Wednesday saw Vultures defeat Fins Up 37–30 in the first Quarterfinals matchup this week. Anthony Brisebois changed the game in an instant, as a 45-yard TD from Ben McMahon put all the pressure on Will Power and company to march down the field, down by one. On the first play of the drive, Brisebois picked off Power for the second time that night and took it to the house in the dying minute. The unsuccessful 2-point convert still gave Fins Up life, but Ahmed Boubacar came up with the game-sealing INT to close it out. Vultures move on to the semifinals, and their opponent will be decided after tonight.

The remaining six teams in Division 1 will play tonight at Marie-Victorin at 9 p.m. We have the undefeated PartyCrashers taking on EZW, where I spoke with two-way standout Théo Cliche about what he feels his team can do to complete the upset. Braves will take on The Infantry, where both teams have had underwhelming seasons and are looking to put that behind them. Lastly, Royaume Luminaire will take on One Stop, where this time around, the game can’t end in a tie like their first-round matchup.

Let’s get right into it.

Quarterfinals Previews

#8 EZW vs #1 PartyCrashers

Previous matchups: PartyCrashers def EZW 45-28 and PartyCrashers def EZW 44-25

I spoke with Jeremy White earlier this year, and he told me that no matter what your record is heading into the playoffs, you guys believe you can win it all. With that mindset, how do you plan on taking down the number one team?

I think the game plan for Saturday night is going to be to give it our all. We’re a team that plays our best every time and with the chemistry we have, I believe we can pull the upset.

EZW lost both regular season matchups by three scores. Defensively, where do you feel you need to lock in to slow down players like Mamadi Kaba and Emerson Peterkin?

I think communication plays a big part in the defense during these matchups. Facing players of this caliber isn’t easy, but with great communication we can manage them. We’ve learned a lot from our past 2 games and are ready for Saturday night.

With this being a playoff game, do you expect any trash talking, or do you think both teams will just let their play do the talking?

I think trash talking is part of the game, but we respect each other on the field as players and we’ll let our skillset do the talking during the match. In the past, our games used to get chirpy which, in my opinion, makes it even more fun and competitive.

The playoffs are the best part of sports. How do you see this game playing out, and what result do you expect when the final whistle blows?

Playoffs can always bring surprises. You never know what can happen between the whistles and that’s what makes it so much fun. I expect a very close game and believe we can win by the end of the game. If I were to guess, I’d say it’ll be a one score difference.

EZW against PartyCrashers weren’t too close of contests early on in the season. I’m all for upsets and crazy runs in the playoffs but PartyCrashers don’t seem like they are in a position to slow things down, at least in this round. I do believe in what Cliche had mentioned earlier with this game being a closer game than the regular season. With that being said, I think PartyCrashers will win by two scores but the game will be much closer than what the final score says.

Predictions: PartyCrashers def EZW 41-30

#7 The Infantry vs #2 Braves

Previous matchups: Braves def The Infantry 32-21

Braves and The Infantry were the two best teams last season in Tier 1 and were rewarded with a championship appearance. This time around, the Braves finished 2nd with a 6–4 record, while The Infantry fell down the table, going 3–7. Both teams still have a list of current or future FPF Hall-of-Famers on their rosters.

Braves started the season 0–2 but got back to their winning ways until a loss to Royaume Luminiare to close out the season. Joe Maheu only played 6 games during the regular season, and as good as William Trottier has been when Maheu isn’t there, everyone knows Braves are a different team when their gunslinger is in action.

Looking at The Infantry, it has been a disappointing season compared to the damage they have caused in the past. Kevin Wyeth has tied his career high with 12 INTs thrown in a season, and unlike his Winter 2019 season, he only played in 8 games this year. Numbers like that don’t matter to veterans in this league, as they are able to put it behind them and perform when the games count.

The Infantry still have their core available, such as Felix Boutet, Rory Semerjian, Nicholas Di Maulo, and Ethan Adrian on defence. An uncharacteristic stat for this team is that they have scored 35+ points only twice all year. On the contrary, the Braves have reached that total 5 times.

If Jo Maheu isn’t playing, then The Infantry have a good chance of making this a close contest. If Jo is under center, I expect the Braves to win by at least two scores. It’s Division 1 and anything can happen, but based on trends, I trust the Braves more right now.

Prediction: Braves def The Infantry 43-28

#5 Royaume Luminiare vs #4 OneStop

Previous matchup: Royaume Luminiare tie OneStop 25-25

One Stop and Royaume Luminiare both finished with a 4–5–1 record, as the tie came against each other. One Stop will get the benefit of calling the coin toss in this one due to the better point differential.

These teams have different styles but are very even when it comes to their rosters. Royaume Luminiare is a veteran group. From Jesse Dupuis commanding the offence to the likes of Serge Pilon Jr., Marc-André Lapointe, and Alexis Gaumont, this team has decades of FPF experience. Don’t forget Isiah Allard, who decided to try out a new environment with his new team this winter.

One Stop is full of youth, with the majority of their players just finishing their U Sports careers or not even starting families yet. Michael Caparelli finished the season strong, as his last four games totaled 20 TDs and 3 INTs while leading his group to a 3–1 record. AJ Zeppetelli has been the most consistent receiver all season, but they also have elite playmaking from Jahnai Lewis and Charles Cossette, who can stretch the field on both sides.

My X-factor for One Stop is Philippe Trudel. He led the group with 4 INTs this season and is facing a QB in Dupuis who threw the most INTs. I would expect the entire One Stop defence to be aggressive as usual, with a big focus on Trudel.

For Royaume Luminiare, it’s Lapointe. He has been a great pass catcher for Dupuis, and if he’s able to draw a lot of attention from the One Stop defenders, it opens the field for his teammates. With his elite hands and ability to move quickly with the ball, tackling him will always be a challenge.

I don’t think OT will be needed for these two teams again, but I won’t complain if I get to witness it. Royaume Luminiare finished the regular season on a three-game win streak, defeating EZW, Vultures, and Braves—not a bad way to close out the season after being 1–5–1 just a month ago. A close game is expected in this one, but I think the youth of One Stop will be able to claw their way to a narrow victory.

Prediction: OneStop def Royaume Luminiare 32-30

Closing Remarks

That’s all for Division 1 before the rest of the Quarterfinals matchups. Thanks Théo for taking the time to answer some questions and I can never complain of a first round upset in the world of sports. If you don’t agree with my take, I’m always open to hearing what you have to say, so don’t be shy and come talk to me. As always, if you didn’t get a chance to respond or want to be included in future pieces, you can reach me on Facebook or Instagram @keyoncyrus.