Exciting games, Ladies Putting in Work, Brady, and Picks

After losing by nine points to the Braves last week, Flag Moi L’Sac responded in a big way with a (60-27) demolishing of the Bulldogz last Sunday in Lachine, behind the superb performance of Quarterback Alex Nadeau-Piuze who went 21 of 27 for 297 yards and seven touchdowns. Also delivering standouts efforts in the win was the duo of Guillaume Paquet and Samuel Nadeau-Piuze, who both scored three touchdowns each to go along with a combined 166 yards. The pair would also make an impact on the other side of the ball, as they both recorded an interception, with Paquet running his back to the house for a TD.

The Bulldogz simply has no answer for their opponents, as their offense was a juggernaut, while the team’s defense smothered Quarterback Myles Gibbon and his offense, holding a stable of Receivers that included Thierry Gerville, Marvin Steinberg, Kenny Baye, and Yohan Miron to a team-high 57 yards. It should be noted that the group was missing top targets in Thomas Coutu and Nigel Thomas, but they still had a solid group of pass-catchers on hand for the contest.

It has been a rough start to the season for the Bulldogz, as they lost back-to-back heartbreakers to Double Straddle by a combined two points to start the year. Combining that with a 33-point defeat last Sunday, leaves this talented squad sitting at (0-3), and facing a tough matchup tomorrow night against Kevin Wyeth and the Allstars. That’s not exactly a recipe for success.

Speaking of the Allstars, after laying a 22-point beatdown on the Kangaroos in Week 1, they fell by one in the rematch in Lachine this past Sunday in a thriller that came down to the final nine plays of the game.

After scoring on a 20-yard TD pass from Kevin Wyeth to Rory Semerjian, and successfully getting the 2-point convo, the Allstars would take a (35-34) lead.

The advantage would be short-lived as one play latter, Kangoroos QB Dan Lazarra, would connect with his top Receiver AJ Gomes, on a 40-yard bomb for the WR’s third touchdown of the night. The team would also convert on their 2-point convo attempt to put themselves ahead (42-35).

With four plays remaining, the Allstars would have more than enough time to find the endzone. The drive started off rocky, as it kicked off with incomplete passes to Semerjian and FPF Hall-of-Famer Theo Ojeaha.

The drive would be bailed out by a 24-yard reception by Semerjian, to put the ball past midfield. The play gave the team momentum and set up the next play which resulted in a 16-yard touchdown to Receiver Quaid Johnson.

Facing the prospect of coming away with a tie if they went for a 1-point convert, or going for two and the win, the Allstars elected to go for the latter, but were denied, giving the (42-41) win to the Kangoroos.   

 Both teams now have a win over each other. The rubber match will have to wait until the playoffs. I have a feeling we will get to see it.

The Party Crashers had a bye last week but returned to action in a big way with a (37-26) win over KGP+. The victory was punctuated by performances of the trio of Anthony Briesbois, Francois Hogue, and Emile Taillefer.

One of the top Rushers in FPF, Hogue, continued to cement his place among the elite at the position, with a Week 3 high five sacks, as he continually disrupted the timing and rhythm of KGP+ Quarterback Joey Taylor all game long.  

For Taillefer, he led all players with 139 yards and three touchdowns on six receptions, and helped set the pace offensively for his team, as he opened things up for his teammates.

Arguably the league’s best two-way player, Brisebois, scored a touchdown as a Receiver on four catches for 68 yards, and added six tackles and an interception on defense.  

 KGP+, who got strong outings from Jonathan Garfinkle and Khalil Kerr, made it a close game in the second half as they outscored the Party Crashers (13-12), but it was a struggling offense that only put up the same number of points in the first half while giving up 25 of their own is a big reason why they couldn’t generate a win.

After splitting back-to-back games last weekend, the Braves got back into the win column Sunday with a blowout (42-13) victory over Double Staddle.

The Braves defense swarmed the field the entire game, as they forced Quarterback Jeff Rosenblatt into four interceptions, two of which were recorded by Guillaume Beland, who proceeded to run them both back for touchdowns.

Phil Pharand and Jonathan Maheu produced the other two INTs, but it was the duo’s performance on offense that really stoodout, as they connected for two touchdowns. Maheu, would finish the game with five touchdown passes and only four incompletions on 15 of 19 passing. I’ve said it once and I will say it again, throwing more TD passes than incompletions is always an impressive accomplishment.

Random Thoughts

After watching them get slaughtered by the Moretti Crime Family (36-8) in Week 2, and then losing by almost 20 points to Run It Once the week after, it looked like Touch Foot 450, was a team who was in over their heads playing in a division they had no business being in. After watching them go head-to-head with Vengeance Monday night in St. Laurent, I must admit that they have forced to think otherwise.

Although they ended up losing (54-34), this team showed a ton of big play ability, grit, speed, and skill. On offense, their Quarterback Alexandre Jovin displayed agility, and a rocket for an arm as he was able to connect with his receivers on several long plays.

On the other side of the ball, they will have to clean up a few things defensively, as they had several blown coverages, but with players like Jeanslee Alexis, Darren Wiltshire, Jeff Carpentier, and Rusher Jerry Beauboeuf, the team has the speed, knowledge, and skill to figure it out.

This my first season doing scorekeeping since the first year of FPF Junior. Yes, back when we were still using the long sheets of paper with the long clipboard and a pencil to keep stats. During my broadcast duties for FPF, I have called a few Co-Ed championship games as well. I also played a season in Co-Ed a few years back with Kiss My Endzone. It honestly was fun.

 When I am not at FPF, I am an educator at an elementary school. For the past eight years, I have coached the Grade 5 and 6 boys and girls flag football teams.

I remember the days when FPF did not have any females playing let alone a Co-Ed or even an all-female division. Thankfully those days are long gone. As we have all witnessed over the last few seasons, this league is home to some of the greatest flag football players in the country. You notice how I didn’t put female players? They are players just like we are.

Scorekeeping every Sunday at Loyola has allowed me the luxury of watching a lot of Co-Ed and Female Division games. It always makes me happy to see the greatest sport in the world continue to grow and become more inclusive.

This league has seen names like Sara Parker, Marilou Beland, Catherine Piche, Constance Millaire, and Lauriane Beauchamp to name just a few, not only come in a dominate, but also help the growth of the game alongside trailblazer Tara Mrakic.

The future of the game is bright, as is the involvement of female players, as every year more and more ladies come to play, which makes the league stronger and better for all.

I know its early, but you can add the name of Emmanuelle Bronsard, to the list of young female Quarterbacks who are trying to enter the stratosphere of elite.

The fourth year QB who struggled with interceptions in her first two years in FPF with 31 INTs, has vastly improved her game as she plays with confidence, precision, rock-solid mechanics, and a strong arm that can spray the ball all over the field. Most importantly, she constantly has a look of excitement and enjoyment on her face when she is playing.

I had a chance to score keep her team Bleu Poud, as they took on the Torrents Sunday night at Loyola. The young passer shredded her opponent’s defense to the tune of 179 yards, four touchdowns, on 14 of 19 passing. She displayed a live arm that was able to connect repeatedly with strength and accuracy, as she was able to deliver the ball downfield with the flick of a wrist. Watching the young passer operate in her team’s (32-7) victory where she spread the ball around to multiple receivers was good to see. If the Quarterback and her offense can keep this momentum, they will place themselves among the elite in the division.

On Sunday at Loyola, I had a chance to watch the Co-Ed 2 game between Block Party and The Villains. This was a back-and-forth affair that had more than a share of big plays.

The game also delivered some standout efforts from players as well. For Block Party, that player was Fabrice Robillard, as the fourth-year player erupted for a season-high 10 catches for 130 yards and his first touchdown of the year. He and his Quarterback Marc Antoine Martin were in lockstep the entire game, as the QB looked to his number one target early and often. If it wasn’t for a couple of drops, the tall Receiver would have easily surpassed the 150-yard plateau. Robillard also recorded two pass deflections on defense.

When Robillard wasn’t racking up the yards, his teammate Etienne-Jean Bertin was picking up the slack as he added a pair of touchdowns.  

For as impressive as that duo was, they were equally matched by the Villains’ QB/WR pair of Mehdi Chabchoub and Jérémi Thompson O’Reilly.

The former was near perfect in the game as he went 11 of 15 for 183 yards and five touchdowns. Two of those TDs went to Thompson-O’Reilly, who mangled the Block Party defense with his speed and route-running ability.  

The fourth-year player would make his biggest impact on the other side of the ball to end the contest. After the Villains got a go-ahead touchdown from Ricardo Antonio Gutierrez Orsini, to put them ahead 33-27), Block Party had the ball with four plays left in the game.

After two completions to Robillard put the Block Party offense past midfield, a third down incomplete pass to the team’s deep threat in Max-Edouard Dadaille, the team faced a do-or-die fourth down. On the final play of the game, Martin would roll out his left, but his, but he tracked down and sacked by Thompson O’Reilly to end the game.

I can’t be the only one thinking this, but I love the FPF Winter Season. We get to start off the year with some football, which is never a bad thing. If I am being honest though, the snow, cold weather, ice, and bitter winds need to leave. Digging out your car, walking in snow past your ankles, frostbite, icy roads and sidewalks, get it all out. The holidays are over, there is no more need for the white stuff, or the season for that matter. It had its time. Bring on spring and summer already. If you want to ski move to the north pole.

Football is meant to be played outdoors in the fresh air, and not in freezing domes (I am a Concordia graduate, but I hate playing and working at Loyola in the winter). I won’t sit here and act like Brossard and St. Laurent aren’t nice cause they are, but they are the exception. Enough already winter!

Unless you live under a rock, you probably heard that Tom Brady called it a career for the second year in a row this past week. Tom Terrific was that for his entire career. This past season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn’t his greatest, but it was not like he was a bum. The team had injuries on the Offensive Line, no run game, and aging and injury-riddled defense.

Even if I wasn’t a 49ers fan (more on them next week…SIGH) I would still say that Joe Montana is the greatest Quarterback of all time. Yes, I am old enough to vaguely remember watching him play in San Fran. He was perfect in the Super Bowl, whereas the same thing can not be said for TB12.

I have got into many arguments with Kishon Thompson over the years on this debate. He always points to the number of Lombardi trophies, while I counter with the fact that Brady plays in a league where defenders get a flag for breathing on Quarterbacks, and they are aided by the refs throwing a flag for illegal contact on nearly every second or third play, and New England Tom seemingly having a different set of rules to play by compared to other passers. Add all that on to the fact that Montana would never lose to Nick Foles or Eli Manning in the big game and wouldn’t need to be bailed out by the stupidity of the Seahawks Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons in deciding not to run the ball with the game on the line.

I will fully admit that Tom Brady is the greatest Quarterback of his generation without a shadow of a doubt. He beat Manning, Mahomes, Roethlisberger, Rodgers, Warner, and beat all of the greats of his era. He was fierce, competitive, driven by success, a winner. Most importantly, he made his teammates better, and often delivered when the game was on the line and the lights were the biggest.

With all that being said, it will be weird not watching Brady play on Sundays. Just like MJ, Gretzky, Magic, Montana, Rice, and Jeter, in the past, and sooner rather than later with LeBron, Messi, Ovechkin, Crosby, Tiger, Hamilton, and Trout, sadly, we know that our sports heroes can’t play forever. Enjoy them while they we can.

Picks

Braves vs KGP+ – Braves

Party Crashers vs Kangoroos – Kangoroos (My pick for Game of the Week Div. 1)

Double Straddle vs Flag Moi L’Sac – Flag Moi L’Sac

Allstars vs Bulldogz – Allstars

Moretti Crime Family vs Blessed – Moretti Crime Family

Killa Bees vs Vengeance – Vengeance

Got Skills vs Vengeance – Vengeance

Run It Once vs Party Crashers Blue – Party Blue Crashers (Upset Special #1)

Touch Foot 450 vs Braves 2.0 – Braves 2.0 (My pick for Game of the Week Div. 2)

Terror Squad vs Urgence Medic – Terror Squad (Upset Special #2)

Last Week: (5-5)

Season: (5-5)

That’s it for this week. Once again, stay warm out there!

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