Division B: Here We Go!!!!
Welcome to the 2026 FlagPlus Football Spring Season. Week 1 is officially in the books, and what an opening week it was for Division B. We saw a rivalry game between Hard 8 and KGP Dynasty that turned into a war of words, a few new teams that made a statement by knocking off some heavyweights, a veteran squad who that took a step back, and a couple of standout performances.
New Kids on the Block
Following the organic path of winning some championships in lower divisions and then climbing up the ladder, Les Petites Carottes, made their Division B debut in spectacular fashion, with a (34-32) over #NR (More on them later).
Quarterback Jason Reyes was sharp for LPC, as he completed 17 of 21 passes for 160 yards and four touchdowns, to go along with 26 yards rushing. His top target was Michael Fafard had a team-high five receptions for 65 yards and two TDs. Reyes also connected on strikes to the endzone to Cedric Maurice and Felix Boutet. Fafard was just as dangerous on the other side of the ball as he recorded a pick-6 off QB Zach Deschamps, which turned out to be the game-winning score.
Not everything was roses for the team, as they lost (44-40) to Hard 8. The game went down to the wire, as LPC was able to pull within four on a TD by Zachary Cloutier, and then successfully converted an on-side pass attempt, but they couldn’t punch the ball into the endzone with three tries to do so.
I have played against Les Petites Carottes. This squad is talented. They have been together for a while, the core of their team has a tackle background, and they have a great combination of speed and size on their roster. If that wasn’t enough, after having him sub on the team the last two seasons, they have now added Felix Boutet, who many view as the best Receiver in FPF, on a fulltime basis. Counting his production last week, the All-Star has 10 TDs in six games. Good luck defenses.
Another newbie who made their presence felt after moving up from Division C was Speed Academy. Unlike Les Petites Carottes, Speed Academy wasn’t able to make their debut a winning one was they fell (42-31) to Idaho Udapimps, but as the saying goes, if at first you don’t succeed try again. That’s exactly what they did as the school of speed knocked off the Burins (35-24).
It wasn’t a perfect outing as Speed Academy who led (22-6) at halftime had to hang on after the break as they were outscored (20-13), but a win is a win, and they’ll take the two points.
Coming up big in the win for Speed Academy was the duo of Jimmy Marneris and Félix Déry-Bernard. The former led all players with four grabs for 86 yards and a pair of TDs. The later made an impact on both sides of the ball as he registered 69 yards and one TD, while also recording an interception off QB Rocco Christiano.
Both Speed Academy players were on the receiving end (pun intended) of an impressive performance by their QB Emile Plante. The sixth-year veteran completed 18 of 29 passes for 261 yards, to go along with five TDs and one INT.
FPF’s Most Wanted, formerly known as Backfield Penetration has also made the jump as they last played in Division 3. They also didn’t wait long to make an impact, as they upset Camping Sans Boutin (32-31) Monday night at Stade de Soccer.
The contest was a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams trade big blows to the opposing defense. Quarterback Alessandro Barazzzoni dealt the knockout shot, as he connected with Receiver Wedens Alexandre for the game-winning 40-yard TD on the second to last play of the game to seal the win. The score would be the second of the game for the speedy U of M Carabins playmaker.
The win was a statemen victory for FPF’s Most Wanted. We are used to seeing this team play in the 5 v 5 division the last several seasons. Making the jump back to the 6 v 6 format and beating a strong veteran team is a solid way to make a return. This squad has championship experience, chemistry, and weapons in Alexandre, Anthony Lazzara, Rokhendy Joseph, Anthony Siggia, and both Santino and Dante Sparagna. Let’s see what they do next.
The only new team to not start off with a win was Ice Pack, as they lost (51-31) to the Silent Ticklers. While the defense needs some attention after giving up that many points, there is room for optimism, as they have solid veterans in Eric Namts, Giovanni Antonacci, Clifdji Solon, and Alex Szalipszki.
On offense the same promise exists, as they are led by a Quarterback in Szalipszki, who has been voted an All-Star in every season since his debut in 2022, and has three championships under his belt. It is his first time playing the position in Division B, but the dual-threat QB has surrounded himself with weapons that will help him speed up the learning curve.
The veteran opponent heavy schedule doesn’t get any easier for Ice Pack as we hit the month of June, as they take on Idaho Udapimps, Bruins, and KGP Dynasty. Let’s see how they do.
Taking a Step Back
The writing hasn’t just been on the wall, it’s been on the ceiling, basement, bathroom, and anywhere else you can think of. For the last few seasons #NR have struggled in FPF’s top divisions. The recent Winter Season saw them go winless in Competitive 5 v 5. Last spring in the same division they finished (2-8). They have fared just as bad in Division A as well. Going as far back as 2023, this team hasn’t surpassed more than four wins in a season.
The team made changes at the Quarterback position in recent years, as they went from Myles Gibbon to Adam Sinagra, to Zach Deschamps. In just his second season, Deschamps has displayed the ability to fling the ball down the field. As is the case with most young pivots, he must work on his accuracy. With only 11 career FPF games to his name, the improvement should come with time.
The first bit of evidence of improved play came last Saturday versus Les Petites Carottes, as Deschamps completed 15 of 22 passes for 191 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. If #NR can get that type of production every week from the QB position, they should be able to find their way on offense.
The other main problem facing this team the last few seasons has been roster consistency. This squad has had to rely on numerous subs the last few years. Having a consistent lineup each week will help the team not just develop chemistry, but also the ability to execute in big moments, which is a trait they have been lacking for a long time.
The move back down to Division B is a smart one for #NR. When you look at names on this roster in Ryan Perry, Kenny Baye, Sanders Armand, Kendal Mayers, and Zachary Alexis, they can match any team talent for talent. Consistency and execution are how this team can succeed. We will find out soon enough if they can attain both.
Nearly Ready to Rumble
KGP Dynasty and Hard 8 have been rivals over the last couple of seasons. The rivalry almost came to a head last Sunday at Concordia. Trash talk, revenge, physicality, and big plays highlighted the game which had to be halted for nearly five minutes as Jeff Rosenblatt, Gabe D’Amico-Mazza, and Head Referee Steven Donald took an extended timeout to make sure cooler heads prevailed.
The game itself was tight in the first half, as each side scored three touchdowns. After the break KGP Dynasty fell apart, as they committed four turnovers and put up a goose egg on the scoreboard.
The second half went much better for Hard 8, as the team turned those extra possessions into points, via a safety, a pick-6 by Defensive Back Quaysie Gordon-Maule, and touchdowns from Receivers Anthony Brisebois and Thomas Coutu, as they cruised to a (35-21) victory.
On Tap
On the way to winning the Division 2 championship two weeks ago, the Silent Ticklers knocked off Camping Boutin in a Quarterfinals matchup that many people viewed as an upset. One month later, CSB will have a chance to get some revenge, as both teams square off Sunday afternoon at Concordia.
Standouts
Here are the top three performances from Week 1 that caught my eye:
Jimmy Marneris (Speed Academy)
Through two games, the veteran Receiver has four touchdowns to go along with nine catches for 140 yards. In an offense that also has the dynamic Félix Déry-Bernard, the duo gives Quarterback Emile Plante two game-breakers to throw passes to.
Emile Descoteaux (Camping Sans Boutin) and Darryl Dorcely (Speed Academy)
I got to give the Rushers some love. There are some big names in the division at the position in Ethan Adrian, Gabe D’Amico-Mazza, Raffaele Morelli, and Joey Notaro. Week 1 was rough, as those four combined for a grand total of zero sacks.
The duo of Descoteaux and Dorcely didn’t let that stop them however, as the former recorded two, while the latter picked up one QB takedown, and also led all players with 11 tackles. They were the only two Rushers who registered a sack. Good job guys.
Quaysie Gordon-Maule (Hard 8), Michael Fafard and Felix Boutet (Les Petites Carottes)
Defense wins championships, and the trio did their part, as they each recorded a pick-6 in their respective Week 1 victories for their teams.
Picks
Silent Ticklers vs Bruins – Silent Ticklers
Camping Sans Boutin vs Speed Academy – Camping Sans Boutin
Hard 8 vs Bruins – Hard 8
Silent Ticklers vs Camping Sans Boutin – Camping Sans Boutin (My pick for Game of the Week)
Les Petites Carottes vs Ice Pack – Ice Pack (Upset Special)
FPF’S Most Wanted vs #NR - #NR
Ice Pack vs Idaho Udapimps – Idaho Udapimps
Last Week: N/A
That is it for this week. Good luck to everyone in their games both this weekend and next week.
If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected], or on the FPF Facebook page.