Division B: Defensive Slugfest, Confidence vs Experience, and an Eighth Place Showdown!
Welcome to Week 7 of the FlagPlus Football regular season. The action kicked off Thursday night in Laval as #NR took on the Silent Ticklers.
Silent Ticklers versus #NR
The game was a matchup of two teams who were going through losing streaks, as #NR had lost two in a row and six out of seven games this season, while the Silent Ticklers came into the showdown after back-to-back losses to Idaho Udapimps and Les Petites Carottes.
The 50 combined points in the contest tells you that opposing Quarterbacks in Jordan Panetta and Zach Deschamps didn’t throw for a thousand completions and a million yards. Instead, both passers were the definition of efficient, as each completed less than 10 of their attempts.
Both QBs would make their completions count however, as Panetta finished the game going nine of fourteen for 221 yards and five touchdowns. Deschamps, went eight of fifteen for 133 yards with three TDs.
With help from their Quarterbacks, the Receivers were show-stopping. For the Silent Ticklers, Adam Rosen set the pace as he led all players with four receptions for 132 yards and three TDs. He was joined by teammate Ben McMahon, who had three catches for 62 yards and two trips to the endzone.
On the other side, #NR was led by a solid effort from Tristan Boyer. The third-year player caught all four of his targets for 63 yards and a team-high two touchdowns. The team’s other TD was recorded on a 40-yard bomb to veteran Receiver Kenny Baye, for the game’s final score.
Defense was the story of the game, with both teams making life difficult for the opposing offenses. Neither side found success on fourth down, as the Silent Ticklers finished 0-for-2 while #NR went 0-for-1. Conversion attempts were as equally challenging, with the Silent Ticklers recording the game's lone successful convert when Marty Freedman connected on a one-point conversion.
The Silent Ticklers would go on to win the game (32-18), as Rosen would score two of his touchdowns in the second half.
Up next for #NR is a Week 8 meeting with Ice Pack. The Silent Ticklers who improved to (4-3) with the victory, are off until Week 10, where they will take on Hard 8.
FPF’s Most Wanted versus Idaho Udapimps
This game features two of Division B’s most explosive teams. There are several impact players on both sides. For FPF’s Most Wanted, it starts with Wedens Alexandre. The U of M Carabins Receiver had been nothing short of dynamic this season as he is the spark that ignites his team offense.
The team isn’t a one-man show however, as Alexandre is joined by two big-bodied pass-catchers in Anthony Lazzara and Anthony Siggia who use their size to create separation and do a lot of the dirty in the redzone. The team also has the brother combination of former Concordia Stingers Receivers in Santino and Dante Sparagna, who bring even more speed, elusiveness, and reliable hands to the lineup.
All five players can get deep and take short passes to the house. They enable Quarterback Alessandro Barazonni to open his playbook and call a variety of routes and concepts.
For Idaho Udapimps, they arguably have the deepest and best roster of Receivers in the division. With Marvin Steinberg, Manu Allard-Roy, Justin White, and Jerome Hovington, along with new additions Mohamed Lamamri and Jean-Samuel Cournoyer. This squad has size, speed, depth and weapons who have stepped up in the clutch the last few seasons both on this team as well as others.
When looking at defense, the clear edge goes to Idaho Udapmips, as they simply have more playmakers and have forced more turnovers (10 to 6).
The Quarterback matchup between Barazzoni and Brady O’Hanessian leans towards Idaho Udapimps as well. The latter is the top QB in the division and year after year sets the bar that the other passers are measured by.
One thing that can’t really be measured is confidence. I watched FPF’s Most Wanted’s (36-20) win over Speed Academy this past Monday at Marie-Vic. The latter not only scored on virtually every drive, but they made it look easy. Barazzoni was impressive, as he had more touchdown passes (5) than incompletions (3). He simply shredded the opposing defense.
On the other side of the ball, the FPF Most Wanted defense held their opponents to a season-low 20 points. They did so by taking away the deep ball from Quarterback Emile Plante and forced him to have to settle for the short passing game and throwing the ball into tight windows. The team would finish with a Week 6 high seven pass deflections.
The look on the faces of several players from FPF’s Most Wanted suggested they expected it the result. You can’t teach that type of confidence.
You also can'tteach the winning and championships that Idaho Udapimps have earned in this division.
Confidence versus experience. Who will win tomorrow night?
Speed Academy versus Ice Pack
Clearly, Speed Academy is looking to rebound after getting blown out by FPF’s Most Wanted. The schedule-maker did this team a favour, as they take on (1-4) Ice Pack Monday night at Marie-Vic.
This game is huge for Speed Academy. They come into Monday night losers of two straight and need a boost of confidence to right the ship. The team also needs points, as they currently hold the last playoff spot in the division but are only two points up on three teams, including their upcoming opponent.
For Speed Academy to get the win, they will need to make sure their offense doesn’t become one-dimensional as it did versus FPF’s Most Wanted. Perhaps the team was tired from having played at Nationals last weekend. Regardless, they will need Plante, and his stable of Receivers in J.C Ferland, Jimmy Marneris, Maxime Brissette, Darryl Dorcely, Félix Déry-Bernard, and Nykolas Pierre-Masse to step up and make some plays. This squad has arguably the deepest group of pass-catchers in Division B. Who will deliver when the team needs it most?
On defense, the unit needs do two things. First, they must patch up the holes in their deep half. Blown coverages, miscommunication, falling for double moves, this team committed all those sins and more Monday at Marie-Vic. They need to clean it up.
Secondly, Speed Academy must find a way to contain Quarterback Alex Szalipszki and make him to get rid of the ball quickly. Whether they roll with either Ferland or Dorcely at Rusher, he must continually pressure the dual threat QB and try to force him into mistakes.
For Ice Pack, they are coming off their only win of the season, a (44-32) victory over KGP Dynasty. I score kept that game. Szalipski, did a great job at buying time for his Receivers to get open, and putting the ball up to give them a chance to make a play. The QB finished the contest going 11 of 12 for 227 yards and seven touchdowns. The game also doubled as a standout performance for Receiver Samuel Langlais, who caught three of his QB’s TDs.
On defense the team got strong outings from Defensive Back Jefferson Pierre who stuck to his Receivers like glue, Szalipski who led all players with six tackles, and Rusher Gregory Spino who had a game-high three sacks.
The only problem with that win was that it came all the way back in mid June. It was also the last time they played a game, so you we might be seeing some rust from this group on Monday night. I expect Ice Pack to come out firing right away as they try to find some rhythm early.
As they currently sit in tenth place, a win for Ice Pack would see them leapfrog Camping Sans Boutin for ninth and give them the tiebreaker with Speed Academy for eighth. Yes, Monday night will be a must watch game.
Picks
FPF's Most Wanted vs Idaho Udapimps – FPF's Most Wanted (Upset Special #1)
Speed Academy vs Ice Pack – Ice Pack (Upset Special #2)
Last Week: (1-1)
Regular Season: (3-7)
Upset Special: (0-1)
That is it for this week. Good luck to everyone in their games tomorrow and next week.
I put up a couple of Division B 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.