It was a little disappointing to see Jimmy knocked out of this one in the first half, as I really wanted to see how we measured up against your squad at its best. Even with Hanks under center we got gashed after the catch, but I'm sure Jimmy would have changed the complexion of your second half.

I checked to see exactly what his injury was and I'm not sure I understand how a broken finger with a 1-week recovery keeps a QB out of the Conference Championship game. I guess if it was his thumb or index finger on his throwing hand he wouldn't be able to throw very well, but with such a short recovery time it doesn't seem serious. It's not like a Steve Deberg compound fracture if he's full strength in a week.

Now it's time for a rematch against Detroit to avenge our loss in Week 2. In my brief review of that game, our defense only gave up 1 TD to go with 5 FG's.

After 8 quarters of playoff football, we have allowed 8 FG's and 0 TD's - only 4 quarters left. If we can limit the turnovers and continue to be stingy on defense, we have a chance for vengeance and another title.

Mitchem takes Vampires to FO Bowl with 24-20 win vs Arrowheads

Omaha, NE - First year HC Matthew Perkins lifted the East championship trophy at the podium surrounded by a ragtag group of post season first timers. The Detroit Vampires have gone on an unlikely run under new GM zenzog's care, becoming one of the last two teams standing in 2057 after a 6 season playoff drought. The driving force in the last few months has been QB Devan Mitchem.

The former first round pick has averaged a career best 97.3 QBR in 2057 after some early hiccups in the beginning of the season and led the Vampires on a 9-1 run to secure a playoff berth. Against Omaha he threw for 310 yards and 2 TDs, shaking off a potentially costly pick-6 just before the half.

"A lot of folks doubted me, but I'm here now." said Mitchem, who is finishing up his third season as the starter. "I never gave up and the team never gives up and we've gotten back into games where it looked like we were out. It's been nice to play with a lead these last few weeks, but we're here now."

The Vampires struck first with a short pass to RB Antonio Marsh, a recent trend, thanks to huge gains from TE Rico Voinovich and WR Grady Matthews. Omaha answered back with a long drive of their own, but the Vampires held them to 3 points thanks to a great defensive play from S Luis Anthony. The hot start continued as Voinovich ran into the end zone after WR Rusty Von Wyss turned a short slant into a 38 yard gain.

The Arrowheads weren't laying down of course, and after a failed aggressive 4th down attempt, RB Anthony Linker answered back with a 7 yard TD run, his longest to that point. A few miscues from both teams left Detroit up 14-10 nearing the half, but LB Clay Moynihan would secure a lead for Omaha going into the break after picking off a pass tipped at the line by NT Junior Ekstrom and taking it 56 yards for 6 points.

Mitchem continued his form after the break, finding success deep as Omaha would play only a single high free safety for the majority of the game. RB Marsh wrested the lead back for Detroit after a short 5 yard scamper into the endzone and the defense stepped up to close out the game. In Omaha's final possession it seemed a certainty that Harrison would captain the comeback finding WR Marcus Dole for 22 yards along the sideline.

Luis Anthony and the secondary sprinted to the finish after that, knocking the precise passes from Harrison away from his favorite targets. Rookie CB Roy Irwin had been tasked with keeping Marcus Dole quiet and at least on the final 4 plays, he succeeded.

"They are the gold standard of the CFL and the model of consistency over the years. I've got nothing but respect for the magic they've been able to put on the field week in and week out," HC Perkins said of the Arrowheads. "We just played a little better today."

The Vampires must now prepare for a rematch of their first win of the 2057, the Las Vegas Rounders, in the first Front Office Bowl appearance since their 2023 championship.