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(ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA- MONDAY, JULY 27, 2015)

The Las Vegas Sin have made the playoffs once in their previous three seasons, which was during their expansion year in 2011-2012 when they finished the regular season unbeaten, but were defeated in the Western Conference Championship by the Los Angeles Temptation 27-18, who went on to win their third legends Cup title that season. Since then, the Sin have only won two games, both against the Green Bay Chill, once in 2013 and again in 2014. After an 0-2 start this season, the Sin needed to win out the rest of their three games for a playoff berth. However, the Los Angeles Temptation put an end to any hopes of a miracle run for Vegas after they defeated the Sin 28-14 on Thursday night.

With the return of legendary coaches David ‘Biz’ Bizub and Tui Suiaunoa back in LA, the Temptation started the season with high expectations of getting back to their championship winning ways, when they won the first three LFL titles in league history. Thursday night, the Temptation looked primed for the playoffs with their performance against the talented Las Vegas Sin, as their victory sealed them a spot in the Western Conference Championship. A playoff run will be a true test this season for LA, as getting past their conference rival Seattle will be a difficult task and both Eastern Conference opponents would be a tough match-up in the Legends Cup. With the veteran talent and leadership on LA, many fans agree it’s hard to doubt the Temptation’s chances of winning their fourth Legends Cup this season.

Thursday’s game featured some of the top rookies in this season’s class and all have had a big impact so far this season. Naja Christmas and Kimm Chase of LA have become two important pieces of Tui Suianunoa’s defense. Their defensive line play has put pressure on both opposing quarterbacks KK Matheny and Sindy Cummings, and has helped LA defend the run. Both have the size and physical ability to become two of the top defensive-ends in the league. Las Vegas also features one of the top performing rookies with their running-back Dominique Maloy, who has impressed many across the league with her agility, speed and elusiveness.

The big story of the night was that LA’s veteran quarterback Ashely Salerno, who was listed as questionable with a back injury, did not play for the Temptation offense. Without Salerno the Temptation had lost two straight games and had fallen to 2-2-1 on the season. Backup quarterback Michelle Angel was determined to get her first win at starting quarterback and get LA into the playoff’s where a Salerno return would be huge for their chances against Seattle.

With Ashley Salerno and Michelle Angel, Los Angeles fields two of the top-four ranked quarterbacks so far in this 2015 season. This depth is what teams need to get through long seasons like the current, which LFL teams have played more regular season games than past seasons.

Ashley Salerno (ranked #1)

Michelle Angel (ranked #4)

Thursday’s game was much closer than the 28-14 final score. Both teams had nearly the same amount of offensive yardage, LA with 185 and Vegas with 170, each with just less than 60 yards of passing. It was one of those games where if a couple plays go differently for each team, Las Vegas could have come out on top. LA fields a team with many veterans that have been in must-win situations and they have a lot of playoff experience, so the Temptation knew how and were able to make the plays needed to win Thursday’s game.

With Michelle Angel starting the game under center for LA Thursday night, the Temptation started out on offense but failed to get their first drive rolling after turning the ball over on downs near midfield. But after the LA defense didn’t allow the Sin’s offense much opportunity after a ten yard sack on second down, leading to a four and out, LA’s offense took over again from the Sin 21 yard-line with 4:31 remaining in the first quarter.

The Temptation capitalized on a seven play scoring drive, when on a 4th & goal from the three yard-line, LA released both tight-ends while Vegas rushed three leaving Danielle Harvey wide open. Michelle Angel was able to find her for the first touchdown of the game. It appeared either Brittany Demery or Kia Ramos of Vegas made the wrong read on the release, which led to Harvey’s open space in the end-zone. After a failed extra-point attempt LA took a 6-0 lead as the first quarter came to an end.

The Sin took over on offense to begin the second quarter and on first down from their own 15 yard-line, Vegas went to Dominique Maloy. From a single set back formation, the Sin ran a counter off the left side and with an excellent block by receiver Brittany Henderson on Ogom Chijindu, Maloy was able to avoid a couple defenders and scamper her way 18 yards down to the LA 17 yard-line, where she was taken down by LA’s Chelsey Haardt and Delany Hall. The Sin on the next play went to Maloy again, this time on a shotgun formation handoff where Maloy shuffled past nearly five defenders before being taken down at the nine yard-line. After a short gain on second down, Vegas had a 3rd & 1 where Sindy Cummings was late to target her open receiver Cynthia Schmidt, and her weak pass was broken up by LA’s Danielle Harvey who quickly closed the space between her and Schmidt.

A delay-of-game penalty on fourth down put the Sin offense back five yards for a 4th & 6, that was not converted after Tamar Fennell ran the ball three yards short of the first-down marker, giving the ball back to the Temptation offense with 6:39 remaining in the second. This was the first of four chances in the red-zone that Vegas was unable to capitalize on in the game. They finished the night two of six scoring in the red-zone.

On LA’s next drive they failed to get much going after a 13 yard Bourseau rush on first down and also on the drive tight-end Sherri Awagah dropped a wide-open pass in the deep flats. She would later make-up for the dropped pass with her big receptions later in the game. LA turned the ball over on downs with 3:03 remaining in the first half.

With no open receivers on first down, Sindy Cummings used her legs to gain eight yards where she lowered her shoulder into corner-back Ogom Chijindu who made the tackle despite being knocked back a yard from the impact. The next play Maloy again ‘wowed’ everyone in attendance on a 19 yard gain down to the one yard-line, nearly reaching the end-zone. Sindy Cummings finished the drive on the next play with a rush up the middle to even the score at 6. After a converted extra-point attempt rush by Cummings, the Sin took a 7-6 lead with 1:22 remaining at half.

LA quickly answered with an impressive five-play drive that featured a 14 yard rush by Bourseau, an 11 yard rush by Amanda Ruller, and 7 yard pass from Angel to Awagah that was just short of the end-zone. The drive was finished with a one-yard run by Awagah with 18 seconds remaining. After a two-point conversion attempt was completed, LA took a 14-7 lead.

With just 18 seconds left before half, the Sin offense came just five yards short of scoring as time ran out. On their first play Cummings connected with her 5’11” receiver Cynthia Schmidt, who possesses the best catch radius in the league, for a 22 yard gain down to the LA 13 yard-line. With seven seconds remaining Vegas went to Maloy who rushed for eight yards down to the five yard-line but no time remained for another play.

The 14-7 halftime lead by LA resembled their first game’s 13-6 halftime difference in favor of LA. With a lot at stake for both teams, this back and forth game battle was shaping up for a great second half.

After the halftime break, Vegas received the ball from LA and began at their 16 yard-line. The Sin put together a nice drive with five consecutive run plays, when on a 3rd and 5, Cummings again connected with her receiver Cynthia Schmidt for a fifteen yard gain down to the LA 2 yard-line. Two plays later on second and goal, Cummings pounded her way behind center for the touchdown and after an extra-point conversion was good, the score was even at 14 points apiece.

During their next offensive, the Temptation offense used their go-to play of the night to gain big chunks of yardage. With an empty-backfield shotgun formation, LA motions one of the ends, usually Ruller or Bourseau and run an end-around which Vegas seemed to have no answer for Thursday night. On the drive Ruller and Bourseau both gained 11 yards on that play. On a 3rd and 1 from the four yard-line Angel used her legs to take a 20-14 lead on the Sin with 1:21 remaining in the third. LA failed to convert on the extra-point attempt.

The Vegas offense was quickly faced with a 4th and 6 on the first play of the fourth quarter, when Cummings connected with Cynthia Schmidt for the third time of the night, this time for a 21 yard gain to the LA 10 yard-line. However after a short gain on first and goal, Cummings threw three consecutive incomplete passes resulting in another turnover-on-downs in the red-zone. A dropped pass by Schmidt in the end-zone on second down would have evened the score and potentially given Vegas their second lead of the game with a converted extra-point. Though Cummings does not compare to KK Matheny of the Seattle Mist in regards to accuracy, the big stops in the red-zone defensively by LA will certainly give the Temptation defense confidence as they prepare for their playoff game against Seattle.

With 7:09 remaining in the game, LA looked to drive down the field making it a two-score game and take time off the clock to make it a difficult task for Vegas to mount a comeback. The Temptation offense did in-fact capitalize on a scoring drive, but in just two pass plays where Angel connected with Awagah twice, the second being a 29 yard touchdown pass with 5:35 remaining. A converted two-point extra-point attempt gave LA a 28-14 lead over Vegas.

Vegas was set to mount another scoring drive to come within one score, but after having a first and goal from the seven yard-line, Cummings completed her first pass to Henderson for no-gain, had to spike the ball on second down to stop the clock and then threw two consecutive incomplete passes on third and fourth down, as their chances at a comeback were put to an end with 1:09 remaining as LA took over in a victory formation to take the remaining time off the clock.

Michelle Angel won her first game at starting quarterback and led her LA team to the playoffs. On the night Angel completed 4 of 8 passes with two touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.

On the night Sindy Cummings only completed 5 of her 16 passes that went for 59 total yards. She was able to her get star receiver, Cynthia Schmidt involved in the game with three big receptions that totaled 58 yards, after she had not been a factor receiving the ball for the Sin in their first two games of the year.

The Los Angeles Temptation are now in the playoffs for the sixth season in a row. A championship franchise that won the first three Legends Cups are still the most winningest team in LFL history and without a Chicago Bliss title this season, they will remain among the top. During a post-game interview LA’s co-head coach David Bizub was confident about LA’s chances in the playoffs and said that the reason he came back this season was to put the fourth Championship banner up for LA, something that the Temptation are two games away from accomplishing.

The west now stands at Seattle 3-1, Los Angeles 3-2-1, and Las Vegas 0-3-1. On August 1st Las Vegas travels to Seattle to play the Mist at the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. Then four days later, the two teams will square up again when Seattle travels to Ontario, California to play their final regular season game against the Sin. The Los Angeles Temptation now have three weeks to prepare for the Western Conference playoff game against Seattle, that takes place in Chicago, Illinois on August 15^th.

Saturday’s game between the Los Angeles Temptation and Las Vegas Sin will be broadcast primetime in HD on national television via Fuse, one week later, Saturday June 27, 9p/8c.

Game Stats

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Join Adri and Marcus as the duo discusses the week 13 match-up between the LA Temptation and Las Vegas Sin. Joining the show this week are two special guests- Hall-of-Fame linebacker Monique Gaxiola of the Temptation and veteran cornerback Kelly Campbell of the Sin.

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(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015)

Las Vegas (0-3-1) comes into Saturday’s game win-less, but don’t let that statistic fool you. The victim of a brutally strong conference out west, the Sin could possibly be the most talented team in LFL history without a win. They will enter this game hitting hard, while doing everything in their power to prove the naysayers wrong. Linebacker Tai Emory will need to be the heart and soul of this Vegas defense, which desperately needs to find its identity.

Seattle (3-1) on the other hand, is riding the high of a guaranteed playoff berth. The Mist’s defense will need to play strong up front as they try to contain the fierce running attack of Vegas’ Dominique Maloy. As rivals, Seattle and Las Vegas share a dislike for one another that’s sure to spill over onto the football field this Saturday at the ShoWare Center, making for a fantastic game of football. The Mist know there’s a fight coming, but they have to play for the win while escaping the possibility of injury to any of their key players.

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

Las Vegas Betting Line

Seattle – 7.5 points | 44 Over/ Under

Las Vegas Sin

Coach Garrett has done a phenomenal job in building a nucleus of talent this season in Las Vegas, bringing in a lot of solid players, though the Sin’s lack of experience has haunted this squad throughout the season against two very veteran teams in LA and Seattle.

Though inexperience is partially to blame, the Sin have no one ranked in any major statistical category on defense. Perhaps linebacker Tai Emory will step up and finally help this defense find its way. Leading the squad in tackles, she’ll be vital to any chance that the Sin may have of walking out of this contest with a victory.

Quarterback Sindy Cummings could play a vital part in Saturday’s game, even though her impact through the air has been minimal so far. Throwing only 3 touchdown passes all season, Cummings has also ran for 4 touchdowns as the Sin have relied too heavily on a rushing attack that’s anchored onto the strong legs of running-back Dominique Maloy. In a league that prides itself on exhilarating offensive play, the Sin need to open things up in a huge way. There’s a burning need to begin stretching the field vertically for the Sin, especially against the Seattle Mist.

Seattle Mist

Within the last two weeks, the Mist have brought in Theresa Petruziello at saftey and Jena Weiss, who played center for KK Matheny in Jacksonville. Both moves should prove to further bolster a depth chart that’s already widely considered the LFL’s best.

Head Coach Chris Michaelson needs to do damage control in this one, while doing what he can to protect his signal caller, quarterback KK Matheny. Bringing in Jena Weiss should help the cause, but Seattle will need to be mindful of the scoreboard should things get out of hand. Moving forward, the Mist’s only chance of competing with LA will be on the strength of Matheny, who has tossed 10 touchdown passes this season.

Seattle should come out and try to make an early statement in hopes of building a solid lead, which would allow them to rest the starters they’ll need in their playoff matchup against LA. The Mist have the depth to compete against the Vegas’ starters, but that decision will fall squarely on the shoulders of Coach Michaelson. Before they have the option of calling off the dogs, however, Seattle will need to handle business early. They should expect a lot of brutal hitting from a Sin squad that has very little to lose at this point.

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(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Wednesday, July 29, 2015)

Commissioner’s Corner returns with the Commish, co-host Aimee Rodriguez and LFL360 Deputy Editor, Colton Cull. On this week’s episode, we go ‘Around the League’ and discuss the upcoming postseason. Seattle Mist rookie, Katie Whelan, joins the show to talk about background and first season. Later, Los Angeles Temptation quarterback, Ashley Salerno, signs on for a special announcement.

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The post Seattle reigns big in regular season finale, 64-19 over Vegas appeared first on LFL360.

(SEATTLE, WASHINGTON- MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2015)

The Seattle Mist (4-1) are officially the Western Conference Regular Season Champs after slamming a desperate Las Vegas Sin squad 64-19. Their quarterback, KK Matheny, continues to become somewhat of a legend within the confines of the ShoWare Center in Kent, Washington. The Mist will now begin to prepare for their tough playoff opponent and rival, the LA Temptation, where a Seattle victory would provide the loyal Mist fans a Seattle Mist Legends Cup appearance at home in Seattle.

The Las Vegas Sin (0-4-1) entered this game with the right mindset and willingness to play their hearts out, but were quickly victimized by Seattle’s superior firepower on offense. Young quarterback Sindy Cummings gave a valiant effort, but ultimately couldn’t trade touchdowns with Seattle after Vegas had pinned their hat on a run-heavy season. The Sin will now head home and begin looking for answers on becoming a better football team.

When both the Seattle Mist and Las Vegas Sin took to the field for pregame warm-ups, there was a playoff-type atmosphere surrounding the game. It felt as though either team could win, but from the opening kickoff, Seattle began to dominate in convincing fashion as they came up just eight yards shy of returning the opening kick for a touchdown. On the ensuing drive, the Mist would indeed score a touchdown as a perfect combination of passing and the strong legs of Stevi Schnoor proved too much for a Sin defense that found themselves pinned against the wall early.

Quickly finding themselves down 7-0 with 7:42 still remaining in the first quarter, the Sin would do their best to even the score as quarterback Sindy Cummings led her troops onto the field. On their first offensive play from scrimmage, a hand-off to running back Dominique Maloy would change the complexion of the game as Seattle’s home crowd watched her sprint down the sidelines for a touchdown. The Sin would be flagged for a delay of game on the extra point try, as their attempt to even the score failed. Perhaps it was the first sign of a talented but inexperienced team folding under pressure as the Mist led the Sin 7-6. Penalties, turnovers and missed assignments were all issues for the Sin Saturday night.

On the opening play of the next drive for Seattle, quarterback KK Matheny launched a MVP-caliber bomb for a completion to Bryn Renda that went for 29 yards. For Mist fans, Matheny is becoming somewhat of a legend for her ability to stand in the pocket and deliver laser strikes under pressure. The Sin would bring heat, but KK Matheny was able to easily avoid the rush while finding an open Danika Brace for another Mist touchdown. Seattle held a 14-6 lead with 4:32 remaining in the first.

When their next drive began, it became evident that the Las Vegas Sin had entered the game intending to ride the strong running attack of Dominique Maloy. After allowing a huge run early, the Mist seemed to adjust well and started to swarm her at the line of scrimmage. Further proving that an experienced Seattle Mist coaching staff had planned to force the Sin and their young quarterback to beat them through the air.

Seattle took over with 2:32 still on the clock in the first, quickly striking for yet another Danika Brace touchdown on pass that went for 20 yards. Matheny and the Mist’s receiving group overwhelmed the Sin’s secondary, looking like a game of pitch and catch at times. With just over two minutes to play in the first quarter, the Las Vegas defense appeared beat and bewildered. They had put their inexperienced quarterback and the Sin’s offense in the worst possible position. Las Vegas would now need to mount a serious comeback against, perhaps, the league’s most dynamic team. Sindy Cummings may have been the more inexperienced quarterback, but she quickly answered the bell with a deep pass on the Sin’s next offensive play that struck for a 35 yard touchdown to Cynthia Schmidt, pulling her team a little closer as they still hoped to finish the season with a win. This deep pass from Cummings to Schmidt is something Las Vegas fans would love to see in seasons to come as the young offense is still trying to live up to their potential.

We knew that the Sin would need to enter this game with explosive shoulder pads on defense if they were to have a chance, and Las Vegas did just that. As the Mist began to lean on Stevi Schnoor and the running game, they found the Sin very tough up front. The Mist quickly shifted gears, however, and began sending three receivers out wide to expose a Sin secondary that appeared to be slow to respond. The Sin then pushed their way into the pocket with pressure from the defensive front but Vegas’ secondary once again found itself torched as Mist quarterback KK Matheny scrambled around to buy herself a bit of time before connecting for a touchdown with tight-end Lashaunda Fowler to take a 28-13 lead. Moments later, Fowler would run for two more points as the Mist gave her a hand-off from 3 yards out. Further pumping doubt into the hearts of everyone on the Sin sideline.

Just minutes into the second quarter, Las Vegas would have a tall order in front of them if they hoped to finish the season with a win. Their quarterback, Sindy Cummings, may have been short on experience heading into the game but she certainly has the tools to be one of the league’s best and has never lacked confidence. Quickly huddling her squad, Cummings looked poised and prepared to do what needed to be done. After overthrowing a receiver and appearing to be out of sync with her running back on a play action, the Sin’s inexperience in the passing game began to show. Cummings did keep the drive alive with a gutsy scramble for big yardage, followed by a hand-off to Dominique Maloy which resulted in a touchdown. However a holding call against tight-end Adrienne Kopko would bring the touchdown back and deflate any momentum the Sin had. Cummings would go deep just a few plays later, only to be picked-off by Seattle’s rookie Fadi Findling. This was the first of two interceptions thrown by Cummings, a quarterback who did not throw a single interception in 2014 during her rookie season.

Recognizing they were in command of the game and needed to remain as healthy as possible, Seattle began to establish a running game. Using a variety of plays, Mele Gilmore, began running the football into the teeth of an over matched Sin front line for big yardage. The Mist would score a touchdown with a well-designed quick pitch to tight-end Danika Brace but a failed attempt from 3 yards out would leave the Mist with an overwhelming 36-13 lead.

Showing signs of desperation, the Sin took the field on the very next play and went deep as quarterback Sindy Cummings forced it into coverage and paid the price with her second interception of the night into the hands of safety Jessica Hopkins. Showing a bit of trickery, Seattle would open their following offensive drive with an end-around to Bryn Renda that turned into a wide-receiver pass as Renda found wide-receiver Jessica Hopkins for a 30 yard Mist touchdown completion. For NFL fans the play might have a little resemblance to the Pittsburgh Steeler’s play, where wide-receiver Antwaan Randle El completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Hines Ward, during Super Bowl XL. For Seattle fans that play probably brings back sadness as the Steelers went on to beat the Seahawks 21-10.

Shortly before halftime, Las Vegas would watch quarterback Sindy Cummings being helped off of the field and favoring her right leg after a brutal hit by several Seattle defenders. After her exit, the Sin would see a quarterback by committee as they turned the football over on downs. Following another quick Mist touchdown by Stevi Schnoor from six yards out, Seattle would go into halftime with a 50-13 lead over the Sin.

In a game where Seattle featured two veteran late-season signings, with Theresa Petruzielo and Jena Weiss and also trying to stay healthy with no injuries before the playoffs, Seattle was in position with their large lead to get other personnel playing time during the second half.

The Sin would get quarterback Sindy Cummings back following halftime, which gave the fans of Las Vegas just a bit of hope. To her credit, not only did Cummings fight through injury to return to the game, she had several impressive runs throughout the third quarter and it was easy to see that she truly was doing everything in her power to somehow dig the Sin out of such a deep hole. The Seattle coaching staff played the perfect defensive scenario though, expecting a comeback attempt through the air. The Sin were able to break some chunks off on the ground as both Cummings and Maloy ran hard, but ultimately, the third quarter ended with much of the same feeling. The Seattle Mist were beating the Las Vegas Sin by a score of 50-19 and showing no signs of weakness.

As the fourth quarter approached, the lights dimmed throughout Seattle’s ShoWare Center. For the Mist, it added a sense of pageantry to a game in which they had dominated throughout. Las Vegas seemed to respond a bit differently, understanding the urgency and the fact that they were only ten minutes away from the end of their 2015 season, should the Mist hold on to win it.

Again, credit goes to Seattle’s coaching staff for realizing they were in charge of the ball game and pulling quarterback KK Matheny to avoid injury. Kadi Findling took over as the Mist’s signal-caller and she would be tasked with managing the football game accordingly. When a score of 58-19 took hold, Seattle did the obvious and began platooning their depth into the game while resting their starters for a playoff match-up with the Los Angeles Temptation. With just under five minutes to play, frustration finally caught up with the Sin players who began taking things personally. Shoving matches broke out on the field for several moments until referees could intervene, which is expected when a team’s hope of a win begin to flicker away.

With four minutes left in the ballgame, KK Matheny could be seen dancing on the wall which divided her from her growing legion of believers while at the two minute mark, Matheny entered the stands to personally celebrate a playoff birth with the fans of Seattle. Danika Brace would do the same nearly a minute later, stopping to pose for pictures with many of the die-hard fans in attendance.

Theresa Petruzielo, who is know for her receiving ability and pass coverage, made a big impact in her first game back this season as she finished the night with two solo tackles and five assisted tackles, leading the category on defense for the Mist. Quarterback KK Matheny also had a another big night, completing 10 of her 16 passes for 116 yards with 3 touchdowns. She’ll now prepare to lead her Mist offense in the playoffs against a Los Angeles Temptation defense that will be ready and waiting.

The Western Conference regular season is final and stands Seattle 4-1, Los Angeles 3-2-1, and Las Vegas 0-4-1. Seattle and Los Angeles now have two weeks to prepare for the Western Conference Championship, that takes place in Chicago, Illinois on August 15^th.

Saturday’s game between the Las Vegas Sin and Seattle Mist will be broadcast primetime in HD on national television via Fuse, one week later, Saturday August 8, 9p/8c.

Game Stats

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(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Wednesday, AUGUST 5, 2015)

It’s no secret that the Chicago Bliss (4-0) have made their own fortune by running the table on their opponents. Quarterback Heather Furr will look to hone a passing game that critics have blasted for being lackluster and ineffective in big games. The Bliss will face the LFL’s worst defense, giving her the perfect opportunity to improve her game and build her throwing confidence before the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Omaha Heart (0-5) have been battered all season long, but they’ve been fortunate enough to have a passionate group of fans behind them. For the Heart, it’s time to lay everything on the line and pay those loyal fans of Omaha back with a much-needed win. For the Heart players that want to be around in 2016, Saturday will be a sort of judgment day and an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Game time experience and reps will only help this team mature, especially against a tough Chicago squad.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast a week later in primetime on national television via Fuse (check local listings), Saturday, August 15, 9p / 8c.

Las Vegas Betting Line

Chicago – 18.5 points | 48 Over/ Under

Chicago Bliss

The Chicago Bliss remain undefeated, but certainly aren’t unbeatable. Quarterback Heather Furr remains a wildcat-style gunslinger who posts great stats based on the backbone of a viscous running attack. Furr has yet to prove her ability to pass effectively down the field in big games. Chicago has relied on the ground game and a short-pass scheme, that makes the offense one-dimensional. Some have questioned if Furr is a true quarterback at all, which leaves her with a lot to prove Saturday and the following week in the playoffs.

Running back Chrisdell “Ferrari” Harris is arguably the toughest offensive player in the LFL. With great blocking up front, Bliss fans have watched the young lady rumble her way to an impressive 258 yards and 7 touchdowns on only 39 attempts. Coupled with the electric play of wide reciever Alli Alberts, Chicago should coast through this match-up if everything goes according to plan.

Something that’s often overlooked because of their offensive weaponry is the fact that the Chicago Bliss have a very brutal defense that commands respect. Yahshi Rice and Chantell Taylor shore up a defensive front that is a complete terror for opposing offenses to plan against. In the secondary, both Furr and Alberts complete the total package. Against the league’s worst team, though, the Chicago Bliss may not even travel many of their key veterans as they prepare for the playoffs.

Omaha Heart

The quarterback position in Omaha has been somewhat of a merry-go-round this season. Anonka Dixon was brought in to help a young roster, but instead Omaha Heart fans watched her throw for only 8 yards in two games. Whatever the reason, Dixon has shown little resemblance to the great quarterback of old. She’s also been called out for her run-first mentality and a lack of effort at times, which didn’t helping her stock in Omaha. This week Omaha will feature an unknown rookie under center as Kayleen Colson will start her first game for the Heart.

Coach Dontae Allen has to believe that his job is on the line. After reaching this point without a single win, the Heart now claim the worst defense in the league and perhaps the worst team in LFL history. The front office has made the effort, but key players simply haven’t performed at the needed levels and in football, that ultimately falls onto the shoulders of the coaching staff. If ever there was a must-win game for a head coach, this is it.

One bright spot for Heart fans is that wide receiver Heather Hudson seems to be the rock of talent in which Omaha can build upon moving forward. Running-back Sarah Jane Thompson has proven to be effective for the ground game and resembles the running style of LA’s Carmen Bourseau. Many people in the Omaha Heart organization should be taking this game personally, because for a lot of them, it is. Jobs could literally be on the line in this one.

The post WITH A FRANCHISE REBUILD LOOMING, OMAHA PLAYERS LOOK TO A MAKE STATEMENT IN SEASON FINALE (OFFICIAL GAME PREVIEW) appeared first on LFL360.

(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Wednesday, August 5, 2015)

Commissioner’s Corner returns with the Commish, co-host Connor Scofield and LFL360 Deputy Editor, Colton Cull. On this week’s show, we go ‘Around the League’ and discuss the 2015 LFL Awards nominees, as well as many other special league announcements. Atlanta Steam head coach, Dane Robinson, joins us to talk about the upcoming Eastern Conference Championship against rival Chicago. Later, JJ Thacker, formerly of the Orlando Fantasy, talks about her return the LFL and Omaha Heart.

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The post LFL 2015 AWARD NOMINEES ANNOUNCED appeared first on LFL360.

(OMAHA, NEBRASKA – Monday, August 10, 2015) LFL officials have announced Omaha Heart’s head coach Dontae Allen and his staff’s contracts will not be renewed for 2016 and are released, effective immediately. The Omaha Heart posted the worst season of any LFL franchise in history, scoring a record low 13 points while giving up a record high 327 points, through 6 games in 2015.

Allen’s three year tenure comes to an end. Allen’s career highlight was a first-year upset win over the No.1 ranked Jacksonville Breeze. League sources indicate the primary reason for Allen’s dismissal was due to a poor job of roster development and evaluation in the off-season.

“Coach Allen will always be remembered as an integral part of our Omaha Heart franchise history. However, it became very apparent that a change in culture was needed to position a rebuild of the Heart franchise, into a winner. Most importantly, the incredible Heart fans deserve a team that at minimum, competes”, said, Mitchell Mortaza, Chairman, Legends Football League, LLC.

Shortly following Saturday night’s 26-0 loss to Chicago, Allen was interviewed about the possibility that he may have coached in his final game with Omaha.

League officials will begin active interviewing of potential Heart head coaching candidates, immediately following the end of the 2015 season.

The post BREAKING NEWS: OMAHA HEART HEAD COACH DONTAE ALLEN AND STAFF RELEASED,LFL360.com appeared first on LFL360.

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(OMAHA, NEBRASKA- MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 2015)

The final regular season game of the 2015 schedule featured the top ranked team this season taking on the worst team in LFL history. The Chicago Bliss remained the only undefeated team this season, and in fact haven’t lost a game since April 19th of the 2013 season when they lost to the LA Temptation by a score of 31-19. Since that loss Chicago has gone on to win two straight Legends Cup Championships and the Bliss are working toward their third in a row this year.

Chicago came into Saturday’s game against Omaha confident enough to rest several of the players they’ll lean on for an upcoming playoff run, including star running back ChrisDell ‘Ferrari’ Harris. The Bliss weren’t looking past their opponents, but Head Coach Keith Hac’s vast experience served him well in resting key players during this match-up.

For the Omaha Heart, resting simply wasn’t an option. They’ve been battered this season as their offense has failed to deliver and their defense has looked horrific. From arm-tackling to an inability to take snaps from center, the Heart have finished many of their games this season looking like a wounded lion backing into a corner. For them, nothing remained but pride and they weren’t going to go down without a fight.

Prior to the game, Warren Buffett was in attendance and gave the Heart a pregame speech to help bolster their spirits. It seemed to work as the Heart were tough from the beginning, hitting harder and appearing to be much more confident than in previous weeks. For a change, Omaha showed heart. They sincerely wanted to win this game and it showed.

Leading up to the game, some people questioned if quarterback Heather Furr would even play as Chicago had already clinched a playoff birth. Bliss fans were treated to their franchise quarterback under center, though her passing was wild and lacked the proper touch, especially on deep passing patterns. Still, Furr brought her usual game-changing impact as the unusual pass-heavy Bliss offense proved lethal to Omaha’s hope of victory.

Omaha’s confidence showed right away as they stopped Chicago’s opening kick return on Chicago’s 20 yard line with a perfectly executed open field tackle, which is something the Heart have struggled with this season. Furr lined her troops up and immediately went to work, passing the football as if to prove critics wrong. As has been the story all season, Furr began connecting on short routes and screen passes to Javel Thompson, who started at running back as the Bliss opted to rest the ‘Ferrari’. After a number of short yardage passes to Thompson, Alli Alberts, and Charbria Survillion, Chicago finally found the end zone as Furr executed a bull rush keeper up the middle. Furr would miss her target on the extra point attempt, which gave the Bliss an early 6-0 lead.

While Omaha’s game-plan was obviously a run-heavy mindset, it seemed to work early. They drove down the field against a Chicago run defense which seemed to have no answers for the strong runs up the middle. As has been the case for most of the season, Omaha looked strong on offense as they moved the ball well, squandering an opportunity to put points on the board once in the red zone. The 1st quarter would come to a close with Chicago leading by a score of 6 to 0.

The 2nd quarter proved to be more of the same as the Omaha Heart continued to grind with a running attack, hoping to stall Chicago’s offense with an energized defensive front. Likewise, the Bliss once again found themselves unable to move the ball with long passes, though quarterback Heather Furr scored just under one minute into the 2nd quarter on yet another keeper play. Another missed extra-point attempt left the score at 12-0 with 9:03 still remaining in the 2nd quarter.

Several times, the Bliss found themselves turning the football over on downs. That is something they absolutely will not be able to do against the Atlanta Steam in their upcoming playoff game if they hope to win. For Omaha, forcing turnovers on downs looks promising for a team that’s young and searching for an identity. If nothing else, they have a passion for the game and under the right direction, passion can be turned into winning. While the Omaha Heart often lined up with in a wishbone formation, their game-plan was obviously to run into the teeth of Chicago’s defense as they displayed designed runs by quarterback Kayleen Colson. Offensively speaking, it was a slow 2nd quarter for both teams as prideful hitting became the story as Omaha tried to keep things from getting out of hand. The Chicago Bliss would go into halftime leading the ballgame by a score of 12-0.

Omaha fans were red and rowdy to begin the 3rd quarter, which was a direct effect of the effort their team had displayed in the first-half. The Heart were within two scores and were receiving the football, meaning they were still within striking distance. They went back to the running game early, trying to get their play-maker, Heather Hudson, involved. For the first time all season, Omaha appeared to be focused and the defense was playing with a high level of play.

The Omaha coaching staff had done a much better job of preparing for this contest, and it showed.  The offense wasn’t pretty but the usual quarterback/center exchange that resulted in many fumbles and turnovers was not an issue on Saturday. But credit the Chicago Bliss, who seemed to come alive on defense as they began clawing their way into the backfield and stuffing the running game. Finding themselves pinned back with a rushing attack that had stalled, Omaha began to throw the football. In doing so, they found themselves in a deeper hole as quarterback Kayleen Colson threw an interception with with still eight minutes to play in the 3rd-quarter. It felt like an emotionally back-breaking play for the Heart, which began to show on the player’s faces. Their crowd continued to stand behind them, though, and a few of the defensive players for the Heart did what they could to motivate those around them.

On Chicago’s ensuing drive, Heather Furr connected with Stephan Murray for a touchdown pass from 5-yards out, and it seemed to sap Omaha’s confidence. They looked defeated and for good reason. The Chicago Bliss would add to their lead with another touchdown during the 3rd quarter, leading things by a score of 26-0 when it came to an end.

The Chicago Bliss stood tall on the sidelines, though the rowdy Omaha crowd would begin directing their frustration right at the Chicago bench. In fact, the crowd offered up more emotion in the 4th quarter than the Heart players, who were beaten on all fronts and had been so during the course of an entire season.

With no quarterback on the roster capable of throwing the ball deep, they had came into this contest with a run-minded playbook. Not exactly what they’d need in order to mount the serious comeback they’d need in order to somehow post their first victory of the season. Even the Heart’s top talent, Heather Hudson, began making mistakes in the 4th-quarter as she laid the ball on the turf. With a auarterback who finished 1-of-3 passing with 7 yards and an interception throughout the ballgame, the Omaha Heart had absolutely no chance of beating Chicago in this one.

Omaha finally showed up and played with heart, but it wouldn’t be enough to be the first team to beat the Chicago Bliss this season. Bliss quarterback Heather Furr finished the night 17-of-35 passing for 104 yards with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions.  Furr’s completions averaged 6.1 yards per play and her longest completion went for just 11-yards.  Furr failed to connect with her receivers on all of her passes deeper than ten yards down field. For the upcoming Eastern Conference Championship, that’s something to be worried about as she’ll be under a lot more pressure from a much better Atlanta defense.

For Omaha, Kayleen Colson was at quarterback and did well with the center exchange, which is an issue that has plagued the Heart all season long. She also managed to hand the ball off without issue but rarely threw the ball. When she did, Colson’s tosses weren’t impressive enough to win over a starting role with Omaha. The Heart ran a wishbone-style offense, which suited Colson’s abilities well during the game. Credit Dontae Allen for working with the talent he had and putting together a game plan to fit it, which showed effort on his part and a willingness to improve the franchise.

As the Bliss players prepared to leave Omaha following a solid 26-0 victory, their focus had already shifted to a key match-up in the playoffs against the rival Atlanta Steam. In a post-game interview, quarterback Heather Furr was confident and ready to prove critics wrong while saying she’d need to practice her throwing this week. For Chicago, they are the defending champions and that holds true meaning to every player, staff member and fan. Their next mission isn’t just against the Atlanta Steam. Their mission is to silence anyone who is waiting for this dynasty, perhaps one of the LFL’s all-time greatest – to implode. For Heather Furr and the Bliss, failure is simply not an option.

The Omaha Heart end the season, having lost every game and doing so in embarrassing fashion. They do deserve credit for fighting until the end, especially against a tough Chicago opponent. Still, their coaching staff will be replaced and their starting quarterback (Anonka Dixon) may just be right behind the coaches. Even the worst statistical team in LFL history can rebound next season, though, as they have the support of a fantastic Omaha fan-base. There are certainly pieces on the Heart roster that can be built around and at times, they have shown flashes of competitiveness. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it did have architects with the proper vision. Omaha’s off-season will be important as they begin searching for one such architect and a quarterback to lead a new-look Heart into battle next season.

Following the game, Omaha’s coach Dontae Allen admitted that he believes he’s coached his last game for the Heart. With the official release of coach Allen and his staff coming this morning, Omaha is now set to begin interviewing for the new coaching positions.

The Eastern Conference regular season is final and stands Chicago 5-0, Atlanta 3-2, and Omaha 0-6. Chicago will turn around and face their rival in the east, the Atlanta Steam this Saturday, August 15th at home in front of their cheering fans. Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois will host the Western Conference Championship and Eastern Conference Championship with kickoffs at 5pm and 8pm respectively.

Saturday’s game between the Chicago Bliss and Omaha Heart will be broadcast primetime in HD on national television via Fuse, one week later, Saturday August 15, 9p/8c.

Game Stats

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(ATLANTA, GEORGIA- WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2015)

The defending Legends (formerly Lingerie) Football League Eastern Conference champion Atlanta Steam (3-2) will travel to the Windy City on Saturday, August 15 for a showdown with the two-time defending league champion Chicago Bliss (5-0) for what promises to be an all-out, leave it all on the field slugfest that will determine which team advances to the 2015 Legends Cup.

Despite Chicago winning both of the previous meetings this season, including handing Atlanta their first home loss in the 2+ year history of the franchise when they outscored the Steam 27-24 in the 2015 LFL season opener, the Steam are confident that they are ready to end the Bliss march toward a third consecutive LFL title.

While most outside of the Atlanta faithful, give the team hardly any chance of leaving Chicago with a win, the Steam believe they are ready to stake their claim to the throne by knocking the current occupant out of it. While many will consider that attitude just more of the bravado Atlanta has displayed ahead of each of the two prior losses to Chicago this season, there is reason to believe the result of this game may be different than the previous contests.

As Head Coach Dane Robinson told me, what needs to be done to beat Chicago is no secret, the challenge is doing it.

“Chicago is not a team we have to “decode,” it’s about making sure we minimize our mistakes while capitalizing on their errors.”

The Bliss combine a very good defense led by safety Alli Alberts, and defensive ends Chantell Taylor and Yashi Rice with a no-frills, power ground attack on offense led by ChrisDell Harris. Quarterback Heather Furr is an experienced game manager that is solid under pressure, makes few unforced mistakes and has a true dislike for Atlanta. In addition to being the team leader in tackles, Alberts is the top targeted receiver for Chicago.

The Atlanta offense, led by second-year quarterback Dakota Hughes, has proven they can score against Chicago, but the defense has been unable to contain Harris which allows the Bliss to control the game clock as well as wear down the defense. With playmakers like Hughes, Lauran Ziegler and Nas Johnson on offense, look for the Steam to put a minimum of 21 points on the board, but for that to be enough to win, the Steam defense must hold Chicago to less than their 100+ yards rushing per game average.

The reason that the outcome of this game may be different than the previous three-meetings (going back to last season’s Legends Cup) is simple: The Atlanta defense has the talent, experience and strength to meet the challenge.

Atlanta plays a high-energy, all helmets to the ball style defense which makes it a complete team effort that is led by middle linebacker Leanne Hardin, who leads the league in tackles. Though analysts and critics around the league doubt Hardin’s ability at times, she is out to prove she is a forceful piece of Atlanta’s mission to minimize Chicago’s ground threat.

With impact players like Keyon Harrison, second in the league in tackles, Ziegler and Adrian Purnell in the secondary and Dina Wojowski, Coco Montgomery, J Mac and Aussie import Jayne Caldwell holding the line, the Steam defense CAN slowdown the Bliss ground assault.

However, slowing the Chicago rushing game will not be enough for Atlanta to advance to their second straight Legends Cup. For that to happen, the Steam defense MUST force a couple of turnovers to give Hughes and the quick-strike Atlanta offense a couple of extra possessions.

Robinson has been clear about his expectations for this season from the opening of training camp, and with another trip to the Legends Cup just a win away, his goal for Saturday is just as clear:

“We intend to be the best team in those three hours so that we will be recognized as the best team in the Eastern Conference, and then we will head to Seattle for our next shot at a Legends Cup title.”

This is going to be a hard-hitting, very physical game that is likely to come down to the final minutes before the Eastern Conference Champion is decided.

Join the Atlanta Steam News Facebook Group for news, player chats and pictures.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast one week later in primetime on national television via Fuse (check local listings), Saturday, August 22, 9p / 8c.

Follow Mike on Twitter @mdronsports

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(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2015)

The 2014 Legends Cup rematch will be the 2015 Eastern Conference Championship as Chicago is now in the east, but this is more than just a rematch. For Atlanta, this game is a statement to the world that the Steam have finally arrived. Many within LFL circles believe that the Atlanta Steam have the best young quarterback/wide receiver duo in Dakota Hughes and Lauran Ziegler. As proof of their impact on the field, both Hughes and Ziegler have a finalist’s spot in this season’s MVP race. If there’s one feeling in Atlanta that’s been lingering all season though, it’s that the Steam remain unproven. Atlanta has grown tired of being the team of the future. For the players, coaches and fans in red and black, the future is now.

The defending champion Chicago Bliss may have something to say about Atlanta’s desire to claim the throne in the Eastern Conference. They remain unbeaten on the strength of a running game that’s built around ChrisDell “Ferrari” Harris and while their quarterback, Heather Furr, has been called unorthodox and overrated – you cannot argue with the results. She protects the football, throws high-percentage passes and does more than her part on a tenacious Bliss defense. She’s the face of a franchise that heading toward being the LFL’s most winningest franchise of all-time, and they play with a high level of confidence because they’ve earned the right.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast two weeks later in primetime on national television via Fuse (check local listings), Saturday, August 29, 9p / 8c.

Las Vegas Betting Line

Chicago – 4.5 points | Over/Under 44 points

ATLANTA STEAM

Following a Cinderella-like playoff run in 2014 that ended with a loss to Chicago in the Legends Cup game, the Steam are now 0-3 against their Eastern rival. Not being able to get past the Bliss is a footnote that has haunted an otherwise fantastic season by this young and explosive squad. Once again, Dakota Hughes led the league with 17 touchdowns and 585 yards passing, while showing the perfect form of a quarterback that could possibly become the LFL’s next top quarterback. She has the prototypical look when throwing that every team wants from its quarterback and she’s a certified playmaker, when given enough time to operate comfortably.

Hughes’ favorite target, Lauran Ziegler, has clearly established herself as a deep-threat wide receiver that can stretch the field quickly and does so with the polish of a seasoned veteran. Her raw speed and skill has caused headaches for defensive coordinators all season long, and that should continue heading into the playoffs as the Atlanta Steam appear to be peaking at just the right time. Ziegler’s presence on the field and in the locker room has ignited a spark of confidence that has had a ripple effect throughout the entire organization.

For the Atlanta Steam, this is about passing the torch. Chicago has been considered the LFL’s most-successful franchise of late, and the Steam now want to sit atop the hill. These two teams know each other well and, more importantly, they don’t like each other. They’ve played competitively against Chicago in the past, but now the Atlanta Steam will have to play flawlessly if they hope to become the east’s new shot caller.

CHICAGO BLISS

Everything about the Chicago Bliss demands respect. In a league that’s quickly becoming known for its hard-hitting, the Bliss lay claim to the best defense in the LFL. The tandem of Yashi Rice and Chantell Taylor delivers a defensive line that is unmatched in the LFL, while Furr, Alberts, Kim Perez and Dominique Collins comprise a secondary that could possibly be the league’s most elite.

Anyone who’s watched the Bliss this season understands that their entire offensive playbook runs through the enigmatic running game of Chrisdell “Ferrari” Harris. She’s ferocious with the football and while teams game-plan for her, they can rarely slow down the Ferrari, who averages 6.6 yards per carry and has accounted for 7 of Chicago’s touchdowns this season. Her strong runs open defenses up for quarterback Heather Furr, allowing her to scorch opposing defenses with a high-efficiency short passing attack.

Up to this point in the season, Furr hasn’t been faced with a situation where throwing down-field is a must in order to win. Atlanta knows the Chicago system very well, too, and they’ll try to force Heather Furr to throw deep. She’s the highest-rated passer of 2015 and doesn’t seem to make bad throws or decisions with the football, helping her avoid turnovers. While she’s shown flashes of greatness against the Omaha Heart, going deep against the LFL’s worst team in 2015 isn’t a true benchmark. Furr’s lack of touch when throwing the ball down-field has led to criticism from several people within league circles. Heather Furr will need to prove herself by opening up Chicago’s passing attack against an Atlanta Steam defensive squad that is much better than Omaha’s and wants nothing more than to expose Furr’s lack of arm-strength on national television.

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(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA- Wednesday, August 12, 2015)

This Saturday, the LFL playoffs will begin with two Western Conference elite, in what is perhaps the leagues most fierce and balanced rivalry. Prepare for a west coast war as the Los Angeles Temptation and Seattle Mist are set to collide. The Temptation lead by Tui Suiaunoa and David Bizub have been to the biggest of stages and they have the championships to prove it, while Chris Michaelson and his Seattle Mist are in search of their first Legends Cup appearance.

This 2015 season featured three duels between the Temptation and Mist, with the first two contests featuring one-point margins of victory, with each team stealing a win on the road. The last matchup was a promising win for Seattle when they sent a depleted LA team back to Southern California. With two healthy lineups full of talent, experience, and passion, there is no doubt the fourth pairing between the two will be one of the most exciting playoff games in LFL history. This game also marks the 10th time in regular season and playoff history that the two franchises have competed against another, with LA (5) leading the series over Seattle (4) by one game.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast one week later in primetime on national television via Fuse (check local listings), Saturday, August 22, 9p / 8c.

Las Vegas Betting Line

Seattle- 1.5 points | Over/Under 46 points

Los Angeles Temptation

Los Angeles is no stranger to the spotlight. As a franchise, the Temptation are 6-2 all-time in the playoffs and have three Legends Cup titles. However LA has not won a playoff game since 2012 when they won their third consecutive Legends Cup Championship on February 5th, defeating the Philadelphia Passion 28-6. Many of the players on their roster have the kind of experience that is an absolute must when fighting for the opportunity to play for another championship. With Salerno at starting quarterback, LA is 2-0 this season and her return could be just what LA needs to get past Seattle.

Running Back Carmen Bourseau averages nearly 6 yards-per-carry and with 4 touchdowns to her credit, she’s been able to loosen defenses up enough to allow Los Angeles’ quarterbacks time to find an open receiver. Bourseau is tough to bring down and welcomes the big hit. She personifies what this team is about and how they’ve managed to stay remain a playoff contender every season. The Temptation are a team of smashmouth players in every sense of the word.

Look no further than the Temptation’s defense if you want an example of how the game of football should be played. Up front, their defense is comprised of sure tackling and hard hitting, while their linebacker Monique Gaxiola only solidifies the reputation of fear that accompanies the silver and black. Danielle Harvey has accounted for 26.5 tackles and a sack this season, which has led this squad of blue-collar defensive players. The Temptation’s secondary is another story. They’re considered weak against the pass at times, which could prove disasterous against the Seattle Mist and their emerging hero gunslinger. Ogom Chijindu and Chelsey Haardt will have their work cut out for them on Saturday and look for the cornerback tandem to play very physical against the Mist receiving corps.

Seattle Mist

Though they are certainly an experienced franchise, the Seattle Mist is yet to win a playoff game in search of the Legends Cup. The only Seattle highlight in post season fashion came against the Temptation in the second Pacific Cup in December of 2013. Coach Michaelson looks to change that this season with his no-nonsense approach. This team is filled with talent, coached well and is peaking at the perfect time for a potential championship run. The Mist truly believe that they are now the talent of the west.

Much of that belief stems from the never-die attitude of quarterback KK Matheny. Michaelson might have had the best off-season of player acquisitions any franchise has ever had, after signing Matheny, Danika Brace, and Bryn Renda.  Fans have watched Matheny scramble under pressure, only to buy herself enough time to deliver deep touchdown strikes, which is the mark of any great quarterback. Her stellar play at the position has earned her a finalist’s spot in the MVP voting and more importantly, the respect of her teammates and fans throughout the city of Seattle.

Danika Brace is also up for consideration for the LFL’s MVP award, and rightfully so. She’s rushed for 1 touchdown, caught 3 more and added 26.5 tackles on defense, 7 of which were for a loss. Helping make Seattle’s defense what it is, Danielle Harvey brings 26.5 tackles and 2 interceptions to the table. Combined with the strong legs of Running Back Stevi Schnooer, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry this season with 3 touchdowns, the Seattle Mist have fans truly believing that they are the league’s next great franchise. The Mist literally have weapons all over the field and they’ll have their chance to prove themselves against a Los Angeles team that has history on its side.

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(LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – Wednesday, August 12, 2015)

Commissioner’s Corner returns with the Commish, co-host Aimee Rodriguez and LFL360 Deputy Editor, Colton Cull. On this week’s show, we go ‘Around the League’ and recap the Week 15 matchup of Chicago Bliss vs Omaha Heart. Then we take an in-depth look at the upcoming Eastern and Western Conference Playoffs in Chicago, IL. Later we announce the final 2015 LFL Hall of Fame nominee and the dismissal of the Omaha Heart’s coaching staff.

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(CHICAGO, ILLINOIS- THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2015)

All season long, the word dynasty surfaced around the Chicago Bliss. It lingered in the air and taunted the players through all of their tough practices and struggles through the season. While the games may have seemed easy at times, the in-between stuff was anything but that. Whether it was the beginning of the season and not having enough practice time/available practice facilities or the struggle of a month off between games, Chicago faced some difficult non-gameplay related challenges. To top it all off, they have been surrounded by producers, video cameras, and a lot of buzz as they were the team chosen to launch the first NBC Universal produced reality show for the Legends Football League- Pretty. Strong.

But when the games finally arrived, they took care of business. They dominated Omaha three times this season (and dominated is being nice). Now there is one more game to win if the Bliss want a ticket to Seattle for a chance at hoisting the Legends Cup for the third consecutive time and truly becoming the dynasty most fans believe they are. That trip to Seattle will be determined by their performance in one game, against one team – the Eastern Conference Championship against the Atlanta Steam.

Even though Chicago won both games against Atlanta this year, including a historic Sunday game on Mother’s Day at home, they haven’t seen this Atlanta team since May.

Heather “Rockstar” Furr has said that she is “excited to get back to playing”. Furr went on to say “Omaha was a warm up. We will be ready for the conference finals at home against Atlanta.”

With more than a month off since their last game, Chicago took care of business last Saturday in Omaha. While the perfect season is nice, it remains to be seen whether or not that will be enough of a game to get the Bliss back into playing shape for the battle about to take place. The Atlanta Steam have had this game circled on their calendar all season long. The two earlier games mean nothing to either team. This is the game that will decide who gets a chance to play for the Legends Cup.

Will the Atlanta Steam finally overcome the reigning champion Bliss? Or will Heather “Rockstar” Furr and ChrisDell “Ferrari” Harris lead their Bliss to a third straight finals appearance?

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