ARE THEY NFLICIOUS? INDEED!
8/15/02
The top seed survives the compact season to escape with a championship in their CSA rookie season.

NFLicious, playing for the first time in a CSA league, won the regular season division title and was the number one seed entering the playoffs.

In their opening round game on Tuesday, 8/13, they routed the 8th seeded Disease Cowboys, 26-0. The game was highlighted by their defensive effort, which produced six interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. NFLicious advanced to face the fifth seeded Drunkyard Dawgs.

The Dawgs were in the semi-finals after routing the 4th seeded B&W Widowmakers. The DD/B&W game was played on Thursday, 8/15, because they were postponed on the previous Tuesday.

This meant that Drunkyard Dawgs were coming off a game and NFLicious would be rested. NFL took advantage and jumped out to a 13-0 halftime lead. In a physical contest, DD was able to put a score on the board to cut the deficit to seven points, but with under five minutes remaining, NFL sealed the game with an insurance touchdown and advanced to the finals with a 20-6 victory.

In the finals, they faced the defending spring champions (as Legion of Doom), Greatest Show on Earth. Greatest Show, the third seed advanced to the finals with a dramatic semi-final victory. In the semis, Greatest Show faced their rival Super Fun. Super Fun had gotten to the semis by holding on against the 7th seeded Drifters 18-13, while Greatest Show on Earth advanced by routing Free Agents 34-14.

In the semis, Super Fun jumped out early on Greatest Show and held a 7-0 halftime lead. Then the teams traded touchdowns and late in the game, Super Fun led 14-7. The Greatest Show defense then rose up and changed the complexion of the game. After tying the game, GS got an interception by playoff MVP, Michael Walker, and after lateralling the ball to his brother, Glen, Greatest Show took the return to the house and led for the first time. After the conversion, the score was 21-14 and that was the way the game ended. Greatest Show on Earth advanced to face NFLicious for the championship.

The title game was another tight contest. The two teams kept trading scores, with no team ever leading by more than seven points. At the half Greatest Show led 13-7, backed by the play of MVP Michael Walker. NFL responded right away in the second half and tied the game at 13.

Then the NFL defense took over and won them the championship. After getting the tying score, they forced a turnover and moved the ball down the field. With only three minutes left in the game, NFL got in the endzone, when captain and QB Chad Henderson was able to find Kathleen Murphy crossing in the endzone for the go ahead score. They added the extra point and led 20-13.

Greatest Show had one last opportunity. They moved the ball downfield, but kept chewing up the clock. When they finally got inside the red zone, they had only 18 seconds left on the clock. With time for two or three plays, the NFL defense forced Greatest Show QB Warren Borders to scramble. The defense forced a difficult pass and the NFL defense got a one handed interception on the five yard line to win the championship.