With just 1 week of regular season play left, several teams took major steps forward. A couple teams took a step back. We will be publishing a playoff scenario article later in the week letting teams know what they need to do to secure a spot in the playoffs. The top 8 teams will be going to the playoffs while the bottom 2 teams will be out of luck.
Also expect an article clarifying rules, some of the things we’ll be touching on are cursing, lowering shoulders, shoving out of bounds, etc. Ejections will be more frequent. If a player is ejected in Week 5 he will be ineligible for the playoffs.
**TOP 10 PLAYS**
House Dawgs defeat Brothers in Arms, 40-14
Player of the Game: Dawgs Rushers Jordan Hazard & Kelvin Thomas – 4 Sacks, 1 Safety
While one would think DF Littlejohn or Brandon Stokes would get the player of the game, this week is a little different. Despite both of them having huge offensive outputs, the House Dawg rush shut the Brothers in Arms offense completely down. Mobile QB Terrance Topps was neutralized by the quick rush of Kelvin Thomas and Jordan Hazard. They would sack him 4 sacks, and once for a safety. This is the first game of the season in which the House Dawgs would hold an opponent under 20 points.
Brothers in Arms didn’t play a bad game but they just had no answer up front for the speedy rush of the House Dawgs. Josh Martin and Tyriek Able would both reel in two nice touchdown grabs but outside of those 2 plays, the BIA offense was very stagnant. Since it was a 9:00am game, we’re pretty sure Brothers in Arms just never woke up in time for the coin toss. Cam Baldwin and John Martin, the teams’ top playmakers combined for just 3 catches. If the Brothers in Arms want to win against some of the better teams in the league, these guys HAVE to get the ball early and often.
House Dawgs defeat Winston Salem Predators, 40-25
Player of the Game: Dawgs QB DF Littlejohn – 3 Passing TD’s, 1 INT, 2 Rushing TD’s
In a back-to-back fashion, the House Dawgs impressed and in both games would put up exactly 40 points. 80 points of offensive output in 2 games is very impressive and that is why. Littlejohn would take 2 TD’s in on the ground but distribute 3 of them through the air to Stokes, Allen, and Stevenson. The Winston Salem Predators jumped out to an early 19-7 lead after a tipped interception was taken to the house by Predators defender AD Rutherford. TJ Peele almost manufactured the biggest upset of the season as he threw a TD to David Beach and ran 2 in on the ground himself.
Most impressive about the Winston Salem Predators near victory was the play of Kevin McGowan. It isn’t often you see DF Littlejohn get sacked, McGowan was able to get him twice. If the Predators could have made some key flag pulls prior to big touchdown runs by Littlejohn the outcome could have been different. The Predators played their most complete game of the season against the House Dawgs, they will need a similar outcome against the Sabercats in the final week of the season to make the playoffs.
Carolina Bengals defeat Brothers in Arms, 26-0
Player of the Game: Bengals WR Darius Cobb – 2 Catches, 2 TD’s, 1 Interception
The Bengals jumped out to an early and quick lead against Brothers in Arms. The rush of Kenly Webb, Kendon Doe, and Robert Baker were in the Brothers in Arms backfield within seconds of the snap every single play. This would force Topps to throw up errant passes which would be intercepted by Kirby Williams and Darius Cobb. Offensively EJ Abrams Ward would throw 3 TD’s to Cobb, Kee, and Gene Carrington. Xavier Carrington would toss a touchdown as well at his time at quarterback.
The game was automatically ended after a scuffle following an illegal block. Alex Settle and Kendon Doe were ejected from the game prior to the fight for actions leading towards the scuffle. If any situation such as this is to happen again, either team could forfeit the rest of their season, including the playoffs. Any player ejections from this point out will render a player ineligible for the playoffs. We have also posted an article noting important rule changes and reminders. YOU MUST READ THIS.
Burlington Bombsquad defeat Winston Salem Predators, 20-12
Player of the Game : Bombsquad Rusher Niko Young – 2 Pulls, 1 Key Sack
It was a rather pedestrian outing for Bombsquad Jeremy Davis. Just 3 touchdowns and he would throw his 1st interception of the season. Lavoris Rogers would catch 2 of those touchdowns and Marcus Walker would get the last one. The Bombsquad would have the lead late in the game. If the Predators scored, the Bombsquad would be down. On a 4th down play Niko Young would come up with a very big sack to force the turnover. Promptly the Bombsquad would find the endzone but instead of going for 2 to put the game out of reach, they went for 1 which gave them an 8 point lead. 2 hailmary attempts would fall short for the Winston Salem Predators. Earl Wallace’s defense stepped it up when they needed to.
Defensively Sean Bennett would have 7 pulls, not allowing any big gains to go through him. TJ Peele (QB) of the Predators had a couple very nice runs. The Predators played a pretty solid game but Chris Plouffe’s guys didn’t play the game they played earlier against the undefeated House Dawgs. The Predators go into the last week of the season needing to defeat the Sabercats for a shot to get into the playoffs.
Greensboro Predators defeat Carolina Bengals, 12-8
Player of the Game: Predators QB Earl Sams – 1 Passing TD, 1 Rushing TD
Most spectators would describe this as the game of the season. I’ve never been so entertained just watching a game that was so low scoring. The top two defenses in the league collided in a gladiator style game. If you combine the amount of points that both teams have given up all season, it would still be less than the 3rd best defense total. Rodney Beasley’s squad came out firing early and Earl Sams would find the endzone on the ground for a 6-0 lead. EJ Abrams Ward for the Bengals would manufacture a great drive to answer by running a 25 yard TD run evading several defenders. The Bengals would take the lead though as Robert Baker would force Earl Sams out of the back of the endzone for a safety. The Bengals would lead 8-6.
The Greensboro Predators would make the most of the opportunities given them. Johnny King would catch a pass from Earl Sams and scoot into the endzone. Up 12-8 over the Bengals, the Predators just needed to hold them off a little bit longer to get the victory. A Darius Cobb TD would be waived off as his feet were on the black line, making him out of bounds. The final play of the game, EJ Abrams Ward would scramble to his right but Rodney Beasley would wind up getting a sack before he could get the ball off.
These teams have expressed a genuine dislike for each other. But sometimes you have to step away from that and just realize it was an amazing football game between two teams who desperately wanted to defeat the other. We would not be surprised one bit to see a rematch in the playoffs.
In my 6 years being apart of flag football in North Carolina, I have never seen that many people watching 1 single game. There were at least 150 people watching the game between players and fans.
Greensboro Predators defeat Burlington Bombsquad, 37-12
Player of the Game: Predators CB Chris Armwood – 2 Pulls, 2 INT’s returned for TD
Not really sure what happened here. It appears the quick rush of the Predators (Beasley and Beach) got to Jeremy Davis and took him out of his element. After throwing 17 TD’s and no interceptions all season, Davis would throw 1 TD and 5 interceptions. This play was very uncharacteristic of Davis. The erratic play wouldn’t start until the second half which is even more shocking. It would be a close game until 1 interception in the 2nd half would spur the rest of them. The Predators would score 37 points and only 12 of those points would come from the offensive side of the ball. Chris Armwood would intercept 2 passes and take them to the house. Andreas Platt would intercept a pass and recover a fumble and take both to the house, and Allen Stallings would intercept a pass and take it to the house. Jerry Bates would intercept a pass but would not make a house call with it. 5 defensive touchdowns may never be seen again in the TFFL.
The Burlington Bombsquad did find the endzone though in an interception by Alex Winters on the 1st play of the game which would go for a touchdown and Jeremy Davis would throw a TD to Adam Markley. The Bombsquad are on the verge of becoming a top team in the league but just seem to have trouble rounding the corner. They will get there but will it be before the season is over? Going into the final week of the season they will face the Carolina Bengals who have the #1 defense in the league. We will see if Jeremy Davis is of MVP caliber against top competition.
Sidenote, it was great to see a true battle of good rushers. Earl Wallace and Richard Totten going against Rodney Beasley and Jon Beach. It was a great match-up to watch “as a spectator”. Prior to the 2nd half implosion, they put a show on for the fans!
HeadHunterz defeat Sabercats, 25-19
Player of the Game: HH QB Zeek Sanders – 3 Passing TDs
Every week that sideline sal picks against Zeek Sanders, the better he performs. He threw 3 TD’s against the Sabercats to Flood, Sims, and Gaither. It was a very competitive game and the HeadHunterz just happened to edge them. Ronte Gamble of the Sabercats caught 5 passes and a TD and Anthony Thorpe caught a TD as well. The Sabercats were without QB Ricky Duke for this game so it would have been interesting to see the game had Duke been there. In relief Marcus Manns played QB and he was able to run for a TD and throw 2. He wouldn’t have enough gas in the tank to propel his team to victory though.
Jay Winton’s team seems to be performing better game by game but, just can’t pull it all together. The offense can put up points and move the ball but it seems so many defensive adjustments every week hasn’t allowed the defense to get into a rhythm. Either way, the Sabercats hold their own destiny, if they win next week against the Winston Salem Predators, they are in the playoffs.
Blackout defeats Whitsett Warriors, 31-0
Player of the Game: Blackout WR Will Bender – 5 Catches, 2 Touchdowns
The combination of Jeremy East and CJ Shook has finally gained steamed. Blackout was 0-4 prior to this week despite being in every single game. It seems the team is now moving on all gears. Marty Hassett’s team stepped it up and brought home a win. East would throw 2 TD’s and run 1 in on the ground. Shook would also throw a touchdown pass. 2 of those touchdowns would be caught by Will Bender who is looking to Blackout’s go-to receiver. Blackout also picked up a great rusher in Josh Hulin who in his first game of the season would have 2 sacks and a safety. David Robinette would have 2 sacks and 2 safeties as well.
Whitsett just couldn’t get anything going at all. Josh Morehead at QB, Jarius Morehead at QB, they just had no answer. The offense picked up the most yards on QB scrambles but when it came to actually putting the ball in the air down the field, they couldn’t get it done this week. If it wasn’t for Sean Moore making big flag pulls on defense, it very well could have been 50-0 this week. Billy Morehead and Demetrious Dick would come up with 2 nice interceptions but the offense wouldn’t do anything with it. Blackout played a perfect game and Whitsett just didn’t seem to step off the bus.
Blackout defeats Sabercats, 31-25
Player of the Game: Blackout QB Jeremy East – 3 Passing TD’s, 1 INT, 2 Rushing TDs
After going winless in their first 4 games, Blackout would rattle off back to back wins. Had they not gone back to back, they could be fighting for a playoff spot. It looks like they have wrapped up the #7 seed. Jeremy East would throw 3 TD’s and run two on the ground. Will Bender and Ramar Thompson would reel the TD’s in. The Sabercats would get Ricky Duke back and it would prove to be a good game because of him. He would throw 2 TD’s and run 2 in as well. Ronte Gamble and Dylan Gibson would snag the 2 TD’s for the ‘Cats. Defensively Alex Wolfe would have 2 big sacks. This was one of the more entertaining games of the day. The two teams would trade touchdowns until the last second ticked off the clock.
On the very last play of the game Jeremy East would throw a post across the field to Will Bender in the endzone who would catch it to seal the deal at 31-25. It could have went either way and it just happened that the last team to have the ball won the game. Jay Winton’s squad was that close to picking up a very valuable win which would have given them the #7 seed in the playoffs. Instead they will be in a win-and-you’re-in situation this weekend against the Winston Salem Predators.
HeadHunterz defeat Whitsett Warriors, 25-19
Player of the Game: HH WR Malcolm Gaither – 3 Catches, 2 TD’s
The HeadHunterz would go 2-0 on the day after picking up this win. Zeek Sanders would throw 4 touchdowns, 2 of which to Malcolm Gaither and the other 2 to Kendall Hosch and Zo Lesesene. Deonte Seaberry and Terrance Branch would haul in two interceptions on the defensive side of the ball. On the other end, the Whitsett Warriors played a close game against a great team. Josh Morehead would have two very impressive touchdown runs. Offensively they moved the ball pretty well completing many passes to David Mcfarland, Billy Morehead, and Jarius Morehead.
It seems the Warriors just can’t generate a solid rush to get to the QB’s, they need to be sending two rushers every play no matter what. Zeek Sanders had all day to pick apart the defense and he did just that. The Warriors are in a MUST win game and they will need the Sabercats to lose to get in. There should be a good deal of drama unfolding. Both games with playoff implications are at 9:00 and 9:50 so we should see the last team to get in before noon.
