Syndicate Bowl XIX

**Syndicate Bowl XIX** was an **XFS** game to determine the champion of the Xtreme Football Syndicate (XFS) for the 2023 Season. The Southern Conference Champion (SCC) Springbank Dragons defeated the Northern Conference Champion (NCC) Vista Heights Commandos, 30-29. The game was played in late September, 2023, and was a rematch of Syndicate Bowl XVIII where Vista Heights defeated Springbank 27-17.

The Commandos finished with a perfect 16-0 record, the first time it had been accomplished in both team and league history. This was Vista Heights' fifth appearance in the Syndicate Bowl, winning their previous four contests at IX, XII, XVI, and most recently the previous year at **XVIII**. Springbank finished 13-3, their best record in franchise history. This was Springbank's second consecutive and total appearance in the Syndicate Bowl, losing the previous year at **XVIII**.

After the Commandos scored a late field goal at halftime to extend the lead to 18-11, the Dragons mounted a comeback quick in the third quarter, scoring a fast touchdown followed by a 2-pt conversion to take the lead for the first time in the game at 19-18. The game was relatively back and forth between offense and defense, allowing next to no room for error, becoming neck-and-neck until the dying minutes of the fourth quarter where Vista Heights had a 29-22 lead with two minutes left. After three incompletions, Springbank QB Nick Alexander ran in on 4th and 15 to secure a pivotal touchdown that closed off the lead to 1 at 29-28. Instead of going for the tie with the field goal, Springbank ventured towards what was called "the perfect gamble" and on the two-point conversion, Alexander ran in ten yards, securing the 30-29 lead as the game came to a close.

The 59 combined points made it the highest scoring Syndicate Bowl to date, surpassing **XVI** between Vista Heights and the Aspenwood Comets by a single point (Vista Heights won 35-23, for a total of 58 points), whereas Vista Heights' 29 points were the most by a losing team in the finals. Springbank quarterback Nick Alexander was named the Crown Football Most Valuable Player, completing 28 of 36 passes for 285 yards and 2 touchdowns, and adding 61 rushing yards for a rushing touchdown and 2-pt conversion. This Syndicate Bowl is often referred to as one of the greatest in XFS history.

## Teams

### **Vista Heights Commandos**

Vista Heights finished the season with their eleventh consecutive winning record since 2013 with the addition of QB Shay Vellry, advancing to the playoffs with a 16-0 record, the first time in team and league history. It was their third trip to the Syndicate Bowl in four years, beating the Marlborough Orcas 30-17 in the quarterfinals, the Cambrian Maroons 24-18 in the semifinals, and the Dalhousie Rushers 38-16 in the Northern Conference Championship game.

The Commandos kept their team the same as the previous years, with changes to their coaching staff and juggling the roles of several players, such as Israel Lewis to WR2 and promoting Jay Moore to head kicker after injuries to Jon Conway (the former replaced Conway for the championship the year prior). With these changes, the Commandos finished the year as the league's second best offense in terms of points (507) but first in terms of yards (7,872). Quarterback Shay Vellry made his eleventh consecutive All-Star appearance, along with nominations for QB of the Year, Player of the Year, and League MVP. He led the league with 4,569 passing yards and 38 touchdowns while throwing only three interceptions, accounting for a 102.1 passer rating. Additionally, he rushed for 513 yards and 3 touchdowns for a combined total of 5,082 offensive yards, 41 touchdowns, and three picks, which were all career bests. All-Star receiver Logan Adams was the team's leading receiver with 1,600 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. The receiving core was boosted by newly-promoted Israel Lewis who had 975 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, and veteran receiver Ryan Peterson who accounted for 554 yards and 2 touchdowns. The running game was led by All-Star running back Rhamon Johnson who ran for 1,224 yards and 14 touchdowns while also gaining 456 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. Their running core was supplemented by veteran and long-time Commando Don McGrath who ran for 596 yards and 2 touchdowns while also receiving 246 yards and a single touchdown. The southern end of their offense was enforced by tight end Eli Fowler who gained 422 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, while also rushing for 580 yards and 1 touchdown. Their kicking scores were made by Jay Moore, who finished second in league scoring for kicks with 33 field goals and 52 PATs, who kicked the 48-yard field goal against the Daverley Wranglers to send the Commandos into a 18-17 score into the postseason with a perfect 16-0 record.

Vista Heights' defense finished third in the league with points allowed (353) and eighth in yards allowed (5,331). They additionally finished tied for third in sacks (56) and interceptions (12) as well as defensive touchdowns (1). Overall, they finished as the league's third defense in terms of total defensive output, only allowing a single game over 28 points when they played the Glen Bay Crawlers who they defeated 44-33.

This was Vista Heights' fifth appearance in the Syndicate Bowl, winning their previous four contests at IX, XII, XVI, and most recently the previous year at **XVIII**.

### **Springbank Dragons**

Springbank finished their season with a 13-3 record, their best record in franchise history, as well as their third consecutive winning season, following 12-4 from 2022 and 9-7 from 2021. It was their second consecutive and total appearance in the Syndicate Bowl, beating the Lake Bonavista Longhorns 45-12 in the quarterfinals, the Sunalta Ninjas 32-16 in the semifinals, and the Mount Royal Mammoths 36-24 in the Southern Conference Championship game.

The Dragons made no changes to their main roster other than releasing veteran QB Drew Weather into free agency (he went on to sign as QB2 for the Sunalta Ninjas) and recruited Douglas Rein as backup QB (also a FA from Sunalta). They did however promote some players, such as Casey Keenam to WR3, and Erik Idraam to RB2. Tight end Noah Morris was promoted to TE1 after the 2022 season, taking over due to the injury of Kirk Lyndon who missed almost a year. This was additionally the first year they had a complete season with kicker Clayton Kane, who played no more than 12 games in the previous three seasons. Springbank finished the year as the league's top offense in points scored (525) and second in terms of yards (7,804). Quarterback Nick Alexander on the second year of his ELC made his second consecutive All-Star appearance, along with nominations for QB of the Year, Player of the Year, and League MVP. He additionally finished as the league's best fantasy player with 443.66 points. He finished second in the league with 4,414 passing yards, but led the league in passing touchdowns with 41 touchdowns without throwing an interception. This would be the first time in league history a QB had never thrown a pick, and this accounted for a 106.6 passer rating, the best in the league. He also rushed for 916 yards and 5 touchdowns for a combined total of 5,330 yards, 46 touchdowns, and no interceptions, a league best. All-Star receiver Carter Reinhart on the final year of his ELC was the team's leading receiver with 1,728 receiving yards (leading the league) and 15 touchdowns. The receiving core was boosted by inaugural veteran WR Dwayne Burton who had 1,041 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, as well as Casey Keenam who accounted for 532 yards and 2 touchdowns. Their running game was led by All-Star running back Lochlan Towns who signed an extension at the start of the year; he ran for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns while also gaining 407 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. The running core was further supplemented by newly-promoted Erik Idraam who ran for 581 yards and 3 touchdowns while also receiving 251 yards and 3 touchdowns. On the other side of their offense, newly-minted TE1 Noah Morris ran for 372 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also receiving 266 yards and 3 touchdowns. Their kicking scores were made by Clayton Kane who finished top five in kick scoring with 28 field goals and 58 PATs.

Springbank's defense finished first in the league with points allowed (334) and fifth in yards allowed (5,095). They additionally finished tied for fifth in sacks (52) and led the league in interceptions (17), and tied for third in defensive touchdowns (1). In terms of total defensive output, Springbank finished first, allowing the fewest points and also scoring the most fumble recoveries (14). They had two games where they suffered 28+ points, but additionally had the most games with 13 points or less, with two.

This was Springbank's second consecutive and total appearance in the Syndicate Bowl, losing the previous year at **XVIII**.

## Stats

### **Vista Heights**

* QB Shay Vellry 24/30, 312 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 34 rushing yards, 2 2-PT conversions
* WR Logan Adams 8 receptions, 10 targets, 126 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1 2-PT
* WR Israel Lewis 4 receptions, 6 targets, 48 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1 2-PT
* WR Ryan Peterson 3 receptions, 4 targets, 33 receiving yards
* WR Loren McAdams 2 receptions, 2 targets, 21 receiving yards
* RB Rhamon Johnson 3 receptions, 4 targets, 59 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 15 rush attempts, 103 rushing yards
* RB Don McGrath 2 receptions, 2 targets, 20 receiving yards, 9 rush attempts, 44 rushing yards
* TE Eli Fowler 1 reception, 1 target, 4 receiving yards, 1 rush attempt, 7 rushing yards
* TE Bobby Hansen 1 reception, 1 target, 1 receiving yard, 2 rush attempts, 21 rushing yards
* K Jay Moore 2 FG 30> made, 1 PAT

### Springbank

* QB Nick Alexander 28/36, 285 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 61 rushing yards, Rush TD, 2 2-PT conversions, 1 2-PT
* WR Carter Reinhart 11 receptions, 14 targets, 138 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1 2-PT
* WR Dwayne Burton 8 receptions, 10 targets, 77 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 1 2-PT
* WR Casey Keenam 2 receptions, 3 targets, 24 receiving yards
* RB Lochlan Towns 4 receptions, 5 targets, 31 receiving yards, 16 rush attempts, 96 rushing yards
* RB Erik Idraam 3 receptions, 4 targets, 15 receiving yards, 8 rush attempts, 51 rushing yards
* RB Wyatt Brighton 4 rush attempts, 33 rushing yards
* TE Noah Morris 3 rush attempts, 24 rushing yards
* TE Kirk Lyndon 1 rush attempt, 4 rushing yards
* K Clayton Kane 2 FG 30> made