Division A/B: Law of Averages, Matchups, and Picks

Welcome to Week 4 of the FlagPlus Football Summer Season.

I am believer in the law of averages. If something happens repeatedly again and again, chances are that same outcome will occur no matter what. Through the first three weeks of the season, it appears as if that principal is happening to several teams right now in Division A and B.

The first one of those teams that comes to mind is KGP. After scoring just two touchdowns in their (33-14) loss to Urgence Médic to kick off their regular season, Phil Cutler’s squad answered the bell the following week, as they bounced back offensively with five trips to the endzone, in their (32-26) win over Chernobyl – 21.

Last Thursday against Get Off Our D, the KGP offense stalled once again, as they only managed to score twice in a (25-12) defeat.

The law of averages and current trend would suggest that KGP should put up at least 30 points in their next game against BYOB tomorrow night in Laval.

When it comes to offense, BYOB had shown that they can consistently find the endzone, as they have scored 69 points through two games so far. Defensively, they have surrendered 56 points, which places them in third place out of all 10 teams. If you look beneath the surface, you will realise that the team’s defense has only given up 44 points, as their Quarterback Mathieu René, threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns in their loss to the Junkyard Dogs, this past Sunday night in Laval.

Based on what we have seen so far, the law of averages says this should be a high-scoring affair.

Speaking of the Junkyard Dogs, they got a much-needed win (31-26) over BYOB. As I mentioned earlier, a big part of their victory came from the play of their defense, as their aggressive play led to a Division A/B high four interceptions, two of which were run back for scores by Charles-Olivier Lavigne and Hinsley Adams.

The addition of Adams is a huge one for the Junkyard Dogs, as the former All-Star Rusher brings a speed element to the team that can not be matched. He already made his presence felt, as not only did he record the pick six, but he also registered a sack and two tackles.

Also coming up big in the win for JYD, was Sean Semerjian. He made an impact on both sides of the ball, with an interception on defense, and four catches for 60 yards and a game-high three touchdowns.

If you look a little closer, after scoring 33 points in Week 1, and then only recording one touchdown in Week 2, the offensive explosion they experienced last Sunday, suggests that they might struggle to score Sunday when they take on Here For The Beers.

Speaking of Sean Avraam’s squad, I watched them play Sunday night versus Khantraband. I am not sure who was happier and slightly more intoxicated due to Italia’s Euro Cup win over England, between Avraam, and Dan Lazzara, but both Quarterbacks struggled mightily to start the contest, as they each missed a plethora of easy throws which resulted in both offenses turning the ball over on downs to start the game.

As the game went on, both passers settled down and found a little bit of a rhythm at various points. For Lazzara, the tide started to turn when he connected with a beautiful 30-yard bomb to Receiver A.J Gomes down the ride side of the field, as the ball just reached over the outstretched hands of defender Jordan Allard, and over the shoulder of Gomes, who reached forward and a made a beautiful catch just before the backline of the endzone with one play remaining before halftime. The score would give Khantraband a (12-0) lead.

Here For The Beer would finally hit paydirt on their first drive of the second half, as Avraam hit Vinny Gualano and Kevin Marcil to help extend the drive, and then managed to find Allard for a 19-yard in the back left corner of the endzone to cut the Khantraband lead to (12-6).

Unfortunately for Here For The Beers, Khantraband would answer right back on their ensuing possession, as Lazzara, connected on a big gain of 17 yards to Domenico Manno, and three passes to Isiah Allard, of 8, 6, and 9 yards, the last of which went for a touchdown and extended the team’s lead to (18-6).  

Both squads would trade touchdowns once again, as Vinny Gualano, and David Centomo, would score for their respective teams, which resulted in a (24-12) lead for Khantraband.

Two plays later, the game was put out of reach, as Tommy Roadley Trohatos, would bait Sean Avraam into a pass on a hook route intended for Snapper Dom Benevento, as the Sherbrooke Vert et Or Free Safety would run the pick back to the house to extend his team’s lead to (30-12)

Here For The Beers would get a late score by Wide Receiver Chris Millard, but by then it was too little too late to stage a comeback. Final score, (30-18) Khantraband.

Sunday night at Lachine also played host to a highly entertaining back and forth slugfest between All-Stars and Chernobyl – 21, with the latter trying to get their first win of the season.

One week after rolling with Hall of Famer Rochdi Benabdelkader at Quarterback, Chernobyl – 21, went back to their other HOF QB in Patrick Chénard behind Snapper. How many teams have two guys with those credentials that they can interchange at the game’s most important position?

For the All-Stars, they were not lacking in the QB or Hal of Fame department, as they rolled out the greatest and most decorated one in FPF history, in Kevin Wyeth.

For Chernobyl – 21, the QB switch did not pay immediate dividends, as Chénard, was intercepted on the second play of the game by Kishon Thompson. The All-Stars would make their opponents pay a few plays later. After converting on 4^th and 6 with a 16-yard pass to Jarryd Taylor who was making his regular season debut, QB Kevin Wyeth, was able to connect with the U of M Carabins Receiver for a touchdown four plays later.

Chénard, would get back on track four plays later, as he hit a 40-yard bomb to Jeremy Murphy for 40-yard to even the score at (6-6).

The All-Stars would break the tie three plays later, when Wyeth would connect with Taylor on a 29-yard score.

Chernobyl – 21, would respond with 20-yard TD from Chénard to Ryan Aridi. The elation would be short-lived, as Wyeth was able to connect with Paul Lapierre for a 29-yard TD.

As you can guess, Chernobyl – 21 would strike once again, as Chénard hit Murphy for his second TD of the game, on a 40-yard pass.

Two plays later, Murphy would make yet another impact play as he intercepted a Wyeth pass with three plays remaining before halftime. Unfortunately for Chernobyl – 21, they could not take advantage of the turnover, as they failed to score.

The All-Stars started the second half with the ball. Wyeth would lead a seven-play drive that resulted in a 1-yard TD by Patrick Jérome.

After touchdowns by Matt Bond and Mathieu Thuot for Chernobyl – 21, and a second TD by Paul Lapierre for the All-Stars, Murphy would record his second INT of the game on a seam route pass intended for Lapierre with five plays later remaining.

Four plays left and down by one point, Chernobyl – 21, had one last chance to get the win. Incomplete pass, seven-yard catch by Thuot, and a six-yard run by Chénard, set up in the final play of the game.

Chénard avoided the rush by Matt Kirouac and threw a rainbow pass to the back of the endzone to Mathieu Thuot. The Receiver did a good job keeping his feet inbounds. As the ball was coming down, Kishon Thompson jumped up and deflected the ball away out of bounds at its highpoint.

Final score (32-31) All-Stars.

For Chernobyl – 21, it was a yet another heartbreaking loss. This is clearly a talented team. They are one or two plays away from being (2-1) instead of (0-3). Unfortunately, the schedule does not get any easier for them, as they face Urgence Médic Monday night in Brossard.      

Matchups

Phil Cutler (KGP) versus Mathieu René (BYOB)

Both Quarterbacks are coming off their worst performances of the season, as they combined for seven interceptions in their respective Week 3 losses. Simply put, René and Cutler will need to preform better.

They will both need to start this week, as not only do their teams need a victory to straighten themselves out, they are also winless against Division B opponents.

Each passer will need to rely on their targets and help put them in position to make plays. Which QB will be able to do it more effectively and more often?  We will find out tonight in Laval.

Sean Avraam (Here For The Beers) versus Jordan Rossie (Junkyard Dogs)

These two have locked horns plenty of times throughout their careers in FPF. Avraam has come out on top more often than not in their previous meetings.

This Sunday night in Lachine, the story could have a different ending, as this version of the Junkyard Dogs, represents the best Jordan Rossie led team he has assembled.

Both sides have big-play Receivers, and defenders. Each team also has speed to burn, and with the previously mentioned addition of Hinsley Adams, that attribute now favors JYD.

At the end of the day, as we have seen at virtually every level of football, wins and losses are mostly dictated by QB play. Rossie is coming off a solid performance versus BYOB, with 3 touchdown passes. Avraam, despite a rocky start, rebounded in the second half, and finished the contest with 159 yards and three touchdowns.  

For both Quarterbacks it is all about momentum. Can Rossie build off the solid performance he had last week? More importantly, can he avoid the law of averages that we talked about earlier with his offense?

For Avraam, can he build off the second half showing he displayed against Khantraband. More importantly can he lead his squad to his first win of the year? This is the beginning of a home-and-home series so to speak against JYD. A match against the Braves for Here For The Beer, and Chernobyl – 21 for JYD is sandwiched in between. A win for either side would be huge especially as it relates to momentum.

Roman Charles (All-Stars) vs Adam Rockman (KGP)

Roman Charles made his FPF debut this past Sunday night. The Defensive Back made it a successful one, as he displayed solid coverage ability and good length on defense, while contributing three tackles, as he helped hold the Chernobyl – 21 offense to just two second half touchdowns in his team’s (32-31) victory.

This week, he will be taking on a Get Off Our D squad that has no shortage of playmakers on offense. One name that stands out is Adam Rockman. While the Receiver is coming off a quiet performance against KGP, with only one catch for 13 yards, in his first game of the year versus the Braves, the two-time All-Star, had 4 receptions for 29 yards and a trip to the endzone.

While those stats might not exactly blow your socks off, keep in mind that in the last two seasons combined before Covid-19, Rockman produced 76 catches for 920 yards and 23 TDs.

Kishon Thompson is All-Stars’ best defender, while Raoul Baroudi, has been Get Off Our D’s best Receiver. Secondary matchups are just as important, and this potential one of Charles versus Rockman is no exception.      

Jeremy Murphy (Chernobyl – 21) versus Mathieu Houle (Urgence Médic)

The Concordia Stingers Receiver had a monster performance versus All-Stars on both sides of the ball, as he recorded three catches for a game-high 101 yards to go along with two touchdowns. On defense, Murphy led all players with two interceptions.

Throughout his brief FPF career, the two-time All-Star has shown the ability to stretch the field with his blazing speed. Just like he did on Sunday night in Lachine, Murphy also displayed the wheels and agility to take a slant route to the house. In short, he is dangerous from anywhere on the field.

Throughout his FPF career, one guy who has proven dangerous particularly in the redzone is Urgence Médic Receiver Mathieu Houle. Few players in the entire league can match his size, and hand strength when the ball is put up for grabs in the endzone. So far this season, he leads his team in targets (22), receptions (15), yards (221), yards per catch (14.7), and is tied for the lead in touchdowns with two.

While Houle is not known for his defense, he does have the size on that end to make a difference in the endzone. Murphy on the other hand, has the length and speed to make an impact on that side of the ball, as evidence by his team leading two interceptions.

Could we see these two matched up against each other in the endzone?

Serge Pilon Jr (Khantraband) versus Alex Pilon (Braves)

Pilon versus Pilon. All-Star versus All-Star. Brother versus brother. Hall of Famer versus Hall of Famer.

Braves against Khantraband, undefeated team versus undefeated team.

Does it get any better than this?

Picks (Favorites in bold)

BYOB vs KGP – BYOB

Here For The Beers vs Junkyard Dogs – Here For The Beers (Upset Special #1)

Braves vs Khantraband – Braves

Urgence Médic vs Chernobyl – 21 – Chernobyl – 21 (Upset Special #2)

All-Stars vs Get Off Our D – All-Stars

Last Week: (2-2)

Upset Special: (0-1)

Season: (5-3)

That is it for this week. Good luck to everybody in their games. The law of averages says I will be back again doing this next week, so until then, have a great weekend!

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