2nd-and-Short

Predators, La Sauce, Sea Assassins and 57 all had two things in common last week. The first: they were all the designated home team in this past weekend’s quarter-finals. The second: they all won their games and are going to the semis.

 

I can’t say I’m surprised that they’re the teams still in the running—and really, can anyone? Three of them—Predators, La Sauce and Sea Assassins—finished first in their respective subdivision; the fourth—57—took the no. 2 seed behind Predators in the west.

 

Are there any Cinderella teams left? No. Will that make for any less of an exciting finish? Hell no!

 

 

I had said Two and a Half Dans would need to capitalize on James Floreani’s every mistake if they were to win this one, and unfortunately for them, there weren’t that many to take advantage of. While the THD defence continued its dominant run in the first half, holding the big-play Predators offence to just 12 points, they themselves struggled to move the ball upfield, scoring a single touchdown in the frame.

 

When Floreani finally found his groove in the second half it was over. A 12-6 halftime lead turned to a 19-6 early in the second half, and from there it was all Predators. The big killer for THD was four interceptions by quarterback Joey Taylor, all by different Predators defenders. It’s already tough enough to keep up with Predators without any picks, let alone four.

 

 

I expected a close game—overtime however, never crossed my mind. BearSkins had all the momentum going into halftime behind QB Neil Etinson’s mix of underneath passes to everyone not named Aleksander Papich and deep bombs to Papich, while on the other side François Raymond’s penchant to drop back as far as possible and chuck it deep miraculously worked on three separate occassions. 

 

But for all the offence produced in the first half, it seemed it all disappeared come the second half. Both teams struggled to move the ball, with La Sauce turning the ball over or being stopped on fourth down only to see Etinson throw a pick on the very next play it happened. But perhaps the game’s biggest moment wasn’t an interception, but rather an injury when Papich ran full-speed into the bleachers trying to make a catch and injured his leg.

 

Regulation ended moments later. In overtime, La Sauce took the ball first and though one of their receivers dropped a wide open pass when they went for two, they were able to stop the Papich-less BearSkins’ own attempt. La Sauce successfully found the endzone on their second attempt to make it 34-32, and that’s all they would need as they were able to stop BearSkins’ last attempt, a three-pointer (who knew you could do three-point attempts in FPF?!), to seal the win. 

 

 

 

The first time these two teams matched up, the result didn’t quite meet the expectations. This time around, those expectations were surpassed.

 

It started out perfectly for 6+R: a touchdown drive on the game’s opening possession, a three-and-out by Assassins, then another touchdown on the ensuing drive to make it 13-0. Assassins answered with a score of their own, only to see 6+R answer right back to go up 20-7 on a 30-yard catch and run by centre Marc-Antoine Viens.

 

Assassins once again answered to make it 20-13, and finally got momentum shifting their way when on the ensuing drive 6+R made it down inside the Assassins’ 5-yard line only to see a Fred Viens run come up a half-inch short of the first-down marker. 

 

While a quick touchdown pass by Daniel Lazzara made it 20-20 with five plays left, it was just enough time for 6+R to drive the field and find the endzone on the last play before halftime. 

 

The second half was just as much a dogfight as the first, with each side exchanging scores drive-for-drive until an interception by 6+R QB Fred Viens late in the game proved to be a game-changing one, as Assassins, down 40-38, were able to drive down the field to take their first lead of the night, 44-40, on a perfect 15-yard pass down the middle. 

 

With seven plays left and 40 yards to go, 6+R were able to get to midfield with the first two plays. But three incompletions in a row later, and with two plays left, 6+R had the option of going first down or endzone on 4th down. They chose the latter, and on what would be the last play of the game Fred Viens’ pass fell incomplete in the back of the endzone. Game over.   

 

 

Admittedly I was still in a state of shock following my team’s loss, so I didn’t exactly give this game my undivided attention when I sat down to watch it. What I do remember, however, was Ethnik overcoming an early deficit to make it 13-6 on a drive highlighted by a long run by QB Angelo Garofalo and a perfect strike to his receiver in the back of the endzone. 

 

A pick six on the ensuing drive by defender David De Andrade tied the game up, but 57 quickly went back on top when 57 receiver Serge Pilon Sr. made an acrobatic play on a deep bomb to put his side back on top 20-13 at halftime.

 

 

Predictions 

 

La Sauce vs. Sea Assassins

 

The best defence vs. the best offence, both undefeated. On paper it looks like the perfect match up, but in reality I see it a bit differently. La Sauce’s defence is solid, there’s no question about that, but it’s also one that lives on turnovers, and Assassins QB Daniel Lazzara simply doesn’t make any, having thrown just six interceptions in 13 games so far. Not to mention the fact the La Sauce defence are coming off a game in which it gave up 32 points to a BearSkins offence that has one deep threat in Papich and everyone else. Assassins have five deep threats, and what makes them so effective is you never know which one is going deep at which time. 

 

On the other side of the ball, I again think Sea Assassins matches up well with La Sauce’s attack. The best way to put up points against Assassins is to march up the field a few yards at a time and take what the defence gives you, and that’s not La Sauce’s offence. QB François Raymond’s favourite plays seem to be shaking the rusher for a run or backing up to buy some time to chuck it deep. It has led to 13 straight wins this season, but I’m not sure it’ll work with a team as strong against the deep pass as Assassins. Regardless of whether it’s Sean Fiorillo or Alex Blanchet going back at safety, Assassins have the speed to keep up with those long balls, and I think both Zach Jauniaux and Blanchet as rushers will be able to contain Raymond in the pocket. 

Predators vs. 57 

 

Interstingly enough, the last time these two teams met, back in Week 2, Serge Pilon Sr. led 57 to a 24-19 win. Move ahead to today, and it looks almost impossible that either team will score under 40 points. On the Predators side, you know QB James Floreani will be chucking it deep to Mathieu Brunet. On the other, you know QB Jeremie Mongeon-Duby will be throwing short to the Pilon twins and letting them do the rest. 

 

The key here will be which defence will show up to play. There’s a high chance this game turns into a shootout quick, and the winner may be the one team making the game’s only stop. And if that’s the case, I’m putting my money on 57. The thing about long passes is you need time for your receivers to get downfield, and I’m not sure Floreani will get that time on a consistent basis with speedster Alex Pilon rushing him. 

 

Ultimately, the switch to Mongeon-Duby at QB has been a massive improvement at the position for 57. Predators, meanwhile, are more or less the same team that took the field back in Week 2. If 57 were able to beat Predators with Serge Sr. throwing the ball, I don’t see how they can lose with Mongeon-Duby taking the snaps.  

 

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That’s all for today. As always, you can reach me by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at JBlanchFPF. You can equally check out the latest podcast with Peeze and Brent at http://www.theunclehood.com/flag-plus-football/. Best of luck to those teams taking the field this weekend!