![]() Sun, Nov 6 - After defeating We Love TDs in the first game of their doubleheader, the Hooligans would put their 1-0 record on the line against the Wamp Rats in the second game. The team maintained a steady lead throughout the game with a strong offensive performance, but the Wamp Rats did manage to find holes in the Hooligans defense as the teams traded scores all throughout the second half. The Hooligans would emerge with a 62-53 victory after the dust settled, securing their first 2-0 start since the 2012 season. The Hooligans won the opening coin toss and elected to play defense first, taking the ball to start the second half. Micah Oetting would quickly get the Hooligans the ball back with an interception, and new quarterback Matt Botti would step up and find Dana Ford for a 9-pt score with Micah Oetting adding a 3-pt conversion. Joel Werner would then take the reins of the quarterback position for the Wamp Rats and he led a very nice drive, eventually connecting with Tyler Tweedale in the endzone though Micah Oetting intercepted the PAT attempt and returned it for 2. On the next series Hooligans captain Mike Russell took a short swing pass and showed his elusiveness, spinning his way past several defenders for a touchdown to make it a 22-6 Hooligan lead. After the Hooligans defense forced a turnover on downs Matthew Botti would find Marshall Oetting in the endzone for another score, although James Haugen would make a great pass breakup on the 3-pt conversion attempt. The Wamp Rats would switch to Matt Korte at quarterback and he led his team down the field eventually passing to James Haugen for a late touchdown with Tyler Tweedale adding the 1-pt conversion. The halftime score would read 28-13 in favor of the Hooligans. The Hooligans began the second half with the ball and Matthew Botti continued to perform well at the quarterback position, connecting once again with Marshall Oetting for a touchdown. On the next series the Wamp Rats opened up their playbook, calling the “Trump Train” play in which the entire team lined up in a row 7 players deep. The Hooligans defense attempted to “build a wall”, but Matt Korte would find Connor Forbes for a quick touchdown strike in the endzone with captain Andrew Ripke notching the 2-pt PAT. The Wamp Rats would gain momentum on the next series as James Haugen made a huge interception leading to Matt Korte finding Joel Werner for a touchdown and cutting the Hooligans lead to 36-27. The Hooligans would switch back to Micah Oetting at quarterback and he would once again show his arm strength finding Derek Nelson on a deep route for a quick score. The Wamp Rats would still battle hard as Matt Korte hit Tyler Tweedale in the endzone keeping it a close game at 42-33. Matthew Botti showed his speed on the next play, eluding defenders and cutting back across the field for a nice touchdown run. The Wamp Rats would continue to respond as Tyler Tweedale hauled in his third TD catch of the day with James Haugen adding a 2-pt conversion to make it 48-41. The teams traded scores as Micah Oetting connected with Matt Botti while Matt Korte would find fan favorite Connor Forbes on the next series. In the waning minutes Micah Oetting would fire deep to brother Marshall Oetting to make it a 62-47 game and secure the game for the Hooligans. The Wamp Rats made a late quarterback change as Kayla Swanson showed great poise in the pocket passing to Connor Forbes for a short gain. Connor Forbes would catch one more touchdown from Matt Korte as time expired, and the Hooligans would secure a 62-53 victory. Chuck McKinney, Omar Prieto, and Victor Diaz were at the game to cheer on the Hooligans. Alison Rein, Becca Johnstone, Emmi Schultz, and Esther Schultz cheered for Hallie Williams and the Hooligans at times, but they also seemed to show a strong affinity for Connor Forbes and the Wamp Rats. The Hooligans improved their record to 2-0 for the first time since the 2012 championship season. Back in 2012, the team finished a perfect 7-0 claiming their first title in franchise history. Stay tuned for details on the Hooligans’ next matchup...ROLL HOOLIGANS!
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![]() Sun, Nov 6 - The Hooligans opened the 2016 season with a doubleheader on Sunday, playing on a beautiful sunny day with unusually warm weather for November. The team played their first game against We Love TDs in a rematch of last year’s title game. The Hooligans held the lead for most of the game but nearly lost control near the end, having to battle back from a late 1-point deficit to win 58-51. Marshall Oetting tied the franchise record for single-game receiving TDs with 4 in the match, putting him in a 4-way tie with other legends Angela Martin, Bre Taylor, and Micah Oetting. We Love TDs won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half. Micah Oetting would receive the opening start at QB and drove the Hooligans down the field finding Dana Ford in the endzone for the first score of the 2016 season. Tyler Kempf would counter for We Love TDs, finding Kreighton Rahn in the endzone for a touchdown although new Hooligan signee Matt Botti would intercept the 3-pt conversion attempt. Micah Oetting would put together another scoring drive, this time connecting with brother Marshall Oetting for a TD pass with Derek Nelson adding the PAT. Kreighton Rahn would respond for We Love TDs as he took a short swing pass and eluded many flag grabs on his way to the endzone. The Hooligans would pull out some trickery on the next play as Marshall Oetting caught a pass just outside the endzone and lateraled to Dana Ford for a 9-pt female score to open a 28-14 lead. The teams traded scores before halftime with Tyler Kempf connecting with Kreighton Rahn for the third time on the day and Micah Oetting finding Marshall Oetting for the second time in the match. The halftime score would read 36-22 in favor of the Hooligans. Jessica Russ would arrive in the second half as a late signee for We Love TDs, and she would immediately make her presence felt showing blazing speed with a huge run setting up a Greg Barbuto touchdown. The Hooligans would continue to push downfield on offense as Micah Oetting would once again find Marshall Oetting for a TD strike. Another huge run by Jessica Russ, coupled with solid blocking from her lacrosse teammate Hallie Williams, would lead to a touchdown reception by We Love TDs captain Gabe Farr to narrow the Hooligans’ lead to 42-36. The Hooligans made an immediate answer in one play on the next series as Micah Oetting showed his arm strength looking deep to Derek Nelson who hauled in the touchdown, but We Love TDs would not go away as captain Gabe Farr scored a touchdown to keep it a 6-point game at 50-44. With under 3 minutes to go in the game the Hooligans looked to drive down the field and put the game away, but Gabe Farr came up with a huge “pick 6” to tie the game at 50-50. We Love TDs elected to go for a 1-point conversion and quarterback Tyler Kempf would take it in himself to give We Love TDs their first lead of the game at 51-50. With under 2 minutes Micah Oetting would remain calm and collected in the pocket, making a critical third down conversion and eventually finding Marshall Oetting who notched his franchise record-tying 4th receiving TD of the game. We Love TDs was left with under one minute to work with, and although they would put together a great last drive the Hooligans’ defense would come up with a stop on the last play of the game to deny a touchdown and secure a 58-51 win. Adrienne Woodruff and Chuck McKinney were present at the game to cheer on the Hooligans. The team won its season opener for the second straight year and improved to 1-0 on the young season. The Hooligans would go on to face the Wamp Rats in the second game of the doubleheader, that recap will follow shortly. With several players missing for the doubleheader Sunday and Brandon Waack reannouncing his retirement, the Hooligans have some key additions to announce thanks to the recruiting of team member Micah Oetting: ![]() Blaine Milheim, sophomore, 1st year Hooligan - Blaine will be a big addition to the Hooligans’ 2016 championship efforts. He brings athleticism honed as a star outfielder on the CUAA baseball team. Blaine has made big plays both on the diamond and the flag football field, having quarterbacked the We Love TDs squad that defeated the Hooligans 70-23 in last year’s championship game. He will bring great speed to the team and contribute on offense and defense. ![]() Derek Nelson, junior, 1st year Hooligan - Derek will be coming to the Hooligans for his first season in 2016. He also joins many of his baseball teammates on the Hooligans roster, having signed with CUAA baseball this year as a pitcher. Derek is listed at 6’2” which will make him a tall receiving target on offense, and his height will also make him a strong defender as he will be able to deflect high passes. Remember, the Hooligans will be in action this Sunday, November 6 at 3:00 against We Love TDs and then again at 4:00 versus the Wamp Rats. All games will be played on the real CUAA football field. The weather is supposed to be nice and we are looking for a huge crowd to support the franchise in the season opener. Come on out and support the team...ROLL HOOLIGANS! Get excited Hooligans fans - the 2016 season will officially open this Sunday, November 6 on the real CUAA football field! The Hooligans will be playing a doubleheader.
The first match will be at 3:00 against Gabe Farr's We Love TDs squad in a rematch of last year's championship game. The second match will be at 4:00 against Andrew Ripke's Wamp Rats squad in a rematch of last year's semifinal game. We hope to see a HUGE crowd out for the game so be sure to bring all your friends and come out to the CUAA football field at 3:00 and 4:00 this Sunday to cheer the Hooligans on to victory...ROLL HOOLIGANS! The 2016 flag football season will be underway soon, and the Hooligans will look to make one more championship drive this season. Captain Mike Russell is still awaiting word from the CUAA athletic department on field availability so that the schedule can be finalized. The franchise is still in contract negotiations with a few potential players to fill their last roster spot, but let’s take a look at the current team the Hooligans will field in 2016 (players listed alphabetically by first name according to number of years played, after captains): ![]() Mike Russell (captain), grad student, 11th year Hooligan - Captain Russell returns for one final championship drive with the Hooligans in 2016. He has continued to work tirelessly to assemble the best talent available, ensuring that the franchise remains competitive and in contention for a championship. On the field Russell has continued to improving his receiving skills over the years, and on the sidelines he provides solid leadership and coaching. He had this to say on returning to the team: “I am proud to get one more chance to lead this franchise to a title in 2016, roll Hooligans!” ![]() Angela Martin (co-captain), grad student, 6th year Hooligan - Angela returns to the Hooligans for a sixth year as a grad student, serving once again in a co-captain capacity. She has etched her name solidly into the Hooligan record books as the franchise’s career leader in touchdowns with 26. Angela has amazing speed and great hands, making her a sensational player on offense and defense. She will continue to make a huge impact on both sides of the ball for the Hooligans this season. ![]() Dana Ford, senior (6th year), 5th year Hooligan - Dana comes back to the Hooligans for her fifth year with the team. She has made a significant impact the last several years as a receiver, showing great catching ability and the speed to make some big gains. Dana earned the Gold Play of the Year last season for her long touchdown run in the playoffs which featured several juke moves. She has also shown ability as a defender notching interceptions and flag grabs. Dana had this to say about resigning with the team: “Roll Hooligans, it’s too cold to play flag football!” ![]() Humphrey Ihejirikah, senior (5th year), 3rd year Hooligan - Humphrey resigns with the Hooligans for his third time with the franchise, serving as one of the team’s players with collegiate football experience. He has been a very dependable receiver over his time with the team, making some key catches to keep drives alive and hauling in passes in the endzone. Humphrey has also shown tremendous hustle on the defensive end, earning Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 for his efforts making numerous flag grabs. ![]() Marshall Oetting, senior, 3rd year Hooligan - After many last-minute contract negotiations were hammered out Marshall has signed again with the Hooligans for his third season. He has been stellar at the quarterback position, earning co-MVP honors the last two years and showing great arm strength and field awareness. Marshall has also seen time at receiver and has been solid on the defensive side of the ball as well. He had this to say on returning to the team: “I’m glad to be on the team!” ![]() Micah Oetting, senior, 3rd year Hooligan - Similarly, after much discussion with his agent Micah has returned to the Hooligans for the 2016 season. He has been stellar at the receiver position, earning co-MVP honors the last two years and showing great hands, speed, and route-running. Micah also has shown great defensive ability in making interceptions, and he is a capable quarterback as well having led the championship drive in 2014. He had this to say on returning to the team: “It’s good to be back with the Hooligans, I’m here to win a championship!” ![]() Brandon Waack, senior, 2nd year Hooligan - Brandon will return to the Hooligans in 2016 after contemplating retirement in the offseason. He provided a great speed option in the 2015 season, hauling in 3 receiving touchdowns and making great gains. Brandon also made his presence felt on defense coming up with an interception which he returned for a touchdown. He will be an impact player on both sides of the ball for the Hooligans this year. ![]() Jordan Taylor-McLeggan, senior (5th year), 2nd year Hooligan - Jordan comes back to the Hooligans for her second year after signing with the team late last year for the playoff run. She showed great potential as a receiver in the 2015 playoffs, running solid routes and hauling in a touchdown catch. Jordan has been training hard all summer for flag football season and she hopes to gain the attention of women’s football league scouts. She had this to say on returning to the team: “I’m glad to be back, it’s been a long summer but now I’m ready!” ![]() Lukas Mueller, senior, 2nd year Hooligan - Lukas returns to the Hooligans for his second year with the franchise. While he was unable to play last year due to his schedule he will look to pick up where he left off in the 2014 season - as a highly dependable receiver who hauled in 6 touchdown catches and made some crucial first-down receptions. Lukas’ 6’3” height will also enable him to make an impact on defense. ![]() Jon Targus, senior (5th year), 1st year Hooligan - Jon will be new to the Hooligans in 2016. He brings an athletic background to the team having completed a sensational 2-year career as a pitcher for CUAA baseball. Jon towers at 6’4” which will make him a tall dependable target at the receiver position. His height will also make him a good defender as he will be able to deflect passes. Jon had this to say on signing with the team: “Signing with the Hooligans was one of the best decisions of my life. Such a great opportunity and honor to play for a historic franchise, I really am blessed!” It is possible that the Hooligans could play this upcoming weekend, but as noted before we are still awaiting word from the CUAA athletic department on field availability. Stay tuned for more updates...ROLL HOOLIGANS! Students are returning from fall break at Concordia University Ann Arbor, and it will soon be time for the Pigskin Hooligans franchise to make one more shot at winning another championship. The franchise will be entering its 11th year of competition this season and looks to add to the legacy which has been built over the years.
Last year the Hooligans finished 2-2 on the season, returning to the championship game but failing to defend their 2014 title. The team set a new franchise record for largest margin of victory in their 89-35 season-opening win against the Wamp Rats but fell 71-46 to We Love TDs to end the regular season 1-1. The Hooligans would earn the #2 seed in the playoffs and cruise to a 61-38 first-round victory over #3 seed Wamp Rats, but they were crushed 70-23 in the championship game by #1 seed We Love TDs. It is worth noting that many key players were missing from the championship game and their presence was sorely missed. This year’s squad will once again feature a mix of a solid core of returning veteran players along with some key newcomers. Captain Mike Russell continues to work hard every offseason to recruit and retain the top talent Hooligans fans have come to expect. We originally believed the athletic department was going to return flag football as an intramural sport this year, but it appears that is not the case. Captain Russell is working hard to coordinate a league as he did last year to ensure that flag football will still be played in 2016. Check back soon for a roster preview to take a closer look at the 2016 squad...ROLL HOOLIGANS! ![]() May 15, 2016 - Graduation ceremonies were held at Concordia University Ann Arbor on Sunday with the class of 2016 receiving their diplomas after years of hard work in the classroom. The Pigskin Hooligans organization values academic excellence, and the franchise was well represented by 6 former team members who earned their degrees. Let's take a look the accomplishments of each of these players on and off the field (career stats listed are those earned with the Pigskin Hooligans organization): ![]() Angela Martin Major: Family Life Education Minor: Community Service Seasons played: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Awards won: Breakout Player of the Year (2012), Brittany Davis Memorial Award (2012), Heart of the Hooligans (2013), Brittany Davis Memorial Award (2014), Silver Play of the Year (2014), Brittany Davis Memorial Award (2015), Bronze Play of the Year (2015) Career stats: 14 GP, 1 pass TD (female franchise record), 26 TDs (franchise record), 4 PATs, 3 INTs Angela graduates from Concordia with a major in Family Life Education and a minor in Community Service. She has turned in a legendary career with the franchise in her time with the team, using her blazing speed and great hands to be a consistent offensive threat. Angela currently holds the franchise record for career touchdowns with 26, is tied for the single-season touchdown record with her 15-TD season in 2012, and has thrown the only female passing touchdown in team history. She was a part of the 2012 and 2014 championship teams and has also provided leadership with the team as a co-captain since 2013. Angela plans on attending CUAA for graduate school in the fall, so she will continue to add to her Hooligans legacy. ![]() Dana Ford Major: Criminal Justice Seasons played: 2013, 2014, 2015 Awards won: Most Improved Player (2013), Most Improved Player (2014), Gold Play of the Year (2015), Heart of the Hooligans (2015) Career stats: 13 GP, 10 TDs, 5 PATs, INT Dana graduates from Concordia with a degree in Criminal Justice. She has been a member of the Hooligans for 3 years, signing with the franchise in 2013 after playing for Alex Sypniewski's No Name squad in 2012. Dana has shown great speed and dependable attendance over her time with the Hooligans, hauling in 4 touchdowns each of the last two seasons and appearing in nearly every game. She was a member of the 2014 championship squad and has been a vocal leader throughout her time with the team. Dana may be attending CUAA for graduate school in the fall, so she might be able to continue her Hooligans legacy as well. ![]() Humphrey Ihejirikah Major: Criminal Justice Seasons played: 2014, 2015 Awards won: Defensive Player of the Year (2015) Career stats: 9 GP, 7 TDs, PAT Humphrey graduates from Concordia with a degree in Criminal Justice. He signed with the Hooligans in 2014 after captaining his own Slytherin squad in 2013 and playing for Mike Ball's Big Boyz team in 2012. Humphrey has been a dependable receiver in his time with the team, making key catches to pick up first downs and hauling in some passes in the endzone. He has also been a significant factor on defense, showing great effort to make flag grabs and earning the team's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2015 for his efforts. Humphrey will have one more semester left in the fall of 2016, so he will get one last chance to win a championship with the Hooligans. ![]() Jordan Taylor-McLeggan Major: Exercise Science Seasons played: 2015 Awards won: Sub of the Year (2015) Career stats: 2 GP, TD Jordan graduates from Concordia with a degree in Exercise Science. She was a key midseason acquisition for the Hooligans in 2016, signing with the team for the playoff run. Jordan saw time at receiver and hauled in several passes including a touchdown in the team's first-round playoff victory over the Wamp Rats. She aspires to play in a women's football league after her time at Concordia and playing for the Hooligans will likely make scouts take notice. Jordan will have one more semester left in the fall of 2016, so she will get another shot at a title with the team. ![]() Takari Johnson Degree: Individualized: Educational Studies Major Seasons played: 2013 Awards won: Gold Play of the Year (2013) Career stats: 2 GP, 2 TDs Takari graduates from Concordia with a degree in Educational Studies. He was a huge late-season signing for the Hooligans in 2013, joining the team just in time for the playoff run. While Takari was known in his CUAA football career as a defensive player he showed great hands on offense for the Hooligans as a receiver, catching 2 TDs including the game-winning catch against the Pederson Painters in 2013 that secured a playoff spot. NFL scouts soon took notice of his performance with the Hooligans as he received an invite to training camp with the New York Giants in 2015. Takari recently signed a contract with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, becoming the first Hooligan ever to play professional football. ![]() Virgilio Burgo Major: Family Life Season played: 2015 Awards won: Individual Performance of the Year (2015) Career stats: 2 GP, 8 pass TDs Virgilio graduates from Concordia with a degree in Family Life. He signed with the Hooligans in 2015 after playing in 2013 for Humphrey Ihejirikah's Slytherin squad. Virgilio was called upon to play quarterback in the team's first-round playoff matchup with the Wamp Rats this season. He handled the high-pressure situation well, passing for 8 touchdowns in the game leaving him just one pass TD away from matching legendary Zach Johnston's single-game record of 9. Virgilio will be back for one more semester in the fall of 2016, so he will get another shot at claiming a championship with the Hooligans. The Pigskin Hooligans organization would like to once again congratulate all of the 2016 graduates on receiving their degrees. Each of these players has made significant contributions to the franchise. The Hooligans strive to develop leaders both on and off the field who will go on to do great things after their time with the team. The organization would like to wish each graduate the best of luck in their future endeavors...ROLL HOOLIGANS! The Pigskin Hooligans have been informed that 2013 team member Takari Johnson has been signed to a contract with the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League! Takari will be leaving in April to join the team, and will officially become the first member of the Hooligans to play professional football.
Takari had this to say to his fellow Hooligans on the accomplishment: "Earn your stripes!". The CFL begins having preseason games in June, so be sure to tune in to follow his career! ROLL HOOLIGANS! You can view the final 2015 league stats here: ![]()
Now that we’ve reviewed the 2015 Pigskin Hooligans season, it’s time to recognize the award winners for this year. Congratulations to the winners: 2015 Most Valuable Player Award Winners - Marshall Oetting and Micah Oetting: For the second consecutive year, the dynamic duo of twin brothers Marshall and Micah earns co-MVP honors for the Hooligans. Marshall had a solid year at QB, passing for 10 TDs which led the team and was good for third place overall in the league. He also saw time at receiver and performed well notching 2 TDs and 2 PATs. Micah showed his versatility catching 6 TDs as a receiver and passing for 5 TDs as QB. He also played well defensively coming up with 2 interceptions on the year. 2015 Brittany Davis Memorial Award Winner - Angela Martin: For the third time in her legendary career Angela receives the Brittany Davis Memorial Award, given to the team’s most outstanding female player. She continued to add to her legacy by passing for the first female touchdown in Pigskin Hooligan history in 2015. Angela also showed great speed and good hands scoring 4 TDs on the year, extending her career touchdown record to 26, and she displayed solid leadership as the team’s co-captain. 2015 Breakout Player of the Year Award Winner - Nick Holshoe: Nick earns the Breakout Player of the Year award in 2015, given to the most outstanding newcomer on the team. He turned in a solid season for the Hooligans, showing great speed and scoring 4 touchdowns on the year while passing for one. Nick also demonstrated his skills honed as a defensive back for CUAA football by making an interception which he returned for a “pick 6”. 2015 Defensive Player of the Year Award Winner - Humphrey Ihejirikah: Humphrey earns the Defensive Player of the Year Award for the 2015 season. While he made a significant impact on the offensive end hauling in 4 TDs, he was also a sensational flag-grabber throughout the season. Humphrey often made great diving flag grabs, many of which prevented opposing TDs, and while flag grabs were not officially recorded as a stat it is possible he may have led the team in the category. 2015 Individual Performance of the Year Award Winner - Virgilio Burgo: Virgilio wins the Individual Performance of the Year Award in 2015 for his 8 passing TDs in the Hooligans’ 61-38 first-round playoff victory. With both Oetting brothers unavailable for the playoffs he received the start at QB and handled the pressure well. The 8 passing TDs was the most by any Hooligans QB in their team debut and was just one away from tying the legendary Zach Johnston’s single-game record of 9 pass TDs. 2015 Most Improved Player Award Winner - Mike Russell: Captain Russell earns the Most Improved Player Award for the third time in his storied career. He made significant improvements as a receiver this season, making several receptions on the year which he took for big gains and scoring a PAT. Russell also saw much more playing time this year overall. 2015 Sub of the Year Award Winner - Jordan Taylor-McLeggan: Jordan receives the Sub of the Year Award in 2015, given to the most outstanding player not on the team’s original roster. She signed with the Hooligans for the playoff run and made an immediate impact, playing both full playoff games and hauling in a deep touchdown pass in the team’s first-round victory over the Wamp Rats. 2015 Heart of the Hooligans Award Winner - Dana Ford: Dana receives the Heart of the Hooligans Award in 2015, given to the player who best exemplifies the spirit of the Pigskin Hooligans franchise. She was a very vocal leader on the field this year, encouraging her teammates and working hard on the field. Dana scored 4 touchdowns on the year along with 2 PATs. Finally, here are the top 3 plays of the 2015 season: ![]() Gold Play: Dana’s long TD run, 61-38 playoff win over #3 Wamp Rats - The Hooligans found themselves in a close battle with the upset-minded Wamp Rats in the first round of the playoffs. Leading just 37-32 in the second half, the team was looking for a spark of energy and Dana would provide it. After catching a short pass she would make several sensational juke moves, eluding defenders on the way to a long touchdown run to give the Hooligans a much-needed 9-point TD. ![]() Silver Play: Marshall Oetting’s touchdown pass to Micah Oetting on the first offensive play, 89-35 win over Wamp Rats - After the defense forced a punt in the Hooligans’ season opener, the offense took the field on the 10-yard line. On the very first play from scrimmage Marshall dropped back in the pocket and fired a deep pass to Micah who hauled it in for the score. The early touchdown set the tone for what would be a lopsided 89-35 Hooligans victory. ![]() Bronze Play: Angela Martin’s touchdown pass, 89-35 win over Wamp Rats - In the storied history of the Pigskin Hooligans there had never been a female passing touchdown before the 2015 season, but Angela changed that on the very first game. With the Hooligans up 81-26 late in the game she checked in at QB and led a late drive down the field, eventually tossing a TD pass to Brandon Waack to make history. Congratulations to all of the 2015 award winners on their achievement! All of these players accomplished great things for the Hooligans franchise on the field this year. This concludes our look at the 2015 season...ROLL HOOLIGANS! Now that we’ve reviewed the 2015 season game-by-game, let’s take a look at the accomplishments of each player to compete in at least one game this season for the Hooligans (players listed alphabetically by first name after captains): ![]() Mike Russell (captain) - Captain Russell provided strong leadership on the Hooligans in 2015, assembling another championship-contending roster. On the field he saw greatly increased playing time this season, showing development as a receiver hauling in passes for some big gains and snagging a PAT in the championship game. 2015 stats: 4 GP, PAT ![]() Angela Martin (co-captain) - Angela continued to add to her Hooligans legacy in the 2015 season. She hauled in 4 touchdowns on the year, extending her own franchise record to 26 career TDs. Angela also threw the first female touchdown pass in Hooligan history in the team’s season opener, and defensively she came up with 2 interceptions which led all females league-wide. 2015 stats: 2 GP, 1 pass TD, 4 TDs, PAT, 2 INTs ![]() Brandon Waack - Brandon turned in a very solid rookie year with the Hooligans in 2015. He showed his speed as a receiver, making defenders miss and scoring 4 TDs and 4 PATs on the year. Defensively he also came up with an interception which went for a “pick 6”. 2015 stats: 2 GP, 4 TDs, 4 PATs, INT ![]() Dana Ford - Dana had another strong year on the Hooligans in 2015. She finished out a great career notching 4 touchdowns while showing great hands as a receiver and some sensational juke moves. Dana appeared in every game for the Hooligans and was a vocal leader on the field. 2015 stats: 4 GP, 4 TDs, 2 PATs ![]() Humphrey Ihejirikah - Humphrey continued to be a solid player for the Hooligans in the 2015 season. He was a very dependable receiver, making some key first-down catches and catching 4 TD passes. Defensively Humphrey also showed great flag-grabbing ability. 2015 stats: 4 GP, 4 TDs ![]() Jordan Taylor-McLeggan - Jordan was a key playoff addition for the Hooligans in 2015. She ran solid routes as a receiver, hauling in a deep touchdown catch in the team’s first-round playoff victory against the Wamp Rats. On defense Jordan also contributed with some flag grabs. 2015 stats: 2 GP, TD ![]() Marshall Oetting - Marshall had a great second year with the Hooligans franchise in 2015. He continued to be a steady presence at the QB position, leading the team with 10 touchdown passes. Marshall also showed his versatility seeing time at receiver where he notched 2 TD receptions along with 2 PATs. 2015 stats: 2 GP, 10 TD passes, 2 TDs, 2 PATs ![]() Micah Oetting - Micah also had a great second year with the Hooligans franchise in 2015. He continued to be a dependable wide receiver, snagging 6 TDs on the year, and he saw time at the QB position as well passing for 5 TDs. Micah also made an impact on defense with 2 interceptions in the team’s first game. 2015 stats: 2 GP, 5 pass TDs, 6 TDs, 2 INTs ![]() Nick Holshoe - Nick was a great addition to the Hooligans in 2015. He made his debut with the team in the playoffs and made a huge impact, using his speed to make defenders miss and scoring 4 TDs. Nick also saw time at the QB position in the championship game, passing for a touchdown, and he made a “pick 6” on defense. 2015 stats: 2 GP, pass TD, 4 TDs, INT ![]() Virgilio Burgo - Virgilio was a solid signing for the Hooligans in the 2015 season. He also made his debut in the playoffs and turned in a solid performance at QB, passing for 8 TDs in the team’s first round playoff victory. The 8-TD performance was the most by any Hooligans QB in their team debut. 2015 stats: 2 GP, 8 pass TDs The Hooligans are glad to have had the services of each one of these players in the 2015 season. Every member of the team made contributions that led to the continued success of the franchise. Still to come is the 2015 awards show where the specific accomplishments of some Hooligans will be recognized. ROLL HOOLIGANS! The 2015 season saw the Pigskin Hooligans advance back to the championship game for the 6th time in the last 7 years. The Hooligans looked to defend their 2014 championship and claim back-to-back titles for the first time in franchise history. However the team would finish 2-2 on the year, receiving a lopsided 71-23 defeat in the championship game against We Love TDs.
The season almost did not even take place as CUAA’s athletic department originally removed flag football as an intramural sport. However captain Mike Russell worked to organize the entire league from scratch, advertising around campus and working with the athletic department to coordinate facility usage. The league featured only 3 teams again this year, and due to a late start the regular season consisted of simply one game against each of the other 2 teams. All teams made the playoffs with the #1 seed (We Love TDs) receiving a first-round bye and the #2/#3 teams (the Pigskin Hooligans and the Wamp Rats) playing a first-round game to earn a place in the championship game. Games were played on the real CUAA football field. Let’s take a game-by-game look at the 2015 Hooligans season: Game 1 - Nov 15 vs Wamp Rats - W 89-35- The Hooligans opened their season playing against the Wamp Rats in the first game of a doubleheader. The team clearly showed why they were the defending champions, clicking on both offense and defense in jumping out to a 23-0 lead. The Hooligans would lead 42-6 at halftime and go on to win 89-35, setting new franchise records for largest margin of victory (54) and total team touchdowns in a game (11). Micah Oetting tied the franchise record for TDs in a game with 4, and Angela Martin threw the first female TD pass in team history. Game 2 - Nov 15 vs We Love TDs - L 46-71- After their blowout victory in the first game, the Hooligans had to turn around quickly and play the second game of a doubleheader against We Love TDs. The teams would trade touchdowns throughout the game, but the Hooligans would never manage to take the lead and would fall 71-46. Turnovers would plague the team as Hooligans quarterbacks would combine to throw 3 interceptions. Game 3 - Dec 6 vs #3 Wamp Rats - W 61-38- The regular season results placed the Pigskin Hooligans as the #2 seed in the league, giving them a first-round matchup with the #3 seed Wamp Rats. The Hooligans were missing a huge chunk of their roster due to either injuries or work responsibilities, fielding only 6 players on the day. But the team that was there still turned in a solid performance, coming away with a 61-38 win on a day where dense fog surrounded the field. The victory gave the team a berth in the championship game. Game 4 - Dec 6 vs #1 We Love TDs - L 23-71 - The Hooligans advanced back to the championship game against We Love TDs following their first-round victory. The team entered as somewhat of an underdog but looked to turn in another playoff upset just like the 2014 championship game. But the absence of many key starters proved problematic as the Hooligans were rolled over in a 71-23 loss. 6 interceptions by the We Love TDs defense shut down the Hooligans’ offense as they struggled to make it past midfield for much of the day. Check back soon for part 2 of the season overview, which will feature the stats and accomplishments of each individual player on the team in 2015. ROLL HOOLIGANS! The Pigskin Hooligans have the privilege once again of announcing the 2015 All-Star teams! Two teams of 11 players each were selected, with the two “captains” being League Commissioner Mike Russell and head referee Mike Clevenger. Unfortunately the season ended so late that there will not be an actual All-Star game, but it certainly would have featured some fantastic talent. Let’s take a look at the two teams: ![]() Mike Russell (captain)(Pigskin Hooligans) - Pigskin Hooligans captain Mike Russell makes his 5th career appearance in the All-Star game. He organized the entire league from scratch this season, narrowly saving flag football once again after the athletic department originally removed it as an intramural sport. On the field he improved his game, making numerous receptions including a PAT and seeing much more playing time this season. 2015 stats: 4 games played, PAT ![]() Amanda Benezra (We Love TDs) - Amanda receives an All-Star nomination in her rookie season. She made a huge impact on the offensive end for her squad, scoring 3 touchdowns as a receiver and passing for 2 touchdowns as the QB. Amanda also made her presence felt on the defensive end coming up with an interception in the championship game. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 2 pass TDs, 3 TDs, PAT, INT ![]() Angela Martin (Pigskin Hooligans) - Hooligans co-captain Angela makes it back to the All-Star game for the 3rd time in her illustrious career. She continued to show her blazing speed and good hands, hauling in 4 TDs which is tied for the best female total in the league. Angela also was a solid defender, making 2 interceptions which leads all female players in the league. 2015 stats: 2 games played, 1 pass TD, 4 TDs, PAT, 2 INTs ![]() Blaine Milheim (We Love TDs) - Blaine earns a berth in the All-Star game after a great performance in the championship game. He paced his team to a solid 71-23 victory over the Hooligans, showing his speed and versatility passing for 3 TDs and scoring one. Defensively Blaine also came up with 2 of his team’s 6 interceptions in the title game. 2015 stats: 1 game played, 3 pass TDs, TD, PAT, 2 INTs ![]() Dylan Vickers (Wamp Rats) - Dylan earns a selection to the All-Star game after his first year in the league. He was a very dependable receiver, snagging 4 TDs on the year including a sensational fingertip catch in the playoffs against the Hooligans that may have been the best catch of the year. Dylan also used his height to make an interception on defense. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 4 TDs, 2 PATs, INT ![]() Gabe Farr (We Love TDs) - Gabe gets a berth in the All-Star game after a solid performance in the championship game. He helped We Love TDs jump out to an early lead by catching his team’s first 3 TDs in the match. Defensively Gabe also came up with an interception in the game. 2015 stats: 1 game played, 3 TDs, PAT, INT ![]() Jacob Maas (We Love TDs) - Jacob earns his second straight trip to the All-Star game after another amazing season. He led the entire league in TDs once again this year, hauling in 9 TDs over the course of the season including a 5-TD performance against the Hooligans in his team’s season opener. Jacob was also dependable on PATs catching 4 on the year. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 9 TDs, 4 PATs ![]() James Haugen (Wamp Rats) - James receives an All-Star selection in his rookie year in the league. He used his height to be a dependable receiver for his team, finishing 3rd in the league and leading the Wamp Rats with 5 TDs on the year. That included a 3-TD performance against the Hooligans in which James also picked up many first downs. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 5 TDs, PAT ![]() Joel Werner (Wamp Rats) - Joel receives a trip to the All-Star game after his first year in the league. He was a great contributor to his team on the offensive end, seeing significant playing time at QB passing for 6 TDs on the year. Joel also showed good hands as a receiver hauling in 4 touchdowns. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 6 pass TDs, 4 TDs ![]() Marshall Oetting (Pigskin Hooligans) - Marshall gets the second All-Star selection of his career in 2015. He continued to be a steady presence at QB for the Hooligans, tossing 10 TD passes which was good for third place in the league. Marshall also saw time at receiver, catching 2 TDs and 2 PATs. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 10 pass TDs, 2 TDs, 2 PATs ![]() Nick Holshoe (Pigskin Hooligans) - Nick earns an All-Star berth after a solid first season in the league. He showed his skills honed as a defensive back on CUAA’s football team, making an interception which he returned for a pick 6 in the championship game. Nick was a key part of the Hooligans’ playoff offense, showing great speed and passing for a TD and scoring 4 TDs on the season. 2015 stats: 2 games played, 1 pass TD, 4 TDs, INT ![]() Mike Clevenger (captain)(We Love TDs) - Mike serves as captain for the second All-Star team as the “head ref”, having officiated the first game of the flag football season. He turned in a good year on the field for We Love TDs, notching 2 TDs and 4 PATs on offense. Defensively Mike came up with 3 interceptions which was good for second in the league. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 1 pass TD, 2 TDs, 4 PATs, 3 INTs ![]() Andrew Ripke (Wamp Rats) - Andrew is named to his first All-Star game in 2015. The Wamp Rats captain turned in a solid year at quarterback, passing for 11 TDs which places him second in the league. Andrew also made many receptions on offense and contributed with flag grabs on defense. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 11 pass TDs ![]() Brandon Waack (Pigskin Hooligans) - Brandon receives his second career All-Star selection this year. He used his blazing speed to make an offensive impact for the Hooligans in 2015, notching 4 TDs and 4 PATs in two games of action. Brandon made an impact on defense as well, notching an interception which he returned for a touchdown. 2015 stats: 2 games played, 4 TDs, 4 PATs, INT ![]() Courtney Russell (Wamp Rats) - Courtney is selected to the All-Star game in 2015 after a great first season. She was a dependable receiver for her squad, notching 4 touchdowns which tied her for the top female total in the league. Courtney had some long runs on offense which picked up great yardage for her team. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 4 TDs ![]() Dana Ford (Pigskin Hooligans) - Dana receives her second straight All-Star nomination this year. She continued to show great hands and good speed for the Hooligans, making some sensational juke moves and notching 4 TDs which ties her for the top female total in the league. Dana also hauled in 2 PATs and took a few QB reps as well. 2015 stats: 4 games played, 4 TDs, 2 PATs ![]() Humphrey Ihejirikah (Pigskin Hooligans) - Humphrey receives an All-Star selection for the fourth year in a row. He continued to be a dependable receiver, catching 4 TDs on the season including a 3-TD performance in the Hooligans’ first-round playoff victory. Defensively Humphrey was a great flag-grabber, forcefully whipping opponents’ flag belts off. 2015 stats: 4 games played, 4 TDs ![]() Jeremy Maas (We Love TDs) - Jeremy earns his fourth consecutive All-Star selection in 2015. He showed his stellar athletic ability once again this season, passing for a league-leading 13 touchdowns at the QB position. Jeremy played receiver at times too, hauling in 4 TDs and 3 PATs, and defensively he came up with an interception in the championship game. 2015 stats: 13 pass TDs, 4 TDs, 3 PATs, INT ![]() Lauren Ortiz (We Love TDs) - Lauren receives an All-Star selection after a great rookie season. She showed her versatility on the offensive end, tossing for 3 TDs from the QB position which leads all females in the league and also notching 3 TDs as a receiver. Lauren made an interception on defense as well. 2015 stats: 3 games played, 3 pass TDs, 3 TDs, 2 PATs, INT ![]() Matt Botti (We Love TDs) - Matt earns an All-Star berth after a good first year in the league. He made his greatest impact on the defensive side of the football, notching a league-leading 4 interceptions on the season including a 3-INT performance against the Hooligans. Matt also notched 2 TDs and a PAT on offense. 2015 stats: 2 games played, 2 TDs, PAT, 4 INTs ![]() Micah Oetting (Pigskin Hooligans) - Micah makes his second straight trip to the All-Star game in 2015. He continued to be a dependable receiver, finishing second in the league with 6 TDs on the year. Micah also saw time at QB, passing for 5 TDs, and on defense he came up with 2 interceptions. 2015 stats: 2 games played, 5 pass TDs, 6 TDs, 2 INTs ![]() Virgilio Burgo (Pigskin Hooligans) - Virgilio earns his second All-Star trip this year, having been in the game as head ref in 2014. He received the start at QB in the Hooligans’ first-round playoff game and passed for 8 TDs in the match. That performance was tied for the top single-game pass TD total in the league. 2015 stats: 2 games played, 8 pass TDs Congratulations to all of the 2015 All-Stars! All of these players made great accomplishments for their teams this year. Be sure to check back in 2016 if flag football returns to CUAA to see many of these same players battle it out for intramural glory! The Pigskin Hooligans put forth a respectable effort in 2015, finishing 2-2 and making it back to the championship game for the 6th time in the last 7 years.
2015 team members from left to right: Captain Mike Russell, Nick Holshoe, Dana Ford, Jordan Taylor-McLeggan, Virgilio Burgo, Humphrey Ihejirikah. Not pictured (but played in 2015): Angela Martin, Brandon Waack, Marshall Oetting, Micah Oetting. ![]() Sun, Dec 6 - After defeating the Wamp Rats 61-38 in the first round, the Pigskin Hooligans advanced to the championship game. #1 seed We Love TDs entered the match with a perfect 2-0 record and a seemingly unstoppable offense. The Hooligans looked to keep rolling in the championship game, but We Love TDs would turn in a dominant performance on both sides of the ball to claim a lopsided 71-23 championship victory. The Hooligans would begin the game on offense but We Love TDs would force a 4-and-out and claim the ball on the Hooligans’ 10-yard line. Jeremy Maas would take the reins of the QB position and quickly fire to Gabe Farr to open up an early lead. After a Blaine Milheim interception We Love TDs would take over again on offense and Gabe Farr would catch his second TD of the game from Jeremy Maas. On the next series Nick Holshoe would take over the QB position for the Hooligans, hearkening back to his high school days, and he cranked off a huge TD run to put the team on the board and cut the deficit to 16-6. However We Love TDs would continue to roll on offense as Jeremy Maas connected with Gabe Farr for the third time on the day. Gabe Farr would then make an interception on the next series, leading to Jeremy Maas finding Jacob Maas for a touchdown. Lauren Ortiz would then make an interception on defense, leading to Jeremy Maas connecting with Blaine Milheim who showed his speed on the way to the endzone before the half. The halftime score would read 40-6 in favor of We Love TDs. Blaine Milheim would take over at QB in the second half for We Love TDs, and they would continue to pile on points as Jacob Maas would haul in a touchdown. The Hooligans’ offense continued to stall as Amanda Benezra would show great hands coming up with an interception which led to Blaine Milheim finding Jeremy Maas for a touchdown. Turnovers would continue to plague the Hooligans as Blaine Milheim would make an interception and find Jeremy Maas again for a TD. Jeremy Maas would make an interception on the next drive and Lauren Ortiz would haul in a 9-pt touchdown on the next series to open up a staggering 71-6 lead for We Love TDs. The Hooligans’ offense would finally manage to put a drive together late in the game as Nick Holshoe passed to Dana Ford for a touchdown in the last several minutes. Nick Holshoe would then show off his NAIA-leading interception skills by coming up with a pick 6 as time expired. Hooligans captain Mike Russell would catch the 2-pt PAT on the touchdown, and the final score would read 71-23 in favor of We Love TDs. For the Hooligans, Nick Holshoe figured into all 3 touchdowns with a rushing TD, pick 6, and a passing TD. Dana Ford hauled in a receiving TD in the game. Captain Mike Russell notched a few receptions and had a PAT. Humphrey Ihejirikah made several receptions and good flag grabs in the game. Virgilio Burgo took some of the QB reps in the game and played good defense. Jordan Taylor-McLeggan had a few flag grabs in the match. For We Love TDs, Jeremy Maas passed for 5 TDs, caught a TD, had 2 PATs, and made an interception. Blaine Milheim showed his speed and had a receiving TD, a PAT, 2 INTs, and passed for 3 TDs. Gabe Farr caught 3 TDs, a PAT, and had an interception. Jacob Maas had 2 receiving TDs and 3 PATs. Lauren Ortiz had a receiving TD and an interception. Amanda Benezra saw time at center, took a QB rep, and made an interception. The Hooligans finished their season with a 2-2 record. We Love TDs completed a perfect 3-0 season. The Hooligans still have much to be proud of, making another championship game appearance and putting forth a great effort despite the lack of many key team members. Captain Mike Russell had this to say on the future of the franchise: “I have greatly enjoyed my time with this historic team over the years. I hope that there will be a way to continue the legacy of the Hooligans into the future, either through finding a successor or if I can find a way to stay connected with CUAA after graduation. We would like to thank all of our fans for their support over the years as well as all the players who have contributed their time and athletic ability to the franchise. ROLL HOOLIGANS!” ![]() 1st star - Jeremy Maas (We Love TDs) 5 passing TDs, 1 receiving TD, 2 PATs, INT ![]() 2nd star - Blaine Milheim (We Love TDs) 3 passing TDs, 1 receiving TD, PAT, 2 INTs ![]() 3rd star - Nick Holshoe (Pigskin Hooligans) 1 receiving TD, 1 INT return for TD, 1 passing TD ![]() Sun, Dec 6 - On a foggy December day, the #2 seed Pigskin Hooligans went out on the CUAA football field against the #3 seed Wamp Rats looking to punch their ticket to the next round. The Hooligans were missing many players, but those that showed up fought hard in a back-and-forth battle. The Wamp Rats fought hard in their upset bid, but a 61-38 win would send the Hooligans to the championship game for the 6th time in the last 7 years. The Hooligans would begin the game on defense, and a much improved Wamp Rats team would march straight down the field with Andrew Ripke finding Joel Werner in the endzone for an early lead. The Hooligans would respond early as Virgilio “V Newton” Burgo, receiving the start at quarterback, would connect with Humphrey Ihejirikah for both a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. After forcing a punt on defense the team would once again move down the field as Dana Ford juked her way to a huge gain leading to Virgilio Burgo finding Humphrey Ihejirikah in the endzone for the second time. The Wamp Rats would counter as Dylan Vickers came up with quite possibly the best catch of the entire intramural season, showing great concentration to make a low fingertip catch in the endzone. But the Hooligans would open up a double-digit lead on the next series as Virgilio Burgo looked deep to new signee Jordan Taylor-McLeggan who would haul in the pass for the 9-point score. The teams would trade scores before the half as Andrew Ripke would find Tyler Tweedale for a touchdown and Virgilio Burgo connected with Nick Holshoe who showed great speed on the way to the endzone. At halftime the Hooligans would lead 31-18. The Hooligans began the second half on offense and Humphrey Ihejirikah hauled in his 3rd TD pass of the day to make it a 37-18 game. But the Wamp Rats were resilient and continued to fight hard, racking up two straight touchdowns. Andrew Ripke would find James Haugen in the endzone and then after a goal-line stop on defense Andrew Ripke would connect with Joel Werner making it a 37-32 game. The Hooligans handled the pressure well as Dana Ford took a short pass and made some sensational juke moves for a long touchdown run to push the lead back to double digits. The teams traded touchdowns as Dylan Vickers found the endzone for the second time on the day and the Hooligans answered with Virgilio Burgo firing deep to Nick Holshoe for a touchdown. In the last several minutes the Hooligans defense would force a 4-and-out, essentially securing the game. The team would move down the field one last time as captain Mike Russell took a short screen pass, made a spin move, and ran for a big gain before being dragged down just short of the endzone by Joel Werner. The run would set up one last touchdown catch by Dana Ford, securing a 61-38 playoff victory for the Hooligans and a berth in the championship game. For the Hooligans, Virgilio Burgo performed well as starting QB, passing for 8 TDs in the game which was just shy of the franchise single-game record of 9. Humphrey Ihejirikah showed great hands on the day hauling in 3 TDs and also making many flag grabs. Dana Ford showed good hands and great juke moves scoring 2 TDs and a PAT in the game. Nick Holshoe also notched 2 TDs and showed great speed in the match. Jordan Taylor-McLeggan performed well in her Hooligans debut catching a deep TD pass. Captain Mike Russell showed good hands notching several receptions. For the Wamp Rats, captain Andrew Ripke provided a steady presence at quarterback passing for 6 TDs. Dylan Vickers had 2 TD catches including a sensational finger-tip grab in the first half. Joel Werner notched 2 receiving TDs in the game. Tyler Tweedale hauled in a TD and PAT in the game. James Haugen caught a touchdown in the second half. Brandon Bettcher had a few receptions in the game. Courtney Russell provided a receiving threat and ran solid routes. The win moved the Hooligans’ record to 2-1 on the season and clinched a spot in the championship game against undefeated #1 seed We Love TDs. That recap will follow shortly. The Wamp Rats fell to 0-3 on the season but showed great improvement all throughout the year and gave the Hooligans a great test in attempting to pull off a first-round upset bid. ![]() 1st Star - Virgilio Burgo (Pigskin Hooligans) 8 passing TDs (most in a single game by a Hooligans QB in season debut) ![]() 2nd star - Humphrey Ihejirikah (Pigskin Hooligans) 3 receiving TDs, many flag grabs ![]() 3rd star - Andrew Ripke (Wamp Rats) 6 passing TDs The Hooligans had one spot remaining on their roster heading into the playoffs on Sunday, and the team is pleased to announce one final piece of the puzzle: ![]() Jordan Taylor-McLeggan, senior, 1st yr Hooligan - Jordan will be joining the team for the playoff run this season. She brings an athletic background to the Hooligans as a member of Concordia's women's basketball team. Jordan shows great athleticism and jumping ability on the basketball court, and that will translate well towards making her a key receiver to give the Hooligans another option for 9-point female TDs. She had this to say on signing with the team: "It's an honor, I'm excited to be asked to play, go Hooligans!" Remember, the #2 seed Hooligans will be in action this Sunday, December 6 at 3:00pm against the #3 seed Wamp Rats (0-2) in the first round of the playoffs! The winner of that game will go on to face #1 seed We Love TDs at 4:00pm for the championship. Be sure to come out to the CUAA football field and cheer on the team...ROLL HOOLIGANS! The playoff schedule is set to take place this Sunday, December 6! Your #2 seeded Pigskin Hooligans (1-1) will face off against the #3 seed Wamp Rats (0-2) at 3:00pm in the first round. The last time these two teams met the Hooligans emerged with an 89-35 victory that set a new franchise record for margin of victory. The winner of that game will go on to face undefeated #1 seed We Love TDs (2-0) in the championship game at 4:00. The Hooligans fell in their regular season game against them 71-46.
We'd love to see a HUGE crowd to support the team, so be sure to head out to the CUAA football field at 3:00 on Sunday...ROLL HOOLIGANS! Today's playoff games have been postponed due to the snow accumulation on the field. We will be looking to reschedule for some time after Thanksgiving break. Stay tuned for updates....ROLL HOOLIGANS!
Your #2-seeded Pigskin Hooligans are scheduled to have their playoff game this Sunday, November 22 at 3:00pm against the #3 seed Wamp Rats (0-2). The winner of that game will go on to face #1 seed We Love TDs (2-0) at 4:00pm for the championship. As of right now games are still slated to be on the real CUAA football field, but we will keep you posted if the incoming snowstorm causes any changes in the game location or overall schedule. We'd love to see a great crowd out to support the Hooligans' playoff run...ROLL HOOLIGANS!
![]() Sun, Nov 15 - After their 89-35 victory over the Wamp Rats, the Hooligans would go on to face We Love TDs in the second match of the day. The Hooligans would keep the game close for most of the match, but We Love TDs would never trail in the game and pulled away late in the second half to secure a 71-46 win. Both teams were missing some key players on their roster in the game. We Love TDs would open the game on offense, and the Maas brothers would pick up where they left off last year as Jeremy Maas would connect with brother Jacob Maas for a deep TD strike. The Hooligans would counter on their next series as Marshall Oetting would lead the team down the field and find brother Micah Oetting for a touchdown. Jeremy Maas would connect with Mike Clevenger to extend the lead, and Micah Oetting would answer winning a jump ball with Jacob Maas to haul in his second touchdown. The Maas brothers again would make a connection as Jeremy Maas would find brother Jacob Maas for the second time, and Matt Botti would come up with an interception on the next series leading to Mike Clevenger hauling in his second TD of the day. With the Hooligans trailing 28-12 and needing to pick up points Dana Ford would come through in the clutch, catching a deep TD pass from Micah Oetting with Brandon Waack adding a critical 2-pt PAT. Jeremy Maas would answer as he would find Jacob Maas for the third time towards the end of the half, and the Hooligans would trail 34-23 going into halftime. The Hooligans would begin the second half on offense and after a big gain Marshall Oetting would show great awareness lateraling to Angela Martin to pick up the 9-pt female score. Jeremy Maas connected with Matt Botti to add to their lead, though Angela Martin would deny the 2-pt conversion attempt with an interception. Brandon Waack would show great coordination hauling in a tipped pass for a TD to keep the score close, but We Love TDs would continue to march down the field with Jeremy Maas finding Jacob Maas yet again for a TD and Amanda Benezra adding a 2-pt conversion. The Hooligans would go 4-and-out on the next series and We Love TDs capitalized on the opportunity, switching to Mike Clevenger at QB who would find Jacob Maas for Maas' 5th TD catch in the match. Matt Botti would make another interception to give We Love TDs the ball back, and he would go on to catch a TD pass from Jeremy Maas with Lauren Ortiz adding a 2-pt PAT to make it 62-38. Matt Botti would make yet another interception, but Brandon Waack would respond with one of his own picking off Amanda Benezra's pass attempt and returning it for 6. Amanda Benezra would bounce back scoring a late TD on a lateral, and the final score would be 71-46 in favor of We Love TDs. For the Hooligans, Brandon Waack scored a receiving TD, a "pick 6", and notched 2 PATs. Micah Oetting would record 2 receiving TDs along with 2 passing TDs in the game. Marshall Oetting passed for 3 TDs in the match. Angela Martin took a lateral for a TD and had an interception. Dana Ford scored her first TD of the year and played good defense. Humphrey Ihejirikah had some great receptions and flag grabs. Captain Mike Russell played center and worked to screen-block the blitzes of Jeremy Maas. Virgilio Burgo was present at the game but did not enter. For We Love TDs, Jacob Maas led his team recording a 5-TD performance on the day. Matt Botti had a great two-way game with 2 receiving TDs and 3 INTs. Jeremy Maas saw most of the QB reps throwing for 8 TDs in the game and blitzed the QB. Mike Clevenger had 2 receiving TDs, a passing TD, and 3 PATs. Amanda Benezra had a TD and a PAT in the game. Lauren Ortiz notched a PAT in the first half. Breanne Short, Dakota Bostic, Sophia Sahouri, and Virgilio Burgo's dad were at the game to cheer on the Hooligans. The game was officiated by James Haugen and Joel Werner. The team's record falls to 1-1 after the loss. We Love TDs went on to defeat the Wamp Rats in the 4:00 game (check for a bonus recap tomorrow), so that result means the Hooligans will enter next week's playoffs as the #2 seed against the #3 seeded Wamp Rats (0-2). We will keep you updated when times are determined for the playoffs next week...ROLL HOOLIGANS! ![]() 1st star - Jacob Maas (We Love TDs) 5 receiving TDs ![]() 2nd star - Matt Botti (We Love TDs) 2 receiving TDs, 3 INTs ![]() 3rd star - Brandon Waack (Pigskin Hooligans) 2 TDs (1 rec, 1 INT return), 2 PATs ![]() Sun, Nov 15 - The Pigskin Hooligans finally began the 2015 season on Sunday, playing a doubleheader on the real CUAA football field with great sunny weather. The team would come away with an impressive 89-35 victory in their first match of the day over the Wamp Rats, setting a new franchise record for largest margin of victory. The win was the Hooligans' first season-opening victory since the 2012 season when the team went 7-0 en route to a championship. The Wamp Rats won the coin toss and elected to go on offense first, but the Hooligans' defense would force several incompletions and a punt. Marshall Oetting took the opening snap at QB and on the very first play from scrimmage he would find Micah Oetting deep for an early touchdown with Brandon Waack adding a 2-pt PAT. The Hooligans' defense would come up huge on the next series, forcing a 4-and-out, and Marshall Oetting would connect with Angela Martin to open up a 17-0 lead. Micah Oetting would then make an interception to give his team the ball, and despite a great defensive effort by the Wamp Rats forcing a 4th down try Marshall Oetting would connect with Micah in the clutch to make the score 23-0. The Wamp Rats would begin to get their offense clicking on the next series as quarterback Connor Forbes tossed a short pass to James Haugen who made a great juke move to pick up a first down. They continued to march down the field and Connor Forbes would once again hook up with James Haugen in the endzone to put the Wamp Rats on the board. But the Hooligans answered quickly as Micah Oetting would switch to QB and look deep to Angela Martin for her second touchdown of the day. The Wamp Rats made another great charge down the field, highlighted by a solid run by Courtney Russell, but the Hooligans defense would come up with a stop leading to Micah Oetting connecting with Marshall Oetting for a late touchdown. The halftime score would read 42-6 in favor of the Hooligans. Marshall Oetting would switch back to quarterback in the second half, and he would lead the team down the field again finding brother Micah Oetting in the endzone. The Wamp Rats threatened on their next possession as Dylan Vickers had a step on the defense and nearly hauled in a deep touchdown pass, but the Hooligans would hold and add another score with Brandon Waack finding the endzone for the first time on the day. Micah Oetting would come up with another interception on the next drive and that led to Angela Martin hauling in her 3rd score of the day. The Wamp Rats would make a QB change to Joel Werner, and he performed well in the position methodically leading the team down the field and finding Dylan Vickers for both a touchdown and a nice 2-pt conversion on a fade route. The teams would trade touchdowns as Marshall Oetting passed to Humphrey Ihejirikah for a score and the Wamp Rats countered with Joel Werner finding James Haugen for the second time on the day. Micah Oetting would catch his fourth touchdown of the game on the next series, tying the Hooligans franchise record for TDs in a single game, and again the Wamp Rats responded with Joel Werner finding James Haugen for Haugen's 3rd TD in the game. Angela Martin would go on to make history in the next series as she would throw the first female TD pass in Pigskin Hooligan history, connecting with Brandon Waack for the score. Joel Werner would lead the Wamp Rats down the field one last time connecting with Courtney Russell for a late TD, and as time expired the Hooligans would claim an 89-35 victory. For the Hooligans, Micah Oetting had a great day tying the franchise record with 4 receiving TDs, 3 passing TDs, and 2 INTs on defense. Angela Martin continued to show her great speed and good hands with 3 receiving TDs on the day along with the franchise's first ever female passing TD, a PAT, and an INT. Marshall Oetting also had a good day taking the majority of the QB reps and passing for 7 TDs along with 2 receiving TDs and 2 PATs. Brandon Waack showed his quickness running good routes and catching 2 TDs and 2 PATs. Humphrey Ihejirkah made some great receptions hauling in a TD and also had great flag grabs. Dana Ford showed both her speed and good hands and caught a PAT. Captain Mike Russell had one reception for a big gain and saw time at center. For the Wamp Rats, James Haugen had a solid performance with many receptions and 3 receiving TDs. Joel Werner did very well in the quarterback role passing for 4 TDs in the game. Dylan Vickers provided a great receiving threat hauling in a TD and PAT. Courtney Russell showed good hands catching a TD late in the game. Connor Forbes took most of the QB reps in the first half passing for a TD. Captain Andrew Ripke saw some reps at QB and also had some receptions. The game was officiated Mike Clevenger. The win moved the Hooligans to 1-0 on the season, and the 89 points scored were just 4 shy of the franchise record of 93 set in the team's 93-80 win over the Pederson Painters in the 2013 playoffs. The team would go on to play against We Love TDs in the next match after a brief break, that recap is coming up shortly. ROLL HOOLIGANS! ![]() 1st star - Micah Oetting (Pigskin Hooligans) 4 receiving TDs (ties franchise record), 3 passing TDs, 2 INTs ![]() 2nd star - Angela Martin (Pigskin Hooligans) 3 receiving TDs, passing TD (first female TD pass in franchise history), PAT, INT ![]() 3rd star - James Haugen (Wamp Rats) 3 receiving TDs, PAT The schedule is finally set for the 2015 season! The Hooligans will play a doubleheader to open the regular season this Sunday, November 15 on CUAA's real football field. The team will begin play Sunday at 2:00 with an opening match against Andrew Ripke's Wamp Rats squad. Following that game, the Hooligans will play Sunday at 3:00 in a marquee matchup against Zeb Hancock's We Love TDs team. Let's take a look at the team the Hooligans will field in 2015 (players listed alphabetically by first name according to number of years played, after captains): ![]() Mike Russell (captain), grad student, 10th year Hooligan - Captain Russell returns to the helm of the Hooligans as the team enters its 10th year. He continues to use his recruiting prowess to assemble and retain top-notch talent as the franchise looks to defend the 2014 title. Russell provides strong leadership, having given a legendary pep talk in last year's championship game, and on the field he made some defensive flag grabs. He had this to say about the upcoming season: "I am glad to see flag football return to CUAA, and I believe we have a great chance to win a 3rd title in 4 years to claim the title of a dynasty!" ![]() Angela Martin (co-captain), senior (5th yr), 5th year Hooligan - Angela returns to the Hooligans for a fifth year, serving in a key leadership role as co-captain once again. She has played for the team her entire career and made herself into one of the legends of the franchise, reaching the career touchdown mark last year with her 22nd TD. Angela has blazing speed honed as a 4-year softball player, making her a constant threat at receiver for 9-point touchdowns, and her agility makes her a great defender as well. She had this to say on returning to the team: "Awesome!" ![]() Dana Ford, senior (5th yr), 4th year Hooligan - Dana comes back to the Hooligans for her senior year, playing in her fourth year with the team. She was a highly dependable member of the team last year, showing good hands as a receiver and hauling in 4 TDs on the season along with 2 PATs. Dana also used her speed developed as a CUAA softball player to make an impact on defense, notching an interception and several flag grabs. She had this to say on returning to the team: "I got a really big team, we need really big rings!" ![]() Humphrey Ihejirikah, senior, 2nd year Hooligan - Humphrey returns to the Hooligans for his second season with the team, serving as one of the team's collegiate football experience players. He proved to be a very dependable receiver for the team last year, making numerous receptions to help the team pick up first downs. Humphrey also made an impact on defense last year knocking down a pass. He had this to say on returning to the team: "I'm glad to offer my skills again!" ![]() Lukas Mueller, junior, 2nd year Hooligan - Lukas enters his second year as a Hooligan this season. He was a clutch receiver for the team in the 2014 championship run, hauling in 6 TDs and providing a dependable target on the offensive side of the ball. Lukas also made an impact on the defensive side of the football, using his 6' 4" height to come up with an early interception and disrupt passes. ![]() Marshall Oetting, junior, 2nd year Hooligan - Marshall returns to the Hooligans for his second season. He had a sensational rookie year with the team last year, earning co-MVP awards as the starting quarterback and passing for a league-leading 30 TDs using his powerful arm honed as a pitcher on CUAA's baseball team. Marshall also played receiver at times, scoring 6 TDs, and he came up with several interceptions on the defensive side of the ball as well. He had this to say on returning to the team: "It's going to be a great year!" ![]() Micah Oetting, junior, 2nd year Hooligan - Micah rejoins his twin brother Marshall Oetting as a Hooligan this year. He too had an awesome rookie year in 2014, using his speed developed on the baseball diamond to haul in a team-leading 11 receiving TDs and earning team co-MVP. Micah was a capable backup QB, passing for 11 TDs and leading the game-winning drive in the championship game, and he also led the team with 5 INTs on defense. He had this to say about returning to the team: "If you want to win, put the rock in my hands!" ![]() Brandon Waack, junior, 1st year Hooligan - Brandon will be a newcomer to the Hooligans this season. He brings lightning-fast speed to the team which he has improved as a member of CUAA's baseball team. Brandon was a member of Monsters Inc in 2013, seeing time in several games at both quarterback and receiver. He showed an ability to make explosive plays on both offense and defense and that will make him a key contributor to the Hooligans. ![]() Nick Holshoe, junior, 1st year Hooligan - Nick will be a key addition to the Hooligans in 2015, serving as the team's second collegiate football experience player. He is in the middle of a stellar season for CUAA football as a defensive back where he currently leads the country in interceptions with 8 on the year. As a ball-hawking safety Nick will greatly help to improve the Hooligans' secondary this year. ![]() Virgilio Burgo, senior, 1st year Hooligan - Virgilio will be in his first year as a Hooligan this season, serving as the team's third collegiate football experience player. He is currently in his senior season on CUAA's football team as a defensive tackle, notching several tackles. Virgilio will help to anchor the team defensively and will also likely see a tight-end type role on offense. He had this to say on signing with the team: "I want to win a championship!" Remember, the Hooligans will be in action at 2:00 vs the Wamp Rats and 3:00 vs We Love TDs this Sunday, November 15! We're hoping to see a huge opening day crowd so be sure to come out and support the team...ROLL HOOLIGANS! The 2015 season will be starting up soon, and the Pigskin Hooligans will reach a significant milestone in the franchise's history as they will be entering their 10th season of competition. The Hooligans enter 2015 as the defending champions after a storybook 2014 season that saw them bounce back from an 0-3 start to finish 3-3 and win the championship. Having won 2 titles in the last 3 years going back to 2012, the team will be looking to claim their 3rd title in the last 4 years and officially earn the label of a "dynasty".
This year's squad will feature a mix of old and new players. Grizzled veteran captain Mike Russell will be entering his last year of play (barring a rule change to allow alumni to participate in intramurals), and he has been hard at work in the offseason to retain and recruit the best talent to make the Hooligans competitive once again. Career touchdown leader Angela Martin is also returning as co-captain and will continue to assist with player personnel decisions this year. It almost appeared that the 2015 season would be doomed as CUAA decided to remove flag football as an intramural sport this season. However, Captain Russell was able to receive permission from the athletic department to run a league if there was still interest. As of this writing there are 3 teams signed up for league play, so it looks as though there will be a return to competition this year. Games will be played on either the actual CUAA football field or the old soccer field (Rummel Field), depending on availability. The current goal is to potentially begin games this Sunday, November 1 but the exact schedule is still yet to be determined depending on the number of teams that sign up. The Hooligans are still finalizing their roster for this season, so be checking for a preview to be released soon...ROLL HOOLIGANS! ![]() May, 17, 2015 - Graduation ceremonies were held at Concordia University Ann Arbor last Sunday with the class of 2015 receiving their diplomas after years of hard work in the classroom. The Pigskin Hooligans organization was represented by 6 former team members who earned their degrees this year. Let's take a closer look at these players' academic achievements as well as their stats on the field: ![]() Justin Litzner Degree: Master of Science in Business Administration (MBA) Season(s) played: 2012, 2013, 2014 Award(s) won: Defensive Player of the Year (2012), Individual Performance of the Year (2013), Silver Play of the Year (2013) Career stats: 14 GP, 5 TDs, 18 PATs, 2 INTs Justin graduates Concordia with a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA). He has played a big part in the Hooligans' organization over the last several years, playing for the franchise from 2012 through 2014. As a highly-touted free agent signing in 2012 Justin proved to be a PAT specialist, snagging 7 on the year, and he was also an expert flag-grabber earning him the Defensive Player of the Year Award. In 2013 he continued to be an offensive threat, earning the Individual Performance of the Year Award for his 3-TD 2-PAT INT statline in the team's 93-80 playoff win over the Pederson Painters along with the Silver Play of the Year Award for his great PAT catch in the championship game. In 2014 Justin continued to be dependable on PATs, hauling in 4, and he made numerous catches to move the team down the field and pick up first downs. Hooligan fans will wait eagerly in the offseason to see if Justin is still around Concordia as staff next season so he can continue his career with the franchise. ![]() Karlee Schaus Major: Biology Minor: Chemistry Season(s) played: 2013 Award(s) won: Bronze Play of the Year (2013) Career stats: 5 GP, 1 TD Karlee graduates Concordia with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She was a member of the 2013 Pigskin Hooligans squad which made a run all the way to the championship game. Karlee showed solid hands and good speed honed as a member of Concordia's softball team, notching some key receptions and making a great finger-tip TD catch in the championship game which earned her the 2013 Bronze Play of the Year Award. She will be going on to medical school in South Carolina after graduation, specializing in pacemaker construction. ![]() Kristina Butcher Major: Criminal Justice Season(s) played: 2012 Award(s) won: Bronze Play of the Year (2012) Career stats: 4 GP, 3 TDs, PAT, INT Kristina graduates Concordia with a degree in Criminal Justice. She was part of the 2012 Pigskin Hooligans squad which went 7-0 and claimed the first championship in franchise history. Kristina showed good hands throughout the year, catching 3 TDs along with a PAT and forming a dynamic duo with Angela Martin. She also showed a knack for the defensive side of the game, making an interception and earning the Bronze Play of the Year for her flag grab against the Big Boyz that stopped about a crazy PAT attempt in the team's semifinal playoff match. ![]() Valerie Carrillo Major: Criminal Justice Season(s) played: 2013 Career stats: 3 GP, 3 TDs Val graduates Concordia with a Criminal Justice degree. She was part of the 2013 Pigskin Hooligans squad which appeared in the championship game. Val showed her blazing speed developed as a member of Concordia's softball team, racking up explosive gains across the field and showing good hands catching the football. All 3 of her touchdowns came in the same game, the team's crazy 93-80 playoff victory over the Pederson Painters, in which she also made an impact on defense breaking up several PAT attempts by the Painters. ![]() Zach Johnston Degree: Master of Science in Educational Leadership (MSEL) Season(s) played: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Award(s) won: MVP (2010), MVP (2011), MVP (2012), Defensive Player of the Year (2013), MVP (2013) Career stats: 35 GP, 141 pass TDs, 13 TDs, 14 PATs, 10 INTs Zach graduates Concordia with a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership (MSEL). He is a legend of the Pigskin Hooligans franchise, having played for the team from 2009 through 2013. In 2009 Zach helped to revolutionize the Hooligans' offense, seeing some time at receiver and eventually settling into the starting quarterback position towards the playoffs. Once the Hooligans started giving out team awards he became a regular recipient of the MVP trophy, winning the inaugural award in 2010 for his stellar play at quarterback where he set the single-season franchise record of 33 passing TDs. In 2011 Zach led the Hooligans to the championship game for the first time with his stellar quarterback play, claiming the MVP award again. In 2012 he would once again receive the MVP award as he would propel the Hooligans to a 7-0 championship season. While Zach announced his retirement following the 2012 season he would be lured out of retirement by the persuasion of Captain Russell, returning for one more run in 2013 and winning both the Defensive Player of the Year Award and MVP for his solid 2-way play. He still holds the franchise records for passing TDs in a career (141), single season (33), and a single game (9), and is tied with Micah Oetting for the single-game INT record (3). ![]() Zach Milner Major: Religious Studies Minor: Philosophy Season(s) played: 2010, 2011, 2012 Award(s) won: Most Improved Player (2011), Silver Play of the Year (2011) Career stats: 15 GP, 5 TDs, 3 INTs Zach graduates Concordia with a major in Religious Studies and a minor in Philosophy. He was a member of the Pigskin Hooligans franchise for 3 years, playing for the team from 2010 to 2012. In 2010 Zach made a name for himself as a speedy rookie, playing tough defense and using his quickness to break big gains on the offensive side of the football. In 2011 he served as commissioner of the entire league and won the Most Improved Player award after hauling in 4 TDs and an INT along with the Silver Play of the Year Award for his late game-tying TD catch against Falcons N' Stuff that forced overtime. In 2012 he was limited by a busy schedule but appeared in the team's regular season match against Big Boyz and played solid defense. The Pigskin Hooligans would like to once again congratulate all of the 2015 graduates on their accomplishment after many long years in the classroom. Each of these players has left their mark on the franchise in their time with the team. The Pigskin Hooligans would like to wish each graduate luck in their future endeavors and hope that they look back fondly on their time as a Hooligan...ROLL HOOLIGANS! |
Written by Mike Russell
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