Red Stars Await Championship Foe
IFFL – The expansion Chicago Red Stars have advanced in the IFFL semi-finals, securing their place in the 2016 International Championship after defeating the favored Cardiff Crusaders 320-261 in the the two-week match. After a rough 2-4 start, the Red Stars have surged in the second half of the season, winning 7 of their last 8, including twice against the Crusaders who were ranked 4th in the entire Association last week.
Chicago must await the outcome of the other leg of the playoff bracket as the Perth Panthers and Charlestons Franchise Playerz are locked into fantasy overtime. Charleston came out ahead in the two-week match by a score of 298-297 when Perth failed to secure a MNF comeback. Because of the 1 point margin of victory, however, the outcome of the game is susceptible to a stat correction that could easily reverse the score. The NFL requires all stat corrections be made by the following Thursday at noon Eastern, so the Red Stars will not be certain of their Championship opponent – nor will their opponent – until just before Week 16 gets underway.
Chicago has beaten Perth in their single meeting this year, and has split a pair of games against the Franchise Playerz; none of these three teams has ever played in the League final. The International Championship will be a two week match-up just like the IFFL semi-final round, pitting the final two teams against each other in Weeks 16 and 17 for the League’s Crystal Globe championship trophy.
