This was going to be for ultimus a but I wildly misjudged 800 characters. It felt a waste to throw it away on PT so I've done another couple of prompts and here we are
Season 24 a true underdog story
Its the end of 2039, the regular season is coming to a close the NSFC has 2 teams clearly ahead of the pack - the colorado yeti and the sarasota sailfish at 14-2 and 12-4 respectively have had a rather easy regular season.
The Yeti have only been beaten twice - one shock game early on at home to the sailfish and a second loss came mid season away to the fortress in arizona. Coming into the final week the Yeti had already clinched the top seed and home field advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs. However just to put a final stamp on it they grannied the Chicago Butchers in a 28-0 drubbing to finish the season.
The sailfish also had little to play for in the final week. Having shocked the league with a 6 game unbeaten run to start the season the sailfish ended up dropping a number of games in the middle, losing three home games and frustrating predictions all over the league. Losses were handed to them by New Orleans, Honolulu, Arizona and the aforementioned Colorado Yeti.
The butchers were the final team to make it in, in a very unconvincing 7-9. They had also sewn the playoff spot off by the last week and ended the season in a 47-13 loss to sarasota at home in a foreboding game which would be replayed the next week but this time in Sarasota.
NSFC Wildcard Game
Chicago Butchers @ Sarasota Sailfish - 17 - 24
This game was a rather cagey affair, Sam Sidekick opened up the scoring in the first quarter for Chicago before a flurry of scores in the second half coming through Chan and Rodriguez touchdowns and a Jacob small kick, with both teams heading into half time at 10 a piece.
Rodriguez started off the second half as he ended the first with another touchdown thrown by O'Donnell giving the butchers a slender lead. It didn't last long though as just three minutes later Sarasota stalwart James Angler Caught a Banks throw to even up the scores.
With 2 minutes left on he clock in the 4th quarter Banks took it upon himself to see away the game with a 1 yard sneak to win it.
NSFC Conference Championship
Sarasota Sailfish @ Colorado Yeti - 20 - 24
Fresh off the back of their playoff win over Chicago the sailfish swam over to colorado to take on the regular season champions the Yeti.
This one took a few drives to get going with both teams exchanging punts to open the game.
During colorados second drive if the game McDummy threw a wayward pass in the direction of William Lim which was intercepted on the 31 yard line putting the sailfish in prime territory to get points on the board. A huge sack from Stephens on the very next play took the sailfish out of field goal range. Getting just inside after the next two plays the usually sure footed small shanked the field goal attempt.
This may have been the turning point of the game. Ashley owens scored on the very next drive.
The sailfish did hit right back with two fairly quick scores. A field goal and then a 1 yard shunt over from raphtalia Chan.
McDummy then ran one in himself and the yeti popped over another field goal before half time to take the 7 point lead into half time.
The third quarter was punctuated by the aptly named running back bringkng the teams level at 17 apiece before thubba bumper ran one in at the start of the 4th to give the yeti the lead again.
Despite kicking another field goal the sailfish were never able to overcome the yeti and fell at the final hurdle.
Winner - Colorado yeti who proceed to the Ultimus.
The ASFC had a much more exciting finish to the regular season with four separate teams finishing up on 9-7 with a fifth on 8-8. Now let's have a look at how the standings were after week 15.
Orange County Otters 9-6
New Orleans Second Line 9-6
San Jose Sabercats 8-7
Honolulu Hahalua 8-7
Arizona Outlaws 8-7
Anyone of these teams had a feasible chance to make it into the playoffs. In fact the the top seed and home field advantage through playoffs was open to at least 4 of them.
We'll start off though with the game that blew it wide open.
OCO @ AZ
All OCO needed to do to seal the top seed in the conference was won this game. Had this been a home game the Otters were all but guaranteed the win having dropped just 1 to the copperheads early on in their campaign.
Unfortunately for the otters, the Outlaws were in the exact same boat dropping just 1 home game - this time to honolulu.
The game went as expected here. Arizona went into the halftime locker room up 14-9 on the back of TDs from petrongolo and Keppler.
The second half went much the same with Keppler picking up his second and Saba Donut scoring a 4th for az.
The otters did put up a fight through a patented Armstrong rushing TD and another rushing TD from nakamura.
Final score 30-22 to Arizona. Putting both teams on 9-7 (otters ahead with 5 conference wins compared to the Outlaws 4)
The next game on was between the Honolulu and Austin. Had Honolulu won this game they would've leapfrogged both the otters and the Outlaws due to having 6 conference wins. Unfortunately for them, Austin swept them aside with Mendonca scoring 2 TDs for the copperheads. With only 8 wins on the year the hahalua were already behind AZ OCO and NOLA. Their campaign ending in heartbreak.
New Orleans Second Line Vs San Jose Sabercats
The final game in the regular season is a huge one for the Sabercats matching up against New Orleans. Win and they're top seed thanks to conference wins. Lose and they wallow in a likely 5th place, such is the parity in this conference.
The game looked lost to the Sabercats as they trailed 20-7 half way through the third quarter with only a TD from stalwart receiver DTF to keep them in he game. With 3 minutes and 51 seconds left in the game chaos took over. Nate swift brought them back within a score thanks to a goal line pass from Jack. 20-14
4th quarter now and New Orleans put a gap between the teams thanks to a 20 yd field goal by Prohaska. Then the turning point hit. DTF takes the ball out of his own end zone following the kick off, he takes it to the 40 the 50, the 30, the 10 touchdown!!! 105 yards kickoff return. Play of the game. To bring the Sabercats within 2.
Two possessions later fate intervened when Lanier intercepted a wayward Slotheisberger pass to give the cats fantastic field position.
This drive by the Sabercats finished with a 47 yard field go from kicking legend Matty McDairmid. Sending the Sabercats to the playoffs and earning them a bye.
NOLA on the other hand edged out AZ and earned a tricky away trip to Orange County.
ASFC Wildcard
Second Line @ Otters
21-31
The game kicks off with the otters D hounding Slothlisberger with Eagle and Vegeta both earning sacks.
McZeal opened up the scoring after the teams exchanged punts, putting the otters ahead 7-0. On their very next drive Nakamura punch a short yardage one in for 14-0.
Forrest Gump then pulled one back for NOLA with a plodding effort over the white wash.
For the third drive in a row, the otters score a touchdown through mongo. The floodgate really have opened with Gump going over for another one leaving the score 21-14 to the otters going in at half time.
The second half wasn't quite as exciting. The otters got one more field goal and crossed the whitewash again with despacito Jr. This wasn't before Ed barker scored one for the second line. Final score 31 - 21 to the home side setting up a trip to San Jose.
ASFC Championship
Orange County Otters @ San Jose Sabercats
3-17
Coming into this game the Sabercats were still being seen as the underdog of the final 4, even with the home field advantage over the otters.
The first half was the cagiest of affairs. Just one kick from the otters separated the two teams. The Sabercats however dominated the second half with. Pair of rushing touchdowns from a pair of running backs with cardrissian and Lackson. And a field goal from our heroic kicker Matty sealed the game for the Sabercats setting up a showdown with the Colorado yeti.
Ultimus
San Jose Sabercats @ Colorado Yeti
17-12
San Jose took control of this game in the first half with another Matty Field goal. The biggest moment of the game came with 12.57 left in the second quarter when Matt Krause took a pick 62 yards back to the house for a touchdown on the back of a wayward McDummy throw. Close to the end of the second quarter Cardrissian caught a short pass from Jack for the TD. Taking a 17-3 lead into the half time locker room.
The second half saw the yeti coming back into it. An extra saucey TD from Earl sauce brought the yeti back into the game in the 4th. Cutting the lead down to seven points. Then with 8 minutes left in the game an overly muscular penguin took down the cheeseman for a sack in the endzone, resulting in a safety. The gap now down to 5 points the Sabercats defence were up against it. They came up nick however forcing the yeti to punt on their final two possessions before allowing the Sabercats to run out the clock with Jamar Lackson.
SABERCATS WIN! The cinderella story we all wanted. They were close to finishing 5th in their group and instead made it to become ultimus champions!
Surely they can't do it again, can they?
(spoiler alert, they can)
Season 24 a true underdog story
Its the end of 2039, the regular season is coming to a close the NSFC has 2 teams clearly ahead of the pack - the colorado yeti and the sarasota sailfish at 14-2 and 12-4 respectively have had a rather easy regular season.
The Yeti have only been beaten twice - one shock game early on at home to the sailfish and a second loss came mid season away to the fortress in arizona. Coming into the final week the Yeti had already clinched the top seed and home field advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs. However just to put a final stamp on it they grannied the Chicago Butchers in a 28-0 drubbing to finish the season.
The sailfish also had little to play for in the final week. Having shocked the league with a 6 game unbeaten run to start the season the sailfish ended up dropping a number of games in the middle, losing three home games and frustrating predictions all over the league. Losses were handed to them by New Orleans, Honolulu, Arizona and the aforementioned Colorado Yeti.
The butchers were the final team to make it in, in a very unconvincing 7-9. They had also sewn the playoff spot off by the last week and ended the season in a 47-13 loss to sarasota at home in a foreboding game which would be replayed the next week but this time in Sarasota.
NSFC Wildcard Game
Chicago Butchers @ Sarasota Sailfish - 17 - 24
This game was a rather cagey affair, Sam Sidekick opened up the scoring in the first quarter for Chicago before a flurry of scores in the second half coming through Chan and Rodriguez touchdowns and a Jacob small kick, with both teams heading into half time at 10 a piece.
Rodriguez started off the second half as he ended the first with another touchdown thrown by O'Donnell giving the butchers a slender lead. It didn't last long though as just three minutes later Sarasota stalwart James Angler Caught a Banks throw to even up the scores.
With 2 minutes left on he clock in the 4th quarter Banks took it upon himself to see away the game with a 1 yard sneak to win it.
NSFC Conference Championship
Sarasota Sailfish @ Colorado Yeti - 20 - 24
Fresh off the back of their playoff win over Chicago the sailfish swam over to colorado to take on the regular season champions the Yeti.
This one took a few drives to get going with both teams exchanging punts to open the game.
During colorados second drive if the game McDummy threw a wayward pass in the direction of William Lim which was intercepted on the 31 yard line putting the sailfish in prime territory to get points on the board. A huge sack from Stephens on the very next play took the sailfish out of field goal range. Getting just inside after the next two plays the usually sure footed small shanked the field goal attempt.
This may have been the turning point of the game. Ashley owens scored on the very next drive.
The sailfish did hit right back with two fairly quick scores. A field goal and then a 1 yard shunt over from raphtalia Chan.
McDummy then ran one in himself and the yeti popped over another field goal before half time to take the 7 point lead into half time.
The third quarter was punctuated by the aptly named running back bringkng the teams level at 17 apiece before thubba bumper ran one in at the start of the 4th to give the yeti the lead again.
Despite kicking another field goal the sailfish were never able to overcome the yeti and fell at the final hurdle.
Winner - Colorado yeti who proceed to the Ultimus.
The ASFC had a much more exciting finish to the regular season with four separate teams finishing up on 9-7 with a fifth on 8-8. Now let's have a look at how the standings were after week 15.
Orange County Otters 9-6
New Orleans Second Line 9-6
San Jose Sabercats 8-7
Honolulu Hahalua 8-7
Arizona Outlaws 8-7
Anyone of these teams had a feasible chance to make it into the playoffs. In fact the the top seed and home field advantage through playoffs was open to at least 4 of them.
We'll start off though with the game that blew it wide open.
OCO @ AZ
All OCO needed to do to seal the top seed in the conference was won this game. Had this been a home game the Otters were all but guaranteed the win having dropped just 1 to the copperheads early on in their campaign.
Unfortunately for the otters, the Outlaws were in the exact same boat dropping just 1 home game - this time to honolulu.
The game went as expected here. Arizona went into the halftime locker room up 14-9 on the back of TDs from petrongolo and Keppler.
The second half went much the same with Keppler picking up his second and Saba Donut scoring a 4th for az.
The otters did put up a fight through a patented Armstrong rushing TD and another rushing TD from nakamura.
Final score 30-22 to Arizona. Putting both teams on 9-7 (otters ahead with 5 conference wins compared to the Outlaws 4)
The next game on was between the Honolulu and Austin. Had Honolulu won this game they would've leapfrogged both the otters and the Outlaws due to having 6 conference wins. Unfortunately for them, Austin swept them aside with Mendonca scoring 2 TDs for the copperheads. With only 8 wins on the year the hahalua were already behind AZ OCO and NOLA. Their campaign ending in heartbreak.
New Orleans Second Line Vs San Jose Sabercats
The final game in the regular season is a huge one for the Sabercats matching up against New Orleans. Win and they're top seed thanks to conference wins. Lose and they wallow in a likely 5th place, such is the parity in this conference.
The game looked lost to the Sabercats as they trailed 20-7 half way through the third quarter with only a TD from stalwart receiver DTF to keep them in he game. With 3 minutes and 51 seconds left in the game chaos took over. Nate swift brought them back within a score thanks to a goal line pass from Jack. 20-14
4th quarter now and New Orleans put a gap between the teams thanks to a 20 yd field goal by Prohaska. Then the turning point hit. DTF takes the ball out of his own end zone following the kick off, he takes it to the 40 the 50, the 30, the 10 touchdown!!! 105 yards kickoff return. Play of the game. To bring the Sabercats within 2.
Two possessions later fate intervened when Lanier intercepted a wayward Slotheisberger pass to give the cats fantastic field position.
This drive by the Sabercats finished with a 47 yard field go from kicking legend Matty McDairmid. Sending the Sabercats to the playoffs and earning them a bye.
NOLA on the other hand edged out AZ and earned a tricky away trip to Orange County.
ASFC Wildcard
Second Line @ Otters
21-31
The game kicks off with the otters D hounding Slothlisberger with Eagle and Vegeta both earning sacks.
McZeal opened up the scoring after the teams exchanged punts, putting the otters ahead 7-0. On their very next drive Nakamura punch a short yardage one in for 14-0.
Forrest Gump then pulled one back for NOLA with a plodding effort over the white wash.
For the third drive in a row, the otters score a touchdown through mongo. The floodgate really have opened with Gump going over for another one leaving the score 21-14 to the otters going in at half time.
The second half wasn't quite as exciting. The otters got one more field goal and crossed the whitewash again with despacito Jr. This wasn't before Ed barker scored one for the second line. Final score 31 - 21 to the home side setting up a trip to San Jose.
ASFC Championship
Orange County Otters @ San Jose Sabercats
3-17
Coming into this game the Sabercats were still being seen as the underdog of the final 4, even with the home field advantage over the otters.
The first half was the cagiest of affairs. Just one kick from the otters separated the two teams. The Sabercats however dominated the second half with. Pair of rushing touchdowns from a pair of running backs with cardrissian and Lackson. And a field goal from our heroic kicker Matty sealed the game for the Sabercats setting up a showdown with the Colorado yeti.
Ultimus
San Jose Sabercats @ Colorado Yeti
17-12
San Jose took control of this game in the first half with another Matty Field goal. The biggest moment of the game came with 12.57 left in the second quarter when Matt Krause took a pick 62 yards back to the house for a touchdown on the back of a wayward McDummy throw. Close to the end of the second quarter Cardrissian caught a short pass from Jack for the TD. Taking a 17-3 lead into the half time locker room.
The second half saw the yeti coming back into it. An extra saucey TD from Earl sauce brought the yeti back into the game in the 4th. Cutting the lead down to seven points. Then with 8 minutes left in the game an overly muscular penguin took down the cheeseman for a sack in the endzone, resulting in a safety. The gap now down to 5 points the Sabercats defence were up against it. They came up nick however forcing the yeti to punt on their final two possessions before allowing the Sabercats to run out the clock with Jamar Lackson.
SABERCATS WIN! The cinderella story we all wanted. They were close to finishing 5th in their group and instead made it to become ultimus champions!
Surely they can't do it again, can they?
(spoiler alert, they can)
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