage (provided Norfolk beats KC and Portland lost to San Antonio). If the conditions are right, this could be a major deciding game that could impact the East Conference Championship favourite. If Norfolk is coming off a loss or Portland off a win, though, it will simply be a testing ground for gameplanning by both GMs.
KANSAS CITY COYOTES at PALM BEACH SOLAR BEARS
The Kansas City Coyotes finish on the road in sunny Palm Beach against the Solar Bears in a game that means nothing for one team, but a lot for the other. Palm Beach will be looking to either make the playoffs (if they lose to Tijuana) or shore up home advantage (if they beat TIJ), depending on the outcome of Week 13. Either way, its close to a must-win for the Solar Bears. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Coyotes are playing in garbage time at this point in their season but will be looking to end the season on a very high note by beating one of the better DSFL teams this season. If they can pull off the perceived upset, it could make dividends attracting young rookie talent in the offseason.
Games start tonight at 8:00 pm EST. Tune in to catch who’ll make the playoffs and who’s going home early.
778 words
READY FOR GRADING
GRADED
RICARDO MORRIS
Arizona Outlaws | Defensive Tackle | S15 - Present
Career: 554 TPE | 82 TCK | 4 TFL | 2/1 FR/FF | 10 SCK | 1 TD
Arizona Outlaws | Defensive Tackle | S15 - Present
Career: 554 TPE | 82 TCK | 4 TFL | 2/1 FR/FF | 10 SCK | 1 TD