And the season is in the books. Marty here with results from week 17!:

New York at Colorado

This game was actually way closer than the final score makes it look. Colorado was down for most of the game, but they kept it close, and pulled to within two point on a 58 yard Jeordie Khalil touchdown reception at the end of the third quarter (the longest catch of Khalil’s career so far. Unfortunately, they failed the two point conversion attempt that would have tied the game. The Defiant got the six points back with two field goals in the fourth quarter, and then sealed the game away with a pick-six. This was a momentous day for at least one individual player as well. Not only did New York receiver Justice Matari cross 1500 yards for the first time in his career, but he went over 10,000 career yards during the game as well [10,000 yards is the sim’s threshold for Hall of Fame consideration]. Final score: NYD 34, COL 19

New Orleans at Easton

Having already been eliminated from the playoffs, the Bald Eagles came into today’s game determined to end the season on a high note. Which, of course, is why they found themselves trailing to the three-win Corsairs at the end of the first quarter. The main culprit behind that was Leone Lopez, who just couldn’t be stopped. Lopez was averaging almost seven yards per rush, and would rack up 178 yards in total, his best mark of the season. Though Easton couldn’t match up with Lopez on the ground, they did have it when it counted. Tera McDaniels and Susan Forester both scored 1 yard rushing TDs in the second quarter to put the Bald Eagles ahead. Like the NYD/COL game, Easton didn’t really pull ahead until the very end of the game, when they scored 10 points in less than two minutes of clock time. Final score: EAS 31, NOC 13

In California, After a wonderful late season push, it was unfortunately not enough for the Demons to get a chance at some playoffs. Their rocky first half of the season made it difficult for them to catch up, and eventually they couldn’t clear the gap. But nonetheless, the Demons had things to be happy about, and wanted to end the season on a high note against the Nashville Tuts. The young Tuts had a rough year as well, but they did show flashes of success during the year. Both teams would not want to give each other an easy finale, as most of the first half points was done with Field goals, as Tuts kicker Kris Clueton would kick 3 FGs. California would come alive in the 3rd, thanks to a Pick-six of 48 yards from Ashley Borish, but what drove the Tuts success in this game was the run game as they would run for 121 yards on the Demons, giving them plenty of space to work. The Tuts would tie the game in the fourth, and the foot of Kris clueton sealed the deal for Nashville, Kicking his fourth field goal to seal the win. Nashville wins this one 20-17. Finishing their season at 5-11. The Demons would end with a 500. Record at 8-8.

In Miami, The Bandits had already had their tickets for the playoffs punched in, but they still had a chance to increase their seating as they faced off against the Miami Tropics. For Miami, the season was one to likely forget, but showed towards the end of the year that there are still things to be looking forward to next year, like Rookie QB Will Hudson…that has been injured, so it would be Raoul Fernandez to be the Tropics QB for their last game. The game started slow, with the Tropics getting ahead on a couple of FG kicks but would eventually dominate the game thanks in part to Bandits running back Isaac Sierra. He was a dual threat for this game, doing his job on the run ( 86 yards rushing, 1 TD) and in the air ( 10 yards with a passing TD). Roy Viridi-Aqua had 117 yards receiving for the Tropics, but not much else worked for Miami. Las Vegas would win this one, 24-13, ending their campaign 10-6 securing the 3rd playoff seed over New York regardless of results. Miami would end the season with a 5-11 record.

In Downriver, a huge game was about to get underway. For the Visiting Grand Rapids Dragons, they needed to win and hoped for a loss from Baltimore in order to punch their ticket for the playoffs. For the Downriver Waves, it was about getting homefield by winning the division and hoping for a loss from North Florida. For the Dragons, they could finally expect Dahlia Taylor to be in uniform for this game, as she was sorely needed, as she managed to score 1 TD early in the first quarter. After one quarter things looked encouraging for the Dragons as they only trailed by 7, Brunette was playing mistake free football, Oliver Smithson was running a decent game ( 79 rush yard total) and Daniel Van Baarle received for 106 yards and 1 TD….but then, Lillian Newman happened. The snow Leopard was dead set on erasing the shaky start of her season and taking full control of the MVP race. She taken full control of the game, using her feets and gashed the Grand Rapids defensive line for 175 yards, scoring 2 TDs on the ground and being once more super efficient and selective with her passes, with 241 yard on 18/25, with 2 passing TDs and a outstanding QB rating of 141.8! She literally clipped the Dragon's wings and they could do nothing but watch. Eventually , Lukas Barella would sub in for Lillian as the Downriver crowd would chant “M-V-P!” to their precious QB. Downriver won this one 49-14, and ended with a 11-5 record, waiting now on the RIC/NFR result, in the meantime, Dragons ended with a 8-8 record, but was still hoping to get in the playoff dance.

Austin at Baltimore

With Grand Rapids having lost earlier in the day, it’s win and you're in for the Baltimore Ponies. And unfortunately for the blood pressures of fans in both Baltimore and Grand Rapids, it would be a low-scoring defensive battle that either team could have won with a single lucky play. Austin opens up the scoring first with a short pass from Kai Koa to Nicky Ricky late in the first quarter. From there, the game bogs down, and the score remains 7-0 at halftime. A good portion of that can be laid at the paws of Aaron Christie, who was all over Jillian St. Claire, knocking her down four times and sacking her once. Baltimore finally managed to break through and tie the game in the third quarter. After several punts by both teams, Baltimore would be looking at a fourth and inches at midfield. The offense lined up to go for it, Jillian St. Claire took the snap, kept the ball, and scrambled…not just for the first down, but for 15 yards! Three plays later, Kenny Rodriguez would plunge the ball up the middle for a one yard score and Baltimore’s first lead of the day. The Baltimore defense would force a three and out, and it’s a short punt of only 39 yards. A long pass and two Zack Elliot runs gets the Ponies back to mid-field…and then Elliot takes off! He’s at the 30…the 20…and he’s pushed out of bounds at the one yard line! It’s first and goal, and a quick pass to Antoine Tardif in the back of the end zone makes it look easy. Baltimore has a two-score lead with four and a half minutes to go, but stranger things have happened this season. Austin manages to convert on fourth down, though Liam Palanturas sustained a significant shoulder injury on the play and had to be carted off the field. They get down to the Baltimore 30, but it’s under the two-minute warning and time is running out. On third and 2, Koa’s pass to Flint Kurosawa is wide and incomplete. It’s fourth down…and the pass is incomplete again! Austin turns it over on downs! Baltimore’s going to the playoffs! Final score: BAL 21, ATX 7

Down in Montreal, it was another big game with playoffs’s implications, as Montreal wanted to get some measure of revenge from last year and get home field advantage from the Chicago Outlaws as many saw tonight's showdown as another preview of the United conference championship, but it wasn’t as clear cut this year. Although for the Royal, there was one big problem: they were going into this game without their star running back Vito Ligustica, who once again got injured last week against New York, which put Montreal at a big disadvantage. Right out the gate, Montreal’s own Jean-Étienne Tremblay would not want to disappoint his family and fans in la belle province as he took over the game on the ground with a stunning 138 yards rushing day. Rookie Yash Zuro tried to hold the fort for Montreal, but had way less of an impact in this game (42 yards rushing). Tyron Appleby did well managing his side of the field (304 passing, 104.2 passer rating, 1 TD) but could not keep up with Chicago’s Darius Smith (336 yards, 4 TDs, 133.3 passer rating). It was clear from the middle of the game that Chicago had this battle on lock and Montreal was already planning ahead to be ready for the playoffs. Chicago wins this one 37-10, And end the season 13-3, best record in the league, and have home field advantage in the United playoffs. Montreal ended the season 12-4 and will have to do some extra work to get back to the Furbowl game.

In North Florida, The Renegades knew what was at stake. 1 win and they clinched their division for a second year in a row. And it all came down to a game against the one win Richmond Flames. The Flames might have had another rough year, but last season they managed to get a win at the end to finish on a high note, and with many people hoping for them to do the impossible, perhaps they can get this same magic. Things were starting great for Richmond, as their number draft pick, Running back Royce Jackson, through thick and thin, continued to work hard all year even with all the hardships and scored on a 20 yard TD run. Then they would add some more points thanks to the FGs from Keiran Hamilton. From the span on one half, all seemed to be possible for another magic ending for the Flames, they led the North Florida Flames, 13-9. Statistically, the game looked like it would turn in the Flames favor. But if there was something clear about how Richmond’s season went, in one half they can be a great team but they can also be an awful team. As the second half started, bad habits would then re-emerge as North Florida would then get some spark on offense thanks in part to the veteran Owen Reuyters. Then came the fourth Richmond would bend one more as Travis Lockheart, playing in this last game, would connect once more with a TD pass that put them up 23-13. And as Richmond got back to the field trying to stop the run and maybe, just maybe turn things around, Renegades Strong Safety Aaron Foster would break every Richmond’s fans hard with a 14 yards Pick six, to put North Florida out of reach. Although unlike the other games, Flames would not lay down and die, and ended the game with pride, fighting towards the end and getting another touchdown in to make the results more positive. As for the Renegades, time to celebrate. North Florida wins this one 30-20 and finishes the year 11-5 and more importantly, gets home field advantage in the continental first round of the playoffs. As for the Flames, they end the year 1-15 but as bad as it looks, there are tons of things to make the future hopeful for Richmond, it would just take a lot of work done by the front office.

Players of the Week

Offense: Lillian Newman (QB – DWN): 18/25 for 241 yards and four passing TDs, plus 175 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns
Defense: Aaron Foster (SS – NFR): 9 tackles, a pass deflection and a pick-six
Special Teams: Kris Clueton (K – NSH): 4/4 on field goal attempts, including a game-winning 55 yarder (tied for second-longest of the season)

And with that...we have our playoffs teams ready to do on the road for Austin and Furbowl 9!:

-2023 UFFL PLAYOFFS DIVISIONAL on Febuary 16th 2025-

-UNITED-
New York Defiant (10-6) vs Chicago Outlaws (13-3)
Las Vegas Bandits (10-6) vs Montreal Royal (12-4)

-CONTINENTAL-
Baltimore Ponies (8-8) vs North Florida Renegades (11-5)
Downriver Waves (11-5) vs Colorado Crushers (9-7)

Let's do this thing!!!