Co-Ed 3: More Than Just the Scoreboard feat. Chloe Brazeau-Gelinas
Nine teams currently make up Co-Ed 3, but only six will have the opportunity to extend their season beyond the regular schedule. Most teams have now played at least half of their games, making this the perfect time to begin evaluating where everyone stands as the playoff race starts to take shape.
One team that helped its cause last weekend was Michael Scott's Tots. The team picked up two convincing victories, continuing to establish itself as one of the stronger groups in the division. David De Andrade threw five touchdown passes in each contest, something that almost feels routine at this point. What caught my attention, however, was the defensive turnaround.
Prior to last weekend, Michael Scott's Tots had allowed 25 or more points in all but one game. Against Fatties and Les Moins Mous, they surrendered just 14 points combined, including a shutout victory over Fatties. While looking through the scoresheets, I noticed that Chloe Brazeau-Gelinas recorded an interception in each game.
One of the most enjoyable parts of writing these articles is getting the chance to learn about players whose stories might otherwise go unnoticed. Some players live and breathe flag football year-round, while others simply enjoy showing up every week, seeing their friends and competing for the love of the game. Neither approach is right or wrong. After speaking with Brazeau-Gelinas, it quickly became clear that her story was less about statistics and more about what has kept her with the same team for over eight years.
How It All Started
Brazeau-Gelinas has spent her entire FPF career wearing the blue and black of Michael Scott's Tots. Her introduction to the sport came through FPF veterans Kenny Boutilier and Zackary Alberts-Gill, who recruited her to join one of the league's original co-ed teams.
"Ce sont mes amis Zack et Kenny qui jouaient dans la ligue des hommes de la FPF qui m’avaient recrutée pour faire partie d’une équipe dans la nouvelle ligue coed. Dans le groupe original, la moitié de l’équipe n’avait jamais joué au flag football dans une ligue auparavant alors ça a été tout un apprentissage."
What stood out to her most wasn't necessarily the competition itself.
"Ce que j’ai vraiment aimé, c’était qu’on était là pour avoir du fun! J’avais pas de pression de performance et l’équipe était vraiment chouette."
Looking back, it's easy to see why that first experience turned into an eight-year commitment.
The Culture of Michael Scott's Tots
When asked what has kept her coming back season after season, Brazeau-Gelinas immediately pointed to the atmosphere surrounding the team.
"Ce qui me donne envie de revenir saison après saison, c'est vraiment l'esprit d'équipe. On vient pour s'amuser, faire du sport, bouger et passer du bon temps ensemble sans trop de pression."
For many teams, maintaining the same culture for nearly a decade can be difficult as players move, start families, change schedules or leave the sport entirely. According to Brazeau-Gelinas, while many faces have changed, the team's identity has not.
"Même quand on perd par plusieurs points, on continue à avoir du plaisir. On fait de notre mieux, on apprend de nos erreurs et on passe au prochain jeu. Je n'ai jamais vraiment ressenti de pression ou de jugement dans cette équipe."
I've had the opportunity to film several Michael Scott's Tots games over the past year and often find myself speaking with Kenny and Zack on the sidelines. From an outside perspective, the energy Chloe describes is very real. Whether winning or losing, this is a team that genuinely enjoys being around one another.
"Avec les années, l'alignement a changé, mais l'ambiance est toujours restée la même. Zack et Kenny, qui faisaient partie du groupe original, apportent encore aujourd'hui une énergie incroyable à l'équipe. Ils créent un bel équilibre et rendent l'expérience vraiment agréable pour tout le monde. C'est toujours un plaisir de jouer avec eux."
More Than Statistics
When I brought up her interceptions from last weekend, Brazeau-Gelinas laughed.
"Pour être honnête, je ne me souvenais même pas que j'avais réussi une interception dans chacun des matchs!"
That answer alone probably tells you everything you need to know about how she views the game.
Rather than discussing her own performance, she quickly shifted the conversation toward the team's effort.
"Après les parties, on essaie surtout de souligner les beaux jeux et les performances de l'équipe dans son ensemble. On est vraiment là pour avoir du plaisir avant tout."
Even after eight years with the same group, she still values the shared experience more than any statistic.
"Même avec la chaleur accablante et la pluie la fin de semaine dernière, on était simplement contents d'être ensemble sur le terrain."
She also emphasized that many of the most important contributions in flag football never show up on a scoresheet.
"Je trouve aussi que le flag football est vraiment un sport d'équipe. C'est facile de remarquer une interception ou un touché, mais il y a tellement d'actions importantes qui ne se retrouvent pas dans les statistiques. Que ce soit bloquer une option, bien se positionner ou aider à exécuter une stratégie, chaque personne contribue au succès de l'équipe."
It's a refreshing perspective in a sport where statistics often dominate conversations.
Eight Years Later
When reflecting on her journey with Michael Scott's Tots, Brazeau-Gelinas didn't point to a championship or a specific game. Instead, she talked about growth.
"Quand j'ai commencé, je ne connaissais pratiquement pas les règles du jeu."
She laughed while remembering some of those early experiences but also took pride in how far both she and the team have come since those early days.
"Ce qui est spécial, c'est que même si nous avons beaucoup évolué comme équipe et comme joueurs, nous avons conservé la même mentalité qu'à nos débuts. On continue de jouer pour le plaisir, pour apprendre et pour passer du bon temps ensemble."
Whether it's adapting to rule changes, evolving roster requirements or simply becoming more experienced players, Michael Scott's Tots have continued to grow while preserving the same values that brought the team together in the first place.
Watching Women's Flag Football Grow
Before ending our conversation, Brazeau-Gelinas brought up a topic that wasn't even part of the interview.
"Quand j'ai commencé, il n'y avait qu'une seule division coed et toutes les équipes jouaient ensemble."
Having been around since the beginning of Co-Ed football in FPF, she has had a front-row seat to the growth of both the league and women's participation in the sport.
"Je trouve ça vraiment important de souligner la contribution des femmes au flag football. C'est beau de voir la FPF continuer à grandir et offrir plus d'occasions aux filles et aux femmes de participer. C'est quelque chose dont je suis fière d'avoir été témoin pendant toutes ces années."
I would have to agree with her. The depth of female flag football talent in Quebec continues to grow, especially as younger athletes are being introduced to the sport earlier than ever before. At the same time, leagues like FPF continue to create opportunities for women of all ages and experience levels to get involved.
Michael Scott's Tots now head into an extended break before returning to action against All Day Every Day on July 19. While the standings and playoff race will continue to evolve, one thing seems certain. Whether they win or lose, Michael Scott's Tots have already figured out something many teams spend years searching for: a culture that keeps people coming back year after year.
Closing Remarks
That's all for this week's article.
I'd like to thank Chloe Brazeau-Gelinas for taking the time to answer my questions and share some insight into both Michael Scott's Tots and her experience in the FPF over the years. It's always interesting to hear directly from players because sometimes the standings don't tell the whole story.
As we approach the second half of the season, Co-Ed 3 remains one of the more interesting divisions to follow. The gap between teams is much smaller than the standings may suggest, and with only six playoff spots available, every game will become increasingly important. A strong week can completely change a team's outlook, while a rough stretch can quickly put a season in jeopardy.
One thing I took away from this conversation is that not every success story is measured by wins and losses. While teams are battling for playoff positioning, players like Brazeau-Gelinas remind us that many of the best parts of flag football happen away from the scoreboard. Whether it's building friendships, staying active or simply enjoying the competition, those moments are often what keep people coming back season after season.
As always, if there's a player, teammate or team that you think deserves some recognition, feel free to reach out. I enjoy learning more about the division and highlighting stories that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Until next time, good luck to everyone taking the field this week.
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