Weekend predictions and final standings:
Sat 5/13:
Hawks 12-3 Team 91
True 6-3 BLC (assuming out-of-staters aren't at this game, if they are then margin will be larger)
Madlax 8-4 Crabs
FCA 10-5 NL
Sun 5/14
Hawks 11-5 Crabs
Madlax 6-3 True
NL 8-3 BLC
Final Standings:
1. Hawks 7-0
2. FCA 6-1
3. Madlax 5-2
4. True 3-4
5. Next Level 3-4
6. Crabs 2-5
7. BLC 1-6
8. Team 91 1-6
Playoffs: Hawks vs True; FCA vs Madlax
True finishes with the same record as NL but gets the last playoff spot due to head-to-head versus NL. If True beats Madlax they would jump to third place and Madlax would drop to fourth. No way NL makes the playoffs unless they pull the upset versus FCA. FCA likely looking forward to getting revenge on the team that beat them in the championship last year. Anything can happen in the playoffs but looks like we're heading for an FCA vs Hawks championship game and if I'm betting my money is on Hawks.
End of season observations:
-Hawks: Continues playoff streak and will likely win it all. May add/drop players at the margins but this is a strong squad. This club continues to set the standard in the DMV at multiple grad years.
-FCA: Offense hitting on all cylinders but leaky in the back and it will likely cost them versus Hawks. Will look to strengthen defense.
-Madlax: Strong defense but punchless at attack. Limited use of bench means more players will be looking to move on to greener pastures. Difficult to recruit attacking talent given the team atmosphere/culture.
-True: Don't know what to write here. What is the actual composition of this team? Is flying in out-of-towners every weekend for HOCO spring games a sustainable model? Will local Maryland players head for the exits? If everything plays out as predicted they'll make the playoffs so will be able to claim success regardless of what other disgruntled parents say.
-Next Level: Big fall for the defending champs and parents need to looking at the coaching--did last summer's new players actually strengthen the team? Why is the offense so anemic? Why isn't the offense sharing the ball? How come dense penalties continue to hurt the team? No coach gets less results out of more talent than DM.
-Crabs: The usual Crabs model of flooding the zone with giant holdbacks either didn't happen this year, or happened but was ineffective. Expect more reclasses next year and a playoff push.
-BLC: Win over Team 91 in OT last week ensures another year of survival in Elite. Will be looking to add unhappy players from Madlax, Next Level and True to the new DC Express team. Showed glimpses of talent all over the field but serious weakness at faceoff and clearing meant that they were playing defense nearly 95% of every game. Will be looking to win 3-4 games next year and make a playoff push.
-Team 91: Welcome to Elite--tough baptism. Similar to BLC, will be looking to upgrade from other teams' refugees. Depending on whether this season's AAA champion (Team Maryland? FCA White?) wants to play Elite, maybe facing a preseason playoff for the final 2024 Elite spot.
Congrats to everyone on this penultimate HOCO season for the 2028s. I'll miss all of you when it's over. | 
