(S4) - Ultimus Week

[jparks98]

Playoff MVP:


Robbed:

Obviously, the team that was robbed was the Colorado Yeti. They deserve to be in the season 4 playoffs. Why, should an team that went on a 12 game losing streak to start the season make the playoffs? Why should an team that has the worst record in NSFL history challenge for the Solies Trophy? Why should a team that went 1-13 potentially challenge for the Ultimus? Well that answer is 1. They were a team that went to the Ultimus 2 years in a row. The Baltimore Hawks by all means were the 2nd best team in the NSFC. The Liberty’s point differential is absolutely abysmal. A team that has -85 differential should not be anywhere near the playoffs. Compared to the Liberty, the Baltimore Hawks have -9 differential rating. That's pretty terrible too but not as atrocious as -85. Sure, somehow the Liberty managed to get an undefeated conference record. But the Baltimore Hawks were the better team. So how does the Colorado Yeti fit into this equation? We’re back at that one stated before. That one win in the Colorado’s Yeti record book for the season. That win? Oh yeah, it's against the Baltimore Hawks. Basically what I'm saying is, if you couldn't tell, is that the hawks deserve to be in the playoffs, but the Yeti beat them so they deserve to be in the playoffs. Boom, science

Playoff Review:

The playoff are now over. Season 4, possibly the best season in terms of on the field play has ended and we are now getting ready for 2nd most exciting time of the year, offseason (sarcasm). I'm here to break down the actual most exciting time of the year, playoffs. Full of joy, tears, defeat, and victory, this was and you can quote me on this, the most exciting and the best playoffs in NSFL history. First we had the NSFC game. The Yellowknife Wraiths, a team who officially declared they were tanking this season and the Philadelphia Liberty who some say (I don't) does not deserve their playoff berth, battle it out for the Glacies Trophy. In a close game, a pass from Matt Akselsen to Bailey Cook for a 39 yard touchdown to seal the game, 17-10. Over in the ASFC, for the 4th time in a row, the perennial kings Arizona Outlaws took on their most heated rival, the Orange County Otters. In what will be one of the most cinderella moments, the retiring Leroy Jenkins rushed 2 yards for the game-winning touchdown to finally dethrone the overlords. So here we are, the first Ultimus without the Outlaws. The Yellowknife Wraiths vs. The Orange County Otters. In what was a hard fought effort by the Yellowknife Wraiths, they just couldn't survive the #OtterSlaughter. Otters win 30-23. Congratulations to Orange County Otters!

Championship Banner:

[timeconsumer]

Robbed

The Hawks should have made the playoffs over the Wraiths. There, I said it. Now I know what you’re thinking: Why the Wraiths and not the Taco Bells? The Wraiths had a better record while the Tacos had a tie record with the Hawks. Because of reasons. Reasons that I don’t really have. Except that the Wraiths should have sucked a lot more than they actually did this season. They were just downright lucky in a lot of games and should have ended in third place.

So the Hawks got screwed. And really this wasn’t just because the Wraiths fell ass-backwards into wins. It’s also because they had a couple of really unlucky breaks also. At least twice this season the Hawks lost games they really should have won. The fact of the matter is that with only a 14 game season there is a lot of variance built into this game. If this were like another sim sport where each team played more than 50 games per season it would be far more likely that the Hawks would have ended up as the #1 or #2 team in the NSFC along with the Liberty. But that’s not the case, so we have the Wraiths.

Root for the Underdog

The Otters are going into Arizona for the 4th time in a row in the season four playoffs. This season they are banking that they will not be headed back home for another long offseason after the game is finished. The Otters are a stronger team. The Outlaws are a weaker team. In past seasons the Otters chances of winning in Arizona usually hung around 30%. Even when facing them at home the Otters really were only a 50/50 shot of winning. This season is different. Now when they play in Arizona the Otters are closer to 50/50, maybe even a little higher.

So the trick to winning it all is going to come down to a little luck and the right gameplan. To be fair it’s not like it is very hard to guess the gameplan of either team. Both are going pass-heavy. The Otters with balanced and the Outlaws with vertical. These work well for both teams. Both are going heavy blitz in early downs and backing off the blitz when they drop into the nickel or the dime. Both plan to shut down the run with high-level play from their defensive lines and linebackers. This game is going to be a shootout, and the Otters have proven for two seasons running they are the best in the league at that game.

Matchup Nightmares

In a playoff series promising plenty of interesting dynamics to watch there will be one interaction that this writer is going to be keeping his eye on carefully. That is going to be the matchup combination of Tyler Oles and Bailey Cook. Both are talented players that while not being considered the absolute best at their position will be major parts of what decides a win or a loss in the conference championship game. Who will come out on top? I for one think that this will be a matchup that gets dictated by defensive back Tyler Oles.

It is hard to quantify the effect of a good corner in simulation football. There are a lot of intangible ways that the game is affected by their play. Sure the PDs and the INTs might not show up all the time for a good player, and might show up a lot for a rookie or an inactive player. That doesn’t mean that one is necessarily better or worse than the other. But by analyzing how the corner, receiver, and quarterback all interact over a series of many plays it starts to reveal itself. Oles is a strong, fast, agile corner with good instincts. Although Cook will almost certainly get some catches or draw a different corner on some plays, Oles will be the winner of this matchup.

New Talent

There were not a whole lot of big trades in season four for playoff teams to write about. Most of them were smaller trades for newer players or for less active guys. If I have to pick one I would say that the Orange County Otters tight end they received in trade from Las Vegas Steven O’sullivan is going to be the big impact player in the playoffs when they face Arizona in the Solis game.

Although he is only a rookie O’Sullivan has proven to be a high quality acquisition in the Otters high octane passing attack.
One thing that is great about O’Sullivan is his great hands. He has a very low drop rate compared to many other tight ends in the league, and that is something the Otters value. He might not get a lot of yards after the catch, but when it comes time to move the chains when they need to convert a 3rd and 4 the Otters know they can rely on O’Sullivan in the ASFC Championship. I expect him to have 8 catches on 10 targets for 60 yards and a touchdown while also doing well in the blocking game by tallying 5 pancakes and no sacks allowed.

Playoff Predictions

In the Otters vs Outlaws game we can expect the passing attack to dominate the offenses. Both teams have a strong rushing defense so we can expect them to try and focus on the the weakest part of the opposing defense and exploit the secondaries. Not that either team has a weak secondary, but it is not as strong as their front 7. The winner here is going to be the team that turns the ball over the least. I predict the otters to win led by Westfield and Boss with 3 TDs shared between them. The Outlaws will come close but will lose the shootout as the final score comes to 37-34

In the Liberty vs Wraiths game the teams couldn't be much more different. Both are led by less experienced signal callers, but the Wraiths have a highly skilled Akselsen leading the charge with his mobile skills. The Wraiths also have better wide receivers than their opponents. Meanwhile on defense the Liberty are the stronger team with a great front 7 and a solid secondary. Because of this it is difficult to determine who will come out on top. The Liberty will have to come up with a solid gameplan on defense to matchup against Bailey Cook and Eric Kennedy. The Wraiths will have to try and not let their opponent score too often so that they aren't constantly forced to try and score every possession. I think the away team gets the win here too with the Liberty walking out winners 24-17.

Finally we have the Ultimus game. Given that I predicted Liberty @ Otters we are left with a very difficult game for the Liberty to try and find success. They have constantly struggled against ASFC teams this season, and the Otters are no exception. Liberty's strong defense matches up well with the passing attack of Orange County, but will it be enough? Trying to match them point-for-point is an exercise in futility. The only way they could win would be to force turnovers and to play well on special teams, something they have proven is a strength. I expect the Liberty to put up a good fight but in a game winning drive Mike Boss seals the deal with a 50 yard completion to Bradley Westfield who gets tackled at the 5 and watch as Leroy Jenkins punches it in for the winning TD. Otters 49-42.

[White Cornerback]

Written Points

Robbed: Write about why a team that failed to make the playoffs should have over somebody else. Can be completed at any point

I'll be honest with you, the Baltimore Hawks should've made the playoffs and they really should've been the #1 seed in the conference. They were the clear favorites of the NSFC heading into the beginning of the season and they started off the season with a bang. A win at home versus the Wraiths 20-17 cemented their goals and aspirations for the duration of the season. A minor slip to the San Jose Sabercats in week two (in San Jose) was nothing to worry about, especially given the sheer strength of home field advantage in the NSFL.

What followed was a four game winning streak, a hammering of the Colorado Yeti (nearly putting up 50 points), a eeking out of a tough win against the SaberCats, an impressive 4 point win over the 3 time Ultimus champions the Arizona Outlaws and the win against the Las Vegas Legion.

Then came a shock loss to the Wraiths away from home which allowed Yellowknife to put up 48 points on supposedly the best defense in the league. After this the Hawks stuttered throughout the season, it was almost as if this loss put a stop to any continuous momentum.

W, L L W L L L is how they finished out the season and eventually missed out on the playoffs.

New Talent: Write about which S4 trade will or did have the biggest impact in the playoffs. Can be written at any time depending on if you choose to write about who already has or who will do good

The Kevin Cushing trade (3way) which resulted in him leaving the depths of Yellowknife for a supposedly greener pasture in Philadelphia with the Liberty. Did it have the biggest impact this season? Yes. Was it for the Liberty? No. It was for everybody else in the conference, most notably his former team, the Yellowknife Wraiths. Kevin Cushing was essentially the trojan horse, devised by the current Yellowknife GM's known on the forums as Bzerkap and Bovovovo. While it is true that the Liberty sweeped Yellowknife 2/2 this regular season, after all they were a "rebuilding" team. The Wraiths headed into this season, the weakest they've ever been in franchise history following the loss of snakes named Josh Garden and Kevin Cushing. The Liberty barely clinched playoffs thanks to a Baltimore self destruction late on in the season. Many had forecasted a Baltimore V Arizona Ultimus final matchup but alas it was not meant to be. The Liberty will face Yellowknife in the NSFC Championship game, where Kevin Cushing will be the center of attention. All eyes will be on him and his every move will be scrutinized with in depth precision. How the outcome of the game will turn out is currently unknown, but god knows it will be a good one.

Playoff Predictions: Give a short write up on each of the playoff matches (including the championship game). Must be completed before the simulation of the Conference Finals

The Yellowknife Wraiths are going to be too strong for the Philadelphia Liberty. Clifford Rove will get eaten alive, both from the pressure of Bjornnson and the currently hot Wraiths DB's. Rove is so inaccurate that he throws interceptions constantly, even when putting his dirty clothes into his washing basket. The Wraiths will beat the Liberty 150,000 - 2 (Akselsen will run through our own endzone after a 7 step drop like fucking Orlovsky)

The Otters will lose to the Outlaws. That much is certain but it will be a close affair, Mike Boss is in fine form. Combine that with the recently moved Angus Winchester stalking his prey at linebacker, we might just see an upset, but probably not. Outlaws 23 - Otters 20.

The Wraiths will face the Outlaws. A game that will be highly anticipated , especially with it being the Wraiths first real shot at the Ultimus title. The biggest underdog of the NSFL since its creation will face off against the leagues first ever real underdog, the Outlaws. The Outlaws have torn this league apart with utter dominance, can the Wraiths really survive? This reporter thinks so. Wraiths 17 - Outlaws 14. Oh boy, what a game to watch folks.

Sit-down with a fan:Answer questions for an interview from a player that is not your own. You must answer at least four questions and at least three must relate to the league in some way. Link to the interviewers PT to receive credit. NOTE: THEY MUST POST THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR YOU TO GET CREDIT. (Can be completed at any point)

I let MemeMaestro interview me here

[Daybe]

Root for the Underdog: Pick an away team in an upcoming game and try to convince yourself (and us) why they can win. (Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)

I am rooting for the Orange County Otters to unseat the Arizona Outlaws' status as threepeat champions. While this is a long shot for the Otters, going up against a team that has only lost 3 of their past 30 games, it can be done. The Otters have had a tremendous year on both offense and defense, and have improved in many of their weak spots from last year. Plus, the Otters will be playing with a vengeance. Think about it this way: they've played this ASFC championship three times already. In every matchup, they believed that they had the best shot of beating the mighty Outlaws in the league. Each time, they've been sent home with heartbreak. But I predict this year will be different. They've got two solid cornerbacks in Anthony Petrakis and Marc Spector, who may be at a disadvantage to the likes of Josh Garden and Dustin Evans, but they have proven to be tremendous fighters. With arguably the best front 7 in talent in the league, they should be able to contain King Bronko and stop Reg Mackworthy. Their offense is as strong as ever, with Mike Boss shattering passing yard and passing touchdowns that he rewrote just a year ago. Sure, their run game is nonexistent, but the Outlaws don't have the best passing game in the league, and if the offensive line can hold up, the Otters might just have a chance.

Playoff Predictions: Give a short write up on each of the playoff matches (including the championship game). Must be completed before the simulation of the Conference Finals

NSFC Championship: Philadelphia Liberty @ Yellowknife Wraiths - 16-21

The Wraiths have never made an Ultimus this year. It's also notable that in each NSFC championship game they've qualified for, they've played on the road. The Wraiths lost many key pieces this offseason, including Josh Garden, Chris Orosz, and mid-season, Kevin Cushing. But they've also improved tremendously. With the signings of Gosh Jarden and Cle Hardrool in the offseason to go along with the position switch of Mat Akselsen to quarterback, the Wraiths, who were nodded off at the beginning of the season, are now favorites. I believe it will be a gritty game, but the Wraiths will redeem themselves and head to their first Ultimus championship game.

ASFC Championship: Orange County Otters @ Arizona Outlaws - 37-38

Another extremely tight game I'm predicting. This might be too close to comfort, but it is a win nonetheless. While on paper, they look like clear favorites, there is lots of elements going against them. It comes down to a matter of which team can last the shootout the longest. Also, Arizona Outlaws wide receiver Josh Garden infamously choked in the S2 NSFC championship game, getting blanked. There's no doubt the pressure will be on for the threepeat champs trying to defend their crown, but I believe they will pull it out in the end.

NSFL Championship: Yellowknife Wraiths @ Arizona Outlaws - 13-30

Sorry, Yellowknife. Better luck next year. This game will be of a wider margin than the championship games, as the 12-2 Outlaws certainly performed better than the 8-6 Wraiths. Although the Wraiths did beat the Outlaws in a head-to-head matchup in the regular season, that was at home. And the Outlaws went and beat the Wraiths at home. The Outlaws will have to trust their passing game, as the Wraiths have the most stout run defense in the league, allowing a measly 60.9 rushing yards per game. While Josh Garden may face some troubles in former teammate Dermot Lavelle, the Outlaws simply outmatch the Wraiths.

Matchup Nightmares: Pick an offensive and defensive player who will be going up against each other and why it will be a nightmare for one of them. (Must be completed before the playoff series you write about)

Gosh Jarden will have a nightmare going up against Tyler Oles. The first thing that popped out to me when I was comparing these two players is the TPE differential. While Gosh Jarden is in the mid-300s in TPE, Oles is nearly 200 TPE higher than Jarden in the food chain. This means that Gosh will struggle getting open on Oles. It does not help that both Philly CBs are nearly identical in talent, so switching them around would make it even worse for Jarden. Mat Akselsen will have to rely on some less-known targets, such as Eric Kennedy and Joseph Askins if he wants to win this game. It is going to be a tough day the entire game for the Wraiths receivers, and it doesn't help Jarden's case that the Liberty have both Lincoln Jefferson and Vikian Marmeladov, two players who have made the pro bowl, patrolling the skies. So if Jarden gets free, except some help up top to break it up. Obviously, the Wraiths management is shrewd and cunning and has proven to defy the odds before, but they're going to need a real trick to outsmart these Liberty corners. Obviously, you can't take anything for granted in these championship games as we've seen before, but this should be an extremely tough matchup for Gosh Jarden of the Yellowknife Wraiths.

New Talent: Write about which S4 trade will or did have the biggest impact in the playoffs. Can be written at any time depending on if you choose to write about who already has or who will do good

Kevin Cushing will have the biggest impact in the playoffs. Already in the NSFC championship game, he is facing a tall task by being assigned to guard Bailey Cook, the Wraiths #1 receiver. I believe he is up for the challenge, though. Cushing is one of the most vocal players in the league, and will have lots to play for, as he is going up against his former team, the same team that traded him away from a player just finishing up his first year. The trade to Philly was unprecedented for Cushing; he was one of the most loyal members of the Wraiths locker room, and his agent, Kckolbe, was sporting some "Fail-adelphia" shirts after the S2 draft, but clearly times have changed. Cushing has already overtaken Tyler Oles on the depth chart. Obviously, if the Liberty desire to move on, they will need Cushing to play the best football of his life, and a lot of luck. He's one of the best bench presences the Liberty have, and will continue to energize them. Maybe he'll wear down Bailey Cook. Who knows? The only thing for sure is that Cushing will be detrimental to the Liberty's success, and he's been put up in the spotlight ever since the move to Philly.

[Yurt6]

Hate the Player or the Game
If we are being honest with ourselves, based on the way Philadelphia has played this season, they shouldn’t really be in the playoffs. This does not mean they aren’t talented enough, in fact I think they are talented enough to have been the number one seed. But due to some extremely lopsided games, Philly is currently sitting at a negative eighty five point differential, and are the only team in the playoffs that scored less than they allowed. This is of course a little bit skewed, due to blowouts when they faced both the SaberCats and the Outlaws. However, while many would say that Philly is undeserving of their playoff birth, this is a fallacy. Philly has an extremely talented team, and has the potential to make their first Ultimus game in franchise history. Although they are clearly the underdogs, you would be remiss to count them out. The last time they were in Yellowknife, they were able to pull off a win, which in this sim is no small feat. So while they may not have the nicest stats, or win loss record out of all of the teams competing for the Ultimus, they certainly have earned their place there, and have a stellar team that we could see fighting for a championship.

Root for the Underdog
In the first round of the season four playoffs, the Philadelphia Liberty are traveling up to Yellowknife to face the Wraiths. This should be a close contest, with many expecting Yellowknife to get the win and a ticket to the Ultimus with it. However unlike the first round matchup on the other side of the table, Philadelphia actually has a solid chance of winning this game. Why you might ask? Well for starters, there is the precedent. When Philadelphia travelled to Yellowknife during the regular season, they came away with a 23-21 win. If it happened before it can happen again. Another reason supporting Philadelphia’s chances are that Clifford Rove has recently been seen in the weight room, and word off the street is has spent an enormous time sharpening his game for this year’s Ultimus run. If the Yellowknife defenders are not prepared, they could pay the ultimate price. As much as any game ever, this one is really up in the air, and I would not be surprised if Philly did in fact come away with the win. Also, although their secondary has been lacking at some points over the season, they still have arguably the best in the league, so there is also the huge possibility that the Liberty are easily able to stop the Wraiths passing attack.

Matchup Nightmares


Playoff Matchups

[RedCydranth]

Robbed:
San Jose made some of the best off season moves. They went out and signed Chris Orosz to lead their team on offense. They also inked Mayran Jackson to play along side Shawn Weston and Darren Smallwood. A formidable trio of receivers gave this offense every opportunity to win games. They transitioned Vincent Sharpei to linebacker and it payed dividends. The team finished the season 9-5, which had they been in the NSFC not only would have made playoffs but was good enough to win the division. However because they're with the aptly named Outlaws and the perennial stepping stone for Arizona, Orange County Otters they are sitting yet another season on the sidelines. But their failure to make playoffs should be taken with a sense of pride because they've gone from a joke of a franchise to a legitimate playoff contender in a matter of 2 seasons. I feel they could overtake Orange County and that second playoff spot if they continue this upward trajectory they're on. Hell, they might overtake the Outlaws if things go the right way. This will require them to continue to make positive moves this coming offseason as well as capitalizing on losses that their divisional rivals might be incurring. They've done a great job in doing that so far.

(218 words)

Hate The Player or The Game
Since I, above, covered the injustices of San Jose making the playoffs, I'll cover a team who made the playoffs and shouldn't have. I'm going with the Liberty. Tied with the Hawks at 7-7, both teams played well enough to make the argument to be in the playoffs. But the Hawks are the 2 time NSFC Champions, so for them to miss the playoffs entirely, well, that's a tough pill to swallow. Offensively the Hawks were the better team. They ranked higher in Passing, Rushing and Receiving. Baltimore, on Defense, was better too. They had more interceptions, defensive TDs and Sacks. Pretty much in every stat that matters, the Hawks were better. However, that's not how it is decided. Because the Hawks had the worse divisional record, they had to be the team outside the playoffs and watch Philadelphia face Yellowknife. All they really needed to do was win any of their last 3 games to make playoffs. If there was one game you really have to point to, for why the Hawks failed to make playoffs, look at week 10. They lost to the previously 0-9 Yeti, giving them their ONLY win of the season. If the Hawks had taken the gimme game against Colorado, the Liberty would have been ousted.

(214 words)

That Magic Moment
During the ASFC Championship Game, the Otters were visiting the favored Outlaws. It was a familiar scene for this team. On the road, in the playoffs, against the Outlaws. And like every other 4th quarter since Year 1 of the NSFL, the Outlaws had the lead. However, the Outlaw lead was slim. A mere one point margin was all that was holding Arizona's destiny as the 4 time ASFC Championship. Orange County had kept it close all game and as the quarter went along, both teams had to punt, as these teams had both done a great deal to bolster their defenses all season this was common. However Mike Boss took control and drove the team down for a solid drive. What separated this drive from every other one you'd typically see from Boss, was that his 2 most valuable receivers, Bradley Westfield and Robert Phelps were not even thrown to. Using his backs and rookie Tight End, they got within 2 yards of paydirt. It wasn't even a choice what coach Molarpistols called. This might be Leroy Jenkins final game with the Otters. So, withn his striking distance, to take the lead and possibly send the otters to their first NSFL Championship game, he was the man. He took the hand off from Boss and plowed into the defensive goal line defense the Outlaws set up. But by sheer determination, and years up pent up rage against the Outlaws, Leroy pushed the ball across the line for 6. This score stood until the clock hit 0:00 and Orange County finally hoisted the Solis Trophy. Leroy was the first to pick it up.

(273 words)

Unsung Hero
The Orange County Otters won the championship, and I think everyone that plays for the team had a hand in that. Obviously there's some players who did a larger part, like Boss, Westfield, Phelps, Bavitz, Winchester etc etc. But I don't think people truly understand everything that Angus Winchester really does for the Otters franchise. Angus may seem like a large meathead with the intelligence of a block of aged cheddar cheese that sat in the sun a little too long, but I can assure you he's sharp and intelligent. That beefy physique is actually his second best attribute. He's a veritable Thucydides in the locker room. He's brilliant at assessing the upcoming game and strategizing against a foe's weakness. He's one of the most valuable assets their team can have and largely one of the reasons the Otters can make the most of the talent they have and how they have reached the ASFC Championship game 4 out of 4 seasons. The only thing Mister Winchester fails to account for is straight dumb luck. And there isn't a person aside from the lord almighty who can predict that with an accuracy whatsoever. The most astonishing thing is, it seems that he can predict so much with impeccable ease. He makes dismantling the opponent's strategies look like that babies toy where you put a circle inside the circle hole and the square in the square hole. It comes so naturally to him. So, where the world sees a brutish oaf, the Otters see a revolutionary brain at work.

[258 words]

[JKortesi81]

Ultimus Week!!

Robbed:

I think it’s plain to see that the San Jose Sabrecats got robbed of a playoff spot. Having a spectacular 9-5 season just go down the tubes because you play in the wrong division isn’t fair. San Jose should’ve been put in as a wild card over the Liberty, just because they’re a much better team. The Liberty are horrible. They only scored 265 points, which is the lowest by a mile of the 6 contenders. The also allowed 350 points, which is the most points allowed for the six contenders. In fact, you can argue that the Hawks should’ve gotten in over the Liberty, but they lost to the Yeti so in essence, they deserve what they got. As for San Jose, the Sabercats scored over 100 points more than the Liberty, and the also allowed almost 100 points less. And what about the head to head matchups? San Jose DOMINATED the Liberty in the 2 games the teams played. The Sabrecats beat the Liberty in Philly in Week 6 by a score of 26-6. And when the Liberty traveled to San Jose? A 51-9 beatdown was given to them for their troubles. There is zero chance you can argue that the Liberty deserved to be in the playoffs more than San Jose, and the only thing they had going for them was that they’re lucky to be in a weaker conference. (233)


Playoff Series MVP:

The ASFC title game between the Orange County Otters and the Arizona Outlaws gave us something we never seen before: an Outlaws loss. Yes, the run of dominance has ended. But which Otters player deserves the MVP for the game? Its easy to look at QB Mike Boss’ 469 yards passing, or the 153 yards from WR Robert Phelps. But the Otters offense couldn’t score through the air. And the ground game wasn’t amazing. Which causes me to consider the entire defense, who played amazingly. But one specific Otters defender stood out. Dominic Verns. The FS was everywhere on the field. He made 8 tackles, which lead the defense. He had 3 passes knocked down, also tops on the team. But he also made the most important play of the game. In the first quarter, Verns picked off Arizona’s King Bronko and returned the ball thirty yards for a touchdown. It made the score 7-0, and put all of the momentum in Orange County’s favor. The entire Otter defense played well, but Verns was their best player. He rose to the challenge in one of the biggest games (at the time) in Otters history, and put up one of the better defensive efforts in recent memory. Dominic Verns, MVP of the ASFC title game. (214)


Playoff Review:

ASFC title game: In what is historically an Outlaws win, the Otters came to play. In the first quarter, Dominic Verns’ pick six of King Bronko would give Orange County the 7-0 lead, and all of the momentum. Arizona would answer with a Reg Mackworthy TD to tie us at 7. Orange County would kick two straight field goals and then the teams would trade off on a couple more to get us to 16-10 at halftime. Arizona would take the lead 17-16 in the third quarter. Orange County would respond in the fourth with a touchdown drive of their own, as the offense finally punched one in with a Leroy Jenkins TD to give a 22-17 lead. The defense would hold on and the Otters would head to the Ultimus game.

NSFC title game: The Wraiths and the Liberty would play a tough game as both were looking forward to potentially making the Ultimus. Both defense would be on point here, as the first half wasn’t too exciting. Both teams traded field goals and we went into halftime with a 3-3 score. After some more back and forth scoreless action, it would be the Liberty who would score the game’s first touchdown with 5:44 left in the quarter as Fox North scored from Clifford Rove. This seems to inspire Yellowknife as they marched down the field and answered 4 minutes later on a Akselsen to Askins TD to tie it back up at 10. After a quick defensive stop, YKW went to work again. Akselsen and Cook would combine for two 39 yard gains, one of which being a touchdown, and Yellowknife would walk away with a 17-10 lead, that they’d hold on to win.

Ultimus game: Wraiths vs Otters. The Wraiths started off well, taking a 7-0 lead on an Akselsen to Law 32 yard TD. The Otters would strike back asap, as Mike Boss tossed a 44 yard TD to Bradley Westfield, and the game was tied at 7. After Orange County got the ball back, they would get stopped in the red zone and settle for a field goal, 10-7. After another defensive stop, Boss would find Westfield again for a 35 yard TD to take a 17-7 lead. The teams would trade field goals before the half and we’d see 20-10 Otters at the half. Yellowknife would start off with another field goal to cut the Otters’ lead to 20-13. But Boss would march them down the field again, this time connecting with Robert Phelps on a 22 yard touchdown and a 27-13 lead. Another Madlad field goal would make the game 30-13. Yellowknife finally figured out the Otters’ defense and Bubba Nuck would score on a 4 yard rush to get the score 30-20. The Wraiths would add a field goal to make it 30-23. Finally, on the last drive of the game, the Wraiths had a chance to tie, but they fell short and Orange County would go on to be the Ultimus IV champions! (500)


Going To Disneyland!:

The Ultimus MVP was very easily Orange County Otters QB, Mike Boss. He threw for 425 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Otters took home their first ever Ultimus Title. Boss had TDs passes of 22, 35, and 44 yards to his awesome receivers Phelps and Westfield. As a result of his MVP award, Boss was whisked away for an all expenses paid trip to Disneyland. He hated it. There were far too many kids in the way. Even with his fast pass for all of the rides, he found himself having to wait anyway. The coolest part of the trip for him was being able to help open the new Otter exhibit in the Animal Kingdom park. Disney was excited to have him cut the ribbon, and he got to get in the exhibit and get his picture taken with some real Otters! That was actually a really fun time. The rest of his trip was spent with some friends and teammates that went with him, as they rode all of the parks’ rides and proceeded to get hammered at all of the different countries in the Epcot Center. It wasn’t exactly how he imagined his trip, but in the end he had a great time. The trip wasn’t the important part, being the Ultimus Champion is. (217)

[daBenchwarmer]

might as well do some of these.

[JohnWachter]

1.Robbed

The term "Robbed" is a tough one to justify using with football standings; f you win more games, you get into the playoffs, simple as that. But you can't help but feel for the Baltimore Hawks. After starting 5-1, or 6-2, whichever sounds more impressive in your mind, they were all but a lock for the playoffs and looked like the favorite for the #1 seed. But an absolute collapse late in the season had them finishing 7-7 despite only having a -9 point differential. On the other side of that, the Liberty finished the season winning 5 of their last 7 after starting 2-5. They finished with the same record, but with a vastly different -85 point differential. But the Liberty finished undefeated in the division, meaning they won the tiebreaker despite being the worse team on paper. Baltimore was coasting in the division, collapsed, and still came within a failed 2 point conversion away from making it to the playoffs. What would they have accomplished if they got there? We'll never know, but this team exemplified the idea of "Any given Sunday" throughout the year. Fun fact: This was one of two teams to beat the Ultimus favorite Outlaws, and was the only team to lose to the league-worst Yeti. Legitimately anything could have happened with them in the playoffs, which is where they belong.

Code:

232 words

2. Root for the Underdog

This is the year, I'm calling it right now: This is the year the Outlaws miss the Ultimus. It will be to no fault of their own, but due to the incredible play of Mike Boss, who will have the defining game of his career. This season alone, the Otters have lost to the Outlaws twice: A close game in week 1 at home, and a two score game in Arizona in week 7. So with that information, why would this game be any different? Simply this: I believe hard enough. In all actuality, the Outlaws are a league wide problem, aside from the Hawks and Wraiths, who each had one win and one 7 point loss to them, the Otters are the only team that even came close to beating the Outlaws (Aside from a low scoring affair against San Jose). King Bronko was every bit as good as Mike Boss this year, he didn't throw for nearly as many yards, but also kept from turning the ball over more frequently. On top of that, the Outlaws have the clear cut better defense, and the most talented receiver in the league. This is the game to watch, and the winner of this game will likely win it all. The Otters are due though, it just feels right, trust my gut. They got their loss out of the way, where as the Outlaws have won 8 straight and are prime for a fall. This will be a high scoring affair, and the Otters have more play makers. They have 2 guys in the top 3 for receiving yards, both of which have double digit TDs. Yes, Garden is better than both of them, he's the best in the league, but it'll be easier to take him out of the game than taking out Orange County's entire trio. Through sheer willpower, heart, and a great passing attack, the Otters will find a way to win a close, high scoring game, and shock the world.

Code:

333 Words

3. Sit down with a star (Dean Jackson, K TIJ)

Thus far, what would you say has been the defining moment of your career? Does any one kick stand out from the bunch?
Oh, for sure. Through 2 weeks I still hadn’t gotten any field goal attempts, but then week 3 came around against the coyotes and they put me in with seven seconds left in the half, down 19-0. There was basically two weeks all building to that kick, and I managed to sink it right down the middle. Obviously we still lost that game, but I feel like that’s the defining moment for me so far, cause it really set everything else in motion for the solid season I had.

You were the best kicker in the dsfl and held your own as a punter as well. Are you looking for a location where you can continue to do both or do you see yourself as just one or the other?
Well, this kind of ties in to question 5, but I really hope to go somewhere that I’m both punting and kicking. Obviously kicking is the slightly more glamorous one of those two since it’s the part that scores points directly, but punting is important to, and I want to be the one out there helping my team. As the NSFL draft approaches I’ve been contacted by a couple teams and nearly all have asked about punting versus kicking. If the team thinks it’s best for me to start with one that’s fine, but you can be sure I’ll be fighting and working for the other position. That said, I have confidence in my ability, but I’d rather not get drafted to a place like Arizona for example, because with Cristiano Ronaldo there, it won’t be much of a fight at all.

What match up or potential match up are you looking forward to the most to close out your dsfl career?
I really want to go up against Portland in the championship. When I declared for the DSFL draft, the Pythons were the first team to contact me and I really got to know their GM. For that reason, it’d be a really cool matchup for me personally. More so, however, Portland was the only team we didn’t beat during our 7 game winning streak that helped pull us into the playoffs. I want to have a career win against every team before I head up to the NSFL! (Exempting Tijuana, of course)

Aside from yourself, who's your favorite kicker in the league and why?
That’s gotta be Turk Turkleton. He may have had a bad year for extra points, but Turk is a top-notch kicker and one I really respect. Also, the only time his team has ever beaten the Outlaws, it’s been largely thanks to him, which is pretty sweet.

Do you have a specific team you're hoping to be drafted by in the nsfl?
Not really. Like I said earlier, as long as it’s a team I have the chance to fight to be the starter, I’m happy to be there and look forward to winning some championships.

Code:

517 Words

4. Playoff Series MVP

Mike Boss is the MVP of not only the Ultimus, but the entirety of the NSFL playoffs. According to the box score in the index, King Bronko was offensive MVP during their playoff loss to the Otters, but I see no way that that's justifiable. He put up over 300 yards, which is great for sure, but his team scored only 9 points and he threw 2 picks. In comparison, Boss put up only 28 yards less with 3 touchdowns and no turnovers. It was absolutely masterful, he was able to decimate a defense that has reigned dominant for multiple seasons. So after his career defining game, what does he go and do? Throws for 3 more TDs in the Ultimus for a ridiculous 439 yards. He spread the ball around great and once again carried his team to victory. Mike Boss is the top QB in the entire league with a talented receiving corp around him, and that information was known before the start of the season. Now Boss has a championship ring and an all-time great playoff performance to add to his resume. Yes he turned the ball over a couple times in the Ultimus, which helped keep it a razor close game, but look at this two game stat line and try to convince me its not deserving of the most valuable player title: 6 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 719 yards. Absolute #GOAT numbers.

Code:

237 Words

[mmfootball]

Going to Disney Land:

First Round Matchups: