Division A: Surviving the Short-Handed Weekend feat Simon Duchesne
Last week, we had two winless teams in the standings in Fins Up and Vultures. At this point, only Vultures remain without a victory.
As I've mentioned in previous articles, spring is often the most difficult season when it comes to attendance. Vacations, tournaments and everyday life tend to make roster management a challenge for every team. Last weekend was an extreme example of that. Between the 2026 Adult Flag Circuit Men's Championship and the annual Ben Butch tournament taking place at the same time, both teams entered their matchup heavily depleted.
With at least one team guaranteed to pick up its first win of the season, Fins Up and Vultures found themselves in a game that looked very different from what many expected on paper.
I actually had a front-row seat for this one.
After finishing my own games earlier in the day, I ended up suiting up for Vultures as a sub, giving me a chance to experience Division A football firsthand. Even with both rosters missing several regular contributors, the talent on the field was evident from the opening drive. The game remained close throughout, with Fins Up holding a narrow 14-13 lead at halftime.
Will Power was excellent for Fins Up, moving the ball consistently and rarely putting the offence in difficult situations. On the other side, Jeff Rosenblatt was playing his third game of the day and gradually settled into a roster he wasn't accustomed to playing with.
The biggest play of the game came from Kareem Anthony Chilcott. In what was shaping up to be a defensive battle, his sack on Rosenblatt resulted in a safety and ultimately became the difference in the final score. Even then, Vultures continued to battle back. Olivier Joly made a tremendous grab in the back of the end zone to give his team the lead before Fins Up quickly answered.
Both teams traded interceptions in the final minutes and Vultures had one last chance to steal the game, but time ran out before they could capitalize.
The result gave Fins Up its first victory of the season.
One thing that stood out to me throughout the game was the chemistry between Will Power and Simon Duchesne. Fins Up's two-quarterback packages constantly forced the defence to think on the fly and created problems all over the field. With more and more Division A teams utilizing multiple quarterbacks in different situations, it's become one of the most effective wrinkles in the division.
Later in the week, I spoke with Duchesne about the team's first victory, the partnership he has developed with Power and how Fins Up plans to approach a daunting stretch of games against the Braves.
More Than Just a Win
For Duchesne, the victory over Vultures was about more than simply getting into the win column.
With both teams heavily impacted by absences and four subs joining the Fins Up lineup, the focus wasn't on style points. It was simply about finding a way to win.
"We had four subs in that game so our mentality was to just go out there and do our best," Duchesne explained.
In a game where touchdowns were difficult to come by, the biggest moment came from Kareem Anthony Chilcott. His sack on Jeff Rosenblatt resulted in a safety and ultimately became the difference in the game.
"Kareem's safety was huge because we knew it was gonna be a defensive game with few TDs considering all the subs on both sides. Getting two points and an extra possession really lessened the pressure on our offence and put the pressure on theirs to score an extra TD, and we managed to stop them when it mattered."
The win also featured contributions from players who weren't originally part of the Fins Up roster that weekend. With so many absences, several subs stepped in and played important roles throughout the game.
When asked if there was someone who deserved more recognition, Duchesne immediately brought up FPF vet Hinsley Adams.
"Technically not a teammate this season since he was a sub, but Hinsley coming back from a torn Achilles and balling out against Vultures is a massive accomplishment!"
It's easy to focus on wins and losses, but stories like that are part of what makes the spring season unique. Teams are constantly adapting to missing players and unexpected situations, and sometimes those additions end up making a huge difference.
The Power-Duchesne Dynamic
One thing that stood out to me throughout the game was the chemistry between Duchesne and Will Power.
Whether it was Duchesne lining up at quarterback, receiver or moving around before the snap, the two constantly forced defenders to think. As someone rushed against them during two two QB plays, there were several moments where a split-second hesitation was all they needed to create an opening.
Their connection isn't something that developed overnight.
"We played each other many times before joining up so we got to understand each other's game that way haha! Will has a really high football IQ. I would say that our 2QB dynamic works because we're not afraid of trying things and learning from them."
As more teams in Division A continue to experiment with multiple quarterbacks in different situations, Fins Up has shown how effective that approach can be when the players involved trust each other completely. Watching them firsthand gave me a better appreciation for how difficult those looks are to defend, especially when both quarterbacks are capable of making plays with the ball.
Learning From The Best
The first win of the season was followed by a tough one-possession loss against OneStop.
Looking back, Duchesne felt the difference wasn't talent, but execution.
"Playing against super athletic teams like OneStop is tough because basically every little mistake becomes a TD or turnover. The margins are so thin that there's probably like 5 or 6 plays that you look back and think 'aww man if we get it there we win it'. The key is to keep our cool, remember what worked well and what didn't, and change a few things accordingly next time we play them."
The challenge doesn't get any easier.
Fins Up now enters a stretch where three of its next games come against Braves, the division's gold standard and the team every contender measures itself against.
For many teams, that schedule would be intimidating. Duchesne sees it as an opportunity.
"Braves are obviously the gold standard, even when half the team is away for national team camps or whatever. Obviously the ultimate objective is to win every game, but the base goal to me is to use these games as a learning experience and improve every week. There's a lot we can pick up from them in doing all the little things right."
With only five teams in Division A and one playoff spot still up for grabs, every game matters. Fins Up knows they still have work to do, but after finally getting into the win column and proving they can compete with some of the division's best, the belief inside the group hasn't changed.
The next few weeks will provide their toughest test yet, but if Duchesne's mindset is any indication, Fins Up isn't just looking for wins. They're looking to keep improving and be playing their best football when the playoffs arrive.
Closing Remarks
That's all for this week's article.
First and foremost, I'd like to thank Simon Duchesne for taking the time to answer my questions and provide some insight into what has been a challenging but encouraging start to the season for Fins Up.
On a personal note, getting the chance to suit up in Division A for the first time gave me a completely different perspective on the game. Even with both teams missing several regular players, the speed of the game, the decision-making and the ability of players to capitalize on even the smallest mistakes was evident throughout. As someone who normally plays and writes about many different divisions, it was a unique opportunity to see the highest level of FPF from inside the huddle rather than from the sidelines.
Looking ahead, the next few weeks should be interesting for both Fins Up and the rest of Division A as teams continue to battle for playoff positioning and build momentum heading into the second half of the season. With several rematches still to come, I expect there to be plenty of storylines to follow.
I'd also like to wish the best of luck to all of the players and teams representing Canada and their respective teams at the Senior Flag National Championships taking place June 26-28. Division A is filled with players competing at the highest levels of the sport, and many familiar faces from this division will be taking part in the tournament. It should be a great weekend of football and a chance for some of the country's best talent to showcase their abilities.
As always, if you'd like yourself, a teammate or your team to be featured in a future article, don't hesitate to reach out.
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