Playing For Keeps: The Opening Bell

As the city plunges into the darkness and abyss of winter, the FPF season is just heating up. Week 1’s in the books, and we’ve already been treated to a tantalizing array of storylines.

Division 1 is smaller than last season, but that appears to be good thing, since these heavyweights will get intimately acquainted with each other throughout the year. All 8 teams should be competitive each week, as there’s no pushovers to pick on. Don’t be surprised to see upsets become a regular occurrence in this ultimate tournament for flag supremacy.

Division 2 looks talented, although unevenly balanced to begin the season. Conference B appears to be the conference of death, as a gruesome battle royal will pursue for the right to claim the top of the standings. Conference A will no doubt be intriguing as well, as proud and well-built teams will take it upon themselves to prove the pundits wrong.

For my part, I’m thrilled to take it all in. Join me as we embark on a 14 week journey through the heart of FPF’s mainland. I’ll promise to give a no-bullshit account of the facts as they arrive to me. You guys make it happen, and I’ll write it down.

 

First Crack at the Champs

The Finest hosted FML on Monday night at Hebert, in an early showcase of two of the top contenders heading into 2019.

As anticipated, both offenses came out swinging, exchanging scores for the first 3 drives.

The trash talk – although good natured – started early in this one, with both teams sizing each other up, knowing an inevitable rematch (or two) will be in the cards later this season.

ANP showed poise in response to the Finest’s opening touchdown, methodically carving up the defense with quick timing routes, before punching in a slant to Davidson on the lip of the goal line. A 2 point convert to Davidson put FML up by a point, and signaled that they wouldn’t back down from their highly venerated opponent.

Wyeth was in mid-season form, picking apart the FML defense with surgical precision. He sliced up the underneath with slants to snapper Binette and outside hooks to Thompson, setting up the deep haymakers to Jerome. Jerome, for his part, was ferocious and dominant in this one, shredding the FML secondary over the top to an astounding 124 yards and 4 TDs on 6 catches.

On the Finest’s fourth drive, with three plays remaining before halftime, Wyeth dropped a dime in the bucket on a corner to Jerome. A 1 point convert gave them a 34-28 lead and left FML with 2 plays to attempt to tie the game before half.

ANP called the perfect play in response, clearing out the left sideline and sending Davidson underneath with a deft touch pass. Davidson corralled it with a clear lane in front and a head of steam, but the sidelines at field 3 in Hebert deceived him, as his feet straddled out of bounds.

A desperation heave on the final play of half went unanswered, and the Finest took their single score lead into the break.

The games turning point came on the opening drive following the intermission.

ANP came out of the huddle with intention, firing a dart down the middle to a streaking Vendrame, who appeared on his way to an easy touchdown. In an effort to prevent the score, Bourdages dove over Vendrame’s body, draping his arms to prevent the catch. A penalty was quickly assessed on the field, but instead of a spot foul in the red zone, a 5 yard penalty was issued. ANP was visibly irritated with the decision, interrogating the referee on the decision as his team came back to the huddle. It would not be the last exchange between FML and the referees on this night.

He went deep again on the next play with a post-wheel combo to the right side. Jerome played his deep position perfectly, backpedaling into position between both routes and refusing to flinch with Puize’s look off. He undercut the wheel and gave Wyeth the crucial turnover.

From that point on, it became of game of catch-up for FML, exchanging scores and hoping for the necessary turnover to get them back in the game. There were a few captivating moments that almost came to fruition, with some drama to pursue before it was all said and done.

With under 5 minutes to go and the Finest at their own 10 yard line on third down, a perfectly designed coverage had Wyeth on his back foot with the rusher on his hip. Instead of pulling down the sac and forcing the issue on fourth and long, the FML rusher blew the sack, allowing Wyeth to step up in the pocket and fire a laser down the right sideline to Harrington for the first down. Wyeth cleaned up the drive with a TD to Moore on the goal line, who sealed off his defender and made a Big Man catch with defenders draped over him.

FML responded quickly with a well-orchestrated drive, marching the field with tempo and finishing with a beautiful diving, toe-dragging catch by Jourdain Alexis in the back of the end zone.

40-34 Finest with under a minute remaining in the game. One last chance for FML to change the tide of the game.  

Like the previous drive, the Finest once again had trouble getting off their starting line. Two incompletions raised the tension in the building for a highly anticipated third down attempt. Wyeth went to his bread-and-butter, leading Moore on an out-route towards the right sideline. Vendrame swooped in to break up the play, but appeared to muscle the receiver out of bounds before he could complete the catch. The referee, standing right by the play, determined that the physical altercation initiated by the defender prevented the receiver from completing the play. Instead of an intense 4th and 10 decision, the Finest were awarded an automatic first down, essentially icing the game. A heated exchange of words pursued between referee and player, resulting in a double OC for the FML star.

Although we always hate seeing great games decided by penalties, the Finest outplayed their opponents in this thrilling week 1 slugfest, earning the 46-34 victory. FML will certainly be looking forward to the week 8 rematch between these divisional rivals.

 

Braves hang tough in slugfest

As reported by scorekeeper and former FPF staff writer Nicolas Belleau

The other half of the main card in week 1 had the Braves and D-Boys looking to jump out to top contender status.

Despite the close final score, this was not your traditional gentleman’s exchange of scores until the clock runs out. In a game of massive runs, the hungry D-Boys quickly took the driver’s seat with a 14-0 lead. Even though Masciotra showed some rust, after taking off the first spring season in his career, he got the job done early on with TD connections to Ojeaha and Johnson.

However, the unrelenting pressure from the Braves rusher Paiement, coupled with a swarming Braves secondary finally got to the D-Boys QB, causing an abrupt halt to their rhythm. The normally accurate gunslinger began missing open targets, and making matters worse were some egregious drops from his receivers. None was more costly than a tipped ball along the sidelines leading to a spectacular INT from Maheu, opening the door from the Braves comeback.

The D-Boys defense projects to once again be the top in the division, but were without vaunted offseason acquisition Jordan Beaulieu. Still, full credit goes to Braves QB Maheu, who cautiously manoeuvered the minefield, completing 68% of his passes and keeping the turnover sheet clean. They couldn’t keep Maheau and his numerous weapons at bay for long. The Braves offense scored three straight times before half, without a response from their opponents. Powered by scores from Gariepy, Chevalier and Boulard, the Braves stormed back to take a 20-14 lead into halftime.  

Following the break, both defences were locked in, exchanging stops with the D-Boys even forcing a huge goal line turnover on downs.

With 8 minutes to go Ojeaha decided to put the team on his back, with a stunning catch-and-shake routine leading to a game-tying touchdown. The extra point covert to McLean was successful and the D-Boys temporarily took back the lead, putting the pressure back on their opponents.

With Ojeaha having just made his statement on the game, it was time for Gariepy to offer his rebuttal. The Braves’ monumental receiver had distinguished himself on the field throughout the night, with 89 yards and 2 TDs on 6 catches. None were bigger than his 25 yard touchdown reception to put the Braves ahead on their final drive of the game. A two point convert to Pierrecin gave them the 28-21 lead, and left the D-Boys with only a handful of plays to rescue themselves from defeat.

Masciotra put together a compelling drive, getting within striking distance of the goal line. With his back against the wall he took his best shot in the end zone, but it wasn’t to be, as Gariepy picked it off and sealed the deal for the Braves.

 

 

Div 1 Power Rankings +

1. Montréal finest (1-0): This looks to be another classic powerhouse Finest team. Their roster continues to have the most depth in the division, an underrated trait of team building that other teams have yet to catch on to. Forged in the fires of the great volcano of Mordor, the Wyeth-to-Jerome combination will continue to be the most dominant in the league. Kishon Thompson is the best at what he does, there’s no other field general that comes close to him. He has some excellent pieces to work with once again this season. I’m looking forward to seeing the impact of Jean-Christophe Morin-Phaneuf to this already stacked lineup, as he was in street clothes for week 1. This team is electric.

 

2. FML (0-1): They had a tough draw in week 1 but played admirably, pushing the Finest to the brink on several occasions. Most importantly, they possess the QB with the second most poise in the division. Getting a turnover off ANP is like witnessing a solstice, it only happens a couple of times a year. Mikhaïl Davidson will continue to be the two-way star for this team, but the additions of Jourdain Alexis and Anthony Vendrame were brilliant. Give them a few weeks to gel and we’ll start seeing a team that rolls over opposing defenses and frustrates elite offenses.
3. D-Boys (0-1): No need to be alarmed after a mid-game collapse in week 1. This team was built to challenge the Finest this winter, and will absolutely do so. They have the most athletic roster in the division by far, and once they get cooking they’ll be pushing a pace that most opponents can’t keep up with. Already the number 1 ranked defense the past three seasons, the return of Jamal Gittens from injury and integration  Jordan Beulieu will make them ironclad. The pairing of Theo Ojeaha and Quaid Johnson gives them one of the most lethal 1-2 combinations in the division. The addition of Justin McLean stacks the deck for this unit. He’s a rare, permanently hungry, lunch-pail type superstar at the position.

 

4. Braves (1-0): It’s tough to rank a 1-0 team fourth on this preliminary list, but they’re still the newest team to the elite division 1 dinner table, with the most to prove. The early returns have been excellent. They’ve improved each season since entering the league and are now thoroughly in contender status this winter. This is the grittiest team in the division. They force you into a physical, grind-em’-out style of game which they excel at. A healthy Georges Gariépy could be ready to dominate this division. He’s a physical specimen that most opponents won’t know how to deal with. Jonathan Maheu is a tactician on offense, he’s mastered the perfect style of play to compliment his team’s profile. It’s very difficult to force him off his game. Big things to come for these guys in 2019.

 

 

5. Monstars (1-0): The Monstars victory over DK this week definitely vaulted them up the rankings. They wouldn’t have been much further down either way, but the way they handled their decorated opponent proved that they’re ready to be the bridge team in this division. Although they sit just outside the elite category, they remain in contention status and can knock off one of the top dogs on any given week. When you’re led by a baller like Rod Mashtoub, anything is possible. His unique combination of quick footwork, scramble ability and rifle arm give him an Aaron Rodgers-esque skill set. The fun part is that he’ll continue to improve as he learns when to dial back the risk throughout games. Ask FPF pundits their opinion and you’ll start to hear his name thrown into the top 5 category league wide. Their strong depth and excellent chemistry help compensate for a lack of top notch talent. This is the team for bandwagoners to jump on in 2019.

 

6. Waste Yout (NA): Dan Lazzara enters his sophomore season in div 1 after having made his foray in winter 2017 and then red-shirting in div 2 last winter. He’s brought all of his boys along to support him. Jarryd Taylor, Zach Jauniaux, and AJ Gomes have all benefitted from being Dan’s top guy in previous seasons. The numbers don’t lie, it’s a rewarding role to be in. These guys are young, dynamic and – most importantly – hungry receivers. They’ll all need to share the limelight for this experiment to work, but it has the potential to be the top receiving trio in 2019. As always, the questions with these offensive sugar-rush teams will focus on their ability to consistently make stops on the defensive end. They lack the height to body up most rosters, but their pure athleticism gives them the potential to make opportunistic stops. They shouldn’t be relied upon to win games on their own, but if they can get Dan in position to go for the kill then they’ll have done their jobs.

 

 

7. DK (0-1): For a franchise as storied as DK, last year’s 5-5 record and 1st round exit was undoubtedly anticlimactic. Still, they showed the defensive grit of years prior, finishing with the second best defense in the division. There’s no good reason why they shouldn’t reclaim the same form once again this season. Rochdi at QB is a Rorschach test, pundits can try to read him in various different ways, but it ends up saying more about themselves. The truth is that he’s still one of the very best in the game, averaging the second highest TD/game output over 7 games last season. Week one wasn’t in their cards, as they looked flat, but expect them to rebound quickly and make for a solid opponent each week.

 

8. Got-Fat (NA): I’m trying hard not to discount this team for their self-effacing franchise rebrand this offseason.Is it a genuinely good-natured pun? A whimsically satirical response to the perceived notions of doubtful pundits?  Perhaps with the subtle intention of luring opponents off guard and baiting them into taking them lightly. Or, is it a brutally sincere confession about the deleterious onset of transitioning life stages. The unavoidable metamorphosis from feral field warrior to semi-sedated suburbanite. We can hold out hope for the former and root for the possum effect, but the truth will be played out on the turf. Nic Centomo has one of sweetest deep balls in all of FPF. The thud sound of his signature darts hitting his receivers’ gloves gives football purists a warming tingle. He’s still searching for his master season in div 1, but he’s always a threat to steal a few games each year. Dave Centomo can ball out at receiver and will carry the mail for this offense. Corey Greenaway will need to make his presence felt on defense for this team to thrive.

 

 

 

 

Div 2 Power Rankings ++

 

1. #NR (1-0): They’re the returning Div 2 champions, and they have the most Div 1 ready roster in the division. The loss of Theo Ojeaha and Troy Trench will hurt, as they were the anchors of this team’s playoff run last year. However, the additions of Jamal Gittens and Jermaine Parrish-Lewis are about as solid as you can get. Most importantly, by some magical quirk of scheduling they find themselves in the softer conference A. Some may use the word “cake-walk” to describe this team’s path back to the finals in 2019, but I don’t buy it. They’ll need to earn their place all over again. I wouldn’t bet against them.

 

2. Clockmakers (1-0): Everyone’s most eyebrow raising roster this preseason, these guys are the most “win-ready” team in the division. They looked a bit shaky in week 1, but that’s to be expected when trying to fuse two different parts together on the fly. They give Ryan Kastner something that he’s searched for his entire career in FPF, a solid defense. Their defense is simply stifling, as they have the pieces in place to make the field look tiny for div 2 QBs. Kastner comes in as the most polished QB in the division. His ability to read the field and manipulate a defense are unrivaled at this level. If there’s one concern with this roster it’ll be their ability to create space on offense, as they lack a true burner. Still, their precise route running, physical style of play and excellent hands should be able to make up for it.

 

 

3. STL (1-0): They’ve been making a run on division 2 the past two years now, a well familiar name come April when the field is narrowed down to only a handful of select teams. Dylan Taylor had a magnificent 2018 season, including three finals appearances and a championship. He’s a savvy gamer at QB who knows how to elevate his play when it matters most. Supporting him this season is an eclectic group of strong middle division pieces. This version of STL looks like a div 3 all-star team, which is definitely good thing. If they can gel quickly and play with the same piss and vinegar that has come to define previous STL teams, they might become the team to beat in a loaded conference B.

 

4. YCSWU (1-0): The roster is without flaws. Spearheaded by Justin McLean on offense and the brilliant leadership of Vince Nardone on defense, they should continue where they left off in 2018. The addition of Sasha Papich is huge, both literally and figuratively. He gives them a second tall, fast and athletic wing to pair with Chris Millard on offense. Danny D’Amour just might be the missing link on defense. He’s a perfect complement to this ball hawking unit. It’s a championship or bust mentality for this team in 2019.

 

 

5. Braves 2.0 (1-0): They assume much of a similar profile to their higher level brethren, without the elite level talent. We’ll get to really see Jonathan Maheu let his hair down and be a gunslinger in this division, which will be extremely fun to watch. Jean-Daniel Chevalier will be too much for most teams to handle, expect huge numbers from him on offense. They don’t have a flawless roster, but the confidence and leadership of their star players will help elevate this unite as a whole. Especially in a softer conference A.

 

6. Khantroversy (0-1): The roster seems a bit thrown together and lacks some depth, but damn is it filthy. Pairing the Mashtoub brothers with AJ Gomes is a lethal combination. Bringing on Sébastien Deschamps to anchor the defense was a smart move, he’ll get the most out of this unit. They looked rusty out of the gates, but it’s only a matter of time before Lazzara flips the switch and they start rolling on people. I just hope that they take this team as seriously as their parent team in div 1.

 

7. Bad Boys (1-0): It’s a beefed up version of the Spring Cleaning team that went all the way to the spring finals. Defense will once again define these barbaric warriors, as they possess the smarts, size and speed to shrink the field down for opposing offenses. Matt Bond was the two-way star of this team last year, and pairing him up with another certified bad boy in Nicolas Arsenault-Hum will make them significantly better offensively. Keep an eye on Nicolas Lessard, who evolved tremendously throughout the spring season and into the playoffs. He could be a major impact player on this team if his confidence continues to rise.

 

8. Kings Landing (0-1): They hung around with Clockmakers in their week 1 tilt, pushing their heavily favored opponents to the brink. If there’s one word to describe this team, its smarts. They know their own strengths and weaknesses better than any other team, and will do their utmost to magnify the former while hiding the latter as much as possible. Sean Avraam is coming off a phenomenal spring season, his best to date. He’ll need to deploy a clever game plan in order to maximize this somewhat limited roster, but anyone who knows him knows that strategizing is his forte. Similar to the Monstars in div 1, this team sits just outside the elite tier of the division, but is a threat to take down the so-called favorites on any given week.

 

9. Alkaholiks (NA): Hard to set projections for this team since we haven’t seen them on the field yet due to scheduling issues in week 1. All we need to know to rank them here is that Paul Lapierre is throwing, which will instantly make them competitive in div 2. For the moment, I’ll reserve any further speculation about their roster until we see the final product on the field.

 

10. Nighthawks (NA): The other half of that unfortunate week 1 disruption, the Nighthawks are like the immediate cousins of the Alkoholiks. They also have an old school, savvy pocket passer in Rick Nincheri, who’s the perfect fit for this receiving core. Although the roster looks a bit more like a solid div 3 team with a div 2 QB, these guys know how to work together. I expect the total to be greater than the sum of its parts.

 

11. Killa Bees (0-1): There are so many new faces on this team that it’s hard to asses them fairly without a few more weeks of data. Either way, their week 1 showing was impressive. Hanging 36 on an experienced roster like the Braves 2.0 shows that they have a solid foundation to build on. Charles St-Martin is now the most intriguing QB in the division. His second outing vs Alkoholiks this week will be highly anticipated. There might be another team to look out for in conference A.

 

12. Terror Squad (0-1): They hit the refresh button this offseason and brought in some new blood to help liven this well-known franchise. Only time will tell if the new pieces will develop into serviceable div 2 players, but at least one of them will need to show some star quality to compliment Serge Pilon Jr. Pilon is one of the very best individual players in this division, and we’ll know doubt see a week or two in which he steals an entire game on his own. For the time being, they’ll need to gel fast, since the schedule makers punished them with an excruciatingly brutal schedule.

 

13. Prospect Squad (0-1): You have to give this team credit for registering in div 2 after taking it on the noise in their inaugural div B spring season. They could have easily fit into lower divisions, but they chose instead to hang around with the teams several levels above them. They play with a lot of heart and even upset some opponents in the spring without a proper quarterback. Bringing in Vincent Lauzon will hopefully stabilize them somewhat, but even with other losing season in tow they’ll be that much closer to breaking through.

 

14. SYO 4 Life (0-1): Okay, so week 1 was brutal, but without a QB it’s impossible to give them a fair shake so soon. They have incredible athletes who’ve succeeded at all levels of tackle football. There’s plenty of phenomenal quarterbacks in this league waiting for a call. With the right addition, these guys could be skyrocketing up this ranking soon.

 

 

Week 2 Preview:

D-Boys vs Montreal’s Finest

No team knows how to play the Finest as well as these guys do. There’s never any love lost between them when they meet, and the games always feel a bit more personal than any others. Still, both teams know that a winter week 2 encounter won’t mean much in the long run. After seeing the Finest play first hand in week 1 they look to be in mid-season form. I think the D-Boys drop this one as they work their way back from an extended layoff and continue to build chemistry.

Braves vs Flag Moi L’Sac

The schedule makers definitely gave us a treat to begin the winter season, having the top 4 teams square off in the first 2 weeks. I can’t wait to see these two juggernauts go at it at Hebert. The week 1 loss certainly left a bitter taste in FML’s mouth, and I expect them to quickly get back to .500 with a gutsy win over the Braves.

Got-Fat vs Monstars

If Monstars want to build momentum and make a run in this division they simply cannot drop this week 2 matchup. This will be the first time we see Got-Fat in 2019, but they shouldn’t be too rusty, as their core is coming off a fall tier 2 championship. I think Got-Fat has some trouble slowing down a nimble Rod Mashtoub in this game, and 1 or 2 stops will be all that’s needed for Monstars to skate away with the victory.

DK vs Waste Yout

Waste Yout’s week 1 game was postponed due to the field issues at Saint-Laurent, and Dan Lazzara looked a bit rusty in his div 2 game. I can see Waste Yout slip at times in this game, as it’ll be their first time playing together this season. Look for Rochdi to correct his errors from week 1, and his stacked roster to support him in DK’s first win.

Killa Bees vs Alkaholiks

I don’t know who will take the field for Alkaholiks on Saturday, but it will also be their first game of the year. Killa Bees gained some good momentum in their week 1 loss. Look for them to build off it and secure their first win.

#NR vs Braves 2.0

The NR roster was missing a few pieces in week 1, most notably Corey Pecker and an injured Jamal Gittens. I’m predicting a win for a red hot Maheu in week 2, based on the fact that NR’s roster may still be somewhat in flux at this juncture.

Terror Squad vs Bad Boys

It’s always fun to see old friends face off with each other on the field. After bitter rivals, playing old friends usually results in the most interesting games, as neither wants to give up bragging rights. One of these teams is just way more stacked than the other at this point. So I’m riding with Bad Boys here.

Nighthawks vs Kings Landing

This will be a homecoming for Vinny Gualano, as he faces off against his former mentor and the QB that built his HOF receiving stats. I think King’s Landing sense a weakness this week and understand the importance of getting back to .500 in a competitive conference B.

SYO 4 Life vs Prospect Squad

It works out perfectly that these two teams get to face off against each other this early, as at least one of them will build some confidence with an early season win. From what we’ve seen so far, I’ll take the team with a dedicated QB to win, even if his week 1 performance was less than stellar.

Khantroversy vs Clockmakers

Khantroversy learned some valuable lessons about themselves in their week 1 loss. I think they quickly make the required adjustments and look more like the powerhouse team they were projected as preseason. Clockmakers made a torrid second half comeback last week, but I don’t think they can get away with another slow start this tie around. These two teams know each other well and there’s bound to be some fireworks before it’s all said and done. Give me a fired up Dan Lazzara for the win.

 

 

That’s it for this week. Week 1 of FPF is officially in the books, and week 2 is set to start up within the hour. If you have any feedback, concerns, comments or just want a shoulder to lean on you can reach out to me @alexholowach1 on Twitter, or hit me up on Facebook. If you’re craving more content please check out the Calling the Audible podcast featuring Moe Khan, Peeze and Simom, it’s a healthy dose of absurdity to get you through the week. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and make sure to check back next week to find out how week 2 shook out!