By Sam Ellsworth
The Scoreboard
Winners listed first, indicated by bolded text.
Sutton – Hargrave 19-6
Martinez – Green 25-13
Sheffield – Hodges 19-12
Bradford – Cadena 19-14
Final Regular Season Records
Bradford: 3-0
Martinez: 3-0
Cadena: 2-1
Sutton: 2-1
Sheffield: 1-2
Green: 1-2
Hargrave: 0-3
Hodges: 0-3
The Rankings
- Bradford (+1)
We expected them to be here, and here they are. While I wrestled over which of the 3-0 squads to place at the top of the rankings this week, this Bradford team is just too complete to put them any lower than number one. The offense continues to roll, but has become less reliant on big plays to move them down the field. The defense played their most complete game of the year last week against a previously undefeated Cadena team too, with Sam Ellsworth’s (self-brag) game-sealing interception closing the door on a potential game-winning drive from Cadena in the final moments. Look for up-and-coming pass catcher Annelane Sallee to have an increased role in round 1 against Sutton as several of the Bradford girls have been placed on the IR with “schoolwork.”
2. Martinez (+1)
Martinez continues to work their way further up these rankings week after week. Following a 25-point offensive explosion in week 3, this team is heating up at the perfect time. They’ve blocked the noise out all season long behind the leadership of Tori Bianco, a player who’s able to contribute almost as much off the field as she is on it. In almost any other season a group of this caliber might find themselves in the number one spot, but for now they sit at an extremely close two.
3. Cadena (-2)
This team still finds themselves comfortably in the top three after a tight week three loss to Bradford. While they weren’t able to come away with the “W,” we still saw flashes of the squad that sat alone at the top of the rankings for the majority of the season. Former Ute, Parker Madsen, was a terror out wide, putting on a clinic that included a second-half trip to the end zone. However, the offense may need to work on the two-minute drill this week in practice if they want to come away with a win in what is sure to be a tight game with Martinez in round one.
4. Sutton (+1)
As the old adage goes: “Offense wins games, but defense wins championships.” And that, my friends, is exactly why Bradford should be scared to face this Sutton team in round one of the playoffs. It’s so rare to see a team these days come out and play smash-mouth football like these guys, but I’m here for it. There are still concerns on the offensive side of the ball, but expect key players like Matthew Kirkwood to step into the game and make their presence known right away.
5. Sheffield (+1)
The powerful legs of former high school rower Logan Le-Jeffries have single-handedly propelled a team that was once at the bottom of the rankings to our highest-ranked non-playoff team this season. The man is a blur off the line, his speed reminiscent of the Road Runner of Looney Tunes fame. This team was by no means perfect, but they fought tooth and nail in every game they played this season, and I, for one, am disappointed we won’t get to see them again in the playoffs.
6. Green (-2)
Every organization goes through highs and lows, and this Green squad is at an all-time low. Coming into the season as this analyst’s number one team and talent all over the field, it’s shocking to see them end up in the bottom tier of this year’s regular season power rankings. However, as many former players and coaches will tell you, experience beats talent every time. With a little more discipline and a more experienced coaching staff, maybe this team could have succeeded in the way many of us thought they would. But sports are full of “what-if” stories, and this team is just going to have to hope to improve upon those shortcomings this offseason and come out stronger for Society Games in the spring.
7. Hargrave (-)
Seemingly modeling their game after the 2008 Detroit Lions 0-16 squad, this Hargrave team got worse every week throughout the year. Couple their dwindling offense with the fact that they were the only team to receive a sportsmanship score less than 4.000, and this team was set to fail from the start. They lost a close one to Green in week two, but other than that there wasn’t too much for Hargrave fans to get excited about this year.
8. Hodges (-)
Hodges, Hodges, Hodges. What happened? Where did it all go wrong? This team ranked at the top of the league in drip (shout out the signature Lucky Spongebob boxers) but toward the bottom of the league in almost every other category. With a league-worst -31 point differential, it was never much of a doubt where this squad was going to find themselves in the rankings at the end of the year. Hodges fans, I have some advice for you. Go home, pour yourself a big glass of red wine, and try to focus on your studies, because thinking about this year’s team is an activity a licensed therapist may be inclined to designate “self-destructive behavior.”
Parting Thoughts
Oh, what a week it’s been. Did anyone happen to catch that Aaron Rodgers hail mary on Monday Night Football? Because I SURE DIDN’T! I was too busy learning about the differences between an invitee and a licensee in tort law and stress-sweating over my discussion section that’s due this Sunday. Anyone out there want to have an in-depth discussion about the Texas Whistleblower Act? Yeah, me neither.
The other day in Con Law we were discussing the Free Exercise Clause, and it got me thinking, “What’s my religion, anyway?” I wrestled with this question all day and night, unable to find a deity or congregation I felt comfortable dedicating my life to. Until that next morning, when it hit me during my peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich breakfast. There’s only one organization in which I place true, unadulterated faith: the Texas Law School Society Flag Football League (TLSSFFL). I eat, sleep, and breathe flag football, and I think you should too. So if you’re interested in undergoing this spiritual journey with me, join me at the Wright-Whitaker Sports Complex Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. for the inaugural meeting of the Church of Flag. It’s playoff time, baby!
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