Division A & B: Mid-Season Report Card

Welcome to the Mid-Season report card for Division A and Division B. For those of you unfamiliar with how this works, I will give each team a grade based off how they have done to this point of the regular season. I base the grade I give off of three categories, record, victory total, and strength of schedule. I will also predict what record I think every team will finish with.

As I say when I do this article every year, this is a reflection of what I have seen. It also only the halfway mark of the season. In short, you all have enough time to prove me wrong either in a positive or negative way for your team.

Division A

Allstars (4-1-1) – (A)

They have the number one offense and +/- to go along with the third best defense in Division A. The Allstars sit atop Div. A with their only bumps in the road coming at the start of the season with a tie versus the Braves in Week 1, and a four-point loss to The Jamesons in Week 2.

Since those two blemishes which saw the team fail to surpass 35 points, the Allstars have looked like their regular dominant selves offensively, as they have gone over the 50 plateau twice, and came within a touchdown of doing it a third time in three out of their last four games. What has been even more impressive over that span has been their defense, which has yet to allow an opponent to score more than 32 points.

The team’s remaining schedule sees them play two contests over the next seven days, as they have games against the Party Crashers and KGP, and then wrap up the regular season with back-to-back showdowns over a six-day span with Star city, in what should be a pair of must-watch contests.

Prediction (7-2-1)

Party Crashers (4-1)

Currently on a three-game winning streak, the Party Crashers have shown they can win games via blowout as evidenced by their wins win over Star city and Royaume Luminaire, and close affairs, like they experienced versus KGP and The Jamesons.

Their only loss of the season came against KGP in the first half of back-to-back games against their rivals, who got a six-touchdown performance from Receiver Jonathan Garfinkle, the last coming with three plays remaining in the game for the winning score.

This team is deep and the addition of former McGill Redbird and Saskatchewan Roughriders Safety Tristan Fleury, has made them that much better, as he has made a solid impact on both sides of the ball with two touchdowns as a Receiver, and is second on the team in both tackles and pass deflections.

This isn’t an NFL comparison article (we will get back to that next week), but the Party Crashers are the Buffalo Bills of FPF. A very good and sometimes elite Quarterback in Frédéric Dupuis, top level weapons at Receiver in Emile Taillefer, Vincent Cléroux, Louis-Philip Thibodeau, and Francois Hogue. On defense, the team has their Von Miller, Matt Milano, Ed Oliver, Jordan Poyer, Michael Hyde, and Tre’Davious White in Hogue, Anthony Vendrame, Fleury, Mendel Joseph, Thibodeau, and Kevin Laliberte. With all that talent, can this team finally get over the hump? The next three games will tell us a lot about the Party Crashers, as the schedule sees them play some heavyweights in the Allstars, Braves, and #NR. After that gauntlet, where will PC be in the standings? We will find out shortly.

Prediction: (7-3)

Braves (3-2-1) – (C+)

I don’t know if the word rollercoaster is the correct way to describe their season so far, but one thing is for sure, is that the Braves have been a little up and down up until this point. A tougher than expected win over KGP, a big double-digit victory over Star city, followed up with a blowout loss to the Allstars who they had just battled to a (34-34) tie two weeks earlier, followed by a somewhat surprising loss to #NR, and then a shootout win over last place Bless Up.

We all know the history, pedigree, and excellence that have been the Braves over the last several seasons. The defending Winter Season champs can turn it off and on when they want. With Division A being as deep as it has ever been however, the question that must be asked, is how long can this team afford to wait before they flip the switch and get back to Braves football?

Prediction: (6-3-1)

The Jamesons (3-2)

This is arguably the most talented on paper, and so far, they have kept themselves within striking distance of first place. A big key to that was their Week 2 (30-26) win over the Allstars. To continue keeping their name among the elite, The Jamesons must do three things. First, they must avenge their loss last week to the Party Crashers in their rematch Week 10. Second, they will have to knock off the Braves who they take in on Week 8.

The bigger goal for this team is winning the championship. Tightening up their defense will be the key, as in both their losses this season, The Jamesons have up a combined 98 points. With standout talent in James Tyrell, James Drysdale, Stephan Osman, Anthony Brisebois, and James Ohayon, this unit should be able to turn things around on the most important side of the ball. Let’s see what happens.

Prediction: (6-4)

#NR (3-3) – (B)

This is another team with the skill to go toe-to-toe with anybody in the division. The fact that they sit at .500 is a testament to their talent as their Quarterback Cory Pecker works off the rust after three years away from FPF.

Helping his QB get reacclimated is Receiver Kenny Baye, who leads all pass-catchers with 12 touchdowns and 411 yards. He is the top option of a group that includes Rashawn Perry, Kendal Mayers, Ryan Dobbs-Garnett, Travis Moses, Jordan McLaren, and Sanders Armand. This group has size and speed on their side.

#NR has signature wins over Star city and the Braves. Conversely, they also have a pair of standout blowout losses to the Allstars and Royaume Luminaire. #NR will have a chance for revenge as they will take on the latter in Week 9. Before that, they have huge contests over the next two weeks, as they face The Jamesons tomorrow, and the Party Crashers next Monday.

Prediction (6-4)

Royaume Luminaire (2-2) – (B-)

They are the only team who have yet to play five games. They currently sit in sixth place but have a huge opportunity to give themselves a little bit of space and climb the standings, as they take on three teams who sit below them in KGP, Star City and Bless Up over the next three weeks. Closing out the season will be tougher, as they take on #NR and the Braves.

The key to beating those teams will be for Royaume Luminaire to find a spark for the lowest scoring offense in the division. While losing AJ Gomes from their Division 2 championship roster hurts, the team did add Alexandre Poulin-Rioux, four-time All-Star Sean Semerjian, and former Laval Rouge et Or defender Carl Achy, who has made the transition from USPORTS defender to FPF Receiver and Defensive Back look easy.

Royaume Luminaire is about to get busy, as they play three games over a six-day span, that sees them faceoff with KGP next Tuesday, Star city the following Sunday, and a showdown with The Jamesons one night later.

Prediction: (5-5)

KGP (2-4) – (B-)

Only two other teams have given up more points than KGP (Braves and #NR). That will have to change if they want to do some damage come playoff time. Before KGP gets there, they have four games left in the regular season. The first matchup is this Tuesday against Royaume Luminaire at Marie Victorin.

After this week’s game. KGP will face their toughest test of the year when they take on the Allstars Father’s Day night in Brossard. They close out the regular season with games against Bless Up and #NR. They current sit in seventh place, two points up on Star city for the eight and final spot. A win over any of the above would give them some much needed breathing room. A loss combined with a win by the last team on this list could change things significantly.

KGP has talent, and signature wins over Star city and the Party Crashers. Their four losses have come by a combined 28 points, so this is clearly a team that is hard to knockoff. Can they turn those losses into victories over the second half of the year?

Prediction: (4-6)

Star city (1-4) (C-)

What is going on with these guys? They have the championship pedigree, an elite Quarterback, and tons of talent. Their only win came in Week 3 versus The Jamesons.

On the flip side, they have suffered one blowout loss at the hands of the Party Crashers. Their other three losses are by a combined 15 points, so that would suggest that they are close. Unfortunately, that only counts in horseshoes.  

After their bye week this weekend, Star city has two big games against Royaume Luminaire and then Bless Up, before two straight contests against the Allstars, and a showdown with the Braves in their regular season finale. Dan Lazzara and company will need to sweep the next two games and at least go (1-2) in their trio of games to close out the campaign.

Prediction: (4-6)

Bless Up (1-4) – (C-)

Having both the third worst offense and defense is not a good combination for any team, let alone one that finds itself on the outside of the playoffs looking in. Nonetheless, that is where things stand right now for Bless Up. Luckily for the team, they have talent, veteran leadership, and championship experience in other divisions.

The key to turning things around for this squad is to play an entire game. In their last two losses, they have been outscored (46-30) in the second half. Against teams like the Allstars and Braves (the two teams that defeated them most recently) you must go score for score with them, and either try to force a turnover or mistake, or capitalize on the rare opportunity when those squads commit one themselves. Bless Up has yet to do that.

Bless Up’s lone win came all the way back in Week 1 against #NR. Desperate for another win to get back in the playoff picture, the team has a big game Monday night versus Star city that is close to a must contest. After that matchup, showdowns against Royaume Luminaire, Party Crashers, KGP, and The Jamesons loom on the horizon. To realistically secure a post-season birth, Bless Up will need to win at least two of those four games.

Prediction: (3-7)

Division B

Beer and Brownies (4-1) (A-)

They currently sit atop the standings, as the lone one-loss team in the division, that of course being to Blessed in Week 3. Iggy, has his offense flowing, as only two teams have scored more than them. On defense, this unit is led by ballhawks in Sanders Armand, AJ Gomes, Louis-Philip Thibodeau, and Louis-Philip Thibodeau, and quite possibly the fastest Rusher in the league in Joey Notaro.

Showdowns with heavyweights in the B-Raves, Run It Once, and Mangoose who currently sit one game back, loom over the next few weeks, and will go a long way to deciding whether or not Beer and Brownies can lock up first place in the division. One thing to keep in mind, is that all three of those teams have experienced Division B Quarterbacks. For as impressive as Iggy this has been so far, this is his first extensive action in Div. B. The home stretch and playoffs are a different beast. Will they be too much to handle for a “rookie” QB?

Prediction: (7-3)

Mangoose (3-2) – (B+)

As I just mentioned, they are in the hunt for first, and they have an excellent shot tot grab it tonight when they on Beers and Brownies tonight in Brossard. Whether they win or not, this team is clearly in the upper echelon of the division and will be a force to reckoned with come playoff time.

Before they get to the post-season, they have some big games ahead of them that will be a good tune up for the playoffs, as after tonight the Mangoose face Ambush, Poseidon’s Kiss, Silent Ticklers, and Run It Once. Not exactly a walk in the park.

Their loss to the Blessed last week, and their win over the B-Raves, might make it hard for some to figure out if this team is a legit championship threat, or just a good regular season team. I think they are the former. This team s deep, and they will need that depth to work their way through the regular season and beyond.

Prediction: (6-4)

Blessed (3-2) – (B)

They are the only team to have beaten Beer and Brownies so far. Through five games, they have shown they can go toe-to-toe with any in Division B. They have also shown that they can be inconsistent. After their big win versus the Division’s top team, they followed it up by losing 26 to Ambush. One week later, they beat Mangoose by a touchdown. The law of averages says they should now lose to EZW this Tuesday in Brossard.

Logically, they finish with EZW, Beer Belly Brigade, Run It Once, Poseidon’s Kiss, and the Silent Ticklers. There should be at least three wins in that group. Can we trust Blessed to get them?

Prediction: (7-3)

Ambush (3-3) (B+)

They a huge (52-26) win over Blessed, they split a two-game series with the B-Raves and knocked off Run It Once. Needless to say, this is a good team. Their next two games are against Mangoose and Poseidon’s Kiss. Those will be tough ones. They finish up with the Silent Ticklers and Beer Belly Brigade. I don’t expect those games to be gimmies either.

Ambush has talent, and arguably the best receiving corps in the division with the additions of both Sean and Rory Semerjian to a crew that already has James Drysdale, Kevin Donnett, and Phil Roberts.

Prediction: (7-3)

B-Raves (3-3) (B)

As expected, they are the highest scoring team in the division with 232 points. What has come as a surprise, is the fact that they have surrendered the second most points as well with 234.

Another surprise is their .500 record. After starting the season (2-0), they lost three in a row before putting an end to their skid last Sunday with a (46-32) win over Ambush.

After a bye this week, they take on EZW next Sunday in Brossard, followed by games against Run It Once, Beer and Brownies, and beer Belly Brigade to finish off the regular season. It appears safe to pencil the B-Raves in for at least two wins over that stretch, but a rotating roster, and uneven play makes predicting a sweep or even taking three out of four no sure thing. The core of this team is still there, and they have added some pieces, but will it be enough over the second half of the year, and in the playoffs?

Prediction: (7-3)

Poseidon’s Kiss (2-1) – *(A-)

I have no idea how they have only played three games, while certain teams have already played six. The scheduling system was created and is run by a former teammate of mine at Concordia in Richard “Chief” Shefteshy. Great guy, and not a bad Quarterback in his day, but I will never understand how the system works.

Either way, Poseidon’s Kiss has two wins. One via a blowout win over the Beer Belly Brigade, and an upset nail-biter versus the B-Raves. Their lone loss so far has come against Beer and Brownies. As you can see, I put an asterisks beside the grade I gave them, as we all need more game film on this squad. The schedule isn’t their fault, so I can only look at the evidence I have. We will all get a better picture of who this team really is as they take on Run It Once, tonight, followed up by a matchup with EZW tomorrow, and then have a Division C Finals rematch with the Silent Ticklers next Sunday.  

Prediction: (7-3)

Run It Once (2-2) – (C+)

This team has disappointed me so far, as I thought they would do at the top end of the division race. Luckily for them, the season is still young. They appear to be turning things around, as after starting (0-2), they have won two straight, and will look to make it three in a row tonight against Poseidon’s Kiss, in a game that I will be scorekeeping. I am excited to see what happens.

After tonight, the road gets much tougher, as they will take on the B-Raves, Blessed, and Beer and Brownies, EZW, and Mangoose. That is arguably the toughest remaining schedule in Div. Captain and team Quarterback Jeff Rosenblatt added a lot of skill this off-season, he will need it.  Let’s see what happens.

Prediction: (6-4)

Beer Belly Brigade (2-3) – (C)

A season-ending injury to their starting Quarterback Alexandre Fafard, has forced them to rely on Jason Rossie and David Enault. The former led them to a big win over EZW Monday night.

Going the rest of the way with another QB with no established chemistry with his Receivers is never a good idea. With upcoming games against Beers and Brownies and Blessed the next two weeks, and then followed by the Silent Ticklers, Ambush and B-Raves, that might be a recipe for disaster. This team has talent at Receiver and on defense, but I don’t think talent alone will be enough to hang on to the final playoff spot in Div. B.  

Prediction: (2-8)

Silent Ticklers (2-3) (C-)

Last year’s Division C finalist find themselves currently under .500, and with their two wins coming against EZW. On the bright side, except for their blowout loss to Run It Once last Sunday, their other two losses to the B-Raves and Beer and Brownies, have come by a combined 12 points.   

This team has the talent to make a long playoff run, but they will need to beat a team not named EZW to get to the dance. With games against Poseidon’s Kiss, Ambush, Blessed, and Mangoose, as well as the Beer Belly Brigade, I am not 100% confident they can punch their ticket.

Prediction: (4-6)

EZW (1-5) (C-)

Just like the Beer Belly Brigade, this is another team who has made the jump from Division C but is finding it to be tough sailing so far. EZW has speed and talent. They just need consistency, and a few breaks to go their way. I watched their game two weeks ago against the Silent Ticklers. EZW was the better team for most of the contest, but they couldn’t get stops when they need to, and made several mistakes in coverage in the second half including giving up an onside pass and game-winning touchdown all on the same tine with four plays remaining. Despite that, the team still had a chance to pull out the win, as they got a 20-yard reception from Receiver Nathan Desjardins with three plays left, only for an incomplete pass and then a bad snap to end the game. EZW would lose the game (45-44), but the fact that they were even in it as they were missing their starting Quarterback and has to rely on several other subs in the game.

All that to say, this team has talent. They also have a win over Ambush all the way back in Week 1. If they can string together two more of those, they can put themselves in position to make the playoffs, and anything can happen from there. They have Poseidon’s Kiss, Blessed, B-Raves, and Run It Once left on the schedule. Let’s see if they can pull off an upset or two.

Prediction: (2-8)

Picks

#NR vs The Jamesons – The Jamesons (My pick for Game of the Week in Div. A)

Royaume Luminaire vs KGP – KGP (Upset Special)

Party Crashers vs Allstars – Allstars

Poseidon’s Kiss vs Run It Once – Run It Once (Upset Special)

Mangoose vs Beers and Brownies – Beers and Brownies (My pick for Game of the Week in Div. B)

Poseidon’s Kiss vs EZW – Poseidon’s Kiss

Ambush vs Mangoose – Mangoose

EZW vs Blessed – Blessed

That is it for this week. My apologies, I know I said last time out that I would give my Rusher and final Receiver comparison article, but when I realized after my game on Thursday that we are already at the midway point of the season, I figured that could take a back seat to the annual Mid-Season Report. Next week the comparison articles will continue.

Good luck to everyone in their games tonight 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 reach out to me on the FPF Facebook page.