*Muddy's Matchup Review S50: Week 7

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Muddy's Matchup Review: Week 7 ISFL

Week 7 Matchups

Cape Town Crash (4-3) 21 - 23 Baltimore Hawks (5-2) BAL

Osaka Kaiju (3-4) 37 - 16 Berlin Fire Salamanders (1-6) BER

New York Silverbacks (4-2-1) 13 - 38 Yellowknife Wraiths (6-1) YKW

Honolulu Hahalua (5-2) 16 - 32 Arizona Outlaws (4-2-1) ARI

Colorado Yeti (2-5) 34 - 13 Sarasota Sailfish (4-3) SAR

San Jose Sabercats (3-4) 23 - 24 Austin Copperheads (5-2) AUS

New Orleans Secondline (2-5) 27 - 6 Orange Country Otters (0-7) OCO

Game of the Week: Hawks Fly High in Final Seconds, Field Goal Topples Cape Town BAL

In a thrilling matchup to start off week 7, the game opened with the Crash taking an early lead thanks to a touchdown pass from quarterback Thor Bǫllrsveifla to wide receiver Keanu Calhoun. The Crash appeared to be in control. This momentum would slowly fade throughout the game, allowing the Hawks to find their rhythm and mount a comeback.

The second quarter highlighted the resilience of the Hawks, with Master Chief stepping up to kick two crucial field goals. Bǫllrsveifla, undeterred, connected with Calhoun for another touchdown, keeping the Crash firmly in control. By halftime, the score was 14-6 in favor of the Crash, but the Hawks made their adjustments at halftime.

As the third quarter unfolded, it became a pivotal turning point for the Hawks. Anakin Skywalker tied the game with a powerful rushing touchdown, and shortly after that, Master Chief's field goal gave the Hawks their first lead at 17-14. The Crash responded with a touchdown from Hercules Henry, briefly pushing their score to 21, but the Hawks were far from finished.

In the tense fourth quarter, Master Chief's precision proved crucial as he had two successful field goals, sealing the victory for the Hawks at 23-21. Individual performances shone brightly, with Master Chief earning Offensive Player of the Game honors for his flawless kicking. At the same time, Joe Bazooka was recognized as Defensive Player of the Game for his ten tackles and a critical sack. This match served as a testament to both teams' efforts, but it was the Hawks’ late-game execution that ultimately led them to triumph.

Who Saw This Coming?: Sailfish Sunk, Yeti Deliver Surprise Victory in Major Upset COL

In a strong upset, the Yeti emerged victorious over the Sailfish with a final score of 34-13. The game started with the Yeti establishing early momentum, led by their reliable kicker Cameron Oswald-Newton, who nailed two field goals in the first quarter, putting them up 6-0. The Sailfish struggled against the Yeti defense and could not answer back in the opening frame.

As the second quarter unfolded, the Yeti intensified their offensive assault. Dazen Guile opened the scoring with a 21-yard touchdown run, followed by Julian McMorris II's short dive into the end zone, expanding their lead to 20-0. The Sailfish managed to get on the board just before halftime with a 51-yard field goal from Marshall von Hildebrand, but were still trailing significantly at 20-3.

The third quarter saw the Yeti continue to control the game. A field goal from von Hildebrand brought the Sailfish closer although the Yeti responded with a touchdown pass from Katya Zamolodchikova to Tim Riggins, extending the lead to 27-6. In the fourth quarter, Alexander Rockstone caught an 8-yard touchdown pass, further solidifying the Yeti's dominance at 34-6. The Sailfish managed a consolation touchdown with a 55-yard pass from Bugs © to Sam Mercury in the closing seconds, but it was too little, too late.

Throughout the game, the Yeti's offensive player of the game, Julian McMorris II, shone brightly, racking up 104 rushing yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Ali Star of the Sailfish was a standout with 12 tackles, showcasing his tenacity despite his team's struggles. Ultimately, the Yeti's balanced attack and strong defensive performance secured them a convincing win, while the Sailfish will need to regroup and address their turnovers if they hope to compete in future matchups, luckily that next match will be the Otters.

Can't Get Much Closer: Fangs Over Claws, Copperheads Slither Past Sabercats by Just One AUS

The Copperheads barely make it out of the week with a win over the Sabercats. The Copperheads started strong, taking an early lead with a 1-yard touchdown run by William Eaton, putting them up 7-3 at the end of the first quarter. The Copperheads continued in the second quarter, with a touchdown pass from Jay Cue III to Seer Ial. However, the Sabercats responded decisively, with Maple Dogwood scoring on a 7-yard run, followed by a spectacular 49-yard interception return for a touchdown by Mega Tron, giving the Sabercats only a three-point lead. As the quarter wound down, Tim Robinson added another field goal, extending the lead to 20-14 before Pete Moss kicked a long 50-yarder to narrow the gap.

The third quarter saw the Sabercats maintain their lead with another field goal. The Copperheads struggled offensively, unable to convert their opportunities into points. In the final quarter, the Copperheads woke up and mounted a comeback, with a touchdown pass from Cue III to Soul King Brook, putting them ahead 24-23 and holding that lead until the very end of the game.

Individual performances highlighted the match, particularly Seer Ial of the SaberCats, who was named Offensive Player of the Game with 8 receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side, Mega Tron of the Copperheads shone brightly, recording 5 tackles, 3 interceptions, and a defensive touchdown.

All-Star Lineup Week 7

QB Russell Jimmies - 17/19, 189 yards, 1 TD | 6 Att, 33 yards, 2 TD

OSK

RB Triceracop - 16 Att, 149 yards | 4 Rec, 26 yards, 1 TD
ARI

RB Bertie Mannering-Phipps - 14 Att, 68 yards, 1 TD | 2 Rec, 35 yards, 1 TD| 1 Kick Return TD

CTC

WR Keanu Calhoun - 6 Rec, 102 yards, 2 TD
SAR

WR Léopold Roy - 6 Rec, 115 yards
AUS

WR Seer Ial - 8 Rec, 106 yards, 1 TD
BER

TE Kurt Wagner - 4 Rec, 44 yards

HON

DL Rex Havoc - 4 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 Sck, 2 FF
NOLA

DL Doctor Who - 6 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck

BER

LB Mac Mannheim - 12 Tck, 2 TFL, 2 Sck
ARI

LB Grzegorz Winnicki - 13 Tck, 1 TFL, 2 Sck, 2 PD
SAR

LB Ali Star - 12 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 PD

COL

DB Jet Larsen - 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 4 PD, 1 Int
SJS

DB Mega Tron - 5 Tck, 4 PD, 3 Int, 1 TD

BAL

K Master Chief - 5/5 FG (38, 47, 23, 32, 27)

League Overview YKW

In an electrifying twist in the ASFC, the Austin Copperheads have roared back to life, now boasting an impressive 5-2 record! They’ve matched the Honolulu Hahalua for the coveted top spot in the conference. The Copperheads have been firing on all cylinders, racking up 181 points while keeping their opponents at bay with just 143 points allowed. After a slight hiccup in last week’s game, they’re back in the win column and hungry for more!

Meanwhile, the Hahalua, despite their firepower and a staggering 203 points on the board, stumbled this week against the gritty Outlaws. With their defense sitting at a shaky 11th place in the league, the Hahalua can't afford for their offense to be off, or it will be tough sledding to continue winning. In the meantime, the New York Silverbacks and Arizona Outlaws, both sporting 4-2-1 records, are locked in a fierce battle for second place. It’s clear that these top four teams are in for a nail-biting season!

On the other hand, the San Jose SaberCats are feeling the heat at 3-4, suffering through a tough three-game losing streak. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Secondline are showing signs of life with a recent victory, but still find themselves second from the bottom. And then there are the Orange County Otters, who are still searching for that elusive first win at 0-7, having allowed a league-high 316 points, talk about a season to forget!

Over in the NSFC, the Yellowknife Wraiths are stealing the spotlight with a commanding 6-1 record! Their blend of explosive offense and brick-wall defense has propelled them into a four-game winning streak, including a decisive victory over the Silverbacks that solidifies their status as top contenders for this year's Ultimus.

Not to be overlooked, the Baltimore Hawks (5-2) are consistently strong, nipping at the heels of the Wraiths. After dropping their first matchup with the Wraiths in week one, the rematch coming in week 9 is going to be a great game to watch! The Sarasota Sailfish and Cape Town Crash are both hovering at 4-3, desperately trying to regain their momentum after recent setbacks. The Osaka Kaiju are treading water at 3-4, managing to snag a win recently, but maintaining a seesaw trend of win-one-lose-one.

At the bottom of the pack, the Colorado Yeti and Berlin Fire Salamanders are struggling to find their footing. With the Yeti at 2-5 and the Salamanders limping along at 1-6, both teams are battling serious defensive woes—especially the Yeti, who have allowed a staggering 234 points. With the season still in full swing, improvements are a must if they want to climb back into contention!

Muddy's Power Rankings

1.