(SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2015)

Now that the US 2015 LFL season is six weeks underway, every team but one has taken the field. That will change this Friday night, May 29^th, when the Seattle Mist begin their season welcoming the LA Temptation to the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.

Though most players would hate being the last to play, the extra six weeks were extremely beneficial for Seattle as it provided coach Chris Michaelson more time to prepare his new acquisitions, some of which committed to Seattle around week 1 of the season. Michaelson said, “If the season started with western conference play and we had games in the early weeks of the season, it would have been rough competing with some of our key players just joining the team.”

Michaelson’s recruiting began just a few months after the 2014 season as he expected some veterans would not be returning. As it became clear he was going to be replacing some key players,  he really ramped up his efforts in January when the league announced that four franchises would be inactive for the 2015 season, leaving some passionate players looking for a new team. With the possibility that quarterback Angela Rypien would not be returning this season, Michaelson had his recruiting efforts set on finding a veteran quarterback.

As Seattle was able to land veteran linebacker Danika Brace, who started her LFL career with the Mist before joining the Las Vegas Sin for two seasons, things were starting to fall into place. Tryouts in late February provided Michaelson with a little depth and a defensive starting safety, Kadi Findling, but he still needed some standout players to feel confident about his team. Findling at the time was also a ‘front-runner’ for starting quarterback as an Angela Rypien return was not likely.

In early April, around the time the 2015 season kicked-off, Seattle was blessed with two acquisitions that Michaelson was able to land. Veteran quarterback KK Matheny and wide-receiver Bryn Renda, both from Jacksonville made arrangements to play for Seattle and coach Michaelson. This tandem was a big addition to the Seattle roster that lacked depth and game experience. The fact that Seattle did not have to play their first game until 7 weeks into the season, allowed coach Michaelson just enough time to get in some quality practices with his entire roster.

Michaelson, who probably has nearly three-hundred different offensive plays in his playbook, was figuring to only implement sixteen or so before the first game. Michaelson however, gave Matheny a lot of praise as she has grasped his offense very quickly allowing him to dive deeper into his offensive schemes. He is thrilled with how well his offense looks and he said, “Matheny already had great chemistry with Bryn Renda, but I’m impressed with how well her timing is with the other receivers, especially Jessica Hopkins.”

Returning starters for the Mist who play on both sides of the ball are Stevi Schnor, Jessica Hopkins, Megan Hanson, and Deanna Schaper-Kotter. Defensively, returning safety Lily Granston will also start joined with rookie corner-back Kadi Findling and veteran linebacker Danika Brace.

Michaelson feels his team is ready to play LA this Friday night and he is excited about the 2015 season. He knows that his style of heavy-upfront defense will go well against LA’s strong running-game and he is confident his secondary will defend the passing game well.  Michaelson has been in the league since the beginning and he wants a Legends Cup Championship just as much, if not more, than coach Hac wants a 3-peat in Chicago and coach Biz wants his fourth Legends Cup for the Temptation.  When asked about his thoughts on playing against LA this weekend, coach said “It’s LA versus Seattle; it’s always an exciting game with this rivalry.” With the new conferences and scheduling this season, fans will get to see this rivalry three times and possibly a fourth if both teams advance to the playoffs.

Seattle starts their season with back-to-back games against the Temptation with this Friday’s game and then going into LA on Saturday, June 6^th to play in the Coliseum.  Their third game of the season will be in Ontario, California when they play the Las Vegas Sin on Sunday, June 21^st with a 1pm kick-off.

The post TIMELY ACQUISITIONS ALLOW COACH MICHAELSON TO PREPARE SEATTLE MIST appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Wednesday, May 27, 2015)

The Commish returns alongside former co-host Connor Scofield, inside the shiny new league media studios. Show highlights include stories of the league through the first 6 weeks, and previewing the first northwest match-up of Seattle vs. Los Angeles. On the show is Los Angeles Temptation Defensive End, Kimm Chase, and veteran LFL Quarterback, now of the Seattle Mist, KK Matheny.

The post LFL | COMMISSIONER’S CORNER | EPISODE 81 appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Wednesday, May 27, 2015)

The Western Conference rivalry that fans have been waiting for, takes play on Friday night, May 29th, at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington, as the Seattle Mist host the Los Angeles Temptation. LA is riding high off of their big win against the Sin, and with a league bye week the Temptation are rested and ready to go again. While many would suspect that Seattle has been patiently waiting for their turn to take the field this season, the last six weeks of practice have been rather crucial, due to some late roster acquisitions.  Coaches Biz and Tui of the Temptation are looking to bring a fourth Legends Cup to Los Angeles, while Seattle’s Chris Michaelson has plans of his own this season to bring Seattle their first Legends Cup.  Seattle versus LA has been around since the leagues beginning, and this rivalry always brings hard-hits, trash-talk, and exciting plays.

The game will be broadcast a week later in primetime on national television via Fuse (check local listings), Saturday, June 6, 9p / 8c.

Las Vegas Betting Line

Los Angeles- 6.5 points | Over/Under 49 points

Los Angeles Temptation

The Temptation took care of business against the Las Vegas Sin two weeks ago and displayed their dominant offense in the second half. Game MVP, Carmen Bourseau posted stellar running-back numbers with her 10 carries for 115 yards, while scoring 3 touchdowns during the win. Bourseau’s yardage accounted for almost half of LA’s offense, while quarterback Ashley Salerno and Amanda Ruller added 74 and 28 yards respectively on the ground. In the game, Salerno also threw for 64 yards on three completions, two of which were touchdowns to Monica Jaramillo and Kiara Patterson.

Los Angeles is on a mission to get back to their championship winning ways that they had in the first three season of the league. The sail is set in the right direction, with head coaches Tui Suiaunoa and David ‘Biz’ Bizub back at the reins, and a veteran roster with great depth. Two of LA’s defensive-line rookies, Naja Christmas and Kimm Chase, had a solid performance in the second-half of their game against the Sindy Cummings-led Sin offense. After noting that Naja Christmas was the strongest player on the team, Coach Suiaunoa said, ” I feel sorry for any player that has to go up against her once she develops and masters the understanding of the game and grasps all the concepts of football.”

Though everyone knows Ashley Salerno can throw the ball just as good as any other quarterback to play in the LFL, we still have not had a great look at LA’s passing game this season. Salerno had just eight attempts passing against Las Vegas, as she ended up scrambling for positive gains on many of her drop-backs during the contest. Expect Salerno to rely on her passing game, and possibly getting rid of the ball quicker against the Seattle Mist, as they generally bring a lot of heat up front defensively to contest the run and put pressure on the quarterback.  Salerno could put up big numbers against the rival Mist if she is able to find her open receivers.

Seattle Mist

Seattle’s head coach Chris Michaelson did a great job of putting together a strong team this off-season. His team consists of nine players that were All-Fantasy players at one time or another. The acquisitions of quarterback KK Matheny, receiver Bryn Renda, and linebacker Danika Brace were huge for the Seattle Mist in many ways, as Matheny will look to lead the offense and Brace has the passion and leadership to lead the Mist defense.

Offensively, Seattle has the weapons to allow Michaelson to put together the well-designed offensive schemes he has become known for. With the versatile KK Matheny at quarterback, expect the Mist to have a balanced attack offensively, leaning toward the pass. Matheny has receiving targets Bryn Renda and Jessica Hopkins leading the way with some depth this season with rookie Kadi Findling.  Upfront at center is Megan Hanson and on both sides of her are Danika Brace and Deanna Schaper-Kotter. Returning running-back Stevi Schnoor will lead the ground game this season for the Mist.

On the defensive side of the ball, Seattle is lead by All-Fantasy linebacker Danika Brace who was a standout player on the Sin defense the last two seasons. At the defensive-end positions are Megan Hanson and Deena Schaper-Kotter. The secondary consists of safety tandem Jessica Hopkins and Lily Granston and corner-backs Stevi Schnoor and rookie Kadi Findling.

The post ONE OF THE LFL’S MOST FIERCE RIVALRIES IS SET TO SQUARE OFF ON FRIDAY NIGHT appeared first on LFL360.

The post An Instant Classic in Seattle, as LA Barely Holds on 14-13 appeared first on LFL360.

Join Denis Puska on Inside the LFL as he discusses the Week 6 game between Vegas and LA and hear from two rookies who played in Friday’s matchup between Los Angeles and Seattle in the days leading up to the game- Naja Christmas of the LA Temptation and Kadi Findling of the Seattle Mist.

The post Inside the LFL with Puska- 2015 Week 7 Podcast appeared first on LFL360.

(SEATTLE, WASHINGTON- MONDAY, JUNE 1, 2015)

The ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington was packed on Friday night, as fans witnessed the first of three regular season games between the long-time rivals- Los Angeles Temptation and Seattle Mist. In a game that featured two of the most veteran quarterbacks in the league, LA’s Ashley Salerno and Seattle’s KK Matheny, most in attendance were expecting a lot of offense and a high scoring game.

The Temptation had put on an offensive clinic just six days prior, scoring 46 points in the second-half against the Las Vegas Sin, in their 59-24 victory. However, the ShoWare Center witnessed a defensive battle as both teams had a tough time in the red-zone Friday night. Maybe the presence of the Seattle Seahawk’s strong-safety and defensive great Kam Chancellor, inspired both team’s defenses Friday night, as he was introduced to the crowd at midfield before the game.

Also in attendance Friday night was the big-personality and lovely ‘Mama Lynch’ (mother of Marshawn ‘Beastmode’ Lynch) who performed the game’s coin-toss, joining the team captains and head referee. The Seattle fans were thrilled to see the Seahawk’s a part of the atmosphere Friday night, coming out to support the Mist. Seattle fans are known for their ’12th Man’ presence during the Seahawk’s home-games, and the proud supporters of the Mist bring that same intensity and noise to the ShoWare Center. Even the popular fan ‘Mr. Mohawk’, who has become known and featured during Seahawk games, was in the Mist party-zone on Friday night.

Despite the lack of scoring on Friday night, the game was trilling with big pass plays, costly turnovers, and big hits. Seattle started the game on offense from their own 16 yard-line after an 11 yard Jessica Hopkins kick-off return. Running-back Stevi Schnoor got Seattle started on an 8 yard rush when the defensive tone was set for the night on a big hit by LA’s Danielle Harvey and Michelle Angel at midfield. By this point, the exchange of banter and trash-talk had already began between Los Angeles and Seattle.

A few plays later on LA’s 14 yard-line, after a Matheny six-yard pass completion to tight-end Danika Brace, Mathey targeted Brace again this time with an overthrow right into the hands of LA’s safety Michelle Angel, who upon making a return, had the ball stripped by Brace and recovered by Seattle’s Stevi Schnoor. There was a brief sigh of relief and a roar of cheers after the play as Seattle regained possession from the LA 18 yard-line.

The Mist marched down to the three yard-line after two nice gains by running-back Stevi Schnoor. After a Matheny pass completion to Lashauda Fowler was just a yard short of the goal-line, the very next play Fowler followed her blockers on the left side as she found the end-zone, with 4:07 remaining in the first quarter. After Jessica Hopkins converted an extra-point run, the Mist took a 7-0 lead on the Temptation.

It did not take long for the Ashley Salerno lead, Los Angeles offense to answer. After a few nice gains and getting to the Seattle 24 yard-line, Salerno connected for her first completion of the game to a wide-open Christina Sagarminaga who got past distracted corner-back Megan Hanson on a 24 yard touchdown pass, with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter. The Seattle secondary was out of position as safety Lily Granston was a yard behind linebacker Danika Brace as she crept forward expecting a run from the in-motion Bourseau, when the ball was snapped. This undisciplined style defense where the secondary is guessing on pass or run is something that coach Michaelson was not thrilled with at half-time. The extra-point run attempt was failed by Ashley Salerno, leaving the Mist up 7-6.

Seattle was had a quick turnover on downs after a four and out. LA took over at the Seattle 16 yard-line with 9:46 remaining in the second quarter. The Mist defense had a great set of plays for their red-zone stop with a big open-field tackle by rookie Kadi Findling and a hard hit by Danika Brace. On fourth-down Lily Granston tackled Ashley Salerno for a 7 yard loss where Seattle began the next series from their own 16 yard-line with 7:49 remaining in the half.

Seattle’s next drive was all Stevi Schnoor as she had one reception and four rushes bringing the Mist to LA’s 2 yard-line. On second and goal Matheny found Danika Brace in the end-zone for the score, putting them up 13-6 on LA with 3:22 remaining at half. The Hopkins extra-point rush attempt failed.

After a Deanna Schapper-Kotter sack on Salerno, an incomplete pass, and a five yard Bourseau rush, the Temptation had a fourth and 12 from their own 13 yard-line when Salerno connected with Monika Jaramillo for a 37 yard touchdown completion with 1:53 remaining. This was no doubt the biggest play of the game and biggest let down by the Seattle defense who had a great performance. Salerno’s ability this season to find her receivers down-field for long touchdowns has been huge for their success so far.

After a completed 2-point extra-point attempt on a Salerno pass to Michelle Angel, the Temptation lead the Mist by a score of 14-13.

Seattle was able to drive down the field on eight plays getting to the LA 6 yard line. On 2nd and 4, Seattle was called for a delay of game which was a costly penalty for the veteran quarterback KK Matheny, as the ball was now placed on the 11 yard-line with 4.6 second remaining in the half. The next play Matheny rolled out and targeted Bryn Renda, but overthrew her receiver as the time clock expired.

At half, neither team’s coaches were satisfied or pleased with their team’s performance. In the defensive battle giving up big plays or penalties were each team’s culprit.

After half, Seattle kicked-off to Los Angeles who had a four and out. Seattle put together a nice drive from their 20 yard line, getting down to LA’s 2, but another delay of game penalty put them back five yards to the seven yard-line. After an incomplete pass, Matheny fumbled on 3rd and goal which was recovered by the Temptation’s safety Danielle Harvey.

Seattle’s defense stood the test again, forcing a turnover on downs after four plays, as the fourth quarter began. Safety, Lily Granston’s presence was huge that defensive series as she stepped up big with nice tackles.

Early in the fourth quarter, Seattle again failed to convert from inside the red-zone. Making that the fourth failed attempt on the night inside the red-zone, leaving crucial points off the board.

LA took over with 5:31 remaining in the game and looked to eat up as much clock as possible and find the end-zone. During a drive that already took 3:14 off the clock, Bourseau fumbled on 3rd and 11 turning the ball over to Seattle at the LA 12 yard-line. A thrilling finish was envisioned by Seattle fans as they cheered on their Mist who were inside the red-zone with just over two minutes remaining.

On 3rd and 5 the stadium erupted with cheer as KK Matheny appeared to connect with Bryn Renda, but she had the ball knocked loose for an incomplete pass. A booth-review confirmed the call and Seattle had 4th and 5 with 1:04 remaining.

After the review, with everyone in the stadium on their feet, Matheny took the snap from shotgun and found the open receiver Danika Brace, but because the pass was a little late and off target, Brace was stopped at the wall just short of the first down by safety Michelle Angel and corner-back Chelsey Haardt.

LA took over on offense at their three yard-line and after two victory formations, there was no time left on the clock. A huge defensive performance, especially in the second-half ended with LA edging Seattle, to remain undefeated at 2-0.

The most valuable player had to be LA defense in the second-half, as they defended very well in the red-zone. LA’s defensive line played very well in the second-half, but their secondary was the big reason they won, shutting down Bryn Renda. Matheny was 11 of 24 passing for 38 yards and only one of those completions was to her big, talented target Bryn Renda. Chelsey Haardt did a great job of checking the receivers early in their routes and Michelle Angel and Danielle Harvey played extremely well covering Seattle down-field. Corner-back Ogom Chijindu also stepped big with three solo and three assisted tackles in the game.

This match-up will take place again this Saturday, June 6th, at the Coliseum in LA. Another great game is expected and if Seattle does not come out victorious, LA will be well on their way closing out the Western Conference as they will sit 3-0. This season, fans will witness this rivalry three time during the regular season and possibly a fourth if both advance to the playoffs.

The western-conference, after Friday night’s game stands at Los Angeles 2-0, Vegas 0-1, and Seattle 0-1. In just two western conference games this season, LFL fans have witnessed more balance on offense with 42% of the total offensive plays resulting in a pass attempt, compared to the eastern conference’s 31%. Just like in the NFL, fans love and glorify the passing game and the LFL wants to show fans that same excitement. Over the last 44 years, the NFL has seen the league pass ratio go from 48% to 56%, and some season’s reaching nearly 58%. The seconds during which the ball is in the air, always has fans holding their breath and at the edge of their seats. Seattle, Vegas, and Atlanta each have delivered a pass ratio of 50% or more this season, and the LFL would love to one day have a league average over 50% to provide that same excitement that NFL football fans enjoy.

Friday night’s game between the Temptation and Mist will be broadcast primetime in HD on national television via Fuse, one week later, Saturday June 6, 9p/8c.

Game Stats

The post An Instant Classic in Seattle, as LA Barely Holds on 14-13 appeared first on LFL360.

Join Adri and Marcus as they cover Friday night’s Week 7 instant classic game between the Los Angeles Temptation and the Seattle Mist, and discuss a rematch between LA and Seattle that takes place this Saturday, June 6th in the Coliseum. Joining the show this week is Seattle Mist’s newly acquired quarterback, KK Matheny.

The post LFL TALK PODCAST- USA 2015 Week 7 appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Wednesday, June 3, 2015)

Now that we have seen LA, Vegas, and Seattle play this season, it is evident that the western conference will be very competitive. The Temptation are off to a fast 2-0 start after beating the Sin with a strong second-half performance, and then edging the Mist last Friday in one of the best defensive battles in LFL history. Seattle won’t wait long for their chance to even the series with LA, as the two will go toe-to-toe this Saturday at the Coliseum. If Seattle wants any chance at the regular-season conference title, this rematch is a must-win game for the Mist, as a 0-2 start would require them to win-out the rest of the season to have a chance at the title.

This Saturday’s game will be broadcast a week later in primetime on national television via Fuse (check local listings), Saturday, June 13, 9p / 8c.

Las Vegas Betting Line

Los Angeles- 2.5 points | Over/Under 42 points

Seattle Mist

It was clear in their first game, that coach Chris Michaelson’s free-agent acquisitions improved his roster tremendously. Michaelson’s quarterback KK Matheny, who played previously for Jacksonville and Tampa, is a great fit for his offense and she had a great showing in her first game this season with only four weeks of practice in Seattle. Look for Seattle to post big passing numbers each week with KK Matheny’s mobility, which allows her more time to find her open receivers. Despite her height at only 5’2″ tall, Michaelson’s Seattle Mist finally has a franchise quarterback in Matheny, as she possesses all of the essentials to lead an offense effectively.

With linebacker Danika Brace leading the Mist defense, Seattle held a potent Temptation offense to only 89 total yards of offense the entire game, and only 24 of those yards came in the second-half. Note that this LA team put up 281 total offensive yards their first game against a strong Las Vegas Sin team. Seattle is 0-1, but they arguably have the best defense in the LFL this season. If cornerback Megan Hanson wasn’t exposed, giving up two big touchdown passes that went for 37 and 24 yards, Seattle could very well have shutout Los Angeles and held them to less than 30 yards of total offense. Rookie cornerback, Kadi Findling had a great performance in her first game as she covered receivers well and had two nice open-field tackles.  Look for this defense to become even stronger from week to week under Michaelson’s coaching.

Offensively, Michaelson has the weapons to allow Seattle to be a dominant threat in the west. Running-back Stevi Schnoor averaged 5.4 yards per carry on her 16 rushes for 88 total yards. The balance was great on offense as Seattle passed the ball 24 times of their 48 plays. Matheny only completed 11 of her 24 attempts but did a great job of eluding the rush and extending plays as she looked for her receivers to get open. LA covered her top receivers Bryn Renda and Jessica Hopkins well, as Renda had only one reception and Hopkins had no receptions on Friday night. Matheny was able to complete passes to running-back Stevi Schnoor and tight-end Danika Brace as they each had four receptions. Lashaunda Fowler also had two receptions for Seattle. Look for Seattle to find ways to get Renda, Hopkins, and rookie Kadi Findling involved in the passing game, giving them a lot of receiving depth.

Los Angeles Temptation

The Temptation have taken care of business in both of their games this season, in route to a 2-0 start. With head-coaches Tui Suiaunoa and David Bizub back at the helm, LA appears to be Legends Cup bound early this season. The offense has all of the necessary weapons around the best quarterback in the League, Ashley Salerno. Defensively, Los Angeles has the veteran’s and leadership to make it difficult for any offense to put up big numbers. They will truly be tested this season defensively, as they face Sindy Cummings and KK Matheny each two more times, and likely one of them a third time as they appear to be playoff bound early this season.

Los Angeles had a tough time sustaining drives offensively against the Seattle Mist Friday night in the ShoWare Center. LA only had four first downs the entire game and without their two big plays they very well could have been shutout against Seattle. The ground game struggled against the Mist as they only netted nine yards. This was the complete opposite from their Vegas game, as Carmen Bourseau had 115 of their 217 rushing yards against the Sin, as the team averaged 11.4 yards per carry. Coach Biz will certainly look to improve the running game, which will open up the passing game to allow Salerno to make more big plays through the air. Salerno has only completed 8 of the 18 pass attempts on the season, 4 of which have been touchdowns.

The Temptation defense is playing great physically and they made Seattle fight for each yard on Friday night. Big stops when it matters most has been the case for LA’s defense, as noted earlier they held Seattle five of seven times in the red-zone. Free-safety Michelle ‘Mini’ Angel has been great defending the pass and on Friday she was able to intercept one of Matheny’s passes early in the game. Chelsey Haardt, Monique Gaxiola, Danielle Harvey and Ogom Chijindu played very aggressively and physical against the Mist as they combined for 20 tackles in the Seattle game. Rookie defensive-end Kimm Chase had another excellent performance in her second game of the season. Look for this defense to improve game to game as they have a championship caliber lineup.

The post A PLAYOFF PICTURE GAME WILL BE PLAYED ON SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE COLISEUM (OFFICIAL GAME PREVIEW) appeared first on LFL360.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015

In a season full of blowouts, the Los Angeles Temptation and Seattle Mist played the closest game imaginable on Saturday night, May 29, with the Temptation squeaking out a 14-13 win on the road at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington.

The showdown featured two of the league’s best and most-accomplished quarterbacks in L.A.’s Ashley Salerno and Seattle’s KK Matheny. With the Temptation scoring 59 points in their previous game against the Las Vegas Sin, and Matheny’s scoring prowess, many fans expected a high-scoring aerial affair. Instead, they got an exciting defensive battle with crunching tackles, red-zone failures and momentum-changing turnovers.

The big key to the game was the red-zone play on both sides. Ashley Salerno and her offense failed to score at all during their four trips in the red-zone. Without their two big pass plays, it would have been hard for the Temptation to put any points on the board. Los Angeles also played a great game in the red-zone defensively against Seattle, as they held the Mist offense on five of their red-zone seven chances, one being the crucial stop during the Mist’s last drive of the game. Championship defenses are known to deliver big stops when it matters, and the Temptation certainly did that on Friday night.

Perhaps the teams were just very evenly matched, but Temptation Defensive Coach Tui Suiaunoa had a more than a hunch as to why the game was so close.

“You gotta remember, Danika Brace played for me last year, and knows every one of our plays because I ran it in Las Vegas with her,” Suiaunoa said. “It was kind of like our offense literally playing against our own defense in practice, because we stop our offense all the time, too.”

It didn’t help, Suiaunoa added, that “our offense had a brain fart about who blocks who. It’s as if our plays were foreign to them and written in another language.”

Naturally, Suiaunoa was pleased with the Temptation’s defensive coverage.

“The big story was how well my defense played in coverage and the pressure we put on KK Matheny,” Suiaunoa said. “We were able to force her to throw some bad passes because we played a very tight pass coverage, due mainly to Danielle Harvey and Michelle Angel. Our corners held their zones and our defensive ends applied the pressure we needed to eliminate any big plays by their offense.”

Temptation QB Ashley Salerno took a knee to the back while being tackled and suffered a deep bruise on lower back.

“She says she’ll be fine by game time, but we’ll just have to see,” Suiaunoa said.

“Hopefully you’ll see better blocking by us offensively,” said Suiaunoa. “Offensively, we need to stop Mist LB Danika Brace and safety Lily Granston who both played great defense against us. Defensively we are gonna do what we do well and keep the pressure on KK Matheny and do a better job stopping and do a better job stopping the run outside the red zone. In all four years that I’ve coached against the Mist, it has always been a 1- to 3-point game differential and has always come down to who has the ball last to win it. I don’t expect that to change. It will be another LA/Seattle classic battle!”

These teams will have a rematch this Saturday, June 6, at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Seattle will certainly have circled this game in red on the calendar, as the Temptation will be sitting pretty at 3-0 in the Western Conference if the Mist do not come out of Los Angeles with a win.

The post A CLOSE CALL AS L.A. SQUEEZES PAST SEATTLE, 14-13, ON THE ROAD appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Wednesday, June 3, 2015)

The Commish and Connor Scofield go ‘Around the League’ with Colton Cull and preview Saturday night’s Seattle at Los Angeles rematch with guests, Kadi Findling of the Seattle Mist and Michelle Angel of LA Temptation.

The post LFL | COMMISSIONER’S CORNER | EPISODE 82 appeared first on LFL360.

The post Seattle revives their season with a 27-26 win over LA appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2015)

When the Seattle Mist and the Los Angeles Temptation take the field against one another, a great game is always expected. Just one week after an instant classic, when LA edged Seattle by a score of 14-13 in the ShoWare Center, Seattle traveled to the Los Angeles Coliseum and evened the season series up at one game apiece, with a 27-26 victory.

In Seattle’s loss to LA, the Mist defense did an incredible job of shutting down the Temptation’s run game and keeping the Ashley Salerno lead offense in check, as Seattle only allowed Los Angeles a total of eighty-nine offensive yards. Two big plays were the difference in the game, as they accounted for sixty-one of those eighty-nine yards, when receivers Monika Jaramillo and Christina Sagarminaga were able to beat Seattle’s corner-back Megan HaNson deep. Seattle’s coach Chris Michaelson’s intense reaction to those plays became the talk around the league last week after this ‘Wow Clip’ was released by LFL Films.

It was no surprise that Megan Hanson did not play corner-back on Saturday night in the rematch between Seattle and LA. Hanson has become one of the leagues best centers offensively, but simply lacks the agility and speed to play the corner position on defense, as her skill-set is more suited for defensive-end. Lashaunda Fowler replaced Hanson at the corner position and Hanson filled in periodically at defensive-end, giving Stevi Schnoor some breathers during the game defensively.

The big story of the rematch on Saturday night was the injury of LA’s veteran quarterback Ashley Salerno that kept her from suiting up in the big game. This gave safety and back-up quarterback Michelle Angel the opportunity to make her first career start at quarterback. Replacing Salerno would be a big task for anyone and Angel certainly had big shoes to fill on Saturday night.

Los Angeles started out on offense Saturday night, and Michelle Angel was able to settle her nerves on second-down after a quick pass to Carmen Bourseau who ran seven yards for the Temptation first-down. Just two plays later on another second-down, Angel connected with her center Laura Barba in the middle of the field, on a center release that went for a twelve-yard gain to Seattle’s seven yard-line. Again on second-down LA went to the air, and Angel found receiver Monika Jaramillo, who was just short of the end-zone.

On third and goal, LA attempted some trickery that nearly cost them a turnover, as Angel stood in shotgun formation pointing toward the right side of the field, while running-back Carmen Bourseau snuck up to the center and fumbled the snap attempting to run it in for the one-yard score. Bourseau was able to regain possession leaving the Temptation at fourth and goal from the one-yard line. The next play from shotgun formation, Angel took the snap and sprinted to the right and found the end-zone untouched, taking a 6-0 lead with 6:22 remaining in the first.

After LA’s failed extra-point attempt Seattle took over on offense. After a few plays, Seattle faced a 4th and 6, when quarterback KK Mathney tried a hard-count to draw the LA defense off-sides, but the disciplined defense didn’t budge. Seattle snapped the ball and Matheny handed off to running-back Stevi Schnoor, who ran for a huge gain of sixteen yards for the first-down to LA’s 15 yard line.

Just a few plays later, Seattle again faced a fourth-down, this time 4th and 11 from LA’s 16 yard line. Looking for more fourth-down magic, Seattle went to the air and Matheny found receiver Jessica Hopkins in the back of the end-zone for the touchdown. A completed extra-point run by Schoor put Seattle up 7-6 on LA, with 43 seconds remaining in the first.

At the beginning of the second quarter, LA had a 3rd and 6 from their 19 yard-line, when Jessica Hopkins, just three plays after her touchdown, intercepted an Angel pass attempt to Kiara Patterson down field. Angel made her first poor decision at quarterback as her tight-end Sherri Awagah was open in the middle of field, eight yards from the nearest Mist defender.

The Temptation’s turnover lead to a Mist nine-play scoring drive that ended with Matheny finding Lashaunda Fowler for a five-yard touchdown pass. After a Fowler extra-point attempt was good, Seattle took a 14-6 lead on Los Angeles with 4:00 remaining in the first-half.

LA quickly evened the score on a four play drive that went 35 yards. On second-down from their own 16 yard-line, Angel this time found her wide-open tight-end Awagah on an end-release play, that went for a gain of sixteen yards. Two plays later, Angel completed a fourteen-yard touchdown pass to Danielle Harvey with 1:34 left at half. On the extra-point attempt LA converted for two points evening the score at 14-14, as Angel completed a pass to Awagah.

After Seattle’s quick four and out, LA took over with 52 seconds remaining from Seattle’s 23 yard-line. The Temptation marched down to the red-zone after a nice run by Angel and another pass to Awagah on a end-release. On second and goal, with six seconds remaining LA had a chance to take a lead before half. However, the Seattle defense came up big, as Angel threw her second interception of the game, when Danika Brace snagged her under-thrown pass to Jaramillo, ending the first-half and LA’s chances at a go-ahead touchdown.

This game was shaping up to be just like the first game, with great defensive play on both sides and the offenses doing everything they could to find the end-zone. Seattle’s defense was doing a better job of not giving up the big play, with Lashaunda Fowler playing corner, but LA was having success targeting receivers in the middle of the field, especially, Sherri Asagah for nice gains. Despite her two interceptions, LA’s Michelle Angel had a great first-half performance replacing the injured Salerno, as she was 7 of 10 passing for 64 yards, with a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown.

In the third quarter, Seattle quickly regained the lead after a five-play, 39 yard drive that ended with a Schnoor four-yard touchdown rush. The extra-point attempt was good, putting Seattle up over LA 21-14 early in the third quarter.

On LA’s next offensive possession, they were able to sustain a long drive, something that they were not able to do against Seattle in their first game, as they relied on the big play to score. With nice pass plays and a few great Bourseau rushes, LA found the end-zone after a ten-play, 35 yard scoring drive that ate 6:18 off the clock in the third quarter. The extra-point attempt failed, leaving LA down 20-21 against Seattle with 15 seconds remaining in the third.

Matheny finally connected with her star receiver Bryn Renda on the final play of the third quarter, that went for six yards. This lead to a drive where Renda had three receptions for 26 yards, one being a twelve-yard touchdown, as Seattle held a seven-point lead, 27-20, over Seattle after an incomplete extra-point, with 6:08 remaining in the game. Renda dropped what could have been a game winning catch against the LA last week, but she redeemed herself in Saturday’s rematch, as her fourth quarter receptions were huge for Seattle.

LA quickly scored on their next possession, during a 3rd and 18 from their own 18 yard-line when Angel found Jaramillo for a 32 yard touchdown pass, bringing the Temptation within one point, before their extra-point attempt. LA decided to go for two on the extra-point attempt, but failed, leaving Seattle with a 27-26 lead and 2:41 seconds remaining.

This lead to a failed onside kick attempt by LA and Seattle was one first-down away from beating LA in their own house at the Coliseum. On 3rd and 2, Schnoor rushed for a first down, allowing Seattle to run out the clock with the next two plays, as LA’s head-coach David Bizub was kicking himself after not attempting the extra-point from the one-yard line. After the game ‘Biz’ defended his decision as he explained his team couldn’t run the ball very successfully for short gains, and he needed to pass. He argued a play from the three yard-line gave him a better chance at converting the pass.

Schnoor had a huge game for Seattle running the ball as she ran for 101 yards on 20 attempts with one touchdown. Her quarterback KK Matheny had a big night passing as she completed 6 of 12 attempts for 54 yards with 3 touchdown passes. The biggest stat for the Seattle offense was their ability to score on each of their four trips to the red-zone after a week prior when they failed to do so on five of their seven trips to the red-zone.

Seattle’s win brought them to 1-1 in the western conference, as they look to get even with LA at 2-1, when Seattle plays the Las Vegas Sin Sunday, June 21st. The west is going to be very competitive this season, as all three teams field a dangerous team. Seattle and Los Angeles will play their third regular season game July 3rd in Seattle, which could very well determine the regular season western conference champion for the 2015 season. This rivalry is the best the LFL has seen, and regardless of who is on the field, these contests are generally very close.

The west now stands at Los Angeles 2-1, Seattle 1-1, and Las Vegas 0-1. Week 9 features an eastern conference match-up between Chicago and Omaha, as Omaha looks to redeem their three ugly performances earlier this season with a few veteran acquisitions and some returning talent from the 2014 Omaha roster.

Saturday’s game between the Mist and Temptation will be broadcast primetime in HD on national television via Fuse, one week later, Saturday June 13, 9p/8c.

Game Stats

The post SEATTLE REVIVES THEIR SEASON WITH A 27-26 WIN OVER LA appeared first on LFL360.

Join Adri and Marcus as they cover Saturday night’s Week 8 rematch game between the Seattle Mist and Los Angeles Temptation, and discuss the eastern conference matchup between Chicago and Omaha which takes place this Saturday, June 13th in Omaha. Joining the show this week is Seattle Mist’s veteran Jessica Hopkins.

The post LFL TALK PODCAST- USA 2015 Week 8 appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2015)

The Omaha Heart and the Chicago Bliss are having two completely opposite seasons so far this year. This Saturday, Chicago plans to head into Omaha, take care of business and get to a 4-0 record. Meanwhile, the Omaha Heart, that will hardly resemble the team that took the field in weeks 2-4, look to put their first points on the board this season. It was a nearly tragic, three-game run for the rookie-filled Omaha Heart in their first half of the season, as they gave up a record 190 points and failed to reach the end-zone. There is no doubt that Chicago and Atlanta circled their remaining contests against Omaha as a win.

Once Omaha took their third loss this season, on May 2nd in Atlanta, it was time for head-coach Dontae Allen and the Omaha Heart to figure out how they would regroup during their six week break and give their loyal fans something to cheer for. It took a league and team effort to bring in the necessary talented and experienced players that would give the Heart a new look and revitalize the young team. Omaha was able to acquire quarterback Anonka Dixon (Miami previously), wide-receiver and corner-back Heather Hudson (Baltimore previously), and defensive-end Leekplay Paye (Minnesota previously). Anonka Dixon during her short career with the Miamai Caliente, became one of the most electric and exciting players to watch in the history of the LFL.

Omaha was missing leadership on both sides of the ball and it appears that they will have that commanding presence with the new acquisitions and returning players from seasons past. Their new starting seven offensively and defensively, are probably the best set of talent Omaha has suited up during franchise history. After the announcement of Omaha’s acquisitions, the Chicago Bliss quickly realized that their two remaining games against Omaha would no longer be a cakewalk. With the unknown on how Omaha’s new players are going to gel together, Saturday’s game is highly anticipated.

The game will be broadcast a week later in primetime on national television via Fuse (check local listings), Saturday, June 20, 9p / 8c.

Las Vegas Betting Line

Chicago – 18.5 points | 48 Over/ Under

Chicago Bliss

The Chicago Bliss have not lost a game since their first game of the 2013 when they were defeated by the LA Temptation. Since then, Chicago has won every game, except a regular-season tie against Seattle, in route to their 2x defending Legends Cup Champion status. Every opponent has failed to stop their running game, as ChrisDell ‘Ferrari’ Harris has cemented her legacy and is well on her way to a having a hall of fame career.

Chicago has played to perfection this season as they have come out victorious in their two big match-ups against the Atlanta Steam. Both games were full of hype and many argued that Atlanta was the better team that just couldn’t finish against the Bliss. Now that the Bliss are 3-0, with two remaining games against Omaha and their final game this season against Atlanta at home, they are in the fast-lane to a regular-season Eastern Conference Championship. All Chicago needs to do is win one of their final three games and they clinch the east, as a Chicago 4-2 record would better an Atlanta 4-2 record, because of the head to head tie breaker.

The three game stretch for the Bliss did come with a costly loss, as corner-back Di’Andra Frye sustained an elbow injury in Chicago’s week 5 win against Atlanta. If an operation to repair her torn ligament is necessary, her presence in the secondary would be greatly missed the remainder of the season. Frye added great depth to the Bliss secondary as she helped out Dominique Collins and Kim Perez at the corner position. On the positive side, veteran Hallie Jiskra will be returning to the Bliss and playing center.

Omaha Heart

To start the season, Omaha’s roster consisted of three returning players from the 2014 season, which head-coach Dontae Allen had described as a “fresh start”. Now, three games into the 2015 season, the roster includes five returning players from previous seasons, with the return of running-back SarahJane Thompson and center Sarah Robinson. Add in the acquisitions mentioned earlier in all-stars Heather Hudson, Anonka Dixon, and Leekplay Paye, and Omaha now has a respectable roster that gives the other eastern conference teams great competition. Coach Allen said on Tuesday morning, “Now this is a fresh-start and I’m excited about the talent we have, especially on the offensive side of the ball.” Allen went on to say, “We haven’t had these types of play-makers in Omaha ever.”

The strong Omaha Heart defense from a season ago was nowhere to be found in the first three games this year, but maybe Sarah Robinson or Leekplay Paye can provide the spark on the defensive line to get something going against the Bliss Saturday night. The defense will feature Shawntrielle Tilmon and Leekplay Paye at the end positons, and Sarah Robinson at nose-tackle. Rookie Jackie Hake who has played great defensively this season will start at the linebacker spot. And the trio in the secondary, as Omaha runs a three down-lineman defense, will be safety Amanda Hogan and corners Heather Hudson and Jenna Holt.

Offensively, Omaha looks strong as quarterback Anonka Dixon will take her snaps from veteran Sarah Robinson. Sarah Robinson will be surrounded by guard Shawntrielle Tilmon and tight-end Jackie Hake. Dixon’s starting weapons are running-back SarahJane Thompson and wide-receivers Heather Hudson and Jenna Holt. Omaha now has depth with wide-receiver Jessica Ripp who battled strong through injuries in her first three games, as Omaha relied heavily on her in all three of their games.

The post REVITALIZED HEART LOOK TO TURN SEASON AROUND AGAINST THE UNDEFEATED BLISS THIS SATURDAY NIGHT (OFFICIAL GAME PREVIEW) appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Wednesday, June 10, 2015)

Commissioner’s Corner returns with the Commish, Connor Scofield, special guests Colton Cull with ‘Around the League’ and Omaha Heart free-agent pick-up Heather Hudson as well as Chicago Bliss’ Nenka Knewani. MAJOR LFL Global structure announcement, breaking down the Seattle vs LA match-up and previewing Chicago vs Omaha.

The post LFL | COMMISSIONER’S CORNER | EPISODE 83 appeared first on LFL360.

(OMAHA, NEBRASKA– MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2015)

There was a lot of anticipation for Saturday night’s game between the Chicago Bliss and Omaha Heart, as the Heart showcased a team with many veteran acquisitions, who came to help turn their season around and lead a team full of rookies. The outcome was not what Omaha expected as they were shutout again for the fourth time this season in route to their lackluster 0-4 start.

The big story leading up to Saturday’s game was quarterback Anonka Dixon, who after three years out of the league, was joining the Heart to lead the offense and help the young team make plays. In Dixon’s prime, the all-fantasy MVP quarterback was able to run past defenses and throw the ball the length of the field finding her receivers for big touchdowns. Due to the league’s improved defensive play since 2011, when Dixon last played, and the fact that she had very little practice time with her new team, she was not a positive factor in Omaha’s play Saturday night against the Bliss.

Defensive players today in the LFL, especially for Chicago, are faster, stronger, and understand the game much better than the players of past seasons. This fact was a surprise for Anonka Dixon as she quickly realized it was much more difficult to scramble and elude defenders to make plays and find her open receivers. The Chicago Bliss contained Dixon and only allowed her to complete one of six passes on the night.

As Chicago’s defense was preparing to face Omaha’s new offense, Bliss head-coach, Keith Hac was implementing a game plan that was the complete opposite compared to his offensive play calls from the past. The run-heavy Chicago Bliss, that feature the best running back in the league, ChrisDell ‘Ferrari’ Harris, only handed her the ball three times in their win against the Heart. In fact, the Bliss threw the ball 71 percent of the time Saturday night, compared to the 22.8 percent in the other three games this season and the 2014 season total of 21.8 percent, which was a league low in terms of passing ratio.

In Chicago’s last game against Atlanta, Harris had 22 rushing attempts out of Chicago’s 35 offensive plays in the game, and in their 2014 championship season the Ferrari carried the ball 73 times out of the Bliss’ 170 total offensive plays. As the league stresses the importance of having a balanced offense to showcase all of the talented players, Chicago needed to work on their passing game to get other key players involved offensively.

Leading up to the game, wide-receiver Alli Alberts, who has become recognized as one of the best athletes in the league today, had only caught ten receptions in her last nine games, averaging just over one reception per game. That changed against the Heart, as Alberts had six receptions in the game for 60 yards, which was the same amount of receptions she had the entire 2014 season. Her quarterback Heather Furr, who has taken some criticism over the years for Chicago’s inability to rely on the passing game, threw the ball 25 times Saturday night, completing 15 of her passes, four of which were touchdowns. In the three games prior this season, Furr only threw the ball a combined 21 times, so this game she was able to showcase her throwing ability more than the previous three games. In fact, in the six games of 2014, Furr only threw the ball 37 times, an average of just over 6 passes per game.

Chicago started out on offense Saturday night, and quickly got the passing game going. From their own 13 yard-line, Heather Furr faked the hand-off to Harris, dropped back and delivered a strike, deep down the middle of the field to Alli Alberts for a 22 yard gain. On the ensuing three plays, Furr threw three incomplete passes as she had a difficult time locating her receivers on an over-thrown pass and two short quick-passes to her receivers. The Omaha Heart defense had an answer for the fourth down play, as they stopped Furr’s run five yards short of the first down.

The stop was big in the red-zone for Omaha’s defense, which had all the fans at the Ralston Arena excited and on their feet. The defense was the pride and joy of the Omaha Heart in 2014, so there were high hopes Saturday night, as nose-tackle Sarah Robinson made her return this season, joined by free-agent acquisitions in corner-back Heather Hudson and defensive-end Leekplay Paye. Despite the 40-0 loss, Omaha’s defense was greatly improved and with another month of preparation, could very well give Atlanta and Chicago a good battle the last two games of the regular season.

Omaha took over from their 12 yard-line, and on first down, Dixon completely overthrew Jenna Holt, as she aired the ball 40 yards down the field. The next three plays, Omaha failed to run for first down yardage and Chicago took over from the Heart’s 21 yard-line. On third down and seven yard to go, Furr connected again with Alberts for a deep pass down the middle, as Alberts brought the Bliss deep inside the Heart territory to the six yard-line. On first and goal it was time to let the Ferrari out, as ChrisDell Harris ran six yards untouched for the first score of the game. A completed extra-point put the Bliss up 7-0 with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter.

On first down, Omaha’s offense resembled the turnover prone team of late, as Dixon fumbled a ball that rolled it’s way into the end-zone, where it was recovered by Yahshi Rice putting Chicago up 14-0 after the completed extra-point with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter. Quick turnovers offensively were the culprit to Omaha’s blowout losses this season, as Chicago and Atlanta were at times able to put up 14 points in less than 30 seconds in their other games.

Omaha’s next drive ended after two plays, when Alli Alberts intercepted Dixon on second down, which was the first of Alberts’ two interceptions on the night. Chicago took over and during an eight play drive failed to get the the first down, after a Furr pass completion to Harris was less than a yard short of the first-down marker with 5:20 left in the second quarter.

Omaha took over at the their 15 yard-line and began a ten play drive that ended with a fourth and goal rushing attempt by the speedy Heather Hudson, who was just two yards short of the end-zone. That was the closest Omaha had come this season to putting points on the board. The Heart displayed some flashes of good offense as Dixon completed a pass to Hudson for an eight yard gain, and running-back SarahJane Thompson ran the ball hard. Thompson was another mid-season roster bolster, as she returned after playing in previous seasons for Omaha. She quietly had a solid game running the ball, as she had seven good rushing attempts for the Heart for over forty yards on the night.

With under a minute to play Chicago quickly scored after an 11 yard run by Nneka Nwani and two big pass plays as Furr connected with Harris for 19 yards and 17 yards for a touchdown with 16.8 seconds remaining in the first half. A failed extra-point attempt left Chicago up 20-0 at halftime.

Despite not scoring any points, that was the best first-half of football that Omaha played this season, especially on the defensive side of the ball. The defense only allowed two Bliss offensive touchdowns as the other score was the fumble recovery in the first quarter that Chicago scored on.

The second-half was all Chicago as Omaha turned the ball over three more times on a Dixon interception to Alberts, and two fumbles recovered by Chicago. Omaha only converted one first down on their six possessions in the second-half. It was clear that the Heart offense needed much more practice with the new quarterback and players, as they failed to get anything going the rest of the game.

Heather Furr shined in the second half as she completed eight more passes three of which were touchdowns to Chabria Survillion, Alli Alberts, and rookie Stephanie Murry. Before the game Furr told the media, “Everyone see’s us as the running team, that’s all we do, that’s all we can do, but that’s so not true.” She went on to say that for once she can finally say, “the Bliss are going to pass”. That is just what the Bliss did in the win against Omaha and Furr backed up her statement, that it is in fact not true that the only thing the Bliss can do is run the ball. Furr finished the night 15 for 25 passing for 126 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Another story that went under that radar during Saturday night’s win, was the fact that the Bliss clinched the Eastern Conference regular season championship. The 4-0 Bliss could lose their last two games of the regular season and still win a tie-breaker with the Atlanta Steam if that were the case, due to the head-to-head record.

It will be interesting to see if the Chicago Bliss throw the ball anywhere near 71 percent of the time against the Atlanta Steam in their last game of the regular season, August 15th or in the playoff match-up against the Steam the following week. In their last game against Atlanta, Chicago threw the ball just 14 percent of the time and completed one pass to Kim Perez in the week 5 win on Mother’s Day. The Steam field a much better defensive secondary than the Heart, and Atlanta has a pass rush that gives Furr a tough time as she tries to locate her open receivers. The Chicago running game has been the issue for Atlanta, so it will be a test to see if they have an answer for it in either of the next two games against Chicago.

After week 9 this season, The Eastern Conference stands at Chicago 4-0, Atlanta 2-2, and Omaha 0-4. Three match-ups remain in the east, the next being Friday, July 10th when Atlanta heads into Omaha to play their final game against the Heart this season. The final two games of the regular season will feature the east, as the Heart play their final game of the 2015 season at home against the Bliss Sunday, August 8th in a 1pm kick-off in the Ralston Arena. The following week in Chicago, the Bliss welcome the Steam to Toyota Park for their third contest of the year as Atlanta looks to defeat Chicago for the first time.

Saturday’s game between the Bliss and Heart will be broadcast primetime in HD on national television via Fuse, one week later, Saturday June 20, 9p/8c.

Game Stats

The post OMAHA GETS BLANKED BY CHICAGO 40-0, DESPITE A BOLSTERED ROSTER appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015)

Las Vegas is the only team in the west without a win, and for a chance at a playoff birth this season they will need to get a win on Father’s Day.  The Sin will have two chances to do so, as they look to take the field twice, being the first team in LFL history to play two games in one day. Without a win in either game versus Seattle or LA, the ensuing 0-3 start would give them a very slight chance at making the playoffs in the west.

Seattle was able to see exactly how Vegas was exposed defensively in the second half against LA, and they will try to get the ground game going to open up the big passing plays that same way, as is proved successful for the Temptation offense. Look for this game to feature some big-hits, as Seattle’s safety Lily Granston is known to come up strong defending the run, and if she meets the speedy Dominique Maloy head to head, fans will witness quite a collision. With both teams arguably facing a must-win to keep their season goals in tact, this game could very well be an instant classic with many highlights.

The game will be broadcast a week later in primetime on national television via Fuse (check local listings), Saturday, June 27, 9p / 8c.

Las Vegas Betting Line

Seattle – 9.5 points | 42 Over/ Under

Seattle Mist

Seattle is off to a good start in their young season and just like LA, they are in the drivers seat for a playoff birth with a big two-game split against the Temptation. A win against the Sin will be huge for Seattle as they prepare to play their third and final regular season game against LA on July 3rd, which could certainly have regular season, western conference championship implications as the winner will have the head-to-head tie breaker if they finish with the same record.

Coach Chris Michaelson is very happy with the performance of his new quarterback KK Matheny, who before their first game only had a few weeks of practice with the Mist offense. Week to week, Michaelson and Matheny are able to dive deeper into his offensive schemes and prepare others ways to dissect opposing defenses. Michaelson is in his sixth season with the Mist and he is just as hungry for a Legends Cup as the Temptation coaching tandem want to bring the fourth championship to LA and as much as Keith Hac wants to three-peat in Chicago. This season might be Michaelson’s best opportunity yet, so expect his team to be prepared and focused each week.

When looking at numbers Seattle’s offense is off to a great start in their two games this season. Running back Stevi Schnoor has rushed for 193 yards on 36 carries averaging over five yards per carry. Matheny is throwing the ball often and has completed 17 of her 36 passes for 92 yards, with four touchdowns and only one interception. Despite the 17 completions, the Mist have not converted a big play down the field to any receiver. Expect Michaelson to draw up some plays, where Hopkins or Renda can get behind the secondary for big scores.

Las Vegas Sin

It appeared that Vegas would have two players fighting for rookie of the year, as Dominique Maloy and Charlotte Abrahamsen both had incredible performances in their LFL debuts. Maloy rushed for 67 yards on ten carries and had one touchdown, while Abrahamsen caught five passes for 42 yards and also had a seven yard carry. Abrahamsen showcased her field presence, size, and hands while Maloy made her case for being one of the fastest and most agile players in the LFL this season, as both players had ‘highlight reel’ types of nights. However, a shoulder injury kept Maloy out for most of the second-half, while Abrahamsen suffered an MCL and ACL tear which will keep the rookie out the remainder of the season. Maloy will be back Sunday and ready to go, as her dislocated shoulder has had a month to heal.

In her first game against LA, Vegas quarterback, Sindy Cummings was given criticism for her physical and conditioning shape that kept her from providing the mobility needed in the game to extend plays, especially during the fourth quarter. Cummings finished the game completing 14 of 27 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown and one interception. On the ground she only netted three yards on six rushes, which will need to be improved for Vegas to have success with their style of offense. Sindy can throw the ball well outside of the pocket, but without a running threat teams will have an easy time defending her receivers.

Two big additions for Vegas will improve the offensive and defensive line, helping replace Charlotte Abrahamsen, as Kimberly Jack from the Baltimore Charm, and Brittany Demery from the Omaha Heart will be suiting up, which will bring Vegas instant experience in the trenches.  Also look for the new rookie addition, Adrienne Kopko to get some reps and make an impact Sunday, as the nearly six-foot, previous college basketball player will play tight-end and defensive-end for the Sin.

The post THE SIN LOOK TO MAKE A STATEMENT IN THE WEST WITH A FATHER’S DAY DOUBLE HEADER (OFFICIAL GAME PREVIEW) appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2015)

The first half in the week 6 game between LA and Vegas was close and it appeared that the game could come down to the last drive of the night, as both teams were playing great on both sides of the ball. However in the second half, Ashley Salerno and Carmen Baurseau completely dominated, as Baurseau rushed for nearly 80 yards and Salerno rushed for another 50, on their way to a 46 point second half performance.  No one expected the 13-6 halftime score in favor of LA, to end up as a final score of 59-24.

The western conference currently stands at Los Angeles 2-1, Seattle 1-1, and Las Vegas 0-1. If Vegas can beat Seattle in their first game on Sunday, a win against LA would put them in first place in the west. Both games will be a big test, but a still fairly unknown Sin team could very well be a sleeper team in the conference.  With rookies that had great performances and the acquisitions of a few other veterans, Vegas might have enough to edge both teams on Sunday.

The game will be broadcast two weeks later in primetime on national television via Fuse (check local listings), Saturday, July 4, 9p / 8c.

Las Vegas Betting Line

Los Angeles – 8.5 points | 35 Over/ Under

Las Vegas Sin

It appeared that Vegas would have two players fighting for rookie of the year, as Dominique Maloy and Charlotte Abrahamsen both had incredible performances in their LFL debuts. Maloy rushed for 67 yards on ten carries and had one touchdown, while Abrahamsen caught five passes for 42 yards and also had a seven yard carry. Abrahamsen showcased her field presence, size, and hands while Maloy made her case for being one of the fastest and most agile players in the LFL this season, as both players had ‘highlight reel’ types of nights. However, a shoulder injury kept Maloy out for most of the second-half, while Abrahamsen suffered an MCL and ACL tear which will keep the rookie out the remainder of the season. Maloy will be back Sunday and ready to go, as her dislocated shoulder has had a month to heal.

In her first game against LA, Vegas quarterback, Sindy Cummings was given criticism for her physical and conditioning shape that kept her from providing the mobility needed in the game to extend plays, especially during the fourth quarter. Cummings finished the game completing 14 of 27 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown and one interception. On the ground she only netted three yards on six rushes, which will need to be improved for Vegas to have success with their style of offense. Sindy can throw the ball well outside of the pocket, but without a running threat teams will have an easy time defending her receivers.

Two big additions for Vegas will improve the offensive and defensive line, helping replace Charlotte Abrahamsen, as Kimberly Jack from the Baltimore Charm, and Brittany Demery from the Omaha Heart will be suiting up, which will bring Vegas instant experience in the trenches.  Also look for the new rookie addition, Adrienne Kopko to get some reps and make an impact Sunday, as the nearly six-foot, previous college basketball player will play tight-end and defensive-end for the Sin.

Los Angeles Temptation

As head-coaches David Bizub and Tui Suiaunoa are looking to lead the Temptation back to the Legends Cup, they have some competition that will make the western conference championship no lay-up. Chris Michaelson has his Seattle Mist are looking as balanced as ever, and Willie Garrett is still putting together his threat of a Las Vegas Sin team. There is certainly no Omaha Heart in the west and after Sunday it still might not be clear who the favorite in the west will be.

With the Ashley Salerno injury that will keep her out for a second game, quarterback Michelle Angel will make her second career start for the LA offense. Replacing the best quarterback in the league is not an easy task, but Angel has proved that she can be effective. The real question is, how long can LA afford to go without Salerno in the lineup? As the season plays out that answer will be known, but right now all coach Bizub can do is prepare Angel to lead the Temptation.

LA’s defense has been a site to see this season with the veterans making their presence and the rookies having a huge impact for the Temptation.  LA might have the most physical secondary in the league with Danielle Harvey, Ogom Chijindu, and Chelsea Haardt putting a beating on opposing offenses each game. They have depth at the defensive-end position with Christina Sagarminaga and rookies Kimm Chase and Naja Christmas playing great this season. The glue of the defense and leadership is second to none with Monique Gaxiola playing in her sixth LFL season for the Temptation.  This defense is a championship caliber defense that will improve each game.

The post ‘SALERNO-LESS’ TEMPTATION WILL SQUARE-OFF WITH SIN ON FATHER’S DAY (OFFICIAL GAME PREVIEW) appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Wednesday, June 17, 2015)

Commissioner’s Corner returns with the Commish, guest co-host Aimee Rodriguez, and Colton Cull. On this week’s show, we go ‘Around the League’ and break down Week 9’s matchup of the Chicago Bliss vs. Omaha Heart, as well as a Week 10 preview with veteran cornerbacks, Kelly Campbell, of the Las Vegas Sin, and Chelsea Haardt, of the Los Angeles Temptation.

Breaking down the game of the Chicago Bliss taking on the Omaha Heart. What went right, what went wrong and the up-coming double header this Father’s Day in Ontario, Ca.

The post LFL | COMMISSIONER’S CORNER | EPISODE 84 appeared first on LFL360.

The post Las Vegas Sin vs Los Angeles Temptation Game Postponed due to Injury appeared first on LFL360.