Task #1
Congratulations to both the Portland Pythons and Baltimore Hawks as they have won the Ultimini and Ultimus respectively. Their journeys to hoist the trophy are not too different as each team was one of the favorites to win when the playoffs started. So let's take a look at each of their seasons in more detail.
First off, let's examine the DSFL Champion Pythons. The season before, the Pythons were one of the worst teams in the DSFL finishing with a record of 4-10. While a team near the bottom isn't full of talent, they had the quarterback position figured out with rising star Jay Cue III. With a good draft, including S Jamie Orion, WR Jordan Bamford, and LB Thor Dangerson, the Pythons were able to reload their team and came out of the gate on fire, winning their first three games by 25+ points. With the top scoring offense and the number two scoring defense, the Pythons dominated the DSFL regular season losing only 3 games (all on the road) en route to a league best 11-3 record. Jay Cue III proved to be the field general that the offense needed pacing the league with 35 passing touchdowns (12 more than the next closest player). Eldroh Kove paced the team on the ground averaging 4.9 yards per carry while scoring 8 touchdowns (tied for 3rd best in league), while the trio of Sam Mercury, Jordan Bamford, and Huck Indarts each topped 700 yards receiving on the season. The defense was opportunistic, leading the league with 5 defensive touchdowns.
During the conference championship game, the Pythons displayed the same dominance they had during the regular season. The defense forced three turnovers, while RB2 Seah Aldrich racked up 113 yards at 5.4 yards per carry. Jay Cue III was excellent as always and threw for two early touchdowns that put the game out of reach. Scoring a touchdown in every quarter, the Pythons ran away with a 31-14 victory over the Kansas City Coyotes.
The Ultimini was no different. Portland dominated from the get go, going up 33-0 by halftime. Sean Aldrich again ran for over 100 yards but it was the Python defense the suffocated the Luchadores into submission. Allowing less than 40 yards rushing and forcing 2 turnovers (including a pick six early in the game), the defense was the real star. A dominant team all season left no questions as to who the best team in the DSFL was this season.
Now on to the ISFL and the Hawks of Baltimore. The prior season, the Hawks had won the NSFC but were upset in the conference championship game by the Berlin Fire Salamanders. With the top rated offense and defense in the ISFL in yards per game, the upset stung as they knew the Ultimus should have been theirs. Bringing back the same group of players for another shot at the taking the title, the Hawks did not disappoint. The Hawks won their first 5 games en route to a division best 13-2-1 record. Preston Beatz led the league in passing touchdowns for the second consecutive season putting up a career high 44 TD passes. Kumquat Archipelago and Ceti Pyxis highlighted a backfield that led the league with a team average of 5.1 yards per carry. Baltimore also had three players top 1000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns in Archipelago, Rocky Moreaux, and Shane Turnbull. This put Archipelago over 2000 yards in total offense. Behind the top offense in the league, the Hawks had a solid defense as well.
Come playoff time, the Hawks received a bye to the conference championship game where they took on the Cape Town Crash. In a low scoring affair, the Crash took a 17-13 lead into halftime. In the second half, both teams were held out of the endzone with Mike Makmur hitting the go ahead field goal to make it 19-17 with 16 seconds left (after he had missed on the previous drive) to move on the Ultimus. Kumquat Archipelago was the lone highlight on offense with over 140 all-purpose yards and the Hawks only touchdown.
The Ultimus against the New York Silverbacks showed how versatile the Hawks were as a team. Bourtol Halcomsby picked off Blaine Falco and returned it for a touchdown in the first quarter in which proved to be the Hawks only trip to the endzone. However, the defense was stout and the Hawks never trailed after the early touchdown, winning 16-10. Archipelago again put up over 100 yards as the lone bright spot on offense. Instead, Bruce Buckley Jr. led a top notch defensive effort with 10 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery in a defensive battle. In a clash of the top two teams, the Hawks showed the best resilience and came home with the Ultimus.
Congratulations to both the Portland Pythons and Baltimore Hawks as they have won the Ultimini and Ultimus respectively. Their journeys to hoist the trophy are not too different as each team was one of the favorites to win when the playoffs started. So let's take a look at each of their seasons in more detail.
First off, let's examine the DSFL Champion Pythons. The season before, the Pythons were one of the worst teams in the DSFL finishing with a record of 4-10. While a team near the bottom isn't full of talent, they had the quarterback position figured out with rising star Jay Cue III. With a good draft, including S Jamie Orion, WR Jordan Bamford, and LB Thor Dangerson, the Pythons were able to reload their team and came out of the gate on fire, winning their first three games by 25+ points. With the top scoring offense and the number two scoring defense, the Pythons dominated the DSFL regular season losing only 3 games (all on the road) en route to a league best 11-3 record. Jay Cue III proved to be the field general that the offense needed pacing the league with 35 passing touchdowns (12 more than the next closest player). Eldroh Kove paced the team on the ground averaging 4.9 yards per carry while scoring 8 touchdowns (tied for 3rd best in league), while the trio of Sam Mercury, Jordan Bamford, and Huck Indarts each topped 700 yards receiving on the season. The defense was opportunistic, leading the league with 5 defensive touchdowns.
During the conference championship game, the Pythons displayed the same dominance they had during the regular season. The defense forced three turnovers, while RB2 Seah Aldrich racked up 113 yards at 5.4 yards per carry. Jay Cue III was excellent as always and threw for two early touchdowns that put the game out of reach. Scoring a touchdown in every quarter, the Pythons ran away with a 31-14 victory over the Kansas City Coyotes.
The Ultimini was no different. Portland dominated from the get go, going up 33-0 by halftime. Sean Aldrich again ran for over 100 yards but it was the Python defense the suffocated the Luchadores into submission. Allowing less than 40 yards rushing and forcing 2 turnovers (including a pick six early in the game), the defense was the real star. A dominant team all season left no questions as to who the best team in the DSFL was this season.
Now on to the ISFL and the Hawks of Baltimore. The prior season, the Hawks had won the NSFC but were upset in the conference championship game by the Berlin Fire Salamanders. With the top rated offense and defense in the ISFL in yards per game, the upset stung as they knew the Ultimus should have been theirs. Bringing back the same group of players for another shot at the taking the title, the Hawks did not disappoint. The Hawks won their first 5 games en route to a division best 13-2-1 record. Preston Beatz led the league in passing touchdowns for the second consecutive season putting up a career high 44 TD passes. Kumquat Archipelago and Ceti Pyxis highlighted a backfield that led the league with a team average of 5.1 yards per carry. Baltimore also had three players top 1000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns in Archipelago, Rocky Moreaux, and Shane Turnbull. This put Archipelago over 2000 yards in total offense. Behind the top offense in the league, the Hawks had a solid defense as well.
Come playoff time, the Hawks received a bye to the conference championship game where they took on the Cape Town Crash. In a low scoring affair, the Crash took a 17-13 lead into halftime. In the second half, both teams were held out of the endzone with Mike Makmur hitting the go ahead field goal to make it 19-17 with 16 seconds left (after he had missed on the previous drive) to move on the Ultimus. Kumquat Archipelago was the lone highlight on offense with over 140 all-purpose yards and the Hawks only touchdown.
The Ultimus against the New York Silverbacks showed how versatile the Hawks were as a team. Bourtol Halcomsby picked off Blaine Falco and returned it for a touchdown in the first quarter in which proved to be the Hawks only trip to the endzone. However, the defense was stout and the Hawks never trailed after the early touchdown, winning 16-10. Archipelago again put up over 100 yards as the lone bright spot on offense. Instead, Bruce Buckley Jr. led a top notch defensive effort with 10 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery in a defensive battle. In a clash of the top two teams, the Hawks showed the best resilience and came home with the Ultimus.
DSFL S43 Draft - Round 4 Pick 30
ISFL S44 Draft - Round 1 Pick 12
S43 DSFL Pro Bowl
S44 DSFL Pro Bowl
S45 All Rookie Team
Gemini Media Awards
12 Gemini Nominations
Best Article (Limited) - S43 "Do Penalties Really Matter?"
Best Author - S43, S44