Categories: Division 5

Yannick Doston’s take on week one in Division 5

Hello everyone, Yannick Doston reporting as a replacement writer for the 1st week of FPF football in division 5, filling in for Bryan Mongeau, who will be the writer for this awesome division. I have been a member of FlagPlus for five years, and you may see me around the fields or even oppose me since I also play in this division, and thus won’t mention my own team, to prevent any bias. Let me start by saying that it’s a pleasure and an honor to be writing here and having you folks reading it. With 42 teams in the division, this makes it the most populated of FPF, and gives us a wide variety of outcomes and matchups. We didn’t have to wait long for the first tie of the season (2 in week one!), and some teams are already separating themselves from the rest. I will be doing a little recap of a few games that unfolded during week one, and a little forecast of the season ahead of us. I did not have the chance to see and measure everyone’s team so far, as there is many veteran teams back for more FPF as much as new comers who will get hooked like we all did. It will be up to you to generate attention with convincing wins and remarkable stats.

Week 1 Recap

Old Guns VS. Les Loups

Old Guns won 31-14 over Les Loups

Riding a good wave they caught during the spring season, Old Guns rides into the season with a similar group of experienced players including the likes of Alexandre Gaudet, quarterback Vince Pisano and Rehan Sarwar. Pisano’s performance (20 of 33 for 240 yards, 5 TD 2 INT) was one of the best of week 1, and overwhelmed Les Loups defence, who had plenty on their hands. Four different receivers had touchdown receptions, showing a well balanced offense. Tough night for JR Beausoleil, who only saw 4 of his passes hit the target out of 23 attempts, one of them being for a score. While having 25% of your passes going for touchdown is a decent stat, completing 17% of your passes makes it hard to sustain offensive drives.

Jagerbomb VS. The Griffons

The Griffons won 42-12 over Jagerbomb

After a rough season in division 4 last winter, earning a record of 1-8-1, Jagerbomb took a step down and were welcomed in division 5 by last year quarterfinalists, The Griffons. They gave Jagerbomb a pretty harsh welcome, especially in the second half, outscoring them 23-0. Rusher Kevin Paul gave QB Jean-Félix Daloze everything he could handle, racking up 3 sacks and forcing Daloze hand on multiple throw, leaving him with only 7 completion. It will be Daloze’s first season as a full time quarterback, so timing and chemistry with his receiving corps should grow as the season progress, but a slow start will mark the first half of their season. As for The Griffons, it should be a championship run, with the same group of guys who finished 7-2-1 last winter, Aleksander Papich and Co. will be a treat all winter long.

Sticky Hands VS. Butterfingers

Sticky Hands won 36-25 over Butterfingers

A mix of recruits and veterans, Sticky Hands feature players from the original A-Squad, Francois Ethier, Alexis Labonté and Jean-Francois Renaud. They got off to a good start in the 2015 season by disposing of Butterfingers in convincing fashion. A solid performance by receivers Alexis Labonté and Jean-Philippe Nadeau, the pair combining for 163 yards on 9 receptions and a trio of touchdowns. On the Butterfingers side, Phil De Kovachich was a player to watch on both sides of the ball, going for 40 yards and a touchdown on offense while contributing 1 interception and 2 pass defended on the defensive side.

Maximum Carnage VS. Gators

Gators won 26-14 over Maximum Carnage

A very interesting matchup, considered by some to be the game of the week in division 5, the contest turned in favor of the Gators. Pat Riot had an unusually down game, completing 47% of his passes for only 99 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Maximum Carnage wasn’t able to take advantage of the 3 picks thrown by Steve Sanner of the Gators, who otherwise had a good game, being 12 of 24 for 169 yards and 4 TD. The ball distribution on the Gators side gave them an efficient attack, led by Chris Smith with 4 receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown.

Teams to watch

As much as teams filled their roster with valuable free agents or are a bunch of buddies who’ve been together for a while, a team will only go as far as their quarterback will take them. As Vince Lombardi once said, “football is the perfect team game except for one glaring imbalance—the quarterback is too important.” It is also true in FPF, as the top teams always have experienced and talented QBs, either being a consistent force or peaking as the season progress. That being said, every quarterback needs someone on the receiving end and many proved their playmaking skills by turning short yardage into big gains and touchdowns. Here is a list of teams that everyone should be aware of, and also teams with an interesting look, which should provide a good plot for the remainder of the season.

Teams to watch for

DG Goons (1-0)

DG Goons is a team that made his debut during the spring 2014 division E, and impressed by the quality of their overall play. Reaching the DE quarterfinal, the ‘Goons are loaded with a talented and physical lineup including Chris Pendenza, Derrick Fontana and Frank Ngandui, which will pose a major problem for the opposing teams. Pendenza will be in the race for QB of the year, and this team’s ceiling is pretty high right now, as they build up from the experience they gained during the spring season.

Junkyard Dogs (0-0)

Already stuffed with talent, Junkyard Dogs come into this season with the adding of James Floreani, strengthening the core of this team and giving them another playmaker to rely on. After an up and down beginning to their spring season in division E, the ‘Dogs got some steam rolling, powered by the legs (or wheels) of Jason Rossie, who is an excellent dual-threat quarterback, punishing defenders with his speed while making good throwing decisions as the season progressed, leading them into the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how well the team perform throughout the season, consistency being an issue last spring.

Speed Demons (0-0-1)

An interesting roster for Speed Demons, carrying many veterans from The Commission such as Brent Bodkin, Adam Copeland and Bryan Nguyen. With a combination of experience and speed, the ‘Demons placed the quarterback position in the hands of Nguyen, who’s one of the premier rushers league-wide, which should make him a dual threat that opposing teams would be wise to contain. Coming strong off a 7-3 record from the 2014 winter season, expectations are high for this squad, who has all the talent needed to play late in April. A one-and-done playoff appearance can’t be enough, otherwise they will become the Cincinnati Bengals of Division 5.

Old Guns (1-0)

This is the definition of a team that will never beat you in flashy ways, and you won’t hear them talk about it. Old Guns is the team that quietly and efficiently piles up wins, while others get the press. They may not be the fastest, nor the strongest, but they have a way of being in the right place at the right time. Alexandre Gaudet is one of the most underestimated players in the league and deserves way more credit than he gets, displaying a great football IQ and an undeniable leadership. The combination of Gaudet with QB Vince Pisano and Jean-Benoit Bourassa gives Old Guns a steady triumvirate that will lead them into playoffs.

Maximum Carnage (0-1)

Do not get fooled by Maximum Carnage’s false start, this is a perennial contender that make you earn every yard you gain against them. Pat Riot is a sure value at the quarterback position, while speedy receiver Kevin Boustany will lead the charge for this solid group of players that also comprise fellow writer Bryan Mongeau and Tomas Chylewski. The main thing for Maximum Carnage will be to get through the first half of the season with a positive record, as they will face Junkyard Dogs, Old Guns and Sphinx in the next few weeks, all tough matchups.

Could go both ways

Here are teams that I believe could have stellar season as well as an underwhelming season, their fate depending mostly on themselves.

Sticky Hands (1-0)

As a newly formed team, Sticky Hands might not seem like a team that could pose an immediate threat since chemistry and timing is something that needs time to come up, Sticky Hands could be the exception due to a combination of experience and a bond that existed before this league started. Francois Ethier and Alexis Labonté went and recruited their buddy Henry Dam, from Team Ethnik, and the trio assembled a group of capable guys who could become the surprise of the division. Ethier has a knack for managing teams and is also a reliable quarterback, putting Sticky Hands in a reassuring position that could lead them far as the season progresses.

The Pack (0-1)

After going 9-0-1 in the first season of the 6th division, The Pack had a little more trouble in the following spring season (Division E), going for 5-5. While the transition to an upper division wasn’t as smooth as they had planned, this is a team that knows how to win and has a lot of potential. All of their losses were by small margins (6 points or less in 4 of these 5 games), and QB Daniel Krebs is more than able to captain this ship in the right direction, a few fine tunings would bring this team in the top tier of the division.

Js (0-1)

The Js have shown in the past their ability to play ball with anyone, by using a meticulous and varied style of play. Quarterback Hai Minh Luong has been leading the Js offense since the winter ’11 season, and has kept improving since then, having an average of 34 touchdown passes per season when he played full time. The issue with this team remains their inability to stop deep balls and their defensive folds under pressure, which has often turned a would-be victory into a loss. However, this season might be the one where they rise up to the occasion and proves doubters wrong.

Green Lantern Corps (0-0-1)

On paper, Green Lantern Corps possesses one of the best roster of D5, including the likes of Mendy Cardichon, Kevin Lubin, Jerson Previllon and Fadel Assane. However, GLC always seems to be looking for the right formula that would bring this group of guys to the next level. The main thing for Green Lantern Corps is to find the keys to be able to “finish” their games and be clutch in the right time, often coming short for the win. Regardless, the ingredients are there, the rest lays in their hands.

In conclusion, I would like to give a few tips to the “rookies” of FPF and first time captains who may not be yet accustomed to the playing style in this league:

  • Keep in mind that flag-football is different from tackle football, strategies that works for one may not work for the other.
  • Don’t pull the trigger too quickly on your quarterback, especially first time quarterback in this league, because the style is different and it may take a few weeks before chemistry takes place.
  • Make sure to read the rulebook, as many teams were penalized or lost an opportunity for a play because they didn’t know it was possible.
  • Some patterns come back in most teams, whether it’s on offense or defense. Don’t hesitate to watch other teams and ask questions.

That’s it for me, I’ll see you guys on the field, and wish everyone a fun FlagPlus Football season. If you want to leave me a comment or tell me that what I wrote about you was wrong, hit me up on Twitter @YanDoston, otherwise, have a nice weekend.