Tier 4 Playoffs: Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Finals – The Road to Glory

As the Tier 4 playoffs steam ahead, the action has been nothing short of legendary. With the finals set for Dec. 8, we’ve seen teams rise to the occasion, fall short in heartbreakers, and deliver unforgettable performances. Here’s a recap of the last two quarterfinals, summaries of the semifinals, and a preview of the upcoming championship showdown.

Quarterfinals Recap

NoFlagsGiven 25 – 19 Mean Machines

Saturday, Nov. 30 | Complexe CN [1]

NoFlagsGiven proved why they’re a defensive powerhouse, edging out the Mean Machines in a thrilling contest.

Tyler Stewart had a challenging game, tossing 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions while completing under 50% of his passes (12 of 27 for 174 yards). Despite his struggles, his receivers came through in the clutch, with Kyle Daniel (73 yards, one touchdown) and Shamar Rickard (39 yards, two touchdowns) making several contested catches and turning difficult throws into critical big plays. On defence, Mike Phillips was the standout, delivering two pivotal interceptions that stymied the Mean Machines’ offence. Tyrone Wilson added another pick, helping NoFlagsGiven secure the hard-fought victory.

For the Mean Machines, Jeremy Steinberg showed resilience, throwing for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns in a well-rounded offensive performance. Avi Korman led the charge with (69 yards, one touchdown), while Lawrence Surowanice contributed (66 yards, one touchdown). Dylan Merovitz added another layer to the attack, hauling in (63 yards, one touchdown). Despite their impressive offensive firepower and balanced production, the Machines couldn’t overcome NoFlagsGiven’s timely defensive plays, highlighted by crucial interceptions that shifted the momentum.

Bullshigh 13 – 30 In N’ Out

Saturday, Nov. 30 | Complexe CN [1]

In N’ Out continued their scorching playoff run, delivering a statement win over Bullshigh.

Quarterback Nicolas Katerelos was on fire yet again, completing 22 of 28 passes for 219 yards and 5 touchdowns. His connection with Samuel Deland (123 yards, one touchdown) and Charles-Antoine Nadeau (68 yards, one touchdown) proved too much for Bullshigh to handle.

Bullshigh had moments of brilliance, particularly from Gabriel Mutombo, who racked up (82 yards, one touchdown). However, quarterback Matis Sardinha’s two interceptions halted their momentum, and they struggled to keep pace with In N’ Out’s high-powered offence.

Semifinals Recap

NoFlagsGiven 25 – 24 In N’ Out

Monday, Dec. 2 | Dome Hébert [3]

A game for the ages, as NoFlagsGiven edged out In N’ Out in a one-point thriller.

First Half:
Both teams struggled to find their rhythm early, with In N’ Out punting on their first drive and NoFlagsGiven throwing an interception on theirs. In N’ Out struck first with a 46-yard touchdown pass from Katerelos to Samuel Deland, but the extra point attempt failed. Tyler Stewart and NoFlagsGiven answered back with a 27-yard pass to Kyle Daniel and a 13-yard touchdown to Zack Stewart, tying the game at 6-6 going into halftime.

Second Half:
The second half was an offensive explosion. NoFlagsGiven opened with a 33-yard touchdown to Shamar Rickard, taking a 12-6 lead. In N’ Out responded with a 10-yard touchdown to Nadeau but missed the extra point again. Stewart connected with Rickard for another score, extending the lead to 18-12.

Katerelos found Pacheco for a touchdown late in the second half, cutting the lead to 25-24. In N’ Out’s two-point conversion attempt to win the game was stopped, securing NoFlagsGiven’s victory. In a game where extra points were hard to come by, Kyle Daniel‘s lone successful extra point proved to be the difference, sealing NoFlagsGiven’s narrow victory and underscoring the importance of every single play in this tightly contested matchup.

Super Troopers 30 – 38 Les Flagouilleurs

Wednesday, Dec. 4 | Dome Hébert [3]

Les Flagouilleurs’ fairy tale continued as they overcame the Super Troopers in a high-scoring semifinal clash.

First Half:
The first half was a shootout. Les Flagouilleurs opened with a 21-yard touchdown from Alex Poitras to Andrew Poitras. Poitras then connected with Lucas Quenneville for a 6-yard touchdown and later for a 40-yard full-field score. The Troopers answered with a pair of touchdown passes from Kenny Boutilier to Zackary Alberts-Gill and Rico Tulino, converting both two-point extra points after each score—a very impressive feat. Les Flagouilleurs led 24-16 at halftime.

Second Half:
Les Flagouilleurs set the tone early in the second half by stopping the Troopers on their opening possession, then capitalizing with a touchdown pass from Alex Poitras to Gabriel Wiseman, followed by a successful two-point conversion to extend their lead to 32-16. The Troopers were forced to rally quickly, and Kenny Boutilier responded by finding Zackary Alberts-Gill for his second touchdown of the game, narrowing the deficit to 32-24. The Troopers’ defence stepped up, forcing Les Flagouilleurs into a rare four-and-out drive as Poitras uncharacteristically threw three straight incompletions. Seizing the opportunity, the Troopers marched down the field and scored, cutting the deficit to 32-30. However, they missed the critical two-point conversion that would have tied the game. With the Troopers gaining another opportunity on the final drive to score and force overtime with a two-point conversion, Les Flagouilleurs’ rusher Jeremi Chartrand delivered a massive performance. He sacked Kenny Boutilier twice on the final drive, with the last sack coming on the game’s final play, denying Boutilier a chance at a Hail Mary attempt. Jeremi was the clear X-factor in this matchup, as he sacked the division’s best dual-threat quarterback an incredible 6 times in the game. Here’s a crazy stat: Jeremi matched his sack total from the entire 10-game season with 6 in this single matchup. What a way to step up in a big game!

Championship Game Preview

NoFlagsGiven vs Les Flagouilleurs

Sunday, Dec. 8 | 3:00 PM | Laval (Dome) [3]

The championship matchup is set, and it’s shaping up to be an epic showdown. NoFlagsGiven enters the final with their reputation as a defensive juggernaut intact, while Les Flagouilleurs have become the darlings of the playoffs with their electrifying offence.

What to Watch

• Defence vs Offence: Can NoFlagsGiven’s disciplined defence contain Alex Poitras and his array of weapons?
• Key Matchups: The Poitras-to-Poitras connection against NoFlagsGiven’s secondary will be pivotal. Meanwhile, Tyler Stewart’s ability to spread the ball to Kyle Daniel and Shamar Rickard could exploit Les Flagouilleurs’ defence.
• Momentum vs Consistency: Les Flagouilleurs are riding a wave of momentum after upsetting the top seeds, but NoFlagsGiven’s consistency throughout the season makes them a formidable contender and a team well-equipped to handle the pressure of a championship game.

Prediction

This game is too close to call. NoFlagsGiven’s defence has proven its mettle throughout the season, but Les Flagouilleurs’ offence has been unstoppable in the playoffs. Adding to the excitement is the fact that these two teams did not face each other in the regular season, leaving no prior matchup to analyze. With neither team having a clear advantage or sample of what to expect, the championship becomes even more unpredictable.

My Finals MVP Prediction if Les Flagouilleurs Win

Les Flagouilleurs’ rusher Jeremi Chartrand has transformed from a quiet start to a dominant force, especially in his playoff debut. After going sackless in his first 6 games, he’s since been unstoppable, racking up 17 sacks over his last 8 games, highlighted by a jaw-dropping 6-sack performance in the semifinals. Jeremi is my Finals MVP prediction, as I expect him to be a game-changer against Tyler Stewart, who often uses his legs to extend plays or pick up first downs. If Jeremi brings the same energy, he could tilt the game in Les Flagouilleurs’ favour.

My Finals MVP Prediction if NoFlagsGiven Win

If NoFlagsGiven take the championship, my Finals MVP prediction is Shamar Rickard. Shamar has been dominant since the last week of the regular season, including the playoffs, he’s been nearly unstoppable, totalling 207 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Impressively, he has scored twice in every playoff game so far, making contested grabs and big plays when it matters most. If he continues this pace, Shamar will be the key to NoFlagsGiven’s success in the final.

Final Thoughts

The journey to the Tier 4 championship has been nothing short of spectacular. From In N’ Out’s explosive offence to Les Flagouilleurs’ Cinderella run, every game has added to the drama. Now, it all comes down to Dec. 8. Will it be NoFlagsGiven’s stifling defence or Les Flagouilleurs’ high-octane offence that reigns supreme?

One thing’s for sure: this is a game you won’t want to miss. Stay tuned for the grand finale!