Division 6: Quarterfinals Preview

Welcome to the Division 6 Quarterfinals Preview.

(4) Pigeons versus (5) Les Super Turbo Navets

Previous Meeting: Pigeons (31-6) Week 5

I was talking to Iggy before I started writing this article, and he told me that he thinks the Pigeons have a legitimate chance of knocking off SKOL. Only time will tell if we will get to see that matchup, but you have to imagine that the statement will serve as a vote of confidence for the former, and bulletin board material for the latter.

Before the Pigeons start to worry about SKOL, or the Finals for that matter, they will have to deal with a Les Super Turbo Navets squad who are coming off a (30-6) blowout win over QUEENS in the Divisional Round last week.

To emerge victorious, the Pigeons must once again take advantage of their aggressive defense and smother their opponent’s offense as they did in the first meeting. Back in February, the unit constantly harassed Quarterback Raphaël Caron and caused him to have his worst game of the year, as he tossed four interceptions, threw for just 77 yards, and took a season-high six sacks.

Two of the sacks were recorded by Luca Chiricosta who also registered an INT, and four of them came from Rusher Andrea Aquino, who finished the regular season with 14 sacks. 

On the offensive side of the ball, Pigeon’s QB Anthony Del Peschio wasn’t perfect as he only completed 12 of 24 passes and tossed two INTs, but he did throw for five touchdowns, which more than offset the mistakes. Three of those TDs went to Receiver Mass Chiricosta, who had a trio of catches for 84 yards in the game.  

For Les Super Turbo Navets to get revenge and the win, they need to protect the ball and take advantage when they have it. Four interceptions, going 0 for 8 on fourth down, and only two trips to the redzone won’t cut it against anyone let alone one of the top teams in Division 6.

Les Super Turbo Navets are a better team than they were back in Week 5, but so are the Pigeons. I expect this game to be a little tighter, but I still see the latter completing the sweep.

Prediction: (29-18) Pigeons

(1)SKOL versus (23) Towers FT

Previous Meeting: SKOL (33-12) Week 9

The first meeting was close in the first half as SKOL had a (14-12) lead at the break. Then the second half happened, and Towers FT was outscored (19-0).

If you are wondering how the game got away from Towers FT, look no further then their offense. The team’s five second half possessions ended like this. Turnover on downs, interception, interception, interception, and the time expired.

If Towers FT want to pull off what would be the biggest upset of the entire Quarterfinals, they will need to play a full game. Showing up for a half especially in the post-season, will get you beat.

Towers FT must also repeat the offensive showing they displayed last week in their playoff win over the McGill Swim Team. While I don’t expect Quarterback Davide Bartolucci to throw for five interceptions against SKOL as he did against MST, he will need to be nearly as flawless, as he didn’t throw an interception, and went 15 or 20 for 205 yards. To do that, he will need to take what the defense gives him. He must also take advantage of the size mismatch his Receivers present against some of the SKOL Defensive Backs.

The QB must also find a way to consistently move the ball against the best defense in Div. 6. Rolling out and waiting for his pass-catchers to get open which is his specialty won’t be enough, he must work levels, and create throwing lanes for his Receivers.

For SKOL to get he win, they will need to will need to attack Towers FT deep, as that has been the team’s Achilles Heel all season. QB Hugo Stensland can chuck it deep, and this week should not pose as a threat to make him turn away from that.

On defense, SKOL is the top unit on the division. Forcing Towers FT to be become one-dimensional, and then sitting back and having the opposing offense play into their hands is what I expect to happen.

Prediction: SKOL (38-12)

(4) Fire & Blood versus (6) Demons

Previous Meeting: Fire & Blood (28-27) Week 3

The first matchup between these two teams was an epic showdown, as it went to overtime, making it the first Division 6 game in FPF history to go into extra time in the regular season.

The game ended up going to OT, after Jean-Daniel Ratté scored a game-tying touchdown with less than two minutes to play.

Both Quarterbacks were solid in the previous meeting, as Max Guenette and Nicolas Katerelos each threw four touchdown passes. Each passer had a Receiver step as Ben Eglencyan of the Demons caught all seven of his targets for 90 yards and a touchdown, while Fire & Blood’s Julien Pacheco had eight grabs for 70 yards.

Led by Quarterback Katerelos, and their four-headed monster at Receiver in Pacheco, Charles-Antoine Nadeau, Vincent Walsh, and Ratté, this team has won six in a row. The team’s defense is no joke either, as they have ballhawks in François-Xavier Delorme, Walsh, Nadeau, and Rusher Thierry Le Bourdais, who has 14 sacks and six pass deflections.

The Demons, come into tonight’s game winning seven of eight games since their loss to Fire & Blood. While their (19-14) win over the Cavaliers du Rohan wasn’t the blowout many thought it would be, as they pitched a shutout in the second half, although the flip side of that coin is that they were kept off the scoreboard as well.

I talked to Neil Wright of the Demons a few weeks ago, and he said that in their losses this season, they were mainly due to his team beating themselves, and that they are better than most people (myself included) think. Tonight, we will have a chance to see if that is the case.

The Demons are a talented squad, and they have the length advantage in this matchup, but Fire & Blood is the better team, and I think they find a way to escape with a victory once again. I also can’t ignore the fact that the Demons didn’t show up offensively against the Cavaliers du Rohan.

Predictions: Fire & Blood (32-28)

(2) Meat Fiddlers versus (22) ALLBALL

Previous Meeting: Meat Fiddlers (24-18) Week 3

The first matchup went down to the wire as the Meat Fiddlers secured the win with a 36-yard touchdown by Leo Diakoumakos, with four plays left in the game.

One of three teams to finish the regular season with a (9-1) record, the Meat Fiddlers, finished the second half of the year with a perfect (5-0) record. During that span, they have been cooking on both sides of the ball, as they have averaged 33 points a game, while surrendering slightly more than eight points (8.4) a game.         

ALLBALL did the complete opposite over the second half of their schedule as they went (0-5). Their offense averaged under 16 points (15.8) a game. Part of the reason for their struggles was the absence of starting Quarterback Viran Patel, who didn’t play QB (he suited up just on defense) for three of those games due to injury.

Patel started the regular season finale against the Nard Dogs, where he went 7 of 13 for 100 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. That warmup start paid dividends, as he looked good in his team’s (19-7) upset playoff win over The Mortadel’s, as he tossed three TDs.

The ALLBALL defense also played a huge role in the victory as they picked off opposing QB Jack Ciaravella three times. Patel, also contributed on that end as he finished with five tackles and a game-high three pass deflections.

To get the win tonight, ALLBALL will need a repeat performance by their defense, as they shutdown The Mortadel’s and held the Meat Fiddlers offense to under their regular season total of 29 points per game.

Another key to victory will be protecting the ball, as ALLBALL is (3-0) when Patel doesn’t throw an interception.

For the Meat Fiddlers to get the win, they will have to spread out the ALLBALL defense by attacking the different levels of their secondary. To do that, the team will need all their playmakers in Kevin Scalia, Dario Brown, Jack Tessari, and Quarterback Manny Bizogias to step up and deliver.

I think that the rematch will be close, but I don’t see ALLBALL pulling off the upset.

Prediction: Meat Fiddlers (30-18)

Picks

Pigeons vs Super Turbo Navets – Pigeons

SKOL vs Towers FT – SKOL

Fire & Blood vs Demons – Fire & Blood (My Pick for Game of the Week)

Meat Fiddlers vs ALLBALL -Meat Fiddlers

Last Week: (4-0)

Playoffs: (4-0)

This is a great time of year if you’re a sports fan. The NBA and NHL playoffs kicked off yesterday. Both my Knicks and Bruins got huge wins to start the fun. The NFL Draft is less than a week away, the MLB season is in full swing, and Moe Khan’s suffering continues, as his Detroit Red Wings got screwed out of the post-season right after their final game of the season. I went to Monday Night Raw with him and some friends this week, and we were both scorekeeping this past Tuesday and Wednesday in Laval. His trash-talking and excitement from Monday and Tuesday was surpassed by his anger and disappointment after his team was eliminated because the Philadelphia Flyers pulled their goalie in a (1-1) tie game with three minutes left, as they needed to beat the Washington Capitals in regulation to qualify for the post-season. The Caps scored, and both the Wings along with Philly, and the Pittsburgh Penguins were knocked out of the dance. We along with Detroit fan in FPF Referee and player Tanner Burrell, found out as we were working the last games of the night. The smile hasn’t left my face yet. I will be on the podcast this Thursday to talk even more trash to Moe.

That is it for Division D. Good luck to everyone 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.