2nd-and-Short (Div D) – Week 3 – FlagPlus Football League

Considering the amount of bad snaps, dropped passes and blown coverages I saw in Wednesday’s and Thursday’s games, I figured I’d dedicate today’s introduction to the importance of getting the little things right in football.

After all, you can call the perfect play, but if it isn’t executed properly it doesn’t matter what you had planned, chances are it won’t work.

Oftentimes, it can be the difference between a win and a loss—it certainly was the case for a few of this week’s early games.

Allow me to explain.

Recap

He Runs, He Scores

If you’re playing against a running quarterback, you have to make your tackles. Otherwise a 10-yard gain can easily turn into a 15-yard touchdown run.

Tyrants learned that the hard way against T.C.O. on Wednesday.

The game was dogfight from start to finish, with Tyrants QB John Kaliotzakis marching downfield on the game’s opening drive and capping it off with a short touchdown pass to Andre Frederick on a crossing route. T.C.O. answered right away, with some big runs by QB Doug McKernan getting his offence into the redzone where he found Tony Lalla on a quick out to make it 6-6.

With the score 12-12 and halftime approaching, the game-deciding play happened: on the last play of the half, McKernan, from about 15 yards out, deked and spun his way past would-be tacklers and into the endzone to make it 19-12 following the extra point.

The game ended 31-25, leaving Tyrants to only imagine what could’ve been had they made those tackles on that touchdown run.

Grip n Rip their Hearts Out

Fun Boys did just about everything wrong on Thursday, and still somehow lost only on the game’s last play.

There were blown coverages leading to easy 40-yard bombs by Vinny Gualano; bad snaps costing the team valuable field position; dropped passes that could’ve been potential game-winners.

And still, Fun Boys found a way to climb out of a 27-14 hole late in the game to make it 27-20 when QB Scott Mironowicz found Alex Halarides in the back of the endzone for a touchdown.

They got the turnover they needed on the ensuing drive, and found themselves just outside the redzone facing 1^st and 10 with three plays left. But the first pass was a drop, the second tipped away, and the third knocked down by Anthony Da Silva in the endzone to end the game.

Recipe 4 a Win

It’s a simple recipe: step 1) throw to Kevin Boustany step 2) watch him score a touchdown.

That’s really all Recipe 4 Disaster QB Jake Applebaum had to do on Thursday in an easy 31-12 win over Trapstars.

Recipe started the onslaught early, going up 12-0 in the first few minutes on a deep post to Boustany before Applebaum found him again in the endzone make it 18-0.

Trapstars were able to get one back on the ensuing drive when QB Vincent Richard hit Xavier Plante for a short touchdown pass, and narrowed the score once more when Said Eshan out-leaped three defenders in the endzone early in the second half to make it 18-12. But that’s as close as they would get, as only minutes later Applebaum would hit Boustany for a score one more time to put the game out of reach, adding another touchdown in the dying minutes for good measure.

Sunday Forecast

Michigan Beats Texas

Big Blue Wrecking Crew vs. Longhorns won’t come with all the bells and whistles a college football game does, but it should be just as intense. With Longhorns looking to avoid falling to 0-3, you can expect them to bring their A-game against their 1-1 opponents.

I think the key in this game will be the rushers. BBWC QB Angelo Garofalo loves to run, and it’s something he happens to do very well. On the other side, Longhorns QB Jon Moodie is at his best when he can avoid the rusher to buy some extra time in the pocket.

For Big Blue’s rusher, it’ll be important to keep the pressure on Moodie and force him to throw earlier than he’d like. For Longhorns’ it’ll be important to contain Garofalo and keep him from running.

Given that I think the former is easier to do than the latter, my money’s on Big Blue in this one.

Domon’s Day

Two 2-0 teams, two top offences, one game.

Ball Busters versus Les Affreux is one matchup that I think could go either way this weekend, and the way I’m leaning is towards Les Affreux.

Ball Busters have momentum coming off a win on a last-play sack against Speed Demons last week, but I think Les Affreux have more coming off a five-interception performance against Alex Guertin’s Los Banditos.

More important is both teams’ own quarterback play. Hai Minh Luong was surprisingly impressive in his debut outing, but his lackluster performance last week leaves me a little worried. Les Affreux on the other hand have seen excellent back-to-back performances from Mat Domon, who already has the familiarity with his receivers that Luong is still trying to establish.

Give me Les Affreux by a touchdown.

Random Thoughts

-I don’t know what’s funnier: Doug McKernan pump faking three times on a run 15 yards downfield or the fact the defence froze every time he did it.

-I read GM’s latest article and saw that he doesn’t count ties as losses in his picks. C’mon son. If you didn’t pick it, you lost it.

-I feel like I say this every year, but as a former rusher, here’s a word of advice to those of you rushing this season: Do. Not. Jump. You’ll thank me later.

-Someone tell Brent Callender that playing in two different coloured socks is the definition of anti-swag.

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That’s all for this week. My email address hasn’t changed, it’s still [email protected]. My Twitter handle is also still @JBlanchFPF. Be sure to check out the podcast Calling the Audible this Monday night at www.theunclehood.com to see Peeze and Brent’s beautiful faces as they talk all things Division D. Good luck to all this weekend!