Division E1: Playoff Race Heating Up after Week 9

Field Notes • Division E1 • Week 10

We are in the middle of Week 10, and as of now, four teams are still fighting for the final playoff spot. While Sans Pression currently occupies eighth place with a 3-4 record, teams like Practice Squad III and Shnitos & Benitos, both sitting at 4-5, have yet to officially secure their postseason berths.

Every game continues to carry significant weight as the regular season winds down. Week 9 proved to be a pivotal one for several of these teams, so let's take a look back at some of the biggest storylines from the past week and a half.

Week 9 Recaps

Shnitos & Benitos on a Three-Game Win Streak

Prior to Week 9, Shnitos & Benitos sat at 1-5, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. Fast forward seven days, and they've climbed into the top eight after putting together a three-game winning streak at exactly the right time.

The streak began last Saturday against the winless Shonuff. While Shonuff's offence has looked much improved since Alex O'Neill took over quarterback duties, the defence continues to struggle. Massimo Colacci took full advantage, throwing four touchdowns while adding another score on the ground in a convincing victory.

Their next challenge came Monday evening against Sans Pression, another team battling for a playoff spot. I had predicted Sans Pression to come away with a close win, but I was wrong on both accounts. Colacci matched his previous performance with four touchdown passes, while AJ Zeppetelli added an early pick-six to put Sans Pression on its heels from the opening minutes.

Marvin Renaud has helped stabilize Sans Pression's offence in recent weeks, but this wasn't one of his strongest outings. The loss doesn't eliminate Sans Pression from playoff contention, but it gives the teams chasing them an even better opportunity to leapfrog them in the standings.

Shnitos & Benitos completed the sweep of Week 9 last night against Bastion in a game that had been rescheduled from earlier this month. I caught parts of the game while I was on the field, and their defence arguably delivered its best performance of the season. The unit forced four turnovers, with Chris Bertone leading the way with two interceptions.

Offensively, Colacci continued his impressive run with five touchdown passes, while Bamboo Zeppetelli chipped in with two touchdowns on seven receptions. A team that struggled through the first half of the season has completely changed its trajectory after getting its starting quarterback back.

Having AJ Zeppetelli in the lineup is a game-changer. He remains, in my opinion, the best receiver in the division, and the emergence of other contributors alongside him should serve as a warning to any team that could run into Shnitos & Benitos once the playoffs begin.

South Shore Crashouts Making Their Case for Number One

In my last article, I talked about the three-team race for first place between Armed Robbery, TUneSquad, and South Shore Crashouts. While all three teams have played once since then and the standings remain unchanged, South Shore Crashouts may have had the most impressive result of the week with their victory over Airs on Sunday.

Once again, the story was the defence, which continues to be the team's biggest strength. Mathis Pilon kept making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks, recording another pick-six, while the unit intercepted Duncan Cook three times in what was arguably his toughest outing of the season.

One development that could completely change the outlook of South Shore Crashouts heading into the playoffs is the emergence of Kenzy Paul. The former Duke University linebacker, now with the Concordia Stingers, has taken over quarterback duties and has given the team a completely different dimension offensively. He has provided South Shore Crashouts with the stability they've been searching for under center.

With two regular-season games remaining, having an athlete of Paul's caliber playing quarterback makes South Shore Crashouts an even more dangerous playoff team. Pair his dual-threat ability with the defensive playmaking of Mathis Pilon and the all-around impact of Thomas Côté, and it's easy to see why few teams will want to see this group once the postseason begins.

The biggest question now is whether Paul will reach the five-game eligibility requirement in time for the playoffs. If he does, South Shore Crashouts may have all the pieces needed to make a legitimate run at the Division E1 championship.

Week 10 Games to Watch

Sans Pression vs Midtown

Earlier, I talked about the momentum Sans Pression had been building, even in their loss to Shnitos & Benitos. With several teams still battling for the final playoff spots, their biggest advantage is having three games remaining. Two of those will be played over the next two days, giving them an opportunity to control their own playoff fate.

Their first test comes against South Shore Crashouts, a game I should catch parts of as I play immediately afterward. While I don't expect Sans Pression to pull off the upset against one of the division's hottest teams, anything can happen in Division E1.

The following night, however, is where the season could truly be decided. Sans Pression will face Midtown in what feels like a must-win game for both sides. A loss for Midtown would almost certainly put the nail in the coffin on its playoff hopes. The team has shown flashes throughout the season, but injuries and an inconsistent roster have made it difficult to build any momentum.

For Sans Pression, this is the type of opportunity they have to capitalize on. If they don't, it could ultimately be the game that costs them a playoff berth. While Midtown still has enough talent to make a deep run if it qualifies, the uncertainty surrounding its lineup remains my biggest concern heading into the final week of the regular season.

I'm predicting Sans Pression to come away with the win, but if they play the way they did against Shnitos & Benitos, another difficult outing wouldn't be surprising. On the other side, if Marvin Renaud can bounce back and the offence finds its rhythm early, Sans Pression has every opportunity to take a massive step toward securing a playoff spot.

Head Tops Only vs Shonuff

The battle of the winless teams takes place tomorrow night at Marie-Victorin. It has been an underwhelming season for both squads, but for very different reasons.

Shonuff entered FPF as a new team with a roster full of experienced players, yet they have struggled to consistently put everything together on game day. Head Tops Only, meanwhile, features a much younger roster that has enjoyed more success in previous Spring seasons but has struggled in nearly every phase of the game this year.

One advantage for Head Tops Only is that they still have two games remaining after this matchup, while Shonuff will be playing its final game of the regular season. Even though neither team is in playoff contention, both will be looking to end the season on a positive note.

The biggest factor in this matchup is Alex O'Neill. If he's in the lineup for Shonuff, I'll give them the edge despite their defensive struggles. If he isn't, I think Head Tops Only has a great opportunity to earn its first victory of the season against a depleted Shonuff defence.

Regardless of tomorrow's result, I don't think either team's record tells the full story. Both have more talent than their records suggest, and I wouldn't be surprised to see significant improvements from each squad in future seasons.

Closing Remarks

The final week of the regular season is approaching, and while a few playoff spots have already been secured, there's still plenty left to decide. The race for the final postseason berth, potential first-round matchups, and a few individual award battles remain wide open.

As always, if there's a player, team, or storyline you'd like to see featured, feel free to reach out to me on Facebook or Instagram at @keyoncyrus.