Bracketology: Greatest game in LOC history (Semi-Finals)

Here we are, the semi finals, the final four. In this article the best two games (so far) in LOC history will be determined, with the third being determined next week. All of these games are incredible, but which deserves to be called the best?

(21) Chiquitos Vs. (41) Stat Change-Gate

What more can we say about these great games? 'Chiquitos' has rolled through 'Down to the wire', 'The underdog', and 'Passing is overrated' on its way to the semi finals. The game took place in a critical part of the season, Week 14, with many teams still vying for a playoff spot. The significance of this game was huge, as the winner Gridiron Gang wound up going to the Corona Bowl. What's more, it was just an entertaining game in a great atmosphere. A 115-109 victory against Burdettinators, a Monday night comeback, Mexican food, what more do you need?

'Stat Change-Gate' has beaten some really tough games on its way. Taking down 'Wembley Woes' and 'Even my backups nearly beat you' is no small feat. Although this game had no significance on the 2013 season, it was still an astonishing game. The narrow 120-115 victory only to be ripped away from Bear Necessities by a touchdown pass that was actually ruled a lateral, and in fact a run play. This gave Forge Flyers the victory on Tuesday morning (the only game ever won on a Tuesday) 115-114. Certainly the most controversial game in history, and I feel it's that controversy that will keep it from ultimately winning.

Winner: Chiquitos

Reason: This was incredibly hard, but I don't think the best game should be because of a controversy, and that's what prevented Stat Change-Gate from moving on

(45) Corona Bowl V Vs. (64) Corona Bowl VI

'Corona Bowl V' has been a Corona Bowl killer thus far, knocking out Corona Bowl 1 & 2, as well as #200Club. But it rightfully deserves to be where it is in the bracket. There's nothing more important in the LOC calendar as a Corona Bowl, especially one between two fierce rivals, Burdettinators and The Tuckfards. We know how special this one is in the history books, with Burdettinators having never beaten The Tuckfards prior to this game, and them doing so in a record breaking fashion. This game was neck and neck come the end of the 6pm games too, making it even more enticing.

'Corona Bowl VI' should simply be known as 'The Comeback'. A Tom's Tyrants team fresh of 7 wins in 8 to just get to the Corona Bowl, against an early season superstar The Dream Team, who somewhat stumbled into the title game. They've beaten some really good games on their path too, 'James Milner Bowl I', 'The Tie', and 'Penalty on the play'. A game The Dream Team were winning for pretty much the whole duration, only to have it snatched away in the final minutes. My only problem with this is that we all thought this was done and dusted, so the comeback was more out of surprise seeing the result Tuesday morning, rather than having a nail biting conclusion. But let's not forget, this was the title that gave the LOC its first 2 time champion.

Winner: Corona Bowl V

Reason: There is no doubt Corona Bowl VI was special, but we all thought it was done. Corona Bowl V was just a great occasion. The entire league was enamoured with the game, and we're all rooting for one team. A clutch performance, long standing rivals, it was a tremendous game.

So, this gives us our final round of the bracket.

Final: (21) Chiquitos Vs. (45) Corona Bowl V

3rd place: (41) Stat Change-Gate Vs. (64) Corona Bowl VI

2015: Worst draft picks of all time

Coach Leach joins Commissioner Stubbs for his final podcast for a while as he embarks to San Francisco to scout out the fantasy players in the Bay area. He couldn't have picked a better podcast to leave us with, the worst draft picks of all time, and boy there are some bad ones.

Bracketology: Greatest game in LOC history (quarter finals, part II)

(10) Corona Bowl II Vs. (45) Corona Bowl V
Gridiron Gang had a terrible start to the season, going 3-5 in the first 8 weeks. In the next 8, they'd earn the nickname Cardiac Kids for their heroic comeback to win 6 of 7 to reach the Corona Bowl. They faced none other than current champion, their father, Coach D. Stubbs and Bear Necessities for the title. As had been the case for months, Gridiron Gang were caught in a tight game, but once they took the lead they didn't give it back. It was a nail biter the whole way through, with Bear Necessities never being behind by more than 16. Gridiron Gang won 113-97.

Burdettinators were having a historic season. They set a record amount of points in a season, and strolled to the Corona Bowl. But they had one problem, a certain rival they had never beaten,  The Tuckfards. The Tuckfards, in another great season, were looking to bring home the title after failing to do so a year before. In one of the biggest upsets in LOC history, Burdettinators beat their rival for the first time with a record setting 161 points in a Corona Bowl. To this day, the only win they have against The Tuckfards.

Winner: Corona Bowl V
Reason: Both have great stories and were great games, but Corona Bowl V just edges it


(64) Corona Bowl VI Vs. (63) James Milner Bowl I
After winning their first title in 2011, Tom's Tyrants became one of the most successful teams in the LOC. Winning seasons became common place. But 2014 wasn't going to plan. Entering week 8, they were 2-5, staring a losing season in the face. In a Gridiron Gang-esque turnaround, they won 7 of the next 8 to reach the Corona Bowl. To become the first repeat champion, they'd have to defeat early season super stars The Dream Team. After a close game, The Dream Team held a 14 point lead entering Monday night, with 2 players left opposed to Coach Barnes' 1. In an unprecedented turn of events, The Dream Team would only score 3 more points while Tom's a Tyrants would get 20, winning their second title 103-100.

2014 was a record worse for Jeff's Seals and Forge Flyers, both having the losingest seasons in history at 2-12. They faced each other in the first and only 2 week long James Milner Bowl to decide who the loser of the league was. Forge Flyers took the first leg, but Jeff's Seals made up the difference, winning by a small margin and saddling Forge Flyers with the title of 2014 loser. Forge Flyers also made a ill advised bet which will mean their team will be gracing a picture of James Milner as their logo for 2015.

Winner: Corona Bowl VI
Reason: Come on.

2015: Pass Ball Game Review

One of the most encapsulating events on the LOC calendar, the second annual pass ball game took place this weekend, so what better way to relive it (or if you were unfortunately unable to make it find out what took place) than to listen the recap show with Commissioner Stubbs and Co-host Chris Leach.

Bracketology: Greatest game in LOC history (quarter finals, part I)

(44) Passing is overrated Vs. (21) Chiquitos
The Tuckfards were in the midst of another terrific season. They'd set the new record for playoff appearances all time and in a row, and were one game away from their first Corona Bowl. To get there, they had to overcome IKNAN, and boy did they. Jamaal Charles put up over 50 points, the highest ever single total by a player in playoff history. Supported by Brees and Murray who put up over 20 each, Coach Merritt rolled to the Corona Bowl 160-114.

Gridiron Gangs post championship year was less than stellar. Entering week 14 at 6-7, they needed a win, and ADRZ to lose to IKNAN, without them outscoring Gridiron Gang by 50 points. To add more fuel to the fire, game day was spent at Chiquitos for Coach Stubbs' 18th. He was playing Burdettinators. It was a tight game, with Burdettinators leading throughout the 6pm games (and letting Coach Stubbs know). The lead would swap a couple of times until the Monday night game. They got the win 115-109, and IKNAN beat ADRZ 161-103, advancing Coach Stubbs to the playoffs.

Winner: Chiquitos
Reason: Passing is overrated was a great game, but lacks the story and drama of Chiquitos


(19) Even my backups nearly beat you Vs. (41) Stag change-gate
5-4 Burdettinators faced a tough test in Week 10 of the 2010 season, facing current champion Bear Necessities. But you'd be forgiven for thinking if the current champ was Burdettinators in this game. Burdettinators put up a mightily impressive (and quite probably record high at the time) 179 points to Bear Necessities 117. But the amazing part was Coach Burdett also scored 113 on the bench! Benches beating starting lineups isn't rare, but with this amount of points it almost never happens. This is likely the highest scoring week on an entire team ever.

Forge Flyers were having a middling 4-4 season, while Bear Necessities were awash at 2-6. Little did we know that a game between these 2 in week 9 of 2013 would become one of the most memorable, and the most controversial game in history. This was a mightily close game, which finished 120-115. Or so we thought. There was a pass by Bear Necessities QB Joe Flacco to a running back in the flat. Upon review, this was not a pass, but in fact a lateral. This took 6 points away from Joe Flacco, and Bear Necessities, also relieving them of a win.

Winner: Stat change-gate
Reason: To make it through at this point, you need a story or a hook. This game certainly has a hook.

2015: Best draft picks of 2015

With training camps starting today, Commissioner Stubbs thought this would be a good opportunity to look back at the best draft picks of all time in the LOC. He and Coach Viv Nathwani highlight and analyse the best of the best.

Bracketology: Greatest game in LOC history (round 3, part II)

(10) Corona Bowl II Vs. (29) 175 Destruction

'Corona Bowl II' was one of the greats, father vs. son, champion versus up and comer, Gridiron a Gang winning 7 out of 8 to bring it home. Its had a tough go of it so far, facing 'Holy Moly' in the first round which was a high scoring 142-131 showdown between Bear Necessities and Forge Flyers in week 2 2014, and in round 2 'Gridiron Gang prevents the perfect season' which was of course the upset of Bear Necessities in the midst of their title season - and the only loss of the year.

'175 Destruction' was in week 5 of 2012 where The Tuckfards just decimated Forge Flyers to the tune of 175 points. Its faced two very close games, 'Cutting it close II' in round 1, where ADRZ won a 96-95 thriller against Tom's Tyrants in week 4 of 2011, and 'Cutting it close III' in round 2, which was also a thriller, The Tuckfards bested Bear Necessities in a 111-110 shoot out. (You see what I did there with the two very 'close' games?)

Winner: Corona Bowl II

Reason: Gridiron Gangs run was immense, and the story behind it historic

(45) Corona Bowl V Vs. (60) #200Club

We all know about 'Corona Bowl V', Burdettinators Vs. The Tuckfards, a historic match up dominated by Coach Merritt, except in this one, where Burdettinators set a record amount of points for a Corona Bowl and won. It faced 'Does anyone want to win?' Which, being polite, was a tough game to watch (and the lowest total scoring game in LOC history), where Ashley's Steelers and Forge Flyers combined for 94.2 points. It also faced 'Corona Bowl I' in round 2, the very first title game won by Bear Necessities.

'#200Club' is simply the most incredible performance in LOC history (and before the following week, by a long way). Tom's Tyrants just put up a demoralising 200 points, a score that could never be matched again. It faced 'Got a point II?' In round 1, which is one of the closest games in history, 105.86 - 105.22, Burdettinators over ADRZ. In round 2 it faced 'Start how you wish to finish', a huge week 1 game in 2013 between Tom's Tyrants and The Dream Team, which Coach Barnes won 160-137.

Winner: Corona Bowl V

Reason: Make no mistake, the points are seventy shades of impressive, but to win a title, in the way Burdettinators did, against an arch rival they've never beaten, is storybook

(64) Corona Bowl VI Vs. (2) The Tie

'Corona Bowl VI', the game very much still fresh in our memories, the one where Coach Barnes conceded defeat only to win in dramatic fashion, was astounding. Its opponents haven't been too shabby either, facing 'Corona Bowl IV rematch' in round one, where sophomore champion TRQB faced The Tuckfards, where coach Merritt righted a wrong 111-106, and 'Penalty on the play' where a field goal wiped off the board by a defensive penalty led to Gridiron Gang losing to IKNAN by, you guessed it, less than a field goal.

'The Tie' still keeps plugging along. A 2009 game with no history on record between Gridiron Gang and English Football is Better (now The Romosexuals), in all likelihood the only tie we'll ever see. It's caused some upsets so far, taking out 'Defensive battle in the playoffs' in round 1 was a 77-75 gritty playoff win by The Dream Team in 2014, and 'The Ollie and Phil montage' in round 2, another instalment of the famous match up that The Tuckfards continued to dominate.

Winner: Corona Bowl VI

Reason: the upset stops here, make way for the superior game

(63) James Milner Bowl I Vs. (57) The lowest score

'James Milner Bowl I', the only 2 week long game (and actually quite an encapsulating one) to decide the 2014 loser, and ultimately doom Forge Flyers in donning a James Milner logo. It has really been a giant killer so far, kicking out 'Relentless' in round 1, which was brutal 154 - 71 victory for Burdettinators in 2013, and 'It's not quite 200 but...' Which was a stunner to go out of the bracket, a game that saw Tom's Tyrants put up nearly 200 points.

'The Lowest Score' as it suggests, is the lowest score by a team in history. 24 points no less, a score established by Jeff's Seals last year (and hopefully never to be repeated). It faced 'Catch me if you can' in round 1, a 172-101 screamer where ADRZ just couldn't catch Burdettinators, and 'The Miracle II' in round 2 which was the first game in Tom's Tyrants impressive 8 out of 9 win stretch to bring home title number 2. 

Winner: James Milner Bowl I

Reason: It slightly pains me that one of these has to go to the quarter finals with some other great games already out, but James Milner Bowl I was actually a great event