Division 2: Playoff Race Is Heating Up

Two weeks remain in the regular season. The battle for playoff spots and seeding is beyond heated up in Division 2.

First place, along with second and third, will be decided in what has a chance to be the game of the year as The Infantry takes on the Dirty Birds Monday night in Chateauguay. The outcome of that contest will decide the playoff position of not just those two teams, but also of EZW, who currently sit in second place, but finished off their regular season with a huge win over the Vultures which I will get to in a moment.

The Dirty Birds have held what many would say is a firm grip on the top spot virtually all season. That position, however, appears to have loosened lately, as the Dirty Birds have lost two out of their last three games. Backing into the post-9eeeeseason is not a position anyone thought that this team would be in, but a loss Monday night would guarantee exactly that.

What is wrong with the Dirty Birds? Talent isn’t the issue, as this squad can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the division both on paper and on the field. Is this simply mini slump at the absolute worst time, or signs that this team isn’t who we thought they were?

No one can deny what they’ve done this year, as they have quality wins over FINS UP, Shake & Bake, Silent Ticklers, and others. Losing to both Kush & Korinthians 13 and Idaho Udapimps isn’t like they lost to winless teams, but it also can’t be ignored, as the Dirty Birds couldn’t execute late in either game with a chance to win.

 A victory on Monday night would not only help the Dirty Birds get back on track, but it would also lock up first in the division, and just as important, restore the confidence and swagger that the team usually has. 

For The Infantry, a win would not only give them the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dirty Birds even though they would be tied with 14 points each, but a Week 1 victory over EZW to kickoff the season, would also see them catapult them for in the standings.

The only thing that could stop The Infantry from sealing up first place, besides a loss Monday night, would be points against. Going into the matchup, the Dirty Birds who have the top defense in Division 2, have given up 30 fewer points than The Infantry.

The top three seeds on the line, momentum, bragging rights, and a chance to make a statement, Monday night will be must-see action.

Going from a game of the year candidate to a contest that might have already claimed that status, the EZW versus Vultures matchup that took place last Saturday in Brossard was simply phenomenal. Two veteran teams with speed, playmakers, and talent up and down their respective rosters, going score for score, trading shots, breathe-taking plays, and lighting up the scoreboard in the highest scoring game of the year in all FPF, as both combined for 130 points, in EZW’s (67-63) win. Simply, wow.

Both Quarterbacks in this game in Ben McMahon of the Vultures, and the soon to be named QB of the Year in Jeremy White of EZW, were simply magnificent. The former completed 20 of 24 passes for 373 yards and nine touchdowns, while also running for a score as well. The latter went 24 of 29 for 377 yards with 10 TDs and one interception.

For as great as the Quarterbacks played, they also had some help. Several Receivers stepped up and made some huge plays during the game. James Drysdale of Vultures and Oriola Poirier of EZW led all players with 118 and 116 yards and three TDs respectively. They weren’t alone in trips to the endzone. Drysdale was joined by teammates Kevin Donnet, Anthony Drysdale, and Chrisley Bazile, as the trio recorded two TDs each. Nicolas Blais of EZW matched Poirier’s TD total. They also saw the duo of Fritzgerald Cenatus and Jean-Christophe Ferland do the same for their squad, with Ferland scoring the game-winning score on the final play of the game.

FPF and flag football in general, is an offensive game that is designed to see teams score, and light up the scoreboard in exciting and innovative ways. What these two teams did last Saturday should be applauded, as it checked all those boxes and more. Excitement, skill, playmaking, the ability to be clutch when it matters most was all on display. As players and fans, we can’t ask for anything more, except, for maybe a rematch in a few weeks.

The win for EZW ensured that they finish the regular season as the hottest team in Div. 2. They will start the playoffs riding a division-high seven game winning streak. After starting the year (0-3), EZW found their footing, and has turned into a juggernaut, knocking down any team that stands in their way. Regardless of where they finish in the standings, there are plenty of teams who want to avoid playing them in the second round of the playoffs. 

The battle for the fourth place is also explosive, as both FINS UP and One Stop are fighting for the final first round playoff bye. In their lone head-to-head meeting, FINS UP knocked off One Stop (40-35) in Week 2.

Both teams have 12 points, but One Stop has the edge for fourth, because of points allowed as they have given up 274 compared to 335 for FINS UP. This also explains why The Infantry sit in third, as they have surrendered 242.

Each team has a chance to solidify their claim on fourth as each has one game remaining. One Stop takes on the Silent Ticklers next Sunday in St. Laurent, while FINS UP goes up against Shake & Bake tonight in Brossard. A loss by FINS UP would give One Stop the bye, while a win by FINS UP, and a loss by One Stop would see Will Power’s team swim past the Divisional Round. Good luck to all four teams.

There was a little bit of controversy at the end of the Silent Ticklers versus FINS UP game on Monday in St. Laurent. With FINS UP leading (46-40) on a touchdown catch and 2-point conversion by Donndre Borden, the Silent Ticklers got the ball back on what would be the final drive of the game.

Quarterback Jordan Panetta started the drive off with a big play as he hit Receiver Tysen Otis Copeland for a 23-yard gain. Panetta would then find Daniel Mancini on passes of eight and six yards respectively to get a first down and put the team’s offense inside the redzone.

The team couldn’t follow-up on their momentum, as they would suffer three straight incompletions, setting up fourth down. Facing a tight window on the last play of the game, Panetta would roll to his right to avoid the Rusher in Joey Notaro. The QB would jump up into the air and release a pass at the same time he was de-flagged. The ball would land into the hands of Receiver Adam Rosen for the game-tying score. Several members of FINS UP were enraged, as they claimed that Panetta was sacked before the ball came out of his hands. As per the rules, the tie always goes to the QB on those plays.

From where I was standing, it honestly looked like the flag might have come off first, but it was honestly a really close call that could have gone either way. Unfortunately for FINS UP, it went against them. The residue seemed to spill over to the next play, as they easily gave up the game-winning 1-point convo which was also thrown to Rosen.

Just like the Vultures and EZW game, this was also one in which we hate the fact that someone had to lose, but, FINS UP had a chance to force overtime, and take back a win they thought was stolen from them, and they didn’t.

Picks

KGP vs Kush & Korinthians 13 – KGP (Upset Special)

Kush & Korinthians 13 vs Party Ballers – Kush & Korinthians 13

Shake & Bake vs FINS UP – FINS UP

Silent Ticklers vs Idaho Udapimps – Idaho Udapimps

Dirty Birds vs The Infantry – Dirty Birds (My pick for Game of the Week)

Dime & Bougie vs Mangoose – Dime & Bougie

Vultures vs KGP – Vultures

Regular Season: (11-3)

Upset Special: (3-2)

I will be back next week, as I will be releasing my annual Contenders, Pretenders, and We’re Not Sure Yet article.

Good luck to everyone in their games tonight and this coming week.

If you liked the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected], or on the FPF Facebook page.