Division 4A Finals; Alessandro Barazzoni interview, Matchup Breakdown and Predictions

Who will be crowned king? Will Alessandro Barazonni and Backfield Penetration finally get over the hump and win a championship? Will the constantly underrated Ballz Deep pull off the upset thanks to 2-way QB Justin Weir? Who are the players to watch and what will it take for each team to win? Let’s find out.

Let’s start with the first segment; I asked Backfield Penetration QB Alessandro Barazonni 5 questions about how the season has went and how he views tomorrow’s final.

Q1: You went undefeated until the Finals in Fall but suffered a tough loss vs. West Island Boys. What have you learned most from that experience?

Answer: “After going undefeated and losing in the finals last season, I’ve learned that i need to be more confident in my ability to put the ball in my teammates’ hands so that they can make more plays.”

Q2: You’ve yet to win a championship in your FPF career, how much would it mean to finally win one on Saturday?

Answer: “I’ve been playing in this league since i was 17 years old so finally winning one at 25 would mean a lot to myself and my team. We’re hungry for our first championship together.”

Q3: You’ve added a lot of athleticism to your roster since Fall, how has that allowed you to unlock your game?

Answer: I’d say it’s helped me unlock my deep ball again seeing as we have 3 athletes that can probably run a 4.3 40 time(Rony Ismeus, Joseph Rokhendy and El-Andre Abbey). They have been amazing leaders in our huddle and even better players.

Q4: You’ve played against Ballz Deep earlier in the season, and won by a comfortable score of 33-19. Do you view this game as just another game or are you expecting them to adjust and have a game-plan in mind?

Answer: “Ballz Deep have several athletes on their team with years of flag experience. I don’t doubt that they will make adjustments to their game-plan to try and slow us down, but at the same time we can’t stray away from what has been working for us all season. I’m excited to play them tomorrow.”

Q5: How important will Raff Morelli be for you guys versus a QB like Justin Weir who’s able to scramble and make plays on the run?

Answer: “Raff Morelli will be a key piece for us as he has been all season. I don’t think he gets enough recognition in this league as a top rusher, if not the best rusher in FPF. I have no doubts that he will make some big plays for us vs Justin Weir.”

I’d like to once again thanking Mr. Barazonni for answering my questions. We’ve had a bit of a breakdown for Backfield Penetration, let’s now have one for Ballz Deep.

BALLZ DEEP: A Cinderella team, or a legit contender?

As the season has gone on, many expected teams like Les Otaries Extrêmes, West Island Boys, Backfield Penetration, or Bet Boost Ballers to make it through to the finals. Instead, we have got one of the most interesting storyline of the season from an unexpected contender; Ballz Deep, led by Justin Weir.

Justin Weir’s stats don’t jump out at you as a QB who’d have led his team to the Finals with 34TDs, 14INTs and 21 sacks…and yet he has. Despite this, the team went 7-3 with some great wins against Undisciplined Flaggers, Bet Boost Ballers and most recently Half Senders FC in the semis. Justin Weir has protected the ball way better in these playoffs throwing only 2 interceptions and scoring 14 times.

But don’t get me wrong, this team is stacked despite perhaps seeming like they lacked the big star name most of the other contenders had. Shanton Smith has elevated himself to that status in these playoffs, and has been Weir’s best weapon with 198 yards and 6TDs in the playoffs. He’s also added 3 interceptions on defense.

This team isn’t only Weir and Smith though; it is filled with talented and experienced players who are ready to prove once and for all that they are the best team in this division. Jonathan Weir, Matthew Peacock, Richie Mondesir, and rusher Duncan Mcintyre all know they have something to prove and they will make their presence known with their defense.

Perhaps not having the most prolific offense, this team has been playing consistent and aggressive defense throughout the season and it has only improved in these playoffs. They are averaging 2INTs per game and will be looking to rattle Alessandro Barazonni.

Going for 1

It is no secret that converts are essential to winning championships. As we get deeper into the playoffs, games tend to be more competitive and winning the convert battle can often prove imperative. It is what allowed Backfield Penetration and Ballz Deep to get here as they both won their games by a single point. Most interestingly though, both teams much prefer going for 1, unlike most higher div teams nowadays. Will either team decide to go for 2 early? Will a team have to go for 2 and regret not practicing them more during the season? Only time will tell, but converts are sure to be crucial if both teams score at will.

Can Ballz Deep match Backfield’s athleticism?

It is also not a secret that Backfield Penetration have three of the most athletic players in the division with Joseph Rokhendy, Rony Ismeus and El-Andre Abbey. Ballz Deep perhaps aren’t as athletic as them, but they beat them on experience. As has proven very difficult for most teams that have faced them, covering all three of those players on offense is an incredibly hard task. Moreso, Alessandro Barazzoni has also shown his willingness to throw to anyone of his receivers if teams make the mistake of cheating on 2-way player of the year Rony Ismeus. Anthony Lazarra, Massimo D’Ipolito and Anthony Siggia are not to be underrated. They may not be as flashy as the other three, but they have the experience and the IQ to truly make a difference. Also,one recommendation: do not play man against this team.

On the other side of the ball, Justin Weir will have a tough ask as Ismeus, Rokhendy and Abbery cover a lot of ground and make passing windows very tight. Anthony Lazarra and Anthony Siggia may not look as impressive as the others, but they will impact the game even if it doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. It will be essential for Weir to be prudent, but he can’t be too prudent as Backfield Penetration also have the luxury of having stud rusher Raff Morelli. Justin Weir has been one of the best at spreading the ball this season, and will need to make sure he’s on his A game reading the field.

My predictions

After having played both of these teams, I’d have to admit I was much more impressed by Backfield Penetration, but the reality is I lost both of those games. The truth is that Ballz Deep know how to win games, have experience and the clutch gene. Alessandro Barazonni and his team still haven’t gone over the hump of winning it all, but I still believe they will come out on top. They have too much athleticism, talent, and composure from the QB position. I fear that Justin Weir will throw an early pick and try to force things, while Barazzoni will keep his cool and play with more confidence if he’s up. I expect both these teams to come out swinging for the fences, as we are surely bound for a fiery start.

I will make a score prediction, though it’s most assuredly going to be wrong. Let me go with Backfield Penetration 36-34. Neither of these quarterbacks will be perfect, but I believe Backfield will overpower Ballz Deep with their athleticism, as they’ve done all season.

I’d like to say thank you for everyone who has read my articles this season. It was a total pleasure writing for the best division in FPF. I should be back next season with more articles (probably Division C). I also hope to see you guys at the fields in the future.

Anyways, good luck to both Backfield Penetration and Ballz Deep tomorrow. I will be commentating the game with the exceptional Moe Khan and I surely hope for a tight fought meeting.

Thank you