09-09-2019, 05:50 AM
(This post was last modified: 09-15-2019, 10:11 AM by goodvsevil1275.)
Quote:Please split this 65% to @IsaStarcrossed, 25% to @Dylandeluxe, and 10% to @Hallmonitor_20
"Hello ladies and gentlemen and welcome to the S18 Sports Center with Bjørn Ironside, Stacy Stanbul, and Jeremy Shoemaker. Bjørn, lead us off this morning."
“Hello everyone, I’m pleased you’ve joined us today! We’ve had another month of DSFL action in the books and we’re past the halfway mark. We now have a very clear visual of how the top three teams are and who the bottom three teams are, but there is still plenty of room to review, look at stand outs, and talk about what's going on in the league. Let’s dive in!”
Path to the Draft
“As always, we’re starting off with the Path to the Draft segment. We’re now only three weeks away from draft action really getting started. The race is heating up, so let's see where everyone stands!”
Our current scale is as follows:
TPE:
109 or under: F (2 pts)
110-129: D (4 pts)
130-149: C (6 pts)
150-169: B (8 pts)
170+: A (10 pts)
Money:
0-$5,000,000: F (2 pts)
$5,000,001-$20,000,000:: D (4 pts)
$10,000,001-$15,000,000: C (6 pts)
$15,000,001-$20,000,000 B (8 pts)
$20,000,001+ A (10 pts)
Activity: I’ve put together an algorithm for activity. Discord posts in Rookie/S18 chat plus forum posts multiplied by four. I thought with forum posts including media, forums should be worth four times as much as discord chatter. To be fair to everyone, I counted Friday to Friday..
0-100: F (2pts)
101-400: D (4pts)
401-700: C (6 pts)
701-1000: B (8 pts)
1001+: A (10 pts)
1. Bjørn Ironside DT (IsaStarcrossed) - 30 Points
TPE: 180 A (10 Points) (1st in DTs)
Money: 125 Million A (10 Points) (1st in DTs)
Activity: 1352 Discord Posts, 30 Forum Posts, 1472 points A (10 Points) (1st in DTs)
2. Thudd Kassel LB (Dylandeluxe) - 22 Points
TPE: 161 B (8 Points) (2nd in LBs)
Money: 8.2 Million D (4 Points) (2nd in LBs)
Activity: 1821 Discord Posts, 18 Forum Posts, 1893 points A (10 Points) (1st in LBs)
3. Marcella T?riki RB (Bex) - 20 Points
TPE: 153 B (8 Points) (Tied 2nd in RBs)
Money: 3.5 Million F (2 Points) (8th in RBs)
Activity: 1041 Discord Posts, 7 Forum Posts, 1069 points A (10 Points) (1st in RBs)
4. Zach Hall TE (Hallmonitor_20) - 18 Points
TPE: 130 C (6 Points) (2nd in TEs)
Money: 7.1 Million D (4 Points) (1st in TEs)
Activity: 792 Discord Posts, 19 Forum Posts, 868 points B (8 points) (1st in TEs)
4. Jay Cue QB (Opera_Phantom) - 18 Points
TPE: 172 A (10 Points) (1st in QBs)
Money: 5.2 Million D (4 points) (2nd in QBs)
Activity: 156 Discord Posts, 11 Forum Posts, 200 points D (4 points) (1st in QBs)
6. Maurice Virtanen LB (BaconBrother/Murtsi) - 16 Points
TPE: 171 A (10 Points) (1st in LBs)
Money: 9.7 Million D (4 points) (1st in LBs)
Activity: 22 Discord Posts, 12 Forum Posts, points 70 F (3rd in LBs)
6. Net Gaines LB (buffiegreat18) - 16 Points
TPE: 151 B (8 Points) (3rd in LBs)
Money: 6.6 Million D (4 Points) (3rd in LBs)
Activity: 106 Discord Posts, 11 Forum Posts, 150 points D (4 Points) (2nd in LBs)
6.Mike Franchet DE (DeadlyPlayer) - 16 Points
TPE: 93 F (2 Points) (2nd in DEs)
Money: 7.5 Million D (4 Points) (1st in DEs)
Activity: 1348 Discord Posts, 7 Forum Posts, 1376 points A (10 Points) (1st in DEs)
6. Mike Hockhertz S (CDub2) - 16 Points
TPE: 119 D (4 Points) (2th in S)
Money: 74 million A (10 points) (1st in S)
Activity: 0 Discord Posts, 2 Forum Posts, 8 points F (2 Points) (Tied 5th in S)
6. Pete Parker S (jsteele14) - 16 Points
TPE: 178 A (10 Points) (1st in S)
Money: 7.5 Million D (4 Points) (3rd in S)
Activity: 1 Discord Posts, 7 Forum Posts, 29 points F (2 Points) (2nd in S)
11. Korrin Abernathy CB (VRTX L4S3R) - 14 Points
TPE: 150 B (8 Points) (1st in CBs)
Money: -2.2 Million F (2 Points) (6th in CBs)
Activity: 166 Discord Posts, 7 Forum Posts, 194 points D (2 Points) (1st in CBs)
11 Tyrone Biggums WR (Revolution5) - 14 Points
TPE: 181 A (10 Points) (1st in WRs)
Money: -6.1 Million F (2 Points) (7th in WRs)
Activity: 19 Discord Posts, 12 Forum Posts, 67 points F (2 Points) (1st in WRs)
11. Ruff Ruff RB (Shadowz) - 14 Points
TPE: 155 B (8 Points) (1st in RBs)
Money: 7.2 Million D (4 Points) (5th in RBs)
Activity: 1 Discord Posts, 5 Forum Posts, 21 points F (4 Points) (5th in RBs)
11. Trae Bacon DT (RobCubed) - 14 Points
TPE: 159 B (8 Points) (2nd in DTs)
Money: 5.8 Million D (4 Points) (3rd in DTs)
Activity: 0 Discord Posts, 0 Forum Posts, 0 points F (3rd in DTs)
11. Stuart Little IV CB (dieselj123) - 14 Points
TPE: 149 C (6 Points) (Tied 2nd in CBs)
Money: 10.6 Million C (6 Points) (2nd in CBs)
Activity: 1 Discord Posts, 3 Forum Posts, 13 points F (Sixth in CBs)
11. Jake Utler RB (PersonMann) - 14 Points
TPE: 153 B (8 Points) (Tied 2nd in RBs)
Money: 9.5 Million D (4 Points) (4th in RBs)
Activity: 0 Discord Posts, 7 Forum Posts, 28 points F (2 Points) (Tied 5th in RBs)
11. Michael Vincent RB (sapp2013) - 14 Points
TPE: 99 F (2 Points) (9th in RBs)
Money: 100.5 Million A (10 Points) (1st in RBs)
Activity: 0 Discord Posts, 2 Forum Posts, 8 points F (2 Points) (8th in RBs)
18. Fabricio Baldari DE (Sermokala) - 12 Points
TPE: 130 TPE C (6 Points) (1st in DE)
Money: 1.4 Million F (2 Points) (1st in DEs)
Activity: 265 Discord Posts, 8 Forums Posts, 297 Points D (4 Points) (2nd in DEs)
18. Samuel Bakhtiari OL (lamp_wizard) - 12 Points
TPE: 113 TPE D (4 Points) (Tied 1st in OLs)
Money: 2.2 Million F (2 Points) (5th in OLs)
Activity: 623 Discord Posts, 10 Forums Posts, 663 Points C (6 Points) (1st in OLs)
18. Givussafare Rubbe OL (caltroit_red_flames) - 12 Points
TPE: 113 TPE D (4 Points) (Tied 1st in OLs)
Money: 10.3 Million C (6 Points) (2nd in OLs)
Activity: 1 Discord Posts, 7 Forums Posts, 12 Points F (2 Points) (2nd in OLs)
18. Johnson Harding QB (adam2552) - 12 Points
TPE: 127 TPE D (4 Points) (2nd in QBs)
Money: 14.1 Million C (6 Points) (1st in QBs)
Activity: 16 Discord Posts, 7 Forums Posts, 51 Points F (2 Points) (2nd in QBs)
18. Fuzzy Dotson RB (goodfortunecoffee) - 12 Points
TPE: 126 D (4 Points) (5th in RBs)
Money: 10.1 Million C (6 Points) (3rd in RBs)
Activity: 4 Discord Posts, 6 Forum Posts, 28 Points F (2 Points) (Tied 3rd in RBs)
18. Oswald Grimnir S (Zeegee) - 12 Points
TPE: 112 D (4 Points) (3rd in S)
Money: 14 Million C (6 Points) (1st in S)
Activity: 0 Discord Posts, 5 Forum Posts, 20 Points F (2 Points) (3rd in S)
18. Scott Brewer TE (Gibby) - 12 Points
TPE: 81 F (2 Points) (3rd in TEs)
Money: 5 Million F (2 Points) (2nd in TEs)
Activity: 770 Discord Posts, 0 Forum Posts, 770 Points B (8 Points) (2nd in TEs)
18. Steco Ocewilder TE (soppychico) - 12 Points
TPE: 150 B (8 Points) (1st in TEs)
Money: 3 Million F (2 Points) (3rd in TEs)
Activity: 0 Discord Posts, 7 Forum Posts, 28 Points F (2 Points) (3rd in TEs)
18. Bender B. Rodriguez WR (pazuzu) - 12 Points
TPE: 169 B (8 Points) (2nd in WRs)
Money: 4 Million F (2 Points) (5th in WRs)
Activity: 0 Discord Posts, 6 Forum Posts, 24 Points F (2 Points) (3rd in WRs)
18. Jake Watson WR (goodvsevil1275) - 12 Points
TPE: 142 C (6 Points) (3rd in WRs)
Money: 8.5 Million D (4 Points) (2nd in WRs)
Activity: 1 Discord Posts, 0 Forum Posts, 1 Points F (2 Points) (5th in WRs)
“As always, things shake up a little bit week to week. We have some familiar names dropping off the board and some new names coming in. I hope the run to the draft remains competitive and season 18 becomes one of the deepest classes in the history of the DSFL.”
The State of the Game
“The State of the Game has some exciting stuff to talk about this week. Usually we’re talking about swings in standings or standout performances, but this week we had a rare sort of shake up. The general managers of the Palm Beach Solar Bears resigned after a poor start to the season. It's unclear if the pressure was just too much or if they got better offers, but it put Palm Beach in emergency mode. They didn’t have anyone to fill the spot, so ultimately they had to hire two of their own players to take leadership of this team. Enter Zach Hall and Baxter Frost. They’ve brought in a lot of energy and have started off hot, winning their first game as GM and playing a competitive second game. For more on these guys and what’s going on, we got them in for an interview.”
Ironside: “You guys have just taken over the mantle as GMs of Palm Beach. How are you handling the pressure and what made you come to the decision to take the job?”
Hallmonitor_20: “It's definitely been a lot going on at once. One day I'm just doing my training and preparing myself to be as good as I can be on game days and then the next thing I know I'm running the whole team. That's alot to come at you at once. I took the job because I didn't want to see Palm Beach go without. Not only does that affect me as a player but all my teammates and fans as well. If the owners think I was good enough for it then I couldn't say no.”
FrostbiteB5: “I like to think that I’m handling the pressure well, but the job has been trying at times and has caused more than a couple headaches. I still love being a General Manager as a whole though and would recommend it if you have the time for it. One of the reasons that I took the job was mostly because Hall and I had a good relationship with each other and I had a hunch that I was one of the primary frontrunners for the job. When I applied for the job, my suspicions were confirmed and… Well, here I am.”
Ironside: “This is a team that started the season 0-6 before the previous GMs handed over the reigns. As a player, what was it like sitting at the bottom of the standings with nothing to really hold on to?”
Hallmonitor_20: It was rough. We showed up to every game, did our stretches, worked through our game plan and played the game doing everything we could but nothing was working. I don't know if it was schemes or what but something just felt off every game and the scoreboard showed that. We always felt like we were fighting uphill.
FrostbiteB5: “We were all trying our hardest to win the games, but something with the chemistry or the gameplan/scheme was off and we weren’t able to finish the job. It was really sad to have to be in the locker room with a 0-6 team, but once we got that first win, everything changed. We had a fire to prove to the other teams that we weren’t the laughingstock of the league. No matter how bleak things can be they can always turn around is really the mindset that I needed to have when I was on that nasty losing streak.”
Ironside: “The team showed immediate improvement upon the leadership change. Were you expecting things to start off so well?”
Hallmonitor_20: “We really weren't sure. We had some new schemes and had guys playing in different places then they were before so I was just a trial by fire. The guys went out there and were running around fresh and seemed to have more fire in their eyes and that's all you can really ask for. I'm not saying we are going to win out but I defense think we're going to have more competitive games.”
FrostbiteB5: “I was expecting improvements across the board as a team, but I wasn’t exactly expecting our first win in my first game as GM. Hall and I made some scheme changes and updated the depth chart, mostly Hall, but, yeah, it felt pretty good to start off with a win.”
Ironside: “The season is past half way through. Playoffs are a longshot for you. What are your goals for the remainder of this season?”
Hallmonitor_20: “Of course you want your team to win. We were hoping to give a good showing and make a competitive game but when we went up 14-0 on the 1st quarter we were stoked. The game got close at the end but we were ecstatic in the GMs office. It felt like we finally broke the curse that was hanging over us.Mostly to stay competitive and show what are guys can do. We may not be able to make the playoffs but we can definitely hurt other teams chances at making it. We have a lot of guys with NSFL hopes so we don't want to lollygag through the rest of the season and have their stocks drop.”
FrostbiteB5: “My goals for the remainder of the season as a GM are just make it through the end of the season with a winning record in the last few games. Just to win a couple games to take into next year for momentum’s sake would be ideal.”
Ironside: “You are currently viewed as interim GM due to taking leadership late in the season. Is this something you see yourself continuing next season? And if so what kind of player are you looking for in the coming DSFL draft?”
Hallmonitor_20: “Honestly it's up to ownership. If they think I'm doing a good enough job to keep running the team then I'll happily take it. With how new Palm Beach is it isnt about what big name player is available. Obviously we want a superstar but we have a lot of holes to fill and we are going to be looking for a lot of guys to play key roles in our organization.”
FrostbiteB5: “I really enjoy being the GM of the Solar Bears and I will continue to be a GM in the future. I’m really just looking for some quality active players, similar to players like Bjørn Ironside.”
Ironside: “Speaking of drafts, you have the NSFL draft coming up yourself. You've got a lot of work to do with both this team and your player. Do you think the extra workload will impact your ability to improve as a player at all?”
Hallmonitor_20: “I don't think so. I joined this league as a player. I know I'm still a rookie to everything but I want to succeed in the NSFL first and foremost. The workload of being a GM also might make things difficult but I have a great coGM to help out.”
FrostbiteB5: “I will try to get all the TPE I can as a player. The extra job may make it a little slower, but it’ll get done at the very least. My player will forever be the best s18 kicker though.
Finally, you guys have been here for half a season now. You've gotten to experience what it is like to compete at the bottom of a league. Going into the draft, do you think it'll have any impact on your mentality if you are grabbed by a team who may be a couple seasons away from competing at a high level?”
Ironside: “Finally, you guys have been here for half a season now. You've gotten to experience what it is like to compete at the bottom of a league. Going into the draft, do you think it'll have any impact on your mentality if you are grabbed by a team who may be a couple seasons away from competing at a high level?”
Hallmonitor_20: “Honestly no. I would love to play for a contender but getting drafted to a better team means I could be dropped back down and delay my career and ruin my prime. If a team that is still rebuilding wants me to start then I'll take that over being a backup on a powerhouse any day.”
FrostbiteB5: “No, I’ve always been okay with getting drafted by whomever, just as long as I get drafted. If I’m not drafted by an immediate contender, I’ll wait till they’re good enough to win the Ultimus. I’ll still play my best and try my hardest, no matter where I get drafted.”
Ironside: “Thank you gentlemen for your time. I’m glad there is so much positive energy coming into this locker room now and I wish you all the luck in your endeavors this season.”
“As you can see, Palm Beach is heading in a new direction with their new leadership and things are looking up. Only time will tell if this was a big enough shake up to truly make Palm Beach a competitive team, but they seem rejuvenated and that is at least a good start.”
Game Coverage
“Now for one of my favorite segments. DSFL game coverage by our very own Stacy Stanbul. Stacy, take us into the excitement of the last month of games.”
Week 5
Portland(4-1) @ San Antonio(4-1)21-40
The Marshalls hand the Pythons their first loss of the season in convincing fashion. Once again sticking to the tried and true method of handing the ball off to their two headed monster of a backfield, the two running backs combined for almost 300 yards again. The Marshalls defence also had a big day, picking off top QB prospect Jay Cue 3 times and holding him to less than 50% completion percentage. Cornerback Louisiana led the turnover party with two interceptions of his own, including a 64 yard return for a touchdown. Bo Merry II also returned an errant Cue pass for a score. All in all a statement win for San Antonio who looks to secure the #1 seed.
Breakout Performance of the Week:Louisiana Purchase(8 tackles, 3 PDs, 2 INT’s, 1 TD)
At this point it's hard to call this a “breakout” performance for LP. The defensive back of the year award is his to lose at this point as he shows why it is a bad idea to look his way.
Disappointing Performance of the Week:Jay Cue(1 TD, 3 Ints)
Any momentum that the Pythons could muster was quickly sunk by Cue’s propensity to chuck it up for a prayer, evident by his 3 turnovers. Jay shows flashes of brilliance but has not been able to put it together on a consistent basis. Two pick sixes in one game is never a good sign. Let’s see if the talented gunslinger can shake the snake in his boot and put all the puzzle pieces together.
Palm Beach(0-5) @ Norfolk(2-3)10-21
New QB on the block Johnson Harding didn’t do much to impress in his debut but it did not matter as the Seawolves rumbled to a 21-10 win behind 158 rushing yards and two touchdowns from Marcella Toriki. Quarterback P.Helmet was banged around by a Bjorn Ironside led defence as he was sacked 3 times and threw two interceptions. The cornerback duo of Grimmer and Rector locked down any chances of the Solar Bears throwing themselves back into the game, with both players picking of Helmet. Norfolk has a real outside shot at 2-3 to make the playoffs.
Breakout Performance of the Game:Samuel Bakhtiari(7 Pancakes, 0 sacks allowed)
Behind every good running back is their offensive line. The Norfolks front 5 are led by bigman Samuel Bakhtiari. Samuel went to the buffet, picking up 7 pancakes as he overpowered Solar Bears D-lineman with ease. Many have him ranked as the best OL prospect in the upcoming NSFL draft. If you need monster in the trenches to protect your RB and your QB, Bakhtiari is a safe bet.
Disappointing Performance of the Game:The Solar Bears Offensive line
It's no surprise that Helmet had another rough day on the job when it seems at times that his offensive line resembles a NY subway turnstile. Sacked 3 times and battered plenty of other times, rumors are starting to swell about the QB and his offensive line not playing nice together. Regardless it does not bode well for Palm Beaches chances of winning this year.
Kansas City(1-4) @ Tijuana (4-1)14-27
Nobody likes watching a game with 20 punts but that exactly what fans got in tonight's game.
Both QB’s struggled, both completing less than 39% of their passes. Longshaw was able to find star WR Dexter Banks for a pair of touchdowns. The Luchadores grinded their way to the win behind Donut and Osborn, combining for 215 yards and 3 TD’s. WR Bender Rodriguez continues to find himself as the go to target for Tijuana, catching 5 passes for 93 yards.
On the other side of the ball top LB prospect Virtanen picked up another 12 tackles and his first sack of the season. Running mate Net Gaines also had a stellar game with 9 tackles, 2 for loss, and a sack. Cornerback Zach Bailey for Tijuana also had a nice outing, picking off the lone interception of the game and defending 3 other passes. The other dynamic LB duo combined for 24 tackles, helping stymie the Coyotes rushing attack. The Luchadores campaign to reclaim the title continues on.
Breakout Performance of the Game:Net Gaines(9 Tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 Sack)
In what ended up being a losing effort, Gaines had an outstanding game. Teammate Virtanen’s dirty work in the middle free’s up Gaines to make splash plays and this game did not differ. At this point it's hard to argue who is the better linebacker in my opinion.
Disappointing Performance of the Game:Jordan McCann III(9/24, 148 yards)
Outside of Bender Rodriguez, McCann struggled to find his rhythm all night and this allowed the Coyote defence to key in on RB Ducky Donut. TIjuana will have to find some semblance of balance moving ahead.
Week 6
Norfolk(2-4) @ Kansas City(2-4)0-45
Kansas City once again decided to commit to the run game and it produced a blowout win for the Coyotes. The Coyotes were also aided by turnover prone QB Harding who threw 2 interceptions and only managed 83 yards through the air. Running back Marcella was kept below 100 rushing yards for the first time this season, finding little room to run. The Seawolves were bullied start to finish, plain and simple. One has to wonder what a loss like this can do to team morale.
Breakout Performance of the Game:The Coyotes Defence
Everyone in the league knows the Seawolves offense is a one-sided affair. Yet none have been able to slow down Marcella Toriki who is hell bent on dragging the Norfolk offense to the playoffs kicking and screaming. Stopping the former Duck to 90 yards is a feat not to be taken lightly. Maybe the Coyotes defence can take this momentum and turn it into more wins moving forward.
Disappointing Performance of the Game:Johnson Harding
I was hesitant to put such a green QB here but by now Harding should be producing enough to take some pressure off of Toriki. Instead he has shown that he cracks under the pressure so far failing to find the endzone in his career.
Palm Beach(0-6) @ Portland (5-1)6-24
Portland had a somewhat sloppy performance against a team many expected them to steamroll. QB Cue didn't play terrible but didn't play great despite throwing 3 TD’s. The ground game did just enough to churn the Pythons to their 5th win of the season. Helmet continues to look dazed and confused on the field as frustration starts to show on his receiving core’s faces. Receiver Saba Donut caught 4 passes for 34 yards and a touchdown, but also consistently put the Pythons in good field position with 78 punt return yards. Solar Bear’s running back Jake Utler had a good day gaining 102 yards but has failed to be the home run threat that fans anticipated him to be.
In some surprising news in an otherwise typical Solar Bear’s loss, the standing GM is resigning his position and Palm Beach begins their search for an interim GM. Who ever takes the job is surely a masochist.
Breakout Performance of the Game:Mervin Leonard(7 Tackles, 1 PD, 1 INT)
Second year DB Leanord clamped down opposing receivers all night forcing the Solar Bears to turn unsuccessfully to the running game. How this guy hasn’t been called up yet is beyond me.
Disappointing Performance of the Game:Solar Bears Management
After a tumultuous start to the season and complaints of lack of communication, instead of trying to improve circumstances the current management has decided to step down midseason. This a disappointing result to what was a promising start of the season for the expansion Solar Bears.
Hopefully the new GM’s can turn this thing around and give Solar Bears some hope.
San Antonio(4-1-1) @ Tijuana (4-1-1)20-20
In a battle for the top spot in the SFC south, the DSFL had their first tie in quite some time.
Tijuana had the win in their grasp in overtime driving down to the San Antonio redzone but superstar running back Ducky Donut uncharastically coughed up the ball and was recovered by the Marshalls defence. San Antonio could not capitalize on this mistake though shorty punting the ball away. The game ended in a tie on a Jim McMahon pass to Quinn with the Pythons not being able to stop the clock before overtime expired.
Breakout Performance of the Game:Thudd Kassel(18 tackles)
Thudd and Ronald Watkins competed all night for who could make the most defensive stops and Thudd Kassel won by the non-existent hair on his chin. The middle linebacker was every on the field tonight as he did his best to slow down the heralded Marshalls rushing attack. When approached after the game for an interview Thudd pushed the camera away and muttered something about “It’s like kissing your &*$%(# cousin”
Disappointing Performance of the Game:Ducky Donut(166 rushing yards)
It’s hard to say that a star running back who rushed for 166 yards had a disappointing performance. But when you fumble the rock away at the games most pivotal moment, everything you accomplished before that no longer matters. If Tijuana can’t rely on their star RB in clutch time, they can kiss the UItimini goodbye.
Week 7
Norfolk(2-5) @ San Antonio(5-1-1)10-33
The Seawolves once again ran through Marcella Toriki, even more so this week to protect rookie QB Johnson Harding from committing mistakes. Toriki did what she could and mustered 122 yard but at the cost of yards per carry, only averaging 3.7. Stop me if you’ve read this before. The Marshalls bully their way to another win behind the legs and paws of Hanyadi and Ruff Ruff. The pair combined for 316 yards and 3 touchdowns. QB McMahon was not asked to do much but helped with crucial third down passes with the Marshall’s converting an astounding 10 out of 16 thirdowns. The Norfolk just couldn't get out of 3rd down much like my father couldn’t get out of paying child support. Bjorn Ironside had an impressive 9 tackles from the interior but couldn’t muster much help outside of LB Marlo Smart who contributed an astounding 18 tackles. If San Antonio is going to win the conference it will be behind their ground game.
Performance of the Game: Dave Anima (3/3 XP’s , 4/4 FG’s)
Anima was responsible 15 of the Marshall’s 33 points in what is probably the best kicking performance this year in the DSFL. The Marshalls know they just have to get the ball in range and they can rely on Automatic A to bang it through the uprights.
Disappointing performance of the Game:Johnson Harding(7/14, 83 yards)
Norfolk teammates cheered when the Seawolves signed QB Harding off waivers, a late entry into the season. Many speculated if this was what Norfolk needed to spark a one dimensional offence. After one game fans could be heard cheering “We want Gimmy back!” I think I can end this piece right there.
Portland(5-2) @ Tijuana(5-1-1)27-37
The most hyped up game of the season certainly did not disappoint. The Pythons dominated the game statistically in almost every category. Portland outgained Tijuana 223 passing yards to 196.
Outgained Tijuana rushing 202 yards to 102 yards. Better 3rd down conversion rate of 63% compared to 38%. Time of possession of 36:30 to 23:20. They dominated every category expect arguably the two that matter the most. Turnovers and penalties. Tijuana did not commit a single turnover while forcing two, and only committing one penalty to Portland’s 10 penalties. Safety Wayne Howyanow was johnny on the spot with two fumble recoveries, returning for the second one for a game securing win. The Luchadores proved they are here to compete for the throne once again.
Performance of the Game: Wayne Howyanow(4 tackles, 2 FR’s, 1TD)
Wayne benefited from being in the right place at the right time and as a result was the push Tiuana needed to get the win. The versatile safety has been lining up all over the Luchadore defence and looks to be an important playmaker moving forward.
Disappointing Performance of the Game:Trae Bacon(1 penalty)
Dominant showings by the interior lineman have become routine this season, but today the Luchadore offensive line did a great job minimizing the big man’s impact on the game. Bacon’s only stat today? 1 penalty. If the Pythons hope to compete with the Marshalls and the Luchadores come playoffs they will need more production out of their top pick.
Palm Beach(1-6) @ Kansas City(2-5)28-20
With the news that current Palm Beach management was stepping down, many expected the Solar Bears team to come out disorganized and not ready to play. But Player/New GM Zach Hall rallied his squad for their first win of the season. Prior to the matchup Hall was on record saying he wanted to move to an air-focused offensive attack and the on field play calling showed it. P. Helmet moved the offense down the field making efficient throws and his ground game punched in three times for touchdowns. Safety Bdawkins also managed to intercept Longshaw’s pass and return it for a touchdown. Receiver Dexter Banks II continues to terroize DSFL secondaries picking up another 100+ yard game with a touchdown to boot. Is Palm Beach’s new air raid attack enough to scratch and claw their way back into the playoff race?
Breakout Performance of the Week:Zach Hall(4 Catches, 55 yards)
Besides his solid on-field performance, this spot is more about Hall’s ability to right the ship and guide the Solar Bears to their first win of the season. It will be interesting to see if the young GM will make and moves before the trade deadline to improve his roster.
Disappointing Performance of the Week:Coyotes LB corps(Combined for 14 tackles and 1 PD)
In what has been a disappointing season overall for Kansas City, the lone bright spot on their defence has been the linebacking duo of Maurice Virtanen and Net Gaines. Normally the pair’s impact can be felt at every level of the game but tonight their impact on the game was reduced due to the Solar Bear’s keeping the ball in the air. Kansas City needs these two to step it up every game if they want to win ball games.
Week 8
Tijuana(6-1-1) @ Palm Beach(1-7)27-15
The Luchadores had to fight all 4 quarters for the win against the revitalized Solar Bears. The game not being comfortably put away until QB McCann ran in a td with a minute to go in the 4th. Putting the score out of reach at 27-15. The Solar Bears are proving that even though their playoff hopes might be shot, they are going to make you fight tooth and nail for everywin.
Breakout Performance of the Night:Boug Daldwin(7 Catches 95 yards 1 TD)
Daldwin has emerged as the go to target for Helmet in the new Solar Bears passing attack. He consistently found himself open most of the night and a reliable target for the Quarterback who seems to finally be getting his brains back.
Disappointing Performance of the Night:Jake Utler(68 rushing yards)
With recent changes to the Solar Bears offensive gameplan, Utler looked disinterested at times on the field, most evident in his missed blocking assignment resulting in Thudd Kassel scrambling whatever brain cells Helmet had left at this point in the season. He has not displayed his usual big play ability.
Kansas City(3-5) @ Norfolk(2-6)17-16
With a nail-biting 17-16 last second win, Kansas City takes control of the 2nd seed in the NFC. Toriki once again put her best effort forward, a bruising 164 yard performance capped off with a touchdown. Harding did his best not to lose the gain but could have stood to make a few more plays in the passing game. Longshaw and the Coyotes offence put up a respectable 365 yards on offence, supported by an emerging defence. True to his name Lucky Dickerson’s kick banged off the right upright but back inside the goalpost for the game winning kick. Sometimes its better to be lucky than good.
Breakout Performance of the Game:Lucky Dickerson(2/2 XPs, 1/1 FGs)
While only accounting for a measly 5 points, Lucky got the 3 that counted the most. The first kicker this year to attempt a true game winner put the ball where it needed to go, even with a little drama. On top of his icy-veins kick, Dickerson also did his best to flip field position with his 8 punts, twice pinning the Seawolves inside their own 20 yard line.
Disappointing Performance of the Game:Norfolk’s Offensive Coordinator
Norfolk is going to have to find some semblance of a balanced offensive game plan if they hope to take a health Marcella into a playoff run. With almost 80 more carries than any other player in the league Marcella has done her best to put the team on her back but has not had much help in the passing game. One has to wonder if scouts will be more wary of taking a back with such a taxing history on their body.
San Antonio(5-2-1) @ Portland(6-2)15-31
Portland avenged their first loss of the season with a 31 to 15 drubbing of the Marshalls. McTaco and NA did their best Hanyadi and Ruff Ruff impression, combining for 250+ rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Marshalls QB McMahon had his worst performance of the season completing only 33% of his passes to go along with a head scratching interception. One has to wonder if he is going blind, making that type of throw. Electrifying safety Peter Parker added another kick return for a touchdown to his resume as he continues to make the most of his kick returning duties. But with the passing game, not providing any assistance, the Pythons defence keyed in on the running game held both dynamic rushers under a 100 yards. The race for the Ultimini is shaping up to be a 3 team race after week 8’s games.
Breakout Performance of the Game:Allen Josh(11 tackles, 1 sack, 1 safety, 1 PD)
Second year man Allen Josh continues to impress in a losing effort. The versatile LB was all over the field making plays, picking up the DSFL’s first safety of the season. It is only a matter of time before his NSFL team calls him up to the big leagues.
Disappointing Performance of the Week:D. Anima(1/2 XPs, 0/1 FG’s)
The Marshall’s thought they had their answer at kicker but Anima has been struggling as of late, missing an easy extra point and a chip shot 20 yard field goal. The kicking curse might strike them when they can least afford it. With lack of leg talent on the open market, San Antonio just might have to roll the dice on Anima moving forward.
“This has been Game Coverage with Stacy Stanbul. Thank you Bjørn, back to you.”
“Things are starting to get more exciting as we see this season progress. We’re starting to see rivalries shake out and close matches. We actually had a tie in this past week, one of the most rare events in the league. The top teams are in a tight race and the bottom teams are competitive with each other. There is a clear division between the two, but at least we’re still getting great games out of it.”
Position Analysis
“Next up, we’re taking a deep dive into position analysis. Stats analyst Jeremy Shoemaker is going to bring you all the numbers and tell you who really stood out over the last few weeks. What do you have for us, Jeremy?”
“Jeremy Shoemaker here and this week we are going to talk about the great wide receivers of the DSFL. Most people only care about the run game in the DSFL and don't give enough respect to these young superstars who will be closely watched on their way to the NSFL draft. Wide receivers come in all shapes and sizes. There's the high bruisers who will jump out of the gym, the burners who will outrun everyone on the field, the precise route runners who can cut on a dime, and the guys who call their owner a cracker and demand a release.
The DSFL has a wide selection of top receivers in the league, with 55 different players recording a reception in the first half of the season. So we will start by looking at who came down with the most catches so far. The amount of catches a receiver has is a sign of how well they can get open and make plays. Some guys do it through quick cuts into the open field and some guys do it by bodying the defense but either way these are the guys who did it the best.
B. Daldwin, WR
![PB PB](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/PB_thumb.png)
D. Banks II, WR
![KCC KCC](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/KCC_thumb.png)
T. Biggums, WR
![SA SA](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/SAM_thumb.png)
S. Donut, WR
![POR POR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/POR_thumb.png)
W. Smith, WR
![PB PB](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/PB_thumb.png)
B. Rodriguez, WR
![TIJ TIJ](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/TIJ_thumb.png)
L. Branders, WR
![NOR NOR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/NOR_thumb.png)
D. Strike, FB
![POR POR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/POR_thumb.png)
Bug Daldwin leads our list with 47 receptions in the first 8 games of the season. With the new GMs in Palm Beach who are taking a pass first approach this could see an even bigger uptick in receptions for Daldwin and fellow teammate on this list Will Smith. Every team has a representative on this list with Palm Beach and Portland having two guys leading the league. The biggest shock here is Strike from Portland has 30 catches, good enough for 8th in the league, as a full back. This shows some good new school versatility from an old school position. Banks is second on our list for Kansas City with 43 catches, only 4 away from the lead. If the Coyotes want to make a second half playoff push maybe they should look his way more often. Norfolk's lone receiver on the list is Branders in 7th who we believe may actually be a robot who was progressing to catch the ball.
Now, catches are great volume stats but anybody can run a yard catch a ball and fall down so let's take a look at yardage. Most wide receivers want to get open in space so they can use their speed to run after the catch and turn into big plays for their offense. So lets see who put up the most yards through 8 weeks.
D. Banks II, WR
![KCC KCC](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/KCC_thumb.png)
S. Donut, WR
![POR POR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/POR_thumb.png)
B. Daldwin, WR
![PB PB](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/PB_thumb.png)
B. Rodriguez, WR
![TIJ TIJ](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/TIJ_thumb.png)
T. Biggums, WR
![SA SA](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/SAM_thumb.png)
W. Smith, WR
![PB PB](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/PB_thumb.png)
L. Branders, WR
![NOR NOR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/NOR_thumb.png)
J. Jackson, WR
![TIJ TIJ](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/TIJ_thumb.png)
Banks takes the lead here as he has put up an outstanding 634 yards so far this season. He is currently on pace to have over 1100 yards this season which would put him roughly 100 yards shy of the Coyotes record. Banks has shown outstanding playmaking ability and will be a needed weapon in Kansas City's second half. Donut and Baldwin are a yard apart as they fight for second on our list but Donut has done it with 11 less catches showing he's making huge plays for the Portland offense. The rest of the list has the same names as our 1st except Strike is replaced by Tijuana's Jackson who has 333 yards on just 25 catches. This would be the Luchadores 2nd player on the list showing that they also have a potent air attack to go along with their outstanding run game.
Now let's take a look at who turned those yards into points the most by looking st the leaders in touchdowns.
D. Banks II, WR
![KCC KCC](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/KCC_thumb.png)
T. Biggums, WR
![SA SA](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/SAM_thumb.png)
D. Strike, FB
![POR POR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/POR_thumb.png)
J. Watson, WR
![POR POR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/POR_thumb.png)
B. Rodriguez, WR
![TIJ TIJ](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/TIJ_thumb.png)
S. Ocewilder, TE
![SA SA](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/SAM_thumb.png)
A. Ryan, WR
![TIJ TIJ](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/TIJ_thumb.png)
Banks again leads our list with a eye popping 8 touchdowns through 8 games. He has already tied the Coyote team single season record that was set by Oles back in 2023. A record breaking season for the young receiver has his eyes set on a wide receiver of the year award and a very high draft pick. Strike makes it back to our list with 4 touchdowns as the versatile full back is really making a name for himself this season. A big name during the DSFL draft, Jake Watson, is finally on our list as the Python receiver has put up 4 touchdowns so far. Watson was a high prospect on a lot of boards, so much so, that he was drafted and then traded to Portland during the draft. While he has been the 3rd target in the Python offense he has still be a big contributor. Ocewilder becomes our first tight end on a list which gives some love to the big guys of the league. Ryan is also a first on the list picking up 3 touchdowns on only 9 receptions.
The best part of pass plays is the random big strikes that make fans erupt or silence crowds on the road. Everyone loves the big deep throws and huge runs that follow so we are going to take a look at who had the biggest catches of the season so far.
S. Donut, WR
![POR POR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/POR_thumb.png)
D. Banks II, WR
![KCC KCC](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/KCC_thumb.png)
T. Biggums, WR
![SA SA](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/SAM_thumb.png)
L. Branders, WR
![NOR NOR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/NOR_thumb.png)
W. Smith, WR
![PB PB](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/PB_thumb.png)
D. Strike, FB
![POR POR](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/POR_thumb.png)
F. Dotson, RB
![TIJ TIJ](https://forums.sim-football.com/images/smilies/isfl/TIJ_thumb.png)
With no surprise our top 2 longest receptions come from the biggest wide receiver stars in the league; Donut and Banks. What does come as a surprise is that with all the good Tijuana receivers, their longest reception came from Dotson their run blocking back.
This will conclude our wide receiver breakdown and as we can see there are some great receivers in the DSFL. Maybe the run first mantra that has taken over the league is slowly fading away as more talented players are coming into the spotlight. It can be hard to find good receivers and there definitely are some names that might be called in the NSFL draft coming up. This has been Jeremy Shoemaker.
On The Other Shoe
This week the other shoe is being given to San Antonio wide receiver Bryce Molnar. Molnar is from the season 17 class and is in his second season with the Marshals. He isn't their top target and not their back up either. He is what we call the trash man receiver because he only picks up stats in garbage time. Well Molnar has only caught 3 balls so far this season but this absolute stud of a receiver has taken those 3 catches for 61 yards. That is a league best 20.3 yards per catch. I don't know why this kid isn't given a shot to show if he is in fact the real deal but someone, somewhere should be wanting to give him a shot. Since Bryce Molnar doesn't get a starting job we here at DSFL News are giving him the other shoe.
This has been my position coverage for weeks five through eight. Handing it back to you, Bjørn.”
“Thank you for that coverage, Jeremy. As you can see, these guys really stood out last month. They were the best overall position and really popped out during the games. Hopefully they can continue to build on that success and improve as the season comes to a close.”
Power Rankings
“Now that the playoff picture is starting to shake out, we’re going to take a look at the midseason power rankings. There are still six games left, so these standings have time to shift but this is what we’re looking at now.”
1. Tijuana Luchadores 6-1-1: It is funny sometimes how only a month of game play can change absolutely everything for a team. All season that the Luchadores were underperforming and were supposed to be the favorites to lift the ultimini this season. It didn't make much sense to me why they were loitering around the middle of the pack when they should have been the clear and dominant number one. After a month that saw them go 3-0-1, the Luchadores have risen to the spot where they actually belong. This stretch included a dominant win over the faltering Seawolves, a close but convincing win against the surging Solar Bears, a win against what was the first place Portland Pythons that they looked in control of throughout, and finally a tie with the explosive San Antonio Marshals that would have been a win if not for a turnover late in overtime in the red zone. This squad has answered every question we might have asked of them in the past and have taken a step forward in showing us all why we thought they should repeat. Their offense is improving rapidly and their defense is rounding into shape as perhaps the best in the DSFL. As long as Tijuana's young stars continue to develop as the season progresses, this team can only get better from here and that is a terrifying thought.
2. Portland Pythons 6-2: I would like to drop Portland lower than this spot, but they saved themselves by absolutely stomping the Marshals in their week eight match in what was a revenge game from week five. Portland is 2-2 in the last month after dominating the first quarter of games. One of their wins was automatic due to it being against the Solar Bears, but the other was earned as they traded wins with San Antonio. Then their final loss was against their biggest threat, Tijuana, in a game where Portland never really felt like they had things in hand. Portland's biggest weakness this season is their lack of any real young talent. They didn't have much to speak of in the middle of this past draft and are relying heavily on their top picks. They came in expecting to rely on team veterans and send downs to carry them through to the ultimini. As of right now Portland is in the thick of the championship race and a top three team, but unlike the other two teams, Portland simply won't get much better this season. What you see now is basically their peak and I'm not entirely sure that it is enough to get them to the finish line. Only time will tell, but they may need to shake things up if they want to be competing in seven weeks.
3. San Antonio Marshals 5-2-1: After starting the month strong with a convincing win over the Pythons and a tie with the Luchadores, I thought that the Marshals would be moving up in this slot. Unfortunately, they closed out by getting shut down by the same Portland Pythons they had beaten three weeks prior. This brings them to a score line of 2-1-1 since we last spoke. San Antonio has one of the most explosive offenses we've had the pleasure of seeing here in the DSFL. They are capable of putting up gaudy, excessive numbers that no team this season has shown they can match. The problem is they are inconsistent. Four of their five wins, the Marshals managed 40 or more points. The other they scored 33. In the two losses and the tie, they scored under 20. When this team's offense is firing on all cylinders, they are the most terrifying team in the league to have to face. When their offense is having an off day? They simply aren't good enough in the other phases of the game to make up the difference. If San Antonio can find some consistency in their attack, I think they walk out of this season with an ultimini. As with most things though, that is a big if.
4. Kansas City Coyotes 3-5: The Coyotes manage to stay in this spot only thanks to a last second field goal against the Seawolves in week eight. Over the last month, Kansas City had by far the easiest schedule to conquer and yet they only came out of it 2-2. The only sign of life that this Coyotes squad has mustered was their 45-0 win over the absolute worst team in the league. Other than that? They needed literally every single second of the game to beat that team a second time, they got trounced by the Luchadores, and they managed to be the only team in the DSFL to drop a game to the Solar Bears. This team has won three games this season, but I'm not actually convinced they are even three wins kind of good. Kansas City has massive holes in their roster at almost every level and they simply are not going to compete this season. I think they can manage enough to slip into the playoffs due to their marginal superiority over the expansion teams, but I currently don't see a world where they go on the road and beat any of the top three. This team should probably start thinking about their plans for next season and how they plan to compete then.
5. Palm Beach Solar Bears 1-7: I said last week that the only reason Palm Beach hadn't moved up to this spot was their lack of a win. Over the last month, they corrected that. As the first two weeks played out, I thought we were going to get more of the same from Palm Beach. The Bumbling Bears just didn't seem like a team that was prepared to compete at all this season. Then in a sudden turn of luck, Palm Beach's GMs stepped down half way through and new ownership stepped in. After this change, we saw Palm Beach get their first win by taking down the Coyotes 28-20 and then we watched them play a surprisingly competitive game against the number one seeded Luchadores in which they had a chance to win up into the closing minutes of the game. This was a level of competitiveness that we simply had not seen from the Solar Bears. I'm unsure if they continue to improve or go back to the mean with their new leadership, but at least they are finally showing a bit of fight and that was something they were sorely lacking just two weeks ago. They are revived and rejuvenated and there is a reason to be excited for this team going forward.
Norfolk Seawolves 2-6: Despite having a better record than Palm Beach, I officially have to put Norfolk in this spot. This team looked to be locked into the fifth spot with a chance to move into fourth when this season began, but after the last four weeks there isn't a lot of reason to hope for this team. They have a lot of young and developing stars that can be fun to watch, but most of them will be moving to the next level at the end of the season. This team simply does not look like it has the ability to really compete this season and they are ranked dead last in nearly every possibly statistical category you can imagine. Their only wins come over Palm Beach, a team that until two weeks ago was literally akin to beating a dead horse. The SeaWolves are dead in the water and I don't think there is any help coming with their only remaining winnable games on the schedule being two more against Palm Beach. At this point, the coming NSFL draft will be the most exciting mark for this team when they get to see how highly some of their home grown talent goes. They can at least be proud of that.
“There was a few shifts in the power rankings this week. I do believe at this point in the season we have a very clear best team in the league and a clear worst team in the league. The middle of the pack still has plenty of room to shift though and I hope the excitement continues throughout this campaign.”
Game Predictions
“We have a very vivid idea of what these can do now. There may be a little improvement here or there, but I feel like these teams have shown their identities and who they are now will be who they are in four weeks. As such, let's look at the games coming up and dive into who we think will pull off the wins and why.”
WEEK NINE - GAME ONE - Seawolves @ Pythons
I would be absolutely stunned if this game is anything other than a one sided domination from Portland. You are getting to see the team that is statistically the worst in almost every possible category that matters facing off against a team that is statistically the best in those same categories. Despite dropping two games last month, the Pythons still lead the league in both points scored and scoring defense. As of right now, they are still an incredibly strong team and with the Seawolves ranking dead last in both of those numbers, Norfolk fans should be terrified going into this game. To top it all off, the Pythons have home field advantage in this one. It would take either a herculean effort by Norfolk or a monumental collapse by the Pythons for this to go any direction other than a Portland victory.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Norfolk: Marlo Smart - LB - So far this season, Smart has been one of the best players on this defense. He currently is ranked second in tackles with 94 which has him averaging almost 12 a game. Smart has found consistency in the DSFL in a way few players ever do and now that we're half way through the season, it is doubtful that changes as we close it out. He is a sideline to sideline player who has had to be everywhere to support this defense. He is a highlight reel waiting to happen every time he touches the field and this week should be no different. If Norfolk is going to find a way to slow down this Portland squad, they're going to need Smart to put up the kind of all star game that they know he is capable of.
Portland: Jake Watson - WR - Due to there being so many veterans on this roster, Jake Watson has been an often overlooked part of this Portland roster. He's a true freshman pass catcher who is a key cog in how this offense moves the ball. Rkansaw N/A and Saba Donut are clearly the focal points here, but Watson has been a reliable underneath guy that Portland has been able to find repeatedly when they are in tight spots. He had a bit of a breakout game in week seven when he put up two scores in only four targets. As the season progresses and Portland looks for ways to improve, they'll need to get Watson involved more often to keep defenses honest.
WEEK NINE - GAME TWO - Solar Bears @ Marshals
This is my sleeper pick to be potential game of the month. Since new ownership has taken over in Palm Beach they are on a definite upwards trend. After beating Kansas City and playing a tightly contested against the Luchadores, these aren't your father's Solar Bears. To this point, the Marshals have shown off a high flying rushing attack that leans heavily on their two headed monster in the backfield. Hanyadi and Ruff have been an unstoppable force since pairing up in the league, but this week they face a surprising challenge. One of the few strengths that Palm Beach has shown this season is a stout rushing defense. They are one of the better teams in the league at containing runners and keeping them between the tackles and if they can maintain that success here, I think we have a chance at an upset. This Marshals team has been inconsistent at times, but their entire life blood seems to rest on the success of two players. If they have an off day, the Marshals may have to get creative to pull out a win. Do I think it is likely Palm Beach wins? Not really. Do I think San Antonio can afford to sleep on the Solar Bears? Absolutely not.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Palm Beach: Matt Ammons - LB - Ammons again comes in as a player to watch due to his particular skill set. With 78 tackles and four for a loss, Ammons is one of the best run stuffers in the entire league and has started to make a name for himself when it comes to disrupting the ground game. He's going up against the best one two punch rushing attack in the league and he'll have to be at the top of his game in this one if he wants to give his team a chance to win.
San Antonio: Mathias Hanyadi - RB - Hanyadi had an absolutely massive breakout performance two weeks ago against Norfolk. His 190 yard and two score game was one of the most impressive individual feats we've seen by a player so far in the DSFL. He showed everyone that he is a top tier player at his position after weeks of everyone putting his teammate Ruff Ruff ahead of him. Hanyadi has shown what he can do against lesser competition and this will be a good chance for him to show what he can do against a team where others have struggled.
WEEK NINE - GAME THREE - Luchadores @ Coyotes
Realistically this game should be a pretty straight forward win. If they Coyotes have done anything right this season though, its shown that they do at least have the capability of defending their home turf. Their one upset of the season was one such defense against the Marshals. That said, the Coyotes are a team that are very safely nestled at the bottom of the standings and the Luchadores have certainly proved their favorites status by climbing to the top. Tijuana is currently allowing an average of less than 20 points a game to be scored against them. The Coyotes are currently scoring less than 20 points a game and that number is even skewed by a 45 point showing against Norfolk. When these numbers meet, I think you can figure out the most likely result.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tijuana: Zach Bailey - CB - When Kansas City does get some offensive production, it is usually through their slightly above average passing game. With one of the biggest names in the DSFL at quarterback and a top receiving threat, when those guys start producing they're hard to slow down. I think it will be hard for them to get started in this game. Zach Bailey is a part of one of the best secondaries in the league and is currently in third for pass defenses. When the ball goes his way, Bailey is usually there to knock it down.
Kansas City: Dexter Banks II - WR - The Coyotes' number one weapon is going to have his hands full this week. When Banks produces, the Coyotes are competitive. When he's anything less than a stud, they struggle. This week he is matching up against one of the best cover men in the league. It's going to be an intense match between the best and the best. If the Coyotes have a prayer of winning this one, it will because Banks managed to get the best of Zach Bailey.
PREDICTION: [b]Luchadores 35 Coyotes 14
WEEK TEN - GAME ONE - Seawolves @ Solar Bears
So far this season, Norfolk has gotten the better of Palm Beach every single time they have taken the field against each other. At home or away hasn't mattered as the Seawolves have won on both turfs and shown that they simply have this team's number. Unfortunately for Norfolk, this is a different team than they played a few weeks ago. Palm Beach was predictable, boring, and trending as a possible zero win team that was circling the drain. It was bad enough that both of their general managers abandoned ship and left Palm Beach without any leadership to speak of. Two of their players have taken over now and Norfolk knows they'll have to approach these Bears like a completely new beast they haven't played before. Palm Beach looks to be much improved and Norfolk has barely shown fight outside of the games between these two. I think the results may come as a surprise to many.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Norfolk: Ron Mexico - WR - Mexico comes in as an undrafted free agent that the Seawolves picked up last month. He was
![[Image: Untitled_Artwork.png]](https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/732271706806419517/769550826225795102/Untitled_Artwork.png)
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