Atlantic Conference Final! Chakota vs Adelphia

   CHAKOTA WASPS 34
   ADELPHIA PHOENIX 44

The Wasps’ Nest, Chakota, Att: 65,000 | Monday February 22, 2016

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	ET	FT
ADELPHIA	17	7	14	6	–	44
CHAKOTA	0	17	3	14	–	34

Scoring
1st Quarter:
ADE- Kelly 76 pass to Rice (Hernandez Kick); 0-7
ADE- FG Hernandez 20; 0-10
ADE- Kelly 66 pass to White (Hernandez Kick); 0-17
2nd Quarter:
CHA- FG Wall 19; 3-17
CHA- Hobbs 30 INT return (Wall Kick); 10-17
CHA- Humphrey 21 pass to Tucker ( Kick); 17-17
ADE- Hart 100 kickoff return (Hernandez Kick); 17-24
3rd Quarter:
CHA- FG Wall 40; 20-24
ADE- Kelly 24 pass to White (Hernandez Kick); 20-31
ADE- Kelly 5 pass to Rice (Hernandez Kick); 20-38
4th Quarter:
CHA- Humprey 7 pass to Tucker (Humprey pass to Wilkins); 28-38
ADE- FG Hernandez 34; 28-41
ADE- FG Hernandez 27; 28-44
CHA- Humphrey pass to Hardy (Conv. failed); 34-44

After being delayed by over 24 hours, it appeared that the Phoenix had showed up ready and the home team had stayed behind in the locker room. Adelphia stormed into a 17 point lead in the first quarter, thanks to two long touchdown passes from QB Matt Kelly to Rice (76) and White (66) and a Hernandez Field Goal.

National Conference Final: Preview

BALLYMORE TIGERS vs SAN ANDREAS MINERS
Ballymore Tiger Field | Sunday February 21, 2016 4:30pm on MAX

The Ballymore Tigers are in unfamiliar territory, these days, one-and-done is all she wrote in the playoffs. So, here, the Tigers have a chance to ride the coat tails of destiny and beat the curse of Ballymore Bob!

Atlantic Conference Final: Preview

CHAKOTA WASPS vs ADELPHIA PHOENIX
The Wasps’ Nest | Sunday February 21, 2016 – 1 PM on MAX

Will Wasps’ Quarterback Billy Humphrey play? That’s got to be the biggest question for this game. The 18 year veteran limped out of a bruising encounter last week against Seafax. The Storm were the number one defence and they knocked him down and about all day (including two late hit penalties).

PO16: NC Semi-Final 2

   POTTSBURGH CARDINALS 10
   BALLYMORE TIGERS 28

(Cardinal Field, Pottsburgh, Att: 56,720) | Sunday February 14, 2016

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	ET	FT
BALLYMORE	14	7	7	0	–	28
POTTSBURGH	3	0	7	0	–	10

Scoring-
1st Quarter:
BAL- Jones 4 run (Lovell Kick); 0-7
POT- FG Edwards 37; 3-7
BAL- Mills 59 pass to Bradley (Lovell Kick); 14-3
2nd Quarter:
BAL- Hawkins 67 run (Lovell Kick); 21-3
3rd Quarter:
POT- Mitchell 15 pass to Parker (Edwards Kick); 21-10
BAL- Mills 1 Run (Lovell Kick); 28-10

In a freezing, icey and snowy Pottsburgh, the Tigers showed perfect composure, in dealing with the conditions and the Cardinals.

PO16: NC Semi Final 1

   HALLAS STARS 31
   SAN ANDREAS MINERS 34

(StarDome 2, Hallas, att: 66,000) | Saturday February 13, 2016

	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	ET	FT
SAN ANDREAS	14	3	3	14	–	34
HALLAS	7	14	3	7	–	31

Scoring-
1st Quarter
SA-  Smith 1 run (Clinton Kick);  0-7
HAL- Williams 36 pass to Sanders (Young Kick); 7-7
SA-  Mullen 30 pass to Simms (Clinton Kick);  7-14
2nd Quarter:
HAL- Williams 2 pass to Lloyd (Young Kick);  14-14
HAL- Williams 2 pass to Sanders (Young Kick);  21-14
SA-  FG Clinton 31;  21-17
3rd Quarter:
SA-  FG Clinton 20;  21-20
HAL- FG Young 41;  24-20
4th Quarter:
SA-  Mullen 4 pass to Lewis (Clinton Kick);  24-27
HAL- Williams 7 pass to Lloyd (Young Kick);  31-27
SA-  Mullen 57 pass to McComas (Clinton Kick); 31-34

The San Andreas Miners scored with 33 seconds remaining to knock out the number one seed Hallas Stars.

PO16: Atlantic Conference Semi-Finals Preview

LANDOR KNIGHTS vs ADELPHIA PHOENIX

Their third contest of the season, it might come down to how much gas is left in the tank and who is still standing for Adelphia. Last weeks brutal matchup with another divisional rival (Giants) took its toll on the forwards by the end.

The Knights had the best record in the league. Elijah Brooks is becoming the best mobile Quarterback in the league and has defences in fits each and every week. Their version of the read-option kills them! The Phoenix defence, though, has seen him each year at least twice (sixth meeting in the last two seasons). If they’ve studied enough film they might be able to throw him off his game. Blitzing doesn’t always work, but they often throw up something new in the play-offs and I expect that here.

The Phoenix attacks with quick fast passes to the wingers, the Phoenix spread the field and try to leave gaps for the sublime Marshall Knight to pick through. The Knights are used to anticipating the plays of both QB Kelly and Knight. They will have to do something special one more time to advance.

EDGE: Knights by a field goal.

CHAKOTA WASPS vs SEAFAX STORM

In terms of experience, the Wasps are swarming with it. Still fabulous at Forty, veteran QB Billy Humphrey defies the ageing process as he deconstructs defences on a weekly basis. He has plenty of weapons to throw to too! Dre Fox and R.J. Hardy have been statistically perfect this year. The ground game has been one done by committee and it has been effective. The forwards have protected their Quarterback and opened holes all year. BUT! Seafax had the number one defence in the PFL this year. Shutdown Wingbacks, an intense run stuffing and pass rushing front line. The midfielders are stout, led by veteran Mark Markosyan in the central position. This is going to be interesting- the number one passing attack against the number one total defence in the league. One of theses teams will end up one-and-done, but will home field be enough for the Wasps?

EDGE: Wasps by a field goal. Possibly in extra-time!

PO16: National Conference Semi-Finals Preview

HALLAS STARS vs SAN ANDREAS MINERS

Drew Williams leads the Stars against the Miners for the third time this season. Offensively perfect, defensively suspect. They’ve got a lot of holes to fill and plug, they key is how much pluggin they can do. Brandon Mullen, the Miners’ Quarterback is adept at picking apart coverage and finding the mismatches. If on his game he may do this with ease.

The defending champions, the Miners, have had another great season, with few weaknesses, especially in attack. Defence is the area of concern due to nagging injuries towards the end of the season. If the defence holds and the attack keeps the prolific Stars’ offence off the field- this should be easy. Only history shows this is easier said than done. Last week saw their defence tough it out and restrict the Trojans. The Stars are a much taller order.

Even though they have home field advantage, it is hard to see the defence keeping the Miners down for too long. The Attack needs to score quickly and consistently to keep this thing tight.

EDGE: MINERS by a touchdown

POTTSBURGH CARDINALS vs BALLYMORE TIGERS

The Cardinals should have had a walkthrough of their division, with a bwlow-par challenge from the Titans and Bulldogs. However, they got a challenge in the improving Landor Rams (10-8) and nearly lost their top slot in the last few weeks of the season. A pass-heavy attack, with a dependable bend-but-don’t break defensive set-up has been the formula for success for the past few seasons, long-gone is the expensive superstar defence experiment.

The Tigers have resurfaced as a force of reckoning in the Central division. Led by Bo Mills’ decisive leadership, the team have produced some excellent football this season. A balanced running game with controlled passing has got them to this stage. On Defence, the Tigers have plenty of playmakers, all of whom can be depended on to also follow their roles correctly. They don’t take too many risks, but do pounce on opposition mistakes.

If the Tigers choose to grind it out, Mills is patient and wears the Cardinals ‘D’ into making mistakes and leaving holes open- this is a Tiger play off victory folks! If not, the dependable, efficient Pottsburgh team will leave town and move on to the Conference finals.

I think this could be the Tigers’ year- for at least one playoff victory!

EDGE: Tigers, by about a point!

Playoffs 2016: First round previews

Atlantic Conference:

ADELPHIA PHOENIX vs MORRIGAN GIANTS

Two divisional rivals, meeting for the third time this season. This one could be brutal. The Giants defence have a really good handle on what the Phoenix like to do with their Aerial assault to open up the ground game. With quick fast passes to the wingers, the Phoenix spread the field and try to leave gaps for the sublime Marshall Knight to pick through. The Giants are adept at closing both QB Kelly and Knight down. They will have to do so one more time to advance.

The Morning After: Week 20

Reports are coming in that the first Head Coaching casualties have come in following the conclusion of the 2015-16 regular season:

Jim Smith (Victoria Panthers) [2-16 in 2015-16, 33-39]

Jim was fired after an short meeting with team executives. Following a disasterous season, a 33-39 record over four seasons, it was considered time for the Panthers to look elsewhere for their team leadership.

Alan Wyatt (Tallassea Oilers) [4-14, 9-27]

Alan Wyatt was initially given three years-to rebuild this once great team. It seem that management grew increasingly impatient with the lack of progress. It was rumoured and reported that he had lost the locker room in November and that some players were “waiting for hime to leave so they could play for someone they believe in”.  Coach Wyatt leaves with a 9-27 record and it is rumoured that he might return to NUSA Uniball as soon as possible.

Play-offs: First round previews

Atlantic Conference:

Oakland Ravens at Adelphia Phoenix

Oakland finished the season on a roll, playmaking Quarterback “TOM2” Tom Tomkowski has been an effective dual-threat weapon for the attack. Coupled with a good ground game, the question marks relating to the offensive line and defence.
Whether the line can block for the runners and hold off the Phoenix pass rush is to be determined. When on a roll, they give Tomkowski enough time to work his magic- sometimes barely though. The defence needs to be able to stop both the aerial threat from QB Matt Kelly and his great core of wideouts AND also Marshall Knight. Marshall has shown to be very at home in the playoff surroundings so it may prove to be a tall order.

Stopping Marshall Knight will be key to the Ravens’ success.

For the Phoenix, a leaky run defence has proved limited all year long, expect the Ravens to exploit this and gain much on the ground. If that is enough, then the Ravens move on. I give the edge to the Phoenix as home advantage will play a part.

Edge: Phoenix by a touchdown (+7)

National Conference:

Arkheim Raiders at St. George Sharks

Arkheim snuck into the playoffs this year on the back of an improved defence. The achillies heel for thepast few years, the unit was shored up and with future hall of legends member Jon Palmer possibly playing his last season- will be looking to go out with a happy swansong.

The Raiders are let by a fully-fit Kurt Sierra and he has great weapons at his disposal. A strong line and versatile halfback, in Ray Shell means the attack is potent. If the defence holds, forces turnovers, this will be close.

Saint George, on the other hand ended the season with two losses and if they don’t win, question marks will be asked about QB Trent Harris and his legion of stars on the offensive front. The defence is still strong, although lacking the star names of 2-3 years ago. Sure-tackling is key, rather than playmaking and forcing turnovers.

The Sharks should be just too strong and sorry, Raiders fans- the Raiders will be ready to build for 2015-16.

Edge: The Sharks by ten points