Categories: Division 6

Division 6: Divisional Round Playoff Preview

After four months and 150 games, the regular season is finally over, and the playoffs are set to begin Monday night with the Divisional Round.

Congratulations to all the teams that made the dance. With 30 teams in Division 6, the playoffs have been split into two categories, Division 6 and Division 6D.

The format is different shall we say, as the top six and bottom six teams (#19 – #24) make the DIv. 6 playoffs, while teams ranked #7 through #18 qualify for the 6D post-season. Call me crazy, but why would making the last six squads that made the dance take on the top dogs? Why not have the top 12 play the top 12 and the bottom 12 take on the bottom 12?

I agree with the idea that people should not trick themselves into thinking that the 6D playoffs are lesser. They definitely are not, especially when you factor in the top-end teams that are set to battle for that championship, but I think much rather have the cream of the crop all together. I guess that will be an argument for another day.    

Before we get to all the playoff excitement, I would like to thank the Texas Whales, Nard Dogs Flag Dealers, Les Flags Daddies, DG Shootas, and Winded Warriors for coming out this season. Better times should be ahead for all six teams.

Division 6

(5) Les Super Turbo Navets versus (24) QUEENS

Previous Meeting: N/A

This is a matchup between the division’s number two defense, going up against the worst offensive unit out of all 24 playoff teams.

QUEENS has some length in Jayson Arseneault, Nicolas Forget, and Adam Lapointe-Fortin. They will need that, as Les Super Turbo Navets will put them to the test.

QUEENS finished the season winning two of their last three games. That should give them some confidence going into the game, but it won’t be enough.

Les Super Turbo Navets, defense must be licking their chops, as Rusher Vincent Bolullo, will look to hit the 20-sack plateau tonight. The rest of the unit in Mathieu Fortin, Charles Beauchemin, and Mathias Shane among others will be looking to shut down the QUEENS offense.

Super Turbo Navets Quarterback Raphaël Caron will look to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers early and often, as players like Filipe Barros, Charles Grenier, along with Bolullo, Fortin, and Beauchemin give their team the advantage in that area. As long as Caron can protect the ball (he has thrown at least one INT in all but two games this year) and avoid sacks (he has taken 11 in in his last three games) the team should be ok.

Les Super Turbo Navets are just too good and too deep to lose this contest. I think their defense will swarm Quarterback Mathias Cofsky and force him into at least two turnovers.

Prediction: Les Super Turbo Navets (30-8)

 (20) The Mortadel’s versus (22) ALLBALL

Previous Meeting: N/A

The Mortadel’s come into this contest with an offense that has all but vanished, as the have scored two touchdowns or less in four of their past five games.

To get the win tonight, they will have to find some consistency at Quarterback as the team continues the bizarre and clearly ineffective trend of rotating QBs with Matthew Vitali and Jack Ciaravella. This game plan doesn’t work, and in the playoffs, the chances of it succeeding are even less. This is the playoffs. Do you want to win, or do you want to worry about your pride?  

Using the speed advantage they have in the receiving game, will help whoever they trot out behind Snapper. That starts with James Di Costa and Gianluca Ciaravella, who can make plays all over the field and create sepersation.

ALLBALL hasn’t won a game since January 28th when they knocked off Les Flags Daddies (29-0). Yeah, it’s been a while. To get the win tonight, they will need to get the ball in the endzone a use a ball control offense to do it.

Both responsibilities will fall on Quarterback Viren Patel, who after not playing the position since February 21st due to injury, made his return last week going 7 of 13 for 100 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in his team’s (26-16) loss to the Nard Dogs. Against The Mortadel’s, he must methodically march down the field and attack the weaknesses on the team’s defense.

On the other side of the ball, ALLBALL must take away the deep ball from their opponents, as Vitali and Ciaravella fall in love with the deep ball too often. They also must not let either passer get into rhythm, as constantly switching passers is not a recipe for success as I said earlier.

I think the return of their number one QB in Patel, will be enough to snap their losing streak, and push them to the next round.

Prediction: ALLBALL (18-16) (Upset Special #1)

Demons (6) vs (21) Cavaliers du Rohan

Previous Meeting: Demons (30-12) Week 6

The Demons are cocky and rightfully so. They have some impressive wins, and march into the playoffs winning six out of their last seven games. The team also has no problem playing with a physical and trash-talking edge.

Viewing themselves as a legit contender despite having not beaten anyone all that impressive, you can’t ignore their momentum, or the ability to make plays on both sides of the ball.

The Demons have a big size advantage over the Cavaliers du Rohan. In their first matchup they forced Kevin Hébert-Pedulla into four interceptions and only nine completions, as they were able to use their length to get in the passing lane and disrupt routes by the Cavs’ Receivers.

Who the Cavaliers du Rohan start at Quarterback might be a question, as backup QB Hugo Déraspe got the start in the regular season finale. In three starts this year the second-year player tossed five touchdowns and one interception. While he doesn’t throw that many turnovers, he also lacks in passing yards, as he has thrown 84, 25, and 56 respectively. That won’t be enough to get it done.

If the team elects to go with their regular starter in Kevin Hébert-Pedulla, he will have to protect the ball as he has thrown nine INTs in his last four starts, and four versus the Demons in their last meeting. He cannot give them extra possessions.

I don’t think it matters who starts at QB, as they won’t be able to put up enough points to keep up with the Demons.

Prediction: Demons (46-14)

(19) McGill Swim Team versus (23) Towers FT

Previous Meeting: N/A

I just score kept the McGill Swim Team’s final regular season game Thursday night against the Meat Fiddlers. This team that has improved over the course of the year. They try hard, are very athletic, have a good combo of speed and size, and their Quarterback Vaughn Vanslet has good taste, as we both ended up at the same bar watching UFC 300 on Saturday, but just like Jamahal Hill, they appear overmatched against the top teams, as they are lacking game-breaking talent.

Decision-making and execution will be crucial, as in the game against the Meat Fiddlers, their Safety and slot defenders were dropping deep on virtually every play, but Vanslet kept on taking deep shots. He ended the game with five interceptions. Not all of them were his fault, as his Receivers had a plethora of passes bounce off their hands, but turnovers are still turnovers.

On defense, this team simply needs to stop playing man all the time. Flag football and in particular this league, is built on offense. Going man heavy only works when you are faster than the Receivers you are covering, and when your Defensive Backs have proper technique. There are various zone defenses you can run, even when guys aren’t 100% sure what they’re doing Then again, at this point of the season, you should know where you need to be in a 3-2, 2-3, 4-1, or number drop zone defense. You will get burnt repeatedly if you stay in man.

Towers FT backed into the post-season as they have lost four out their last five game. That isn’t exactly how you want to be playing entering the post-season. There are two big questions coming into tonight’s matchup, that this squad must answer. The first is which team will show up? Will it be the one that got shutout (39-0) last Saturday, or the one that lost by one (36-35) to The Mortadel’s in Week 12?

Towers FT has some athletes, and they have both the Quarterback as well as height advantage in this matchup. As we have seen too many times with this team however, they are the epitome of inconsistent. They either get off to a quick start but fail to close, or they start slow, before showing some life in the second half.  

The second question, is how will the Towers FT offense slow down the McGill Swim Team if they get some momentum late in the game?

If Towers FT want their season to continue, they will need to avoid making too many self-inflicted wounds, play an entire game, and take advantage of their strengths.

This is a true pick ‘em game. I am slightly leaning towards Towers FT in this contest.

Prediction: Towers FT (22-20) (Upset Special #2)

Picks

Les Super Turbo Navets vs QUEENS – Les Super Turbo Navets

The Mortadel’s versus ALLBALL – ALLBALL (Upset Special #1)

Demons vs Cavaliers du Rohan – Demons

McGill Swim Team vs Towers FT – Towers FT (Upset Special #2)

Regular Season: (72-31-1)

That is it for this week. Congrats to all the teams that qualified for the playoffs. My apologies for the late article. The late playoff schedule and studying for Finals and banging out papers and projects, played a big part in delaying this.

My apologies, the Division 6D playoff article will be up later tonight.

Good luck to everyone in their game tonight!

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.