Ladies and gentleman, welcome again to ESPNSFL. My name is Zerin Nandrews and this is episode number 13 of our “Thoroughfare to Glory” (TTG) saga, bringing you the life of Season 18 QB prospect, the “Portuguese Phenom”, Jay “Football” Cue.
Regular season complete, 11-3 record. 2800 passing yards, 22 TDs, 7 INTs. These are the final numbers. Another great season, MVP worthy for sure. Playoffs. Kansas City Coyotes. 28-17, 236 passing yards, 3 TD passes, 0 picks, 113.5 QB Rating. Boom. Done. And now what? Another Ultimini game, now against the San Antonio Marshalls, in the Snake Pit in Portland.
Dirk Kirbstreit went to Portland to catch up to Jay before the final game of the season, the most important of them all.
Dirk - Hello again Jay! It has been a while since we talked about the season.
Jay - Indeed Dirk.
Dirk - So, after another 11 - 3 season with the Pythons, another 22 TD passes tying the record and another Ultimini game. Déja vu?
Jay - Well, I have no déja vu Matrix problems if the results are good! But yes, it has been a pretty great season for us, it started a bit wobbly, but we finally managed to get on the right track. We always knew that eventually we would find our groove, the results would go our way and we want to finish the season on a high note.
Dirk - How does it feel to be on the Ultimini game for the second season in a row?
Jay - It is great of course, but like we say in Portugal, "finals exist to be won". Last year we also had a brilliant season, but when you lose in the decider, you do not feel accomplished. It leaves a sour taste on your mouth. What is the point in winning a bunch of games, breaking records, entertaining the crowd with your plays, if in the end someone else takes the trophy home? We want to fix that this time.
Dirk - Many expected a rematch between the Pythons and the Tijuana Luchadores, but surprisingly the San Antonio Marshalls managed to beat the Ultimini holders Luchadores and will face your team in the final game.
Jay - it was only a surprise if you do not follow the DSFL, or just have an opinion based on the regular season record. The Marshalls managed to beat the Luchadores once, on their only loss, and lost 3 other games by narrow margins. Against us, it is a draw, 1 win and 1 loss each. They are definately not your average 6 - 8 team. If the Tijuana games went a little bit different, we could easily be talking about a 9 - 5 record for them. So, trust me, we know what we are facing when the game starts.
Dirk - But you are confident that this time the game will not end in heartbreak?
Jay - We go into every game knowing that if we play the way we are supposed to, if we play to our strengths, no team in the DSFL will beat us. I am finally getting my game to where it needs to be, the defense is playing great, the offense is doing fantastic stuff getting the team forward, so we can only be confident. I can even say that we are the favourites in the game. But, as we all know, that means nothing if you do not play the way you are supposed to. There is another team on the field that wants exactly the same thing you want.
Dirk - And personally, you managed to get great numbers, after what some people called a "slow start" or a "second season slump".
Jay - I have practiced the same way i did all my life, trying to improve my game every way i can. Last year i got upset with all the turnovers i caused, i feel i could have done better with that, so this season i worked a lot trying to get those numbers down, successfully.
Dirk - And like last year, you got 22 TD passes, tying the record.
Jay - I did, but honestly i do not think about it. Every game i try to get my offense in a position where they can shine and rack up the numbers. If they do well, i will to. And with the amount of weapons the Pythons have, they make my game flow without any problems, and that shows.
Dirk - And next year?
Jay - I want more of the same. All the GMs need to do is to give me weapons. I want titles, records and to leave Portland as a 3 time DSFL MVP and relocate to Arizona to start with the right foot. I have the experience, I know the game, I have played in high pressure games and I will be ready to take the reigns at Arizona when Andrew Reese retires.
Dirk - Well, nice talking to you Jay, good luck for the Ultimini, maybe the second time it's for good.
Jay - Thanks Dirk, i will see you again. As a champion.
And this is all the time we have for today, stay tuned for more interviews and information on our TTG. This was Zerin Nandrews, for ESPNSFL at the Portland Pythons training facility, goodbye, see you next time.
Regular season complete, 11-3 record. 2800 passing yards, 22 TDs, 7 INTs. These are the final numbers. Another great season, MVP worthy for sure. Playoffs. Kansas City Coyotes. 28-17, 236 passing yards, 3 TD passes, 0 picks, 113.5 QB Rating. Boom. Done. And now what? Another Ultimini game, now against the San Antonio Marshalls, in the Snake Pit in Portland.
Dirk Kirbstreit went to Portland to catch up to Jay before the final game of the season, the most important of them all.
Dirk - Hello again Jay! It has been a while since we talked about the season.
Jay - Indeed Dirk.
Dirk - So, after another 11 - 3 season with the Pythons, another 22 TD passes tying the record and another Ultimini game. Déja vu?
Jay - Well, I have no déja vu Matrix problems if the results are good! But yes, it has been a pretty great season for us, it started a bit wobbly, but we finally managed to get on the right track. We always knew that eventually we would find our groove, the results would go our way and we want to finish the season on a high note.
Dirk - How does it feel to be on the Ultimini game for the second season in a row?
Jay - It is great of course, but like we say in Portugal, "finals exist to be won". Last year we also had a brilliant season, but when you lose in the decider, you do not feel accomplished. It leaves a sour taste on your mouth. What is the point in winning a bunch of games, breaking records, entertaining the crowd with your plays, if in the end someone else takes the trophy home? We want to fix that this time.
Dirk - Many expected a rematch between the Pythons and the Tijuana Luchadores, but surprisingly the San Antonio Marshalls managed to beat the Ultimini holders Luchadores and will face your team in the final game.
Jay - it was only a surprise if you do not follow the DSFL, or just have an opinion based on the regular season record. The Marshalls managed to beat the Luchadores once, on their only loss, and lost 3 other games by narrow margins. Against us, it is a draw, 1 win and 1 loss each. They are definately not your average 6 - 8 team. If the Tijuana games went a little bit different, we could easily be talking about a 9 - 5 record for them. So, trust me, we know what we are facing when the game starts.
Dirk - But you are confident that this time the game will not end in heartbreak?
Jay - We go into every game knowing that if we play the way we are supposed to, if we play to our strengths, no team in the DSFL will beat us. I am finally getting my game to where it needs to be, the defense is playing great, the offense is doing fantastic stuff getting the team forward, so we can only be confident. I can even say that we are the favourites in the game. But, as we all know, that means nothing if you do not play the way you are supposed to. There is another team on the field that wants exactly the same thing you want.
Dirk - And personally, you managed to get great numbers, after what some people called a "slow start" or a "second season slump".
Jay - I have practiced the same way i did all my life, trying to improve my game every way i can. Last year i got upset with all the turnovers i caused, i feel i could have done better with that, so this season i worked a lot trying to get those numbers down, successfully.
Dirk - And like last year, you got 22 TD passes, tying the record.
Jay - I did, but honestly i do not think about it. Every game i try to get my offense in a position where they can shine and rack up the numbers. If they do well, i will to. And with the amount of weapons the Pythons have, they make my game flow without any problems, and that shows.
Dirk - And next year?
Jay - I want more of the same. All the GMs need to do is to give me weapons. I want titles, records and to leave Portland as a 3 time DSFL MVP and relocate to Arizona to start with the right foot. I have the experience, I know the game, I have played in high pressure games and I will be ready to take the reigns at Arizona when Andrew Reese retires.
Dirk - Well, nice talking to you Jay, good luck for the Ultimini, maybe the second time it's for good.
Jay - Thanks Dirk, i will see you again. As a champion.
And this is all the time we have for today, stay tuned for more interviews and information on our TTG. This was Zerin Nandrews, for ESPNSFL at the Portland Pythons training facility, goodbye, see you next time.
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