Division 6D: Quarterfinals Preview

Welcome to the Division 6D Quarterfinals Preview.

(7) Free Agent Squad versus (16) Mutation

Previous Meeting: Mutation (28-16) Week 9

In the first contest between both teams, the Mutation defense shutout the Free Agent Squad offense, and held Quarterback of the Year candidate Tyler Stewart to just two touchdowns, and season-low 8.2 yards per pass. One of the reasons for the offensive output was due to FAS not having the services of two of their top Receivers in Patrick Domsa and Brian Ofori. Their absences were huge, as the team’s number one pass-catcher in Dustin Best, was limited to just two receptions for 19 yards.

The two questions that must be answered tonight, are can Mutation prove me wrong again, and can they beat Free Agent Squad with their full arsenal of weapons? To do both, they will need to step up on defense as they did last week in their (26-12) win over WYD STEP BRO’S?, as the unit forced two interceptions from Quarterback Pranav Sharma, and shutout their opponents on all five of their fourth down attempts.

Free Agent arrives to the playoffs on a two-game losing streak. Their struggles have been going on the entire second half of the season, as they have three losses in their last five games.  

To get their offense and team back in gear, Stewart will need to go with the hot hand at Receiver, while also ensuring that he attacks the Mutation defense with his legs.

If Mutation wants to complete the sweep, they will need their QB to be effective with is legs as well. Simon Girard was spectacular on the ground versus WYD STEP BRO’S?, as he ran four times for 62 yards a pair of touchdowns.   

I think the extra time to go plan and scout Mutation, will help Free Agent Squad get the win. They are the better team, and I think they find a way to get revenge and eliminate their opponents.

Prediction: Free Agent Squad (24-21)

(8) Le Speakeasy versus (15) Chomedey Chodes

Previous Meeting: N/A

The Chomedey Chodes come into tonight off a blowout (38-12) victory over the Tex4s Chooches. The Botazzi brothers struck again, as both Matthew and Jonathan combined for 122 yards through the air in the win. The latter would add two interceptions as a Defensive Back.

The Chomedey Chodes also got a monster performance out of Receiver Alex Forgione, who led all players with three touchdown receptions.

Le Speakeasy have won seven of their last eight games coming into tonight, and they almost made it eight wins in a row if it were not for a 1-point loss to SKOL (25-24) back in Week 10.

To get the win, Le Speakeasy will try and slow Jonathan Botazzi, as the leading candidate for Receiver of the Year, is a game-wrecking machine. That task will most likely be left to Vincent Richard, the top Defensive Back in Division 6. The best versus the best. What more could you ask for?

For the Chomedey Chodes to get the win they need to have other players step up and shine under the playoff lights, as we saw with players like Forgione, and Idris Oudhini (one touchdown and a pass deflection) already rise to the occasion in their win versus the Tex4s Chooches.

This game could very well end in an upset, but Le Speakeasy along with Fire & Blood have been my two dark horse picks to win it all. I think this will be a good game, but I am not coming off Le Speakeasy this week.

Prediction: Le Speakeasy (28-21)

(9) No Fly Zone versus (12) Show Me Dem TDies

Previous Meeting: N/A

No Fly Zone comes into the playoffs on a 4-game winning streak. The key to their run of success has been their defense, as they have held all four opponents to under 20 points, and under 100 yards passing, while also forcing six interceptions in the process.

Show Me Dem TDies advanced to tonight’s game by blowing out Jurassic Park Rangers (25-6) last Monday in Laval. Their defense came to play as well, as they dominated the game from start to finish, by giving very little room to their opponent’s Receivers to operate, as they held the Quarterback duo of Cam Chaput and Nic Cumby to a combined 9 of 23 for 94 yards, one touchdown, an interception, and only three first downs the entire night.

 Also playing a key role in the win was Show Me Dem TDies Quarterback Daniel Caruana, as the veteran passer threw four touchdown passes, including two to Receiver Mathew Yanakoulias.    

The loss for the Jurassic Park Rangers ruined a stellar performance by Deshawn Collin, as the rookie scored his team’s only touchdown, and he also intercepted Caruana twice in the contest.

If Show Me Dem TDies wants to extend their season, they will need to bring that same suffocating defense to Laval tonight, as they will have to contend with a much better No Fly Zone offense led by Quarterback Adam Ouici, and his group of Receivers in Lucas Gonzalez, Ali Alvi, Can Celik, Skyler Fortier, Finn Nachshen, and Ryan O’Neill, who have a good combo of size and speed. The unit is also not afraid to take the top off the defense multiple times during a game. Defenders like Denis Koutavas, Greg Kritselas, Michael Koutavas, Anthony Pietracupa, and Jay Yanakoulias will have to be up to the task with their coverage while they look to give Rusher Lucas Diamantopoulos time to get to Ouici.

For No Fly Zone to advance, not only will they need to limit the damage done offensively by their opponent’s leading trio of Receivers in, Denis Koutavas, Yanakoulias, and Kritselas but they must also find a way to bait Caruana into interceptions. With 19 INTs during the regular season and two last week in the Divisional round, the veteran passer has the most turnovers out of all the Division 6D passers left in the tournament. Will he add more to the list tonight?

I think this will be a tight game that will come down to the last possession. Whichever team has the ball last and makes the least amount of mistake leading up to that point will win. I think that will be Show Me Dem TDies.

Prediction: Show Me Dem TDies (25-24)

(10) Salt’s n a Pepper versus (11) Cheat Squad

Previous Meeting; N/A

Cheat Squad advanced to tonight with an easy (31-7) win over the Royals in the Divisional Round. The game was never a problem, as the former led (19-7) at halftime, and then proceeded to shut their opponents out in the second stanza.

Cheat Squad surprised many by electing to go with Rémy Dumas at Quarterback for the second week in a row, as the rookie started the team’s last two games of the regular season on April 6^th against the Cavaliers du Rohan and the DG Shootas. While he led his team to a 7-point (19-12) victory over the former, he looked shaky at certain points as one would in his debut at the position. He ended up with a stat line of 138 yards to go along with two touchdown passes and three interceptions.

Dumas looked much better against the DG Shootas, as he threw for 196 yards, five touchdown passes, no INTs. Ironically enough, two of his TD throws went to the team’s regular starter in Gillespie. Dumas also showed his versatility, as he hauled in an INT as a Defensive Back and ran it to the house for the score.

Against the Royals, Dumas continued his scorched earth play, as he threw for another five touchdown passes with three to Ryan Quesnel, and a pair to the speedy Josh Notte. Could this be a Brock Purdy type of moment for this squad?

The question that must be answered tonight is who will this team start at Quarterback? They still have William Gillespie on the roster. In eight games, he has thrown 21 touchdown passes, and completed nearly 57% of his throws, but how do you not go with Dumas? Do you rotate both, or will they just stick Gillespie at Receiver where the fourth-year player has shown he can make an impact?

In their win over the Royals, the Cheat Squad defense came to play too, as they held Royals’ Quarterback Massimo Rosati to 9 of 24 passing for 62 yards, one touchdown, and six interceptions. When you have nearly as many picks as you do completions, you know it will be a tough game.

Unfortunately for the Royals, while some teams have two QBs, but they don’t have one. They do have talent at other positions, but until they find an answer at the game’s most important spot, this will be the result.

Tonight, Cheat Squad, will be playing a team with not only a legit passer, but one who is a candidate for QB of the Year in Kyle Folkerson, who has 41 touchdown passes, so they will need their defense to show up once again.

For Cheat Squad to win they will need to contain the dynamic receiving duo of Nikolas Zaharatos and Mathieu Lafortune, as the combo have 21 touchdowns between them, and are the spark that ignites the team’s offense. The CS defense must force the team’s other options in Alec Genest, Luke Genest, Peter Berts, and Devonte Mills-Smith beat them. That of course will be easier said than done.

They will also need the hot play of Dumas to continue if the elect to stick with him. Undoubtably, he will be taking on the best defense he has seen so far, as the Salt’s n a Pepper unit is littered with ballhawks. The secondary leads all of Division 6 with six players who have at least three interceptions this season. The unit is led by the duo of Mills-Smith and Zaharatos, who have 11 INTs between them.

For Salt’s n a Pepper to advance, they will need to confuse the rookie QB. Mixing zones, changing coverages post snap, and disguising what they are doing to buy time for Rusher Michael Mancini to get in the face of Dumas will be critical.

If Cheat Squad goes with Gillespie, they will have to limit him to low percentage throws, as the main area era of his game that he needs to improve on (and perhaps the reason why the change was made) is his 57% completion percentage.

I think this will be a fantastic game. Will we see the magic of Dumas continue, or will Folkerson and his defense knock the train off the tracks? I have been waffling back and forth all morning on this matchup. Dumas has looked good, but he hasn’t had to beat a good team yet. For that reason, I am going with Salt’s n a Pepper.

Prediction: Salt’s n a Pepper (30-28)

Picks

Free Agent Squad vs Mutation – Free Agent Squad

Le Speakeasy vs Chomedey Chodes – Le Speakeasy

No Fly Zone vs Show Me Dem TDies – Show Me Dem TDies (Upset Special)

Cheat Squad vs Salt’s n a Pepper – Salt’s n a Pepper (My pick for Game of the Week)

Last Week: (3-1)

Playoffs: (3-1)

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.

More important than all that, is Moe Khan’s suffering continues, as his Detroit Red Wings got screwed out of the playoffs right after their final game of the season. For those of you that don’t know, Moe is a Red Wings, Miami Marlins, Chicago Bulls, and Las Vegas Raiders fan. Yes, that is a sorry bunch of teams.

This past Monday, I went to Monday Night Raw with him and some friends, 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 Red 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. Then on Friday, after the Heat somehow beat Moe’s Bulls in their NBA Play-In game without their All-Star Forward in Jimmy Butler, Moe suffered even more. The smile hasn’t left my face yet.

This coming Thursday I will be at Moe’s for his annual Round 1 NFL Draft party. The chances of his Raiders making a horrible pick will be high, because well, they’re the Raiders, and Moe cheers for them.

If we do the podcast on Thursday, I will be on there for sure. I can’t wait.

That is it for Division 6D. 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.