Semi-Finals Preview

Welcome back guys. Since we last talked, both the Divisional Round and Quarter-Finals have come and gone. Next up, are the Semi-Finals, scheduled to take place tomorrow night at Stade Hebert.

Before I get to those games, let me do a quick look back, at the previous two rounds.

Conference A

The Sticknmovers, are quietly staking their claim as the best team in Conference A, as they have looked unbreakable so far this post-season. After getting past a tougher than expected Rogue Squad team, and upsetting Savage Mode in the second round, the first-year squad, demolished the Channel 4 News Team in embarrassing fashion Wednesday night in St. Leo, by the score of 22-6.

This game was fascinating, in the sense that both squads were completely different pre-game, as the Channel 4 News Team who showed up for their 10:30 PM game, at least 30 minutes early, tossed around the ball, warmed up, and looked like they were ready to go.
The Sticknmovers on the other hand, showed up less than 10 minutes before the opening whistle, and barely had enough time to stretch.

The start to the game at least offensively, was scattered as well for both sides, as each team threw near-interceptions, punted, C4NT was called for intentional grounding near their own endzone, and the Sticknmovers caught a TD passes, but the receiver wasn’t able to keep his feet inbounds.

After the sloppy start, and the arrival of Jon Werbitt, who arrived to the game with less than 8 minutes to go in the first half, the Sticknmovers were the first team to get on the board, as Jonny Elfassy, caught a 5-yard TD passes from Quarterback Joseph Salzman, who set up the score with a 12-yard run the play before.

After the failed conversion attempt, the Sticknmovers were up 6-0.

The C4NT couldn’t muster anything positive on their ensuing drive, and we’re forced to punt yet again. The Sticknmovers made their opponents pay, as a few plays later, they scored their second touchdown of the game, to increase their lead to 12-0, courtesy of a Ben Toulch 16 yard TD reception.

On their final drive of the half, looking to score, or at the very least, be able to take some positive momentum into the break, the C4NT did the complete opposite, as their final drive consisted of a penalty, incomplete pass, and a high snap that resulted in a safety.

With that, the Sticknmovers went intothe half leading 14-0.

More importantly, for the Channel 4 News Team, their QB had 2 completions, and negative 7 yards passing, due to the 3 sacks he gave up. Yes, you read that right, -7 yards.

The first drive for each team in the second half resulted in an INT.

The Sticknmovers, extended their lead to 20-0 on a 2-yard TD by Werbitt.

After miraculously not giving up a touchdown, despite being down six players to four due to Justin Frankel and Zak Schecter, both receiving OCs (Great job by the C4NT defense) the team was able to finally get on the board when Greg Castiel, was able to haul in a pass that was tipped by Sticknmovers’ Defensive Back Ben Toulch, and he ran it for a 49 yard TD.

A few minutes later, the Sticknmovers would add a safety, and that was it for this one, as they would go on to win 22-6.

After dismantling the Rolling Rock 39-14 Sunday night at the Stinger Dome, the Goofy Goobers, took their dominance into last night’s matchup against a Broke Boys team, who has looked equally as impressive so far this post-season.

The fireworks started early in this contest, as both teams wasted little time airing it out.
After two straight incompletions to start the game, Goofy Goobers’ Quarterback Jarryd Taylor went deep, and hit D6 Wide Receiver of the Year, Max Burah, for a 40-yard TD to open the scoring.

It took the Broke Boys 2 plays to answer right back with a bomb of their own, QB Cameron Wilson connected with a 4o-yarder of his own, to the underrated Riley Pincombe. For the rookie, who only found the endzone three times during the regular season, that TD would be his first of 2 on the evening, bringing his playoff total to 5.

The next drive for the Goofy Goobers resulted in them restabilising their lead. After a long run by Taylor, the QB would find Daniel Pisatuo for a TD.

The scrambling ability of Taylor, would give the Broke Boys problems all night long.

The Broke Boys would answer right back, as they marched down the field, with Wilson throwing into the middle of the defense. Their longest drive of the night, finally paid off, with a 5-yard TD on a nice corner route by Liam Fahey.

As you can imagine, the Goofy Goobers responded with a TD of their own, as QB turned WR Ryan Shapiro, scored his first of two TDs on the night.

On a totally related note, I am pretty sure I can’t be the only person that has noticed that the two biggest moves of the playoffs, and quite possibly the season, have been the QB switch that both Pardon My Swag (more on them in a bit) and the Goofy Goobers have pulled off. Am I?

Fast-forwarding a bit, after double G was able to increase their lead with another TD, the next drive for both teams resulted in interceptions on two very ill-advised throws, and the broke Boys made it an even 3 INTs, when their hail Mary attempt on the last play of the half was picked off by Taylor.

At the whistle, it was a 26-13 lead by the Goofy Goobers.

The Broke Boys narrowed the lead on their first drive of the second half, as after a 35-yard catch by Pincombe, Wilson found the big man Liam Barclay for a 2-yard TD., making the score 26-19 Goofy Goobers.

Unfortunately for double B, that would be as close as they would come to knocking off their opponents, as the Goofy Goobers turned up the heat defensively, and completely shut down he Broke Boys deep passing attack.

Mikey Schwartz, Pisaturo, and Taylor, starting jumping in the passing lanes, and over the top in deep coverage, and started batting down anything that Wilson threw for more than 8 yards. Taylor, who directs the team’s offense, did the same on the other side of the ball, as he added two more interceptions, bringing his total to three on the night.

The Goofy Goobers would go on to a 38-25 win.

The two biggest takeaways I took from the game, are that the Broke Boys, despite their impressive athleticism and team speed, rely way too much on the deep ball.

Even tough they were behind for much of the game, Cameron Wilson ignored the easier and high percentage throws, that would’ve allowed his team to march the field, and pick up first downs with ease. I lost count how many times 10-12 yard hooks on the sideline were wide open. When your opponents are playing a Cover 2 or even a 4-1, you need to take advantage of the intermediate and shorter routes that are open. Throwing deep into coverage is a recipe for disaster.

The lack of a consistent rush also hurt the Broke Boys, as Jarryd Taylor, had too much to throw, and make plays with his legs.

A huge beneficiary of the time Taylor was given, was Wessam Tayeh. The talkative big man, made some huge plays for his team, and bailed out the offense with some nice catches.

This of course, sets up a great game for the Conference A title…

 

(2) Goofy Goobers vs (5) Sticknmovers

Last Meeting: NA

The best offense in Division 6, taking on D6’s best defense. What more can you ask for?

As is the case in any football game, this contest will come down to matchups.

One thing I noticed about the Sticknmovers offense during their blowout win over the Channel 4 News Team, is that they struggled a bit in the second half. Not only, as I mentioned earlier, could they not score with a 6 on 4 advantage, but they also had problems completing simple passes, and became much too reliant on the scrambling abilities of Quarterback Joseph Salzman to generate yardage.

Against an aggressive defense like the Goofy Goobers, there are holes that you can exploit, but if you aren’t accurate in doing so, they will make you pay.

On the other side, while Jarryd Taylor has been impressive since taking over the QB position full-time in Week 9, he has yet to face a Rusher, who is as skilled as the Sticknmovers’ Benjamin Szwimer. So far this post-season, the rookie leads all players at his position, with 6 sacks, including the 4 he had Wednesday night versus the C4NT.

Taylor is cocky, but his play has backed it up. However, taking on a defense, and a rusher like this, with very little experience at the game’s most important position, will definitely not be a cake walk, and he’ll need to pay attention to the game, and not the chatter, or the scoreboard lol.

How will Max Burah respond? This is a question that needs to be answered, after he was predominantly bottled up by the Broke Boys’ defense last night. More importantly, who will the Sticknmovers put on him? Jon Werbitt (provided he comes before the game starts), Matthew Zoltak, Ben Toulch? There are a lot of possibilities.

Unlike some of the other playoff games that we have seen so far, I think this will be a good and competitive game, with big plays made on both sides of the ball.

Both teams have had their moments this post-season, but since I have to pick a winner, I am going with the Goofy Goobers 26-18.

While the Sticknmovers have the better defense, the Goofy Goobers can make plays on that side of the ball as well, and the Double G offense which has been on fire the last few weeks, should still be able to make a play or two more than their opponents’ O.

 

Conference B

The Pardon My Swag versus Blitz babes contest, was a matchup of two teams who hit their stride as soon as the playoffs arrived.

For the blitz Babes, the combination of Matthew Gottlieb and Eric Vosko has been on fire all post-season, and the offense has shown proved that they can hang with anybody. While defensively, led by the duo of Jonah Eisenberg, and Zachary Gottlieb, the team has been just as lethal.

The D would have all they could handle, as they were taking on a dangerous Pardon My Swag team.

As good as this game looked on paper, it was pretty one-sided, as Pardon My Swag, dominated the Blitz Babes. The reason why PMS was so successful, was because they took away the deep ball in the second half, which had been the Double B’s bread and butter through-out the post-season.

Although the score was 19-13 PMS, at the half, they held Matthew Gottlieb to 4 completions and forced 2 interceptions. (One of those completions was a 40-yard TD to Wide Receiver Brandon Abecassis)

In the second half, they held Gottlieb to 4 completions, as they got terrific pressure from Rusher Alex Torres. The drops by the Blitz Babes receivers also didn’t help matters.

Torres had an really solid game on the offensive end as well, as the tall and speedy receiver came up with lot of big catches for his team that not only went for scores, but helped extend drives. At the end of the night, Torres had 3 receptions, for a game-high 91 yards, and 2 TDs.

After a shaky series by Lalla, saw the youngster get called for intentional grounding, and throw a couple of passes that should’ve been picked off, the team punted.

Running the QB Option, the Blitz Babes’ Eisenberg, threw a 40-yard bomb to Vosko, that the WR dropped. It would be the second dropped TD for the rookie. A few plays later, with Gottlieb back throwing, he threw a pick to Khzaka, that ended the game, 31-19 Pardon My Swag.

Just like through-out the game, PMS made sure to remind over and over that I picked against them afterwards as well lol.

The Greendale Human Beings got to the Conference B Final by knocking off the Smokin Axolotls.

Both teams looked a little nervous to start the game, as the Smokin Axolotls started their first drive with a fumbled snap, and then an INT thrown by Jordan Rossie to the GHB’s Satchel Carriero.

The Greendale Human Beings, not wanting their opponents to feel lonely in the turnover column, committed one themselves, as Danny Aylward was intercepted by rookie two-way threat Rory Semerjian, two plays later.

After the teams traded TDs, the Smokin Axolotls took back the lead, as Rossie found Snapper Michel Ladouceur, for a 20-yard TD, on a critical 4th and 1 call, that gave their team a 13-6 lead, with 5 minutes to 5 plays in the first half.

The Greendale Human Beings answered right back, with a 4-play drive, that cultivated in a 5-yard TD catch by Brandon Aylward from his brother Danny.

On the drive, SA defender Kevin Marcil, badly hurt his ankle while making a tackle attempt on the sideline, that carried him into the soccer net on the sideline. Unfortunately for the FPF veteran and his team, Marcil would be unable to continue in the contest.

Each team scored a TD to close out the first half. At the whistle, the score was 19-18 Smokin Axolotls.

Starting with the ball in the second half, the GHB, would get their first lead of the game, as Alex Joltopuf, would score on a TD sweet 27-yard corner route, beating his man, in Rossie, who was taking the spot of Marcil.

The first drive by the Smokin Axolotls started off shaky, as it was filled with drops, and a near interception by Brandon Aylward. It got even worse for Stef Fennes’ team, as they turned the ball over on downs, giving their opponents prime field position, inside the SA 20 yard line.

The decision to go for it so deep in their own territory came back to haunt SA twice on the same drive, as a few plays later, Rusher Chris Brockwell stopped mid rush and fell to the turf holding his left hamstring. In obvious pain, the 6-year veteran had to immediate leave the field.

Brockwell’s injury, forced the team to use Wide Receiver Kevin Fraser on defense. Two plays later, Joltopuf who was covered by Fraser, scored on a 2-yard TD throw. The score extended the GHB lead to 30-19.

An 18-yard catch and run by Ladouceur, set up a another touchdown by Semerjian., to shrink the GHB lead to 30-25.

The excitement was short-lived, as after the missed convert, GHB increased their lead to 36-25, via a 40-yard TD by you guessed it, Brandon Aylward. I feel like this is starting to become a theme…

Fraser would redeem himself, by scoring a touchdown of his own 4 plays later, and catching the ensuing 1-point conversion, but the Smokin axolotls couldn’t stop the Greendale Human Beings, when they got possession of the ball, as Joltopuf scored his scored TD.

Final score, 42-32 Greendale Human Beings

Although a win is a win, the victory should have a bit of an asterisks beside it, given that the Smokin A’s lost almost half of their team to injuries during the game, as both Kevin Marcil and Chris Brockwell, two integral parts of the team suffered injuries that left them unable to return. It would be interesting to see what would’ve happened, had SA been active.

Injuries aside, this was still a very good game from start to finish, and we still have to give the Greendale Human Beings credit for the win. Unfortunately injuries happen, and the ‘next man up’ saying holds true.

With wins by the GHB and PMS, this sets up the following showdown for the Conference B throne…

 

(1) Greendale Human Beings vs (6) Pardon My Swag

Last Meeting: NA

This is arguably the matchup of the two best offensive teams in Conference B.

For Pardon My Swag, the biggest challenge they will face, is how to shutdown the Aylward brothers. So far this post-season, the dynamic duo, have connected for 5 touchdowns, and numerous big plays that have broken team’s backs.

One way to stop them, will be giving Danny Aylward less time to throw. That responsibility will come down to PMS Rusher Alex Torres. Currently, the fifth-year player has 4 sacks this post-season, and has been a constant terror for QBs, with his length and speed.

Another question that will need to be answered, is who will Michael Khazaka cover. Will he stick with Brandon Aylward, or will he play man on the equally dangerous Alex Joltopuf? Whoever Khazakka doesn’t cover, will have to deal with solid Defensive Backs Myles Keiller, and Mathieu Kieljan, which is no easy task.

On a side note, did Khazaka, just have a bad game against the Blitz Babes? While he did get an INT and a pass defended, he seemed to have trouble dealing with the speed and length of Eric Vosko, who got by him deep on more than one occasion, and if it wasn’t a case of the drops, would have had at least 3 TDs. We’ll find out tomorrow night.

The most important question for the guys in green, is how they will be able to slow down QB Avery Lalla. It seems like the bigger the stage, the better the 16-year old performs. His ability to spread the ball around to all of his receivers, and keep opposing defenses guessing, has been nothing short of phenomenal.

The Greendale Human Beings will need Rusher Valentin Skrypnik, who has 4 sacks this post-season, to generate pressure all night on Lalla, and force him to get rid of the ball before he’s ready.

Another question that the GHB must answer, is who else besides the aforementioned Joltopuf and Brandon Aylward will step it up offensively?

In the Greendale Human Beings 2 losses this season, both the Savage Mode and Blitz Babes, forced turnovers (5 INTs combined), and essentially eliminated any other Wide Receiver not named Aylward or Joltopuf, from making plays.

Zachary Pitts, who has been solid this post-season with 10 catches, will have to continue his impressive play, as will Satchel Carriero, who also found the endzone versus the Smokin Axolotls.

It should go without saying, that this contest is my pick for Game of the Week, The Greendale Human Beings, have been a solid team to watch this season. They can make plays on both sides of the ball, and can beat teams in multiple ways.

Before their game against the Blitz Babes, I asked Pardon My Swag Wide Receiver Myles Keiller what was the biggest difference with the team since Lalla took over. He said, that the team has become energized, they got their swagger back, and they feel like they can beat anybody. That’s exactly what I see when I watch this team now, and that’s why I am picking them in my upset special. Pardon My Swag 32-30.

 

That’s it for this week guys. The Semi-Finals kick-off tomorrow night at Stade Hebert at 9:30 PM. I’ll see you guys in a bit more than 24 hours. We are now officially on the rod to the Championship Finals, which take place next Sunday in Brossard at 4:30PM. Make sure to check out the road show podcast this week with Peeze, Stef, and yours truly this Tuesday. It will be the last one of the season, and more importantly, it’s the final episode before the Finals.

For all you wrestling fans including yours truly, enjoy WrestleMania tonight! Thanks Rob, for not scheduling any D6 games tonight, because God knows, I would’ve missed them lol.

Cheers!

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt that I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]