1. The Season 42 Ultimus and Ultimini have officially come to an end. Congratulations to the the Norfolk Seawolves and Arizona Outlaws for each winning their respective championships. How did each of the finalists in either the Ultimus or Ultimini arrive at the playoffs? Were there any teams that surprised or disappointed during the playoffs? Did the outcome of either championship game surprise you at all?
So now that the season has finally come to an end, it is time to congratulate our two champions, the Arizona Outlaws for their Ultimus win (did anyone tell you it was their 4th in 6 years, I think we are talking dynasty) and the Norfolk Seawolves for winning the Ultimini. In this write up, I will focus on the Arizona Outlaws and their journey, mostly because it was also my journey in winning my 2nd Ultimus in 3 years. I will also look to cover how the Berling Fire Salamanders fought their way to an Ultimus appearance.
After a bitter defeat in last year's championship game to the Cape Town Crash, we in Arizona vowed to make sure it would not happen again. We had a great off season and pre season and looked ready to start the season. In our first game, we came up against one of the surprises of the previous season that was looking to show it was no one season wonder in the Honolulu Hahalua. They definitely showed that it was no one season wonder for them as they ended up beating us 20-19 with no scoring happening in the fourth quarter. Although it was a bitter defeat, it was the first time start running back Danny Nedelko showed who he can truly be by running for 146 yards on 34 carries and punching the ball in twice for touchdowns. With the salty taste of defeat in our mouths, we decided to show the league what we really meant.
We then went on a 6 game winning streak, where we ended up taking out some big names in the Yellowknife Wraiths and Austin Copperheads and even having some very easy victories, such as our 34 to 16 win over the New Orleands Secondline, who really did not put up much of a fight. After that we had two tough road games, first against the New York Silverbacks and then the Baltimore Hawks, which we lost both and they were not that close even. Never one to back down from a challenge we made sure to make ourselves ready for the playoffs by going undefeated for the rest of the season, reeling off 7 straight wins to end the season 13-3 and with the number one seed both in the American Simulation Football Conference and the whole International Simulation Football League. In this last run of 7 game we had some very tough outs such as Austin Copperheads away as well as the Honolulu Hahalua away. With all this confidence it was time to start going into the playoffs.
After our first round bye, during which we mostly just did Outlaw stuff and drank beer, we were once again facing our week 1 opponent, the Hahalua, who had defeated the New York Silverbacks 27 to 7 in the first round. Unfortunately for the Hahalua, this was not going to be a close game. Both teams traded field goals in the first quarter, but going into the fourth quarter the score was 31-10 and the Hahalua could not find their own Miracle at Meadowlands and bowed out of the playoffs and the Arizona Outlaws were headed to another Ultimus appearance.
On the other side of the league, the Berlin Fire Salamanders had quite an up and down season and were 4-4 after 8 weeks but ended up going 5-3 the rest of the way to ensure they snuck into the playoffs at 9-7 and the third seed in the National Simulation Football Conference. After taking out the Cape Town Crash in round one they took on the first seeded Baltimore Hawks and beat them handily 24-10. After this their dreams came crashing down as the Arizona Outlaws mandhandled them 38-14, with the score being 21-0 going into half time. Ultimus MVP was definitely Sherwin Blue Jr. who had taken a back seat the whole season but made sure to put his mark on the final and ensure everyone knows who he is by scoring 3 touchdowns, 2 through the ground and in through the air. Onwards towards next year!
So now that the season has finally come to an end, it is time to congratulate our two champions, the Arizona Outlaws for their Ultimus win (did anyone tell you it was their 4th in 6 years, I think we are talking dynasty) and the Norfolk Seawolves for winning the Ultimini. In this write up, I will focus on the Arizona Outlaws and their journey, mostly because it was also my journey in winning my 2nd Ultimus in 3 years. I will also look to cover how the Berling Fire Salamanders fought their way to an Ultimus appearance.
After a bitter defeat in last year's championship game to the Cape Town Crash, we in Arizona vowed to make sure it would not happen again. We had a great off season and pre season and looked ready to start the season. In our first game, we came up against one of the surprises of the previous season that was looking to show it was no one season wonder in the Honolulu Hahalua. They definitely showed that it was no one season wonder for them as they ended up beating us 20-19 with no scoring happening in the fourth quarter. Although it was a bitter defeat, it was the first time start running back Danny Nedelko showed who he can truly be by running for 146 yards on 34 carries and punching the ball in twice for touchdowns. With the salty taste of defeat in our mouths, we decided to show the league what we really meant.
We then went on a 6 game winning streak, where we ended up taking out some big names in the Yellowknife Wraiths and Austin Copperheads and even having some very easy victories, such as our 34 to 16 win over the New Orleands Secondline, who really did not put up much of a fight. After that we had two tough road games, first against the New York Silverbacks and then the Baltimore Hawks, which we lost both and they were not that close even. Never one to back down from a challenge we made sure to make ourselves ready for the playoffs by going undefeated for the rest of the season, reeling off 7 straight wins to end the season 13-3 and with the number one seed both in the American Simulation Football Conference and the whole International Simulation Football League. In this last run of 7 game we had some very tough outs such as Austin Copperheads away as well as the Honolulu Hahalua away. With all this confidence it was time to start going into the playoffs.
After our first round bye, during which we mostly just did Outlaw stuff and drank beer, we were once again facing our week 1 opponent, the Hahalua, who had defeated the New York Silverbacks 27 to 7 in the first round. Unfortunately for the Hahalua, this was not going to be a close game. Both teams traded field goals in the first quarter, but going into the fourth quarter the score was 31-10 and the Hahalua could not find their own Miracle at Meadowlands and bowed out of the playoffs and the Arizona Outlaws were headed to another Ultimus appearance.
On the other side of the league, the Berlin Fire Salamanders had quite an up and down season and were 4-4 after 8 weeks but ended up going 5-3 the rest of the way to ensure they snuck into the playoffs at 9-7 and the third seed in the National Simulation Football Conference. After taking out the Cape Town Crash in round one they took on the first seeded Baltimore Hawks and beat them handily 24-10. After this their dreams came crashing down as the Arizona Outlaws mandhandled them 38-14, with the score being 21-0 going into half time. Ultimus MVP was definitely Sherwin Blue Jr. who had taken a back seat the whole season but made sure to put his mark on the final and ensure everyone knows who he is by scoring 3 touchdowns, 2 through the ground and in through the air. Onwards towards next year!