Hey everyone, this is the first article for Division E1 this Spring. For those who don’t know me, my name is Keyon and I’m also a player in this league. I’ve been playing in Division E every Spring since 2023, but for the first time, neither of my teams are competing in E this season.

Regardless, I’m familiar with many of the teams in this division, whether from this past Winter season or previous Springs. We’re already into Week 2 and I wanted to give my very early top three teams to watch. I’ve had the chance to watch a few games already and as someone who has spent the last few years in this division, there’s a lot more talent here than people may realize. Several players in E1 could easily find themselves contributing in higher divisions in the near future.

For this article, I want to highlight three teams that I believe have the experience, talent and depth to make life easier on themselves throughout the regular season. If your team isn’t on my list, I’m more than willing to be proven wrong over the next few months.

Teams to Watch

TuneSquad

For a Division E team, this group has way too much experience and talent not to be near the top of the standings.

Their strong start has already put them at 3-0 and whether it’s Garner Ross or Charles Presser at quarterback, both are among the better options in this division. Defensively, having players like Dylan Merovitz, Ben Arnovitz and Avi Korman gives them a complete roster capable of competing with anyone.

In past seasons, TuneSquad has struggled to make deep playoff runs despite strong regular seasons. This year might be different.

Charles is likely their top receiving option when Garner is under center, which seems to be the preferred setup right now. He has reliable hands, great speed and makes routes like skinny posts and deep-ins look effortless. When he plays quarterback himself, his ability to extend plays with his legs makes him even more dangerous.

My only concern is that despite their 3-0 record, all three victories have come by a single possession and against teams with less overall experience. Regardless, this is arguably the strongest roster in E1 and I’d be surprised if they encounter many issues during the regular season.

Practice Squad III

Another veteran team worth watching is Practice Squad III, who return after testing themselves in Division D last Spring.

They finished 8-1-1 but saw their season come to an end in their first playoff game. Fabrice Tremblay had an excellent year, throwing for 36 touchdowns and nearly 1,500 passing yards.

Whether they’re playing under the Practice Squad name or the Old Pats banner, this group understands FPF football and consistently uses that experience to their advantage.

Vincent Demers is arguably the best rusher in this division and already looks mid-season ready after recording two sacks in the opener. Samuel Saumure remains one of the fastest players in E1 and continues to be a reliable target and defender.

Like TuneSquad, I don’t expect many regular season struggles for this group. They also have flexibility because either Fabrice or Samuel can take quarterback responsibilities if needed.

If I’m not mistaken, this core still hasn’t won a championship together. With their experience and familiarity with the league, this feels like one of their better opportunities to finally change that. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Fabrice Tremblay captures his first QB of the Year award by season’s end.

Underdogs

Unlike the first two teams, Underdogs are not built around veteran experience.

Instead, they’re built around youth, athleticism and hunger.

Even though many of these players come from tackle football backgrounds, they’ve had little trouble adapting to flag football. Hubert Noel is quickly making a name for himself around FPF and has already been called upon to sub for higher-level teams like KGP Elite and Game of Throws.

While most of Hubert’s success has come in Co-Ed 3, he’s much more than a Co-Ed 3 player.

The scary part is that teams can’t focus solely on him because the roster is loaded with talent.

Quentin Leduc enters his first season at quarterback after years of playing alongside Terry Babalis and William Power with Thunder Buddies. Based on what I’ve seen, I’m confident he can make the transition successfully.

Frederick Buteau is another young player who continues to impress. His football IQ stood out during OnlyFlagz’s 6A championship run last Winter and he seems to be getting better every season.

If Quentin can continue limiting turnovers and improve his completion percentage, this team has the athleticism to create turnovers in bunches and potentially become the highest-scoring defence in the division.

Shnitos & Benitos def Head Tops Only 40-32

Last Thursday, I had the chance to watch this matchup in Laval.

Shnitos & Benitos were led by quarterback Massimo Colacci and coach AJ Zeppetelli, while Head Tops Only were once again without Alessandro Storto to begin the season.

The first half was an offensive showcase, with the two teams combining for 37 points. Head Tops Only held a slim one-point lead at halftime thanks in large part to Luca Valiante, who looked nearly impossible to tackle.

Valiante opened the second half with another touchdown, extending the lead to eight points and putting pressure on Shnitos & Benitos.

They answered immediately.

Colacci found James Masciotra for a one-play touchdown drive before the defence stepped up with a crucial interception that completely shifted momentum.

While Valiante starred for HTO, Chris Bertone took over the game for Shnitos & Benitos.

Bertone finished with 144 receiving yards and two touchdowns, both of which came from more than 40 yards out. He repeatedly turned short completions into explosive plays by making defenders miss in space and creating huge gains after the catch.

Head Tops Only still had a chance to tie the game late, but another interception sealed the victory for Shnitos & Benitos.

It’s been a surprising start for Head Tops Only, who finished 7-3 last Spring and have now dropped their first two games of the season. I’ll give them some grace since they haven’t had their full roster available, but they’re already facing an uphill battle.

For Shnitos & Benitos, this was a statement win. Colacci finished with 260 passing yards and six touchdowns while helping his team secure its first victory of the year.

Closing Remarks

This is my first article covering Division E1 this season and I wish all of you good luck this year.

I won’t be around trying to go 10-0 this Spring like my teams have over the last two seasons, so I’m curious to see if another squad can pull it off. More importantly, I’m excited to see who ultimately gets the job done when the playoffs arrive.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the fields because I’m always interested in hearing players’ perspectives for future articles. 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.