Division B: 8 Things I Noticed and a championship
Here are the top 8 things I noticed from this past week.
- NR Gets a Win!!!!
After a winless Winter Season, and a rough 2025 Spring Season that saw them finish (2-8), #NR, notched their first victory in nearly a full calendar year (July 7, 2025) as they pulled off a massive upset with a (47-42) win over the heavily favoured Idaho Udapimps, last Monday at Stade de MTL.
In what was his best game to date, Quarterback Zach Deschamps threw for 273 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns on 21 of 31 passing. The young QB had some help, as he connected with Sanders Armand nine times for 104 yards and one touchdown.
The young pivot wasn’t done there, as he found the trio of Thierry Gerville, Tristan Boyer, and Alexis Mimeault for two touchdowns each. To make the spectacular performance even more impressive, was the fact that the second TD came on the final play of the game to give his team the much-needed win.
The defeat by Idaho Udapimps stung even more, as not only did they not have a chance to reply, but the loss which was their first of the year prevented them from taking a 2-game lead on Les Petites Carottes, Hard 8, FPF’s Most Wanted, and Silent Ticklers who are all tied for second place with six points. They also wasted a big performance by Receiver Marvin Steingberg, who led all players with seven catches for 114 yard and four touchdowns.
Next up for #NR as they attempt to make it two wins in a row is a meeting with the Bruins tomorrow afternoon at Concordia. Good luck guys.
2. Bounce Back
It wasn’t all gloom and doom for Idaho Udapimps, as they were able to rebound with back-to-back wins. First, they captured a (48-42) win over the Bruins Sunday afternoon in Laval, and then they followed it up with a victory over the Silent Ticklers Tuesday night in Brossard.
I score kept the IU versus Silent Ticklers game. It was back and forth exciting affair that featured some key moments and big plays. The biggest one of all might have been the leaping one-handed grab by Manu Allrad-Roy over the middle of the field for an 18-yard touchdown in the second half, that captured the attention of everyone in attendance.
3. Stand-out Performance #1
The play of Ahmed Boubacar stood out to me as well. Usually, a Defensive Back both in tackle and flag football, the former Concordia Stinger showed his improvement as a pass catcher, as he came up with several big grabs for his team including three touchdowns. If he can come close to this type of production every week, Boubacar will definitely carve out a significant role for himself on this side of the ball.
4. Stand-out Performance #2
I remember meeting Nicolas Boucher for the first time at the Winter Season Finals where his team Les Ranceurs took on The R.E.E.T for the Division 3 championship. Boucher’s squad would loss a heartbreaker (38-32), but I came away impressed by his performance, as he hauled in two touchdowns as a Receiver, and recorded both a sack and pass deflection on defense. His length and speed made him a factor in that game, and they did so again Tuesday night, as he registered another pair of TDs, and displayed solid coverage and pass rush ability. Boucher is an ascending player to keep an eye on, and a good pickup for Idaho Udapimps.
5. Fast Start Slow Finish.
FPF’s Most Wanted suffered their first loss of the year as they fell to the Silent Ticklers (38-32) last Saturday to kick off Week 4.
If you had only watched the opening five minutes of the game, you would have thought the contest was going to end in a blowout victory for FPF’s Most Wanted, as they scored three plays into the match on a 25-yard touchdown catch from Quarterback Alessandro Barazzoni to Receiver Wedens Alexandre.
Three plays later the team’s defense got into the action as Anthony Lazarra intercepted QB Jordan Panetta. FPF’s Most Wanted would turn the turnover into points as Barazzoni would connect once again with Alexandre, but this time for a 41-yard score. FMW led (13-0) before they could even break a sweat.
Perhaps the slow start gave the Silent Ticklers a spark, as they would find the endzone on their second drive via a touchdown catch by Dan Mancini to pull within six points.
FMW would turn the ball over themselves, and their opponents made them pay, as Panetta would then find Tysen Otis-Copeland for a TD one play later tying the game up at 13. It didn’t stop there however, as Barazzoni was picked off by Mancini, who ran the ball back to the house to give the Silent Ticklers their first lead of the game (19-13).
After both teams traded touchdowns, FMW would take the lead on the final play of the half as Lazzara would score a 20-yard TD.
The Silent Ticklers would strike first after the break however, on a 1-yard TD grab by Mike Zenobi.
Both teams would then turn the ball over, as Otis-Copeland would pick off Barazzoni for the second time, but his offense couldn’t capitalize as Panetta, and his squad give the ball right back on downs.
This game would come down to the wire. After a late touchdown by Santino Sparagna tied the game at 32, Panetta had the last chance to get the win. He would help do exactly that by converting on a huge 4th and 2 scramble to keep that drive alive. One play later, he would find the player of the game in Otis-Copeland for the game-winning TD on a 6-yard pass.
Fantastic game, heck of an ending.
6. The Rivalry Continues
Camping Sans Boutin versus Hard 8.
These teams have battled numerous times over the last few seasons, both in 6 versus 6, and in the Co-Ed division as well. The latest variation of both squads are a little different this time around, as players like Victor Boutin, Paul Lapierre, and Sanders Armand aren’t a part of the latest chapter, but that doesn’t mean the matchup tomorrow afternoon at Concordia will be lacking any fireworks or star power.
For Hard 8, some new names have been added to the rivalry in Ethan Adrian, Rory Semerjian, Bakari Barrett, Nico Kwemo, and Thomas Coutu.
They will be taking on a dynasty team with big names in Marc-Andre Reeves, Serge Pilon Jr, Denis Martel, Marvin Renaud, Mickael Forest, and Emile Descoteaux, as well as up and coming impact players in Gab Couture, Mathieu Gratton, and the criminally underrated Felix Hudon.
This is my game of the week candidate. Throw the records and standings out the window. I don’t think this game will disappoint.
7. To sub, or not to sub?
I score kept the KGP Dynasty versus Ice Pack game.
KGP Dynasty was short on players, so they actually had to borrow a sub from Ice Pack in Dylan Boucher. The second-year player has speed galore, but he had no timing whatsoever with Quarterback Phil Cutler. They misfired on several deep balls. In all honesty I don’t know why the QB kept going his way. Yes, he was open occasionally, but the lack of chemistry made it nearly impossible to complete a pass.
On the other side, QB Alex Szalipszki did connect with his pass-catchers which featured a few subs of this own including Receiver Tallec Baptiste, who caught all three of his passes for 70 yard and three touchdowns. Maybe chemistry isn’t so important after all?
The QB was simply terrific in the matchup going a near-perfect 11 of 12 for 227 yards and seven touchdowns. He also showed a strong connection with one of his regular Receivers in Samuel Langlais who finished the contest with four grabs for 35 yards and three TDs.
On defense, Ice Pack got strong performances from Rusher Greg Spino who had a game-high three sacks, and Defensive Back Jefferson Pierre who recorded an interception to go along with three tackles and sticky coverage.
The win for Ice Pack was their first of the year, and it snapped a three-game losing streak in the process. They are on a bye this week before returning to action against Speed Academy in Week 7.
8. My New York Knicks!!!!!!!!
After a long 53-year wait, the New York Knicks finally won their third NBA title, by knocking off the San Antonio Spurs (98-94) this past Saturday to win the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
If you have seen or listened to any episode of the FlagPlus Football 1st & Goal podcast, you would know that I am a die-hard Knicks fan. Saturday night was a lifelong dream for me. Teams will make you cheer, lose your mind, break your heart, and jump for joy. That’s the nature of sports. FPF gives us the opportunity to tailor our own stories. While luck plays a small part, it is the players who play the biggest role in the outcome.
Championships. They mean everything in sports. The games, practices, dedication, sweat, blood, and tears, are just part of the commitment it takes to win one. I have won two so far, and I am hoping for a third before it is all said and done. For as special as the two are for me, I still remember losing my first opportunity to win one, and that was over a decade ago. If I am being honest, it still bugs me to this day, and I hate losing it more than I enjoyed winning the next two if that makes any sense.
A big part of me never lost hope, but a small part of me thought I might never actually get to see them win it all. In the words of Biggie Smalls, it’s all good baby baby!
Thank-you Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mitchell Robinson, K.A.T, Mikal Bridges, O.G Anunoby, Ariel Hukporti, Landry Shamet, Tyler Kolek, Deuce McBride, Mo Diawara, Jordan Clarkson, Jeremy Sochan, Jose Alvarado, Pacome Dadiet, Mike Brown, Leon Rose, and World-Wide Wes…Oh yeah, Mitch Johnson, De'Aaron Fox, and of course, Becky Hammon too. Knicks in 5!!!!!
Picks
#NR vs Bruins - #NR (Upset Special)
Les Petites Carottes vs Silent Ticklers – Silent Ticklers
Hard 8 vs Camping Sans Boutin - Hard 8 (My pick for Game of the Week)
FPF's Most Wanted vs KGP Dynasty – FPF’S Most Wanted
Hard 8 vs #NR – Hard 8
Last Week: (0-1)
Regular Season: (2-6)
That is it for this week. Good luck to everyone in their games this weekend and next week.
I put up a couple of poll questions on the FPF Facebook page. Go check them out.
If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected], or on the FPF Facebook page.