Categories: 35+35+ Division

35+ FPF : Week 5 Update

35+ FPF: From the Field to the Page, a Mid-Season Update.

So the article writing for 35+ this season has been lacking, you might be asking why?  I have an answer, but it’s not a good one so I won’t bore you with it.  I swear it has nothing to do with it being impossible to write 10 weekly articles about old man football. Good news is that after week 5, I figure it was time to get back on the horse and amaze you with some 35+ FPF action from across the 2 divisions. Article writing won’t be weekly after this work of art, but I will try to get an update before the playoffs and a few during the postseason.

Let’s start by looking at the 2024 divisions, How did we get here?

Big change for the 35+ divisions is the Locations/Days/Times, with the loss of Baie D’Urfe and reduced field time everywhere, the 35+ Draft division moves to Monday Nights at Saint Laurent while the 35+ Legends division moves essentially in with all the other divisions playing random Locations/Days/Times, this is a big change as we also played both divisions on the same Locations/Days/Times.  A big attraction for many in 35+ was the consistency of Locations/Days/Times for family reasons but also gave us a chance to hang out and watch each other’s games.  Hopefully when the Campana Domes are built we can get back to that consistency for the 2025 season.

In keeping with the change concept, both divisions moved to 10 games from 8 to be more consistent with all FPF divisions.  More football is always a good thing even with our old brittle bones.

With a change in night and the loss of consistent nights, several people’s availability changed and some weren’t able to play, but others filled in.   We somehow did end up with 2 divisions again, so let’s check out the structure/make-up of both.

35 + FPF/KTFL Draft Division returns for an 8th season (minus a stupid Covid season) with 4 teams again.  Nothing shocking here, major changes were the captains, where FPF semi-legend GM Kolethras is the only returning captain and 3 rookie captains taking the helm of the other 3 teams, the new captains are Francis Haley, Christian Ackad and FPF legendary nuisance Vinny Gualano (who finally makes his 35+ debut and with his new shaven head, joins the Army of the Bald). Draft was held in late December in the usual corner of the Manoir where many a tale of our awesomeness was spoken across a few cold adult beverages. Majority of the 36 players from previous season return, with a few new faces.  Based on a lot of last minute requests, we could have fielded maybe 6 teams, but we were locked in with only 2 timeslots, so were only able to field 4 teams.  As more KTFL’ers hit the 35 year old mark, we will probably expand next season.

35 + FPF Legends Division returns I think for a 5th season, there were some blended years with KTFL but getting this division going this year was a definite rollercoaster.  Due the aforementioned field issues, 35+ Legends was moved to the regular various timeslots like all other divsions and this caused several teams to sit out this season. With only the Pacemakers returning, the division was on life support more than once as registration moved along. But miraculously, as the final line approached, we somehow ended up with 5 teams this season.  So it’s Pacemakers, a somewhat returning Ryan Etinsons Bearskins who played in the early years of 35+ and we welcome 3 new franchises to 35+, Everything Hurts, Greyhawks and Team Ethnik Sr.

Here we go:  The Season so far

35+ Legends Division – Week 5 Update

After 5 weeks, the good news is that everyone has at least 1 win, the schedule madness has some teams with 4 games played and 1 team with only 2 games played so still a lot of ball to play.  The Bearskins hold the top spot with a 3-1 record and their only loss coming when they only fielded 5 players (bad captaining Ryan!).  In 2nd place we have the Pacemakers at 2-1 and then the remaining 3 teams are tied for 3rd place with 1 win each.  With only 4 points separating 1st and last, there is opportunity for all teams to move up or down if they can string a couple wins together.  The Bearskins are the team to beat early in the season, but their plus/minus isn’t anything to write home about, so they better make sure to take roster availability seriously to ensure some better outcomes.

With an inconsistent schedule it’s tough to review the stat but in the passing game, Pacemakers Jason Rossie after 3 games, shines with zero interceptions so far paired with 16 TDs for clear lead with a 132.6 QB Rating.  Benoit Lawlor of Team Ethink Sr. is having a strong start leading in passing yardage with 569 yards, but he needs to protect the ball more as the INT’s are a concern.

For the Receivers, Justin Anania/PaceMakers has 4 TD on 5 catches, that’s a pretty sweet ratio to start any season.  Yardage wise Shane Williams (Pacemakers), Jonathan Hared & Simon Dufort (Team Ethnik Sr.) and Chris Milard (Bearskins) all lead the pack with 150 yards or more so far, Hared and Millard doing it with only 2 games played vs 3 for the others.

Defensively, George Mallouh (Team Ethink Sr.) leads all with 11 tackles while Kevin Libman(Bearskins) is your INT leader after week 5 with 3.       

This group has had a ton of byes early in the season, Week 6 is the last week where there is only 1 game so lots of games coming soon for the senior members of the FPF Legends Division.

35+ FPF/KTFL Division – Week 5 Update

4 teams, all with the same goal, Don’t die, Don’t get hurt, Don’t Fall and if you do fall, don’t poop your pants. With the KTFL Draft division playing a balanced schedule, makes it easier to analyze the mid-point season. With a week 1 bye all teams have 4 games played and there is a separation of church and state.  The Ryan Kastner led JMJ and Vinny G’s BroadyWindsor hold the top spots, JMJ with a perfect 4-0 record and BW just behind at 3-1. OnRock and FPF bringing up the rear in the 3 and 4 spots.

Week 5 saw the first set of rematches from the “opening” week 2, and the good news is while the losing teams didn’t take the win, the games were much closer than the lopsided scores we saw in their first meetings.  These match-ups occur 4 times this season, so these teams will be very familiar with each come playoff time. Hopefully the scores this week are a signal of a turning tide towards parity as we move along in the season.

Looking at the passing, Sean Avraam (BroadyWindsor) and Ryna Kastner (JMJ) are killing it this season so far, Ryan is the end zone leader with 22 TD’s, but it’s Sean’s 17-0 TD to INT ratio that is the most impressive so far.  Both sporting 125 QB Ratings, their next match up in a few weeks will be a fun one.

Not shocking in the receiver category is that 35+ newcomer Vinny Gualano leads in the yardage(265 yards) and TD category(7). The worrisome stat is that JMJ has 3 players right behind Vinny in TD’s, Lonnie Johnson, Domenic Tosi and Cory Sim-Robertson which means they have lot’s of great options for Kastner to find and create a defensive nightmare to cover all 3.

On the defensive side of the ball, Space Cowboy David Ness leads with 6 sacks, 2 way threat Cory Sim-Robertson holds top spot with 4 INT’s. Lot’s of classic names appear as top tacklers as Lonnie Johson(JMJ), Tony Lalla(FPF) and Kevin Kousaie( JMJ) hold the top 3 spots.

That’s our mid-season spotlight for now, I hope you’ve enjoyed this peak into the world of senior 35+ football.

Superbowl? Who cares, both teams are a bunch of bandwagon jumpers. It was Baltimore’s season to lose, but that’s exactly what they did lose.  Enjoy your nachos and feeling like crap on Monday.

Enjoy the Swiftie Bowl.

Is this article everything you wished it was?  Probably not, but I’ll try harder next time.  maybe.

Will be back in a few weeks with more exciting 35+ FPF action!

See you on the field

Dave