The Northern Colorado Nightmare clinched a Championship Football League playoff berth after a forfeit win against the Colorado Longhorns. The undisciplined Colorado Springs team has been in trouble earlier this season and previously warned about their behavior. After several disqualifications during a benches clearing brawl both teams were warned no further unsportsmanlike behavior would be tolerated. Despite both teams being informed of this demand from the refs the Longhorns sideline made a comment along the lines of “that’s a soft a** call ref” prompting the line judge to throw the deciding flag. That decision not only cost them the game, but also any eligibility for playoffs.

The Nightmare were playing a close but decisive game before it was called off. The Longhorns started off too aggressive with a failed 4th down attempt within their 40 yard line on their first drive of the game. Their quarterback tried to hurdle the pile and was promptly speared. NoCo tried to motivate the offense, although they could only manage to get close enough for Topher Ahrens to securely bang in three points.

On the next drive for the Longhorns they would quickly throw a bad ball that gets tipped and intercepted for a pick six touchdown by Brian Levenduski. Topher attempted the extra point, but a breakdown of the line allowed a block. Despite only having a 9-0 lead the Nightmare we’re playing above the Longhorns on both sides of the ball. Their next drive would be just as tumultuous as a loose ball fumble was scooped up by Londo Rivera.

The second quarter was fairly quiet in comparison as both teams were struggling. The Longhorns managed a deep drive into the Nightmare ten yard-line, but another fourth down attempt would go awry as Kian Rathman snagged an interception in the end zone. NoCo marched down the field to set up a one second Hail Mary play that would soon cause 15 minutes of chaos.

Quarterback Matt Keeling would evade defenders left and right before rolling out deep left and hucking the ball as far as he could. The pass was well short of the goal line, but an angry mob ensued in front of the Longhorn sideline as Keeling and two other players were red hot about a late hit and the behavior of the Longhorns. A brawl broke out as the quarterback was mobbed by several Longhorns including classless #14 who threw uppercuts at him as he was falling. A mob ensued as coaches tried to peel players away from each other. All in all, one Nightmare lineman (#62) and four Longhorns including #14 were disqualified going into halftime with both teams being warned of further bad behavior not being tolerated. It only took a minute and a half into the second half for the Longhorns to violate that and lose the game.

Due to the results of week nine and the disqualification the Nightmare move into the last home game seed at #3 and will host the Denver Golden Chargers July 8th at 7pm in The Boneyard at District 6 Stadium.

Special thanks to the Nightmare players actively or previously serving domestic or abroad as their past game was a salute to service night with a special halftime oath swear in for several US Army commits.