Playoff Series MVP: The first round matchup between the Orange County Otters and the San Jose Sabercats arguably pit the NSFL’s two best teams together right away. And what we got was a hell of a game, ending up 32-29 in favor of the Otters. I find it hard to give the MVP to a player on the losing side of things, though I was very tempted to acknowledge Shane Weston’s 4 for 111 yard, 2 TD day as MVP worthy. However, I’m going to go slightly off the board and select a player from the winning team. With the Otters’ offense not being its usual self, I’m going to award the MVP to a player on the defensive side of things. Ian Bavitz, Orange County Linebacker, was a complete terror to the Sabercats. Bavitz was all over the field, collecting ten tackles of his own. He also spent a lot of time in the San Jose backfield as well, as he picked up 3 huge sacks in the Otters’ win. But no play was bigger than his fourth quarter safety of San Jose QB Chris Orosz, that would give the Otters a 29-22 lead. That safety meant that SJ’s late touchdown only tied the game, giving the Otters enough time score the game winning field goal and head to the Ultimus. (222)
Playoff Review: The first round matchup between San Jose and Orange County was one for the ages. The league’s two best teams faced off with a berth in the Ultimus on the line and it did not disappoint. The teams went back and forth with each other before an Orange County field goal with 34 seconds left gave the defending champs a 32-29 victory. In the other conference, the Yellowknife Wraiths snuck into the playoffs to face off against the Philadelphia Liberty. The Liberty found themselves more than up to the task, smacking the Wraiths around for most of the game and building a 24-0 lead late into the third quarter. With Philadelphia playing prevent, Yellowknife eventually put some points on the board, before finally losing 31-21 in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score showed. Finally, in the Ultimus, Orange County went head to head with Philadelphia. Philadelphia would take the early lead, but the teams would keep going back and forth through halftime, with the Otters up 13-10. The Otters would eventually score to make it 20-10, but then Josh Garden would return the ensuing kickoff 102 yards to bring the Liberty within 3. Sadly, that was all the Liberty could muster, and Orange County added another field goal to take home the Ultimus yet again, 23-17. (223)
Ultimus MVP: The first player that comes to mind when thinking of the Ultimus MVP is Mike Boss. The Orange County QB threw for 460 yards and also tossed two touchdowns against a very game Liberty defense. However, Boss also threw two bad interceptions that kept Philadelphia hanging around more than they should’ve. Josh Garden also had a stand out performance as the Liberty star ended up with 7 catches for 103 yards, and he also had the 102 yard kickoff return for a TD. But I’m going to choose to give my MVP to Orange County Otter WR/RB Jordan Yates. Yates was electric on the field for the Otters. He caught 9 passes for a game high 156 yards. While he wouldn’t score a touchdown, Yates did have an 48 yard catch and run before getting tackled. The Philadelphia Defense had lots of trouble keeping up with him as Yates juked and jived his was into the Liberty secondary again and again. A few of his plays ended up gaining the Otters some key first downs, and extended some drives that they would eventually score on. His ability all over the field was the difference in this year’s Ultimus game, and big reason why Philadelphia went home empty handed. (210)
Unsung Hero: The one thing that has been very consistent in Orange County’s Ultimus wins has been the amazing work by Brad Madlad. Madlad does both kicking and punting duties for the Otters and his play this season is yet again why the Otters are world champions. In the first matchup against San Jose, Madlad almost single handedly had to win the game. Madlad would be responsible for 12 of the team’s 32 points, as he kicked three extra points, and added three field goals, including the game winning 34 yarder that sent the Otters to the Ultimus. But that’s not all! Madlad also had 11 punts, where he averaged 42.9 yards per kick, including a 56 yard bomb that would help the Otters win the field postion game as well. In the Ultimus, we had more great play from Madlad. He would score 11 of the teams’ 23 points in the game, with 3 field goals and 2 extra points. Madlad kicked a 55 yarder just before the half to give the Otters the lead going into the break, and he also tacked on a 22 yarder near the end of the game to force the Liberty to go for a touchdown instead of a game tying field goal. He also had 7 punts, including a 54 yarder. Brad Madlad, the consistent unsung hero of the Otters’ dynasty. (229)
Playoff Review: The first round matchup between San Jose and Orange County was one for the ages. The league’s two best teams faced off with a berth in the Ultimus on the line and it did not disappoint. The teams went back and forth with each other before an Orange County field goal with 34 seconds left gave the defending champs a 32-29 victory. In the other conference, the Yellowknife Wraiths snuck into the playoffs to face off against the Philadelphia Liberty. The Liberty found themselves more than up to the task, smacking the Wraiths around for most of the game and building a 24-0 lead late into the third quarter. With Philadelphia playing prevent, Yellowknife eventually put some points on the board, before finally losing 31-21 in a game that wasn’t nearly as close as the final score showed. Finally, in the Ultimus, Orange County went head to head with Philadelphia. Philadelphia would take the early lead, but the teams would keep going back and forth through halftime, with the Otters up 13-10. The Otters would eventually score to make it 20-10, but then Josh Garden would return the ensuing kickoff 102 yards to bring the Liberty within 3. Sadly, that was all the Liberty could muster, and Orange County added another field goal to take home the Ultimus yet again, 23-17. (223)
Ultimus MVP: The first player that comes to mind when thinking of the Ultimus MVP is Mike Boss. The Orange County QB threw for 460 yards and also tossed two touchdowns against a very game Liberty defense. However, Boss also threw two bad interceptions that kept Philadelphia hanging around more than they should’ve. Josh Garden also had a stand out performance as the Liberty star ended up with 7 catches for 103 yards, and he also had the 102 yard kickoff return for a TD. But I’m going to choose to give my MVP to Orange County Otter WR/RB Jordan Yates. Yates was electric on the field for the Otters. He caught 9 passes for a game high 156 yards. While he wouldn’t score a touchdown, Yates did have an 48 yard catch and run before getting tackled. The Philadelphia Defense had lots of trouble keeping up with him as Yates juked and jived his was into the Liberty secondary again and again. A few of his plays ended up gaining the Otters some key first downs, and extended some drives that they would eventually score on. His ability all over the field was the difference in this year’s Ultimus game, and big reason why Philadelphia went home empty handed. (210)
Unsung Hero: The one thing that has been very consistent in Orange County’s Ultimus wins has been the amazing work by Brad Madlad. Madlad does both kicking and punting duties for the Otters and his play this season is yet again why the Otters are world champions. In the first matchup against San Jose, Madlad almost single handedly had to win the game. Madlad would be responsible for 12 of the team’s 32 points, as he kicked three extra points, and added three field goals, including the game winning 34 yarder that sent the Otters to the Ultimus. But that’s not all! Madlad also had 11 punts, where he averaged 42.9 yards per kick, including a 56 yard bomb that would help the Otters win the field postion game as well. In the Ultimus, we had more great play from Madlad. He would score 11 of the teams’ 23 points in the game, with 3 field goals and 2 extra points. Madlad kicked a 55 yarder just before the half to give the Otters the lead going into the break, and he also tacked on a 22 yarder near the end of the game to force the Liberty to go for a touchdown instead of a game tying field goal. He also had 7 punts, including a 54 yarder. Brad Madlad, the consistent unsung hero of the Otters’ dynasty. (229)