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June 4, 2011
Playoffs
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Eastern Conference ChampionshipNatives Pull off Stunning ComebackColumbus went to the Hyperbowl in 1991 and now, the first time they make the playoffs since, they're going to the Hyperbowl again. The Natives did it with one of the biggest rallies in playoff history. Down 23-6 in the middle of the third quarter, they scored 24 unanswered points to knock off the Eastern Conference favorites. Boston was playing without Eastern MVP QB Sebastian Ophuls, but backup Dave Reckning did everything he needed to, offensively for three and half quarters. Reckning passed for 238 yards and 2 TDs, and Boston TE Marky DeSade had a huge game. It wasn't any one particular performance for the Natives. While rookie QB Bug Zappa led the way, he had only 176 yards passing. All-East RB Dave Rath led all rushers, but 71 yards isn't exactly overwhelming. WR Hugh Hoo had only 53 yards on 4 catches, but scored the game winner on an 18-yard rush. As impressive as Columbus' team effort in scoring was the way they shut down Boston on each intervening drive to facilitate. They forced three three-and-outs, blocking a punt following one, and a fumble. The Natives held Boston's biggest star on the field, WR Luke St. Everything, to 3 catches for 35 yards, a huge factor despite Boston's productivity otherwise. RB Ray Frollywood ignited the comeback on the drive following Boston's score to go up 23-6, with a 14-yard run and a 31-yard reception. Then on the winning drive, Frollywood had runs of 5, 9 and 2 yards. The 9-yard run recovered an 11-yard loss on a sack of Zappa, but left Columbus with a 4th and 3 at their own 48 with just over two minutes left in the game. On that play, Zappa hit Hoo on a 32-yard pass play, and two plays later, Hoo took it in on a reverse. |
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Western Conference ChampionshipBullets Top GhostsAnother thriller, another upset. On a day when the Casper offense was hitting on all cylinders, marquee RB Jock Kitsch and marquee WR I.B. Long (10 catches 132 yards), even backup TE Dana Shroll contributing (5 catches 63 yards), no one would have expected the league's best defensive team would have needed more effort. Dodge's dynamic rushing duo was not supposed to be enough to top all that, but it was just enough. The Bullets saw Kitsch and raised him, with 2nd year RB Evelyn Olivus rushing for 129 yards and 2 TDs, and West MVP RB Hugo Faq-Yusef adding 85 yards and a TD, and 32 yards on 2 receptions. While Dodge QB Tyrone Essores completed just 9 of 28 passes for 133 yards, even WR Nestor Vipers made the most of his 4 catches with 74 yards. The Bullets actually took charge of the game in the 3rd quarter with a two-score swing to tie and take the lead, 24-17. Casper answered immediately, tying the game again on the second play of the 4th quarter. Dodge held on, then got the game-winner, a 44-yard Horatio Tujohns field goal with about three minutes remaining. It was more amazing after Casper struck just as quickly and efficiently as they had Wichita in their previous game. Kitsch scored on runs of 25 and 29 yards to cap the first two possessions, and it looked as if the Ghosts would run away. Dodge has not been to the Hyperbowl since 1986, so they join Columbus in turning over the status quo of both conferences for this installment. |
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