Nick_crenshaw82 wrote:

MyTeamIsDr.Pepper wrote:

Finally, three of the franchises elected to hold a local “Name the Team” competition and are looking for people to give their ideas for the teams’ identities. Those teams are Houston, New Orleans, and Miami. In order participate in the contest, contestants must fill out the following information: 

Name:
Where your from:
Team name ideas:
Color scheme ideas: 

 
Are you still taking entries for this?

Unfortunately I'm not. But, be sure to be on the look out because it's not the last time I'll be asking y'all for help, you can definitely be a part of the next one!
Here's the postseason!

1963-64 NFA Postseason 

New York Cannons at Pittsburgh Ironmen
In the last ever home game for the Pittsburgh Ironmen, fans from all across the country came to watch them hopefully return to the Champions Bowl. Ironmen Stadium was filled to the brim, the parking lot loaded with fans watching from there, and thousands tuned in on TV. The Cannons were a bit of a surprise this season so many thought Pittsburgh would win with ease, the game was much closer than anyone anticipated however. 
We started off the game with the Cannons getting the first chance at offense. QB Jim Sandusky started them off with a couple first downs but they were quickly shut down by the talented Ironmen defense and relegated to punting. Starting off their first drive deep in their own territory, the Ironmen thought things couldn't get worse. Except they were immediately proven wrong, 2 tackles for loss later, backed up to their own 1 yard line, RB Joshua Barlow was handed the ball and met with 2 big New York linemen who sent him back into his own endzone for the safety. Now up 2-0 New York gets going on their second drive of the game. This one much like the first would get stomped out pretty quick, leading to yet another drive where Pittsburgh will be stuck deep in their own territory. Thankfully they get out of it this time and manage to knock one through the uprights, giving them the 3-2 lead as the quarter comes to a close. 
Much like the first, the second quarter is tightly contested and ruled by the defense. Both teams exchange short drives that would end in punts, before New York would waste another offensive opportunity by fumbling at midfield. Pittsburgh would snuff out another field goal and the half would come to a close with both teams knee deep in a defensive battle, Ironmen leading 6-2.
Coming out of the half, the Ironmen crowd was loud and excited, as announcers recalled famous moments in Ironmen history over the break. They came out on fire as well, taking a long drive all the way to the house for the first touchdown of the game. New York would retaliate with their first touchdown of the day as well. It was a long winded drive that took up the rest of the quarter, highlighted by some impressive throws by Sandusky, who has taken a back seat on offense for most of the game. 
And with the end of the third, the teams started play in the final quarter to ever be played in Ironmen Stadium, as of now. As sad as that may be, most fans were exhilarated with the teams play as they entered the quarter leading the New York Cannons 13-9. Unlike the previous quarter, which had seen the most offense in the game, the final quarter was back in the mud of the defensive battle. Starting with the Cannons forcing a quick 3 and out on the Ironmen, and the Ironmen turning that into a forced punt not long later. It took the Ironmen’s second drive of the quarter to see any scoring. As QB Pete Blair made it up the field with his team, it looked like the game sealing score would happen, and it did, just not for Pittsburgh. On a routine quick pass to WR Thomas Levine, OLB George Lindwell batted the ball for New York and intercepted it, Lindwell would start his return before being tackled and subsequently fumbling it. This would then be picked up by the Cannons own DE Greg Waterson who returned it for the touchdown. In one of the most convoluted plays this season. The Cannons managed to flip the tables on the Ironmen and take a shocking 16-13 lead, with Pittsburgh needing to score to tie. The Ironmen would start their drive down the field, but with little time left they had to act fast. As a result of this, penalties held the drive back, at two separate points they were caught jumping and offsides. This would be the end of the Ironmen's tenure in Pittsburgh, with one last hail mary to the end zone, which fell incomplete. The Ironmen had been upset by the Cinderella Cannons in their last game as the Pittsburgh Ironmen, by a score of 16-13. New York shocked everyone on their way to their second Champions Bowl. 



Los Angeles Tigers at Minneapolis Blue Ox
In one of the most looked forward to NFA West Championships in a while, the Tigers travel up to Minneapolis to take on the Ox. It was a chilly afternoon for the Southern California players but it didn't seem to make this any less of a great game. 
The Tigers had their foot on the gas as soon as the game started. The first drive of the game wasn’t very long, after picking up a couple first downs and making it towards midfield, QB Keith Lincoln threw it deep and found a man open way downfield. A few steps into the end zone later and they'd jumped to a quick 7-0 lead. This is what they were hoping for, they'd have to keep the pressure on the talented Ox defense if they wanted a chance at winning this game. Minneapolis would go out there and match LA’s pace, QB Eugene Addams would also find a man way downfield in similar fashion to Lincoln, eventually setting RB Kent Ross up for an easy 8 yard TD run. On the following drive Lincoln showed his agility, dodging two rushers and converting a big 3rd down all by himself. This, along with RB Sam Peck picking up a big 22 yard run, would wind up giving the Tigers a 14-7 lead, with time still left on the clock in the 1st quarter. Minneapolis however would slow down on this drive, playing a bit more in tune to their style, forgetting flashy deep passes and big runs for shorter passes and ‘grind them down’ runs. 
The second quarter would see the Blue Ox trickle their way down the field, capping off a long run with Addams finding WR Nicholas Van Daalen for the score. The Tigers would attempt a retaliation but Minneapolis would finally hold their ground and stop them in their tracks, forcing the first punt of the game. On the following lung return, WR Elijah Wolfstein would actually make it all the way to the 16 yard line, deep in Tigers territory. This wouldn't matter much however as the first play from snap QB Eugene Addams’ pass would be picked off by CB Dan Simmons for Los Angeles. Nevertheless it wouldn't matter as the Tigers would once again be stopped by the Ox defense and be forced to punt, which is a stark contrast to what was aiming to be a shootout game between the two. The second quarter and the first half would come to a close as Minneapolis took a narrow 17-14 lead. 
Coming back into the game the Minneapolis would return the kickoff deep, for another near kick/punt return TD. This one would account for something though as 90 seconds into the half the Ox had already more than tripled their lead to a 24-14 lead. The Tigers would finally find a retaliation however as RB Sam Peck took over and mounted a quick drive that saw him pick up over 25 yards on two different occasions. With the score now 24-21 the Tigers would finally also find a stop on defense against Addams and turn it around, stepping on the gas once more, and ending the quarter encroaching upon the Minneapolis red zone.
The fourth quarter would be tight. Los Angeles would come out and immediately cap off that drive, taking the lead back. But Minneapolis wouldn't let it live long, in what would be much like the first quarter, Addams found Van Daalen for a long TD reception that would give Minneapolis a short lived lead. Short lived because Lincoln would also find a receiver deep. WR Val Goodman would catch a miraculous throw over CB David Potts for the 35-31 lead. With still nearly half the quarter left, it was anyone's game. The Blue Ox would somehow keep up with LA’s extraordinary pace and match them with their second score of the quarter, RB Kent Ross breaking through for a phenomenal 47 yard TD. The Tigers would have to score quick if they wanted to win. But with time running thin they elected to kick and tie things up at 38. This means it's the first ever overtime in the West Championship history.
For everyone watching the rules of overtime were told to fans and tv viewers since overtime only occurs in the postseason and has gone through some tweaking since it's last appearance. The overtime rules state that one 5 minute period will be added onto the end of the game, by the end of those 5 minutes whoever is ahead wins the game. So the overtime started with the Tigers getting the ball and taking it down the field before being stopped by the mighty Ox defense, being forced to kick the field goal. The Blue Ox now had the chance to seal the game and send Minneapolis to their first Champions Bowl, and QB Eugene Addams’s 5th. The would start the trek down the field, RB Kent Ross actually taking most of the snaps, to ensure possession of the ball. Ross would eventually be stopped up and a fourth down would put the whole season on the line. The ball was snapped and Eugene Addams looked and immediately he found his man. He stepped into one and sent a bullet through to his receiver who was decently open. He caught the ball but the defender had reached around him and punched it out, ruling the pass incomplete and with little time on the clock, practically ruling the end of the Blue Ox season. LA would grab one more first down clinching the Tigers return to the Champions Bowl. The final score was 41-38.


 
C&C Appreciated, I'm sorry for any Ox and Ironmen fans out there.

Last edited by MyTeamIsDr.Pepper (6/27/2020 4:50 pm)

Nice! A New York LA champions Bowl has to a dream come true for the league! Here lie the Pittsburgh Ironmen 1925-1964. Btw I’d like to see the playoffs expand to 3 teams per division.

Last edited by Rugrat (6/27/2020 5:20 pm)

Cardiac Cardinal wrote:

Hey Ive been a long time lurker of this site but joined recently and checked this out. I do not know who to root for because even though I was born in Anaheim (near LA) I cant root for the Tigers because they left St Louis. I cant cheer for Chicago because I do not like to support Chicago teams as a STL Cardinal fan. So I don’t know who to root for.

Sounds like you should go for the Blue Ox or whoever the Ironmen become.

Cardiac Cardinal wrote:

Hey Ive been a long time lurker of this site but joined recently and checked this out. I do not know who to root for because even though I was born in Anaheim (near LA) I cant root for the Tigers because they left St Louis. I cant cheer for Chicago because I do not like to support Chicago teams as a STL Cardinal fan. So I don’t know who to root for.

Well to my knowledge, teams without any fans are the Whales, Lumberjacks, Hornets, and depending on how Ironmen feel about the team after relocation, they could be without fans. Or you could be a fan of the 6 SFL teams!

Quite the defensive performance from NY. Congrats on the win.