(S11) - Ultimus Week

[StamkosFan]

SHL PT

Robbed: The Philadelphia Liberty won half of their games, so they were not by any means a bad team. The NSFC was a much weaker division than the lopsided ASFC, so the Liberty could easily have made it; in fact, the Colorado Yeti, who squeaked into a playoff position, only had one more win than them, so it is hard to say they were more worthy. The Liberty worked very hard and saw great improvement this season, playing evenly on the road and at home. They were 4-2 against teams in their division although some of that can be attributed to the ailing Yellowknife Wraiths. Still, they succeeded against their primary competition, but it still wasn't quite enough. They narrowly were eliminated, and it can be argued that they deserved to make the playoffs, and they they were practically even with the Yetis. The Liberty finished extremely well, trying to make one final push, and won 3 of their last 4 games. They ended on a high note, winning their final game, while the Yeti lost 2 of their last 3 and lost their final game. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to overcome a rough start, which was probably just an unlucky stretch, or their preseason struggles, which sapped the momentum going into the season. It would be unsurprising, however, if they passed Colorado next season and found themselves in the playoffs.

Playoff Review: It was a great year in the NSFL for both the Hawks and Second Line, who won comfortably in their conference matchups. The Hawks may have been the slight favorites going in, as their 45-7 pounding of the Yeti was a wider margin, but you must consider that Second Line's opponent, the Otters, came in with a better record, and were still resoundingly crushed 40-13. The Hawks also had a poor start even against the Yeti, as they were tied up after the first quarter, but they closed up well, allowing the Yeti to score no points in the final three quarters. Holding a team scoreless for an entire half is a pretty impressive feat and a testament to the strength of the Hawks' defense. Second Line also started poorly in the first quarter, scoring no points and going down 7-0, but then bringing it home with 34 points between the 2nd and 3rd quarters. These were two teams that started sluggishly but finished with ferocity, so it was bound to be an interesting match-up. Second Line had the best record in the NSFL, and they had to show in the championship that those numbers didn't lie and that they truly were the best. The Hawks were clearly very close in both skill, drive, and competitiveness, forcing the game to OT to settle the winner. Baltimore came up just short, losing 42-36, and in spite of a great effort, Second Line will be the ones showing off their championship rings.

That Magic Moment: While it may have been their only score of the game, it was pretty awesome to watch the Yeti snag the first touchdown of the night in the semifinals against the Baltimore Hawks. Off the snap, Micycle McCormick tucked the ball up against his chest and scanned the field for an open man to toss it to. He picked out Mark Grau trying to flag him down, and decided to attempt a 9 yard pass. It was just an absolutely beautiful throw from Colorado quarterback Micycle McCormick, a perfect spiral that was ready to tumble out of the air into Mark Grau's waiting arms, as if it was meant to be. Grau, camped in the end zone, evading cover, sprung lightly off the turf with arms outstretched, and snatched the ball with firm, confident hands. The excitement on his face as he celebrated was contagious, and for neutral observers, this early lead made it difficult not to want to root for the underdogs. It was a perfectly executed pass and play, and it seemed even the Hawks fans were stunned into silence by this enthralling touchdown. It demonstrated that the Colorado Yeti were to be taken seriously, and that Baltimore could not merely coast into the finals. It was pretty magical for Grau to score in such a momentous game as well, a moment he will likely treasure for the rest of his career.