Division A/B: Questions, Matchups, Picks, and the Indigenous Community

Welcome to the Division A/B article! For those of you that do not know me, as the link says, I am Brent Bodkin. I have written for and played in Flagplus Football for over a decade. I will not give you my life story but let me just say that I LOVE FOOTBALL.

Covid-19 obviously threw everybody and everything out of wack the last 16 months. From players to employees, and fans, I hope everyone is being smart and safe out there. Get vaccinated and do your part to make sure this virus hits our rear-view mirror as soon as possible.   

The last article I wrote for FPF, was all the way back in March of 2020 for Division 3. From the very first time I put pen to paper back in 2007 up until the last time out, I have always written fairly, and respectfully. I always want to keep it that way. Whenever someone has had an issue with something I wrote in the past, I always include my email in every article, so feel free to hit me up, and we can talk about it. If I am wrong, and I have been before, I have no problem admitting it, and correcting my mistake.

This is my first time writing for Division A and B. I usually write and play in Div. 3/C. I played on Montreal’s Finest, a million years ago with Moe Khan, before Kevin Wyeth was their QB, before the name change to the DA Finest, and before there was Co-Ed, and six divisions, so that should give you guys a sense of how long I have been in FPF. With all that said, let me say that it feels great to be back!!!!

The aim of the weekly article is to keep the format fun, interesting, and informative. I want to look at matchups, trends, highlight big performances, and of course do picks. If there is anything else you guys want me to talk about, feel free to let me know.

As you can probably tell, Division A/B is unique. There are two divisions rolled into one during the regular season. To avoid playing the same four teams over and over, Div. A gets to play Div. B teams too. Like the Jay-Z album The Gift and The Curse, this represents both to each division. Test yourself against higher competition, while trying to hold your own and avoid getting blown out, or play against slightly lower competition, (not by much really) and get drunk off your dominance or start to really question yourself and your team if you continually fall victim to an upset. Obviously, those are the extremes. Hopefully, we will fall somewhere in the middle, all while letting players play in both divisions. This should be interesting.

Pass-Catchers Galore

Is there a better receiving duo in FPF than the combo of Serge Pilon Jr and AJ Gomes? Khantraband Quarterback Daniel Lazzara has chemistry with Gomes, going back to their days together with the St. Leonard Cougars. Adding arguably the best player in FPF in Serge Pilon to a group that also includes Tam Vilaydeth, Zach Jauniaux, and Isiah Allard, gives the veteran QB a dynamic and lethal WR corps, that will also force defenses to pick their poison. Could this be like the AJ Brown Julio Jones one-two punch that the Tennessee Titans have in mind?

The dynamic duo of Gomes and Pilon Jr. wasted little time making an impact, as they totaled 12 catches for 206 yards and six touchdowns, in their team’s (46-40) win over the All-Stars. They also combined for 11 tackles on defense. Let’s see what the Khantraband offense does next Sunday against Here For The Beers.

With names like Alex Pilon, Patrick Jérome, Paul Lapierre, Jamil Springer, Nicolas Arsenault-Hum, Alexis Gaumont, Vinny Gualano, Mathieu Lepage, Anthony Lapointe, Travis Moses, and Adam Rockman, just to name a few playing in this combo division, the answer to the question might be changing more than a few times this year.

Who will finish with the most sacks?

Let the sack race begin. When I was asked to write for these two division A and B, one of the first things I thought about was the Rushers. After Quarterbacks, I have always believed that Rusher was the most important position in flag. From Bryan Nguyen, Matt Kirouac, Gabe D’Amico-Mazza, Jonathan Lyristis, to Zackary Alberts-Gill, I have had the privilege of playing with and against some of the best this league has ever seen.  

Another name on that list is Marc-Antoine Vallée of Urgence Médic, who possesses the perfect combination of length, speed, and athleticism, and has been a key difference maker for Urgence Médic formerly known as The Alpha-T’s for several seasons. His ability to get into passing lanes, and pressure Quarterbacks to throw the ball before they are ready, is a big reason why his teammate Jesse Dupuis has been able to record so many interceptions throughout his career when the two have played together. Look no further than the four sacks he had last week versus KGP.

Another name in FPF lure, is a man who year after year, has put himself in the conversation as the greatest Rusher of all time, the speed demon himself, Julien Paiement of the Braves. From being able to cut on a dime, and almost never falling for pump fakes, the only man in FPF history to win three championships in one night, Paiement, is a game-changer in the truest sense of the word.

With the best of the best playing in Div. and Div. B, the race to see who will finish with the most sacks will be worth watching to say the least.

Which Quarterback making the jump to the elite, will be most successful?

Jason Rossie, Jeff Roseblatt, Jesse Dupuis, Sean Avraam, and Phil Cutler have all had success and at times dominated Division 3/C. The latter four have even shown their skills in Div. 2.

As we all know, Division A is the mountain top of QB play in this league. Can that the aforementioned group of passers join the ranks of Kevin Wyeth, Patrick Chénard, Jonathan Maheu, Daniel Lazzara, Mathieu René, Rochdi Benabdelkader, as the cream of the crop when it comes to FPF? We will find out shortly, because as the saying goes, iron sharpens iron.

Matchups

Rory Semerjian (Junkyard Dogs) versus Nicolas Gendron-Vallée (Urgence Médic)

I have written about Rory Semerjian since he first entered the league back in 2017. The six-time All-Star has been a playmaker on both sides of the ball since his first season. As a Receiver, Semerjian posses the speed, leaping ability, and hands that allow him to get to any ball in or outside of his catch radius. I expect big things out of him this year.  

While his teammate Jesse Dupuis gets a lot of the headlines on defense, due to his ability to create turnovers (he had a pick six in his team’s ((33-14) win over KGP, Nicolas Gendron-Vallée, is an underrated defender, who when he brings his A-game, has the length, size, and speed to not only generate takeaways of his own, but to also shutdown opposing Receivers. In the win over KGP, Gendron-Vallée had a stellar regular season debut with two interceptions of his own, to go along with two touchdowns on the other side of the ball.

The Chernobyl – 21 offense versus the KGP offense

As any football fan, coach, or player knows, you cannot judge too much based off of Week 1. Rust needs to be knocked off, chemistry needs to be developed, and all the kinks that come with a new season need to be ironed out.   

Despite all that, one cannot help but notice the lack of scoring produced by Chernobyl – 21 and KGP last week, as they scored 14 and 25 points (an average of 19.5 points) against BYOB and Urgence Médic respectively. Although it is a small sample size, six out of the other eight teams that played in Week 1, put up at least 33 points, and averaged a grand total of 40 points. That is a difference of nearly three touchdowns to six.

Both teams have lots of firepower. For by Chernobyl – 21, they are home to some household FPF names in Nicolas Arsenault-Hum, Mathieu Thuot, and Matt Bond. KGP has no shortage of weapons either, with Jonathan Garfinkle, Dylan Garber, and James Acker.

Is the lack of offense shown by both teams just a case of the typical Week 1 struggles or are both teams facing some serious problems? KGP and Chernobyl – 21 are set to face off on Sunday at 8PM in Lachine. We should get some answers tomorrow night.               

Here For The Beer defense versus All-Stars defense

Here For The Beer are set to make their season debut, as they take on the (0-1) All-Stars. This matchup will see two gun slingers at QB, as it will pit Sean Avraam (Here For The Beer) against who many think is the greatest to ever do it in FPF history, in Kevin Wyeth (All-Stars).   

Despite having a loaded defense littered with Hall-of-Fame and All-Stars with guys like Kishon Thompson, Patrick Jérome, Anthony Vendrame, Kendal Mayers, and Paul Lapierre, the unit still gave up nearly 50 points to Khantraband. Although they will not be facing Serge Pion Jr., and AJ Gomes for the second week in a row, this group still faces an equally dangerous groups of Receivers, in Vinny Gualano, Chris Milard, Marco Bertoldi, and Vince Nardone.

On the other side, Here For The Beer, will have to jell quickly, as they will be facing a passing attack led by Tony Lalla, Matt Kirouac, along with aforementioned Lapierre, Vandrame, and Jérome. The possibility of an appearance by FPF All-Star and current U of M Carabins Receiver Jarryd Taylor, adds another big play threat to the team’s stable of receivers.

Which defense will make a stand and help lead their team to their first win of the season? We will find out tomorrow night at 8PM in Laval.

Jonathan Maheu (Braves) versus the Get Off Our D defense.

He only attempted 14 passes, the lowest number of any Quarterback in the division who threw the ball more than two times last week, but he completed 10 of them for six touchdowns and 200 yards, and an interception in his team’s (44-33) win over the Junkyard Dogs. The centerpiece of the Braves’ dynasty was in control throughout the contest, as he threw five combined touchdowns to Jean-Daniel Chevalier and Alex Pilon, while also getting big plays from Georges Gariépy and Jason Courchesne.

Led by both Jad and Ryan Aridi, Raoul Baroudi, Anthony Brisebois, and Jonathan Lyristis among others, Get Off Our D, will have to shake off the rust and rely on the chemistry that they have built over the years to try and slow down the potent Braves offense.

Let us see what happens tomorrow night at 10PM in Laval.

Picks (Favorites in bold)

Junkyard Dogs vs Urgence Médic – Urgence Médic

Here For The Beers vs All-Stars – All-Stars

Chernobyl – 21 vs KGB – Chernobyl

Get Off Our D vs Braves – Braves

Before I sign off, let me take a minute to talk about something much more important than football. Since the discovery of the 215 Indigenous bodies in Kamloops, British Columbia, back in May, we have continued to see the real ugly history of this country.

I find it comical and hypocritical that Canada always gives off the image and the message that we are more accepting, understanding, classier, multicultural, and in general less racist than the United States. This is evidence to the contrary.

Being Black, I have been aware of who I am, and what Canada represents to many people who look like me. Even though I realize this country is far from perfect when it comes to racism both in the past and present, healthcare, the treatment of the elderly, and equal opportunity for all, I was still always proud to be a Canadian. The long overdue pulling back of the curtain narrative that is currently going on in North America, and specifically in this country, has turned the pride that I once felt, into embarrassment.

Growing up, I played football, baseball, and hockey with Indigenous friends and teammates, but neither them nor their parents ever talked about it. Just like the uncomfortable conversations (for some) that have begun over the last year plus concerning the Black Lives Matter movement, and white privilege, I encourage everyone, myself included, to take a moment and reflect and listen to the stories and voices of Indigenous people.

I was not part of an understandably large group of Canadians that said let’s cancel Canada Day. I personally felt like that would not really accomplish anything. I felt that it was a better idea to reflect, look in the mirror, and see what we can do to not only treat Indigenous people better, but to change the narrative that exists around them.

I went out for a bike ride along the Lachine Canal Thursday night on Canada Day no less, and I saw one of several Canadian flags flying at half-mast. That at least is a small step in the right direction.

At the end of the day, we are all people. No matter what color we are, we all bleed red, and if you are reading this, you most likely love football too, so lets do our part to treat each other with respect and understanding, because hate, racism, and intolerance have no place in our game, or in the world.      

That is it for this week, like I said at the top, it is great to be back. Enjoy your weekend, and

good luck to everybody on Sunday. I will see you guys next week.

If you loved the article, hated it, or felt like there is something I left out, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]