Bombsquad’s Breakdown (Div 1/2) – Week 8

Well, the playoffs are looming, the races are so close now and there is still movement to be had. In D1, everything went according to my predictions, but a top team may be faltering. In D2 there was one big upset and almost another, while other favorites struggled as well. But why don’t I just tell you about it in the breakdown.

Countdown to Detonation

3. The Expos dowse the Rainmakers 38-18. Ryan Kastner did not have his best game. Although having C.A. Sinotte back in the mix had to be refreshing, Kastner was only able to find the end zone 3 times while the Expos defence found his passes twice. Meanwhile Chad Byers had Yves Beriault back and boy did he make a difference. He had 5 receptions for 73 yards and 3 of Byers 6 TD’s. This team is looking very hard to beat right now.

2. The Demons clip the Redhawks’ wings as they win 45-26. The Redhawks were without QB Charles again this week so they turned to Mathieu Bernier for the job. Bernier did what he could but the Demons have a very strong defence. The Hawks did pull off a couple of long bombs. But the day belonged to Pollice and the boys. Paul Lapierre continues his quest for receiver of the year with another 2 touchdowns. Karl De Nie was huge on defence with 3 sacks.

1. Montreal’s Finest barely escape a very depleted Old Skool squad 39-32. If not for the Finest defence, this game would have went the other way. Old Skool were without QB Andy Peterkin so Mike Cuscuna filled in. He did a decent job but his 3 INT’s proved costly. Finest QB Kevin Wyeth had a very mediocre game. It begs some to wonder if this is what always happens to the Finest as the playoffs approach. Wyeth matched his interception total for the year in this game alone. This team needs to lock things down if they hope to beat the Expos. Shane Williams is really proving to be the two-way player of the year.

7. The Gladiateurs topple the Wolverines 39-33. Francois Lebeau continues to have an incredible season which no one would realize due to his team’s record. He has put up huge numbers in a consistent and rather quiet manor. Lebeau went 25-32 for 240 yards and 6 TD’s. Two of the touchdowns were to receiver Nicolas Guimer, who had 6 grabs for 36 yards. Tony Tabet wasn’t bad at all, but it just wasn’t enough on this day. Jacques Void had a big game for the Wolverines with 6 receptions for 110 yards and 3 TD’s. These two teams can meet again in the first round of the playoffs. Will it be the same outcome?

6. The Triple Sixers down the Air Squad 32-26. Karim Chaoual has found that connection with Pat Jerome again who had 3 catches for 2 TD’s. Jerome was also big on defence with 2 interceptions. Nick Lafond had to deal with rusher Francis Imbeault (called up from the Division 3 Eagles) who was all over him with 4 sacks. He also tossed 3 interceptions which were costly as one of them went back for 6. This team needs to pull it together if they want to make noise in the playoffs.

5. Victorious Secret barely escape the jaws of the Wolfpack as they win 31-30. The Wolfpack are going to be a very dangerous team in the playoffs. Pascal Murray tossed 5 TD’s and three of those went to stud receiver Mikail Davidson who had 114 yards in his quest for receiver of the year. The man with the hair (Rochdi Benabdelkader) had a huge game as well with three scores. Another game dependant on converts.

4. The One Night Stands pummel the Top Guns 49-18. I know QB Kevin Wyeth wished he put up these kind of numbers Sunday in Division 1, as he was 15-26 for 209 yards and 7 Td’s four of which went to Ryan Brewster, who showed up late, then couldn’t drop a ball if he wanted to, with 9 receptions and 110 yards. The two-QB attack of the Top Guns was not effective at all. Although Damian Hirt was the sole bright spot for the team on this day with 6 grabs and 81 yards with a TD.

3. The G-Men tell MOMO “no Mo” as they trounce them 47-24. The G-Men offence seemed to score at will even without Paul Kamel. Angelo Garofalo continues to shine with 90 yards and 2 TD’s though the air. Their defence also contained shifty QB Yannick Vanasse who was sacked once and threw 3 interceptions. MOMO Nation needs to figure out what to do or they will not be making the playoffs. As for the G-Men, it’s business as usual.

2. The Mercenaries score with under 5 plays left to break a tie with the surging Blazers. The Mercenaries were very short handed. Teddy Frenette and Jon Lyristis both picked up the slack with 9 receptions each. Frenette also had the game winner. Leon Holder seems to improve each week as he did not turn the ball over once (except on downs). This was a very defensive match, as the Blazer defence managed to pick Gino Di Fazio off twice. But alas the Mercs survived the scare.

1. The Trojans scalp the Tomahawks 53-38. Carmine Pollice had another great game, while receiver Mitch Chiba had 4 grabs for 46 yards and 3 TD’s but I thought I counted 4. The Tomahawks had QB Remi Portugais behind centre as Mike Grilli couldn’t make it. He did a very admirable job but a pick 6 by Adam Ciampini and a strong Trojan defence was enough to spoil his debut. The Tomahawks’ Dany Ostiguy managed another 4 TD’s, bringing his total for the season to 17! But alas, who is going to stop the Trojans?

BOOM like that tire I heard blew out on Newman last week.

My Golden Boy this week is none other than Yves Beriault (Expos) who had 5 grabs for 73 yards and 3 big scores for his team.

My SHOWSTOPPA this week is Karim Binette (Montreal’s Finest) who bailed his team out at the end of the game with a key second interception. Great job.

My Golden Boy this week is Ryan Brewster (ONS) who had 9 catches and 4 TD’s. One of those grabs was ridiculous. Nice game.

My SHOWSTOPPA this week is a tie by Triple Sixer teammates Pat Jerome, who had 2 picks, and Francis Imbeault who had 4 sacks. Monster performances.

The Playoff picture is fairly simple in D1. If the Expos win this week they guarantee themselves 1^st or 2^nd. Montreal’s Finest is already guaranteed 1^st or 2^nd. The Demons and Old Skool can exchange places, which would be huge, because the 4^th seed must play the 5^th in a play-in game. The Rainmakers still have a shot at the 4^th seed if they can knock off Old Skool this weekend. The current battle for 5^th is between the Rainmakers and the Redhawks. The Redhawks need to pull off a major upset if they wish to make the playoffs. Right now, especially with Charles St-martin injured, I don’t see it happening, but it is possible.

In D2, the picture isn’t as clear. In conference A, the Mercs and V.S. are battling for 1^st with the Wolverines hoping that both stumble for them to sneak into first. Meanwhile, the Triple Sixers can still pass the Wolverines as can the Air Squad. The Blazers have almost no shot as they need to win out and have the Gladiateurs lose both of their games. Another scenario for the Blazers is to win out and hope that the Air Squad lose both of their remaining games, in which case they would be tied in the standings. Since head-to-head is a wash (they tied), this scenario would put the Blazers in the playoffs as they would have a better division record because the Blazers would have beat the Wolverines in their last game of the season. Not confusing at all.

In Conference B, the Trojans are in the driver’s seat. But if both they and the G-Men win this week, it will set up a 1^st against 2^nd matchup for the top spot in the last game of the season. That said, the Wolfpack still have a shot as well. But I believe they will stay in 3^rd due to the loss to the G-Men. One Night Stands have a very rough end to the season as they face the G-Men and Wolfpack. But the Top Guns would need to beat the Trojans to move up and that is not likely to happen. If the Tomahawks win and MOMO Nation lose, that will be the end of MOMO’s playoff hopes. Almost everything should be clear by next week.

To next week’s matchups we go!

Old Skool take on the Rainmakers. Not sure why Old Skool were missing so many players last week but if that continues I see the Rainmakers making some noise in this game. They are very confident and believe they can beat Old Skool. Old Skool seem able to get the job done with whoever they decide to field. Keep an eye on Shane Williams, who lit up his Spring teammates for 5 TDs back in week 2. This will be a good game but I think there will be an upset and the Rainmakers will win by a couple of points. Or I could look like an idiot, but i’m used to that.

The Expos battle the Demons. This is a must see game. The Demons took down the Expos earlier this year, but the Expos are not the same team they were in week 2. Both teams are strong on defence and both offences seem unstoppable. Look for a shootout. But I think the Expos are playing too strong down the stretch to drop one. I see the Expos winning by a score.

The Blazers take on the Tomahawks in a desperate plea to make the playoffs. The Blazers have been strong as of late. The Tomahawks have been sporadic this entire season and you can never tell which team will show up week to week. Leon Holder is turning over the ball less and less. This game will be a great match but I think the Blazers might just want this one more and will win a very close battle.

The G-Men take on the surging One Night Stands. This game will come down to one question, can O.N.S. make a stop against a top team. We all know they can score at will. Of that there is no doubt. But can the defence stop Settino and the boys? Well I think they will not get enough stops to win this game. I will have to take the G-Men to win.

The Gladiateurs take on the Triple Sixers in a big game for playoff seeding. If the Gladiateurs can beat the Sixers, they will tie them in the standings and own the ever-important head-to-head tiebreak, both heading into games against tough teams in week 10. Look for an absolute shootout between these two teams. I expect the Sixers to muster one or two stops and edge the Gladiateurs.

Two weeks left,

Then this season is through.

Playoffs roll around,

And we see who plays who.

Much is undecided,

For those teams that still hope.

Some of those teams need a miracle,

They better give a call to the Pope.

That is it for this week as the season winds down. You can email me recipes for mussels’ broth and playoff predictions at [email protected] but until then, another week has been defused.