The Stretch Run; RIP B.I.G – FlagPlus Football League

Welcome to Week 9 of the FlagPlus Football season, or as I like to call it; the stretch run. The time of the year, where if you are going to make a move, now is the time to do it, as next week may be too late.

It was like the wild west in Division 4B this past week, as we saw a few games that ended in a tie, that not only give four teams a single point, but it also complicates the playoff picture for multiple squads.

We also witnessed a few blowouts, and as inexplicable as it is at this stage of the season, we also saw some shut-outs.

In a contest that was nothing short of a game of the year candidate, and most likely a playoff preview, Les Studs, and the Blue Chips, battled to a hard-fought 39-39 tie, last Sunday in Lachine.

The match-up featured a battle between arguably the two top Quarterbacks 4B, in Jordan Mitchell, and Samuel Caron, who have combined to throw for a jaw-dropping 75 touchdowns, and added another 10 on the ground.

Both passers didn’t disappoint, as they made big throws, and led their offenses up and down field, as they combined for nearly 500 yards (498) both through the air, and on the ground, to go along with an impressive 12 touchdowns.

Two-Way player of the Year candidate Félix Laflamme, of Les Studs, had a monster game of his own, as he recorded a team-high 7 receptions, for 106 yards, and 3 TDs, to go along with a game-high 2 Sacks on defense.

Not to be outdone, Sanders Armand, of Blue Chips, had a solid performance for his squad, as he put up two offensive touchdowns, and an interception on the other side of the ball.

The reason why this game ended in a tie, was because of converts, as both teams were only able to convert on 3 of their 6 attempts.

If the playoffs started today, there is a good chance these teams would meet in the second round. Obviously a lot can happen in the final two weeks of the regular season, but if, and when both squads meet again, I have no doubts that the rematch will be just as good.

Speaking of good times, after eight long weeks, congratulations are in order to Grabuge, on getting their first win of the season, as they were able to knock off the Grinders, by a score of (19-8), Wednesday night at Stade Hébert.

Leading the way for Grabuge, was Nicolas-Emmanuel Pierre. Normally a Wide Receiver, the four-year veteran, played Quarterback, and had a solid outing, as he went 15 of 31 for 106 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception.

After trailing their opponents (8-7) at the half, Pierre, and his team fought back, as they scored twice on offense, and came up with a pair of INTs, including one by the aforementioned Pierre.

Also coming up big in the victory, was Alexandre Lemire, who had a game-high 6 catches for 43 yards and a TD, and Guillaume Tremblay, who recorded 4 receptions for 38 yards, a TD, and an interception on defense.

Grabuge, wraps up their season Monday night at Stade Hébert, versus the Small Giants. Let’s see if the good times can continue.

The other game that ended in a tie, was the Game Changers versus the Sphinx. This was a tight defensive showdown, that at one point, saw each team held to one touchdown in a half.

A big part of that, was the performance of the Sphinx’s Olivier Ouellet, who had 3 Sacks of Game Changers’ Quarterback Anton Sakiz.
When he wasn’t running for his life, Sakiz, was able to connect with Louis-Philippe Paquette, and the always reliable Alvy Mizelle, who combined for 13 catches, for 120 yards, and 3 TDs.

After getting a valuable point, both teams have solidified their playoff positioning. In order to move even further up the standings, the Game Changers, will have to beat Truth Squad tomorrow in Lachine, and a way to knock off the undefeated Blue Chips to close out the regular season, in a game that could very well decide the Conference B East division, but the mantle of the best team in 4B.

Akeem Hoyte-Charles, of Norfolk In Chance, had the best game of any defender in 4B, as the vet had 5, yes, you read that right, 5 interceptions in his team’s (26-0) win over LV, last Sunday at Loyola.

Marvin Golding of Tone It Down, was the model of efficiency, as he went 8 of 16 for 106 yards, and 4 TDs, in his team’s (32-0) win over 39 cent wings.

The win was huge for Tone It Down, as it catapulted them into the 8th, and final playoff spot in Conference A, and put them one point up in the standings on LV, and the Vikings.

In Division 4A, the competition, and playoff races are just as hot.

Mutation, got a statement win, with a (37-13) blowout victory over Les Montagnards, Saturday night in Lachine.

This contest was essentially over at halftime, as Mutation, was up (24-6). They were led in the game by Quarterback Jean-Félix Marquis, who would tie a season-high, with 6 touchdown passes.

The win for Mutation was huge, as it put them in sole possesion of the 4th seed in Conference A, one point up on 5th seed TOPSZN, and two points up on The Alpha-T’s, and Les Montagnards, who they now hold the tie-breaker over.

Mutation, who finish the regular season with games against Up & Coming, and Brocassion, sit a game behind the Warhawks (they both have 5 wins, but the Warhawks have the better division record), and one game behind the 69ers, and The Commission. Needless to say, the team can still capture Conference A.

Speaking of The Commission, they made it five wins in a row, as they easily knocked off The Alpha-T’s (32-20) last Saturday in Lachine.
Quarterback Chris Olson, rode a solid first half, as he threw touchdown passes to Domenico Benevento, and AJ Gomes, to go up (14-0).

They led (20-0), for most of the second half, until The Alpha-T’s, were finally able to get on the scoreboard, curtesy of trips to the endzone by Marc-Antoine Vallée, Elliot Lambert, and Bryan Mongeau, before Gomes, scored his second TD of the game, and put the proverbial nail in the coffin.

In a more competitive game, the Jaguars, got past The Tide, (31-26) Wednesday night at Stade Hébert, on the shoulders of Quarterback Jimmy-Lee Janvier, who threw for 4 touchdown passes.

This game was a tale of two halves, as the Jaguars, jumped out to a (25-7) lead, only to The Tide storm back, to outscore their opponents (19-6) in the second half.

This game featured a lot of big catches, and even more trash-talking, as Patrice “Not sweet as the chocolate” Lindor, and The Tide’s Brandon Taylor, got into a couple of verbal spats throughout the game.

The win for the Jaguars came at the perfect time, as they had lost two in a row coming in, and gave them 9 points on the season, and more importantly, put them one point ahead of The Tise, in the Conference B standings.

Two teams who are still mathematically alive in the playoff race, in the Siths, and Show Me Your TDs, got huge victories last week, as they beat Brocassion, (41-32), last Saturday in Brossard.

Coming up big for the Siths, was their Hall of Fame dynamic duo of Gino Di Fazio, and Carmine Pollice, as they combined for 100 yards, and 4 touchdowns.

The team also got a good effort on the other side of the ball, from sub Charles-David Martel, who picked a sack, and provided constant pressure on Brocassion QB, Kristian Cerantola, helped limit the passer to a season-low 7 competitions.

For the Siths to have any realistic shot at the post-season, they will have to beat Gotham tonight, and The Alpha-T’s, next Saturday, to close out the regular season.

Show Me Your TDs, used two huge pick 6’s, by Adam Parasuco, and Eric Cantin, and a three touchdown offensive production, by Anthony Addona, to beat LOB, (37-32).

For SMYTDs to make the playoffs, they will need to win out as well. To do that, they will need to beat the Jaguars, and Mountain Lions.

For LOB, it was yet another close loss, as they’ve lost their last 2 games by a combined 11 points. The defeat hurts even more, as they got solid performances out of Rob Allen, and Benjamin Parisien, who combined for 9 receptions, 175 yards, and 4 touchdowns.

Keyport Lock’s Jeff Rosenblatt, had the best day of all passers, as he threw 7 touchdown passes, in his team’s (46-20) win over Gotham. Rosenblatt, who currently has 34 TDs, should finish well over the 40 mark with 2 games remaining.

Friends in Low Places, got a huge upset victory of their own, with a (35-30) victory, on the shoulders of Jared Buck, who had a game-high 10 grabs for 161 yards, and 2 touchdowns. Props to Buck, on making smooth transition from QB to WR, that he started for all intent and purposes, at the FPF Cup, as he repeatedly made big plays for his team all year.

The win, put FILP in to the 8th and final playoff spot in Conference B with 7 points, one point ahead of the Backyard Bullies, who fell (30-0) to the B.D Bandits, last Saturday in Lachine.

Elite 8 Power Rankings

Jagerbomb

The Commission

Mountain Lions

B.D Bandits

Keyport Lock

69ers

TOPSZN

Warhawks

Blue Chips

A-Squad

Truth Squad

Norfolk In Chance

All Hooks

Game Changers

Past Our Prime

Les Studs

Picks

Les Montagnards vs Brocassions – Brocassion

The Commission vs TOPSZN – N/A

LOB vs Backyard Bullies – LOB (Upset Special #1)

The Alpha-T’s vs 69ers – 69ers

Siths vs Gotham – Siths

Top Secret vs B.D Bandits – B.D Bandits

Up & Coming vs Mutation – Up & Coming (Upset Special #2)

The Tide vs Warhawks – Warhawks

Show Me Your TDs vs Jaguars – Jaguars

Mountain Lions vs Keyport Lock – Mountain Lions (My pick for Game of the Week)

Friends in Low Places vs Jagerbomb – Jagerbomb

LV vs A-Squad – A-Squad

Vikings vs Tone It Down – Tone It Down

Past Our Prime vs Team Ethnik -Past Our Prime

Be Ready vs Martine et le Flag – Martine et le Flag

Norfolk In Chance vs 39 cent wings – Norfolk In Chance

The Manglers vs Le Red Tiger – Le Red Tiger

Mean Machine vs Lobster Dinner – Mean Machine

Truth Squad vs Game Changers – (My pick for Game of the Week #1)

Grabuge vs Small Giants – Small Giants

Grinders vs Sphinx – Grinders (Upset Special)

Les Studs vs All Hooks – (My pick for Game of the Week #2)

On a totally unrelated note, this week marked the 21st anniverseray of the death (March 9th) of the greatest MC to ever do it, in The Notorious B.I.G. Do yourself a favour, a play a little Biggie before, and/or after your game. For all you youngsters out there in the league who jam to what they call “hip-hop” today, if you have no clue who I am talking about, shame on you, and look him up, because if you don’t know, now you know…

That’s it for this time out. Since the regular season wraps up next week, next week’s article, will take a look at what each and every team needs to do to qualify for the post-season.

Enjoy the games this week, and be careful driving in all the snow out there.

Cheers!

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