A deep dive into some of Tier 3s teams

I’m back from a hiatus of posting articles. As some of you may be aware, I had 6 exams in the past 7 days, so I didn’t have the time to write anything, but I’ll try to make up for it with this two part article. This one will be about something I wanted to do for a long time, which is to take a deeper dive into some of Tier 3’s teams history, notably how some of the players and teams as a whole have improved or perhaps even taken a step back. I will also try to predict in what division these particular teams will be playing in for the Winter 2025 season, and also how they’ll be doing in that particular division. It’s a fun thought exercise, but as it takes a long time to go through some of these teams, I will only be able to do about 10 teams (edit: 9). Regardless, for the other teams which haven’t been covered, most likely due to their short history, I will still predict what division they’ll be playing in Winter 2025. Obviously, with a lot of roster changes, I will be focusing mainly on the teams the quarterback has been playing for. My criteria for selecting teams is around 5 seasons played. Here are the teams for which I will be covering their past:

Illegal Use of Hands (Blue Dreamers)

Killer Rays

The Penetrators

Joes Panini (Big Fat Bats/Oscar’s Hockey School)

Trapstars 

New Diablos (Diablos)

Bandits 

Rico Ryders

Bébés Dragons Magiques

Illegal Use of Hands

Let’s start with our current number 1 seed, Illegal Use of Hands. Let’s start with the quarterback, Alessandro Barazzoni, who has been QBing since 2018. His first full season came in Winter 2019 with Unknown Talent, but no player was on both squads. 

We have to wait until Spring 2021 to see some familiar names: Anthony Siggia and Bekim Borova. Blue Dreamers, as they were called, went 4-6 in Div C which ended in the wildcard. Barazonni didn’t have the greatest season with 34TDs and 17 interceptions despite throwing to guys like AJ Gomes and Nicholas Groppini. Anthony Siggia had 276 yards and 4TDs while Bekim Borova had a silent 161 yards and 2TDs. 

The next season for Barazzoni at QB was Winter 2023, once again with the Blue Dreamers name. Some more familiar faces joined that season; Anthony Lazarra, George Kalavritinos, Massimo D’Ipolito. Lazarra and D’Ipolito were key additions, with over 200 yards and 4TDs each. Kalavritinos and Borova (3GP) didn’t have much of an impact and Siggia was not on that roster. The team were a solid 6-4 in Div 4, with their season ending against the very solid Dime and Bougie in the quarterfinals. 

That brings us to this season, where Barazonni is cementing himself as one of the best QBs in Tier 3. This time, it’s Bekim Borova who is the main target, and he’s managed to haul in 15TDs and 421 yards. Anthony Lazarra has continued to be solid, and the addition of Matthew Simard has propelled this team to another level. Sitting at 7-0 and bound for that first seed less Born in the 80s has something to say about it. 

As for the future, we can expect Barazonni to keep building on the foundation he’s built this season, and perhaps as they move to higher divisions, some players like AJ Gomes, Raff Morelli and Nicholas Groppini will join back. The team should play Div4 this winter, then Div C in the spring, then Tier 2 in the spring and we can expect Barazonni to make the move to Div3 for Winter 2025. 

Killer Rays

Tyler Bianchi started the Killer Rays franchise back in Winter 2020, a season which was halted by Covid-19. The team played Div6D (!) and struggled, going 4-5. Curtis Ryan, Jared Arany, and Tyler Gurberg were the three current players who played with Bianchi that season. Bianchi threw a 23 to 11 ratio and Curtis Ryan was the main target with 7TDs and 287 yards. Jared Arany had 5 catches on 27 targets, ouch. As for Tyler Gurberg, he had “only” 205 yards and 3TDs.

In Winter 2022, the team played in Div6 and went 6-4. Bianchi was much improved throwing 31/14. Aidan Lariviere, Chris Genio, Evan White and Marc Hamelin were added to the squad. Gurberg had an offensive explosion with 415 yards and 8TDs. Curtis Ryan wasn’t far behind with 364 yards and 7TDs. Jared Arany made his presence known with 5 picks on defense. The team would end up winning the Div6D championship 40-12, with Tyler Gurberg having 4TDs in that game. 

The team came back for Spring 2022, and finishing the regular season with a near perfect record in DivD. Mike Dali Quadri was the sole addition still remaining. Bianchi threw 38:9, another improvement. Curtis Ryan and Tyler Gurberg both had over 15TDs and 460 yards, making them the best duo in DivD that season. Unfortunately, the team fell to Peerless Scarred in the semi-finals, by a score of 40-12, a woeful result for a team that has been so dominant.

For Winter 2023, Killer Rays were placed in 5B and showed that they were the best team. Going undefeated (9-0-1), Tyler Bianchi threw 39:14 and Tyler Gurberg and Curtis Ryan both had at least 13TDs. Bianchi himself had 7 interceptions and the team ended with 20 interceptions, and Jared Arany had 18 sacks, making this team the best defensive team and offensive team in the division. A 47-18 win in the championship finals, and Killer Rays are now at 2 championships. Evan White distinguished himself in that game with 79 yards, 2 TDs and a pick.

For Spring 2023, the team was placed in Div C, and perhaps that was too big of a jump for them, finishing 2-8, and missing the playoffs. Bianchi was solid, throwing 40:13, with Tyler Gurberg setting himself once again as a superstar with 658 yards and 17TDs. Aidan Lariviere became the second option and had 9TDs and 334 yards. Jared Arany had 15 sacks, and despite that, the team allowed 313 points. 

Now the team is back in the right spot, with a 5-2 record, and Tyler Gurberg has once again been dominant, with 590 yards, 15TDs in 7 games. Killer Rays are looking for a third championship, but that road ahead will be tough. 

For the future, I think this team will be Div4 for the winter, move to DivC for the 2024 spring season, and will have more success, which will put them in Tier2 for FPF Cup 2024, but a tough season will have them in the purgatory between Div 3 and Div 4.

The Penetrators

Justin Goodman started the Penetrators franchise in Winter 2022, in Div6, and was already really good in his first season, going 32:14 and leading his team to a 8-2 record. On that squad were current members Jake Halpern, Jeremy Naimer, Joshua Ginsberg, Matthew Caponi, Nicholas Fon as well as Rocco Christiano. Nicholas Fon was fantastic with 16TDs and 334 yards. Christiano had 241 yards and 7TDs. Matthew Caponi had 13 sacks and 6PDs, as well as a pick 6. Unfortunately, the season ended in a 30-24 loss in the quarters to Primetime.

Goodman and co. came back for Spring 2022 in DivE, and finished with a “disappointing” 6-4 record, with Goodman going 45:14. Jared Boidman was added. Fon had a bit of a stepback with 9TDs, and Boidman fit right in, with 216 yards and 7TDs. The team would end up losing in the quarters to Vick in a Box in a game in which they only scored 6 points. 

In Winter 2023, the team moved up to Div5B, and Goodman excelled, throwing 46:6. Jared Boidman became the main endzone target, with 12TDs, but Fon also had 461 yards and 8TDs to his name. Jake Halpern and Matthew Caponi also both had over 200 yards and 6TDs. Boidman also added 7 picks and Goodman had 5 himself. Unfortunately, the season ended in disappointment with a quarterfinals loss to Red Dragons (Bebes Dragons Magiques). 

In spring 2023, Penetrators were placed in DivD and fared really well, going 8-2 and Goodman throwing 39:5. Boidman and Fon were once again splendid, with over 440 yards each and 12TDs a piece. Unfortunately, they were bounced out in the first round in the DIV-D1 playoffs, against Born in the 80s.

Now, they sit at 4-2, and Goodman has thrown 22:5. Rocco Christiano has been the main guy with 215 yards and 5TDs, but Goodman has spread the ball a lot this season. They’ll try to go 6-2 by beating both New Diablos and Mengoose. 

I predict this team to have a decent end to the season but fall short. They’ll probably play Div4 as well, but will have some struggles. They’ll do good enough to play in Div C but will also have a tough season, for which they will be placed in Tier 3 again in a year from now, which is a bit disappointing. After a solid season in which they’ll be contenders, they’ll move again to Div4 and finally be competitive in that division.

Joes Panini

Matthew Zeppetelli started QBing in Spring 2021 with Oscar’s Hockey School. Daniel Curiale, Giordano Giannini and of course AJ Zeppetelli were on the squad. They went 4-6 in DivE but Matthew already showed promise going 32:9. AJ had 322 yards and 9TD that season while Giordano Giannini excelled on defense with 6 interceptions. It seems they missed the playoffs or was that season cancelled due to Covid as well?

Anyways, Winter 2022 came along and the infamous Big Fat Bats name was born. In Division 6, Matthew struggled a bit, throwing 25:15 and getting sacked 24 times… but the team still went 5-4-1. AJ dominated, with 589 yards and 12 TDs. Big Fat Bats fell to none other than Killer Rays in the semis.

For Winter 2023, Matthew was much improved, with 43TDs and 8 interceptions, and the team going 9-1 overall. AJ was once again doninant with 19TDs and 671 yards. Unfortunately they fell to my team, No Friend Zone in the finals by a rough score of 40-6. 

Spring 2023 rolled in and the team was placed in DivD. A solid 7-3 record gave them the 12th seed (bonkers). Matthew kept building on his previous season going 48:7. Joe Morgese and Michael Caparelli were added. AJ kept dominating with 23TDs and almost 700 yards. Morgese proved to be a key player with 300 yards and 7TDs. Caparelli also had 5 interceptions on defense. Unfortunately, the team fell short again, losing to West Island Boys and allowing 50 points.

Now in Tier3, the team is looking solid with a 4-2 record, and has a great chance to go 6-2 with games against Bandits and Lightwork. AJ has kept dominating, again, wib 348 yards and 10TDs in only 4 games. Michael Caparelli has improved offensively with 290 yards and 4TDs, as well as 4 interceptions on defense. 

I predict them to fall short again this season, and moving to Div4 in the winter. They will be solid and warrant a move to Div C. They will keep improving, and will move to Tier2, but that will be a struggle. They will most likely also end up in that Div3-4 purgatory.

That is it for the deep dives in part 1. Let’s look at some other team predictions.

West Island Boys: Zack Stacey’s squad should move to Div4 as well, and that will be a seamless transition as he’s getting Tier2 experience (and excelling). A solid Div4 season will put them in DivC. They’ll also be solid and move to tier 2, and then Div3, though those two seasons should be a bit tougher. 

Born in the 80s: They will play Div 4, then Div C, then move back down to Tier 3 and play Div 4 again.

Lightwork: Div 4, then Div D, then Tier 4 and Div4 again.

Team Sexy: Div 4, then Div D, then Tier 3 and Div 4 again.

Mengoose: Div 5A, Div D, Tier 3 and Div 4.

Bleue Dry: Div 5A, Div D, Tier 3 and Div 4

The Rudeboyz: Div 5A, Div D, Tier 3, Div 4

Griffnation: Div 5A, Div D, Tier 3, Div 5A

Score predictions

Rico Ryders vs. Team Sexy

Born in the 80s vs. Griffnation

Bandits vs. West Island Boys

In N Out vs. Team Sexy

New Diablos vs. The Penetrators

That is it for part 1, take care guys.