CAFFL Round 1 Playoffs Recap

After weeks of hard work from all six teams in the CAFFL, we were left with four remaining squads the Elite, Mustangs, Bandits, and Vipers. The anticipation was in the air as most of the Flag Football World predicted these four to be the last teams standing, and each squad were willing to lay it all on the line for a chance to make it to the championship game. 

The opening game on Sunday gave us a matchup between the Spa City Bandits and the Hot Springs Vipers. These two faced off just a couple of weeks ago and it was all Vipers as they cruised to a 38 point victory, this game would be a lot different. The Bandits yet again were dealing with players not being able to make the trip to Lakeside field, key contributors like Shawn McCoy and Nate Gay did not suit up for the Bandits. Arin Natzke who had a strong year for the Sentinels had to step in for the team and he had a great day. Bandits would get the ball first and quickly move it down the field to get on the board first on a pass from Brett Meeks to Spencer Wilson, but like it would be the whole game the opposing team would answer with a score of their own. Adrian Morris would connect with Ramar Easter who was absolutely brilliant again on Sunday, The Bandits would then take the lead again 12 to 6. Vipers would then score on a jump ball battle and would get the two point attempt to make it 14-12. Arin Natzke would throw a beautiful touch pass to Spencer Wilson that would put the Bandits up by 4, Adrian Morris took a chance on a deep ball and had it intercepted. After the turnover Spencer Wilson would become the third Spa City Bandit to throw a touchdown pass and the Bandits looked to be in control up 10 points. Easter would give the Vipers a desperately needed touchdown to cut the deficit to just 2, and the Vipers would then make a great play on defense picking off a pass from Meeks who sailed it over his target's head. Vipers would score yet again and take the lead back but they wouldn't hang onto it for long as Meeks would connect with Natzke for 6. Easter would rush for another touchdown to give the Vipers a four point lead and then on the ensuing kickoff the Bandits would try and pitch the ball but it would be intercepted by Adrian Morris and he would score off of the Bandits mistake to make 42 to 30. The Bandits were running out of time and needed points quickly they would get them on a pass from Wilson to Natzke to cut their deficit to just 6, they would get the ball back and score again on a Spencer Wilson deep ball to a wide open receiver. The Vipers were down one until they would strike back with a touchdown of their own, the Bandits would have one more chance to win the game and make it back to their second straight championship game but they would come up short losing 48-43. This was certainly one of the best games of the CAFFL and one of the great games in the history of Flag Football, so many great offensive plays, moments and performances that will stick with anyone who had the great opportunity to be apart of it.

The Vipers would get a chance to scout who their championship game opponent was going to be as the Hot Springs Elite would face off against the Arkansas Mustangs. The Mustangs were looking forward to getting a second chance to beat the undefeated Elite, while the Elite were trying to prove once in for all that they were the new top team in the Central Arkansas Flag Football League. The Elite would receive the opening kickoff and would score a short time later on a Nash Teague pass. The Mustangs would get a big lift as reigning MVP Jackson Davis was officially back as the signal caller for the defending champs, and the Mustangs would get on the board and make it a 7-6 ball game. On the next Elite drive the Mustangs would get the stop they needed to give them confidence going forward and DJ Hayes would make an unbelievable play diving for the pylon on fourth down and putting the Mustangs in the lead. Hayes has always been seen as the "Glue Guy" for the Mustangs and he proves on plays like that where he has to lay his body on the line. With the Elite down 7 they would have their chance to make a similar play to the Mustangs but unlike Hayes the Elite were not willing to lay out and dive for the endzone and they would be called a yard short of the goal line. With the Mustangs stopping the Elite on back to back possessions they looked to take control of the game and they would with another touchdown extending their lead to 13. The Mustangs were set to receive the ball in the second half and with their sights on putting this game potentially out of reach for the Elite they would make a major mistake as the kickoff would ricochet of the leg of a Mustang player and ended up in the arms of the Elite and they would run it in for 6. The Mustangs would not lose their composure and Jackson Davis would scramble in for the score to keep it a two possession ball game. Brack Teague would score on the Elite's drive but the league's leading receiver would be kept quiet for the most part by the Mustangs defense. The Mustangs and Elite would go back and forth the rest of the way with the Elite coming no closer than 8 points in the final few possessions of the ball game. The tension and competitiveness reached a high when in the final moments of the game a scrum broke out between the two teams after a couple of tough situations involving potential pass interference penalties. Luckily nothing escalated any further than just some shoving but it was very surprising to see, especially coming from these two teams who are seen at least in my eyes as two of the more respectful teams in the CAFFL. The Mustangs have accomplished step one in their revenge tour beating the final undefeated team in the league, and their offense became the first group to score 40 points on the Elite defense this season. They now hope to have that same effectiveness against the highest scoring team in the league, the Vipers this Sunday in the CAFFL Championship game.