1933 NCFL Championship Game

The 1933 NCFL Championship Playoff, was the third scheduled National Central Football League (NCFL) championship game. Played at the Veracruz Memorial Field in Boston on December 17. The game featured the two winners of the Eastern (New York Dragons), and Western divisions (Cincinnati Senators).

The Dragons reached their 3rd straight Championship game, facing a rematch of the first championship game in 1931 against the Cincinnati Senators.

The game ended 38-28, with the Senators winning their second championship. The Dragons lost their third straight championship.

The Veracruz Memorial Field which had opened that year, had been selected to host the Championship Game for 2 years, regardless of if the tenant Meerkats made the game. This started the tradition of playing the championship game in pre selected locations. It was the coldest championship game up to that point in NCFL history, with a kickoff temperature recorded "just about freezing" by the Boston Memorial Times.

Background

The Veracruz Memorial Field had been built between the city and federal government, as they sought to build a stadium to honor veterans of the Battle of Veracruz during world war one. The NCFL feared that the stadium might serve as the home of a rival Boston team, from which a new competitor league could emerge. The Meerkats quickly became the primary tenants of the stadium, while the NCFL entered into a contract to host its championship game in the field, for the 1933 and 1934 championships.

The New York Dragons reached their straight 3rd Championship game, off another MVP season from quarterback Marcus Schrage his fourth in a row. The Dragons again were at the top of the league with one of its best offenses and defenses. Despite yet another successful season from the team, players and fans felt that playing the game in a division rivals field, was a "bad omen".

The Senators returned to the championship game, after a disappointing title defense season the year prior. Led by quarterback R.J. Barron, and defensive back Aaron Carroll.

The Dragons were favored to win the game, which was expected to be the coldest championship game up to that point, with the temperature just above freezing. Reporter for the Boston Memorial Times and future U.S. senator Stanley Pearson, stated in the lead-up to the game:

"The ground was wet from rain a few days prior, the temperature was just about freezing. The ground was hard to walk in, yet the stands were full."