(S24) - PT 2 - Rising Stocks

[katarn22]

Having been in the league for several weeks now, I am getting to know the DSFL fairly well. That being said, I am choosing to write about an ISFL team that has certainly surpassed expectations. Although I am most certainly not the only person to be writing about them, the Sarasota Sailfish simply cannot go unnoticed, especially since they are currently standing at 5-0, the only remaining undefeated team in the ISFL. That record puts them 3 wins off of their total from all of last season with another 11 games to play! Additionally 4 of their 5 wins have been by more than one possession (the lone game not fitting this criteria was a 22-19 victory over the defending Ultimus champions, the Yellowknife Wraiths).

So what is driving their success? I believe like any good team it is a combination of talent and game planning on both sides of the ball. While I could delve deeper into many aspects of the team, one player I particularly want to focus on is linebacker HaHa Mango-Panda. Their stats are impressive, to say the least. Currently tied for most sacks in the ISFL with 5, Mango-Panda also is tied for second place in the league with 2 interceptions - as a linebacker. Couple this with a respectable 38 tackles, 7 passes defended, and a forced fumble and recovery and we can understand why the Sailfish defense has not let up more than 19 points in a game this season yet. If player like Mango-Panda can keep tallying up the stats, the wins will keep coming for Sarasota.