07-20-2020, 08:11 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-27-2020, 10:31 AM by KamiCommie.)
2) This week will see the S24 Ultimus and Ultimini races begin in earnest. In 800 words or more, recount any of the previous playoff cycles of either league. How did each team arrive at the playoffs? Were there any dark horse or Cinderella teams that went unexpectedly far, or any presumptive favorites that fell flat? How did the title game play out, and which players made their mark on the field? Tell the story of those playoffs as completely as you can. Do not simply recount your own experience in those playoffs or that of a singular team.
Let us all go back to the distant past that is Season 21 in the Developmental Simulation Football League, taking a look at the Tijuana Luchadores. That season, the Tujuana Luchadores got off to a hot start with a 5-3 record just over half walk through the season. The team was winning handily, and it would seem that they were due to make a long run in the playoffs and possibly contend for a title. Then the unthinkable happened. Tijuana went on a four game losing streak, and ultimately had their playoff dreams destroyed with Norfolk’s week 14 win in Dallas against the Bird dogs. Tijuana went on to finish the seasons 6-8, wondering what could have been.
That brings up to Season 22. Tijuana was hungry, and looking to show everyone that they were again the team to beat. But unfortunately, their season did not start off as they would have hoped. Week 1 was a shot at revenge against the same team that eliminated them from the playoffs the year before, the Norfolk Sea Wolves. The game was a low scoring affair, with the Sea Wolves edging out a 17-6 victory on the road in Tijuana. Tijuana went on to lose the following in London against the Royals 39-16.
Now already two weeks into Season 22, the Luchadores of Tijuana had dug themselves a deep hole, starting the season 0-2. What was shaping up to be a season of redemption, was turning out to be more of an exercise in futility. But the season is much longer than two weeks, and Tijuana caught fire! The Luchadores went on to win 10 of the final 12 games of the season, only losing on the road to both the Portland Pythons 26-21 and the Coyotes of Kansas City, 23-20. Tijuana finished the season at 10-4, securing the number one overall seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Once again, the Tijuana Luchadores had an opportunity for revenge against the Norfolk Sea Wolves, only this time the stakes were much higher. The winner would move onto the Developmental Simulation Football League championship game with a chance to go home with the Ultimini trophy. While the other team simply goes home, coming up just short of their ultimate goal for the season.
The semifinals between the Luchadores and the Sea Wolves was a low scoring, back and forth affair. Neither team could get much traction early on with each team punting the ball away on their first possession. After a short second possession by Norfolk, Tijuana managed to drive down the field and score the first points of the game with a 30 yard field goal. It didn’t take long for Norfolk to respond, scoring the first touchdown of the contest shortly into the second quarter. Tijuana responded with another field goal of their own, but was unable to reach the end zone in the first half, failing to take the lead into halftime after a missed field goal. The score remained 7-6 throughout the third quarter, as neither team was able to get much going. Norfolk snagged a couple of interceptions but was unable to translate them into any points. Shortly into the fourth quarter, Norfolk started to pull away, scoring their second touchdown of the contest, but missing the extra point, bringing the score to 13-6. With seven minutes left in the game, Tijuana got the ball with one last chance to tie it up, and with two minutes left they finally broke the goal line, tying it up at 13 with two minutes left. The Sea Wolves managed to drive down into field goal range, and with 10 seconds left in the game lined up for the potential game winner. The 48 yard kick was no good, and the semifinal match would move on to sudden death overtime.
Norfolk received the overtime kickoff, promptly moved the ball down the field, and again put themselves in field goal range. Once again, Norfolk had the opportunity to win the game and move onto the next round. And once again, they missed. Tijuana was given a golden opportunity to put Norfolk away for good, and they did not let the opportunity pass. Driving from their own 28 yard line, they moved the ball to Norfolk’s 19. From there, roughly four minutes left in overtime, they hit the walk off. Tijuana would move onto the championship round against the London Royals with the final score of 16-13.
The Ultimini was once again a low scoring defensive battle, with both teams only managing a field goal each through the first half. The passing game continued to give Tijuana trouble, as they threw another two interceptions. But thanks to a solid defense, they were able to limit the damage. Tijuana would receive the second half kick off and would proceed to grind out a 91 yard drive for the only touchdown of the game, putting them ahead 10-3. Both defenses showed up to play, as the next five drives ended with three and outs, bringing us to the fourth quarter. London drove down to the nine yard line of Tujuana, but was unable to get into the end zone, settling for their second field goal. From there, the defense again took over the game for both sides, resulting in a 10-6 victory for the Tijuana Luchadores, becoming the Season 22 Ultimini Champions.
Let us all go back to the distant past that is Season 21 in the Developmental Simulation Football League, taking a look at the Tijuana Luchadores. That season, the Tujuana Luchadores got off to a hot start with a 5-3 record just over half walk through the season. The team was winning handily, and it would seem that they were due to make a long run in the playoffs and possibly contend for a title. Then the unthinkable happened. Tijuana went on a four game losing streak, and ultimately had their playoff dreams destroyed with Norfolk’s week 14 win in Dallas against the Bird dogs. Tijuana went on to finish the seasons 6-8, wondering what could have been.
That brings up to Season 22. Tijuana was hungry, and looking to show everyone that they were again the team to beat. But unfortunately, their season did not start off as they would have hoped. Week 1 was a shot at revenge against the same team that eliminated them from the playoffs the year before, the Norfolk Sea Wolves. The game was a low scoring affair, with the Sea Wolves edging out a 17-6 victory on the road in Tijuana. Tijuana went on to lose the following in London against the Royals 39-16.
Now already two weeks into Season 22, the Luchadores of Tijuana had dug themselves a deep hole, starting the season 0-2. What was shaping up to be a season of redemption, was turning out to be more of an exercise in futility. But the season is much longer than two weeks, and Tijuana caught fire! The Luchadores went on to win 10 of the final 12 games of the season, only losing on the road to both the Portland Pythons 26-21 and the Coyotes of Kansas City, 23-20. Tijuana finished the season at 10-4, securing the number one overall seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
Once again, the Tijuana Luchadores had an opportunity for revenge against the Norfolk Sea Wolves, only this time the stakes were much higher. The winner would move onto the Developmental Simulation Football League championship game with a chance to go home with the Ultimini trophy. While the other team simply goes home, coming up just short of their ultimate goal for the season.
The semifinals between the Luchadores and the Sea Wolves was a low scoring, back and forth affair. Neither team could get much traction early on with each team punting the ball away on their first possession. After a short second possession by Norfolk, Tijuana managed to drive down the field and score the first points of the game with a 30 yard field goal. It didn’t take long for Norfolk to respond, scoring the first touchdown of the contest shortly into the second quarter. Tijuana responded with another field goal of their own, but was unable to reach the end zone in the first half, failing to take the lead into halftime after a missed field goal. The score remained 7-6 throughout the third quarter, as neither team was able to get much going. Norfolk snagged a couple of interceptions but was unable to translate them into any points. Shortly into the fourth quarter, Norfolk started to pull away, scoring their second touchdown of the contest, but missing the extra point, bringing the score to 13-6. With seven minutes left in the game, Tijuana got the ball with one last chance to tie it up, and with two minutes left they finally broke the goal line, tying it up at 13 with two minutes left. The Sea Wolves managed to drive down into field goal range, and with 10 seconds left in the game lined up for the potential game winner. The 48 yard kick was no good, and the semifinal match would move on to sudden death overtime.
Norfolk received the overtime kickoff, promptly moved the ball down the field, and again put themselves in field goal range. Once again, Norfolk had the opportunity to win the game and move onto the next round. And once again, they missed. Tijuana was given a golden opportunity to put Norfolk away for good, and they did not let the opportunity pass. Driving from their own 28 yard line, they moved the ball to Norfolk’s 19. From there, roughly four minutes left in overtime, they hit the walk off. Tijuana would move onto the championship round against the London Royals with the final score of 16-13.
The Ultimini was once again a low scoring defensive battle, with both teams only managing a field goal each through the first half. The passing game continued to give Tijuana trouble, as they threw another two interceptions. But thanks to a solid defense, they were able to limit the damage. Tijuana would receive the second half kick off and would proceed to grind out a 91 yard drive for the only touchdown of the game, putting them ahead 10-3. Both defenses showed up to play, as the next five drives ended with three and outs, bringing us to the fourth quarter. London drove down to the nine yard line of Tujuana, but was unable to get into the end zone, settling for their second field goal. From there, the defense again took over the game for both sides, resulting in a 10-6 victory for the Tijuana Luchadores, becoming the Season 22 Ultimini Champions.
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