THE FINAL STRETCH: SEMIFINAL RECAP AND CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Semifinal 1: Braves Dominate The Jamesons, 36-6
The Braves came into their semifinal clash against The Jamesons with revenge on their minds, and they delivered a resounding statement. After last season’s shocking semifinal upset, the Braves left no room for doubt this time, cruising to a commanding 36-6 victory.
Key Performances:
- Jonathan Maheu: The Braves’ star QB was clinical, completing 21 of 25 passes for 219 yards and 5 touchdowns. His precision and decision-making set the tone early.
- Jean-Daniel Chevalier: With two touchdowns on six receptions for 58 yards, Chevalier was Maheu’s go-to target in crucial moments.
- Braves’ Defence: Gabriel-Charles Dabe Champagne and Phil Pharand anchored a unit that stifled the Jamesons, holding them scoreless in the first half and forcing incompletions on key downs.
The Jamesons struggled to find any rhythm offensively. Jeff Rosenblatt, who has been known for clutch playoff performances, threw for just 87 yards and one touchdown. Sanders Armand provided a glimmer of hope with a late touchdown, but it was far too little, too late. The Braves’ suffocating defence forced The Jamesons into short gains and costly penalties, effectively sealing their fate before halftime.
Semifinal 2: Kangaroos Stay Unstoppable, Beat Poseidon’s Kiss 38-20
In the other semifinal, the Kangaroos continued their dominant season, dispatching Poseidon’s Kiss 38-20. The Kangaroos were tested early, but their firepower and discipline proved too much for the underdogs.
Key Performances:
- Daniel Lazzara: The MVP candidate lived up to his billing, throwing five touchdowns and 195 yards on 14 completions. His connection with Felix Boutet was once again electric.
- Felix Boutet: With 84 receiving yards and three touchdowns, Boutet torched the Poseidon secondary. His ability to find the end zone in tight coverage made the difference.
- Kangaroos’ Defence: Quaysie Gordon-Maule and Serge Pilon Jr. each snagged key interceptions, disrupting Poseidon’s attempts to close the gap.
Poseidon’s Kiss showed flashes of brilliance, particularly through Rocco Christiano, who threw two touchdowns and added some impressive drives. However, turnovers and defensive breakdowns proved costly. Devin Daoust and Owen Bujarsky put up valiant efforts with a combined three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Kangaroos’ well-oiled machine.
Championship Preview: Kangaroos vs Braves
With the semifinals behind us, the stage is set for an epic showdown in the championship game. The Kangaroos and the Braves, the top two seeds all season, will clash for the title in what promises to be a high-scoring, hard-fought battle.
Season Recap: Kangaroos vs Braves
The Kangaroos and Braves are no strangers to each other, having clashed three times during the regular season. The Braves took two of those matchups, but the Kangaroos claimed the most critical victory—a 38-27 win in Week 6 when both teams were at full strength with their starting quarterbacks and complete rosters. In that decisive game, MVP frontrunner Daniel Lazzara put on a show, throwing for 257 yards and five touchdowns, spreading the ball effectively to targets like AJ Gomes (105 yards, 2 TDs) and Felix Boutet.
On the Braves’ side, Jonathan Maheu kept it competitive with 260 passing yards and four touchdowns, but two costly interceptions—one returned for a touchdown by Quaysie Gordon-Maule—swung the momentum in the Kangaroos’ favour. Despite the season series edge for the Braves, the Kangaroos enter the championship with confidence, knowing they’ve bested their rivals at full strength.
Key Matchups:
- Quarterback Duel:
- Daniel Lazzara (Kangaroos): A master at distributing the ball and finding mismatches. Can he continue his MVP-level play under championship pressure?
- Jonathan Maheu (Braves): Known for his composure and efficiency, Maheu will look to exploit the Kangaroos’ secondary with his deep-ball accuracy.
- Receiving Corps Showdown:
- The Kangaroos’ Felix Boutet and AJ Gomes are touchdown machines, but they’ll face off against a Braves secondary led by Gabriel-Charles Dabe Champagne and Phil Pharand, who excel in shutting down big plays.
- James Drysdale is no stranger to delivering big performances in crucial moments, and the Braves will undoubtedly look to rely on his playmaking ability to keep their championship hopes alive.
- Defensive Battles:
- The Kangaroos’ pass rush, led by Raffaele Morelli, must disrupt Maheu’s timing. Meanwhile, the Braves’ defence will aim to pressure Lazzara into mistakes, with their ball-hawking secondary ready to pounce.
Final Thought
The Dome will be rocking on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 3:00 PM, as these two powerhouses collide. Clear your schedule, grab your jersey, and get ready for what promises to be a championship for the ages.
