Defunct Teams Football League

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News around the DTFL:

In Montreal, a skirmish broke out between defensive end Cruz Arrington, the DTFL sacks leader, and his backup, Daniel Holland. Punches were thrown, but no other information was released by Machine management.

Speaking of Montreal, the team announced it had extended the contract of Offensive Coordinator Lazaro March. The contract was for two years at $4.6 million per year. The Machine offense is currently ranked 4th in the league.

The Jacksonville Bulls announced they have extended the contract of Head Coach Edmond Conte. The contract was for three years at $8.5 million per year. Jacksonville is 4-3 on the season.

The Chicago Blitz has extended Head Coach Robert Beard’s contract with the team. The financial details were announced as a four-year extension at $6 million per year. Chicago is currently 4-2 on the season.

Denver Gold Defensive Coordinator William Lewis signed a three-year contract extension for $5.3 million per year. The Gold defense is ranked 8th in Yards Allowed, but 28th in Points Allowed.

Week 8 Game of the Week: Las Vegas Posse (4-1) vs. Arizona HotShots (5-2)

The Week 8 Game of the Week matchup includes two teams we have seen before in Las Vegas and Arizona. Both teams are having successful seasons thus far. The Posse defense is one to watch. So far this year, they are the #3 rated defense, with the top run defense (53.8 yards per game allowed) and #15 in passing (242.4 yards per game allowed). Fortunately for the HotShots, their offense relies more on passing than running, so this should be a good one. Las Vegas has won four straight games since their opening week loss to Chicago. Arizona started the season 0-2 but has strung together five straight wins. Something has to give, so which team will it be. Our four DTFL experts have predicted 3-1 that Vegas is the favorite in this one. According to the spread, Arizona is a 1.5 point favorite.

The game starts with each team going three and out. Arizona takes possession at midfield but has trouble moving the ball and has to settle for a 47-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff return, return man Robert Cox sheds a would-be tackler and runs down the right sideline for a 68-yard return before being caught from behind at the Arizona 29-yard line. Two plays later, Las Vegas RB Gordon Greathouse rushes for a 21-yard score!! When the 1st Quarter comes to an end, the Posse leads 7-3.

The HotShots were driving down the field at the end of the 1st Quarter, but their drive stalls out. Arizona starts out the 2nd Quarter by kicking a 27-yard FG to make the score 7-6. The Posse get the ball at the 24-yard line and waste no time. On the first play of the drive, Greathouse breaks loose for a 63-yard run!! Two plays later, Greathouse is running it into the end zone for a 2-yard score to give Vegas a 14-6 advantage. After an exchange of possessions, Arizona puts together a drive with less than three minutes to go in the half. The drive is capped off when QB Raymond Irving finds TE Dwight Turner for an 11-yard touchdown strike with 42 seconds to go. At the half, Las Vegas leads Arizona by one, 14-13.

The teams exchange possessions to start the 3rd Quarter. The Posse’s second possession starts on their own 42-yard line. Vegas puts together a drive that eats up five minutes and culminates with QB Bart Castaneda finding Greathouse for a 2-yard TD reception. Vegas leads by eight, 21-13. Both teams traded possessions, but neither scores for the remainder of the quarter. Arizona, however, is driving once again.

The HotShots’ drive stalls out at the beginning of the 4th, but Joshua Walters salvages it with a 49-yard field goal to cut the deficit down to 21-16. Las Vegas quickly goes three-and-out, giving the ball back to Arizona. The subsequent drive finishes out with the HotShots regaining the lead, as Irving hits TE Alphonse Allen with a 14-yard TD. Arizona goes for two, but the conversion fails, as the HotShots now lead by one, 22-21. The Posse go three-and-out again, but the 62-yard punt pins Arizona on their own 3-yard line. The HotShots try to put a drive together but fail and must punt the ball away with 2:21 left in the game. Can the Posse put together a drive to win the game? It looks promising, as they take over at midfield on their own 49-yard line. Bart Castaneda showed why he is one of the better quarterbacks in the league. He tosses completions for 15, 29, and 6 yards to set up the game-winning play, a 4-yard TD toss to WR James Bunnell with 52 seconds to play!! Vegas goes for two and gets it, as Greathouse rushes for the conversion. Arizona runs out of time, as Las Vegas wins this one in a thriller, 29-22!!

Vegas running back Gordon Greathouse is named Offensive Player of the Game, as he rushed 15 times for 151 yards and two scores. Plus, he hauled in four receptions for 28 yards and another score! Posse DT William Adame earned Defensive Player of the Game honors for recording three tackles and a sack.

Week 8 Highlights:

Down 30-24, Cologne Centurions QB Clyde Gonzales found WR Kerry Lorenzo for a 3-yard touchdown pass with 8 seconds to go to defeat the Hamburg Sea Devils 31-30.

After blowing a 16-point lead, the Scottish Claymores scored with 5:19 to go in the game when QB Jesse McIntire tossed a 1-yard TD pass to WR James Arrington for the 30-23 win over the Oakland Invaders.

Down 28-0 at halftime, the Rhein Fire suffered their first loss of the season in a rematch against the Tampa Bay Bandits, losing 42-24.

Week 8 Offensive Player of the Week—Gordon Greathouse earned the weekly honor with his performance in this week’s Game of the Week.

Week 8 Defensive Player of the Week—Tampa Bay linebacker William Doll earned the weekly honor with his play against the Rhein Fire. Doll recorded 10 tackles, an interception, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown!

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News around the DTFL:

The Montreal Machine announced they have signed DC Jimmy Williams to a three-year, $13.8 million extension. Williams’ defensive unit is currently ranked #4 in the DTFL.

Week 9 Game of the Week: Los Angeles Express (3-4) vs. Las Vegas Posse (5-1)

Make it two weeks in a row that the Las Vegas Posse are featured in the Game of the Week. The Posse are on a five-game winning streak. One of those wins was against L.A. in Week 5 as Vegas won on the road in a tight game, 29-27. The Posse is favored by 7.5 points in this one, but three of our four experts are picking the Express in an upset.

Las Vegas gets the ball first but gets nowhere with their possession. L.A. takes over on its own 20-year line. On the second play, QB George Hardesty connects with WR Sam Keene for a 75-yard completion as he is brought down just shy of the goal line. Three plays later, RB Gilberto Falk rushes in for the score to give the Express a 7-0 lead. After going three and out on their next possession, Vegas gets the ball back on a short field with an interception. Four plays and 25 yards later, QB Bart Castaneda finds WR James Bunnell for the five-yard score to tie the game. Los Angeles wastes no time getting the lead back as their subsequent drive covered 75 yards in only five plays. Hardesty found Keene once again, this time for a 37-yard TD reception. As the 1st Quarter ends, Vegas is driving, but L.A. holds a 14-7 lead.

At the start of the 2nd Quarter, the Posse has the ball at midfield. Two plays later, Castaneda hooks up with Bunnell again for a 49-yard touchdown to tie the game. L.A. once again responds with a drive, but it falls short. The Express must settle for a Greg Devito 51-yard FG, but it gives them the lead once again. Vegas takes their next possession to midfield but ends up punting. The Express drive again, and again they fall short. But Devito delivers another field goal, this one from 49 yards away. The Posse takes possession with 1:16 remaining but fumble the ball at their own 38-yard line with less than a minute to play. Devito successfully hits a 35-yarder and Los Angeles goes into halftime with a 23-14 lead.

The Express get the ball first to start the second half, but they start out on their own 9-yard line. No problem for L.A., as they put together yet another drive against the Posse defense. The drive eats up half the quarter and ends with a Devito 29-yard FG to push the Express lead to 26-14. After exchanging possessions, Las Vegas takes over on their own 10. Three plays later, Castaneda finds WR Paul Merritt for a 77-yard TD strike!! The Express lead is now down to five at 26-21. The Posse defense finally starts to come together, picking Hardesty off on L.A.’s next possession. But the Vegas offense drops the ball (literally) and the drive stalls. At the end of the 3rd Quarter, Los Angeles leads 26-21.

With the Vegas defense playing well, L.A.’s offense can’t do much in the 4th Quarter. The Posse drive on their first possession but are stopped short. K Carlton Martin hits a 41-yard field goal to reduce the Vegas deficit to two points. Both defenses step up down the stretch, but the Posse gets their chance when they get the ball on their own 22 with 2:29 to play. On 3rd and 8, Castaneda finds RB Lonny Turman for a completion near the first down marker. Turman stretches for the first down, but a hit by LB David Gibson knocks the ball loose!! The ball bounces seven yards forward before being recovered by CB Charles Holt! L.A. takes possession, ending the Posse drive!! The Express hold on to win the game 26-24!!

Express WR Sam Keene was named the Offensive Player of the Game for his four reception, 158 yards, and one touchdown performance. However, Keene was hurt late in the game and will miss the next 2-4 weeks with a spinal cord contusion. The Defensive Player of the Game was Express FS Doyle Leonard who had five tackles and a forced fumble.

Week 9 Highlights:

Trailing 24-20 after three quarters, the Frankfurt Galaxy scored 17 points in the 4th Quarter to defeat the Hamburg Sea Devils 37-24.

Down by a point with 1:33 to go, QB Justin Wick connected with RB Charles Wright for a 60-yard touchdown to give the Ohio Glory a 31-24 win over the San Diego Fleet.

Week 9 Offensive Player of the Week—QB Anthony Bowie completed 17 of 24 passes for 187 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Oklahoma Outlaws 45-10 victory over the Scottish Claymores.

Seriously?? How about Baltimore QB Christopher McDowell (21-24, 326 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) in the Stallions 41-6 win over Philadelphia?
What about S.F. QB James Allen (31-39, 403 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT) in the Demons’ 37-24 win over Sacramento?
Brooks! I think there is a glitch in the process.

Week 9 Defensive Player of the Week—Washington FS Larry Thompson had 2 INT and 2 defensive touchdowns in the Federals’ 41-26 win over the New Jersey Generals.

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News around the DTFL:

The Shreveport Pirates (5-4) have signed head coach Eugene Millard to a five-year, $15 million contract extension.

The Denver Gold (6-3) announced a contract extension for head coach Rick Whalen for four years, $12 million.

The Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks lost their sixth straight game the past week and rumors are starting that head coach Marcus Free could be in the hot seat.

Week 10 Game of the Week: Montreal Machine (7-2) vs. Washington Federals (7-2)

This week’s game showcases two of the Eastern Conference’s division leaders. Montreal is led by running back Thomas Glenn (987 yards rushing, 5.2 yard avg., 11 TD), wide receiver Victor Seay (67 rec., 914 yards, 5 TD), and DE Cruz Arrington (12 sacks). Glenn leads the DTFL in rushing yards. The Machine have won their last three games, while the Federals are winners of four straight. The last time the Federals lost was in Week 5 to the same Montreal Machine team they face today. Washington is a two-point favorite to win the game, but three of four experts are picking Montreal.

Washington receives the ball first and drives down the field, kicking a 36-yard field goal on their opening drive. Montreal went three and out, and the two teams exchanged punts on subsequent possessions. The 1st Quarter ends with the Federals leading 3-0.

The Machine take their first possession of the 2nd Quarter and put together a scoring drive, capped off by running back James Pino’s 15-yard TD run. The two teams continued to exchange punts for the remainder of the quarter and Montreal leads at halftime by a 7-3 score.

After exchanging punts to start the 3rd Quarter, Montreal takes over at midfield and uses the short field to their advantage. Starting QB Ernest Conger, who missed last week’s game with a jammed toe, leaves the game with breathing issues due to allergies. Conger, who was 12 of 14 for 88 yards, is replaced by backup QB Steven Morrell. The second-string QB moves the offense enough for kicker Joseph Holloway to hit a 36-yard field goal, giving the Machine a seven-point lead. Washington starts their next possession on their own 7-yard line and the Machine defense smells blood in the gears. Montreal’s defense sacks QB Kenneth Schmidt then picks him off on the following play for a 21-yard touchdown return!! Down by 14, Schmidt and the Federals pull themselves up and drive against the Machine D. It only took four plays, as Schmidt connects with WR Chris Hart, the rookie out of Oklahoma, for a 48-yard TD! The 3rd Quarter ends with Montreal leading 17-10, but Washington has the ball back at midfield.

The Federals wasted little time to start the 4th Quarter. Four plays, again, is all it took, as Schmidt finds Hart again, this time for a 4-yard touchdown strike! Game tied 17-17. But it is time for the backup quarterback to shine for Montreal, as Morrell picks apart the Federal defense on back-to-back drives that culminate in touchdowns. The Montreal Machine cruise to a 31-17 win and move their record to 8-2, while Washington drops to 7-3.

Schmidt was named Offensive Player of the Game with a 23 of 36 performance for 268 yards, 2 TD, and 1 INT. Montreal CB John Connelly earned Defensive Player of the Game honors by making eight tackles and returning an interception for a touchdown.

Week 10 Highlights:

Down by two scores halfway through the 3rd Quarter, the Amsterdam Admirals scored 22 unanswered points to defeat the Barcelona Dragons 43-35.

The Los Angeles Express unloaded on the San Diego Fleet, sinking them by a score of 61-27.

Week 10 Offensive Player of the Week:

L.A. quarterback George Hardesty earned Offensive Player of the Week honors by completing 19 of 28 passes for 402 yards and six touchdowns.

Week 10 Defensive Player of the Week:

Montreal cornerback John Connelly was named Defensive Player of the Week for his eight tackle, 1 INT, 1 TD performance against Washington.

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[BengalErnst]

This is really cool. I want to do a league like this.

[AKH]

yes indeed! nice work.

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News around the DTFL:

The Amsterdam Admirals announced this week that they have given Head Coach Levi Serna a five-year contract extension at $8 million per year.

Week 11 Game of the Week: Denver Gold (6-3) vs. Las Vegas Posse (6-2)

This week’s game showcases the two top teams in the Western Conference’s Southwest Division. The two teams faced each other in Week 4 in Denver and Las Vegas dominated that game 42-21. The Gold will have to find a way to contain Posse quarterback Bart Castaneda, who passed for 344 yards in the Week 4 contest.

Denver gets the ball to open the game, but they go three-and-0ut. Castaneda comes out throwing and drives the Posse down the field. Wide receiver James Bunnell hauls in a 39-yard strike from Castaneda and Vegas goes up 7-0. The Gold responds with a drive of their own but settles for a 38-yard field goal by kicker Alejandro Will to make the score 7-3. The Posse take their next possession down the field in a balanced attack that ends with a Castaneda to Bunnell connection again, this time for a 38-yard touchdown! Down 14-3, Denver comes out throwing as they start their drive on their own 22-yard line. Vegas cornerback Russell Campbell reads it perfectly, though, and picks off Sammy Hibbard at the 26-yard line for a Pick-6 to increase the Posse lead to 21-3!! Denver’s next possession is another three-and-out as the Gold seems deflated. Las Vegas, however, has momentum on their side and uses a balanced attack and a facemask penalty to drive to Denver’s 24-yard line as the 1st Quarter ends. The Posse leads 21-3.

Three plays into the 2nd Quarter, Castaneda finds Bunnell again, this one for a 7-yard TD pass!! Las Vegas increase their lead to 28-3!! In the following drive, Denver tries a balanced attack, but Hibbard is picked off again. Fortunately for the Gold, they hold the Posse to their first three-and-out of the game. Denver takes over on offense and drives down the field on Hibbard’s arm. The drive falls short, however, and Will hits a 26-yard field goal to make the score 28-6 with 2:56 to go in the first half. Vegas runs out the clock and takes a 22-point lead into the locker rooms at halftime.

Las Vegas comes out in the 3rd Quarter with another balanced drive. They chew up over eight minutes of the clock but come up short and punt. Denver takes over on their own 25-yard line. An 18-yard completion by Hibbard and 35-yard run by running back John Camacho get the Gold into Posse territory. Five plays later, Denver finally gets into the endzone when Hibbard hits wide receiver Patrick Berrios for a 1-yard TD toss. Las Vegas still leads 28-13. The Posse use good ball control offense to run out the clock in the 3rd Quarter.

The 4th Quarter starts out with a Vegas punt and that is all the two teams do in the final quarter of play. The Vegas defense doubles down and keeps Denver from putting together anything of significance. They force a turnover on downs late in the 4th, as well as a fumble recovery to seal the game. Las Vegas wins by a final of 28-13.

Las Vegas wide receiver James Bunnell earns Offensive Player of the Game honors with six receptions for 123 yards and three touchdowns. Posse corner Russell Campbell is named Defensive Player of the Game with eight tackles, one interception, and one touchdown.

Week 11 Highlights:

Tied at 13, Raleigh-Durham quarterback Tomas Holcombe tossed a 3-yard pass to running back Wendell Wilson for a touchdown with 51 seconds left in the game in a 20-13 victory over the Jacksonville Bulls.

Down 20-10 in the 4th Quarter, San Francisco scored a touchdown with 1:32 left, then recovered the onside kick and drove down the field to tie the game on a 25-yard FG with 16 seconds to play. The Demons won the coin toss in Overtime and got within range for kicker Calvin Bunn to nail a 50-yard field goal for the 23-20 San Francisco win over the Oakland Invaders.

In Miami, Scottish Claymore's quarterback Jesse McIntire threw a 3-yard TD pass to wide receiver Steven Carr with 1:36 to play in their 28-24 win over the Manatees.

In Pittsburgh, quarterback Christopher Coles threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nicholas Tharp with 4:30 to play, as the Tampa Bay Bandits came back against the Maulers to win 27-24.

The Houston Oilers were down by three points in the 4th Quarter when quarterback Charles Hand connected with tight end Sandy Carter for a 67-yard touchdown with 2:47 to go. Houston added another touchdown at home against the Frankfurt Galaxy to win the game 31-20.

Running back James King’s 1-yard TD run with 4:16 to play gave Michigan a one-point lead. The Panthers added a field goal to defeat the Chicago Blitz 27-23.

Kicker Anthony Robinson’s 40-yard field goal with 50 seconds to play in regulation tied the game and his 25-yard field goal in Overtime won it for the St. Louis Battlehawks as they win against the Sacramento Surge 24-21.

Week 11 Offensive Player of the Week:

Memphis running back Robert Reyes was named Offensive Player of the Week. Reyes rushed the ball 10 times for 124 yards and four touchdowns in the Showboats 42-13 victory over the Mexico City Aztecs.

Week 11 Defensive Player of the Week:

Hamburg cornerback Calvin Guyton earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for his three tackle, two interception, and one touchdown performance in the Sea Devils 41-28 win over the Berlin Thunder.