Houston Flash

The **Houston Flash** are a professional football team of the Heyan Football League (HFL). An expansion team in 1969, they would be one of the final two teams to join the league, after the Heatsville Aviators.

## Leadership Positions

### Owner:

* Harvey Vincent (1969-2004)
* Jared Davis (2004-)

### Head Coach:

* Ervest Johnson (1969)
* Valley Jones (1970-1992)
* Igen Bakini (1993-2004)
* Brooklyn Jameson (2005-2008)
* Brett Callahan (2009-)

## Debut Season (1969-1970)

The Houston Flash would be among the worst teams in the league, finishing at a record of 1-16. They would cycle through quarterbacks, and go 0-15 before finally winning in Week 17. Their head coach, Ervest Johnson, was fired after only one season. Valley Jones would be hired as the next head coach of the Houston Flash.

## 1970-1971 Season

With the first overall pick in the HFL draft, the Flash would select quarterback Xavier Simmons, and in the second round would select Thomas Vaitai, one of the greatest receivers of all time. Those picks, along with several key defensive players in later rounds, would help legitimize the Houston Flash franchise in their first few seasons in the league.

The Flash would earn a 9-8 record in 1970-71. Though their defense was middle of the pack, their offense shined, and Houston would squeak past the Zoma Tyrants for first place in the division, making the playoffs for the first time in history. Xavier Simmons would win rookie of the year.

In the first round, they would defeat the Emily Landers, winning their first ever playoff game. However, in the next round, they fell to the Amelia Patriots, but had big aspirations going forward.

## 1971-1972 Season

In the second season under Valley Jones, they selected many impactful defensive players, which would help the Flash develop one of the best defenses in the league for years to come. This year would also be Thomas Vaitai's breakout year, as he recorded 1972 total yards in his sophomore season and win Most Improved Player Award, along with All-Star and All-Pro selections.

The Houston Flash would finish the season 10-7, winning the division for the second straight year. In the first round, they would see a rematch with the Amelia Patriots, who knocked them out of the playoffs the previous year, as the Houston Flash would win convincingly. In the second round, they faced the Parker Bulldogs, the Ultra Bowl runner-ups from the previous year. To the surprise of many, the Houston Flash scored on the last drive to take the final lead with seconds remaining, scoring a 2pt conversion to win. However, their Cinderella run would come to a disappointing finish the week after, as the Marcinkevic Yellows scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute. The Flash had lots of hope and optimism going forward, finishing much further than expected and catching the eyes of many across Heya.

## 1972-1973 Season

The Houston Flash finished the season 12-4-1. With rookie wide receiver Andre Reyes being selected in the first round to compliment Thomas Vaitai, and in the fifth round, selecting tight end Jakob Sanchez. This group would go on to form one of the best offenses of the decade with Xavier Simmons under center. Vaitai continued his success with 1568 total receiving yards. Simmons would throw 32 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, winning the MVP award.

However, the playoffs would disappoint, as the Flash would lose to the Clark Sentinels in the first round of the playoffs, in a game that the Flash were behind for most of and fell short of the comeback.

## 1973-1974 Season

The Flash would break out this season with the best record in the league, 14-3. With a stiffening defense and explosive offense, with Simmons throwing 33 touchdowns to 8 interceptions, the Flash were easy championship favorites. Vaitai recorded 1624 receiving yards, and Andre Reyes would finish with 932 yards total. Simmons would win his second straight MVP, while Vaitai won his first OPOY.

However, the postseason would once again disappoint their fans as they went on to lose in their first game after the Round One Bye Week, being defeated by the Sugarcane Warriors. The Warriors were behind for most of the game, until Simmons threw a costly interception in the last minute, and the Warriors would go on and throw a game winning Hail Mary touchdown, claiming the lead and not looking back.

## 1974-1975 Season (First Championship)

The Flash started off slow, with a loss to begin their season. However, they won their next 15 straight games, dominating the league with their explosive offense and forceful defense, finishing 15-2, the best record in the league. Xavier Simmons would finish with 38 touchdowns to only 5 interceptions, easily winning his third straight MVP, while Vaitai would finish with 1152 yards (missing the last 3 games of the season), and Reyes recording 1080 yards during the regular season. On defense, Houston would have the greatest secondary in the league, featuring defensive backs such as Step Moxey, Rees Woodard, Shakial Shipley, and force on the defensive line Kawann DeLuca. All five defensive players would end up Hall of Famers.

During the playoffs, they would face the Emily Landers in the second round after their bye. The game would remain somewhat close, but Houston would blow the game open and dominating the fourth quarter, wining convincingly. In the AFC championship, the Flash would face the Clark Sentinels, who sported a 12-5 record. The game would be close throughout all 4 quarters, until the Flash scored a touchdown to make it a two-possession game. Houston would go on to win, and advance to the Ultra Bowl for their first time in history.

Facing the Cookah Capitols in the Ultra Bowl, the reigning champions who finished the regular season 13-4, the best record in the NFC. Despite the matchup being competitive on paper, it turned into an absolute blowout in favor of the Flash. Houston would jump out to a 21-7 lead at the half, and their defense dominating the Capitols as their two dynamic wide receivers blew past their secondary, winning the game 42-14. However, the unexpected star of the show was tight end Jakob Sanchez, who recorded 5 touchdowns (breaking the record for tight ends) and exactly 100 yards, winning Ultra Bowl MVP. Vaitai would be dominant too, finishing with 128 yards and 1 touchdown.

## 1975-1976 Season (Championship Repeat)

In free agency, the Houston Flash somehow managed to resign all of their core pieces, setting immediate expectations for a deep run, and became betting favorites. They had just come off of obliterating one of the other best teams of the 1970's, and with the best quarterback in the league, the best pair of wide receivers, and arguably the best defense, anything short of an Ultra Bowl would be seen as a disappointment.

As expected, the Flash would cruise through the regular season, blowing out teams systematically with both the top-ranked offense and defense, earning a 15-2 record for the second straight year. Simmons, despite missing one game, would throw for a career high 41 touchdowns to only 6 interceptions, winning MVP for the fourth year in a row. Vaitai would finish with 1343 yards, while Reyes came just short of a thousand, with 997 total yards.

In playoff games against Delvin and Amelia, Houston would win both fairly easy, advancing to their second straight Ultra Bowl. Facing the Manopati Titans, Houston would go up two scores after the half, 28-14, before Manopati eventually made it close in the last few minutes. The Titans would never get the ball back, however, as Houston ran down the clock and won the game 35-28. Simmons would win Ultra Bowl MVP, accumulating 347 yards and 4 touchdowns.

## 1976-1977 Season

The Houston Flash, after losing a few key players from the offseason, still had high hopes, and were early favorites to win their third title in a row.

The Flash started out hot, winning their first six games. They finished the season 14-3, missing out on the first-round bye as the Amelia Patriots would finish with a better record, at 15-2. Xavier Simmons would win his fifth straight MVP, throwing 40 touchdowns to 7 interceptions, Vaitai would record 1515 yards and 22 touchdowns (winning his third OPOY) as Reyes accumulated 1070 total, and their offense remained best in the league. Their defense was still dominant, though not as statistically dominant as prior years.

In the first round, the Flash played the Sugarcane Warriors, who finished the regular season 10-7. Trailing 17-16 with under 2 minutes left, the Flash failed to convert on fourth down, getting stopped 2 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Sugarcane would go on to win 24-16, disappointing Houston in the first round, sending them home earlier than anticipated. The Amelia Patriots would go on to win the Ultra Bowl, winning their second title and tying Houston for most titles by a franchise.

## 1977-1978 Season

Fans had hope for the Houston Flash, praying that they would overcome their early disappointing finish the prior year. For the 1977-1978 season, they got off to a promising start, winning five straight after tying their opening game, but mostly fell apart in the season due to injuries to many key players, including Simmons and Vaitai. Despite the injuries, they limped to a 10-6-1 record, second in the division behind Etiene and earning a spot in the playoffs. Simmons, despite missing two games, threw for 37 touchdowns and 11 interceptions; however, he did not win MVP this year. Despite missing six games total, Vaitai finished with 1057 yards on the season, while Reyes rallied up 1535 yards in place of injured Vaitai.

In the first round of the playoffs, they faced the 13-4 Tristan Nighthawks. Still somewhat banged up but getting both Simmons and Vaitai back from injury, Houston managed to pull the upset, winning convincingly over Tristan. In the next round, they faced the Estiene Rockets, who the Flash had already beaten twice in the regular season and were favored to win the game. For the first three quarters, the game was pretty even. In the fourth quarter, with Houston down 24-21, the Flash were looking to get into field-goal range and tie the game. However, on the final seconds of the game, Thomas Vaitai blew past coverage and was wide open, as Simmons hooked up with him for the game winning score. Houston won 28-24.

In the AFC Championship, the Flash were hosted by the Sugarcane Warriors, who knocked the Flash out of the playoffs the previous year. With the game tied 20-20, a game-winning field goal by the Flash as time expired missed wide to the right, as the game was sent to overtime. In OT, the Warriors received the ball first, driving down the field and scoring a touchdown, winning the game 26-20 and advancing to their first Ultra Bowl, as Houston was sent home. Sugarcane would lose Ultra Bowl IX, 33-19.

## 1978-1979 Season (Third Championship)

Looking for redemption, the Houston Flash came into the 1978-1979 season strong, and relatively injury-free. They finished 15-2, once again with top-5 offenses and defenses in the league. Simmons once again had impressive stats, throwing 40 touchdowns to only 6 interceptions. Thomas Vaitai compiled 1365 yards while starting all 17 games, and Andre Reyes had 1115 total yards. Despite their 15 wins, they finished as the second-seeded playoff team behind the Bayton Jets, a breakout team that season with 16 total wins.

In the first round, the Flash faced rival squad Amelia Patriots once again, defeating them fairly easily. In the second round, they once again matched up with the Sugarcane Warriors, who knocked the Flash out of the playoffs thrice prior. Up 20-14, the Warriors had the ball last, and were threatening a game-winning drive, but ultimately ran out of time and came short, leading to the Houston victory. In the AFC Championship, the two best teams in football record-wise faced off, the Flash going in to Bayton against the Jets. Despite the snowy game, the Warriors managed to stay afloat the entire game, and put the game away with a touchdown on their last drive in the final minute, winning 29-17 and advancing to their third Ultra Bowl in 5 years.

In Ultra Bowl X, the Houston Flash and Williamsburg Giants faced off. The main storyline around this game was that whoever won this game would win their third ever Ultra Bowl championship, and advance to the most in the league at 3, as both teams were currently tied at two with Williamsburg winning their second the year before. The game started sluggish and low scoring, as Williamsburg missed an extra point and failed a two-point conversion, with Williamsburg leading at halftime, 12-7. However, Houston would dominate the second half, scoring a touchdown and coverting the two-point conversion to lead 15-12, and going ahead another possession 22-12, as the outstanding Houston defensive performance only held Williamsburg to a field goal. Houston would win decisively, 32-15. Xavier Simmons threw for 330 yards and 4 touchdowns, winning his second Ultra Bowl MVP. Thomas Vaitai had another great game, scoring 2 touchdowns and finishing with 132 receiving yards. The Flash rode on top as Ultra Bowl Champions once again, their third title in team history.

## 1979-1980 Season (Repeat, Fourth Championship)

Coming off their third Ultra Bowl win, the Houston Flash had high expectations, retaining their dominant secondary of Shakial Shipley, Kerry Wilson, and Step Moxey. The Flash would dominate once again during the regular season, starting off with a blistering 15-0 record, and finishing the regular season 16-1, their best record in franchise history up to that point. Simmons finished with 36 touchdowns during the regular season to only 3 interceptions, Vaitai and Reyes recorded 1221 and 1035 yards respectively, and this season would be their defenses statistically greatest performance, finishing first in the league by a wide margin.

Despite finishing 16-1, however, the Sugarcane Warriors also had an impressive season at 16-1, and the Warriors won the tiebreaker, causing the Flash to lose out on their first-round bye for the second straight year despite their impressive record. In the first round, the Flash faced the Tiffany Dragons, as the Flash would win in a somewhat close game, yet pulling away at the end. In the next round, they once again battled the Bayton Jets for the second straight season, once again winning as their defense dominated. In the AFC championship game, they faced the Tristan Nighthawks, who upset the Sugarcane Warriors with a 9-8 record; however, during the regular season, Tristan was the only team that the Flash had lost to, being their only blemish on the season. However, it was a total blowout, with the Flash winning 45-13. They advanced to their second consecutive Ultra Bowl for the second time.

In the Ultra Bowl, the team representing the NFC was the Sethon Panthers, who finished 14-3. Despite originally being hyped up as a competitive match, with Sethon looking to win their first, the Flash still dominated. The monstrous defense of Houston forced Sethon's young QB to make many costly turnovers, pulling ahead early and never looking back, winning 42-18. Simmons would win his third Ultra Bowl MVP, throwing a stunning 6 touchdowns and 401 yards.

## 1980-1981 Season

The core was aging, and the defense lost a few key pieces, but their dominant secondary was maintained and while the core players on offense and defense were aging, they were still in their prime and looking to make another run. However, the season got off to a slow start, as the Flash fell to 0-2. Facing a lot of injuries, they were able to finish with an 11-6 record, winning the division once more. Simmons passed for 34 touchdowns to 9 interceptions, Vaitai and Reyes finished with 1382 and 982 yards respectively, and the offense, despite taking a step back from last year, looked serviceable.

In the playoffs, the Flash managed to ward off the Marcinkevic Yellows, before falling to the Garret Freezers on a game-winning drive against them.

## 1981-1982 Season

The Flash managed to emerge back to their dominant self quickly. Houston finished the year 15-2, tied for best record in the league with Williamsburg, and both teams were favored highly to come out of their conferences for an Ultra Bowl rematch. Vaitai and Reyes recorded 1274 and 1140 receiving yards respectively, and Simmons returned to his MVP self, throwing 42 touchdowns to merely 4 interceptions. Their defense was dominant too, and combined with their re-emerged offense, the Flash looked unstoppable.

In the second round of the playoffs after the first-week bye, the Flash faced their division rivals, Estiene Rockets. Like two times previously the same season, the Flash handled them easily. In the AFC Championship game, however, the Flash would surprisingly lose in the last seconds on a game-winning field goal by the 11-6 Clark Sentinels, a young and powerful team. Clark would go on to lose to Williamsburg in Ultra Bowl XIII.

## 1982-1983 Season (Fifth Championship)

The Flash, an old team with many expectations, met them, finishing at a blistering 15-2 for the second straight year. Simmons was once again efficient and played like the best quarterback of all time, throwing 39 touchdowns to 7 interceptions. Rookie Tight End Gabe Hayes, selected in the first round of the draft, would have a successful rookie year, sharing time with Tavon Fries for tight end snaps. With Defensive Lineman Mason Knappe and Defensive Backs Shakial Shipley, Step Moxey, and young player and other future Hall of Famer Josiah Colbert, their defense would be reckoning.

In the second round following the first week bye, the Flash faced the Delvin Browns, who finished the season 9-8. The Flash would win that game pretty handily with a strong defensive performance, 24-13. In the AFC Championship, the Flash would absolutely decimate the 12-5 Bayton Jets, winning 51-3 in sheer dominance. The cruised to their fifth Ultra Bowl, where they would rematch the Williamsburg Giants.

The Houston Flash would go up 28-7 at the half in a dominant offensive performance, before making it a 31-7 lead after the first possession of the second half. The Giants would claw their way back, however, and make it a bit closer, but ultimately ran out of time as the Flash won 38-25, their fifth ever championship. Simmons threw for 348 yards and 5 touchdown, winning his fourth ever Ultra Bowl MVP.

## 1983-1984 Season

This season, following their fifth championship, the Flash would go 14-3 after another strong regular season by both sides of the ball. Vaitai turned back the clock and finished with 1306 receiving yards on the season, while their tandem of two tight ends remained successful. Simmons passed for 42 touchdowns to 9 interceptions, keeping up his consistency on offense.

After beating the Clark Bulldogs in round two after the bye, they lost to the Clark Sentinels in the AFC Championship game, who would go on to win their first Ultra Bowl title.

## 1984-1985 Season (17-0 Regular Season)

This season, the aging Flash core would go on to surprise many, staying relatively injury free and going 17-0 in the regular season, the first undefeated season under the 17 game schedule format. Fries would break out as a pass catcher, receiving 714 yards and 16 touchdowns on offense. Gabe Hayes finished with 439 yards and 3 touchdowns. Vaitai, despite missing 4 games due to injury, finished with 1150 yards of receiving, even at age 35. Simmons finished with 37 touchdowns to 12 interceptions.

In the second round after the bye, they defeated the Tristan Nighthawks pretty handily, before advancing to the AFC Championship to face the Bayton Jets once again. Despite the Flash leading for most of the game, the Jets would claw their way ahead in the final minutes, leading 24-23. Houston, despite having the chance to get into field goal range and for Jonnu Lacey to knock down the game winning kick, the Flash failed to convert on fourth down, falling just a few yards short. The Jets would stun the previously undefeated Flash, who would be denied the perfect season. Bayton defeated the Williamsburg Giants in the Ultra Bowl, 44-30, winning their first title.

## 1985-1986 Season

The Flash would start off the season 5-1, then 8-3, until injuries caught up to them. As most of their offensive starters missed time and their defense played inconsistent missing their hall of fame players, they slogged their way to a 10-7 regular season record. Simmons took a step back in offensive production, tossing 27 touchdowns to 11 interceptions.

The Flash, after losing the division to Estiene, would go on to defeat the Parker Bulldogs on the road. Facing their rival Bayton Jets, they would falter for the first three quarters as Bayton would lead, 19-3. However, in the fourth, the Flash had life, clawing their way back. A field goal, then a touchdown, made the score 19-13 in favor of the Jets with 2 minutes to go. The Flash tried an onside kick, in which they recovered successfully. Despite this, the Flash would not be able to drive down the field and score on time, losing 19-13.

## 1986-1987 Season (Ultra Bowl Appearance, Last Dance)

The Flash, still an aging core, would somehow stay relatively healthy and finish 15-2 on the season, firth place in the AFC. Gabe Hayes would finish with the most receiving yards, with 791 total. Vaitai and Reyes would finish with 790 and 734, respectively. Simmons would not throw as many touchdowns as his MVP years, but still finish with 32 TD passes and 6 INTs. Their defense would take a step back statistically, but still shone when it counted.

Beating the Bountavia Ice Hawks in the second round, the Flash faced their old rival Sugarcane Warrions in the AFC Championship. Up 16-10, Simmons would make a costly mistake in the final few minutses, thowing an interception to a Warriors defender, as they would drive down the field and score, as the Flash would trail by one. With only 30 seconds left in the game, however, Simmons tossed several heaves, landing the Flash in field goal range. As time expired, Jonnu Lacey would kick the game-winning field goal as time expired, winning the game 19-17 and advancing the Flash to the Ultra Bowl for the sixth time in franchise history, facing the 14-3 Alexon Islanders.

During Ultra Bowl 18, the Flash would trail the Islanders for most of the game, often by two possessions. However, they would receive an opportunity with just over two minutes left, on their own 30-yard line, trailing 34-28. Simmons would lead the Flash down the field, and with seconds remaining, find themselves in the 15-yard line of Alexon, with just one shot to go. Simmons would fire to Reyes, who would catch the ball and be forced out of bounds at the 1-yard line as time expired. The Flash would lose the game by one yard as time ran out, as Alexon celebrated their first Ultra Bowl victory in their franchise's history.

## 1987-1988 Season

Vaitai and Reyes both decided to return this season, after rumors they would both retire. However, defenders Step Moxey and Shakial Shipley, who were both effective in their age 36 seasons, would both retire.

This season, injuries would play a huge factor, and the Flash would finish with a 9-8 record, just missing the playoffs. Simmons threw 26 TDs to 12 INTs, and they would see lackluster offensive production as Simmons would miss time.

## 1988-1989 Season

This season, despite a slow 3-4 start, the Flash would bounce back and make the playoffs, sporting an 11-6 record. However, they would finish second in the division to Estiene, who sat at 12-5. Simmons recorded 28 TDs and 12 INTs, while their defense would be productive towards the end of the season.

In the playoffs, the Flash would face the Emily Landers in the first round, defeating them on the road. in the second round, however, they would lose to Estiene, the eventual Ultra Bowl runners-up to the Hailey Rosethorns.

## 1989-1990 Season

Vaitai retired at the end of last season, leaving the receiving core to be an aging Reyes, rookie WR Devante Saffold, Fries, and Hayes. The Flash finished 10-6-1 this season, second in the division behind Estiene. Simmons threw 33 touchdowns to 7 interceptions, bouncing back in production as well.

In the first round, Houston faced division rivals Estiene, winning by a touchdown. However, their offense would falter against Bountavia, as they would lose 24-10.

## 1990-1991 Season (13-4 Surprise Season)

At age 41, Simmons was efficient, throwing 28 TDs to 7 INTs. The early season would be highlighted by a surprise trade, sending Houston Khalid Peppers, a star player regarded as toxic by his teammates, in exchange for a third-round draft pick and a next-year fourth. Houston finished at an impressive 13-4, finishing second place behind Garret in the conference behind their rejuvenated defense. With Reyes retired, rookie WR Zylstra was very efficient, as him and Saffold would finish with 816 and 978 receiving yards, respectively.

The Flash would handle Estiene in the first round, winning by 10, before falling to Marcinkevic, a 8-9 Cinderella team who would make the Ultra Bowl, but lose to Alexon.

## 1991-1992 Season

Injuries finally got the better of Houston this season. Most of their starters on both sides of the ball would miss lots of time, including Simmons. Holes on their defense were exposed, and Houston finished among the worst in the league on that side of the ball. Their middle of the pack offense, with Simmons being gone for half the season, was not enough to drag Houston to a winning record, finishing 6-10-1. When he did play, Simmons was lackluster, throwing 19 TDs to 10 INTs, begging the question of whether Simmons would be retire or not. He decided to stay for another season.

## 1992-1993 Season

The 1992-1993 Season recorded polarizing results for Houston. 43-year-old Xavier Simmons looked okay when he did see the field, but threw a poor 18 TDs to 9 INTs. After Houston started the season 5-2, they went on a 6 game losing streak with Simmons out most of those games, with the Flash finishing 3-1 in their last four games, missing the playoffs at 8-9. Saffold and Zylstra were both good, receiving 825 and 888 yards respectively. Their defense was way below average and the offense was inconsistent. Major questions surrounded both Simmons and the team's futures.

## 1993-1994 Season

The 1993-1994 Flash started hot with a 9-3 record, with an above average performance by their defense and most of their offensive weapons managing to stay healthy, including Simmons. However, their defense declined, and the Flash finished the season 1-4, limping their way into the playoffs. Simmons finished the season with 28 TDs and 14 INTs, Saffold/Zylstra finished with 859/941, and the combo of Hayes/Fries was still as productive as ever with 519/451.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Flash faced the Amelia Patriots, beating them decisively, 38-23. In the next round against the Tiffany Dragons, both teams took a 27-27 tie at the end of regulation, forcing overtime, with the Flash receiving the ball first. Despite this, the Flash were held up on their first possession, losing yards and being forced to punt. Tiffany received the ball and proceeded to drive into field goal range, kicking the game-winning field goal and walked off to the AFC Championship, as the Flash headed home.

## 1994-1995 Season (Sixth Title, Last-Last Dance)

As the season began, Xavier Simmons confirmed that, at his age 45 season, he would be retiring at the very end. The Flash started the season off strong, with hefty performance from each side of the ball, and finishing that way, with a 14-3 record. Simmons put up an electrifying performance, throwing 34 TDs to merely 4 INTs, returning to his MVP form in his very last season. Zylstra recorded his first 1k season with 1084 yards, while Saffold was close with 946 total yards. In Hayes absence for quite a few games, Tavon Fries stepped up and had 659 yards receiving on the season, with 14 TDs in the regular season.

In the second round of the playoffs after the initial bye, Houston faced Bountavia, a game in which Houston won easy, 26-14. In the AFC Championship, Houston and the division rivals Heatsville Jaguars faced off, another up-and-coming team. Houston held off the Jaguars on their final drive, winning 23-21 and stopping the comeback. With an 8-year gap between Ultra Bowl appearances, Houston finally made it once more in Simmons last season, facing the Givens Apples in the big game.

The game was close, with Houston leading 17-14 at the half. The game would continue to be a back-and-forth brawl, but Houston would eventually pull ahead by two possessions in the fourth quarter, leading 34-21. Givens scored once in the final seconds during garbage time to cut the final score to 34-27 following a missed extra point, but finally. the Flash were champions once again. Simmons passed for 363 yards and 4 touchdowns, winning his fifth ever Ultra Bowl MVP.

Simmons followed up with his promise, retiring on top at age 45 with an Ultra Bowl victory, enjoying time with his family. Tight end Davon Fries retired too, ending his illustrious career as a TE duo with Gabe Hayes. Hayes, age 34, originally thought of retiring, but returned one more season with a one-year contact. Longtime offensive coordinator Dante Ishmael retired too, who passed up other coaching jobs to keep being OC for the Flash.

## 1995-1996 Season (First Under TJ Cain)

With their first-round selection, the Flash selected quarterback TJ Cain, who was considered to be a late second round pick and a reach. The Flash were desperate at QB, and drafted John Kansas the year prior in the second round, and wanted to host a QB competition in the offseason. TJ Cain ultimately won, winning the starting job for the season in place of longtime starter since the early 70's, Xavier Simmons.

TJ Cain struggled mightily in his first season, throwing 18 TDs to 16 INTs and was even benched for John Kansas at one point. Despite starting the season slowly at 1-3, the Flash clawed their way to a 9-8 record, just making it into the playoffs as a wild card, with the Heatsville Jaguars taking the division at 12-5. Saffold broke out with 1115 yards receiving, while the defense performed inconsistent but good enough when it mattered.

Despite his poor regular season and people questioning whether he was actually starting caliber, the Flash made a deep run in the playoffs with Cain under center. The Flash beat the Amelia Patriots sure-handedly, before knocking off the Marcinkevic Yellow the week after with strong defense, making the AFC Championship in Cain's first season under center. However, the Flash lost 21-16 to the division rival Jaguars, after a pass by Cain was picked off in the final minutes. The Jaguars would go on to win their first ever Ultra Bowl the following game.

## 1996-1997 Season

Faith in sophomore starter TJ Cain increased after last year's playoff run, and veteran TE Gabe Hayes would return for his last season at age 35. During the regular season, both Cain and the Flash exceeded expectations, finishing with a 12-5 record, but still second behind Heatsville in division standings (14-3). Cain threw 34 TDs and 8 INTs in the regular season, a strong performance that earned him second in MVP voting behind Manopati's Devin Machado. Zylstra stepped up this season, finishing with 1004 yards receiving. Rookie TE Dan Felton was also an important addition in the first round, with 592 yards and 6 TDs. Saffold finished strong with 886 yards and 12 TDs.

In the playoffs, Houston destroyed the Parker Bulldogs on the road, 38-19, but lost to the Bountavia Ice Hawks in a slug fest, 20-17. The Ice Hawks would go on to win Ultra Bowl 28, their first in franchise history.

## 1997-1998 Season

The Flash were once again as good as last year, finishing 12-5. TJ Cain would be loved by the fans and known as a gunslinger, throwing quick bullet passes that would hurt the receivers' hands when caught. His nickname would be Cannon Cain. He passed for 34 TDs and 13 INTs, a step back from last year in terms of turnovers but still as productive in touchdowns. Once again, the Flash finished second in their division behind the Jaguars, a team which finished undefeated in the regular season and playoffs (16-0-1).

The Flash snuck past the Marcinkevic Yellows in a low scoring game, and dominated the reigning champions Ice Hawks, 34-17. However, in a dominant defensive performance by the Jaguars (best ranked defense and offense that season), the Flash would once again falter to the Jags in the AFC Championship, 21-3. The Jags would win their second title in Ultra Bowl 29, routing the Zoma Silencers.

## 1998-1999 Season

For the third straight year, the Flash finished 12-5 and second behind the Jaguars. Despite starting 12-2, the Flash lost their last three unexpectedly, but rebounded in time for the playoffs. Cain had 34 TDs and 12 INTs, once again almost identical to last season. Sophomore TE Jordan Keke stepped up in the absence of star TE Dan Felton (who was traded for picks and defensive roll players), recording 561 yards receiving. Not to mention the dominant Saffold/Zyltra duo, recording 1127/914 yards each. Their defense was alright, not as good as previous years, but serviceable.

The Flash obliterated Bountavia in the first round, a common playoff match-up in recent years, defeating them 36-5 after Bountavia recorded a safety in the final minutes. Another strong defensive performance ensued against Marcinkevic, outscoring them 32-3. Despite the Flash being a wild card team and on the road for the prior two games, the Flash hosted the AFC Championship in Houston, with their opponent being another wild card team in the Tiffany Dragons, a 10-7 surprise team that made it all the way to the AFC Championship. The Flash were heavy favorites to win.

Houston and Tiffany battled for the whole game. With Houston leading 25-21, Tiffany had the ball with 3 minutes remaining, driving down the field. On one of the last plays of the game, Tiffany tossed the ball into the end zone, which was caught by their star WR and sealed the game with seconds remaining. Houston was disappointed yet again in the AFC Championship, getting a knack for not getting it done. Tiffany walked to Ultra Bowl 30, their Cinderella season continuing, but ultimately falling just short in an absolute thriller against Manopati, 24-23.

## 1999-2000 Season

With the Flash having continually fallen short under TJ Cain, the fans were desperate to finally come forth and win a championship. However, fans became frustrated as some began to question whether Cain could actually lead the offense. Cain had major turnover issues, and was overall inconsistent as leader of the Flash, despite taking them to 3 AFC Championship Games in 4 years. However, the organization still had lots of confidence in Cain, and gave him a hefty contract extension.

With a 4-4 start, Cain had his struggles in terms of not turning the ball over, but the division race was still wide open with Heatsville having a below average year by their standards. The Heat went 7-2 to finish the season, with Cain playing much better. Flash fans hoped that Cain could keep up this consistency for the future. He finished with 29 TDs to 15 INTs, the offense had 2 1,000+ yard receivers with Zylstra/Saffold finishing with a respective 1184/1016 yards and 12/9 TDs total. Howard Fox stepped up in the TE tandem with Jordan Keke, both finishing 507/373 yards and 4 TDs apiece.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Flash faced the Sugarcane Warriors in the first round. With the Warriors conducting a masterful drive to tie the game 17-17 at the end of regulation, the game went to overtime. The Warriors took lots of time off the clock, driving down the field to kick a go-ahead field goal. However, Cain led a drive right back down the field, and as time in the first OT period expired, longtime kicker Jonnu Lacey, age 43 player who helped the Flash win 4 of their 6 rings, kicked the tying field goal, sending the game to second overtime. In the next period, the Warriors won the toss, and once again took lots of time off the clock to drive down the field and go ahead with a field goal. The Flash once again got going, and as time on the clock ran out, they got into field goal range to the best of their ability. With Lacey attempting a 58-yard field goal, the kick was blocked, as the Warriors won the game. Sugarcane made the AFC Championship, only to lose to the Emily Landers, a surprise 7th-seed who were runnerups in Ultra Bowl 31 against the Ellan Scholars.

## 2000-2001 Season (7th Championship, First Under Cain)

Cain started off the season sluggishly, and at one point the Flash would have a 6-6 record, but the Flash would win their next five and never lose for the rest of the season, including the playoffs. Cain finished the regular season with 31 TDs compared to a low 11 INTs, one of the best seasons of his career even with the slow start. Zylstra/Saffold finished with 1260/1057 yards each, and with electric rookie J'Marcus Carlson, the offense finished as one of the best in the league. They defense was inconsistent, but improved by the end of the season and were much better than statistics showed, being led by rookie DL Charles Milne, very good veteran Jaire Quatro, and pair of aging DBs Thomas Karras and Wayne Lippett.

In the first round, the Flash managed to sneak past the Bountavia Ice Hawks, 31-23. Next round, the Flash demolished Parker on the road, 28-3, with dominance on the defensive end. And in the AFC Championship Game, a classic modern rivalry between Houston and Heatsville, the Flash finally took this game, 34-28, after a Lacey field goal in the final minute to seal the game. For the first time under Cain, with his electric gunslinger style of offense, the Flash made the Ultra Bowl and were to face the Zoma Silencers, another great team who lost in the big game three years prior.

Though Zoma was favored to win, both teams put on a show in a back-and-forth game. As Houston led the half 17-14, the game would be tight and contested, and would be tied 28-28 with 2:30 left in the game. Houston received the ball last, and took advantage of it, leading a drive down the field and dissecting the Silencer's offense. With 4 seconds on the clock, 44-year-old Jonnu Lacey kicked the game winning field goal, as the Flash walked it off and celebrated. The Houston Flash were champions for the seventh time, with Lacey earning his fifth ring. Despite throwing 2 INTs, TJ Cain won his first Ultra Bowl MVP, throwing 3 TDs and 394 yards, including his game-winning drive. Ultra Bowl 32 would be remembered as an all-time great Ultra Bowl as Houston emerged victorious.

## 2001-2002 Season

The Flash finished the season slightly worse than the last, as Cain's regular season inconsistencies continued, as he threw 27 TDs to a whopping 18 INTs in the regular season. The defense took a step back from the previous year, but still hovered around league average. The Flash finished the season 10-6-1, as the corps of Zylstra, Saffold, Keke, and Fox were once again productive.

In the first round, the Flash snuck past rivals Marcinkevic, 30-24. and once again handled Parker, 24-16. In the AFC Championship against the Amelia Patriots, however, they lost 24-21, as Amelia kicked the game-winning field goal in OT.

## 2002-2003 Season

The Flash stayed consistently .500 this season, and finished with a 9-8 record, missing the playoffs for the first time under TJ Cain. The defense declined this year, and an offense that could either be explosive or turn the ball over at the wrong times caused mixed results. Cain finished with 32 TDs and 18 INTs, and Saffold/Zylstra finished with 1273/1068 yards. This would also be legendary kicker Jonnu Lacey's last year, as he would walk off after the season at age 45.

## 2003-2004 Season

The Flash took a step back this season, mainly due to poor defense and injuries on offense, finishing the season at 7-10. Cain finished with 32 TDs and 19 INTs, almost identical to last season. Saffold/Zylstra were still great, finishing 1123/1091 yards receiving on an above average, turnover-heavy offense.

Many had doubts about this team's future. Some were calling for longtime owner Harvey Vincent to blow it up the next season, and trade their assets for what they can when they still had value. However, instead, he chose to keep the corps intact, opting for one more season until things fundamentally change.

## 2004-2005 Season

The Flash exceeded last season's record but were mediocre on offense, and combined with mostly poor defensive play, they finished 9-8 and made the playoffs as the 7th seed. TJ Cain finished with 33 TDs to 15 INTs, slinging shots to weapons on offense but also to defenders. Saffold/Zylstra finished with 1197/858 yards receiving.

Unfortunately, Harvey Vincent, founder, CEO, and owner of the Flash since its inception, passed away due to heart issues at 97. Minority owner Jared Davis emerged as owner, also taking over CEO duties himself.

The Flash lost to Bountavia in the first round, 30-17, and Bountavia would win the Ultra Bowl as Houston packed their bags home.

## 2005-2006 Season (Last Under Cain)

Wide Receiver Trequan Zylstra and DL Jaire Quatro, both very great players and legends for the franchise, retired at ages 36. Devante Saffold decided to stay for one more season at age 38, still a productive player. TJ Cain was given a contract extension, after there was initial speculation both sides would part ways in free agency. Head coach Igen Bakini, who won two championship titles with the franchise, decided to retire as well, stepping aside due to health issues and also not wanting to be involved with a rebuild. Former head coach of the Clark Sentinels, Brooklyn Jameson, was hired as replacement to Bakini.

The Flash sunk to their lowest depths since 1969 this season, losing their first seven games, and finishing the regular season 5-12. Cain performed below his standards but was ultimately not the problem, finishing with 24 TDs and 14 INTs. Houston's defense was the worst in the league, and its offense did not have enough firepower to overcome that. Saffold was decent in his final year, finishing with 1194 yards receiving.

## 2006-2007 Season (First Under Conley)

Before the draft, the Flash and TJ Cain mutually parted ways, as Cain was shipped off to the Zoma Inferno. Cain would play a few mediocre season there, before bouncing around random teams, becoming full-time backup, and retiring, beginning his broadcasting career. He would find success as a color commentator in the broadcast booth, and prolong his career there.

Using picks they got from the Cain trade, the Flash traded up, selecting QB Evan Conley late in the first round.

With a diminished receiving corps, poor defense, and a bad offensive line, Evan Conley struggled mightily in his first year. The Flash lost their first 7 games, and were 1-13 at one point, but won their final 3 games. Conley played poorly, finishing with 15 TDs to 22 INTs. Sophomore receiver Jeudy, who was an average receiver in his time in the HFL, was forced to play WR1, but still accumulated 907 yards receiving, the most of his career.

## 2007-2008 Season

After Conley's first season struggles, many called him a bust, and said that the Flash should move on from him and draft another QB. The Flash, however, refused to let him go, throwing him under center for one more season, and after letting Fox and Keke find new teams in the offseason, selecting a pair of TEs in the top rounds of the draft.

The Flash once again stumbled through the season, with poor offensive production and improved, but still below average defense. Conley threw 15 TDs to 18 INTs, as fans lost faith in him throughout his second season with his inability to lead an offense. The final record was 5-12-1, Rookie Bodine caught for 578 yards and 7 TDs, as he showed his worth as a first round selection. But ultimately, this was a rebuilding year, and fans were looking forward to the future of this team.

## 2008-2009 Season (First Under Levi Niang)

Deciding to give QB Evan Conley competition, the Flash selected QB Levi Niang in the early second round, in order to help improve QB play. In the first, Romeo Shatley was selected, a receiver who would help strengthen the offense and finish with 714 yards and 11 TDs in his rookie season.

In training camp and preseason, Levi Niang outperformed Evan Conley by a lot, winning the job as Week 1 starter for the Flash.

In his first season, Niang had shown lots of promise, and finishing as a stellar rookie, throwing 30 TDs to only 6 INTs, winning ROTY. The Flash started 8-3, which included a 5-game winning streak, but the Flash lost 5 straight after that, and limped into the playoffs, facing injuries, at 9-8. The defense finished middle of the pack, but with young players and good veteran talent, including signings in free agency, the future looked bright for this team.

In the playoffs, the Flash beat reigning champions Marcinkevic in the first round, sending them home early, but lost to Bayton in a tight game, 28-26.

## 2009-2010 Season (Eighth Championship, MVP Season by Niang)

To the surprise of many, Houston fired head coach Brooklyn Jameson, who had coached the previous four seasons. This decision was controversial, as many thought Jameson was a good couch on bad teams, and made the most he could out of it. In his place, the Flash hired former QB Brett Callahan as head coach, Callahan was a former quarterback of the Emily Landers, a 5th round pick who replaced solid franchise starter Adam Kemish after he suffered a brutal injury, and would perform well in his absence, leading Emily to an Ultra Bowl appearance against Williamsburg in Ultra Bowl 24, but lost 30-27 in an intense, exciting game. Callahan would have many solid seasons for Emily, but eventually dealing with numerous injuries himself, and bouncing around teams transitioning between starter and backup, and eventually retiring. He spent some years training with coaches during practice and on sidelines, in preparation for his hopeful future coaching career. Eventually, Callahan was hired by Houston, and was given the keys to develop Niang and maximize his ability.

In 2009, Houston won their first 11 games of the season, taking the league by storm. Much of this could be contributed to their league-best defense, a dominant force with no holes whatsoever and a brick wall up front. Their offense was also among the best in the league, as Niang began his MVP campaign in his second season. Rookie coach Brett Callahan would win COTY, leading one of the best offenses and a system which maximized Niang's abilities and elevated him to be one of the best dual-threat QBs of all time, along with others such as Doug Wick.

In Week 13, the 11-0 Houston Flash faced the 11-0 division rivals and reigning champions Heatsville Jaguars, the most hyped regular season game in recent memory. The game would live up to the hype, as an epic showdown occurred between these teams. In a 24-24 game in a back-to-back scoring shootout, the Flash had the ball with just under 3 minutes to go, threatening to score and win the game. However, Niang made a costly error, throwing the ball right into Hall of Fame DB Wilson Brookshire's hands, as he returned it for a touchdown to seal the game. This would be the only blemish on Houston's record, as they finished the season 16-1, after a 45-10 revenge rout of the Heatsville Jaguars in week 18, a game in which whatever team won would win the division. The Jaguars finished second in the division, 15-2, while the Flash churned out a first-round bye with dominance on both sides of the ball.

In the second round of the playoffs, the Flash faced the Sugarcane Warriors. Tied 21-21 after regulation, the game went to overtime. With Houston receiving the ball to start the period, Niang made a pass to an open Jamarcus Carlson, who returned the reception 63 yards untouched for a walkoff OT win. In the next round against Bayton, the defense shined again, as they won 25-13 and advanced to Ultra Bowl 41.

The Houston Flash faced the Cookah Capitols in Ultra Bowl 41. This would be a rematch of Ultra Bowl 6, in which the Flash won 42-14. This would be the Capitols first appearance in the big game since, having a long 35-year drought. The game started with Houston and Cookah trading blows, until Houston emerged at the half, 14-10. After a slow 3rd quarter, where Houston extended their lead by a field goal, Houston played strong defense, got the ball back, and marched back down the field to lead 24-10 with a touchdown to Jeudy. However, with time dwindling in the 4th, Cookah would make an impressive comeback for the ages. With a strong drive to shorten the deficit to 24-17, Niang threw a costly interception, which gave Cookah back the ball with 2:10 left to go in the game at the 40-yard line. In the final 2 minutes, Cookah would score and tie the game, 24-24, sending the game to overtime. In the following OT period, Houston received the ball first. They ran down the field, and on the final play of the game, Niang threw a pass to Romeo Shatner, as he caught the walk-off touchdown pass as Houston celebrated their 8th ever Ultra Bowl win. Niang threw for 403 yards, 4 TDs and 3 INTs, while Romeo Shatner won Ultra Bowl MVP, receiving 145 yards and 2 TDs, including the game-winning reception.