Nabi not the only Typhoon visiting Saipan

While it will take a little while before the CNMI’s makes a full recovery from Typhoon Nabi’s unwelcome visit yesterday, Saipan’s fan faithful is just three weeks away from embracing the Tinian Typhoon when the Commonwealth Football League ushers in the new season of pigskin pugilism.

This past Tuesday night’s meeting of the CFL board members and team representatives settled once and for all the debate of when and where the team from across the channel will play its home games.

Aside from the Typhoon, and the Miller Barbarians, the fifth season of CFL will feature gridiron gladiators from the Shell Lightning and the Eagles—both of whom are in search of their first title.

The season gets underway on Saturday, Sept. 24, when the Typhoon travel to Saipan for the opener against the Barbarians at 10am, followed by the afternoon game between the Lightning and the Eagles. The board of directors agreed that the Tinian team will play in the early game during all double-header dates to allow for them to make the ferry trip, as they will the following week when they try to shock the Lightning on Saturday, Oct. 1. The Eagles and Barbarians play the late game at 1pm, but the Eagles soar over to their first away game when they face the Typhoon under the lights at 7pm in Tinian on Saturday, Oct. 8, while the Lightning and Barbarians rest until their contest on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 1pm on Saipan.

The double-header schedule continues on Saturday, Oct. 22 when the Tinian plays a home game in name only when they host the Barbarians on the CPA Airport Field at 10am before the Lightning and the Eagles battle at 1pm.

All four teams return to Saipan on Saturday, Oct. 29, as the Eagles get to host the Typhoon at 10am followed by the Barbarians and the Lightning at 1pm, but the CFL will break for a bye on election day on Saturday, Nov. 5.

A week after casting their ballots, the Lightning will cast off toward Tinian to engage the Typhoon on Saturday, Nov. 12, at pm, and the Barbarians battle the Eagles in the season finale on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 10am.

The playoffs are slated for Saturday, Nov. 26, when the second and third place finishers vie for a chance with the top dog at 10am, and the new king of the CFL will be crowned on Saturday, Dec. 3, following the 10am championship.