Hear ye! Hear ye! The 2021 UFFL regular season has commenced! I come bearing tidings of the game results! :

California at Las Vegas
Line: LVB -4.5

The Demons start the season with a bang, pulling off the upset of the Bandits on the strength of their rushing attack. Vegas had no answer for Aaron Whitman, who rushed for 126 yards and a score, including a 53 yard run in the first quarter. An interception of Stapler in his own red zone set up Whitman’s touchdown. Despite Roy Viridi-Aqua having a career-high 9 receptions, the Bandits couldn’t get into scoring position in the second half. Final score CAL 20, LVB 14

Grand Rapids at Texas
Line: TEX -6.5

Texas’s front seven appears to be a thing to be feared this season. They allowed a total of 20 rushing yards all game, and it wasn’t for lack of trying on the Dragons’ part. The Ramblers scored 24 unanswered points to start the game, including a pick-six by Alvaro Serrano. Getting a surprise start after impressive preseason play, Kai Koa threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns, both to Artemis Milano. Final score TEX 31, GRD 13

Nashville at New Orleans
Line: NOC -2

From the box score, this game should have been much closer. The Corsairs outgained the Tuts, especially on the ground, and Nashville had nine penalties to New Orleans’ two. However, Kiedo Masquarde had one of the best passing days of his career. The Tuts signal caller only had three incompletions all day, and was frequently given short fields by a star-making turn from punt returner Tommy Cross. The second-year player had two returns of over 60 yards, including one that he took in for a 64 yard TD. On the New Orleans side, newly-signed free agent Honor Matari had the best game of his career so far, catching three passes for 121 yards and a long TD in garbage time. Johnny Fields was wildly inaccurate for the game, however, only completing 12 passes for the game. Final score NSH 34, NOC 17

Montreal at Easton
Line: EAS -3

Despite coming into the game as underdogs, Montreal dominated this game from the very beginning. Easton QB Draco Lindwurm threw a pick on the third play of the game, and that set the tone for the rest of the game. The Bald Eagles couldn’t get anything going on the ground, averaging under 2 yards a rush, and only converted on three third-down attempts all game. The Royal controlled the pace of play with Vito Ligustica, eating away at the clock with over 30 rushing attempts. A 40 yard TD run from Ligustica late in the first quarter put the game permanently out of Easton’s reach. Final score MTL 27, EAS 3

Chicago at New York
Line: NYD -2.5

It’s Justice Matari’s league, we just play in it. The elder Matari caught three touchdowns in the second quarter alone against his brother’s old team, and came within three yards of New York’s all-time single game receiving record. Darius Smith led a valiant comeback attempt, throwing for 327 yards and two touchdowns, including a 78 yard bomb to Ricky Mitchell just before halftime. But the damage had already been done. It didn’t help that the Outlaws lived up to their name by being flagged nine times for over 100 yards, including at least one very questionable unnecessary roughness call on a 2nd and 23 in the fourth quarter. Final score NYD 24, CHI 14

Colorado at Miami
Line: MIA -3

The Crushers kick off their first season in impressive form, taking care of the Tropics in Miami. Like the Ramblers, Colorado managed to lock down their opponent’s run game, allowing only 45 rushing yards on 29 attempts. Their pass rush wasn’t too much of a slouch either, as Miami was only 2 for 14 on third down. The score might have been even more lopsided if the Tropics hadn’t managed to block a 38 yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter. They managed to get it within one score with a late TD and two point conversion, but couldn’t recover the onside kick. Final score COL 23, MIA 15

Downriver at North Florida
Line: NFR -3.5

Usually when a game total is this high, you expect the game to have been a bit of a shootout. However, that’s not quite true in this case. North Florida actually controlled the game for almost three quarters, holding Waves back Sharon Traveston to only 10 total yards on the ground, while rushing for over 140 themselves. They had a comfortable 24-11 lead until the very end of the third quarter, at which point Joe McJamison kicked things into high gear. He passed for two touchdowns in the space of 3 ½ minutes, finishing with 295 yards passing, his best total since 2017. The Renegades had a chance to go down the field and kick a field goal for the win, but safety Winfred Whitney picked off Ryan Buoniconti and took it in for a 24 yard score, Whitney’s first career TD. Final score DWN 32, NFR 24

Baltimore at Richmond
Line: RIC -1

Okay, it seems that this week’s theme is poor rushing performances. Richmond’s RB Serena Karros was a late scratch, forcing Steven Walters to make his first career start. It…didn’t go well. Walters managed only FOUR total yards on 21 attempts, a 0.2 YPC average. By the half, they were down 23-7, with their lone touchdown coming on special teams (a 95 yard kickoff return). They almost managed to pull of the comeback, however, scoring 13 unanswered points in the second half to pull within three, only to fall short at the end. It was also a very physical game, with 15 combined penalties. Final score BAL 23, RIC 20

Players of the week:

Offense: Justice Matari (NYD – WR): 5 receptions for 153 yards and 3 TDs
Defense: Jamarcus Triper (CHI – DE): 10 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery
Special Teams: Tommy Cross (NSH – WR): 4 punt returns for 138 yards and a return TD

Injury Report

Hayden Batten (DWN – CB): Out 1-2 weeks, wrist
Berry Rhoades (LVB – FB): Out 1-2 weeks, hip
Dusty Redburner (MTL – T): Doubtful, hip
Horacio Cabrera (NSH – CB): Out 1-2 weeks, thigh
Henry Lucas (NFR – DE): Out 1-2 weeks, eye

write ups by :pythoscheetah: