2016 CAFL season


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

Draft

The league held its first draft on June 10, 2016. 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. On June 15, the league held a supplemental draft in which an additional 12 players were selected.
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.
RoundGuangzhouDalianShanghaiShenzhenQingdaoBeijing
1David Wang - OL Joe Hills - WRShane Austin - QBDu Feng - DL Bryan Randall - QBWayne Tribue - OL
2Brennen Carvalho - OLBilly Lai - OL Liu Shuai - WR Wang Shida - DB Jason Holman - OL/DLNeal Tivis - OL
3Yang Hao - LB Talib Wise - WRDwayne Hollis - DBZhang Jia Qi - OL Jake Metz - OL/DLJames Romain - DB
4Tyre Glasper - LBKwok-Wing Steve Tang - DL Shaun Kauleinamoku - WRColin Madison - OLRayshaun Kizer - DBTeddy Jennings - DL
5Dexter Davis Jr. - DLPhillip Garcia - QBJustin Lawrence - DLXin Xu - DL Joe Phinisee - DBCollin Taylor -WR
6Andre Martin - WR/DBYan Li Guang - DL Wang Lei - DB Robert Williams Jr - DLKevin Kuo - OL/DL Paul Chih-Ping Cheng - DL
7Frank Trotter - DLAmeer Ismail - LBGu Xu Bing - FB Dak Britt - QBXavier Boyce - WRChris Dieker - QB
8Qiu Xun Da - WR Qu San Zhi - OL/DL Mike Washington - WRTerrance Smith - DBSun Shuo - OL/DL Xing Long Xiong - WR
9Duane Brooks - WRJarrod Hernandez - OLZhang Dong Sheng - OL/DL Adrian Ferns - FB/LBReggie Gray - WRCalvin Fance - DL
10Lavasier Tuinei - WR/DBWang Bing - DB Willie McGinnis - DLLarry Max Westphal - OLTanner Varner - DBZhang Tian Hao - OL/DL
11Sun Mo Han - OL/DL Jordan Mosely - OLTravis Miller - OL/DLHan Shao Chuan - LB Zhang Tian Shou - FB/LB Tsu Yao Lam - WR/DB
12JJ Raterink - QBFan Zheng Yu - LB Xu You Peng - OL/DL Tristan Purifoy - WRHe Shi Lei - WR/DB Chen Yun Chen - OL/DL
13Li An - DL Kent Richardson - DBZhao Zhen Nan - WR/DB Shen Yu Lan - FB Matt Moss - DLZhang Xiao Zha - WR
14Liang Xin Hao - WR Kap IP - WR Christian Wise - WR/DBDavid Hong - OL/DL Wondell Rutledge - OL/DLErwin Sennett Wu - DB
15Virgil Gray - DBDarnell Burks - DBTaylor Russolino - KLaChristopher Lee - WRYang Peng Sheng - DB Junxing Zhang - WR/DB
16Ma Jin Hui - DB Ma Zhen - WR Kevin Bartie - DBXu Xin Tian - WR A Tie - OL/DL Chris Hemphill - WR/DB
17Zhang Hai Tao - OL/DL Maurice Woodard - WR/DBZheng Yu Jiang - FB Lin Yi Hong - DB Baihetiyaer Tuerxun - WR/DB Li Xiang - OL/DL
18Guo Xu - OL/DL Lai Shan Yu - WR/DB Tian Ye - FB/LB John Keith - DBZhang Tian Chu - WR/DB Pat Clarke - K
19Alex Carder - QBAnthony Sanders III - DLXiao Yu - OL/DL Kimo Naehu - KGuo Rui Bin - K Zhang Xiang Yu - OL/DL
20Zao Yun - WR Xu Chang - FB/LB Xie Kun - QB Lui Sze Ting - DB Wang Shi Xue - LB Luke Collis - QB
21Luis Vasquez - DLQui Zixuan - K Fan Rong - OL/DL Yu Tao - QB Sean Brackett - QBRustin Mayorga - FB
22Ding Long - K Jawad Yatim - QBSergio Gilliam - WRElvis Matagi - DLLi Chao Ren - K Chen Long - QB

Sources:

Regular season

;Week 1
DateKickoffAwayScoreHomeGame siteRecap
October 12:00 p.m.Guangzhou Power35–38Qingdao ClipperLeSports Center
October 17:00 p.m.Dalian Dragon Kings19–47Shenzhen NajaLeSports Center
October 23:00 p.m.Shanghai Skywalkers53–54 Beijing LionsLeSports Center

;Week 2
DateKickoffAwayScoreHomeGame siteRecap
October 811:00 a.m.Guangzhou Power32–45Shanghai SkywalkersDamai Center
October 93:00 p.m.Shenzhen Naja41–48Beijing LionsDamai Center
October 97:00 p.m.Qingdao Clipper43–36Dalian Dragon KingsDamai Center

;Week 3
DateKickoffAwayScoreHomeGame siteRecap
October 152:00 p.m.Shanghai Skywalkers61–48Shenzhen NajaGuoxin Gymnasium
October 157:00 p.m.Dalian Dragon Kings7–40Guangzhou PowerGuoxin Gymnasium
October 163:00 p.m.Beijing Lions47–33Qingdao ClipperGuoxin Gymnasium

;Week 4
DateKickoffAwayScoreHomeGame siteRecap
October 222:00 p.m.Beijing Lions70–25Dalian Dragon KingsGuangzhou Gymnasium
October 227:00 p.m.Qingdao Clipper51–49Shanghai SkywalkersGuangzhou Gymnasium
October 233:00 p.m.Shenzhen Naja39–47Guangzhou PowerGuangzhou Gymnasium

;Week 5
DateKickoffAwayScoreHomeGame siteRecap
October 292:00 p.m.Dalian Dragon Kings21–63Shanghai SkywalkersShenzhen Dayun Arena
October 297:00 p.m.Beijing Lions55–32Guangzhou PowerShenzhen Dayun Arena
October 303:00 p.m.Qingdao Clipper40–47Shenzhen NajaShenzhen Dayun Arena

;Standings
Sources:

Postseason

;5th-place game
DateKickoffAwayScoreHomeGame siteRecap
November 52:00 p.m.Dalian Dragon Kings30–46Shenzhen NajaShanghai Oriental Sports Center

;3rd-place game
DateKickoffAwayScoreHomeGame siteRecap
November 57:00 p.m.Guangzhou Power52–57Shanghai SkywalkersShanghai Oriental Sports Center

;China Bowl
DateKickoffAwayScoreHomeGame siteRecap
November 63:00 p.m.Qingdao Clipper34–35Beijing LionsShanghai Oriental Sports Center

Source:

Awards

Individual season awards

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".
AwardWinnerPositionTeam
Offensive MVPShane AustinQuarterbackShanghai
Defensive MVPTorez JonesDefensive backBeijing
Steel-manJames RomainDefensive back/receiver/kick returnerBeijing
Judge Spirit AwardMike WashingtonWide receiverShanghai

Source:

All-Pro teams

;All-Pro North Division All-Stars
Source:
;All-Pro South Division All-Stars
Source:

Dream Team

The CAFL Dream Team was selected by fan vote.
Source: