1. Ultimus time baby! as I've been writing this for a few seasons now I'm starting to get tired of seeing the same team every year. But I guess Arizona is just unavoidable. As always, the Outlaws are back to the ultimus against a (somewhat) familiar foe in the Crash, as they squared up in an ultimus back in S41. But before we get to the big game, lets talk about how they got here. Arizona has a pretty similar core to last season, with a few significant changes. The biggest change is Danny Nedelko finally giving up the role of lead RB. Nedelko is now splitting carries with Bertie Mannering-Phipps as they both were quite successful (965 yards on 4.4 YPC with 8 TDs and 1121 yards on 47 YPC for 13 TDs respectively) in what was the second best rushing attack in the entire league. There passing game was also led by Donovan Winters III who was efficient and effective as always, throwing for almost 4300 yards with a 29/14 TD:INT ration and a 2nd best 96.6 rating. Most of those targets were funneled into 3 weapons in WR Jordan Bamford (1200 yards and 7 TDs), WR Benji Aguilera (1200 yards and 9 TDs) and rookie RB Purdy Mediocre. Purdy was very unique as he actually lined up at TE throughout most of the season and put up an insane 1400 yards and 8 TDs, making first team all-pro. The OL was also good with only 1 bot and 2 all-pros. Overall this offense was the best in the league, leading everyone in YPG and PPG. The defense was also quite good but lacked star power, with no all-pros and only Waylen Green hitting double digit sacks and no one snagging more than 3 INTs. They made up for this with pure balance as everyone contributed to put together the 2nd best defense in the league.
Arizona had a great season punctuated by a 6 game win streak in the middle that led them to a 12-4 record and the 2 seed.
You know how AZ survived and thrived through balance? Cape Town doesn't believe in balance. Why be balanced when you could just have the best rushing attack in the past decade and possible ever? Led by scrambling QB Thor Bǫllrsveifla and perennial pro bowl RB Nakiri Ayame, Cape Town rushed for 140 YPG on an incredible 5.2 YPC. Even the 3rd best player in this rushing attack, Hercules Henry, still averaged 5.5 YPC for 500 yards and 9 TDs. Thor put up similar numbers on the ground with 550 yards on 5.7 YPC and 8 TDs, while lead back Ayame just broke 1000 yards on 4.9 YPC and 10 TDs. The passing game on the other hand wasn't very good, as Thor went 25:15 TD:INT with an 87 rating as lead WR Malik Brooks failed to crack 1000 yards. Even so, the rushing attack powered them to the best offense in the NSFC and second in the league behind AZ. The defense was much worst and again opposed to AZ, as CTC seemed to struggle with star power. They managed to have one of the best CBs (Luigi Numberone) and best DTs (Justin Steele) that the entire league had to offer but lacked in other key areas. Overall, they finished with a below average defense that struggled throughout the season.
Unlike AZ who cruised to the playoffs, CTC had to scratch and claw through a 3-5 start to make it to 7-5. They then immediately reversed course to 7-7 as the 8-6 Wraiths seemed certain to claim the last playoff spot. But every bounce went Cape Towns way as the 9-7 Crash edged out the 8-8 Wraiths for the final wild card spot.
Unlike usual, AZ struggled immensely in the playoffs, going down 17-0 before launching a furious comeback in a 36-30 OT win against the Second Line. They then had another dogfight in the ASFC championship game as they scored 2 TDs in the final 3 minutes to tie and them win the game.
The CTC defense made sure it wasn't seen as a weakness in the playoffs as they would blow out the Hawks 35-7 before going up 17-14 in the NSFC championship game at half. The defense stayed locked in during an eventual 20-14 win to make the big game.
Well, you can probably guess what happened next. The Ultimus was a very tight game at the start, with Cape Town holding a 17-10 lead. Arizona then activated there devil magic, scoring 23 unanswered and winning the Ultimus 33-17.
Arizona had a great season punctuated by a 6 game win streak in the middle that led them to a 12-4 record and the 2 seed.
You know how AZ survived and thrived through balance? Cape Town doesn't believe in balance. Why be balanced when you could just have the best rushing attack in the past decade and possible ever? Led by scrambling QB Thor Bǫllrsveifla and perennial pro bowl RB Nakiri Ayame, Cape Town rushed for 140 YPG on an incredible 5.2 YPC. Even the 3rd best player in this rushing attack, Hercules Henry, still averaged 5.5 YPC for 500 yards and 9 TDs. Thor put up similar numbers on the ground with 550 yards on 5.7 YPC and 8 TDs, while lead back Ayame just broke 1000 yards on 4.9 YPC and 10 TDs. The passing game on the other hand wasn't very good, as Thor went 25:15 TD:INT with an 87 rating as lead WR Malik Brooks failed to crack 1000 yards. Even so, the rushing attack powered them to the best offense in the NSFC and second in the league behind AZ. The defense was much worst and again opposed to AZ, as CTC seemed to struggle with star power. They managed to have one of the best CBs (Luigi Numberone) and best DTs (Justin Steele) that the entire league had to offer but lacked in other key areas. Overall, they finished with a below average defense that struggled throughout the season.
Unlike AZ who cruised to the playoffs, CTC had to scratch and claw through a 3-5 start to make it to 7-5. They then immediately reversed course to 7-7 as the 8-6 Wraiths seemed certain to claim the last playoff spot. But every bounce went Cape Towns way as the 9-7 Crash edged out the 8-8 Wraiths for the final wild card spot.
Unlike usual, AZ struggled immensely in the playoffs, going down 17-0 before launching a furious comeback in a 36-30 OT win against the Second Line. They then had another dogfight in the ASFC championship game as they scored 2 TDs in the final 3 minutes to tie and them win the game.
The CTC defense made sure it wasn't seen as a weakness in the playoffs as they would blow out the Hawks 35-7 before going up 17-14 in the NSFC championship game at half. The defense stayed locked in during an eventual 20-14 win to make the big game.
Well, you can probably guess what happened next. The Ultimus was a very tight game at the start, with Cape Town holding a 17-10 lead. Arizona then activated there devil magic, scoring 23 unanswered and winning the Ultimus 33-17.
SAVE THE WIKI!