Matt Franciscovich – Madden Ultimate League
This past weekend, Madden Ultimate League fans were treated to an exhilarating session of playoff matchups. We now know who which four competitors will play for big money at the Conference Championships and Madden Bowl in Dallas, TX on April 28. Click here for more info on where and when to tune in. SPOILER ALERT: The Conference Championship matchups are Drini “Drini” Gjoka against Eli “True” Clayton, and Shay “Young Kiv” Kivlen against Abbott “Blocky” Lopez. If you’re interested in how the Wildcard and Divisional playoffs rolled, check out the full breakdown below. Either way, we’ll see you in Dallas next weekend!
Wildcard Round – Legend Conference
Jahmal “Musafa Jones” Daniels (ATL) vs. Chris “Dubby” McFarland (PHI)
Final score: Musafa Jones 32, Dubby 34
Dubby kicked a field goal to take a 31-26 lead with just over a minute to play in regulation and kicked off to Musafa Jones. Musafa Jones fielded it with Tyreek Hill, and if you’ve been paying attention to the Madden Ultimate League this season, you know how valuable Hill has been to the competitors both as a receiver and on special teams.
Dubby was busy talking trash during the play, spouting lines like, “This is why you bring a kicker to the party,” and “Get him before the 20, boys.” Well Musafa wasn’t listening and directed Hill right up the middle of the field. He went virtually untouched on his way to a 109-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Yelling and stomping wildly, you could tell how much this game meant to Musafa Jones. He took the lead, 33-31 with that score, and Dubby couldn’t believe his eyes.
But he got the ball back with about a minute to play. Musafa Jones kicked a short pooch into the hands of HB Derrick Henry, which Dubby seemed optimistic about. “Oh yeah, Henry?! Aw, yeah, come here,” he said as he received the kickoff. He proceeded to truck-stick the first defender to make contact, plowed through a couple of additional would-be tacklers, and collapsed with Henry at the 12-yard line, set up perfectly for a game-winning field goal try. It was an extremely aware move by Dubby, who realized if he scored a touchdown, Musafa Jones would have nearly a full minute to answer, so the veteran opted to go down and chew the clock. He kicked the game-winner and moved on to the Divisional Round.
Raidel “Echo Fox Joke” Brito (NE) vs. Eli “True” Clayton (JAX)
Final score: Echo Fox Joke 14, True 32
To be completely honest, this game wasn’t even close. But it was definitely more exciting than Joke and True’s one regular season matchup, which True won 12-5.
Echo Fox Joke took a one-point lead early in the second half with a Herschel Walker touchdown run. Down 14-13, True answered Echo Fox Joke’s touchdown run with one of his own via Todd Gurley, and took a 19-14 lead. Driving early in the fourth quarter, Echo Fox Joke dropped back to throw on a third-down and seven – and threw an interception to True’s Dion Sanders. He returned the pick all the way for six points, and True took a commanding 26-14 lead with about three minutes to play. In desperation mode on his next possession, Echo Fox Joke launched an ill-advised deep pass, which True picked off again with Dion Sanders. He killed most of the remaining clock with the possession before punching in his third Todd Gurley rushing touchdown of the game to put Echo Fox Joke on ice.
Wildcard Round – Elite Conference
Joel “Joel CP” Crooms-Porter (PIT) vs. Michael “Skimbo” Skimbo (NE)
Final score: Joel CP 7, Skimbo 30
Known for his trash-talking, Joel CP didn’t do much of it during this game. Instead, it was more like complaining. Skimbo’s passing prowess was on display often in this blowout. He launched a 31-yard touchdown pass to Tyreek Hill in the second quarter. He delivered a beautiful 32-yard touchdown pass to Jamaal Charles on a wheel route early in the third quarter. And he deposited a 43-yard drop in a bucket touchdown throw, again to Hill, later in the third quarter. Skimbo was locked-in and unphased while a visibly upset and emotional Joel CP didn’t stand a chance.
Stephen “Noble SteveyJ” Javaruski (NYG) vs. Hassan “GOS” Spall (WAS)
Final score: Noble SteveyJ 24, GOS 17
Tied up at 17 points apiece with 1:17 on the clock, Noble SteveyJ received a kickoff and had two timeouts. He didn’t need those timeouts, because he returned the kickoff all the way for a touchdown, to take a 24-17 lead. GOS was unable to answer, and the score was final with Noble SteveyJ moving on.
Divisional Round – Legend Conference
Drini “Drini” Gjoka (NYG) vs. Dubby (PHI)
Final score: Drini 30, Dubby 3
Two early User Lurk interceptions set Drini up for this big win over Dubby in the Legend Conference Divisional round. Drini had a 20-3 lead in the fourth quarter. He was getting pick after pick, throwing deep dots for touchdowns, and running the ball well, too. Dubby didn’t have a chance from the get-go, and Drini proved why he deserves a spot in the Conference Championship with a dominant outing. See you in Dallas, Drini.
Eric “Problem” Wright (LAC) vs. True (JAX)
Final score: Problem 20, True 27
Everything came up True in this matchup. He threw a touchdown pass to Paul Richardson in the first quarter, in response to Problem’s first score. Then, True rushed for a 72-yard touchdown with Todd Gurley in the second quarter to take a 14-10 lead. He picked Problem off late in the second quarter, leaving the veteran shaking his head. True followed up with a 77-yard touchdown pass to TE Evan Engram after catching Problem in a run-commit defense. That score put True up 27-13 and the rest is history. After dominating the regular season with an 8-2 record, Problem’s Madden Ultimate League campaign came to a screeching halt, while True advances to the Conference Championship.
Divisional Round – Elite Conference
Abbott “Blocky” Lopez (MIA) vs. Skimbo (NE)
Final score: Blocky 20, Skimbo 17
With the score tied 7-7 early in the fourth quarter, Blocky took a 14-7 lead after a short rushing touchdown by Derrick Henry. Blocky, who was one of the more reserved competitors all season, had a rare showing of emotion after the score. Skimbo failed to score on his next drive, and Blocky managed a field goal with just over 2:30 to play and kicked off with a 17-7 lead. Skimbo returned the kickoff for a touchdown with Mel Renfro. But this would not end without some Ultimate League drama. On Blocky’s next possession, he dropped back to throw on a third-and-nine. Skimbo sacked him, causing a fumble which he recovered. Skimbo scored a field goal to tie, and the competitors headed to overtime. Blocky eventually had a 40-yard field goal attempt for the win. He let the kick meter go and held the snap until just three seconds remained on the play clock, clearly nervous. He split the uprights, defeated Skimbo, and is on his way to the Conference Championship.
Shay “Young Kiv” Kivlen (SEA) vs. NobleSteveyJ (NYG)
Final score: Kiv 47, Noble SteveyJ 30
Overall, these two competitors traded blows for the majority of the first three quarters. It was a back-and-forth, hard fought contest. The major turning point came early in the fourth quarter after Young Kiv took a 31-30 lead. Noble SteveyJ fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Young Kiv promptly took advantage of the turnover, scoring again to go up 37-30. Noble SteveyJ was frustrated but still in contention at that point. Again, he received the kickoff and, again, he fumbled it. Young Kiv recovered the ball and promptly scored with Jerick McKinnon for the second time off a fumble recovery. We feel your pain, Noble SteveyJ. The game got away from Noble SteveyJ quickly, but that’s how it goes when you’re dealing with fumblitis. It was a wild way to end what was an awesome game. Young Kiv advances on to the Conference Championship at the Madden Bowl, and our final four competitors are set.