Division 6: Upsets Galore, and a blowout

I have been playing football for 29 years and have been both writing and commentating on this amazing game for more than a decade. If there is one thing that I have learned in all my time involved in this sport is wins, losses, rosters, and records, don’t really matter all that much. Going out and playing the game on the field is what matters most. When teams don’t take other teams seriously, or if a team decides not to bring their A-game for whatever reason, upsets happen.

That was no more evident than the Nard Dogs’ shocking (31-28) win over the Chomedey Chodes last Sunday in Laval, in a game that many expected would end in a blowout victory for CC.

The key to the win for the Nard Dogs was the performance of Quarterback Renaud Hamet-Belisle, who without a shadow of a doubt had his best game of the season as he finished the contest with 133 yards and four touchdowns on 16 of 28 passing.

The rookie passer who has started the last three games for his team completed 57.1% of his passer and finished with a personal best 109.1 Quarterback Rating. More important than his stats, was the fact that he kept all his Receivers involved, as he attempted passes to eight different targets, like he was a university QB.

Rookie Receiver Simon Leblanc had the biggest performance for his team as he led his squad with six receptions for 49 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner.

The Nard Dogs’ defense also played a big part in the win, as they got two sacks from Rusher Ziad Hafez, an interception from Defensive Back Milan Hamet-Belisle, held their opponents to 0 for 2 on 4^th down attempts, and came up with a game-saving defensive stand to win the game.

The win was huge for the Nard Dogs, as it ensured they won’t go winless, and it gave them a fighting chance to make the Div. 6D playoffs, as they currently sit four points behind the McGill Swim Team (who they lost to in Week 4) and a currently banged-up ALLBALL squad who they take on next Saturday.

I would imagine that Hamet-Belisle will be the team’s QB going forward. Counting last game, he has 9 touchdown passes and five interceptions while completing 48% of his passes and averaging nearly 12 yards a pass. The only question is, why did it take so long for the team to turn to him as their number one passer?

With the Nard Dogs winning, the only team left with a zero in the win column is the Winded Warriors, who take on the Tex4s Chooches tonight. It has been a long season for the Winded Warriors, as they haven’t been able to get their offense in gear. Looking at the glass half full, they did manage to score two touchdowns last week in their (42-12) loss to WYD Step Bro’s?, the first time they have done that since Week 1.

To stay in the game tonight, they will have to limit the rushing ability of Quarterback Joey Bonarrigo, who averages 10 yards a rush, and is excellent at buying time for his Receivers to get open. That responsibility can’t just fall on Rushers Daneeshan Srithar and Anthony Ciccone. The team will need to mix up their coverage, and make sure their tackling in the open field is superb. Let’s see how this contest plays out.

Speaking of defense, congrats to QUEENS and their crew for forcing six interceptions of DG Shootas Quarterback Dario Forlini, in their upset (24-12) win. The picks were curtesy of three players in Maxime Beland-Laflamme, Jayson Arseneault who recorded two, and Simon Frappier who registered a jaw-dropping three, and ran two of them back for touchdowns.

QUEENS QB Mathias Cofsky did not have his best performance as he went 5 of 22 for 61 yards, but he made his completions count, as two of them went for touchdowns. Good job guys, solid team win!

After an ugly (18-8) loss to Jurassic Park Rangers last week, Les Super Turbo Navets, rebounded in enormous fashion as they pulverized Les Flags Daddies (58-0) Wednesday night in Laval. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, FPF is a league that is driven by offense, no matter what division you’re in. There is no excuse for getting shutout.

Les Super Turbo Navets were led in the victory by Quarterback Raphaël Caron, who delivered a masterful performance going 15 of 19 for 230 yards and six touchdowns, both of which were season highs. Caron did a great job of spreading the ball around as he completed a TD to all five of his Receivers, including two to Charles Grenier.

Les Super Turbo Navets Rookie Samuel Desrochers was the epitome of efficient, as he turned his only reception of the game into a 40-yard touchdown and threw a TD pass to teammate Filipe Barros on the first play of the game.

The dynamic duo would also make an impact on the other side of the ball, as they along with Grenier, intercepted opposing QBs Justin Caisse and Vincent Rotari.

Scoring 58 points is never a given, but Les Super Turbo Navets have a chance to light up the scoreboard once again as they take on the McGill Swim Team tonight. Let’s see what happens.

Picks

Nard Dogs vs Meat Fiddlers – Meat Fiddlers

Show Me Dem TDies vs SKOL – SKOL

Free Agent Squad vs Cavaliers du Rohan – Free Agent Squad

Les Super Turbo Navets vs McGill Swim Team – Les Super Turbo Navets

Winded Warriors vs Tex4s Chooches – Tex4s Chooches

Jurassic Park Rangers vs Mutation – Mutation

ALLBALL vs Salt’s n a Pepper – Salt’s n a Pepper

Free Agent Squad vs Fire & Blood – Free Agent Squad (My pick for Game of the Week)

WYD Step Bro’s? vs SKOL – WYD Step Bro’s? (Upset Special)

Pigeons vs ALLBALL – Pigeons

The Mortadel’s vs Towers FT – The Mortadel’s

Le Speakeasy vs Winded Warriors – Le Speakeasy

Last Week: (5-3)

Regular Season: (48-26-1)

In next week’s article I will release my annual Contenders, Pretenders, and We’re Not Sure Yet article. I have written one in every division that I have I have decided to write for. It’s a lot of work, but it’s fun, and makes for an interesting read. For some teams the article also serves as a form of motivation. for others it is a wake-up call for some teams.

That is it for this week. Good luck to everyone in their games tonight, tomorrow, and this 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.