Part 1
Part 2
ASFC Championship Game - Orange County @ San Jose
This game marked the first time San Jose hosted a playoff game. In Season 6, they tied Orange County's 11-3 record, but because Orange County won their season series, the Otters hosted. In that game, San Jose and Orange County fought a tight, bitter contest. In the end, the Otters made like Kano, ripped out the hearts of SaberCats fans on a game-winning field goal from Bradley Madlad, and showed it to their faces.
In Season 12, the Cats' 10-4 mark was a game behind the Otters' 11-3. Atop the conference at 12-2 against Orange County's 9-5, the SaberCats had some good feelings about this. They also knew first off, they had just taken lumps against this squad two weeks ago. Second, this was Postseason Orange County. Anything was possible for Postseason Orange County. In short, anything was possible for Orange County since, from the league's inception, they had always made the postseason. Even to this day, as of the time of writing, they have always made the cut. The Otters wouldn't even fail to qualify for the conference finals until Season 20.
This was the strongest San Jose squad ever assembled at the time. The best record they had ever put up, even up to the time of writing. The number one scoring offense and scoring defense in the league. The top defense outright in scoring, yardage, and breakdown by passing and rushing. Passing had something to be desired, though they had the top rushing offense, too. He had seen some less desirable results, though Neo Donaldson's kicking was still fairly strong and he was the second most accurate on field goals and extra points. He was only beaten out by an otherworldly season by the kicker of the year, Kulture Fulture for the Philadelphia Liberty.
This was the team of destiny. This was the team who could finally break off 12 prior seasons of anguish, of jealousy rising up as they looked southward to SoCal, toward NSFL's Titletown. With the season series at 1-1, and with all their history, this set up a grand arena to settle the season score and try to put to rest the demons of playoffs past. This time would be different.
It certainly felt as though it would be different from the get-go. The defense forced the Otters into an opening three-and-out. Set up on their own 20, they were set to get a move on – oh, wait, nevermind, there was a flag for offensive pass interference. Pinned back against their own 10 for first and 20, fresh off a penalty, this was a prime chance for things to go wrong for San Jose and right for Orange County. Canton got them nine yards of room to breathe, Christ hit Brannigan for 14 yards, and the drive was on again. They would face a critical third and 8 on their own 35 after Canton only picked up two and Christ and Oles couldn’t connect. Big chance once more for the Otters.
Christ dropped back, found Flash on the wings, hit him, and let him take off before Marc Spector dragged him down. Four plays later, Christ would find Oles, and he was off to the races. A 29-yard touchdown pass served to open the game up 7-0 in favor of the hosts. The crowd’s excitement felt as though it was barely containable. They had hit the Evil Empire in the mouth at the start and knocked them for a loop. And they were still going. Orange County once again ran out of gas after three plays and had to punt. That didn’t go so well for them, as San Jose would only sit five yards from their half of the field. The defense rose to the occasion, however, with Norman Bagwell sacking Christ for six yards and only letting them make up three. The defensive struggle was on for four and a half minutes after the opening touchdown, with no one getting a first down during a sequence of four possessions.
With 3:29 left, the Otters got the ball on their own 20 after Danny Grithead sacked Christ from the top rope. On second and three, Gus Showbiz completed a pass to Ricky Adams, who took it 22 yards. The Otters offense had moved the chains for the first time that day. The series looked endangered when they only gained two more yards in the next three plays. On San Jose’s 49 for fourth down, the Otters could sense something. Perhaps it was confidence in Showbiz to convert when they needed to. Or they determined they needed points now. Either way, in a very interesting move, Orange County went for it on fourth and 8 with just under two minutes to go in the first quarter. They rolled the dice looking for a four, dreading a seven, but with enough chips in reserve that it wouldn’t be disastrous if the house won this time.
Showbiz found the gap to hit Glenn McPoyal, who carried the ball to the Cats 39. First down. In another spectacular display, going way further than they needed to keep possession, on third and 2, Showbiz went deep for Adams again, who was brought down two yards from paydirt. Orange County wanted him to have the touchdown, though, and they pushed on the goal line for two plays before he finished the drive and moved the Otters back into a tie, 7-7.
The Cats had to answer now. If Orange County picked up any kind of confidence swing, this game was liable to fly out of hand in a hurry. Christ and Justice answered the call quickly, going for a 23-yard pass on second and 10. The drive remained very pass-happy as the SaberCats marched up the field, only handing off twice in the drive to Canton. After a 20-yard pass completed, the Cats dizzied the champs once more with Canton hitting them in the gut for a 5-yard rushing touchdown. Even at home, even with a 12-2 record to the Otters’ 9-5, these were the Otters who sent them scrambling two weeks prior. This was no time to dance with the champ – they had to knock them down.
The Otters were kept at bay on yet another three-and-out that started with Sunnycursed setting them back to first and 25 for a chop block. Showbiz went for a save, but came up short when Jorel Tuck rejected a pass meant for Tegan Atwell. Backed up to their own 12 on the ensuing punt, an illegal shift made it their own 7. They would only return to the original line of scrimmage, and a punt could only get so far to put the Otters on their own 40. Straight away, with 3:13 left in the first half, down 14-7, and San Jose due to receive the opening kick in the second half, Showbiz fired a floater to Carlito Crush, who reached the Cats 30 on a 30-yard pass. In one play, the Otters were already halfway there and had plenty of time and timeouts. They’d hold for a moment on an incompletion, but Showbiz and Atwell got it right on the second try for 14 yards.
The Cats defense was not getting it right at all. To top off their field space’s painfully short half-life, unsportsmanlike conduct and offsides penalties let the Otters approach halfway each time. They would push for two more yards. The goal line defense had to stand strong once more on third and goal from the two. Through the sea of green and gold, Showbiz found Sunnycursed and a seam just wide enough to fit a football through. With execution honed through years of practice, Showbiz fit the seam just right. With 38 seconds to spare, the Otters tied the game before halftime.
To open the third quarter, there was next the matter of stopping the Cats from retaking the lead. Christ, Canton, and Orosz started to lead a charge out of their side of the field. It came in chunks of yards just big enough to keep the chain crew moving. On the third time they faced third down, Christ looked down to Flash and had him pegged as a prime target. He had to check down to the 43 to make the play happen and hope Flash could make up the remaining three yards, as they needed to gain the OCO 40.
Ricky Ramero reached out and stole the pass not meant for him. His momentum carried him back, though he regained himself. He tried to make an advance, but right after he reestablished his footing, he was swarmed and downed. He had gained a much bigger prize than yards, however. It was all for the ball, to put it back into his quarterback’s hands. On the first play of the new drive, Crush hauled in a catch for 30 yards. The turnabout was on.
Or, at least, they picked up the lead for the first time in the game. McPoyal was stopped short on third and 10. Anderson pocketed a field goal from 40 to shift the score to 17-14 OCO. Three plays from scrimmage later, the crowd could feel the pendulum swing the other way. The offense stalled and punted back to the Otters, who again hurried back into enemy territory on a 46-yard bomb to Crush. And…that would be all they would gain. In fact, Thad Pennington would fly in from the corner post and bring Showbiz down on third and 10. Anderson settled for making it a six-point advantage from 47 yards. 20-14 OCO after the successful field goal.
The offense had to steel themselves much more this time. Orange County was still very much capable of breaking the game wide open. Defense starts rallies. Offense stops them. They had to end the Otters rally now or there was a good chance the bleeding would never stop. That proposition didn’t look good from the outset, as they started on their own 3 yard line, firmly in the catastrophic disaster zone.
And yet, they chipped their way out of the shadow of their goalpost. Orosz and Canton helped take care of their position before Christ hit Oles for a 31-yard pass to their own 44. Three plays after, he’d connect with Flash for 20. On third and 10 in OCO territory, almost needing a touchdown, Christ did them better and once again completed to Oles for 31 yards. Orosz finished the drive off the first chance he got on a two-yard dive. 21-20, San Jose took the lead back.
Orange County’s turn to answer. The Cats handed them a chance to gain ground on a roughing the passer call on first down, moving the ball from the OCO 28 to their own 43. Ben Horne riled the home crowd up once more as he took back 10 yards with a sack. Third and long. San Jose with new life, clinging to a one-point lead, and with a prime chance to get a stop, flip the field again, and stick their hated rivals deeper in the hole.
In what can only be described as otherworldly, Showbiz heaved a long ball to Adams, who grabbed and held on for dear life as he advanced 35 yards, into San Jose territory before Troyski tracked him down. This game was still very much up for grabs. On third and 2 a few plays later, they could have settled for a field goal if this didn’t work out.
The Otters don’t ever plan for things not working out.
In yet another clutch execution, Showbiz found Sunnycursed for 12 yards. Ricky Adams would carry them the rest of the way, and with a successful two-point conversion, they flipped the advantage back to 28-21 Otters. That conversion made a world of difference. They did the math and knew they had to try. Being ahead six points now, with 10 minutes and change to go, meant nothing if the SaberCats would be a point ahead with far less time to turn around and try to win the game, even on a field goal.
The crowd once again felt the sting. Now, their contender was getting bullied around the ring. They went three and out, gaining 7 yards but losing half the distance to their own goal line on a clipping penalty. The Otters would have their first chance to close the show…a chance that died in three plays when they punted the ball back. The Cats had to oblige once more in a punt after yet another three-play stall-out. With 5:15 to go, the Otters gained possession on their own 34. They had earned their second chance to end the game. They didn’t have to score. They just had to at least leave as little time as they could so San Jose wouldn’t have enough to tie. San Jose would have to hang their season’s hopes on their strongest unit.
First, a pass for five yards. Then a rush for one. Third and four, about three and a half to play as the play clock wound down. This was the critical point. This would be the place where San Jose would have to earn their last chance. Failing that, Orange County would close in.
Showbiz dropped back. Those at the line and among the linebackers dedicated to the rush pressed forward. They closed in on Showbiz. They made their play to take back the ball, by turnover or by punt.
Moments like these were showtime for Showbiz.
With the net closing in, he found his man over the line. Sunnycursed. He led the receiver on with a pass. No need for too many calculations. Just get it close enough, and trust he would do the rest. Defenders converged close as well.
Not in time.
Sunnycursed seized the ball and clutched it tight against his chest as Thad Pennington tackled him.
The Otters would drive a little further at a time, milking more clock every play. Why no one used their timeouts still befuddles me to this day.
The Otters would officially plunge the dagger on a 47-yard field goal from Anderson with 12 seconds remaining. The last seconds ran down as the offense could only start the drive with no hope of getting anywhere in time.
The season was over. The team of destiny met their destiny. An ill-fated loss at the hands of the team who had their number in the postseason once more. Throughout all of Northern California, a deathly silence hung over the Cats faithful as the Otters celebrated their return to the Ultimus.
Epilogue
The Orange County Otters would win their second consecutive Ultimus 24-21 the following week. They entered an exciting contest against the Yeti, though once they pulled ahead 10-3 in the second quarter, they would never lose that lead. The Yeti ran out of time late as they made the dubious decision to kick away rather than onside kick despite being down by three points with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter.
While their offense stood pat and everyone among the skill corps returned for Season 14, the defense saw the most drastic change. Linebacker turned defensive end Ben Horne decided to move on in free agency to the Baltimore Hawks. He wanted to play linebacker like the Three Amigos did the past few seasons, with Kolby Deringer and Chad Pennington. The Cats wanted him to play defensive end opposite Danny Methane. The combination of the team’s and player’s visions being different with the despair that hung over the locker room, no one could blame him for seeing writing on the wall. If the strongest team the SaberCats had ever assembled couldn’t win a championship, he reasoned, he would have to get his elsewhere. And he was one of several they would pick up that offseason, including Marquise Brown from the Philadelphia Liberty. The Hawks were gearing up for a ring chase. He eventually would get that first ring two years later, when the Baltimore Hawks emphatically claimed their place atop the NSFL by destroying…the San Jose SaberCats.
The SaberCats went to work on re-signing everyone who either had become a free agent or who was due to become one at the end of the season. They retained Thad Pennington, Canton, Justice, Poopsie, Jorel Tuck, and most notably, Kazimir Oles on a 7-year, $28M contract with a mutual option every season after the first and a full no-trade clause for the life of the deal. They inked Rose Jenkins as a backup to Christ for two years.
While Horne’s absence would be felt on defense, their window felt like it could stay open with all of the offense and most of the defense intact. There was no time to wallow too long in this defeat, for a new season was shortly on the horizon. A new season that just might defy expectation and finally quench the drought they had lived under from the time the league came into existence…
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you all for tuning in to this NSFL Flashback. I might continue in a set of shorter articles, more on critical games, signings, trades, and moments of old with ripples further along the ways of time.
(2,878)
Part 2
ASFC Championship Game - Orange County @ San Jose
This game marked the first time San Jose hosted a playoff game. In Season 6, they tied Orange County's 11-3 record, but because Orange County won their season series, the Otters hosted. In that game, San Jose and Orange County fought a tight, bitter contest. In the end, the Otters made like Kano, ripped out the hearts of SaberCats fans on a game-winning field goal from Bradley Madlad, and showed it to their faces.
In Season 12, the Cats' 10-4 mark was a game behind the Otters' 11-3. Atop the conference at 12-2 against Orange County's 9-5, the SaberCats had some good feelings about this. They also knew first off, they had just taken lumps against this squad two weeks ago. Second, this was Postseason Orange County. Anything was possible for Postseason Orange County. In short, anything was possible for Orange County since, from the league's inception, they had always made the postseason. Even to this day, as of the time of writing, they have always made the cut. The Otters wouldn't even fail to qualify for the conference finals until Season 20.
This was the strongest San Jose squad ever assembled at the time. The best record they had ever put up, even up to the time of writing. The number one scoring offense and scoring defense in the league. The top defense outright in scoring, yardage, and breakdown by passing and rushing. Passing had something to be desired, though they had the top rushing offense, too. He had seen some less desirable results, though Neo Donaldson's kicking was still fairly strong and he was the second most accurate on field goals and extra points. He was only beaten out by an otherworldly season by the kicker of the year, Kulture Fulture for the Philadelphia Liberty.
This was the team of destiny. This was the team who could finally break off 12 prior seasons of anguish, of jealousy rising up as they looked southward to SoCal, toward NSFL's Titletown. With the season series at 1-1, and with all their history, this set up a grand arena to settle the season score and try to put to rest the demons of playoffs past. This time would be different.
It certainly felt as though it would be different from the get-go. The defense forced the Otters into an opening three-and-out. Set up on their own 20, they were set to get a move on – oh, wait, nevermind, there was a flag for offensive pass interference. Pinned back against their own 10 for first and 20, fresh off a penalty, this was a prime chance for things to go wrong for San Jose and right for Orange County. Canton got them nine yards of room to breathe, Christ hit Brannigan for 14 yards, and the drive was on again. They would face a critical third and 8 on their own 35 after Canton only picked up two and Christ and Oles couldn’t connect. Big chance once more for the Otters.
Christ dropped back, found Flash on the wings, hit him, and let him take off before Marc Spector dragged him down. Four plays later, Christ would find Oles, and he was off to the races. A 29-yard touchdown pass served to open the game up 7-0 in favor of the hosts. The crowd’s excitement felt as though it was barely containable. They had hit the Evil Empire in the mouth at the start and knocked them for a loop. And they were still going. Orange County once again ran out of gas after three plays and had to punt. That didn’t go so well for them, as San Jose would only sit five yards from their half of the field. The defense rose to the occasion, however, with Norman Bagwell sacking Christ for six yards and only letting them make up three. The defensive struggle was on for four and a half minutes after the opening touchdown, with no one getting a first down during a sequence of four possessions.
With 3:29 left, the Otters got the ball on their own 20 after Danny Grithead sacked Christ from the top rope. On second and three, Gus Showbiz completed a pass to Ricky Adams, who took it 22 yards. The Otters offense had moved the chains for the first time that day. The series looked endangered when they only gained two more yards in the next three plays. On San Jose’s 49 for fourth down, the Otters could sense something. Perhaps it was confidence in Showbiz to convert when they needed to. Or they determined they needed points now. Either way, in a very interesting move, Orange County went for it on fourth and 8 with just under two minutes to go in the first quarter. They rolled the dice looking for a four, dreading a seven, but with enough chips in reserve that it wouldn’t be disastrous if the house won this time.
Showbiz found the gap to hit Glenn McPoyal, who carried the ball to the Cats 39. First down. In another spectacular display, going way further than they needed to keep possession, on third and 2, Showbiz went deep for Adams again, who was brought down two yards from paydirt. Orange County wanted him to have the touchdown, though, and they pushed on the goal line for two plays before he finished the drive and moved the Otters back into a tie, 7-7.
The Cats had to answer now. If Orange County picked up any kind of confidence swing, this game was liable to fly out of hand in a hurry. Christ and Justice answered the call quickly, going for a 23-yard pass on second and 10. The drive remained very pass-happy as the SaberCats marched up the field, only handing off twice in the drive to Canton. After a 20-yard pass completed, the Cats dizzied the champs once more with Canton hitting them in the gut for a 5-yard rushing touchdown. Even at home, even with a 12-2 record to the Otters’ 9-5, these were the Otters who sent them scrambling two weeks prior. This was no time to dance with the champ – they had to knock them down.
The Otters were kept at bay on yet another three-and-out that started with Sunnycursed setting them back to first and 25 for a chop block. Showbiz went for a save, but came up short when Jorel Tuck rejected a pass meant for Tegan Atwell. Backed up to their own 12 on the ensuing punt, an illegal shift made it their own 7. They would only return to the original line of scrimmage, and a punt could only get so far to put the Otters on their own 40. Straight away, with 3:13 left in the first half, down 14-7, and San Jose due to receive the opening kick in the second half, Showbiz fired a floater to Carlito Crush, who reached the Cats 30 on a 30-yard pass. In one play, the Otters were already halfway there and had plenty of time and timeouts. They’d hold for a moment on an incompletion, but Showbiz and Atwell got it right on the second try for 14 yards.
The Cats defense was not getting it right at all. To top off their field space’s painfully short half-life, unsportsmanlike conduct and offsides penalties let the Otters approach halfway each time. They would push for two more yards. The goal line defense had to stand strong once more on third and goal from the two. Through the sea of green and gold, Showbiz found Sunnycursed and a seam just wide enough to fit a football through. With execution honed through years of practice, Showbiz fit the seam just right. With 38 seconds to spare, the Otters tied the game before halftime.
To open the third quarter, there was next the matter of stopping the Cats from retaking the lead. Christ, Canton, and Orosz started to lead a charge out of their side of the field. It came in chunks of yards just big enough to keep the chain crew moving. On the third time they faced third down, Christ looked down to Flash and had him pegged as a prime target. He had to check down to the 43 to make the play happen and hope Flash could make up the remaining three yards, as they needed to gain the OCO 40.
Ricky Ramero reached out and stole the pass not meant for him. His momentum carried him back, though he regained himself. He tried to make an advance, but right after he reestablished his footing, he was swarmed and downed. He had gained a much bigger prize than yards, however. It was all for the ball, to put it back into his quarterback’s hands. On the first play of the new drive, Crush hauled in a catch for 30 yards. The turnabout was on.
Or, at least, they picked up the lead for the first time in the game. McPoyal was stopped short on third and 10. Anderson pocketed a field goal from 40 to shift the score to 17-14 OCO. Three plays from scrimmage later, the crowd could feel the pendulum swing the other way. The offense stalled and punted back to the Otters, who again hurried back into enemy territory on a 46-yard bomb to Crush. And…that would be all they would gain. In fact, Thad Pennington would fly in from the corner post and bring Showbiz down on third and 10. Anderson settled for making it a six-point advantage from 47 yards. 20-14 OCO after the successful field goal.
The offense had to steel themselves much more this time. Orange County was still very much capable of breaking the game wide open. Defense starts rallies. Offense stops them. They had to end the Otters rally now or there was a good chance the bleeding would never stop. That proposition didn’t look good from the outset, as they started on their own 3 yard line, firmly in the catastrophic disaster zone.
And yet, they chipped their way out of the shadow of their goalpost. Orosz and Canton helped take care of their position before Christ hit Oles for a 31-yard pass to their own 44. Three plays after, he’d connect with Flash for 20. On third and 10 in OCO territory, almost needing a touchdown, Christ did them better and once again completed to Oles for 31 yards. Orosz finished the drive off the first chance he got on a two-yard dive. 21-20, San Jose took the lead back.
Orange County’s turn to answer. The Cats handed them a chance to gain ground on a roughing the passer call on first down, moving the ball from the OCO 28 to their own 43. Ben Horne riled the home crowd up once more as he took back 10 yards with a sack. Third and long. San Jose with new life, clinging to a one-point lead, and with a prime chance to get a stop, flip the field again, and stick their hated rivals deeper in the hole.
In what can only be described as otherworldly, Showbiz heaved a long ball to Adams, who grabbed and held on for dear life as he advanced 35 yards, into San Jose territory before Troyski tracked him down. This game was still very much up for grabs. On third and 2 a few plays later, they could have settled for a field goal if this didn’t work out.
The Otters don’t ever plan for things not working out.
In yet another clutch execution, Showbiz found Sunnycursed for 12 yards. Ricky Adams would carry them the rest of the way, and with a successful two-point conversion, they flipped the advantage back to 28-21 Otters. That conversion made a world of difference. They did the math and knew they had to try. Being ahead six points now, with 10 minutes and change to go, meant nothing if the SaberCats would be a point ahead with far less time to turn around and try to win the game, even on a field goal.
The crowd once again felt the sting. Now, their contender was getting bullied around the ring. They went three and out, gaining 7 yards but losing half the distance to their own goal line on a clipping penalty. The Otters would have their first chance to close the show…a chance that died in three plays when they punted the ball back. The Cats had to oblige once more in a punt after yet another three-play stall-out. With 5:15 to go, the Otters gained possession on their own 34. They had earned their second chance to end the game. They didn’t have to score. They just had to at least leave as little time as they could so San Jose wouldn’t have enough to tie. San Jose would have to hang their season’s hopes on their strongest unit.
First, a pass for five yards. Then a rush for one. Third and four, about three and a half to play as the play clock wound down. This was the critical point. This would be the place where San Jose would have to earn their last chance. Failing that, Orange County would close in.
Showbiz dropped back. Those at the line and among the linebackers dedicated to the rush pressed forward. They closed in on Showbiz. They made their play to take back the ball, by turnover or by punt.
Moments like these were showtime for Showbiz.
With the net closing in, he found his man over the line. Sunnycursed. He led the receiver on with a pass. No need for too many calculations. Just get it close enough, and trust he would do the rest. Defenders converged close as well.
Not in time.
Sunnycursed seized the ball and clutched it tight against his chest as Thad Pennington tackled him.
The Otters would drive a little further at a time, milking more clock every play. Why no one used their timeouts still befuddles me to this day.
The Otters would officially plunge the dagger on a 47-yard field goal from Anderson with 12 seconds remaining. The last seconds ran down as the offense could only start the drive with no hope of getting anywhere in time.
The season was over. The team of destiny met their destiny. An ill-fated loss at the hands of the team who had their number in the postseason once more. Throughout all of Northern California, a deathly silence hung over the Cats faithful as the Otters celebrated their return to the Ultimus.
Epilogue
The Orange County Otters would win their second consecutive Ultimus 24-21 the following week. They entered an exciting contest against the Yeti, though once they pulled ahead 10-3 in the second quarter, they would never lose that lead. The Yeti ran out of time late as they made the dubious decision to kick away rather than onside kick despite being down by three points with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter.
While their offense stood pat and everyone among the skill corps returned for Season 14, the defense saw the most drastic change. Linebacker turned defensive end Ben Horne decided to move on in free agency to the Baltimore Hawks. He wanted to play linebacker like the Three Amigos did the past few seasons, with Kolby Deringer and Chad Pennington. The Cats wanted him to play defensive end opposite Danny Methane. The combination of the team’s and player’s visions being different with the despair that hung over the locker room, no one could blame him for seeing writing on the wall. If the strongest team the SaberCats had ever assembled couldn’t win a championship, he reasoned, he would have to get his elsewhere. And he was one of several they would pick up that offseason, including Marquise Brown from the Philadelphia Liberty. The Hawks were gearing up for a ring chase. He eventually would get that first ring two years later, when the Baltimore Hawks emphatically claimed their place atop the NSFL by destroying…the San Jose SaberCats.
The SaberCats went to work on re-signing everyone who either had become a free agent or who was due to become one at the end of the season. They retained Thad Pennington, Canton, Justice, Poopsie, Jorel Tuck, and most notably, Kazimir Oles on a 7-year, $28M contract with a mutual option every season after the first and a full no-trade clause for the life of the deal. They inked Rose Jenkins as a backup to Christ for two years.
While Horne’s absence would be felt on defense, their window felt like it could stay open with all of the offense and most of the defense intact. There was no time to wallow too long in this defeat, for a new season was shortly on the horizon. A new season that just might defy expectation and finally quench the drought they had lived under from the time the league came into existence…
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you all for tuning in to this NSFL Flashback. I might continue in a set of shorter articles, more on critical games, signings, trades, and moments of old with ripples further along the ways of time.
(2,878)
[OPTION]S27: 16 GP | 164 Att, 675 Yds, 8 TD | 35 Rec, 234 Yds, | 22 PC, 3 SA
[OPTION]S28: 16 GP | 176 Att, 743 Yds, 6 TD | 38 Rec, 311 Yds, 1 TD | 34 PC, 1 SA
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]ISFL Postseason Stats
[OPTION]S24: 2 GP | 28 Att, 103 Yds, 1 TD | 4 Rec, 16 Yds, 1 TD | 3 PC
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]ISFL Postseason Stats
[OPTION]S24: 2 GP | 28 Att, 103 Yds, 1 TD | 4 Rec, 16 Yds, 1 TD | 3 PC
[OPTION]S25: 3 GP | 56 Att, 225 Yds, 1 TD | 3 Rec, 39 Yds | 3 PC
[OPTION]S28: 3 GP | 44 Att, 222 Yds, 3 TD | 9 Rec, 72 Yds | 6 PC
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]DSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S20: 14 GP | 241 Att, 1176 Yds, 14 TD | 9 Rec, 62 Yds | 10 PC, 3 SA
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]DSFL Postseason Stats
[OPTION]S20: 1 GP | 14 Att, 74 Yds, 1 TD
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]Awards and Honors:
[OPTION]Ultimus Champion: S24, S25, S28
[OPTION]ASFC Champion: S24, S25
[OPTION]DSFL Regular Season Stats
[OPTION]S20: 14 GP | 241 Att, 1176 Yds, 14 TD | 9 Rec, 62 Yds | 10 PC, 3 SA
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]DSFL Postseason Stats
[OPTION]S20: 1 GP | 14 Att, 74 Yds, 1 TD
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]Awards and Honors:
[OPTION]Ultimus Champion: S24, S25, S28
[OPTION]ASFC Champion: S24, S25
[OPTION]Ultimus Offensive Player of the Game: S28
[OPTION]NSFC Champion: S28
[OPTION]DSFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: S20
[OPTION]DSFL Pro Bowl: S20
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]Career Events
[OPTION]S20: Selected 38th overall by the Kansas City Coyotes
[OPTION]S21: Selected 32nd overall by the San Jose SaberCats
[OPTION]NSFC Champion: S28
[OPTION]DSFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: S20
[OPTION]DSFL Pro Bowl: S20
[OPTION]=======================================
[OPTION]Career Events
[OPTION]S20: Selected 38th overall by the Kansas City Coyotes
[OPTION]S21: Selected 32nd overall by the San Jose SaberCats
[OPTION]S28: Announced retirement, traded to Yellowknife Wraiths
![[Image: FCsCXyq.png]](https://imgur.com/FCsCXyq.png)
