Week 5 Recap

After a very interesting Week 4 which gave us two games that featured heavy underdogs, Sunday would present the Flag Football World with two of the most anticipated matchups of the season. The Vipers would go against the Bandits for the first time since last season when the game wasn't finished due to walkout by the Vipers and the undefeated Elite clashed with the defending champion Mustangs. Both matchups could have been put in the primetime slot, however only one game delivered.

The Vipers and Bandits got the action going on Sunday, but the Bandits would be going into war without some of their best soldiers. The McCoy's, Nate Gay, and Brett Meeks were all MIA on Sunday and it showed as the Vipers would take advantage early. The Vipers would quickly make amends from the ugly end to last years game and put the Bandits out of their misery before they knew what hit them. The Bandits had to bring in a brand new quarterback who clearly was not on the same page with his receivers and the Vipers would force several turnovers including a pick six by Ramar Easter and an incredible one handed interception by Dalton Norwood. Adrian Morris looked sharp per usual finding his guys and putting them in the right spots, Vipers would roll to a 52 to 14 win. This blowout has been a common theme for the Vipers as they have won their last 3 games by an average of 41 points, they will get a chance to catch their breath next week as they get a bye before the playoffs and they will enter as the Number 1 Seed in the South Conference. The Bandits have been for my money the most disappointing team in the CAFFL this season, Sunday's 38 point loss is the worst in team history obviously not having their complete roster had a lot to do with it but you play with what you have. The Bandits will now face the Admirals in Week 6 in a Win or go Home game, the Bandits last season didn't have the prettiest record but they pulled off a great run in the playoffs, they will need that same magic this season as well.

The primetime game on Sunday and probably the biggest game in CAFFL history saw the Elite meet the Mustangs. The Mustangs had a glaring problem to start the game as they were missing starting quarterback Jackson Davis, the reigning MVP did show up in the second half but he never took a snap at QB. The Mustangs would get on the board first in what looked to be early on a defensive struggle, DJ Hayes would cross the goal line  on a short pass that he would break for a big gain. The Elite saw themselves down by 8 early but Nash Teague would have a career best 45 yard touchdown run to tie things up at 8. The Mustangs would quickly answer to go back up by 6, but Nash hooked up with his brother Brack who would catch his first of three touchdown passes on the day. The Elite would get the ball in the second half up two and their offense would move the ball down the field to score and be up 9. Mustangs would find an answer and make it just a one point game. But the Mustangs would give up a rare kickoff return for a touchdown, the Mustangs would again come back at the Elite and would this time take the lead back after getting the touchdown and the two point attempt. With the score 30 to 29 the Elite would call upon the Teague brothers to do what they do best which is make plays and Nash would connect with Brack on a terrific pass on the run to give the Elite a 7 point lead. The Mustangs would then have yet another blunder on special teams as they would allow the Elite to recover a loose ball on the kickoff and Elite would score soon after to get out to there biggest lead in the game 43 to 30. Mustangs would score again on a pass from Hayden Gray to Austyn Harvey but they would run out of time and go down to the Elite who stays undefeated in a 43-38 win. I have to give Hayden Gray credit for stepping into a role that he has never really played at the CAFFL level and the Mustangs should come away from this game with some confidence if they meet the Elite in a couple of weeks in the playoffs. I say if, because the Mustangs now must beat the Sentinels if they want to get back to the playoffs. The Elite on the other hand enter postseason play as the lone undefeated team , the Mustangs entered last season's playoffs undefeated and won the whole thing, only time will tell if the Elite can do the same.

The final week of the regular season will again give us two matchups, as the Bandits meet the Admirals and the Mustangs face off against the Sentinels.