Ready for grading, 2x - New user
The Road to the Ultimus
After 7 straight seasons of reaching the championship game, running from season 17 to 23, the Wraiths were without question one of the most dominant teams in the ISFL. However, all great teams eventually begin to trend downwards, with season 24 seeing them crash out in the quarterfinals with a 6-10 record. The decline was compounded in a season later as the Wraiths failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in 10 attempts, ending the year at 7-9.
You could be forgiven for not expecting great things from a team that were clearly struggling to find their feet after a few setbacks but the Wraiths had other ideas — with their sights set firmly on the Ultimus. What nobody expected was the birth of a potential dynasty and reemergence of a sleeping giant, with the Wraiths eventually concluding the season as the #1 defense and the #2 offense, only being beaten to the number one spot by a Jay Cue lead Arizona Outlaws.
Preseason
While preseason form doesn’t always translate into success in the regular season, a 3-1 record over some decent competition certainly would have lifted the mood in the Wraiths locker room. Philadelphia Liberty, the Austin Copperheads and Colorado Yeti all fell to the wraiths. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses though, with the Baltimore Hawks crushing the eventual champions 48-17 in a game where Chika Fujiwara put up 350 yards and five touchdowns, in addition to Hanyadi being in dominant form in the ground game — going for 104 yards in 20 attempts.
Despite the loss, things were certainly looking up and if it was going to take performances of that magnitude to slow the Wraiths down, they were in good stead for the season ahead.
Philadelphia Liberty (41 - 16 W)
Liberty made the trip to the Burial Grounds for the season opener, after already taking a loss at their hands a few weeks earlier in the preseason. Unfortunately for them, their hosts were in no mood to mess around, immediately taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. A 61 yard bomb from Colby Jack to Kai Sakura opened the scoring within the first 3 and a half minutes of the season. Some would perhaps have seen this as just another big play but for the Wraiths, it was a statement of intent.
Despite Brock Phoenix squeezing Flash Panda into the end zone for a 22 yard touchdown to bring the game back to 7-14, this was never truly a contest. The Wraiths ran away with the game, finishing their day's work with 41 points, while their defense held Liberty to 16 points. Colby Jack threw for 262 yards, while Acura Skyline led a monstrous ground attack with 104 yards from 25 carries. Skyline, Vermillion and Jack combined to put up 184 yards rushing for the Wraiths - a potent trio that would prove to be lethal throughout the season.
@ Baltimore Hawks (14 - 7 W)
The Wraiths found themselves down by 7 at the end of the first quarter in what would be one of their lowest scoring games of the season. With both defenses defending the pass well, it became a ground war, as both quarterbacks took whatever they could when the defenses gave them the opportunity. Skyline and Vermillion combined for 139 yards, while Hanyadi and Fukushu dropped 162 on a defense that struggled to plug their gaps. In a hard fought contest which saw the QBs influence heavily impacted — with both having a passer rating in the 60’s — it would be the Wraiths who made the most of their opportunities, getting in field goal range and allowing Blago Kokot to secure 3 points from (a frankly ridiculous) 61 and 42 yards out on either side of the half time break. Jameson Vermillion then sealed the deal in the 4th quarter with an 8 yard run into the end zone, which the Wraiths would further exploit with a 2 point conversion. This game was as much a test of character as it was ability and the Wraiths had passed it.
@ Austin Copperheads (22 - 17 L)
After what had taken place in Baltimore the week before, it seems that the Austin Copperheads coaching staff had taken notes and felt that the only course of action was to run the ball straight down the Wraiths throats. After watching the Wraiths defense throttle the opposing QB and fail to stop Hanyadi and Fukushu rushing for 162 combined yards, it’s understandable as to why they chose to take the ball out of Cole’s hands and let their running backs go wild.
Both Jones and Watts cleared the 100 rushing yards benchmark, hitting 101 and 111 respectively — with the workload split relatively evenly, as Jones saw 25 carries to Watts’ 21. Meanwhile, the Wraiths got off to a great start, putting up 17 points in the first half with two touchdowns, as Arthur Naught latched on to passes from Colby Jack — once in each quarter — before Blago Kakot made a 52 yard field goal 21 seconds before the half, to send his team in with a 17-6 lead.
The second half saw the Copperheads mount a solid comeback, shutting out the Wraiths in the process. Three field goals in the third quarter had turned the heat up on the Wraiths and Colby Jack felt it, throwing picks on back to back drives in the fourth quarter — one of which was returned for 98 yards. Such field position is seldom left unexploited in the ISFL and this was no exception, with Zoe Watts walking it into the end zone for the 1 yard touchdown and, ultimately, a 17-22 victory for the Copperheads.
Colorado Yeti (22 - 14 W)
After the defeat to the Copperheads, the Wraiths needed to bounce back and a win of any fashion would have been taken without any hesitation before kickoff. If ever there was a game to show the true value of a consistent kicker, this was it. Blago Kokot went 5/5 for field goals against the Colorado Yeti’s, hitting his mark from 25, 31, 35, 38 and 45 yards. He also converted the extra point after Jameson Vermillion finished off a stellar drive with a 3 yard run into the end zone.
While Kakot’s 15/22 points for the Wraiths was the inevitable highlight of the day, Acura Skyline’s 105 rushing yards shouldn’t be overlooked. There were also strong performances from Sakura and Walker, who put up 109 and 88 yards receiving respectively. Meanwhile, on the defense, Alexander registered 2 sacks from defensive end, while Valdyr also got to the quarterback as the Wraiths brought the pressure from all angles. The 14-22 home win was exactly what was required after a rough couple of weeks and got the Wraiths back on their way towards their playoff return.
@ Berlin Fire Salamanders (27 - 17 W)
After many of their drives stuttering to an end vs the Yeti, the Wraiths offense had to find another gear. Thankfully, a Skyline has six of them. Acura Skyline stepped up big in week 5, producing 178 yards of total offense — 141 and 1 touchdown on the ground, with 37 and 1 touchdown through the air. Vermillion’s 56 yards from 10 attempts also represented a great return.
In the pocket, Colby Jack was disciplined and assured, throwing for 241 yards, 2 TD’s and 0 ints, giving him a passer rating of 116 — as season high to that point. As the season progressed, it was Jack’s discipline with his passes that separated him from his peers. Rather than chasing games with aggressive or risky passes, he was instead able to force the opposing defense into trying to beat him, while his running backs and defense decimated them. The entire season was a master class from Jack but this game stood out as the perfect example.
Despite a late push from Berlin, the Wraiths came away with a relatively comfortable 27-17 road win that saw Kaepercolin sacked an impressive 4 times and picked off once — the polar opposite of his counterpart.
@ Chicago Butchers (23 - 10 W)
The Chicago Butchers represented what was perhaps the Wraiths toughest test to that point in the season, however with both teams coming hot off the back of wins and each with a 4-1 record, this was truly anyone's game.
In an effort to escape the shadow of Colby Jack’s performance the week before, the Wraiths defense pitched a first half shutout and then proceeded to keep the Butchers at bay for the entirety of the 3rd quarter — until finally breaking in the 4th when Sam Sidekick converted a 26 yard field goal with 12 minutes left in the game. However, by this point, the game was all but over.
The Wraiths 16 points in 10 crazy minutes of the 2nd quarter had put the Butchers on the backfoot and they really failed to gather any momentum. Seven pass deflections from the Wraiths defense, as well as a pick from Helizapoppin, a tackle for less, forced fumble and recovery from Cho — yes, all in one play (with a 9 yard return) — had quelled any real concerns.
Colby Jack’s 215 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and 51 rushing yards had once again earned him the offensive player of the game award — with the only blemish on his record being an Oles Jr interception in the third quarter.
@ Sarasota Sailfish (26 - 6 W)
The Wraiths entered this game looking for their third road win in as many weeks and wouldn’t disappoint. The Sailfish would be limited to just 24 minutes of possession, as the Wraiths defense imposed their will upon them. McJimmerson was dominant with 6 tackles, 2 passes defended and 2 picks, as the defensive unit went to work, holding Boss Jr to 250 yards through the air and 0 touchdowns. The run defense was also characteristically solid for the Wraiths, holding Chan and Back to a combined 67 yards.
Colby Jack’s good form continued, as he passed for 348 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions — once again crossing the 100 passer rating threshold. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was Vermillion, who usually does the majority of his work in the rushing game, picking up 113 receiving yards from seven receptions — showing that this offense is potent, versatile and able to hurt their opposition in ways that they least expect.
San Jose Sabercats (41 - 14 W)
After 4 straight wins, 3 of which were on the road and with a record of 6-1, the Wraiths weren’t just looking playoff bound, they looked like they could get themselves back amongst the elite of the league and become genuine contenders again. They were half way through the season, 6-0 in their conference and looking dominant. Despite the Sabercats ability to cause upsets, the Wraiths entered this game as the heavy favourites.
As had become almost customary, they did not disappoint and the Burial Grounds lived upto its name. By the end of the first half the Sabercats found themselves down 17-7 after a touchdown from Kai Sakura, a 35 yard field goal from Kakot and a breathtaking 80 yard scramble that Colby Jack took to the house. Rando Cardrissian and Monterey Jack combined to give the Sabercats a glimmer of hope but in reality, it probably just stoked the fire.
The Wraiths would come out in the second half to score 3 touchdowns and a field goal, without reply. With just 16 seconds left on the clock, Monterey Jack found Hood for a 16 yard touchdown that was little more than a consolation. Despite a herculean effort from George Fisher, the Sabercats had been demolished.
@ New Orleans Second Line (27 - 26 L)
Week 9 was the true test of the Wraith’s contender claims. New Orleans were amongst the front runners in the ASFC at this point and would almost inevitably find themselves in the playoffs and possessed the ability to make a deep run at the Ultimus. They were coming into the contest after back to back losses but they had been in dominant form prior to those games. This was going to be challenging.
At the end of the first quarter, the game looked promising for the Wraiths. They were up 10-0 following a 20 yard field goal from Kokot and a 14 yard rushing touchdown from Colby Jack. However, the second quarter saw Slothlisberger burst into life, with 2 passing touchdowns in as many drives. The Wraiths had bagged a touchdown of their own through Acura Skyline and got themselves another field goal but heading in at half time, it was a one score game.
The third quarter saw New Orleans pull level for the first time in the game, thanks to a 3 yard run into the end zone from Marcella Toriki. Heading into the fourth quarter, the teams were neck and neck — both failing to consistently put drives together. For the majority of the final quarter it looked like Kokot had bailed his team out once again, having put away two 40+ yard field goals with 6 minutes remaining. However, on the final drive of the game, Marcella Toriki once again pounded his way into the end zone with just 8 seconds remaining on the clock. While this would have been a tough defeat to swallow, they had held their own and gone toe to toe with a team that were spearheading the ASFC and would end the regular season as a top 5 offense.
Chicago Butchers (34 - 14 W)
As with the first meeting of these two teams earlier in the season, the Wraiths defense strangled the Butchers offense early in the game, pitching a first half shutout. Just in case that wasn’t bad enough, on the other side of the ball, the Wraiths were on fire — putting 21 points on the board in the first quarter, followed by another 10 in the second. Fighting back from a 31 point deficit in the second half is a tall order for any team against any opposition but to do it against the #1 defense in the ISFL is near impossible.
Two touchdowns from Baby Yoda made the scoreline a little more palatable for the Butchers but, truth be told, the Wraiths were just managing the game by this point — running the clock with Acura Skyline doing much of the heavy lifting in the second half of the game. Skyline put up rushing 113 yards from 23 attempts, while Colby Jack also pitched in with a respectable 37 yards from 7 attempts. Jack’s impact on the game was obviously more significant through the air, where he threw for 320 yards, 2 TD’s and 0 interceptions — completing 20/38, for a passer rating of 98.6.
On the defensive side of the ball, Douglas Quaid had a fantastic game with 4 tackles, 4 passes defended and a pick 6 — running the ball back 22 yards for the touchdown, much to the dismay of O’Donnell.
Baltimore Hawks (25 - 22 W)
Despite coming into the game on the back of a commanding victory, the Baltimore Hawks had already given the Wraiths a hard time earlier in the season — with their meeting earlier in the season ending 14-7. They also handed the eventual champions their only loss of the preseason, thumping them 48-17. Naturally, a close game was expected, despite the Hawks underperforming heavily with a 3-7 record.
Mark Walker opened the scoring with a 17 yard reception, which was converted by Kakot to give the Wraiths an early 7 point lead in the first quarter. Kakot was called upon again a few minutes later to sink a 32 yard field goal, extending the lead to 10. Fujiwara would finally get his offense ticking with a solid drive that ended with Joshua Campbell getting on the end of a 6 yard pass to get the Hawks back in the game.
With the Wraiths drive faltering early in the second quarter, Kakot came out to sink his 2nd field goal of the day — providing the safety net that had consistently given his team the edge all season. After 10 minutes of sparring between the two teams, Fujiwara worked Fukushu into the end zone with a quick 3 yard touchdown pass, putting the Hawks in the lead 14-13 as the teams went in for half time.
The third quarter saw the Wraiths immediately bounce back with a 35 yard field goal and a touchdown from Zee Rechs from 8 yards out — however the extra point wasn’t converted. This meant that Doug Howlett’s touchdown midway through the 4th quarter, with a successful 2 point conversion had tied the game up with 7 minutes left on the clock. A quick 3 and out for the Wraiths left them in an awkward position, should the Hawks decide to manage the game clock. However, a 3 minute drive that netted only 20 yards handed the Wraiths the ball back for the chance to win the game. Of course, it inevitably fell to Kakot, who sank a 53 yard field goal with 22 seconds left on the clock to end the game.
Arizona Outlaws (14 - 6 L)
Despite having two of the top quarterbacks in the league on the field, along with some incredibly talented rushers, this game somehow turned into a defensive slog. Between them, the two teams managed 13 pass defenses, 2 interceptions, 5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks — with neither team reaching 350 yards of total offense.
However, it would be the Outlaws that came out on top due to their offense simply being more efficient on the day. Both teams managed to put together 2 scoring drives each, however the Wraiths failed to reach the end zone on either of theirs — instead relying on Kokot to consistently hit field goals. Meanwhile, Jay Cue would lead his offense to the end zone on back to back drives in the second quarter, earning the 14 points that gave the Outlaws the win they deserved.
@ Philadelphia Liberty (33 - 31 W)
There’s no way to sugar coat this one. Liberty had not had a good season, by any stretch of the imagination. With just 4 games remaining, they came into this game against a Wraiths team that was oncourse to sweep their conference, needing a minor miracle to reach the playoffs. Their 4-8 record certainly wasn’t inflicting any fear into the Wraiths.
Nonetheless, they played hard and pushed their opposition to the wire. The first 7 minutes of the game was all Wraiths, as they put up 16 points with all three of their opening drives resulting in points — a 37 yard field goal from Kakot, a 13 yard run from Skyline and a 1 yard pass from Colby Jack to Kai Sakura. It seemed that the Wraiths were able to hurt Liberty through any avenue. David Batista made a great catch for an 11 yard touchdown to give his team hope, bringing the score back to 16-7 shortly before the end of the first quarter.
The 2nd quarter opened with a Mark Walker touchdown, before 21 unanswered — and frankly, unexpected — points gave Liberty a 5 point lead early in the 3rd. Arthur Naught would restore usual service in due course with a 2 yard touchdown, giving the Wraiths a slim 2 points lead as the fourth and final quarter came around. Kakot would nail a 31 yard field goal with 8:30 left on the clock to extend the Wraiths lead to 5 points, ultimately nullifying Fenciks 42 yard effort that concluded the scoring at 33-31. If this wasn’t the final nail in the coffin for Liberty’s playoff hopes, it certainly put the lid on them.
Berlin Fire Salamanders (40 - 37 W)
As the playoffs got closer, Colby Jack appeared to be getting better and better with each passing week. If ever there was a time to be hitting peak form, this was it. Acura Skyline was also putting in solid performances, seemingly on demand — giving the Wraiths an incredible potent backfield that was capable of dismantling defenses at will. This week was no different.
Despite a fantastic performance from the Fire Salamanders, in which they put up 37 points on the best defense in the league, they simply could not contain the Wraiths when it mattered the most. Skyline put up 110 yards from scrimmage, with 2 touchdowns — one through the air and one on the ground. With 14 carries and 80 yards, averaging 5.7 yards a carry, it’s fair to say that his impact on the game was profound. Meanwhile, Colby Jack was putting in a stunning performance at quarterback, generating more than 400 yards of offense alone. With 367 passing yards, 2 TD’s and 59 rushing yards was the epitome of a dual threat QB and constantly had the Salamanders on their heels.
Despite being down by 17 points at the beginning of the 2nd quarter, the Wraiths were able to claw their way back into the game, inspired by a 79 yard pick 6 from Douglas Quaid and secure a 40-37 victory mid-way through the 4th quarter with an 8 yard rushing TD from Skyline — capping a great performance.
@ Colorado Yeti (43 - 20 W)
Colby Jack’s form continued to improve as the Wraiths approached the playoffs, throwing for 362 yards, rushing for a further 54 and getting his team into the end zone on 3 different occasions in a dominant performance over the Colorado Yeti. As ever, Acura Skyline proved to be potent in the backfield, putting up 86 yards from 18 carries — while Vermillion provided an alternative but equally effective option with his 48 yards from 10 attempts.
Naught and Sakura had monster games with 147 yards from 6 receptions and 109 yards from 5 receptions, respectively — with both adding a receiving touchdown to their stats for the year. Kakot was reliable as ever, converting all 4 extra points, in addition to 5 of 5 field goals.
The Yeti’s certainly had some bright sparks of their own, with Lim putting up 112 yards from 5 receptions and Williams rushing for 92 yards and a touchdown. However, a couple of turnovers combined with their inability to consistently put together scoring drives hampered their chances of coming away with a victory — a testament to the strength of the Wraiths defense. For all intents and purposes, this one was wrapped up midway through the 3rd quarter, as the Wraiths ran out with an easy 43-20 victory.
Sarasota Sailfish (44 - 41 W)
Sarasota had an awful lot on the line heading into the final game of the regular season, as they jostled for preferential playoff positioning and — on a note of pride — a winning record. However, this was always going to be tough. The Wraiths showed no signs of mercy, fielding a full strength team from start to finish, despite already securing their spot at the top of the conference.
Colby Jack once again lit the game up, throwing for a monster 397 yards — taking his total for the season over the 4500 mark — as he picked apart the Sailfish defense with surgical precision at times. Both teams struggled to get the ball moving on the ground, with neither breaking 100 rushing yards. This forced the game into an aerial battle that Jack was better poised to win - with Sakura, Walker and Naught all clearing 100 yards receiving for the day.
Johnny Helizapoppin had a great day on defense, returning an interception for 12 yards and the touchdown, in addition to 5 tackles, a sack and a pass defense. Valdyr and Foster also reached the quarterback one time a piece. Meanwhile, the big boys on the line had something to celebrate as Pooky managed to recover a fumble! Despite being a close game on paper, the Wraiths were always in control and it was only two garbage time touchdowns that took the shine off a dominant performance, with the game ended 44-41 for the Wraiths.
The Playoffs
Despite being dominant in the regular season, nothing was promised for the playoffs. It’s a whole new ball game and form frequently goes out the window — along with all logic and expectations. The Wraiths run in would feature 3 teams that they had already played during the season, with varying levels of success, so performance levels would need to remain high, should they wish to reach their Ultimus goal.
NSFC Divisional Round vs Colorado Yeti (51 - 6 W)
Despite the playoffs being a great equaliser, there’s only so much work they can do for you and the gulf in class between these teams is… big. Large. Not small. If a team — any team — puts 50 points on you and you’re not able to break into double digits, then it was probably not a game you were ever in the running for.
Colby Jack threw for 323 yards on the day, getting his team into the end zone on two occasions through the air — with Acura Skyline and Naught benefiting from the stat padding, which will come in handy come negotiation time. Jack, presumably under instruction, rarely strayed from the pocket, rushing for just 7 yards but made the most of them bagging himself 2 touchdowns. The primary rushing threat for the second successive week came from Vermillion, who averaged 6.2 yards a carry against a defense that had no answer for him. The running back got 93 yards and a touchdown from 15 carries, while Skyline managed to add 49 yards to his tally from 9 carries. It would be amiss to not mention the fact that Kakot also enjoyed 100% accuracy in both extra points and field goals on the day, showing his value to the team once again.
This game didn’t really do the Yeti’s season justice, as they had performed admirably all year but unfortunately came up against a team that simply had their number. An uncompromising 51-6 victory for the Wraiths, as they progress to the NSFC championship game.
NSFC Championship vs Sarasota Sailfish (24 - 22 W)
Having already lost to the Wraiths twice in the regular season, the Sailfish would have come into this game looking for revenge. Regardless of the fact that two of their touchdowns came in garbage time, the second and most recent game between the two teams was much closer — so if they could continue improving on that trajectory, this was going to be a great game. Thankfully, they did, taking this one to the wire and finally doing themselves justice with a performance to be proud of.
Witheblock opened the scoring just 4 minutes in with an 8 yard touchdown, giving the Sailfish a 7 point lead as the Wraiths offense were incredibly slow out the blocks. As had been the case all season, when one unit of the Wraiths faltered, the others would stand up and be counted. Johnny Helizapoppin kept the team in the game early on with a 25 yard pick 6, leaving the teams level as they headed into the 2nd quarter. At this point, the Sailfish were putting points on the board relatively consistently, even if it was just 2 field goals from Jacob Small. While the Wraiths were struggling to find their feet, the Sailfish were putting distance between themselves and their opposition, heading in at half time with a 6 point lead.
The second half finally saw the Wraiths find the end zone, with Kai Sakura getting a little separation for Colby Jack to find him from the 1 yard line. Kakot converted the extra point to give his team the lead for the first time in the game. The lead would be short lived, as Jacob Small would finish the Sailfish’s next drive with a 36 yard field goal but with less than a minute left in the third quarter, Mark Walker would connect with Colby Jack for a 14 yard touchdown — the Wraiths final end zone visit of the game.
Heading into the fourth quarter with a 5 point lead was a relatively comfortable position for the Wraiths but that soon changed, as Michael Witheblock got his second TD of the game, handing Sarasota a 1 point lead, as they lined up for a 2pt conversion. Success would mean the Wraiths would have to score a touchdown to surpass their 24 point tally, failure would mean Blago Kakot could end their season with a swing of his leg. Naturally, Mr Clutch himself would nail that kick from 29 yards out and send his team to the Ultimus. Sarasota would begin the journey home.
The Ultimus vs New Orleans Second Line (49 - 17 W)
This was it. Everything had come down to this. The only thing standing between the Wraiths' return to the absolute pinnacle of the ISFL were the New Orleans Second Line. They had already beaten the Wraiths earlier in the season, in a nail biting 27-26 contest but since then the Wraiths had been on a hot streak — with a 5-1 record, only being beaten by the Jay Cue lead Outlaws. This could have gone either way… but ultimately, it was a bit of a blowout.
The Second Line opened the scoring early, taking a ten point lead midway through the first quarter, as the Wraiths made one of their borderline trademark slow starts. However, once again, the defense stepped up to keep them in the game. Dan Foster made a fantastic interception and proceeded to take it 44 yards to the house as the clock hit 0 seconds in the first quarter. Something snapped at this moment on both sidelines, as it turned into the biggest momentum swing of the season.
The Wraiths would score 6 consecutive touchdowns during the next 32 minutes of play, completely unanswered. The Second Line had no response, no answer to anything they were seeing in front of them. Eventually, with just 1:42 on the clock in the fourth, Forrest Gump would put 7 points on the board for New Orleans but by this point it was already over — the Wraiths had no doubt been celebrating for the entire final quarter. This was a resounding 49-17 win for the Wraiths and a performance worthy of crowning any championship winning team.
Conclusion
Essentially, you have to be a *special kind of idiot* to ever *bet against the Wraiths*. I mean, what kind of *idiot* would ever look at a 13-3 team, with the #1 defense and #2 offense and believe backing *anyone else was the correct decision*? Yup. *Me*.
You’ve just read 5,196 words on why I’m an *absolute knuckle dragger*. I had to write all of this, just to get tier 6 equipment and offset *my own stupidity*. This is my self-flagellation. My punishment. My penance. All hail the Wraiths and may they bless thy TPE grind.
I’m sure I’ll be back again next season, when I bet the farm on there being a Liberty vs Honolulu Ultimus. So, until then...
The Road to the Ultimus
After 7 straight seasons of reaching the championship game, running from season 17 to 23, the Wraiths were without question one of the most dominant teams in the ISFL. However, all great teams eventually begin to trend downwards, with season 24 seeing them crash out in the quarterfinals with a 6-10 record. The decline was compounded in a season later as the Wraiths failed to reach the playoffs for the first time in 10 attempts, ending the year at 7-9.
You could be forgiven for not expecting great things from a team that were clearly struggling to find their feet after a few setbacks but the Wraiths had other ideas — with their sights set firmly on the Ultimus. What nobody expected was the birth of a potential dynasty and reemergence of a sleeping giant, with the Wraiths eventually concluding the season as the #1 defense and the #2 offense, only being beaten to the number one spot by a Jay Cue lead Arizona Outlaws.
Preseason
While preseason form doesn’t always translate into success in the regular season, a 3-1 record over some decent competition certainly would have lifted the mood in the Wraiths locker room. Philadelphia Liberty, the Austin Copperheads and Colorado Yeti all fell to the wraiths. It wasn’t all sunshine and roses though, with the Baltimore Hawks crushing the eventual champions 48-17 in a game where Chika Fujiwara put up 350 yards and five touchdowns, in addition to Hanyadi being in dominant form in the ground game — going for 104 yards in 20 attempts.
Despite the loss, things were certainly looking up and if it was going to take performances of that magnitude to slow the Wraiths down, they were in good stead for the season ahead.
Philadelphia Liberty (41 - 16 W)
Liberty made the trip to the Burial Grounds for the season opener, after already taking a loss at their hands a few weeks earlier in the preseason. Unfortunately for them, their hosts were in no mood to mess around, immediately taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. A 61 yard bomb from Colby Jack to Kai Sakura opened the scoring within the first 3 and a half minutes of the season. Some would perhaps have seen this as just another big play but for the Wraiths, it was a statement of intent.
Despite Brock Phoenix squeezing Flash Panda into the end zone for a 22 yard touchdown to bring the game back to 7-14, this was never truly a contest. The Wraiths ran away with the game, finishing their day's work with 41 points, while their defense held Liberty to 16 points. Colby Jack threw for 262 yards, while Acura Skyline led a monstrous ground attack with 104 yards from 25 carries. Skyline, Vermillion and Jack combined to put up 184 yards rushing for the Wraiths - a potent trio that would prove to be lethal throughout the season.
@ Baltimore Hawks (14 - 7 W)
The Wraiths found themselves down by 7 at the end of the first quarter in what would be one of their lowest scoring games of the season. With both defenses defending the pass well, it became a ground war, as both quarterbacks took whatever they could when the defenses gave them the opportunity. Skyline and Vermillion combined for 139 yards, while Hanyadi and Fukushu dropped 162 on a defense that struggled to plug their gaps. In a hard fought contest which saw the QBs influence heavily impacted — with both having a passer rating in the 60’s — it would be the Wraiths who made the most of their opportunities, getting in field goal range and allowing Blago Kokot to secure 3 points from (a frankly ridiculous) 61 and 42 yards out on either side of the half time break. Jameson Vermillion then sealed the deal in the 4th quarter with an 8 yard run into the end zone, which the Wraiths would further exploit with a 2 point conversion. This game was as much a test of character as it was ability and the Wraiths had passed it.
@ Austin Copperheads (22 - 17 L)
After what had taken place in Baltimore the week before, it seems that the Austin Copperheads coaching staff had taken notes and felt that the only course of action was to run the ball straight down the Wraiths throats. After watching the Wraiths defense throttle the opposing QB and fail to stop Hanyadi and Fukushu rushing for 162 combined yards, it’s understandable as to why they chose to take the ball out of Cole’s hands and let their running backs go wild.
Both Jones and Watts cleared the 100 rushing yards benchmark, hitting 101 and 111 respectively — with the workload split relatively evenly, as Jones saw 25 carries to Watts’ 21. Meanwhile, the Wraiths got off to a great start, putting up 17 points in the first half with two touchdowns, as Arthur Naught latched on to passes from Colby Jack — once in each quarter — before Blago Kakot made a 52 yard field goal 21 seconds before the half, to send his team in with a 17-6 lead.
The second half saw the Copperheads mount a solid comeback, shutting out the Wraiths in the process. Three field goals in the third quarter had turned the heat up on the Wraiths and Colby Jack felt it, throwing picks on back to back drives in the fourth quarter — one of which was returned for 98 yards. Such field position is seldom left unexploited in the ISFL and this was no exception, with Zoe Watts walking it into the end zone for the 1 yard touchdown and, ultimately, a 17-22 victory for the Copperheads.
Colorado Yeti (22 - 14 W)
After the defeat to the Copperheads, the Wraiths needed to bounce back and a win of any fashion would have been taken without any hesitation before kickoff. If ever there was a game to show the true value of a consistent kicker, this was it. Blago Kokot went 5/5 for field goals against the Colorado Yeti’s, hitting his mark from 25, 31, 35, 38 and 45 yards. He also converted the extra point after Jameson Vermillion finished off a stellar drive with a 3 yard run into the end zone.
While Kakot’s 15/22 points for the Wraiths was the inevitable highlight of the day, Acura Skyline’s 105 rushing yards shouldn’t be overlooked. There were also strong performances from Sakura and Walker, who put up 109 and 88 yards receiving respectively. Meanwhile, on the defense, Alexander registered 2 sacks from defensive end, while Valdyr also got to the quarterback as the Wraiths brought the pressure from all angles. The 14-22 home win was exactly what was required after a rough couple of weeks and got the Wraiths back on their way towards their playoff return.
@ Berlin Fire Salamanders (27 - 17 W)
After many of their drives stuttering to an end vs the Yeti, the Wraiths offense had to find another gear. Thankfully, a Skyline has six of them. Acura Skyline stepped up big in week 5, producing 178 yards of total offense — 141 and 1 touchdown on the ground, with 37 and 1 touchdown through the air. Vermillion’s 56 yards from 10 attempts also represented a great return.
In the pocket, Colby Jack was disciplined and assured, throwing for 241 yards, 2 TD’s and 0 ints, giving him a passer rating of 116 — as season high to that point. As the season progressed, it was Jack’s discipline with his passes that separated him from his peers. Rather than chasing games with aggressive or risky passes, he was instead able to force the opposing defense into trying to beat him, while his running backs and defense decimated them. The entire season was a master class from Jack but this game stood out as the perfect example.
Despite a late push from Berlin, the Wraiths came away with a relatively comfortable 27-17 road win that saw Kaepercolin sacked an impressive 4 times and picked off once — the polar opposite of his counterpart.
@ Chicago Butchers (23 - 10 W)
The Chicago Butchers represented what was perhaps the Wraiths toughest test to that point in the season, however with both teams coming hot off the back of wins and each with a 4-1 record, this was truly anyone's game.
In an effort to escape the shadow of Colby Jack’s performance the week before, the Wraiths defense pitched a first half shutout and then proceeded to keep the Butchers at bay for the entirety of the 3rd quarter — until finally breaking in the 4th when Sam Sidekick converted a 26 yard field goal with 12 minutes left in the game. However, by this point, the game was all but over.
The Wraiths 16 points in 10 crazy minutes of the 2nd quarter had put the Butchers on the backfoot and they really failed to gather any momentum. Seven pass deflections from the Wraiths defense, as well as a pick from Helizapoppin, a tackle for less, forced fumble and recovery from Cho — yes, all in one play (with a 9 yard return) — had quelled any real concerns.
Colby Jack’s 215 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and 51 rushing yards had once again earned him the offensive player of the game award — with the only blemish on his record being an Oles Jr interception in the third quarter.
@ Sarasota Sailfish (26 - 6 W)
The Wraiths entered this game looking for their third road win in as many weeks and wouldn’t disappoint. The Sailfish would be limited to just 24 minutes of possession, as the Wraiths defense imposed their will upon them. McJimmerson was dominant with 6 tackles, 2 passes defended and 2 picks, as the defensive unit went to work, holding Boss Jr to 250 yards through the air and 0 touchdowns. The run defense was also characteristically solid for the Wraiths, holding Chan and Back to a combined 67 yards.
Colby Jack’s good form continued, as he passed for 348 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions — once again crossing the 100 passer rating threshold. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was Vermillion, who usually does the majority of his work in the rushing game, picking up 113 receiving yards from seven receptions — showing that this offense is potent, versatile and able to hurt their opposition in ways that they least expect.
San Jose Sabercats (41 - 14 W)
After 4 straight wins, 3 of which were on the road and with a record of 6-1, the Wraiths weren’t just looking playoff bound, they looked like they could get themselves back amongst the elite of the league and become genuine contenders again. They were half way through the season, 6-0 in their conference and looking dominant. Despite the Sabercats ability to cause upsets, the Wraiths entered this game as the heavy favourites.
As had become almost customary, they did not disappoint and the Burial Grounds lived upto its name. By the end of the first half the Sabercats found themselves down 17-7 after a touchdown from Kai Sakura, a 35 yard field goal from Kakot and a breathtaking 80 yard scramble that Colby Jack took to the house. Rando Cardrissian and Monterey Jack combined to give the Sabercats a glimmer of hope but in reality, it probably just stoked the fire.
The Wraiths would come out in the second half to score 3 touchdowns and a field goal, without reply. With just 16 seconds left on the clock, Monterey Jack found Hood for a 16 yard touchdown that was little more than a consolation. Despite a herculean effort from George Fisher, the Sabercats had been demolished.
@ New Orleans Second Line (27 - 26 L)
Week 9 was the true test of the Wraith’s contender claims. New Orleans were amongst the front runners in the ASFC at this point and would almost inevitably find themselves in the playoffs and possessed the ability to make a deep run at the Ultimus. They were coming into the contest after back to back losses but they had been in dominant form prior to those games. This was going to be challenging.
At the end of the first quarter, the game looked promising for the Wraiths. They were up 10-0 following a 20 yard field goal from Kokot and a 14 yard rushing touchdown from Colby Jack. However, the second quarter saw Slothlisberger burst into life, with 2 passing touchdowns in as many drives. The Wraiths had bagged a touchdown of their own through Acura Skyline and got themselves another field goal but heading in at half time, it was a one score game.
The third quarter saw New Orleans pull level for the first time in the game, thanks to a 3 yard run into the end zone from Marcella Toriki. Heading into the fourth quarter, the teams were neck and neck — both failing to consistently put drives together. For the majority of the final quarter it looked like Kokot had bailed his team out once again, having put away two 40+ yard field goals with 6 minutes remaining. However, on the final drive of the game, Marcella Toriki once again pounded his way into the end zone with just 8 seconds remaining on the clock. While this would have been a tough defeat to swallow, they had held their own and gone toe to toe with a team that were spearheading the ASFC and would end the regular season as a top 5 offense.
Chicago Butchers (34 - 14 W)
As with the first meeting of these two teams earlier in the season, the Wraiths defense strangled the Butchers offense early in the game, pitching a first half shutout. Just in case that wasn’t bad enough, on the other side of the ball, the Wraiths were on fire — putting 21 points on the board in the first quarter, followed by another 10 in the second. Fighting back from a 31 point deficit in the second half is a tall order for any team against any opposition but to do it against the #1 defense in the ISFL is near impossible.
Two touchdowns from Baby Yoda made the scoreline a little more palatable for the Butchers but, truth be told, the Wraiths were just managing the game by this point — running the clock with Acura Skyline doing much of the heavy lifting in the second half of the game. Skyline put up rushing 113 yards from 23 attempts, while Colby Jack also pitched in with a respectable 37 yards from 7 attempts. Jack’s impact on the game was obviously more significant through the air, where he threw for 320 yards, 2 TD’s and 0 interceptions — completing 20/38, for a passer rating of 98.6.
On the defensive side of the ball, Douglas Quaid had a fantastic game with 4 tackles, 4 passes defended and a pick 6 — running the ball back 22 yards for the touchdown, much to the dismay of O’Donnell.
Baltimore Hawks (25 - 22 W)
Despite coming into the game on the back of a commanding victory, the Baltimore Hawks had already given the Wraiths a hard time earlier in the season — with their meeting earlier in the season ending 14-7. They also handed the eventual champions their only loss of the preseason, thumping them 48-17. Naturally, a close game was expected, despite the Hawks underperforming heavily with a 3-7 record.
Mark Walker opened the scoring with a 17 yard reception, which was converted by Kakot to give the Wraiths an early 7 point lead in the first quarter. Kakot was called upon again a few minutes later to sink a 32 yard field goal, extending the lead to 10. Fujiwara would finally get his offense ticking with a solid drive that ended with Joshua Campbell getting on the end of a 6 yard pass to get the Hawks back in the game.
With the Wraiths drive faltering early in the second quarter, Kakot came out to sink his 2nd field goal of the day — providing the safety net that had consistently given his team the edge all season. After 10 minutes of sparring between the two teams, Fujiwara worked Fukushu into the end zone with a quick 3 yard touchdown pass, putting the Hawks in the lead 14-13 as the teams went in for half time.
The third quarter saw the Wraiths immediately bounce back with a 35 yard field goal and a touchdown from Zee Rechs from 8 yards out — however the extra point wasn’t converted. This meant that Doug Howlett’s touchdown midway through the 4th quarter, with a successful 2 point conversion had tied the game up with 7 minutes left on the clock. A quick 3 and out for the Wraiths left them in an awkward position, should the Hawks decide to manage the game clock. However, a 3 minute drive that netted only 20 yards handed the Wraiths the ball back for the chance to win the game. Of course, it inevitably fell to Kakot, who sank a 53 yard field goal with 22 seconds left on the clock to end the game.
Arizona Outlaws (14 - 6 L)
Despite having two of the top quarterbacks in the league on the field, along with some incredibly talented rushers, this game somehow turned into a defensive slog. Between them, the two teams managed 13 pass defenses, 2 interceptions, 5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks — with neither team reaching 350 yards of total offense.
However, it would be the Outlaws that came out on top due to their offense simply being more efficient on the day. Both teams managed to put together 2 scoring drives each, however the Wraiths failed to reach the end zone on either of theirs — instead relying on Kokot to consistently hit field goals. Meanwhile, Jay Cue would lead his offense to the end zone on back to back drives in the second quarter, earning the 14 points that gave the Outlaws the win they deserved.
@ Philadelphia Liberty (33 - 31 W)
There’s no way to sugar coat this one. Liberty had not had a good season, by any stretch of the imagination. With just 4 games remaining, they came into this game against a Wraiths team that was oncourse to sweep their conference, needing a minor miracle to reach the playoffs. Their 4-8 record certainly wasn’t inflicting any fear into the Wraiths.
Nonetheless, they played hard and pushed their opposition to the wire. The first 7 minutes of the game was all Wraiths, as they put up 16 points with all three of their opening drives resulting in points — a 37 yard field goal from Kakot, a 13 yard run from Skyline and a 1 yard pass from Colby Jack to Kai Sakura. It seemed that the Wraiths were able to hurt Liberty through any avenue. David Batista made a great catch for an 11 yard touchdown to give his team hope, bringing the score back to 16-7 shortly before the end of the first quarter.
The 2nd quarter opened with a Mark Walker touchdown, before 21 unanswered — and frankly, unexpected — points gave Liberty a 5 point lead early in the 3rd. Arthur Naught would restore usual service in due course with a 2 yard touchdown, giving the Wraiths a slim 2 points lead as the fourth and final quarter came around. Kakot would nail a 31 yard field goal with 8:30 left on the clock to extend the Wraiths lead to 5 points, ultimately nullifying Fenciks 42 yard effort that concluded the scoring at 33-31. If this wasn’t the final nail in the coffin for Liberty’s playoff hopes, it certainly put the lid on them.
Berlin Fire Salamanders (40 - 37 W)
As the playoffs got closer, Colby Jack appeared to be getting better and better with each passing week. If ever there was a time to be hitting peak form, this was it. Acura Skyline was also putting in solid performances, seemingly on demand — giving the Wraiths an incredible potent backfield that was capable of dismantling defenses at will. This week was no different.
Despite a fantastic performance from the Fire Salamanders, in which they put up 37 points on the best defense in the league, they simply could not contain the Wraiths when it mattered the most. Skyline put up 110 yards from scrimmage, with 2 touchdowns — one through the air and one on the ground. With 14 carries and 80 yards, averaging 5.7 yards a carry, it’s fair to say that his impact on the game was profound. Meanwhile, Colby Jack was putting in a stunning performance at quarterback, generating more than 400 yards of offense alone. With 367 passing yards, 2 TD’s and 59 rushing yards was the epitome of a dual threat QB and constantly had the Salamanders on their heels.
Despite being down by 17 points at the beginning of the 2nd quarter, the Wraiths were able to claw their way back into the game, inspired by a 79 yard pick 6 from Douglas Quaid and secure a 40-37 victory mid-way through the 4th quarter with an 8 yard rushing TD from Skyline — capping a great performance.
@ Colorado Yeti (43 - 20 W)
Colby Jack’s form continued to improve as the Wraiths approached the playoffs, throwing for 362 yards, rushing for a further 54 and getting his team into the end zone on 3 different occasions in a dominant performance over the Colorado Yeti. As ever, Acura Skyline proved to be potent in the backfield, putting up 86 yards from 18 carries — while Vermillion provided an alternative but equally effective option with his 48 yards from 10 attempts.
Naught and Sakura had monster games with 147 yards from 6 receptions and 109 yards from 5 receptions, respectively — with both adding a receiving touchdown to their stats for the year. Kakot was reliable as ever, converting all 4 extra points, in addition to 5 of 5 field goals.
The Yeti’s certainly had some bright sparks of their own, with Lim putting up 112 yards from 5 receptions and Williams rushing for 92 yards and a touchdown. However, a couple of turnovers combined with their inability to consistently put together scoring drives hampered their chances of coming away with a victory — a testament to the strength of the Wraiths defense. For all intents and purposes, this one was wrapped up midway through the 3rd quarter, as the Wraiths ran out with an easy 43-20 victory.
Sarasota Sailfish (44 - 41 W)
Sarasota had an awful lot on the line heading into the final game of the regular season, as they jostled for preferential playoff positioning and — on a note of pride — a winning record. However, this was always going to be tough. The Wraiths showed no signs of mercy, fielding a full strength team from start to finish, despite already securing their spot at the top of the conference.
Colby Jack once again lit the game up, throwing for a monster 397 yards — taking his total for the season over the 4500 mark — as he picked apart the Sailfish defense with surgical precision at times. Both teams struggled to get the ball moving on the ground, with neither breaking 100 rushing yards. This forced the game into an aerial battle that Jack was better poised to win - with Sakura, Walker and Naught all clearing 100 yards receiving for the day.
Johnny Helizapoppin had a great day on defense, returning an interception for 12 yards and the touchdown, in addition to 5 tackles, a sack and a pass defense. Valdyr and Foster also reached the quarterback one time a piece. Meanwhile, the big boys on the line had something to celebrate as Pooky managed to recover a fumble! Despite being a close game on paper, the Wraiths were always in control and it was only two garbage time touchdowns that took the shine off a dominant performance, with the game ended 44-41 for the Wraiths.
The Playoffs
Despite being dominant in the regular season, nothing was promised for the playoffs. It’s a whole new ball game and form frequently goes out the window — along with all logic and expectations. The Wraiths run in would feature 3 teams that they had already played during the season, with varying levels of success, so performance levels would need to remain high, should they wish to reach their Ultimus goal.
NSFC Divisional Round vs Colorado Yeti (51 - 6 W)
Despite the playoffs being a great equaliser, there’s only so much work they can do for you and the gulf in class between these teams is… big. Large. Not small. If a team — any team — puts 50 points on you and you’re not able to break into double digits, then it was probably not a game you were ever in the running for.
Colby Jack threw for 323 yards on the day, getting his team into the end zone on two occasions through the air — with Acura Skyline and Naught benefiting from the stat padding, which will come in handy come negotiation time. Jack, presumably under instruction, rarely strayed from the pocket, rushing for just 7 yards but made the most of them bagging himself 2 touchdowns. The primary rushing threat for the second successive week came from Vermillion, who averaged 6.2 yards a carry against a defense that had no answer for him. The running back got 93 yards and a touchdown from 15 carries, while Skyline managed to add 49 yards to his tally from 9 carries. It would be amiss to not mention the fact that Kakot also enjoyed 100% accuracy in both extra points and field goals on the day, showing his value to the team once again.
This game didn’t really do the Yeti’s season justice, as they had performed admirably all year but unfortunately came up against a team that simply had their number. An uncompromising 51-6 victory for the Wraiths, as they progress to the NSFC championship game.
NSFC Championship vs Sarasota Sailfish (24 - 22 W)
Having already lost to the Wraiths twice in the regular season, the Sailfish would have come into this game looking for revenge. Regardless of the fact that two of their touchdowns came in garbage time, the second and most recent game between the two teams was much closer — so if they could continue improving on that trajectory, this was going to be a great game. Thankfully, they did, taking this one to the wire and finally doing themselves justice with a performance to be proud of.
Witheblock opened the scoring just 4 minutes in with an 8 yard touchdown, giving the Sailfish a 7 point lead as the Wraiths offense were incredibly slow out the blocks. As had been the case all season, when one unit of the Wraiths faltered, the others would stand up and be counted. Johnny Helizapoppin kept the team in the game early on with a 25 yard pick 6, leaving the teams level as they headed into the 2nd quarter. At this point, the Sailfish were putting points on the board relatively consistently, even if it was just 2 field goals from Jacob Small. While the Wraiths were struggling to find their feet, the Sailfish were putting distance between themselves and their opposition, heading in at half time with a 6 point lead.
The second half finally saw the Wraiths find the end zone, with Kai Sakura getting a little separation for Colby Jack to find him from the 1 yard line. Kakot converted the extra point to give his team the lead for the first time in the game. The lead would be short lived, as Jacob Small would finish the Sailfish’s next drive with a 36 yard field goal but with less than a minute left in the third quarter, Mark Walker would connect with Colby Jack for a 14 yard touchdown — the Wraiths final end zone visit of the game.
Heading into the fourth quarter with a 5 point lead was a relatively comfortable position for the Wraiths but that soon changed, as Michael Witheblock got his second TD of the game, handing Sarasota a 1 point lead, as they lined up for a 2pt conversion. Success would mean the Wraiths would have to score a touchdown to surpass their 24 point tally, failure would mean Blago Kakot could end their season with a swing of his leg. Naturally, Mr Clutch himself would nail that kick from 29 yards out and send his team to the Ultimus. Sarasota would begin the journey home.
The Ultimus vs New Orleans Second Line (49 - 17 W)
This was it. Everything had come down to this. The only thing standing between the Wraiths' return to the absolute pinnacle of the ISFL were the New Orleans Second Line. They had already beaten the Wraiths earlier in the season, in a nail biting 27-26 contest but since then the Wraiths had been on a hot streak — with a 5-1 record, only being beaten by the Jay Cue lead Outlaws. This could have gone either way… but ultimately, it was a bit of a blowout.
The Second Line opened the scoring early, taking a ten point lead midway through the first quarter, as the Wraiths made one of their borderline trademark slow starts. However, once again, the defense stepped up to keep them in the game. Dan Foster made a fantastic interception and proceeded to take it 44 yards to the house as the clock hit 0 seconds in the first quarter. Something snapped at this moment on both sidelines, as it turned into the biggest momentum swing of the season.
The Wraiths would score 6 consecutive touchdowns during the next 32 minutes of play, completely unanswered. The Second Line had no response, no answer to anything they were seeing in front of them. Eventually, with just 1:42 on the clock in the fourth, Forrest Gump would put 7 points on the board for New Orleans but by this point it was already over — the Wraiths had no doubt been celebrating for the entire final quarter. This was a resounding 49-17 win for the Wraiths and a performance worthy of crowning any championship winning team.
Conclusion
Essentially, you have to be a *special kind of idiot* to ever *bet against the Wraiths*. I mean, what kind of *idiot* would ever look at a 13-3 team, with the #1 defense and #2 offense and believe backing *anyone else was the correct decision*? Yup. *Me*.
You’ve just read 5,196 words on why I’m an *absolute knuckle dragger*. I had to write all of this, just to get tier 6 equipment and offset *my own stupidity*. This is my self-flagellation. My punishment. My penance. All hail the Wraiths and may they bless thy TPE grind.
I’m sure I’ll be back again next season, when I bet the farm on there being a Liberty vs Honolulu Ultimus. So, until then...