6) The playoffs have finally arrived. Choose one playoff team that is not your own from either league and recount how they got here in 400 words or more. What challenges and hurdles did they face in the regular season? Did they cruise into home field advantage or have to fight off contenders for the wild card? Are they led by MVP players on offense, or is a stifling defense the engine to their success? Don’t be afraid to go deep.
Led by a high-powered offense, the S23 Yellowknife Wraiths finished first in their conference and eventually won the Ultimus for the first time since S8.
The Wraiths lost their opening game at Baltimore after a late fourth quarter TD from Chika Fujiwara to Nicholas Kaepercolin.
They proceeded to win four in a row including a 54-0 dismantling of the Chicago Butchers in week 3. The entire team put on a show. Cooter Bigsby threw for nearly 300 yards and 2 touchdowns. Acura Skyline and Mathias Hanyadi combined for 150 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. Hanyadi also added a punt return touchdown. Action Jackson led the air attack with 5 catches for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kicker Dougie Smalls was perfect on the day, making all 6 extra points and all 4 field goals. The defense was stellar as well. Chase Jensen had 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack. Nero Alexander and Patrik Money also added a sack apiece, while Douglas Quaid added an interception. Don’t forget the offense of line – Laszlo Forty-Two only allowed one sack and the entire blocking unit combined for 28 pancakes.
Disappointment hit Yellowknife after a home loss to the Orange County Otters in week 6. Orange County jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, but Yellowknife was able to battle back to force overtime after a touchdown with 5:33 remaining and a 20-yard field goal by Dougie Smalls with 15 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, the Wraiths went three and out on their only overtime possession and gave up a 54-yard pass on the Otters’ first offensive play of overtime. Orange County picked up a few more yards and kicker Alex D won the game with a 39-yard field goal.
The Wraiths won a tough road game at San Jose before losing at home to the New Orleans Second Line. Bouncing back in week 9 in a win at the Austin Copperheads, the Wraiths won five of six games from week 9 to 14. Unfortunately, they backed into the playoffs with back-to-back losses at home against the Colorado Yeti and on the road against the Philadelphia Liberty.
Despite the late season let down, the Wraiths were still the number one seed in the NSFC. They won a close game in the conference championship by avenging their week 15 loss to Colorado. They demolished the Copperheads in the Ultimus and were crowned S23 champions.
Despite a few bumps in the road, the Yellowknife Wraiths had an amazing S23.
?
15) Choose your favorite non-playoffs game of this season, whether your own team or another. Explain what was so special and why the winner ultimately came out victorious, including key players and moments.
The best win of the season for the S23 Arizona Outlaws came in week 11 against the Yellowknife Wraiths.
Despite falling behind 6-0 after two first quarter field goals by Wraiths kicker Dougie Smalls, the Outlaws outscored the eventual Ultimus champions 46-7 in the second, third, and fourth quarters.
Although franchise quarterback Jay Cue only threw for 1 touchdown, he added 2 more touchdowns on the ground. Baby Yoda also had a great game including 80 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. He also added 23 yards on 4 receptions. Jah Bur’Berry led the receiving corps with 5 catches for 111 yards. Saba Donut also hauled in 5 catches for 70 yards. Cue’s lone touchdown pass went to Thomas Passmann with 4:09 left in the game
Special teams also played well. J. J. “Jay” Jay-Jaymison made 4/5 extra points and 4/4 field goals, including a long of 46 yards. Saba Donut on kick returns and Desmond Scarlett on punt returns added almost 200 yards.
Always intimidating, the Outlaws defense was spectacular. Possible defense of player of the year Galf Wilf led the team with 9 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 past defended. Stan Koniecpolski had 3 passes defended while Zamir Kehla Kehla had 2 passes defended and an interception. Atlas Quinn also added a pass defense and an interception. The interior of the defense of line, Pete “Plop” Miller and Shane Masters, combined for 8 tackles and 2 sacks.
Last, but not least, the offensive line did not allow any sacks. In a possible performance of the year, Bruce Buckley had 13 pancakes.
Although the Outlaws narrowly missed the playoffs in S23, at least they had this bright spot against the eventual Ultimus champions.
21) Make a comparison between your own team and a playoff team, if your team failed to make the postseason, showing why your squad was better.
Despite scoring the most points in the league and giving up the fewest points in the conference (third fewest in the league), the S23 Arizona Outlaws missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record. With an expected 10-6 record based on point differential, the Outlaws would have been the two seed in the ASFC. With a similar point differential, the Orange County Otters (422-310 vs 428-306 for the Outlaws) finished as the one seed at 11-5. The sim smiled on actual two seed, 9–7 New Orleans Second Line who had a negative point differential (364-385) and three seed, 8-8 Austin Copperheads with a point differential of +4 (353-349).
So, why did this happen? The answer is surprisingly simple. Against the three previously mentioned teams, the Outlaws went 0-6. They were 8-2 in their remaining games but missed the playoffs at 8-8 because of their head to head losses to the Austin Copperheads.
Yes, the Arizona Outlaws got unlucky (five losses by less than a touchdown and no loss greater than 12 points), but you must beat the better teams in your conference in order to make the playoffs.
Statistically, the Outlaws were better than the Second Line and Copperheads, but games are played on the field, not on paper.
Led by a high-powered offense, the S23 Yellowknife Wraiths finished first in their conference and eventually won the Ultimus for the first time since S8.
The Wraiths lost their opening game at Baltimore after a late fourth quarter TD from Chika Fujiwara to Nicholas Kaepercolin.
They proceeded to win four in a row including a 54-0 dismantling of the Chicago Butchers in week 3. The entire team put on a show. Cooter Bigsby threw for nearly 300 yards and 2 touchdowns. Acura Skyline and Mathias Hanyadi combined for 150 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground. Hanyadi also added a punt return touchdown. Action Jackson led the air attack with 5 catches for 78 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kicker Dougie Smalls was perfect on the day, making all 6 extra points and all 4 field goals. The defense was stellar as well. Chase Jensen had 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack. Nero Alexander and Patrik Money also added a sack apiece, while Douglas Quaid added an interception. Don’t forget the offense of line – Laszlo Forty-Two only allowed one sack and the entire blocking unit combined for 28 pancakes.
Disappointment hit Yellowknife after a home loss to the Orange County Otters in week 6. Orange County jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, but Yellowknife was able to battle back to force overtime after a touchdown with 5:33 remaining and a 20-yard field goal by Dougie Smalls with 15 seconds remaining. Unfortunately, the Wraiths went three and out on their only overtime possession and gave up a 54-yard pass on the Otters’ first offensive play of overtime. Orange County picked up a few more yards and kicker Alex D won the game with a 39-yard field goal.
The Wraiths won a tough road game at San Jose before losing at home to the New Orleans Second Line. Bouncing back in week 9 in a win at the Austin Copperheads, the Wraiths won five of six games from week 9 to 14. Unfortunately, they backed into the playoffs with back-to-back losses at home against the Colorado Yeti and on the road against the Philadelphia Liberty.
Despite the late season let down, the Wraiths were still the number one seed in the NSFC. They won a close game in the conference championship by avenging their week 15 loss to Colorado. They demolished the Copperheads in the Ultimus and were crowned S23 champions.
Despite a few bumps in the road, the Yellowknife Wraiths had an amazing S23.
Code:
419 words
15) Choose your favorite non-playoffs game of this season, whether your own team or another. Explain what was so special and why the winner ultimately came out victorious, including key players and moments.
The best win of the season for the S23 Arizona Outlaws came in week 11 against the Yellowknife Wraiths.
Despite falling behind 6-0 after two first quarter field goals by Wraiths kicker Dougie Smalls, the Outlaws outscored the eventual Ultimus champions 46-7 in the second, third, and fourth quarters.
Although franchise quarterback Jay Cue only threw for 1 touchdown, he added 2 more touchdowns on the ground. Baby Yoda also had a great game including 80 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. He also added 23 yards on 4 receptions. Jah Bur’Berry led the receiving corps with 5 catches for 111 yards. Saba Donut also hauled in 5 catches for 70 yards. Cue’s lone touchdown pass went to Thomas Passmann with 4:09 left in the game
Special teams also played well. J. J. “Jay” Jay-Jaymison made 4/5 extra points and 4/4 field goals, including a long of 46 yards. Saba Donut on kick returns and Desmond Scarlett on punt returns added almost 200 yards.
Always intimidating, the Outlaws defense was spectacular. Possible defense of player of the year Galf Wilf led the team with 9 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 past defended. Stan Koniecpolski had 3 passes defended while Zamir Kehla Kehla had 2 passes defended and an interception. Atlas Quinn also added a pass defense and an interception. The interior of the defense of line, Pete “Plop” Miller and Shane Masters, combined for 8 tackles and 2 sacks.
Last, but not least, the offensive line did not allow any sacks. In a possible performance of the year, Bruce Buckley had 13 pancakes.
Although the Outlaws narrowly missed the playoffs in S23, at least they had this bright spot against the eventual Ultimus champions.
Code:
283 words
21) Make a comparison between your own team and a playoff team, if your team failed to make the postseason, showing why your squad was better.
Despite scoring the most points in the league and giving up the fewest points in the conference (third fewest in the league), the S23 Arizona Outlaws missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record. With an expected 10-6 record based on point differential, the Outlaws would have been the two seed in the ASFC. With a similar point differential, the Orange County Otters (422-310 vs 428-306 for the Outlaws) finished as the one seed at 11-5. The sim smiled on actual two seed, 9–7 New Orleans Second Line who had a negative point differential (364-385) and three seed, 8-8 Austin Copperheads with a point differential of +4 (353-349).
So, why did this happen? The answer is surprisingly simple. Against the three previously mentioned teams, the Outlaws went 0-6. They were 8-2 in their remaining games but missed the playoffs at 8-8 because of their head to head losses to the Austin Copperheads.
Yes, the Arizona Outlaws got unlucky (five losses by less than a touchdown and no loss greater than 12 points), but you must beat the better teams in your conference in order to make the playoffs.
Statistically, the Outlaws were better than the Second Line and Copperheads, but games are played on the field, not on paper.
Code:
209 words