Merry Christmas from the Pigskin Hooligans! Captain Russell received this ornament for Christmas today which captures the essence of the Hooligans' championship season.
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You can view final stats from the 2012 season here:
To round out our coverage of this year's championship season, the Pigskin Hooligans would like to announce this year's specially recognized award winners: 2012 Most Valuable Player Winner - Zach Johnston: For the third straight season Zach has won the Pigskin Hooligans' MVP award. As usual his outstanding play at the QB position was key for the team all year. Zach led the league with 32 passing TDs and did a great job finding open receivers as well as picking up yards by running when blitzed. He was all over the field on defense, helping to make flag grabs and coming up with a few sacks as well as giving out assignments. 2012 Breakout Player of the Year Award Winner - Angela Martin: Angela easily claims the Breakout Player of the Year award, given to the most outstanding Hooligan newcomer. She led the entire league with 15 TDs on the season and was practically uncoverable in the endzone. Angela's 9-pt TDs were a huge factor in the Hooligans' margin of victory throughout the year, and her attendance was dependable as she made every game. She contributed on defense as well, coming up with an interception along with making pass breakups and flag grabs. 2012 Brittany Davis Memorial Award Winner - Angela Martin: Angela also wins the Brittany Davis Memorial Award, given to the team's most outstanding female player. Her 15 TDs completely obliterated the old Hooligan female single-season record of 6, previously a joint tie between Breannea King and the award's namesake Brittany Davis. Even more impressive is that Angela recorded all of those touchdowns in only 5 games. 2012 Defensive Player of the Year Award Winner - Justin Litzner: Justin is named the 2012 Defensive Player of the Year Award Winner. While he made many contributions on the offensive end, his defense was often underrated. Justin was consistently in good position to make flag grabs throughout the year and provided solid coverage. He also recorded an interception early on in the season. 2012 Heart of the Hooligans Award Winner - Josh Ulm: Josh is the first ever recipient of the new Heart of the Hooligans Award, given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of the Pigskin Hooligans. It was with great sorrow that he started the year on a separate team in order for there to actually be enough teams to have a league, and both sides were happy when he came back after his team folded. Josh was only able to play in one game upon joining the team due to sustaining a late concussion, but he had several receptions and dragged a few Big Boyz defenders with him on one play. He retires as the franchise's career leader in TD receptions with 21. 2012 Individual Performance of the Year Award - Tom Sperry: Tom wins the first inaugural Individual Performance of the Year award, given to the player who had the best individual game performance. He wins it for his team-leading 9-catch performance in the championship game, recording 2 TDs and 2 PATs as well. Tom provided a consistent target for QB Zach Johnston and often helped move the offense into position for 9-pt girl touchdowns, and he had a few flag grabs on defense as well. 2012 Most Improved Player Award - Mike Russell: Captain Russell earns the 2012 Most Improved Player Award. He notched a new career-high 2 TDs on the season, putting him in a tie for 22nd place out of 67 players in the league. Russell greatly improved his pass-catching ability this season as well as his route running as a receiver, and he threw his first ever completed pass as QB. He made some contributions on defense as well, recording a few flag grabs and his legendary "hit stick". 2012 Sub of the Year Award - Clyde Rhodes: Clyde is this year's recipient of the Sub of the Year Award, given to the most outstanding player who did not begin the year on the team and played in 3 or less games. He played in two games in the 2012 season, recording a touchdown and a sweet interception in his Nov 29 debut against Big Boyz. Clyde also appeared in the championship game, running solid routes and catching 2 passes in the game. Finally, we would like to announce the players responsible for the three best individual plays of the year. They are: Gold Play: Ryan Noack's game-clinching pick 6, 11/12 vs Prestige Worldwide - The Hooligans found themselves in very few close games this season, but they led by merely single digits late in their season opener. Prestige Worldwide had made a small run after scoring twice and now had the ball looking to take the lead. Ryan was not about to let that happen, however, as he read QB Brad Kindred's eyes and made the interception. The resulting INT TD return put the Hooligans up by two scores and secured the win. Silver Play: Clyde Rhodes' one-handed interception, 11/29/12 vs Big Boyz - Clyde was a late sub for the Hooligans' regular season matchup against the Big Boyz. He found himself on defense when Ahmad Trice threw a deep bomb down the field into Hooligan territory. Clyde read the play well, timing his jump and getting a hand on the ball as the opposing receiver tried to catch it as well. He managed to wrest the ball away, coming up with a key pick that gave the Hooligans the ball back. Bronze Play: Kristina Butcher's flag grab on Big Boyz' crazy 3-pt conversion try, 12/5/12 vs #5 Big Boyz - The Hooligans already had their playoff victory well in hand, so just for fun the #5 seeded Big Boyz decided to try a 3-pt conversion. As such the play started from midfield, and almost immediately they starting lateraling. And lateraling. And lateraling. The ridiculous play went on for almost 2 minutes until Kristina decided to put an end to all the madness and snatched the ball carrier's flag. The Hooligans would like to congratulate all of the award winners on their accomplishments! There will be one more final note to come later this year as we will take a special look at the storied careers of the Hooligans that have announced their retirement. The 2012 season saw the Pigskin Hooligans finally claim the first championship in its storied franchise history. The Hooligans finished with a perfect 7-0 record, running the table throughout the year. Due to the late start (the team's opener on Nov 11 was the latest in franchise history) the regular season lasted only 5 games, the shortest regular season since the 2007 Hooligan campaign. The team won every game by double digits, playing in very few close games during the season. The Hooligans featured their usual explosive offense, scoring above 60 points on 3 occasions and scoring above 70 twice. The franchise's all-time record is now 33-26-1. Several franchise records were set this season: team-wise, the Hooligans' points-per-game mark of 49.0 obliterated the old record of 34.2 from the 2009 season. The 7-0 record gives the team a 7-game winning streak which bests the old record of 6 in a row set back in 2009. In addition, that 0 in the loss column gives the 2012 team the record for least losses ever in a season replacing last year's mark of 2. The team also tied the single-game points record by scoring 79 in the championship game. Individually Angela Martin demolished the old female TD record with 15 on the year, breaking the joint mark of 6 previously held by Breannea King and Brittany Davis. Angela also scored 4 TDs in a game two separate times which is a franchise record. Zach Johnston set a new single-game passing TD mark with an amazing 9 in a game against Big Boyz. With that being said, let's take a look at all of the individuals that contributed to the Hooligans' championship success this season: Mike Russell (captain) - Captain Mike Russell showed good leadership throughout the team's championship run, finally claiming his first title. He was at all of the team's games and also had the responsibility of running the entire league this season. Russell caught 2 TDs on the year which gives him a new career high, and he was also named to the all-star game. His recruiting prowess allowed him to attract key free agents to the Hooligans and put together a winning team. Final stats: 5 GP, 2 TDs Angela Martin - Angela turned in an astounding rookie year for the Hooligans. She turned heads all season with her consistent ability to find holes in the defense and get open in the endzone. Angela recorded 15 TDs on the year which led the entire league, and the extra points from her 9-pt scores were a crucial factor in many games. She also played good defense, making numerous flag grabs throughout the season and notching an interception in the team's first game. Angela was named to the all-star game this year for her efforts. Final stats: 5 GP, 15 TDs, INT Breannea King - Breannea was rostered for much of the Hooligans' 2012 season. Her work schedule prevented her from playing this year, but she was able to make it to the championship game. Breannea was the team's "secret weapon" in that game, as at any moment she could have put on a flag belt and given the team an extra girl if the game was close. Now, though, she may have said her "last goodbye" to the Hooligans as she has officially completed her undergrad degree. Final stats: None Clyde Rhodes - Clyde subbed into a couple games for the Hooligans this year. He showed his skills honed on Concordia's varsity football team, running solid routes as a receiver as well as playing solid defense. Clyde notched a TD and an interception in his first game along with a couple receptions in the championship game. He will be leaving Concordia after this semester but the Hooligans are glad to have had his skills! Final stats: 2 GP, TD, INT Dana Ford - Dana subbed into one game for the Hooligans this season, entering as a late replacement for Kristina Butcher. She saw time primarily on defense, guarding her man well. Dana did see a few offensive targets in the game, rotating with Angela Martin for playing time. Final stats: 1 GP Dorian Lancaster - Dorian had a solid rookie year for the Hooligans. He showed his blazing speed on several receptions throughout the year, finishing with 2 PATs. Dorian also contributed defensively with an interception. He will be playing on Concordia's varsity football team next year, but Hooligans fans hope he can still play after his season is done. Final stats: 3 GP, 2 PATs, INT Ethan Anderson - Ethan turned in a solid second season for the Hooligans, helping the franchise secure its first championship. He ran dependable routes on offense, usually playing center and notching a long TD in the championship game. Ethan also had his usual solid defensive positioning, making numerous flag grabs on the year. Hooligans fans are still waiting on his status for next year as he may not be returning to Concordia, but he has pledged to stay with the team for life if he comes back. Final stats: 3 GP, 3 TDs, PAT Josh Ulm - Josh concludes his storied Hooligan career as a champion. He was forced to begin the season on a separate team just to make sure the league could get rolling, but luckily he was able to return when his team folded. Josh saw action in one game this year, serving as a dependable receiver and dragging a few football players with him on one of his catches. Unfortunately he sustained a concussion off the field just before playoffs that ended his season, but he retires as the team's career leader in TDs with 21. Final stats: 1 GP Justin Litzner - Justin was a key free agent acquisition that helped the Hooligans win the championship. He was a sure-handed receiver all season long, making an array of toe-tapping catches and laying out for passes that paced the Hooligans' offense. Justin led the league in PATs with 7, recording 3 in the championship game, and he also showed a strong knack for flag-grabbing on defense. He wins his third championship in a row and was named to the all-star game. Final stats: 5 GP, 2 TDs, 7 PATs, INT Karen Greficz - Karen appeared to help the Hooligans collect their forfeit win over Ruthless on Dec 2. She had planned to play in the game, looking to use her dangerous speed on both sides of the ball. Karen was also present to watch the championship game, and she now turns her attention to planning her wedding with Hooligans QB Zach Johnston this summer. She would be eligible to play next year with the new alumni rule, so it's possible we could see her at least as a sub if she's still in the area. Final stats: None Kristina Butcher - Kristina was a solid contributor to the Hooligans throughout the championship season. She showed good hands during the year and caught 3 TDs including 2 in the championship game. Kristina also contributed on defense making a ton of flag grabs throughout the year and coming up with an interception. Final stats: 4 GP, 3 TDs, PAT, INT Ryan Noack - Ryan concludes a historic 5-year career on the Hooligans with a championship. He used his 6' 5" height well throughout the year, catching a ton of passes to record 4 TDs on the season. Ryan was also key in extra-point situations as he came up with 5 PATs, and defensively he had a pick 6 that clinched the Hooligans' season-opening win. He has announced his retirement following the season, though Hooligan fans hope he could still be lured out even for one more game next year. Ryan was also named to the all-star game this year. Final stats: 4 GP, 4 TDs, 5 PATs, INT Tom Sperry - Tom was another critical free agent signing for the Hooligans this season. He was a fixture on the offensive end, most likely leading the team if not the league in receptions as seen in his 9-catch performance in the championship game. Tom had 6 TDs to go along with 6 PATs in the 2012 campaign, and his defense was solid. He earns his third consecutive championship and was named to the all-star game. Final stats: 5 GP, 6 TDs, 6 PATs Zach Johnston - Zach turned in yet another stellar season for the Hooligans, claiming his first championship. He passed for a league-leading 32 TDs on the season and was consistently a dual threat to run when blitzed or pass. Zach also played solid defense, using his speed to track down opposing ball-carriers. He has announced his retirement following the season, and if he does indeed go off into the sunset he will leave quite a legacy at the QB position having passed for 113 TDs as a Hooligan. Zach was named to the all-star game this season. Final stats: 5 GP, 32 pass TDs, PAT Zach Milner - Zach played in one game for the Hooligans this year, winning the first championship of his 3-year Hooligan tenure. He was limited throughout the year with a busy schedule but he appeared in the team's Nov 29 matchup against Big Boyz, showing his speed on defense. Zach will be back for his senior year next season and early reports have him in the mix for starting QB if Zach Johnston does indeed retire. Final stats: 1 GP The Pigskin Hooligans would like to thank all of the team members for their time this year and congratulate them on their accomplishment. Every member played a part in bringing home the first championship in Hooligan history. Stay tuned next week for the Awards Show as some specific individual accomplishments are recognized! Wed, Dec 12 - The flag football season came to a conclusion on Wednesday with a fun all-star game to wrap things up. The game was played on 12/12/12, so it seems only fitting that 12 total players showed up to play. A draft was conducted to replace the original teams, as many players were missing due to schedule conflicts or having already left for break. Team Angela defeated Team Rashad 66-44 after the rosters were rearranged. The Pigskin Hooligans were well represented as Angela Martin, Mike Russell, and Zach Johnston played in the game.
Angela Martin and Rashad Smith served as the captains of their respective teams and held a draft to select players. Angela chose first and the results were as follows:
Team Rashad began with the ball and converted on fourth down as Kevin Biscoe connected with Dauntez Oliver on a deep pass with Kheyll Morris adding the PAT to open an 8-0 lead. Team Angela answered as Hooligans QB Zach Johnston moved the team down the field and threw a mid-range pass to Dionte Dixon to respond with captain Angela Martin adding the game-tying PAT. Team Angela's defense forced a turnover on downs, and Angela Martin hauled in a TD pass to give her team a 19-8 lead. Team Rashad would make a run as Kheyll Morris caught a pass from Kevin Biscoe to cut the deficit to 19-14 and then Dauntez Oliver came up with an interception. Team Angela's defense would hold, though, and the teams traded scores before the half as captain Angela Martin caught her 2nd TD of the game while captain Rashad Smith caught a pass with a defender on him to score. The halftime score was 28-20 in favor of Team Angela. Team Angela began the second half with the ball and Zach Johnston threw a deep pass to Ryan Scott for a 34-20 lead. Team Rashad countered as Kheyll Morris found the endzone for the second time and captain Rashad Smith showed good hands on the PAT catch. Team Angela struck again as captain Angela Martin simply could not be covered, hauling in her 3rd TD of the day for yet another 9-pt score. Dionte Dixon came up big for his squad with an interception, giving Team Angela good field position so Zach Johnston could hook up with Ryan Scott again to open up a 51-28 lead. Kevin Biscoe found Dauntez Oliver on a deep pass, but Zach Johnston drove his team down the field and tossed a short pass to Dionte Dixon in the endzone. The teams traded scores again as captain Rashad Smith hauled in another TD while captain Angela Martin took a short shovel pass for her 4th TD of the day. Mike Russell nearly came up with a PAT catch at the end, but the 2pt try was no good and the final score was 66-44 in favor of Team Angela. For Team Angela, captain Angela Martin was the star of the day recording 4 receiving TDs along with a few flag grabs and a pass breakup. Zach Johnston continued to show why he's a legend, passing for 8 TDs on the day with a couple runs and flag grabs. Ryan Scott saw action mostly as a receiver in the game, catching 2 TDs. Dionte Dixon had a good day with 2 TDs and an interception. Ahmad Trice had a PAT along with a few receptions and an interception on a PAT at the end of the first half. Mike Russell tied his career high with 3 receptions in the game, 2 of which went for first downs. For Team Rashad, Kheyll Morris had a solid offensive day with 2 TDs and 3 PATs. Kevin Biscoe passed for 6 TDs in the game. Dauntez Oliver notched 2 TDs and an interception in the game. Captain Rashad Smith showed his speed and had 2 TDs and a PAT. Martell Buchanan was held off the scoreboard but showed his blazing speed on a couple receptions. Humphrey Ihejirikah had a couple receptions that went for decent gains. Both teams would like to thank Corrina Rotondo and Mikey Conant for helping to keep the clock. This game officially concludes the 2012 CUAA intramural flag football season. Hooligans fans can be looking for a few more notes to come in the next couple weeks recapping the season! The Pigskin Hooligans have the privilege of announcing the official 2012 All-Star Team! This year's squad features 6 players from your Pigskin Hooligans along with plenty of representation from the rest of the league as well. The game will be played on Wednesday at 4:00pm on the IM field. The teams are divided into Team Russell (white) and Team Klem (black). Mike Russell (captain)(Pigskin Hooligans) - Pigskin Hooligans captain Mike Russell headlines the first of the two all-star teams, making his 2nd career all-star appearance. He greatly improved his game this year, notching a new career-high 2 TDs along with throwing a completed pass. Russell's inadvertent "hit stick" on Prestige Worldwide's Evan Novak remains legendary among Concordia's baseball team, second only to Elyse Schlump's bodyslam of Mikey Conant during musical chairs at Midnight Madness. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 2 TDs Angela Martin (Pigskin Hooligans) - Angela makes her first all-star appearance after an amazing rookie season. She caught an incredible league-leading 15 TDs on the season, consistently using her speed to get open while also playing tough defense with an interception and tons of flag grabs. One has to wonder if Angela's 15 TDs stack up as the most all-time by a girl in CUAA IM history; it certainly seems likely. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 15 TDs, INT Dauntez Oliver (Big Boyz) - Dauntez makes it to his first all-star game after a solid season. He notched 6 TDs over the course of the season, most notably recording a 4-TD performance in Big Boyz' 48-44 upset of Ruthless in the first round. Dauntez will be a factor on both sides of the ball with his speed. 2012 stats: 3 GP, 6 TDs, 2 PATs Jacob Rogers (Team Ratio) - Jacob earns an all-star appearance after a good freshman season. Team Ratio's captain showed blazing speed throughout the year, finishing with 5 TDs many of which went for most of the length of the field. Jacob's agility is an asset on both offense and defense. 2012 stats: 4 GP, 5 TDs, PAT Jeremy Maas (Prestige Worldwide) - Jeremy turned in a solid rookie season and makes the all-star game as a result. He was a consistent target on the offense, bursting to the endzone 7 times in the season to tie for first on his team. Jeremy's defensive skills were also a key asset to his squad as his 4 interceptions place him 2nd in the league. 2012 stats:5 GP, 7 TDs, 4 PATs, 4 INTs Jeremy Robinson (Prestige Worldwide) - Jeremy had a good first year and earns an all-star appearance. He tied with fellow teammate and all-star Jeremy Maas with his 7 TDs throughout the year. Jeremy was also a factor in the conversion game notching 4 PATs. 2012 stats: 4 GP, 7 TDs, PAT Kheyll Morris (Luke Dorm and Posse/Ruthless) - Kheyll used his skills as a collegiate football player to earn an all-star berth. He split the team between Luke Dorm and Posse and Ruthless, finishing with a combined 6 TDs. Kheyll showed good skills as a receiver but also saw time at the QB position during the year. 2012 stats:3 GP, 6 TDs, 2 PATs, INT Martell Buchanan (Ruthless) - Martell has been a staple of the all-star game throughout his career, appearing every year throughout his 5 years of playing His lightning-fast speed makes him a huge factor any time he is on the field. Martell showed his versatility this year, notching 4 TDs but also playing some QB and tossing 2 passing TDs. 2012 stats:2 GP, 2 pass TDs, 4 TDs, PAT, INT Mike Ball (Big Boyz) - Big Boyz captain Mike Ball gets an all-star berth after his performance on the year. He was a good receiver throughout the season, collecting 2 TDs and 5 PATs. Mike also served as QB at times, notching 8 pass TDs including 6 in his team's first-round playoff victory. 2012 stats: 6 GP, 8 pass TDs, 2 TDs, 5 PATs, INT Ryan Noack (Pigskin Hooligans) - Ryan makes the first all-star appearance in his storied 5-year career as a Hooligan. He helped lead the team to its first ever championship this year, using his 6'5" height to record 4 TDs and 5 PATs. Ryan has announced his retirement effective following the season, so this could be your last chance to catch him in action. 2012 stats: 4 GP, 4 TDs, 5 PATs, INT Ryan Scott (Team Ratio) - Ryan earns a place in the all-star game in his second season of flag football. He was Team Ratio's primary quarterback throughout the year, tossing 22 pass TDs over the course of the season. Ryan also showed a good ability to scramble with his legs, and he caught a one-handed TD in his team's playoff defeat. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 22 pass TDs, TD Zach Johnston (Pigskin Hooligans) - Zach makes it back to the all-star game for the 4th time in his legendary Pigskin Hooligan career. He continued to add to his legacy this season, tossing a league-leading 32 pass TDs to give him a mind-boggling 113 in his 4 years as a Hooligan. Zach was also a huge factor on defense, helping out with assignments and coming up with sacks and flag grabs. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 32 pass TDs, PAT Coach Klem (captain)(no team) - Coach Klem headlines the second of the two all-star teams as the faculty IM director. She brings an athletic background to her team, having played college basketball at Madonna University. Coach Klem saw time at both receiver and QB in the powder-puff game at CUAA homecoming this year. 2012 stats: N/A Ahmad Trice (Big Boyz) - Ahmad makes it to the all-star game after a solid season. While his college position is wide receiver, he saw most of the QB reps for his squad passing for 17 TDs on the year. Ahmad was also a threat to run from the QB position, using that skill to run for a few of his 5 PATs on the year. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 17 pass TDs, 2 TDs, 5 PATs Brad Kindred (Prestige Worldwide) - Brad is named to his second straight all-star game following a great season. He took the majority of his team's QB reps during the season, throwing for 27 pass TDs which was good for second in the league. Brad was also a huge factor in the defensive game, leading the league with 5 interceptions. 2012 stats: 6 GP, 27 pass TDs, 2 TDs, 4 PATs, 5 INTs Codey Harrison (Team Ratio) - Codey had a good freshman season and is rewarded with an all-star selection. He led his team with 8 TDs on the year, serving as a consistent deep threat as a wide receiver. Codey also contributed on defense with 2 interceptions, tied for first on his team. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 8 TDs, PAT, 2 INTs Dionte Dixon (Big Boyz) - Dionte makes his first ever all-star appearance in his rookie year. He showed off his speed throughout the year, notching 9 TDs including a league-leading 5 in one game against Prestige Worldwide. Dionte will help his team on offense and defense with his skills honed as a collegiate football player. 2012 stats: 3 GP, 9 TDs, PAT, INT Justin Litzner (Pigskin Hooligans) - Justin earned his 3rd consecutive title this season and now makes it to the all-star game for the 2nd time in his career. He was a solid receiver for the Hooligans all season, laying out for passes and leading the league with 7 PATs. Justin's defensive game was also solid, as he came up with many of the team's flag grabs. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 2 TDs, 7 PATs, INT Karl Koenig (Ruthless) - Karl earns his first all-star berth this season. Ruthless' captain was solid throughout the year, making receptions and notching 3 TDs over the course of the season. Karl can help out on both sides of the football and showed good leadership. 2012 stats: 3 GP, 3 TDs, PAT Kortney Loar (Team Ratio/Prestige Worldwide) - Kortney had a great first season to make it to the all-star game. She was a solid receiver for Team Ratio, scoring 7 TDs before subbing for Prestige Worldwide in the championship game with 2 PATs. Kortney also put a sensational juke move on fellow all-star Mike Ball in one of her 3-TD performances. 2012 stats: 6 GP, 7 TDs, 2 PATs Rashad Smith (Ruthless) - Rashad appears in the all-star game for the second straight season. He showed off his blazing speed honed on Concordia's football team with several receptions and 3 TDs. Rashad was a versatile player as he also saw plenty of time at QB, tossing 5 pass TDs. 2012 stats: 3 GP, 5 pass TDs, 3 TDs, PAT, INT Tom Sperry (Pigskin Hooligans) - Tom Sperry joins teammate Justin Litzner in winning his 3rd straight title and makes his first all-star appearance. He had 6 TDs and 6 PATs over the course of the season, serving as a dependable receiver. Sperry likely led the Hooligans in receptions, notching 9 of them in the championship game. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 6 TDs, 6 PATs Zach Paustian (Prestige Worldwide) - Zach goes to the all-star game for the second time in his veteran career. He showed off his blazing speed throughout the year, scoring 7 TDs to tie for first on his team. Zach plays well on both sides of the ball, recording an interception on the year as well. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 7 TDs, 3 PATs, INT Zeb Hancock (Prestige Worldwide) - Zeb rounds out the 2012 all-stars, making his second straight appearance. Prestige Worldwide's captain came in a close second in the league with an astounding 14 TDs on the year. Zeb was also a factor on the defensive side of the ball, recording 2 interceptions. 2012 stats: 5 GP, 14 TDs, 5 PATs, 2 INTs Congratulations to all the 2012 All-Stars! It should be an exciting fast-paced game, come on out Wednesday at 4pm for the match! Pigskin Hooligans founder Michelle Baumgardner had this to say on the team's championship victory: "First off I would like to congratulate the Pigskin Hooligans team for the Victory and great job on all the wins! I was bummed and sorry I was not able to come out and support you guys but you sure did make me proud. A big thanks to Mike on his hard work with the team and keeping it alive. It was nice to get all the scoops of the games and see all your progress. Thanks for all who played on Pigskin Hooligans and hope you'll be able to return next year to keep hold of the title!" Thu, Dec 6 - The sleeping giant has officially awoken! The Pigskin Hooligans completed their historic undefeated season on Thursday with a 79-62 victory over #2 Prestige Worldwide. The teams traded touchdowns throughout in a fast-paced game but it was the Hooligans' 5 girl TDs split between Angela Martin and Kristina Butcher that made most of the difference in the margin. The 79 points scored tied the Hooligans' previous single-game record set last year in their 79-42 victory over Falcons N' Stuff. Pigskin Hooligans founder Michelle Baumgardner is expected to have a statement in the coming days on her team's championship. Fans and former Hooligans players all around the world are celebrating the team's championship today, the first in the franchise's 7-year history. The Hooligans began with the ball and Zach Johnston wasted no time connecting with Tom Sperry for an early touchdown with Justin Litzner adding the 2-pt conversion. Prestige Worldwide responded as Brad Kindred connected with Zeb Hancock, however the Hooligans defended the PAT. Zach Johnston moved his team outside the endzone again, and with Angela Martin drawing attention from the defense Kristina Butcher showed good hands to haul in a TD catch. The teams continued to exchange scores as Brad Kindred found Jordan Marken who ran for a long TD while Zach Johnston connected with Tom Sperry again to open a 27-14 lead. Zeb Hancock took a short catch for a long gain down the sideline to score his second TD of the game, and the Hooligans answered as Ryan Noack gashed the defense for a huge gain and selflessly lateraled to Angela Martin for the 9-pt score. Brad Kindred tossed a short pass to Evan Novak to end the half with the Hooligans up 38-26. Prestige Worldwide got a second straight possession as they began the second half on offense, and Brad Kindred fired a deep ball to Jeremy Robinson to cut the Hooligans' lead to 38-32. The Hooligans drove down the field again and Angela Martin made a short TD catch to regain the league lead with Justin Litzner making a nice juggling PAT catch. Brad Kindred fired another deep shot to Jeremy Robinson to score, and the Hooligans responded as Ethan Anderson took a short pass for a long gain. Zeb Hancock found the endzone for the 3rd time on the next drive, but the Hooligans could begin to smell a championship as Kristina Butcher caught her 2nd TD of the day giving the team a commanding 68-46 lead. Jordan Marken found the endzone for his second TD of the day, and Zach Johnston countered with a big run and waited at the endzone to lateral to Angela Martin with Kristina Butcher doing a great job to keep her feet in bounds on the PAT catch. Zach Paustian used his speed to score a long TD at the end, but the Hooligans were up 79-62 with under a minute to go. Captain Mike Russell entered at the end of the game and had a couple great chances to score a touchdown, laying out for a pass that was narrowly incomplete. Time would run out and the Hooligans celebrated the victory. For the Hooligans, Zach Johnston was unfazed by the championship game pressure going 25-31 passing for 6 TDs along with 6 rushes, a PAT, and 2 sacks. Tom Sperry led the team with 9 receptions on the day, picking up first downs and notching 2 TDs and 2 PATs. Angela Martin finished with 1 rush, 3 receptions, and 3 TDs in the game to finish leading the league with 15 TDs on the season. Kristina Butcher had a good game, making 3 receptions for 2 TDs and a PAT in the match. Ryan Noack finished with 4 receptions and 2 PATs, also giving up a chance to score an easy TD to get the 9-pt girl score. Justin Litzner had 3 receptions and 2 PATs in the game, giving him a league-leading 7 PATs on the year. Ethan Anderson had a solid day with 3 receptions to go with a TD. Clyde Rhodes showing his speed and good hands in the game with 2 receptions. Captain Mike Russell finished with a reception and had a few chances to score a TD at the end. Josh Ulm was unable to attend the game due to his concussion but was given frequent updates by captain Mike Russell. For Prestige Worldwide, Brad Kindred handled almost all the QB duties going 20-26 passing with 9 TDs along with 2 receptions and a PAT. Zeb Hancock led his team with 6 receptions and 3 TDs in the game. Jordan Marken had a good game with 4 receptions and 2 TDs. Jeremy Robinson had a solid game with 3 receptions and 2 TDs. Evan Novak had 2 receptions and a TD. Zach Paustian added a late TD with 2 receptions and a sack in the game. Jeremy Maas had a reception and PAT in the game. Jack Scheel saw some QB time going 1-2 passing. Kortney Loar was a late emergency addition and had a reception and 2 PATs in the match. Future WNBA star Abbey Hengesbach was at the game along with former Hooligans Bernard Joseph, Breannea King, Karen Greficz, and Max Joseph to cheer on the team. Both teams are also grateful to Alex Sypniewski, Garrett Keeler, John Pesta, Kyle Adoranti, Mikey Conant, and Tyler Holloway for helping to ref the game and keep stats. The Hooligans finish their season 7-0 while Prestige Worldwide concludes at 5-2. The 7-game winning streak the team is now on is the longest in franchise history, surpassing the team's 6-game streak set during the 2009 season. The Hooligans' record is now 33-26-1 all time, good for a .558 percentage. The team is grateful to all of the hard work put in by the players and the support from fans all year long. There is a possibility of an All-Star game sometime next week depending on the weather, we will keep you posted on that. You can also expect to see season overviews and the awards show coming out sometime in the next week. Until next year...ROLL HOOLIGANS! Pigskin Hooligans captain Mike Russell with league TD leader Angela Martin after the victory 1st star - Zach Johnston (Pigskin Hooligans) 25-31 passing, 6 pass TDs, 6 rushes, PAT, 2 sacks 2nd star - Tom Sperry (Pigskin Hooligans) 9 receptions, 2 TDs, 2 PATs 3rd star - Brad Kindred (Prestige Worldwide) 20-26 passing, 9 pass TDs, 2 receptions, PAT 1st Half
Zach Johnston passed to Tom Sperry for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Justin Litzner for 2pt conversion (8-0 Hooligans) Brad Kindred passed to Zeb Hancock for a touchdown, 2pt conversion no good (8-6 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Kristina Butcher for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Tom Sperry for 2pt conversion (19-6 Hooligans) Brad Kindred passed to Jordan Marken for a touchdown, Brad Kindred passed to Jeremy Maas for 2pt conversion (19-14 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Tom Sperry for a touchdown, Zach Johnston ran for 2pt conversion (27-14 Hooligans) Brad Kindred passed to Zeb Hancock for a touchdown, 2pt conversion no good (27-20 Hooligans) Angela Martin took lateral from Ryan Noack for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Tom Sperry for 2pt conversion (38-20 Hooligans) Brad Kindred passed to Evan Novak for a touchdown, 2pt conversion no good (38-26 Hooligans) 2nd Half Brad Kindred passed to Jeremy Robinson for a touchdown, 2pt conversion no good (38-32 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Angela Martin for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Justin Litzner for 2pt conversion (49-32 Hooligans) Brad Kindred passed to Jeremy Robinson for a touchdown, Brad Kindred passed to Kortney Loar for 2pt conversion (49-40 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Ethan Anderson for a touchdown, Zach Johston passed to Ryan Noack for 2pt conversion (57-40 Hooligans) Brad Kindred passed to Zeb Hancock for a touchdown, 2pt conversion no good (57-46 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Kristina Butcher for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Ryan Noack for 2pt conversion (68-46 Hooligans) Brad Kindred passed to Jordan Marken for a touchdown, Brad Kindred passed to Kortney Loar for 2pt conversion (68-54 Hooligans) Angela Martin took lateral from Zach Johnston for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Kristina Butcher for 2pt conversion (79-54 Hooligans) Brad Kindred passed to Zach Paustian for a touchdown, Brad Kindred ran for 2pt conversion (79-62 Hooligans) Wed, Dec 5 - The Pigskin Hooligans remained unbeaten on Wednesday with a 66-44 victory over the #5-seeded Big Boyz. The Hooligans jumped out to an early lead and used the extra margin from another incredible 4-TD performance from Angela Martin to secure the win. The victory gives the team a 6-0 record and ties the franchise record for longest winning streak. The Hooligans will now advance to play #2 seed Prestige Worldwide tomorrow at 4pm in the championship game. The early part of the game was a defensive battle, as pressure on the Big Boyz' QB by Dorian Lancaster caused them to take sacks and forced incompletions. Big Boyz chose to punt, the first punt of the 2012 season, and the decision paid off as they stopped the Hooligans short of midfield on 4th down. The Hooligans' defense then forced a 4-and-out, and this time the offense capitalized as Angela Martin took a short pass and ran almost the entire length of the field down the sideline for a score. After forcing another turnover on downs Zach Johnston once again hooked up with Angela Martin on a short pass, opening up a 22-0 lead. The Big Boyz got on the board as Kelvin Woods took a short pass and burned the defense with his speed, but the Hooligans countered as Angela Martin once again found a hole in the defense for her 3rd TD catch. Dauntez Oliver ran in a TD with Ahmad Trice running for a 2-pt conversion at the end of the half, and the score read 33-16 in favor of the Hooligans. In the second half the Hooligans began with the ball, but Mike Ball came up with an interception for his team. The Big Boyz' offense took advantage of the short field as Ahmad Trice found Dauntez Oliver for his second score of the game to cut the Hooligans' lead to 33-22. The Hooligans responded as Zach Johnston advanced his team down the field and found Tom Sperry who cranked off a decent gain with Justin Litzner adding his 2nd PAT catch of the day. The teams continued to trade scores as Ahmad Trice hooked up with Alwin Edwards while Zach Johnston connected with Tom Sperry again who gashed the defense for his second TD of the game. Ahmad Trice hooked up with Kenneth Emetuche to make it a 49-38 game, but Angela Martin hauled in her 4th TD of the game and Dorian Lancaster added a 2-pt conversion to make it a secure 60-38 lead. Ahmad Trice found Alwyn Edwards again for a TD and the Big Boyz went for 3 just for fun, making crazy laterals for almost 2 minutes until Kristina Butcher triumphantly grabbed the flag of the ball carrier. The game was not over, though, as captain Mike Russell took a short pass from Zach Johnston outside the endzone, followed his blockers and dodged past a defender to add a garbage-time TD making the final score 66-44. For the Hooligans, Angela Martin continued to amaze catching another 4 TDs bringing her up to an incredible 12 TDs on the season. Zach Johnston ran the offense well as usual, throwing for 7 TDs in the game and running for a few long gains along with many flag grabs. Tom Sperry scored 2 TDs in the game, taking short receptions for long gains. Justin Litzner also had several receptions including 3 PATs. Ryan Noack came up with a pair of 2-pt conversion catches in the game. Captain Mike Russell scored a late TD and also played tough defense on Amelia Bickel throughout the game. Dorian Lancaster finished with a PAT in the game and put great pressure on the opposing QB. Kristina Butcher saw time on both sides of the ball and had the flag grab that ended Big Boyz' crazy 3-pt conversion try. For the Big Boyz, Ahmad Trice passed for 5 TDs and ran for 2 PATs. Dauntez Oliver had both a rushing and receiving TD as well as a PAT. Alwyn Edwards had a solid game with 2 TDs and a PAT. Kelvin Woods scored an early TD in the game and showed his blazing speed. Kenneth Emetuche added a touchdown in the second half. Mike Ball had an interception to start the second half. Humphrey Ihejirikah and Johnathan Garcia saw time on both sides of the ball. Amelia Bickel served as her team's girl and ran good routes, giving Hooligans captain Mike Russell plenty of work to cover her. The Pigskin Hooligans will look to complete an undefeated season with a championship tomorrow, Thursday at 4pm in a marquee matchup against #2 Prestige Worldwide. The two teams met to open the season with the Hooligans claiming a 47-33 victory. It should be an exciting fast-paced game with a great chance for the Hooligans' first ever title...ROLL HOOLIGANS! 1st star - Angela Martin (Pigskin Hooligans) 4 receiving TDs 2nd star - Zach Johnston (Pigskin Hooligans) 7 passing TDs, several long runs, several flag grabs 3rd star - Ahmad Trice (Big Boyz) 5 passing TDs, 2 PAT runs 1st Half
Zach Johnston passed to Angela Martin for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Justin Litzner for 2pt conversion (11-0 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Angela Martin for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Ryan Noack for 2pt conversion (22-0 Hooligans) Ahmad Trice passed to Kelvin Woods for a touchdown, Ahmad Trice ran for 2pt conversion (22-8 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Angela Martin for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Ryan Noack for 2pt conversion (33-8 Hooligans) Dauntez Oliver ran for a touchdown, Ahmad Trice ran for 2pt conversion (33-16 Hooligans) 2nd Half Ahmad Trice passed to Dauntez Oliver for a touchdown, 2pt conversion no good (33-22 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Tom Sperry for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Justin Litzner for 2pt conversion (41-22 Hooligans) Ahmad Trice passed to Alwyn Edwards for a touchdown, Dauntez Oliver ran for 2pt conversion (41-30 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Tom Sperry for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Justin Litzner for 2pt conversion (49-30 Hooligans) Ahmad Trice passed to Kenneth Emetuche for a touchdown, Dauntez Oliver passed to Alwyn Edwards for 2pt conversion (49-38 Hooligans) Zach Johnston passed to Angela Martin for a touchdown, Zach Johnston passed to Dorian Lancaster for 2pt conversion (60-38 Hooligans) Ahmad Trice passed to Alwyn Edwards for a touchdown, 3pt conversion no good (60-44 Hooligans) The Pigskin Hooligans will play tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4pm against the #5 Big Boyz in the playoffs! The team's final roster for the playoffs is:
Mike Russell (captain) Angela Martin Breannea King Clyde Rhodes Dorian Lancaster Ethan Anderson Justin Litzner Kristina Butcher Ryan Noack Tom Sperry Zach Johnston Zach Milner Josh Ulm has been moved to season-ending injured reserve due to a concussion sustained during Boar's Head. Come on out and support the team...ROLL HOOLIGANS! Sun, Dec 2 - The Pigskin Hooligans completed their first undefeated regular season in franchise history by claiming a 14-0 forfeit victory over Ruthless. The team hoped to have a good competitive game against old rivals like Martell Buchanan and Rashad Smith, but numerous time conflicts prevented Ruthless from being available. Captain Mike Russell, Zach Johnston, Tom Sperry, Justin Litzner, Angela Martin, Kristina Butcher, Karen Greficz, and Clyde Rhodes were present to collect the forfeit win. The victory gives the Hooligans a 5-0 record going into the playoffs. The team has already clinched the #1 seed and they now await the winner of the Ruthless/Big Boyz matchup. That game will take place tomorrow (Monday) at 4pm. Right now the Hooligans are projected to play Wednesday at 4pm once their opponent is decided, we will keep you posted with updates...ROLL HOOLIGANS! Several members of the Hooligans are unavailable for the team's matchup against Ruthless due to a Boar's Head performance, so the team will be bringing back a familiar face to sub in... Karen Greficz, senior (5th yr), 2nd yr Hooligan - Karen returns to the Hooligans as a sub for her second season. She won the team's Sub of the Year award last year, notching 4 TDs in 3 games with the team. Karen also had 2 interceptions in the Hooligans' 79-42 win over Falcons N' Stuff which is good for the single-game female franchise record. She brings an athletic background to the team after finishing a solid 4-year softball career at Concordia and she has great speed. Karen had this to say about returning to the Hooligans: "I'm glad to be back playing with my girls again along with my future hubby!" You can catch Karen and the rest of the team in action as they take on Ruthless tomorrow (Sunday) at 3pm. Both sides may be missing some regular players due to Boar's Head and various jobs...ROLL HOOLIGANS! |
Written by Mike Russell
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