Week 7 Rundown: Teams on the Rise
As the league wraps up the first half of Season 22, storylines are aplenty. But a handful of teams are standing out for their rise in the standings, power rankings and podcast chatter to start the season, compared to previous seasons. This week, we take a deeper dive into where five of those teams have been and what's changed since their inception or last rise to power. The sheer amount of depth and work that all teams do across the league can't be spilled out in this article, but clicking on each team's name will take you to their roster/staff page where you can see all who are involved with each team.
CANTON CLASSICS (5-0)
this week: at louisiana, sunday 6:45 pm et
At 5-0, Canton has been an unstoppable force so far this season. The team lost Coach Chris Porter in the off-season to Atlanta and Frank Bernstine got his shot at guiding the team on the field, alongside Head Coach Ray Donaldson and Defensive Coordinator Kanye Rockafella. The Classics have generated some controversy and some jealousy along with plenty of kudos and discussion - depending on who you speak to when the name is mentioned. However the chips may fall, there's no doubt the Classics have laid a foundation on and off the field similar to the dynasties laid out before them. With one playoff win on this team's four-season resume, the Classics have stayed patient and built a power, ready to take the next step.
HOUSTON HEADHUNTERS (4-1)
THIS WEEK: VS. TULSA, SATURDAY 9:00 PM ET
Houston made the SFL Championship Game in its first season, Season 6. The team hasn't won a playoff game since Season 13. Nearly five years later, the Houston HeadHunters are off to their hottest start since a 3-0 in Season 17. The HeadHunters made some critical additions in the off-season, adding Team President, Hall-of-Famer Tybeerious Bovine, has SFLm team owner Jason Peace serving as the team's Director of Personnel, plucked Blake Prine to be the team's new General Manager - the list goes on. On the field, the team is third in rushing yards, third in total defense and second in pass yards allowed and pass yards per attempt allowed. Houston is at Canton in Week 8 - they'll show us what they're made of then.
SEATTLE NEMESIS (4-1)
THIS WEEK: AT CHARLESTON, SUNDAY 1:00 PM ET
Like Canton, Seattle is in their fourth season, but still looking for that elusive first playoff win. The team has gone through multiple ownership changes and instability but is finally finding that stability in owners Doug Day and Pauly Truth. We may look back at their drafting of quarterback Ty Ptak as the most valuable No. 1 pick in SFL history. Ptak serves as the team's gameplay signal caller on and off the field and the uniqueness and risk to try something different is paying off. Seattle leads the league in yards per carry - bet you would not have guessed that. Will this be the year the team puts it all together and gets a playoff win, or two, or more?
MINNESOTA LEGEND (4-1)
THIS WEEK: VS. QUEEN CITY, SUNDAY 9:15 PM ET
The last time the SFL expanded, going from 24 to 28 teams, it added Canton, Seattle, Minnesota and Indianapolis. The Ramblers didn't quite crack this last, this go around, but here's another team from that class at the top of the standings. The Legend have been to the postseason three straight seasons, all first round exits. What makes this season different? Unlike other teams, leadership has been stable, lurking in the shadows as they improve, not unlike the team's namesake. Instead, it's the players - Tee DaQueen, Matthew Alvarado, Adrian Blane, rookie Jubilee Marsh and others that have made the team more formidable. What's even more impressive is that the Legend just went 3-0 on a three-game road trip - put that in your homefield advantage and smoke it. With five of the team's last seven at home - for whatever its worth - maybe the wins will keep flowing.
QUEEN CITY CORSAIRS (3-2)
THIS WEEK: AT MINNESOTA, SUNDAY 9:15 PM ET
There's seven teams that enter Week 7 with a 3-2 record, but Queen City has the largest playoff win drought - their last coming in Season 14 where believe it or not, current Florida fullback Chris Comisac had his hands hoisting sails in the coaching ranks. A lot has happened in Queen City since but the franchise Erik Barkley started in the WAFL way back before Backbreaker was released in 2010 is still standing and the most healthy its been in a long time. Tom Welsh kept it steady; Chad Stinson and Alex Marshall have breathed life into the on-the-field play. The Corsairs are exciting and competitive once again. A SFL playoffs with Queen City in it just hits me in the feels. They've got plenty of work left to do, though. Here's what's working in their favor: four of their last six are at home and three of their last four are against teams who currently have a combined one win.