Will there be southern and western sectional divisions for promotion to the Southern And Western Regional Division

Mid-American Regional Division
St. Paul Boreads had spent 8 seasons in the Penultimate Division before getting demoted last season.  By finishing 4 points ahead of the newly rechristened Covington Bajuwaren, they earned promotion back into the Penultimate Division.  At the other end of the table, it would be the Duluth Iron Rangers and Sioux City Stalkers who would be returning to Sectional Division play.  The newly promoted Grand Rapids Woodwrights and Zion City Lacemakers surprisingly finished in 14th and 15th places.

Southern Regional Division
For a second consecutive season, Charlotte Coronets finished in second place, this time 4 points behind the champions, despite earning 4 points than in 1914-1915.  With 50 points, it was Montgomery Lightning Booters who earned the title of champion of the Southern Regional Division.

 American Football Association Cup 1916 - Eastern Region

There were a few surprises in the Eastern bracket of the AFA Cup.  Ultimate Division champion Old Nassau 1869’s hopes of completing the double were ended unceremoniously when the black-and-orange fell to Ilium of Troy FC in the second round.   Paterson Blue Boys did not let the disappointment of being demoted from the Penultimate Division damper their spirits as they knocked Baltimore Chimney Swifts and the New York Chieftains before falling to Eastern finalist Philadelphia Sports Club.   The Richmond Railers continued to make a name for themselves as they almost outlasted Sports Club in a 5-4 slugfest in the Eastern semifinal.  The biggest surprise was the rechristened New Haven Footguard reaching the Eastern Final to oppose Sports Club.  Their joy grew when they found out that they would hosting the Final.




In the Eastern Final, the hosts got off to a quick start when Center Forward Caden Weaver drove a 30-yard free kick into the upper corner.  The Yale Bowl was rocking when an errant cross from Sullivan Schultz ended up in the back of Sports Club’s net.  The locals were muted when Tom Norris answered a scant two minutes later off of a cross from Nash Novak.

Shortly after halftime, Weaver tallied again for the Footguard, this time volleying a poor clearance past Philadelphia’s goalkeeper, Bruce Henson.  On the ensuing kickoff, Sports Club caught New Haven napping and Javier Best’s long chip went over the outstretched hands of Zachary Michael.   Norris equalized for Sports Club, playing the ball with his knee after a scramble in front of the Footguard’s goal.  Things went from bad to worse for New Haven as Novak was played through to allow Philadelphia to take the lead.  The coup de grace came in the waning minutes when Javier Best rose above the crowd to head a corner kick in.


 

American Football Association Cup 1916 - Midwestern Region




Defending champion Cleveland Forest won in the first round to set up a derby clash with Cleveland Longlegs.  The Longlegs followed up on their upset for the Sixth City Cup by knocking off Forest 2:1.

There were a couple of Cinderella runs in the Midwestern bracket of the AFA Cup.  Most notably, the Grand Rapids Woodwrights, who had only been promoted to the Mid-American Regional Division this season, knocked off Akron Vulcanites in the first round and kept on winning until they were put down by Milwaukee Brewmasters in the semifinals.

On the other side of the bracket, United Kansas Cities, who had been promoted to the Penultimate Division this season (and barely staved off relegation back to the Mid-American Regional Division) tore a path through Ohio teams by defeating Columbus Arches, Cincinnati Scarlets, and Canton Rovers in succession.  They followed with a hard-fought victory over Indianapolis Speedsters to earn the right to host the Midwestern Final.