2017 GDFL PLAYOFF PREVIEW
Xtreme Conference
#6 River City Pythons vs. #3 Georgia Crush
The Georgia Crush enter the GDFL playoffs once again looking for the postseason glory that has eluded them in recent years. The veteran squad laced with talented athletes has proven its postseason grit but the hunger for more persist. They face a stiff challenge in the River City Pythons who got off to a scorching hot 3-1 start before stumbling down the latter portion of the season. Coming off of two big losses, the Pythons will need to rebound quickly if they want to stay in the hunt for Gridiron Bowl VIII.
#5 Huntsville Rockets vs. #4 St. Louis Bulldogs
The Huntsville Rockets were one of the most impressive GDFL teams throughout the regular. The Rockets boast an impressive resume with 3 wins against current playoff contenders. Their opponents from the Xtreme North conference, the St. Louis Bulldogs, will have a tough task in trying to ground the Rockets. The Bulldogs will need to ditch their .500 football ways and step up to the plate against a true GDFL heavyweight. The home-field advantage should help and could be the deciding factor in this first round playoff matchup.
Impact Conference
#5 North Mississippi Road Warriors vs #4 Tri-City Outlaws
The Tri-City Outlaws avenged and an early season loss against the Memphis Blast to capture the Impact East division. The hope for the Outlaws is that the momentum from that victory will carry them to postseason success. Standing in the way of a dream season for the Outlaws are the rough and tough Roadwarriors from North Mississippi. The Road Warriors have held GDFL competition under 9 points in 6 out of 8 games this season. The Roadwarriors are the first team since 2015 to hold the Oklahoma Thunder below 18 points, obviously, the hallmark for this squad is smash-mouth, bone-cracking defense, the Outlaws will need to match the intensity to survive.
#6 Starkville Steeldogs vs #3 Missouri Cyclones
Losing the Impact South division championship on a one play deep shot is likely to put the Steeldogs in a foul mood when they hit the field against the Cyclones. The Cyclones are likely to be perturbed as well losing out on the number 2 seed by the thinnest of margins. The conjoined animosity is likely to spill onto the field when these units clash. Neither team here is about finesse, these teams are about brute force and domination beginning on the front lines. The clash seems like it has game of the week potential with the Cyclones surrendering only 22 points during the last four weeks of the season. The Steeldogs averaged 19 ppg. during the same stretch, something will have to give and someone’s season ends Saturday night.