NSCF 30 - Everything Thread

by **Dhemixia** » Tue Feb 13, 2024 9:16 pm

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The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)

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CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS

CRAIG KELLY HAS DONE IT.

NOT ONLY HAS HE, A. MADE IT TO A GAME THAT MATTERED, BUT ALSO, B. WON A GAME THAT MATTERED. THERE TRULY WAS NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP AT THE START OF THE SEASON.

In retrospective though, that was a very telling game. Big crowd, big pressure, first game in any UCP personnel's career that has mattered this much. Usually you'd see the coaching staff and players crumble under pressure, but not the Blue Jays. Atkinson dealt out three TD passes, two to Kabe "The Oven" Heaton, and one to senior standout Miles Gray-Rasmussen. Winning the MinCon championship, and by proxy the Boreal Division championship grants UCP a guaranteed spot in the postseason after what has been an insane turnaround year, as they look to carry this momentum into the OOC games.

Sure, the OOC doesn't really matter anymore, as UCP has a guaranteed playoff spot, but it holds a lot of entertainment value. In week 11, Craig Kelly faces off against a loaded SCSC squad in The Brig which will bring some entertainment value to the city, not to mention the very next week when it plays host to the second S.P.I.T. Bowl, and the first one at home. Finally, last but not least, @ newcomer Utah State to round out the OOC slate.

What a great season that Craig Kelly has put together, but let's just hope he can carry that momentum into the playoffs.

Schedule

*blue indicates home games
Week 1: @ Alexandroupolis L 13-19
Week 2: VS. Constantinople W 14-7
Week 3: VS. UndSJJsM (Universite nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer) L 36-55
Week 4: VS. Green City University W 38-34
Week 5: @ Centrale Pointe University W 48-6
Week 6: @ Trent State University W 3-3 (9-3 OT)
Week 7: VS. UCBP L 3-23
Week 8: VS. Alexandroupolis W 54-37
Week 9: @ Constantinople  W 24-19
Week 10: @ UndSJJsM  W 32-16

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: @ UCBP  W 33-29 
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Non-conference play
Week 11: VS. Silver Coast State
Week 12: VS. BYU
Week 13: @ Utah State

by **Cardenao** » Tue Feb 13, 2024 9:35 pm

“Bobby! Big Red!

Bob-by! Biiiiigggg Red!

BOBBY BIG RED BOBBY BIG RED!

OH SHIT LET’S GO SAIVIONNNN!!

LET’S GOOOOO!!!!!”

For the first time since the Big-8 awards had been released, the BSU Broncos were taking to the field. Featuring the newly awarded MVP, DPotY, and OPotY, the Broncos were lining up against Pona'hou Univeristy with the weight of expectation on their backs. The conference final loss against Richardson seemed like a distant memory by now with the more recent award ceremony bringing life back to the Broncos. FOr the first time since the award ceremony, the Broncos were polishing off their guns with brand new MVP Bobby Dials ready to take it to the team from Prince Georges Land. Losing against a Ranorian school had become less painful as BSU began to build their own legacy, and since that final game against Richardson, the Broncos had added the conference MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Offensive Player of the Year. Now here they were, in the Blue Bowl's locker room getting ready for the first game since the awards had been released and the Broncos had had themselves a decent showing. It had been a good season, and despite that conference loss, here the Broncos were, celebrating the new news of Bobby's MVP award, amongst others, as they got ready to take on Pona’hou University.

The fact that the media voted for eight first-team players and three second-team wasn't too shabby for a third year school, especially after a hard-fought affair in the conference finals against an ancient contender in the comptetition. Quarterback Bobby Dials, receiver Saivion Ware, and left guard Marwin Finlayson from Quebec were the first-team offense winners while senior tight end Nejc Graciano was the sole second-team recipient. On defense, Alabaster Red was joined by Ranorian edge Jair Judge, d-lineman freshman Mack King, and junior safety Mayo Rodriguez. Once again, there was a single Bronco on the second-team, this time it was the freshman Chromatik safety Heinrik Dessler. The Broncos were rolling and the team was ecstatic, but there were a few awards in particular they were celebrating.

The Big-8 Offensive Player of the Year. A shade under 1800 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns, jet powered and a knack for getting open, it was sophomore Saivion Ware. The kid is tall and lanky, a great slant runner thanks to his speed and agility, and he’s got a sure pair of hands that’s made him Bobby Dials favorite scoring target.

Then there was the mastermind behind the Broncos defensive gameplan, Alabaster ‘Big Red’. Honestly, what else had to be said about last year’s NSCF Defensive Player of the Year runner-up? The linebacker and field general breezed to the unanimous Big 8 DPotY thanks to his complete approach to the game. He can plug the running gap and bring down the ball, he can cover passing options like an elite cornerback, he can blitz the line and smear the QB with ease, Big Red is running it.

It is a testimony to his skill and overall ability that, even after losing the conference championship game, the media still recognized the best player in the Big 8 as who else but Bobby Dials? Entering his third year of excellence, the Bronco quarterback was at the peak of his powers. 4000 yards, 39 touchdowns, 229 rushing yards with seven rushing touchdowns, and less than ten interceptions, it was the best season a Cardenaoan quarterback had ever had, and it’s no surprise it was enough to elevate him as the media’s best player in the conference. Sure, he had lost the final game in the conference championship but even after that game, the voters recognized his talent enough to declare him as the conference MVP.

So here were the Broncos, celebrating victories and recognition as they prepared to head into their first out of conference game against Pona’hou University. They hadn’t heard of this university before and weren’t entirely sure what to expect, but all things considered it should be a win for LeBois. Perhaps some of the second-string players would get the opportunity to get out there and impress.

“Bobby! Saivion! Big Red! BRONCOS!

Bobby!! Saivion!! Big Red!! BRONCOS!!

Bobby!!! Saivion! Big Red!!! BRONCOS!!!”

The boys were ready. Belief and hope was at an all time high. The lost against Richardson in the conference final had sucked some wind out of the sails, winning so many Big-8 awards in the days that followed certainly made up for it. The recognition they'd received brought new life to the team and it was time to smash.

Cardenao High School Offensive Line Prospects

1. Joel Azpita/RG/RIS pass protector
6’8 340lbs

6’8 340lbs. Joel Azpita is the biggest boy to come out of Cardenao in a longggg time, he’s a physical beast who has done a fantastic job at building his body as it develops. Clearly Joel has put a lot of work into his explosiveness as he moves incredibly well for his size, with quick feet and a great ability to redirect force while on the backfoot. Joel is massive, he knows it, and he plays like it, always throwing his size around with physicality and intensity. He’s 110% committed to every block, finishing through the whistle and pounding his man into the ground as he drives defenders into harmless territory and stays well balanced for being such a large lad. He guns out of his stance quickly in pass protection and damn he’s big.

As great and big as he is, it’s definitely true that Joelazzy relied too much on being the biggest fish in the pond at the high school level. He can certainly still refine his hand technique and punch, but he truly has all the qualities and the physical build to perhaps become one of the best blindside protectors at the next level. Joel has all the upside and willingness to put in the work on the field and in the realm of physical development to be a franchise type of left tackle. Needs to keep his weight manageable because he is naturally just a massive person…there’s still some rawness here but it’s definitely the time to purchase Azpita stock.

2. Toñáö Stapøs/LT/Hatathia
6’6 282lbs

Possessing a big frame with wiiiiiiiiiiiiide shoulder width, Toñáö Stapøs has ideal left tackle size and strength and specializes in keeping his man on the backfoot while clearing a wide open running lane. He displays a surprising amount of agility and overall coordination for a player of his size, and Toñáö brings a certain attitude and nastiness to the position as he scraps for every inch and talks shit to back it up. The former Hatathia Pirate starman is devastating at the point of attack and uses his lower body strength well to power through contact with a purposeful initial punch.

One of his biggest strengths is also one of Stapøs bigger weaknesses, and that’s the aggressive intensity he brings to the position. The kid picks up fouls at a higher rate than you’d like from an offensive linesman, and he can get out of control and too heated at the drop of the dime. At the same time, that fiery passion is what makes him so effective, so a solid man manager style of coach could be what unlocks his potential as a multi-year starter with first round professional potential.

3. Bairo Oyañder/C/Brøgby
6’3, 322lbs

At 6 foot three inches, Bairo Oyañder has ‘average’ height for the position but has good length and a broad, stout build that he positions and maneuvers excellently. 322 pounds is college-ready and he plays with that attitude on the field, he’s a big guy and he knows it. He’s solid on the line, with that movement helping him lead as a puller, but he’s devastating as a second-level blocker once he gets a little momentum under his frame and smashes into a defender. Sure, it’s the high school level, but there was more than one occasion when a defender made a business decision and thought twice before engaging with a charging Oyañder.

His biggest strength is perhaps his most underrated aspect, and that’s the fact that Bairo is an elite athlete, 6’3, 322lbs and he can dunk with ease. Speaking of dunking, he averaged 12.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 1.3 bpg and 1.9 spg as a senior for the Brøgby varsity basketball team. His weight has fluctuated a bit so remaining conditioned and diligent with maintaining his body will be his biggest challenge.

by **Chromatika** » Tue Feb 13, 2024 9:53 pm

Out of Conference Preview: Felswyr State University

Record: 7-3, Horizon Conference Champions
What's at Stake: Seeding. Winning the Horizon Conference means the Firehawks are locked into the playoffs, which takes pressure off of the squad; however, with a Freshman Quarterback and the existence of a First-Round Bye in these playoffs, it's important for the Firehawks to maintain momentum. Games against Cold Hill University, University of Loyola-Istria, and Raynor University will absolutely continue to test their mettle - especially since Cold Hill and Raynor both won their Conferences as well. Going 2-1 or even 3-0 against these opponents will show that the Firehawks are ready for the playoffs once again. The defense has truly been carrying their weight even with Nicole Estera struggling at times, and that same defense will be called to show up big in the matches to come.
Key Player: CB Lisa Bonsoon
With the struggles that Estera has had on offense, Bonsoon and the defense has really had to step up. They've conceded less than twenty points in the majority of matches this season, even including the loss to Staramara Tech in Week Ten; with the linebackers being the weak spot, the play of the line and the secondary has been stellar. Bonsoon remains the talisman of the defense, being the spiritual leader and leading the team in interceptions along with passes defensed. She'll continue to be that player for the Firehawks, and if they do any damage these playoffs, it'll be largely due to what she's done.

Out of Conference Preview: Staramara Tech University

Record: 5-5
What's at Stake: Despite sweeping the Firehawks, the Lava's 5-5 record means that a playoff berth is very much at risk. They'll need to sweep their Out of Conference schedule or at the very least go 2-1 to have a chance, and with Mar Sara Tech and Northern Moravica on the schedule, it won't be easy; ending the season against the Fighting Irish will be the biggest challenge of them all. The ground-and-pound attack has worked in controlling the clock, but the issues that the team has at times on the defensive end - especially in passes thrown deep - along with the fact that JJ Garret, Jr. can be harassed due to a subpar offensive line has been the issue. They will need to turn things around very quickly if they are to sneak their way into the tournament.
Key Player: RB Isaga Duhaga
Part of the three-headed backfield of the Lava, Duhaga has eclipsed 1,000 yards once again this season. He is the engine that starts everything for the Lava - and when he is stopped, they don't really have too much else due to the inexperience of the passing game. He needs to touch the ball at least twenty times, and get near a hundred yards or more - setting up other backs like Davis Pill and Ingrid Schevchenko and sometimes the occasional deep pass via play action. Without that, the Lava don't have a chance.

by **NSCF** » Tue Feb 13, 2024 10:04 pm

OOC: Baker Park's RP made it in time for MD11 cutoff and is graded accordingly.

Non-Conference Play Week One (MD11)

Cutoff! Please see here, for those familiar with the non-conference slate of the season.

Felswyr State University (CMT) 16–33 Cold Hill University (RAN)

Mar Sara Tech (VAL) 31–34 Staramara Tech University (CMT)

New Cardonia State University (CAD) 44–7 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)

University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (CBP) 12–21 Université St. Croix (QUE)

University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE) 33–30 Silver Coast State College (SAS)

Sadeg State University (DRK) 36–16 Upper Westside University (STK)

Meinhard Ulrich University of Adelsstedt (UNW) 22–16 University of Mancodas (PFA)

Bingham Young University (UTA) 14–10 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)

Tsear University (SAT) 17–16 Cavsar University (DRK)

Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (SJJ) 37–0 Maximus Rochester Institute (PFA)

Green City University (TJU) 43–13 Université du Saguenay (QUE)

Utah State University (UTA) 70–0 University of Alexandroupolis (NGS)

Raynor University (VAL) 18–22 Richardson University (RAN)

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Non Conference play crucial for Warriors
Tony Ferguson, College Football Editor
for The Exponent
—The University of the Commonwealth enters the non-conference portion of the NSCF 30 schedule facing the same scenario that has become familiar over the past few seasons, needing a signature win or two in order to secure an at large playoff berth as one of the 12 top teams.

The 33-29 loss to University of Columbus-Prairie in the Mineral Conference title game not only snapped a six game winning sterak and kept UC from their seventh championship but has thrown them back into a very crowded pool of hopefuls all with post season aspirations; complicating matters is the fact that the Warriors face one of the most challenging slates among the 18 or so potential schools looking for one of the seven remaining berths.

Barring a home playoff matchup, the final home game of this NSCF campaign will open this final stretch when University of St Croix from Quebec visit Gleason Field; at 9-1 the Bleu et Blanc tied their in-country rivals Saguenay for the division crown but lost out on tiebreakers meaning they will have had an extra week to rest & prepare for the trip to Belle Haven.

Head Coach Ryan Benton spoke about the MinCon title game and the upcoming home finale at his weekly press gathering.
“We've seen the rapid progress that UCP made in just two seasons competing and they are deserving champions, we welcome them to the list of winners of the MinCon where they will be enshrined for history.
To follow up such a hard fought contest with an equally formidable opponent in USC is a challenge that we don't shy away from, as we understand from our place in the sport here in Baker Park. I think the two Quebec schools and Richardson are the three best teams right now in NSCF followed by the Vanorians (Raynor and Mar Sara Tech). In some ways the non conference schedule has always been a bit like an extension of the playoffs for us.”

Richardson's Governors will be the opponent in week 12 as UC travel to Ranoria followed by a meeting against Upper Westside University, the Sequoia divisional champions who were the runners-up to Saguenay in the Celestia title game; combined they went 24-6 in the regular season which leaves the Warriors little margin for error.

Benton commented on the stakes at hand. “These final three weeks are always a bit of a lottery, there tends to be surprise results that magnify the actual difficulty of the entire competition. Obviously there's no room for complacency on our part, we need to get back to the way were playing over the last half of the season.”

by **Ranoria** » Wed Feb 14, 2024 10:44 pm

@BVHamburg RIVALRIES MAKE SPORTS BETTER. Not the classiest move by the Governors, but I grew up watching Richardson, Raynor, and Mar Sara Tech duke it out for the Big 8 - helluva way to remind the kids these days that you don't like each other!

@GoGovsGoAs a super fan - loved it in the moment. Then I thought about it. Those weirdos in Istria would've fought us immedietely afterwards. Saguenay probably would've stopped it, then deflected any questions at the post game presser. Cavsar would've already let us hang forty on them after a competitive first quarter. But Raynor? They'll keep receipts - I pray to God we don't run into them in the playoffs.

Heart Attack On The Rocks, and Make it Petty!
Governors Win On Last Second Touchdown Against Rockets, Go For Two (Because They Couldn't Go For Three)

Ragnar Sampson ran in his eighth touchdown of the campaign to secure a win against an old rival in Raynor's Rockets... then added two points for good measure

Everyone expected fireworks when these two teams met in the iconic Valhalla Valls. The best defense in college football against the NSCF's third best offense, the champions of the Big 8 and Zephyr meeting to renew one of Richardson's oldest NSCF rivalries. Despite largely seeing success in the Big 8 against Raynor and Mar Sara Tech, Richardson and Cold Hill have both struggled against their old conference running mates in more recent seasons, including a far-too-recent bludgeoning in NSCF 23 that saw Mar Sara Tech knokc off Richardson and Cold Hill in back to back weeks.

Now Richardson did, of course, get the win. With the victory, beyond Richardson having easily the best defense overall in the NSCF, they've validated it against stiff competition - they've played the #4 and #3 scoring units in the NSCF in the last two weeks, neither at home, and have allowed a combined 34 points. They allowed nine points in two outings against a Cold Hill team that just put up 33 points on the Horizon conference champions. This team's starting 11 are absolutely the best unit in the tournament as Kasen Harrowitz continues to prove that he's one of the best coaches in the sport by getting the most out of them - he's on track lead the best defense in the NSCF for the second time in five seasons.

So yeah, both teams came into this one gassed up and ready to go, and Isaiah Hunter was called on to throw the ball a lot more often than he's used to in this one as the Rockets did a great job of forcing plenty of third-and-long situations. The veteran would post his first 300+ passing yard performance of the season and a pair of touchdown passes, but the Rockets stiffened up just outside of field goal range several times, leading to a near do-or-die drive with just under four minutes on the clock down 18-14.

With that much time, Richardson still had time to play their game, if with a bit of urgency, and got the drive started with back-to-back five yard runs from Benjamin Merik to move the sticks. Seemed simple enough - one thing the Vanorians don't have is the overwhelming size Richardson favors on the offensive line. Of course, if it were that simple, their programs wouldn't be as storied as they are, and a Richardson team who's offensive identity is physicality in the running and passing game wouldn't have been so stuck in the mud all game. And for the Rockets, fielding a pair of Chromatik defensive tackles and a Banijan inside backer certainly mitigated that single weakness. As such, the Governors didn't see that kind of success on their next two plays, netting two yards on as many runs and once again leaving themselves in a third and long spot.

Isaiah Hunter took the ball out of the I formation and hit Hughie February on a slant - quick and easy, routine connection to his best wideout. Ragnar Sampson would get the ball next, slashing through the B gap right off big tackle Lee Maverick's hip and meeting a brick wall in Zesiro Wattiti. He'd drive forward for a couple more yards before the play was whistled dead, but the clock was ticking, and their steady play hadn't netted a lot of points so far - so Isaiah Hunter did what he's done so well, if so rarely, the last three years, and started ripping the ball downfield.

With a perfect throwing motion, the first connection was to a wide open Mugisha Mulogo forty four yards down the field, and the big tight end stiff armed one tackler to get himself closer to the goal before he was brought down with a struggle. The tight end's rare speed had made him an elite weapon all season, and he continues to be the Governors' leading receiver - the next one should've been a touchdown. Hunter took a seven step drop, looked to Mulogo, stepped up in the pocket as he went to his second read, and let it fly. There was February for his second catch of the drive, catching it in stride at the eight, and he managed to fight through Sander Sanden for a moment, getting to the two yard line and reaching the ball to try and break the plane... only for senior Ifeadi Weeks to punch the ball out of his hands and through the back of the end zone.

Isaiah Hunter, veteran that he was, immedietely knelt and clutched his helmet with both hands while February tried to argue his case with the officials, the end result being a fifteen yard penalty for his fervent debate to no avail - touchback, Rockets football. The quarterback was seen yelling at his receiver on the sideline after the miscue, initially interpreted as criticizing him, but that would be addressed following the game.

Now it was truly do or die. Richardson had all three timeouts, but a first down would make their only chance - a last second touchdown - all the less likely. It was a compliment from this coaching staff to even let him throw in this situation, but Odin Sørbø rewarded that trust by connecting with Emma Barbarosa on first down. That throw and catch picked up six yards to stay on schedule, but things got dicey and quick after that - Totte Lindberg guessed the snap count perfectly on second down, cutting through the offensive linemen before they ever had a chance to fire out and wrapping up Imran Håland just as he got the handoff. Håland managed to take a couple steps forward, but his fellow Vanorian flipped his hips from on top of him to wrench him to the turf, forcing a three yard loss - the seventh time he's earned a TFL in what's been a spectacular season. Richardson called their second timeout to stop the clock, and both teams had time to get their best playcall out there.

As was the case so often this season, it was Richardson's pass rushers that won the down for them. Franklin Pillsbury held up strong at left tackle against Julian Anneliese, but Ojare Kahara's speed rush was only barely washed upfield, forcing Sørbø to shrug his arm off in order to step up in the pocket, and just as he went to deliver what looked to be a first down completion, big Roger Jackson brought his hand up to tip the pass. And that bit of a deflection was all that was needed.

There was enough zip on it that it wobbled its way downfield, but it was none other than Vilde Lauritzen who came across the field and scooped up the pass at the fifty, managing to return it just past the forty before she was knocked out of bounds.

The entire sideline had been in hysterics after the pick, and once it was confirmed, no flags, no fumble, nothing, the offense took the field with one last shot at this thing. It'd be Hunter guiding them downfield, connecting with wideout Lukas Müller and tight end Hezekiah Thomas in turn to kick things off. They were already in scoring range thanks to having Jin Hayamoshi at kicker, but they needed a touchdown. On the third play of the drive, protection broke down almost immedietely. Hunter offered a quick stiff arm to help get himself out of danger and rolled out of the pocket, scanning for an open target. Mulogo hadn't quite been able to shake his defenders, and out of the corner of his eye he saw motion, looked, and threw without even thinking.

Who else but February again, sprinting back to the ball from where he'd been running a deep streak as a clearout. Now, he hadn't anticipated Alva Le being on him quite as tight as she was, but he attacked the football with everything he had and clutched it to his chest, squeezing with all the strength he'd built up in Richardson's weight room and fell completely uninhibited with the corner on top of him. Hunter pumped his arms in the air to greet his teammate, but the wideout was clearly hurt - he stood up, clutching his left arm to his ribs and tossed the ball to the ref before waving for his backup and running to the sideline.

It was crucial that February had managed to get himself off the field - staying down after the injury would've cost his team their final timeout, and by the time Hezekiah Thomas's bid at a game-winning touchdown catch was stymied at the one, that would've been game over.

Now, with seven seconds on the clock, many teams would pass once to give themselves two chances at a score. But as had been established when the team won the NSCF 27 championship - this team hasn't installed a goal-line passing play in Kasen Harrowitz's tenure as head coach.

And when Ragnar Sampson took his place in the I formation, everyone could see exactly what Ratzupalfu had when they recruited him - an uber talented, freakishly powerful man coming out you with bad intentions, with no heed to the torrential downpours around him. Or now with the Governors, the snow more than anything. There was suspense initially of course - this was a true winner-takes-all play. Screw it up, and they wouldn't have time to get another snap off. But lining up against that running back is like staring down the barrel of a loaded gun, and Isaiah Hunter pulled the trigger with the handoff. Sampson didn't cut through any defenders, he smashed through Zesiro Wattiti on the line with pure blunt force trauma and pounded his chest with a roar that was audible in a Valhalla Falls stadium that was now so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Then, Kasen Harrowitz grabbed his kicker and punter on their way out, shook his head at them, and signaled for two points. His offense, having been ready to exit the field, snickered to themselves, while their Vanorian counterparts literally balked at the disrespect, taken aback at the blatant, petty call.

Same play. Same result, and a lot of pissed off fans as Richardson took a 22-14 lead.

Despite a squib kick, Odin Sørbø would have a shot at a Hail Mary, but it'd fall harmlessly to the ground courtesy of Packard Goss.

Kasen Harrowitz would claim after the game that he hadn't wanted to give the Rockets a chance to tie it up on a field goal - but I think we all know better. Even if they'd have connected on a late Hail Mary, they wouldn't have had time to kick a field goal. They wanted to make the margin bigger, and Governors fans across the world were loving it.

"Amazing team win," Isaiah Hunter laughed in the postgame presser, "Our defense really bailed us out all day, and we managed to pull it out at the end on offense. Huge props to Hughie [February] for putting that bad play out of his mind. I told him right afterwards that we would need him to win this thing, and we did. He made a huge catch on that final drive and had the wherewithal to get off the field to save us our timeout, helluva guy, hopefully it's nothing long term."

Per the team doctor, February suffered a stinger, and while he'll be limited in practice this week, the Governors should have their WR1 ready to go against UCBP, one of their biggest rivals in what's going to be an intense out of conference slate. The Warriors were Mineral Conference runners-up this season as they continue to be one of the better teams in college football, and they'll be looking hard for a win after losing to Université St. Croix in week 11. He's an important part of this team's passing attack - his 50 catches and over 700 yards lead the wide receiver room and are second only to Mugisha Mulogo on the team. Meanwhile, Ragnar Sampon ended the game with 950 rushing yards and eight scores on the season - that's despite not taking over the majority of the team's rushing numbers until week 7.

"We have to put this one behind us quickly," said Harrowitz to close out the media availability, "It was an emotional win and as exciting as it was, that can be dangerous. If we don't have a great, focused, precise week of practice, we won't be at our best against the University of the Commonwealth. And if we aren't at our best, they will give us our third loss of the season. They are and always have been among the competition's elite, it's part of why it's become such a spirited rivalry during Richardson's time in the NSCF."

(O.O) · by **TJUN-ia** » Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:46 am

Last-minute dealing meant that the Green City Royal Eagles had a game to play on Week 12 of the schedule, despite just how disastrous their MinCon play ended - losing both the Heartland to UCBP and the Earth Trophy to a 4-6 Trent State team with almost nothing to play for. Paul Abdullahi knew that things had to go well in these final two games if they wanted any chance of going to the postseason with something on the line and so with that in mind, all eyes of The Palace once more.

The Saguenay Fighting Irish from Quebec and Shingoryeo were our opponents in this OOC game and we knew we needed a good performance against Sara Lee Hampton to impress the NSCF Playoff Committee...and yeah, let's just say we did that. The Fighting Irish are the Celestia Conference Champions and we were expecting a fight on our hands here because of that fact...but Raúl Sébastien Santos, a lethal weapon of a QB, could only manage 2 TDs, both to Claire Morin-Belanger, with Curtis Allin managing only 1/2 on PATs. That left plenty of time for Alisha Obi Michel to be Alisha Obi Michel, but the 1st of our 6 TDs would come from a Pick-6 from Santos to Aeryn Anulao. AOM did get the other 5, 2 each to Yassan Namnganda and Harrison Jeffers with Batsogile Lovederia getting the other one, while Colleen Fletcher Christian went 3/5 on PATs but 1/1 on FGs. In the end, it finished 43-13 - a demolition job of a 10-win Conference Champion that was worthy of a field storm in Green City. Like holy shit...GCU may have a chance.

TSU SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference, Heartland Division + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: vs UCBP (CBP) L 21-27 (0-1)
Week 2: vs Centrale Pointe (TAN) W 30-3 (1-1)
Week 3: @Green City (TJU) - Earth Trophy XI L 20-57 (1-2)
Week 4: @NUSJJSM (SJJ) W 31-13 (2-2)
Week 5: vs Constantinople (NGS) - Homecoming L 21-40 (2-3)
Week 6: vs Columbus-Prairie (DHE) L 3-3 (3-9OT) (2-4)
Week 7: @Alexandroupolis (NGS) W 12-9 (3-4)
---------------------Mineral Division Rematches---------------------
Week 8: @UCBP (CBP) L 33-37 (3-5)
Week 9: @Centrale Pointe (TAN) L 27-34 (3-6)
Week 10: vs Green City (TJU) - Earth Trophy XII W 30-19 (4-6)
~~Week 11: Conference Championship Week~~
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 12: BYE
Week 13: vs Tsear (SAT/3-8/7th in Big Eight) - Senior Day
Week 14: BYE

GCU SCHEDULE (MINERAL Conference, Heartland Division + 3 Non-Conf)
Week 1: @Centrale Pointe (TAN) W 16-12 (1-0)
Week 2: @UCBP (CBP) W 37-28 (2-0)
Week 3: vs Trent State (TJU) - Earth Trophy XI W 57-20 (3-0)
Week 4: @Columbus-Prairie (DHE) L 34-38 (3-1)
Week 5: vs Alexandropolis (NGS) W 38-14 (4-1)
Week 6: vs UNSJJSM (SSJ) W 36-27 (5-1)
Week 7: @Constantinople (NGS) L 19-40 (5-2)
---------------------Mineral Division Rematches---------------------
Week 8: vs Centrale Pointe (TAN) - Homecoming W 51-3 (6-2)
Week 9: vs UCBP (CBP) - Senior Day L 26-37 (6-3)
Week 10: @Trent State (TJU) - Earth Trophy XII L 19-30 (6-4)
~~Week 11: Conference Championship Week~~
---------------------Non-Conference---------------------
Week 12: vs Saguenay (QUE/10-1/Celestia Champs) W 43-13 (7-4)
Week 13: vs Autamnia (SHR/1-9/8th in Big Eight) - Senior Day Redux
Week 14: BYE

by **Saint-Jean-Jacques et Burnham-on-Stove** » Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:24 am

Toucans blanks Maximus Rochester Institute!

Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer - In the first non conference matchup, the Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer Toucans blanked Maximus Rochester Institute 37-0. Maximus Rochester won the coin toss and choose to receive the ball first. On their first drive, they had to punt. The Toucans followed with a 19 yards passing touchdown from Xavier Plouffe-Maheux to Hai Rong Dong. It was the only score of the first quarter. L'Université nationale increased their lead early in the 2nd quarter when Sebastian Jakubowski scored a 6 yards rushing touchdown. On their next drive, Maximus Rochester fumbles the ball and it was recovered by Zacharie Montmarquette-Boisvenue at the 38 yards line in Maximus Rochester territory. On a 4th and 4, Jean-Jacques Cauchon made a 51 yards field goal. The Toucans also made a 42 yards field goal whitin the two minutes warning and the score was 20-0 at halftime. Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer made a 13 yards passing touchdown from Xavier Plouffe-Maheux to Raphaëlle Coiteux-Vaugeois midway in the 3rd quarter. Early in the 4th quarter, Maximus Rochester quarterback's pass was intercepted by Noémie Trang who returned the ball into the endzone for a pick six. The Toucans made a 25 yards field goal before the end of the 4th quarter and the final score was 37-0.

Maximus Rochester   0   0   0   0  -  0
UNdSJJsM            7  13   7  10  -  37

1st quarter
9:35   TOUCHDOWN UNdSJJsM  - Xavier Plouffe-Maheux passes to Hai Rong Dong for 19 yards - Extra point good

2nd quarter
13:18  TOUCHDOWN UNdSJJsM  - Sebastian Jakubowski runs for 6 yards. Extra point good
11:32  FIELD GOAL UNdSJJsM   - Jean-Jacques Cauchon's 51 yards kick is good
0:47   FIELD GOAL UNdSJJsM   - Jean-Jacques Cauchon's 42 yards kick is good

3rd quarter
7:33   TOUCHDOWN UNdSJJsM  - Xavier Plouffe-Maheux passes to Raphaëlle Coiteux-Vaugeois for 13 yards - Extra point good

4th quarter
12:28  TOUCHDOWN UNdSJJsM  - Noémie Trang 44 yards interception return - Extra point good
3:14   FIELD GOAL UNdSJJsM   - Jean-Jacques Cauchon's 25 yards kick is good

On week 13, the Toucans will receive Silver Coast at home. The game will be played in afternoon and the weather is exprected to be cloudy. Simon Berthelot is still out with an ankle injury. Antoine Bonneau is doubtful and Kevin Guilbault is probable.

Jean-Alexandre Guindon

by **Valanora** » Thu Feb 15, 2024 6:18 pm

Academy Prospects Looking To Bright Tomorrows

The Academy season is entering into its' final game and once again the mighty Magnus Academy is in the championship game and whose team is going to be trying to advertise themselves both to foreign and domestic scouts to be offered a scholarship to play gridiron at the collegiate level. However most Vanorians know that the odds of them turning professional after their time in university is quite slim and thus when they commit to a school, they are pledging for a full four years or even six years if they decide to pursue their Masters Degrees after achieving their Bachelors. This means that the schools pursuing them do not have to worry about them potentially declaring to enter one of the draft's from one of the professional leagues that dot the landscape, making them something of a commodity in that way. However the physical disadvantages continue to plague Vanorian players, even with players that break that mold, or those who are undersized still playing well against their more physically impressive competition, a reputation that also persists in basketball. Whether that will serves as a detriment to these highly touted prospects remains to be seen.

5. Marie Pollestad, 5'8" 162 lbs, Wide Receiver (F)
A highly touted slot receiver who cuts and slashes through defenses like a hot knife through butter and allegedly ran a 4.34 forty yard dash during summer work outs. She does not have the best hands but is not prone to drops either, runs routes fairly well but does struggle to find soft spots in coverage on broken players. With her speed though, she can separate from most defensive backs when she does haul in catches, usually inside slants or underneath routes where the quarterback can hit her in stride and allow her speed and footwork to do most of the job for her. Can sometimes line up as a running back with coaches looking to get her involved anyway she can with that speed.

4. Noah Nur, 6'5", 215 lbs, Defensive Tackle
A strong and hard nosed tackle who prefers to play in a two tackle formation rather than a nose tackle such as in a 3-4 base formation. While one of those rare gems of a strong, tall Vanorian, he is more concerned in finding a good school to pursue his academic career with a plan on going into accounting or finance. Early indications are that he wants to stick close to home and go to Raynor University but is keeping the recruiting process open in case a school out there could offer him the same sort of standards academically and on the field as Raynor but away from home.

3. Kristian Edvardsen, 6'0", 176 lbs, Linebacker
Kristian is your do it all linebacker with the speed to be able to drop back in coverage as well as the strength to be able to wrap up in the open field and bring all but the strongest ball carriers down solo. With good finesse moves and a burst of acceleration, he can also be used well in blitzes or be converted into a hybrid linebacker or edge rusher, though the latter would see him probably need to add a few more pounds of muscle. Reserved even by Vanorian standards but lets his play do his talking for him and he is seen as one of the best all around defensive players in this crop of prospects.

2. Emil Reiersen, 5'9", 180 lbs, Running back
Emil follows a trend of speedbacks with good hands who can line up out wide in empty backfield sets, able to route run effectively for a back. As a runner, he is patient enough to wait for holes to develop and then burst through them with good acceleration and the agility to quickly change direction when needed, known to leave linebackers and secondary on the floor with broken ankles with the dynamic way he runs through defenses. His biggest weakness is a near complete inability to be able to assist with pass blocking, which meant he would often be used out wide or brought off on pure passing downs.

1. Elias Sørensen, 5'10", 182 lbs, Safety
Elias is a dynamic play caller on the defensive side of the field with the speed and coverage to play as a free safety and enough strength and the ability to hit with leverage to play also at strong safety. Holding up to the stereotype, he very much plays as the quarterback of the defensive and is often seen calling audibles and generally organizing the defense to be in the right position to break up the opponents. While the other prospects might be ready to start in a specific environment, Elias is ready to start now and head up a defense that he believes will win a championship in his four years at whatever university offers him the right opportunity to do so.

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Thu Feb 15, 2024 7:26 pm

OOC: Thanks and Condolences to Drawkland for enabling the creation of Cavsarland Delight, which has been in plans since last NSCF, and Tikariot for inspiration re: Demons are a girl's best friend. This is a hybrid of Dixieland Delight, a popular Alabama song that is played at Crimson Tide home games, and Demons are a girl's best friend, very opposite of a country song.

Cavsarland Delight

'Cavsarland Delight' is a 2024 song written by Drawko-Quebecois writer Kenneth Albright and recorded by Quebecois goth country music band Tuscaloosa. Written as a tribute to the Drawkian college town of Cavsar, where he had famously described his time there as one filled with 'alcohol, toomfoolery and all things defying your ordinary imagination' on a 2054 Sweets of Country interview, the song was released as the lead single to Tuscaloosa's 2025 album Demons and a Girl's Best Friend.

It finished number two on the QRIA Top 50 Singles Chart, becoming the band's highest-charting song in a decade. Known for its quirky lyrics, relaxing tune and acritically-acclaimed music video featuring a demon and seven nuns in the northern Drawkian namesake city, it has since remained a major staple in Quebecois goth country. It has been recorded and performed multiple times, most recently by Tuscaloosa in the 2063 69Xer film Vampwolf Chronicles: First Class, as well as La Voix and So You Think You Can Jam. The song, however, became a particular staple among the Cavsar Gladiators football fanbase, who have performed a variation of the song on several of their home games.

Lyrics - Gladiators' version

Opening Verse
Rollin' down Backward,
Mardalee byway
One leg on the break
Pinnin' my lover with the third leg
A numb, nibbly northern thrill
Drove down all week, got some chucks tingle
On a Hellenmack Friday night
Could only feel seven, I'm in heaven
With my Cavsarland Delight

Chorus:
Set my Holler (On Fire)
Burning on a fire by the tailgate parking-lot (Cav-Sar)
Bone her prone-tight (Burn bright)
jiggle give a tuggin' (Bounce back)
A mailman shakin' on a Roy-Memorial Grass (Fuck OMU)
Fits my life (And SSU), oh so right (And MARDALE TOO)
My Cavsarland delight

2nd Verse:
Grand-gold buck Drawk, munchin' on snow bear
Red-gold sock sittin on the fire
Plump tall Gladdy, steppin' to the griddy
Free as Panjia in the grill
Ranching country boy gonna give me a jiggle
On a Hellenmack Friday night
Only feelin' seven, I'm in heaven
With my Cavsarland Delight

Chorus:
Set my Holler (On Fire)
Burning on a fire by the tailgate parking-lot (Cav-Sar)
Bone her prone-tight (Burn bright)
jiggle give a tuggin' (Bounce back)
A mailman shakin' on a Roy-Memorial Grass (Fuck OMU)
Fits my life (And SSU), oh so right (And MARDALE TOO)
My Cavsarland delight

by **Utahn Theocratic Republic** » Thu Feb 15, 2024 8:34 pm

Jackson Zuercher Pt 6.

"He threw and Johnny caught it pulling it in for the second TD," exclaimed the commentator, his voice booming through the stadium speakers as the crowd erupted into cheers. On the field, Jackson Z exhaled a mixture of relief and triumph, watching Tight-End Johnny Wall secure another touchdown for BYU. Pulling himself up from the turf, Jackson couldn't contain his excitement. "Yes! That's how we fucking do it lads!" he yelled, his voice drowned out by the roar of the crowd. Johnny grinned, nodding in agreement as he high-fived his quarterback. Jackson smiled and slapped Johnny’s helmet as they looked out at the crowd, and soon they let the defense do their job and they canned the University of Loyola-Istria Blue Thunder in the second edition of the Holy War, Jackson felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. Running up to Johnny, he threw himself into his teammate, smacking his helmet in jubilation. "We fucking did it, man! Another win and we are marching closer to those playoffs!" Jackson yelled out into the crowd, his grin matching Johnny's as they celebrated their hard-earned victory. Despite the game being surprisingly close, ending 14-10 with a BYU win, Jackson couldn't help but feel proud of their performance.

With the scoreboard displaying a BYU victory, the post-game atmosphere buzzed with excitement and relief. Fans cheered and players exchanged congratulatory slaps on the back as they made their way off the field. In the locker room, amidst the jubilant chatter of victory, Jackson found himself reflecting on the game's key moments. "I didn’t rush much, but when I did, man I would say I was pretty fast eh Johnny?" Jackson mused, his thoughts drifting to his unexpected rushing touchdown. "Sure you were, you were lucky I can block just as good as I can score." Johnny laughed at Jacksons thoughts, and with Jackson turning to Johnny with a grin. Jackson said "Yeah yeah, shut it Johnny but hey you did your job so I can really complain haha." Johnny laughed to himself, acknowledging the compliment with a modest nod. "Well yeah if I didn’t do my job pretty sure we would be 3-8" he replied, his tone filled with almost laughing his ass off. Together, Jackson Z and Johnny Wall had once again proven themselves as one of the best duo’s on the field next to some pretty good teams, leading the BYU Miners to victory in a hard-fought battle against their Mormon rivals and well they had the MinCon champ next so they were off to the University of Columbus-Prairie.

by **Chromatika** » Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:30 pm

Part One: Coastal Conference
Part Two: Delta Conference
Part Three: Dreadnought Conference
Part Four: Justinian Conference
Part Five: Mountain Conference
Part Six: Omega Conference
Part Seven: Premium Conference
Part Eight: Rainbow Conference
Part Nine: Southern Conference & Urrheddiao Conference
Part Ten: Elite Conference Preview
Part Eleven: Elite Conference Season
Part Twelve: National Playoffs Seeding Round, First Round

Chromatik High School Gridiron - Season Thirteen, Part Thirteen: Playoffs - Second Round, Third Round

Season 1 Champions: Central Heights High School (MVP: QB Harold Jieter)
Season 2 Champions: East Omnio High School (MVP: WR Alessandro Mio)
Season 3 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 4 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 5 Champions: Flames of the Revolution High School (MVP: RB Nyata Antonucci)
Season 6 Champions: Staramara Tech High School (MVP: Edge Nicole Manstrom)
Season 7 Champions: Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School (MVP: QB Liara Anderson)
Season 8 Champions: Vitoron School of Charge (MVP: QB Anne-Maurice Vivayavich)
Season 9 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School (MVP: QB Nicole Estera)
Season 10 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School (MVP: CB Lisa Bonsoon)
Season 11 Champions: The Chromatik Institute (MVP: QB Raul Sébastien Santos)
Season 12 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Dante Flowers)

SEASON 13 PLAYOFFS - Winners' Bracket, Second Round
East Rhoni High School 20–29 Mt. Niar High School

Though it's close at halftime - Jill Westhaven and Park Min-Seol scored a touchdown each to equalize the two scored by Dante Flowers and Millie Harangyar - but the Anacondas' defense stiffened in the second half, Mara Toog hit all four of the Field Goals, and despite Park getting free on a sixty-four yard scamper, the Kayaks' bid at a two-point conversion fell short. Mt. Niar returns to the National Quarterfinals, three wins away from defending their title - who could stop them, really?

Pelar High School 17–24 Myana Southeastern High School

A battle between two schools that didn't think they'd be here, but they were. Reeva Karlston struck first with a forty-three yard touchdown pass, which was equalized by Knut Perron; Perron would score another before halftime, and though Karlston and the Hurons scored ten points in the Third Quarter, Perron's third touchdown run of the game ended up being the nail in the coffin. The Fathoms, in the National Quarterfinals, with a subpar Quarterback? Insane. Harly Jinn's run will likely end sometime soon, but until it does, the Fathoms will keep on keeping on.

East Shantarr High School 16–17 Myana Northwestern High School

An absolutely tight game between the Order and the Blue and White; Argonaut had the game's only touchdown through the first half, finding Draymond Sting in the slot for thirty-nine yards; it looked like the Order really had control of the game as they went into halftime with a ten point lead. However, Lina Goodson turned things around from a pair of turnovers in the first half to find Gorgo Lusmon for a nineteen yard strike; then, in the Fourth Quarter, Creed Jackson-Smith ran for seventy-three of his one hundred twenty-four yards, including the go-ahead score of forty-five yards. Argonaut and the Order tried their best at a last minute drive, but back to back tackles by Alexander Eisenberg ended that. The Blue and White are back.

SEASON 13 PLAYOFFS - Losers' Bracket, Second Round
Seeded (Loser of Winners' Bracket Hosts)
Gurshan High School 41–23 Wirr Tsi School for the Gifted

A five-touchdown day from Fabian Donovan, including three scores to Hannah Riechart, was too much for the Masterminds to overcome; Dean Stephens and company had a decent season, but they couldn't keep up with the firepower of the Drills; Kiernan Jodunst ended his spectacular season with twelve tackles on the day, but the middle of the Masterminds' defense was porous, allowing so many of the Drills to run rampant.

Kynxe High School 43–31 Chromatik Army High School

Take a bow, Jair Lleyamana. The Sophomore Quarterback had a day - four scores in a must-win game is good, indeed - with Heidi Sundstrom and Angie Pyre doing their parts; however, Patrick Osmeiller and company were simply better on the day. Osmeiller had four touchdowns himself, Mick Jones had a strip-sack that was picked and returned for another score, and the Monsoon kept on pouring on. A tough ending for the Recruits, but with Lleyamana behind the helm, they'll be all right.

Urrhed High School 20–24 Dynasty High School

The Vipers should've won this - Reece Santos was the veteran Quarterback, Naya Curento had the two touchdown catches, and Giles Kansonoff had two sacks. However, Gill Gaines had a field day with his two favorite targets - and with Drew Elliott, Jr and Martha Larran having more than a hundred yards of receiving each - Larran getting two touchdown catches to Elliott's one - the Royals moved on to the last round before the Quarterfinals.

J. H. Yadasky High School 54–13 East Omnio High School

The Geomancers had no chance. Edward Warrington, whose story has been inspiring, was utterly overshadowed by Cade Stases. Stases had four touchdowns, George Killion had two on the ground, and with both Kurtis Seelo and Dorothea Destiller being monster Freshmen that keep on developing for the Heroes, J. H. Yadasky never looked back against East Omnio. Alessandra Mio's alma mater exited the competition at this level - not the worst showing, to be fair.

Anfanhar High School 28–42 South Sanar High School

Xiya Yard had a decent enough First Half - three touchdowns scored, and the fourth drive ending with a Miley Yves plunge. However, the second half would be all about the Armadillos and the duo of Eyre Feng and Millie Feng. Eyre found Millie for a pair of scores herself, Mickie Gearn had a pick-six, and the Armadillos turned a fourteen point deficit to the fourteen point win - showing that they can score in bunches.

Mt. Baker High School 14–16 Staramara Tech High School

This was always going to be fun - two defenses having at it with very good linebacking play. Jordan Kimsterling had an interception, eight tackles, and a sack, but it was Freya Odinsdóttir - who else - that scored the Battle Angels' only touchdown, nine solo tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble that led to the final points scored by Staramara Tech High School. Mishael Forgonn didn't have the best of games, but as long as Freya can do what she does...

Unseeded (Neutral Venue)
Tears of the Revolution High School 40–13 The Chromatik Institute

An insane tie this point in the competition - with the Dread relying on the running game from Briana Heavenworth compared to the more well rounded attack of the Saints. Samuel Hodges had three touchdowns, Kimberley Dread returned a punt return for a score, and after letting the Dread score first, the Saints tallied the next thirty points to never look back. Tears of the Revolution look like a team that could truly shake up the order of the Chromatik High School Gridiron scene.

SEASON 13 PLAYOFFS - Losers' Bracket, Third Round
Seeded (Loser of Winners' Bracket hosts)
Pelar High School 7–13 Staramara Tech High School

Reeva Karlston supposedly had a plan with the Hurons, and for the first drive of the game, it worked. They converted a three-yard run with Karlston taking it in to take their only lead of the game. Then, the Battle Angels did what they do best - control the ball, play solid defense, and score when the opportunity presents itself. Mishael Forgonn found Reed Shok for twenty-nine yards for their only touchdown, Freya Odinsdóttir has an interception and two sacks, and Staramara Tech made their way back to the National Quarterfinals.

East Shantarr High School 3–20 Gurshan High School

The Drills have made their way to the Quarterfinals. Carson Mylkof, doing his best Freya Odinsdóttir imitation, had three sacks and an interception, while Daemon Argonaut was harassed all day by the defensive front of the Drills. With Argonaut not having enough time, the Order fell, and Gurshan High School - with not much of a running game - made their way to the National Quarterfinals.

East Rhoni High School 12–30 Kynxe High School

Could Patrick Psmeiller, known more as a pocket passer with only one above-average weapon in Reed Myler, really make it to the Quarterfinals? Though the Kayaks' Park Min-Seol had a hundred and sixty-four yard day, Mick Jones and the Monsoon defense held firm when the Kayaks reached the Monsoon twenty yard line. Then, Osmeiller did find Myler for two scores, and Kynxe had pulled off an incredible run.

Unseeded (Neutral Venue)
Dynasty High School 17–24 J. H. Yadasky High School

A very anticipated matchup - the upstart Royals taking on an established power like the Heroes. Gaines, Elliott, Jr. and Larran did well enough - they both had a hundred yards receiving each from Gaines - but the Heroes and Stases were undeniable. Killion had eighty-four yards and a score, Seelo caught the second, and when Stases scampered eighteen yards for the final touchdown, Dynasty High School just ran out of time. J. H. Yadasky moves on after that disastrous year the season prior.

South Sanar High School 27–23 Tears of the Revolution High School

With four minutes left, Eyre Feng took to the field - and going eight-of-thirteen for seventy-four yards, Keeva Alsott caught the touchdown pass with thirteen seconds left. It was the only way that the Saints were going to be kept out - with the way that Samuel Hodges was playing throughout the game. Truly, it was one of the drives of the season - and with confidence in the Feng sisters growing, the Armadillos advance to the Quarterfinals.

SEASON 13 PLAYOFFS - National Quarterfinal Bracket
The three schools from the Winners' Bracket must face a team from the Losers' Bracket. The final matchup is between the two teams remaining.

Gurshan High School vs. South Sanar High School
Myana Southeastern High School vs. Staramara Tech High School
Mt. Niar High School vs. J. H. Yadasky High School
Myana Northwestern High School vs. Kynxe High School

Power Ranking
1. Mt. Niar High School
2. Staramara Tech High School
3. Myana Northwestern High School
4. J. H. Yadasky High School
5. South Sanar High School
6. Kynxe High School
7. Myana Southeastern High School
8. Gurshan High School

by **Cardenao** » Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:58 pm

“So……then…what are you thinking?”

“Shit man, I don’t know. I really just don’t know.

It just kills me. Three years now, no conference title. Always jammed up by Ranorians, dealing with BYU and other schools, shit is annoying and I’m not sure we’re hitting the NSCF championship anytime soon.”

“I feel you brother, that’s why this choice is so hard. I mean, they’re offering us a fuck ton of money to play ball but…I’d love to win it all with the Broncos. They’re my team, our team, this is the family and we’ve come so far. I can’t imagine a life without the Blue and Orange, I can’t imagine life out of college…I dunno if I want to give this all up yet.”

“Me neither…me neither. But……I think it might be time for me. I think I’m ready, I want to cut it at the next level, see what I’m made of and get some damn money doing it!”

“Wait, are you for real Big Red? You’re calling it quits and going to the league?”

“Yeah Bobby, Cardenao professional league is getting underway and I’ve got a good thing lined up. Great money, face of the franchise, it’s a solid gig. You should come man, I doubt they’ll let us get on the same team but you should definitely declare.”

Bobby Dials took a moment to let the silence hang. Little did Alabaster Red know, but Bobby had played a role in getting the Cardenao pro gridiron league running, Mihaly himself had called to discuss formatting, team composition, all of those details. Bobby was the best Cardenaoan ball player, it only made sense to reach out to him.

“So what are you going to do Bobby?”

……

“I don’t know just yet man.”

Cardenao High School Defensive Line Prospects

1. Priest Hunter/DE-C/Timberline High School Wolves

Initially a basketball point guard but as the boy got bigger and bigger and bigger, Priest Hunter moved to the gridiron and finally found his way to the defensive edge position. Nearly 6’5 and 275lbs, Priest Hunter has a very athletic build with the necessary height and length to rip through would-be tone-setting offensive linemen. Priest is first and foremost an incredible athlete, with functional skills built on the hardwood now transitioning exceptionally well to the gridiron, the kid has incredible movement ability for a big man, he can run the lateral shuffle with players much smaller than him. His foot quickness and elite athleticism make him an absolute fckn menace at the line, especially against the run game. PH does a great job of overpowering his opponents momentum, doing well to match it while using his hands to manipulate the situation to his advantage.

It could be the case that Priest Hunter’s biggest strength is his biggest weakness, yes he is a phenomenal athlete but all that explosive power at that build? It might ultimately be too much for his body if PH keeps hitting the redline every single play.

2. John Canterburry, DE, Ficilian Point Raiders
6’4 283lbs

John Canterburry is a certified big boy, tipping the scales at over 280 pounds at 6’4 in height, and he looks and plays like he could add another 20 to 30 pounds to his frame at the next level. Despite all that mass, John shows some real solid athleticism with an explosive first step up out of his stance and his foot and body quickness at the point of contact looks to be elite. He’s shown the ability to bend around the edge with a good ability to burst through the line. Canterburry is pretty quick laterally and is quickly learning how to pair that speed with his considerable mass to simply move offensive linemen out of the way.

John Canterburry has the ability to contribute from the first day. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s mobile, he knows what to do, he’s what you want. The question is, what is his ceiling? Can he develop beyond a day one contributor to a difference maker?

3. Armen LeFonde/DL/Brøgby Preparatory Academy Miners
6’6, 262lbs

Armen LeFonde is a hulking, long-limbed defensive linemen with all the right ingredients to be a real nuisance at the collegiate level. LeFonde has a long frame to pair with his 6’6 height, and that means he towers over opposing offensive linemen and could still easily carry 20 more pounds but his current sheer size and length means Armen will enter his freshman year already a capable threat. The kid is super active leading up to contact, stabbing and swiveling around his opponents as LeFonde shows some surprising fluidity in his hips for someone of his stature. He’s shown he can create quality pressure both inside and outside, and has the sort of body and agility that seamlessly fits into a variety of schemes and alignments.

Armen LeFonde might lack some polish at this stage in his development, he only made the move to Dline in his junior year after starting out as a tight end. He has all the potential to succeed though, and he’s gotten more active with his hands and sharpened his positioning the more he plays the role. Likely to get better and better the more snaps he gets.

[align=center]

Cardenao High School Linebacker Prospects

1. Asieron Demonye
6’4, 241lbs

Possessing ideal height and build, with growth potential to add additional weight to his frame, Asieron Demonye has been labeled the next Alabaster Red though the two play the linebacker position very different ways. While Big Red is a good athlete but a fantastic all-round defender, Asieron Demonye is the opposite, a good defender but an all-around fantastic athlete. The kid is extremely fast, with unverified reports of a 4.4 40-yard dash, and you can see it on the field as Asieron is absolutely everywhere, flying across the turf to make all sorts of plays. He can play the run and seal the edge, he’s got ability at the five technique, and he’s got the lateral quickness and overall speed to dominate the backfield by closing down passing lanes. Asieron is a high motor player who uses his athleticism to dominate the field.

However, the lad still has a lot of room to improve in terms of his defensive technique. Asieron relies too much on his athleticism to bail him out of situations he shouldn’t have been in in the first place. He often leaves the right position to cover something else, then he has to rip back and make the stop where he was originally standing, so while he will offer some instant impact, a year in a college film room will help him blossom.

2. Santiago Nuñez
6’6, 231lbs

Tall and lanky at 6’6 with a trim, muscular 231lbs frame, it’s safe to say Santiago Nuñez has a solid physical build. He’s got an easy sort of athleticism that makes tough plays look routine for him with a sub 4.50 40 and vertical that jumps out of your screen, coincidentally he’s a star basketball player. Nuñez is generally a sure tackler who goes for the big hit, which can cost him sometimes as he’ll mishit an easy tackle and give up a big gain. He’s got home run speed so if he somehow gets the ball in his hands, Santiago’s a touchdown threat. He’s a chase down expert in the back-field, and when he’s taken a stance on the line, he’s been a nightmare.

There are some questions if Santiago Nuñez’s size and speed might see him eventually transition to the defensive end position, and some time on the practice field and in the weight room might make that happen. The biggest thing SN has in his favor is his game breaking athleticism paired with his height, but that’s also his biggest flaw as he has a tendency to be over-aggressive and run himself out of position.

3. D.J. Henry
6’2, 222lbs

D.J. Henry is a fire-footed off-ball linebacker with the physical traits, athleticism, and game knowledge to be a difference maker at the collegiate level. Despite being perhaps ever so slightly undersized at 6’2, Henry has a long, athletic build with good space on his frame to add much needed bulk and he plays with more strength than his listed size might suggest. He’s got good speed, nothing elite yet good enough, but he is tremendously agile and can maneuver impressively for someone his size. D.J. 's biggest strength is his general understanding of the defensive game and positioning, it feels like he’s in the right place far more often than he’s caught out of position, and he’s not afraid to speak up and command his teammates as to where they should be.

On the plus side, the kid is a natural born leader and he’s got the football IQ to maximize that. However, Henry’s biggest downside might be that he’s not particularly elite at any one thing in particular, but he sure is good at everything!

by **Dhemixia** » Thu Feb 15, 2024 9:59 pm

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The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)

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Blue Jays keep momentum rolling, look to make splash in S.P.I.T. Bowl

Eight wins across the last 9 games.

Five wins in a row.

I don't know what or how Craig Kelly changed after last year, but whatever it is, give me some. Kabe Heaton popped off again, another weekly occurence as well as Jerry Atkinson (he kicked the walk off for the team) who popped off throwing 4 touchdowns. Overall, great game. Good win, good morale boost, great locker room environment, lots of development activities, and overall a great learning experience for the future of the program.

Looking ahead, the Jays host the Miners of BYU in Week 12, also dubbed "The S.P.I.T. Bowl" and it's the first one of it's kind held in 'The Brig. The next week, the Jays are set to go at Utah State in Week 13, completing the full Utah cycle. Sure, while the OOC games might not matter to this Blue Jays team anymore, it is still quality football, and i can't wait for what's in store in week 12.

Schedule

*blue indicates home games
Week 1: @ Alexandroupolis L 13-19
Week 2: VS. Constantinople W 14-7
Week 3: VS. UndSJJsM (Universite nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer) L 36-55
Week 4: VS. Green City University W 38-34
Week 5: @ Centrale Pointe University W 48-6
Week 6: @ Trent State University W 3-3 (9-3 OT)
Week 7: VS. UCBP L 3-23
Week 8: VS. Alexandroupolis W 54-37
Week 9: @ Constantinople  W 24-19
Week 10: @ UndSJJsM  W 32-16

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: @ UCBP  W 33-29 
------------
Non-conference play
Week 11: VS. Silver Coast State  W 33-30 
Week 12: VS. BYU
Week 13: @ Utah State

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Governors, Warriors meet again in NSCF
Tony Ferguson, College Football Editor
for The Exponent

The University of the Commonwealth and Ranoria's Richardson University have developed quite the rivalry since their initial meeting in NSCF 18 as UC's first non-conference opponent.

The schools have embraced their mutual respect with plenty of interaction between their fans; RU visits to Gleason Field are like Homecoming Weekend and the UC away support is always robust when the scene shifts to Ranoria.

Richardson have strong-armed their way to a 10 win season against their Big 8 competitors with the best defense of the current campaign; Warrior Head Coach Ryan Benton stressed that it would be crucial to protect the ball and match the physicality of the Gov's front seven.

:We're under no illusions about what we're up against. They are always one of the most physically imposing teams we come up against and we know that we'll have to match that. We'll have to take the mentality of a cougar in order to intimidate their linemen. Our guys will carry the pride of Baker Park being chosen as one of the Best Nations in the World recently."

by **NSCF** » Thu Feb 15, 2024 10:02 pm

Non-Conference Play Week Two (MD12)

Cutoff!

LeBois Santura University (CAD) 6–3 Sadeg State University (DRK)

New Cardonia State University (CAD) 16–14 Raynor University (VAL)

University of Columbus-Prairie (DHE) 53–37 Bingham Young University (UTA)

Cavsar University (DRK) 34–17 University of Constantinople (NGS)

University of Mancodas (PFA) 19–33 Université St. Croix (QUE)

Université du Saguenay (QUE) 17–9 Mar Sara Tech (VAL)

Felswyr State University (CMT) 27–0 University of Loyola-Istria (BNJ)

Staramara Tech University (CMT) 42–3 Northern Moravica University (BNJ)

Cold Hill University (RAN) 31–13 University of Alexandroupolis (NGS)

Richardson University (RAN) 47–0 University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park (CBP)

Université nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer (SJJ) 10–24 Silver Coast State College (SAS)

Upper Westside University (STK) 44–30 Meinhard Ulrich University of Adelsstedt (UNW)

Green City University (TJU) 33–40 University of Autamnia (SHR)

Trent State University (TJU) 41–9 Tsear University (SAT)

by **Ranoria** » Sat Feb 17, 2024 4:10 pm

Dominance In All Three Phases As Governors Shut Out Warriors In One Of Their Best Performances Of The Season

Richardson pitched their second shutout of the season against one of their biggest rivals in what ended up being a long day for UCBP

Sometimes, good teams just don't have their mojo on for the day. And other times, good teams are on their absolute A game. It's rare that two teams in that sort of a state meet, but it already happened once this season for Richardson, when they walloped the Broncos 61-9. And on Saturday, it happened again when they ripped the heart out of a Mineral runner-up University of the Commonwealth of Baker Park squad. The Governors showed up ready to play - Kasen Harrowitz stressed after the tight win over Raynor that they'd need to put that game behind them in order to avoid a fall off following an emotional win, and boy did they ever.

Isaiah Hunter surprisingly led the charge in this one - the senior quarterback ripped off four touchdown passes, tying his career high, with three of those coming in the first half, and posted his second consecutive 300+ yard passing game as Richardson came out aggressive early in this one, spotting a 24-0 lead in the first half to put this game completely out of reach early - of course, the defense was absolutely on fire as well. They'd pitch a full-game shutout, their second of the season, and forced four turnovers, three by way of interception. The fourth stopped a drive that would have put the Warriors on the board - big Kerron Nicholas smashed through Warriors' running back Bobby Fields and knocked the ball loose, preserving their shutout.

Julian Anneliese and Ojare Kahara, too, absolutely feasted - the two star pass rushers combined for 2.5 sacks and 3 TFL as the were in the Warriors backfield so often that they're gonna have to start paying rent. After showing promise as understudied to Shean Eckert a season ago, the two have developed into two of the better pass rushers in the competition, with ten sacks apiece through this point in the campaign now after the win over UCBP. With the defensive backfield feasting off the errant throws they've forced all season, they've helped lead a defense that's allowed just 127 points in 13 games including the Big 8 championship, flirting with the incredible production of the fabled NSCF 27 unit that led them to their first ever championship.

"We've all grown up together," said Kerron Nicholas of his defensive teammates, "This coaching staff has taken a lot of good prospects and turned us into a well-tuned machine. Not only are we nearing our own peaks as players, but we have complete trust in one another. I'm not looking over my shoulder wondering if Vilde [Lauritzen] is doing her job, I know she is, and if she's not, one of the other players in the secondary will correct it. Of course there's gonna be mistakes, but we don't make many of them."

After an early season lump against the Miners, this team has rattled off its fifth straight campaign of 10+ wins, and they've virtually got the title of NSCF's best scoring defense on lock, having let up just 127 points in thirteen games including the conference championship against Lebois Santura.

"Not to sound too cliche," Nicholas continued, jamming his thumb over his shoulder to point out his quarterback, "But that guy's a huge reason we play as well as we do on defense. Because we know that no matter what, with him under center, we've got a shot at it. Not only is he going to give us a chance to win, he's going to find a way to win, and knowing that is what lets us play at our best for sixty minutes. Even last year when Rylan gave us our fire, he was our rock, he's our leader, and he will continue to be."

Hunter offered a lazy salute when he saw the monolith of a linebacker pointing him out, less than a hundred yards off from his second consecutive three thousand yard passing season with eighteen touchdowns to just a pair of interceptions this season. With this massive win over the Warriors behind them, the Governors look like they're peaking at the right time coming into playoff football - but they've got one more game, one more bit of business to take care of, in a game that will ultimately define their season. It's the only result that could possibly be mentioned before a championship win - and that's Loyola-Istria. A Blue Thunder team that has been an embarassment to the program this season, but that just means that they've got nothing to lose, and everything to gain - they knock off a championship-favorite Richardson, in the Stadium of Restoration, and their season will have had some value, if only out of sheer spite.

"Not looking past those guys," Kasen Harrowitz almost looked annoyed at the question, "Other teams have clocks counting down to the season opener. Ours is always set to our next date with Loyola-Istria. I don't give a damn what their record is, it's my job - before anything else with this team - to give them one more loss. This isn't just another game, and our players know that. If they really suck, then our goal is to embarrass them in their national stadium. But they'll show up to play, and we have to be at our best - that's a talented team filled with blue-chip players. No one is going to roll over for us."

by **Ranoria** » Sat Feb 17, 2024 11:26 pm

OOC: Notes
1- The Ranorian football league doesn’t employ fifth year options or franchise tags. This gives players significantly more leverage in negotiations and leads to more player movement.
2- all those rules favoring the passing game - those aren’t a thing here. Hard hitting safeties and linebackers are at a premium, making the middle of the field a dangerous place to throw, roughing the passer calls are few and far between, and defensive backs are often given a bit of leeway with their physicality prior to the catch.
3- Because of this, expect significantly lower average passing numbers than in the NFL. In 70+ seasons, the RFL has had five 4,700+ yard seasons, two 5,000+ yard passing seasons, and seven 40+ passing TD seasons. By comparison, there have been 15 5,000+ yard seasons in the NFL and 19 NFL seasons of 40+ passing touchdowns. Please keep this in mind if your players - particularly QBs, WRs, or TEs, aren’t having the production you’d expect.
4- also as a result of this, running backs take on a greater role and the average rushing numbers are higher. 2,000+ yards is still a rarity.
5- I'm not committed to any more heavily RP'd seasons, but the league will continue to run as long as I have the currently in place foreign players at the very least

6- Few changes last season! First - we've introduced divisions! I say we because I wouldn't have been able to do this without South Newlandia, huge thanks to him there. Everyone's favorite elephant is crucial and indispensable to the scoring of the RFL now. Two teams were taken out of the league - the Lorcondan National Team and Calgary Stampede - to accommodate this. No foreign (or even notable Ranorian) players were on those teams.

With that said, we've moved to a more familiar format for everyone - four divisions per conference, with each division champion and two wild cards from each conference making the playoffs.

Ranorian Conference

Ranorian Heartland
Mariana Tigers
Berlin Snow Bears
Balafre Bootleggers
Ranoria City Falcons

Ranorian Central
Memphis Steamers
Indianapolis Hogs
Nashville Sabercats
Apollotown Sabers

Ranorian Coastal
Highport Hawks
Sierraville Famers
Munich Thrashers
Victorsville Hurricane

Ranorian North
Lafayette Crusaders
Halifax Blizzard
Madison Gladiators
Vancouver Yeti

National Conference

National North
Rouyoutte Aurora Knights
Eglise Mountaineers
Herot Paladins
Fermete Marauders

National Central
Ranoria City Silver
Pittsburgh Ironmen
Dietrich Dynamos
Richardson Fenrirs

National West
Yellowknife Wraiths
Brittany Walruses
Menagerie Pioneers
Edmunton Eagles

National Coastal
Fiston Redwolves
North Ashialand Dreadnaughts
New Quebec Fighters
Port Kruger Phalanx

For Offseason Notes See Below
Offseason News | Preview

RFL 2037 - Young Man's Game

The 2037 season of the Ranorian Football League kicks off with plenty of storylines - from one of the most highly anticipated draft classes in decades, reports of cracks in the dynasty in Ranoria City, and the pursuing back biting at their heels in teams like Fiston, Apollotown, and Berlin looking to take the throne, there's plenty to watch.

[b]National Conference

National Conference

National North: A Passing Of The Torch

1 Herot Paladins                    16   12   4   360  265  +95    0.750
 2 Rouyotte Aurora Knights           16   10   6   355  262  +93    0.625
 3 Fermete Marauders                 16    8   8   302  287  +15    0.500
 4 Eglise Mountaineers               16    7   9   284  403 −119    0.438

When veteran quarterback Ballast Queen signed with the newly minted Rouyoutte Aurora Knights, he was expected to lead a revamped franchise to the pinnacle of the sport. And while he's had incredibly productive passing seasons, this year was definitely a drop off, and it came at the wort possible time.

Things started tough for the Herot Paladins. Fielding a rookie quarterback in Shirinna Lehmann, they watched their hopeful franchise passer throw four interceptions to Victoria Mio in the season opener, with the cornerback taking one of them back for six in a dominant win for her Fermete Marauders.

That said, things got better in a hurry. They found a way to scrape together a 12-win season, sweeping the Aurora Knights in the process to win the division for the first time in years. Vanorian wideout WR Darin Sundström and running back Alexander Ostby were critical to their success, with Sundström pacing the team's next two receivers combined with thirteen hundred yards and eleven receiving scores, operating as a RAC machine out of the slot while Ostby served an outlet for Lehmann all year long. Their veteran stars on defense did just enough, and they earned the fourth seed in the conference.

Meanwhile, the Aurora Knights miss the playoffs as Queen, after three years, seems to have failed to deliver on the high hopes despite his elite production. The Marauders slipped to an 8-8 season as they continue to wallow in mediocrity, and whispers of moving on from veteran QB Sheila Pantoja permeate the franchise as the passing game takes more and more priority even in Ranoria.

National Central: Losing Is A Skill Issue

1 Ranoria City Silver               16   12   4   424  238 +186    0.750
 2 Pittsburgh Ironmen                16   12   4   441  283 +158    0.750
 3 Richardson Fenrirs                16   12   4   389  251 +138    0.750
 4 Dietrich Dynamos                  16    7   9   301  350  −49    0.438

This was the most competitive division in football this season, and a huge reason that there were seven ten-win teams in a brutal national conference this season, showing that what was the weaker conference for so long is now itself sporting a talent-rich array of squads.

First of all - props to the Fenrirs' Tim Hunt. After back-to-back 7-9 seasons that saw the young man turn the ball over far too often and fail to put up twenty points per game, he led this team back in a big way, with Deshawn Fredericks back in OPOY form and Chase Okama at running back ripping off three 40+ yard touchdown runs. It his best season since their championship appearance in 2034, ripping off 3815 yards and 27 touchdowns to just 13 interceptions while completing a career high 64.3% of his passes. It'd be enough to send his Fenrirs to the playoffs - the three 12-win squads from the National who duked it out for the division aren't quite done with each other yet.

Meanwhile, in some other years, the season Ironmen back Apollo Esther had may have been an MVP caliber one - the former Krauts star ran for seventeen hundred rushing yards and eighteen touchdowns as defenses struggled to account for both him and a Leonardo Torrent-led passing game with Layna Cinder recording a career high 913 receiving yards as a true threat in this offense. Kaiser Belfort tallied an RFL-leading 190 tackles, Eden Park and Frederic Benn-Kocian combined for seventeen sacks, it was a great year for the historically strong franchise. But of course - it was the Ranoria City Silver who led the charge.

The Chromatik-filled defensive unit was spearheaded by edge rushers Nicole Manstrom and Jill Lia, who led the league's best defense this season allowing just 14.9 points per game while Rowenna Hastroff handled the offense at running back. Lia in particular had a career year with 16.5 sacks and, surprisingly, earned nineteen tackles for loss, feasting off of runs away from her side of the field and RPO type plays as she simply ran down ball carriers from behind, also leading to five forced fumbles.

The Dynamos continue to not be very good at this team as QB Diego Rodriguez seems to finally be falling out of favor with the coaching staff on a team that never recovered from Diamond Rhine blowing up what should've been a dynasty.

National Central: Maybe Next Year Blake?

1 Brittanny Walruses                16   11   5   424  261 +163    0.688
 2 Yellowknife Wraiths               16    6  10   339  477 −138    0.375
 3 Edmunton Eagles                   16    3  13   221  405 −184    0.188
 4 Menagerie Pioneers                16    1  15   192  529 −337    0.062

A tough one to watch as the highly anticipated Blake Zuercher struggled to put up points all season. When Edmunton drafted he and South Newlandian wideout Viktoire Wilson, they were taking a swing on their future with the goal of competing in the division immedietely. Instead, Edmunton's win total sank from six to three, and the Walruses - a mediocre team by all accounts - continued to rule over a barren division.

Mind you, it's not all Blake's fault. Rolan Monroe was a former DROY for a reason at edge rusher for the Wraiths, and Malik Sherman of the Pioneers is still good, if aging - and Zuercher's Eagles don't know they're allowed to get offensive linemen yet as their young quarterback missed two games this season and still took an RFL-high fifty five sacks. His development will be key, but will he have a chance on this team? He struggled throwing the ball behind a porous offensive line - the youngster passed for under 2400 yards in 14 games, and put up fifteen touchdowns to ten picks, but he was often forced to improvise, and saw a ton of success on the ground when he did. He carried the ball 81 times for 512 yards, scoring half a dozen touchdowns there, including one on a 56 yard game winner in week four. While exciting, the Eagles must find Zuercher offensive line help, lest he develop a poor habit of relying completely on his legs, limiting his growth and leaving him injury prone down the line.

National West: Run-of-the-mill Redwolves

1 Fiston  Redwolves                 16   12   4   492  255 +237    0.750
 2 New Quebec Fighters               16    9   7   289  277  +12    0.562
 3 North Ashialand Dreadnaughts      16    5  11   332  384  −52    0.312
 4 Port Kruger Phalanx               16    1  15   213  431 −218    0.062

A cruise to the division title by the Fiston Redwolves - only Ernest Bello's New Quebec Fighter's even posted a winning record in a division with what's arguably the strongest team in the Ranorian Football League. Lane Proudfoot and Jack Hoy led the best offense in the league with Proudfoot pacing the competition in both passing yards (4,644) and passing touchdowns (35), both career highs for the Drawkian passer. "I mean yeah, that's cool, I guess?" Proudfoot said at his postgame presser after a week 17 Sunday Night game clinched his league-leading numbers, but when he was asked a follow up question, he was distracted by a group of young women calling for him in the crowd.

Anyway, you want something really embarassing? The Port Kruger Phalanx went 1-15 while fielding two of the best players in the country in Rylan Rodgers Jr at running back and Akhello Volson at corner. In true Phalanx fashion, they hope one guy on each side of the ball can carry their team. Volson was completely unengaged later in the season because team's wouldn't throw to him, preferring the soft other guys in the secondary, and their quarterback threw no touchdowns and eight picks against loaded boxes - leading to even Rylan's electric self having a down season.

They did get some nice ratings though, by Akhello Volson returning two interceptions for touchdowns. "We lateral everything," he laughed after the second, "Look, we're out of the playoffs, we're not a good team this year, but we're putting a product out there, so let's make it entertaining!"

Coaches were vocally frustrated about his insistence that all picks should be lateraled if you don't have a shot at a touchdown - but the team did score six defensive touchdowns partially thanks to his efforts.

"Sorry, what was that? Oh yeah, as I was saying, man, we have the best running back, like, ever, I don't even really want to throw the ball that much, I'm a run first guy, you feel me? So...give the man the ball." Notably, on top of setting career highs in passing yards and touchdowns, he also set set a personal best in rushing yards with 72.

Ranorian Conference

Ranorian North: The Benolution

1 Madison Gladiators                16    8   8   345  301  +44    0.500
 2 Lafayette Crusaders               16    6  10   260  358  −98    0.375
 3 Halifax Blizzard                  16    6  10   297  420 −123    0.375
 4 Vancouver Yeti                    16    4  12   293  423 −130    0.250

Don't get us wrong, winning the Ranorian North isn't some sort of gold medal, historic even - this division sucks. It's the third straight season where the winner has been .500 or worse - but that doesn't make it any less exciting for the team that just pulled it off.

In Halifax, Isidora would be one of the best players in the league this season, joining Kaiser Belfort as one of the guys to say they ended an almost decade-long streak of at least Park Mi-Hyeon or Jere Rinaldi being featured on the first-team all pro ballot. All for naught of course, the Blizzard suck.

For the Lafayette Crusaders led by rookie linebacker and Cold Hill alumn Derek Pierce, they probably thought that their defense - along with a top 50% quarterback in Jay Garrian, could keep them atop the division for one more season at least while some kid named Benoit Youngblood continued to marinate.

That said, they came into week 17 at 6-9 in a climactic showdown with the 7-8 Madison Gladiators. Perhaps not a marquee showdown on paper, but the division was on the line here, and they were going against a rookie quarterback who'd scraped together win after win for a downtrodden franchise.

Initially, they held strong, allowing just three points in the first half thanks to Derek Pierce completely stifling the run game and bracket coverage keeping Beno from going to Nikolas Isaksen. They'd take a 6-3 lead to half, and it was all downhill from there. The Gladiators got rolling, with Youngblood pushing his team into field goal range twice to make it 9-6 while Jay Garrian, despite having all-pro Goliath Castellan as a stonewall on his blindside, looked completely hapless. Youngblood scored two fourth quarter touchdowns, both to Isaksen, and the Crusaders only whimpered up 6 points in answer - and with that, the Gladiators were going to the playoffs for the first time since strong safety Judas Wolfson retired.

Huge leap from the Gladiators. After signing Nikolas Isaksen and drafting 2x NSCF OPOY and NSCF 29 champion Benoit Youngblood, their offense jumped from scoring just under 14.9 points per game to a nice 21.5, almost a full touchdown difference. Consequently, their win total jumped from 3 to 8, and while Beno won't be getting anyone looking his way for an MVP award, he's certainly proved his mettle early. While it wasn't the most prolific season, Beno was productive, with 3,582 passing yards and 25 scores to just ten picks as head coach Raul Nieler eased him into the RFL pace.

"Kid's incredible," Nieler laughed after that week 17 victory, "There's definitely things he can improve, but I'm incredibly proud of what he's done so far and even more excited than before about his ceiling. For now - we're going to the playoffs!"

Ranorian Heartland: The Cannibalizing Ones

1 Mariana Tigers                    16   14   2   437  264 +173    0.875
 2 Ranoria City Falcons              16   12   4   413  257 +156    0.750
 3 Berlin Snow Bears                 16   11   5   420  307 +113    0.688
 4 Balafre Bootleggers               16    5  11   281  363  −82    0.312

Almost feels weird now when Falcons quarterback Sarai Gwenderyn isn't the MVP favorite this season - she still put up a strong campaign, forty one hundred yards and twenty seven touchdowns to just eight interceptions - but 25 points a game, one of the better offenses in the league or not, feels a little stale. Especially when she got shown up by none other than Gracelyn Jackson, at least in the touchdowns department. The third year quarterback for the Snow Bears had a breakout season after two years as a game manager, ripping off 28 touchdown passes and a career-high 3,780 passing yards. Her efforts would be enough to secure the second wild card spot without too much trouble, sending three teams from the Heartland into the playoffs

She had plenty of help though - Gauge Lawson continues to be one of the league's most productive backs, while Rachel Klein, despite her age, has transitioned from a flashy WR1 to a possession first chain mover, letting Dustin van Halfensen take over the role as the big play man within the offense. Throw in Demitrius St Pierre as the true vertical threat out wide, and she's got plenty of weapons. Gwenderyn, meanwhile, is mostly limited to working with Constantina Perrier, as Alessandra Mio, while still savvy, has declined a great deal due to her age and was good for just under six hundred yards this season. While the Falcons were still a 12-4 team and cruised into the playoffs, Perrier struggled to act as her usual RAC-monster self with teams playing a ton of zone on her and swarming to the football when she was targeted. And of course with all due respect to Sarai Gwenderyn, the team doesn't have a true rushing threat at this point - their 30-year-old quarterback can't fill that role withiout risking their season.

The Balafre Bootleggers suck. They had like one good player in Hector Storlffson and he left in free agency. But let's get to the winners.

The Mariana Tigers absolutely came roaring back. Ha, pun. Giving Elephants quarterback Zachary Stevens the keys to the offense was a fruitful decision, leveling up the passing game for this team. He utilized his South Newlandian teammates well - wideout Adam Parker served as a solid top option, and even 37 year old Dhruv Valentine, who insists he's got another year left in him, caught three touchdowns and picked up 21 first downs throughout the season on 31 receptions for 182 yards. But the real kicker? Thomas freaking Fantikos. The 2035 Offensive Rookie of the Year decided to remind everyone just how electric he can be, and with a legitimate threat at quarterback, he thrived. Fantikos would rush for an RFL-leading 1,931 yards and 20 touchdowns on 371 carries - some speculate that he can handle that kind of workload because Apollotown Sabers star Zamadi Ayana started over him at Elephant Valley. Throw in Zachary Stevens chipping in with 3,420 yards and 22 scores as a first year starter while largely avoiding any turnovers, and they arrived at the end of the season with a league-best 14-2 record and the top seed in the conference coming from the league's toughest division. Not bad.

Ranorian Central: Fairbanks and Ayana Go BRR

1 Apollotown Sabers                 16   12   4   471  248 +223    0.750
 2 Memphis Steamers                  16    9   7   392  320  +72    0.562
 3 Indianapolis Hogs                 16    7   9   280  397 −117    0.438
 4 Nashville Sabercats               16    4  12   325  448 −123    0.250

The Hogs haven't been good since they lost John Garrett. The most interesting thing about them is that they have a behemoth of a guard named Thor Maliek, a native of Ranoria's gold-rich northern Isguld territories. Sabercats are in the same boat - they were a perennial playoff team and 1 time semifinalist with Ballast Queen, and have been a doormat since he left for Rouyoutte and their grand stadium of the Elysium.

So who's exciting? The Memphis Steamers can ball - many expected this to be a breakout year for third year wideout Max Strömberg, and he delivered - leading the league in receiving with 1,505 yards and eight scores, but Kualu Luani seemed to be holding the offense back, throwing a career-high 16 interceptions against 24 touchdowns. The steamers believe they have the best receiver in the league - will they move on from Luani to maximize his impact?

Anyway, the Sabers, after finally shelling out in free agency, got superstar back Zamadi Ayana the help he needed on offense. That started with big Hector Storolffson at guard, and drafting a solid left tackle in Donovan Johnson to solidify one side of the line. Throw in grabbing Brooklyn Ghiarlando as a change of pace runner behind Ayana, and the offense finally had some teeth. And of course, the defense is fielding Candace Ferrett, Fairbanks, and Gudbrand Taurus on the defensive line is a recipe for success. At 12-4, they had no trouble winning their division, with Ayana finally having his breakout season. He turned in a legitimate MVP resume with 1,733 rushing yards and eighteen scores, delivering on the promise he's shown since a rookie now that he's had some help. Fairbanks and co, meanwhile, led the second best defense in the RFL.

Ranorian Coastal: Hawks Country BRR

1 Highport Hawks                    16   13   3   480  257 +223    0.812
 2 Munich  Thrashers                 16    8   8   265  367 −102    0.500
 3 Victorsville Hurricane            16    7   9   318  391  −73    0.438
 4 Sierraville Farmers               16    2  14   243  399 −156    0.125

Byron Joseph and Herman Whitworth leading the league's second best offense? Who would've guessed. Rhetorical of course - Joseph, who's transitioned to almost a pure pocket passer these days - is now tracking at four straight seasons of 4,000+ passing yards and 30+ touchdowns. He's the oldest starting qarterback in the league and he won't last forever, but the Hawks, while not at the peak they were not so long ago, are still perennial contenders. Herman Whitworth doesn't seem to be slowing down too much yet, he's still an uber-productive runner for the team that owns this division.

Ranorian Football League 2037 - Playoffs

First two seeds receive a bye, next two seeds get home playoff games, bottom two seeds are the wild cards

National Conference
 1 Fiston  Redwolves                 16   12   4   492  255 +237    0.750
 2 Ranoria City Silver               16   12   4   424  238 +186    0.750
 3 Herot Paladins                    16   12   4   360  265  +95    0.750
 4 Brittanny Walruses                16   11   5   424  261 +163    0.688
 5 Pittsburgh Ironmen                16   12   4   441  283 +158    0.750
 6 Richardson Fenrirs                16   12   4   389  251 +138    0.750

Ranorian Conference
 1 Mariana Tigers                    16   14   2   437  264 +173    0.875
 2 Highport Hawks                    16   13   3   480  257 +223    0.812
 3 Apollotown Sabers                 16   12   4   471  248 +223    0.750
 4 Madison Gladiators                16    8   8   345  301  +44    0.500
 5 Ranoria City Falcons              16   12   4   413  257 +156    0.750
 6 Berlin Snow Bears                 16   11   5   420  307 +113    0.688

Wild Card Weekend

Every team designated a "Wild Card" had as good of or a better record than the home team in this schedule - pretty wild that one division in each conference was that stacked. We get a matchup of two of the preseason frontrunners in Apollotown and Berlin, a matchup of an established star in Sarai Gwenderyn and the hot rookie Benoit Youngblood, Tim Hunt's Fenrirs against Shirinna Lehmann's Paladins, and Apollo Esther's Ironmen against the Walruses. Good times!

Ranorian Conference

The Sabers are one of the strongest teams in the league this season, with Zamadi Ayana and Abram Fairbanks both being among the best players in the league at their positions and with a legitimately world-class defensive line. For all their excitement this season, those Snow Bears' murder mittens weren't quite enough to get past that, with Rachel Klein having trouble getting open in time for her young passer. DVH scored a touchdown late to make it interesting, but a Candace Ferrett strip sack ended this one.

Apollotown Sabers 27–16 Berlin Snow Bears

Probably the game to watch - the Gladiators came in as the biggest underdogs for a home team in the last two decades, but everyone was betting on young Beno. The Gladiators gave it their best shot - but ultimately they didn't have the firepower to get past a Park Mi-Hyeon called defense with Jere Rinaldi as its sword. Helluva season from the Gladiators regardless - but the Falcons were always going to win this game.

Madison Gladiators 13–23 Ranoria City Falcons

National Conference

Now the heavyweights take the field - the Falcons and Tigers will face off in a divisional rivalry game. After splitting the season series, this will serve as a rubber match, while the Apollotown Sabers defense and running game will look to slow down Byron Joseph and Herman Whitworth's offense.

Pass rusher Jill Lia's Silver will be tasked with knocking QB Shirinna Lehmann's Paladins out of the tournament, and for the Ironmen's troubles, they've earned a dance with the Redwolves.

Ranorian Conference

National Conference

The best defense in the Silver heads to Fiston to take on the league's best offense, while Apollotown remains as the only team without a bye to survive this far - they take on the top seeded Tigers with the league's leading rusher in their backfield.

Offensive Rookie Of The Year: Benoit Youngblood, QB, Madison Gladiators [QUE]
Easy choice here. Increased his teams offensive output by nearly 50% and doubled their win total before bowing out against one of the best to ever do it. With Raul Nieler as his head coach, the kid's future is bright.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Takeuchi Ichiko, CB, Munich Thrashers [CMT]
While the Thrashers still suck, Ichiko was a diamond in the rough for them. The rookie and former NSCF champion recorded four interceptions and allowed just one touchdown all season.

Offensive Player of the Year: Zamadi Ayana, RB, Apollotown Sabers [BNJ]
Second in the league in all major rushing categories, with anything but a porous offensive line in front of him, Ayana is borderline unstoppable, and guided his team to a twelve win season with a monstrous defense behind him.

Defensive Player of the Year: Jill Lia, Edge, Ranoria City Silver [CMT]
Leading the league in sacks, posting a ton of TFL, five forced fumbles, oh right and leading the league's best defense for good measure. Jill Lia ran away with this award in a pass-rusher heavy league with generational talents like Gideon Kearse and Abram Fairbanks prowling and drawing headlines, incredibly impressive effort from her.

Footballer of the Year: Ballast Queen, QB, Rouyoutte Aurora Knights
Queen helped raise a ton of money (granted, from an obscenely rich city) to help after a massive avalanche took several lives and destroyed dozens of homes in the Isguld territories, donating plenty of his own and coordinating relief efforts in the process. Interestingly, Lane Proudfoot received the most "fan votes" in the history of the award, but those don't really mean much.

RFL 2037 MVP

Ranorian Football League
2037 Winter Bowl @ The Elysium

by **Drawkland** » Sun Feb 18, 2024 5:58 pm

DON'T. COUNT. ON. CAVSAR.

Episode 4: NSCF 30 Horizon Finale vs Sadeg State

This moniker has echoed through the northern reaches of Drawkland for generations. Don't Count On Cavsar. They may look good, they may prove small amounts of loyalty and goodwill, but when it comes down to it, they aren't going to show up when they're needed most. Not out of bad faith, but of bad luck or their own ineptitude.

Many mishaps have strengthened the stereotype of Cavsar's frailty, until the phrase "Don't Count On Cavsar" became a local idiom in the modern day. I could fill a book which these misfortunes, which we may do over the coming years. The important thing to remember? Cavsar's flagship college, Cavsar University, holds very strictly to this sacred tenant of its existence. Its sports teams are no exception. In fact, I'd argue that the Gladiators of Cavsar University show the very essence of the concept to the world.

It had been awhile since the phrase had been uttered in the NSCF circles. The failure of NSCF 26's Horizon finale was hilarious for everyone except Cavsar University, but Lane Proudfoot came back and shocked the football world by helping lead the Gladiators to their first deep playoff run in the NSCF. They did fall short against Green City University, but given the fact that most people thought their season was over two months before, it didn't sting as bad. Cavsar still hasn't returned to those heights, but being the heavier hitter among Drawkian teams in the Horizon helped mitigate the inherent Cavsar distrust that many harbor in their souls.

Since then, Cavsar had a couple chances to snag the Horizon Conference title for the first time, but fell just a little short. The truly pedantic would tell you that those past seasons don't qualify as "Don't Count On Cavsar" moments because that phrase isn't supposed to only be used when Cavsar is bad. It's meant to be used when Cavsar has a golden opportunity and absolutely bottles the chance at the last moment. The last couple seasons featured Cavsar playing pretty well, but by the end it was clear they weren't coming home with the Horizon title.

In NSCF 30, though, it was different. Coming out of Week 8, Cavsar had just handily dispatched Staramara Tech at home to boost their record to 6-4, level with Felswyr State in the conference standings. The Firehawks had been the team to beat in the Horizon ever since their debut (but don't tell Sadeg State that). Cavsar had managed to beat them by 7 points at home in Week 2, putting them ahead on tiebreakers.

With just two weeks left in the conference slate, it was officially make-or-break time for the Gladiators. The good news is that they had the inside track. Felswyr State waited in Week 9, and Cavsar played Sadeg State at home in Week 10. Two tough matchups, but if Cavsar won against Felswyr State, they'd clinch the division title regardless of what they did against Sadeg State. Even if they lost to Felswyr State, they would still have a chance. If the loss was by 7 points or less, and Felswyr State lost in Week 10, Cavsar could steal the division title back by winning against Sadeg State. Obviously they'd prefer the hassle-free outright win, but hypotheticals aren't worth anything. Simply put, they needed to win, but at least they still had a chance if they lost against the Firehawks.

That win never came. Logan Oakley valiantly led the Gladiators to 33 points against the Firehawks. Oakley himself threw two touchdowns, Luke Harlan added another on the ground. Going 3/3 on two-pointers and a field goal added by Ted Carroll had Cavsar at 27 points going into the final stanza. The defense, predictably, was having trouble holding back Nicole Estera and the rest of the Firehawk attack. At the beginning of the fourth quarter, Estera found Nero Ramsey in the end zone for a touchdown, bringing Felswyr State's tally to 31.

Down by four with time running down in the fourth quarter, this was Oakley's chance to put Cavsar in the end zone and win the conference title (well, the division title. Conference championship games are a thing now). A field goal would be surrender, not like Cavsar was likely to kick it when the ball's in field goal range anyhow. It had to be a touchdown, and it had to take enough time that Estera wouldn't be able to take it back and score afterwards.

Well, Oakley managed to accomplish one of those things, at least. He drove the Gladiators down the field with reckless efficiency and more than a few close throws that nearly went the other way. Still, he zipped the ball into field goal range pretty quickly. From the 30 yard line, Oakley found a wide-open Noel Ward streaking behind the defense. In the back of his mind, he almost didn't want to throw it, hoping to burn more time off the clock before scoring, but you can't waste a chance to score a touchdown. Oakley loaded up and chucked the ball into the corner of the end zone, which Ward brought down beautifully for the score. Cavsar had the lead, but it was only two points.

Cavsar always goes for two. This is a cardinal rule that is only broken when it is absolutely necessary (like when the game is tied with no time left, or the QB is injured). This situation was tough. On one hand, taking the PAT keeps the game alive if Felswyr State went down and kicked a field goal, which they had plenty of time to do. On the other hand, nailing the 2PC would force Felswyr State to go for a touchdown, a weakness the defense could prey on. Head coach Scott Linhart did what he always did: send the offense back onto the field to go for two. Most teams operate in the 40%-55% range when going for two. Under Linhart's tenure, the Gladiators were in the solid 60%+ range. With it being an inbuilt part of the offensive gameplan, the Gladiators had a litany of three-yard goalline plays up their sleeves. Sure, they were already 3/3 on the day, and you could expect some regression to the mean, but the Gladiators are used to doing it every time. They'd been perfect on 2-pointers many times in NSCF play. This would be no different.

Except it was. Oakley tried a fade pass to the tall Addison Snider in the corner, but Snider couldn't get a handle on it. The ball twisted free and hit the turf, and so Cavsar had to settle for six. Surely their defense would be stout, with the dreams of the conference title on the line? No. The Gladiator defense bent, and bent, and bent. They didn't break, but the Firehawks had the ball in comfortable field goal range with the clock winding down. Of course, the break Cavsar needed didn't actually come from their defense playing well, or a strategic mistake by Felswyr State. A routine snap to Estera went too high, sailing over her head. She jumped on the ball in time, but it put Felswyr State behind the chains and out of the running for a dagger touchdown or gimme field goal.

With the Firehawk season in the balance, Park Jung-Shik nailed the forty-nine yarder, and Felswyr State were atop the Horizon Conference again.

Cavsar limped back home, pride hurt, chances of winning the conference seriously diminished. It wasn't over yet, though. Cavsar had a home game against Sadeg State and a chance at revenge to look forward to. Plus, if Felswyr State lost on the road against Staramara Tech, the door would be open for Cavsar. The Chromatik battle happened earlier in the afternoon, with the Lava surviving a defensive slugfest against the Firehawks. By the odd scoreline of 19-9, Cavsar's hope was renewed. Step 1 of the plan to wiggle back into the division title was complete. Now the Gladiators just had to take care of step 2.

With the evening kickoff in Roy Memorial Stadium, it was set to be a dramatic affair regardless of who came out on top. The match came to be more defense than one would expect from the normally offense-heavy Drawkian squads. After all, the game was 50-17 in Week 3. High-flying offenses and shoddy defense came with the territory, usually. That night in Cavsar, though, the defenses were prepared to lock down.

The first game ended in a huge blowout in State's favor, but that was mostly due to a few key turnovers early in the game. Couple this with Cavsar playing even more aggressive than usual due to being down multiple scores, in addition to most of those tries not coming through, and you get this game. This time, Cavsar was playing a little more carefully on offense, and thus their edge was lost. Sadeg State, meanwhile, had been hot dogshit for most of the year, and this game was no exception offensively. The Skyhawks scored zero touchdowns in the first half, settling for field goals on three occasions. Cavsar scored two touchdowns in that same time frame, a pass from Oakley and a run from Luca Denman, going 1/2 on conversions.

Cavsar had the lead coming out of halftime, obviously, but 14-9 isn't exactly a comfortable place to be. It was even less comfortable when Sadeg State scored their first touchdown of the game on their first possession of the second half, coming on an impressive 52-yard touchdown run from Tristan Batts. That was the only real action of the third quarter, as the teams exchanged punts and failed fourth down conversions.

Then came the fourth quarter, which was surely the most exciting quarter of football Drawkland had seen all season. The Gladiators got the ball right after the quarter began, and Logan Oakley got down to business as he had all season. Since Week 1, he had an aura of almost inevitability when it came down to crunch time. This game was no exception. Partially helped by the timely run/pass playcalls from Linhart, Oakley led the Gladiators down the field with only one play going for negative yardage. Besides that stuffed run by Harlan (which was made up for by a 12-yard pass on the next play), Cavsar stayed ahead of the chains all drive. It was punctuated by an Oakley strike straight through the heart of the defense. Declan Rickard found space in the middle of the end zone, and Oakley hit him right in the numbers for the touchdown and the lead. To add insult to injury for the Skyhawks, the Gladiators lined up in a different formation for the two-pointer, but executed almost exactly the same play. Oakley to Rickard again, and now Cavsar had the 22-16 lead.

Of course, Cavsar would've liked to have the additional point or two from earlier in the game, but they had to depend on the defense here. Instead, Isaac Hext executed what may be his only impressive drive of the season up to that point. The normally maligned mobile man put together a couple crack plays, some nifty scrambles, a few lucky flicks, and suddenly Sadeg State was knocking on the door of the end zone. To make matters worse, there was barely more than 2 minutes left in the game. As the leading digit on the clock ticked over to 1, Hext was zipping a dart to Marc McKee in the front corner of the end zone. Touchdown State, and they kicked the PAT to go up by one.

No worries, right? Logan Oakley was getting the ball with just under 2 minutes to go. Surely the young gunslinger would get Cavsar into field goal range. Sadeg State's defense had played well, but Cavsar hadn't gone full throttle all game. With caution thrown to the wind, what could Oakley do? The Gladiator faithful, at odds with the Screechers in the crowd who made the trip for this game, were on the edges of their seats. Oakley delivered. He tossed a couple incompletions, had to dump it down a few times, but two huge sideline passes to Noel Ward and Nathan Street and a massive completion over the middle to Declan Rickard got the Gladiators into field goal range with barely any time to spare. With ten seconds on the clock and the ball at the 20, Oakley had one shot at the end zone before relinquishing the ball to the field goal unit. Oakley's pass to Ward was just a bit too high, and fell out the back of the end zone. Reluctantly, Oakley trotted to the sideline and clapped hands with novatim kicker Ted Carroll.

The season sat in the balance. Hands clasped in prayer throughout the stadium and in front of TVs throughout Drawkland, this was it. If the kick was true, Cavsar had their first division title, and would be one win away from their first Horizon title. Most non-State-biased fans would appreciate the Chromatik menace being bested for once in the last half-decade. Even if they wouldn't admit it, some Skyhawk fans felt the same way.

Ted Carroll stood in his stance, punter Eddy Parisi set to hold the ball right in between the hashes, just over thirty-five yards away from the goalposts. No angles at play, the wind was quiet, unlike the stadium. One kick to put Cavsar on top for the first time. One kick to make the Gladiators not a punchline for once. Russel Sloan snapped clean. Eddy Parisi held clean. Ted Carroll came forward and booted the ball clean ... and it yanked wide left.

It wasn't even a tease. The ball was spinning well outside the hashes before it even flew over the end zone. Game over. Firehawks win the division again. Never forget, my friends. Don't Count On Cavsar.

by **Chromatika** » Sun Feb 18, 2024 6:07 pm

Part One: Coastal Conference
Part Two: Delta Conference
Part Three: Dreadnought Conference
Part Four: Justinian Conference
Part Five: Mountain Conference
Part Six: Omega Conference
Part Seven: Premium Conference
Part Eight: Rainbow Conference
Part Nine: Southern Conference & Urrheddiao Conference
Part Ten: Elite Conference Preview
Part Eleven: Elite Conference Season
Part Twelve: National Playoffs Seeding Round, First Round
Part Thirteen: National Playoffs Second Round, Third Round

Chromatik High School Gridiron - Season Thirteen, Part Thirteen: Playoffs -National Quarterfinals

Season 1 Champions: Central Heights High School (MVP: QB Harold Jieter)
Season 2 Champions: East Omnio High School (MVP: WR Alessandro Mio)
Season 3 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 4 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Sarai Gwenderyn)
Season 5 Champions: Flames of the Revolution High School (MVP: RB Nyata Antonucci)
Season 6 Champions: Staramara Tech High School (MVP: Edge Nicole Manstrom)
Season 7 Champions: Franscesca Larriet-Cortes High School (MVP: QB Liara Anderson)
Season 8 Champions: Vitoron School of Charge (MVP: QB Anne-Maurice Vivayavich)
Season 9 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School (MVP: QB Nicole Estera)
Season 10 Champions: Myana Northwestern High School (MVP: CB Lisa Bonsoon)
Season 11 Champions: The Chromatik Institute (MVP: QB Raul Sébastien Santos)
Season 12 Champions: Mt. Niar High School (MVP: QB Dante Flowers)

SEASON 13 PLAYOFFS - Quarterfinals

Gurshan High School vs. South Sanar High School

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Gurshan High School                        14  10   6   7   37
South Sanar High School                    14   3   3   0   20

1Q
10:11 GHS TD - Ryn Gurr 33 yard run (Jill Dwayne Kick)
07:29 SSHS TD - Millie Feng 23 yard pass from Eyre Feng (Victoria Anderson Kick)
05:02 GHS TD - Hannah Riechart 13 yard pass from Fabian Donovan (Jill Dwayne Kick)
01:03 SSHS TD - Keeva Alsott 14 yard pass from Eyre Feng (Victoria Anderson Kick)

2Q
11:42 SSHS FG - Victoria Anderson 42 yard Field Goal
07:41 GHS FG - Jill Dwayne 38 yard Field Goal
06:55 GHS TD - Carson Mylkof 33 yard interception return (Jill Dwayne Kick)

3Q
10:22 GHS FG - Jill Dwayne 39 yard Field Goal
05:16 SSHS FG - Victoria Anderson 49 yard Field Goal
01:28 GHS FG - Jill Dwayne 51 yard Field Goal

4Q
05:11 GHS TD - Ryn Gurr 3 yard run (Jill Dwayne Kick)

CHROMIA, CAPITAL DISTRICT - For one Quarter, Eyre Feng matched Fabian Donovan blow for blow. For one Quarter, Keeva Alsott had the better of the Drills' defense, and despite some worrying missed tackles on Ryn Gurr, the Armadillos looked like they could hopefully contain the Drills' potent offense. It even looked like things were going well in the Second Quarter as the Armadillos were the team to get the first points of the Quarter, a Victoria Anderson forty-two yard Field Goal that sneaked inside the left upright.

Then, everything went sideways.

The next two throws by Eyre Feng would be interceptions - including a pick-six from Carson Mylkof as the Outside Linebacker caught the pass in front of Millie and returned it to paydirt - as the Drills took command; then, the Gurshan High School defense clamped down in the Third Quarter, and the MVP of the game, Running Back Ryn Gurr, took over. Gurr would finish at 159 yards on twenty-four carries as Donovan had a solid yet not spectacular game, and the Armadillos' run fell short.

Gurshan High School becomes the most unlikely Semifinalist in a long while - and with their ability to both attack through the air and on the ground, while having a wild factor like Carson Mylkof roaming on the defense, should mean they will have a punchers' chance against anyone in the next round. It's true that they don't have a single player that would be on the Top Fifteen list of the best players in the Chromatik High School Gridiron System; however, the average player is very much above average, and the team knows how to play as a unit better than most.

It will be interesting to see just how much further their run can go.

Myana Southeastern High School vs. Staramara Tech High School

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Myana Southeastern High School              0   0   0   0    0
Staramara Tech High School                  3   6   7   3   19

1Q
07:11 STHS FG - George Damien 33 yard Field Goal

2Q
12:49 STHS FG - George Damien 40 yard Field Goal
00:02 STHS FG - George Damien 48 yard Field Goal

3Q
08:01 STHS TD - Reed Shok 3 yard pass from Mishael Forgonn (George Damien Kick)

4Q
09:48 STHS FG - George Damien 41 yard Field Goal

FELSWYR, MOUNTAIN DISTRICT - It was common knowledge that this was a battle between David and Goliath. Nobody had expected the Fathoms to make it to the National Quarterfinals, while the Battle Angels' defense are a beauty to behold - even with a Freshman Quarterback behind center. However, there were some who had been hoping that Harley Jinn and company would have been able to put up more of a fight than what transpired in Felswyr.

Mishael Forgonn played a mistake-free game, going 10-of-15 for 191 yards and a lone score to Reed Shok as the Battle Angels held Jinn and the Fathoms to 201 yards of total offense to make it to the National Semifinals with ease. With Vera Éliot having an interception and a pass defensed, Eden Pontfellier getting two sacks on the day, and Freya Odinsdóttir - who else - getting eight solo tackles from her position, the Fathoms didn't stand a chance. Knut Perron was the best player for Myana Southeastern, getting seventy-seven yards on twenty-four carries, but the Fathoms only crossed midfield once and never truly got into the flow of the game.

The result is that Staramara Tech High School, despite having a Freshman Quarterback and a below-average offense, finds themselves back in the National Quarterfinals. With the veteran presence on their defense, alongside such a dynamo like Freya Odinsdóttir, there is no reason why they couldn't do what Myana Northwestern did all the way back in Nicole Estera's Freshman year - their biggest two variables are the Semifinal Draw and whether or not Mishael's inexperience will ultimately come back to bite them in the end.

Mt. Niar High School vs. J. H. Yadasky High School

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Mt. Niar High School                       17   7  10   7   41
J. H. Yadasky High School                  10   7  14   0   31

1Q
14:09 MNHS TD - Millie Harangyar 42 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Mara Toog Kick)
12:38 JHYHS TD - George Killion 28 yard run (Nix Drell Kick)
08:01 MNHS TD - Prince Kilart 9 yard run (Mara Toog Kick)
04:48 JHYHS FG - Nix Drell 47 yard Field Goal
01:59 MNHS FG - Mara Toog 38 yard Field Goal

2Q
05:02 JHYHS TD - Kurtis Seelo 33 yard pass from Cade Stases (Nix Drell Kick)
00:01 MNHS TD - Dante Flowers 3 yard run (Mara Toog Kick)

3Q
13:22 JHYHS TD - George Killion 38 yard pass from Cade Stases (Nix Drell Kick)
08:32 JHYHS TD - George Killion 11 yard run (Nix Drell Kick)
05:49 MNHS FG - Mara Toog 51 yard Field Goal
01:40 MNHS TD - Samantha Ysalt 19 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Mara Toog Kick)

4Q
03:32 MNHS TD - Millie Harangyar 21 yard pass from Dante Flowers (Mara Toog Kick)

MYANA, MYANA ISLAND - This was the Quarterfinal that everyone had penciled. After missing the playoffs for a year, the Heroes of J. H. Yadasky High School had marched to the National Quarterfinals behind an exceptional year from Quarterback Cade Stases. Their opponents? A Dante Flowers-led Anacondas team with so many returning Seniors, hell bent on repeating as National Champions. Myana was the battleground randomly chosen for these two squads, and it didn't disappoint.

Dante Flowers wound find Millie Harangyar on a stop-and-go that would make Alessandra Mio proud as the Anacondas scored not even a minute into the game - something that the Heroes answered almost immediately as George Killion would scamper for the first of his three touchdowns on the day. The two sides would score a total of twenty-seven points in the opening frame - with seven plays of more than twenty-five yards in that Quarter as both defenses were reeling.

Things calmed down a bit in the Second Quarter as the defenses stated to get going, but it was Cade Stases that found his Freshman Wide Receiver Kurtis Seelo on a deep fade that Senior Middle Linebacker Evan Derder misplayed, tying the game for the Heroes. Mt. Niar got a return drive going, and with five seconds left and the ball at the three yard line, the Anacondas decided to roll the dice.

Instead of kicking a chip shot Field Goal with Mara Toog, they put the ball in Dante Flowers's hands. His bootleg was perfect, the pump-fake froze the entire linebacking core for a full second, and Flowers walked into the end zone to give the Anacondas the seven-point lead at halftime.

J. H. Yadasky High School would not go away. A screen pass from Stases led to Killion running through eight would-be tacklers, and the Running Back would actually give the Heroes the lead with his eleven yard run later in the Quarter where he ran through three arm tackles. However, those points would be the last ones that the Heroes would end up scoring, as the Anacondas' defense started to stiffen up. Roland Kyak caused a fumble off of Killion that led to a Field Goal, and with the Third Quarter winding down, Samantha Ysalt caught a bubble screen and took it to the end zone to give Mt. Niar a lead they would not relinquish.

Content with a three-point cushion, the Anacondas started to run out the clock, and Stases started to feel the heat being generated from the Anacondas' defense. An errant pass was intercepted by Derder across the middle, and Mt. Niar proceeded to cash in with a deep fade from Flowers to Harangyar to ice the game and return to the National Semifinals.

There isn't an area where this team is weak. They really shouldn't have a reason why they can't repeat - except the fact that history says that repeating in Chromatik high school gridiron is very, very difficult. Can they be the latest to accomplish the feat?

Myana Northwestern High School vs. Kynxe High School

Team                                       1Q  2Q  3Q  4Q  Tot
Myana Northwestern High School              7   7   0   7   21
Kynxe High School                           0   7   0   0    7

1Q
06:38 MNWHS TD - Creed Jackson-Smith 39 yard run (Maia Illytebovich Kick)

2Q
09:02 MNWHS TD - Creed Jackson-Smith 41 yard run (Maia Illytebovich Kick)
01:19 KHS TD - Reed Myler 18 yard pass from Patrick Osmeiller (Neven Juarez Kick)

3Q
No Score

4Q
08:11 MNWHS TD - Gorgo Lusmon 9 yard pass from Lisa Goodson (Maia Illytebovich Kick)

URRHEDDIAO, URRHED ISLAND - When the matchups for the National Quarterfinals were announced, all of Kynxe High School groaned. Sure, they knew that their run to the Quarterfinals had been lucky, but there was no denying the fact that the Blue and White of Myana Northwestern were the worst matchup for the Monsoon on paper. Myana Northwestern excelled at pressuring the Quarterback without blitzing, which, for a pocket Quarterback like Patrick Osmeiller, was a death sentence. They would have to be efficient in early downs while contending for the menace that is Creed Jackson-Smith if they were to win this game.

Instead, their biggest worries became reality. Jackson-Smith had twenty-four carries for a hundred ninety-four yards and two scores - including two touchdown runs of more than thirty-five yards, the Blue and White held the ball for nearly forty minutes, and Lisa Goodson was an efficient 18-for-22 for 201 yards and a score as the Monsoon never threatened. Myana Northwestern returned once again to the National Semifinals while returning to their roots as a defense-first team, ending Kynxe's miracle run.

Osmeiller was sacked eight times on the day - three from standout Alexander Eisenberg - as the Monsoon's passing attack never got going; however, it was Jackson-Smith's balance, speed, and aggression that ended up being the biggest difference on the day.

The Blue and White's revenge tour will now head on to take on the Anacondas, Battle Angels, or upstart Drills - and with a veteran behind center, an all-purpose running back on the backfield, and a bruising defense, there's no reason why they should fall short this time.

SEASON 13 PLAYOFFS - Semifinals Draw

Gurshan High School vs. Staramara Tech High School
Myana Northwestern High School vs. Mt. Niar High School

by **Quebec and Shingoryeo** » Sun Feb 18, 2024 9:47 pm

The Daily Chat

Former NSCF and QFL QB Lester Allin rips P.T. '0-8 in Imperial Bowl' Hildebrandt for his 'mediocrity in the NSCF' comment, says Shut Up or Put Up

JOONGYEONG, JOONGYEONG - Former NSCF and QFL quarterback Lester Allin seems to be not so amused with Philippe-Thomas 'PT' Hildebrandt's comments about the state of 'mediocrity' in the NationStates College Football (NSCF), as it reaches the near-end of the regular season.

On the True North Sport's 'First Cut' (OOC: not-First Take), where he co-hosts the two-year old daytime show with the former QFL tight end Vaughan J. Collinson, the 45-year old called out the former adversary Hildebrandt, age 60, the 'fake GOAT' before assessing about the state of the football played in the NSCF and the QIS.

'Talk about mediocrity when you have won a single Bowl ring,' Allin, the former 2043 Imperial Bowl winner with Songwha City Roughriders as backup to hall-of-fame quarterback, and father to Grim Reapers' starter and future hall-of-famer Donovan, Jack O'Mara. 'All your time in the QFL you have had the luck of the most mediocre division in history that was IFC South, and whenever you made it to the Bowl you would get your ass whooped by Sir. Dexter Ahn, or whoever the jack and joe the opponents would send.'

Allin, who was also the quarterback for Universite du Saguenay in the years between hall-of-famers Alton McNair and Ian Lautner, also raised that the 'experience factor' is important to consider when it comes to assessing the competition's quality, and that Hildebrandt, who had played for St-Gabriel-Richard Wolverines, has no right to speak before continuing about the state of the NSCF.

'Have the quarterbacks been struggling more in the NSCF recently? Yes, but many of them have just started out or already have a proven resume to their own names,' said Allin when pointing to Hildebrandt's comments about not liking the state of the offences. 'We have seen the likes of Nicole Estera improving over full season with Felswyr State, RS Santos performing splendidly all season long with Saguenay, and not to mention the proven roster of names such as Bobby Dials and Logan Oakley. Heck even Victor Rowles had a lights out game or two for Cold Hill on a down year. Do they all look like plain mediocrity to you?'

Allin coughed, before adding: 'But let's look into the big picture here, ladies and gentlemen. Whatever the issue he has with the QIS is one thing, but the NSCF is what I specialise in and there is a very different situation there with strong popularity and interest across the board. The state of recruiting's strong, no gimmes or jabronis around, and even the powerhouses we hear out on the television have to watch out each given Saturday.

'The same also applies internationally, as we see that several professional leagues are getting more competitive and open to foreign talents derive from them, both in coaches and players, and we will see the same in the World Bowl. We also see more explosive narratives generated with no guaranteed winners each and every match, so it is rich to hear from someone, who had never played in the NSCF ever, and has won no ring, to speak of such.'

Allin's response sums the high level of criticism thrown at Hildebrandt after he raised a controversial take on the Vaughan Collinson Show online, where he moaned about the decline of quality in college football, both in the QIS and the NSCF.

'There is a strong trend of following the mediocrity in both the QIS and the NSCF, but also abroad,' Hilebrandt said. 'Coaching and development aren't there, players only chase money and clout, and there is no desire for excellence as there used to be in my time.'

The eight-time Imperial Bowl finalist was quick to point fingers at the relatively lax NIL rules' progression at home and abroad.

'More money, less product, nil the excitement,' Hildebrandt added at his Montevicio apartment, where he has moved post-divorce.

by **Chromatika** » Sun Feb 18, 2024 9:50 pm

Firehawks Week Thirteen Preview: A Final Tuneup

After a disappointing defeat to Cold Hill University, Felswyr State returned to form in a big way, beating rivals University of Loyola-Istria 27-0 to move to an 8-4 record with a date against Raynor University ahead of the playoffs. Though it looks like a Top Four seed - and a first-round bye - looks to be out of reach for the Firehawks, a win over Raynor University would show that the Firehawks are in good form and that they have the momentum to build upon as they enter the Playoffs for the first time with Nicole Estera under center.

The Freshman bounced back from her rough outing against the Buffalo, going a respectable 17-of-27 for 218 yards and a touchdown, while Sydney Thomas had two more on the ground for Felswyr State. The Firehawks ran the ball well (totaling 183 yards, with Thomas getting 142 of those yards), but it was the defense that truly made life miserable for the visitors. Felswyr State forced three turnovers, had five sacks, and held the Blue Thunder to 224 yards of total offense, with Loyola-Istria only crossing midfield twice in the entire game.

"It was a great opportunity to get right before the run that we'll have to make if we are going to do well these playoffs," explained Head Coach Naia Curentino afterwards, "We're about to run out of excuses very soon, and it was nice to see everyone step up. We'll take the upcoming game against Raynor as if it was a playoff game, and then enter those playoffs with some momentum."

J. J. Garret, Lava Riding Momentum as Lava Face Fighting Irish

For Staramara Tech fans, this has been a long time coming. When they signed someone by the name of J. J. Garret, they thought they would be getting a fraction of the player that was his father. Instead, the Ranorian has been touch and go for the beginning, and you can't have that in an offense like Staramara Tech's. Perhaps, it's not fair to the young Quarterback - in a system like the Lava's, the Quarterback simply doesn't get many opportunities. So, when they're supposed to perform and they don't, it really shows. He didn't do well his Freshman year, and through the Conference slate - including two losses to the Equinox division - it looked like the Sophomore wasn't really making progress.

Then, this run happened. Garret found Gyles with fifteen seconds left to beat Mar Sara Tech. Then, he followed up that performance by throwing for 291 yards and three touchdowns - career highs in both - as the Lava ran all over their rivals in Northern Moravica University. Sure, Isaga Duhaga and Davis Pill helped - they ran for over 150 yards together - but it was Garret's ability find Gyles, Pyatt, Myst, and even the running backs that put this performance aside from the rest. Add in a defense that didn't let Northern Moravica get established at all, and the Lava are playing some of their best football right now - with their Quarterback contributing for once.

Their biggest test awaits - Université du Saguenay have been playing some solid ball, and everyone in Chromatika knows what RSS can do - but if they can win that game, there is an outside chance at the playoffs - something that looked like all but lost when the Out of Conference slate began.

Can they pull it off?

by **Cardenao** » Sun Feb 18, 2024 9:56 pm

Ugly Football but Pretty Wins as Cardenaoan Colleges Clearout Competition; Alabaster Red going pro and more!

Heading into the weekend, hopes were high for an exciting weekend of college football as the LeBois Santura University hosted Sadeg State University out of Drawkland while New Cardonia State hosted Raynor University of Valanora. Clashing against Ranorian schools in conference play has been the source of incredible spectacle for three seasons now but there’s something special about out of conference games. The bright lights, new faces coming to our shores, a chance to trade culture and food and all that sort of good stuff, but beyond that it’s competition on the gridiron against new teams. This season though, there was some sense of expectation for the Cardenaoan teams, especially the BSU Broncos who were storming their way up the national rankings as they chased a playoff spot, so to win against Sadeg would be a huge boon to that effort. Meanwhile, the New Cardonia State Thunderhawks went up against Raynor University from Valanora, who were, by all measures, the superior team coming in after winning both their division and conference. Still though, hopes were undoubtedly high in both Cardenaoan locker rooms as they prepared to go out there and defend their honor. Fortunately, both teams emerged victorious but there was only one good game of football to be found.

Let’s quickly get this over with, the BSU-Sadeg clash ended up being boring as shit. For all the offensive firepower and hype about two high-scoring teams going at it, at the end of 60 minutes the score was BSU 6, Sadeg 3. Yes you read that right, the two teams combined for nine total points. Nine. Sure the weather was awful, a storm was socked up against the Santura mountains meaning it was windy, cold, rainy as shit, just generally not ideal circumstances at the Blue Bowl, but you’d still expect Bobby Dials and Logan Oakley to get more things going for their offenses. Nope, that was not the case as the first score didn’t come until there were 46 seconds left in the second quarter, when Sadeg kicked home a field goal. 3-0 at the half, awful. The Broncos got on the board halfway through the third quarter when Bobby found Saivion Ware in the endzone to make it 6-3, but Chromatik Freya Allison of Tihon Elite Academy shockingly missed the point after. Anddd……that was it. 6-3, a scoreline that would last until the end of the game. I really don’t want to waste more time talking about such a shit game, so I won’t! Let’s turn our time to New Cardonia State.

For the Thunderhawks in New Cardonia, going up against Raynor University must’ve seemed like an impossible challenge. The Rockets were led by sophomore quarterback Odin Sørbø and led his team to a 24-14 victory over the University of Mancodas of Poafmersia, and there was no doubt they had a superior team compared to the 3-7 Thunderhawks. Still though, it was a beautiful sunny day on the northern coast as the two teams went after it. The visiting Rockets shot ahead to an early lead when Odin hit freshman receiver Storm Dybvik on their opening drive, which is never an ideal start to the game. The Thunderhawks did well to compose themselves as Ranorian Nick Singer quarterbacked the Black and Yellows down the field and hit Deacon St. John for the equalizer on their opening drive of the game. Maxx Dye nailed the PAT to make it 7-7 with barely six minutes gone by and it was already much better viewing then the LeBois-Sadeg game. Singer threw his second touchdown of the night with 11:43 left in the second quarter when he hit fellow freshman Chromatik tight end Qamiya Parrine on a TE angle route to make it 14-7. The Valanorans wasted no time striking back as they marched right back down the field to make it 14-14, but Maxx Dye converted a field goal with 3 seconds left in the first half to make it 17-14 going into the break.

All of the momentum in the second half was on the home team’s side and as the game wore on, it became clearer and clearer that the Thunderhawks were actually going to see this one out. As the offense cooled down and started running things through junior Mason Steele and freshman Zachary Perez (NGS) to chew the clock, it was NCS’s defense that came through strong. What a display from that defensive line as they shot forward early to limit Odin Sørbø’s throwing time to a second and a half max. Utahn freshman edge Garran Cluff had perhaps his best showing of the year as he filled in for an injured Caden Larrazabal and recorded seven tackles, three sacks, two tackles for loss, and tipped a pass, all in the second half, the kid went off and made a claim to start next season. All that to say, what an effort from the defense as they shut out the Rockets in the second half, teeing up Nick Singer for his third touchdown of the night as he found Deacon St. John once again, and with 7:41 left in the game, it was over. 24-14 in a commanding display from New Cardonia State.

As we head into the final week of out of conference competition, the stakes are brutally clear. For New Cardonia State, they’re just vibing. A win against Silver Coast State College would be very cool and help raise their profile after a great debut season. For the BSU Broncos though, that’s where the thrill lies. Up next for the Blue and Orange is Northern Moravica University from Banija, and a win here would surely secure automatic qualification to the Playoff bracket. So no pressure on them.

Here it goes, Cardenaoan college football at its best!

Cardenao High School Defensive Line Prospects

CB: Zach Ahmad
6’2, 204lbs

Zach Ahmad is a typical pass-denial cornerback and damn is he good at it. He’s got good height and length for the position and moves with fluidity thanks to a long stride. Ahmad is great in the air with a huge vertical and that all translates to a high interception total with the lad leading the high school league in INTs in both his junior and senior seasons. He totally dominated competition at the high school level both in coverage and as a return man, with great downfield anticipation and overall high level of skill. Ahmad has some development with his press-man technique and could improve his physicality and strength in tackling and run defense. He’ll make an immediate impact in a college backfield, if he can keep devoted to his development then we might see Zach Ahmad in a professional league.

S: Cheerio Masarati
6’5, 225lbs

Cheerio Masarati is perhaps the biggest backfield unicorn in a long time for Cardenaoan high school football. He has beyond elite size and build for the position, while still maintaining a high level of speed and agility, though perhaps not as quick as a smaller counterpart. On the street, you’d be forgiven for thinking he’s a defensive end given Cheerio’s lengthy frame, but it isn’t bulky and can definitely add mass to become a kill in-the-box defender. He’s so big and fluid and strong and fast, Masarati is a ballhawk of a safety who has excellent mobility in all directions and he can cover pretty much anyone as a result. He has the speed and vertical to hang with receivers while having the size to bully them, he has the size to cover tight ends while having the speed to bully them, he has the size and speed to bully running backs, and if he manages to break through the line, Cheerio Masarati loves blowing up quarterbacks. Masarati biggest strength, obviously, is his incredibly physical build and skill set, but beyond that it’s his ‘every ball is my ball’ mentality that results in plenty of takeaways. He loves ripping downhill, but one of the bigger questions has been about his willingness to be physical and make the hard hits. A flip from defensive end to safety in his junior seems to have flipped a switch as Masarati will now seek out contact with his great frame when asked to blitz and smash the alleys. That’s all good and fine in high school ball, but at the collegiate level he needs to embrace the body he has and start using that mass for the greater good.

CB: Kyle Session
6’4, 216lbs

Kyle Session is perhaps the most unique and talented player to come out of Cardenao this year as he’s legitimately a starting cornerback and a starting wide receiver. KS2 has elite size with a stringy-muscular build that makes everything he does look extremely easy. Kyle is smooth, explosive, and competitive on every snap and that pays off with his impressive numbers during his high school career. Over 3,100 receiving yards, 39 touchdown catches, and 27 interceptions, it’s clear to see how he’s an elite option out wide, whatever position that may be. So what makes him so successful?

Kyle is a tall target at 6’4 who commands attention simply due to his physical profile and athletic gifts. Elite ball skills with great hands, knowledge of routes from both the defensive and offensive perspectives, he can elevate over other players, and he’s not afraid to lay out and get his jersey dirty. Will he eventually start at centerback or wide receiver? Right now it’s hard to say, but maybe competition at the higher level will help answer that question.

S: Ajani Masaru
6’2, 189lbs

Ajani Masaru slinks across the field with a slender, muscular sort of build that isn’t built for a lot of mass but it is extremely quick-firing, making him one of the more explosive athletes in this year's class. He’s quick as hell and can outjump most other players, which is pretty helpful when you play the free safety position. Ajani has elite range in the backfield with a long, powerful stride and he’s got the versatility enough to play as a pure corner if need be. Masaru is an eager tackler but he does lack a little bit of punch so he’s best off aiming for the lower body and he’ll definitely have to put in hours in at the college gym. Sure, his size and bulk somewhat limit his role defending in the box, but his explosiveness and speed make him an impact player at either the safety, corner, or nickel position. Will likely be paid to play one after college.

K: Badrick Cedella
6’1, 188lbs

Badrick Cedella earned himself the title of one of the most prolific specialists in Cardenaoan high school football. He exited as the holder in career field goals made with 44 thanks to a smooth, repeatable stroke and Cedella’s flashed potential of putting it through the posts from over 50 yards. He’s automatic in PATs, hasn’t missed in two seasons, and Cede Ba has nailed kicks in high-pressure situations and hit multiple game-winners. Power is no doubt and his accuracy is immaculate, he can hit the field from his first day on campus.

P: Errol Rodriguez
6’2, 196lbs

Errol Rodriguez is a bigly built punter with a cannon of a leg thanks to his dual-sporting background that included both types of football. Every year he’s improved both his distance and hang time, culminating in a senior season where he averaged 49.5 yards per punt, he can boot it long but he can also boot it accurately. With his size and strength, Errol is capable of laying the boom on opposing kick returners, leading to several highlight plays over the course of a season.

K: Germillo Cigarillo
5’11, 184lbs

Germillo Cigarillo is lethal from range, bringing an absolute cannon of a leg to the kicker position, going 100% beyond 50 yards this past season. Seems to fold a bit under pressure, only going 85% so that might be an area of concern, could use some time in the film room and perhaps with a sports psychologist to unlock all of his potential.

P: Christian Rovigatti
5’10, 164lbs

Christian Rovigatti does everything you want your punter to do, the kid really knows how to kick a football. He can kick it accurately, placing it more or less where he wants, he can kick it powerfully, putting it 50-60 yards downfield, and he can kick it with technique, putting it 50-60 yards downfield more or less where he wants. He’s also weirdly good as a receiver despite being 5’10 and 164lbs, could be an interesting option on a fake punt. Do you need a punter? Then sign a punter.

To: NSCF Championship Final Venue Selection Committie (NCFVSP)
From: The College Football Committee of Cardenao (CFCC)
Subject: National Championship Host Bid - Stadi Cardenao (83,000)

Dear Sirs/Sirees/Those in Charge,

On behalf of the College Football Committee of Cardenao, I am thrilled to be writing to you with a submission to host the NSCF 30 championship game. The CFCC is proud to nominate the Stadi Cardenao in New Cardonia to host the affair, with a capacity of 83,500 fans enjoying all the amenities of modern stadiums. It’s true that this stadium was originally constructed to host association football (soccer) matches, the adaptability of the venue means it is capable of hosting gridiron events, further evidenced by its status as the home venue for the New Cardonia team in the upcoming Cardenao Football League.

Centered within New Cardonia, the atmosphere of the city is reflective of its status as the most modern city in Cardenao and presents a fusion of historical, cultural, and flat out fun opportunities for tourists and players alike. The stadium itself has a retractable roof providing cover from the elements on the rare day something stirs up, and it has a network of pave pathways across a lawn with a plethora of shops, restaurants, and other tourist opportunities.

Beyond all of these indicators of quality, there is an additional intangible benefit to hosting the NSCF championship in Cardenao. While there are sure to be bids from nations with long established histories in this competition, awarding the hosting rights to Cardenao, in its third season participating in this storied tournament, represents a certain investment in nations on the upswing. An opportunity to inspire further passion and participation in football. Why award the rights to a venue where hosting an international championship would be just another mark in the history book, when it could instead be written on the first page of a less-recognized venue? Where history could begin to be made instead of being just another installment.

Finally, the Stadi Cardenao has proven its significance as a venue worthy of international consideration when it hosted the third place playoff for the sixth CAFA tournament. As a host nation, much less a singular hosting venue, the Stadi Cardenao and Cardenao at large certainly earned every plaudit thrown their way.

In conclusion, the Stadi Cardenao is very cool and that should be in consideration when awarding the NSCF championship hosting rights.

World Cup 81/82/83/84

Warriors down to last chance for playoff berth
Tony Ferguson, College Football Editor
for The Exponent

On the heels of a third straight loss, the University of the Commonwealth will take to the road for their final game of the NSCF 30 season when they meet Upper Westside University, looking for a win to push them off the bubble for the final spots determined by the rankings and the at-large vote for the last three openings.

The Warriors have faced two of the best teams in this season's competition and now will come up against another team that will be in the conversation for the playoff berths; at 8-6 UC will be low on the list, but a win to push their record to 9-5 might turn the tables in their favor.

by **Dhemixia** » Sun Feb 18, 2024 10:03 pm

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The Columbus Dominion(Est.1873)

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Jays win their first home S.P.I.T. Bowl, extend winning streak to 6 games

The Jays spoil a good record for BYU, and win their first ever S.P.I.T. Bowl at home, defeating Jackson Zuercher in the process.

Kabe Heaton went off again, and Craig Kelly is looking like an offensive mastermind at the helm of this team, looking better and better as the season progresses, and leading them to their 6th consecutive win.

Schedule

*blue indicates home games
Week 1: @ Alexandroupolis L 13-19
Week 2: VS. Constantinople W 14-7
Week 3: VS. UndSJJsM (Universite nationale de Saint-Jean-Jacques-sur-Mer) L 36-55
Week 4: VS. Green City University W 38-34
Week 5: @ Centrale Pointe University W 48-6
Week 6: @ Trent State University W 3-3 (9-3 OT)
Week 7: VS. UCBP L 3-23
Week 8: VS. Alexandroupolis W 54-37
Week 9: @ Constantinople  W 24-19
Week 10: @ UndSJJsM  W 32-16

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP: @ UCBP  W 33-29 
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Non-conference play
Week 11: VS. Silver Coast State  W 33-30 
Week 12: VS. BYU  W 53-37 
Week 13: @ Utah State

NSCF 30 - Everything Thread

A Game That Was Won.

Don't Count On Cavsar, Episode 4

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