NSFL Title Belt update after Season 19
With the end of season 19 I wanted to update the NSFL Title Belt. I figure I’ll keep this an article I can write during each offseason to update for the entire season. It’s too much to try and update it every week. The last time I updated this the New Orleans Second Line had broken the Otters incredible 9 game streak by taking them down for their first loss of the season. The Second Line had a tough road game in Colorado as their first game defending the belt, and they brought it all with them to Colorado in order to beat a very good Yeti team. Marcella Toriki had a great two touchdown performance and my very own David Rector had a fourth quarter interception that kept the Yeti from scoring.
In week 10 the Second Line hosted the Austin Copperheads and early on it looked like the Copperheads would be taking the belt from NOLA. They were off to an early 21 to 3 lead off of two Mendonca touchdowns and a Larson touchdown. NOLA stepped it up after that though and only gave up 3 more points the rest of the game. Rookie kicker Herbert Prohaska had an excellent game making 3 field goals and 3 extra points. Receiver Vinny Valentine caught two touchdown passes and Bender Rodriguez added another for a final score of 30 - 24.
Week 11 saw NOLA fall apart on a road trip to Chicago where they played one of their worst games of the year in a 27 to 24 loss. Harp, Parker, and Danielsson all scored touchdowns for the Butchers. The NOLA defense really let the team down in this one as they uncharacteristically gave up over 500 yards of offense to the Butchers. The Butchers took the belt into week 12 with a home game against the Copperheads that I’m sure they felt very confident about. The Copperheads had their 2nd chance at the belt in 3 weeks and gave it their all against the Butchers. They got out to an early 21 to 6 lead on the back of two Anoa’i touchdowns as well as an Easton Cole rushing touchdown. In the third, Bakshi had a pick six which pretty much sealed the win as well as the belt for the Copperheads. This is only the second time the Copperheads have ever had the title belt in their history as a team.
In the final regular season game of the year the Copperheads faced the Liberty in Austin. A game they needed to win not only to keep the belt for another week, but to make the playoffs. Philly got out to an early 13 to 0 lead before the Copperheads came rumbling back scoring 19 straight points including two Rod Tidwell touchdowns and winning the game 19 to 13. They would then have to travel to NOLA to face the Second Line in the first round of the playoffs in order to keep the belt. Early on it looked like that would happen as the Copperheads got out to an early 14 to 0 lead off of Tidwell and Mendonca scores. A couple of field goals and a McCormick touchdown later and Austin was up 17 to 10 going into the fourth quarter. NOLA’s offense took matters into their own hands and scored three straight touchdowns in the fourth. A Forrest Gump rushing touchdown and two Vlad Fyodo receiving touchdowns to win the game and take the belt back.
Unfortunately, NOLA wasn’t able to keep the belt for long as they traveled to OCO and got trounced by the defending champion Otters. In the Ultimus championship the Otters again faced the Wraiths and scored a Hugh Mongo touchdown with just over 2 minutes remaining to take the lead and win the game. This is the second season in a row that the Otters have finished the season with the belt. Hopefully that streak will end in season 20.
With the end of season 19 I wanted to update the NSFL Title Belt. I figure I’ll keep this an article I can write during each offseason to update for the entire season. It’s too much to try and update it every week. The last time I updated this the New Orleans Second Line had broken the Otters incredible 9 game streak by taking them down for their first loss of the season. The Second Line had a tough road game in Colorado as their first game defending the belt, and they brought it all with them to Colorado in order to beat a very good Yeti team. Marcella Toriki had a great two touchdown performance and my very own David Rector had a fourth quarter interception that kept the Yeti from scoring.
In week 10 the Second Line hosted the Austin Copperheads and early on it looked like the Copperheads would be taking the belt from NOLA. They were off to an early 21 to 3 lead off of two Mendonca touchdowns and a Larson touchdown. NOLA stepped it up after that though and only gave up 3 more points the rest of the game. Rookie kicker Herbert Prohaska had an excellent game making 3 field goals and 3 extra points. Receiver Vinny Valentine caught two touchdown passes and Bender Rodriguez added another for a final score of 30 - 24.
Week 11 saw NOLA fall apart on a road trip to Chicago where they played one of their worst games of the year in a 27 to 24 loss. Harp, Parker, and Danielsson all scored touchdowns for the Butchers. The NOLA defense really let the team down in this one as they uncharacteristically gave up over 500 yards of offense to the Butchers. The Butchers took the belt into week 12 with a home game against the Copperheads that I’m sure they felt very confident about. The Copperheads had their 2nd chance at the belt in 3 weeks and gave it their all against the Butchers. They got out to an early 21 to 6 lead on the back of two Anoa’i touchdowns as well as an Easton Cole rushing touchdown. In the third, Bakshi had a pick six which pretty much sealed the win as well as the belt for the Copperheads. This is only the second time the Copperheads have ever had the title belt in their history as a team.
In the final regular season game of the year the Copperheads faced the Liberty in Austin. A game they needed to win not only to keep the belt for another week, but to make the playoffs. Philly got out to an early 13 to 0 lead before the Copperheads came rumbling back scoring 19 straight points including two Rod Tidwell touchdowns and winning the game 19 to 13. They would then have to travel to NOLA to face the Second Line in the first round of the playoffs in order to keep the belt. Early on it looked like that would happen as the Copperheads got out to an early 14 to 0 lead off of Tidwell and Mendonca scores. A couple of field goals and a McCormick touchdown later and Austin was up 17 to 10 going into the fourth quarter. NOLA’s offense took matters into their own hands and scored three straight touchdowns in the fourth. A Forrest Gump rushing touchdown and two Vlad Fyodo receiving touchdowns to win the game and take the belt back.
Unfortunately, NOLA wasn’t able to keep the belt for long as they traveled to OCO and got trounced by the defending champion Otters. In the Ultimus championship the Otters again faced the Wraiths and scored a Hugh Mongo touchdown with just over 2 minutes remaining to take the lead and win the game. This is the second season in a row that the Otters have finished the season with the belt. Hopefully that streak will end in season 20.
[OPTION]Height: 6'1"
[OPTION]Weight: 195 lbs.
[OPTION]Birthplace: Raleigh, NC
[OPTION]Number: 22
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[OPTION]Career Stats
[OPTION]G || Tck || TFL || FF/FR || Sck || Int || PD || TD
[OPTION]141 || 597 || 1 || 5/1 || 6 || 30 || 163 || 3
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[OPTION]Playoff Stats
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[OPTION]Awards
[OPTION]S26 Defensive Player of the Year, S26 CB of the Year,
[OPTION]S23 Defensive Breakout Player, S23 Defensive Performance
[OPTION]Pro Bowls: S22, S26
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