Co-Ed 3: Momentum Building Toward the Playoffs feat. Chelsea Britton & Gabrielle Desrochers
Last week, we kicked off the Co-Ed 3 midseason reviews by taking a closer look at half of the division. With only one game played in Week 6, a convincing win for LysMoiLeFlag over Les Moins Mous, and just two matchups on the schedule this Monday night at Marie-Victorin, it's the perfect opportunity to continue breaking down the rest of the teams. As the playoff race begins to take shape, every point and every game will become even more important over the second half of the season. This week, we'll wrap up the remaining Co-Ed 3 midseason reviews and take a closer look at the teams looking to build momentum heading into August.
Phantom Troupe (5-1, 35pts for, 22.3pts allowed)
Overall Grade: A
Female MVP: Dakota Scott
Male MVP: Victor Bouliane
When you look at Phantom Troupe, they seem to have the complete package. Strong quarterback play, talented receivers and one of the best defenses in the division have helped them earn the top spot in the standings. After speaking with quarterback Chelsea Britton, one thing became clear: the success of this team starts with trust.
"I think it comes down to trusting my teammates and their abilities. I never hesitate to give them the ball, and they've made some incredible catches, even when my throws aren't always accurate."
Britton is on pace to throw over 40 touchdown passes this season, but she's quick to shift the credit toward the players around her. When I watched Phantom Troupe take down Michael Scott's Tots earlier this season, what stood out most wasn't necessarily the talent but rather it was the energy. Every interception, pass breakup and touchdown was celebrated like it was the biggest play of the game.
Britton believes that's become one of the team's greatest strengths.
"We play with a lot of energy and excitement because we all love the game. We stay composed and remember it's just another opponent, but once the game starts, everyone's competitive side comes out and we play with even more intensity."
What's even more impressive is that this roster hadn't really played together before this season.
"Since we're a new team and most of us hadn't played together before, we've been focused on getting comfortable and sticking to the basics. I'm hoping that in the second half of the season we'll play with more confidence and show off more creativity."
That chemistry is already beginning to show. Phantom Troupe has won five straight games and currently looks like the team to beat heading into the second half of the season.
When discussing team MVPs, Britton immediately highlighted both Dakota Scott and Victor Bouliane.
"It's been a complete team effort, but I'd say Victor and Dakota have stood out. Victor has been dominant on both sides of the ball, making incredible catches on offense and then playing lockdown defense. Dakota's speed is unmatched, and she constantly puts pressure on opposing quarterbacks—I think she leads the league in sacks. They both bring great energy every game and always seem to come through in clutch moments."
It's hard to argue with either selection. Scott has been an absolute menace as a rusher, leading the division with 18 sacks, more than double anyone else. Her ability to close space changes entire drives and she's never shy about letting opposing players know she's there. Bouliane has been just as dominant offensively, leading the division with 12 receiving touchdowns while continuing to make plays on defense. His ability to track the football and create yards after the catch has made him one of the division's biggest playmakers.
As good as Scott and Bouliane have been, Britton deserves plenty of recognition herself. She's putting together one of the best quarterback seasons in Co-Ed 3 and, with the way Phantom Troupe is playing, it feels like they'll only lose if they beat themselves. Right now, they're firmly in control of the number one seed and look every bit like championship favorites.
Michael Scott’s Tots (4-3, 28.4pts for, 21.4pts allowed)
Overall Grade: B+
Female MVP: Jennifer Perusse
Male MVP: Zackary Alberts-Gill
Even though Michael Scott's Tots dropped down to Co-Ed 3 this season, that never guaranteed they would dominate the division. Their 4-3 record reflects just how competitive this group of teams has been. Despite sitting one game above .500, their +49 point differential ranks only fifth in the division, showing just how close many of their games have been.
David De Andrade continues to provide steady quarterback play while doing an excellent job of spreading the ball around to both his male and female receivers. On the defensive side, Zackary Alberts-Gill remains one of the premier rushers in FPF, continuing to add to his all-time sack record across all competitions.
One thing I like about this roster is how balanced it is. Production comes from every part of the lineup and Jennifer Pérusse has quietly become one of the team's biggest difference-makers on both sides of the ball. Michael Scott's Tots still have a difficult schedule remaining, but if they can pick up two or even three wins before the playoffs, they'll head into August with plenty of momentum.
LysMoiLeFlag (3-2, 32.4pts for, 21.2pts allowed)
Overall Grade: B+
Female MVP: Élodie Desrochers
Male MVP: Benjamin Lavallée
LysMoiLeFlag currently sits sixth in the standings, but no team above them has played fewer games. Looking strictly at the record doesn't tell the full story. After speaking with Gabrielle Desrochers, it became clear just how much adversity this team has already dealt with.
"I'd say our season has gone well so far. We suffered one tough loss because we were late, but we've also had some great wins. We dealt with several injuries early in the season, which forced us to make a lot of changes to our lineup, especially on offense, and that definitely made things more challenging. Despite that, our quarterback has adapted well, and we've continued to improve from game to game."
One of those challenges has been personal for Desrochers herself.
"Personally, I'm coming back from surgery, and it's only been about a year since I started playing again. I'm slowly rebuilding my confidence and becoming more aggressive when attacking the ball."
I watched portions of LysMoiLeFlag's opener against The Woo's, and even early in the season their energy stood out. Desrochers explained that much of that chemistry comes from outside of football.
"I'd describe LysMoiLeFlag as an energetic team with a great team-first mentality. Most of our players come from Camp de Jour Roussin, so we're used to working together and communicating well with one another. On top of that, we've all played flag football at a high level, whether that's Division 1 CEGEP, Team Quebec or university. We approach the game with a very competitive mindset, and we're ready to do whatever it takes to win and show our opponents what we're capable of."
Finding the balance between competing and enjoying the game isn't always easy, but Desrochers believes the team has found it.
"The secret to our balance is that we're all here for the same reason—to win. Because of that, everyone is willing to put their ego aside and do what's best for the team. We plan to keep that balance by maintaining strong communication while continuing to enjoy playing together."
As the playoff race tightens, that mindset becomes even more important.
"We're staying calm and confident as the season becomes more competitive. We're a very determined and resilient group, and we're focused on going as far as possible this season. We know what the other teams are capable of, and we're ready to put in the work that's needed to earn a playoff spot."
When discussing MVPs, Desrochers admitted it wasn't easy to single out individuals because of how balanced the roster has been. If she had to choose, though, Benjamin Lavallée and Élodie Desrochers stood out.
"Benjamin Lavallée has developed great chemistry with our quarterback and has already recorded seven touchdowns and 17 receptions in just three games. He's someone we can always rely on to come down with the deep ball."
"On the women's side, I'd choose Élodie Desrochers. She stands out because of her football IQ and her understanding of different game situations. She also has incredibly reliable hands, with 18 catches on 18 targets. She may not be the fastest player in the league, but whenever we need a quick, explosive play, she's someone we can always count on."
I couldn't agree more. Benjamin's seven touchdowns in only three games make you wonder what his numbers would look like over a full season, while Élodie's perfect catch rate speaks for itself. She doesn't rely on pure speed but instead on her football IQ and dependable hands consistently put her in the right position to make plays.
LysMoiLeFlag controls its own destiny over the second half of the season. If they continue improving the way Desrochers believes they have, don't be surprised if they climb several spots in the standings and become a difficult matchup once the playoffs arrive.
Les Moins mous (0-7, 9.7pts for, 33.9pts allowed)
Overall Grade: C-
Female MVP: Lara Dubois
Male MVP: Samuel Hebrais
Les Moins Mous is still a relatively new team, built around several former Pink Panthers players from Winter 2024 along with the experience of Philippe Côté. Unfortunately, consistency has been one of the biggest challenges throughout the season.
Only five players have appeared in at least five games, making it extremely difficult to build chemistry. That challenge becomes even greater when you consider that seven different players have attempted a pass this season. At that point, the issue goes beyond simply missing players from week to week.
While the playoff picture is extremely difficult at this stage, the season isn't without positives. Lara Dubois and Samuel Hebrais have continued to stand out despite the team's struggles and there have been moments where Les Moins Mous has shown they can compete. With several games still remaining, they now have an opportunity to play spoiler while continuing to build toward next season. If this core returns with a more consistent roster, I think they'll be a much more competitive group moving forward.
Closing Remarks
A big thank you to Chelsea Britton and Gabrielle Desrochers for taking the time to chat with me this week. It was great getting a behind-the-scenes look at two teams that are finding success in very different ways, and hearing what has helped them build chemistry and momentum as the season progresses.
With only two regular-season games taking place this week, the playoff race will continue to tighten over the coming weeks. Every point matters, especially in a division where the standings remain incredibly close from top to bottom.
Next week, I'll look at the award races as another quiet week is upon us in the month of July. As always, if you'd like your team or a teammate featured in a future article, don't hesitate to reach out.