League Forums

The Monarchs begin retooling the roster after a heartbreaking divisional round loss in 2035 ended the second best season in franchise history.

Retirements:
CB Greg Craddock - Craddock recorded two solid years in the London secondary after spending the majority of his 11 year career in Cincinnati. While he was not going to be re-signed, the 34 year old had 26 tackles, an impressive 24 passes defended (tied 9th in the league) and 3 INTs in his final season.

Coaching changes:
Monarchs management made no coaching changes for the 2036 season, as coach David Kirby decided to keep his staff intact following a 12-4 campaign in 2035.

Free agents:
Despite missing out on some superstar defensive back talent in free agency, London picks up useful pieces to strengthen its secondary after Craddock's retirement and allowing veteran CB Terrance Parker to continue his Moguls career elsewhere.

MLB Michael Jeffrey - The lightning fast LB comes over from Atlanta after a stellar 2035 campaign. Jeffrey recorded 104 tackles, 1 sack and 4 INTs (including his first career TD return) for the Falcons. He may begin the year as a depth player in London's talented linebacking squad, but the 26 year old has a chance to take over as the starting MLB for the Monarchs with a good preseason showing.

SS Tony Washington - London snags another former Bangle to improve its pass defense. Washington was sixth in the league with 115 tackles, along with an INT TD and a recovered fumble while starting all sixteen games for Cincinnati. A plus defender with solid speed, Washington may play both as a safety and cornerback for London depending on need.

SS Daniel Edwards - The Monarchs pick another versatile defensive back from the free agent pool with the safety who spent his first five years in Atlanta, with 60 tackles, 2 INTs and a fumble recovered in 2035. Edwards will likely be enlisted as both a free and strong safety, but could also be moved over to CB if necessary.

CB Frank Harris - London continues weakening NFC South secondaries by signing the former Memphis Hound Dog to a three year deal. The 28 year old shows a talent for causing fumbles, and may help the Monarchs improve their turnover prowess, which took a dip in 2035 despite the team's overall success.

CB Nicholas Coomes - The former Detroit Lion was invited to training camp with a cheap two year contract, but appears to be a long shot at making the final roster. With decent speed and coverage skills, Coomes will have to impress coaches with the other additions to the secondary this offseason.

RB Ethan Feliciano - The 25 year old running back showed some flashes on offense after signing as a free agent in 2035 week 11. Feliciano does not possess the greatest speed, but his ability to get open as a receiver out of the backfield convinced management to secure his return with another one year minimum salary contract.

Without a first round draft pick this year due to the 2035 draft day deal to select prized rookie WR Jon Horton, the Monarchs will have to wait a bit longer to see what young pieces they can acquire to help them defend their second AFC South divisional title in three seasons.

2036 draft and training camp:

The Monarchs get up and down results in a subpar draft.

2-26 DT "Big" Ben Williams (+7/+1 now 43/74) - Without a first round pick this year, London was looking for a solid contributor with its first selection. While lacking exceptional speed or strength, Williams appears to be a talented tackler with an eye for the ball who will hopefully help improve the Monarchs run defense, which ranked near the bottom of the league last season (121.8 yards per game (29th)/5.1 yards per attempt (30th)).

3-26 RB Victor X. Ebubedike (+4/-1 now 39/64) - The Monarchs add some depth to their backfield with the speedy running back. While a possible reach in the third round, management did not want to risk losing out on Ebubedike, who shows excellent speed and acceleration. While appearing to need more time to develop his elusiveness skills as a runner, Ebubedike has reached his peak as a receiver. He should be capable of filling in for clear starter Archie Daniels who has missed several games the last few seasons due to various injuries.

4-26 SS Jackson Kyle (+9/-2 now 39/66) - Unable to trade away picks in a poor 2036 draft, London adds another safety to its crowded secondary. Kyle appears destined to fill a backup role on the team, with decent speed but only average football instincts. What he lacks in tackling ability, Kyle makes up for with good run defense, and will likely play mainly on special teams for now, as management signed more established safeties this offseason.

4-30 MLB Ken Sale (+7/+5 now 37/62) - Monarch management was second guessing itself initially after selecting the linebacker with a pick acquired from Chicago on draft day 2035, but a good training camp has brightened his outlook slightly. Another rookie without good tackling technique, Sale shows some promise as a run stopper and pass defender, but is unlikely to see much playing time beyond the preseason barring injuries to the projected starters.

5-26 QB Fred McNair (+8/+5 now 42/69) - The Monarchs begin their search for anything of value with their remaining picks by selecting the undersized quarterback prospect from Alabama. Intrigued by McNair's excellent speed but poor acceleration, management was pleased with an improvement in his pass accuracy potential and adequate elusiveness. While unlikely to ever be a starter, he could possibly challenge 2035 second round pick Preston Jones for the backup position behind QB Matthew Avila and both may get extended auditions in the preseason to gauge their development. The draft pick may push veteran QB Edwin Johnson, who has played rarely the last several seasons, onto the trading block, as the team is unwilling to carry four quarterbacks.

6-26 WR Bernard Ford (+5/+4 now 33/51) - drafted for his potential as a kick returner, Ford did not possess any special talent as a receiver and his rookie contract was voided following the draft.

7-26 QB John Witkowski (+0/-6 now 30/50) - another speedy quarterback prospect, Witkowski seemed bewildered by Moguls football, and after losing his already microscopic amount of passing accuracy, Witkowski's rookie contract was also voided to get the Monarchs roster down to the 60 player limit to enter the preseason.

With several veterans on the squad beginning to show a decline in their skills after training camp, the Monarchs will scour the waiver wire and possibly explore trades to shore up the roster as most of the 2036 draft class appears unlikely to be major contributors in the future.

London spins the quarterback carousel and faces major injuries in a 2-2 preseason.

- With too many QBs on the roster, the Monarchs decide to give their bench players a chance to show off behind starter QB Matthew Avila in the preseason. The Memphis Hound Dogs visit London in preseason week one, and Avila maintains his firm grip on the starter's role with three first half TD passes. However, Memphis QB David Morrison picks apart the retooled Monarchs secondary with TD passes of 78 and 69 yards to WR Christopher Mars in the second quarter, leading to a 21-14 London lead at halftime. 2035 second round pick QB Preston Jones has the first shot at establishing himself as a quality backup for the Monarchs, but completely falls on his face in his first ever appearance. Misfiring wildly all half, Jones finishes 2-13 for just 15 yards with an interception, allowing the Hound Dogs to complete their comeback as Gabriel Plemons knocks through his third field goal of the second half from 50 yards as time expires for a 23-21 Memphis victory.

- A trip to Southern California is on tap in preseason week two, as London visits the Irvine Anteaters. Due to a coaching error, backup QB Edwin Johnson plays the entire game, preventing 2036 rookie QB Fred McNair from seeing the field. The Monarchs rushing attack controls the pace of the game, as they break off chunk runs on the way to finishing with 218 yards on the ground. After trading field goals for most of the contest, London is finally able to put the game out of reach with 22 points in the fourth quarter behind a pair of 15 yard TD passes from Johnson to backup WR Dale Hale, and a 7 yard run by WR/RB Jeff Davis to cap a 31-6 win for the Monarchs.

- The Detroit Lions visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in preseason week three, where neither the Monarchs offense or defense look especially impressive. Edwin Johnson again gets the start for London, but can't get the team in the end zone finishing three drives with only field goals. Fred McNair finally has a chance to audition for the Monarchs coaching staff, but is unimpressive going just 9-19 for 49 yards with an interception. London's backup defenders again can't slam the door on their opponents, allowing 10 fourth quarter points via RB Christopher Wilbur's 4 yard TD run and K Wally Morris's 40 yard field goal with just 15 seconds remaining to give Detroit a 13-9 win.

- London completes the 2036 preseason with a trip to Michigan to take on the Battle Creek Barbarians. QB Matthew Avila needs just a one quarter tuneup to prove he's ready for the regular season, tossing a 25 yard TD pass to star WR William Ortiz. After his disastrous debut in the preseason opener, QB Preston Jones makes the most of his shot at redemption. Jones plays the final three quarters, and makes several impressive passes against the Barbarian secondary. Jones avoids the waiver wire by finishing 20-28 for just 119 yards, but notches 3 TD passes, including two to backup TE Bernard Smith, to even the Monarchs preseason record with a 31-7 win.

London does suffer a number of preseason injuries that will test the depth of their roster. C Patrick Wilson (serious injury hand) and C Damon Baldwin (neck) are both hurt in the win over Irvine, and WR/RB Jeff Davis (serious injury neck) and RDE Chris Thompson (ankle) fall prey to the injury bug in the loss to Detroit. RDE John Cutter, who registered all five of the Monarchs preseason sacks, was also hurt in the win over Battle Creek, but will remain the starter until Thompson can return.

Preseason cuts:
London's poor 2036 draft class makes up the bulk of the cuts to get down to the final 53 man roster.

QB Fred McNair - without much of a chance to show his skills in the preseason, the rookie QB is gets the short straw, as the more expensive Preston Jones will remain as the third quarterback on the depth chart for the time being.

MLB Ken Sale - the rookie LB led the Monarchs in tackles (16) *and* missed tackles (6) in the preseason, and could not reasonably find a chance to beat out veteran LB Dale Song for the depth LB spot on the London roster.

SS Jackson Kyle - London's other 4th round pick did not see much preseason action, but with more established safeties Tony Washington and Daniel Edwards (3 INTs) performing better this year, Kyle would not have much of a chance to move himself into a larger role.

WR Michael Woodmansee - the 30 year old receiver's speed has declined in the past few seasons, and with second year WR Jon Horton recording a solid season in 2035 Monarchs management decide to release Woodmansee who would not have been re-signed at the end of the final year of his contract.

FB Roosevelt Logan - A free agent signing in 2032, Logan lost his role as a receiver out of the backfield to the quicker FB Christopher Clark. RB Ethan Feliciano, who also showed some skill as a pass catcher, will backup Clark as another FB.

RG Paul Rolfes - a decent backup o lineman who started eight games in 2035, the 2033 fifth round pick was deemed expendable as second year RG Tim Simpson appears ready to anchor the London offensive line for the next decade. With absolutely no speed to go along with his impressive strength, Rolfes did not fit into London's seemingly neverending search to find quality o linemen.

DT Kevin "Roly Poly" O'Brien - a victim of too much roster depth at one position, the second year defensive tackle is the final cut. With five DTs on the roster, including 2036 second round rookie "Big" Ben Williams, London coaches conducted an exhaustive review of all the players before finally asking O'Brien to return his golden helmet despite recording a pair of sacks last season.

With the final roster established, pending any waiver wire additions, the Monarchs now prepare to open the regular season for the second straight year with a visit to their longtime AFC rival the Wilmington Argonauts.

Quarterly report:
Record: 3-1 overall record: 3-1

The Monarchs stumble out of the gate before regaining their footing.

- For the third time in the last four years, the Monarchs open the season by facing off against the Wilmington Argonauts. After losing the 2035 season opener 35-3 at Wilmington, London hoped to put up a better performance at the Apple iStadium, but it was not meant to be. London's troubles with stopping the run last season appear to have rolled over, as the Argonauts tally 217 total rushing yards, including 124 with a 4 yard TD run by RB Travis Helms in the second quarter. London's defense does step up denying any further touchdowns, but Argonaut kicker Jeffrey Jarvis goes a perfect 7-7 on field goal attempts, as Wilmington prevails 28-11. Monarchs QB Matthew Avila resumes his role as an Argonaut punching bag, getting sacked seven times in the game and losing a fumble deep in London territory to set up an Argonaut field goal. The lone offensive highlight was a 44 yard TD pass from Avila to WR William Ortiz early in the fourth quarter to draw within 14 points, but the Argonauts dominance on both sides of the football is too much for the visitors.

- The Monarchs return to London for their lone home game in the first six weeks of the season in week two, as they welcome the Memphis Hound Dogs. London takes most of the drama out of the contest early, scoring 17 first quarter points behind a 4 yard TD reception by backup TE Bernard Smith and a 4 yard TD run by backup RB Alvin Dillon. Four remains the magic number in the second quarter as Avila tosses a 4 yard TD pass to FB Christopher Clark, and an efficient London offense holds the ball for more than 37 minutes in an easy 26-3 victory.

- London once again hits the road in week three, traveling to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. The search for perfection is nearly complete, as Matthew Avila records just a single incompletion on the day, going 24-25 for 237 yards with 3 TD passes. RB Alvin Dillon continues proving his value with 56 rushing yards as well as 34 yards receiving including a 20 yard TD reception in the second quarter. London's rushing attack has seemed very inefficient in the early season, which may lead the coaching staff to make some game plan changes. The Monarchs Tough Blokes defense steps up once again, tallying their second straight game without allowing a touchdown, as London wins 24-6. Expensive offseason acquisition MLB Michael Jeffrey does not enjoy his return to Atlanta where he spent the first four years of his career, as he suffers a serious ankle injury that will keep him out of action for an extended period of time.

- Week four features the first divisional game of the year, as the Monarchs travel to Roswell to take on the Invaders. Most contests between these two squads are extremely tight, and this game proves to be no exception. After Roswell takes a first quarter 7-0 lead behind RB John Denman's 6 yard TD run, the teams exchange field goals leading to a 10-3 Invader lead at halftime. Another field goal by Douglas Medniola puts Roswell up by 10 before the London offense finally comes to life. RB Ethan Feliciano marks his second straight game with a TD reception from 7 yards out in the third quarter to pull London within 13-10 near the end of the third quarter. The Monarchs finally gain the lead early in the fourth as Matthew Avila finds WR William Ortiz for his second TD on the season from 8 yards out to give London its first lead at 17-13. A 45 yard field goal just after the two minute warning gives London a 20-13 lead, but disaster nearly strikes when a 42 yard pass from Roswell QB David Montoya to WR Michael Hampton gets the Invaders inside the Monarchs 30 with less than a minute to play. A final pass from Montoya to WR William Kelleher gets stopped at the London 11 yard line as time expires. The Monarchs victory snaps Roswell's three game season opening win streak, and moves London into a three way tie for the AFC South division lead with the rebranded Denver Rocky Mountain Bronx with matching 3-1 records.

London's defense has been the glue holding things together in the first quarter of the season. The Monarchs are the only team in the league to not surrender a passing touchdown through the first four games of the season, and only the two rushing scores to the Argonauts and Invaders. Offensive and defensive line play has been a concern in the early going, as the Monarchs have only recorded 3.4 yards per rushing attempt, while allowing 122 yards on 4.2 YPA to their opponents. After getting sacked seven times in the season opening loss to Wilmington, the slow footed Avila has received better pass protection, suffering only five total sacks during the team's current three game winning streak. Look for an update at the halfway point of the 2036 season, as the Monarchs face four tough conference showdowns including the Terror, defending conference champion Kayfabe, and important divisional battles against the Invaders and Rocky Mountain Bronx.

Quarterly report:
Record: 1-3 overall record: 4-4

Monarch comebacks keep coming up short.

- London begins the second half of a four game road trip by visiting the Terre Haute Terror. The Terrordome is rocking in the first half, as the Terror control the game and lead 10-0 at halftime as second year QB John Holmes tosses a 37 yard TD pass to WR Johnny King. As has been the story all season, the Monarchs defense gives the offense a helping hand. CB Frank Harris intercepts Holmes at the Terror 9 yard line early in the fourth quarter, and London QB Matthew Avila finds RB Alvin Dillon for a TD pass on the very next play, cutting the Terre Haute lead to 10-7. Terre Haute's next possession ends in a punt, pinning the Monarchs at their own 7 yard line, but Avila needs only six plays to move the team down the field, giving London its first lead of the day thanks to a 35 yard TD pass to WR Jon Horton. With under five minutes to play, Holmes begins a masterful eleven play drive covering 75 yards in almost four minutes, allowing the Terror to regain the lead at 17-14 on a two yard scoring toss to WR Joshua Ryan. The Monarchs last gasp begins at their own 9 yard line with :47 remaining, but three long passes by Avila gets the team to the Terre Haute 35 with three seconds left. Unfortunately, K Brandon Shah's 53 yard attempt sails wide right as time expires, preserving the Terror's 17-14 victory.

- The Monarchs head to the Rocky Mountains in week six, with a divisional showdown against a team that always makes them sweat, the Denver Rocky Mountain Bronx. Regardless of where the former Wisconsin Frozen Tundra SnowSharks call home, they always give the lads from London fits. Some defensive adjustments by the coaching staff prior to the game appear to be disastrous, as Denver QB Robert Arthur tosses two long TD passes in the first quarter, first for 53 yards to WR Jacob Cooper, followed by a 73 yard bomb to WR Steven Monn. Matthew Avila and Jon Horton maintain their good rapport this season, connecting for a 44 yard TD pass, but Shah's kicking struggles continue with a missed PAT, giving the Bronx a 14-6 lead after the first quarter. After adding a second quarter field goal, the Monarchs strike again after halftime, as Avila finds WR William Ortiz for a 75 yard TD pass cutting the Rocky Mountain lead to 17-16. London's Tough Blokes defense puts their early game defensive lapses in the rear view mirror, slamming the door in the final quarter, and Shah redeems himself with a pair of 4th quarter field goals, including the eventual game winner from 42 yards out just after the two minute warning, giving London a come from behind 22-20 victory. Avila has made a habit of spreading the ball around this season, as he connects with nine different receivers on the day, capped by Ortiz's 4-136-1 receiving line.

- The Monarchs may not actually remember what the home team locker room looks like at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as they play just their second home game of the season with a rematch against the Roswell Invaders. London scored a 20-13 come from behind win in Roswell in week four, and the evenly matched squads face off for a share of the AFC South division lead. The Invaders strike first, with a 39 yard TD pass from QB David Montoya to WR Mose Masse capping a 75 yard drive and giving Roswell a 7-0 lead. However, anyone looking for more offensive fireworks comes away disappointed. Roswell K Douglas Mendiola adds a 22 yard field goal after another 75 yard Roswell drive, and the next Monarchs drive ends in a missed 39 yard field goal by K Brandon Shah, giving Roswell a 10-0 halftime lead. Neither team can generate much offense on the afternoon, as the Invaders punt on eight consecutive possessions, and the Monarchs offense stalls in the red zone, settling for just a pair of second half field goals, cutting the lead to 10-6 early in the 4th quarter, but they get no closer. With the game already decided, the Invader coaching staff decides to show they're in control in the division, forgoing the standard victory formation and adding a 23 yard field goal as time expires for a 13-6 Roswell win. The Invaders third straight win gives them a two game lead over the Monarchs and a split in the season series.

- A crowd of 58,722 welcomes the defending AFC champion Real Kayfabe to London to close out the first half of the 2036 season. The Monarchs scuffling offense continues to be an issue, as two long first quarter drives stall out in the red zone, resulting in a pair of Brandon Shah field goals. That allows the Kayfabe to gain the lead, thanks to a 7 yard TD catch by WR Grady Swift. Kayfabe QB Raymond Reyes adds two more touchdown passes in the second quarter, first for 19 yard to WR Joshua Cavazos and a 58 yard strike to Glenn Lucier. Reyes' fourth TD pass of the game, an 8 yard pass to FB Oscar Catalan, puts the Kayfabe up 28-9 late in the third quarter, seemingly setting up a blowout victory. However, the Monarchs salvage their pride, starting a furious comeback in the final two and a half minutes. QB Matthew Avila finds WR Sam Quint for a 2 yard TD catch just before the two minute warning, cutting the Kayfabe lead to 28-19. The Monarchs special teams steps up on the ensuing onsides kick, recovering the ball at the London 46 yard line. Taking the ball 10 plays to the Kayfabe six yard line, Avila throws a 6 yard score to backup TE Bernard Shaw on fourth down, and a successful PAT pulls London within 2 points at 28-26 with 44 seconds to play. After successfully recovering their second straight onside kick with no time outs remaining, a short pass gets London into enemy territory at the Kayfabe 48 yard line. After a throwaway pass, Avila finds backup WR Sean Foster behind the Kayfabe defense, with a 36 yard catch and run stopped at the Kayfabe 12 yard line by CB Edwin Smith as time expires and a 17 point fourth quarter rally comes up short in a wild 28-26 Kayfabe victory. The Monarchs play keep away all game, running an amazing 90 plays to just 47 by the Kayfabe. Avila completes 42 of 67 pass attempts for 395 net yards, as eleven different receivers make catches on the day. However, London's second straight loss drops them three games behind the surging Roswell Invaders with a disappointing 4-4 record.

With a rapidly improving AFC conference, with the surprising Boston Teabag Party and improving Denver Broncos in the mix, the Monarchs face a major uphill battle to grasp a wild card playoff berth. Currently sitting in tenth place in the conference, including tie breaking losses to the Terror and Kayfabe, London's only hope is a easier second half schedule featuring only two games against teams currently with winning records (Shadow Dancers week 10; Dildozers week 12). With London's rushing attack being nearly nonexistent this season with just a single rushing TD, QB Matthew Avila will have to continue carrying the team if they have any chance to fulfill their postseason dreams.

Quarterly report:
Record: 4-0 overall record: 8-4

The Monarchs take down division leaders and claw back into the playoff picture.

- Following two straight close losses against AFC powerhouses the Roswell Invaders and Real Kayfabe, London wraps up a three game homestand by hosting the Denver Rocky Mountain Bronx. After a narrow 22-20 win in week six, Monarchs fans may have been nervous entering the matchup, but the boys in Royal Blue put their fears to rest early. QB Matthew Avila connects with WR William Ortiz for a 66 yard TD midway through the first quarter, while star RB Archie Daniels finally scores his first rushing TD of the year from two yards out at the end of the quarter. After a short field goal in the second, Avila finds second year WR Jon Horton for a 15 yard TD just before halftime to effectively end the game with a 24-0 halftime lead. Avila and Horton hook up again for a 17 yard TD in the third, and the Bronx's only sustained drive of the day, a sixteen play 94 yard drive capped by a 12 yard TD pass from Denver QB Robert Arthur to rookie RB Harvey Zelaya spoils the shutout as the Monarchs win 31-7.

- The Monarchs pack their bags for South Dakota in week 10, for a matchup against the NFC South leading Rapid Valley Shadow Dancers. With the Shadow Dancers entering the game on a six game winning streak, it appeared to be a tall order to take down the division leader, but the Tough Blokes defense was up to the challenge. Avila and Ortiz get London on top early once again, thanks to a 8 yard TD catch in the first quarter. However, the specter of London's suspect pass protection raises its ugly head in the second quarter as Rapid Valley RDE Ronnie Perez sacks Avila for a safety in the second quarter, cutting the lead to 7-2. Shadow Dancer QB Francis Norris shakes off a pair of first quarter interceptions to toss a 51 yard score to star WR Claude Payton, giving Rapid Valley its first lead at 9-7. However, London answers right back, as Avila leads a ten play 75 yard scoring drive topped by a 28 yard TD pass to backup RB Ethan Feliciano just before halftime, as the Monarchs retake the lead 14-9. A 48 yard field goal by James Galloway cuts the London lead to two in the third quarter, before the Monarchs step up on both sides of the ball in the fourth. Avila and Ortiz connect for their second touchdown of the game, a 67 yard catch and run score in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 21-12. On the ensuing drive Rapid Valley continues throwing, with disastrous results. QB Francis Norris throws his fourth interception of the contest, which CB Frank Harris takes all the way to the house for his first career touchdown, adding the final points in London's 27-12 victory. Overall London picks off Norris five times, two by veteran CB Frank Ball, but the Monarchs fail to pick up any ground as the Invaders win their sixth straight game with a 41-3 blowout win over Atlanta.

- The Monarchs return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in week 11 to host the Las Vegas Wraiths. London's comeback trend from earlier in the year seems like a distant memory, as the Monarchs again strike early. RB Archie Daniels starts the scoring with a 12 yard TD run on the game opening drive, and QB Matthew Avila adds a 3 yard TD pass to backup WR Dale Hale on the next possession for a 14-0 first quarter lead. The Monarchs strike again, finishing off their third straight TD drive with a 43 yard TD pass from Avila to WR William Ortiz, his fourth TD in the last three games. A 47 yard field goal by K Brandon Shah just before halftime puts London up 24-0. They maintain control in the second half before a five yard TD pass from QB Willlie Lang to WR Arturo Holloway gives Las Vegas their only points in a 24-6 Monarchs win. London's struggling running game, a negative all season long, finally puts up a strong showing. The Monarchs record a season high 211 rushing yards, with Daniels getting his first 100 yard rushing game since 2035 week 7 with 102 yards and the rushing TD. RB Alvin Dillon adds his best game of the season with 73 yards rushing in London's third straight win.

- Week 12 features a rematch with the team that ended the Monarchs playoff dreams last season, the AFC West leading Brawndo Corp. Dildozers. The Monarchs fumbled away a chance at a playoff upset in a 23-16 loss in the divisional round, despite outplaying the perennial highpowered Dildozers. Any expectations for this game in London couldn't predict a truly wild contest - settle in, this is going to take a while.

At risk of sounding like a broken record, Avila and Ortiz continue their strong opening quarter connection, thanks to a 51 yard TD catch and an early 7-0 London lead. However, Brawndo MVP candidate QB David Bare answers back with a 9 yard scoring toss to WR James Brandt to tie the score at 7. After a field goal gives the Monarchs a brief 10-7 lead in the second, the Dildozer offense begins warming up. Bare finds a wide open RB/WR Tom Wood for a 39 yard score, followed by Brandt's second TD catch of the afternoon from 19 yards out, giving Brawndo a 21-10 lead. Another field goal at the two minute warning keeps London within striking distance, sending the hosts to the locker room trailing 21-13.

The Dildozers keep holding the Monarchs at bay in a back and forth third quarter. Bare and Brandt record their third TD pass of the afternoon, another 19 yard score that pushes the lead to 28-13. London fans don't have to wait long to start cheering again, as the Monarchs need just over two minutes to move 89 yards to the end zone, thanks to a 47 yard scoring pass from Avila to WR Jon Horton, cutting the lead to 28-20. The heavyweight boxing match swings back towards the Dildozers once again on the next possession, when Bare finds Brandt for his fourth TD catch from 9 yards out, once again giving the visitors some breathing room at 35-20. The Monarchs refuse the roll over as another long scoring drive ends with Avila finding RB Archie Daniels for a 10 yard TD catch again making it a one score game after three quarters at 35-27.

Lining up for a routine punt on the first play of the fourth quarter, a seemingly fatal play befalls the Monarchs. Brawndo CB Willard Castilleja slips through the line and blocks a punt by P Jerrod Shepherd, scooping up the ball and returning it 44 yards for a touchdown, stunning the fans and putting the Dildozers up 42-27. While no one could fault the home squad for folding after such a devastating mistake, the Monarchs continue to fight. K Brandon Shah chips in a 30 yard field goal cutting the lead to 42-30 with ten minutes remaining, but instead of looking to milk the clock the Dildozers keep throwing. That move proves costly, as the Tough Blokes strike again with just over eight minutes remaining. Brawndo QB Bare throws his fourth interception of the game at the London 41 yard line, which WLB Robert Williams returns 59 yards for a touchdown, London's second interception return TD in the last three games. A game that appeared lost suddenly is within reach, as the extra point pulls London back to within one score at 42-37.

The teams exchange punts on their next four possessions, two more nearly blocked by Castilleja, before the final drama unfolds. After stopping the Dildozers with a three and out burning their only three time outs, the Monarchs receive a punt from the Dildozers at their own 32 yard line with just 1:14 remaining, still trailing by five. QB Matthew Avila finds Archie Daniels for a 31 yard pass to the Brawndo 37 yard line, and a 17 yard pass to WR Sam Quint gets London to the 20 yard line with 42 seconds remaining. An 8 yard pass to WR Jon Horton moves the Monarchs to the Brawndo 12, and a scoring pass from Avila to backup WR Sean Foster with only :16 remaining amazingly gives London the lead at 43-42, following a failed two point conversion attempt. With the Dildozers on their heels, two final incompletions by Bare sends London pubs into a frenzy as the Monarchs exorcize their playoff demons with their first ever win over the Dildozers since their current owner took over in 2033 (0-2 regular season, 0-2 playoffs).

QB Matthew Avila records possibly his finest game in a Monarchs uniform, throwing for a career high 474 yards, adding 4 TD passes. Without much ground support all year, Avila is pulling London back into playoff contention. The Monarchs fourth straight win, coupled with the Invaders 36-12 loss to the Arkansas Thrashers, snapping a seven game winning streak, moves London within two games of the division lead. The Monarchs currently sit outside the playoff bubble, with matching 8-4 records with the Kayfabe, Argonauts and Teabag Party. After suffering losses to Wilmington and the Kayfabe earlier in the season, London will need some help to return to the playoffs for the second straight year. The Moguls schedule maker has given London a late season gift, with a pair of games remaining against the winless Pennsauken Del Fuego Phoenix, as well as the Denver Broncos (currently on a seven game losing streak) and a home contest against the Charlotte Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies. With ten interceptions in their last four games and Pennsauken's struggling star (?) rookie QB Daniel McCrea on tap to renew the Battle of the Bridges rivalry, the chance for a surprise playoff trip remains intact. Look for an update at the conclusion of the 2036 regular season.

Quarterly report:
Record: 3-1 overall record: 11-5

Sometimes one play is all it takes.

- Coming off the dramatic come from behind victory over the Dildozers in week 12, the Monarchs renew the Battle of the Bridges rivalry with the winless Pennsauken Del Fuego Phoenix in London. Any chance of a letdown is quickly extinguished, as QB Matthew Avila finds (who else?) WR William Ortiz for a 69 yard touchdown less than 90 seconds into the game. Avila and Ortiz strike once again in the first quarter, this time from 76 yards out, to quickly push the Monarchs to a 14-0 lead. Pennsauken's struggling rookie QB Daniel McCrea finally starts showing flashes of the ability that pushed management to mortgage their future to draft him, with a season long 75 yard TD pass to RB Ignacio Carlton cutting the London lead to 14-7. Refusing to fall into a trap game the Monarchs keep their foot on the gas in the second quarter, as Avila finds Ortiz for his first career three touchdown game with a 22 yard strike, followed by a 1 yard toss to RB Ethan Feliciano to put London up 34-7 at the break. The offense keeps rolling in the third quarter as Avila connects with RB Archie Daniels for a 28 yard touchdown, and Feliciano rumbles 18 yards for his second TD of the contest, and the Monarchs roll to a 51-7 victory. Avila records a perfect QB rating of 158.33 as he finishes the day 33/35 for 472 yards and 5 touchdown passes, just missing his career high of passing yards of 474 recorded last week against the Dildozers. Ortiz's impressive receiving line of 5-182-3 helps push the Monarchs win streak to five games, and with the Invaders seven game win streak snapped in a 36-12 loss to the Thrashers, London moves to within two games of the AFC South division lead.

- The final home game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2036 features London hosting the Charlotte Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies. Charlotte controls most of the contest thanks to a dominant running attack, beginning with RB Jose Lee's 15 yard TD run late in the second quarter, putting the Duckies ahead 10-0. Unable to generate much offense to that point, the Monarchs fall back on the quick strike Avila/Ortiz connection for a 75 yard touchdown pass, cutting the Duckies lead to 10-7 at halftime. The Duckies offense continues running hard in the second half with little to show for it, with a missed field goal and interception by Monarchs WLB Robert Williams at the Charlotte 43. London takes advantage of the short field, needing just three plays to take their first lead of the day at 14-10 on a five yard TD pass to RB Archie Daniels. The lead holds up until the fourth quarter, with the Monarchs playoff hopes hanging in the balance. Charlotte gets the ball midway through the fourth quarter, and London's defense starts getting sloppy. With the Duckies facing a 4th and 9 at the London 39 yard line with three minutes remaining London appears poised to pull off an improbable win, but backup LB Dwight Gainer is called for pass interference, allowing the drive to continue. Three plays later, CB Frank Ball is called for pass interference on a third down play, and Charlotte QB Daniel Hernandez is able to cap a 14 play 80 yard drive with a two yard game winning TD pass to FB Ricky Scott with just over one minute remaining. The Monarchs are unable to do anything with a final desperate possession, turning the ball over on downs in Charlotte's 17-14 win. The loss snaps a five game winning streak for London, and knocks them from the final wild card spot into 8th place in the AFC. Duckies rookie RB Greg Kryzanowski is particularly impressive for the visitors, finishing the day with 169 yards rushing, the fourth highest total in the league this season, adding three catches for 37 yards.

- The Monarchs head back to Denver in week 15, this time facing off against the Broncos. After beginning the season 4-1 Denver has struggled badly, entering the game on a nine game losing streak. In need of major help to make the playoffs, the Monarchs come back from an early 3-0 deficit to take the lead on a 20 yard TD pass from Matthew Avila to WR Jon Horton midway through the first quarter. Rookie RB Victor X. Ebubedike has the best game of his young career with a pair of touchdowns - a seven yard scoring run in the second quarter, and a one yard score in the third quarter - before exiting late with a neck injury. Matthew Avila's 29 yard TD pass to WR/RB Jeff Davis in the third quarter is the only other touchdown, as the Monarchs hold the Broncos to less than 200 yards of total offense in a 29-6 win. However, scoreboard watching brings heartbreak, as the Argonauts 30-13 win across town at the Denver Rocky Mountain Bronx officially eliminates both the Monarchs and Boston Teabag Party from 2036 playoff contention.

- With nothing left to play for but pride in week 16, the Monarchs head to New Jersey to face off against the Pennsauken Del Fuego Phoenix. Despite some pregame rumblings that the Phoenix might deactivate their entire defensive unit, two full 53 man rosters face off for a surprisingly competitive contest. RB Archie Daniels opens the scoring with a one yard TD run in the first quarter, just his third touchdown run of the year, to put London ahead 7-0 in the first quarter. Matthew Avila continues his quiet assault on the Monarchs record books to conclude the season, with a one yard TD pass to WR Sam Quint in the second and three yard pass to WR Jeff Davis in the third to put the visitors ahead 21-0. Pennsauken's attempts to keep the game close are foiled by turnovers all afternoon. QB John Mayes, signed in week 14 to take over for rookie disappointment Daniel McCrea, throws 3 interceptions in just his second career start, and undrafted WR Warren Krach loses a fumble. The Del Fuego Phoenix's noted offensive strategy of never running the ball puts all the pressure on their defense and special teams to keep the game close, but a 102 yard kickoff return TD by WR Sean Foster, the Monarchs first return TD since 2033, puts London ahead 28-6 on their way to a deceptive blowout 35-9 win. Pennsauken achieves their stated goal of an 0-16 season, but after trading away what will end up being the #1 overall draft pick to the Independence Pirates in the 2037 draft, they have little to show for it.

While London won seven of their final eight games to finish with a slightly better than expected 11-5 record, the Monarchs 3-4 record against eventual playoff teams proved to be their downfall. As the only double digit win team to miss the playoffs this season and with four of their five losses coming by fifteen combined points, London was unable to close the deal when it mattered most. QB Matthew Avila completed the finest year of his Moguls career in his fifth season in London, but at age 32 has begun hinting at retirement. The Monarchs window as an annual playoff contender appears to be closing, which may lead to a major push for a championship shot in 2037, buoyed by what appears to be a stronger than average draft class. Come back for more highlights next season!

Offensive MVP QB Matthew Avila 4550 yards (career high 7th in league) 37 TDs (career high 5th in league) 15 INTs 102.86 QB rating (London high 2nd best in league) 68.3 completion % (2nd in league) 33 sacks (not the most sacked QB in Moguls this year - yay!)

Defensive MVP WLB Robert Williams 91 tackles 1 QB hurry 16 passes defended (career high) 4 INTs (ties career high) 1 INT TD