Division D1: Beyond the Box Score in Week 8
The midseason reviews are officially behind us and with only a few weeks left before the playoffs, every result carries a little more weight. Some teams are beginning to separate themselves, while others are quickly running out of opportunities to build momentum. I had the chance to watch three games this past week, each telling a different story. One came down to the wire, another turned into an offensive showcase and the last showed why one team could be peaking at the right time.
Double Dip 28, No Flag Zone 26
Double Dip picked up a 28-26 win over No Flag Zone in what ended up being the closest game of the week. I wasn't able to catch every play as I was filming both Laval fields at the time, but from what I saw, the final score was actually closer than the game itself.
Before the game, I spoke with Xavier Parent, who mentioned that Double Dip still hasn't had its full roster together for a single game this season. Considering they're sitting near the top of the standings without ever being at full strength, it really puts into perspective how dangerous this team could become. As good as they've looked so far, they still believe there's another level they haven't reached yet.
On the other side, No Flag Zone showed why they're never an easy team to play against. Natan Girouard-Langlois consistently extended plays with his legs, making defenders miss in the open field and creating problems all game long. He finished with 122 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while both quarterbacks combined for three rushing scores. It added another dimension to a game where both offences found success in different ways.
For Double Dip, it's another important win in the standings and another step toward building momentum before the playoffs. For No Flag Zone, I think this game showed they can compete with some of the better teams in the division. If these two teams meet again later this season, or even in the playoffs, I wouldn't expect the rematch to be any easier for either side.
Junior XL Special Ed. 48, Bend Don’t Break 38
Junior XL Special Ed. and Bend Don't Break know each other extremely well. They're rivals on the field and friends off it, and every time these two teams meet, it feels like they're going to put on a show. This week was no different.
Effectively, both quarterbacks were able to do whatever they wanted offensively. There were only two defensive stops the entire game, one by each team, as the offences traded touchdowns for most of the night. The two quarterbacks, who are also friends off the field, combined for over 520 passing yards and 13 touchdown passes in one of the highest-scoring games of the week.
What's even more impressive is that neither team was at full strength. Bend Don't Break continues to miss Josh Notte, whose impact on both sides of the ball is difficult to replace while he recovers from an ankle injury. On our side, Santino Sparagna is still working his way back from a turf toe injury, while rusher Michael Schiller left at halftime with a finger injury.
Ryan Quesnel and Dante Sparagna were the offensive stars for their respective teams, each finishing with two touchdowns while consistently moving the chains throughout the game.
The biggest moment came late in the game. Needing one final stop, Bend Don't Break forced us into a long fourth down. Vaughn Vanslet threw deep to Kyle Folkerson, who made the catch despite Dominic Weidner tying up the football for several yards. Both players crossed into the end zone together before Weidner managed to rip the ball free, with the officials ruling it a touchdown on the field. It was a huge play that Bend Don't Break felt could have gone the other way and would have given them a chance to complete the comeback. Instead, the call stood and effectively sealed the game.
If these two teams meet again later this season, hopefully both rosters are at full strength. With the offensive talent on both sides, I expect another entertaining game. The difference next time might simply come down to which defence can come up with one or two extra stops.
Snowdon Deli Degens 55, Studz 32
I only caught the second half of Snowdon Deli Degens against Studz, but by that point, it felt like Snowdon had complete control offensively. Studz simply couldn't find an answer for Adam Malinoff and the offence, as Snowdon consistently moved the ball with very little resistance.
Interestingly, Evan Shiveck only finished with two catches, but both went for touchdowns of over 35 yards. It was a reminder that Snowdon doesn't need to force-feed one receiver for him to completely change a game. Meanwhile, Matthew Fixman made his presence felt on defence, returning two interceptions for touchdowns to help put the game out of reach.
For Studz, this game reinforced what has been their biggest challenge all season. As talented as Antoine Clément has been, the defence has struggled to slow down the division's top offences. Outside of their season opener, Studz have allowed at least 30 points in every game this year. That's a difficult trend to overcome heading into the playoffs, especially in a division loaded with offensive talent.
Antoine Clément still deserves his flowers. He's putting together one of the best receiving seasons Division D1 has seen, sitting at 26 receiving touchdowns and over 800 receiving yards with one regular-season game still to play. Our Junior XL Special Ed. team gets the challenge of facing him later this month, and we'll certainly do everything we can to slow him down. That said, Clément hasn't finished a game with fewer than two touchdown receptions all season, so containing him will be much easier said than done.
For Snowdon Deli Degens, this felt like a statement performance after their close loss to us the previous week. They looked much more like the team we've come to expect, and if they continue playing at this level, they'll be a difficult matchup for anyone once the playoffs arrive.
Division D1 isn't lacking offensive talent. Nearly every contender has shown they can put points on the board. As we head into the final weeks of the regular season, I don't think offence will separate these teams anymore. The biggest question is which defence can come up with one extra stop when the game is on the line.
Closing Remarks
Week 8 reminded me why Division D1 continues to be one of the most entertaining divisions to cover. Whether it was Double Dip continuing to win despite not having its full roster available, Junior XL Special Ed. and Bend Don't Break putting on an offensive clinic, or Snowdon Deli Degens bouncing back with a statement win, every game offered a different storyline. With only a few weeks remaining before the playoffs, every possession, turnover and defensive stop becomes even more important as teams begin preparing for postseason football.
As always, if you'd like to be featured in a future Division D1 article, discuss your team's season or simply share your perspective on the division, feel free to reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram (@keyoncyrus).