And here we are; Div 6 Championship Edition

Well this is it guys, after 13 long weeks the dust has settled, the smoke has cleared, and we are left with two final combatants, ready to go through one last battle for the ultimate prize, which is the Division 6 championship.

 

 

While I am pretty sure there won’t be any tumble weeds rolling through the Bell Sports Complex tomorrow afternoon, I fully expect this game to resemble an old western showdown, as both teams will be bringing their offensive firepower to Brossard.

 

 

Before we get into the Finals Preview, let’s take a quick look at how these two teams got here.

 

 

Conference A

 

 

Goofy Goobers vs Sticknmovers

 

 

In a battle between arguably Division 6’s best offense versus D6’s best defense, the biggest question that needed to be answered, was who would blink first.

 

 

Besides a birth in the Finals being at stake, coming into the game, the matchup had the feeling of a contest that would be filled with highlights, and talked about for a long time.

 

 

While the game more than checked off the highlight box, with multiple big catches, tackles, interceptions, runs, and batted passes, perhaps the biggest thing people will remember, is the fact that this game went through an 11-play overtime, that included 3 sudden death plays, and in the process, had to set a record for the most Objectionable Conduct, and Unnecessary Roughness penalties called in an FPF playoff game.

 

Altogether, there were 5 OCs, including one else that was thrown against the Goofy Goobers’ fans, would got into a shouting match, and a little pushing and shoving with some of the Sticknmovers players during the game.

 

 

Now, while we here at FPF always encourage our fans and even our players to be loud and amped up, the kind of behaviour that was on display Monday at Stade Hebert, was ridiculous. Costing your team valuable yardage, and getting kicked out the game either temporarily or permanently, just because you want to answer back to a fan, an opponent’s comment, or you want to get under somebody’s skin, is stupid. Focus on the game, and what you need to do. Both the Goofy Goobers and the Sticknmovers gave each other plenty of chances to finish each other off, by gift-wrapping first downs and field, position. Smarten up guys.

 

 

All the theatrics aside, the game came down to three huge plays. After both teams were locked at one score each, after the mandatory 3 possessions each in overtime, the game moved into sudden death, where the first team to score wins.

 

 

After the Goofy Goobers pass attempt was batted down, the Sticknmovers got possession. Appearing to call an audible at the line, the SNM offense was unable to get the ball snapped before the play clock went off, and they were assessed a 5-yard penalty, which brought the ball back from the regular 2 yard line starting point, to the 7 yard line.

 

 

At the snap of the ball, Matthew Zoltak, rolled out, and was instantly under pressure from Jarryd Taylor, Zoltak tried to pivot and spin off of the rush, but ended up turning right into Taylors grasp for the sack.

 

 

The Goofy Goobers were up once again, and decided to pull the ace from out of their sleeve, and put backup Quarterback Ryan Shapiro at QB, and Taylor at Wide Receiver. (Shapiro, threw for a series earlier in the game, when Taylor received an OC). You could tell the matchup presented problems right away, as the latter who is a higher division WR , had a speed and height advantage over his man.

 

 

At the snap, Shapiro stared down Taylor, and waited to get open, as he hit him on a back of the end zone drag route for the game winning score.

 

 

Conference B

 

Greendale Human Beings vsimply Pardon My Swag 

 

 

This game had a lot of hype going into it as well, as immovable force, and the sole number one seed remaining, in the Greendale Human Beings, we’re taking on the unstoppable object, in Pardon My Swag.

 

 

This game also featured a matchup of two of the division’s top Quarterbacks, in GHB’s Danny Aylward versus PMS’s Avery Lalla.

 

 

The game started off looking like it would be all GHB, as after a PMS 3 and out, Aylward scrambled in 13 yards for a TD.

 

 

Next possession, it looked even worse, as Zachary Pitts, intercepted a Lalla pass. Three plays later, Aylward found WR Valentin Skrypnik, wide open in the end zone for a score, but the play was called back due to an illegal forward pass.

 

 

The play seemed to wake up the guys with the Swag, as a few plays later, Defensive Back Michael Khazaka, picked off Aylward. The dynamic rookie struck again, as 1 play later, Lalla hit Khazaka for a 35 yard bomb for a TD. With a successful 1-point conversion, the game was tied at 7 apiece.

 

 

After a 6-play drive that led to a 5-yard Brandon Aylward TD, the GHB defense forced a turnover on downs at mid-field. The defensive stand was for not, as Khazaka recorded his second INT of the evening on a horrible pass by Danny Aylward, that was run back to the 8 yard line.

 

 

Pardon My Swag would retuning the favour one play later, as Lalla would get picked off in the endzone by Brandon Aylward, who did a textbook job of jumping a route, as he got between his man and the ball on a back of the end zone drag route.

 

 

On the ensuing drive, Alex Joltopuf, made a solid acrobatic catch on the left sideline, to bail out his QB, as the receiver got behind 2 defenders, and took the pass for 27 yards, almost untouched, with 4 plays left in the half.

 

 

Two plays later, Aylward and Joltopuf connected again, this time on a 2-yard TD, that extended the GHB lead to 20-7 at the break.

 

 

GHB, didn’t let up on their opening possession of the half, as Zachary Pitts, struck once again, this time on a 19-yard TD catch to increase the lead to 27-7.

 

 

After a PMS in their ensuing drive, this game was over. Smartly realizing that their opponents needed to score quickly and preserve time, the GHB took away the deep ball from Bead Evans’ team, by playing a lot of Cover 2, Cover 3, and 4/1. Lalla, aho is only 16, perhaps not recognizing the defense, repeatedly threw into coverage and was either picked off, or had his passes go incomplete.

 

 

Both teams would pad their stats with late scores, but the game was essentially over at halftime. Final Score, Greendale Human Beings 47-23

 

 

GHB, played a great game on both sides of the ball, and made their opponents pay for their mistakes.

 

 

For PMS, it was a hard way to end the season, but the way the team came together since Week 11, can’t be ignored. In talking to some members of the team’s,my after the game, they were proud with the way they played this season, and with a young stud QB, who will only get better with age, and is surrounded by a solid supporting cast, this team will only get better too.

 

 

Finals Preview

 

 

(1) Greendale Human Beings versus (2) Goofy Goobers

 

 

Quarterbacks

 

 

Danny Aylward vs Jarryd Taylor/Ryan Shapiro

 

 

Taylor has been on fire since taking over for Shapiro in Week 9, as he has thrown for 17 touchdowns, and only 3 interceptions. The scrambling element that Taylor brings to the table, is second to none, and is something that the Greendale Human Beings must be prepared to stop, as the pivot has averaged 10 yards a rush this season.

 

 

The only knock on him, is falls in love with deep ball too much, and his field vision isn’t the greatest, as for long portions of the games, he starts throwing predominantly to one side of the field, regardless of how open his WRs may be on the opposite side.

 

 

My reasoning for putting Shapiro here, is because despite Taylors play, the former is the better pocket Passer, and more effective in the red zone.

 

 

Aylward, is a combination of both Goofy Goobers ’ QBs, in that he can beat you with his arm and his feet from anywhere on the field. His obvious chemistry with his brother Brandon is evident on every play, but his ability to find other receivers and threw them open, can’t be ignored.

 

 

For this matchup, I am going with the Greendale Human Beings.

 

 

Wide Receivers

 

 

There are a lot of big names here, with the likes of Max Burah, Brandon Aylward, Alex Joltopuf, Mikey Schwartz, and Taylor, when he plays attached the position.

 

 

I have to go with the best duo in D6, in Aylward and Joltopuf. During the regular season, the two combined for 30 touchdowns. So far in the post-season, they have reached the endzone 14 times. Teams know they are getting the ball, and they still can’t be stopped. That says something.

 

 

The late-season emergence of the GHB’s Zachary Pitts, also hasn’t gone unnoticed. The rookie pass catcher, has averaged over 50 yards a contest, and scored at least one TD in 5 straight games.

 

 

This category goes to the Greendale Human Beings.

 

 

Defense

 

There are a ton of ball-hawks on the side of the ball on both teams. Daniel Pisaturo, Burah, Joltopuf, Schwartz, Pitts, Taylor, the Aylward brothers, the list goes on.

 

 

While his stats won’t blow you away, Craig Browning, has been a solid defender, and has arguably been the best tackler of the team. He has a nose for the ball, and is always coming up with a big stop.

 

 

In the Greendale Human Beings 2 losses this season (Blitz Babes and Savage Mode) Danny Aylward, turned the ball over a combined 5 tines. For double G to get the win, they will need to force turnovers, and it starts with the underrated Browning.

 

 

For this category, I am going to go with the Goofy Goobers.

 

 

X-Factors

 

 

There is no winner here, just my prediction on under the radar guys who I think will have a big performance.

 

 

Goofy Goobers: Wessam Teyah

 

The big man gets overlooked on this explosive offense, but the snapper knows how to get open, and as he proved on the 2-point conversion catch that sent the game against the Sticknmovers to OT, he has hands as well.

 

 

In FPF, a snapper is a QB’s best friend. Taylor, would be wise to get Tayeh involved early and often, especially if he is left wide open, like he was multiple times Monday night.

 

 

Greendale Human Beings: Valentin Skrypnik

 

No one would blame you, if you weren’t impressed by Skrypnik’s 3 regular season sacks. What has been impressive however, is his play of late, as the rookie has already surpassed that total, with 4 QB take downs this post-season.

 

 

One the other side of the ball, Skrypnik can get open and do some damage. I think he’ll come up with at least one big catch for his team.

 

 

Prediction: At Tuesday night’s press conference, when I asked both teams if they knew what to expect tomorrow as it relates to nerves, both Daniel Pisaturo, and Wessam Tayeh of the Goofy Goobers, said that they won’t get nervous. That’s the thing about this all-rookie team, they are a confident bunch that doesn’t get shaken, because they don’t know any better. The main reason for that, is because with the exception of the Sticknmovers game last week, they’ve rolled over their competition.

 

 

As I said on Tuesday, and as the other 28 teams in this division can arrest to, the playoffs are a different beast. As good as the Goofy Goobers have been, the Greendale Human Beings, have been just as good, and even better in the post-season. Furthermore, while they have just as many championships as their opponents, GHB, has players who have at least been on the playoff ride before, and know what it takes to take that final step.

 

Taking as many foolish penalties as they did versus the Sticknmovers, also says something about focus, or lack thereof. As ridiculous as some of the comments made by some members of the Sticknmovers, as a team, you have to find a way to move past it in the moment, and worry about the bigger picture, and what’s at stake.

 

 

Due to their aforementioned experience, and the fact that I think they can make more plays on both sides of the ball, I am going with the Greendale Human Beings 32-26.

 

 

That’s it for this week guys, I will be back next week with the Finals recap, in what will be the last article of the 2017 Winter Season.

 

 

Good luck to both teams tomorrow afternoon, I have a feeling this game will be a classic!

 

 

Just a heads up, yours truly will be doing play-by-play for the game. I will be joined on the broadcast by Peeze, and G.M Kolethras, who will be providing color commentary. Don’t forget to check it out, game time is at 4:30PM.

 

 

One more night till showtime!

 

 

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