The 2016 CAFL season, the first season in the history of the China Arena Football League (CAFL), began on October 1, 2016.[1] On November 6, the Beijing Lions defeated the Qingdao Clipper to win the first China Bowl.

2016 CAFL season
LeagueChina Arena Football League
SportArena football
DurationRegular season:
October 1 – October 30
Postseason:
November 5 – November 6
Number of games18
Number of teams6
China Bowl
ChampionsBeijing Lions (1st title)
  Runners-upQingdao Clipper
CAFL seasons

Draft

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The league held its first draft on June 10, 2016.[2][3] 120 players were drafted with 60 of them being Americans, including 43 who have Arena Football League experience. 60 players from China or players who are of Chinese descent were selected as well.[4] On June 15, the league held a supplemental draft (rounds 21 to 22) in which an additional 12 players were selected.[5]

Note: The picks are not in chronological order. They are a list of picks by team and the round they were selected in. For example, Guangzhou did not select first in every round.

Round Guangzhou Dalian Shanghai Shenzhen Qingdao Beijing
1 David Wang – OL (CN) Joe Hills – WR Shane Austin – QB Du Feng – DL (CN) Bryan Randall – QB Wayne Tribue – OL
2 Brennen Carvalho – OL Billy Lai – OL (CN) Liu Shuai – WR (CN) Wang Shida – DB (CN) Jason Holman – OL/DL Neal Tivis – OL
3 Yang Hao – LB (CN) Talib Wise – WR Dwayne Hollis – DB Zhang Jia Qi – OL (CN) Jake Metz – OL/DL James Romain – DB
4 Tyre Glasper – LB Kwok-Wing Steve Tang – DL (CN) Shaun Kauleinamoku – WR Colin Madison – OL Rayshaun Kizer – DB Teddy Jennings – DL
5 Dexter Davis Jr. – DL Phillip Garcia – QB Justin Lawrence – DL Xin Xu – DL (CN) Joe Phinisee – DB Collin Taylor -WR
6 Andre Martin – WR/DB Yan Li Guang – DL (CN) Wang Lei – DB (CN) Robert Williams Jr – DL Kevin Kuo – OL/DL (CN) Paul Chih-Ping Cheng – DL (CN)
7 Frank Trotter – DL Ameer Ismail – LB Gu Xu Bing – FB (CN) Dak Britt – QB Xavier Boyce – WR Chris Dieker – QB
8 Qiu Xun Da – WR (CN) Qu San Zhi – OL/DL (CN) Mike Washington – WR Terrance Smith – DB Sun Shuo – OL/DL (CN) Xing Long Xiong – WR (CN)
9 Duane Brooks – WR Jarrod Hernandez – OL Zhang Dong Sheng – OL/DL (CN) Adrian Ferns – FB/LB Reggie Gray – WR Calvin Fance – DL
10 Lavasier Tuinei – WR/DB Wang Bing – DB (CN) Willie McGinnis – DL Larry Max Westphal – OL Tanner Varner – DB Zhang Tian Hao – OL/DL (CN)
11 Sun Mo Han – OL/DL (CN) Jordan Mosely – OL Travis Miller – OL/DL Han Shao Chuan – LB (CN) Zhang Tian Shou – FB/LB (CN) Tsu Yao Lam – WR/DB (CN)
12 JJ Raterink – QB Fan Zheng Yu – LB (CN) Xu You Peng – OL/DL (CN) Tristan Purifoy – WR He Shi Lei – WR/DB (CN) Chen Yun Chen – OL/DL (CN)
13 Li An – DL (CN) Kent Richardson – DB Zhao Zhen Nan – WR/DB (CN) Shen Yu Lan – FB (CN) Matt Moss – DL Zhang Xiao Zha – WR (CN)
14 Liang Xin Hao – WR (CN) Kap IP – WR (CN) Christian Wise – WR/DB David Hong – OL/DL (CN) Wondell Rutledge – OL/DL Erwin Sennett Wu – DB (CN)
15 Virgil Gray – DB Darnell Burks – DB Taylor Russolino – K LaChristopher Lee – WR Yang Peng Sheng – DB (CN) Junxing Zhang – WR/DB (CN)
16 Ma Jin Hui – DB (CN) Ma Zhen – WR (CN) Kevin Bartie – DB Xu Xin Tian – WR (CN) A Tie – OL/DL (CN) Chris Hemphill – WR/DB
17 Zhang Hai Tao – OL/DL (CN) Maurice Woodard – WR/DB Zheng Yu Jiang – FB (CN) Lin Yi Hong – DB (CN) Baihetiyaer Tuerxun – WR/DB (CN) Li Xiang – OL/DL (CN)
18 Guo Xu – OL/DL (CN) Lai Shan Yu – WR/DB (CN) Tian Ye – FB/LB (CN) John Keith – DB Zhang Tian Chu – WR/DB (CN) Pat Clarke – K
19 Alex Carder – QB Anthony Sanders III – DL Xiao Yu – OL/DL (CN) Kimo Naehu – K Guo Rui Bin – K (CN) Zhang Xiang Yu – OL/DL (CN)
20 Zao Yun – WR (CN) Xu Chang – FB/LB (CN) Xie Kun – QB (CN) Lui Sze Ting – DB (CN) Wang Shi Xue – LB (CN) Luke Collis – QB
21 Luis Vasquez – DL Qui Zixuan – K (CN) Fan Rong – OL/DL (CN) Yu Tao – QB (CN) Sean Brackett – QB Rustin Mayorga – FB
22 Ding Long – K (CN) Jawad Yatim – QB Sergio Gilliam – WR Elvis Matagi – DL Li Chao Ren – K (CN) Chen Long – QB (CN)
  • CN indicates Chinese national or of Chinese descent

Sources:[3][5]

Regular season

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Week 1
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
October 1 2:00 p.m. Guangzhou Power 35–38 Qingdao Clipper LeSports Center (Beijing)
October 1 7:00 p.m. Dalian Dragon Kings 19–47 Shenzhen Naja LeSports Center (Beijing)
October 2 3:00 p.m. Shanghai Skywalkers 53–54 (OT) Beijing Lions LeSports Center (Beijing) [6]
Week 2
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
October 8 11:00 a.m. Guangzhou Power 32–45 Shanghai Skywalkers Damai Center (Dalian) [7]
October 9 3:00 p.m. Shenzhen Naja 41–48 Beijing Lions Damai Center (Dalian) [8]
October 9 7:00 p.m. Qingdao Clipper 43–36 Dalian Dragon Kings Damai Center (Dalian)
Week 3
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
October 15 2:00 p.m. Shanghai Skywalkers 61–48 Shenzhen Naja Guoxin Gymnasium (Qingdao) [9]
October 15 7:00 p.m. Dalian Dragon Kings 7–40 Guangzhou Power Guoxin Gymnasium (Qingdao) [10]
October 16 3:00 p.m. Beijing Lions 47–33 Qingdao Clipper Guoxin Gymnasium (Qingdao) [11]
Week 4
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
October 22 2:00 p.m. Beijing Lions 70–25 Dalian Dragon Kings Guangzhou Gymnasium (Guangzhou) [12]
October 22 7:00 p.m. Qingdao Clipper 51–49 Shanghai Skywalkers Guangzhou Gymnasium (Guangzhou) [13]
October 23 3:00 p.m. Shenzhen Naja 39–47 Guangzhou Power Guangzhou Gymnasium (Guangzhou) [14]
Week 5
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
October 29 2:00 p.m. Dalian Dragon Kings 21–63 Shanghai Skywalkers Shenzhen Dayun Arena (Shenzhen) [15]
October 29 7:00 p.m. Beijing Lions 55–32 Guangzhou Power Shenzhen Dayun Arena (Shenzhen) [16]
October 30 3:00 p.m. Qingdao Clipper 40–47 Shenzhen Naja Shenzhen Dayun Arena (Shenzhen) [17]
Standings
Team Overall Points Records
W L PCT PF PA Home Away
Beijing Lions 5 0 1.000 274 184 2–0 3–0
Qingdao Clipper 3 2 .600 205 204 1–1 2–1
Shanghai Skywalkers 3 2 .600 271 206 2–1 1–1
Guangzhou Power 2 3 .400 186 184 2–1 0–2
Shenzhen Naja 2 3 .400 222 215 2–1 0–2
Dalian Dragon Kings 0 5 .000 98 263 0–2 0–3

Sources:[18][19][20]

Postseason

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5th-place game
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
November 5 2:00 p.m. Dalian Dragon Kings 30–46 Shenzhen Naja Shanghai Oriental Sports Center (Shanghai) [21]
3rd-place game
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
November 5 7:00 p.m. Guangzhou Power 52–57 Shanghai Skywalkers Shanghai Oriental Sports Center (Shanghai) [22]
China Bowl
Date Kickoff Away Score Home Game site Recap
November 6 3:00 p.m. Qingdao Clipper 34–35 Beijing Lions Shanghai Oriental Sports Center (Shanghai) [23]

Source:[24]

Awards

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Individual season awards

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Note: The Steel-man is named for his "all around excellence at several positions". The Judge Spirit Award, named after CAFL founder Marty Judge, is given for "exemplifying football excellence, leadership and special contribution to the league".

Award Winner Position Team
Offensive MVP Shane Austin Quarterback Shanghai
Defensive MVP Torez Jones Defensive back Beijing
Steel-man James Romain Defensive back/receiver/kick returner Beijing
Judge Spirit Award Mike Washington Wide receiver Shanghai

Source:[25]

All-Pro teams

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All-Pro North Division All-Stars
Offense
Quarterback Luke Collis, Beijing
Wide receiver Collin Taylor, Beijing
Reggie Gray, Qingdao
Tian Chu Zhang, Qingdao
Fullback Rustin Mayorga, Beijing
Offensive lineman Wayne Tribue, Beijing
Neal Tivis, Beijing
Tian Hao Zhang, Beijing
Defense
Defensive lineman Calvin Fance, Beijing
Paul Cheng, Beijing
Steve Tang, Dalian
Jack linebacker Ameer Ismail, Dalian
Middle linebacker Jake Metz, Qingdao
Defensive back Torez Jones, Beijing
James Romain, Beijing
Kent Richardson, Dalian
Other
Placekicker Patrick Clarke III, Beijing
Athlete Bryan Randall, quarterback, Qingdao
Talib Wise, wide receiver, Dalian
Siguang Yan, defensive lineman, Dalian
Coaches
Head coach Clint Dolezel, Beijing
Assistant coach Steve Criswell, Qingdao
Chinese assistant coach Jeff Mei, Beijing

Source:[26]

All-Pro South Division All-Stars
Offense
Quarterback Shane Austin, Shanghai
Wide receiver Mike Washington, Shanghai
Shaun Kauleinamoku, Shanghai
Xu Xin He, Shenzhen
Fullback Dashawn Johnson, Guangzhou
Offensive lineman David Wang, Guangzhou
Travis Miller, Shanghai
Max Westphal, Shenzhen
Defense
Defensive lineman Robert Williams, Shenzhen
Frank Trotter, Guangzhou
Willie McGinnis, Shanghai
Jack linebacker Ling Zi Hao, Guangzhou
Middle linebacker Tyre Glasper, Guangzhou
Defensive back Cameron McGlenn, Guangzhou
Dwayne Hollis, Shanghai
Wang Lei, Shanghai
Other
Placekicker Taylor Russolino, Shanghai
Athlete Dak Britt, quarterback, Shenzhen
LaChristopher Lee, kick returner, Guangzhou
Guxu Bing Fe, fullback, Shanghai
Coaches
Head coach J.W. Kenton, Shenzhen
Assistant coach John Lyles, Shanghai
Chinese assistant coach Robert Wang, Guangzhou

Source:[27]

Dream Team

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The CAFL Dream Team was selected by fan vote.

Dream Team
Quarterback Dak Britt, Shenzhen
Offensive lineman Jia Qi Zhang, Shenzhen
Defensive lineman Robert Williams, Shenzhen
Running back/Fullback Dashawn Johnson, Guangzhou
Wide receiver Xu Xin He, Shenzhen
Defensive back Tanner Varner, Qingdao
Linebacker/Middle linebacker Hong Jia Wei David, Shenzhen
Kicker Taylor Russolino, Shanghai

Source:[28]

References

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  1. ^ "History Made: US Football Debuts in China". caflfootball.com. October 1, 2016. Archived from the original on October 4, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  2. ^ "CAFL To Fill Rosters with First Draft – Watch Draft Streaming Live". arenafan.com. June 3, 2016. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  3. ^ a b "CAFL DRAFT RESULTS – SEE IT AGAIN – FULL RESULTS HERE". caflfootball.com. June 11, 2016. Archived from the original on October 17, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  4. ^ Markowitz, Adam (June 11, 2016). "Joe Hills becomes first AFL player drafted to China". arenafan.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Final Draft Picks Are In". caflfootball.com. June 16, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  6. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 3, 2016). "Beijing Lions Work Overtime for First Win". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  7. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 9, 2016). "Shanghai Over Powers Guangzhou in the Second Half for First CAFL Win". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  8. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 9, 2016). "Beijing Wins Battle of Unbeatens". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  9. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 15, 2016). "CAFL Week Three Game 1- Skywalkers Set Records in Victory over Naja". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  10. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 15, 2016). "CAFL Week Three Game 2 -Johnson Puts on Display as Guangzhou Overpowers Dalian". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  11. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 16, 2016). "Beijing Remains Undefeated". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  12. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 22, 2016). "The Road To Shanghai Runs Through Beijing". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  13. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 22, 2016). "Li's Winning Kick Keeps Clipper On Course". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  14. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 23, 2016). "Guangzhou Holds Off Shenzhen As Playoff Matchups Are Set". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  15. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 30, 2016). "Skywalkers Do It With Defense". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  16. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 30, 2016). "Beijing Proves Its Number One". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  17. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (October 30, 2016). "Naja Nip Clipper As Britt Runs For Records". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  18. ^ "CAFL Announces Official Super Series Schedule". caflfootball.com. May 2, 2016. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  19. ^ "2016 China Arena Football League Schedule". arenafan.com. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  20. ^ "2016 China Arena Football League Standings". arenafan.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  21. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (November 6, 2016). "Naja Finish at .500 with 46–30 win over Dalian". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  22. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (November 6, 2016). "Shanghai Takes Third With 57–52 Win". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  23. ^ Moninghoff, Mick (November 6, 2016). "Beijing Wins CAFL China Bowl on Final Play". caflfootball.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  24. ^ "Lou Tilley Previews Super Series VI – The China Bowl Playoffs". caflfootball.com. November 1, 2016. Archived from the original on November 2, 2016. Retrieved November 1, 2016.
  25. ^ "CAFL POST SEASON AWARDS – The MVPs". caflfootball.com. November 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  26. ^ "The CAFL has announced their 2016 All-Pro North division All-Stars". caflfootball.com. November 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  27. ^ "The CAFL has announced their 2016 All-Pro South Division All-Stars". caflfootball.com. November 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  28. ^ "CAFL Fan's Dream Team 2016". caflfootball.com. November 4, 2016. Archived from the original on November 7, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.