RFFL Bowl XXix
139.72
THE SALSA DYNASTY
Historic Performance from Derrick Henry Leads the Salsa to Back-to-Back RFFL Championships in RFFL Bowl XXIX Victory
94.18
Behind two standout performances the San Antonio Salsa successful defending their crown defeating the Arizona Scorpions in RFFL Bowl XXIX for their second consecutive RFFL championship and an unheard-of dynasty with three titles in four years as The Ray stays in Brookville, PA.
The Salsa built a big lead early and completed the job to win 139.72 to 94.18. The lead was built by RB Derrick Henry (pictured right) on Friday night. The Salsa’s first round pick at number six overall scored early and often as he gutted the Packers defense to the tune of 216 rushing yards and four touchdowns to post a fantasy score of 45.60 points. It was Henry’s top point total of the season and overall was the second highest output overall by a player all season. If you’re going to have your best game of the year by a wide margin, the RFFL Bowl is the time to do that.
Derrick Henry ran wild for 216 yards on route to RFFL Bowl XXIX MVP
Henry’s 45.60-point outburst earned him RFFL Bowl XXIX MVP honors for the first time of his career. Henry’s 45.60-point total was also the most points scored by a player in RFFL Bowl history. He becomes the 8th running back to win RFFL Bowl MVP in 29 seasons and the first one since RB Rashaad Penny won it in RFFL Bowl XXV.
“The word dynasty is invoked far too casually in the modern era, its meaning diluted by overuse and unearned application. A true dynasty is not a momentary triumph, but sustained excellence—dominance maintained year after year, superiority proven repeatedly in the face of all challengers and all circumstances,” Dr. Leight stated following the win as he gave us a history lesson on dynasties.
He continued: “If the term is to retain any meaning at all, it must be reserved for the San Antonio Salsa. Three championships in four seasons, including an emphatic back-to-back in 2024 and 2025, constitute greatness so overwhelming that denial itself borders on the absurd. The San Antonio Salsa reign supreme over every facet of fantasy football: the draft room, the waiver wire, roster construction and the deeper understanding of the game that separates contenders from pretenders. The San Antonio Salsa are not merely the most successful franchise in RFFL history—they are its defining standard. All other teams exist in comparison, and all comparisons end the same way. As the San Antonio Salsa raise The Ray aloft for the fifth time, let the doubters fall silent and the faithful give voice. The era is no longer in question. The dynasty stands. The World Champion San Antonio Salsa reign.”
Arizona did enjoy an early and small 7.80 to 6.30 lead thanks to WR George Pickens outscoring WR Terry McLaurin on Christmas day. Rookie RB Omarion Hampton added on 12 points on the early game Friday to give the Scorpions the biggest lead they would see leading up to Henry’s historic outing.
The Salsa signed Brock Purdy the day before the game and he rewarded Dr. Leight with 5 TDs
The Salsa would continue to add on throughout Sunday’s slate of games. RB Jonathan Taylor, who was the only player to have a better point total in a game over Henry (46.60 pts in Week 10), was a horse all season for San Antonio and scored 14.40 points in the RFFL Bowl. And WR Chris Olave, who finished as WR6 on the season, finished his stellar season with 17.90 points for the Salsa. TE Juwan Johnson added 9.50 points while the flex RBs Michael Carter and Kenneth Gainwell mustered just 4.30 points and 3.80 points, respectively. Dr. Leight picked up QB Brock Purdy (pictured left) literally on Saturday and Purdy delivered with his game of the year as well. Purdy threw three TDs and ran for two more on Sunday Night Football to post 37.92 points to put the game out of reach.
And with the result not in doubt, the Rams defense logged a zero on Monday Night Football to give the Salsa the final score of 139.72. That total is the second highest team
total in RFFL Bowl history coming up just short of the Toronto Storm’s 140 in RFFL Bowl XX.
The Salsa followed a very similar path to last year’s run to the championship. They didn’t win the Favre Division last year or this year and qualified for the postseason as the No. 4 seed with an 8-6 record while last year they were 7-7 and the No. 4 seed as well. They did not enjoy a first-round bye for the second straight year and had to defeat the No. 5 seed in Week 15 and then defeat the No. 1 seed in the semifinals to punch their ticket to the RFFL Bowl.
They also used a similar path via the draft by drafting RB Saquon Barkley last year at the end of the first round and watching him go scorched Earth to end up the RB 1 on the season. This year, they drafted RB Jonathan Taylor in the 2nd round, and he finished as RB 1 as well. Draft the undervalued RB who ends up being RB 1 and get hot at playoff time seems to have worked out well for Dr. Leight these past two seasons.
The Scorpions did their best to rally and mount a comeback on Sunday. RB Rhamondre Stevenson got the start over rookie RB Woody Marks and ran wild for two scores to finish with 22.20 points in his best outing of the season. Fantasy’s number one QB in 2025 Josh Allen didn’t have his best game but finished with 24.18 points. RB De’Von Achane scored 11.20 points in one of his worst games of the season. Acquired midseason in a trade with Mexico City AFC, RB Saquon Barkley did not get it done with just 6.80 points against the Bills finishing as RB 13 after leading the Salsa to the RFFL title last season.
Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka really fell off after a hot start to the season and that continued in RFFL Bowl XXIX as he managed just 20 yards on three catches for a measly 2.00 points. TE George Kittle ended up missing this game which was a blow to the Scorpions especially when they were facing Purdy in a game where he went off. To replace Kittle at tight end, Arizona went with the high ceiling of a Taysom Hill, but it was not to be as Hill finished with zero. The Patriots defense added 8.00 points to round out the scoring for the Scorpions at 94.18 points.
It was another painful loss for Scorpions owner Ryan Alexander who has not won The Ray in 13 years going way back to Year 17 to find their last championship. Since winning that season, Alexander and the Scorpions have lost four RFFL Bowls in that time including losing to San Antonio and Dr. Leight back in RFFL Bowl XXI. The Scorpions did however rewrite part of the record book when they broke the single-game points total in Week 10 with an absurd 165.24 to pass Ian Holtzman’s previous record of 165 points from Year 19.
For Dr. Leight and his Salsa, however, the season once again ends in jubilation, confetti, parade celebrations, monetary rewards and major hardware. The Salsa will go into Year 30 with the chance to three-peat, a feat no one has managed to accomplish in RFFL history. Congrats to the Salsa on a historic run and another championship season!
SAN ANTONIO
QB Brock Purdy
RB Derrick Henry
RB Jonathan Taylor
RB Kenneth Gainwell
RB Michael Carter
WR Chris Olave
WR Terry McLaurin
TE Juwan Johnson
D LA Rams
37.92
45.60
14.40
3.80
4.30
17.90
6.30
9.50
0.00
ARIZONA
QB Josh Allen
RB De'Von Achane
RB Saquon Barkley
RB Rhamondre Stevenson
RB Omarion Hampton
WR George Pickens
WR Emeka Egbuka
TE Taysom Hill
D New England
24.1811.20
6.80
22.20
12.00
7.80
2.00
0.00
8.00
MVP
RB Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
(216 rushing yards, 4 rushing TDs)