Division E1: Midseason Reviews Begin feat. Duncan Cook & Yalong Khuu
With only three games taking place this upcoming week, it's the perfect time to evaluate how each team has performed so far, with the majority already having played at least five games. With 13 teams in Division E1 and only 8 earning a playoff spot, every point will become more valuable over the next month and a half as teams battle for postseason positioning.
This week, I'll be taking a closer look at four teams before continuing the rest of my midseason reviews next week. Let's get into it.
Armed Robbery (6-1, 30.6pts for, 19.3pts allowed)
Overall Grade: A
MVP: Mike Collard
This is not the same Armed Robbery team that made the finals last spring. If anything, they might be even better. I had the chance to speak with star receiver Yalong Khuu about the team's strong start and what has allowed a newly formed group to climb to the top of the standings. According to Khuu, the season opener ended up being exactly what the team needed.
"I think a big part of it is that we're a new team. That first game was really about figuring things out, learning each other's strengths and weaknesses, building chemistry and understanding how we work together on the field. That probably explains some of the struggles in the opener."
Since then, Armed Robbery hasn't looked back.
"By the second game, we had a much better understanding of everyone's role and what we needed to do to be successful. We came in prepared, executed our game plan, and trusted each other to do our jobs."
For a team sitting at the top of the standings, you might think there would be pressure to stay there. Khuu doesn't see it that way.
"To be honest, I don't feel like there's a lot of pressure on us. We're a last minute team, so our main focus has been enjoying the process and continuing to improve every week. We're definitely competitive and we want to win, but we're not letting outside expectations affect us."
That mindset has certainly worked. Khuu has been dominant offensively with a 92.1% catch rate while leading the division with 10 receiving touchdowns. Defensively, Spencer Riar has been just as impactful, co-leading the division with five interceptions in his first FPF season. It's not often you see a first-year player make that kind of impact on one side of the ball.
When discussing the team's MVP, Khuu wanted to recognize everyone on the roster before giving the nod to captain Mike Collard.
"Everyone on the roster steps up and does their job when it matters, but if I had to give MVP honors to one person, it would be our captain, Mike. As our quarterback, he's the leader of the team and the guy who keeps everyone locked in mentally. He does a great job of trusting us, recognizing everyone's strengths, and putting us in the best position to succeed. He's the heart and soul of this team, and his leadership has been a huge part of our success so far."
With the way this team is playing, it's hard to argue. Armed Robbery has all the pieces needed to make another deep playoff run, but unlike last spring, this group feels more complete on both sides of the ball. As for the rest of the season, Khuu kept it simple.
"If we continue to trust each other, execute our play, and play as a team, I believe we'll give ourselves a great chance to bring it home."
If they continue playing the way they have since Week 1, there's a very good chance Armed Robbery will once again be competing for a championship when the season comes to an end.
Shnitos & Benitos (1-5, 22.2 pts for, 33.2pts allowed)
Overall Grade: C
MVP: Chris Bertone
It hasn't been the season Shnitos & Benitos envisioned so far. After picking up a solid win over Head Tops Only, it looked like AJ Zeppetelli had this group heading in the right direction. Instead, they've dropped three straight games and have found themselves on the outside looking in. With the absence of starting quarterback Massimo Colacci, Zeppetelli has gone from coaching the offence to leading it himself, a difficult adjustment in the middle of the season.
One bright spot has been Michael Bertone. I watched him play a huge role in the team's lone victory and his speed immediately stood out. It's no surprise to see him leading the team in both receptions and receiving yards. If Zeppetelli remains the full-time quarterback, I think he has the football IQ to stabilize the offence and give this team a chance to compete. Unfortunately, with only eight teams making the playoffs and time running out, Shnitos & Benitos may need to run the table if they want to claw their way back into the postseason.
Go Habs Go (3-3, 23.8pts for, 26pts allowed)
Overall Grade: B-
MVP: Lewis Epstein
For a first-time quarterback, Adam Lieblein is putting together a solid season. Making the transition to QB is never easy, but having one of the division's most reliable receivers in Epstein certainly makes the learning curve a little less steep. The connection between the two has been a big reason why Go Habs Go has remained in the playoff picture despite Lieblein still developing at the position.
The biggest difference for this team has been the level of competition. Go Habs Go has taken care of business against the teams below them in the standings, but they've struggled to find the same success against the division's top contenders. Their schedule doesn't get any easier either, with three of their final four games coming against teams with winning records. Sitting in the seventh seed, though, they're still in control of their own destiny. If Lieblein continues to grow into the quarterback role and the offence keeps building chemistry, I think Go Habs Go has a good chance of holding onto a playoff spot heading into the postseason.
Airs (3-2, 30.6pts for, 19pts allowed)
Overall Grade: A-
MVP: David Collette
When you see a 3-2 record, you might question why I gave this team an A-. The answer is simple: context matters. Their two losses came against the top two teams in the division and in both games, Airs had opportunities late to take the lead or win outright. Outside of those defeats, they've won every game by at least 15 points. Speaking with Duncan Cook, he wasn't focused on the losses themselves but rather what the team learned from them. One was a one-score defeat against a team they had beaten in a previous playoff matchup. The other came down to a two-point conversion attempt where Cook was able to get the ball to David Collette just as the rusher pulled his flag. One play either way and Airs could easily be sitting at 5-0.
According to Cook, Airs has always been known for one thing: offense.
"Airs University has always been known for one thing above all else: offense. We put up points, create big plays and are never afraid to take shots downfield."
Cook believes one of the biggest differences in his own game this season has been limiting turnovers while still maintaining that aggressive mentality. Looking at the numbers, he's on pace for having his best season regarding limiting turnovers. As dangerous as the offense remains, the biggest surprise has actually been the defense.
"The biggest difference this year, though, has been our defense. It has taken on a completely new identity, and the statistics back that up. Every one of our defensive starters has recorded an interception, and we have held our opponents under 20 points in three games."
That's a major reason why Airs owns the second-best points allowed in the division and ranks near the top in interceptions. In previous seasons, the defense could occasionally be a question mark. This year, it has become one of the team's biggest strengths.
When it came time to discuss an MVP, Cook refused to name just one player.
"David and James have put up impressive numbers, but the strength of this team comes from the entire roster. We do not have one most valuable player. We are red-hot as a unit, and every player brings energy, toughness and the ability to make a big play when the team needs it most."
Cook went on to highlight contributions from Daniel Menniti, Alexei Dikranian, Kyle Gordon and Joe Lepage, all players who have stepped up in key moments throughout the season. It's hard to argue with his reasoning. This isn't a team that relies on one or two stars to carry the load.
If I had to pick an MVP, I'd still lean toward David Collette. The chemistry between him and Cook has been one of the constants over the years and he's consistently delivered whenever called upon. James Malatesta has also been a game changer when in the lineup, but what stands out most about Airs is exactly what Cook described: everyone seems capable of making the big play when needed.
As for expectations, Cook didn't mince words.
"Those losses are behind us. We came back to FlagPlus Football this season for one reason: to win hardware. Flying the championship banner is our only goal."
Airs is one of the most experienced teams in E this season. If they continue getting this level of play on both sides of the ball and learn from those close losses early in the season, they won't just be a playoff team. They'll be one of the favourites to win it all.
Closing Remarks
As we move past the midpoint of the season, I'd like to thank Duncan Cook and Yalong Khuu for taking the time to answer my questions and provide some insight into their teams. It's always great to hear directly from players about what's working, what still needs to improve and the expectations they have for the remainder of the season.
With only a few games on the schedule this week, it's also a nice opportunity for teams to reset before the final stretch of the regular season. Every point from here on out becomes increasingly important as teams fight for one of the eight playoff spots and begin positioning themselves for a postseason run.
With no FPF games this weekend, it's also a great chance to check out the 2026 Senior Flag Football National Championships, taking place from June 26-28 at Complexe sportif Claude-Robillard in Montreal. The tournament brings together some of the best flag football players from across Canada competing in Men's Pro, Women's Pro and Competitive divisions. While it's played in a 5v5 format, the level of competition is outstanding and you'll recognize plenty of familiar FPF players representing their provinces.
I'll be there competing throughout the weekend, so if you're in town and looking to watch some high-level flag football, I'd definitely recommend stopping by. It should be a fantastic weekend for the sport, and I'll be back next week with Part 2 of the Division E1 midseason reviews and more teams to break down.