5. The Sarasota Sailfish had an odd relationship with the sim gods this year; they seemed to play to the level of their competition, winning shocking upsets over some of the best teams while falling apart against more beatable opponents. Let’s look closer at the more bizarre games this year.
The season started ordinarily enough, with victories against Berlin and Colorado (who would finish with losing records) and a surprise 28-10 win over San Jose (who would immediately turn it around and win their next 7 straight). They also lost to Yellowknife (a rival, who finished with 9 wins), Chicago (11 wins), and Cape Town (12 wins). But the unusual results started with a week 7 game in Baltimore.
Despite being on the road against a great team on a 5-game winning streak, Sarasota dominated. Ace Anderson rushed for 178 yards and 2 TDs, and the defense didn’t give up a touchdown until the 4th quarter while scoring their own on a pick-six from Jamie Orion in the 2nd quarter. They cruised to a 35-16 victory.
The next week, facing an Austin squad on a 6-game losing streak, the team struggled. Despite winning the turnover battle 3-0 and leading in time of possession, they were losing at halftime. In the second half they pulled into the lead thanks to a touchdown, 2-point conversion, and 51-yard field goal, but Austin scored a tying touchdown with only a minute to go. The extra point gave them a 26-25 lead, which ended up being the final score. Austin would win only 5 games during the season, but this was one of them.
In week 12, the Sailfish hosted the 3-8 Berlin Fire Salamanders. Despite forcing 4 fumbles (recovering 2) and holding Berlin to only 63 yards rushing, Sarasota held a narrow 14-10 lead going into the final period. The Fire Salamanders were able to put together a late drive, and Willie Swaggert caught an 18-yard touchdown pass to win the game for Berlin. It was another disappoint loss for Sarasota, in which they failed to play up to their potential.
Going into week 14 the Sailfish were 6-7, solidly out of the playoff race, and facing the 10-3 Crash in Cape Town. The Crash had won 4 games in a row and 9 of their last 10. But Sarasota scored twice early and took a 21-3 lead into halftime. Cape Town then drove into Sailfish territory three times in the third and fourth quarters, but were held to field goals every time. A late Sarasota field goal stretched the lead to 24-14, so that even giving up yet another late touchdown wasn’t enough to doom them. Sarasota held on to clinch the upset.
After losing the Baltimore, the Sailfish ended their season by hosting the Chicago Butchers. The Butchers were 11-4 and tied for the top seed in the NSFC, so they had everything to play for. But once again Sarasota played up to their top-flight competition, holding Chicago to 2/11 on third downs. Despite being out-rushed and out-passed and not recording a single takeaway, Sarasota came from behind to win a close game 24-20.
Taken in total, the results aren’t that striking: Sarasota went 3-5 against teams with winning records and 5-2 against teams with losing records (with a loss to the .500 Orange County Otters). For a team with an “average” record, maybe that’s to be expected. But the way they broke up winning streaks and felled playoff teams at the height of competition suggests they should have expected better against Austin and Berlin. Maybe that’s the sim, maybe it’s an uneven team playing unevenly throughout the season. Football is a game of inches after all, and sim football is no different.
If Sarasota can play more evenly next year, they might be able to overcome the whims of the sim and put together another playoff run.
The season started ordinarily enough, with victories against Berlin and Colorado (who would finish with losing records) and a surprise 28-10 win over San Jose (who would immediately turn it around and win their next 7 straight). They also lost to Yellowknife (a rival, who finished with 9 wins), Chicago (11 wins), and Cape Town (12 wins). But the unusual results started with a week 7 game in Baltimore.
Despite being on the road against a great team on a 5-game winning streak, Sarasota dominated. Ace Anderson rushed for 178 yards and 2 TDs, and the defense didn’t give up a touchdown until the 4th quarter while scoring their own on a pick-six from Jamie Orion in the 2nd quarter. They cruised to a 35-16 victory.
The next week, facing an Austin squad on a 6-game losing streak, the team struggled. Despite winning the turnover battle 3-0 and leading in time of possession, they were losing at halftime. In the second half they pulled into the lead thanks to a touchdown, 2-point conversion, and 51-yard field goal, but Austin scored a tying touchdown with only a minute to go. The extra point gave them a 26-25 lead, which ended up being the final score. Austin would win only 5 games during the season, but this was one of them.
In week 12, the Sailfish hosted the 3-8 Berlin Fire Salamanders. Despite forcing 4 fumbles (recovering 2) and holding Berlin to only 63 yards rushing, Sarasota held a narrow 14-10 lead going into the final period. The Fire Salamanders were able to put together a late drive, and Willie Swaggert caught an 18-yard touchdown pass to win the game for Berlin. It was another disappoint loss for Sarasota, in which they failed to play up to their potential.
Going into week 14 the Sailfish were 6-7, solidly out of the playoff race, and facing the 10-3 Crash in Cape Town. The Crash had won 4 games in a row and 9 of their last 10. But Sarasota scored twice early and took a 21-3 lead into halftime. Cape Town then drove into Sailfish territory three times in the third and fourth quarters, but were held to field goals every time. A late Sarasota field goal stretched the lead to 24-14, so that even giving up yet another late touchdown wasn’t enough to doom them. Sarasota held on to clinch the upset.
After losing the Baltimore, the Sailfish ended their season by hosting the Chicago Butchers. The Butchers were 11-4 and tied for the top seed in the NSFC, so they had everything to play for. But once again Sarasota played up to their top-flight competition, holding Chicago to 2/11 on third downs. Despite being out-rushed and out-passed and not recording a single takeaway, Sarasota came from behind to win a close game 24-20.
Taken in total, the results aren’t that striking: Sarasota went 3-5 against teams with winning records and 5-2 against teams with losing records (with a loss to the .500 Orange County Otters). For a team with an “average” record, maybe that’s to be expected. But the way they broke up winning streaks and felled playoff teams at the height of competition suggests they should have expected better against Austin and Berlin. Maybe that’s the sim, maybe it’s an uneven team playing unevenly throughout the season. Football is a game of inches after all, and sim football is no different.
If Sarasota can play more evenly next year, they might be able to overcome the whims of the sim and put together another playoff run.