The LAF Report, June 5, 2004
Playoffs: Conference Championships
Eastern Conference ChampionshipMan O Manhattan! Dons ManhandledManhattan has learned the secret path to the Hyperbowl, known to such as the Flint Stones: through the wildcard game. The Maniacs have squandered year after year as the best team in the regular season and division titles by getting knocked out of the playoffs, but this time, after Washington stole the division from them, they have sailed into the Hyperbowl from the wildcard position. And how they sailed through the last step. They didn't even follow their usual scenario of winning a defensive battle. Though they certainly played well defensively, the Maniacs exploded on offense, perhaps venting years of frustration on the poor Dons. Boils and WR Ezra Doctrine-House had two of the best performances in the history of the Eastern final. Doctrine-House caught 13 passes for 242 yards and 2 TDs. RB Duane DeTubb rushed for 85 yards and a TD, and WR Phil Good also had 2 TD catches. Boils could scarcely miss Doctrine-House, hitting him for Manhattan's first 2 TDs in the first quarter on plays of 12 and 68 yards. About the only impressive thing for Orlando was a 54-yard field goal by kicker Jim Coach, but that was when Manhattan had 45 points. Manhattan returns to the Hyperbowl for the first time since 2001, when they lost to Boulder. |
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Western Conference Championship Vegas Rolls for 3rd HyperbowlLas Vegas ended its streak of conference final losses at 3 to make it to their third Hyperbowl by beating division foe Wichita. The Sinners were 13 points better this time than in their regular season meeting with the Linemen, the game that cinched for Vegas their 4th consecutive division title. This game was almost a replay of that 19-10 decision, Vegas leading just 10-7 at the half. But this time when the Sinners scored on a 7-play, 67-yard drive at the end of the 3rd quarter, it was the beginning of a 3-possession scoring streak. Once again, Wichita super rookie QB Payne Indiass, who became the first player to win a conference Newcomer of the Year and MVP award at once, and also right after the college Demetrius Award, had to take a back seat to Andy Christ and company. The Linemen again had no answer for Christ and all-everything WR Rainbows. Christ completed a cool 20 of 28 passes for 329 yards and 3 TDs, thanks mainly to Rainbows. Rainbows caught only one less pass, but for more yards, than the Wichita WR dynamic duo of Ringo Fire and Adolph DeFlore combined. Vegas RB Drew Blood added a TD rushing and a TD catch. For the last 6 years, Las Vegas and Manhattan have been the dominant teams in the league, but have had trouble reaching the Hyperbowl. Now finally comes the Hyperbowl showdown anticipated all that time. The two teams did meet in the first week of this season, Manhattan winning a drag-down contest, 10-6. |
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