FANTASY BOWL XXXV

FANTASY BOWL XXXV

Stamm's Sinistars 34  Molotov Cocktails 18

The 35th edition of the Cherry Fantasy Football League Fantasy Bowl pitted two high powered offenses and had the making of another classic Fantasy Bowl.  It ended up relatively lack luster and just not that exciting.  While the Cocktails and the Sinistars traded scores for a bit, the fact that the Sinistars had a lot of players Sunday Night meant the Cocktails would need a huge lead to survive.

The Cocktails took the field and had their Chief connections at 1:00 that included Mahomes, McCoy, Hill, Kelce and the Chief D/ST.  They were poised to have a big game.  It started out slow, but Mahomes finally hit on a TD pass, but wasn't to any starter of the Cocktails, but rather one of his back ups, Robinson.  With a GAY! extra point it was 5-0.

Mahomes only had 4 points

The Cocktail Chiefs would be one story line, but Gay would be another.  Gay had one FG blocked by the Sinistars and then missed 2 more, leaving 9 points on the field.  Perriman, who was the Sinistars Playoff MVP would catch a TD to make the score 6-6. But on the ensuing kick off the Chiefs/Cocktails special teams would return the kick 104 yards for a TD making the score 12-6.

GAY! had a rough day for the Cocktails

Unfortunately for the Cocktails, the Chiefs would turn to the ground game, getting two more scores on the ground but not McCoy.  McCoy wouldn't even see the ball.  Kelce and Hill wouldn't even see the endzone, and Mahomes would end the game with just that one TD pass.  And to make matters worse, the Sinistars would get a TD from Hunter Henry at the end of the half to tie the score 12-12.

Henry scores for Sinistars to tie the game!

The second half would have both teams fielding 2 players each.  Cocktails would have Goedert and Higbee, while the Sinistars had Drake and Gurley.  Certainly the advantage was with the Sinistars, but the Cocktails were first to strike in the second half getting a TD catch from Higbee to make the score 18-12! 

Higbee regains the lead for the Cocktails!

They were hoping that the score would hold at 18-12 to give them a chance late in the game in Sunday Night Football, for the Sinistars had 3 guys playing.   But the Sinistars wouldn't stand for that and gave the ball to Kenyan "Hate the" Drake that powered into the endzone for a TD tying the score once again at 18-18.

Hate the Drake scores to tie game for Sinistars

With the game basically over, the Sinistars would get 8 points from their kicker Robbie Gould (would have been nice to get that in 2006 when I needed 6 points from him on New Years Eve to beat the Crush in FB XXII...but noooooo...I digress).  They would also get 8 from Russell Wilson to wrap up the Fantasy Bowl XXXV 34-18 and bring home their first ever Fantasy Bowl Trophy.

Mahomes congratulates Wilson on his Fantasy Bowl win!

Congratulations to Nate Stamm and the Sinistars on their first championship!  The Sinistars have been in the league for 14 years, entering in 2005.  They have not had great results in the playoffs, only having one win in the post season before this year. 

Sinistar QB Russell Wilson with the Fantasy Bowl Trophy

Owner Nate Stamm this year seemed to have the pulse on the league making all the right moves. While Russell Wilson certainly had an MVP type year, it was the intangibles that made his season.  Playing guys like McLaurin, Coleman, Robert Woods after the Chislers gave up on him, and then the most recent Perriman who scored 3 TDs in Round one and a TD in the Fantasy Bowl.

Perriman was critical to the Sinistars playoff run

That's a wrap on the 2019 season.  Season 35 of the CFFL.  This year began with tragedy and ended with a first time Champion.  There will likely be a shake up in the CFFL next season as we enter our 36th year.  Until then, have a Happy New Year and see everyone in August!

CFHL Week 13

Hey we only have 10 weeks to go in the regular season!...In a season that is nearly twice as long as the CFFL...

In the standings...The Smythe division is looking like a 2 team race currently with the Mayhem on Ice in first by 2 points over the Greek Empire...Norris division is anyone's division right now.  The White Mambas and Goon Crew lead but Assassins and Checkers are only 2 points behind...And the Adams has the La Femme Nikita gaining on the USSR trailing them by 2 points...

Last weeks action:

Goon Crew vs. Assassins 3-3 - Goon Crew had a 4-2 lead going into Sunday night, but the Assassins were able to get enough hits on Sunday to win hits 29-27 and tie the game.

Who Gives a Puck vs. Checkers  2-1-3 - Lots of ties in this game.  Assists, PPP and Goalie wins were all ties.  Patrice Bergeron had a big week for the Puck netting 4 goals, an assists and 2 PPP.

Bergy with 4 goals!

California Raisins vs. La Femme Nikita 4-2 - The Raisins were able to stop the Nikita behind 20 assists for the week.  Panarin "Bread" had 5 assists while Malkin and Gallagher had 4 each.

Panarin celebrating his 5 helpers

USSR vs. AshBusters 4-1-1 - Battle for Mother Russia went to the USSR behind big performances by Ryan Strome (3-2-0-2) and Mark Stone (2-3-1-3).

and his teammate Strome celebrates one of his 3 goals

And Nylander celebrating for the Greeks

Mayhem on Ice vs. Krampus Carols 4-2 - This has not been the year for the Krampus.  They lose again to the Mayhem but it was a goalie battle.  Both teams combined for 7 wins, with the Mayhem getting 4 total, 3 from Binnington.

Greek Empire vs. White Mambas 6-0 - The White Mambas get shut out allowing the Crew to catch them in the Norris Division.  Nylander had 3 goals, 3 assists and 3 PPP for the Empire.  Marchand had 6 assists! And Victor Hedman had 2 goals and 6 assists!

Three Stars of the Week:

First Star: Victor Hedman, F, Greek Empire - 2 goals, 6 assists, 2 PPP and 5 hits

Second Star:  Jordan Binnington, G, Mayhem on Ice - 3 wins and .929 SV%

Third Star:  John Tavares, F, Checkers - 2 goals, 5 assists, 4 PPP and 0 hits

Goon of the Week:  Alex Ovechkin, 14 hits

CFFL Playoffs and Fantasy Bowl XXXV Preview

Merry Christmas everyone! Well its set.  We have two teams that haven't won a Fantasy Bowl and one team that has never been to the big game!  The stage is set.

Sinistars 44  Dragons 26 - This game was over early.  Saturday night the Sinistars scored 28 points to go up 28-6 after 12 from Gurley, 10 from Gould and 6 from the 49er defense.  Deshaun Watson for the Dragons came up empty.  No points from their star QB who they traded for to make that run to the Fantasy Bowl.  Injuries caught up with the Dragons with most of their best WRs were out (Jeffery, Fuller and Agholor).

Gurley scored twice for the Sinistars

Cocktails 40  Ferrets 23 - The Ferrets just couldn't generate enough offense to withstand the Cocktails Chiefs later on Sunday night.  Lamar Jackson did his part scoring 12 points.  The problem was that two of his TDs went to Cocktail TE Andrews.  Then it was just one TD run by Mahomes to win the game late Sunday.  He would add 8 more plus a Kelce TD and they were onto their second Fantasy Bowl in a row.

Andrews was the ultimate counter

Fantasy Bowl XXXV Preview

Molotov Cocktails at Stamm's Sinistars (-13)

This year a new franchise will be crowned the Fantasy Bowl Champion.  It's a match up with two high powered offenses.  Let's take a look at the match up.

QB - Mahomes vs. Wilson.  This is a great battle between two of the top passers in the CFFL.  Wilson has outscored Mahomes this year 135 to 113 but Mahomes was out a few weeks with an injury.  With Mahomes taking on the Chargers and Wilson the  49ers on Sunday night, the edge might go with Mahomes.
Advantage - Cocktails

RB - The Cocktails are in trouble here as they have all kinds of injuries at RB.  Carson is out for the year, Jacobs just had surgery, McCoy was on the bench last week.  Not sure who will step up for the Cocktails in the running game.  However on the Sinistar side, they are solid at RB.  Gurley has played well the past few weeks, scoring 4 TDs in past two weeks.  Kenyan Drake will likely get the start again as he has scored 6 TDs in past 2 weeks!  If not James Conner is back as well.
Advantage - Sinistars

Love the Drake or hate the Drake?

WR/TE - Here is where the Cocktails can do some damage with some 10 point connections from either Hill or Kelce.  Sinistars hope that Perriman magic happens again.  If not they will rely on Golladay or McLaurin. 
Advantage - Cocktails

These two will be key to a Cocktail win

Special Teams - Cocktails have been riding GAY! all year along with the Chief defense.  Sinistars are all 49ers with Gould and their defense. 
Advantage - Even

GAY!

Prediction:  This game will be closer than the spread indicates.  It will be up to Mahomes and the Chiefs if the Cocktails are to prevail.  The RB injuries catch up to the Cocktails and Sinistars edge them out to win their first ever Fantasy Bowl.  Take the Cocktails however and the points.

CFHL Week 12

Merry Christmas to everyone.  Sorry for the delay in the newsletter.  With the holidays the past few days first chance I have had to get to it.  Hope everyone got what they wanted or needed for Christmas. 

The USSR definitely did winning 6-0 over the Krampus.  Mambas and Crew must have been naughty this year as they both lost and lost to teams that basically make no changes in lineups...

La Femme Nikita vs. Goon Crew 5-1 - Elias Pettersson scored 3 goals and Tkachuck had 18 big hits in the Nikita win.

Pettersson with 3 goals this week

Checkers vs. Assassins 4-2 - Despite the holidays, the father Checkers didn't take it easy on their son Assassins.  Roman Josi had a huge week scoring 6 goals for the Checkers!

California Raisins vs. Greek Empire 3-3 - Raisins got 4 goals from Seguin along with 2 PPP and the Greek Empire got great net play with their goalies Lehner and Raanta who combined for 3 wins and .939 SV%.

Seguin with 4 goals!

USSR vs. Krampus Carol  6-0 - Speaking of goalie play...the Soviets got 6 wins and a .944 SV% with Jarry and Korpisalo.  Joonas had 4 wins!

AshBusters vs. White Mambas 4-2 - White Mambas stumble this week losing to the AshBusters.  Aho "Ahole" scored 3 goals for the AshBusters.

Aho also doubles as an elf on the shelf

Mayhem on Ice vs. Who Gives a Puck  4-2 - This was a close one as goals were only separated by 2, PPP by 2 and hits by only 1.  In the end it was the Mayhem that were victorious. 

Three Stars of the Week:

Ellie Ottaway, Josi's wife...

First Star: Roman Josi, D, Checkers - 6 goals, 1 assist, 1 PPP, 4 hits

Second Star:  Joonas Korpisala, G,  USSR - 4 wins, .939 SV% and 1 shutout

Third Star:  Jonathan Huberdeau, F, Mayhem on Ice - 2 goals, 8 assists, 3 PPP and 2 hits

Goon of the Week:  Brady Tkachuck, F, Nikita - 18 hits (His 5th of the year!)

CFFL Playoffs Round 1

Well all the top seeds and home teams held serve in the first round of the CFFL Playoffs.  An interesting note is that every team that won last week does not have a Fantasy Bowl trophy.  The teams they beat have combined for 12 titles.  (Chislers-6, Crew-3, Krauts-2 and Bees-1).  So this year we will see a team win its very first Fantasy Bowl. 

Here is what happened in the first round of the playoffs:

Sinistars 50  Wrecking Crew 22 - SEATTLE, WA -- In the pacific Northwest the top seed Sinistars had little trouble with the 7-7 Wrecking Crew.  In the previous 9 playoff appearances by the Sinistars, only 1 time they moved onto the second round.  This will make only the 2nd time in 10 playoffs that they have won in the first round. 

Perriman scores one of his 3 TDs...fucker...

You would think Russell Wilson would have been the reason they scored 50 points.  Nope.  It was recently acquired Breshad Perriman, who would have 18 huge points.   The Crew did well to make the playoffs considering the draft day debacle of Andrew Luck retiring, but really couldn't get any consistency at QB between Brissett and Ga
roppolo.

Wilson moves on, Jimmy G goes home.

Ferrets 52 Chislers 21 - ANN ARBOR, MI -- In a North Division rematch the Ferrets also had little trouble with the Chislers, despite owner Tim Wening's constant negativity that he would loose even with a 32-6 lead.   Potential league MVP Lamar Jackson started things going for the Ferrets with 20 points on Thursday.  From there they never looked back.  12 more from DeVante "Peter" Parker and 12 more from Elliott and it was over.

Jackson's 20 points set the tone of the game

Chislers were let down by their Ram players once again, even after getting a 10 point connection by Goff and Kupp.  But Goff would only throw one more TD and Kicker Zuerlein would only score 1 point.

Jackson consoles Goff on the loss

Cocktails 47  Krauts 31 - LENINGRAD, RUSSIA -- In another divisional rematch, there was little question that the Cocktails would finish with a victory.  Despite the frigid and snowy conditions in Russia, Mahomes hit Hill for two 10 point connections and Carson was able to score 12 points in the win. 

Krauts just didn't have enough fire power to keep up with the Cocktails.  Kyler Murray only had 1 score  Melvin Gordon couldn't hang on to the ball.  They did get 15 points from kicker "Beetle" Bailey to make it somewhat respectable. 

Dragons 56  Killer Bees 29 - MIAMI, FL -- Dragons win!  Dragons win!  They win only their second ever playoff game in 8 appearances.  And it was against the hated Bees!!  Here are the results of the past 7 playoff games by the Dragons:
2001: L 16-14 to Power
2004: L 28-26 to Chislers
2005: W 37-17 over Crush
2009:  L 29-23 to Krauts
2010:  L 28-25 to Mafia
2016:  L 31-25 to Mafia
2017:  L 30-18 to Titans

Ingram has scored 14 TDs this year!

They won the game led by 14 points by Ingram and 12 points from Julio "Al Toon" Jones.  Watson did have 8 points as well.  The Bees only got 6 points from all their RBs/WRs.  Only Witten had a TD.

Bees QB Prescott and Dragons QB Watson after game.

Playoffs Round 2:  

Dragons at Sinistars (PK) - This game should be close as the line indicates.  Can either team break their streak of never making it to a Fantasy Bowl?  Well one of them will!  Dragons come into the game led by Watson and a pretty good running attack of Ingram and Mostert.  Sinistars of course are led by Russell Wilson.  But the questions are will they get another big performance out of Perriman.  And will they start Kenyan Drake, who had 24 points on their bench last week?
Take the Dragons in a slight upset

Cocktails (-3) at Ferrets - Oh my what a QB duel we have here!  Mahomes vs. Jackson!  Both have potential to put up big points.  Can Ferrets keep the Cocktails Chiefs in check?  That will determine this game.  So goes the Chiefs, so goes the Cocktails.  Their x-factor lately has been Chris "Johnny" Carson.   The Ferrets x-factor is Parker.  He as scored 4 TDs in past 3 weeks, and has 8 on the year so far. 
Ferrets can't keep up with the Cocktails. Lay the points and take the Cocktails.