Upsets, Close Calls, and High-Flying Offense

Week 2 is set to kick off tomorrow and we have some great matchups lined up. Week 1 in Div D was a whirlwind of action! We saw a major upset in last weeks Game of the Week, where the Ambush stunned the #1 ranked Cookie Monsters by a huge margin in a 50-25 victory. Meanwhile, other matchups had us on the edge of our seats, with several games decided by 3 points or less. This time of the season is always very fun for me as I get a chance to discover new teams, new players and get a glimpse of how the division is going to look like. Also the Spring season gives us the element of playing outdoors at fields like Laval and Loyola which is also very fun. Let’s dive deeper into the exciting world of FPF this week, starting with a few of last weeks recaps, updated power rankings and this weeks Game of the Week which features VTown and Brewers.

Week 1 Recaps

No Boutet No Problem; Cookie Monsters Defeat GloGang 42-25

The Cookie Monsters kicked off their season with a dominant 42-25 victory over Glogang in a Week 1 matchup. In a game that saw Charles Verrault step up in a big way, the Cookie Monsters offense was nearly unstoppable. With quarterback Felix Boutet absent, all eyes were on Charles Verrault to lead the Cookie Monsters offense in their first game of the season. Verrault did not disappoint, completing 12 of 21 passed for 75 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also added another 3 scores on the ground, rushing for 110 yards. Verrault’s performance silenced doubts about the Cookie Monsters’ ability to win without Boutet. This tells me the rest of the roster can be just as impactful. GloGang struggled early. They got off to a rough start as quarterback Bruno Provencher threw two interceptions in the first half, which the Cookie Monsters capitalized on to take a commanding 24-7 lead at halftime. The Glogang offense never quite recovered, failing to generate any consistent momentum throughout the game despite 3 scores in the second half. Cookie Monsters also dominated on both sides of the ball. Their impressive performance wasn’t limited to Verrault’s offensive heroics. Their defense shut down the GloGang offense, forcing turnovers and 4th downs stops. The offense displayed remarkable efficiency, not throwing any interceptions, punts, or turnovers on downs. However, one blemish on their performance was their struggles on conversions, going 0/7 on extra point attempts. Will GloGang have a better performance in week 2 versus The Process or will we see a losing streak.

Ball Hawks Soar Over Pack a Punch in Second Half Comeback, 27-18

The Ball Hawks overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Pack a Punch by a score of 27-18. Quarterback Richie Mondesir led the charge, throwing for 18 completions on 31 attempts, 154 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Despite throwing 2 interceptions, Mondesir’s clutch passing propelled the Ball Hawks to victory. He was also effective with his legs as he averages 10 yards per carry. Crucial for extending drives and moving the chains. Pack a Punch controlled the first half, as they intercepted Mondesir, and were able to put the ball in the endzone twice taking a 12-7 lead into half time. However, the second half belonged to Ball Hawks. They outscored their opponents 20-6, fuelled by Mondesir’s efficient passing and a strong defensive showing. Kenny Boutillier was a standout performer for the Ball Hawks, contributing both offensively with a touchdown and defensively with an interception. While Micheal De Seta had a decent game for Pack a Punch, completing 10 of 15 passes for 140 yards and 3 touchdowns, an injury may have hampered their late-game performance. I didn’t get a chance to watch this game but Micheal was playing well enough to not get pulled out of the QB spot so the only probable answer is that he was physically unable to lead his team late in the second half. Zack Gaspar entered the game in the second half and struggled, completing only 1 pass while also throwing a game-sealing interception.

Power Rankings

Ambush (2-0)

Ambush climbs to #1 in the power rankings as they took on ball Hawks and last weeks #1 ranked Cookie Monsters. Phil Roberts had an amazing start to the season as I predicted throwing for 345 yards, 11 touchdowns and 0 turnovers. Even though Cookie Monsters were without their Qb Felix Boutet, their dominant 50-25 win shows this team is going to be tough to beat even on their worst days. Ben McMahon also showcased his ability to find the endzone as he has scored 5 times already.

2. Cookie Monsters (1-1)

After 2 week 1 games, their Quarterback Felix Boutet was unable to play in either of them in which each game saw drastically different outcome. Having Charles Verreault step in for game 1 was huge as he scored total 7 touchdowns and they cruised to victory over GloGang. But game 2 was very different as they faced another juggernaught in Div D in Ambush. Arthur Doyon stepped in at QB for game 2 and it was not pretty as they took a big loss 50-25. I still believe this team is one of the strongest in the division assuming we see Felix Boutet on the roster.

3. Love Me Sexy (2-0)

With a double header right off the bat Love Me Sexy was ready to kick off the season last Sunday. But after game 1 was forfeited by our opponent Dirty Slugs, Love Me sexy took to Brossard at 9 pm for our first game. A heated battle versus one of the divisions best teams, Notorious C.I.G, came down to the wire where we came out victorious 26-25. Nick Groppini had a solid first game under-center but it came with a few mistakes throwing for 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. I look forward to Nick Groppini’s development at the Quarterback position. We take on Hail Marty’s in week 2 as we face another test.

4. The Process (1-0)

The Process had a great game against a good Hail Marty’s Team. Noah Groper began this season as the star of the show as he threw for 2 touchdowns, ran for 2 touchdowns and also scored on a pick 6 on defence. Groper was efficient and The Process defence was deadly as they forced 3 turnovers and got 2 sacks on a mobile QB. A great start for The Process.

5. The Notorious C.I.G (0-1)

Taking a week 1 loss to Love Me Sexy by a 1 point margin sees this team stay right where I left them on opening week. I was very impressed by George Spano’s accuracy and poise in the pocket. His reads were excellent and he made my defence pay every time a mistake was made. He and Joey Notaro will have a very successful season and won’t have to play many teams like Love Me Sexy. I predict a in streak to come to Notorious C.I.G as I dont see a tough matchup for them for a while.

6. VTown (1-0)

Town took on Old Pats last week and got win in a close one 19-18. Without their star WR Vito Rizzuto, I like the addition of Michael Caparelli. Caparelli has been playing in this league for quite some time now as QB and as WR. Not only do I think he will help the team as a whole but I think he will especially be beneficial for Jonathan Velasco as he can help with play calling and reads. I would like to see more offence from this group as 19 points will be low when playing against the top 10 in this division.

7. Hail Marty’s (1-1)

After a loss to the process, I didn’t think too much of it as The Process are a great team, and week one usually has its bumps in the road. Believe it or not, their win against Black Shinobi is what worries me more then their loss. In a game where their opponent threw 4 interceptions and Marty Freedman threw 0, Hail Marty’s only won 24-21. With 2 plays left Black Shinobi had a slight chance to score and win the game. I expect the teams in the top 10 to win a little more convincingly against unranked teams, especially when teams win the turnover battle 4-0. Hail Marty’s face Love Me Sexy in week 2, will we see them bounce back and have a strong performance or will we see a fall from grace.

8. Jägerbombers (2-0)

From unranked to #8 this squad had a great week 1 double header as they won both and took a commanding 2-0 start to the season. While the names in this roster are unfamiliar to me other then 8 time all star Alexandre Bachaalani. Other then Bachaalani, their standout performer was co-ed star Amélie Durocher. In her second time playing in the Men’s division Amélie caught 3 passes for 47 yards all for Touchdowns. I hope this squad plans on having her as a full time player as she can be a very good hidden gem, especially in the redzone. They face a strong Ball hawks team next week In what will be a great watch.

9. Pack A Punch (0-1)

Falling 3 spots after their loss to Ball Hawks. I still have faith in this team, but I would really like to know why Michael De Seta was unable to finish game 1. Perhaps if he could have stayed in a QB Pack a Punch would have been able to attempt a comeback and win that game down by 9. They get a week 2 bye so that might help any injury that Pack A Punch may have sustained. But they do get a tough week 3 vs Hail Marty’s so we will be paying attention closely to this team.

10. Ball Hawks (1-1)

Into the top 10 this week, after two solid performances. A loss to Ambush was expected but I did like the fight they up This game was a one possession game until the last few plays where ball Hawks had the chance to tie the game but were stopped by a last play of the game Safety. Considering this is the #1 ranked team at the moment, I would say this is a better team then I predicted. Their win against pack a punch was a better performance but their offence does need more explosive plays. Richie Mondesir can make electric plays with his legs but I will be eyeing closely to see how his arm and deep ball develop this season.

Games of the Week

Prediction Record (0-1)

Brewers Look to Upset VTown in Must-Win Matchup

Desperation meets firepower as the winless Brewers (0-2) host the #6 ranked VTown (1-0) in a pivotal early-season clash. Both teams are coming off close games, with VTown escaping with a one-point victory over the Old Pats. However, for the Brewers, anything short of a win might feel like a disappointment. I never want to say this early in the season that some games are must win, but it certainly feels that way for Brewers. VTown’s offense, led by the dynamic Johnathan Velasco, presents a major challenge for the Brewers’ struggling defense. The unit has surrendered 30 points in each of their first two games. Disrupting Velasco’s rhythm and forcing turnovers will be critical for the Brewers. Deven Glover, a force at rusher, will need a big performance to generate pressure on the VTown quarterback. The Brewers’ offense, on the other hand, needs to find its footing. Quarterback Jeffrey Lefebvre will be tasked with managing the game effectively, prioritizing short, accurate passes to avoid interceptions. Establishing a running game will be crucial to keeping VTown’s defense honest and creating opportunities for playmakers downfield. Handoffs and reverses might come in handy in certain short yardage situations and will certainly keep VTown on their toes. VTown is the clear favourite on paper, boasting a potent offense and a recent win. However, the Brewers’ backs are against the wall, making them a dangerous opponent. If they can tighten up defensively, limit turnovers, and generate some offensive momentum, they have a chance to pull off a major upset. Prediction: Expect a close game, but VTown’s offensive firepower ultimately proves too much for the Brewers. Final Score Prediction: VTown 24, Brewers 17

Weekly Predictions

Prediction Record: 6-7

Snowdon Deli Degens Vs VTown

Black Shinobi Vs Bend Don’t Break

knights 2.0 Vs LargeLifeStyle

Notorious C.I.G. Vs Les Studz

The Process Vs GloGang

DIRTY SLUGS Vs No Punt Intended

Old Pats Vs Slippery Slopes

Melons Vs Cookie Monsters

Bandits Vs Bend Don’t Break