Tuesday, December 10th, 2024

After 14 weeks of intense competition, the HLC regular season has concluded, and the playoff field is officially set. Week 14 brought drama, heartbreak, and heroics as teams battled for the final spot in the postseason. While the Rockport Leatherheads, Jaybirds, and New Mexico Lobos had already secured their playoff berths, the final wildcard spot came down to the wire. In the end, the Austin Tourists claimed the fourth and final postseason ticket, edging out the red-hot Tortilla Flats Troubadours due to tiebreakers.

The Troubs’ late-season surge—winning five straight games—made them one of the league’s most exciting teams down the stretch, but their identical 7-7 record with Austin wasn’t enough, as the Tourists’ superior Points For (PF) secured them the spot. Meanwhile, the New Mexico Lobos made a statement with a record-breaking 183.22 points, showing they are more than ready for another championship push. As we head into the playoffs, let’s recap the final week of the regular season and look ahead to the matchups that will determine the next HLC champion.

Week 14 Game Recaps

The Austin Tourists entered Week 14 knowing they controlled their own destiny, and they delivered their best performance of the season, defeating the top-seeded Rockport Leatherheads 176-102. QB Josh Allen was unstoppable, racking up a staggering 51 fantasy points with 342 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 82 rushing yards, and three rushing touchdowns. Last second pickup RB Isaac Guerendo added a surprising 26 points, while RB Josh Jacobs contributed 24 points in a well-rounded effort. For Rockport, QB Tua Tagovailoa (23 points) and WR Cooper Kupp (20 points) put up respectable numbers, but the Leatherheads, already locked into the #1 seed, didn’t match the Tourists’ intensity. The win clinched Austin’s playoff spot, sending them to the postseason for the third consecutive year.

In a spoiler role, the i2^3∑π ended the San Antonio Tacos’ playoff hopes with a 146-87 victory. WR Puka Nacua was the star of the game, exploding for 41 points, while WR Justin Jefferson added 32 points. The Tacos, who needed a win and help to make the playoffs, couldn’t find their rhythm. RB Kyren Williams contributed 23 points, but QB Baker Mayfield’s 19 points weren’t enough to keep them competitive. The loss capped a disappointing season for the Tacos, who finished 6-8 despite flashes of promise.

The New Mexico Lobos delivered a historic performance in Week 14, defeating the Michiana Muskellunge 183-96 and setting the highest single-game score of the season. WR Ja’Marr Chase was electric with 45 points, while RB Zach Charbonnet added 38 points in a breakout game. QB Jalen Hurts chipped in 24 points, highlighting the Lobos’ offensive firepower. For Michiana, WR Tyreek Hill (28 points) was a bright spot, but the defending champions finished a dismal 1-13 season, a far cry from their 2023 championship run.

The Tortilla Flats Troubadours continued their incredible late-season run, defeating the Jaybirds 148-114 for their fifth consecutive win. WR Christian Brown led the way with 24 points, while RB Bijan Robinson added 20 points. The Jaybirds, who had already clinched the East Division, couldn’t quite match the Troubs’ intensity. QB Joe Burrow (24 points) and TE George Kittle (21 points) contributed solid performances, but the loss had no impact on the standings. Despite their strong finish, the Troubadours narrowly missed the playoffs due to tiebreakers, ending their season with a bittersweet 7-7 record.

Player of the Week: QB Josh Allen, Austin Tourists

Josh Allen delivered one of the most dominant performances in HLC history in Week 14. He threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, rushed for 82 yards and three more touchdowns, and finished with a staggering 51.88 fantasy points. His heroics not only secured the Tourists’ playoff spot but also served as a reminder of why he’s one of the league’s most valuable players.

Final Regular Season Standings

HLC East

  1. Jaybirds (10-4, Clinched Division)
  2. Austin Tourists (7-7, Clinched Playoffs)
  3. San Antonio Tacos (6-8)
  4. Michiana Muskellunge (1-13)

HLC West

  1. Rockport Leatherheads (10-4, Clinched Division)
  2. New Mexico Lobos (9-5, Clinched Playoffs)
  3. Tortilla Flats Troubadours (7-7))
  4. i2^3∑π Robots (6-8)

Final Regular Season Power Rankings

  1. Rockport Leatherheads (Preseason: 8th) – The Leatherheads’ meteoric rise from last place in the preseason rankings to the #1 seed was the story of the regular season.
  2. Jaybirds (Preseason: 7th) – The Jaybirds overcame a shaky start to finish with a division title and remain a championship threat.
  3. New Mexico Lobos (Preseason: 2nd) – The Lobos enter the playoffs as the hottest team in the league after their record-breaking Week 14.
  4. Austin Tourists (Preseason: 6th) – The Tourists rode Josh Allen’s brilliance to clinch a playoff spot and have momentum on their side.

Playoff Preview: Winner’s Bracket

Austin Tourists at Rockport Leatherheads

  • Season series: Split 1-1 (Rockport won 126-114 in Week 7; Austin won 176-102 in Week 14).
  • Storyline: This matchup pits a team making its first playoff appearance, the Rockport Leatherheads, against a franchise desperate to shake its reputation as a perennial third-place finisher, the Austin Tourists. Austin enters with momentum, having posted their highest score of the season in Week 14 against Rockport. Josh Allen leads the charge for the Tourists, fresh off a jaw-dropping 51 point performance, while RBs Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry bolster their backfield. Rockport, however, has been one of the league’s most consistent teams all season, finishing first in the standings and displaying a balanced roster. TE Brock Bowers has been a revelation, and QB Tua Tagovailoa will need to regain his early-season form to fend off a Tourists team playing with confidence. Will Rockport’s storybook season continue, or will Austin finally break through to reach the championship game?

New Mexico Lobos at Jaybirds

  • Season series: Jaybirds swept the Lobos, 2-0 (141-131 in Week 5; 146-126 in Week 12).
  • Storyline: This heavyweight clash features the league’s most consistent playoff team, the New Mexico Lobos, against the East Division champions, the Jaybirds. The Lobos enter the playoffs red-hot, having set the highest single-game score of the season in Week 14, led by WR Ja’Marr Chase, RB Zach Charbonnet, and QB Jalen Hurts. They’ll need all hands on deck to avenge two regular-season losses to the Jaybirds, who have relied on steady contributions from QB Joe Burrow, RB Saquon Barkley, and TE George Kittle. The Jaybirds have never reached the championship game but are coming off their first division title since 2022. Can they overcome their postseason struggles and take down a Lobos team looking for their third straight championship game appearance? Or will the Lobos’ explosive roster continue their quest for a second league title?

Playoff Preview: Consolation Bracket

i2^3∑π at Tortilla Flats Troubadours

  • Season series: Split 1-1 (Robots won 114-102 in Week 3; Troubs won 162-126 in Week 10).
  • Storyline: Both teams came heartbreakingly close to playoff berths, but they’ll now play for pride in the Consolation Ladder. The Robots leaned on WR Puka Nacua and WR Justin Jefferson in Week 14, showing they have the firepower to challenge anyone. Meanwhile, the Troubadours enter this matchup on a five-game win streak, with QB Lamar Jackson, RB Bijan Robinson, and WR Christian Brown leading the way. The Troubs will be looking to prove they were one of the best teams in the league despite missing the playoffs, while the Robots will aim to finish strong and set the tone for next season.

Michiana Muskellunge at San Antonio Tacos

  • Season series: Tacos swept the Muskies, 2-0 (121-64 in Week 3; 101-90 in Week 10).
  • Storyline: The defending champion Muskies have endured a nightmare season, but they’ll look to end on a high note against a Tacos team that fell short of expectations. WR Tyreek Hill has been a lone bright spot for Michiana, consistently delivering elite performances despite the team’s struggles. Meanwhile, the Tacos will rely on the dynamic play of RB Kyren Williams and WR Ladd McConkey to complete their season sweep of the Muskellunge. Both teams are playing for pride, with this matchup serving as an opportunity to salvage momentum heading into the offseason. However, the Muskies have already secured a bittersweet consolation prize: clinching the first overall pick in the 2025 HLC draft—a small silver lining in an otherwise forgettable campaign.

Playoff History

  • Austin Tourists: After back-to-back third-place finishes in 2022 and 2023, Austin is determined to advance past the first round for the first time in franchise history. Their postseason woes have been well-documented, but they’ve never entered the playoffs with this much momentum.
  • Jaybirds: The Jaybirds haven’t reached the playoffs since 2022, when they lost in the first round to the Lobos. Now back in the postseason as division champions, they’re eager to make their first championship game appearance and live up to their potential.
  • New Mexico Lobos: The Lobos are the league’s gold standard for postseason success, with appearances in the last two championship games and a title in 2022. Their explosive roster makes them a dangerous opponent as they aim for a third straight trip to the Big Game.
  • Rockport Leatherheads: The Leatherheads are making their playoff debut after a remarkable turnaround season. As the #1 seed, they have a chance to cap off their incredible run with a championship, cementing themselves as one of the league’s elite teams.

With compelling storylines, grudge matches, and redemption arcs, the HLC playoffs are set to deliver unforgettable moments. Will the Tourists break their first-round curse? Can the Jaybirds soar to new heights? Will the Lobos claim their second championship in three years? Or will the Leatherheads’ magical season have a storybook ending? The road to the title begins now—let the games begin!