Division 1: Contenders, Pretenders, and We’re Not Sure Yet

Every year I release my Contenders, Pretenders, and We Don’t Know Yet article. As you can imagine, with the playoffs just around the corner, I rank teams into those three categories, based off several things. Most notably, their record, schedule, statement games, and most importantly what I have seen them do when I watch them play.

Every year there are some teams that like what I write, and others that don’t. As I have been saying since the first time I wrote this article all the way back when I covered Division 6, if you don’t like what I say about your team, please feel free to prove me wrong, as I have no problem calling myself out when I deserve it.

Here we go:

Contenders

Allstars (7-1)

Don’t act surprised. They have the highest scoring team in the division and have given up the second lowest number of points. Their only loss was by one, and it came all the way back in Week 4 to the Kangaroos. Since then, the Alllstars have won four straight and have kept three of those opponents to under 27 points. Simply put, this team is on a roll.

They close out the regular season against two teams they have yet to face this year in both KGP+ and the Party Crashers. A trip to the Finals seems like a rite of passage for this team, but they will have to pull off another championship appearance without both Rory and Sean Semerjian, as both are suspended for the rest of the year. Bringing back FPF Hall-of-Famer Theo Ojeaha, who played four games for the team earlier this season would help ease the loss and make another trip to the Finals a little easier.

Kanagroos (6-3)

They are coming off a two-game sweep last weekend, as they beat the Braves, and then had their way with an undermanned Bulldogz squad who asked for the game to be stopped with three minutes to go as they were losing players to injury.

They will get back AJ Gomes for their regular season finale versus Flag Moi L’Sac, who beat the Kangaroos by nine points in their Week 7 meeting. The fact that they beat the Braves without his services, speaks to the talent and depth of this squad, as they appear to be deeper than they have ever been.

Unfortunately for this team, they will not be getting back Rusher and Receiver Isiah Allard, as the two-way threat is suspended for the rest of the season. Will the Kangaroos be able to overcome the loss of such an important player, who has a unique blend of speed and length, and has had success rushing the likes of Jonathan Maheu and Kevin Wyeth in the past? Will the solution be turning every game into a shootout?

Braves (4-4-1)

This team has lost two out of their last three games, with the losses coming to both the Allstars and Kangaroos, the two teams ahead of them in the standings.

The Braves have a big opportunity to hit the playoffs on a winning note, as they take on the last place Bulldogz tomorrow night to close out the regular season in Lachine.

The bigger issue at hand, is can they keep winning once the playoffs start? Assuming they get the win tomorrow night, they would clinch the third seed, meaning they would most likely be facing the Party Crashers in the opening round. These two teams went head-to-head back in Week 8, and the Braves escaped with a (46-45) win as they scored the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute to five plays left in the contest. More importantly, the win for the Braves was with Serge Pilon in the lineup. The versatile two-way threat, and FPF Hall-of-Famer appears to be done for the year after suffering a bad lower body injury recently.

I am not going to bet against the Braves as they still have a plethora of talent and championship experience, but they don’t appear to be the same juggernaut that we are all used to.

Pretenders

Party Crashers (3-4)

Their three-game winning streak that included a statement win over the Kangaroos feels like a lifetime ago. Since then, the Party Crashers have lost three in a row, including a shocker to the last place Bulldogz in Week 7.

As luck would have it, the Party Crashers have a chance for revenge, as they take on the Bulldogz next Sunday. That game however is sandwiched in between games again Flag Moi L’Sac tomorrow, and the Allstars, who they play immediately after their game versus the Bulldogz, in the back-half of a double-header.

If the Party Crashers can win all three, I would put them on the contenders list. Winning two out of three could see them find a spot on the We’re Not Sure Yet list. I am not sure they can do either.

KGP+ (3-5)

They earned a huge (34-18) win over Flag Moi L’Sac last Sunday in Lachine. Building on that momentum will be hard as they take on the Allstars tomorrow, followed by a rematch against a Double Straddle team looking to avenge a loss to KGP+ back in Week 7.

With players like Quaysie Gordon-Maule, Jonathan Garfinkle, Dylan Garber, and Khalil Kerr, this team has chemistry, as well as championship experience in just about every other division except for the top one in FPF. Will this be the year KGP+ adds their name on the Division 1 trophy? I don’t think so.  

Bulldogz (2-6)

Their playoff hopes took a big blow when Quarterback Myles Gibbon went down with what appeared to be a groin injury early in their game against the Kangaroos Sunday night at Loyola. There’s no word on his status for tomorrow night’s games against the Braves. After experiencing an injury to another player in the game, the team would forfeit the final three minutes of the game.

Missing their QB against the Braves tomorrow, would make what could potentially already be an ugly game, a little uglier.

This season has been a clear disappointment and has not gone how the Bulldogz imagined it. They have a chance to play spoiler. Let’s just hope they can avoid injury in the process.

We’re Not Sure Yet

Double Straddle (4-5)

This team has lost five of their last six games. One of the reasons for their slide has been turnovers, as Quarterback Jeff Rosenblatt has thrown 13 interceptions over that period. The only saving grace for Double Straddle, is that in one of those losses which came against KGP+ (34-27), Rosenblatt didn’t play, and he was replaced by Division 5A QB Skylar Bayliff.

If Rosenblatt can cut down on the turnovers, this team has the talent to not only beat KGP+, but to also make a playoff run. Hitting the second season with a little bit of confidence might do the trick. Do I see them winning it all? No, but can they pull off an upset or two? Absolutely.

Flag Moi L’Sac (3-4-1)

This team has chemistry and championship experience, and an explosive offense, but it has been a while since they struck fear into the hearts of their opponent.

They have tight losses to the Braves, and Allstars (twice). They have statements wins versus the Kangaroos, but that is their only big win of the year.

Luckily for Flag Moi L’Sac, they get a chance to remedy the situation as they square off in a big game versus the Party Crashers tomorrow night, before a highly anticipated rematch with the Kangaroos in their regular season finale next Sunday in St. Leonard. If FML can sweep both games, they will secure their place on the contenders list.

Picks

Party Crashers vs Flag Moi L’Sac – Party Crashers (Upset Special)

KGP= vs Allstars – Allstars

Bulldogz vs Braves – Braves

Last Week: (5-5)

Season: (29-21)

If you haven’t had a chance, check out my article on FPF Head Referee and Chief, as well as all-around great guy Leo Gervais. He is full of stories, and a lot of laughs. https://www.flagplusfootball.com/en/article/flagplus-interview-series-part-2-leo-gervais

I will have a new interview up next week.

That is it for this week. Good luck to everybody in their games tomorrow!

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