Orcaster Racers @ Kierport Knights
Most had predicted at the beginning of the season that these two teams would be back in this spot for a rematch. However, these teams aren’t the teams battling neck-and-neck as they were the year prior. This year, Kierport squashed the Racers in both regular season meetings, and the Racers were trying to not be run over (both figuratively and literally) by the Knights. Unfortunately for the Racers, Derrick Acker and Paul Dane had other plans. On the Knights first drive, they ran over the defense for a touchdown and later scored a FG in the first. The Racers went three and out almost every drive and were held scoreless at the end of the first
END OF Q1: 10-0 KIE
Luckily, the Racers somewhat stopped the two-headed monster of Acker and Dane, only holding them to field goals on two of the four drives the Knights made this quarter. The Racers also found some speed, as they made it into the redzone for the first time on their fleeting offense from last year, only to go three and out and score a field goal. 
END OF Q2: 16-3 KIE
The Racers momentarily stopped the Knights’ momentum in the second quarter, but that lack of momentum didn’t last for long. After the Racers punted away on the first drive of the half, Acker and Dane ran in for a touchdown each on two separate drives. The Racers sputtered out and like the first quarter, going three and out at some point on their drives in this quarter.
END OF Q3: 30-3 KIE
After taking 3 quarters to realize that the Knights were crushing the Racers again, head coach Lyall Parsons elected to rest his starters for the 4th quarter in preparation for the Escalian Cup. Even with most of the Knights starters on the bench, the Racers could not start up and were held scoreless by the backups. The Knights did manage to get a garbage time TD, with backup RB Will Heel scoring his first ever point in the league. As the time expired, the Knights marched onto the field to celebrate a birth to the Cup
FINAL: 37-3 KIE Augusta Bulls @ Adelaide Owls
Somehow, both expansion teams had made the playoffs in their first seasons and needed to defeat the mighty Owls to reach the Cup as an underdog. The Bulls don’t have a singular weapon like Norfolk and their phenom Eddy Belmont, instead taking a cue out of the Racers from last year and developing a well-rounded team around the new acquisition of RB Gabriel Sydney. This jack-of-all-trades approach didn’t help the slumping Owls, who went 1-2-1 in the last 4 games of the season. They got off to a slow start, managing to not score a single point in the first quarter for the first time this year. The Bulls managed to claw through the Owls’ defense and managed a touchdown on a pass from QB Christopher Lyon to WR Emmett Best.
END OF Q1: 7-0 AUG
Adelaide was on a drive before the quarter ended, and continued on a long, arduous trek to the end zone after being held scoreless. QB Jeff Watson and WR Ray Rowe hooked up for 4 of the 12 plays on that drive, and they sealed it off with a touchdown to tie the game. The Owls’ defense regained their composure and held off the advancing Bulls threat for the quarter, keeping them scoreless like they did to them in the quarter before.
END OF Q2: 7-7 TIE
Most fans were surprised that the Bulls could keep up with the playoff Owls in the first half, seeing what happened last year with the ‘Jacks. But they were in for a surprise for a second half, as right away AUG DB Perry Kiel took the kickoff to the house for a touchdown. Adelaide took off from there, marching down the field to score a touchdown for themselves. On the ensuing kickoff, the kickoff went to the inexperienced returner Dan Tyson, who fumbled the ball on a breakaway, giving the ball back to the Owls. The crazy third quarter continued, as on 2nd down and 12 on the Bulls 15, Watson handed the ball off to RB Martin Hartell, but fumbled the ball before he could pass the line of scrimmage. In the chaos, the ball managed to barely roll out of the endzone, resulting in a safety for the Bulls. Nothing to that extent of 10 minutes happened in the rest of the quarter, with the Owls managing one more touchdown before the quarter ended to retake the lead.
END OF Q3: 21-16 ADL
Augusta began to charge down the field with their newfound momentum. Finally, 5 minutes and 12 plays later,  RB Damien Rains punched it in with a 1 yard plunge to push ahead. Adelaide struck back with another touchdown, but missed the PAT, making the game within reach of the Bulls. The next two drives by both teams resulted in field goals, and then the Bulls had the ball with only 2 minutes left to play in the game. They began a charge downfield, making their way to their 26 yard line. However, they were forced to convert on a 4th down with less than 30 seconds left and no timeouts. On the ensuing play, QB Lyon looked for an open man, and threw it in the direction of TE Benny Page, only to be intercepted by ADL DB Chris Kaufman. He immediately downed himself, and the Owls escaped a thriller for the potential to win their second Cup.
FINAL: 30-26 ADL

Championship Preview: Adelaide Owls @ Kierport Knights
Kierport definitely has the advantage on paper. With the two-headed All-Stars of Derrick Acker and Paul Dane, they have run over almost everyone in their path this season. However, Adelaide’s iron curtain of a defense is still there, but is slowly starting to diminish. Adelaide’s head coach Ed Schumacher has been known to create specific defensive schemes for the teams the Owls have a challenge against. As much of a great first Cup last year was, this may be a more thrilling cup to watch than the previous Cup.
Escalian Sports Magazine Prediction: Like last year, Adelaide will find a plan to stop the running attack of the Knights in another close-fought match.  23-21 ADL  

What a dominate performance from the Great Dane and the Ack Attack. Here's hoping we can overcome Adelaide's defense.

Congrats Kierport

Way to finish it out Knights! Derrick Acker sounds like the real deal alright.

Big fan of the player graphics