The Call of Duty League (CDL) Challengers is a competitive circuit for amateur teams and players to make names for themselves. This past weekend, NOLA FLIGHT took part in the circuit’s Last Chance Qualifiers, vying for a coveted spot at the upcoming Champs event in Las Vegas. 

For 19-year-olds “Nemensions” and “Craze,” NF mainstay “Shockzy” and formidable pickup “BigHead,” the previous weekend’s LAN in Toronto was their first playing together. This is where their incredible run arguably began, with wins over teams like Røkkr Academy and Detroit Deviance landing them a Top 8 placing. 

During the LCQ, NF would similarly upset 1st seed Boston Breach before beating more ex-pros in Vivid and Majormaniak. Only with a reverse sweep loss to *Orbit did the journey reach its falling action and somewhat disappointing conclusion. 

Esports organization Atlas Lions summarized the run on Twitter, “Everyone loves an underdog story,” adding, “An incredible run at both Toronto & the LCQ’s. You had our support & the full cod communities.” 

NOLA truly did have the support of the CoD community. Team WaR content creator Aroma, for one, cheered, “This NolaFlight team has the entire Challengers scene in a FIRM headlock.” 

“Everybody who’s anyone is rooting for @NolaFlightGG in finals tmrw,” CoD streamer “OhhhMac” remarked Saturday evening. 

The NOLA FLIGHT account gracefully opposed the whole “underdog” sentiment, speaking directly to the players themselves, “Many would say you completed upsets in Toronto and LCQ, but we say otherwise. Y’all did exactly what we as an Org know you could. You all belong.” 

*UPDATE: Orbit player Jimbo was subsequently caught cheating at the Vegas Champs event, resulting in Orbit's forfeit.

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