Sunday, September 28, 2014

2014: Week 5 Rundown



FARGO uses its cleverness to divert the Dons to a second-straight loss.


In Fargo, the scene was unnerving - both California and Fargo vying for the top spot in the conference. It seemed to be in the hands of California, who were leading 16-7 at halftime. However, rough as it may have been, Joe Bowers’ three interceptions did not bode well for the team. A relatively quiet day on defense (minus Don’s Willard) gave Fargo an opportunity to score - and with Koriun Masquarde's 100+ receiving yards, it was all Axemen in the end.


Final Score: Axemen 21, Dons 16



TEXAS wins a third-straight match-up in Fort Worth against a silent Chicago offense.


Where were the Outlaws? Where was Darius Smith’s pass-happy receivers? How did Texas pull it off? First off - the acquisition of Dane Atkins for Chicago due to an injury did not turn out well - only 4 rushing yards on 6 attempts, and a few too many incomplete passes by Smith. Chicago has not played well on the road thus far, and Texas was able to find another rhythm - Jacqie Knight with a commanding touchdown catch, and Calder finally settling in as Texas’ lead quarterback.


Final Score: Ramblers 24, Outlaws 3



BALTIMORE out-right slams Easton into oblivion with Redfield’s 341 yards vs Ritter’s 92.


Much of what has kept Easton in contention thus far has been special teams luck - the hyper-activity of Kris Clueton last week was diminished - Clueton did not kick in the game, but Easton’s Bruce Staples did take one to the house on a kickoff return. After this, however, Baltimore did not look back. Aspen Redfield completed 31/40 for 341 yards, and Austin Pool ran in two extra scores in addition to catching one from Redfield. Easton was sent back across the border, and it’ll be a long week ahead as they face New York next weekend.


Final Score: Ponies 35, Bald Eagles 14



LAS VEGAS’ defense commands the game and holds on to win in an offensive struggle.


With rumors circulating that the coaching staff of North Florida has been in a whirlwind, the Bandits defense capitalized on seven sacks between the team, a forced fumble by Coby Carson, and an interception by Lewis Groetzer. The team picked on Leonard Winters, a rookie out of Canada, and apparently the nervousness cost his team four of those seven sacks. Although the offense was generally unsuccessful, a single touchdown to Nemarru Bakari gave the Bandits the win at home. NF’s Trent Velazquez had a miserable day, and cost the Renegades the game.


Final Score: Bandits 7, Renegades 6





ABILENE works for a desperate overtime victory versus the ailing Dragons.


There was much to say about both teams coming in at the bottom of the conference, but it was looking pretty good for Abilene after one half of play - but the Achilles’ heel of Abilene has been their inconsistent defensive scheme, and the Dragons’ third quarterback on the season - Kerry Calloway - took advantage. The teams were all tied at 21 at the end of regular play. An interesting coaching strategy by Abilene, they chose not to kick any field goals in the game. Even in overtime, the teams looked to be exhausted, but a concerted 45 yards by Dallas Larkin on the final drive gave Abilene the win they have been seeking this whole year.


Final Score: Lancers 27, Dragons 21 (OT)



DOWNRIVER thanks Castora for giving the Waves an important win over New York.


While much is still debated about this matchup, the work ethic of both teams seems to be stronger than any other. Andy Wright’s lack of success in the passing department led to a reliance on the running backs - and Samantha Castora delivered with 26 carries for 155 yards. Without New York’s veteran Efren Frank in the lineup, the Titans struggled to match their rushing efforts, and Cameron was partially successful but could not find the endzone. New York’s sole touchdown came from an interception return by Thomas Sanders; a total of six missed field goals between the teams gives the game a +/- 9 point margin. This begs the question: What could it have been?


Final Score: Waves 19, Titans 10

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Week 4 Injury Report

Hello friends. We must announce the injuries that occurred this week. It's been a safe ride for some teams; now we see injuries across the board on all teams.

If you have new injuries, you should check your spreadsheet and make the necessary changes!! If you need help, let us know.

The number represents the total number of players on the disabled list. Players with a * next to their name are newly added. Players who have been cleared are available for play this week. 

ABILENE -  3
Disabled
Dallas Larkin - RB - (6 wks) *
James Brunson - OL - (1 wk.) *
Rod Lackey - OL - (4 wks) *
Cleared This Week
Raul Wolff - LB

BALTIMORE -  4
Disabled
Bernardo Cotton - OL - 1 wk *
Brooks Dunn - OL - 1 wk *
Odell Scmitt - OL - 4 wks *
Jim Hardin - LB - 6 wks *
Cleared This Week
Kim Fletcher - DL

CALIFORNIA -  3
Disabled
Max Coleman - DL - 3 wks remaining
Boris Hemphill - CB - 2 wks remaining
Glen Campbell - RB - 1 wk remaining
Cleared This Week
Joe Bowers - QB

CHICAGO -  4
Disabled
Zachary Robinson - S - 3 wks remaining
Brad Ulrich - LB - 2 wks remaining
Amos Granger - RB - 2 wks. *
Aron Matos - OL - 1 wk. *
Cleared This Week
none

DOWNRIVER -  2
Disabled
Garret Wilder - LB - 4 wks remaining
Nigel Seals - QB - 1 wk remaining
Cleared This Week
Ricky Carney - WR

EASTON -  4
Disabled
Terrance Darby - LB - 5 wks remaining
Gregorio John-Miller - S - 2 wks remaining
Scotty Hickey - DL - 1 wk remaining
Patrick Bryan - WR - 1 wk *
Cleared This Week
none

FARGO -  1
Disabled
Ralph Cano - DL - 2 wks *
Cleared This Week
none

GRAND RAPIDS -  3
Disabled
Stephan Stovall - DL - 4 wks remaining
Terence Curran - QB - 2 wks remaining
Carlton Moser - LB - 1 wk *
Cleared This Week
none

LAS VEGAS -  3
Disabled
Justin Brown - DL - 4 wks remaining
Vince Thompson - OL - 1 wk remaining
Gaylord Massey - DL - 4 wks *
Cleared This Week
Colton Easley - OL
Sebastian McNeil - OL

NEW YORK -  3
Disabled
Efren Frank - RB - 6 wks *
Frederic Mendoza - OL - 1 wk *
Roy Chang - S - 1 wk *  
Cleared This Week
none

NORTH FLORIDA -  3
Disabled
Hershel Hart - LB - 5 wks remaining
Gavin Cummins - LB - 1 wk remaining
Cletus Kenney - TE - 2 wks *
Cleared This Week
Kiedo Masquarde - QB
Roger Bunch - OL 

TEXAS -  3
Disabled
Irvin Colbert - OL - 3 wks remaining
Harley Kimble - DE - 1 wk. *
Bert Dailey - LB - 1 wk. *
Cleared This Week
none

Friday, September 19, 2014

Leon DeCanta Interview with Kennith Shrader

(written by Rally Ranger)

WFST – Tallahassee’s home for all of your furry sports needs.

L: “And welcome back to the Leon DeCanta show! Today’s special guest is a rookie for the North Florida Renegades, a team from the newly regenerated United Furry Football League. He’s big, he’s tough, and he will shred through any offensive player going his way. That’s right, folks, we are talking about defensive lineman Kennith ‘The Shredder’ Shrader and he is here with us today. Kennith, I welcome you to this show as well as this fine city of Tallahassee!”

K: “Thank you for having me here, Mr. DeCanta. I really love the atmosphere here.”

L: “You’re welcome. Is this place anything like where you are from at Highland, Indiana?”

K: “It is so different! There are more buildings here than fields. When you come over to my area, it is pretty much farm land throughout most of the city. But I have managed to find a few areas around here that remind me of my home.”

L: “That’s good, Kennith. Since we are on the subject, why don’t you tell me about your life at Indiana? Did you spend most of your time out at the barn or were you away a lot?”

K: I come from a family with six siblings, with me being the oldest. I was pretty much at the barn everyday helping out the family and teaching some of my brothers what to do when they were old enough to work out there. I guess you can say there’s where I got my strength at.”

L: “And it shows too. Now with you working out at the barn all day, every day, didn’t you have time for school at all? It says you attended Acorn University over in Ohio for two years, but we have no idea how well you did there.”

K: “We were home-schooled; all of us. At least until I found this new-found passion for football. When I entered high school, I was pretty much a grade up from everyone else and I still found the content in the class to be somewhat easy to go over and finish in due time.”

L: “Ah, I see. Well, let’s back up a little and focus on how you came into the football scene. If I heard right, you started off as a backyard sports guy with some of the neighbors… and you dislocated one of their shoulders. True or false?”

K: *Chuckles* “ Oh, dear… it did start off with a bunch of us kids playing out in our backyards when I was twelve. Imagine me, twelve years old and standing about five foot ten…”

L: “At twelve years old?! You really are a big guy at that age.”

K: *Nods* “Oh yeah… all of the kids wanted me. If I wasn’t captain of that day, then I knew I would be the first ones picked. After that it became a pick-up game. With the few kids we did have on the field, we played both roles. I found my calling when I played defense. The number of sneak attacks and pressure I put on the quarterbacks felt good. One day, I came in for a sack; tackled the kid to the ground hard enough to dislocate his shoulder.”

L: “That had to hurt. Did you get in trouble for doing that?”

K: “The thing about where I am from, is that we are a close-knit community. Yeah, the word spread quickly about what I did, but when I was approached by both parents they didn’t seem mad at all. I remember the kid’s father telling me that this is the kind of sport where injuries happen. That and kids are bound to get hurt one way or another. I know I had a few close calls with the horses back at the barn. Anyways, he said to my father that I had something special in me and that I should enroll in football camp, and so I did.”

L: “And that lead to refining your skills as well as a successful high school career. Did you know you were going to play football when you were going to college?”

K: “I almost didn’t go to college. But my agent insisted to taking a couple years there and playing in their circuit. I’ll admit I learned some things while I was there; much different than high school ball.”

L: “Good choice; let’s talk about your first game in the UFFL. Four tackles and a sack; I am very impressed especially since it is coming from a rookie.”

K: “Thank you once again. I played just as hard as any other game. I am glad to record a sack.”

L: “Yeah, but those hits cost you two weeks out when you had a concussion. Are you ready to play for week four?”

K: “Definitely! I have been with the doctors and the coaches last week as well as this week. We all made sure I was recovered and fully able to head back on the field. I can’t wait to actually practice coming to week four.”

L: “I can’t wait to see you back on the field, Kennith. And with that, it is time to take a break. I would like to thank Kennith ‘The Shredder’ Shrader once more for coming into our studios and talking with us. When we return, we will have more of your favorite sports stories; only on the Leon DeCanta show!”

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Week 3 Injury Report

The first number represents total players on the disabled list, the number in parenthesis are players new to the disabled list this week. Players with a * next to their name are newly added. Players who have been cleared are available for play this week.

ABILENE - 1 (0)
Disabled
Raul Wolff LB (1 wk, concussion)
Cleared This Week
Aaron Whitman RB

BALTIMORE - 1 (1)
Disabled
Kim Fletcher* DL (1 wk, assault of an asst. coach)
Cleared This Week
Johnnie Cody OL
Tom Meier DL
Gordon Kuhn CB
Brandon Frey CB


CALIFORNIA - 4 (1)
Disabled
Glen Campbell* RB (2 wks, high ankle sprain)
Joe Bowers QB (1 wk, concussion with possible delusions)
Boris Hemphill CB (3 wks, hairline fracture of the fibia)
Max Coleman DL (4 wks, lisfranc sprain)
Cleared This Week
Luther Goldman CB

CHICAGO - 2 (1)
Disabled
Zachary Robinson* S (4 wks, shin splints)
Brad Ulrich LB (3 wks, calcaneous tendon rupture)
Cleared This Week
Zachary Munson OL
Bennie Sierra LB

DOWNRIVER - 3 (1)
Disabled
Nigel Seals* QB (2 wks, suspension for taunting a fan)
Ricky Carney WR (1 wk, pulled hamstring)
Garret Wilder LB (5 wks, torn meniscus)
Cleared This Week
Andy Wright QB Kyle Fry S
Sheldon David LB

EASTON - 3 (2)
Disabled
Scotty Hickey* DL (2 wks, back strain)
Terrance Darby* LB (6 wks, fractured fibia)
Gregorio John-Miller S (3 wks, high ankle sprain)
Cleared This Week
Dane Atkins RB
Keith McGowan OL


FARGO - 0 (0)
Disabled
None
Cleared This Week
None


GRAND RAPIDS - 2 (0)
Disabled
Terence Curran QB (3 wks, concussion)
Stephan Stovall DL (5 wks, radial fracture)
Cleared This Week
Tomas Mercer LB

LAS VEGAS - 4 (3)
Disabled
Vince Thompson* OL (2 wks, high ankle sprain)
Colton Easley* OL (1 wk, disciplinary action)
Sebastian McNeil* OL (1 wk, sprained hoof/paw)
Justin Brown DL (5 wks, paw/hoof fracture)
Cleared This Week
Ricardo McLeod DL
Lewis Groetzer CB

NEW YORK - 0 (0)
Disabled
None
Cleared This Week
None


NORTH FLORIDA - 4 (4)
Disabled
Kiedo Masquarde* QB (1 wk, shoulder strain)
Roger Bunch* OL (1 wk, ankle sprain)
Gavin Cummins* LB (2 wks, concussion)
Hershel Hart* LB (6 wks, tail fracture)
Cleared This Week
Gary Hecklesberry LB
Marty Bravo LB
Henry Lucas DL
Kennith Shrader DL

TEXAS - 1 (0)
Disabled
Irvin Colbert OL (4 wks, tibia fracture)
Cleared This Week
None

Saturday, September 13, 2014

UFFL Week 3: A Defining Moment

LIVE ON F-SPIN (a parody of ESPN): Matt Lewis - an American football expert who is following the development of this new league - sits in with us (whenever he can!) to talk about the goings-on of the league, his opinion on the next weeks' games, and more. 
 ------------

FS: Matt, we have been seeing a troublesome pattern early on this season that, you felt after watching most of the games, required immediate attention. Can you elaborate on this for our audience?

M: Of course, it's the number of injuries on the field. I don't know if it's our own inhibitions, our feisty beings, or what - but the injuries were plentiful, and something had to be done about it. Apparently there have been some new emergency safety regulations put in place that the league has been expected to follow starting this week.

FS: And do you think the teams and players will comply?

M: They have to, or they face huge fines. It's not a joke, these are the lives of real furries and anthros here. They have a life post-football, and it should not be scarred by an unnecessary hit.

FS: Our guest to elaborate more on the extent of this problem is our on-the-field correspondent, Jeanette Milbrey, live in Chicago at Magnificent Mile Stadium. Now Jeanette, we have had a couple season-ending injuries thus far. Is this normal?

J: Yes, but it's the level on which these injuries were had; some are blaming the inadequate helmet design, which seems to work better for some species than others. Other managers are blaming management for not stepping in sooner. But, most of all, the players are blaming other players, and its starting some off-the-field incidents that are not desired by the UFFL.

FS: Have you gotten any feedback from the coaches or the players about the problem?

J: I talked with one of the field coaches here in Chicago, and he said that although they anticipate an injury or two per game, he didn't feel that enough had been done to assure that teams could get the back-up assistance for their teams. As you know, only about five or six players are not in a starting position at any one point during a game, which becomes problematic after two or three weeks of gameplay. The field coach finished off by saying that he hopes something will be done about it soon.

FS: Jeanette Milbrey, live from Chicago. Thanks, Jeanette.

J: Thank you.

FS: Back here in the studio with Matt - and we've been a bit sidetracked by all the controversy surrounding this issue for the past week. So much, in fact, that we've been ignorant about the upcoming week of gameplay. What are your thoughts for this week?

M: Well, this is the week that defines who is likeliest to have a great season, and who will be struggling to catch up. The three teams at 2-0: California, New York, and Baltimore - are all really great teams, but with this injury issue, New York is the only one that has come out alive. With no really huge playmaker on that team, it'll be interesting to see if they can trudge into Chicago and shut out a strong Outlaws team that is coming off a frustrating loss.

FS: Well said.

M: It's my pick for Game of the Week, this week. If there's any one game you tune in for tomorrow, it's NY at CHI.

FS: Who's the runner-up game?

M: Fargo at Baltimore is going to be fun. They're calling the game the "Pumpkin Ice" game because of the cooler temperatures they're seeing in Maryland this week, plus the interesting mix of bright blue and orange jerseys. Fargo's Bernard Randolph is coming off the game of his life, and Christina Carson is back in the lineup for the Axemen. It should be a great game.

FS: Now, with all positive ends, there is a negative end. And we have three teams at 0-2. Talk about each team and what they have to do to improve and get their first win.

M: Well, let me say first that I'm really surprised that Abilene could not hold on against the Dons last week. There is a lot of promise and talent on the Lancers, but something about their offense seems off, and they absolutely need to start throwing more passes to their wide receivers and the tight-end, Nash Pony. Only five passes on the season is an absolute waste of a talent. And they also need to stop turning the ball over, or start creating turnovers.

FS: How about Easton?

M: Easton would have won last week if not for their non-existent Special Teams group. What kind of awfulness those players and fans must've felt when the Axemen won the game solely on the merit of four kickoff touchdown returns. They can win, there's no doubt about that. But not if they don't take the side-missions, in example those kickoff returns, more seriously. Their Special Teams Coordinator is risking losing their job otherwise.

FS: And finally... Texas.

M: Texas is ranked last in the league in offense, but have a star in Jacqueline Knight. So the team has to do some interesting playbook adjustments that are based around utilizing her and the other wide receivers. Andrew Calder's second start at quarterback, he now knows who he has to work with. However, they face a brutal Las Vegas defense. How does this game pan out?

FS: You tell me.

M: Oh, no, well... I was just going to finish off by saying, if I had to pick a third game to watch, it would be that one.

FS: Last week, you had claimed that Darius Smith of the Chicago Outlaws was your player to watch, and you were hoping for some kind of connection with the offense, however that did not happen and the Outlaws ended up losing.

M: Correct.

FS: The Outlaws brought in another D. Smith, mister Damien, and also got rid of a solid kicker to give their rookie, Thalia Perez, a try. What do you think about those moves?

M: They are, indeed, a bit risky. Most of the stuff that I have seen the coach do over in Chicago have been borderline risky. But he's got the people's trust. Most general managers set a game plan at the beginning of the season and follow through it, but he's the only guy I see who is adjusting it as we go, and appropriately.

FS: What do you mean by, appropriately?

M: Just, he's looking at all obstacles. He isn't floundering under pressure. It's a true and spirited team led by a great coach.

FS: Well said. Finally, we will finish up with a clip from the post-game show on Sunday night that has been making the rounds. It's Trent Velazquez walking out of the studio and, there's some kind of debate and confrontation, then --

M: Yeah, well, it seems to have been addressed now. But Velazquez faced his one-week suspension and is back this week to kick for the Renegades. You know he's a big guy. He's a bear, and a heavy guy for a kicker. He's got a lot of punch when he wants it. Just, he's gotta hold down the mood swings. Otherwise, Coach is going to have to debate whether he's worth keeping around.

FS: Alright, well, thanks again for coming in this week and giving us your piece of mind. We will be looking forward to debating Week 4 with you, and always, have fun tomorrow.

M: Thanks.

FS: Thank you all for watching F-SPIN. Stay tuned for more football talk in the coming days, and be sure to join the conversation at uffl.boards.net !
_________________________________________

Wiki: http://faff.wikia.com/wiki/The_UFFL_Wiki
Forums: http://uffl.boards.net/
FA site: http://www.furaffinity.net/user/uffl/

Monday, September 8, 2014

UFFL Team Statistics (After Week 2)

Hi y'all! Well.. it's been a crazy two weeks of football thus far. But it's a good moment to step back and see how the league is doing. So... here are some stats!

Keep in mind it's only been two weeks... so numbers are always subject to change and improve as the season progresses. Don't fret! Also I have yet to make the Individual statistics more legible, so I apologize in advance for that. There's some errors that need to be fleshed out.

I'll list the best and worst of each stat, and (for this first entry) what each stat means. If you wanna see the full spreadsheet, which contains many more types of stats than are listed here, go to this link:
 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AniNra5fj1i1dG9QSFVuWFU4S0F0V2tpVWZMdGRnaXc
_______________

Best Records: (who is winning the most games?)
California, Baltimore, New York (2-0) / Abilene, Texas, Easton (0-2)

Net Points: (who is scoring the most and allowing the least points?)
New York ( +39 ) / Texas ( -33)

Time of Possession: (who is controlling the football more?)
Easton (53.26%) / Fargo (42.47%)

Turnover Differential (who is creating more big plays?)
Baltimore ( +4 ) / Texas ( -6 )

MVPs: (Who are the current stars of our league?)
Aspen Redfield, Koriun Masquarde, Sylvester Stapler, Samantha Castora, Jacqueline Knight

Punt Avg: (Who's punter is kicking the furthest?)
Easton / Abilene (46 yds / kick)  / Fargo (31 yds / kick)

Total Points: (Who has scored the most points?)
Fargo (62 points) / Texas (24 points)

Total Yards: (Who has gained the most yards?)
Baltimore (754 yards) / Fargo (563 yards)

Total Passing Yards: (Who has gained the most yards by throwing the ball?)
Baltimore (529 yards) / Grand Rapids (335 yards)

Total Rushing Yards: (Who has gained the most yards by running with the ball?)
Chicago (312 yards) / Downriver (134 yards)

Touchdowns: (Who is making the most big scores?)
California (8) / Several at (3)

Giveaways: (Who is losing the ball the most?)
New York (0) / Texas (8)

Sacks: (Which defense has sacked the quarterback the most?)
Downriver (8)

Interceptions: (Which defense has intercepted a quarterback pass the most?)
North Florida (5)

Forced Fumbles: (Which defense has caused the offense to fumble the most?)
Downriver (4)

Best QB Rating (2 games minimum):
Darius Smith - QB - Chicago - 96.57

If the season ended today, who would be going to the Playoffs?
Baltimore, California, Fargo
New York, Chicago, North Florida

-UFFL VP

Week 2 Injury Report

The first number represents total players on the disabled list, the number in parenthesis are players new to the disabled list this week. Players with a * next to their name are newly added. Players who have been cleared are available for play this week.

ABILENE - 2 (2)
Disabled
Aaron Whitman* RB (1 wk, pulled hamstring)
Raul Wolff* LB (2 wks, concussion)
Cleared This Week
None

BALTIMORE - 4 (4)
Disabled
Johnnie Cody* OL (1 wk, sprained ankle)
Tom Meier DL* (1 wk, concussion)
Gordon Kuhn* (1 wk, pulled tail)
Brandon Frey* (1 wk, pulled hamstring)
Cleared This Week
None

CALIFORNIA - 4 (3)
Disabled
Joe Bowers* QB (2 wks, concussion with possible delusions)
Boris Hemphill* CB (4 wks, hairline fracture of the fibia)
Luther Goldman* CB (1 wk, pulled hamstring)
Max Coleman DL (5 wks, lisfranc sprain)
Cleared This Week
Darnell Paige QB
Mike Phoyris FB

CHICAGO - 3 (2)
Disabled
Zachary Munson* OL (1 wk, concussion)
Brad Ulrich* LB (4 wks, calcaneous tendon rupture)
Bennie Sierra LB (1 wk, ankle sprain)
Cleared This Week
Chloe Moore CB

DOWNRIVER - 5 (4)
Disabled
Andy Wright* QB (1 wk, neck sprain)
Ricky Carney* WR (2 wks, pulled hamstring)
Garret Wilder* LB (6 wks, torn meniscus)
Kyle Fry* S (1 wk, paw/hoof sprain)
Sheldon David (1 wk, concussion)
Cleared This Week
Nigel Seals QB
Alexis Tripp OL
Brandon Cormier OL
Ian O'Connor DL
Bryon Boyce S

EASTON - 3 (3)
Disabled
Dane Atkins* RB (1 wk, groin strain)
Keith McGowan* OL (1 wk, concussion)
Gregorio John-Miller* S (4 wks, high ankle sprain)
Cleared This Week
Eddie Triplett OL

FARGO - 0 (0)
Disabled
None
Cleared This Week
Christina Carson QB

GRAND RAPIDS - 3 (3)
Disabled
Terence Curran* QB (4 wks, concussion)
Stephan Stovall* DL (6 wks, radial fracture)
Tomas Mercer* LB (1 wk, paw/hoof sprain)
Cleared This Week
None

LAS VEGAS - 3 (1)
Disabled
Justin Brown* DL (6 wks, paw/hoof fracture)
Ricardo McLeod DL (1 wk, pulled hamstring)
Lewis Groetzer CB (1 wk, high ankle sprain)
Cleared This Week
Alphonso Ponderosa OL

NEW YORK - 0 (0)
Disabled
None
Cleared This Week
Sherm Owen DL

NORTH FLORIDA - 4 (2)
Disabled
Gary Hecklesberry* LB (1 wk, ankle precautionary)
Marty Bravo* LB (1 wk, shoulder separation)
Henry Lucas DL (1 wk, pulled hamstring)
Kennith Shrader DL (1 wk, concussion)
Cleared This Week
Trent Velazquez K

TEXAS - 1 (0)
Disabled
Irvin Colbert OL (5 wks, tibia fracture)
Cleared This Week
None

Week 2 Rundown

DOWNRIVER wins a close contest over refreshed Texas.

All signs should have pointed to a Texas win, with receivers Jacqueline Knight and Isaac Sierra scoring touchdowns, but the Waves forced four fumbles on the Ramblers and recovered two - including one from starting QB Andrew Calder, who came up from Free Agency after Texas released Roy Dejesus because of last week’s loss. The fumbles stopped promising Ramblers drives and allowed the Waves to wash them out - despite their injury-plagued lineup. Draco Zingora’s three-for-three perfect field goals also helped in the win. Downriver will travel to North Florida, while Texas hosts their opening home game of the season vs Las Vegas in Week 3.

Final Score: Waves 23, Ramblers 17


LAS VEGAS holds on after last-chance fumble by Chicago quarterback.

In an unusual occurance, lightning delayed kickoff 45 minutes as several thunderstorms passed through the area. It was rainy and windy at times, as the National Weather Service issues a flash flood warning for surrounding Clark County. The poor weather held down the crowd some for Las Vegas, but it couldn’t hold down the Bandits as they took a 10-3 lead in the 1st quarter and never looked back. Consensus five star rookie Coby Carson finished the game with 6 tackles and a forced fumble, while teammate Kelley Rowe recorded 3 tackles of her own. The win gave Vegas their first victory of the season following what many considered to be an upset last week by New York. Next week the Bandits travel to a Texas team hungry for their first win of the season while Chicago looks to right the ship when they host New York.

Final Score: Bandits 20, Outlaws 17


BALTIMORE keeps Grand Rapids at bay.

It was a defensive struggle in the Old Line State as the Ponies took a 13-6 lead in the first half thanks to 15 yard touchdown pass from Baltimore QB Aspen Redfield to Gerald Grimes and a pair of Virginia Pratt field goals. Redfield would finish the game completing 17/30 passes for 201 yards, a TD, and an interception. Both of Grand Rapids’ scores came off of first half field goals by Earl Holley who finished a perfect 2 for 2 on the day. In the second half, neither offense could find its rhythm as the teams traded possessions. The stiff defenses on the field were highlighted by Jim Hardin whose 11 tackles led both teams. With the victory, Baltimore remains perfect in the Continental League, while Grand Rapids evens at 1-1. Next up for the Ponies are the Fargo Axemen while Grand Rapids hosts a red hot Dons team.

Final Score: Ponies 13, Dragons 6


CALIFORNIA dominates on the road over a confused Abilene offense.

In the UFFL’s first dome game of the season, California came in strong with 268 yards passing from backup Joe Bowers - overshadowing Robert Goady’s loathsome 111 yards on the day. If Bowers ever wanted to make a statement that he deserved the starting job, it was this week - four touchdowns, including one to Koriun Masquarde. Dons Defensive Lineman Abe Whitney’s two forced fumble recoveries earned him Game MVP kudos. Backup linebacker Raymon McCalb likely also earned himself a starting job after 9 tackles and a sack. California heads to Grand Rapids, while Abilene will try to recover against winless Easton in Week 3.

Final Score: Dons 31, Lancers 7


FARGO wins in backup quarterback thriller

There was no shortage of offensive fireworks in suburban Philly, as Fargo’s Bernard Randolph exploded onto the scene with four returns for touchdowns, a United Furry Football League record. It began with an game opening 87 yard kickoff return, followed by a 74 yard punt return in the 2nd quarter, an 85 yard punt return, and finally a 105 yard kickoff return in the 3rd quarter. All together Randolph finished the game with 9 returns for 430 yards, another UFFL single game record quickly bolting him onto the league-wide MVP scene. Both backup QB’s performed excellently, especially Easton’s Mortin Ritter who went 28/39 for 321 yards and a TD. It wasn’t enough though as Fargo pulled away on the back of Randolph, picking up their first win of the young season. Following the game, a crowd of rowdy Bald Eagles fans attempted to block the Fargo bus from leaving for the airport and local police had to be called in.

Final Score: Axemen 45, Bald Eagles 26


NEW YORK sends North Florida packing in a rowdy atmosphere.

North Florida’s bus struggled to make it to the stadium in time, delaying kickoff by 15 minutes and leaving little time for the Renegades to warm up - and it showed in their performance. Although both teams started slow and both quarterbacks struggled to complete passes, the Titans defense forced QB Kiedo Masquarde to throw two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown score (a “pick-6”) by Adolph Gardner. The Renegades’ Jamie Hodges, who normally punts for the team, was unexpectedly started as a kicker - and he only managed to make 1 of 4 field goals on the day - likely contributing to the Renegades loss. Mox Prowler also scored 1 sack. The undefeated Titans will visit Chicago, while North Florida hosts Downriver in Week 3.

Final Score: Titans 31, Renegades 10

Friday, September 5, 2014

UFFL Week 2: "Who Was Serious?"

LIVE ON F-SPIN (a parody of ESPN): Matt Lewis - an American football expert who is following the development of this new league - sits in with us (whenever he can!) to talk about the goings-on of the league, his opinion on the next weeks' games, and more. 
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FS: Our friend, Matt! You've come back to us!

M: Hi there again.

FS: The last time we talked, we were inevitably in the middle of a crazy pre-draft week, trying to get an opinion on who would get drafted high... who would get drafted low... and, crazy enough, the first pick wasn't even someone on your radar!

M: Yeah... so it turns out I'm a bit rusty at picking the draft. I should've seen the connection between Jacqueline and the management.

FS: What are your thoughts on the draft overall?

M: It was thrilling. Extremely thrilling. I was so happy to be there to interview some of the candidates. Most of the draftees have found a home and are happy to be with their teams. A lot of them are starting for their teams too.

FS: Our first impression, Matt, was that the first round draft picks had been determined ahead of time for most of the teams, and the 2nd/3rd/4th rounds were more difficult for managers. However, the time limit for the later rounds was much shorter. Why was that?

M: It's traditionally how the rounds are handled, and the first pick is always the most difficult - in my opinion. You're looking for the best player available. You want nothing but to give your team a chance of winning. What Texas saw in Jacqueline was more than just a family connection - they saw agility, they saw her ability to handle the ball, and to get scores.

FS: Interesting. Now, we have had a week of football. What did you see out there?

M: Some confusion. Mostly brilliant and happy individuals running around the field and making huge plays. The rookies made themselves known. And some of them have earned another start this upcoming weekend. I was especially impressed by the talents of Coby Carson, Artemis Griner, and Darius Smith - especially Smith. He's already got the team-leader attitude.

FS: Smith was going to be the first quarterback picked, but he ultimately went to Chicago.

M: Yep. Chicago should be happy with their newest acquisition after losing Terry Hilliard to retirement.

FS: Week two approaches. What will be different from last week?

M: Management, for one, has a clear-cut idea of how the players perform under pressure. A lot of these guys had only one week to prepare and learn the playbook. That's why you saw a lot of improvisation on the field. This week, though, they don't really have an excuse. The coaches are gonna be on all their tails. They're going to find out who was serious.

FS: Any specific changes, team wise?

M: Fargo lost Christina Carson for a week due to an injury, and will be likely starting their backup quarterback Flip Penguinator when they travel to Easton. Both teams need to win that game, and playing in Easton will make it even harder for Fargo. The defensive rookie Kennith Shrader also took a hard hit on Sunday and will be out a couple weeks. California's got Joe Bowers starting for the sidelined Darnell Paige.

FS: Let's talk about Joe Bowers...

M: Let's not.

FS: Fair enough - the --

M: Just kidding, just kidding. Out of the drama that had to unravel, it's just a silly thing to see this rookie come from the third round and already he's headlining newspapers for his actions. I don't know how California plans to deal with him, but they need him Sunday. He'll either be a rookie John Fletcher or a rookie Joe Lefebvre.

FS: What is your pick for the Game of the Week?

M: I'm going to have my eyes glued on the North Florida / New York matchup. Both teams dominated last week. We're getting our first chance at the #2 pick of the draft, John Cameron. That's Kiedo Masquarde versus John. But North Florida took an injury hit this week on the defensive side of things. They'll need to prove that they have the depth to come up to the colder environment and play a good game.

FS: Our idea of a good game is when the quarterback properly handles the offense. Which team do you think did this best last week?

M: Again, I'd have to choose Darius Smith of the Outlaws. The Offensive Coach, Chas Knight, did well in handling the team, and is experimenting with shuffling the wide receiver lineup this week. We may see some of the new rookie, Olen. I'm personally rooting for a connection between these two rookies on the field. However, they're going into a rough Las Vegas environment.

FS: Rough?

M: Las Vegas is a much better team than how they played last week, that's what I'm getting at.

FS: The Bandits and the Outlaws. Who is "baddest"?

M: (laughs) The Outlaws!

FS: And who wins?

M: Oh, man. This is the one game I just can't decide on. But, as far as injuries are concerned, Vegas has the upper hand this week. Both Kelley Rowe and Coby Carson are hungry for a win.

FS: There's three other matchups we haven't talked about yet, the first of which being the Texas Ramblers visiting the Downriver Waves. What's your opinion here?

M: Yes! Texas surprised everyone this week by releasing Roy Dejesus after a fluke game where he threw an unprecedented five interceptions. They brought in undrafted rookie Andrew Calder, and Calder's going to have to prove he isn't Roy. That being said, Downriver took a massive hit last week in the injury column. This game is going to be the Ramblers'.

FS: How about Grand Rapids and Baltimore?

M: Two teams who won last week. Playing in the Horseshoe. Good luck, Grand Rapids.

FS: And finally, California at Abilene.

M: Again, a really tough choice considering California doesn't play well on the road historically. Abilene wants to get the ball to Nash more this week. Expect Cali to drop their linebackers back to cover the receiving game for Abilene's QB Robert Goady. It should be a close one, but I'm going with Abilene.

FS: Finally... and this is our last question: Who gets the benefit of the doubt this week?

M: If you're talking about players...

FS: We are.

M: I would hope that we see a more solid offensive line out of the teams. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt because they can't improvise as easily and you saw that in the penalty count last week. I'm hoping they play better and allow less sacks in Week Two.

FS: Alright, sir. Thanks for coming by, and thank you all for watching F-SPIN. Stay tuned for more football talk in the coming days, and be sure to join the conversation at uffl.boards.net !
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Monday, September 1, 2014

Week 1 Injury Report

The following is a list of players injured in this week's games, their injuries, and their expected time sidelined.

ABILENE (0)

BALTIMORE (0)

CALIFORNIA (3)
Darnell Paige QB (1 wk, concussion)
Mike Phoyris FB (1 wk, pulled hamstring)
Max Coleman DL (12 wks, lisfranc sprain)

CHICAGO (2)
Bennie Sierra LB (2 wks, ankle sprain)
Chloe Moore CB (1 wk, concussion)

DOWNRIVER (6)
Nigel Seals QB (1 wk, biceps strain)
Alexis Tripp OL (1 wk, groin strain)
Brandon Cormier OL (1 wk, toe sprain)
Ian O'Connor DL (1 wk, digit fracture)
Sheldon David LB (2 wks, concussion)
Bryon Boyce S (1 wk, concussion)

EASTON (1)
Eddie Triplett OL (1 wk, concussion)

FARGO (1)
Christina Carson QB (1 wk, digit sprain)

GRAND RAPIDS (0)

LAS VEGAS (3)
Alphonso Ponderosa OL (1 wk, groin strain)
Ricardo McLeod DL (2 wks, pulled hamstring)
Lewis Groetzer CB (2 wks, high ankle sprain)

NEW YORK (1)
Sherm Owen DL (1 wk, concussion)

NORTH FLORIDA (3)
Henry Lucas DL (2 wks, pulled hamstring)
Kennith Shrader DL (2 wks, concussion)
Trent Velazquez K (1 wk, off the field incident)

TEXAS (1)
Irvin Colbert OL (16 wks, tibia fracture)

Dons Dominate in Home Opener

LOS ANGELES, CA. - It's been three long years, but finally football has come back to California. Fans are pleased to see the bright faces of a new team poised for success. The California Dons, playing in the West Feline University Stadium in Ontario, Calif. this year until a full-functioning stadium can be built, won their first match-up of 2014 against the Easton Bald Eagles, 28-17. It was a match-up where the Dons played catch-up at first; Easton scored the opening points when veteran QB Morton Ritter threw a touchdown to Patrick Bryan. On the following drive, however, the Dons responded with a 13-yarder to Artie Christopher, the fledgling young beagle.

The draft was only one week ago, so most fans were asking how did all of the rookies do? The Dons first-round draft pick, LB Artemis Griner, enjoyed a successful day with 10 tackles and 1 sack on Easton's Ritter. The performance guaranteed her another start next week at Abilene. WR Koriun Masquarde, who has been quick to keep the media at bay and focus on his football, quietly racked up 9 receptions for 87 yards and a score. OL Miles Redman was decent, but did allow one sack on QB Paige.

But press has been beginning to swirl around the miscues of backup QB Joe Bowers and his diligence to retain the mindset of a can of melted peanut butter. A proud tiger of sorts, Bowers was spotted signing the jerseys of Bald Eagles players instead of the casual paw-shake - a move that will likely cost the Dons organization $5,000 per jersey. The Dons have yet to comment on whether they will retroactively inflict a fine on Bowers as a result, but one has to speculate whether Bowers will be starting next week, as Coach Blanton had been toying around with the idea of switching out QBs every other week.

The Dons finished in a blaze, with QB Paige racking up 66 yards of his own on the ground and throwing two more TDs. The Easton Bald Eagles, despite their monstrous wide receivers, failed to make their presence known in California - perhaps it was because the two teams were in yellow?

California (1-0) will face the Abilene Lancers (0-1) in Abilene, Texas at 12:00 Noon CST on September 7th on F-SPIN.