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For the past 5 yrs, the Memphis Admirals have had arguably the best QB in the game in Dusty Cowell. The best RB in the game in Kenyon Heflin. The best WR combo in the league with Kendall Wanatabe and Lawrence Ingram. Memphis Admirals have made it to the Playoffs 5 of the 6 years the OSFL has been in existence. The Admirals have been in 3 conference championship games and one Stevens Cup game. Yet when people think of this team all they think of is that Cowell and the Admirals have come up short in big games every time they’ve had an opportunity.
What’s strange about this season is this was the year many predicted the decline of the Admirals. Cowell, Heflin and the WRs were a year older and the team started off 2-2. Memphis did not give off the look of a future conference championship and the eyes of the OSFL turned to Phoenix were Sammy Slade was leading the Riders to a 15-1 regular season. The lack of attention was a welcome relief to a team that has been the focus of the league for years and they quietly ran off 9 straight victories to finish the regular season. Cowell and Ingram continued to be one of the league’s dominant QB-WR combos and Heflin, while appearing to lose a slight step, had another 1000 yd season with 13 td.
Even with those numbers, no one expected Memphis to go into Phoenix and upset the Riders and they had no reason to. In one of the most anticipated games in OSFL history, the Admirals went into Phoenix and not only upset but embarrassed the Riders to win their 2nd conference championship. What was most surprising was that the Admirals did it with defense and shut down one of the most impressive offenses in OSFL history, Led by LB Dustin Burke and one of the best secondaries in the league, the Admirals are more than just a one sided team.
Another team wrongfully overshadowed by the Riders was the NC champion, St Paul Bandits. It’s impossible to believe that a 14-2 team could be overshadowed but it’s arguable that the Bandits were the best team in the OSFL this year. They were the first team in OSFL history to have two 1200yd receivers in Dwayne Holzberger and Mercury Humphrey. They have a Stevens Cup winning QB in Dusty Galloway who had another 30+ td season. Their defense, while not dominant, does enough to put their offense in a position to win. This team walked through its playoff opponents and seems primed to become the first team to win two Stevens Cups.
So who wins? St. Paul has the home field and Memphis could possibly face extremely cold weather when visiting the Twin Cities. With that said, its clear that the Bandits defense has trouble with high-powered offenses. The three best offenses they faced (Dakota, Columbus and Phoenix) all put up over 40 points on the Bandits and I see no reason why the Admirals cant as long as they avoid turnovers. In the end, I think the Memphis D will be enough to give the Admirals the win. Dusty Cowell will finally get the monkey off his back.
What’s strange about this season is this was the year many predicted the decline of the Admirals. Cowell, Heflin and the WRs were a year older and the team started off 2-2. Memphis did not give off the look of a future conference championship and the eyes of the OSFL turned to Phoenix were Sammy Slade was leading the Riders to a 15-1 regular season. The lack of attention was a welcome relief to a team that has been the focus of the league for years and they quietly ran off 9 straight victories to finish the regular season. Cowell and Ingram continued to be one of the league’s dominant QB-WR combos and Heflin, while appearing to lose a slight step, had another 1000 yd season with 13 td.
Even with those numbers, no one expected Memphis to go into Phoenix and upset the Riders and they had no reason to. In one of the most anticipated games in OSFL history, the Admirals went into Phoenix and not only upset but embarrassed the Riders to win their 2nd conference championship. What was most surprising was that the Admirals did it with defense and shut down one of the most impressive offenses in OSFL history, Led by LB Dustin Burke and one of the best secondaries in the league, the Admirals are more than just a one sided team.
Another team wrongfully overshadowed by the Riders was the NC champion, St Paul Bandits. It’s impossible to believe that a 14-2 team could be overshadowed but it’s arguable that the Bandits were the best team in the OSFL this year. They were the first team in OSFL history to have two 1200yd receivers in Dwayne Holzberger and Mercury Humphrey. They have a Stevens Cup winning QB in Dusty Galloway who had another 30+ td season. Their defense, while not dominant, does enough to put their offense in a position to win. This team walked through its playoff opponents and seems primed to become the first team to win two Stevens Cups.
So who wins? St. Paul has the home field and Memphis could possibly face extremely cold weather when visiting the Twin Cities. With that said, its clear that the Bandits defense has trouble with high-powered offenses. The three best offenses they faced (Dakota, Columbus and Phoenix) all put up over 40 points on the Bandits and I see no reason why the Admirals cant as long as they avoid turnovers. In the end, I think the Memphis D will be enough to give the Admirals the win. Dusty Cowell will finally get the monkey off his back.
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