The regular season of the 2008 USFooty League ended this weekend with two games that would decide three championships. In Arlington VA, the No. 1 Baltimore Washington Eagles hosted the Philadelphia Hawks in a game that would allow the Eagles to clinch the EAFL Premiership and the USFootyNews.com League Premiership. In Minnesota, the Freeze hosted the No. 7 Nashville Kangaroos in a game that would finalize the MAAFL Premiership. The weekend also saw the top women's footy team in the country, the Atlanta Lady Kookaburras hosting a combined side from the New York Lady Magpies and the Milwaukee Lady Bombers. Finally, in Arlington VA, the Arlington Eagles junior footy team hosted the Bethesda Bombers in the first junior game of its kind in the DC Area.

In a fantastic day for footy, Arlington's Bluemont Park hosted a senior football game between the Eagles and the Hawks and a juniors game between the Bombers and the Eagles. The Eagles and Hawks had to compromise on field width in order to host a game in the heart of the Washington Area with a juniors game at half-time. While the Hawks fought hard, tackled hard and pressured in the first half, they weren't able to stop the number 1 team in the country from taking a solid lead into the half-time break. The Eagles rested a number of their players and gave some of the more inexperienced players vital playing time.

Hawks coach, Jon Loring, was pleased with the effort of his charges in the first half, but said a lack of fitness really showed in the second half. On the narrow field, the Eagles were able to close down the corridor making it hard for the Hawk forwards to lead into space.  Eagles Assistant, Dwayne Marshall, was very pleased with his teams performance.  Jay Levesque was dominant on the wing, finding space with great runs and finishing with a couple of great goals.  Stu Ritchie and Shane Frearson controlled the midfield giving plenty of the ball to the forwards including Garth Elliot who ended the game with five.  Wes Brightman had the goal of the day with a great snap over his head.

The Eagles win makes them 8-0 for 2008 giving them back to back EAFL Premierships and making them the inaugural winners of the USFootyNews.com League Premiership. Congratulations Eagles!

In the junior game, the Bethesda Bombers had a significant height advantage over the younger Eagles team, but the hard running and skills of the Eagles were able to keep the contest tight all game. In the end the Bombers had a little too much for the Eagles and were able to finish with spectacular goal by Austin on the big field.

In a beautiful sunny day, the Freeze hosted the Kangaroos still with hopes of taking the 2008 MAAFL championship.  Probably one of the best games played this year.  It was high scoring, fast paced and close all day.  At the half, the Freeze held the lead by just two points.  Nashville was able to take it back with a great mark and goal after the siren at three quarter time.  

The final quarter provided some of the best football seen in a long time, in a close and exciting finish. Freeze rookie Andrew Werner, in only his third game, was a player Nashville couldn't counter, and Danny Hansen's run and bounce around the boundary for a goal with a defender hot on his heels was worthy of the highlight reel. This energized the Freeze into a 2 goal lead, but Nashville were not going to give up as Chris Moerman marked and goaled yet again. Another Nashville push from the center in the dying minutes was turned away and after some tense back and forth passages the whistle blew to see the Freeze hold on for a hard fought four point win.

Dale "Diesel" Williams contributed to this report.

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