Conference Preview

The Scarlet Ember and Empire have surely established themselves along with the Interceptors as the North-Midwest teams of the Era. These 3 teams have made the last 4 of 5 Championships. The Scarlet Ember have made the playoffs 6 straight times, the longest current streak. The Empire have a knack for winning the North 6 of past 8 seasons. The Empire have never lost a Conference series, with a record of 4-1. The Scarlet Ember got wiped out last year in the Conference Finals against the best team ever. In my estimation the Empire really didn't think they would get this far, and are facing a Scarlet Ember team that has been #1 in the league at one point, the highest seed in the Conference, and have the (probable) league MVP in Jack. It'll be tough for the Empire to go forth.

Keys to the Series:
SE: Get some big catches, break-up the chemistry that they displayed against the Interceptors
EMP: Keep it going with the spreading of the ball. Aleksandr must step up.

Well, well, well. The Cat's and Skylarks meet to settle the South once and for all. The South will be representing the South-West in the championship for an unprecedented 6th time in a row. The Skylarks have had a return to greatness season. They easily could have been #1 for the year except they tripped up in a non-important game against the #16 Dragonfish in week 9. Their only other loss was against the Cat's in New Orleans. Their first matchup in week 4 was the first set the Skylarks lost all year, though they did win in 3 sets. Two weeks later, the Cat's absolutely rolled them 10-4. For some reason it is so easy to forget the Cat's are trying to return to the Championship, they are heavy underdogs here. Should be a good matchup, maybe not as fan-friendly as a #1 Gold v. #2 Skylarks matchup, but it should go to 3 games.

Keys to the Series:
CATS: Big 3 have to be on every set! The Skylarks have too much talent for them not to perform.
SKY: Maurice needs to be the field general, they will live and die by his performance.