Playoff Reviews
In a DSFL season full of surprises, the Ultimini was much of the same. Going into the playoffs the Tijuana Luchadores looked to be the favorites to win it all before they were easily dispatched by the Palm Beach Solar Bears in the SFC Championship game. The score ended up being 34-23, but it wasn't even as close as the score suggests. On the other side, the Pythons were definite favorites in the NFC, and they proved as such taking out the Kansas City Coyotes 31-7. When the Pythons and Solar Bears met in the Ultimini the predictions were pretty evenly split. Even though the Solar Bears had the home field advantage, some people believed the Pythons' stellar defense would be able to hold them off. Ultimately it didn't end up happening, and the Solar Bears ended up winning 37-17, but the game was actually much closer than the 20 point margin suggests. The biggest problem that the Pythons had during the Ultimini was the streakiness of their offense. The Solar Bears started the game with 17 unanswered points and ended the game with 17 unanswered points. You can blame the defense all you want, but if the offense can't stay on the field for more than 2 minutes at a time the defense will ALWAYS suffer because of it.
All About The QBs
It's hard to get excited about QB play in the DSFL, and this year's Ultimini was more proof of that. Franklin Armstrong of the Portland Pythons had an abysmal championship game with a stat line of 12 completions on 30 attempts for 95 yards and 1 interception with a passer rating of 34.7. It's hard to fault him or any other DSFL QB though because every single potential wide receiver on the planet puts too much emphasis on making themselves as fast as possible when they should learn to catch first. Portland wide receivers likely had 10 or more dropped passes, so what could Armstrong really have done better? Much of the same goes for the Solar Bears QB Cole. Although he did better than Armstrong, it was by a very little amount. He ended the Ultimini with 19 completions on 40 attempts for 236 yards and 2 interceptions with a passer rating of 45.4. Also terrible. Both quarterbacks were at best attempting to be game managers, and somehow both of them failed at that. They say you can't win without a run game in the DSFL, and after these performances in the Ultimini by both QBs, if I were a DSFL GM I would just straight never pass the ball.
Next Year
The Portland Pythons fell just short of defending their Ultimini title in season 15 of the DSFL. If you kept a close eye on the team during the regular season you might actually be surprised that they made it to the Ultimini at all. The Pythons were carried by their stalwart defense, led by Lanzer Grievous with his out of this world 199 tackles. Their new rookie LB Blake Faux surprised many by racking up 125 tackles himself. It's a wonder he managed that many with Grievous taking 199 of them. Portland was a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball away from winning the Ultimini. I think we can all agree on that. Depending on call ups and how the NSFL draft goes (with 2 expansion teams drafting for the second time), Portland's defense might be just as thing going into season 16 of the DSFL. Let's say that doesn't happen and the Pythons defense is around the same level next season. In order to reclaim the Ultimini title, Portland will have to draft well and focus on the offensive side of the ball in the draft. Hopefully they end up grabbing a wide receiver who can actually catch the ball. That might their only chance.
That Magic Moment
Even though the Portland Pythons ended up losing to the Palm Beach Solar Bears, there is a clear play that was absolutely magical and will be on highlight videos until the end of time. That play occurred with 13:38 remaining in the 4th quarter. The Pythons' offense was absolutely anemic going into the 4th quarter having only scored 10 points up to that point when Sam Torrenson took it upon himself to make the game interesting by scoring a 98 yard touchdown run. It put the game within 3 points and at that time it looked like the Pythons were getting ready to make a run at the titled when it mattered the most. Torrenson broke multiple tackles on the play and once he reached the 50 yard line he was already gone. He ended up breaking further away from the defenders the further down the field he got. It was a sight to behold. Unfortunately for the Portland Pythons and their faithful fans, it ultimately meant nothing as they would go on to lose 37-17 on the back of the Solar Bears scoring 17 unanswered following the 98 yard touchdown run. Even though that is the case, I'm sure Torrenson's highlight run will be remembered for years to come.
In a DSFL season full of surprises, the Ultimini was much of the same. Going into the playoffs the Tijuana Luchadores looked to be the favorites to win it all before they were easily dispatched by the Palm Beach Solar Bears in the SFC Championship game. The score ended up being 34-23, but it wasn't even as close as the score suggests. On the other side, the Pythons were definite favorites in the NFC, and they proved as such taking out the Kansas City Coyotes 31-7. When the Pythons and Solar Bears met in the Ultimini the predictions were pretty evenly split. Even though the Solar Bears had the home field advantage, some people believed the Pythons' stellar defense would be able to hold them off. Ultimately it didn't end up happening, and the Solar Bears ended up winning 37-17, but the game was actually much closer than the 20 point margin suggests. The biggest problem that the Pythons had during the Ultimini was the streakiness of their offense. The Solar Bears started the game with 17 unanswered points and ended the game with 17 unanswered points. You can blame the defense all you want, but if the offense can't stay on the field for more than 2 minutes at a time the defense will ALWAYS suffer because of it.
All About The QBs
It's hard to get excited about QB play in the DSFL, and this year's Ultimini was more proof of that. Franklin Armstrong of the Portland Pythons had an abysmal championship game with a stat line of 12 completions on 30 attempts for 95 yards and 1 interception with a passer rating of 34.7. It's hard to fault him or any other DSFL QB though because every single potential wide receiver on the planet puts too much emphasis on making themselves as fast as possible when they should learn to catch first. Portland wide receivers likely had 10 or more dropped passes, so what could Armstrong really have done better? Much of the same goes for the Solar Bears QB Cole. Although he did better than Armstrong, it was by a very little amount. He ended the Ultimini with 19 completions on 40 attempts for 236 yards and 2 interceptions with a passer rating of 45.4. Also terrible. Both quarterbacks were at best attempting to be game managers, and somehow both of them failed at that. They say you can't win without a run game in the DSFL, and after these performances in the Ultimini by both QBs, if I were a DSFL GM I would just straight never pass the ball.
Next Year
The Portland Pythons fell just short of defending their Ultimini title in season 15 of the DSFL. If you kept a close eye on the team during the regular season you might actually be surprised that they made it to the Ultimini at all. The Pythons were carried by their stalwart defense, led by Lanzer Grievous with his out of this world 199 tackles. Their new rookie LB Blake Faux surprised many by racking up 125 tackles himself. It's a wonder he managed that many with Grievous taking 199 of them. Portland was a playmaker on the offensive side of the ball away from winning the Ultimini. I think we can all agree on that. Depending on call ups and how the NSFL draft goes (with 2 expansion teams drafting for the second time), Portland's defense might be just as thing going into season 16 of the DSFL. Let's say that doesn't happen and the Pythons defense is around the same level next season. In order to reclaim the Ultimini title, Portland will have to draft well and focus on the offensive side of the ball in the draft. Hopefully they end up grabbing a wide receiver who can actually catch the ball. That might their only chance.
That Magic Moment
Even though the Portland Pythons ended up losing to the Palm Beach Solar Bears, there is a clear play that was absolutely magical and will be on highlight videos until the end of time. That play occurred with 13:38 remaining in the 4th quarter. The Pythons' offense was absolutely anemic going into the 4th quarter having only scored 10 points up to that point when Sam Torrenson took it upon himself to make the game interesting by scoring a 98 yard touchdown run. It put the game within 3 points and at that time it looked like the Pythons were getting ready to make a run at the titled when it mattered the most. Torrenson broke multiple tackles on the play and once he reached the 50 yard line he was already gone. He ended up breaking further away from the defenders the further down the field he got. It was a sight to behold. Unfortunately for the Portland Pythons and their faithful fans, it ultimately meant nothing as they would go on to lose 37-17 on the back of the Solar Bears scoring 17 unanswered following the 98 yard touchdown run. Even though that is the case, I'm sure Torrenson's highlight run will be remembered for years to come.
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