Stars On Both Sides – FlagPlus Football League

Welcome to Week 4 of the FlagPlus Football Division 4A and 4B Winter Season.

If you blinked you missed it, but a quarter of the season is already in the books. With mid-season just around the corner, this is the time when teams shake-off the building chemistry, and getting to know you mode, and start to show who they really are.

Mutation, showed that they are a team that can answer the bell, as they did exactly that, by pulling off the upset 39-38 victory over The Alpha-T’s, and in the process, helped me go 1 for 2 on my Upset Special picks.

Leading the way for Mutation, was the dynamic duo of Quarterback Jean-Félix Marquis, and Wide Receiver Vincent Marquis, who combined for three touchdowns.

Overall, Marquis, had what might have been the best game of his FPF career, as he went 22 of 32, for 229 yards, and 6 touchdowns.

The Alexandre Samson versus Bryan Mongeau matchup that I looked at heading into the game, was dominated by Samson, as he had 4 receptions for 20 yards, and 2 touchdowns, to go along with a team-high 4 tackles.

Up next for Mutation, is a game versus a strong defensive team, in Top Secret, tomorrow night at Stade Hebert.

This will be a big game for both teams, but more so for Top Secret, as a loss would drop them to (1-3), and put them in an uphill battle to climb back into a playoff spot.

Despite their solid defensive play, that has created six turnovers, and seen them give up an average of 20 points a game, while limiting high-powered teams like the Backyard Bullies in Week 1, and Show Me Your TDs last week (who were kept off the scoreboard in the second half), the Top Secret offense, has only surpassed the three touchdown mark once this season. For a team with playmakers on that side of the ball, in Cédric Nuckle, Jean Sebastien Collin, Nicholas Saro, and Alexis Labonté, the production, or lack thereof, has been very surprising.

The Mountain Lions, are another team that are led by a stingy and aggressive defense, as they have allowed a Division 4A low 49 points. Led by two-way player Zack Goldstein, they are a forced to be reckoned with.

The only question that pops up about the Mountain Lions, is strength of schedule. So far through three weeks, they have faced the Jaguars, B.D Bandits, and LOB, who have a combined record of 2-6-1. While it is obviously no fault of their own, seeing that they didn’t make the schedule, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that people want to see how they do against tougher competition. They will get that chance Monday night at Stade Hébert, when they take on The Tide. If ML, can shutdown, or even limit the combo of Chris Pinsonneault, and Sami Beg, they will definitely turn some heads.

Show Me Your TDs, are another team who is balling out on defense, with only 59 points given up. With FPF veterans Alex David, Eric Cantin, Anthony Addona, and Kevin Lubin in coverage, their stellar play is not surprising.

What is shocking, is their struggles on offense. They have only gone over the three touchdown mark once this year, and have scored a grand total of 57 points.

Some of the low total can be attributed to the division-high 7 interceptions that Quarterback Mike Addona, has thrown. Regardless of the turnovers, this team has too much talent to be this bad on offense.

SMYTD, will have a chance to rebound tomorrow night, when they face a tough Keyport Lock squad.

Two teams who have shown themselves to be offensive juggernauts, so far are Jagerbomb, and the 69ers.

Through three games, they have combined to score 256 points. Their Quarterbacks, Simon Duchesne (Jagerbomb), and Shea Harbour (69ers) have combined for 34 touchdowns. More importantly, both passers have done a good job of spreading around the ball effectively, as they have thrown touchdowns to multiple receivers. Although it is extremely early, these two have to be the front-runners for QB of the Year.

After an ugly win over The Commission in Week 1, that saw bad throws, and blown coverages by both teams, and then getting beat 46-34 by Jagerbomb, Les Montagnards, showed that they can answer back, as they knocked off Up & Coming, by a score of 33-32, last Saturday in Lachine.

Although he was outplayed as a passer by opposing Quarterback Travis Moses, (167 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT vs 185 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs) Les Montagnards pivot Marc-Antoine Viens, had the edge in the play-making department, as he ran four times for 40 yards, and a touchdown. His ability to create, and extend plays with his legs, along with connecting on one extra conversion than Up & Coming did, was the difference in the contest.

Up next for Les Montagnards, is a matchup tonight versus the 69ers in Brossard, which will definitely be a must-watch game.

In Division 4B, defense was the name of the game here as well, as four teams were held to one touchdown, and two squads were held off the scoreboard completely.

As part of a team (The Commission), that to put it nicely, is struggling on offense, I fully understand that it is not always easy to score, but being shutout, should never happen. There are always holes in every defense, and after the first two series, teams pretty much show you the majority of what they plan to do to you on that side of the ball.

At times, this beautiful game can be a complex chess match. Other times, it can as simple as grade 2 math.

Ryan Payne, of Past Our Prime, was the top Quarterback of the week, as he threw for a Div. 4B high 235 yards, and 5 TDs. His team really need him, as he played a huge roll in his team’s (36-34) victory over a solid Vikings squad.

The victory, was a nice bounce back game for Past Our Prime, as they stumbled last week in a (24-19) loss to the A-Squad.

POP, will be in for a tough test tonight, as they try to make it two wins in a row, when they take on the undefeated Blue Chips, tonight at Loyola.

Etienne Cloutier of the Sphinx, might not have had the yardage that Payne put up (235 to 180), but he was the most efficient QB of Week 3, as he went 15 of 17, for 180 yards, and 5 touchdowns, in his team’s 32-19) win over All Hooks.

Let’s see if Cloutier, can put up even better numbers tonight in Lachine, when he and the Sphinx, take on Norfolk In Chance.

Week 4, must have been the week of the interceptions, as Justin Dion of Martine et le Flag, and Andrew Philipeaux of the Truth Squad, had 4 INTs apiece, in their team’s victories over The Manglers, and Grabuge, respectively. Let’s see if the duo can add to their totals this week.

Random Thoughts

I have to give a tip of the hat to 69ers Defensive Back Cam Tonner, as the FPF vet, had a game-high, and personal-best 5 pass deflections in his team’s (47-28) win over Gotham.

Rich Humes, of the Backyard Bullies, also deserves some props, as he led all rushers in sacks, with 4 versus TOPSZN.

Speaking of defense, it seems like Conference B, in both Division 4A and 4B, is serious about playing some.

In 4B’s Conference B, only the Grinders, have allowed triple digit points (115).

Meanwhile, in Conference A, the Vikings, Tone It Down, and The Manglers, have gone over the century mark, while 39 cent wings, are one score away from doing the same.

In Division 4A, their Conference B, is even stingers, as none of the eleven teams have given up 100 points.

The other side is totally different, as Conference A, has seen The Commission, Les Montagnards, Mutation, Broccasion, Gotham, and the Siths, have already unenviable point total.

I caught the second half of the Warhawks versus Brocassion game. This was a contest, where momentum, and footballs were bouncing all over the place.

Up by a score of 27-25, the Warhawks looked to extend their lead, when QB Fred Mallette, threw a bomb to Wide Receiver Olivier Choquette, who was wide open after blowing by his defender. Unfortunately, for the WR and his team, Choquette, dropped the would-be touchdown.

The missed opportunity would come back to bite the team, as Brocassion, got an interception, by Kristian Cerantola, off of a tipped pass by Mark Provost.

The momentum was short-lived, as Cerantola, was intercepted 4 plays later, by the Warhawks’ Etienne Ducharme.

The Warhawks, were able to capitalize on the turnover, as Mallette, connected on a 32-yard TD to Laurent Ladouceur. For the receiver, it was his third trip to the endzone on the evening.

After a failed conversion attempt by the Warhawks, Brocassion, had one more chance to strike back, and earn a point with a tie, but their 4th down attempt was batted down by Raphaël Ducas-Lapalme to end the game.

It will be a battle of the squads tomorrow night at Loyola, when the (2-1) Truth Squad, take on the (3-0) A-Squad. Both teams have playmakers on both sides of the ball, and I fully expect this game to go down to the wire. Do I smell an instant classic?

The two oldest guys in Division 4 in Gino Di Fazio, and Carmine Pollice, (I haven’t actually checked to see if it is true, but besides the point that I am 100% sure it’s true, I am friends with both of them, and writing that will get them mad, and bring me great joy) showed why they are Hall-of-Famers, as they turned back the clock, and destroyed a Swiss cheese-like The Commission defense, to the tune of 140 yards, and 4 touchdowns. Well done gentlemen.

For the first time in 6 weeks, we will be without NFL football. It will be a little weird tomorrow afternoon not having any to watch (no, the Pro Bowl doesn’t count). Thank God we have FPF!

The Pats and refs win again…

My 4A picks

Gotham vs The Alpha-T’s – The Alpha-T’s

69ers vs Les Montagnards – 69ers (My pick for Game of the Week)

Siths vs Warhawks – Siths

Brocassion vs TOPSZN – TOPSZN

LOB vs B.D Bandits – LOB (Upset Special #1)

Backyard Bullies vs Friends in Low Places – Backyard Bullies

Top Secret vs Mutation – Mutation

Jaguas vs Jagerbomb – Jagerbomb

Up & Coming vs The Commission

Keyport Lock vs Show Me Your TDs – (Upset Special #2)

Mountain Lions vs The Tide – Mountain Lions

Last Week: 8-2

Season: 14-5-1

Peeze’s 4A Picks

The Alpha-T’s

69ers

Warhawks

TOPSZN

LOB

Backyard Bullies

Top Secret

Jagerbomb

Up & Coming

Keyport Lock

The Tide

My 4B Picks

Tone It Down vs Grabuge – Tone It Down

Martine et le Flag vs Lobster Dinner – Lobster Dinner (Upset Special #1)

Past Our Prime vs Blue Chips – Blue Chips (My choice for Game of the Week)

Sphinx vs Norfolk In Chance – (Upset Special #2)

Mean Machine vs Be Ready

39 cent wings vs Grinders – Grinders

Truth Squad vs A-Squad – Truth Squad

Game Changers vs LV – LV

Les Studs vs The Manglers – Les Studs

Small Giants vs Vikings – Vikings (Upset Special #3)

All Hooks vs Le Red Tiger – All Hooks

Last Week: 5-7

Season: 11-11

Peeze’s 4B Picks

Tone It Down

Martine et le Flag

Blue Chips

Sphinx

Be Ready

39 cent wings

Truth Squad

Studs

Small Giants

All Hooks

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That’s it for this week guys. With Week 5 coming up next, and in an effort to change things up, I will release my annual Mid-Season report, where I look at teams I think are contenders, pretenders, not even close, and which ones we’re not sure about yet.

If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, feel free to reach me at [email protected] or on Twitter @ BADNEWSB51

Cheers!