Robbed:
Although me being a Wraith player, it's hard to not talking about the Baltimore Hawks team. Last time, I metioned about their psychological problems when they failed to make the playoffs despite of having a good record throughout the season. The history repeated itself in this season: Yellowknife hadn't a spectacular season and Baltimore had a good 7-5 record. One more win, and they're in. But once again they couldn't get it done. They had a couple of close losses which hurt their chances: 21-24 vs Zona (despite having 21-14 lead in last quarter), 26-28 against SJ and the most hurtfull loss which came in the 13th week came against the Liberty, 28-29. They had a 28-23 lead, but the defence couldn't hold Kroetch and DiMirio. And once again, their morale was too weak and they lost in more devastating fashion to the Wraiths team, 28-41.
This team can fight for the championship, but without a strong morale they will continue to blow chance after chance by having a good offense, but consistently losing close games which will hurt their chances once again. The psycho problem is what Baltimore needs to fix in order to compete for the championship. It won't be easy in a three-way fight in the north conference, but they already proved they have a good team.
Playoff Review:
First of all, we had a NSFC finals between Philadelphia Liberty and Yellowknife Wraiths teams. Liberty has never played in finals while the Wraiths were playing in two last finals. Some people though Yellowknife would make a surprise after they could throw Baltimore out of contention, but it all was over when Philly had a 24-0 lead during the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Wraiths, they never had a good enough offense to fight properly in this match and at the end, the Liberty could save this lead and advance into the finals. 31-21 Liberty.
Meanwhile in the ASFC finals we had a two-time champs Otters playing against the Sabercats team. SJ made it into the post-season for the first time in their history. Both teams had a 11-3 record so people were waiting for the fight. And they got it. San Jose was trailing all the time, but didn't give up. OCO had a 10-0 and 20-9 leads, but San Jose managed to cut them. At the end, they had a 29-29 tie game, but in last minutes of this match SJ defence couldn't hold Yates and Madlad scored the game winning field goal. 32-29 Otters.
I have 200 words already, but I'll mention that Otters could make a three-peat by beating Philly 23-17.
Championship Game Recap:
So we had a Orange County Otters against Philadelphia Liberty finals. Philly made it into the finals for the first time, OCO was gunning for the back-to-back-to-back. I'm sure fans weren't disappointed by this matchup because this was all but a blowout. Philly started this game with the right foot by scoring a FG, but then Westfield catches a 49 yard pass and makes it 7-3. In the second Q, DiMirio put his team back to lead, but then our fav MVP came into the play. Madlad could score two FG's and OCO finished the first half with a 13-10 lead. Third quarter was very quiet (no points), but fans saw a drama in the fourth quarter. First of all, Phelps could make it 20-10 and may thought the Otters are winning it again, but right after that Harris with a ridiculous 102 yard return would put his team back within 3 points. In the next run, Madlad makes it a 6 point game, but after couple of three and outs Philly had the last offense. After a 31 yard pass from Oles many of them thought that the Liberty will make an upset. They only had 1 yard before the fourth down, but somehow Oles couldn't find Garden and OCO could take a fluke win. 23-17.
Playoff Series MVP:
You can say what you want, but I won't change my opinion from last season. The Otters may taken a fluke win, but even that wouldn't even happened without the one and only kicker MVP named Bradley T. Madlad. Let's look at the ASFC finals. 29-29 game against the Sabercats team. His team has the last offense, but they couldn't finish properly and Bradley has to make a FG kick which could determine his team's future. 34 yards isn't not that far, but his miss sends this game in OT and perhaps the Otters would've lose this matchup. But Madlad didn't miss and Orange County's dream about three-pear still lives.
Let's take a look about finals now. Ok, the Otters were very lucky, but would we had these talks if not an excpetional play by the future kicker HoF? Absolutely not. Madlad once again went 100% in field goals. His precise play gave his team 9 points. Take this away? 17-14 and Philly wins this match. I think there are not much comments left.
So yes, 6/6 FG's combined in two games would hand Orange County another cup. This team was lucky to win this match, but they're even more lucky to have this kicker like Bradley T. Madlad. MVP for sure.
Although me being a Wraith player, it's hard to not talking about the Baltimore Hawks team. Last time, I metioned about their psychological problems when they failed to make the playoffs despite of having a good record throughout the season. The history repeated itself in this season: Yellowknife hadn't a spectacular season and Baltimore had a good 7-5 record. One more win, and they're in. But once again they couldn't get it done. They had a couple of close losses which hurt their chances: 21-24 vs Zona (despite having 21-14 lead in last quarter), 26-28 against SJ and the most hurtfull loss which came in the 13th week came against the Liberty, 28-29. They had a 28-23 lead, but the defence couldn't hold Kroetch and DiMirio. And once again, their morale was too weak and they lost in more devastating fashion to the Wraiths team, 28-41.
This team can fight for the championship, but without a strong morale they will continue to blow chance after chance by having a good offense, but consistently losing close games which will hurt their chances once again. The psycho problem is what Baltimore needs to fix in order to compete for the championship. It won't be easy in a three-way fight in the north conference, but they already proved they have a good team.
Playoff Review:
First of all, we had a NSFC finals between Philadelphia Liberty and Yellowknife Wraiths teams. Liberty has never played in finals while the Wraiths were playing in two last finals. Some people though Yellowknife would make a surprise after they could throw Baltimore out of contention, but it all was over when Philly had a 24-0 lead during the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Wraiths, they never had a good enough offense to fight properly in this match and at the end, the Liberty could save this lead and advance into the finals. 31-21 Liberty.
Meanwhile in the ASFC finals we had a two-time champs Otters playing against the Sabercats team. SJ made it into the post-season for the first time in their history. Both teams had a 11-3 record so people were waiting for the fight. And they got it. San Jose was trailing all the time, but didn't give up. OCO had a 10-0 and 20-9 leads, but San Jose managed to cut them. At the end, they had a 29-29 tie game, but in last minutes of this match SJ defence couldn't hold Yates and Madlad scored the game winning field goal. 32-29 Otters.
I have 200 words already, but I'll mention that Otters could make a three-peat by beating Philly 23-17.
Championship Game Recap:
So we had a Orange County Otters against Philadelphia Liberty finals. Philly made it into the finals for the first time, OCO was gunning for the back-to-back-to-back. I'm sure fans weren't disappointed by this matchup because this was all but a blowout. Philly started this game with the right foot by scoring a FG, but then Westfield catches a 49 yard pass and makes it 7-3. In the second Q, DiMirio put his team back to lead, but then our fav MVP came into the play. Madlad could score two FG's and OCO finished the first half with a 13-10 lead. Third quarter was very quiet (no points), but fans saw a drama in the fourth quarter. First of all, Phelps could make it 20-10 and may thought the Otters are winning it again, but right after that Harris with a ridiculous 102 yard return would put his team back within 3 points. In the next run, Madlad makes it a 6 point game, but after couple of three and outs Philly had the last offense. After a 31 yard pass from Oles many of them thought that the Liberty will make an upset. They only had 1 yard before the fourth down, but somehow Oles couldn't find Garden and OCO could take a fluke win. 23-17.
Playoff Series MVP:
You can say what you want, but I won't change my opinion from last season. The Otters may taken a fluke win, but even that wouldn't even happened without the one and only kicker MVP named Bradley T. Madlad. Let's look at the ASFC finals. 29-29 game against the Sabercats team. His team has the last offense, but they couldn't finish properly and Bradley has to make a FG kick which could determine his team's future. 34 yards isn't not that far, but his miss sends this game in OT and perhaps the Otters would've lose this matchup. But Madlad didn't miss and Orange County's dream about three-pear still lives.
Let's take a look about finals now. Ok, the Otters were very lucky, but would we had these talks if not an excpetional play by the future kicker HoF? Absolutely not. Madlad once again went 100% in field goals. His precise play gave his team 9 points. Take this away? 17-14 and Philly wins this match. I think there are not much comments left.
So yes, 6/6 FG's combined in two games would hand Orange County another cup. This team was lucky to win this match, but they're even more lucky to have this kicker like Bradley T. Madlad. MVP for sure.
