The Pigskin Hooligans compete in their 1st round playoff game tomorrow, Friday Nov. 17th, at 3:45pm on the mini-soccer field in front of Cardinal Stadium! The team will face the #3 Wamp Rats in a re-match of the Hooligans' season opener. Come on out and support the team......ROLL HOOLIGANS!
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![]() Sun, Nov 12 – On a chilly, drizzly Sunday afternoon the Pigskin Hooligans played their second game to conclude their regular season. The team faced off against the Green Hornets, who entered with an 0-1 record after a close 16-12 loss to O Block in their season opener. The Hooligans once again faced a massive personnel shortage with only 4 team members available for the game despite their massive roster size. The Green Hornets made 5 interceptions on defense and cruised to a 66-11 win over the Hooligans. The Green Hornets showed great sportsmanship in playing with only 4 players at a time to match the Hooligans’ number. The Hooligans began with Blake Dean, Kaushik Thallapally, Ken Simon and captain Mike Russell on the field defensively. The Green Hornets converted on their opening possession as Alex Janssen found captain Tyler Pummell in the endzone for an early strike. However, the Hooligan defense would make an impact on the PAT as Blake Dean forced a fumble on the attempt and returned it all the way for 2 points. Kaushik Thallapally hauled in an early reception for the Hooligans on their first possession, but Green Hornets captain Tyler Pummell made an interception on a deep ball. The Hornets capitalized as Eric Bugg passed to JT Clark with Devyn Miller adding a 3-pt conversion catch. After a turnover on downs Blake Dean continued to lead the Pigskin Hooligans defensively, making an interception. However Jacob Baxter responded with a pick for the Hornets which led to Eric Bugg making a power run into the endzone for a 21-2 lead. Captain Mike Russell made the first of several receptions on the next series, eluding defenders for a 10-yard gain. However the Hornets forced a turnover on downs and converted one more time before halftime. Alex Janssen looked deep to Paul Zysk who picked up a great block from captain Tyler Pummell on his way to the endzone. The Hornets led 30-2 at the break. The Hooligans began the second half with the ball but Paul Zysk used his 6’ 9” height to make an interception for the Green Hornets. Eric Bugg would then toss a deep pass to Paul Zysk who caught the ball in stride, although Kaushik Thallapally denied the 3-pt conversion attempt. Ken Simon showed his elusiveness several times in the second half, making sensational spin moves to avoid flag grabs. Blake Dean and Ken Simon both alternated snaps at quarterback, but while the Hooligans picked up some positive yardage they struggled to move the ball and were forced to punt. The Green Hornets scored again on the next drive as Alex Janssen found Jacob Baxter for a deep touchdown and then ran for a 3-point conversion. Eric Bugg then made two consecutive “pick 6” plays – one came on a deflected ball and one came on a deep pass. With time winding down the Hooligans put together one last solid drive. Ken Simon hauled in a first-down reception right at midfield to convert on 4th down. With the Hooligans in the redzone, quarterback Blake Dean lofted a high pass to the left side of the endzone which was caught by Hooligans captain Mike Russell for a touchdown. The Green Hornets would make one last drive as they aimed to score 69 points. Alex Janssen connected with Jacob Baxter for a score, but the 3-pt conversion was no good. The Green Hornets emerged with a 66-11 win. Hooligangsters captain Gabe Farr excellently officiated the game between the two teams. The Pigskin Hooligans drop to 0-2 and will be the #6 seed in the playoffs. The Green Hornets improve to 1-1. Despite the low ranking, it should be noted that the Hooligans have historically performed well in the underdog role. In 2014 the team entered the playoffs as the lowest seed after a 1-3 regular season, and they ended up winning the championship. The playoffs are currently scheduled for Sunday, November 19 but we are still uncertain of the exact details. Stay tuned for updates…ROLL HOOLIGANS! Note: All interceptions listed are on defense. The Pigskin Hooligans will be in action today at 2pm against the Green Hornets at the Cardinal Football Field. Come out and cheer on the team.......ROLL HOOLIGANS!
The Pigskin Hooligans are scheduled to play the Green Hornets this Sunday (Nov 12) at 2:00 in Cardinal Stadium! The matchups had to be shuffled slightly due to team schedules, so the 3:00 matchup will now feature the Wamp Rats vs the Hooligangsters in a battle of the league's top two teams.
The Green Hornets enter with an 0-1 record, having suffered a 16-12 defeat in their season opener against O Block. The Hooligans will look to even their record with a victory so come on out and cheer on the team...ROLL HOOLIGANS! IMPORTANT SCHEDULE CHANGE: The Hooligans game originally scheduled for 2pm tomorrow has been cancelled due to projected thunderstorms. We expect the game will likely be rescheduled for some time next Sunday. Check back for updates......ROLL HOOLIGANS!
The Pigskin Hooligans' next game is currently scheduled for this Sunday, November 5 at 2:00pm against the rival Hooligangsters! The Hooligangsters enter the game 1-0 after defeating Balls Deep 68-46 last Sunday. The team features several former members of the Pigskin Hooligans franchise.
We are still waiting for official word but we hope that Cardinal Stadium will be available as the game location for Sunday at 2pm. If not, the teams should be able to compete on the small soccer field in front of the stadium. We will also continue to watch the weather as current projections show a strong chance of thunderstorms Sunday afternoon. In that case, the game would have to be rescheduled. Stay tuned for updates...ROLL HOOLIGANS! The Pigskin Hooligans made several additions to their roster prior to their season opener against the Wamp Rats, and also have an additional signing to announce: ![]() Alissa Papsun, freshman, 1st year Hooligan - Alissa joined the Hooligans for her first season in the team’s game last Sunday. She brings quickness to the team with her background in dance, running solid routes as a receiver and providing a threat on offense. Defensively Alissa made several key flag grabs in the match. ![]() Blake Dean, freshman, 1st year Hooligan - Blake joins the Hooligans for his first season as well in 2017. He brings great athleticism as a member of Concordia’s football team which is currently ranked #15 in the NAIA coaches poll. Blake showed solid speed in the game last Sunday, managing to elude defenders for some positive yardage on offense. Defensively he made a “pick 6” to put the Hooligans on the board. ![]() Kaushik Thallapally, grad student, 1st year Hooligan - Kaushik is another great new signing for the Hooligans this season. He showed toughness and tenacity on defense in last Sunday’s game, pulling several flags to help the Hooligans’ defensive effort. On offense Kaushik showed good route running and provided a threat as a receiver. ![]() Ken Simon, senior (5th year), 1st year Hooligan - Ken joins the Hooligans for his first season in 2017. He brings an athletic background to the team as a former member of the inaugural CUAA men’s tennis team. Ken saw a great deal of time at quarterback in last Sunday’s game, completing several passes. He also saw time at receiver as well. ![]() Ross O’Brien, junior, 1st year Hooligan - Ross will be joining the Hooligans for their next game in the 2017 season. He brings athleticism to the team as a member of CUAA’s nationally-ranked football team, joining football teammates Blake Dean and Darius Wilson. Ross will bring versatility at multiple positions to the Hooligans, likely slotting in at receiver or safety. Remember to check back for updates on the team’s schedule...ROLL HOOLIGANS! ![]() Sun, Oct 29 – The defending champion Pigskin Hooligans held their much-anticipated season opener on Sunday against the Wamp Rats. The Hooligans featured almost a completely new lineup with great potential while the opposition returned many veteran starters. The team fought hard, but experience paid off for the Wamp Rats as they turned in a stifling defensive effort for a 64-6 win. The Wamp Rats forced 4 turnovers and held the Hooligans to their lowest offensive point total since a 53-6 loss to Ram Rod on November 27, 2007. The Pigskin Hooligans played with a 6-on-7 disadvantage and no subs due to many absent team members. The Hooligans started with Alissa Papsun, co-captain Danielle Thompson, Kaushik Thallpally, Ken Simon, Blake Dean, and co-captain Mike Russell on the field. The Wamp Rats started with the ball and Joel Werner wasted no time hooking up with Harrison Raney in the endzone for an early TD. The Hooligans rotated quarterback on their opening drive as late signee Blake Dean and Ken Simon both saw snaps, but the team would go 3-and-out and punt. Joel Werner then led the Wamp Rats on another scoring drive, this time finding Tyler Tweedale on a deep pass for a 14-0 lead. The Wamp Rats forced a turnover on the next series as Harrison Raney tipped a pass which was intercepted by captain Andrew Ripke for a good return. Facing 3rd and goal from about the 3-yard line they pulled out some trickery – while the Hooligan defense was focused on the threat of a Leah Werner run, Joel Werner tossed a shovel pass to Taylor Kahlstorf to open up a 23-0 lead. The Hooligans would make progress on their next series as Blake Dean highlighted his speed making a few defenders miss, but the team would turn the ball over on downs. The Wamp Rats converted again as captain Andrew Ripke took a short pass from Brandon Bettcher, made a few spin moves, and found a path down the sideline for a touchdown. The Wamp Rats forced a safety on the next possession due to pressure from Joel Werner’s blitz, taking a commanding 31-0 lead. However the Hooligans would gain positive momentum on the ensuing possession – Blake Dean picked off a Tyler Tweedale pass and blazed past the defense for a “pick 6” to get the Hooligans on the scoreboard. Kaushik Thallapally made a nice flag grab for the Hooligans defensively on the next series, but the Wamp Rats would score once more before halftime as Joel Werner connected with Harrison Raney for the second time. The Hooligans trailed 39-6 going into the break. The Hooligans would all make contributions to the team’s effort in the second half. Captain Mike Russell took a short swing pass and eluded several defenders with a few spin moves for about a 5-yard gain. Alissa Papsun made a great flag grab, co-captain Danielle Thompson showed fantastic route running, and Ken Simon and Blake Dean continued to alternate at quarterback. Kaushik Thallapally came up with another flag grab on defense later in the second half. However the Wamp Rats would continue to play great defense and their offense was firing on all cylinders. They forced a punt on the Hooligans’ opening drive of the second half and new quarterback Andrew Ripke found Leah Werner open in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown. Brandon Bettcher then stepped up defensively and made a pick 6 for the Wamp Rats, making the score 56-6. Joel Werner then recovered a fumble on an attempted double-reverse, giving the Wamp Rats a short field which led to Andrew Ripke finding Tyler Tweedale in the endzone. Tyler Tweedale would come up with an interception on the game’s final drive and the Hooligans would fall 64-6. Morgan Raby was present in spirit to cheer on the Hooligans. The game was officiated by the outstanding crew of Brianna Limback, Eric Bug, Nate Gifford, and Tyler Pummell. The Hooligans drop to 0-1 while the Wamp Rats improve to 1-0. The victory was their first non-forfeit win in franchise history, and the Wamp Rats claim the #1 overall rank in the league based on point differential. They had this to say after the game on the milestone: “Soli Deo Gloria! #trusttheprocess". The young Pigskin Hooligans team still showed great promise throughout the match. Many new members received significant playing time, and the team should be strengthened by the arrival of many absent Hooligans next week. We will keep you posted once we know next week’s schedule…ROLL HOOLIGANS! Note: All interceptions listed are on defense. Flag football season is just around the corner at CUAA and the historic Pigskin Hooligans franchise will be entering its 12th season of competition. The Hooligans are the defending champions from the 2016 season, having gone a perfect 3-0 last year. The franchise has won 3 of the last 5 championships dating back to 2012 and has appeared in 7 of the last 8 championship games dating back to 2009. Captain Mike Russell has worked to coordinate with CUAA Student Activities to promote the league and participation looks set to explode this year. There are at least 6 teams on record so far and possibly as many as 8 teams could end up in the league. We are still uncertain of the exact league structure until the number of teams is finalized. to promote the league and participation looks set to explode this year. There are at least 6 teams on record so far and possibly as many as 8 teams could end up in the league. We are still uncertain of the exact league structure until the number of teams is finalized. The Hooligans are projected to play this Sunday (Oct 29) at 3:00pm against the Wamp Rats. This year’s edition of the Pigskin Hooligans will look a bit different from last year with only 2 returning members from the 2016 championship team. Captain Mike Russell brokered a blockbuster deal in the offseason with co-captain Danielle Thompson, merging teams to create a championship-caliber squad. There will probably be more roster additions but let’s take a look at the 2017 Hooligans roster so far: (players listed alphabetically by first name according to number of years played, after captains:) ![]() Danielle Thompson (co-captain), freshman, 1st year Hooligan - Danielle will be a key addition to the Hooligans this season, serving in a leadership role as co-captain. She brings an athletic background to the team as a member of CUAA’s women’s golf team. Danielle has played flag football in the past and brings a competitive spirit and keen knowledge of the game. She had this to say on joining the team: “I am just excited to get out there and play football!” ![]() Mike Russell (co-captain), staff, 12th year Hooligan - Captain Russell returns to lead the Hooligans this year, retaining eligibility as a Sports Information Assistant after graduating grad school last year. Russell has worked hard in the offseason to assemble a competitive roster that can contend for a title. On the field he has worked to improve his game, catching 1 touchdown last year. Russell had this to say: “I am glad things worked out so that I could stay at CUAA and I am proud to lead this team on another title run!” ![]() Hallie Williams, senior, 2nd year Hooligan - Hallie will be the only other returning member of the 2016 Hooligans championship squad. She signed with the team midway through last season, hauling in several receptions and showing great route running. Hallie honed her athletic ability as a goalie on CUAA’s women’s lacrosse team last year, seeing significant playing time and making some key saves. She will continue to help the Hooligans again this year. ![]() Alan Jones, sophomore, 1st year Hooligan - Alan will be the first of many solid newcomers on the Hooligans in the 2017 season. He brings a great athletic background to the team as he is entering his second year as a member of CUAA’s track and field squad. Alan will show great speed this year which will make him a threat on offense and a tremendous defender. ![]() Darius Wilson, freshman, 1st year Hooligan - Darius will be a key new signing for the Hooligans in 2017. He will bring collegiate experience as a member of CUAA football, a team which is currently in the midst of a record-setting year. Darius should show amazing speed and great hands along with a deep knowledge of the game of football. He is expected to make a great impact on both sides of the ball. Darius had this to say on signing: “It’s gonna be fun!!!” ![]() Jacob Brendtke, junior, 1st year Hooligan - Jacob will be another great signing for the Hooligans in the 2017 season. He brings a tremendous athletic background having played three sports for CUAA - soccer, lacrosse, and track and field. Jacob shows leadership skill as he coaches high school soccer and baseball at Captain Russell’s alma mater, Washtenaw Christian. He had this to say on signing: “I’m extremely excited to be a part of such a historic franchise and ready to take it to the next level of excellence!” ![]() Mikayla Hilton, grad student, 1st year Hooligan - Mikayla will be a terrific signing for the Hooligans in 2017. She brings a stellar athletic background to the team, having been a standout two-sport athlete at Lakeland College playing basketball and softball. Mikayla has experience playing the game of football and she also possesses great leadership skills as a graduate assistant coach for CUAA softball. She will be another great receiver for the Hooligans. ![]() Molly Grulke, sophomore, 1st year Hooligan - Molly will be another integral part of the Hooligans in the 2017 season. She brings athleticism to the franchise as a member of CUAA’s women’s basketball team. Molly is listed on the roster as 6-feet tall which will make her a great target as a receiver. She will also be able to use her height to disrupt passes on the defensive side of the football as well. ![]() Nathan Harris, junior, 1st year Hooligan - Nathan will be entering his first year on the Hooligans in 2017. He has showed versatility as a multi-sport athlete at CUAA, competing for the men’s soccer team as well as the track and field team. Nathan will show a variety of skills honed in the two sports and should be a great contributing member of this year’s squad. The Hooligans have a few openings on the roster so there may still be some additions. Remember to come out and cheer on the Hooligans this Sunday, October 29 at 3:00pm against the Wamp Rats! The game location should be Cardinal Stadium. Check back for any schedule changes or updates...ROLL HOOLIGANS! Flag football season is just around the corner at CUAA! Captain Mike Russell has been working with CUAA Student Life to return flag football to the status of an official campus event. Games could potentially begin as early as next Sunday!
Check back this upcoming week for more details as the Hooligans will seek to defend their 2016 championship...ROLL HOOLIGANS! ![]() May 14, 2017 - Graduation ceremonies were held at Concordia University Ann Arbor on Sunday with the class of 2017 receiving their diplomas after years of hard work in the classroom. The Pigskin Hooligans organization values academic excellence in addition to performance on the field, and the franchise was well represented with 4 team members receiving their degree. Let's take a look at the accomplishments of each player on and off the field (career stats listed are limited to those with the Pigskin Hooligans organization): ![]() Brandon Waack Major: Management Seasons played: 2015 Career stats: 2 GP, 4 TDs, 4 PATs, 1 INT Brandon graduates from CUAA with a degree in Management. He was a member of the 2015 Pigskin Hooligans squad which made a championship game appearance. Brandon showed blazing speed as a receiver, hauling in 3 receiving touchdowns and 4 PATs on the year. Defensively he also made a significant impact coming up with a "pick 6" along with making many flag grabs. ![]() Humphrey Ihejirikah Majors: Criminal Justice and Legal Studies/Public Policy Seasons played: 2014, 2015, 2016 Awards won: Defensive Player of the Year (2015), Gold Play of the Year (2016) Career stats: 10 GP, 10 TDs, 1 PAT Humphrey graduates from CUAA with a double degree in Criminal Justice and Legal Studies/Public Policy. He has been a member of the Pigskin Hooligans for the past 3 seasons, signing as a free agent in 2014. Humphrey has shown dependable hands and bursts of speed, scoring 10 touchdowns and a PAT over his time with the franchise and making numerous catches for first downs and good yardage. He earned the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2015 for his efforts at pulling flags, and he received the Gold Play of the Year award in 2016 for scoring the game-winning touchdown in the championship game. ![]() Mike Russell Degree: Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with a double concentration in Finance and Risk Management Seasons played: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 Awards won: Most Improved Player (2010), Most Improved Player (2012), Heart of the Hooligans (2014), Most Improved Player (2015), Bronze Play of the Year (2016), Most Improved Player (2016) Career stats: 62 GP, 5 TDs, 1 PAT Russell graduates from CUAA with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree, earning a double concentration in Finance and Risk Management. Between his time as an undergrad and a graduate student he has amassed the franchise's all-time games played record, checking in at a staggering 62 games overall. Russell has been the face of the Pigskin Hooligans franchise ever since assuming the captaincy in 2007, recruiting talented teams each year and providing leadership and media coverage. On the field he has steadily improved his game over the years, developing his hands as a receiver and hauling in 5 TDs and a PAT in his career. ![]() Nick Holshoe Degree: Exercise Science Seasons played: 2015 Awards won: Breakout Player of the Year (2015) Career stats: 2 GP, 1 pass TD, 4 TDs, 1 INT Nick graduates from CUAA with a degree in Exercise Science. He signed with the franchise in 2015, helping the team's playoff efforts and leading the Hooligans to a championship game appearance. Nick showed tremendous speed in his time with the Hooligans, making contributions at multiple positions. At quarterback he showed great accuracy as well as speed running from the QB position. At receiver Nick showed great hands and quickness and as a defender he showed his prowess at the safety position making an interception. He was listed as an NFL draft prospect on some mock draft boards and recently worked out for a team in the Canadian Football League, so there is a chance that Nick may become the first Hooligan to play professional football. The Hooligans organization would like to congratulate all of these players on their academic accomplishments. Each of these individuals has made significant contributions to the franchise in their time with the program. The Pigskin Hooligans are committed to building leaders on and off the field and we expect that all of these former players will go on to do great things. ROLL HOOLIGANS! You can review the stats for the 2016 flag football season here: ![]()
Several franchise records were tied or set during the 2016 season:
- The 2016 team set new records for points per game in a season (63.3 PPG), least points allowed in a season (158), and tied the record for least losses in a season (0) with their perfect 3-0 season. - Blaine Milheim tied the franchise record for interceptions in a game with 3, placing him in a 3-way tie with Micah Oetting and Zach Johnston. - Marshall Oetting tied the franchise record for touchdowns in a game with 4, placing him in a 4-way tie with Angela Martin, Bre Taylor, and Micah Oetting. ROLL HOOLIGANS! Now that we’ve recapped the 2016 Hooligans championship season, we would like to give special recognition to this year’s award winners. Congratulations to the winners: 2016 Most Valuable Player Award Winners - Marshall Oetting and Micah Oetting: For the third consecutive year, Marshall and Micah earn co-MVP honors for the Hooligans. Marshall posted league-leading numbers as a wide receiver this season, leading the team and the league in TDs and PATs with 8 and 6 respectively. Micah saw time primarily at QB and led the team with 11 TD passes while also catching 2 PATs as a receiver and making an interception on defense. Both brothers’ efforts played a critical role in the team’s championship success this season. 2016 Brittany Davis Memorial Award Winner - Dana Ford: Dana receives the Brittany Davis Memorial Award in 2016, given to the team’s most outstanding female team member. She continued to build her legacy with the Hooligans organization this year, appearing in both of the team’s regular season matchups. Dana recorded 3 touchdowns on the year, showing great hands and good speed as a receiver. 2016 Heart of the Hooligans Award Winner - Dana Ford: Dana also receives the Heart of the Hooligans Award in 2016, given to the player that best exemplifies the spirit of the Pigskin Hooligans franchise. She continued to be a vocal leader on the field this season. 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Award Winner - Blaine Milheim: Blaine earns the Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2016. He turned in a sensational defensive performance in the championship game, making 3 interceptions which ties Zach Johnston and Micah Oetting for the franchise single-game record. Blaine returned 2 of the interceptions for a “pick 6” and the third interception went for a “pick 2” as it was made on a PAT attempt. 2016 Individual Performance of the Year Award - Blaine Milheim: Blaine also receives the Individual Performance of the Year Award for his efforts in the Hooligans’ championship game victory. Overall he notched 3 touchdowns, 3 PATs, and 3 interceptions in the match. 2016 Breakout Player of the Year - Matt Botti: Matt receives the Breakout Player of the Year Award in 2016, given to the most outstanding newcomer on the team. He showed versatility at a number of positions, mostly seeing time at receiver where he used his speed and elusiveness to record 4 touchdowns and 3 PATs. Matt also saw some time at the quarterback position, passing for 5 touchdowns on the year, and defensively he came up with one interception. 2016 Sub of the Year Award Winner - Matt Botti: Matt also qualifies to receive the Sub of the Year Award, given to the most outstanding player not on the team’s original roster. He was recruited to the Hooligans as a sub by Blaine Milheim as Blaine was unavailable for the team’s opening double-header and Matt performed well in both games. 2016 Most Improved Player Award - Mike Russell: Captain Russell earns the Most Improved Player Award in 2016. He notched his first touchdown in several years this season, taking a short pass and making some quick spin moves to elude Wamp Rats defenders on his way to the endzone. Russell saw a great deal of playing time this year. Finally, here are the top individual plays of the 2016 season: ![]() Gold Play: Humphrey Ihejirikah’s game-winning touchdown in the championship game, 70-54 win over #3 We Love TDs: The 2016 title game featured modified rules due to the main field being unavailable, the biggest difference being that the first team to 70 points won the game. Humphrey showed dependable hands as a receiver all game long, and he cemented his legacy as a Hooligan by taking a short pass all the way to the endzone to win the championship for the team. ![]() Silver Play: Marshall Oetting’s late touchdown reception from Micah Oetting, 58-51 regular season win over We Love TDs: The Hooligans led for most of their season opener against We Love TDs, but a late run by the opposition put the team in a 51-50 deficit with about 2 minutes to go. Micah Oetting stepped up as quarterback, leading a late touchdown drive and firing a deep pass to brother Marshall Oetting who came up with the game-winning TD catch to secure the win. ![]() Bronze Play: Captain Mike Russell’s touchdown, 62-53 regular season win over Wamp Rats: The Hooligans led 14-6 early in the second game of their doubleheader against the Wamp Rats. Captain Mike Russell would show some elusiveness on the offensive end as he took a short swing pass and made several spin moves to elude defenders on the way to his first touchdown in several years. Congratulations to all of the award winners on their achievement! All of these players made great contributions to the 2016 Pigskin Hooligans championship effort. This concludes our look back at the 2016 season...ROLL HOOLIGANS! In Part 1 of the 2016 season overview we took a game-by-game look at each game the Hooligans played in their championship campaign. Now let’s take a look at the stats and accomplishments of each player who competed in at least one game for the Hooligans this year (players listed in alphabetical order by first name after captain): ![]() Mike Russell (captain) - Captain Russell continued to provide strong leadership to the Hooligans in 2016. On the field he notched his first touchdown since the 2012 season, making a few receptions and showing an ability to make spin moves. Russell also served in a coaching capacity in many games. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 1 TD ![]() Blaine Milheim - Blaine had a sensational rookie year with the Hooligans franchise. He made a tremendous impact in the championship game, showing blazing speed and helping out on both sides of the ball. Blaine made 3 interceptions on defense, 2 of which went for a “pick 6”, while also catching a TD pass and hauling in 3 PATs. 2016 stats: 1 GP, 3 TDs, 3 PATs, 3 INTs ![]() Dana Ford - Dana had another solid year for the Hooligans in the 2016 season. She played in both of the team’s regular season matches, showing great speed and recording 2 touchdowns against We Love TDs and another touchdown against the Wamp Rats. Dana’s 3 touchdowns led all female league members. 2016 stats: 2 GP, 3 TDs ![]() Derek Nelson - Derek was a great signing for the Hooligans in 2016. He provided a dependable tall receiving target on offense, playing in every match and catching 2 touchdowns and a PAT on the year. Derek also saw some time at the quarterback position passing for 2 touchdowns. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 2 pass TDs, 2 TDs, 1 PAT ![]() Hallie Williams - Hallie was a midseason signing for the Hooligans, subbing into their match against the Wamp Rats in the second game of their doubleheader. She had a few receptions for some decent yardage in the match and ran solid routes on offense. 2016 stats: 1 GP ![]() Humphrey Ihejirikah - Humphrey continued to make an impact with the Hooligans in 2016. He caught three touchdowns in the championship game, showing great hands and elusiveness making huge gains on the way to the endzone. His third and final touchdown of the match clinched the title for the Hooligans. 2016 stats: 1 GP, 3 TDs ![]() Marshall Oetting - Marshall added to his legacy with the Hooligans franchise in 2016. He switched primarily to receiver this season, leading the league with 8 touchdowns and 6 PATs while also tossing the game-winning TD pass in the championship game. Marshall’s 4 receiving TDs in the team’s season opener tied the franchise record for touchdowns in a game. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 1 pass TD, 8 TDs, 6 PATs, 1 INT ![]() Matt Botti - Matt was a great signing for the Hooligans in 2016. He appeared in all games for the team and showed great speed and versatility, passing for 5 TDs while also catching 4 TDs and snagging 3 PATs. Defensively Matt made an impact with an interception and many flag grabs. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 5 pass TDs, 4 TDs, 3 PATs, 1 INT ![]() Micah Oetting - Micah also added to his Hooligans legacy in the 2016 season. He switched primarily to quarterback this year, performing well at the position and leading the team with 11 passing TDs during the season. Micah did see some time as a receiver as well, notching 2 PATs, and he came up with an interception on defense as well. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 11 pass TDs, 2 PATs, 1 INT The Hooligans organization is glad to have had the services of each of these players in the 2016 season. Every player made important contributions to the success of the team in this year’s championship drive. The final look back at this season will come in the 2016 Pigskin Hooligan Awards Show where some specific accomplishments of team members will be recognized. Stay tuned...ROLL HOOLIGANS! The 2016 season saw the Pigskin Hooligans complete a perfect 3-0 undefeated season, claiming the franchise’s 3rd championship in the last 5 years. The Hooligans advanced to the championship game for the 7th time in the last 8 years, numbers which officially give the team the label of a dynasty. The roster featured 5 returning members from last season’s squad along with 4 new signings.
Originally it was believed that the CUAA athletic department would return flag football to the status of an intramural sport, but unfortunately they did not make that determination. So once again captain Mike Russell organized a league from scratch, handling all efforts ranging from advertising to schedule coordination. The league featured only 3 teams once more and the regular season schedule was again limited to only one game against each of the other 2 teams. All teams made the playoffs with the Hooligans receiving a first-round bye as the #1 seed and the #2/#3 teams (Wamp Rats and We Love TDs) playing a first-round game to earn a spot in the championship game. All games were played on the real CUAA football field except the championship game which had to be played on the grass in front of the stadium due to field unavailability. Let’s take a game-by-game look at the Hooligans’ 2016 season: Game 1: Sun, Nov 6 - W 58-51 vs We Love TDs: The Pigskin Hooligans opened the 2016 season with a doubleheader, playing under sunny skies before a small crowd. The Hooligans’ first game was played against We Love TDs, technically a rematch of last year’s championship game though both teams featured very different rosters. The Hooligans maintained a steady lead for most of the game but they would find themselves facing a 51-50 deficit with under 2 minutes to go. Micah Oetting showed poise in the pocket at the QB position, firing a deep TD pass to brother Marshall Oetting to reclaim the lead. The Hooligans’ defense would make a stand late in the game to hold on and secure a 58-51 win. Marshall Oetting would tie the franchise record for touchdowns in a game with 4. Game 2: Sun, Nov 6 - W 62-53 vs Wamp Rats: The Hooligans faced off against the Wamp Rats in the second game of the doubleheader after a short break. The game featured a great deal of offense as both teams traded touchdowns throughout the match. The Hooligans never trailed in the game and came away with a 62-53 victory to finish their regular season 2-0. Captain Mike Russell caught his first touchdown in four years in the match while Marshall Oetting added another 3 receiving TDs and Matt Botti switched to QB for much of the game tossing 4 TD passes. Game 3: Tue, Nov 29 - W 70-54 vs #3 We Love TDs: After finishing 2-0 in the regular season the Hooligans earned the #1 seed in the league and a first-round bye in the playoffs. We Love TDs impressively defeated the Wamp Rats 108-54 in their playoff game and moved on to face the Hooligans in the championship game. The game itself had to be rescheduled 3 times before it finally occurred, but the match finally took place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving with surprisingly warm weather. The match had to be played on the grass in front of the stadium due to lacrosse lines being painted on the football field, so captains Mike Russell and Gabe Farr agreed to a modified playing field and played “first to 70 points” instead of 2 20-minute halves. The game was exciting and featured lots of offense, but Blaine Milheim paced the Hooligans defense with 3 interceptions to help the team maintain a steady lead. The Hooligans led by as much as 28 points in the game but had to hold off a late run by We Love TDs which cut their lead to only 10 points. Humphrey Ihejirikah would catch the final touchdown of the game which gave the Hooligans 70 points and the championship win. Check back soon for Part 2 of the season overview, which will feature the stats and accomplishments of each individual player on the roster. ROLL HOOLIGANS! The Pigskin Hooligans once again have the privilege of announcing the 2016 All-Star rosters for the league this year. To make the designation of All-Star more prestigious, this year team sizes have been trimmed to 8 players per team rather than the traditional 11-player rosters. League Commissioner Mike Russell headlines one All-Star team while We Love TDs captain Gabe Farr captains the other. In past years a real All-Star game has been played, but due to players’ busy schedules there was no actual game this year. The game would have certainly featured some amazing talent - let’s take a look: ![]() Mike Russell (captain) (Pigskin Hooligans) - Pigskin Hooligans captain Mike Russell receives his 6th career selection to the All-Star game this season. He once again organized the entire league from scratch managing all of the schedule coordination. On the field Russell scored a touchdown while assembling a Hooligans roster that won the franchise’s 3rd championship in the last 5 years. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 1 TD ![]() Dana Ford (Pigskin Hooligans) - Dana has now earned a selection to the All-Star game for three straight seasons. She was the only female player in the league to score touchdowns this year notching 3 TDs throughout the season. Dana continued to show great speed and dependable hands as a receiver. 2016 stats: 2 GP, 3 TDs ![]() Greg Barbuto (We Love TDs) - Greg earns an All-Star berth in his first season in the league. He was a dependable receiver for We Love TDs during the 2016 season, showing good hands in the endzone and hauling in 4 TDs and 3 PATs. Greg finished tied for 4th place in the league in both the TD and PAT categories. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 4 TDs, 3 PATs ![]() Hunter Kinney (We Love TDs) - Hunter earns a trip to the All-Star game after his first season in the league. He was outstanding at the quarterback position for We Love TDs, leading the league with 12 passing touchdowns on the year. Hunter showed great awareness defensively as well notching 2 interceptions both of which he took back for a “pick 6”. 2016 stats: 2 GP, 12 pass TDs, 3 TDs, 2 INTs ![]() James Haugen (Wamp Rats) - James receives an All-Star selection for the second straight year. He continued to show great hands as a tall receiving target for his team, finishing with 3 TDs and a PAT in 2016. James showed defensive ability as well notching an interception in the team’s playoff match against We Love TDs. 2016 stats: 2 GP, 3 TDs, 1 PAT, 1 INT ![]() Kreighton Rahn (We Love TDs) - Kreighton receives an All-Star nomination in his first year in the league. He showed great speed throughout the year for We Love TDs, notching 5 TDs and 5 PATs placing third and second in the league in those categories. Kreighton also recorded an interception defensively which he took back for a “pick 6”. 2016 stats: 2 GP, 5 TDs, 5 PATs, 1 INT ![]() Marshall Oetting (Pigskin Hooligans) - Marshall earns an all-Star bid for the third straight season in 2016. He switched primarily to wide receiver this year and had an outstanding year, leading the league in touchdowns with 8 and PATs with 6. Marshall did see some time at QB passing for one touchdown and also recorded an interception on defense which he returned for a “pick 6”. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 1 pass TD, 8 TDs, 6 PATs, 1 INT ![]() Tyler Tweedale (Wamp Rats) - Tyler receives his first selection to the All-Star game this year. He showed very dependable hands as a receiver, hauling in some deep passes and recording 3 TDs and 2 PATs in the 2016 season. Tyler also made an impact on defense notching an interception in the Wamp Rats’ playoff game. 2016 stats: 2 GP, 3 TDs, 2 PATs, 1 INT ![]() Gabe Farr (captain) (We Love TDs) - We Love TDs captain Gabe Farr headlines the second All-Star team this year. He showed great hands as a receiver throughout the season, placing second in the league with 6 TDs on the year and also adding 3 PATs. Defensively Gabe recorded an interception as well. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 6 TDs, 3 PATs, 1 INT ![]() Blaine Milheim (Pigskin Hooligans) - Blaine receives an All-Star berth for the second time in his career. He showed strong defensive ability in the championship game, making a league-leading 3 interceptions in the match. He also demonstrated great quickness returning 2 of those INTs for touchdowns. 2016 stats: 1 GP, 3 TDs, 3 PATs, 3 INTs ![]() Conner Forbes (Wamp Rats) - Conner gets his first career All-Star selection in the 2016 season. He showed versatility at multiple positions for the Wamp Rats this year. Conner saw time at quarterback passing for 2 TDs while also catching 3 TDs and a PAT as a receiver. 2016 stats: 2 GP, 2 pass TDs, 3 TDs, 1 PAT ![]() Jessica Russ (We Love TDs / Wamp Rats) - Jess earns an All-Star bid after a breakout rookie season in the league. She saw time on multiple teams this season, subbing in for both We Love TDs and the Wamp Rats against the Hooligans on opening day. Jess showed sensational speed when she had the ball, taking handoffs for huge gains and eluding many flag grabs. 2016 stats: 2 GP, many long runs ![]() Matt Botti (Pigskin Hooligans) - Matt receives his second straight selection to an All-Star roster in 2016. He showed great versatility at many positions for the Hooligans this year, passing for 5 touchdowns while catching 4 TDs and hauling in 3 PATs. On defense Matt also made an impact notching an interception. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 5 pass TDs, 4 TDs, 3 PATs, 1 INT ![]() Matt Korte (Wamp Rats) - Matt earns an All-Star selection in his first season in the league. He saw significant time at the quarterback position for the Wamp Rats in 2016, performing excellently with 9 passing TDs which places him in a tie for 3rd place in the league. Matt also rushed for a TD from the QB position. 2016 stats: 2 GP, 9 pass TDs, 1 TD ![]() Micah Oetting (Pigskin Hooligans) - Micah earns an All-Star bid for the third straight season in 2016. He mainly saw time at the quarterback position this year, leading the Hooligans and finishing second in the league with 11 passing TDs on the year. Micah also notched 2 PATs offensively and came up with an interception on defense. 2016 stats: 3 GP, 11 pass TDs, 2 PATs, 1 INT ![]() Tyler Kempf (We Love TDs) - Tyler receives an All-Star selection in his rookie year in the league. He saw a significant amount of the QB reps for We Love TDs in 2016, passing for 9 touchdowns and showing the ability to run from the QB position. Tyler also had 3 TDs and 2 PATs along with 2 defensive interceptions. 2016 stats: 2 GP, 9 pass TDs, 3 TDs, 2 PATs, 2 INTs Congratulations to all of the 2016 All Stars! All of these players made significant contributions to their teams this year and were part of an exciting season. The Pigskin Hooligans organization hopes that flag football will return once again to CUAA in 2017! ![]() Tue, Nov 29 - The much-awaited championship game finally took place this past Tuesday, pitting the #1 seed Hooligans against #3 seed We Love TDs. The weather was unusually great for late November with a 55 degree temperature and sunny skies. The match featured very high scoring, but the Hooligans defense consistently forced turnovers to maintain a steady lead and claimed a 70-54 victory. With the win the Hooligans complete a perfect 3-0 season and claim their 3rd championship in the last 5 years, finally earning the label of a true dynasty. Due to late notice of the unavailability of the CUAA football field the teams had to make adjustments on the fly to still get the game in. Hooligans captain Mike Russell and We Love TDs captain Gabe Farr agreed to use the grass in front of the stadium as the playing area and together they worked out the field dimensions. The teams agreed to play first to 70 points rather than the traditional 2 20-minute halves. Both teams began play 5-on-5 as neither side had a girl present. The field was significantly longer than the usual playing area, but that didn’t stop the Hooligans offense as Humphrey Ihejirikah took a short pass from Micah Oetting and juked his way down the field for an early score. We Love TDs would counter on the next series as Hunter Kinney would start at the quarterback position and find Greg Barbuto deep. Derek Nelson would switch to QB for the Hooligans on the next series and Humphrey Ihejirikah would once again show his elusiveness taking a short pass to the endzone. Blaine Milheim would then step up defensively for the Hooligans, making the first of his three interceptions in the game and returning it for a pick 6 and a 24-8 Hooligans lead. Hunter Kinney would lead another scoring drive for We Love TDs as he would find Mitch Diamond in the endzone with Greg Barbuto adding a 2-pt conversion. Matt Botti checked into the game for the Hooligans and made his presence felt with a huge run, but the We Love TDs defense would force a turnover on downs. However Blaine Milheim gave the Hooligans the momentum right back as he would make his second “pick 6” of the game on the next series. Marshall Oetting then stepped up defensively making a “pick 6” of his own, and the Hooligans would convert a 3-point conversion with Blaine Milheim grabbing a jump ball over We Love TDs captain Gabe Farr to open up a 41-16 lead. We Love TDs players would begin to show signs of frustration, but their offense would have life as Hunter Kinney would connect with captain Gabe Farr for a touchdown though Matt Botti would sack Kinney on the 2-pt conversion attempt. Matt Botti would switch to quarterback for the Hooligans and lead a scoring drive, connecting with Blaine Milheim for both a touchdown and 3-pt conversion. Matt Botti then stepped up defensively forcing a fumble and returning it for a touchdown making the score 56-22 in favor of the Hooligans. Hunter Kinney would connect with Greg Barbuto on the next drive and then made a pick 6, giving We Love TDs two straight scores. Derek Nelson would rotate back in as quarterback for the Hooligans and he would perform well finding Matt Botti for a touchdown. The Hooligans’ lead looked insurmountable with a 62-36 advantage, but We Love TDs did make a late comeback bid scoring 18 unanswered points. Hunter Kinney would connect with Mitch Diamond for a touchdown, Mitch Diamond would make a pick 6, and then Mitch Diamond would once again come up with an interception giving his team the ball. Hunter Kinney would take advantage of the great field position connecting with Ryan Abenth for a touchdown, but Blaine Milheim would intercept the PAT attempt and return it for 2. With the Hooligans needing just one more score to claim the championship Marshall Oetting would move to quarterback for the final drive. He skillfully led the team down the field, eventually finding Humphrey Ihejirikah for the game-clinching score. The game would end 70-54 in favor of the Hooligans and the dreams of a dynasty would be realized. Carly Pearson, Chandlar Zavala, and Kassidy Grandorff were at the game to cheer on the Hooligans. The team completes a 3-0 season, going undefeated for the first time since the 2012 championship year. The Hooligans have been impressive in the modern era of CUAA flag football, winning 3 of the last 5 championship games dating back to 2012 and appearing in 7 of the last 8 championship games dating back to 2009. It is uncertain what the future of the franchise will be next year, but captain Mike Russell hopes that the team will continue in some way in the future. Be sure to check back in the coming weeks for the announcement of the All-Star rosters, a Hooligans season overview, and the announcement of the Hooligan awards for 2016. ROLL HOOLIGANS! We hope all Pigskin Hooligans fans had a great Thanksgiving! The Hooligans are still hungry for a championship, and we will be making our fourth attempt to hold the championship game tomorrow (Tuesday, November 29) at 4:00pm. The weather forecast calls for it to be around 55 degrees and sunny at that time - perfect weather for a game!
The game should be held on the real CUAA football field, though Rummel Field is always the backup location if for some reason the football field is unavailable. We once again hope to see a HUGE crowd, so be sure to come out and support the team tomorrow at 4:00 as the Hooligans look to win their 3rd championship in the last 5 years! ROLL HOOLIGANS! We regret to inform fans that the championship game has once again been cancelled for today due to holiday travel schedules. We hope to reschedule the game after the Thanksgiving break depending on weather and team member availability. We wish all Hooligan fans a Happy Thanksgiving and be sure to check back for updates....ROLL HOOLIGANS!
The championship game has now been rescheduled for this Tuesday, November 22nd, at 4:00pm. The Pigskin Hooligans are looking to win their 3rd championship in the last 5 years when they face off against We Love TDs. The game will be played at either the real CUAA football stadium or Rummel Field. We'd love to see a huge crowd so come out and support the team....ROLL HOOLIGANS!
IMPORTANT SCHEDULE CHANGE: The championship game will not be held today due to scheduling conflicts. We expect the game will be rescheduled for some time this next week.
Tomorrow at 4pm the Hooligans will be playing to win their 3rd championship in the last 5 years! The team enters the playoffs as the #1 seed, receiving a 1st round bye after finishing 2-0 in the regular season. The Hooligans will play the winner of the Wamp Rats versus We Love TDs game which will be held at 3pm.
We would love to see a huge crowd to support the team! Be sure to head out to the CUAA football field tomorrow, Sunday, at 4pm. ROLL HOOLIGANS! With many rostered members unable to play in this past Sunday’s games, the Hooligans added a few players for the doubleheader: ![]() Hallie Williams, junior, 1st year Hooligan - Hallie signed with the Pigskin Hooligans for the second match of their doubleheader after competing against the team in the first match. She brings an athletic background to the team as a defender on CUAA’s first ever varsity women’s lacrosse team. Hallie made several pass receptions in the Hooligans’ game against the Wamp Rats to help advance the offense down the field. She had this to say on signing with the team: “It’s an honor to sign with the team, I’m excited to be here!” ![]() Matt Botti, sophomore, 1st year Hooligan - Matt signs with the Hooligans for the first time in his intramural career. He brings an athletic background to the team as a utility player on the CUAA baseball team. Matt played for We Love TDs last season, leading the league with 4 interceptions. He showed great versatility on both sides of the ball for the Hooligans, using his speed to make big gains on offense and showing great hands making both flag grabs and an interception on defense. We will keep fans posted as to when the Hooligans will be in action again, stay tuned for updates...ROLL HOOLIGANS! |
Written by Mike Russell
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