With only four games being played last week, there was a little more time to dive into the details and analyze what actually happened on the field. Week 4 also gives us some intriguing matchups, so in addition to recapping last week's action, I'll be highlighting my Game of the Week and making a few predictions for the upcoming slate.

Week 3 Recap

Bend Don't Break Finally Enter the Win Column

It was a tough start to the season for Bend Don't Break, but they finally found their footing with a 22-0 shutout victory over No Flag Zone.

It wasn't necessarily a career game from Luke Moreau, who finished 8-for-17 for 101 yards, but he made those completions count with three touchdown passes. It was an afternoon belonging to the Nottes as Josh scored twice while Noah added the other touchdown.

The weather certainly played a factor, and Bend Don't Break seemed to adapt to the conditions much better than their opponents. Their defence recorded two interceptions and held Natan Girouard-Langlois and the No Flag Zone offence scoreless throughout the contest.

The victory may only count as one in the standings, but getting that first win can often change the confidence of an entire team.

Pacemakers Outlast Garni Comme Mac in a Game of the Season Candidate

Any game that produces over 100 combined points is usually worth watching. When that game is decided by a single point, it becomes one of the early candidates for Game of the Season.

The Gerardi-to-McMahon connection wasted no time making its presence felt, connecting for a touchdown on the very first play of the game. I can promise that when my team plays GMC, I won't be allowing that on the opening snap.

The battle between Justin White and Ben McMahon was electric as the duo combined for six touchdowns and over 280 receiving yards. Even with Garni Comme Mac producing a two-point return, Pacemakers managed to win the conversion battle, which ultimately proved to be the difference.

After suffering two tough losses to open the season, Pacemakers reminded everyone that they remain a dangerous team. For GMC, the situation isn't nearly as concerning as their record might suggest, but losing their first two games by a combined four points leaves a frustrating taste in your mouth.

Nighthawks' Comeback Runs Out of Time

It was an evening battle between the one-win Nighthawks and a Ball Hawks squad still adjusting to life with Xavier Couture under center instead of Richie Mondesir.

Both quarterbacks delivered strong performances. Couture finished with four touchdown passes while Fabrice Robillard responded with three of his own. Most impressively, neither quarterback threw an interception.

The story of the game, however, was the rushing. Eliav Ari turned back the clock with a dominant performance, recording five sacks in the loss and looking a lot like the player who routinely produced 15-plus sack seasons years ago.

Not to be outdone, Rodney Mondesir contributed two sacks of his own, including the game-sealing sack that resulted in a safety on Nighthawks' final drive.

Both teams continue adjusting to life without longtime leaders Richie Mondesir and Yvan Salomon playing full-time roles, but there were encouraging signs from both sides moving forward.

Studz Keep No Punt Intended Searching for Answers

When I first saw the final score, I was surprised by how competitive this game actually was.

Looking deeper into the box score, it became clear why. Anthony Noël handled most of the quarterback duties early, which initially made me wonder if Philippe Gélinas was unable to throw due to an injury. Instead, a UR penalty forced Gélinas back under center for the remainder of the game.

On the other side, Michael Khazaka delivered arguably his best performance since his seven-touchdown outing against Texas Whales last winter. Unfortunately for No Punt Intended, the result wasn't the same.

Erik Brousseau had a monster game, turning each of his four receptions into touchdowns. Michael Nguyen also gave NPI life with an interception that briefly swung momentum.

As the clock wound down, however, No Punt Intended couldn't generate one final scoring opportunity, and Khazaka's interception on the final play sealed another frustrating loss. Studz now have time to regroup and monitor Gélinas' status, while NPI continues searching for its first win of the season.

Week 4 Predictions

Bend Don't Break Sweep the Week

Now that Bend Don't Break have their first win, I have a feeling they'll want more.

The schedule isn't easy, with Ball Hawks first and Judith waiting on Sunday evening in Laval. Ball Hawks will bring plenty of energy and noise, but I think Bend Don't Break's chemistry gives them the edge.

The weather forecast doesn't look ideal for Sunday, which could actually benefit Bend Don't Break. Josh Notte's ability to run the football combined with Luke Moreau's short passing game could be the perfect formula for ugly weather football.

It may not be pretty, but I think Bend Don't Break find a way.

Garni Comme Mac Finally Break Through

When is GMC getting its first win?

I think this is the week.

The matchup against Nighthawks should remain competitive, but the speed of Ben McMahon changes everything. If Hunter Beriault is available, I could easily see him finishing with five or more receptions if GMC finds itself short-handed elsewhere.

Nighthawks won't roll over, but if Dante Gerardi gets into a rhythm against a defence that has historically struggled, GMC should eventually create enough separation to pull away.

Game of the Week: Studz vs Judith

Regardless of whether Anthony Noël or Philippe Gélinas is taking the snaps, this should be one of the best games of the week.

Judith has only played once this season, defeating No Flag Zone back in Week 1. The biggest question is whether the three-week layoff creates rust or if they return looking like a team already in midseason form.

Containing Antoine Clément will be priority number one for Judith's defence. On the other side, Raphaël Caron has plenty of weapons at his disposal and will likely need a near-perfect performance if Judith hopes to match the offensive firepower of Studz.

Most people will probably favour Studz based on what we've seen so far. I think Judith surprises some people and reminds everyone why they entered the season with high expectations.

Prediction: Judith def. Studz 34-31

Closing Remarks

That's all for this week's article. With only four games on the schedule, every result feels a little more important as teams continue to separate themselves from the pack. Week 4 should give us some answers, especially regarding teams like Garni Comme Mac, Bend Don't Break and Judith, who all have opportunities to either build momentum or make a statement.

With the weather continuing to be unpredictable, best of luck to everyone taking the field this weekend. Whether it's battling the heat, rain or wind, the conditions often end up becoming just as important as the matchup itself.

As always, if there's a player, team or storyline you'd like to see covered in a future article, don't hesitate to reach out to me at the fields or on social media.

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