Football Friday (8/27/21)

Welcome to another FOOTBALL FRIDAY as we take a look at obscure football leagues playing throughout the world.   Happy Friday!

Gridiron Developmental Football League

Quarterfinal Results:

Erie Express 35, Cleveland Rams 6

Columbus Fire 25, East Penn Raiders 6

Tri-City Outlaws 19, River City Pythons 6

South Beach Outlaws-Inglewood Blackhawks  (Inglewood won the game but there is no report of the final score on the league's website or Facebook page.  Disappointing.)

Semifinal Schedule:

Erie Express vs. Columbus Fire

Tri-City Outlaws vs. Inglewood Blackhawks

DUDE'S ARENA/INDOOR FOOTBALL TOP TEN:

#1 - Arizona Rattlers (IFL) 12-2-0.  

Last week:  Defeated Frisco Fighters 55-38.  Rattlers' QB Drew Powell, was 14 of 19 for 167 yards and three TDs in the game and led his team to a 31-17 halftime lead against Frisco.  The win clinches home field for the Rattlers throughout the playoffs.

Next:  Aug 29 vs. Sioux Falls Storm (6-7) in Quarterfinals. 

#2 - Albany Empire (NAL) 9-1-0.  Won National Arena League championship.  Season Complete.

#3 - Omaha Beef (CIF) 9-4-0.  Won Champions Bowl VI.  Season Complete.

#4 - Massachusetts Pirates (IFL) 11-3-0.

Last week:  Defeated Iowa Barnstormers 55-19.  The Pirates won their 8th straight game.  Trailing early against the Barnstormers, Pirates defensive back Santos Ramirez returned a fumble 12-yards to give the Pirates a 19-10 lead to help pull away to a 35-13 lead at halftime.

Next week:  Aug 28 vs. Bismarck Bucks (7-8) in Quarterfinals.  

#5 - Frisco Fighters (IFL) 10-3-0.  

Last week:  Lost to Arizona Rattlers 55-38.  With less than seven minutes to play, Frisco's DeMarcus Felton scored from 5 yards out to cut the Rattlers' lead to 45-31.  Frisco attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff but Arizona's Davontae Merriweather scooped up the ball and scored to put the game out of reach at 52-31.

Aug 28 vs. Spokane Shock (6-6) in Quarterfinals

#6 - Salina Liberty (CIF) 10-2-0.  Lost Champions Bowl VI.  Season Complete.

#7 - Tri-City Rush (AWFC) 8-2-0  

Last week: Bye

Next:  Sep 4 vs. winner of Oregon-Idaho semifinal game

#8 - Columbus Lions (NAL) 7-3-0.  Lost National Arena League championship. Season Complete.

#9 - Oregon High Desert Storm (AWFC) 7-3-0.  

Last week:  Bye.  

Next:  Aug 30 vs. Idaho Horsemen (6-4) in AWFC semifinals.

#10 - Idaho Horsemen (AWFC) 6-4-0.

Last week:  Bye

Next:  Aug 30 at Oregon High Desert Storm (7-3) in AWFC semifinals.

CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (CFL)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are off to a 3-0 start.  QB Cody Fajardo made 30 of 35 passes and went over 300 yards in the Riders’ win over Ottawa and rushed for a touchdown, while the defense hit Matt Nichols with six sacks. 

DUTCH LEAGUE

The Dutch league set to play an eight team schedule for 2021-22.  Eight teams will compete in a two-part season. The first part will kick off on October 3 and run until November 21. The league will resume on February 27, 2022, with Tulip Bowl XXXVI scheduled for July 3, 2022. The defending champion (2019) Amsterdam Crusaders will compete with the Arnhem Falcons,  Groningen Giants, Amsterdam Panthers, 010 Trojans, Flevo Phantoms, Hilversum Hurricanes, and Lelystad Commanders.

GERMANY

The Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (8-0) remain undefeated with a 77-16 pounding of the Marburg Mercenaries (2-6) with two games to go in the GFL regular season.

SWITZERLAND

The Calanda Broncos (5-1) atoned for an earlier loss to Bern by handing the Bern Grizzlies a 35-10 beating, setting the tone for a possible championship game clash.

UKRAINE

The Kiev Capitals capped an unbeaten season by downing the Lviv Lions 28-14 to win the Ukrainian championship for the third straight year.