Task #1
With all due respect to the Honolulu Hahalua and the Tijuana Luchadores, the results of both the ISFL and DSFL playoffs were full of disappointment for myself. Since I spent most of this past season tracking team dominance through the "Dominator Power Rankings" media series, I was hoping to see a playoff run by the most dominant team of the ISFL season, the Austin Copperheads. In their playoff matchup against the New York Silverbacks, Austin didn't quite live up to their Dominator Rating but still had a chance to win at the end of the game. Down by 3 with just under 5 minutes left in the game, the Copperheads got the ball back all the way back at their own 1 yard line after a perfect punt by New York's Wing Wang. Austin proceeded to drive the length of the field, converting 6 first downs (including 3 straight 3rd down conversions) before facing a 4th and Goal from the Silverbacks' 5 yard line with 45 seconds remaining. This is when things get interesting. Instead of taking the gimme field goal and sending the game into overtime, the Copperheads decided to go for it with Queen Elizabeth's pass intended for Oliver Tolliver being broken up by The Riddler. Quite a curious decision with the season on the line and one that is praised if it works and questioned when it fails. Thus ended the "Dominant" season for the Copperheads.
The Honolulu-New York conference championship game had it's own set of last minute fireworks as well. New York looked primed to return to the Ultimus after a touchdown from Michaelangelo McTurtle put the Silverbacks up 3 with a minute and a half to go in the game. However, Nova Montagne put together a clutch last minute drive, going 6 for 7 for 60 yards to set up the game tying field goal from Ray Baker from 29 yards out with 13 seconds left. Curiously, this field goal was taken on first down and at the time I wondered why the Hahalua didn't attempt one last play to try to score a touchdown. But then the unexpected happened. After a touchback by Ray Baker took no time off the clock, the defensive play of the year was recorded by Maxwell Jacob Friedman with a strip sack and fumble recover to give Honolulu the ball back in field goal range with just 4 seconds left on the clock. And of course, Ray Baker connected to send the Hahalua to the Ultimus.
And the Ultimus was one for the ages. With a total of 79 points between Honolulu and Cape Town, the top two defenses in the ISFL during S44 just decided not to show up. Neither team led by more than 7 points all game as it went back and forth with 5 lead changes and multiple ties. A winning score to Octavio Perez capped off an excellent game from Nova Montagne (4 TDs, 351 YDS).
This result was disappointing to me because my Baltimore Hawks were unable to repeat as Ultimus champs.
In the DSFL, my dominator rankings held true with the Tijuana Luchadores (the most dominant team all season) putting it all together to make claim revenge on the Portland Pythons for last season's Ultimini loss. Of course, I with things had happened differently as my Dallas Birddogs lost to the Luchadores for the second consecutive season in the conference championship game. All the last minute heroics in the ISFL playoffs didn't make their way to the DSFL. Dallas got the ball back down 3 with 36 seconds left but could only make it Tijuana 37 yard line before time ran out. Just a little but further, and a field goal attempt could have sent the game into overtime.
In the Ultimini, the Luchadores lived up to their Dominator Ranking and manhandled the Pythons. Taking an early lead, Tijuana blew the game open in the 2nd half with 20 straight points before some garage time drives closed the gap slightly.
With all due respect to the Honolulu Hahalua and the Tijuana Luchadores, the results of both the ISFL and DSFL playoffs were full of disappointment for myself. Since I spent most of this past season tracking team dominance through the "Dominator Power Rankings" media series, I was hoping to see a playoff run by the most dominant team of the ISFL season, the Austin Copperheads. In their playoff matchup against the New York Silverbacks, Austin didn't quite live up to their Dominator Rating but still had a chance to win at the end of the game. Down by 3 with just under 5 minutes left in the game, the Copperheads got the ball back all the way back at their own 1 yard line after a perfect punt by New York's Wing Wang. Austin proceeded to drive the length of the field, converting 6 first downs (including 3 straight 3rd down conversions) before facing a 4th and Goal from the Silverbacks' 5 yard line with 45 seconds remaining. This is when things get interesting. Instead of taking the gimme field goal and sending the game into overtime, the Copperheads decided to go for it with Queen Elizabeth's pass intended for Oliver Tolliver being broken up by The Riddler. Quite a curious decision with the season on the line and one that is praised if it works and questioned when it fails. Thus ended the "Dominant" season for the Copperheads.
The Honolulu-New York conference championship game had it's own set of last minute fireworks as well. New York looked primed to return to the Ultimus after a touchdown from Michaelangelo McTurtle put the Silverbacks up 3 with a minute and a half to go in the game. However, Nova Montagne put together a clutch last minute drive, going 6 for 7 for 60 yards to set up the game tying field goal from Ray Baker from 29 yards out with 13 seconds left. Curiously, this field goal was taken on first down and at the time I wondered why the Hahalua didn't attempt one last play to try to score a touchdown. But then the unexpected happened. After a touchback by Ray Baker took no time off the clock, the defensive play of the year was recorded by Maxwell Jacob Friedman with a strip sack and fumble recover to give Honolulu the ball back in field goal range with just 4 seconds left on the clock. And of course, Ray Baker connected to send the Hahalua to the Ultimus.
And the Ultimus was one for the ages. With a total of 79 points between Honolulu and Cape Town, the top two defenses in the ISFL during S44 just decided not to show up. Neither team led by more than 7 points all game as it went back and forth with 5 lead changes and multiple ties. A winning score to Octavio Perez capped off an excellent game from Nova Montagne (4 TDs, 351 YDS).
This result was disappointing to me because my Baltimore Hawks were unable to repeat as Ultimus champs.
In the DSFL, my dominator rankings held true with the Tijuana Luchadores (the most dominant team all season) putting it all together to make claim revenge on the Portland Pythons for last season's Ultimini loss. Of course, I with things had happened differently as my Dallas Birddogs lost to the Luchadores for the second consecutive season in the conference championship game. All the last minute heroics in the ISFL playoffs didn't make their way to the DSFL. Dallas got the ball back down 3 with 36 seconds left but could only make it Tijuana 37 yard line before time ran out. Just a little but further, and a field goal attempt could have sent the game into overtime.
In the Ultimini, the Luchadores lived up to their Dominator Ranking and manhandled the Pythons. Taking an early lead, Tijuana blew the game open in the 2nd half with 20 straight points before some garage time drives closed the gap slightly.
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
S48 ISFL Pro Bowl
S48 ISFL 2nd Team All-Pro
S49 ISFL Pro Bowl
S49 ISFL 1st Team All-Pro
Gemini Media Awards
14 Gemini Nominations
Best Article (Limited) - S43 "Do Penalties Really Matter?"
Best Author - S43, S44