INTRO TO PLAYOFFS: Divisional Week 101

There you have it folks! That’s a wrap on the regular season! 10 weeks turned into 12 weeks which evolved into 14 weeks! There were upsets, heartbreaks, and met expectations, but it was still an awesome experience. For those of you who made it: pat yourselves on the back, the real season is about to start! If you’re new to this experience i’ll try my best to layout how these things work: 

In the playoffs, we are blessed with the presence of 3, COUNT EM, 3 Refs! This allows for more eyes on the field and hopefully less missed calls! This also means that hot headed or aggressive teams have more eyes on them as well and will need to make sure to keep their bodies in check! Players need to have at least 5 games played to be eligible to play in the playoffs! So make sure your teams are correct! If there has been an injury or a player can no longer continue the season, contact FPF. I believe there is a way to substitute in 1 non-eligible player due to medical reasons or something! 

A quick reminder about the Onside Kick rule: Instead of scoring an extra point, teams can attempt an Onside Kick (1 play) from their 5 yard line at the cost of 1 timeout. If the team who called the onside kick make it to midfield (will be pointed out by refs), they retain possession of the ball and can continue with a new set of downs! All points scored on an Onside kick work as though it were a regular play. TDs and PICK-6’s count as normal (IDK about SAFETIES though…) and if the team misses their Onside Kick, their opponents gain possession of the ball on their 5 yard line! 

Tie breakers are a little bit different in playoffs as well! Unlike the regular season where you have 1 exchange of sudden death, there are no ties in playoffs. Tiebreakers continue until we are left with a winner! The order of possession and attempts are “ABBA”, also known as one of the greatest pop groups of all time. *If a team does not sing an ABBA song as they prepare their OT attempts they are cursed with bad juju….. So, do whatever you want with that*

Keep a lookout for the FPF RoadShow as we make our way deeper into the playoffs!

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FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH:

• The chips have fallen and AT LEAST WE TRIED are at the top! Congrats to Flamingos who I voted would be the upset special and fight their way into the playoffs despite their nearly 300pts Against! The four teams confirmed to get a Bye week are: ALWT, THUNDER VILLAINS, BANDIT(E), and AIGRE-DOUX. HALF N HALF almost made the top 4, but the 3 way tie with BANDIT(E) and AIGRE-DOUX forced them into the #5 spot.    
  
• BANDIT(E) took over BLOCK PARTY and shut them down early! Xavier Parent had a field day with 5 TDs and over 200 yards yet still somehow didn’t make Zack’s Picks this week, and not for lack of trying! Jules Fortin came up big and had the biggest impact on both Offense and Defense with 3 TDs and 2 INTs! Despite the 2 sacks from Stanley Paul, the BLOCK PARTY struggled to catch the BANDIT(E)s off guard and get a defensive stop. Fabrice Robillard had a tough time finding his groove and despite throwing 2 TDs, turned over the ball 3 times. BANDIT(E) will enjoy a bye week, while BLOCK PARTY has to ante up against ECLIPSE!   

• MAN OH MAN! FLAMINGOS made it in! With a big win against PERFECT STRANGERS 38-26, they truly pulled an underdog story and emerged from the Elimination Zone! Allyson Sobol came out strong and showed she would accept nothing less than a win! It was officially “Ladies Night” as Leanne Majeau, Catherine Denault-Cardinal, and Gabrielle Audy all walked away with TDs! Can they keep the flame alive as they battle against HALF N HALF?! Arguably a top 3 team? 

• After an impressive win against THUNDER VILLAINS, PERFECT STRANGERS have had a hard time pulling away from teams and finding the much needed wins. The recent loss against P’TITS VITES is unfortunate, but not career ending, since they still make it into the playoffs. What is unfortunate is that they have to have a rematch against the same P’TITS VITES that they lost against! Having gone up against your opponent in the regular season is always helpful when it comes to adjusting your game, but going up against the same opponent in back to back weeks might be a bit daunting! Will PERFECT STRANGERS tap into the Power of Friendship and reverse the scales? I’ll be peeking from the other field to see how this rematch of P-Teams collide.                 

• THUNDER VILLAINS get back to back wins against AIGRE-DOUX and DREAMKILLERS this week (even though it was really Sunday and Wednesday). The AIGRE-DOUX game was close, and would have given either team that coveted 8-2 record, but THUNDER VILLAINS were able to come out on top and make a statement. Both teams have a bye week since they are both in the Top 4, but I wonder if we could see a rematch in the Semi-Finals? AIGRE-DOUX’s defence is strong and can change any game and they may be looking to make up for ending the season on a loss!               

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A LOOK AT THE PAST:

BLOCK PARTY – Prediction: 7-3 // Current Record: 5-5

BLOCK PARTY started off on a good run on a 4 game win streak, but started to fumble when they forfeited against ECLIPSE. A bright spot came about when they beat me and the TOTS, but haven’t been able to recapture the magic. They have a solid QB, a handful of great receivers including FPF Vet – Reka Sivasubramaniyam, and a combined 15 INTs on defense. I still think they should have a few more wins under their belt, but 5-5 is nothing to scoff at! They face off against ECLIPSE again in the first round of playoffs and should come out with the Win, as long as they don’t repeat their forfeit! Exciting Action this Sunday – Stay Tuned!  

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HALF N’ HALF – Prediction: 5-5 // Current Record: 7-3

What a wild ride for HNH! When I played them in Week 2, I was very worried! They looked like they had the talent to make the big plays, but struggled to find a QB that could keep up. Enter Gabriel Poulin who really turned this team around and helped them start the winning streak that nearly took them straight into the playoffs (losing only to ALWT)! I thought they would be able to manage a few wins, but honestly, it seems as though they could have been 9-1 had they started the season with Gabriel Poulin at QB. They don’t get a Bye week but should easily win their game against FLAMINGOS, who just barely made it into the playoffs! Good Luck to you and I expect to see you in the Semi-Finals!     

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DREAMKILLERS – Prediction: 4-6 // Current Record: 2-8

DREAMKILLERS have had a rough go of things and find themselves doing a bit worse than I would have thought. Noemie Fortin had a hell of a season with 26 TDs, but still almost found her team in the Elimination Zone. Their last four games of the season were against some of the top teams of the division: HALF N’ HALF, AIGRE-DOUX, THUNDER VILLAINS, and even my own MICHAEL SCOTT’S TOTS! Having one of the lowest Points Scored, they have to start off their playoff run against MST on Sunday, will they be able to rally and get the win they missed in the regular season!? It will be a battle of the rushers as each team fights to make it to the next round!  

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AT LEAST WE TRIED – Prediction: 7-3 // Current Record: 10-0

So…. When I first saw AT LEAST WE TRIED, I knew they would do well because they were a team full of experienced players. I did NOT think that they would be able to go undefeated during the regular season, especially with all the great teams we had! However, here we are, 14 weeks later, and ALWT are at the top of the pyramid without a single defeat or tie! Darryl Dorcely sits atop the division as #1 QB with a slew of great receivers behind him (Antoine Gaudet, Erika Magini, and Shelder Valéry), as well as a defensive unit that has only allowed 120pts in 10 games (12pts a game on average). Needless to say, as long as nothing else changes, we are most likely looking at the next Co-Ed 3 Champions! But anything can happen in 3 games, so ALWT shouldn’t count their chickens before they hatch! Take a week off and enjoy as the rest of us fight for our seasons!       

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THUNDER VILLAINS – Prediction: 7-3 // Current Record: 8-2

I feel bang on the mark with this team! Terry Babalis has been ramping it up season after season and has found himself back in the action running, throwing, scoring, yelling, jumping for joy as his team climbs into 2nd place! 243 Rushing with 40 TDs total is a hell of a season, but pair that with the top 2-way player of the year: Jérémi Thompson OReilly, and it’s no wonder they find themselves 8-2 and the duo of the season. Roxanne Roy also deserves a shout out for a phenomenal season: 41 Receptions, 200+ Yards, and 6 TDs is a fantastic season as a secondary target! They have the ability to shut teams out thanks to Jenna Araujo’s rushing and PDs! Overall, this is a solid team that should not be underestimated! Another Top 4 team that has the potential to be a finalist.

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SHOW ME YOUR TDS – Prediction: N/A // Current Record: 2-8

Tsk…Tsk… Tsk…. I can’t believe I missed a team breakdown and it ended up being the team that was eliminated! Salt in the wound… So please accept my apology for not highlighting your team during the season and sit tight while I try to make up for it now: 

SHOW ME YOUR TDS (not to be confused with SHOW ME DEM TDS in Div 6) are a new team to the league with 55 ratings as far as the eye can see! Brand new team with brand new players, this team faced the gauntlet of Co-Ed 3 and were able to sneak out 2 wins! There always has to be a team at the bottom of the division, but the goal is to not find yourselves at the bottom 2 seasons in a row. Seeing as they are only in the bottom due to a 4 way tie, I hope SMYTDS comes back next season and tries again for a playoff run! With a combined 17 TDs – Antoine Levesque, François Guimont, and Philippe Dionne each played their part in trying to get some TDs in the bank, with Antoine Levesque doing most of the leg work! They will have to work on keeping their turnovers down since almost no team can win with double digit INTs and Sacks, BUT, we all have to start somewhere and I remember throwing more INTs than TDs in my first season as well. Don’t be shy to throw the ball away/ out of bounds, or grabbing some rushing yards if needed. 

Receivers were able to come down and fight for some passes with Alexis Dupuis and Philippe Dionne leading the team in TDs (5 each). 4 receivers were able to put up 100+ yards (2 had 200+ yards) showing that the ball was being spread to different targets, but 1 receiver stood ahead of the rest. Marie-Jeanne Cousineau had 50 targets and the most receptions on the team for 216 Yards and 2 TDs! The TOTS and I played this team in Week 4 and had a blast! For a new team, they did great and were able to put pressure on us in the first half due to their defense! 

Despite allowing the most points in the division, Alexia Roy has done a great job in putting pressure on opposing QBs by racking up 11 sacks! Unfortunately, the team has struggled with turnovers and don’t have many INTs of their own, but Alexis Dupuis creating his own “No Fly Zone” with 3 INTs and 5 PDS! Learning the rhythm of FPF takes adjustment and is different from contact football so don’t feel discouraged if you’re not seeing the results you hoped for! Consistency is key and making sure you keep at it. Having a solid team and core group of players is the way to advance and get better each season. Already I can see the beginnings of a competitive team! 

Sorry you couldn’t join us in the postseason, but it was a pleasure having you in the season! Come out Sunday to watch the games and pick up some plays and tips if you want! See you in May hopefully!   

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ZACK’S TOP WEEKLY PICKS: 

QB (1): Allyson Sobol (FLAMINGOS) – 35 Attempts / 20 Completions (75.76%), 229 Yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT, 0 Sacks 

QB (2): Terry Babalis (THUNDER BUDDIES) – 23 Attempts / 19 Completions (53.33%), 144 Yards, 5 TDs, 1 INTs, 3 Sacks // 2 Rushing Attempts, 41 Yards, 1 TD 

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WR (1): **Jules Fortin (BANDIT(E)) – 5 Targets / 5 Receptions (100%), 59 Yards, 3 TDs

WR (2): Justine Daviau (P’TITS VITES) – 5 Targets / 5 Receptions (100%), 97 Yards, 2 TDs  

WR (3): Alexandre Meunier (PERFECT STRANGERS) – 5 Targets / 4 Receptions (80%), 98 Yards, 2 TDs  

WR (4): Gabrielle Perucic (MICHAEL SCOTT’S TOTS) – 7 Targets / 5 Receptions (71.43%), 66 Yards, 2 TDs

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DB (1): Kenny Boutilier (MICHAEL SCOTT’S TOTS) – 3 Tackle, 3 INTs

DB (2): Mikael Williams-Claudio (P’TITS VITES) – 3 Tackles, 2 INTs, 1 TD

DB (3): Catherine Denault-Cardinal (FLAMINGOS) – 4 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 INT  

DB (4): Gabriel Patenaude-Viau (PERFECT STRANGERS) – 2 Tackles, 1 INT, 1 PD 

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RUSHER (1): Mathias St-Jean (DREAMKILLERS) –  0 Tackles, 4 Sacks

RUSHER (2): Lou-Félix Roy-Lachapelle (BANDIT(E)) – 0 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 1 INT  

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GAMES OF THE WEEK: 

HALF N’ HALF vs FLAMINGOS

MICHAEL SCOTT’S TOTS vs DREAMKILLERS

BLOCK PARTY vs ECLIPSE

P’TITS VITES vs PERFECT STRANGERS

Prediction Record: 20-8 

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And that’s it – the last week of the regular season! Playoffs are underway and schedules should be finalized tonight! See you on the field! If you want to see more accurate info about your teams, your players, your rivalries – send them to me! Comments, Criticisms, and Concerns are welcome… unless it’s about my Capitalization of random words. I stand by them! Also, check out the new episode of Calling the Audible – the official FPF podcast – available on Youtube and …. Probably somewhere else too!