10-26-2021, 08:22 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-26-2021, 08:23 PM by Alcott. Edited 1 time in total.)
1. With the Ultimus come and gone, there is one thing we can all likely agree on: the dark horse team, the Honolulu Hahalua, came up big in big moments to take the crown in a surprising fashion. But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s review the playoff teams and how they came about to be in the tournament.
New York Silverbacks
The New York Silverbacks limped into the playoffs with a losing record of 6 wins and 10 losses for a point differential of plus 5 (375 points for versus 370 points against). They are not considered to be contenders in the playoffs.
Honolulu Hahalua
As already mentioned, the team from Hawaii snuck in to the playoff race with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses and a point differential of plus 33 (373 points for versus 340 points against). This put the Hahalua firmly in the sixth seed, despite having a better point differential than the 2nd seed Colorado Yeti. The Hahalua battled hard all season, yet failed to secure a victory over a single team with a winning record, beating only the New Orleans Second Line (x2), Orange County Otters (x2), New York Silverbacks (x2), Baltimore Hawks, Yellowknife Wraiths, and San Jose SaberCats. This lack of dominant play set the expectation that Honolulu would be an easy out for any of the teams in the playoffs, as they all had winning records.
Arizona Outlaws
Last year’s team to beat and Ultimus runner-up was the Arizona Outlaws, who looked to repeat their dominant Season 30 regular season and steamroll back into the playoffs. That was not exactly the case for the Outlaws, as regression had hit hard and reverted the team back closer to the average, resulting in a 9 win and 7 loss season with a point differential of plus 69 (443 points for versus 374 points against). The Season 31 regular season saw some regular highs for the Outlaws, putting up wins against two of the three top teams in the NSFC, but also some lows in dropping both games against the Austin Copperheads and the bottom dwelling Orange County Otters, providing half of their season long win total. Considering Arizona had exceptional experience in the playoffs, true superstar talent on all phases, and a penchant for showing up in big games against good teams, the Outlaws would’ve been a fairly safe bet to go far in the playoffs again this year.
Austin Copperheads
The head of the ASFC and owner of the best record in the league for Season 31, the Austin Copperheads came out hot and finished strong to end with a 12 win and 4 loss record, sporting an impressive point differential of plus 118 (457 points for versus 339 points against). The high powered offense and suffocating defense put the Copperheads as the cream of the crop and the overall favorite to take home the trophy.
Berlin Fire Salamanders
The Berlin Fire Salamanders entered the playoffs with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses, featuring a point differential of plus 98 (458 points for versus 360 points against). Despite being the bottom seed of the NSFC, the Fire Salamanders can put up points and defend well, giving them a real shot at upsetting some of the higher seeds in the playoffs.
Chicago Butchers
The Chicago Butchers entered the playoff racea s the 3rd seed in the NSFC, despite having an equivalent record to 2nd place Sarasota and a higher point differential, not that it really mattered since they would play each other regardless, I just found that interesting. Anyway, the Butchers finished the regular season with a solid 10 wins and 6 losses and a final point differential of plus 122 (452 points for versus 330 points against). Chicago was up and down all season, splitting the series with the top seeded Colorado Yeti and the second seed Sarasota Sailfish, giving them a real possibility to come out on top in the NSFC.
Sarasota Sailfish
Last year’s Ultimus champions, the Sarasota Sailfish claimed the second seed in the NSFC after a 10 win and 6 loss season, resulting in a point differential of plus 89 (568 points for versus 379 points against). After a streaky season the Sailfish finished strong, winning 5 of their last 6 games. They did, however, drop both games against the top seeded Colorado Yeti, and are unfortunately not the most likely candidate to repeat as champions.
Colorado Yeti
The Colorado Yeti entered the playoffs as the NSFC’s top seeded team after finishing with 11 wins and 5 losses, the second best record in the league, however they did only have a point differential of plus 30 (465 points for versus 435 points against). The Yeti are truly the wild card of the playoffs, as they showed the ability to win close games, lose close games, and be on either side of a blowout.
As we saw, the Hahalua and the Yeti made their way to the championship game, where in a very close game the Hahalua were able to tackle a streaking receiver in bounds to run down the clock before the Yeti could kick a field goal to tie the game.
Word Count: 867
New York Silverbacks
The New York Silverbacks limped into the playoffs with a losing record of 6 wins and 10 losses for a point differential of plus 5 (375 points for versus 370 points against). They are not considered to be contenders in the playoffs.
Honolulu Hahalua
As already mentioned, the team from Hawaii snuck in to the playoff race with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses and a point differential of plus 33 (373 points for versus 340 points against). This put the Hahalua firmly in the sixth seed, despite having a better point differential than the 2nd seed Colorado Yeti. The Hahalua battled hard all season, yet failed to secure a victory over a single team with a winning record, beating only the New Orleans Second Line (x2), Orange County Otters (x2), New York Silverbacks (x2), Baltimore Hawks, Yellowknife Wraiths, and San Jose SaberCats. This lack of dominant play set the expectation that Honolulu would be an easy out for any of the teams in the playoffs, as they all had winning records.
Arizona Outlaws
Last year’s team to beat and Ultimus runner-up was the Arizona Outlaws, who looked to repeat their dominant Season 30 regular season and steamroll back into the playoffs. That was not exactly the case for the Outlaws, as regression had hit hard and reverted the team back closer to the average, resulting in a 9 win and 7 loss season with a point differential of plus 69 (443 points for versus 374 points against). The Season 31 regular season saw some regular highs for the Outlaws, putting up wins against two of the three top teams in the NSFC, but also some lows in dropping both games against the Austin Copperheads and the bottom dwelling Orange County Otters, providing half of their season long win total. Considering Arizona had exceptional experience in the playoffs, true superstar talent on all phases, and a penchant for showing up in big games against good teams, the Outlaws would’ve been a fairly safe bet to go far in the playoffs again this year.
Austin Copperheads
The head of the ASFC and owner of the best record in the league for Season 31, the Austin Copperheads came out hot and finished strong to end with a 12 win and 4 loss record, sporting an impressive point differential of plus 118 (457 points for versus 339 points against). The high powered offense and suffocating defense put the Copperheads as the cream of the crop and the overall favorite to take home the trophy.
Berlin Fire Salamanders
The Berlin Fire Salamanders entered the playoffs with a record of 9 wins and 7 losses, featuring a point differential of plus 98 (458 points for versus 360 points against). Despite being the bottom seed of the NSFC, the Fire Salamanders can put up points and defend well, giving them a real shot at upsetting some of the higher seeds in the playoffs.
Chicago Butchers
The Chicago Butchers entered the playoff racea s the 3rd seed in the NSFC, despite having an equivalent record to 2nd place Sarasota and a higher point differential, not that it really mattered since they would play each other regardless, I just found that interesting. Anyway, the Butchers finished the regular season with a solid 10 wins and 6 losses and a final point differential of plus 122 (452 points for versus 330 points against). Chicago was up and down all season, splitting the series with the top seeded Colorado Yeti and the second seed Sarasota Sailfish, giving them a real possibility to come out on top in the NSFC.
Sarasota Sailfish
Last year’s Ultimus champions, the Sarasota Sailfish claimed the second seed in the NSFC after a 10 win and 6 loss season, resulting in a point differential of plus 89 (568 points for versus 379 points against). After a streaky season the Sailfish finished strong, winning 5 of their last 6 games. They did, however, drop both games against the top seeded Colorado Yeti, and are unfortunately not the most likely candidate to repeat as champions.
Colorado Yeti
The Colorado Yeti entered the playoffs as the NSFC’s top seeded team after finishing with 11 wins and 5 losses, the second best record in the league, however they did only have a point differential of plus 30 (465 points for versus 435 points against). The Yeti are truly the wild card of the playoffs, as they showed the ability to win close games, lose close games, and be on either side of a blowout.
As we saw, the Hahalua and the Yeti made their way to the championship game, where in a very close game the Hahalua were able to tackle a streaking receiver in bounds to run down the clock before the Yeti could kick a field goal to tie the game.
Word Count: 867
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