Categories: DivisionDivision 1Men'sWinter

Bombsquad’s Breakdown (Div 1/2) – Week 12

The finals are set in D1 after a semi-final weekend featuring a boring game followed by the best Div 1 game of the season. In D2, we are down to the final four. Last weekend provided some upsets and some expected results. But don’t take my word for it, let’s break it down.

 

Countdown to detonation

 

Div 1

 

2. The Expos educate Old Skool on playoff football 45-20. Old Skool came into the game undermanned but still battled. But QB Andy Peterkin was not on at his best this week much like the last time these two teams met. He was 12-24 for a mere 120 yards, 2 TD’s and 1 INT. He spread the ball among his receivers but there wasn’t much to go round. Chad Byers, on the other hand, threw TDs to six different receivers including two to Teddy Frenette who made a spectacular grab on one of them. Frenette also accounted for the lone interception in this game. Byers was 16-18 for 235 and 7 TD’s when it was all said and done. This team looks like they have something to prove and they will go through anyone to prove it. Now they have their chance as they return to the finals for the third season in a row.

 

1. Montreal’s Finest have finally exercised their Demons, as they win 41-40 in easily the best game of the year and one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. You knew it was going to be a great game when you had Kevin Wyeth and Carmine Pollice facing off in their first of two playoff battles on consecutive days. Both teams showed why they are two of the most storied franchises in FPF. Both QB’s had almost identical stats. Wyeth was 24-34 for 258 yards and 6 TD’s with 2 INT’s. Pollice was 22-31 for230 for 6 TD’s and 2 INT’s. Both teams had a stand out receiver as Akked Moore dominated the Demons, (whose game plan included shutting him down) racking up 11 receptions for 154 and 3 scores. The Demons countered with Jacques Void and his 7 receptions for 121 yards and 3 scores as well. The Finest, down 13-0 to start the game, were able to claw back and end the half at a score of 20-20. Demons down 14 in the second half, were able to stage a comeback of their own to even the game at 40-40 at the end of regulation. To converts we went and so in lies the rub. Finest won the toss and forced the Demons to go first where their first pass was tipped away and no good. The Finest then converted their try on another amazing grab by Moore. And this turned out to be the game winner as the Demons were not able to convert once in three tries. A true epic battle and now the Finest head to the finals after their first playoff win in their last three seasons!

 

Div 2

 

4. Victorious Secret barely squeak past Air Squad in a nail biter, 27-24. Both teams showcased strong defenses while both struggled on offense. Neither QB had great numbers. This game was back and forth and at times it was ugly. Paul Lapierre turned the ball over once, as did his counterpart Manuel Lauzon. The defenses were the key to this game. Jean-Michel Alerte made a spectacular interception for V.S., ripping the ball out of the hands of the receiver before he could establish possession. As he’s done all season, Sebastien Crisi-Lauzon provided a much needed turnover to keep Air Squad in the game. But it all came down to the last play. Air Squad was knocking on the door with one play remaining. Lauzon had his man open in the back corner of the end zone, but he overthrew his receiver and left him no chance to make a play. Great finish.

 

3. In one of the best games of the D2 season, the Mercenaries outlasted the Blazers in overtime 35-34. The Mercs gave the Blazers many opportunities to put the game away turning the ball over three times on Gino Di Fazio interceptions. Leon Holder did not have his best game either, but he only threw 1 INT and tossed 5 touchdowns. Kenton Lowe was his main weapon, while Di Fazio was lucky to have D1 threat, Stephane Chartrand, who made a ridiculous catch while keeping only the tips of his toes in bounds and the rest of his body lay completely out of bounds. It was spectacular and it was right in front of me. That was his first of two scores. The Blazers actually had the lead but made a risky move by going for it on fourth down in their own end late in the game and Mercs rusher Andrew Adams came up with a HUGE sack. The Mercs then tied the game on a Robbie Robinson touchdown. To OT converts we went. And once again, the team that won the coin toss won the game, with snapper Jon Lyrists sealing the deal for the Mercs as they live to see another round.

 

2. In the second matchup of the weekend between Kevin Wyeth and Carmine Pollice, Wyeth and O.N.S. took out Pollice’s favored Trojans 46-33. I do not know if any QB has ever knocked Pollice out of the playoffs in consecutive nights, but it happened this weekend. Once again the QB stats were similar but it was Pollice’s costly pick to O.N.S. defender Tony Lalla that made all the difference. After years of living in Pollice’s shadow and a history of losing to him, Wyeth can hold his head up high as he stepped into the spotlight. And he only used 3 receivers. Of course Andrew Blevings and Ryan Brewster came to play, but Chris Millar stepped up huge for his team catching 8 for 141 yards and 4 TD’s. What a performance. The Trojans feel the sting of defeat yet again as their defense did not force one fourth down attempt all game! Jimmy Coupethwaite was the leading receiver with 7 grabs and 69 yards for 2 scores, but they will not remember that when they think of this day. A sad end to a great season.

 

1. Another team that is feeling the sting of a disappointing season is the G-Men, as they fall to the Wolfpack 31-28. This was another great game. The Wolfpack held a 12-7 halftime lead and they stretched it into a two score lead late in the game. Murray was already having a good game going 20-32 for 237 yards and 5 TD’s. Mostly to one of his top receivers, Alex Cavanaugh who had 3 TD’s. But late in the game, Paul Kamel jumped a short route deep in his own end for an interception and displayed that signature speed we all know making two moves and then running away from the pack for the score. The G-Men then stopped the Pack with time left to come back. But a very costly sack on Gianni Settino, as he fell trying to make a move would prove fatal as they were left having to go for it 4th and very long.  Settino had Nareg Yessayan, but the pass was just too high and as such the G-Men have another disappointing playoff run.

 

D1

 

I think it is no surprise to anyone that my Golden Boy for D1 this week is the big man from the Finest Akked Moore, who had 11 catches for 154 yards and 3 critical scores, as well as 1 crucial convert in OT. Great game.

 

My SHOWSTOPPA for D1 would have to be the Expos Defence, who completely shut down the Old Skool offense and QB Andy Peterkin. It was a great defensive performance and it secured their spot in the finals.

D2

 

My SHOWSTOPPA for D2 is the man me and boys refer to as Sonic, Frederic Rousseau-Blas, rusher for the Wolfpack, who sacked Gianni Settino 4 times and kept him on his toes the entire game. Amazing rushing performance. You sure got your gold coins.

 

There is no doubt who my Golden Boy is if you checked the weekly leaders. Chris Millar for O.N.S. led in every receiving category with 8 receptions, 141 yards and 4 touchdowns, and he helped knock out the top team in D2. Congrats.

 

Well this is another bye week for D1, so I will give you a finals preview for both divisions next week once we have the D2 matchup decided. So for now we will take a gander at the D2 Semi-Final matchups.

 

The Wolfpack take their years of playoff experience into their matchup against O.N.S. who just slayed Goliath. Pascal Murray and Kevin Wyeth both have many weapons at their disposal. The Wolfpack have Alexandre Cavanaugh, Mikhail Davidson and the big man Remy Pare, while O.N.S. has Ryan Brewster, Chris Millar and the beast: Andrew Blevings. This will be a slobber knocker. Always wanted to say that. But it will. Both teams can score at will and the Wolfpack won this season’s week 10 meeting 25-24. The Wolfpack have shown they can stop the surging One Nighter’s when they want to. But there are the playoffs. The Wolfpack did what they needed to do to get to the next round against the G-Men. Kevin Wyeth had the motivation of a great rivalry to fire him up and help O.N.S. get to the next round of the playoffs. What will happen this week? A great battle. And you could honestly flip a coin to see who will win. But I will say that O.N.S. is playing better football according to last week’s games and that they will win. But the Wolfpack have been proving people wrong for years. This is why they play the games! I take O.N.S.

 

The Empire implodes once again as the Mercenaries battle Victorious Secret in a 1st versus 2nd scenario. V.S. won their earlier meeting this season all the way back in week 1, 27-12. The Mercenaries never lost again all season. Beating teams like the Trojans, G-Men, O.N.S. and the Wolverines. This was early in the season before Gino Di Fazio got used to all his weapons. The Mercs have had an incredible year, but so have Victorious Secret as they also defeated some of the biggest names including the opposing two semi-finalists. Paul Lapierre has had good games and not so good games but the team did what they needed to do to win. The Mercs will need receiver Adam Bailey this week, who was noticeably absent from last week’s matchup. They will also need to stop Lapierre from getting on a roll. V.S. needs to get a handle on the Mercs receivers and shut them down if they have a hope. But I believe the difference in this game will be the knowledge of playing with Gino Di Fazio for the V.S. squad. Rochdi Benabdelkader knows very well what Di Fazio likes to run and it is for this reason that I will have to take Victorious Secret to win by less than a score. But it will be a great game.

 

That is it for now,

As we end another week.

The teams get closer,

To the trophy they seek.

All is set in D1,

For the final round.

Now we await D2,

To see who will be crowned.

 

That is it for another week here at the Breakdown. A very Happy Easter to all and best of luck to the remaining teams. I’m sure some of you won’t like what I wrote if you lost your last game, but don’t bother complaining, all you had to do was win and things would have been written differently. You can email finals predictions or make fun of me at [email protected] but until then, another week has been defused.