Prior to the Middle Division Championship game, both the VIKINGS and the GIANTS were miffed with my playoff predictions that called for the top-seeded teams to lose before reaching the big dance. Apparently my prediction served as effective bulletin board material for the VIKINGS as they put on a show in their 19-8 win over the GIANTS.

At first the G-MEN looked poised to deliver an upset against the league’s only undefeated team. On the VIKES’ opening possession GIANTS’ Rusher Nico Mowod sacked the VIKINGS’ Cole Sterrett to take a 2-0 lead.

Unfortunately for the GIANTS their star player Toi Brown reaggravated a hip injury that forced him to sit out for the rest of the game. Without the services of their primary playmaker, the G-MEN struggled to keep pace with VIKINGS offensively.

The VIKINGS quickly scored 19 unanswered points to open up a commanding 19-2 lead at halftime. Julian Psilos ran for a touchdown and scored on a pick-6 interception. In addition Michael Schanck scored on a handoff from Sterrett. As Brown writhed in pain on the sideline GIANTS Coach Sean Farr tried his best to keep his team’s spirit up.

Despite facing a virtually insurmountable deficit, given how dominant the VIKINGS have been throughout the regular season when leading by three possessions, the GIANTS responded with a touchdown drive of their own. Yusuf Mendosa Jr. stepped big time in Brown’s absence. The young man scored on a big rushing play to cut the VIKINGS lead to 19-8.

After getting a stop on the VIKINGS’ next possession, the GIANTS drove all the way down the field for a touchdown. Unfortunately, the TD was called back because of an offensive penalty. The voided TD seemed to take the life out of the GIANTS, as they missed out on an opportunity to potentially cut the lead to 19-16 pending a successful two-point conversion.

No one can or should take anything away from the VIKINGS’ championship because they earned their trophies; however, one can only wonder if the game’s outcome would have remained the same had Brown been able to finish the game.