Coed 2: A Surging Team and the Winless Search for Hope

Double dip, sitting at 3-3 before the win and quietly piecing together a nice second half to the season, walked into Complexe CN on Saturday, October 25th and did something nobody expected: they handed undefeated Tea Party their first loss of the season.

Nathan Tran was flawless with 157 yards and five touchdowns without an interception, Tran picked apart Tea Party's defense. He also added three carries for 50 yards and a rushing touchdown, showcasing the dual-threat ability that makes him so dangerous. He used his legs not only to run and pickup first downs but also to improvise and scramble giving his receivers way too much extra time to get open.

Joel De Blois took full advantage of this and led the receiving corps with just two catches but for 76 yards and a touchdown. Thomas Bélanger had also just two receptions for 38 yards and two scores, plus a 19-yard rushing touchdown. The big-play ability was on full display.  Camille Bergeron had the most catches hauling in four catches for 19 yards and a score. Karianne Laforture added three receptions for 13 yards and a touchdown.

On defense, Double dip was everywhere. Emmanuelle Desroches recorded four tackles. Camille Bergeron added two tackles and a sack. Karianne Laforture snagged an interception that swung momentum in the game.

For Tea Party, it was a rough outing. Dante Gerardi, coming off his perfect performance against Mixtologue, went 15-for-32 for 179 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. The turnovers killed drives. The defense couldn't get stops. Every other play was a big gain for Double dip as there was only 13 passes completed. 

Maeve Giguère was a bright spot for Tea Party with three receptions for 40 yards and a score. She fully extended for an insane grab and plays later caught a deep ball on a wheel route. Lory Ouellette chipped in a 26-yard touchdown on one catch. But it wasn't enough to overcome the momentum shift.

Double dip improved to 4-3 and suddenly looks like the most dangerous team nobody's talking about. Tea Party fell to 6-1, still sitting atop the standings but no longer unbeaten.

Let's talk about what Double dip has been doing lately, because it's quietly becoming one of the best stories in Coed 2.

Two weeks ago, they were 2-3 and now. They're 4-3, riding a two-game win streak, and looking like a team that could make serious noise down the stretch.

The formula is simple: Nathan Tran runs the offense with efficiency and dual-threat ability. The defense creates chaos with turnovers and pressure. And when the game is on the line, Double dip finds a way.

With a point differential that's now sitting at +1 (231 points for, 230 against) they’re still looking to prove themselves defensively, but if their game against Tea Party was any indication, they’re looking to turn things around. 

Keep an eye on Double dip. This surge isn't a fluke, it's a team hitting their stride at exactly the right time.

Let's get one thing straight: the Shakiras can score.

In Week 6 against Michael Scott's Tots, they put up 37 points. Guillaume Boulanger went 21-for-30 for 301 yards and six touchdowns. Charles Beauchemin caught nine passes for 110 yards and two scores. Filipe Barros added four receptions for 109 yards and two touchdowns. On paper, this was a dominant offensive performance.

Paper doesn’t win flag football games.

And they still lost.

It was the sixth straight loss for a team that has now been outscored by 73 points on the season (157 points for, 230 points against). The offense is there. The talent is there. But the wins? They're nowhere to be found.

So, what's going wrong?

Defense. The Shakiras are allowing 38.3 points per game, which is the worst mark in the division. They're getting gashed through the air, struggling to create turnovers, and failing to get stops when they need them most. All recipes for a struggling 0-6 start.

But here’s the thing: there’s still hope.

The Shakiras have a Week 8 matchup against Flagzilla (2-4) coming up on Wednesday, October 29th at Laval Dome. Flagzilla is sitting at -21 in point differential and has been inconsistent all season. If there’s ever a game for the Shakiras to break through, this is it.

Guillaume Boulanger is playing well enough to win games. The receiving corps has a lot of playmakers. The offense can score in bunches. If the defense can find a way to get some turnovers, the Shakiras could finally get that elusive first win. 

My prediction is they will.

Speaking of defensive struggles, let's talk about Michael Scott's Tots.

At 1-6, the Tots have one of the worst records in the division. But here's the twist: they're not struggling to score. In seven games, they've put up 209 points an average of nearly 30 points per game. David De Andrade, Kenny Boutilier, Chloe Brazeau-Gelinas, and Cristina Ionescu are making plays. The offense is functional.

The problem? They're allowing 258 points. That's 36.9 points per game. The second worst in the division.

In that Week 6 game against the Shakiras, the Tots gave up 37 points to a winless team. In Week 5, they lost to Tea Party despite putting up 38 points and David De Andrade throwing five touchdowns. In Week 7, they got blown out by Kamicâssés 45-24.

The Tots can't stop anyone. Opposing quarterbacks are carving them up. Big plays are happening on every possession. And when the game is close, the defense can't make the one stop they need to seal a win.

Unless the Tots figure out how to tighten up on defense, they're going to keep losing games they should win. And this division has way too many powerhouse offenses.

While Tea Party, Kamicâssés, and Mixtologue battle at the top, Double dip is surging from the middle, and the rest of the division is locked in a chaotic fight for playoff positioning.

No Pads, No Helmets, Just Ballz (4-3): Sitting at 4-3 with a +28 point differential, No Pads should still feel confident even after falling to Double dip 38-30 in Week 7.

Flagzilla (2-4): At 2-4 with a -21 point differential, Flagzilla have been inconsistent all season, and with a matchup against the winless Shakiras coming up, this is a must-win game. Lose to a 0-6 team, and the season might be taking the wrong turn. 

There are games you circle on the calendar the moment the schedule drops. Games where the scoreboard matters less than the statement. Games where last season's ghosts show up looking for closure.

For Tea Party and Mixtologue, Week 7 was that game.

These two teams met in the Coed 3 finals. Mixtologue, playing without their star quarterback Tristan Toussaint, put up 52 points and dismantled a team called Vulturez by 27. It wasn't close. It wasn't pretty.

Fast forward to Thursday, October 16th, 10pm, Laval Outdoors. 

Dante Gerardi was the signal caller for the team now called Tea Party.

Revenge tastes like 21 points and a perfect Quarterback performance.

Going 22-for-25 for 308 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception, Gerardi put on a clinic. This wasn't just a win. This was a statement. This was Tea Party announcing to the entire division that last season's heartbreak in Coed 3 was ancient history.

The offense was unstoppable, the defense was swarming, and every player seemed to understand the assignment: make them remember this one.

For Mixtologue, it was a rough night. Tristan Toussaint went 20-for-30 for 223 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. The yards were there as Mikael Williams-Claudio led the receiving corps with six catches for 68 yards and a touchdown, while Alexann Leblanc added three receptions for 50 yards and two scores. 

The sting of this loss might linger even longer than usual. Their next game isn't until November 8th which is over three weeks. That's a long time to sit on a loss. A long time to replay the mistakes and think about what went wrong.

The question is: does that time become fuel or rust? Does the extended break give them a chance to regroup, refocus, and come back stronger? Or does the lack of field action for over three weeks leave them rusty and out of rhythm when they finally step back on the field? Only time will tell.