Unicorns picked to finish first in Pony Conference

Unicorns picked to finish first in Pony Conference

Staff Reports
Ponyville Express
July 24, 2016

It's official: M.A. Larson's Twilight Sparkle Unicorns are picked to finish first in the Pony Conference, earning a full 180 points in the new combined Coaches and Media Poll. Twilight, who changed their team name back to the Unicorns at the request of the founder herself, are led by quarterback Marcus Bentley, who passed for 2155 yards and 22 touchdowns last season. Halfback Greg Gibbs had 1027 yards and 17 touchdowns to his credit, while Dafydd Webster has 717 receiving yards and nine scores. As is the case with this team, they have the toughest schedule in all of college football, with every opponent nationally ranked.

The Applejack State Appleknockers earned 150 points to finish second and come into 2016 as the #2-ranked team in the country. Quarterback San Houston passed for 1509 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing just one interceptions all year. Halfback Mat Caldwell ran for 947 yards and 19 scores last season, while receiver Branch Archer had 12 receiving touchdowns. 

The Pinkie Pie Major Trouble, always a tough opponent to solve at the newly-renamed Sugarcube Corner Stadium, are third with 120 points. Quarterback Patrick Woodard had 2663 passing yards and 33 touchdowns to his credit last season. Halfback Rich Ratliff ran for 1025 yards and 10 scores in 2015. Wideout Joey Pollock caught 56 passes for 867 yards and 14 majors.

The hope at the University in the Sky, Rainbow Dash University, is that Nobody Beats The Dash. The Rainbows were picked fourth in the poll with 90 points. Last year, quarterback John Paul Jones passed for 2073 yards and 24 touchdowns. Halfback Dino Merlin ran for 613 yards and 14 scores, while wide receiver Eric Saade had 74 receptions for 1453 yards and 16 touchdowns. One of the conference's top tacklers, linebacker Emils Balceris, has 27 tackles to lead the way for the Dash.

The Fluttershy Spirit, with 60 points, were picked to finish fifth in the conference. Quarterback Carl "Cole" Porter was a workhorse, with 3,183 passing yards and 46 touchdowns. Halfback Drew Flanagan ran for 849 yards and 13 scores while wide receiver James Dickers caught 56 passes for 956 yards and 17 majors.

With just 30 points, the Rarity Royals are picked to finish last in the PonyCon this year. Quarterback Andrew Maynard passed for 2922 yards and 35 touchdowns last season. Halfback Clifford Witherspoon ran for 1141 yards and 18 touchdowns, while wideout Mark Waters caught 66 passes for 1178 yards and 14 majors. Witherspoon was also the team's top tackler, with 24 tackles to his credit.

Poll Results:

Twilight Sparkle 180
Applejack State 150
Pinkie Pie 120
Rainbow Dash 90
Fluttershy 60
Rarity 30


Schedules:

Twilight Sparkle Unicorns
8/27 #6 Notre Dame
9/3 at #7 Ohio State
9/10 #8 Ole Miss
9/13 #14 Alabama
9/24 at #10 Oregon
10/1 #17 Florida State
10/8 #15 Texas
11/5 at #9 Fluttershy
11/12 #3 Pinkie Pie
11/19 at #4 Rainbow Dash
11/16 at #2 Applejack State
12/3 #11 Rarity

Applejack State Appleknockers
9/3 Georgia Southern
9/10 at Missouri
9/24 Akron
10/1 Arkansas
10/8 Fresno State
10/22 at #9 Fluttershy
10/27 at #3 Pinkie Pie
11/5 Idaho State
11/12 The Citadel
11/15 #11 Rarrity
11/26 #1 Twilight Sparkle
12/3 #4 Rainbow Dash

Pinkie Pie Major Trouble
9/4 at Oklahoma State
9/10 Illinois
9/17 Tulsa
9/24 Temple
9/27 Arkansas State
10/22 #4 Rainbow Dash
10/27 #2 Applejack State
11/5 at #11 Rarity
11/12 at #1 Twilight Sparkle
11/19 Western Illinois
11/26 Furman
12/3 #9 Fluttershy

Rainbow Dash Rainbows
9/3 Eastern Washington
9/10 Boise State
9/17 Hawai'i
9/24 Louisiana-Lafayette
10/15 Syracuse
10/22 at #3 Pinkie Pie
10/29 at #9 Fluttershy
11/1 Fordham
11/12 Bethune-Cookman
11/19 #1 Twilight Sparkle
11/26 #11 Rarity
12/3 at #2 Applejack State

Fluttershy Spirit
9/3 Rice
9/10 Texas Tech
9/17 Western Michigan
9/24 New Mexico
10/1 Fresno State
10/22 #2 Applejack State
10/29 #4 Rainbow Dash
11/5 #1 Twilight Sparkle
11/12 at #11 Rarity
11/19 Florida A&M
11/26 Cal Poly
12/3 at #3 Pinkie Pie

Rarity Royals
9/3 Wofford
9/10 at San Diego State
9/17 Iowa State
10/1 Iowa
10/15 at #24 USC
10/22 Western Carolina
10/29 South Dakota State
11/5 #3 Pinkie Pie
11/12 #9 Fluttershy
11/15 at #2 Applejack State
11/26 at #4 Rainbow Dash
12/3 at #1 Twilight Sparkle