Dru: King Of The BFL

Atlanta, GA - January 26, 2003

The toughest part about the Dru - DC matchup was knowing that both of these ballers were trying to exorcise the same demons from past seasons, and only one would emerge successful. Dru, made it to the BFL Superbowl last season only to be shellacked by the young gun, Corey Arnold. Despite the blowout loss, word spread rapidly about the tenacious and aggressive style of play Dis Dru brought to the table. In a matter of months he had earned the respect of other top MWS ballers such as Lou Tillery and DC. Building this type of reputation immediately made Dru one of the favorites going into Nationals IV in Los Angeles. After totally dominating his round robin and earning an overall number 3 seed, Dru was shockingly bounced from the tournament in the first round on survivor Sunday by Zulu. The loss sent Dru reeling and back to Atlanta embarrassed and disappointed by his early Nationals exit after so many high expectations. It also sent Dru back into the lab this season with a determination that he has never had before.

The word on Dru was he had excellent stick control and great blitz packages. But his coaching ability was suspect. This didn't sit well with the proud diminutive one. So Dru made a commitment this BFL season to shed the image of just a guy with great stick execution and pressure. He wanted to focus on becoming more of a complete player. Saturday, he faced the ultimate test exorcising 3 demons from the past in route to claiming his first BFL crown in a 17-14 thriller over DC

Dis Dru: New King Of The BFL

Dru's first task was to get past his first round opponent Fred Lewis, who carries the nick name "Upsetter." Lewis is a good baller by all accounts, but certainly not considered to be as consistent as some of the BFL's elite. However, while he may not be the most consistent, he may be the most feared baller come playoff time. Lewis has the uncanny ability of upsetting top seeds in the playoffs, having done it the past three straight years. It was Lewis that took out the top ranked DC in the first round of the playoffs last year. It was also Lewis that halted D.C.'s unbeaten streak earlier in the season. And Dru went into the first round Saturday knowing that his first game was his biggest game. "The Tampa Bay defense concerns me,"Dru stated. "I always seem to have a matchup problem with them." Well he didn't have any problems with the Bucs or Lewis on this days as he won easily 37-13.

It was then off to face the stubborn Jamie and the Falcons. Jamie AKA The Quiet Storm, knocked off the #2 seed in the NFC, Rookie of the Year and Coach Of The Year Mookie by the score of 30-10. The upset minded Falcons were looking to move to the NFC championship game with a win, however, Dru prevailed in a close 24-14 win.

Next it was off to exorcise his biggest demon Corey "The Young Gun." Corey, the 20 year old defending champion lambasted Dru in BFL Superbowl XII to steal the hardware from the heavily favored Dru last season, putting a 70 spot on Dru's Bengals in the process. Earlier this season, Dru had been unstoppable, totally dominating all of his opponents, and was undefeated....until he ran into Corey in the regular season. A was like a deja vu from the Superbowl as Corey shellacked Dru again 70-24. Now he faced Corey for a third time, this time for the right to go to the Superbowl. It was a matchup of titanic proportions.

Corey had just defeated Winky White in a rematch from last seasons NFC Championship game. Now the young gun was only one step away from returning to the Superbowl for the second consecutive year. The two slugged it out early, exchanging blows throughout the first half. The mind games intensified when Dru, trailing 7-0 scored to tie the game. Following the score, Dru stood up on Corey and exclaimed "you wanted me, you got me....ain't go be no 70 point up in here today." The crowd of 50 plus at the Miller Dome erupted as the two youngest ballers in the league stood toe to toe with one another.

Following that exchange, Corey answered with a score of his own, and the usually mild mannered one returned the gesture proclaiming to Dru "here I am! You want some, here I am!" The room was electric and the intensity mounted. Unfortunately once Corey tied the game at 21, it was all she wrote for the defending champ. Dru took control of the game with an interception that he converted into a TD, followed by a well executed scoring drive that was littered with an exhibition of stick control unmatched by anyone in the room on this day.

During his half time interview, Dru mentioned that he wanted to take theng kick off, put together a scoring drive an go up by 21 to take control of the game. And that is exactly what he did. Soon, it was Corey who got out of his game and turned one dimensional, going to the air consistently. This allowed Dru to pin his ears back and tee off on the Vikes. Corey, the #2 rusher in the BFL averaging 140 YPG in the regular season, had been reduced by Dru to a pass drunk desperado with no answers for the Eagles tenacious defense. Two monkeys down, one to go.

Prior to his Superbowl game with DC, Dru stated, "I'm really focused Swammi. I'm out to show the world that Dis Dru can coach. I want to erase the memories from a bad nationals by winning this championship today." And focused he was. The usually animated Dru was calm, soft spoken and determined.

Prior to the Championship Games The BFL presented their 2003 League Awards. And as Dru accepted his division championship trophy, his offensive player of the year trophy, and his defensive player of the year trophy, you could see the determination in his eyes. You could see that while he was glad to have won those awards, it was not what the ultimate goal was. He was there for what every baller in the league dreams of winning, but only one could lay claim to. The coveted BFL title. And now, he had only one more demon to exorcise. His task would be no easy one. He would have to face the #1 scoring offense and the #1 scoring defense in the AFC, the MWS #10 ranked DC

3 Time BFL Runner Up DC

DC was trying to get his own monkey off his back. This would be his 3rd Superbowl appearance. Yet, he had not one title to show for it. Yet both ballers need to get the proverbial monkey off their backs. Only one would would be able to shed that dreaded varmint.

After putting up 56 and 63 points respectively in their conference championship games,DC and Dru treated the crowd of 50 plus in the Miller Dome to a thrilling.......7-3 half-time score? These two offensive juggernauts, both #1 in their conference in scoring offense, could only muster 10 points between the two of them? Let's not forget however, they also have two of the top defenses int he league as well. And what was witness was an incredible exhibition of coaching, defensive adjustments, and chess on the grid iron as both of the ballers went head to head for the BFL Terry Harps Superbowl Trophy.

In the second half both teams made their adjustment and early in the 3rd quarter the fireworks began with Dru taking a 10-7 lead. DC answered right back to go up 14-10. Back came Dru to make it 17-14 late in the third quarter. That capped the scoring for the remainder of the game, as Dru played clock management and great defense to hold on to get the win.

Finally, it was over. Finally he did it.And he did it just the way he needed to. With great coaching down the stretch of the game, making excellent adjustments in the second half. Meanwhile for DC, while Dru was celebrating, he walked off the scene quietly into the back room. It was another excruciating loss. Another painful reminder of just how heavy that monkey has become. One baller celebrating, gathering all of the well deserved praise and accolades from his peers. The other, frustrated with the thought of being the bridesmaid once again.

Nevertheless, D.C is class in victory and class in defeat. While most ballers would have packed up and left the premises, DC had his private moment, and was no sooner congratulating Dru and the two ballers were sharing their opinions on what they thought were the keys to the game. During that conversation you could see the mutual respect and admiration that the two had for each other. It was as beautiful a moment as you could see after such an intense battle. Dru and DC showed that you leave the emotions, in the words of EA, "In The Game." While the friendship, adoration and respect remains with one another outside of the game. If more of us could adapt that principal wouldn't the MWS powerful.

Dru vows that he will further focus on improving his approach to the game from a coaching aspect in preparation for Nationals. And if he applies the energy to this goal as he did his BFL title quest, the Madden Community should be prepared to deal with the new BFL King. For he will be a force to be reckoned with.