Ultimus Bowl XX

Ultimus Bowl XX

File:Ultimus Bowl XX logo.svg
Austin Copperheads (ASFC) Yellowknife Wraiths (NSFC) 37 20
1 2 3 4 Total AUS 14 7 3 13 37 YKW 0 3 10 7 20
Stadium	Burial Grounds, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Offensive MVP	Easton Cole, Quarterback (AUS)
Defensive MVP	Honda Edmond, Linebacker (AUS)

Ultimus Bowl XIX was an American football game played to determine the champion of the National Simulation Football League (NSFL) for 2035 (S20). The American Simulation Football Conference (ASFC) champion Austin Copperheads defeated the National Simulation Football Conference (NSFC) champion Yellowknife Wraiths, 37-20, to win their first ever Ultimus Bowl championship. The game was played at Burial Grounds in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. This was the third straight Ultimus Bowl game hosted by the Yellowknife Wraiths, who became the first team in NSFL history to lose three straight Utlimus Bowl appearances.

Background

Teams

The NSFC was represented by the Yellowknife Wraiths, and the ASFC was represented by the Austin Copperheads.

Yellowknife Wraiths

Main article: 2035 Yellowknife Wraiths season

The Yellowknife Wraiths went into Ultimus Bowl XX after posting a league best record of 9-4. The Yellowknife Wraiths were first place in the NSFC for the fourth consecutive season. Cooter Bigsby once again conducted one of the most prolific offences in the NSFL, which led in the entire league in yards and posted conference best totals in points and rushing. The Wraiths slightly improved their defence from a year ago as they posted defensive totals in the upper half of the league. Danny Grithead had yet another stellar season this, time at linebacker, with 11 sacks, and 8 passes defended in coverage. Mathias Hanyadi was the standout on the offensive side of the football as he was awarded the Running Back of the Year award as well as the Offensive Player of the Year designation. The Wraiths were aiming to get to the Ultimus Bowl for the 3rd straight year at Burial Grounds stadium for another shot at that elusive championship ring.

Austin Copperheads

Main article: 2035 Austin Copperheads season

The Austin Copperheads finished the season with an ASFC best 8-5 record. They could owe their success to having a dominate in-conference record of 7-1. They also finished business at home, going 5-1 at Austin Stadium. This was a well balanced team, finishing top 3 in most offensive metrics while the defence held up their end of the bargain posting a league best 20.0 points allowed per game. While their yards allowed were middle of the pack, this Copperheads defence was a masterful in the redzone. Bend but don't break was the motto all season. There was a youthful exuberance surrounding the franchise as the young expansion team looked to make noise in the playoff as the number one seed in the ASFC. Standouts of course included the big three on offence; quarterback Easton Cole, wide receiver Rod Tidwell and running back Mako Mendonca. Cole and Tidwell connected for a league best 12 touchdowns while Mendonca reached the 1000 rushing mark for the second straight season. Xerces Ridley had a great year at the backend with 22 passes defended which was a league best. Kyle Idlewyld won defensive rookie of the year. Alfredo Crisco took home both the punter and kicker of the year awards on special team.

Playoffs

Main article: 2035 NSFL playoffs

Yellowknife started off with a smothering victory against the Philadelphia Liberty in the Quarterfinals. Adriana Falconi threw 4 interceptions against the Wraiths fantastic defence. Lightsout Lewis was the defensive standout in the game with 11 takes and 2 of the 4 interceptions on the day. The NSFC Championship featured a rematch of the previous two season’s Championship as the Wraiths hosted the Hawks who they had beat last season at the same stage. This time was no different as the the Wraiths dominated the Hawks, with Cooter Bigsby having nearly 400 yards passing a 3 touchdown passes in a turnover free game.

The Otters beat Outlaws in the Quarterfinals and had a big game agains the team who ruined their undefeated season, matching up with the New Orleans Second Line in the Championship for the ASFC. They prevailed for the third straight year, with a hard fought 28-13 home victory to reach their third straight Ultimus Bowl. Franklin Armstrong had a very efficient game with a passer rating north of 130. The 9-4 Wraiths had won the tiebreaker over the 9-4 Otters, thus earning the right to host Ultimus Bowl XIX. It would be a rematch of Ultimus Bowl XVIII which occurred a year ago.

Game summary

First Quarter

The game started off as a defensive battle, similar to Ultimus Bowl XVIII as both teams exchanged punts and sacks. Franklin Armstrong made his first ever crucial interception during the playoffs in the midst of the Otters 2nd drive. This led to a possession for the Yellowknife Wraiths in great field position but all they managed was a field goal by Neo Donaldson.

Second Quarter

The teams exchanged punts and sacks much like the first quarter but the Wraiths managed to break through with Cooter Bigsby throwing a touchdown pass to Sunnycursed. This put the score at 10-0 for the Wraiths. The Otters offence continued to struggle for most of the quarter but managed to pull together a decent drive towards the end of the 2nd to put the game at 10-3. The half ended with Cooter Bigsby fumbling in Otters territory while near field goal range.

Third Quarter

The Wraiths got the ball to start the second half, but were promptly stalled as Lanzer Grievous sacked Bigsby during their first drive. Franklin Armstrong drove down the field for the touchdown, running it in from 13 yards out to tie the game at 10-10. The Wraiths were forced to punt again, as Franklin Armstrong led the Otters down for their second straight touchdown drive, this time with a touchdown pass to Hugh Mongo. The Otters had broken the game open, taking a 17-10 lead as the energy was sucked out of the crowd at the Burial Grounds. The Wraiths then proceeded to have an inexplicable turnover in their own territory which led to a chip in field goal for the Otters as they took a two score lead with no time remaining in the quarter. With a kickoff at 0:00 in the 3rd quarter, the Wraiths had a huge 80 yard return setting them up in the redzone to ignite a rollercoaster fourth quarter for the ages.

Fourth Quarter

The Wraiths started off hot, quickly scoring a touchdown with Mathias Hanyadi making up for his 3rd quarter fumble to make it a one score game with 14 minutes to go in the Ultimus. The Otters managed to take the next drive all the way inside the Wraiths 5 yard line, but couldn't put the game away, having to settle for a field goal to make it 23-17. The Wraiths then took the ball and also stalled within the Otters 20, settling for a field goal to make it 23-20. After forcing the Otters to punt, the Wraiths took the next drive all the way for a crucial touchdown, with Drake running it in. This gave the Wraiths the lead with 4 minutes left in the game. Unfortunately for the Wraiths, Franklin Armstrong made it look easy, needing only 2 minutes to drive down for another Otters touchdown to give the Otters a 30-27 lead. Cooter Bigsby and the Wraiths got the ball back but like last season, couldn't put together the miracle drive. The game ended with the Wraiths still on their end of the field as time expired. The Otters won, 30-27 in a back and forth second half. Franklin Armstrong was named the Ultimus Offensive Player of the Game for the third consecutive season as his second half heroics and three total touchdown performance made him a worthy recipient. Small consolation prize for the Wraiths as defensive stalwart Logan Uchiha was named the Ultimus Bowl Defensive Player of the Game for his 5 tackle, 1 sack, 1 interception and 1 passes defenced performance.

Game statistics

Statistical comparison

Statistic	Austin Copperheads	Yellowknife Wraiths
First downs	17	18
Third down efficiency	4/11	8/20
Fourth down efficiency	0/0	2/2
Net yards rushing	152	138
Rushing attempts	32	33
Yards per rush	4.8	4.2
Passing – Completions-attempts	21/31	23/48
Interceptions thrown	1	2
Net yards passing	322	278
Total net yards	474	416
Fumbles-lost	1-1	0-0
Penalties-yards	3-22	1-5
Time of possession	28:43	31:17
Turnovers	2	2

Box score

Ultimus Bowl XVIII: Yellowknife Wraiths 20, Austin Copperheads 37

	1	2	3	4	Total
Copperheads (ASFC)	14	7	3	13	37
Wraiths (NSFC)	0	3	10	7	20

at Burial Grounds, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

• Date: 27 January, 2036
• Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP AUS YKW 1 8:37 1 4 0:22 AUS Jacoby Clay 4-yard touchdown reception from Easton Cole, Alfredo Crisco kick good 7 0 1 0:00 6 79 3:16 AUS Rod Tidwell 15-yard touchdown reception from Easton Cole, Alfredo Crisco kick good 14 0 2 8:16 16 54 5:07 YKW 19-yard field goal by Neo Donaldson 14 3 2 3:08 10 82 5:02 AUS Rod Tidwell 23-yard touchdown reception from Easton Cole, Alfredo Crisco kick good 21 3 3 11:38 6 36 2:14 AUS 26-yard field goal by Alfredo Crisco 24 3 3 8:16 9 54 3:22 YKW 43-yard field goal by Neo Donaldson 24 6 3 2:31 12 70 4:27 YKW Nate Swift 7-yard touchdown reception from Cooter Bigsby, Neo Donaldson kick good 24 13 4 14:54 6 58 2:27 AUS 28-yard field goal by Alfredo Crisco 27 13 4 9:14 9 65 3:38 AUS 25-yard field goal by Alfredo Crisco 30 13 4 5:18 5 61 3:05 AUS Net Gaines 3-yard touchdown reception from Easton Cole, Alfredo Crisco kick good 37 13 4 1:20 10 83 3:52 YKW Mathias Hanyadi 4-yard touchdown run, Neo Donaldson kick good 37 20 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see wp:Glossary of American football. 37 20