Division 2: Week 10 Action
Through ten weeks of the regular season, here is what we know so far:
The Burins are the best team in Division 2, but are they still the favourites to win it all?
This talented squad has victories over second place LeBrontourage, as well as quality wins against both KGP Legends and The Stoics. The Bruins have also showed signs of being dominant, as they took care of business against lesser teams in Flag Sayer Corp, and Party Crashers.
The Bruins finally suffered their first loss of the season this week, as they fell (42-40) to Idaho Udapimps Monday night at Stade Hebert. Dreams of going undefeated were dashed, but perhaps the team will feel less pressure now that they don’t have to worry about staying perfect.
Looking at the big picture, the one question that always exists with this team whether they are playing under the name Poseidon’s Kiss, or now as the Bruins, is roster consistency. Virtually every season, this squad has had to juggle their lineups.
Through six games the main nucleus of Quarterback Rocco Christiano, Evan Vavinis, Gab Wiseman, and Juwan Edghill have combined to miss only two games, but the team has had to rely on subs in Dylan Taylor, Jaime Ojeaha, Nichloas Fon, and Pearce Wright. This team’s track record suggests that we will probably see a few more names added to the list.
Sitting at (5-1) with that many subs suggests that this team should still be looked at as the favourites to win Division 2. A lot can happen between now and the Finals, but for the meantime, I will give the Burins the benefit of the doubt.
Will Flag Slayer Corp win a game?
They currently sit at (0-6). Despite scoring a season-high four touchdowns in their (44-25) loss to the Silent Ticklers, Flag Slayer Corp’s offense has been the biggest reason behind their slow start. Look no further than their first three games where they scored one, one, and two touchdowns respectively.
Going into the season, an offensive drop-off was expected given the losses of their best player in Mack Dessources to go along with the departure of the underrated Nirosh Suresh, but the team still has solid holdovers in Jean-Samuel Cournoyer and Karim Madji. The team also added the services of Eric Hamparsoumian from Flag Dealers, who along with Marc Haddad (also from Flag Dealers) who they picked up last year, provides QB Ryan Kharouf with reliable playmakers.
Looking at their remaining schedule, Flag Slayer Corp takes on Les Verges Folles, Party Crashers, KGP Legends and LeBrontourage. As we all know, anything can happen when you step on to a football field, which is why you have to play the games instead of having the records tell the whole story. That being said, you have to score more than the 14.5 points per game that they have been averaging to win. I don’t think FSC can do it, but I hope that I am wrong.
Can Hard 8 pull it together and hang on to the last playoff spot?
This team is talented but underachieving and is running out of time to secure their ticket to the dance. They currently find themselves sitting in the eighth and final playoff spot with a (3-4) record.
Hard 8 had a chance to climb the standings, but back-to-back losses to KGP Legends and LeBrontourage, sees them now only two points up on Les Verges Folles and Shot O’ clock who sit in ninth and tenth respectively.
The cancellation of their game this past Wednesday versus Camping Boutin, only complicates matters, as the league will have to reschedule the contest most likely either at the end of the month or the beginning of April, meaning that Hard 8 who already plays the Burins and Silent Ticklers on March 22nd and 29th, will probably have that rematch shorty thereafter, meaning the team will be forced to play three games in a little more than a week.
Hard 8 has given up the second most points this season with 226. Finishing off against three top five teams won’t be doing the defense any favours. Can the unit step up and help the team make a playoff push?
Who has been the most disappointing team this year?
Where to begin?
With names like Francois Hogue, Vincy Biandé, Hassane Dosso, Medley Joseph, Ezechiel Tieide and Jourdain Alexis, the Party Crashers have the most talent of any roster in Division 2. Their main problem has been their inability to win close games. Except for their (42-24) blowout win over Les Verges Folles, (their only victory this season) they have lost the five other games by a combined 10 points. Talk about heartbreak.
The close losses tell you that the Party Crashers have been in virtually every game, but it also tells you they can’t close. With a roster boasting this much skill, that shouldn’t be the case.
Despite having a subpar Quarterback in Jimmy-Lee Janvier, Shot O’clock has talent, speed, and experience on their roster with the likes of Jeanslee Alexis, Quaysie Gordon-Maule, Samuel “Gucci” Omombo, and Tam Vilaydeth. In spite of all those names, the team still finds themselves at (2-5). Their only wins have come against the Silent Ticklers back in early February, and last week versus winless Flag Slayer Corp.
Not all is lost yet, as they still have to take on the Bruins, Les Verges Folles, and the Party Crashers to close out the year. Going two for three in those games would probably see them sneak into the dance. The talent on this team says they should be able to do it. Trusting them to do so however is another matter.
One solution might be switching from Janvier to the FPF Hall of Famer in Vilaydeth at QB, as his vision, scrambling capability, and ability to not just throw deep balls all game could be the move the team needs. The question of course, is will they? Either way, two wins for this squad is a disappointment no matter who is throwing the ball.
Les Verges Folles stuck in neutral
Ever since making the jump from Division 3, Les Verges Folles have been cellar dwellers in Div 2/B. Credit to the team though for continuing to fight to get better each year, instead of division dodging.
Things looked like they would be different this season for Les Verges Folles. After receiving underwhelming results from the Quarterback duo of Thomas-Charles Paradis and Guillaume Beland, the team acquired an upgrade in veteran pivot Jules Regimbald. The QB already had experience playing for the team, as he subbed for a game with LVF back in the 2023 Winter Season, where he helped lead them to a (26-6) win over G.I.H.F in Division 3.
This year, Regimbald has put up a respectable 14 touchdowns and only five interceptions through fives games. He has also added 185 rushing yards on 14 carries. Still, one can’t help but expect more from the talented passer and the team.
With remaining contests versus winless Flag Slayer Corp tonight, followed up by games against Shot O’clock, KGP Legends, and Idaho Udapimps, Les Verges Folles who currently sit two points out of a playoff spot at (2-4) have a game in-hand on Hard 8 who sit in eighth place.
Les Verges Folles have been disappointing so far, but they have a huge opportunity starting tonight to turn their season around. Let’s see what they do.
Better late than never
That phrase perfectly describes KGP Legend’s season. For the second Winter Season in a row, they didn’t play their first game until a month after everyone else. February 7th to be exact. Then, as the schedule Gods have it; after playing four games over the course of eight days, they get a 35-day break before their next contest, which will take place on March 22nd. Even if this were a tackle league, no one wants that many days off between games. Nevertheless, that is what this team is facing again this year.
When they return to action next Sunday, they will then have to play another four games in 11 days, and six in 18 overall. The only positives I can see coming from this is that this year’s version of KGP is already better than the one that finished (1-9) in Division 2 last winter, and if this team can stack some wins together, they’ll very likely be heading to the post-season full of confidence, firing on all cylinders, and with a ton of momentum. Good luck gentlemen.
Picks
Les Verges Folles vs Flag Slayer Corp – Flag Slayer Corp (Upset Special)
Bruins vs Shot O’clock – Bruins
Campin Boutin vs LeBrontourage – LeBrontourage (My pick for Game of the Week)
Party Crashers vs Flag Slayer Corp – Party Crashers
Last Week: N/A
Regular Season: (3-1)
Upset Special: (1-0)
That’s it for this time around. Good luck to everyone in their games tonight and this week!
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.