Syracuse Strong Wins GDFL Title

Syracuse Running Back Rashad Burns scored on two touchdown runs late in the game to give the Strong the lead then held of the Inglewood Blackhawks 24-20 to win Gridiron Bowl XIII in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Burns rushed 16 times for 195 yards and three touchdowns.  Linebacker Dewayne Gordon had six tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble for the Strong defense.

Syracuse finished the season 11-1 while Inglewood (10-1) lost their only game of the season.  The Blackhawks also came up short for the second year in a row in the championship game.  Inglewood lost to the Erie Express in last year's Gridiron Bowl.

After losing to the East Penn Raiders in the first round of the playoffs in 2021, the Strong won their first five games this season before losing to the Upstate Predators 28-15 on July 16th.  Syracuse rebounded to win their final six games.  They defeated the Baltimore Lightning (12-0), Upstate Predators (25-6) and Huntsville Rockets (31-6) in the playoffs.

Syracuse had previously been in the Northeastern Football Alliance (NFA) going 29-1 in three seasons and winning a league title before joining the GDFL for the 2020 season which was cancelled due to COVID-19.

The GDFL played with 23 teams in 2022 to complete their 12th season.  

2022 Playoff Results

First Round

  • Washington Warriors 37, Tacoma Sabers 0
  • Upstate Predators 14, Erie Express 7
  • Syracuse Strong 12, Baltimore Lightning 0
  • Huntsville Rockets 32, Columbus Fire 28
  • West Sound Rebels 47, Grit City Knights 0
  • Arizona Roadrunners 27, Salt Lake Senate 20
Quarterfinals

  • Inglewood Blackhawks 26, Arizona Roadrunners 12
  • Syracuse Strong 25, Upstate Predators 6
  • West Sound Rebels 27, Washington Warriors 20
  • Huntsville Rockets 16, Tri-City Outlaws 7
Semifinals

  • Inglewood Blackhawks 38, West Sound Rebels 18
  • Syracuse Strong 31, Huntsville Rockets 6
Gridiron Bowl XIII

  • Syracuse Strong 24, Inglewood Blackhawks 20 

 

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