Mustangs Reach the Finish Line

Article by Brock Landers

On Sunday the Arkansas Mustangs finally achieved the dream of winning the first annual CAFFL Championship the game ended with a whopping 134 points combined for the Bandits and the Mustangs. The Mustangs entered the game as heavy favorites according to the new CAFFL Sportsbook they entered as -24.5 favorites and their offense exploded for the highest point total in a single game by a CAFFL team in league history winning 76 to 58. Many great teams across the history of sports have had great seasons but failed to deliver a championship in the end, think the undefeated Patriots losing to the Giants, the Big Three of the Heat losing to Dirk and the Mavericks, along with numerous other examples. The Mustangs however never let themselves take their focus away from winning the first CAFFL championship, even though they are the first team to be crowned champs it will be hard for any team in the future to do what this team accomplished this season.  

Team Captain and League Commissioner D.J. Hayes won the Championship Game MVP, he finished the day with 4 touchdowns (1 rushing, 3 receiving), he also had 5 tackles in the game. Jackson Davis maybe wasn't as sharp as he has been completing just 50 percent of his passes but he still threw for a ridiculous 8 touchdowns. Various Mustangs made big plays when they needed to and the Bandits were never able to get the momentum on their side.

I don't want to make this article just about the Mustangs a lot of praise should be going toward the Bandits this was a team who didn't play a single preseason game and were looking for a quarterback for a majority of the regular season. While the Vipers and Elite two teams who are arguably more talented than the Bandits both cracked under the pressure of the grueling CAFFL season the Bandits rose above it and won games when they needed to. They have also found their man in the quarterback department in Brett Meeks who went blow for blow with CAFFL MVP Jackson Davis throwing for 235 and 5 touchdowns. Tyler Bates mad big plays at wide receiver for the Bandits racking in 122 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns while Nate Gay also caught a touchdown pass. 

A lot questions will be surrounding these two rosters in the offseason, can the Mustangs keep all of these guys together for another run at the championship with rumors of expansion constantly being brought up in league circles I will be curious to see if everyone stays on board. The Bandits have considerably improved from the team they were in the beginning of the season but they still need help on the defensive end of the ball. They also need to keep the core of their team together in Meeks, Gay, Bates, McCoy and Burleson. Whatever happens it's safe to say that we are in store for bigger and better things next season in the CAFFL.