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THE FLEET PRESS
BY GALE FORCE | Senior Beat Writer
"Loose lips sink ships — We just print the leaks."
FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS
CANTON CALLS AND HARDWARE HAULS: IFL PUTS A BOW ON 2077 AS DONTE COLLINS SECURES ALL-LEAGUE HONORS
NORFOLK —
Another campaign is officially etched into the history books, and before the scouting combine buzz and free-agency madness take over, the league took time to celebrate its greatest legends and this year's brightest stars.
From immortalizing all-time greats in the Hall of Fame to crowning season MVPs, the 2077 awards banquet was a reminder of what excellence looks like across the gridiron. While Norfolk watched the festivities from the outside looking in, Tidewater has reason to puff out its chest: sophomore linebacker Donte Collins earned a well-deserved nod on the All-League Second Team, putting the rest of the league on notice that our defense is building something special.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2078
A legendary five-man class receives football immortality, headlined by three bell-cow backs, a lockdown safety, and an ironman in the trenches:
2077 Individual Hardware
All-League First Team
All-League Second Team
Gale's Take
A massive congratulations to all twelve playoff squads who battled through January, especially Vancouver on hoisting the trophy and Columbia on an unforgettable Cinderella sprint to the title game. Seeing Donte Collins secure Second-Team All-League honors at outside linebacker validates what we watched all season: Norfolk has elite, young talent on the second level. With the league year resetting, the benchmark has been drawn. If Carlisle and company can surround Collins and Johnson with the right supporting cast over the next six months, Norfolk won’t just be tuning in for the awards banquet next winter—they'll be clearing room in the trophy case.
Copyright © 2078 The Fleet Press. All rights reserved.
BY GALE FORCE | Senior Beat Writer
"Loose lips sink ships — We just print the leaks."
FOR IMMEDIATE PRESS
CANTON CALLS AND HARDWARE HAULS: IFL PUTS A BOW ON 2077 AS DONTE COLLINS SECURES ALL-LEAGUE HONORS
NORFOLK —
Another campaign is officially etched into the history books, and before the scouting combine buzz and free-agency madness take over, the league took time to celebrate its greatest legends and this year's brightest stars.
From immortalizing all-time greats in the Hall of Fame to crowning season MVPs, the 2077 awards banquet was a reminder of what excellence looks like across the gridiron. While Norfolk watched the festivities from the outside looking in, Tidewater has reason to puff out its chest: sophomore linebacker Donte Collins earned a well-deserved nod on the All-League Second Team, putting the rest of the league on notice that our defense is building something special.
The Hall of Fame Class of 2078
A legendary five-man class receives football immortality, headlined by three bell-cow backs, a lockdown safety, and an ironman in the trenches:
- RB Ralph Kerr Jr. (Pittsburgh Pythons): An undisputed first-ballot titan who wrecked defenses across Pittsburgh, Montreal, McAllen, and Tijuana. Kerr hangs up the cleats with a staggering 21,951 total yards and 150 career touchdowns.
- RB Theodore Fisher (Vancouver Killer Whales): The championship franchise welcomes back its legend, who racked up 13,922 total yards and 79 touchdowns across stops in Raleigh, Vancouver, Kansas City, and West Virginia.
- RB Russell Graham (London Monarchs): A workhorse for London and Alaska who punished front sevens to the tune of 13,640 total yards and 67 trips to paydirt.
- SS Walter Thomason (Columbia Chicharones): Entering with our division rivals after terrorizing aerial attacks in Columbia and Iowa City, finishing his career with 43 interceptions and 4 defensive touchdowns.
- C Lester Knight (Murfreesboro Mules): The ultimate anchor who spent 14 seasons stonewalling pass rushers in Murfreesboro and Miami, boasting a stellar 40.7% block rate and allowing just 22 sacks in nearly a decade and a half.
2077 Individual Hardware
- Player of the Year & Offensive Player of the Year: QB Rodney Ingram, Horsetooth Ogres
- Front Office Bowl MVP: QB Wade Jude, Vancouver Killer Whales
- Coach of the Year: Brenden Kinney, Iowa City Tribe
- Legend of the Game: QB Luis Marsh, Calgary Stampede
- Defensive Player of the Year: LB Cary Skudris, Portland Express
- Offensive Rookie of the Year: RB Ricardo Griffin, Boston Brawlers
- Defensive Rookie of the Year: Chance Mayes, State College Stagz
All-League First Team
- Offense: QB Rodney Ingram (HOR), RB Ricardo Griffin (BOS), FB Pedro Schneider (KCY), TE Jake Griffith (STC), WR Adam Pilkington (DAK), WR Quentin Cudney (POR), C Marvin Mullins (IWC), OG Johnathan Berchin (GEO), OG Amir Perkins (COL), OT Darnell Shields (VAN), OT Jared Firestone (IWC)
- Defense: DE Larry Ward (LVS), DE Damon Olshansky (IWC), DT Brayden Leggett (PIT), DT Rufus Paz (STC), ILB Sebastian Leonard (HAR), OLB Cary Skudris (POR), OLB Jimmy Ellison (KCY), CB Sammy Chang (HOU), CB Tre Thomason (SAO), S Eduardo Bauer (LVS), S Johnathan Sutter (ORL)
- Special Teams: K Keith Doyle (MAD), P Arnie Stortz (STC)
All-League Second Team
- Offense: QB Wade Jude (VAN), RB Aaron Stephens (TIJ), FB Darryl Jennings (HOR), TE Bruce Hout (SAO), WR Ernie Paton (MUR), WR Keith Conrath (ORL), C Bryson Carr (LVS), OG Andre Quinteros (DAK), OG Rickie Dunn (TIJ), OT Jessie Branton (DAK), OT Gage Barlow (TIJ)
- Defense: DE Craig Mitchell (COL), DE Deion Wiggins (CAL), DT Brent Aspel (LVS), DT Stan Russell (MCA), ILB Calvin McGee (LON), OLB Tevin Primeau (WVA), OLB Donte Collins (NFK), CB Ron Wiggins (MON), CB Irv Hanson (GEO), S Max Ascencao (LON), S Caden Shea (VAN)
- Special Teams: K Bryant Page (HOR), P Shawn Downs (KCY)
Gale's Take
A massive congratulations to all twelve playoff squads who battled through January, especially Vancouver on hoisting the trophy and Columbia on an unforgettable Cinderella sprint to the title game. Seeing Donte Collins secure Second-Team All-League honors at outside linebacker validates what we watched all season: Norfolk has elite, young talent on the second level. With the league year resetting, the benchmark has been drawn. If Carlisle and company can surround Collins and Johnson with the right supporting cast over the next six months, Norfolk won’t just be tuning in for the awards banquet next winter—they'll be clearing room in the trophy case.
Copyright © 2078 The Fleet Press. All rights reserved.
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