Cope beat Evan 136.16 to 98.50 and recorded the second-highest score of the week. Cope took a 48.10-point lead on Thursday and never looked back. Cope has played Evan well lately, improving to 2-1 head-to-head this season, including a Week 13 comeback (148.34 to 108.18) in their last matchup. Michael Pittman led Evan with 25.90 points (109 Rec Yds, 1 TD) while Sam LaPorta racked up 18.40 (64 Rec Yds, 1 TD). The margin could have been bigger as Cope had a starter score zero points (Brenton Strange).
For the victors, a few players have been late-season stars, including Ladd McConkey and Puka Nacua. During the playoffs, that duo has surpassed their season scoring averages by 70% and 49%, respectively. On the other hand, Cope has a couple of players heading in the opposite direction. Joe Mixon and Chris Boswell have both fallen well beneath their year-to-date averages during the postseason. Despite the loss, Evan also had a pair of players performing their best in the playoffs: Pittman and LaPorta. During the postseason, that combo has averaged 14.90 and 16.35 points, respectively, topping their season-long marks by 76% and 72%. Conversely, the losers had a player who was sputtering under the brightest lights. Averaging 9.87 points on the season, the Minnesota Vikings DEF mustered just 5.50 per game in the playoffs.