Ultimus Bowl XXXIX

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Ultimus Bowl XXXVIX
Ultimus Bowl XXXIX logo.png
1234 Total
ARI 0600 6
YKW 73717 34
Stadium Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada
Offensive MVPAdrian St. Christmas, Quaterback (YKW)
Defensive MVPZephyr Greywolf, Linebacker (YKW)

Ultimus Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played to determine the champion of the International Simulation Football League (ISFL) for 2054 (S39). The National Simulation Football Conference (NSFC) champions Arizona Outlaws were defeated by the American Simulation Football Conference (ASFC) champions Yellowknife Wraiths 6 - 34. The game was played in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Background

Arizona Outlaws

The Arizona Outlaws were looking to claim their third Ultimus on the bounce, a formidable season saw them finish 11 - 5 and claim the number 1 seed over the Austin Copperheads. Again they were lead by the potential HoF'er QB Wendell Sailor and a strong backfield with veteran running back Jay Cue Jr. & young stud Danny Nedelko. Everything looked in place for the Outlaws to win another Ultimus and really solidify themselves as the ISFL best team.

Yellowknife Wraiths

The Yellowknife Wraith had a great seasons building upon a the heart braking loss in OT to the Berlin Fire Salamanders who eventually lost to the Arizona Outlaws in the Ultimus final. A 13-3 record, lead by the Superstar RB Kumquat Archipelago with 19 TD's, meant that the Wraiths secured a first round bye, before crushing the Chicago Butchers 48 - 27 and setting up a final with the Outlaws.

Game summary

First Quarter

The Wraiths won the toss and elected to defer the kick-off, with Double Doink putting the ball through the end zone, meaning that Arizona started their first drive from the 25 yard line. The star Arizona QB Wendell Sailor started off with a lovely 10 yard completion to Billy Stinkwater. A four yard run by the aging but still prominent RB Jay Cue Jr. meant that they had a 2 and manageable, however two quick incompletions meant that the first drive for Arizona ended up a 58 yard punt by the ever reliable Savathûn Witchqueen which backed the Wraiths to their own 3 yard line.


The Wraiths come out lead by the journeyman QB Adrian St. Christmas, who similar to the Outlaws was able to hook up a lovely 9 yard pass to Bernd D Brot before being backed up by a lovely 13 yard run down the middle by the RB Adebayo Akinfenwa meant that the Wraiths were very quickly clear of any imminent danger. The Wraiths kept marching down the field steadily until a 34 yard pass to Kumquat Archipelago moved the Wraiths to Arizona 11 yard line. Bernd D Brot was the first to score in the final holding onto an 11 yard pass.

Arizona started looking strong on their drive to level the score, completing the first 3 pass for a touch over 20 yards, with the catches being shared among the Arizona receiving core. The Outlaws were able to secure a nevus 4th and inches on the Wraiths 46 yard line, thanks to a 1 yard run by the young RB Danny Nedelko, the drive then came to a stunning holt when Wendell Sailor underthrew a pass and was picked off by Simon The Frog. The Wraiths were unable to utilise the strong field position and suffered a quick 3 and out.

A great 22 yard RAC by Kotoni Staggs moved Arizona from the danger zone, however they like the Wraiths suffered a 3 and out, to end the first quarter trailing 7-0.

Second Quarter

The Wraiths started the second quarter on the their own 10 yard line, but suffered a 3 and out. Two quick three and outs were getting the fans up & ready for some strong offensive play. The Outlaws had a promising drive with some nice solid runs by the duo of RB's Jay Cue Jr. & Danny Nedelko & some great short yard passing moved the Outlaws to 19 yard line, before being stopped in their track by the Wraiths secondary led by the star CB Kalam Mekhar. Meaning that the Outlaws were left with only 3 points.

The Wraiths returned the favour back on the Outlaws with similar plays from the receiving core and running back duo Kumquat Archipelago & Adebayo Akinfenwa. In a further mirror to the Outlaw drive, the Wraiths were stopped on a 3 and 1 on the 20 yard line, meaning they were only able to secure 3 points, restoring their lead back to a full 7 points.

With 5:24 left in the half, the Outlaws are looking to score a touchdown and bring the scores level before the end of the half. And what a way to start the effort with a 41 yard punt return by Billy Stinkwater meaning they were able to start the drive on the 42 yard line. However they were quickly stopped with a 3 and out.

Can the Wraiths extend their lead before the end of the half? When the two minute warning came the Wraiths were on the 31 yard and looking dangerous, with three timeouts still to go. However anther 3 and out, the 5th by my counting of the half, meant the momentum was back with the Outlaws with 1:23 to go. Two great runs totalling 31 yards meant that within two plays the Outlaws had almost flipped the field, with just under 1 min left with 3 timeouts to go. However time ran out with 18s left they were forced to kick a field goal from the 8 yard line, bring the score back to 10 - 6.

An interesting half, their are lots of changes that both HC can make to help improve the offensive performance of their teams.

Third Quarter

The Wraiths started the second half looking to extend the lead to back over a score, the drive started well with some strong runs both inside and outside of the number, really putting that strong offensive line to use. Close to 6 minutes later, the Wraiths scored a second TD of the game, when Adrian St. Christmas completed a 7 yard pass to Kumquat Archipelago for the score, with the Wraiths 11 points clear Arizona really needed to score and bring the match back under control. And so the drive looked promising with the Outlaws easily moving the ball until, a great play by Daron Arnold bull rushing the OL and recording a 6 yard sack on the QB, forcing the Outlaws a hard 3rd and 13 to continue the march down the field, and unfortunately the pass just fell wide of the clear Louis Blondin who if had caught the pass would have found the end zone for 6, you could hear an audible grown from the Arizona fans watching the game.

On the first play the Wraiths hit the Outlaws with an 18 yard run close to the halfway line, you got the sense that the game was slipping away from the Outlaws second by second. The Outlaws needed a spark from the defence and they got one, when a great spin move by Akaki Akayre the late round gem sacked Adrian St. Christmas for 6 yards forcing another tricky 3rd and 13, the Wraiths were only able to 10 of those yards and thus gave the ball back to the Outlaws.

Disaster stuck on the first play of the return drive with a 7 yard sack by Zephyr Greywolf meaning that the Outlaws were facing a 2 and 17 from their own 3 yard line, but the pass was incomplete to Louis Blondin bringing a close to the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

The Outlaws started the final quarter, down 6 - 17 with a 3rd and 17 from their own 3 yard line, unfortunate the pass over the middle to the TE Herc Kirkby fell incomplete.

Almost a dagger to the heart on the punt return when Bernd D Brot returned the poor 33 yard punt for 36 yards meaning77 the Wraiths started on the 1 yard line with 4 attempts to score. Somehow the Outlaw defence held firm and held the Wraith to only a FG. However they still trailed 20 - 6. with 13:39 left on the clock. Louis Blondin was able to give a boost with a 30 yard punt return, meaning the Outlaws started their drive on the 31 yard line. A critical 10 yard completion on a 3rd and 10 to the ever reliable Billy Stinkwater meant the drive kept going. However a turnover on down added another nail in the coffin with the Wraiths picking up the ball on the Arizona's 49 yard line with a touch under 10 mins to go. A slow methodical drive would spell the end here for Arizona.

However the Wraith had other ideas and scored a 28 yard TD within 4 plays, when Kumquat Archipelago caught the pass and made the veteran CB Mark Goodhead miss with a lovely juke move, meaning they took a commanding 27 - 6 lead with 8:32 to go. The Outlaws needed to score 7 and do it quickly. However disaster ANOTHER turn over on downs meant the end for the Outlaws, when the Wraiths were able to score another TD with a 32 yard pass to Calvin Spiff meant that it was 34 - 6 with under 5 mins.

Now it was all or nothing & unfortunately it was nothing, on the first play the FS Sam Sung scored a 9 yard sack. Fortunately, Arizona were able to finally convert a 4th down to move the sticks on a 4th & 1 with 3:11 left. The drive looked promising but the ball wasn't being moved quicker enough until the Wraiths were able to force a third 4th & out of the game with 1:34 to go. It was all but over now for Arizona. And so it was!!

The Yellowknife Wraiths were able to beat the Arizona Outlaws 34 - 6 securing the Ultimus.

Game statistics

Statistical comparison

Statistic Arizona Outlaws Yellowknife Wraiths
First downs 20 14
Third down efficiency 4/17 2/9
Fourth down efficiency 4/7 0/0
Total Yards 332 349
Passing 297 237
Comp/Att 34/56 18/30
Yards Per Att 5.3 7.9
Rushing 35 112
Yards Per Rush 1.8 4.5
Penalties 2-20 0-0
Turnovers 1 0
Fumbles (Lost) 1 (0) 0 (0)
Had Intercepted 1 0
Time Of Possession 31:56 28:04

Box score

Ultimus Bowl XXXIX: Yellowknife Wraiths v Arizona Outlaws
1 2 34Total
Outlaws (ASFC) 0 6 006
Wraiths (NSFC) 7 3 71734

at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada

  • Date: 07 February, 2055
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP ARI YKW
1 7:40 9 97 5:29 YKW Bernd Brot 11-yard touchdown reception from Adrian St. Christmas, Double Doink kick good 7 0
2 9:30 9 29 4:43 ARI 28-yard field goal by Swantavius King 7 3
2 5:24 9 55 3:56 YKW 37-yard field goal by Double Doink 10 3
2 0:18 9 68 1:28 ARI 25-yard field goal by Swantavius King 10 6
3 8:19 12 75 7:39 YKW Kumquat Archipelago 7-yard touchdown reception from Adrian St. Christmas, Double Doink kick good 17 6
4 13:39 4 0 0:56 YKW 17-yard field goal by Double Doink 20 6
4 8:32 3 51 1:01 YKW Kumquat Archipelago 28-yard touchdown reception from Adrian St. Christmas, Double Doink kick good 27 6
4 5:24 2 33 1:12 YKW Calvin Spiff 32-yard touchdown reception from Adrian St. Christmas, Double Doink kick good 34 6