1998 BRFL Week 17 Results

Mo-Ha Goes All the Way: 35-23

Respect in the BRFL, say the veterans, comes when it is that final week of the season and you alone are the winner. The Super Bowl Champion. Never mind how many points you score the other 16 weeks of the season. It's how many points that you score in the last week that counts.

During their fourth season, Mosakowski-Hale were scorned by some owners for their brash style. During the season they took over first place among active teams in winning percentage... The vets said they hadn't played long enough to earn it. After 16 weeks they shattered the scoring record for both points in the season and points per game. Records previously held by teams that didn't win titles. Records that had been hollow.

35 MOS MIN 14, RSmith 1, JHenley 1, MFaulk 1, AFreeman 6, DAlexander 0, CJacke 11, SEA D 1
23 OUT SEA Q 6, GHearst 0, JAnderson 7, DLevens 0, HMoore 1, EMcCaffery 0, RLongwell 4, ARZ D 5

The game was tense. Mo-ha could usually count on a big game from their Minnesota combo, but the Min QB/ Robert Smith netted a very average 13 points in the Saturday game. Derrick Alexander didn't score for KC. At the end of Saturday, the score stood Mo-ha 13 Outlaw nothing. Most importantly, Mo-ha had spent 3 players and Outlaw none.

On Sunday, Mo-ha backs ran well between the 20's but no one crossed the goal line. Three backs, three bonus points. Only Antonio Freeman scored among his five players.

Outlaw had very little to answer early. Only Jamal Anderson scored and has his 12th 100 yard day. Ryan Longwell only scored 4 points, and missed an extra point, ironically after Mo-ha's Freeman score. However, there was still an opportunity very late in the 4:00 game. Seattle QBs had one TD and were driving for another in garbage time. Meanwhile, it appeared that Arizona game was winding down. There didn't look to be anymore points for Mo-ha's Chris Jacke. Outlaw's Arizona defense had four turnovers and were working on a defensive shutout. Considering that, it was 31-26 Mo-ha, but Seattle was driving.

Then what occurred is one of those moments that defines a season, or a BRFL career. History has proven, that no one takes a championship by brute force. The Mo-ha had been averaging 63 points a playoff game. Today they were sweating. Luck must play a hand somewhere in the playoffs. Now was the time. Seattle completed a pass down to the one. On first and goal, Kitna rolled out and then tossed back to Ricky Watters. Watters then threw for a TD! The QB team rule does not allow for halfback options. A bullet was dodged. Then more hard luck for Outlaw. His defensive shutout was lost when San Diego scored and tied Arizona. That gave opportunity to Mo-ha's Chris Jacke to boot a game winning 52 yarder. That added four points to make the final 35-23.

35 points is pretty unimpressive for the highest scoring team in league history. However, 836 points may someday be surpassed. What won't be taken away the fact that Mosakowski-Hale is the "1998 BRFL Champion".