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+---- Thread: (S8) - Ultimus Week (/showthread.php?tid=9231)
(S8) - Ultimus Week - manicmav36 - 07-01-2018
New Talent: Write about which S8 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
Oh man, where to start on this one? Well the obvious answer that I’m sure everyone else is putting almost definitely involves the Liberty fire-sale. The Liberty, less that a season removed from being Ultimus champs, pulled a Florida Marlins and sold everything that wasn’t nailed down in hopes of preparing for the future. We saw stars like Eli Kamaka and Damien Kroetch sent to the Colorado Yeti, Paul DiMirio and Godfrey King shipped to the Second Line, Micah Hendrix dispatched to the Yellowknife Wraiths, and both Clifford Rove and Vikian Melamedov sold to the Baltimore Hawks. The once proud Liberty were now a shell of their former selves, with only one active player remaining on the roster, the GM himself. The second half of the season looked bleak for the Liberty, but that didn’t stop them from trying to make the playoffs (and nearly succeeding) one last time before the true rebuild began. However, each one of the players shipped away, save for Kamaka and Kroetch, had a solid impact for their team in the playoffs. Kamaka and Kroetch were almost able to will their squad into the playoffs as well. The great Liberty sell-off will always be remembered as a pivotal moment in eighth season of the NSFL.
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)
The Baltimore Hawks can absolutely beat the Yellowknife Wraiths in Yellowknife. Am I lying to myself? Yeah, probably. But if I say it out loud enough times, it might actually come true. First, lets look at the previous games this season. They first met in Baltimore and Yellowknife came out ahead by four. Well, that’s not ideal, but it was only four points, that’s easily fixable. For their second game, they met in Yellowknife, obviously, and the Wraiths once again came out ahead, this time by five. That’s not that bad honestly. The Wraiths lost only one game at home, and this was their next closest game. A five point deficit as the away team shows that the Hawks really can come out on top. Next, let’s look at the high-powered Hawks offense. Led by probably the most efficient QB in the history of the NSFL, Avon Blocksdale is absolutely surrounded by weapons. He has what is probably the best wide receiver corp in the NSFL. Led by Trey Willie, the early favorite for receiver of the year, his number two is LeClair, who’s talented enough to start on many teams. Their number three receiver is Budda Browning, the former number one receiver in Arizona. On the ground, the Hawks have Owen Taylor, a four-time league leading rusher and running back of the year. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the best up and coming tight end in the league, Verso L’Alto. With this much firepower on one side of the ball, surely they have a chance to pull of the upset. Right? Please say yes.
Sit-down with a star (thanks to @124715):
1) How does it feel being so close, yet narrowly missing on back-to-back championships?
I mean, it was a great season for me, winning a lot of games in Philly, then being traded and winning a lot of games in NOLA. Plus, we pulled off a huge upset beating OC in the first round of the playoffs. That was fun. So while we obviously would have liked to go all the way, there were a lot of high points, and I know we'll be primed for another deep run come next season.
2) What are the main differences between the Philly and NOLA locker rooms?
They are both great LRs, however by the time I was traded, there were only 4 people making up most of the Philly LR activity, and the NOLA LR just was more active. Plus the NOLA LR is, as marketed, overflowing with inside jokes and memes. I actually liked the Philly LR a lot, especially after being part of it for 5 1/2 seasons, but it had started to die - turns out trading away active players is a good way to kill LR talk. It was nice to be back in a popping LR again in NOLA.
3) Are you happy with your decision to leave Philly?
Well, it wasn't really my decision first of all - I got traded very, very quickly (so quickly that other GMs have actually talked to me saying they would have wanted to trade for me but were too slow) so while I could smell it happening, it was still a little bit of a shock. Although, I love the team spirit, the fans, and the LR culture in NOLA and it's just a really great place.
4) What are the franchise expectations in NOLA heading into season 9?
Ultimus or bust, baby! I think we should be seen as the strongest team going into S9. We have an offense that averaged nearly 40 points a game to close out the season (on a 7-1 streak, by the way), and there's really no reason why we wouldn't be able to continue that success into the beginning of next year. Also, our defense really tightened up over that stretch, allowing just about 17 points a game. That means we won our games by an average of 23 points, which would be unprecedented. I think everyone knows it won't be a gimme, but we should be well on our way to a championship next season.
Sit-down with a fan (thanks to @124715):
1. You were tasked with going up against a team in the playoffs that was widely regarded as a very strong team. How did you and your teammates react to the challenge?
It was a tough season, and we really had to fight to get to the playoffs this year. We knew this game would be no different. We did the best we could with our strategy preparation, but in the end, it just wasn't enough.
2. You then came out to a huge lead early in the game. What was the atmosphere like during this period?
We were over the moon! When you come into an environment like that and immediately go up by 21, it takes the crowd right out of it. We couldn't have asked for a better start to that game.
3. While you didn't win the game, you kept it close on the road. What was the general feeling about the season as a whole?
Obviously, we were happy we made it to the playoffs, but that will never be good enough for us. We expected to win 9 games, but we knew even if we did, it would be a fight to make it into the playoffs. I don't think disappointment is the right word, because we finished how many expected us to, as second in the NSFC. But with the roster we had, we should've been challenging for the Ultimus.
4. Going forward (i.e., S9) what are the expectations for you and the Hawks?
I hope Taylor does well, it'd be nice to see him on top again. But honestly (and more importantly), I believe the Hawks should be representing the NSFC in the Ultimus, and anything short of that is a let down.
(S8) - Ultimus Week - AzhekAhriman - 07-01-2018
New Talent: Mycah Hendrix was traded to the Yellowknife Wraiths as part of the Liberty teardown and proved to be an enormous asset to the spooky boys from up north as they went to claim their first Ultimus Championship. Hendrix accumulated 14 tackles, 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and 4 pass deflections in the Wraiths’ two playoff games and played an enormous part of both the comeback win against the Hawks and the decisive game against the upstart New Orleans Second Line, pairing with Boss Tweed, Marcus Kane and company to put a linebacking core on the field that rivaled any that the league has seen. The Wraiths held New Orleans to under 400 total yards in the Ultimus game, and Hendrix was right there making tackles for short gains, knocking passes down at the line, and getting after the quarterback on the blitz. In a statline that earned him consideration for Ultimus MVP and a surefire spot in the Yellowknife Wring of Honor when it’s all said and done Mycah Hendrix proved that no matter where you start the season you can make an outsized impact in the playoffs if a team has the will to make a ballsy acquisition to get them biscuits.
Playoff Series MVP: The MVP of the Ultimus Championship is none other than the chief spook of them all, Matt Akselsen. The Spooky speedster, undead arbiter of offense, and calamitous carrier of various footballs took the reigns of a Yellowknife offense that desperately wanted its first title after being robbed for 3 consecutive years. Standing in their way were the villains of the New Orleans Second Line, dastardly memeing assassins that had already foiled Mike Boss and the Orange County Otters’ plans for championship through a sneaky offensive scheme, a mischievous dog like figure playing quarterback and the trusty peg leg of their kicker Peg Leg. Askelson carved up the sickly second line exactly as their name would appear to suggest. Surging through them like the backups they were, accumulating a whopping 367 yards and a touchdown on 30 total touches while throwing now interceptions an only turning the ball over a single time when the devious second line defenders filled a balloon with grease and exploded it on Akselsen mid run. The Wraiths QB outmatched the talking dog that New Orleans’ locker room had placed their false faith in and carried the spooky boys to victory and eternal glory. For this feat, he is your MVP.
That Magic Moment: You ever see a killer whale catch its prey Jimmy? Well, if you had you would know that the combination of ferocity, speed, and a relentless desire to succeed that fails only in the face of literal nuclear weapons are all primary weapons of our aquatic friends when they are on the hunt for unsuspecting otters and drunk members of the second line that fell into the levee. In this way, Dermot Lavelle was much like a killer whale when he hauled in a 31-yard touchdown from Wraiths signal caller Matt Akselsen during the waning minutes of the first half of the NSFC title game against the Baltimore Hawks. Lavelle started what was supposed to be a sick double move, but he never did the fake because fuck it, who needs fakes when you just slammed a fifth of Baileys and a jug of milk and you can see the endzone in the space behind your eyes. He shook Delacour right out of his fuzzy slippers on the nine-route deep and then waited for Sexy Aksy to float that ball right in there all perfect like. This was the first score of the game for Yellowknife and the wake-up call that reminded the rest of the team that they were killer whales and not drunk musicians from the backup dancing crew.
Unsung Hero: So let me tell a little bit about how we run offense up here in spooky town and you can fill in the rest of the details as to who my unsung player is. In Yellowknife we throw the ball, and we throw it a fair bit, and we throw it pretty far. QB Matty Aks is down to go sexy rexy on defenses and just bomb it downfield play after play after play until he makes one happen. And through this procedure of bombing and dropping and bombing again we get down the field and into the red zone. Friend I ask you this, what do you think happens in the red zone? Well, we load up in the Yellowknife I formation and we give the ball to Robby fricking Rainey, that’s what. Even if he didn’t have all that many yards or the fancy YPC that other backs did, the man scored 5 touchdowns in two games while carrying the load volume wise and never turning the ball over. Rainey did what needed to be done in the red zone and thus earns my wholehearted endorsement for unsung hero of Yellowknife’s championship run for the feat of leading his team in scoring over the series even in the pass happy NSFL.
(S8) - Ultimus Week - Mongoose87 - 07-01-2018
Playoff Series MVP: Round 1, Yellowknife Wraiths versus Baltimore Hawks
Who won this game for the Wraiths? Look no further than the talented cornerback Dermot Lavelle. I don’t know when this man breathes, because he certainly didn’t leave the field for long enough to do it. Lavelle was impressive in all three phases of the game; offense, defense and special teams.
Defensively, no one needs to be told about Lavelle’s abilities in coverage. He’s simply one of the best in the business – don’t throw towards him. That coverage prowess can make it easy to forget just how willingly and eagerly he engages in run support. Lavelle racked up nine tackles against the Hawks, good or third on his team and in the whole game.
One special teams, Lavelle returned three kicks, totalling 69 return yards, including a return for 46 yards.
For most cornerbacks, that’s a full day’s work, but not Lavelle. He’s such an athlete, he can be an option as a receiver, as well, and what an option he was, hauling in a 31 yard pass for a touchdown.
Two way players are virtually unheard of in the modern era of football, but Lavelle played an old-school all-day type of game, and he showed the Hawks he meant business.
Playoff review:
NSFC Semifinals
Baltimore Hawks at Yellowknife Wraiths
Avon Blocksdale played his heart out, posting 420 yards on fifty attempts and Owen Taylor rushed for two touchdowns and 108 yards. Unfortunately, the rest of the Hawks failed to show for the game, as the Wraiths, lead by the remarkable all-way performance of Dermot Lavelle, steamrolled them with a final score of 38 to 24. Fly away home, Hawks.
ASFC Semifinals
New Orleans Second Line at Orange County Otters
The big easy came marching on in to the golden state for what ended up being a nail-biter of a semi-final matchup. Despite on disappointing showing from quarterback Mike Boss, the Otters tied it up late, only to have their hearts broken by the toe of Peg Leg, as he connected a 46 yard field goal with tens second left on the clock. It was a bust day for peg, as he also punted for 422 yards.
Ultimus Trophy Game
New Orleans Second Line at Yellowknife Wraiths
Borkus Maximus III and Darren Smallwood failed to play up to the big stage, posting a 70 quarterback rating and a mere 50 yards rushing, respectively, and the Second Line Defense failed keep Robby Rainey out of the end zone.
Going to Disneyland:
It will be tempting for some to give the game ball to Robby Rainey, for his two rushing touchdowns, but I like Mat Akselsen for what he did and did not do. He played mistake-free football, put up 335 yards and a touchdown.
Mat Akselsen is a cerebral quarterback, a guy who makes big plays, but doesn’t make mistakes. He keeps you on your toes, by being a threat both through the air, and on the ground. He continues that trend on his MVP-vacation to see Mr. Mouse, as he subverts all expectations and spends most of his time at Epcot (that’s the one with the big ball). Epcot is “dedicated to the celebration of human achievement”, and we’re celebrating Akselsen’s achievement as a human, today, so it’s only appropriate. To be honest, he liked the funky old Spaceship Earth, from before they updated it, better, but the new one is fun, as well. A lot of people don’t know this, but Disney actually wanted Epcot to be an urban community centered on innovation. Akselsen admires that ideal, even if the execution didn’t pan out. They’ve also got some mighty fine funnel cake, and when you’re a professional football player and MVP, you can treat yourself to some expensive funnel cake.
Unsung Hero:
As you esteemed PT graders may have noticed by now, my policy for unsung heroes is to choose a player who performed well, but saw his team lose and fail to advance. This year, that player is Greg Clegane, defensive tackle of the Orange County Otters.
Tackle can be one of the most thankless positions in football – the linebackers get the tackles, the defensive backs get the interceptions, and the tackles get muddy and bloody. Clegane was at the center of a defensive line that held star running back Darren Smallwood to a mere 41 yards. Mason Brown and his 13 tackles should write him a thank you letter.
More importantly, Clegane was absolutely disruptive in the passive game. He managed three sacks, an amazing performance, and delivered in the big game, when his team needs it the most. Each of his sacks led to the end of the drive, two of them leading shortly to punts, and one killing a redzone drive and forcing a field goal attempt. He contributed an additional tackle to those sacks.
It is always a shame when a player like Clegane plays his heart out, but sees no reward. The Otters need their offensive leaders to show up in a similar fashion, then they’ll find their way to the Ultimus.
(S8) - Ultimus Week - Raven - 07-01-2018
Quote:Playoff Review: Write a short review of the playoffs and each of the matchups. Must be completed after the Championship Game
NSFC Conference Finals
Baltimore Hawks @ Yellowknife Wraiths
The Hawks flew to the coldass city of Yellowknife to play some football. In a match that can only be described as a game with a comeback. The Hawks lead early in the game with a lead of 21-0. Which they then lose and they crash and burn thanks to the worst kicker in the league Turkleton as he misses yet another field goal attempt.
A big surge by the Wraiths in the last period is enough to tie and pass the Hawks scoreline. Wraiths go on to the finals.
ASFC Conference Finals
New Orleans Second Line @ Orange County Otters
The band is out of town as they travel to Orange County to beat up some otters. In a match that can only be described as a game of football. The Second Line take the lead at first, to which the Otters decide to tie it up, to the Second Line taking the lead again, to which the Otters tie it up again, to the Second Line who once and for all decide enough is enough and get the lead again and remain with it this time until the end of the game. Becoming the second team in the Ultimus history to win an away game. Which is pretty bonkers
Ultimus Finals
New Orleans Second Line @ Yellowknife Wraiths
The band goes into the freezing cold plains of Yellowknife to beat the Wraiths in a game of football. In a match which can only be described as a finals game of football. The second line record the first point by a field goal from Peg Leg. The Wraiths decide after that field goal that they do not want to lose this match and score some points. The Second Line also scores some points, but not enough to take the lead anymore in the game and the Wraiths end up winning the cup.
Quote:That Magic Moment: Pick one moment from a playoff game and describe what made it so amazing to watch. (Must be completed after the game you write about)
The absolute magical moment of the finals between the Wraiths and the Second Line was an absolutely mad lad run from Robby Rainey. The clock was ticking down in the first period and the Rainey man gets an absolute wild run in. 3 Yards away from the end zone, the crowd is wild, the players are ready to defend against the attacking team and the attacking players ready to fuck with the defending player. The ball is flipped back to the mad lad Akselsen, Rainey walks from behind him and cheekily takes possession of the ball and goes on a tear. All 3 yards he ran were magical and I wish I could have felt the energy Rainey must have been feeling during this run. He lifts one leg, back the ground, back to lifting the other leg, in a great running motion he runs those three yards like Forest would run. He crosses into the end zone and the crowd goes bananas. The players go wild, the Wraiths are now up 7-3 in the scoreline as the kicker Peg Leg also scored an extra point, but the real story is Rainey. How can one player be so wild and create such a magical moment in a such a big game.
Quote:Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them. Must be completed after the playoff series you write about
Robby Rainey is the unquestionable, sure, definite, beyond question, not in question, not in doubt, beyond doubt, unequivocal, indubitable, undeniable, irrefutable, indisputable, incontrovertible, incontestable, obvious, patent, manifest, evident, plain, clear, transparent, palpable, unmistakable, conclusive, recognized, confirmed, accepted, acknowledged, undisputed, undoubted, unquestioned, unchallenged, uncontested, playoff MVP man. This man was an absolute beast not during one playoff series, but during both playoff series and contributed massively to the Wraiths who eventually went and won the whole game of football for that season. The conference final against the Hawks counted not one, not two, but three whole fuckin runs from this absolute savage lad. The Ultimus final contained two absolute mad runs from him. That's five runs in total, good for 30 points. The Wraiths scored 62 points in their whole playoff campaign, so Rainey made nearly 50% of all their points. You cant argue that this lad is not playoff MVP caliber. I mean the lad deserves to go to fuckin disneyland and all that shit. I have never in my life seen someone who is more fit to be the playoff MVP than Rainey was this season. I mean even his little dance after scoring a touchdown is easily top 3 of all time playoff point score celebrations, that shit deserves to be first ballot touchdown celebration HOF.
Quote:Written: Going to Disneyland!:Who was the Ultimus MVP? Give us a rundown of their celebratory trip to Disneyland. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
Robby Rainey gets to go to fucking Disneyland, wooptie fucking doo. So he gets to fly all the way from icey coldass canada to Florida and goes to the most magical place on earth and you`ll never guess who he gets to fucking meet when he got there. All his favorite charachters from all his favorite disney movies, charchters like, the little mermaid, Donald Duck, Goofy, Princess Jasmine, Buzz Lightyears, Thumper from the bambi movies, Huey, Dewey, but not louie, because his actor had the flu and stayed at home sick and they couldnt find someone to replace the actor, Captain Hook, Mad Hatter, Queen of Hearts, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Toulouse, Mister Smee, Dopey, Doc, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Happy, Grumpy, Evil Queen, Gus Gus, Fairy Godmother, Pinocchio from the 1940 film named Pinocchio, Honest John and also Gideon, Queen Elinor, Flynn Rider, Baloo, Simba, Robin Hood, Sherrif of Nottingham, Pongo, Winnie the Pooh, Kanga & Roo, Li Shang, Belle and the Beast, Timothy Q Mouse, Esmeralda, Lilo and Stitch and even Zazu from the Lion King movies. It was truely a wonderful day for Robby Rainey and his whole family who he had brought along with him on this magical journey. Robby Rainey sure hopes he can become MVP next year again so he can go again.
(S8) - Ultimus Week - SwagSloth - 07-01-2018
New Talent: Write about which S8 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
For me, the big trade that really pushed Yellowknife over the top on their way to their first championship title was the trade for LB Micah Hendrix. Together with rookie Chad Pennington and veteran superstar Boss Tweed, Micah turns the Wraiths’ LB core into a deadly unit. The team was already known for their defense, but this took them to another level. It’s no wonder that the team was so dominant this season.
Like any blockbuster trade, this one did come at a cost, but it was a price that YKW was willing to pay. And, honestly, it was one that they could afford to pay. YKW would give up their S10 2nd round pick, a relatively small price for an impact player like Hendrix. However, despite winning a championship in S7, Philadelphia has quickly faced a rebuild as the team soon imploded in the fact of their greatest achievement. Perhaps it was a clash of personalities or just an inability to deal with the newfound target on their backs, but Philly has chosen to prep for the future and it was seemingly clear that Hendrix was not part of those plans. The move granted the Wraiths someone who could get them closer to a championship of their own, a move that obviously paid off, while helping the Liberty put together the next generation of their team.
227 Words
Championship Game Recap: Do a recap of the best play from the championship game. Must be completed after the Championship Game
The NSFL S8 Championship was one that had a lot of eyes on it. Especially because, for the first time in the league’s history after S1, the league was guaranteed a new champion. On the NSFC side, we saw the return of the multiple time NSFC Champions, the Yellowknife Wraiths. YKW has been here before in S5 and S6, but they’ve never won it. They seemed destined to return in S7, but were upset by the Liberty, who went on to win it all. On the ASFC side, the Cinderella story of the New Orleans Second Line finally led them to this hallowed ground. The team trailed the Otters all season, but were otherwise dominant. And, when it mattered, they beat the ASFC’s #1 to win this spot. The Second Line had struggled for the entirety of their franchise, but the ownership has long had a plan in place and, against the critics’ predictions, that plan finally paid off, granting them their first winning season.
The game started off 0-3 in NOLA’s favor, but the Wraiths responded with a series of rushing Touchdowns in the first and second round, bringing it to 14-3. Rainey has been efficient all season and, unfortunately for New Orleans, they were unable to stop from putting together a lead that they never properly recovered from. NOLA WR Dustin Evans coordinated with QB Borkus Maximus to bring the score to 14-10 and keep the game alive. However, while YKW is renowned for its rushing capability, it remains a team that can strike from the air at any time and they proved it once again by following up early in the third quarter with a 36-yard Touchdown pass to WR Eric Kennedy, who hauled it for an 11-point lead, bringing the score to 21-10.. Each team would go on to score a field goal, but the two defenses held their ground and the Wraiths soon found themselves finally hoisting that trophy that they’ve been chasing for so long above their heads.
334 Words
Going to Disneyland!:Who was the Ultimus MVP? Give us a rundown of their celebratory trip to Disneyland. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
It’s become cliché and sometimes a bit of a reflex to simply name the QB as the MVP of the game, but there’s a reason for that. More than any other position, the QB carries the weight of the entire team on his shoulders. The entire offense is channeled through him. We’ve seen great teams struggle because of a QB having a bad season. So, in the case of YKW QB Mat Akselsen, I think this award is well-earned.
Akselsen didn’t have the best stat line in the world. To be fair, though, his stat line doesn’t tell the whole story. Since stepping into the role so long ago, he’s been praised for his versatility, a QB that can sling it in the air and keep teams guessing with a big rush on the ground. NOLA came prepared for the rushing attack, but Akselsen still made his throws count, totaling 20 completions for 335 yards and a 36-yard passing Touchdown that saw his favorite target Eric Kennedy find the end zone. Many have referred to Akselsen as the heart and soul of this team and, when they needed him, he certainly did his part to help the Wraiths secure that first championship.
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Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
Though perhaps a few men could lay claim to a title like this, I choose to honor a man that doesn’t get the attention that he deserves, Yellowknife Wraiths’ CB Dermot Lavelle. Dermot has always been known for the long hours he puts in on the field and he has a reputation as a team player, but fans of otherwise have often found him to be polarizing. Nonetheless, the man is a great player and he proved it on championship day, walking away with 5 tackles, 2 pass deflections, and the only interception of the game. Considering the effectiveness of NOLA QB Borkus Maximus, it’s clear that this game could have easily been much closer if Dermot did not step up when his team needed him to do so. And, of course, that’s only the stats that we can track. The CBs are better known for the stats they prevent rather than the ones that show up in the box score. Dermot was able to keep NOLA’s Dustin Evans to only 81 yards, which is a rarity for a player that has put up over 1000 yards last season and averaged almost 17 yards a catch. In this case, hard work truly did pay off and we salute Dermot and all of his teammates for the effort that they put in this season.
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(S8) - Ultimus Week - Blastmeaway - 07-01-2018
Going to Disneyland!
Ultimini MVP should go to my teammate, Mr. Leg himself Kyle Corbett. Coming in off a record setting rookie regular season, Mr. Leg kept the heater going. Going 2 for 3 on extra point attempts and nailing the Ultimini Championship winning kick for the Luchadores, Kyle Corbett is the reason we won many games this season and a major factor into why we won both of our Playoff games. Corbett wasn’t asked to exercise his leg as much during the post season as he was during the regular season, but he still made the necessary field goals. Having the most accurate and strong leg in the DSFL is going to translate well for him as he gets ready to be drafted by an NSFL team. Hopefully I get the opportunity to continue playing with Kyle, @kylecorbett42 stay in Tijuana we’ve got QTs! Captain THAD Pennington had this to say about Kyle after the won the Ultimini Championship, “HOLY FUCK WE DID IT BOYS. Right Kyle Corbett, without that glorious bastard the Lucha woulda dropped another Ultimini Championship. Without that boy, THAD wouldn’t have another trophy to put on his mantle and showcase to Mad, Dad, Brad, & Chad!”
Interview with Bzerkap
What’s the first thing you’re going to do now that you’ve won the Ultimus Championship?
First thing? Strip naked in a hot tub full of the finest babes Yellowknife has to offer. Then I’m heading down to the local supermarket, buying a few handles and taking the party back to my place. We’re gonna party all night and well into the morning. So yea I’ll probably just be gaming at home. You know how it be.
How would you rate rookie Chad Pennington’s performance throughout the season?
I’d rate it A+ because he’s been a perfect team player for us the whole season, stepping right into the role we gave him without complaint. He’s been a good citizen and didn’t try too hard, or press, he let the game come to him.
How did the fans back up in Yellowknife treat the team when the plan landed and y’all deboarded the train?
Well better than we imagined. It is summer so it wasn’t freezing for once and the streets were packed with fans. I’m talking at least 50. A real boon to the city, the mayor was there too celebrating our arrival. We’re probably gonna have a parade in a few weeks, you know when it’s convenient to the city. Wouldn’t want us to get too big of a head.
How are the team meals that are provided before and after Practices and Games?
Not very good. To be honest I’m not a fan of Canadian food. Poutine can rot in a shallow grave. Although moose isn’t too bad.
(S8) - Ultimus Week - Bayley - 07-01-2018
New Talent: Write about which S8 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 biggest impact of the playoffs is going to come from the trade of Paul DiMirio from the Philadelphia Liberty to the New Orleans Second Line. When you think of all of the offensive weapons that New Orleans already has in Charlie Law, Dustin Evans, Ardie Savea, as well as Darren Smallwood out of the backfield, DiMirio is going to be a huge impact as well as he has been an impact already. In game one against the Otters, DiMirio had 6 catches for 56 yards. He had no touchdowns, but that will surely come. In the Championship game, he had 6 catches for 82 yards. Again, he needs to get into the end zone, but as Maximus begins to get chemistry with this tight end, I think this is going to be an absolutely juggernaut. I could have picked Benson Bayley who was the mid-season pickup from the Sabercats, but he did not have a huge impact. I would expect both of these acquisitions to be a huge impact to this team moving forward. I would say that either of these could be a good choice as the biggest impact. I can imagine that they will make their mark next season for sure.
Quote:Words: 204Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them. Must be completed after the playoff series you write about
In the Ultimus Game, I am going to pick a few guys that had a huge impact. It is going to be tough to choose just one MVP, so I will have to choose a few people that really stepped up. The first is going to be Charlie Law. Law had 4 catches for 110 yards with an average of 27.5 per catch. From the defensive side, Brian Mills had a fantastic game for the Second Line. I am going to have to look more in these numbers, but he has 13 tackles, 1 sack, 3 pass deflections, and he had a huge impact right in the middle of that defense. He can step up from the pass game as well as the run game. Another player was Julian O'Sullivan who had an impact there as well. He had 1 forced fumble with 7 tackles, and 2 pass deflections. What an impact player. When you think about Oakes as well, he had 7 tackles, 1 forced fumble, and 2 pass deflections. It is hard to just choose one of these as they all played their part in the offense and defense for the Second Line. Unfortunately, they were just overmatched by the Wraiths as they lost by 11.
Quote:Words: 208Going to Disneyland!:Who was the Ultimus MVP? Give us a rundown of their celebratory trip to Disneyland. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
When you look at the Ultimus Game, I already looked at the MVP for the Second Line, how about we look at the world champions. I think that after they get done looking at dude butts, they will start to look at the statistics from this game and how they were able to come out with the tough victory. We can look at multiple players who had huge impacts on the game. The first is Mat Akselsen who had over 50% completion as well as 335 yards and 1 touchdown against a team that really likes to cause turnovers. The offense of NOLA was not given short field or anything which was very beneficial. Second, Robby Rainey had 22 rushes for 75 yards and 2 Touchdowns. On the ground, it is tough to run against this team, but he gave them huge yards when they needed it. Through the air, it was Eric Kennedy who led the team with 5 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. It seemed like when they needed a big play, they got it from Kennedy. He was a huge player, so I think I would have to give him MVP. Enjoy Disney Land, you definitely deserve it.
Quote:Words: 203Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
One of the heroes of the playoffs has to be Micah Hendrix of the Yellowknife Wraiths. Now, there are so many options for people that could be this hero, but I think Hendrix deserves it. In Game One, Hendrix was limited a bit, but he had 4 tackles and 2 pass deflections. When you think about all of the stuff that a linebacker has to do, you need to think about everything through the air as well as on the ground. For the Hawks, they tried to get Owen Taylor going on the ground. They handed him the ball 31 times, so their plan was clear. They just needed to have it work. Hendrix was there to limit that. In the Championship Game, Hendrix had 6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 4 pass deflections. Yes, 4 pass deflections. That is absolutely amazing, he deserves all the credit. Hendrix has to be looked at for one of the guys that made the biggest impact. I would be surprise if there are not more people writing about him. When you think about playoffs, you need performances such as this one. Sometimes, it is not always the person that you thought it may be.
Quote:Words: 203
(S8) - Ultimus Week - caltroit_red_flames - 07-01-2018
Championship Game Recap: Do a recap of the best play from the championship game. Must be completed after the Championship Game
The Ultimus promises to be the greatest game of the year each season and what a game this year's Ultimus was! It began as a close game.
In the first quarter the game started with ball being kicked to NOLA. Before any points were scored the ball was punted a total of 5 times until the Second Line were able to score three points by field goal off the cleets of P. Leg. The game would stay 0-3 until the final 6 seconds of the first quarter when Robby Rainey ran the ball until the endzone and put the Wraiths up 7 - 3.
The second quarter again began with NOLA holding the ball and it wouldn't be until halfway through the quarter that a team would score more points. The Wraiths scored another 7 points to go up by a score of 14 - 3 again on the back of Robby Rainey, but the Second Line answered back just three minutes later to bring it back a close match at 14-10 when B. Maximus III completed a pass to D. Evans.
In the third quarter the Wraiths started with the ball and wasted no time scoring a touchdown just 2 minutes into the quarter when Mats Akelsen completed a 36 yard pass to E. Kennedy. The Wraiths were now up by a score of 21 - 10. The Wraiths would put another 3 points on the board off the cleets of N. Forfeit and the Wraiths were up by 24 - 10.
In the fourth quarter P. Leg scored another field goal to make it a score of 24 - 13. The game would end at that score and the Yellowknife Wraiths would take home the Ultimus.
Interview 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)
My answers are this post as the PT says they should be: http://nsfl.jcink.net/index.php?showtopic=...ndpost&p=132493
Going to Disneyland!:Who was the Ultimus MVP? Give us a rundown of their celebratory trip to Disneyland. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
The Ultimus MVP has to be Mat Akselsen. Passing and running for 335 yard and running for a touchdown himself, Akelsen did everything his coaches asked of him and more in the game that mattered most, the Ultimus, which got him offensive player of the game should also get him playoff MVP. On his celebratory trip to Disneyland Akelsen decided he was going to frisky in public and he wasn't shy about it. Akelsen went to nearby strip club and asked for 5 girls to come with him to Disneyland. The park staff was less than thrilled to see women dressed to sparingly in their park. Eventually they found their way into the big castle and found a staff only room where they got down to business. Some staff walked by and opened the door and were stunned at what they saw. They stood there in shock and closed the door and walked away. Eventually security stopped by the room but they had already finished the deed which was a relief for the security guards because wants to be the perspn to hand the playoff MVP of the NSFL over to the police the week after he's won the Ultimus. And that's the story of how Mat Akselsen made whoopy at Disneyland.
Unsung Hero:Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us. (Can be completed after the Ultimus game)
In my opinion rookies are always the most important players. Any team can expect their top players to perform whethed that's their quarterback or top wide receiver, but rookies tend to take a long time to develop and may not be ready during their first season. When a rookie steps in right away and is in the top 5 for players in their position during their rookie season's playoff run that is huge for any team and that can push them over the edge into being a champion team. That's why I think Chad Pennington is the unsung hero of the playoffs. During the playoffs Chad was able to get 16 tackles and 2 sacks in just 2 games. He's not a big playmaker when it comes to forced fumbles, fumble recoveries or passes defended, but those 16 tackles led his entire team during the playoffs which shows how consistent he is and how much of a leader he is on the field. His 16 tackles stopped the opposing teams from being able to gain crucial yards and forced 4th downs and turnovers several times. A rookie campaign like this may not be enough to get MVP, but that's a perfect reason to call this up and coming linebacker the unsung hero of the playoffs. Not everyone notices defense, but without this rookie the wraiths may not have won the Ultimus.
(S8) - Ultimus Week - JKortesi81 - 07-01-2018
New Talent: I’m pretty sure that its obvious that the S8 trade that had the biggest impact on the playoffs would be when New Orleans fleeced the Liberty in the trade that netted them All-Everything Tight End Paul DiMirio and Defensive Tackle Godfrey King to bolster their roster. New Orleans was perhaps just slightly behind perennial conference champions Orange County before the trade, and making this deal helped them shore up some decent holes in the offense AND the defense. As a result, the Second Line played just fantastically down the stretch, finishing only one game behind the Otters for the Home Field Advantage in the conference title game. But it wouldn’t matter, as New Orleans came into Orange County and beat the Otters 20-17 on a late field goal. King would have 2 tackles, including a sack of Mike Boss while DiMirio had 5 catches for 56 yards. In the Ultimus game, King would have 2 tackles again, but also recovered a fumble. DiMirio would go on to have 6 catches for 82 yards as the best pass catcher for New Orleans. Sure, the Second Line would lose the Ultimus 24-13, but the trade they pulled off was the reason they were even there in the first place. (208)
Playoff Series MVP: My Playoff Series MVP is going to the man who helped the Yellowknife Wraiths defeat the New Orleans Second Line in the Ultimus Game, wide receiver Eric Kennedy. Kennedy was a man among men in this one, as his 5 catches for 116 yards was tops among the players in the game. With the score close, 14-10, just after halftime. Kennedy took a pass from QB Mat Akeslesen and danced around a few defenders en route to a game changing 36 yard touchdown that would not only give the Wraiths a much needed cushion, but it also seemed to knock the air out of the upstart Second Line team. Kennedy’s plays would help set up Yellowknife scoring drives throughout the game. In the end, the Ultimus game was a very tightly played contest. No, Eric Kennedy did not have some amazing 10 catch or 200 yard game. But in a game this close, it’s the player who does the little things right consistently that gets the accolades. In this game, that was Eric Kennedy. He made the right plays consistently, and when the time was right, he made the biggest play of the game that would end up fully turning the tide for the Wraiths. (208)
Playoff Review: The Orange County Otters took on the New Orleans Second Line in one of the two conference matchups. This game was a slug fest, going back and forth throughout the game. After Erich Burnsman scored with 2:37 left to tie the game at 17, New Orleans marched down the field and Peg Leg kicked a 46 yard field goal with 10 seconds left to send NOLA to the Ultimus! Very exciting game. We had a similar story during the Yellowknife Wraiths vs Baltimore Hawks game. Baltimore was very game for this one, as the Hawks shot out to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. However, Yellowknife was far from dead in this one. Dermot Lavell would score just before the half to make the lead 21-7. Yellowknife would get two more TDs in the third quarter to have this one tied at 24 a piece heading into the 4th quarter. And it was there that the Hawks couldn’t hang anymore. Yellowknife would go on to score two more TDs and add a field goal as they would walk away with a 38-24 win. In the Ultimus, New Orleans would hang around with Yellowknife for the first half, as the Wraiths only would have a 14-10 lead at halftime. However, Eric Kennedy’s 36 yard touchdown in the third quarter would be the straw that broke the camel’s back, and the Wraiths would wrap up the title with a 24-13 victory. (240)
Hate the Player or the Game: I’m taking a different approach to this one when compared to what I’ve done in Ultimus Weeks of yesteryear. Normally, there’s a team that gets robbed along the way and should be in the playoffs over a much less worthy team. However this season? The 4 teams that made the playoffs were absolutely the teams that should have been there. It’s pretty clear that New Orleans, Orange County, and Yellowknife were all in a different tier this season. The only team that you could have considered “unworthy” would have been the Baltimore Hawks. But who could you put in over them? Certainly not the rebuilding San Jose and Arizona teams. That leaves Colorado, who finished with a worse record anyway. The only team capable of replacing Baltimore in the playoff picture would be the defending champion Philly Liberty. But even then, while both teams went 7-7, Baltimore scored more points, and allowed a lot less. The head to head games cancel out because both teams won at home by identical 31-21 scores. So it has to come down to the higher scoring offense or the better defense, and in both cases that was the Hawks. So in this case, the only people who got robbed were the fans who love making drama over teams that get in over teams that “should” be in. We got it right this season. (230)
(S8) - Ultimus Week - pazuzu - 07-01-2018
Championship Game Recap
The championship game for the Ultimini is one to go down in the history books, and I am thrilled to be a part of. Honestly this game was very intense, from a neutrals’ perspective it must have been awesome. Now from my perspective, if have never been more nervous and excited in my life. After the fact, so I’m proud of my teammates on Tijuana and could not more ecstatic for our fans as well. Now many people are going to the that the play of the game would be the game winning 50-yard field goal by Kyle Corbett as time was expiring. However, I think the play of the game would have to be the play before that set up the field goal. Penner and Jones came up clutch with 43 seconds left in the game. Jones had a 16-yard reception to put us into field goal range with time expiring. Not only that, but Without that play we would have never gotten a chance to kick that field goal, or if we had it would have been well over 60 yards. One last thing would be the 73-yard punt Sydney Spinelli had 5 minutes left in the game. Our team came up clutch in the fourth quarter to win the game. Congratulations.
The Magic Moment
I think everyone will be writing about the same moment and so will I. The Luchadores v Coyotes game is one that no one will ever forget. There are a lot of plays that stood out in the game: such as the punt return my Spinelli to tie the game, the reception to Jones to put the Luchadores in field goal range, and the game wining 50-yard field by Corbett to win the game. And that moment when Corbett kicked the field goal was something special that I will never forget. For the fans out there watching on TV and at the game it must have been worth the price of a ticket to see something like this live. I don’t remember much about that moment of the game. I just remember marching towards the sideline seeing Corbett walking onto the field and turning to see him do some practice kicks. Before we were about to line up I took a kneel and closed my eyes with my teammates. The next thing I knew we were running onto the field tackling Corbett and celebrating our victory. I have never experienced anything like that in my life. I don’t remember much about the night after the game, it was like an out of body experience after the kick was good. Everyone on the team deserved this and Corbett will always be in my history books.
Playoff Review
The DSFL playoffs this season were pretty crazy, so it would be best to talk about those games and players involved. First game of the playoffs was the Luchadores v Marshalls. The Marshalls came into the playoffs with a record breaking season going 11-3 and were up against the wild card team the Luchadores. For the Marshalls, Brown and Barnes, two of their best players did well in the game. Brown rushed for 145 yards and Barnes 6 tackles and a sack throughout the game. However, the Luchadores offense finally was able to produce and scored a late TD from Spinelli to upset the Marshall 14-13.
In the NFC the Pythons v Coyotes played to see who would face the Luchadores in the championship. After giving up a touchdown early to the Pythons, Kansas City held their ground and controlled the rest of the game, only giving up 6 more points. Mikes Miles came up clutch at the end of the third quarter to put the Coyotes up by 17 going into the fourth. Gus T.T. Showbiz and Strike held their ground for the Coyotes as they went into the championship with a 24-13 win.
Lastly, the Ultimini matchup between the Luchadores and Coyotes. What a game this was. Going into halftime the Coyotes were up 17-0 against the Luchadores. However, off the back of Penner and Metazas at Quarterback and a clutch 73-yard punt return from Spinelli put the Luchadores 2 points behind. With time running down and no time outs the Luchadores completed a 16-yard pass to Jones to bring Kyle Corbett out to win the game. Corbett lined up and won the game for the Luchadores off a 50-yard field goal with no time left. What a game for the Ultimini championship!
Unsung Hero
Well, well now that I am a two-time Ultimini Champion, I guess one could say that I am a good luck charm. Right Kif!? Now that championship game did not go a planned, I was looking to poisoning some of the Coyotes players but Kif said I was not playing a “man’s game”. Any hoot, all these team and playoff contenders have heroes on them, even though they may not wear velour like me. But there is one player in particular that stood out to me the most, even if others may not have been paying attention, and that was myself, Zapp Brannigan. I may not be the flashiest player out there but I did my duty when called upon. According to Kif’s records in both playoffs games I had a total of 12 receptions for over 70 yards as well. Also, I would like to mention my Rival Declan Harp only had 7 receptions for 60 yards in the playoffs…. so, there is that. I know I have mentioned this numerous time before but I do have the tightest end on the Luchadores… and the league, it is an accomplishment that needs to be showered in compliments and fine cheeses. However, Kif has so politely mentioned that football is a team sport and every one a part of the Luchadores is a hero… really Kif that sounds cheesy. Mmmmmm cheese. Brannigan will be ending this transmission early to satisfy his lust for cheese. Transmission over.