Hey everyone, we are back for another article in Division 1. With the past two weeks going by, a lot has happened in the top 6v6 division in FPF. Every team will make the playoffs so there’s no stress about that. Teams are building momentum in the due or die playoff format. We’ve had shocking wins, a tie and a lot to talk about. Let's go through some headlines from Week 7 and Week 8.

Royaume Luminiare’s attraction to ties

Week 7 result: Royaume Luminiare ties OneStop 25-25

In the past 3 years, there has been one tie in each season in Division 1. In all of those games, Royaume Luminiare were one of those teams in that game. It’s better to get one point than none I guess! Even though every team will make the playoffs, the points do matter when it comes to first round matchups. Jesse Dupuis would go 22/28 with 3 TDs but he would also throw 2 INTs, one which being on the final play of regulation for the win. Serge Pilon Sr. would lead the group with 2 TDs on 9 receptions. Nearly matching him was his teammate Marc-André Lapointe who finished with 9 receptions as well and a TD. On the contrary, Michael Caparelli would throw 4 TDs but with 3 INTs (not sure if his last one was credited as an INT but it was in OT) in the game. This looked to be the fullest roster OneStop has shown all season. AJ Zeppetelli continues to be relied upon for Caparelli as he would have 58yds and a TD and Charles Cossette would score twice in this game. It’s also noted that Royaume Luminiare was credited with 6 points at the start so perhaps OneStop didn’t have enough players to start the game which if that’s the case, had a huge impact on the score.

PartyCrashers are for real

Week 8 result: defeated Braves 45-31 in Week 8

Game Highlights: PartyCrashers vs Braves Week 8

With a 26-12 lead at halftime, all the momentum was with PartyCrashers. Jeanslee Alexis only had four incompletions en-route to 7 TD passes in the win. Mamadi Kaba would make exceptional catches all over the left side of the field and let his presence known with each one. There were a few close calls of Alexis being sacked but he kept composed and would take every second until a sack could be called so he can find a wide open receiver. For the Braves, it wasn’t like Jonathan Maheu had a bad game. PartyCrashers were daring Braves to throw deep and it showed as Maheu wasn’t throwing the ball deep early in the game. Having Mike Pierrecin as the safety blanked helped but a few 4th downs were unsuccessful which altered the game. It’s uncharted territory for Braves to be sitting at 3-3 at this point in the season. With their remaining games, I expect them to use those to get back on track but with how they have played in some games, not every game is now a guaranteed win. For PartyCrashers, I think this win solidifies as them being the top team in Division 1 at this point. When the playoffs arrive, I still think they need to prove it but for now, they are the top team.

EZW wins highest scoring game of the season

Week 8 result: EZW defeated Fins Up 50-46

With Jeremy White and William Power at each helm, there’s always room for sparks to fly and their respective teams to just score points. EZW would come back from a 10pt deficit at the half and would score a scorching 36pts in the 2nd half. A last minute TD to Etienne Laurence-Gervais would be the deciding factor in this one. White would throw 7 TDs on 19 completions and would have 4 different scorers. Charles Verreault would leave his coaching hat on the sideline in this and score 3 TDs in the win. Another deciding factor was EZW scoring 8 points on converts in comparison to Fins Up’s 4 points. For the latter, Carl Achy would lead all receivers in this game with 109yds and would score twice. Manu Allard-Roy would use his sticky hands to find the endzone three times as well. DonnDre Borden would be effective on both sides of the ball as he would score an offensive TD and have 2 INTs which one was returned for a pick-6. After a 3-1 start, Fins Up have dropped their most recent games in close fashion which is tough to experience. They are capable of finishing the season at 5-5 if they play their cards right. For EZW, it’s not every game they can score 50 in Division 1 but it’s a great way to get their first win of the year. I don’t expect this group to finish with only 1 win when it’s all said and done.

Week 9 Power Rankings

1️⃣ PartyCrashers (4-0)

Last Week: -

PartyCrashers only played one game these two weeks but won the biggest game and were in control the whole time. Playoffs are a different animal so I am curious if they can ride the momentum of potentially being the top team come April.

2️⃣ The Infantry (3-2)

Last Week: +2

Another team with only one game played and the game against EZW was much closer than what the score says after a Daryus Lattimore pick-6 on the final play. I still think this team will be competing for a Division 1 title come playoff time. 

3️⃣ Braves (3-3)

Last Week: -1

Braves would split the past two weeks at 1-1. They would lose to PartyCrashers and barely beat OneStop when they were nearly at full strength. It’s concerning but is this just a show just for them to dominate when the games truly matter?

4️⃣ Vultures (3-2)

Last Week: +1

Vultures have been victorious against EZW and Royaume Luminiare recently. They have big games against The Infantry and OneStop which I think both will give a tell of how far this team will go. Anthony Brisebois is missing at least for the first game so how will the defence handle Wyeth and company?

5️⃣ Fins Up (3-3)

Last Week: -2

Back-to-back losses for Fins Up wasn’t what they had planned and with them being close losses, still shows me that they are better off than in Fall 2024.  

6️⃣ OneStop (1-3-1)

Last Week: -

Was their loss against Braves more about the improvements they have made or how poorly Braves have played in comparison to their track record? Regardless, it’s nice seeing OneStop near full strength and I expect a stronger 2nd half of the season for them.

7️⃣ EZW (1-3)

Last Week: +1

I’m giving props to EZW for winning their first game of the season and also being a play away from defeating The Infantry in Week 7. Can they build momentum towards their busy Week 10 when they are back in action?

8️⃣ Royaume Luminiare (1-2-1)

Last Week:-1

With a tie and loss these past two weeks, it hasn’t been great for Royaume Luminiare. Allowing 48 points to Vultures is concerning especially if their offence hasn’t found their groove.

Closing Remarks

There you go Division 1 with this week’s article. For those who don’t agree with my Power Rankings, I’m happy to be proven wrong. The latest episode of the First & Goal Podcast is now up on Youtube so go check it out! As always, if you didn’t get a chance to respond or want to be included in future pieces, you can reach me on Facebook or Instagram @keyoncyrus