MDSSC - Maryland Fall Flag Football Playoffs 2009

The regular flag football season is over in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The Bracket is set and the playoffs start on Saturday. We have a full weekend of flag football with the Semi-finals and Championship set for Sunday morning. There are some exciting match ups and a potential for some upsets on Saturday. Before I get to that... let me recap on the Big 8 play-in games from last weekend.

Unfortunately, I don't have the actual final scores from this weekends games. I was able to watch most of them but that is it. 

Link to photos at the bottom of this post.

9:45am Big 8 Games:

Able Danger (-16) vs Menace: Able didn't play their best flag football game of the season here but that didn't stop them from getting a couple of turnovers to make it easier. Able's QB threw three picks that I saw but the defense picked him up. Keep your heads up Menace. It always takes a couple of seasons to get things straightened out. Good season and get back in there for the winter to keep building.

Beltway Bombers (-19) vs Circus Show: This was what I thought it was. Circus just couldn't hang with the high flying Bombers in this flag football game. Not sure if the Bombers covered but it wasn't pretty. Circus, like Menace, just hang in there. Organize yourselves and keep playing. The best teams in this league have played together for years.

Hit Men (-10) vs Warriors: I have no idea what happened in this game but I see Hit Men in the playoff bracket. Hope to see the Warriors in the winter flag football season...

11:00am Big 8 Game:

WTF! (-9) vs The Movement:

I don't know what to say.. was it the jerseys? The Movement surprised everyone but themselves this week shocking the #4 WTF! (283 points this season). This game left WTF! thinking WTF? I don't remember the score but the last I heard was 33-7..but I heard that WTF! scored again. Either way, The Movement move on and WTF! gets ready for next season. Great season WTF!...you scored a lot of points and I know you aren't going anywhere.

As for the other games this weekend. The Tarheels beat The Express by 9... they covered but the game was closer than it seems. The Tarheels scored late to go up by 9 to seal it.

All Madden took care of The Untouchables easily 40-19. Victors won by forfeit over my No Response.. My guys finally lived up to their name. Unfortunately, ending the season 0-8. Not sure if there will ever be a No Response again. Revolution also forfeited this weekend for reasons I am unaware of...

On to the good stuff. Flag football starts early this weekend at 8:30 am in Hunt Valley, MD. I will just get right to it...

ROUND 1

8:30am Games:

#3 Big 8 - Hit Men (6-2) vs #5 SEC Hit Squad (3-5): These two teams are an interesting flag football match up. Hit Squad really does have a squad (Roster size 53) and when they are organized they can move the ball. They started off the season 2-0, quickly jumping to the top of the AP poll like Miami.. The dust settled and they lost five in a row before the forfeit win last week. But they didn't make it easy on those other teams. They lead the Victors 12-0 for a little while and until turnovers cost them hung with All Madden. Unfortunately, I have only seen Hit Men play once against a 6 man WTF!. I don't really have a read on them but can see that they can score a lot of points with a couple of good WR's. If Brady Quinn shows up and protects the ball I believe the Squad can win this game. This is a toss up... (Hit Squad -5)

#8 SEC The Express (1-7) vs #2 Big 8 Beltway Bombers (7-1): The Bombers are one of my sleeper favorites of the playoffs. The QB (#2) for BB is pretty safe with the ball and elusive from most rushers. They have a big target, #12, that goes and gets the ball. The Express have had an Injury plagued season...but #77 looked promising for the Express against the Tarheels and if he is there this weekend, he will be a legitimate threat if the QB can get him the ball. Both of these teams are organized on offense but have questionable defenses. I suspect a high scoring affair. (Beltway -4)

9:45am Games: 

#1 Big 8 Able Danger (7-1) vs SEC #7 Tarheels (3-5): Quote from the AP poll: "Does Able shock the league?  Would it even be a shock anymore?  Some say they are overconfident..." I would say one thing about Able Danger.. They talk some of the best smack but I wouldn't say they are overconfident. Able marched through the Big 8 only losing to WTF in week 2. The Tarheels have a QB that has won 3 championships and a blitzer that is close to 100% that helped get him there. Other than that I don't know what threats are on the Tarheels. Able is a scrappy bunch but better stay home against the Tarheels QB and not turn the ball over when they are on offense. Based on what I have seen this season it is hard to compare the two. Based on the experience of the Tarheel's QB I say: (Tarheels -2)

SEC #6 Revolution (3-5) vs #5 Big 8 The Movement (4-4): This match-up isn't new... The Movement may have a new name but they know Revolution and Mac is ready to play. Who knows who will show up for Revolution this week... but you can count on Nick, Mouth and Rooney to be there. This game comes down to control for The Movement and who is throwing the rock for Revolution. Revolution has 3 QB's on their roster and if one of them shows up to allow Nick to be a receiver it will turn Revolution into a different threat. The Movement have a lot of motivation and momentum in their favor. They just can't go into this game thinking it will carry them. If Clyde plays smart ball and the D gets after it like last week I like the Movement. Revolution has all the athletes in the world but inconsistent attendance by some. Based on this... (The Movement -3)

A shameless plug here. The Winter season registration was tonight. It is set to start on 12/5/09. I want to send a special shout out to the four teams that will don AGame jerseys this next season. We are going to be the best looking league in the state! Thank you guys! If you are one of those teams that haven't ordered these awesome flag football jerseys or uniforms; check out the AGame site or this site and email me with any questions. I can throw some proofs together for you. 

Okay... on to flag football games that I can only assume happen. (I am going strictly off of my spreads)

11:00am 

#1 SEC Victors (8-0) vs... doesn't matter in the first game. The Victors will beat either team. I know DJ's team jumped out on them earlier this season but this will be the Victors first flag football game this season after 9am. This means they get to sleep in and will likely have all of their guys there. We will see the Victors on Sunday. 

#4 SEC Untouchables (5-3) vs Beltway... Untouchables won five flag football games in a row before getting crushed by All Madden. Beltway's confidence will only gain strength beating their first SEC team. I think this is a good match up. Both QB's are mobile and the defenses give up points.. This is a pick'em game.

12:15pm

#3 SEC Pain (6-2) vs Tarheels.. I am not completely certain that the Tarheels will make it to this point but either way Pain has been a grinder-type team this year. They play smart (PLAY CLOCK is 35 Seconds RAY!) and efficient... They also haven't played since 10/17.. This could be a good or bad thing.. If the QB hasn't thrown since then he could be rusty. I like Able or Tarheels to win this one... Reason being: Ryan is a playoff QB (see this last summer) and Able knows Pain from the years in Pro they played each other. 

#2 SEC All Madden (7-1) vs The Movement: All Madden wins against either team. Although, if the Movement come through and beat Revolution they will be on a 'win high' and once you get Mac rollin he is hard to stop. All Madden just has too many weapons though. If they protect the ball they will be in the championship game on Sunday. 

I will leave you with this. I will be there on Saturday and Sunday so I will update the blog Saturday after the first two rounds.

Photos from last week