01-29-2018, 09:42 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-02-2018, 04:09 PM by ExemplaryChad.)
Playoff Series MVP: Choose an MVP for one of the playoff series and write about why you chose them.
(This was written before the re-sim, so apologies that it doesn't match the Index.)
Budda Browning, who knew? He’s been a solid player since he entered the league in season 3, but he hasn’t often been dominant. He finished the regular season ninth in receptions, fifth in yards, and eleventh in touchdowns. These are good numbers, but they’re far from staggering. In the Outlaws’ matchup versus the reigning champs, the Orange County Otters, he finished the game with 6 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. This was certainly a day where he wasn’t the only receiver to shine, as King Bronko threw for almost 500 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, both of Browning’s touchdowns came in the first half, when the game was still close. His catches took the wind out of the sails of the Otters, pulling the game out of reach before it had even really started. He wasn’t ever-present in the second half, but he was still making enough plays to keep the game well out of reach.
Essentially, I’m not making the case that Budda Browning was the sole reason that the Outlaws pulled off this stunning upset; he wasn’t. But he was a huge part of it, and it wouldn’t have been possible without him. He’s my MVP for the Outlaws-Otters series.
Word count: 204
That Magic Moment: Pick one moment from a playoff game and describe what made it so amazing to watch.
The Hawks-Wraiths matchup in Yellowknife was all set to be a close game, hotly contested in the time leading up to it. Once gametime finally rolled around, it didn’t disappoint. The game stayed close throughout, and either team had a legitimate shot at coming out on top. As was expected, the teams mirrored each other in so many ways, and the end result was a game that could go down as a classic in the annals of the NSFL.
It seems fitting, then, that the biggest play of the game came with only 1:14 left in the game. Hawks star running back Owen Taylor had come out of the game for the late drive after posting significant numbers receiving and carrying a heavy workload on the previous drives. His backup, Dieter Koch, hadn’t touched the ball much. A few plays earlier, Koch had taken a big hit from Wraith Luke Tiernan and coughed the ball up, but he had recovered his own fumble. On this play, however, with the Hawks attempting to overcome a nine point deficit from the 3-yard line, he wouldn’t be so lucky. Speedy, hard-hitting safety Cameron Taylor forced the ball out and recovered the fumble, stymying any hopes for a miracle comeback and ending the game. It was a terrible moment for the backup running back Koch, but a great one for Taylor, and an even better one for fans of the NSFL.
Word count: 238
Unsung Hero: Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us.
To those in the know, it’s no surprise that Dermot Lavelle performed well in the playoffs. He’s consistently a leader on defense for the Yellowknife Wraiths, and his play is one that cornerbacks all over the league look to him as for how to play the position.
But it’s easy to overlook the impact he had in the playoffs because, ultimately, he played for the losing team. While the Otters handily defeated the Wraiths in the Ultimus Championship this season, there are players on the Wraiths who still deserve some recognition, and even played well in that defeat. Kennedy and Cook, Kane and Ridley spring to mind. But Lavelle is the one who played up to, and perhaps even beyond, the lofty expectations placed on him.
He really shined in the matchup against the Hawks, he racked up eight tackles (second on the team), two passes defended, and one interception. This is truly a great game, and the picture of someone who was able to put the team on his back and carry that defense to victory. In the matchup against the Wraiths, his stats weren’t nearly as gaudy, but his performance was still strong. He notched three passes defended and a couple of tackles. This wouldn’t be enough to win the game, but it showed that he was active in the defensive backfield. Westfield exploded against them for 141 yards, but this was a total defensive failure, not one placed on Lavelle. In short, even though his team lost in the end, Dermot Lavelle played like a champion.
Word count: 259
Hate the player or the game: Tell us which team made the playoffs and shouldn't have, or which team didn't and should have?
With half of the league making the playoffs every year, it’s pretty likely that there are going to be tiers of teams that are separated in that field. This year, the Wraiths and Otters made a pretty clear case that they should be there, and no one can really question that. Their record and their history of play throughout the season showed that they belonged and, as expected, they were represented in the Ultimus.
Unfortunately, outside that top tier of teams laid two teams that probably shouldn’t have been there. That’s not to say there was anyone else who should have been there; there really wasn’t. But the Hawks and Outlaws were simply outmatched in the conference championships. They both had winning records going into the playoffs, which was definitely a plus for them. They both also had other teams pretty hot on their heels to get in. Still, my contention is not that they didn’t do the work to get there. It’s just that they were both so overmatched once they got there that the question of whether they should’ve been there to start has to be asked. It’s hard to tell if the Liberty or the Cats would have done any better, but it would have been hard to do much worse.
Word count: 214
(This was written before the re-sim, so apologies that it doesn't match the Index.)
Budda Browning, who knew? He’s been a solid player since he entered the league in season 3, but he hasn’t often been dominant. He finished the regular season ninth in receptions, fifth in yards, and eleventh in touchdowns. These are good numbers, but they’re far from staggering. In the Outlaws’ matchup versus the reigning champs, the Orange County Otters, he finished the game with 6 receptions for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns. This was certainly a day where he wasn’t the only receiver to shine, as King Bronko threw for almost 500 yards and 5 touchdowns. However, both of Browning’s touchdowns came in the first half, when the game was still close. His catches took the wind out of the sails of the Otters, pulling the game out of reach before it had even really started. He wasn’t ever-present in the second half, but he was still making enough plays to keep the game well out of reach.
Essentially, I’m not making the case that Budda Browning was the sole reason that the Outlaws pulled off this stunning upset; he wasn’t. But he was a huge part of it, and it wouldn’t have been possible without him. He’s my MVP for the Outlaws-Otters series.
Word count: 204
That Magic Moment: Pick one moment from a playoff game and describe what made it so amazing to watch.
The Hawks-Wraiths matchup in Yellowknife was all set to be a close game, hotly contested in the time leading up to it. Once gametime finally rolled around, it didn’t disappoint. The game stayed close throughout, and either team had a legitimate shot at coming out on top. As was expected, the teams mirrored each other in so many ways, and the end result was a game that could go down as a classic in the annals of the NSFL.
It seems fitting, then, that the biggest play of the game came with only 1:14 left in the game. Hawks star running back Owen Taylor had come out of the game for the late drive after posting significant numbers receiving and carrying a heavy workload on the previous drives. His backup, Dieter Koch, hadn’t touched the ball much. A few plays earlier, Koch had taken a big hit from Wraith Luke Tiernan and coughed the ball up, but he had recovered his own fumble. On this play, however, with the Hawks attempting to overcome a nine point deficit from the 3-yard line, he wouldn’t be so lucky. Speedy, hard-hitting safety Cameron Taylor forced the ball out and recovered the fumble, stymying any hopes for a miracle comeback and ending the game. It was a terrible moment for the backup running back Koch, but a great one for Taylor, and an even better one for fans of the NSFL.
Word count: 238
Unsung Hero: Who was the unsung hero of the playoffs, convince us.
To those in the know, it’s no surprise that Dermot Lavelle performed well in the playoffs. He’s consistently a leader on defense for the Yellowknife Wraiths, and his play is one that cornerbacks all over the league look to him as for how to play the position.
But it’s easy to overlook the impact he had in the playoffs because, ultimately, he played for the losing team. While the Otters handily defeated the Wraiths in the Ultimus Championship this season, there are players on the Wraiths who still deserve some recognition, and even played well in that defeat. Kennedy and Cook, Kane and Ridley spring to mind. But Lavelle is the one who played up to, and perhaps even beyond, the lofty expectations placed on him.
He really shined in the matchup against the Hawks, he racked up eight tackles (second on the team), two passes defended, and one interception. This is truly a great game, and the picture of someone who was able to put the team on his back and carry that defense to victory. In the matchup against the Wraiths, his stats weren’t nearly as gaudy, but his performance was still strong. He notched three passes defended and a couple of tackles. This wouldn’t be enough to win the game, but it showed that he was active in the defensive backfield. Westfield exploded against them for 141 yards, but this was a total defensive failure, not one placed on Lavelle. In short, even though his team lost in the end, Dermot Lavelle played like a champion.
Word count: 259
Hate the player or the game: Tell us which team made the playoffs and shouldn't have, or which team didn't and should have?
With half of the league making the playoffs every year, it’s pretty likely that there are going to be tiers of teams that are separated in that field. This year, the Wraiths and Otters made a pretty clear case that they should be there, and no one can really question that. Their record and their history of play throughout the season showed that they belonged and, as expected, they were represented in the Ultimus.
Unfortunately, outside that top tier of teams laid two teams that probably shouldn’t have been there. That’s not to say there was anyone else who should have been there; there really wasn’t. But the Hawks and Outlaws were simply outmatched in the conference championships. They both had winning records going into the playoffs, which was definitely a plus for them. They both also had other teams pretty hot on their heels to get in. Still, my contention is not that they didn’t do the work to get there. It’s just that they were both so overmatched once they got there that the question of whether they should’ve been there to start has to be asked. It’s hard to tell if the Liberty or the Cats would have done any better, but it would have been hard to do much worse.
Word count: 214
![[Image: cHAD.jpg]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/319945672310784010/405609245862658059/cHAD.jpg)
