Back to Reality in week 8!!

Week 8 

Welcome back to our regular formatted articles! The end of the season is quickly approaching and the season is getting as interesting as ever. Some teams have already played 8 games and others 6 so the standings will shift a whole lot in the weeks to come. Only 2 points separates the #23 seed and the #14 seed so the eliminated teams are far from decided. I hope you all enjoyed the Mid-season Report cards but its back to the action time. Some crazy headlines and upsets have happened over the last few weeks so well get into all that action but first I’d like to speak a little about the loss the FPF and Football community has experienced over the last few days.

Melanie Dubord was the exact definition of Football Mom. She never once missed her son’s football practices, football games or FPF games. Her unexpected and untimely passing is a shock to all of us. Mother of Xavier & Maude Couture, wife of Nicolas Couture but many of you may know her as your weekly FPF scorekeeper. When Xavier began playing FPF two years ago, the whole family decided to join the FPF family as scorekeepers. Any way they could be around football they did it. Not only did I coach Xavier when he was in pee-wee but he has been our flag teammate for two seasons. Xavier, We love you and were here for you! 

Headlines 

Hot Sauce Sports avoid going 0-2 in week 7 

A loss to a fellow bottom 5 team in Killer Rays would have made this an atrocious week for HSS as they took huge 54-18 loss to Primal. Luckily for them HSS was able to pull off the comeback with a 1 point win on the last play. Late into the game all hope was lost when HSS were driving down the field trying to erase a 5 point deficit when Peeze threw a INT on 3rd down. As time was almost expired a sack on first down and a interception was made by the HSS defence and 7 plays remained in the game. I was able to witness this last drive as Peeze inched closer to the opposite side of the field but incomplete back to back passes. With 2 plays left in the game Jean-Sebastien Roussy caught a pass for 9 yards and the final play of the game was upon them. A 25-yard strike to the back of the end zone to Justin Blanchard was caught and HSS completed a very crucial comeback. 

Dime and Bougie suffer their 1st loss of the season!

Another exciting close match-up in week 7 was Dime and Bougie Vs. Game Changers. This game cam down to the wire as Dime and Bougie drove down the field to take the lead 24-19. The very next play that Game Changers were on offence they threw a beautiful 40-yard bomb for 6 to take the lead 25-24. Instead of going for a convert and going up 2 or 3 points with time expiring, Game Changers opted for the onside kick. They were unsuccessful and it looked like with 1 minute to 5 plays left in the game Jules Regimbald would score once again and seal the game. But that Game Changers Defence had other plans. On 2nd down Regimbald was intercepted by Benoit Gagnon-Brousseau and virtually sealed the game.  Dime and Bougie are now tied with Backyard Bullies at 7-1 and will not go undefeated. 

Repeat Offenders get back on track 

After 2 unfortunate losses on the last play of the game unable to score for the win, Repeat Offenders bounced back strong against Green Munchs and put on a clinic against The Commission. The Repeat Offenders defence smothered The commission as veteran QB Gino Di Fazio was only able to complete 6 out of 28 passes. One notable difference was 2-way player Anthony Lazzara was back from injury and had a spectacular welcome back game snagging 2 INT’s. The team now holds a record of 4-3 and is in the top 10. They face their biggest test of the season as they play Bible study this week. 

Can Air Force 1.2 take down TOPSZN for their 5th win in a row?

Air Force 1.2 has been on a recent tear and TOPSZN has been a good team that has experienced different results. This game was very close to being my Matchup of the week as these 2 teams both need this win. TOPSZN has lost very close games to really good teams but Air Fore is clicking on all cylinders right now so this game is very hard to predict. 

Top 5 hottest teams in the division:

 1. Backyards Bullies: Granted this is one of the best teams the division has to offer, this team has been hot all season. With a remarkable record of 7-1, the Backyards Bullies have been dominant on both sides of the ball throughout the season. Their latest win comes from beating a talented bible study squad who just got handed their first loss of the season. Huge amount of credit goes to their QB, Sean Avraam, who has had a spectacular year so far throwing 34 TD’s and only 1 INT so far. Another two good games and he might just have enough to be names this seasons QB of the Year.

2. Game Changers: winning 3 of their last 4 games against some of the toughest opponents of the division.  Beating both Kiss My Inlaws and Dime and Bougie is huge for this team. Now at 6-3 this team is sitting in the top 3 of the standings. With only one game left this team can easily finish with a top 10 seed heading into the playoffs. Jordan Panetta has slowed down since his week 1 & 2 offensive outburst but teammate Benoit Gagnon-Brousseau has picked up the slack scoring 14 TD’s in 6 games.

3.  Air Force 1.2: the team is currently on a 4 game win streak after starting the season 0-3. Their offence and QB Simon Blais are the reason for their uphill trajectory as their offence has scored 52, 43 and 32 in 3 of their 4 wins. Their ability to score early and often applies the pressure of their opponents offence to keep up, causing mistakes to be made. with 3 games left this team should finish the season at least 6-4

4. Primal: the team is currently won 3 of their last 4 games. The team is sitting with a record of 4-3-1. Primal has shown consistency and strength. The absence of a clear WR1 has helped the team and their offence as every single player has contributed. In addition, their QB Jared Buck has performed at a high level throwing for 1200 yards 30 TD’s and only 4 INT’s. This team has really turned their season around. 

 5. The infantry:  This team has won 2 of their last 4 games. After starting the season 1-3 their record now stands at 3-5. Their latest win coming from beating one of the top teams in the division Kiss My Inlaws. WR combo of Rory and Sean Semerjian has been top tier ever since they returned to the team scoring a combined 14 touchdowns in 5 games.  Their biggest test of the season and a potential “win and get in” scenario may happen in week 11 where they face game changers. The team will have keep this momentum to win their next 2 games just to get back to a record of .500. 

Spotlight matchup of the week 

Trapstars (3-4) Vs Dime and Bougie (7-1)

Prediction record: 2-2

This upcoming game on Tuesday night between TrapStars and Dime and Bougie promises an fun and exiting matchup. As the teams’ divergent records and playing styles create will create an interesting dynamic on the field. Dime and Bougie, boasting an impressive 7-1 record, have been a force to be reckoned with in the league. Comprised of a group of speedy young players who have made a significant impact this season such as Felix Boutet, Fritz Centatus and Arthur Doyon. Dime and Bougie have established themselves as top contenders. Their defense has been particularly outstanding, leading the division in interceptions and sacks while forcing numerous punts. This defensive destruction has played a crucial role in their success and has solidified their position as the top seed in the division after 8 weeks. Given Dime and Bougie’s dominance and their status as the division’s top seed, this game holds significant importance for them. With only two games remaining on their schedule, a victory against the TrapStars would strengthen their hold on the top spot and solidify their chances of clinching the most favourable playoff position. On the other hand, the TrapStars enter the game with a more modest 3-4 record. As part of the bottom 10 teams, the TrapStars are in a tough position and are eager to secure a victory to avoid the threat of playoff elimination. Wide receiver Cooper Young, last winter’s Div 4 receiver of the year, has seen a decrease in his touchdown production this season, scoring only eight touchdowns in seven games despite him heavily dominating offence touches. The TrapStars will need their star receiver to find the endzone more frequently if they hope to overcome the suffocating Dime and Bougie defense. Meanwhile, the TrapStars will be motivated to upset Dime and Bougie and improve their standing within the division. A win in this crucial matchup would not only boost their confidence but also provide them with a much-needed opportunity to distance themselves from the bottom 5.

My prediction for this game is that Dime and Bougie get back into the win column and Jules Regimbald goes without throwing an INT this game. Their stout defence and ability to not turn the all over gives them the edge in this one. I think they will keep Ryan Garber and Cooper Young in check and win this one 36-24. 

Weekly Predictions

Prediction record: 28-9-1

The Commission        Vs.       Bible Study 

Air Force 1.2              Vs.       TOPSZN

Backyard Bullies       Vs.       Never Overtime 

Junkyard Dogs            Vs.      All Madden 

The Infantry              Vs.      Killer Rays 

Hot Sauce Sports      Vs.       Mengoose