And then there were four...
Western Conference
1 Fresno Fire
W 47-27 over San Jose Chupacabra
San Jose spotted Fresno 31 points before getting on the scoreboard themselves, 21 of which came in the 1st quarter and that was the difference on the game, a terrible opening quarter. San Jose's first four passes went for a pick six, incomplete, sack, and another incomplete, which was likely more than San Jose's QB Remo Rankin could handle as it took him a while to recover and shake it off. But it was too late - the initial damage had been done and Fresno's own passing game proved fatal with 346 yards. San Jose never game up though, so credit is deserved for that. Fresno now faces Reno, who snuck past Jacktown. Fresno's game has been consistent, winning their playoff games in solid fashion and using slightly different ways to accomplish to get it done. Fresno better not go on auto pilot against Reno, they just might pull another rabbit out of their hat.
3 Reno Marauders
W 22-25 over Jacktown Smackdown
Reno shocked the entire league by defeating heavily favored Jacktown in a highly contested game in a battle of FGs with Reno making the difference in an early fourth quarter TD. There were three tied scores after the opening gun and 7 lead changes. Reno made a strong statement defensively with 5 well timed sacks while Jacktown answered in a furious second quarter with three key interceptions. Exciting to watch regardless of your affiliation. Now Reno faces a daunting task in trying to unsettle Fresno's dogged consistency. They can't afford to make the mistakes they did with Jacktown - they'll never survive it. The advantage that Reno has is Fresno's confidence.
Eastern Conference
1 American Freedom
W 93-45 over Tri-Cities Fever
Tri-Cities proved that their first game with American Freedom was no fluke by repeating their 45 point output. But Freedom made sure that they didn't get caught napping like they almost did in the first meeting bat taking advantage of Tri-Cities' defensive errors. The game was still competitive at the end of the first half, but then the game was blown out in the third quarter by Freedom with a 28-7 outburst, then both teams started exchanging punches in the fourth quarter. Tri-Cities expected the game to be closer than it was, but Freedom turned up the heat that's been simmering all season long. Freedom now faces Syracuse who stumbled against Bortsville.
2 Syracuse Souls
W 30-20 over Syracuse Souls
Syracuse edged out a stronger than expected Bortsville team and were clinging onto a 1 point lead at half time. As the second quarter started, Syracuse started to pressure Bortsville's jugular with an 80 yard TD pass that gave Syracuse the confidence to never look back the rest of the game. The stage is now set for the best two teams in the Eastern Conference to slug it out for the conference championship, a match up that has been long anticipated since week 7 and will need to find a way to rectify that first meeting Freedom in which Syracuse expected to put up a strong fight and were shut out in their only loss of the season.
Western Conference
1 Fresno Fire
W 47-27 over San Jose Chupacabra
San Jose spotted Fresno 31 points before getting on the scoreboard themselves, 21 of which came in the 1st quarter and that was the difference on the game, a terrible opening quarter. San Jose's first four passes went for a pick six, incomplete, sack, and another incomplete, which was likely more than San Jose's QB Remo Rankin could handle as it took him a while to recover and shake it off. But it was too late - the initial damage had been done and Fresno's own passing game proved fatal with 346 yards. San Jose never game up though, so credit is deserved for that. Fresno now faces Reno, who snuck past Jacktown. Fresno's game has been consistent, winning their playoff games in solid fashion and using slightly different ways to accomplish to get it done. Fresno better not go on auto pilot against Reno, they just might pull another rabbit out of their hat.
3 Reno Marauders
W 22-25 over Jacktown Smackdown
Reno shocked the entire league by defeating heavily favored Jacktown in a highly contested game in a battle of FGs with Reno making the difference in an early fourth quarter TD. There were three tied scores after the opening gun and 7 lead changes. Reno made a strong statement defensively with 5 well timed sacks while Jacktown answered in a furious second quarter with three key interceptions. Exciting to watch regardless of your affiliation. Now Reno faces a daunting task in trying to unsettle Fresno's dogged consistency. They can't afford to make the mistakes they did with Jacktown - they'll never survive it. The advantage that Reno has is Fresno's confidence.
Eastern Conference
1 American Freedom
W 93-45 over Tri-Cities Fever
Tri-Cities proved that their first game with American Freedom was no fluke by repeating their 45 point output. But Freedom made sure that they didn't get caught napping like they almost did in the first meeting bat taking advantage of Tri-Cities' defensive errors. The game was still competitive at the end of the first half, but then the game was blown out in the third quarter by Freedom with a 28-7 outburst, then both teams started exchanging punches in the fourth quarter. Tri-Cities expected the game to be closer than it was, but Freedom turned up the heat that's been simmering all season long. Freedom now faces Syracuse who stumbled against Bortsville.
2 Syracuse Souls
W 30-20 over Syracuse Souls
Syracuse edged out a stronger than expected Bortsville team and were clinging onto a 1 point lead at half time. As the second quarter started, Syracuse started to pressure Bortsville's jugular with an 80 yard TD pass that gave Syracuse the confidence to never look back the rest of the game. The stage is now set for the best two teams in the Eastern Conference to slug it out for the conference championship, a match up that has been long anticipated since week 7 and will need to find a way to rectify that first meeting Freedom in which Syracuse expected to put up a strong fight and were shut out in their only loss of the season.
