Amateur to Professional Developmental Football League

12 May 2021
By; APDFL Staff Writer

Jacksonville, FL – With only three weeks remaining in the regular season, the post-season standings are beginning to shape up. 7 teams in each conference will advance to the post-season in 2021, sending the remaining 14 teams into off-season mode. Let’s take a look at the present standings.

The Eastern Conference presently still remains wide open. 2021 has seen the toughest level of competition the East has seen to date.
#1. Unconquered Cobras (8-0) - The 2019 conference champions, Unconquered Cobras, presently hold a 1 game lead in the east. To ensure home field advantage throughout the playoffs and a first round bye, they need to ensure they are victorious in their final two games.

#2. Columbus Storm (6-1) – Storm have been an unexpected surprise thus far this season. Presently tied for the #2 seed in the east, they will need to continue to be victorious if they want to hold onto this spot or possibly move into the #1 seed. They still have the possibility of finishing the regular season as high as #1 or as low as #4.

#2. Alabama Blackhawks (6-1) – Blackhawks are in a very similar position as the Storm. Presently sitting at the #2 spot with 3 games remaining on their schedule, anything can happen. If they are to win out, and the Cobras drop one of their two final games, that Blackhawks could find themselves in control of the east. It’s just too early to go that deep into the tie breaker.

#4. Tuskegee Ayrmen (6-2) – Ayrmen presently maintain the #4 seed. If they are to win their final two games, they would finish the season at 8-2 and not only increase their position in the post-season, but would also guarantee that the Storm could not finish the season any higher than 3rd.

#5. Georgia Thrashers (5-3) – Thrashers are coming off of back-to-back loses that may have taken a toll on their post season standings. With one of their remaining two games a guaranteed win, they should be able to complete the season at 7-3 as they are sure to be highly favored in this weekends contest. Having loss their 3 games to the top 3 teams in the east, they will need the Ayrmen to lose in their final two games to improve on their present playoff position.

#6. Metro Atlanta Horsemen (5-3-1) – Horsemen record simply doesn’t tell their story. They could easily be sitting at 7-2 at this point however, a front office hiccup, along with mother nature, has complicated things a bit for them. With the Thrashers holding the head-to-head match up, the Horsemen will be looking for losses by both the Ayrmen and Thrashers if they are to advance their playoff position. A loss in their final contest of the regular season, and a win by the Predators along with Phantoms winning out, would bring their post-season dreams to a close.

#7. East Alabama Predators (5-4) – Predators had a slow start to the season but have since come on strong. A loss in their final match-up of the season could be problematic while a win would put them in a great position for the final seed in the east and would most likely eliminate the Phantoms from playoff contention. They presently hold the tie breaker over the Tigers.

#8. Orlando Phantoms (3-4) – For the Phantoms it’s pretty simple. For starters, it’s one game at a time and each one of them must be a victory. Coming up short in either of their final three games would make it hard for them to make the post-season. If they are to advance, #7 appears to be the highest seed they could obtain.

#9. Steel City Raptors (2-3-1) – Raptors biggest issue at this point isn’t their record but the number of games completed. However, they still do have a chance at the post-season pending the outcome of their final three games. Sure to finish the season with 9 games played, they have the ability to move up in the post-season rankings as high as 6th. To do so they will need to win out and get some assistance from others.

#10. Georgia Noles (3-5) – As hard as it may seem, the Noles still have some hope in making the post-season. To do so they will first need to win their remaining games and will need to obtain a great deal of assistance from others. They presently hold the tie breaker over the Predators.

#11. Atlanta Tigers (3-5) – Just as with the Noles, the Tigers do still have a slight chance of making it to the post-season. To do so however, they will need to win their final two games and get a great deal of assistance from others. They presently hold the tie breaker over the Noles.

Georgia Crushers, Selma City Vikings, Garden City Seahawks, and Alabama Wolfpack presently find themselves preparing for the off-season. Crushers and Vikings are both in a position to spoil the hopes of some as they continue to fight for respect and standings. Crusaders finish their season against both the Thrashers and Cobras. Victories over both, or either one, would be a highlight on their season and would effect their opponents post-season position. Vikings will face the Raptors in their final game of the season and with a victory could possibly eliminate them from post-season play.

We would like to also announce that both APDFL East Championship teams will be invited to participate in the 2021 Tournament of Champions. Another great event as we enter the 2021 post-season.