1973 Recap and Playoff Preview



(7) Ottawa Royals (9-5) @ (2) Louisville Thunder (10-4) - OCT 6 - 2:00 PM ET
1973 Head-to-Head: W9 - LOU 27-18 OTT
Historic Head-to-Head: OTT 6-5 LOU
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: OTT 1-0 LOU
The 1973 Playoffs kickoff with a playoff rematch of the 1963 West Division Semi-Final, which saw the Royals become the only team to crossover to the other division’s bracket and win a game. A decade later, they hope to stun the Thunder again. The Royals enter the playoffs having won 3 consecutive games, two of which were by a single point. They have shown an ability to rise to the occasion in the last few weeks that makes them a serious threat in the playoffs. As for the Thunder, they come into the playoffs a little cold, having lost back-to-back following clinching the Central Division for the 2nd season in a row. Regardless, Louisville’s electric offence is always a threat to pile on points. The team hopes to make up for an early exit last season and get back the McCallister Cup, which they won in 1971. 

(8) Pittsburgh Blacksmiths (8-6) @ Vancouver Wolves (11-3) - OCT 6 - 7:00 PM ET
1973 Head-to-Head: W10 - PIT 27-32 VAN
Historic Head-to-Head: PIT 2-1 VAN
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: PIT 0-2 VAN
For the 3rd time in 4 years, the Blacksmiths are heading to Vancouver to take on the Wolves. Vancouver has taken both of the playoff meetings thus far, both of which were in the Semi-Finals. Pittsburgh will hope to finally get past the Wolves, but will have to do so a little banged up. The team will be without several key players, like RB Max Tracy, 2x O-linemen of the Year Erik Nelson, and mid-season acquisition OL Viktor Stahl. Despite their injury troubles the Blacksmiths still enter the playoffs having won 7 of 9, showing their ability to fight through adversity. The Wolves have been one of the most consistent teams this season. A 2-game slide midseason is the only time the team has looked shaky, as they have otherwise played sound football on both sides of the ball, leading the league in both points for and against. Vancouver is also a little banged up, but their depth has held up well and they will also be getting some reinforcements with the return of S Gunpei Koizumi and RB Chavez Arrington to the lineup. 

(5) Minnesota Serpents (9-5) @ (4) London Tigers (9-5) - OCT 7 - 2:00 PM ET
1973 Head-to-Head: Did Not Play
Historic Head-to-Head: MIN 2-0 LDN
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: Have Not Played
For the first time since 1969, Minnesota will be on the road for the playoffs. They will be headed to London to take on the Tigers, who make their return to the playoffs for the first time since 1967. Minnesota has a lot of pressure on them this season, entering the dance with only 1 playoff win despite being a playoff team in each of their first 4 seasons. They also have a chance at home-field advantage in the McCallister Cup. QB Martin Keller has been the talk of the team, as his inconsistent play this season has led the team to look weaker than in previous seasons. While he has seemingly gotten back on track with 4 straight wins, some are still skeptical of his play. Minnesota still has a strong defence and run game to support, but Keller will have to make a play if they want to go deep. The Tigers are the most inexperienced team entering the playoffs, having one of the youngest rosters in the league, making this season a first playoff appearance for many players. The team is very talented across the board, notably in the offence that has been on a tear, averaging 34.67 points a game since Week 10. Ultimately, the Tigers are a wildcard that could go deep or completely fold under the bright lights.

(6) Long Island (9-5) @ (3) Montreal Rouge (9-5) - OCT 7 - 7:00 PM ET
1973 Head-to-Head: W2 - MTL 31-24 LI
Historic Head-to-Head: LI 11-15 MTL and 1 Tie
Historic Playoff Head-to-Head: LI 1-1 MTL
Both Long Island and Montreal are back in the playoffs after disappointing misses last season. The Raiders’ bounce back has been headlined by an MOP-level season out of QB Ivan Sanchez, throwing a career-high 27 touchdowns this season, leading the 3rd best scoring offence. The defence suffered from a lot of injuries this season, but they still held up enough to help the Raiders win some important games. QB Tom Applewhite’s first season in Montreal has been a success thus far, getting off to a hot 5-0 start before an injury derailed the season. However, they still managed to pull through behind a great defence (3rd best) and win the East Division. The Rouge will hope to ride the momentum of a decisive win over the defending champs (Providence) and push to make a return to the McCallister Cup for the 2nd time in 3 years.

Team Awards

Boston Independents
MOP: RB Reggie Whitehead
OPOY: QB Nathaniel Braddock
DPOY: S Ernie Osborne
OLOY: OL Carlton Vanderbilt
BPOY: WR Craig Nunnery
ROY: WR Alex Acquafredda

Buffalo Blue Wings
MOP: RB Jasper Dickerson
OPOY: QB Charles Lemieux
DPOY: DL Ned Hedman
OLOY: OL Artem Sobakov
BPOY: LB Basti Gräbner
ROY: DB Lawrence Martell

Calgary Predators
MOP: RB John Drexel
OPOY: QB Emmitt Jackson
DPOY: LB Marcus McGhee
OLOY: OL Charles Schwartz
BPOY: WR James Johnson
ROY: DL Michael Ellis

Edmonton Rangers
MOP: RB Gary Hubbard
OPOY: QB Mike Key
DPOY: DL Caleb Cologne
OLOY: OL Charles Creighton
BPOY: LB Perry Stevenson
ROY: S Ian Lauder

Halifax Mariners
MOP: RB Axel Vandal
OPOY: QB Todd Sparrow
DPOY: DB Jack Treadaway
OLOY: OL Kane Warwick
BPOY: LB William Morrison
ROY: S George Turner

Indiana Victors
MOP: WR Jake Abbredezzi
OPOY: RB Daniel Collins
DPOY: LB Marshall Langenbrunner
OLOY: OL Clancy Harrison
BPOY: DB Oswald Martell
ROY: LB Corey Briggs

London Tigers
MOP: LB Reuben James
OPOY: RB Jeremy Royal
DPOY: DB Oliver Benson
OLOY: OL Jacob Szczepanski
BPOY: S Marcus Harris
ROY: DB Oliver Benson

Long Island Raiders
MOP: QB Ivan Sanchez
OPOY: TE Eric Peterson
DPOY: DL Johnathan Ellison
OLOY: OL Doyle MacInnis
BPOY: DB Alanzo Gray
ROY: DL George Vangruensven

Louisville Thunder
MOP: WR Casey Coleman
OPOY: QB Buck Murphy
DPOY: DL Aaron Henderson
OLOY: OL Robert Pelletier
BPOY: LB Elias Ragsdale
ROY: WR Ray Howard

Minnesota Serpents
MOP: DB Austin Sherebernikoff
OPOY: RB Tyler Kuhn
DPOY: LB Garrett Roberts
OLOY: OL David Biarski
BPOY: LB Morgan King
ROY: RB Murdoch Washington

Montreal Rouge
MOP: DB Lamar Brown
OPOY: RB Bo Frazier
DPOY: LB Jean-Christophe Bain
OLOY: OL Elliot Barrett
BPOY: LB Grover Smith
ROY: WR Evan Moore

Ottawa Royals
MOP: DB Sergio Alvarez
OPOY: QB Drake Young
DPOY: DL Bernhard Hartmann
OLOY: OL Dane Hodgeson
BPOY: WR Simon Riley
ROY: S Theodore Young

Pittsburgh Blacksmiths
MOP: QB Louis Vaughn
OPOY: WR Taylor Austin
DPOY: DB Zed McLaughlin
OLOY: OL Jean Baptiste Francois
BPOY: WR Justin Anger
ROY: K Dante DiBernardo

Providence Gold Stars
MOP: LB Kurt Warlock
OPOY: WR Justin Palmer
DPOY: DL Bartolo Cruz
OLOY: OL Joseph Samberg
BPOY: DB Matt Maddux
ROY: S Todd Collingwood

Regina Wheat Kings
MOP: DL Butcher Callahan
OPOY: RB Deion Chapman
DPOY: LB Lewis Vander
OLOY: OL Charles Hyland
BPOY: LB Lewis Vander
ROY: WR Colt Robbins

Toronto Steelheads
MOP: LB Judge Barrett
OPOY: WR Alex Browne Sr.
DPOY: DB Dwayne James
OLOY: OL Matthew Miller
BPOY: DL Sam Reinkemeyer
ROY: OL Owen Brightman

Vancouver Wolves
MOP: QB Kevin Westwood
OPOY: WR Akira Sakamoto
DPOY: S Takuya Sasaki
OLOY: OL Kenny Rudolph
BPOY: LB Lochlan Bourne
ROY: LB Casey Miller

Winnipeg Falcons
MOP: LB Claude Clarke
OPOY: WR Terry Upshaw
DPOY: S Vernon Redgate
OLOY: OL Claude Balderson
BPOY: QB Mitchell Nash
ROY: RB Joshua Tomlinson