NACFL

The game was released last week.  All should own it by now.

Our 2012 Salary Caps will be:  $101 million predraft (35 players) and $115 million to start the season (up from $114 million).  The minimum salary will be $86 million.

2012 NACFL CALENDAR

April 28 – Trading is suspended and deadline for pre-Free Agent Draft roster cuts (15/20)

April 30 – Free Agent Draft begins (email format)

May 7 – Trading is open (after the FA Draft is concluded)

July 27 – Trading is suspended and deadline for predraft roster cuts (35 players) 

DRAFT ORDER

Here’s the raw draft order for the 2012 draft;

(Note: the order is different for the first 8 picks of the first round b/c of the draft lottery- see below for that draft order)

1. Fremont (Montreal) (1-15)
2. New York (3-13)
3. New England (4-12) +
4. Buffalo (4-12) +
5. Tri-Cities (5-11)
6. Hampton Roads (Philadelphia) (6-10)
7. St. Paul (7-9) +
8. Gorham (7-9) +,%
9. Camden (7-9) +,%
10. Melbourne (7-9) +
11. Mt. Sinai (7-9) +,**
12. Houston (7-9) +,**
13. Buffalo Grove (Langson) (7-9) @
14. Vero Beach (8-8) #
15. St. Peters (8-8) #
16. Sacramento (9-7)
17. Commack (Rancho Cordova) (10-6)
18. Savannah (11-5) #
19. Bliss Street (11-5) +,#
20. South Elgin (11-5) +,#
21. Maine (12-4)
22. Shenandoah Valley (13-3)
23. Saginaw (14-2)
24. Steele Creek (Portland) (13-3) @

Tiebreaker Key:

 +  = head-to-head results (first tiebreaker);

 #  = number of internet games played (second tiebreaker);

 **  = record against common opponents (third tiebreaker); 

 %  = coin flip (fourth tiebreaker);

 @  = by rule (overrides raw order, tiebreakers)

2012 DRAFT LOTTERY RESULTS

Weighted lottery (based on NY Lottery Win4 game results of 3/11/12, evening drawing) determined draft order for first 8 overall picks only;

1.  Fremont (Montreal)

2.  New York

3.  New England

4.  Gorham

5.  Buffalo

6.  Hampton Roads (Philadelphia)

7.  St. Paul

2011 FINAL STANDINGS  

                                                          BROWN DIVISION

                           Shenandoah Valley             13 - 3            .812               -  
                           South Elgin                         11 - 5            .688               2
                            Vero Beach                          8 - 8             .500              5
                            Camden                               7 - 9              .438             6  

                                                          UNITAS DIVISION
                            Portland                               13 - 3             .812              -
                           Rancho Cordova                10 - 6            .625             3
                           Buffalo                                  4 - 12             .250             9
                           Montreal                               1 - 15            .063            12 

                                                           SHULA DIVISION

                          Bliss Street                            11 - 5            .688               -
                          St. Paul                                     7 - 9            .438              4
                         Philadelphia                          6 - 10          .375               5
                        New York                                  3 - 13            .188              8 

                                                              PAYTON DIVISION
                         Saginaw                                 14 - 2                .875           -
                        St. Peters                                  8 – 8                .500          6
                        Langson                                   7 - 9                 .437            7
                        Houston                                    7 – 9                .437           7          

                                                            TILLMAN DIVISION
                       Savannah                                11 – 5              .688           -                       Sacramento                               9 - 7              .563           2
                      Melbourne                                 7 - 9              .437           4
                      Mt. Sinai                                    7 - 9              .437           4           

                                                              BLEIER DIVISION
                       Maine                                     12 – 3              .750            -                       Gorham                                   7 - 9               .437            5
                       Tri City                                    5 - 11             .313            7
                       New England                          4 - 12             .250            8

NACBowl XII:  Deja Vu - Portland 45,  Saginaw 21

Portland Defeats Saginaw in Sloppy Championship Game Rematch. 

February 24, 2012

Anycity-  In a game marked by both wild momentum swings, and marred by turnovers, injuries and mistakes, the Portland Rain outlasted the Saginaw Stampede, 45-21 in this year’s championship game at state-of-the-art Neutral Park. 

The miscues started early for Saginaw.  After Portland scored on the game’s opening drive, Saginaw looked to even the score, pushing deep into Rain territory.    But a pair of penalties pushed the Stampede into a must-pass situation, and Portland safety Jairus Byrd stepped in front of a Matt Schaub pass, ending the threat. 

Two plays later, Rain TE Greg Olsen hauled in a short Peyton Manning pass on the sideline, broke a tackle and rumbled 46 yards, but lost the ball as he was tackled near the goalline.  Portland Todd Herremans alertly recovered the fumble to avoid the costly turnover, and a few plays later, Arian Foster leapt into the end zone.

The Saginaw faithful were really reeling when another Matt Schaub interception, into double coverage, on the next drive gave Portland a short field again, and only a goal-line stand by the imposing Stampede defense held Portland to a FG and a 17-0 lead. 

But as the game entered the second quarter, momentum shifted.  Saginaw’s voracious defense, and untimely penalties on offense, put the Rain into long 3^rd down situations, and Peyton Manning was intercepted on consecutive drives.  The Stampede cashed in on the turnovers, marching downfield for scores on both ensuing drives, and suddenly the game was close again, at 17-14. 

With Portland back on its heels, Saginaw roared back on yet another drive as halftime neared, but kicker Neil Rackers, ironically the league’s most accurate and prolific kicker this season, missed from 40 yards out as the half ended, denying Saginaw the chance to complete their comeback.  As the teams headed into tunnel and field crew hurried the stage into place for Van Halen’s halftime performance, players’ expressions clearly reflected that Portland had dodged a bullet. 

In the second half, the defending champs regained their composure and forced another Stampede turnover.  To make things worse, Saginaw increasingly faced another obstacle: injuries.  Already without All-Pro cornerback Darrell Revis coming into the contest, Saginaw’s defensive backs suffered injury after injury.  It got so bad that by the 3^rd quarter, David Jones, a free agent CB signed by the team just a week ago for depth, was lining up with the base defense.   Veteran Peyton Manning took full advantage of the mismatches- long strikes to Anthony Armstrong (5 catches, 116 yards, 2 TD’s) and others eventually put Saginaw in a deep hole.   

Saginaw kept clawing to get back in the game, putting together a long, late scoring drive.  But by the end, even the normally stout Saginaw defensive front seven had worn down, and couldn’t stop the Rain from running out the clock on the ground.  

Saginaw coach Ed Lynes showed his trademark class in handling the defeat, refusing to bemoan his bad luck with injuries in this season finale.  Congrats to Ed- always a formidable and gracious opponent- and the Stampede for a great season. 

For the Rain, this 8^th league championship is certainly cause for celebration, but the coming offseason will be rife with question marks- its older roster will inevitably need to give way to a rebuilding program.  It’s been a tremendous run for this club, though.

--

Notes:  Game MVP Arian Foster accounted for 182 yards and three TDs in all… Saginaw did have a good day in one area, winning all three of its instant replay challenges on the day… Portland fumbled three times, but lost none…  despite the presence of top-tier pass rushers on both rosters, the teams managed only one sack, by Saginaw’s Demarcus Ware… Peyton Manning threw for 305 yards and 3 TD’s, but was being looked over by trainers for a stiff neck.  “I’m sure it’s nothing,” he assured amid the post-game festivities.   


02-24-2012 Neutral Park  Temp:70 Wind:0-5    None     Line:Saginaw by 2  MVP:Foster  
   
  1   2   3   4    Tot   
2010 Portland (3-0)   17   0  14  14     45   
2010 Saginaw (2-1)     0  14   0   7     21   
   
1 10:52  Portland     TD Manning 15 pass to Armstrong (Kaeding) (6-75-4:02)   7-0
1  4:06  Portland     TD Foster 1 run (Kaeding) (4-48-1:33) 14-0
1  1:31  Portland     FG Kaeding 19 (5-23-1:33) 17-0
2  5:47  Saginaw TD Schaub 3 pass to Boldin (Rackers) (10-51-5:23) 17-7
2  1:07  Saginaw TD Ringer 1 run (Rackers) (4-34-0:53) 17-14    
3  6:50  Portland     TD Foster 11 run (Kaeding) (8-76-4:38)     24-14    
3  4:00  Portland     TD Manning 45 pass to Armstrong (Kaeding) (1-45-0:13) 31-14    
4 12:48  Portland     TD Manning 24 pass to Foster (Kaeding) (8-66-4:25)     38-14    
4  7:55  Saginaw TD Redman 10 run (Rackers) (8-78-4:45)     38-21    
4  2:21  Portland     TD Barber 1 run (Kaeding) (10-80-5:34)     45-21