Division E1: Why Underdogs Believe They Can Compete With Anyone feat. Hubert Noel
With Week 5 probably underway once you are reading this, roughly half of Division E1 have played half of their season. A small division where only eight teams make the playoffs creates a lot of chaos down the line. The teams who are still winless are almost out of playoff contention unless they can put together a huge winning streak. The teams sitting at one or two wins are in a much better position, but even they aren't guaranteed a playoff spot.
Last Saturday, I played Hubert Noel in 5v5 but also caught a glimpse of the Underdogs' 26-12 victory over Midtown later that afternoon. While Midtown wasn't at full strength, they still had several talented players in the lineup that Noel was able to dissect from the quarterback position. He finished with only four incompletions and three touchdown passes. On the defensive side, Hed Losthy used his speed to record all three of the team's interceptions, returning one of them to the house.
Noel is becoming one of the young rising players in FPF, but one thing I've noticed is that he lets his game do the talking. He's a highly skilled player for his age, but after speaking with him, it became clear that individual success isn't what he values most.
Football Is Only part of the Story
As many people can get caught up in FPF and flag football as a whole, we all have lives outside of it. Many players have jobs, are students, or both. Many have families and other responsibilities, but it's the game we love that brings us together every week. For Noel, flag football is only one part of his life.
"Le flag-football n’est qu’une partie de ma vie, j’ai d’autres activités comme le travail, l’école et le football américain au cégep. Je ne fais pas partie de beaucoup d’équipes donc je suis capable d’être organisé et de faire d’autres choses."
For a young athlete, Noel understands that athletic development doesn't only happen during games. The more experience he gains, the more situations he encounters and the fewer mistakes he makes. Balancing football with school, work and other commitments has helped him continue developing both on and off the field.
Chemistry Over Everything
Despite his success on the field, Noel doesn't view himself as the centrepiece of the Underdogs. When asked about his ability to contribute at quarterback, receiver and on defence, he quickly redirected the attention toward his teammates and the chemistry they have built together.
"Nous jouons comme une équipe, nous sommes un gang d’amis qui se sont inscrits pour jouer ensemble au flag pendant l’été, nous avons donc une bonne chimie d’équipe. Nous avons chacun confiance en les autres pour qu’ils donnent le maximum à chaque match donc je suis capable de me concentrer sur ma tâche seulement et de faire du mieux de mes capacités."
I've crossed paths with several members of this roster in different divisions and one thing that always stands out is how much fun they seem to have together. Whether they're winning comfortably or battling through a difficult game, there always seems to be a smile somewhere on the sideline. It's easy to get caught up in standings, statistics and playoff races, but team chemistry is something that can often be overlooked. For the Underdogs, it may very well be their biggest strength.
Learning From the Best
The Underdogs' only losses this season have come against teams currently sitting near the top of the standings in South Shore Crashouts and TuneSquad. Rather than being discouraged by those defeats, Noel believes they showed exactly where his team stands within the division.
"Ils nous ont montré qu’on est capables de compétitionner avec les meilleures équipes de cette division, nous avons eu un boost de confiance. Ces matchs nous ont permis d’apprendre, de voir ce qui fonctionne et ce qui ne fonctionne pas, puis de nous ajuster pour pouvoir mieux performer au prochain match."
That confidence has been reflected in their recent play. Even though they remain one of the younger teams in Division E1, the Underdogs have shown they can hang with anybody when they are at full strength.
The Impact of Cousineau and Buteau
When discussing players who have made a major impact this season, Noel immediately pointed to Mathias Cousineau and Frederick Buteau. The numbers support his claim. Cousineau currently leads the team with 15 receptions, while Buteau sits tied for second on the team with three receiving touchdowns.
"Mathias et Frédéric sont de bons athlètes, donc ils sont dangereux pour l’autre équipe. En attaque, il suffit de leur donner le ballon dans l’espace et ils vont certainement faire un jeu. En défense, ils sont compétitifs et cherchent à tout faire pour ne pas se faire battre et ne pas manquer de flag."
Their contributions have helped the Underdogs become one of the stronger defensive teams in Division E1, allowing just 160.2 yards per game, the fourth-best mark in the division. While offensive production often gets the attention, teams that can consistently get stops are usually the ones that stick around once playoff football arrives.
A Team Nobody Wants to Face
With a single-elimination playoff format, momentum and chemistry can sometimes be just as important as talent. Noel believes his team has both.
"Je crois que nous sommes capables de faire un long parcours en séries, car nous avons une très bonne chimie d’équipe, un bon jeu offensif, une bonne défense, des joueurs athlétiques et nous voulons gagner plus que l’autre équipe."
The Underdogs return to action next Friday against Practice Squad III. If the first half of the season is any indication, this young group may have more to say before the playoffs arrive.
Closing Remarks
As the second half of the season begins, Division E1’s story remains to be unknown with the emergence of new teams and hidden talent. A few teams have separated themselves at the top of the standings, but the race for the final playoff spots is far from decided. Every win, point differential and head-to-head matchup could end up making the difference between extending a season and watching from the sidelines.
For the Underdogs, the formula is simple. Continue building on the chemistry that has made them successful, keep learning from the division's best teams and trust the players who have helped them get to this point. Hubert Noel may be one of the rising young talents in FPF, but after speaking with him, it's clear that this team's identity goes far beyond any one player.
With several crucial games still to be played and the playoff picture changing almost every week, Division E1 is shaping up for an exciting finish. The only question left is which teams will rise to the occasion when it matters most.
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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