LARKSPUR BOWL VII: Recap

Larkspur Bowl VII was no contest from the outset, as the Cows stampeded to a huge lead and the Pride never had an opportunity to close the gap. After much ballyhoo about who had the best set of WRs in the league the Cows put the question to rest in the championship, outscoring the Pride 93.48 to 51.8. The loss of Odell Beckham to suspension was definitely a factor, but the matchup was so thoroughly dominated (a 91.52 margin of victory) by South Park, that no one player could have made a difference. It all led to this for the Cows, who had an incredible 2014 season go one and done in the playoffs, but follow it up by gutting out a challenging sophomore season capped off by a phenomenal playoff run. Manager Mike Hart's all time combined record of 20-10 (.667% winning percentage) is superlative, and through two years he is the only team to never miss the playoffs.

Week 16 Matchups

• Phoenix Uprising179.36New York's Finest160.04
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• Pawnee Pride133.46South Park Cows224.98
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• Hill Valley McFlys206.38Saskatoon Sasquatch191.74
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• Deputy Van Halens165.88Manitoba Moosecrew196.36
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OPotW: Julio Jones, South Park Cows, 24.1pts
In the Championship Game, the Cows top pick was everything the Prides' was not: Present and dominant, taking home MVP honors. Nine catches, 178 yards, six first downs and one touchdown set the tone for a game where Pawnee had no chance. DO THE JULIO!

DPotW: Denzel Perryman, South Park Cows, 15pts
A rookie that joined the team's starters for the playoff run, Perryman was solid in the quarterfinals and semifinals, before elevating his game in the championship, making eleven combined tackles (ten solo) including one sack for a loss. Most of Larkspur Bowl VII's fireworks were on the offensive side of the ball, but Perryman was a menace anytime the Pride tried to advance the ball.

Third Place Game: Phoenix over New York
Larkspur Bowl VI's combatants came through the 2015 season as the top two contenders for a sequel, but each team was upended in the semifinals, and left to do battle for the bronze. In the end, the Uprising continued their streak of six straight seasons in the top three, while New York lacked motivation following their blown title defense.
OPotW: WR Jordan Matthews, Phoenix 23.6pts
DPotW: FS Harrison Smith, Phoenix 22.25pts

Consolation Bowl: Hill Valley over Saskatoon
The McFly's will have the top pick for the second year in a row, after edging out the Sasquatch in the consolation bracket's final matchup. Saskatoon played down a couple players, after LeSean McCoy and Ronald Darby both pulled up lame, ceding the difference to a McFly team that has seen the rebirth of Tim Hightower, a late season spark plug. The McFlys rallied following Jamaal Charles' torn ACL- it will be interesting to see the direction they go with the lottery pick in 2016. Saskatoon will pick second overall.
OPotW: RB Tim Hightower, Hill Valley 34.1pts
DPotW: LB Malcolm Smith, Saskatoon 20.50pts


Ninth Place Game: Manitoba over Deputy
For the third and fourth picks in next year's draft, we saw the Moosecrew take down the Van Halens in decisive fashion. Manitoba has had two solid but unspectacular years in the Larkspur Bowl, and will look to shape their identity with the third overall pick in 2016. Deputy crumbled just when they looked poised to breakout in 2015- they'll have to use pick number four to try to return to their final four form from 2013.
OPotW: WR Brandon Marshall, Manitoba 30.6pts
DPotW: LB Sean Lee, Manitoba 19pts