Division E2: Two Big Games Highlight Week 8

Welcome to Week 8 of the FlagPlus Football regular season. The action gets underway tonight in Laval with a matchup between Illegal Aliens and Robins. Two teams currently going through losing streaks. The Illegal Aliens have lost two in a row, while the Robins who are still looking for their first win of the season, have dropped all six games so far.

When looking at the Illegal Aliens, the main reason for the recent slide has been their offense. Through the first four games of the season, which were all victories, the team averaged 36 points per game. In their two losses, they have put only 21 PPG. That 15-point differential is a notable drop for this squad.    

In that first loss which came against the Rosemere Rhino Pills, the Illegal Aliens were missing their starting Quarterback in Dante Crivello.

He was replaced by Thomas Fiore. The Receiver turned QB wasn’t horrible by any means going 11 of 23 for 105 yards to go along with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions, but he only got the team into the redzone twice, and they failed to record a single conversion while scoring a season-low two TDs in their (28-12) loss. 

One week later with Crivello back in the saddle, the team looked more like their usual selves offensively, as they put up 30 points vs Molson Import. The (32-20) loss could still be linked their offense however, as they went 0 for 4 on conversion attempts.

Crivello was intercepted by Defensive Back Marc Phillips who ran the pick back to the house, and the unit ended up being forced to punt on their last offensive possession before giving up the game-winning TD to their opponents on the last play of the game. 

 It has been well-chronicled here that the Robins have struggled on offense this entire season. They are the lowest scoring team in the division with 93 points, they have yet to crack the 20-point plateau, and collectively they’ve only scored more than two touchdowns three times in six games.

The Robins have had nearly a month off since their last game, a (42-12) spanking at the hands of Super Bock back on June 13^th. That is more than enough time to organize a scrimmage or practice, design some new plays, or simply just throw the ball around with your teammates and exchange ideas.

Tonight represents a chance for both teams that desperately need a win. For Illegal Aliens, it gives them an opportunity to get back on track, break a three-way tie for fourth place that they currently find themselves in with Molson Import and the Stables. Just as important, a victory will keep them in striking distance of first place, as they trail Tops'n Tops, Flag Dealers, and Trailer Park Boys by two points.

For the Robins, despite having a zero in the win column, the post-season is still a possibility, as they sit six points behind the Rosemere Rhino Pills, who hold the eighth and final playoff spot, with the Robins holding one game in-hand. I don’t think they’ll make it considering after tonight they will then take on Trailer Park Boys, Stables, and No Porkin Around, and most likely need to win all of those games, but they can always dream.

Looking at the big picture, a win tonight will help the Robins avoid the embarrassment of potentially finishing winless, and just as important, it will give this team some hope going forward.  

Can Quarterback Brandon Amaral, and his Receivers in Keenan Dezeeuw-Caruth, Julain Pounder, Angelo Mourelatos, Daniel Pelli, Jacob McGinn, and Frederick Bizarro make a statement tonight and breathe a sigh relief, or will the Illegal Aliens led by Michael Giannini, Adam Chiappetta, Tristan Koutsoumbas, along with Fiore and Crivella be smiling last?

The Week 8 action wraps up with two other teams in need of a victory when (1-5) Special Agents take on (2-4) Super Bock Tuesday night in Laval.

The previous statement could be misleading as Super Bock comes into the contest winners of two straight, after they beat both No Porkin Around and the Robins, but after losing their first four games prior to that, the team needs to continue stacking wins as they are currently two points out of a playoff spot.

For the Special Agents, they are four points out of eighth place, but they come into Tuesday’s game on a 4-game losing streak, after losses to Illegal Aliens, Molson Import, Tops'n Tops, and Vengeance.

The team finds themselves in the position they’re in because of their offense. While they aren’t as bad as the Robins, (18 PPG to 15.5 PPG) the Special Agents have only scored more than 20 points twice this season.    

Counting Tuesday night’s showdown, both teams have four games left. With the playoffs still an option for either side, the question that needs to be asked is who will make enough plays to ensure that a spot in the dance is a bit more achievable?  

Will the Super Bock fifth-ranked defense led by James Alexander Oliveira, Kyle Martel, Emanuel Oliveira, Omar McFarlane, Anthony Perusse and Rusher Emanuel De Leon continue their solid play and smother the Special Agents offense, or can the veteran squad under Captain and QB Rob White, use the advantage they have at Receiver in Anthony Siggia, Chris Olson, Austin Yazbek MacDonald, and Simon Prégent, to attack their opponents, but at the same time make smart decisions with the football? I will be scorekeeping this game, so we will all find out Tuesday night.

Due to several scheduling issues related to the recent weather along with electrical problems at the field in Laval last night, the three games scheduled for tomorrow at Loyola – Molson Import versus Still an Inch Short, Tops'n Tops against Stables, and Trailer Park Boys vs [Enter Team Name Here] have been canceled. They will be made up at a later date. Make sure to watch the FPF 1^st & Goal Podcast on YouTube to get the latest updates.

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