Wow some pretty good games here! Miami seems like a Vegas Golden Knights kind off team that looks like they can win in year 1. A blocked kick return for a TD is just nuts, Washington got lucky there. Not a lot to say about LA-PHI and SF-MIL. Hopping for more great games next round!

1967-68 NFA Semifinals Round - Miami Stingrays at Washington Pirates
Starting off the game, the Stingrays would return the kickoff for 7, sparking hopes that the team might be able to upset the mighty Pirates. However Washington would quickly extinguish all of those as by the end of the quarter they had retaken the lead, 10-7. Miami would struggle on offense and defense, both were clearly outmatched by the Pirates. QB Joshua George barely got a breath of air as he was constantly avoiding getting hit and RB Elijah Boone couldn’t get anything going on the ground. In comparison, young gunslinger QB Ron Murray had played calm and collected, picking apart the Rays weaker defense like a college team. By half time they had put another 7 on the board and went into halftime up 17-7.  

They would lay off the gas a bit in the third quarter though. Boone would start to make a dent in the defense, breaking through for his first touchdown of the game early on in the quarter. The Miami defense would also make some big stops to keep the Pirates from retaliating. Miami would even tie it up early on in the 4th, with a 34 yard field goal. However the Pirates would wake back up just in time. First, they’d get their own 34 yard field goal, putting them up by 3. Then CB David Potts, who had proved to be a big offseason acquisition, having his best season in his career, picked off George and returned it for his 4th  pick six of the season. This put Washington up by 10 for the second time this game, which would just be too much for Miami to recover from. The final score would be 27-17, a much easier win for Washington.  For the first time since 1949, Washington heads to the Champions Bowl as the favorites. This will be their 8th appearance, the most out of any team. 



1967-68 NFA Semifinals Round - Milwaukee Barbarians at Los Angeles Tigers
This game started off as many had expected. Milwaukee looked young and inexperienced and had fallen into an early 14-0 hole while LA looked as good as they did last week. QB Keith Lincoln was setting himself up for another fantastic performance, finding a way to have 2 30+ yard touchdown passes in the first quarter. What many didn't expect was that their defense was performing at an equally high level. The Barbarians biggest weapon had been neutralized for pretty all of the first half, QB William Brown only had 2 completions and the team as a whole only had 1 first down. The defense had also forced them to turn over the ball twice, which would result in 2 more touchdowns by RB Sam Peck. This would inflate the lead to 28-0 at halftime, a nearly unprecedented score.  

However, fear would strike the hearts of Tigers fans. On the first drive of the second half Lincoln would take a big hit from LB Jack Church, who became the first Barbarian to get to the quarterback. This was very reminiscent of the scary injury that happened to Peck last postseason, that led to the Tigers blowing a 14-0 lead to lose in Boston. This injury wouldn't be as scary, but would result in Lincoln being taken off the field and ruling him out for the rest of the game. Without him the Tigers offense started to stumble. They would throw a pick on the same drive he went out. It would be returned for Milwaukee’s first score of the game. The very next drive Church would get through again and force a fumble after a hit on Peck. This would give the Barbarians another 7 points. The Tigers would be forced to punt on the next drive and the Barbarians would continue to lay on the pressure. As the game got closer to the end, the Tigers continued to look worse and worse, seemingly falling apart at the seams. As we rolled into the last few minutes of the game Milwaukee had crawled back into it, making the score 28-21. Brown was scorching the Tiger defense that had him chained all of the first half. The Tigers however still had the win in their hands, they just needed to not make any mistakes. To the relief of Lincoln, who was watching from the sidelines, officially out with an ankle sprain, the Tigers wouldn't. Los Angeles would string together their first scoring drive of the second half. Peck would burst into the end zone for his third of the game, making the score 35-21  and getting rid of the idea of a Milwaukee comeback. This added to an impressive stat line for Peck as he had a bit of a return to normalcy after a rough season and wildcard game.




C&C Appreciated! We're lining up for one of the most exciting Champions Bowls yet!

This is all I have to say
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-CndY14_I8
Like that, but Red. And somehow louder. 
 

Well here it is, the moment both teams have been waiting for!

1967-68 NFA Champions Bowl - Washington Pirates  vs Los Angeles Tigers



The week before the game there were a lot of storyline about this game. Both teams had the 2 longest time since their last Champions Bowl victory, both losing their last 4 appearances in the game, and two of the most talented teams we've seen in the game since the Zephyrs took on the Hornets in 1955. However the news everyone was turned toward was QB Keith Lincoln. After sustaining a concussion after a big hit in last week's semifinals game, the question was out on whether he'd get to play or not. Without him the Tigers were without their biggest weapon and practically playing with one hand tied behind their back. Lincoln led in all major stats for quarterbacks over the past 5 years and had won 2 MVPs while doing it. The day before the game however he would be ruled out, it was his own decision. This wouldn't keep the Tigers spirits down however. They were determined to change the idea that they don't show up in big games. Gone were the days of the offense disappearing as even without Lincoln the Tigers would take first blood. Granted a bad call from the refs that ruled RB Sam Peck in bounds when the Pirates argued he was clearly out helped, but nonetheless they were on the board, 7-0. It wouldn't take long for Washington to respond however. QB Ron Murray would connect with WR Paul Hudson for a 47 yard touchdown pass to tie things up at 7. Los Angeles would keep their momentum going, finding their way back into Pirates territory. However backup QB Manny Keller would fall back into last game's habits and throw an intercept within the 10 yard line. Washington would take up a good chunk of the first half on that drive, finishing it in the LA end zone after RB Chester Lindsey broke through the already tired Tigers line. Neither team would score again before half though and they'd go into the break, LA down 7-14. 

Starting out on offense this half, Washington would begin to completely take control of the game. While they wouldn't score, they'd pin the Tigers at their own 2 yard line, which would result in DE Monty Jones tackling RB Sam Peck in their own end zone for a safety. On the following drive Lindsey would break through for a 62 yard rushing TD, his career longest. LA was starting to slip, but they'd regain grip. By the end of the 3rd they'd finally manage another score, knocking 3 points onto their tally. They'd back that up with another stop against the hot Pirates offense. It wouldn't be enough though. CB David Potts would get his second interception of the postseason when Keller would overthrow his target. Washington would be set up in Tigers territory from the start and it would result in another Murray touchdown, this time to WR Gene Harris. The Tigers were running out of time and the deficit was only getting bigger, now down 30-10, chances of winning were bleak and they needed an immediate score. Keller would instead throw yet another interception. This would allow Washington to wait out the last 2 and a half minutes of the game as they'd slowly crawl to get the last first downs of the season. When the clock finally hit zero the team would storm the field. The Pirates would win their first Champions Bowl in 19 years and broke the streak. Murray would become the youngest QB to win the Champions Bowl MVP since Eugene Addams did it in ‘54. The Tigers on the other hand would lose their 5th straight Champions Bowl, now taking ownership of the longest championship drought in the NFA.




C&C Appreciated, congrats Pirates fans! Expect a big offseason!

Me right now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3ALwKeSEYs