Syracuse Strong crowned GDFL National Champions!

Las Vegas, Nevada - The temperature was 101 degrees for most of the game. Fortunately for the Syracuse Strong, the humidity made it feel more like a 85 degree day in Syracuse.

The very highly anticipated GDFL Gridiron Bowl XIII featuring the #1 ranked Inglewood Blackhawks of California and the underdog, #3 ranked Syracuse Strong of New York was underway at 7pm, which for the Strong, was really 10pm (EST).

The Blackhawks struck first with a short pass that turned into a 60 yard touchdown run putting them out front 6 - 0 midway through the first quarter.

The Strong answered back almost immediately with a kickoff return to the house by co-MVP, All Pro strong safety, Jeff McDuffie tying the score up at 6 all.

The Strong would strike again in the 2nd quarter with a scamper for 60 yards by the other MVP of the game, All Pro running back, Rashad Burns, putting the Strong out front 12 - 6; but then a botch extra point attempt resulted in Inglewood returning  nearly  65 yards for two points, making the score 12 - 8 in favor of the Strong.

In the second half Inglewood would strike first again from the Strong red zone with a short pass over the middle for a touchdown. The lead change put the Blackhawks out from 14 - 12.

The Strong would answer right back again when Rashad Burns would break another long run for 43 yards for another Syracuse Strong touchdown, putting the Strong back out front for good, 18 - 12.

After a little back and forth and multiple interceptions by Jeff McDuffie, the Strong would put the final nail in the coffin with another Rashad Burns touchdown run, making the score 24 - 12 in favor of the Strong.

Inglewood would score once more, but it just wasn’t enough.

The final score from Gridiron Bowl XIII was Syracuse Strong 24 and the Inglewood Blackhawks 20.

Congrats to both teams for phenomenal seasons and congrats to the Strong for earning the GDFL crown.

#CuseStrong #StayReady #WEAREGDFL #THEBRAND