PANTHERS HEAD TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
- Updated: January 13, 2014
DELAND, FLORIDA- After a championship run in the New England Football League, the Connecticut Panthers head to Deland, Florida on their quest to be the top team in the country.
The Panthers will take on the Heartland Football League (HFL) champion Columbus (OH) Fire on January 19th for the Palm Bowl-NFE AAA National Championship. &ldquot;We clearly have our work cut out for us&rdquot; said Panthers Derek Bortz. The Fire powered through the HFL with a 12-0 undefeated season with wins over national powers such as the Indianapolis Tornados and the Oklahoma Thunder. After week 8 of their regular season, the Fire was ranked the #1 team in the country by the American Football News.
The Panthers will be the second consecutive NEFL team heading to a National Championship. Last season the Western Mass Warriors concluded an undefeated season defeating the New York Predators for the USFA National Championship. &ldquot;Some leagues go years without a team playing for a national crown&rdquot; said NEFL representative Bernie Armstrong, &ldquot; to have two different teams in back to back years make the trip says a lot about the competition in the NEFL.
The Panthers defeated the Maine Sabers in the NEFL AAA Championship and then outlasted the Syracuse Shock 20-16 in the Northeast Regional Championships which paved their way to the Palm Bowl. &ldquot;It's been nearly 6 weeks since we played against the Shock&rdquot; said Bortz, &ldquot;we've used this time to get a lot of guys healthy and prepare for one of the best teams in the country&rdquot;.
