Wraiths Rally in NSFC Championship Game
Many eyes were on the Wraiths as they prepared to host the NSFC Championship game. This was their second year in a row finishing with the best record in the NSFL in the regular season. Last season, the Wraiths went 13-1 only to lose at 40-31 to the Philadelphia Liberty in the NSFC Championship game. The Wraiths worked this season to shake off the choker reputation they had gained after that loss and managed to finish with the best record in the league, but this was the moment of truth. This was the Wratihs' chance to show that they were different this year and wouldn't crumble when the playoffs started.
This season the Wraiths would be taking on the Baltimore Hawks. The Wraiths managed to sweep the Hawks in the regular season series but both games were decided by a single score. The Hawks finished 7-7 and did not clinch a playoff spot until the final game of the season, but they had one of the most talented rosters in the league and had caught a lot of unlucky breaks during the season so they were a legitimate contender coming into the playoffs and a big threat to the Wraiths.
The Hawks struck first after neither team scored on their opening drive but the Hawks managed to drive down the field on their second drive as a 40 yard reception by Budda Browning got the Hawks into scoring position and Avon Blocksdale connected with Alexandre LeClair for a 13 yard touchdown to give the Hawks a 7-0 lead. The Hawks were able to get a drive going between two three and outs by the Wraiths but didn't get any points out of it as the scored remained at 7-0 entering the second quarter. However, the Hawks already had a drive going at the start of the quarter and drove down to the red zone and capped the drive off with a 3 yard touchdown run by Owen Taylor to put the Hawks up 14-0. Both offenses stalled out for a bit as the teams traded three and outs until the Hawks broke through again. Budda Browning put them in scoring position again with a 59 yard reception to put them into the red zone and Owen Taylor ran into the end zone again to put them up 21-0. The Wraiths were unable to answer back as they went three and out again on their following drive. At this point, the Wraiths looked completely helpless as they had now had 6 drives without gaining a single first down. The Wraiths caught their first break on the following drive as the Hawks missed a 48 yard field goal and the Wraiths got the ball back. The Wraiths' offense finally came to life with two big chunk plays as Mat Akselsen connected with Bailey Cook for a 29 yard catch and then found Dermot Lavelle for a 31 yard touchdown pass that got the Wraiths on the board in the final two minutes of the second half, narrowing the deficit to 21-7 entering the second half.
The Wraiths were in need of some major adjustments entering the second half. They had looked completely listless for most of the first half as 6 of their 7 drives ended without gaining a single first down and the Hawks' offense had been driving easily against them. The Wraiths faced a 14 point deficit entering the second half and would need to turn around quickly in order to get back into the game. This felt like deja vu for the Wraiths as in last season's NSFC Championship Game, they fell behind early against the Liberty with a 17-0 deficit and were never able to make up for that slow start. History looked to be repeating itself this year as the Wraiths needed a spark quickly before the Hawks could run away with the game.
The Wraiths came into the second half with guns blazing as they drove all the way down the field on the opening drive and Robby Rainey found the end zone on a 3 yard touchdown drive to cut it to a 21-14 deficit. The Hawks made it into Wraiths territory on their next drive, but the Wraiths managed to force a turnover on downs by stuffing the Hawks 1 yard short on fourth down. However, the Wraiths quickly gave the ball back to the Hawks and the Hawks managed to drive all the way down the field to set up a first and goal on the 6 yard line. The Wraiths defense was able to make a stand to keep the Hawks out of the end zone and hold them to a field goal that put the Hawks up 24-14. The Wraiths stalled out early on their next drive and gave the ball back to the Hawks, but Philippe Carter hauled in an interception to give the Wraiths possession deep in Hawks territory. Two plays later, Mat Akselsen connected with Eric Kennedy on a 30 yard touchdown pass that put the Wraiths within striking distance at 24-21. The Wraiths forced three incompletions on the following drive and got the ball back and started a drive that took them into the fourth quarter trailing by 3. They drove into Hawks territory but the drive stalled out so they settled for a field goal that tied the game up at 24-24. The Hawks drove just outside of scoring range on their next drive bringing up a third and one on the Wraiths 37 yard line. However, the Wraiths' defense made a stand and stuffed the Hawks two plays in a row to force a turnover on downs. The Wraiths began moving down the field and were confronted with a decisive play as they faced a third and ten while they were just outside of scoring range on the 36 yard line. However, they took a big shot and Mat Akselsen connected with Eric Kennedy for a 31 yard gain to put the Wraiths in position to take the lead. With two runs, Robby Rainey punched it into the endzone to give the Wraiths their first lead of the game at 31-24. Both teams stalled out quickly on their following drives as the Hawks got the ball back with about three and a half minutes remaining, giving them one more chance to tie the game back up. However, the Hawks only gained 1 yard on the first two plays and a penalty set them up with a third and fourteen on their own 10 yard line. The Wraiths' pass rush came up big with two sacks in a row to force a turnover on downs and give the ball back to the Wraiths on the 5 yard line. Robby Rainey ran in his third touchdown of the day for the dagger touchdown which put the Wraiths up 38-24 with less than two minutes left. The Hawks tried to get another drive going, but there wasn't enough time left as time expired and the Wraiths won 38-24, having gone on a 38-3 run after facing an early 21-0 deficit.
With this win, the Wraiths were able to shed off a big mental burden. Last season's NSFC Championship loss had been hanging over them all season but they were finally able to make up for it by making it back to the NSFC Championship Game and coming away with the win this time. Despite an ugly start to the game, they were able to maintain their composure and fight back into the game. However, the journey isn't over for the Wraiths yet. They still need to win one more game. This is the third time the Wraiths have played in the Ultimus game, but the first time they will be playing it at home. The Wraiths are still trying to win their first championship, so this will be the final hurdle for them to overcome as they have been able to rise above the challenges they have faced so far this season.
After playing the Orange County Otters in their two previous Ultimus appearances, the Wraiths will be taking on the New Orleans Second Line this time. The Second Line are similarly looking for their first ever championship as this season marked their first ever playoff appearance. On the surface, this is a favorable matchup for the Wraiths as they swept the regular season series against the Second Line, winning 33-7 in New Orleans and 41-13 in Yellowknife. However, these games were both in the first three weeks of the season and the Second Line have looked like a different team in the second half of the season. They are the hottest team in the league right now, winning seven of their final eight games in the regular season. Both teams have made some changes since their regular season matchup with the Second Line adding Bayley Benson and Paul DiMirio and the Wraiths adding Micah Hendrix. It will be interesting to see how the teams match up now after the changes they have made over the course of the regular season. The Wraiths will likely enter the game as favorites, given that they have home field advantage and finished with a better record than the Second Line in the regular season. However, this will be the Wraiths' toughest test yet as they look to finally bring the Ultimus trophy to Yellownknife. The Wraiths still have one more big battle ahead of them, but after last season's ending, it feels good for them to have made it this far and advance past the first round of the playoffs to the championship.
Many eyes were on the Wraiths as they prepared to host the NSFC Championship game. This was their second year in a row finishing with the best record in the NSFL in the regular season. Last season, the Wraiths went 13-1 only to lose at 40-31 to the Philadelphia Liberty in the NSFC Championship game. The Wraiths worked this season to shake off the choker reputation they had gained after that loss and managed to finish with the best record in the league, but this was the moment of truth. This was the Wratihs' chance to show that they were different this year and wouldn't crumble when the playoffs started.
This season the Wraiths would be taking on the Baltimore Hawks. The Wraiths managed to sweep the Hawks in the regular season series but both games were decided by a single score. The Hawks finished 7-7 and did not clinch a playoff spot until the final game of the season, but they had one of the most talented rosters in the league and had caught a lot of unlucky breaks during the season so they were a legitimate contender coming into the playoffs and a big threat to the Wraiths.
The Hawks struck first after neither team scored on their opening drive but the Hawks managed to drive down the field on their second drive as a 40 yard reception by Budda Browning got the Hawks into scoring position and Avon Blocksdale connected with Alexandre LeClair for a 13 yard touchdown to give the Hawks a 7-0 lead. The Hawks were able to get a drive going between two three and outs by the Wraiths but didn't get any points out of it as the scored remained at 7-0 entering the second quarter. However, the Hawks already had a drive going at the start of the quarter and drove down to the red zone and capped the drive off with a 3 yard touchdown run by Owen Taylor to put the Hawks up 14-0. Both offenses stalled out for a bit as the teams traded three and outs until the Hawks broke through again. Budda Browning put them in scoring position again with a 59 yard reception to put them into the red zone and Owen Taylor ran into the end zone again to put them up 21-0. The Wraiths were unable to answer back as they went three and out again on their following drive. At this point, the Wraiths looked completely helpless as they had now had 6 drives without gaining a single first down. The Wraiths caught their first break on the following drive as the Hawks missed a 48 yard field goal and the Wraiths got the ball back. The Wraiths' offense finally came to life with two big chunk plays as Mat Akselsen connected with Bailey Cook for a 29 yard catch and then found Dermot Lavelle for a 31 yard touchdown pass that got the Wraiths on the board in the final two minutes of the second half, narrowing the deficit to 21-7 entering the second half.
The Wraiths were in need of some major adjustments entering the second half. They had looked completely listless for most of the first half as 6 of their 7 drives ended without gaining a single first down and the Hawks' offense had been driving easily against them. The Wraiths faced a 14 point deficit entering the second half and would need to turn around quickly in order to get back into the game. This felt like deja vu for the Wraiths as in last season's NSFC Championship Game, they fell behind early against the Liberty with a 17-0 deficit and were never able to make up for that slow start. History looked to be repeating itself this year as the Wraiths needed a spark quickly before the Hawks could run away with the game.
The Wraiths came into the second half with guns blazing as they drove all the way down the field on the opening drive and Robby Rainey found the end zone on a 3 yard touchdown drive to cut it to a 21-14 deficit. The Hawks made it into Wraiths territory on their next drive, but the Wraiths managed to force a turnover on downs by stuffing the Hawks 1 yard short on fourth down. However, the Wraiths quickly gave the ball back to the Hawks and the Hawks managed to drive all the way down the field to set up a first and goal on the 6 yard line. The Wraiths defense was able to make a stand to keep the Hawks out of the end zone and hold them to a field goal that put the Hawks up 24-14. The Wraiths stalled out early on their next drive and gave the ball back to the Hawks, but Philippe Carter hauled in an interception to give the Wraiths possession deep in Hawks territory. Two plays later, Mat Akselsen connected with Eric Kennedy on a 30 yard touchdown pass that put the Wraiths within striking distance at 24-21. The Wraiths forced three incompletions on the following drive and got the ball back and started a drive that took them into the fourth quarter trailing by 3. They drove into Hawks territory but the drive stalled out so they settled for a field goal that tied the game up at 24-24. The Hawks drove just outside of scoring range on their next drive bringing up a third and one on the Wraiths 37 yard line. However, the Wraiths' defense made a stand and stuffed the Hawks two plays in a row to force a turnover on downs. The Wraiths began moving down the field and were confronted with a decisive play as they faced a third and ten while they were just outside of scoring range on the 36 yard line. However, they took a big shot and Mat Akselsen connected with Eric Kennedy for a 31 yard gain to put the Wraiths in position to take the lead. With two runs, Robby Rainey punched it into the endzone to give the Wraiths their first lead of the game at 31-24. Both teams stalled out quickly on their following drives as the Hawks got the ball back with about three and a half minutes remaining, giving them one more chance to tie the game back up. However, the Hawks only gained 1 yard on the first two plays and a penalty set them up with a third and fourteen on their own 10 yard line. The Wraiths' pass rush came up big with two sacks in a row to force a turnover on downs and give the ball back to the Wraiths on the 5 yard line. Robby Rainey ran in his third touchdown of the day for the dagger touchdown which put the Wraiths up 38-24 with less than two minutes left. The Hawks tried to get another drive going, but there wasn't enough time left as time expired and the Wraiths won 38-24, having gone on a 38-3 run after facing an early 21-0 deficit.
With this win, the Wraiths were able to shed off a big mental burden. Last season's NSFC Championship loss had been hanging over them all season but they were finally able to make up for it by making it back to the NSFC Championship Game and coming away with the win this time. Despite an ugly start to the game, they were able to maintain their composure and fight back into the game. However, the journey isn't over for the Wraiths yet. They still need to win one more game. This is the third time the Wraiths have played in the Ultimus game, but the first time they will be playing it at home. The Wraiths are still trying to win their first championship, so this will be the final hurdle for them to overcome as they have been able to rise above the challenges they have faced so far this season.
After playing the Orange County Otters in their two previous Ultimus appearances, the Wraiths will be taking on the New Orleans Second Line this time. The Second Line are similarly looking for their first ever championship as this season marked their first ever playoff appearance. On the surface, this is a favorable matchup for the Wraiths as they swept the regular season series against the Second Line, winning 33-7 in New Orleans and 41-13 in Yellowknife. However, these games were both in the first three weeks of the season and the Second Line have looked like a different team in the second half of the season. They are the hottest team in the league right now, winning seven of their final eight games in the regular season. Both teams have made some changes since their regular season matchup with the Second Line adding Bayley Benson and Paul DiMirio and the Wraiths adding Micah Hendrix. It will be interesting to see how the teams match up now after the changes they have made over the course of the regular season. The Wraiths will likely enter the game as favorites, given that they have home field advantage and finished with a better record than the Second Line in the regular season. However, this will be the Wraiths' toughest test yet as they look to finally bring the Ultimus trophy to Yellownknife. The Wraiths still have one more big battle ahead of them, but after last season's ending, it feels good for them to have made it this far and advance past the first round of the playoffs to the championship.