Better Than Everyone!
The Road Less Traveled is now the Way

Capping off the greatest series of upsets in CSA history, Better Than Dallas became the first team ever to go winless in the regular season and go on to win a championship.
After dispatching the 2nd seeded Player Haters in the first round on a miracle finish, they held off 3rd seeded Loco's Deli & Pub in the semi-finals by the narrowest of margins, and in the championship BTD shocked everyone by knocking off top seeded and previously unbeaten, High Maintenance.

Better Than Dallas' remarkable playoff run showcased the other side of their regular season futility. BTD last five losses were all by less than 10 points. In the playoffs, they were finally able to break through.

In the opening round, BTD faced the 2nd seeded Player Haters. When the two teams met in the regular season, Player Haters annihilated BTD 41-0. This matchup was far more competitive.
Trailing 13-7 late in the game, BTD was able to execute a goal line stand and stop Player Haters from extending the lead. Taking over on their own one yard line, QB Todd Walker led BTD on a historical drive. Walker led them to the Player Haters 19 yard line with 4th down and seven seconds on the clock. The final deciding play was also a closed play. With the season in the balance, Shannon Redd capped the 79 yard drive by hitting Steve Swaney for the tying touchdown. When Walker hit Swaney for the conversion, Better Than Dallas became the first team ever to go winless in the regular season and then win a playoff game.

The win advanced them to a semi-final rendezvous with 3rd seeded Loco's Deli & Pub. BTD and Loco's started the season against each other, and one of them would end it right here. BTD stormed out early. Fueled by a methodical offense jumpstarted by three early catches by Tonja Davis, and backed by a stellar defense led by Matt Bean's rush, BTD held a somewhat commanding 14-0 lead at the half. The second half had a slightly different tone. Loco's put more pressure on the BTD defense, but a key interception by Jeff Rieger stopped the first Loco's drive and kept the score 14-0. When Loco's got the ball back, they ended up facing a fourth and four at their own 36. On the play, Pam Coan was able to deflag the Loco's ballcarrier at the 39 and turn the ball over on downs.
Loco's did manage to put a score on the board, but it was a well earned score. With time against them, Loco's needed a quick strike. BTD defender Todd Wingfield wasn't going to let them in easy. When a Loco's ballcarrier broke free and looked like he was headed to paydirt, Wingfield took a very timely contact penalty to prevent the Loco's player from scoring. Loco's managed to score later on the drive, but they lost a significant amount of time in doing so. Loco's trailed 14-6 late in the game. After BTD turned the ball over on downs on 4th and goal from the Loco's 30 yard line, the game would come down to a furious finish.

Loco's drove the ball down the field and with only seven seconds left they had a 2nd and goal at the BTD 18 yard line. On a closed play, Loco's was flagged for an illegal play, and the ball was backed up five yards. With time for only one last play, Loco's put up a hail mary pass that was caught at the three yard line, but when the receiver went to the ground, BTD's Cinderella run continued on to the championship game.

In the championship game, it was a true matchup of David and Goliath. ON PAPER. Fortunately for Better Than Dallas, the games are not played on paper. High Maintenance finished the regular season 8-0, with the number one ranked offense and defense in the league. High Maintenance was appearing in their third straight championship game and they rode a nine game win streak into the contest. Better Than Dallas finished the regular season perfect as well, only they were 0-8. BTD also had the leagues worst ranked defense.

The game itself was a classic performance by both teams and is already a frontrunner for 2002 Game of the Year.

First Half

Better Than Dallas opened the game and QB Todd Walker started hot. Walker connected on his first four passes. Those completions, along with a run by Shannon Redd and a penalty moved BTD all the way to the High Maintenance 18 yard line. After moving 52 yards in a hurry, the drive stalled. A sack left BTD with 4th and goal from the 20 and they were unable to move any closer.

After stalling out on the initial drive. BTD's defense rebounded quickly. On a 2nd and 10, Derek Swartz read a pass from High Maintenance QB Warren Borders and jumped in the lane. Swartz picked off the pass and returned it to the HM 11 yard line. Better Than Dallas was right back in business with just over 10 minutes left in the half.

Not wanting to let this golden opportunity slip away, Championship game co-MVP Matt Bean took a handoff and went 11 yards straight up the middle for a touchdown on the first play. When Walker found Bean again on the conversion attempt, Better Than Dallas had drawn first blood and led 7-0.

Not wanting to be outdone, High Maintenance came right back. QB Borders led a seven play, 70 yard march back down the field. When he hit Jason Jesensky for an 8 yard touchdown and then Tim Shippy for the conversion, HM had tied the contest at 7 with four minutes left in the half.

Better Than Dallas would protect the ball for the final four minutes of the half and the teams went into the break all tied at 7.

Second Half

The second verse, same as the first? Not quite. With one team twenty minutes away from a championship, the pressure was on. High Maintenance opened the second half on offense and ran a vintage drive. Borders completed five of nine passes to move High Maintenance down the field. This included a 35 yard hook up with Gina Gianfagna on a closed play that moved HM down to the BTD 21 yard line. After moving into goal to go range, HM faced a 4th and goal from the BTD 3 yard line. Even with 12:30 remaining, this was a crucial play. Borders found a receiver in the end zone, but HM's receiver was unable to hold on and BTD took over on downs at their own 3 yard line.

BTD had dodged a bullet, but after getting out of the shadow of their endzone, they stalled out on their own 38 yard line and gave the ball back to High Maintenance on downs.

This time, HM would not come up short. Borders connected on five of six passes, including three to Viviana Brantley. The last of which was a five yard touchdown strike on fourth and goal. With 4:30 left, High Maintenance had a 13-7 lead and the conversion attempt still to come. On the conversion try, HM was unable to add to their lead.

Better Than Dallas took over trailing 13-7 with four minutes left. It was deja vu all over again. After two incomplete passes, things looked bad. When Walker was sacked by Jen Conrad on third down, it looked like it was over. Facing 4th and 13 from their own seven yard line, this magical group showed everyone one more trick. Walker hit BTD assistant captain John Haartje on a catch and run that, when the play ended, had netted 55 yards and breathed new life into Better Than Dallas.

After a first down run by Shannon Redd, BTD had second goal from the High Maintenance 17. An incomplete made it third down. Then Walker hit championship game co-MVP Jeff Rieger on a slant pattern and Rieger took it to the house for a 17 yard touchdown. With only 30 seconds remaining, BTD was a conversion away from the lead. On the attempt, Walker hit Rieger again and when Rieger squeezed the ball just over the goalline, Better Than Dallas had an unexpected 14-13 lead.

High Maintenance had one last prayer. With only 30 seconds left, they were able to move up 25 yards and had the ball on their own 35 yard line with five seconds left on the clock. With one last chance, Borders hurled one to the endzone, and when Jeff Rieger intercepted the ball in the endzone, Better Than Dallas had made history.

Better Than Dallas' amazing turnaround was due to a total team effort. The entire squad should be commended on an outstanding performance in the playoffs.

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