Wallflower wrote:

Nice seeing Ellesby have a good season after lots of struggle.
The QB battle in Norfolk is very interesting, especially on how good the team is.
also is it Michael or Nathan? (you have Slezak as both names in the description and then the rookie of the year).

 
It’s Nathan. Must’ve slipped up somehow, since on the draft and roster sheets I have his name written down as Nathan Slezak. Thanks for catching that.

Norfolk Lumberjacks @ Duvall Dragons
The Dragons looked to clinch their second straight to the Cup at their home field on a particularly chilly November evening. Norfolk was still struggling with their QB scenario, and controversially decided to start the more experienced QB Terry Rogers over the rookie sensation Nathan Slezak. Rogers quickly proved to the doubters that he was the right call, as he led the ‘Jacks down the field on the first drive of the game to score the first points of the game, a 10 yard dash in by RB Eddy Belmont. Duvall took over the ball and marched their way down field to tie the game up at 7 with a 12 yard pass from QB Harold Bauer to WR Abram Radcliff. The ‘Jacks retaliated with a field goal to retake the lead before the quarter came to a close.
END OF Q1: 10-7 NOR
Both teams in the second seemed to slow down, and Rogers began to falter, as on three straight drives he either turned the ball over or failed to convert on downs. However, he was bailed out by Belmont once more, as he ran 67 yards for another touchdown to increase their score to 17. Duvall tried to keep up during the quarter, scoring only another field goal to keep the game within one score
END OF Q2: 17-10 NOR
Duvall took their opportunity to tie the game back up, as after taking the second half kickoff, Bauer and his backs stormed down the field to tie the game up at 17 with a 5 yard rush by RB Carson Adams. The Lumberjacks carried over Rogers’ momentum from the first half, either punting away the ball or Rogers turning over another ball to the Dragons’ defense. Duvall put on another drive, but kicked a field goal as the third quarter expired, taking the lead 20-17. On the Norfolk bench, HC Emil Haden elected to sit Rogers for the rest of the game and put Slezak in his place.
END OF Q3: 20-17 DUV
Slezak made considerably fewer mistakes than Rogers, as he immaculately led Norfolk down the field to retake the lead 24-20 on a 17 yard pass to WR Lucas Baumbach. Duvall punted the ball back to the ‘Jacks, where they extended their lead to 7 with another field goal. Duvall countered with their own field goal on their nxt drive to cut the lead back to 4. The Norfolk offense went cold, going three and out and giving the ball back to the Dragons. Bauer, never letting a good situation go to waste, led the Dragons once more on a quest to retake the lead, succeeding on another run by Adams. Slezak and the ‘Jacks marched down the field, but were unable to find the endzone and settled for a field goal instead to make the game 30-27. The MVP-runner-up in Bauer put together another drive in hopes of putting the game away, and found Radcliff once again on a 53 yard pass to extend their lead to 10. Norfolk was unable to make any movement down the field, as the Dragons ran out the clock to clinch their second straight trip to the Cup.
FINAL: 37-27 DUV 



Ellesby Mariners @ Hadley Gatekeepers
With their appearance in this game, Ellesby has become the last of the original 8 teams to appear in the playoffs. The first quarter was a barn burner, as neither team could seem to find the ball, whether it being the ‘Keepers figuring out the Mariners defense or the Mariners’ offense failing to get started in their first few drives. Hadley found its footing midway through the quarter and were the first to put points on the board and scored a field goal to go up 3-0. Ellesby got running as well and countered with a field goal of their own to end the quarter tied 3-3.
END OF Q1: 3-3 TIE
Hadley’s momentum kept on building up, as on their next drive they scored a touchdown thanks to a 30 yard pass from QB Jack Reuter to WR Andrew Padmore. Ellesby thought they had found something in the first, but in the second they sputtered out and punted on each drive they had. The Gatekeepers on the other hand caught fire, and scored twice more, both being TD passes from Reuter to WR Jimmy Hoek, to take a staggering 24-3 lead over the Mariners. 
END OF Q2: 24-3 HAD
Coming out of the locker rooms for the second half, Hadley’s momentum that they had in the second quarter was lost, as their first possession of the half resulted in a punt back to the Mariners. The Mariners finally had a successful drive for the first time since the first, as they found the endzone for the first time on a 4 yard run by QB Matt Kollen. The Gatekeepers seemed like they had found some footing in the third, but on two straight drives they were stopped outside the 35, and new K Ethan Tracey, who replaced the now-retired Jake Delaney, missed on both attempts. Ellesby went driving once again as the quarter ended as they crossed midfield.
END OF Q3: 24-10 HAD
The Mariners kept on driving as the final quarter started, where they succeeded in cutting the lead as RB Wendell Ellis plowed his way to a 12 yard score. Hadley’s offense got going again, as Reuter led his team down the field to hopefully seal the game away. After a 12 play drive that lasted nearly 8 minutes, the ‘Keepers finally found the endzone with a 1 yard plunge from Clint Atwood to make the score 31-17. Ellesby had about 5 minutes left in the game to make something out, but were forced to punt to the Gatekeepers, who ran out the clock as much as they could before handing the ball back with 1 minute left to Ellesby. The Mariners got as far as second down, as Kollen threw an interception to DB Jacques Kingston, clinching the Gatekeepers their second straight trip to the Cup for a rematch with Duvall
FINAL: 31-17 HAD



7th Escalian Cup Preview: Hadley Gatekeepers @ Duvall Dragons
After last year’s Cup, most people anticipated when the rematch would be between these two teams, and they didn’t have to wait long for that to happen. Both offenses are equally as potent as last year, and this should be another spectacle for the ages for either a second straight Cup for Hadley or the first time winning for Duvall.
Escalian Sports Magazine Prediction: Duvall will somehow find a way to both outlast and outperform the Gatekeepers as they win their first Cup. 35-24 DUV 

GG, Duvall. You earned it.

1966-67 Offseason

1967 Entry Draft:
1st - Tallokope City: QB Errol Haberkorn (Tallokope Provincial)
2nd - Homestead: OT Max Beumer (Tallokope University)
3rd - Adelaide: DL Eugene Eccleston (Great Plains Provincial)
4th - Orcaster: DB Dan Kemp (Taerrisia Provincial)
5th - Saint Blaise: DB Paul Jenson (Tallopkope University)
6th - Ashonta: OT Raymond Rennoll (Great Plains Provincial)
7th - Augusta: DL Matthew Kirby (Howle College)
8th - Kierport: DB Ralph Blackwood (Tallokope Provincial)
9th - Ellesby: WR Sal Reeves (Howle College)
10th - Norfolk: WR Al Hartman (Great Plains Provincial)
11th - Hadley: DL Joshua Briscoe (Arcanora Tech)
12th - Duvall: WR Wilfrid Fried (University of Toukier-Hadley) 

Player/Coach Movement: 
Two key wideouts called it a career, with Paul Leyton of Norfolk retiring after 10 years of being the ‘Jacks’ #1 receiver, and Roderick Ware of Duvall walked away after being with the Dragons his entire 14 year career. S Gavin Parent of Kierport famed also retired this offseason, with his defining moment in his 12 year career being the game-sealing INT return for a TD in the 3rd Escalian Cup. 

In regards to Norfolk’s QB controversy, they decided to part ways with their old QB Terry Rogers and put him up for a trade. Adelaide and Ellesby both offered deals, but the Lumberjacks ended up sending Rogers to the Owls in exchange for their 1967 2nd round and 1968 2nd round picks. 

No coaches were fired this offseason. 

Uniform Changes:
Duvall made the only changes this offseason, adding the now-traditional star patch to their uniforms

8th and 9th Escalian Cup Host Voting
And the time has come to vote on the host for the first neutral-site Escalian Cup game. For the 8th Cup, it will be open to all stadiums that have teams playing in them since the inaugural 1960 season and have not yet hosted a Cup. The 9th Cup will then open to the expansion teams’ stadiums, but not stadiums that have already hosted at least 1 Cup. The possible host cities in contention are: 

Harbour Coliseum - Hadley - Capacity: 52,900 (Ranked 6th in Capacity)
Hadley is home to the league’s offices, and holding it in what is essentially their backyard is a good way to experiment with neutral site games.
Seashore Park - Ellesby - Capacity 51,060 (Ranked 7th in Capacity)
The Ellesby city government has been developing the land around the stadium, so going to a game is a journey in and of itself instead of just a one day show. It also helps that the Mariners are catching the attention of the league, becoming more popular outside of the city with more fans catching on to the blue and gold.
Speedway Sports Park - Orcaster - Capacity 55,555 (Ranked 3rd in Capacity)
The largest stadium that has yet to host a Cup, the Racers’ ownership has been constantly renovating the stadium to make it an all-in-one destination, as the field is built into the Orcaster Speedway infield, which can allow for more temporary setting if needed.
Brown County Stadium - Ashonta - Capacity 40,000 (Ranked 12th in Capacity)
Currently the smallest stadium in the EFL, the city wants to host the Cup so they have a chance to build a bigger and better field that could hold more Cups in the future.
Cathedral Field - Saint Blaise - Capacity 49,625 (Ranked 8th in Capacity)
The Angels’ field is becoming more and more famous for its astonishing architecture, and hosting the Cup will allow for the team to expand upon it and become one of the league’s best stadiums. 
Frontier Stadium - Homestead - Capacity 47,960 (Ranked 9th in Capacity)
Hosting a Cup at the Reapers’ home can help solidify the eastward push that the league has been going for in its recent expansions, hopefully bringing more fans into the league.
Lakeshore Stadium - Tallokope City - Capacity 46,000 (Ranked 10th in Capacity)
Set on the pristine shores of Lake Tallokope, this stadium has the best views and location out of any of the current bids, and bringing the Cup to TC will help the struggling team find their footing with the league’s support in hosting. 

**VOTE HERE**

P.S. I'll probably be closing the poll around Monday, so get your votes in before then!

Hey just got back into following this thread! Right now my favorite team is the miners but that may change