Consolation Semis: WARRIORS UPSET JOKERS TO ADVANCE AGAINST TEAM GREEN

A great thing about the AFFL playoffs is that all teams get a chance at redemption  -  a shot at winning the last game of this season to either salvage a disappointing season, affirm a season of progress - or for the John Boylan Cup winner - cap off a championship run.    

That's why Week 2 of the playoffs every year provides some of the best games of the year as teams on both the Championship and Consolation side match up looking to win one more time and keep their seasons alive.  The 2017 consolation semis did not disappoint.


The first Consolation semi pitted Team Green against the Bandits.   2017 has been a watershed year for Team Green as the team won three games and held the defending champion Big Dogs to 16 points in tough loss in the regular season. The Bandits overcame some personnel issues mid-season to field a competitive team and were well matched against Team Green.     Both teams played well defensively in this game, but in the end it was Team Green's offence that was just a little better,  scoring two touchdowns to give the team a 16-8 win and a spot in Saturday's consolation final.

The second consolation final featured a familiar playoff match-up as the Jokers took on the Warriors.  These teams seem to meet every year at playoff time and the Jokers have always had the last laugh.   Not this year.

The game looked to be taking a familiar road with the Jokers leading  22-14 with about 15 minutes left to play - and looking to seal the deal.  The Jokers had a 5^th down from the Warrior one yard line and elected not to kick a field goal.  The Warriors stopped them and went on a march of their own, only to drop a TD pass on 5th down.  

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·      The 3 minute warning had sounded and the Warriors needed a stop to have a chance. They double blitzed causing Jason Verstraten to pitch out to Jeff Verstraten,  who then threw a pass that Ryan Legacy picked off to give the Warriors a chance.  The Warriors then scored on 5^th down on a diving catch and completed a two point conversion, BUT the receiver had touched the post so was ineligible. Conversion no good; 22-20 for Jokers.

·       With  only 4 plays left, the Warriors had to try onside kick. Back up kicker Ryan Legacy nailed a bouncer to the 18, which hit a Joker player and went forward. Dead ball and Warriors take over at the 50 with 4 plays.  On first play veteran QB  Marty Patience hits on a 35 yarder and the Warriors run on the next play to the 5 yard line.  On the 2^nd last play, the Jokers blitzed and Patience throws a flare to Brody Knox, who scores a TD but is called for diving into the end zone.   Ball is dead on the one yard line.  On the Last play,  vet Bill Muir snaps to wily vet  Joscelyn Ross, who is lined up at the 15 yd. line .  Legacy hits the kick, which goes up... and clears the bottom bar by about 3 inches!   

    Final score: Warriors 23 Jokers 22.     Team Green vs Warriors at 10am on Saturday for Conny Cup!