SFL Quarterfinal Playoff Preview

by Cameron Irvine

After an exciting pair of Wild Card games to get the playoffs started last week, we're down to the final eight of Season 26. We've got all the storylines to watch out for in the Quarterfinals kicking off tomorrow with the Matt Willson SFL Kickoff Show at 5:30 pm ET.

NO. 10 MINNESOTA (8-5) AT NO. 1 DETROIT (10-2)

6:30 PM ET, VFN, MIKE DAGGS AND GERALD SMITH

These two rivals have met in many memorable games over the last eight seasons, joining the league at the same time, but this will be their first time meeting in the playoffs. Detroit is seeking their first playoff win in franchise history, while Minnesota tries to win two playoff games in the same season for the first time.

Earlier this season, the 'Monsters of the Midwest' met in Week 5 and Detroit came away with a 27-19 triumph. The road team has won the last three in this series. The two teams met at the 2023 Convention in Cincinnati with the Legend blowing out the then-Indianapolis Ramblers 69-24. The two met again at the 2024 Convention in Houston with Indianapolis winning 26-20 in the infamous headbutt moment between Mikey Mellilo - now on Bossier City - and Mike O'Neal - now on Chicago. 

  • Last week in Minnesota's 31-17 win over Houston, Johnny Reno threw three touchdowns to three different receivers. It was just his second game this season with three passing touchdowns. He needs 9 yards to pass Joseph Redfeather for 22nd all-time in passing yards. Redfeather famously piloted the Oklahoma City Renegades to Season 1 and 2 Championship appearances.
  • The defense intercepted John Lakeman four times, including two from Nicholas Frossil and one from Johnny Bravo adding on to their league-leading 35 interceptions from this regular season.
  • Minnesota allows just 14.6 points per game on the road this season, best in the SFL. Detroit allows just 13.0 points per game at home this season, also best in the league. We haven't heard from JaxData yet, but we'd put the over/under at 34.5. 
  • Hart needs 18 yards to reach 20,000 career rushing yards.
  • EJ Mincin needs 135 yards to pass James Hands for 26th all-time in receiving yards.

  • Detroit was the only team in the SFL in Season 26 to win more than eight games. It's a first in the 4k23 era to have just one team win more than eight games. The Maulers previous season high for wins was seven in Season 20. They lost their only playoff game in franchise history to Vancouver that season in the Wild Card round, 37-27.
  • While Minnesota has the best strength of defeat, Detroit has the worst - thanks to their loss to 2-10 Miami in Week 12. Detroit's two losses were by a combined 10 points and hasn't lost a game by more than two possessions since getting blanked by Chicago in Season 24's finale, 23-0.
  • Detroit boasts the No. 1 total defense (274.5 YPC) and No. 1 pass defense (186.9). Its defense allows the fewest red zone trips and fewest red zone touchdowns. Overall, their scoring defense (16.4) is also lowest in the SFL.
  • Rashaun Williams led the league in rushing touchdowns this season with 12 and the Maulers as a team led with 18 rushing touchdowns. It was the most rushing touchdowns in a season in franchise history.
  • King Jamaal needs 1 interception for 50 on his career.

NO. 8 WASHINGTON (8-5) AT NO. 2 VANCOUVER (8-4)

9:00 PM ET, VFN, RAMOS LYNN AND RACHELLE COLSTON

Two bitter divisional foes meet for the third time in the postseason Friday when the Washington Trident square off with the Vancouver Legion in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. Washington hasn't hosted the Legion since its Season 24 playoff loss to the Legion, 27-17, making their third-straight trek north of the border.

The Trident, like the Legend, will be trying to win two playoff games for the first time in the 19 seasons of the franchise. Vancouver, the defending champs, would continue the dream of becoming just the sixth franchise with multiple SFL titles with a win.

  • Last week, Utah threw for 301 yards, his fourth game this season of over 300 passing yards. He had a season high of 375 yards in Washington's last meeting with Vancouver, a 38-26 win in Vancouver.
  • King Alexander had 126 yards on 7 receptions last week, the most yards and catches he's had in his SFL career. Alexander has seen a larger workload since Kenny Hendricks hit the inactive list.
  • Washington had the second most pass deflections and interceptions in the regular season. The team added eight more deflections last week against Bossier City, but didn't nab a pick. They feel due.
  • Tina Begin needs 1.5 sacks to pass Denzel Maverick for 29th all-time. Begin hasn't had more than one sack in a game since October 24, 2025.
  • Christopher Dean needs one touchdown for 50 career. His teammate Duane Sammons nabbed two of them in last week's win.

  • Vancouver's offense enters the red zone 4.3 times per game - most in the SFL and gives up just 6.4 yards per pass attempt - best in the SFL. 
  • While Vancouver's offense scores five points more per game at home than on the road, Washington's defense gives up an average of 10 points more on the road than at home.
  • Vancouver averages 4.4 yards per carry (3rd) and 15.4 yards per reception (2nd). Four different receivers have catches over 40 yards, while four different rushers have a run of over 20 yards.
  • Defensive End Achillies Papatonis led the league in sacks in Season 26 with 12.5. Vancouver as a team led the league in sacks (36) and tackles for loss (116). 
  • Christian Brown continues to chase down Vancouver legend Tom Pepper in passing yards and completions. This won't happen unless he returns for a full season in Season 27, but his 38,363 passing yards is now 12th all-time, behind Pepper's 39,316.
  • Drew Hamilton needs five tackles to pass Josh Vasquez for 24th all-time. He's now just 18 tackles behind his teammate Jack Russell, who's 23rd all-time.

NO. 6 ANCHORAGE (8-4) AT NO. 3 BIRMINGHAM (8-4)

6:30 PM ET, VFN, COLIN NORTHRUP AND RICK NORTHRUP

One team with all the history in the world and one team with all the history left behind duke it out in Alabama Saturday when Anchorage meets Birmingham. The Wolves, formerly of Queen City, is making their first playoff appearance since Season 17 and their first under the leadership of Ryan Davis. Michael Goodman and Jimmy Hatzis  largely steered the ship in Denver, but are making their first postseason appearance with the Hellhounds in Birmingham's first season.

Anchorage enters the game winners of four of their last five - but that lone loss was to Birmingham, 30-14 at home. The Hellhounds have lost three of the last five games but its two wins were against Anchorage and Washington, two teams left standing this postseason.

  • Anchorage leads the league in rushing yards (182.2), run defense (56.5), red zone scoring (94.4%), yards per run allowed (2.8) and third down defense (38.6%).
  • The Wolves had 19 rushing touchdowns this season - most in the SFL - eclipsing the 18 rushing touchdowns they led the league with in Season 17, the last time the franchise made the playoffs.
  • MVP candidate halfback John Osmosis led the league in carries (319) and yards (1,334) this season. Quarterback Sylas Christiansen was only sacked 10 times, fewest in the league. 
  • Anchorage's defense forced six fumbles during the season, most of any team in the SFL. The defense also helped Bob Wood return 48 punts, more than any returner in Season 26.
  • Dexter Jackson needs four tackles for loss to reach 200 in his career. The 13-season veteran is currently ninth all-time in TFLs.

  • Birmingham leads the league in first downs (20.2), total offense (384.0), red zone trips per game (4.3), fewest turnovers (12), average field position (33.1) and - like Anchorage - in 3rd down defense (38.6%).
  • While Birmingham lost last week 34-31 to Florida, rookie Ivan Lizzardi had 110 yards on six catches - a new SFL career high.
  • Jordan Bradshaw leads the league in field goals made (28) and field goals attempted (30) - career highs. His 52-yard field goal is also the longest any kicker has made in Season 26. He's also made 35 PATs, most since his Season 21 campaign in Jacksonville. 
  • Cornerback Ted Haynes is 13 tackles away from 500 in his career. Despite 12 seasons in the SFL, he has never made an All-Star roster.
  • Baylee O'Shaughnessy is 45 yards away from passing Keith Swearingen for 18th all-time and two touchdowns from tying Phoenix Jones for 11th all-time.

NO. 5 MEXICO CITY (8-4) AT NO. 4 D.C. (8-4)

9:00 PM ET, VFN, TYLER FALK AND MARC LOPEZ

For the second-straight season, the Mexico City Aztecs and D.C. Dragons will meet in the postseason. In November, the two met in the semifinals with the Aztecs walking away with a 27-10 win. This time and for the first time in three postseason meetings, D.C. is the home team, a reversal from the original announcement that the Aztecs had clinched the home game.

D.C. and Mexico City also met in the Season 5 Championship where the Dragons beat the then Santa Fe Gorillas 31-30 in one of the greatest games in SFL history. The two teams met Week 2 of this season - also a one-point Dragons win, 20-19. The last time either one of these teams beat a team that made the playoffs was Week 9.

  • The last time the Aztecs went one-and-done in the playoffs was in Season 18. Mexico City won back-to-back championships in Season 23 and 24 and lost the title game to Vancouver last season.
  • Jarrid Dumas has filled in for a lost Ray Bentley this season in the backup halfback spot and in his 29 carries, is averaging 6.0 yards per carry, best in the SFL in his limited capacity. Dumas also has 3 punt return touchdowns, which broke a league record this regular season.
  • Linebacker Jon Fowler leads the SFL with 17 passes defended, beating his 4k23 record of 16 he earned last season. He ranks top 15 in tackles, assisted tackles, tackles for loss, PDs and interceptions.
  • Max Jackson has the second most tackles in the league this season with 105, a 4k23 career high by one tackle beating his Season 21 mark in Las Vegas.
  • This will be Mexico City's 26th playoff game in 22 seasons, the most by any franchise.

  • The D.C. Dragons have the second-best scoring defense in the redzone, allowing opponents to score any points just 77.4% of the time.
  • The Dragons score on average 13 more points at home than they do on the road, averaging 31.3 points per game (3rd). Mexico City has the 2nd-best road defense, giving up just 17.2 PPG away from Estadio Matt Willson.
  • Chris Britton III leads the league in tackles for loss with 25. It was announced earlier this week he will be leading the SFL's newest team next season, the Philadelphia Cougars.
  • Punter Ron Van Clief has pinned opponents inside the 20, 24 times this season, most in the SFL. That's an average of two per game.
  • Kevin Seay needs two touchdown to reach 100 for his 3x All-Star career and needs 131 rush yards to pass Logan Jack for 10th all-time. Mason Kirby needs 97 yards to pass Logan Keel for 11th all-time.