As you are moving up thru the minors, Elite #1 is where you want to be. This is where the best of the best end up. You don't have to look any farther than this title game than to see the parity that exists at the top. It's nice to have a gold loltrophy, but unless it says Elite next to it, it's just a pretty picture. Congratulations to these two teams for running the gauntlet and end up the final two standing. Both these teams deserve to be here after completing a grueling schedule and taking the best shots of some high quality teams. Lets take a closer look.
ELITE #1
ZETA Champion Legends of the Road (13-6) @ ALPHA Champion Lampang Lionfish (18-1)
RSM - N/A
How the Lionfish got here> Beat the #7 SLAP A-Team in a game that was close at halftime (3-0), but used a PR for a TD to put them away finishing with a (27-9) victory. Round two featured a game that had 4 lead changes 10 FG attempts and a late 4th quarter TD come from behind victory over the #3 Georgetown Generals. The conference title game featured the top two seeds and lived up to it's billing going into halftime tied (6-6), but the Lionfish were in control the whole second half that was only made close by a PR for a TD by Guyana, but the Lionfish sent them planning for next season (26-20)
How the Legends got here> Being a 5th seed they had to upset their way to the game. They started with the #4 Marvelous League of Justice, justice scored first but it was all LotR throwing their way to a (38-10) win. Next up, The #1 Seussville Sneetches tried their best, but quickly proved they were not up to the test, the Legends first upset the Marvelous Justice, but cleaned up the grease on their hands with orange pumice, on this day the rhyming of Seussville had no tricks, and they were soon beaten by passing (41-6). The conference game was an epic game that the Legends first needed a 4th quarter TD with only 1:26 left to force OT, then in OT they scored a TD to move on to the title beating a solid #3 Texas Strikers squad (24-17).
Thoughts> Lionfish have beaten every team they have faced. Guyana bested them for their only loss, but Lampang returned the favor beating them in the Tourney and again in the playoffs. Winners of the Prep Tourney this season, the Lionfish are battle tested and have the leagues #1 rush defense. Legends of the Road lost their first thee games this season, and even sat at (3-5) midway thru the season. They only made it to the second round of the Tourney and things were not looking good for them. They then went on to win 10 of their next 11 games, including 3 straight upsets in the playoffs, so you could also say they have over come some adversity and are now battle tested. LotR have been passing the ball around 60 times a game in the playoffs and with LL having the top run defense I see more passes coming. LL also has the #5 pass defense in the league and that will be tested, but they are no slouches in that department. Lampang doesn't have a lot of weaknesses, if any, to exploit, and with winning the Prep Tournament they are looking to cap a Cinderella season. LotR is in the middle of something special as well even being in a game that halfway thru the season looked unlikely. Whose special run will cap an unthinkable season?
Prediction> LotR was able to pass their way to victory over some team with a small ground game, I don't see them winning with no ground game. <31-28 Lionfish>
Whoever wins should feel extra good about beating so many quality teams and the fact that a #5 seed that only finished (10-6) is in the title game should show how deep the talent pool is in Elite. Good luck to both teams and see you guys next season.
ELITE #1
ZETA Champion Legends of the Road (13-6) @ ALPHA Champion Lampang Lionfish (18-1)
RSM - N/A
How the Lionfish got here> Beat the #7 SLAP A-Team in a game that was close at halftime (3-0), but used a PR for a TD to put them away finishing with a (27-9) victory. Round two featured a game that had 4 lead changes 10 FG attempts and a late 4th quarter TD come from behind victory over the #3 Georgetown Generals. The conference title game featured the top two seeds and lived up to it's billing going into halftime tied (6-6), but the Lionfish were in control the whole second half that was only made close by a PR for a TD by Guyana, but the Lionfish sent them planning for next season (26-20)
How the Legends got here> Being a 5th seed they had to upset their way to the game. They started with the #4 Marvelous League of Justice, justice scored first but it was all LotR throwing their way to a (38-10) win. Next up, The #1 Seussville Sneetches tried their best, but quickly proved they were not up to the test, the Legends first upset the Marvelous Justice, but cleaned up the grease on their hands with orange pumice, on this day the rhyming of Seussville had no tricks, and they were soon beaten by passing (41-6). The conference game was an epic game that the Legends first needed a 4th quarter TD with only 1:26 left to force OT, then in OT they scored a TD to move on to the title beating a solid #3 Texas Strikers squad (24-17).
Thoughts> Lionfish have beaten every team they have faced. Guyana bested them for their only loss, but Lampang returned the favor beating them in the Tourney and again in the playoffs. Winners of the Prep Tourney this season, the Lionfish are battle tested and have the leagues #1 rush defense. Legends of the Road lost their first thee games this season, and even sat at (3-5) midway thru the season. They only made it to the second round of the Tourney and things were not looking good for them. They then went on to win 10 of their next 11 games, including 3 straight upsets in the playoffs, so you could also say they have over come some adversity and are now battle tested. LotR have been passing the ball around 60 times a game in the playoffs and with LL having the top run defense I see more passes coming. LL also has the #5 pass defense in the league and that will be tested, but they are no slouches in that department. Lampang doesn't have a lot of weaknesses, if any, to exploit, and with winning the Prep Tournament they are looking to cap a Cinderella season. LotR is in the middle of something special as well even being in a game that halfway thru the season looked unlikely. Whose special run will cap an unthinkable season?
Prediction> LotR was able to pass their way to victory over some team with a small ground game, I don't see them winning with no ground game. <31-28 Lionfish>
Whoever wins should feel extra good about beating so many quality teams and the fact that a #5 seed that only finished (10-6) is in the title game should show how deep the talent pool is in Elite. Good luck to both teams and see you guys next season.
And playing for a trophy ... while ODB just sits and waits to see who is declared the Champ 
shaking 
