By Tom O’Brien
NEFJ Correspondent

MALDEN – The regular season for ‘The League’ came to a close this weekend after another strong slate of games, with the championship games being slated for Saturday morning.

“Another three competitive games down to the wire with one play here and one play there,” said The League founder Mike Willey. “Great improvement from week to week and good game film for these guys.”

The first game of the day was the Metrowest Maulers and the Southeast Cobras.

The Maulers came up empty on the game’s opening possession.

The Cobras marched right down the field, capping off the drive with a six-yard touchdown run from Cobras running back Gavin Backus. On the next Maulers drive, Maulers safety Johnny Heller picked off Cobras quarterback Zack Camara.

A few plays later, Maulers quarterback Jace Lyons hit a wide open Finnegan Readon for the 18-yard score, extending the lead. Aiden Williams put the Cobras on the board with a 53-yard touchdown late in the game. The Maulers fumbled, but the Cobra’s turned it over on downs.

The Maulers ran out the clock to win game one of the day.

The second game up was the Boston Junkyard Dogs and the Maulers. The Junkyard Dogs put the hammer down early as Dogs running back Christian Flores took it 55-yards to the house.

“It was a zone play, and I just took it,” said Dogs running back Christian Flores.

Flores ran it in again from a yard out after the Maulers fumbled on their next possession.

After each team came up empty, the Dogs struck again when running back Colin Hoffman ran it in for a 51-yard touchdown.

Both teams turned it over on downs on their next possessions and the Dogs ate enough clock to win game two.

The last game of the day and the fifth regular season of The League was the Junkyard Dogs and the Cobras.

The game was a defensive stalemate throughout most of the contest.

With under two-minutes remaining, wide receiver Ryan Kelley made the catch of the year from 17-yards out to put the Dogs up very late in the game.

“Brother to brother connection. Little bit of misdirection and I went for it,” said wide receiver Ryan Kelley.

The Maulers had one last chance to respond and quickly drove inside the Dogs 15-yard line, but were not able to convert, and the Dogs held on for another victory.

“All roads lead to the championship, so next Saturday it’ll be a throw down showdown,” Willey added.

“Let’s see who’s the top dog.”