Division 1 & 2 Playoffs Round 1 Preview

After four months and 12 weeks of action, the regular season is finally over, and the real season is about to begin. Welcome to the FlagPlus Football playoffs.

We all pay money to play in this league. Having fun, a place to hang on to our football dreams, somewhere to blow off steam after a work, or simply just to have an opportunity to stay active and play a sport that you love, or in some cases are just getting familiar with, we all have our reasons for playing in FPF. For most people I talk to, the main reason is to win and capture as many championships as possible. Getting a spot to the dance is never a given, so when a team gets one, they need to take advantage of it.

For teams that don’t punch their ticket to the dance, missing out is surely frustrating, but it also gives time to think, make some changes, and work to get better. With that being said, thank-you to the Bulldogz, Killa Bees, and KGP for coming out this season. All three teams have a plethora of good players. I look forward to seeing them back in action next season.

Congratulations to the teams that have qualified. Let the playoffs and fun begin!  

Division 1

(4) Flag Moi L’Sac versus (5) Party Crashers

Previous Meeting: Flag Moi L’Sac (38-20) Week 11

In their matchup two weeks ago, the Flag Moi L’Sac defense intercepted Quarterback Frédéric Dupuis three times, forced two turnovers on downs, and held the Party Crashers to a season-low 20 points, in the victory.

On offense, Flag Moi L’Sac Receiver Guillaume Paquet led the team with seven catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns. The team also got strong performances from Guillaume Robert, Francois Rocheleau, and Samuel Nadeau-Piuze who also recorded a pair of TDs.

The rematch will come down to two things. First, is who besides Emile Taillefer will step up at Receiver? In the first meeting, the former McGill Redbird played great as he put up six receptions for 112 yards and two TDs. Despite having playmakers at the position in Anthony Brisebois, Louis-Philip Thibodeau, Anthony Vendrame, Francois Hogue, and Kevin Laliberte, none of them had more than 34 yards or four catches.

The second thing will be turnovers. For as good as Dupuis is, he has thrown at least one interception in all but one game this year and has tossed two or more in three games. The three he threw against Flag Moi L’Sac, tied his most in a game this year. With players like Paquet, Robert, JP St-Pierre, and Patrick Chénard among others, the FMS defense is full of ballhawks.

In any sports league both professional and amateur, the four versus five matchup is usually the toughest to predict. We have two good teams going head-to-head here. While I doubt the Party Crashers offense will be held to 20 points again, I don’t see the INTs stopping this week.

Prediction: Flag Moi L’Sac (32-26)

(3) Braves versus (6) (7) KGP+

Previous Meeting: Braves (55-20) Week 5

The first showdown was a blowout. The Braves led by 22 points at halftime. The second half was a little closer, but the perennial finalist still outscored their opponents (27-14).

Quarterback Phil Cutler missed the first meeting, which led to KGP+ using four different players in Khalil Kerr, Dylan Garber, Manuel Crisi-Lauzon, and Quaysie Gordon-Maule at the position. The latter performed the best, as he went 8 of 15 for 95 yards and two touchdowns. Assuming Cutler is available this time around, the KGP+ offense should be more refined and consistent.  

Having Cutler back will be helpful, but it won’t be enough to keep up with opposing QB Jonathan Maheu and his weapons. Back in Week 5, the Hall-of-Famer went a near-perfect 12 of 16 for 156 yards and five touchdowns. As they usually do, the Braves decided that having only one passer during a game was boring, so Receiver William Trottier had a turn to throw a pair of passes. He went 2 of 2 for 50 yards and a pair of TDs.

The absence of another FPF Hall-of-Famer in Serge Pilon Jr due to injury makes the Braves a little less potent, but KGP+ will still have to slow down his teammates in Trottier, Mike Pierrecin, Phil Pharand, Georges Gariépy, Guillaume Beland, and Serge’s brother Alex Pilon. That’s not happening. This squad is primed for another run to the Finals, and it starts tonight.

Prediction: Braves (43-26)

(2) Kangaroos versus (7) Double Straddle

Previous Meeting: Kangaroos (38-30) Week 8

In the first meeting, Double Straddle was able to get a combined five touchdown performance from Receivers Jarryd Taylor and James Drysdale, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Kangaroos would get five touchdowns from each other their Receivers and a pick-six by AJ Gomes for his second TD of the evening.

Talking to Ryan Perry this week, he echoed the same sentiments he told me early in the season when he said that he and his team still have faith that they can beat anyone in Division 1, but to do so, their Quarterback Jeff Rosenblatt will need to protect the ball. In the first meeting, the veteran QB threw one interception. Since then, he has tossed seven in the team’s last three games to close the regular season. Double Straddle went (1-2) in those contests.

Rosenblatt has an advantage on his side in the rematch, as the Kangaroos will be without Rusher Isiah Allard. The long-armed pass deflector is suspended for the rest of the season. This will provide thew QB with extra time in the pocket, as he gets to avoid a player who has given him trouble in the past.   

One player the Kangaroos will have in their lineup is AJ Gomes, who the team welcomed back last week, after he received a two-game suspension. The All-Star two-way player picked up where he left off, as he put up five catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns as well as three pass deflections in his team’s (39-32) loss to Flag Moi L’Sac. Chemistry wasn’t a problem, as he and his Quarterback Dan Lazzara are like Ying and Yang, and the presence of former opens things up for his teammates.

This matchup intrigues me. These two teams matchup evenly, as they both have speed and length up and down their respective lineups that no other team can match. The loss of Allard can’t be understated, as the Kangaroos’ defense has just two sacks since his absence, and those were by Jerry Beauboeuf, who is not playoff eligible. After Quarterback, Rusher is the most important position in football both tackle and flag. The lack of a quality one should not be ignored.

I want to go with an upset here, but the INT issues that plague Rosenblatt aren’t something that will magically go away come playoff time.

Prediction: Kangaroos (37-26)

Division 2

(8) Touch Foot 450 versus (9) Party Crashers Blue

Previous Meeting: Touch Foot 450 (42-37) Week 12

These two teams lock horns for the second consecutive week. Last Monday at Stade Hebert, it was the Jeanslee Alexis show, as the two-time All-Star threw for six touchdown passes, ran for another, and recorded an interception as a Defensive Back.

 The loss for the Party Crashers Blue ended their three-game winning-streak. To get back to their winning ways tonight, they will need to protect the ball as their Quarterback Frédéric Dupuis, tied a season-high with two INTs in the game.

This team is deep at Receiver. Leading the pack is Vincent Cléroux, who is in consideration for the player of the year at the position. He had 79 yards and two touchdowns in their first meeting. For the Party Crashers Blue to emerge victorious, they will need him to not only better those numbers, but his teammates in Francois Hogue, Jourdain Alexis, Louis-Philip Thibodeau, and Felix Boutet to step up as well.

Touch Foot 450 have the speed advantage in this matchup, and they will need to use it once again. That will start with their QB, but also with Darren Wiltshire, Hassane Ait Yala, Jeff Carpentier, and Alexandre Jovin among others.

To get the win, Touch Foot 450, will need to be consistent. Their offense has averaged 38 points over three of their last four games. The one slip up was a 12-point effort in Week 11 against KGP. Whether they stick with Alexis at QB (which is advisable) they will need to produce points and long drives, while using their aggressive defense to make plays and generate turnovers.

Prediction: Party Crashers Blue (38-36)

(7) Terror Squad versus (10) Got Skills

Previous Meeting: Got Skills (34-33) Week 4

January feels like a lifetime ago, but Got Skills were able to escape with a 1-point victory as Quarterback Nicola Centomo found Receiver Laurent Foucault for a game-winning touchdown with four plays left in the game.

Since then, Got Skills have won two games, while the Terror Squad have won three. Both teams come into the game coming off tough losses. Got Skills gave up 60 in an 11-point loss to the Moretti Crime Family, while TS was blown out by the one-win Killa Bees (42-24). Not exactly confidence-inspiring from either side.

To win the game, Terror Squad will have to answer the bell defensively. Over their losing streak they have given up 41 points a game. Got Skills have surrendered 48 points during the same span.

I expect the rematch to be close as well, but for Terror Squad to come out on top, as they will have the presence of FPF Hall-of-Famer Patrick Jérome, who missed the previous meeting. He is a difference-maker in every sense of the word.

Prediction: Terror Squad (48-32)

That is it for this week. Good luck to everyone in their games tonight and this week. The playoffs are here, and there is no better time than this.

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