ANNOUNCEMENT:

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Both represented the FCFFL well at the State Tournament this past weekend. Both earned berths to the USFFA Nationals next year in York, PA. 7 Pt Spread made it to the Championship game against Primetime from Richmond. At one point they had a 21-7 lead in the first half and were in the red zone with the ball - poised to take a 3-score lead into halftime. Events turned: Primetime got the ball and scored (foregoing a FG on the last play of the half in order to score a TD...gutsy). Primetime scored again on their first possession of the second half to tie the game. 7 Pt Spread was driving at the end of the game for the tying score and was intercepted inside the Primetime 10. As mentioned, Gameface played well, very well as we all come to expect - but this past weekend 7 Pt Spread was playing almost perfect ball. Wolves had attendance issues (story of that team), Triple Crown probably would have won if they faced anyone else in the first round, TMT had a letdown after winning Nationals last week, and lost to the eventual Champs in the quarterfinals. On that note: I have heard and read a lot of chatter about Nationals being the lesser of the two tournaments. I have attended 7 of the last 9 National tournaments. While it may be true that first round games are not as competitive as the State A Tournament - beyond that its an equally competitive final 4 - if not 8. In fact, it was not too long ago that PA and OH were winning it. These things are cyclical, just as where the power center of teams are in the state. In the late 90`s and early 2000`s it was up here. We won 7 in a row; My Plumber, Red Dogs, SE Raiders/Cap Countdown. The power then shifted to Richmond and Gunz, DMob and Power 92...with Tidewater placing 1 or 2 teams in the final four, and even winning it once (Firm). Now, there is another surge from up north and even from Harrisonburg. The title stays in Richmond, but we`ve made significant progress. The state as a whole is in a flux. Next year the State Tournament is in Harrisonburg for the first time. I am going to push participation hard in 2014. I want 8 teams in the A tournament from this league, and 2 in the championship game. That`s not unrealistic considering that the 5 who played this past weekend will be battling each other this Spring, Summer and Fall, and are now very familiar with who they have to go through from the other areas of the state - to win it. High level competition breeds high caliber play. We used to do very well in the B tournament, winning every other year and accounting for half the teams Sunday (between the IFFL and FCFFL). For some reason this year that fell off. Only 1 of our 5 teams made it to Sunday (Banditos/Robots) - plus United from the IFFL. I chalk that up to an off year for the B teams and do not consider that indicative of anything else. Banditos will move up to the A State Tournament next year (that`s 1/8). In closing, it was a great A Tournament for our league. The best in recent memory. The trajectory is up. B? not so good, but that will correct itself next year - I`m sure! Here is the first half of the A State Championship game between Primetime and 7 Pt Spread.