It's Finally Here: IWFL Playoffs Preview Round 1

The Woodlands Wildcats will face off against the Nebraska Stampede in Round 1 of Founders Bowl Championship (Wildcats/Facebook)

The long wait is finally over! The Independent Women’s Football League playoffs begin this Saturday and it features some great contests with inter conference opponents going head to head. All season long in the IWFL we have seen the top tier teams take care of business. As we move into the playoffs we will see which teams are really the contenders for a title. The Utah Falconz dominated opponents, for a second consecutive season the team finished the regular season perfect and look to make a deep run into the playoffs just as they did last season.

The surprise team comes from the Pacific Conference, the Carson Bobcats an expansion team this year, they finished their inaugural season undefeated and will meet the aforementioned Utah Falconz in the first round of the playoffs. The Bobcats went through a regular season schedule rarely tested but will face their toughest test of the season against the Falconz. Both teams play in the Pacific Conference but did not go head to head this season.

Carson Bobcats will face off against the Utah Falconz in Round 1 of World Championship (Bobcats/Facebook)

In a difficult Atlantic Conference the New York Sharks proved they were a team to be reckoned with, earning wins on the road in Washington and Montreal were no easy accomplishments but the Sharks also dominated top teams like Carolina on their way to a conference title and first round bye. The Minnesota Vixen who await the Sharks also have had a breakout year, the defense has only surrendered 13 points all season. The Sharks will have their hands full trying to move downfield against the Vixen.

The final nine teams have been broken into two brackets by the league. In the Tier 1 playoffs the winner takes home the World Championship. While in the Tier 2 playoffs the winner claims the Founders Bowl Championship.

TIER 1 IWFL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 1 - June 25th Round 2 - July 9th

Carson Bobcats Utah/Carson Winner (Pacific Champion)

Utah Falconz Austin Yellow Jackets (Central Champion)

New York Sharks (Atlantic Champion)

Minnesota Vixen (Midwest Champion)

TIER 2 FOUNDERS BOWL

Round 1 - June 25th Round 2 - July 9th

Woodlands Wildcats Woodlands/Nebraska Winner (Central Runner Up)

Nebraska Stampede Bobcats/Falconz Loser (Pacific Runner Up)

Madison Blaze (Midwest Runner Up)

Carolina Phoenix (Atlantic Runner Up)

ROUND 1 PREVIEW (World Championship)

Carson Bobcats (7-0) vs. Utah Falconz (8-0)

This matchup will answer a lot of questions for fans of the Bobcats who went through a similar regular season schedule as the Utah Falconz both finishing undefeated. Utah are the reigning IWFL runners-up, after falling to the Pittsburgh Passion in the championship last season, the team is ready for another shot at the title. The Falconz led by Quarterback Louise Bean have crushed teams all season long posting a league best 59.9 points per game and 479 total points. The Bobcats not to be outdone are fourth in the league with 37.4 points per game and the defense has only allowed opponents to score 96 total points. Although Carson has had a phenomenal season to this point, they are running into an experienced and very determined group in Utah. The combination of Bean and running back Keeshya Cox has been one of the best QB/RB duos all year long. The Falconz will put up a lot of points on Saturday the question will be can Carson keep up?

FALCONZ DEF. BOBCATS 54-18

ROUND 1 PREVIEW (Founders Bowl)

Woodlands Wildcats (6-1) v. Nebraska Stampede (6-1)

In a Central Conference showdown, we have two teams that suffered losses early in the season but rebounded as the year progressed. The Nebraska Stampede went on to win six straight after falling to the Madison Blaze in a very close contest in week 3. The Woodlands Wildcats have been the center of much debate in the weeks leading into the playoffs. The team thought they had a potential Conference championship and World Championship bid on the line in a Week 12 rematch with the Austin Yellow Jackets. The league decided not to go forward with the game leaving both Woodlands and Nebraska tied at 6-1 and giving the 7-0 Yellow Jackets the conference championship and automatic bid. Woodlands will be playing for a lot more than just a Founders Bowl this Saturday, and after watching what they did to Tulsa in the final week of the regular season, Nebraska will need to be ready. Nebraska has been a great team all season and it took a loss in week three to bring them together. Nebraska is seventh in total offense this season, scoring 246 total points and their defense has only allowed opponents to 13.3 points a game ranking them in the top 10 in the league. The Stampede are going to need their rushing attack, Dom Ausbie is up over 1,000 yards rushing and teammates Jenny Andrew and Brittany VanCamp have combined for over 800+ yards and 14 touchdowns.

WILDCATS DEF STAMPEDE 21-17

Final Regular Season - Power Rankings

RANK TEAM RECORD WIN% PF PA Last WK

1. Utah Falconz (8-0) 1.000 479 22 1

2. New York Sharks (8-0) 1.000 238 65 2

3. Minnesota Vixen (8-0) 1.000 243 13 3

4. Carson Bobcats (7-0) 1.000 262 96 4

5 Austin Yellow Jackets (7-0) 1.000 260 33 5

6. Carolina Phoenix (7-1) 0.875 343 71 6

7. Woodland Wildcats (6-1) 0.857 346 102 8

8. Nebraska Stampede (6-1) 0.857 246 93 7

9. Montreal Blitz (6-2) 0.750 284 53 9