CBXLVII: The Game

CRYSTAL BOWL XLVII:

  NEW CHESTER KNIGHTS 37
  HALLAS STARS 27

Memorial Park, Landor, New London | Att: 77,920 | Sun March 5, 2017

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	ET	FT
NEW CHESTER	7	13	7	10	–	37
HALLAS	10	3	7	7	–	27

Scoring:
1st Quarter:
HAL Sanders 80 pass from Williams (Young kick) 0-7
NCK Johnson 5 pass from Brooks (Potter kick) 7-7
HAL Young FG 39 7-10
2nd Quarter:
NCK Potter FG 31 10-10
HAL Young FG 37 10-13
NCK McKenzie 24 run (Potter kick) 17-13
NCK Potter FG 33 20-13
3rd Quarter:
NCK Sanders pass from Brooks (Potter kick) 27-13
HAL Solomon 1 pass from Williams (Young kick) 27-20
4th Quarter:
NCK Brooks 8 run (Potter kick) 34-20
NCK Potter FG 30 37-20
HAL Sanders 9 pass from Williams (Young kick) 37-27

After six seasons, Elijah Brooks fulfilled his potential and got the monkey off his back as he led the NC Knights to a PFL Championship. After failing in the playoffs the last three years, the Knights completed their terrific season (16-2 in regular season).

Things started well for Hallas, scoring on the second play of the game, an 80 yard catch and run from Amani Sanders. Following that, the Knights defence shut down QB Drew Williams and co, making them settle for field goals and an interception for the rest of the first half. Elijah Brooks led the team down the field on four consecutive scoring drives. A 5 yard pass to Rashaan Johnson, a 24 yard run from Ryan McKenzie and two field goals. At halftime, neither side had punted!

At halftime, the entertainment was provided by Eboria’s own Low-Ki Riders and Ryan Patrick.

The second half started slowly, with both teams punting. Both teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, before the Knights went beyond reach with a field goal and Brooks’ 8 run in the fourth quarter. With the score 37-20, the Stars twice failed on fourth downs, before scoring with 1:27 left, to make it 37-27. The Knights recovered the forthcoming onside kick and ran out the clock.

Elijah Brooks was named the POTG, passing for 317 yards and two touchdowns, also getting one on the ground.

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Crystal Bowl XLVII: The Matchups

Crystal Bowl XLVII (47):

LANDOR KNIGHTS VS. HALLAS STARS

The 47th annual Crystal Bowl, the PFL Championship game is between the number one seeded teams. The Atlantic Conference champions Landor Knights went 16-2 and became the first 16-0 team in league history. Led by the enigmatic Elijah Brooks- the do-it-all Quarterback, the Knights go into this contest as the firm favourites. Their defence has been solid all year and their receiving corps is amongst the leagues finest. Elijah missed the last two games, which were both losses. He had recovered in time for the play-offs.

The Stars beat the Knights in round 19, ending their undefeated streak. The Knights will want revenge and to cap off their fantastic season.

The Hallas Stars finished 15-3, led by their aerial assault from Drew Williams and the best corps of receivers in the game. Amani Sanders leads the excellent corps, the number one ranked passing attack. The question mark for the past decade has been their sometimes wobbly defence, especially in the play-offs. This year, they have been fine- avoiding first game embarrassment.

The bookmakers favourites going in are the Landor Knights. We tend to agree.

Tune in on 5th March to find out!

Pottsburgh and Amorgan suspended indefinitely from the PFL

PFL | Pottsburgh Cardinals | Amorgan Blues

By Ryan Solils, PFL Reporter.

A nightmare season off the field continues. The PFL has suspended the licences to operate on both the Pottsburgh Cardinals and Amorgan Blues following a meeting of the Executive Committee. Both teams have been charged with knowingly breaking the financial rules of the league and bringing the game into disrepute.

Commissioner David Thomas said “It is with great regret that we announce the suspensions of an indefinite nature of these two league members. The suspensions are subject to an appeal to the Commissioner. Further judgments and announcements will be made in the following weeks concerning the futures of the staff, players and coaches of these teams. I am sorry that I cannot give anyone any assurances as to what the future may be for you.” He continued “The league will continue for now with sixteen teams, requiring re-allocation of divisions and play-off structure. Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks”.

Amorgan and Pottsburgh lose their Final Tax Appeals

PFL | High Court | ERS | Amorgan Blues | Pottsburgh Cardinals

Both the Amorgan Blues and Pottsburgh Cardinals have lost their High Court tax case appeals, forcing both teams into the red and triggering suspensions- leading to potential expulsion from the league.

The PFL Executive Committee will meet next week to determine where we all go from here. Distressing times for Amorgan and Pottsburgh fans, who’ve suffered all winter over this.

Storm Suspend PFL Operations

The Seafax Storm have suspended operations in the Professional Football League. All players and coaching staff have been informed of the teams decision.

The team was losing money on and off the field and owner Ted Samuels has decided to pull the plug. Only an average of 21,000 saw the last three home games. Ten years ago, they had a 40,000+ average. What happens next to the players and staff is a little unclear as the PFL season is about to enter the play-offs.

With the Victoria Panthers already winding down their current PFL existence, this would leave the league with 18 teams, pending the futures of Pottsburgh and Amorgan still being debated.

Pottsburgh and Amorgan have both been found to have broken Eborian Tax laws and contravened PFL financial rules- the penalties can result in expulsion from the league. Their appeals are due to be heard in late January 2017.

We await further news that will no doubt be on interest to the Seafax fanbase.

Don’t forget to check out the PFL Final Standings

The final standings are updated. How did your team fare? What is their play-off position?

Find out here Final Standings.

The final countdown: Week 20

The 2016-17 Regular season ends tomorrow. All twenty teams play, so at the end of the evening we will know the final positions of the teams. All ten playoff teams are confirmed, but we don’t know the final positions, other than in the AC it’s no.1 Landor Knights and no.2 Chakota Wasps. This weekend will settle who gets the week off (no’s 2&3) and who plays in the first round, and who will have home advantage (no.4 over no.5).

It also marks what could well prove the final games in the PFL for three teams. Amorgan, Victoria and Pottsburgh have all failed to maintain solvency during this season and will at the very least expect to have their league licences temporarily suspended. So this will mark a sad day for fans of two of the oldest teams in the league, and the other team (Victoria) who are the last of the three to win a Crystal Bowl.

Playoffs begin next weekend. Are you ready? We can’t wait.

 

Exclusive: Storm to leave league?

PFL | Seafax Storm

Reports coming in to the PFL HQ suggest that the Seafax Storm Management will shortly suspend operations, following a two-year search to find a new owner. Current owner Ted Samuels has been looking to sell since his own company’s value declined three years ago. With no new investors found (foreign investment groups are not allowed by PFL rules) and attendance down, the team may be deciding to downgrade. There is speculation that they might move to the EFC (Eborian Football Conference) for 2017-18 or 2018-19.

With the Victoria Panthers already winding down their current PFL existence, this would leave the league with 18 teams, pending the futures of Pottsburgh and Amorgan still being debated.

Pottsburgh and Amorgan have both been found to have broken Eborian Tax laws and contravened PFL financial rules- the penalties can result in expulsion from the league. Their appeals are due to be heard in late January 2017.

Phoenix beat Giants, clinch playoff spot

   ADELPHIA PHOENIX 31

   MELBORG GIANTS 13

The Adelphia Phoenix claimed the last playoff spot, with one week left to play, by beating divisional rivals Melborg Giants Sunday night. They started strongly, with two Matt Kelly long passes to Mitchell Rice in the first quarter as they raced to a 14-0 lead. The Phoenix led 24-3 at halftime. Kelly passed for 404 yards and four touchdowns. The Giants didn’t function very well in the first three quarters, adding a consolation TD in the final period.

The Phoenix win was combined with the Storm’s loss- meaning that the Seafax team cannot better the defending champions record. Seafax did hold the head-to-head advantage over Adelphia.

Streak ends! Knights lose to Stars

Week 17 | Landor Knights vs Hallas Stars

The streak is over! The PFL’s best start to a season, a run of sixteen games unbeaten for the Landor Knights ended last night against the Hallas Stars 27-17.

With Elijah Brooks injured, the Knights also rested RB Ryan McKenzie and WR Rashaan Johnson– readying themselves for the play-offs with home advantage secured on the route to Crystal Bowl XLVII.

For Hallas, it helped them keep their advantage at the top of the NC West.

Will the two teams meet again, in the CRYSTAL BOWL? Was this a dress rehearsal? Only a few weeks to find out!