Categories: Division ADivision BSpring

Division A/B: Standout Performances, Welcome back players, and hello CFL.

Welcome to Week 8 of the FlagPlus Football Summer Season.  

With three weeks left to go, we are now in the stretch run. Over the last few weeks, we have seen statement victories, blowouts, nail-bitters, and the loss of an undefeated season.

Simply put, the playoffs are on their way. In all sports, but especially football, the saying big players make big plays in big games always holds true. With the regular season nearing its end, each game becomes that much bigger, and individuals sometimes have to put their teams on their back to make sure they get the win.

This week on the Welcome Back to FPF Tour (yes, I have decided to make this a thing) I would like to wish a warm welcome back to FPF to former Concordia Stingers Quarterback and Slotback, as well as my former boss at Con U, Liam Mahoney. The former All-Canadian in USPORTS, who last played in the 2018 Winter Season with You Can’t Sit With Us, subbed in for Phil Cutler at QB for KGP, in their matchup Sunday night versus the Junkyard Dogs.

As has been the case with several of the welcome back players who have graced us with their presence this year, Mahoney did not miss a beat, as he went 21 of 34 for 206 yards to go along with five touchdown passes and one interception. Not bad at all. His favorite target of the evening was another former Concordia Stinger in Quaysie Gordon-Maule, who had an impressive game of his own catching nine of eleven passes for 106 yards and a TD. He would also add an interception on defense as well.

The Mahoney and Gordon-Maule connection, along with solid outings by teammates James Acker and Jonathan Garfinkle, who both had six catches apiece and made a trip each to the endzone, was just enough to get by the Junkyard Dogs (31-30), and their offense headlined by the trio of Charles-Olivier Lavigne, Demario Cooper, Sean Semerjian, who combined for 16 receptions 248 yards and four touchdowns. Cooper would also add an INT to his stat line.

One player who has been a mainstay in FPF since his rookie year back in 2014 is Raoul Baroudi. The one-time All-Star had a night to remember as he dominated BYOB on both sides of the ball and outscoring his opponents all by himself.

As a Receiver, Baroudi who came into the contest with no more than three catches and 60 yards in any game this year, shattered those numbers, with a Calvin Johnson-esque performance with eight receptions for 120 yards and four touchdowns. If that wasn’t enough, he did his best Charles Woodson impression, as he also recorded two interceptions on defense in his team’s (39-18) victory.

Another player who had an incredible performance this past week was Emile Beaudoin of Urgence Médic. The fifth-year player made an impact on both offense and defense as he hauled in four catches for a season-high 68 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding a game-high six tackles, one pass deflection, and two interceptions one of which he ran back for a TD.

Beaudoin is one of those players that flies under the radar. Even though teammates like Jesse Dupuis, Marc-Antoine Vallée, Alexis Gaumont, Julien Bellavance, Anthony Lapointe, and Mathieu Houle have received more attention over the years, Beaudoin, to his credit has been a consistent and productive member of The Alpha-T’s/ of Urgence Médic since joining the squad back in the 2018 Spring Season.

Every team needs that type of player, who might not have his number called very often, but when it does, they can deliver no matter how big or small the game.

In a contest between two of the best Receivers in FPF, Patrick Jérome of the All-Stars, and Serge Pilon Jr of Khantraband traded blow for blow in their team’s matchup Sunday night in Lachine. On two separate occasions, each player would go out and score a touchdown right after the other one did on their team’s previous offensive possession.

This game was like a heavyweight fight that saw each Quarterback Kevin Wyeth of the All-Stars and Dan Lazzara of Khantraband, throw seven touchdowns and over 315 yards each. Like the proverbial prize-fighters they are, Jérome and Pilon Jr, would answer the bell each time as they attacked their opposing defenses, and scored from various parts of the field.

Both players caught all of their targets. Pilon Jr would finish the game with seven catches for 136 yards and four touchdowns. Jérôme would record nine grabs for 105 yards and four trips to paydirt as well. Those stats are impressive, but what was even more awe-inspiring, is that all of Jérome’s receptions went for either a first-down or a touchdown, while Pilon Jr did the same on six of the seven passes he caught. Did I mention that Jérome also hauled in an interception as a defender? It honestly does not get much better than that.  

The All-Stars versus Khantraband game also saw a great outing from Tam Vilaydeth, as the Hall of Famer intercepted fellow HOF’er Kevin Wyeth twice.

Khantraband would go on to win the game (48-43), giving themselves the regular season sweep over the All-Stars. I would not be surprised if we saw these two squads lock horns for a third and final time this post-season.

Power Rankings

Division A

1. Braves (8-1) – Good teams win tight games, and that is exactly what the Braves are and did, with a (37-34) win over Chernobyl – 21, Sunday night in Lachine, with a two-headed attack at Quarterback led by Jean-Daniel Chevalier and Jonathan Maheu, and monster performances from Alex Pilon and Anthony Brisebois, as the duo combined for 173 yards and five touchdowns.

The Braves have already clinched first place in Div. A due to their (38-33) victory over Khantraband back in Week 4. Their upcoming game this Sunday in Lachine, will the be the regular season finale for the Braves who won’t be back in action until the start of the playoffs on September 12th. Last Week: 1st

2. Khantraband (5-2) – After a huge (48-43) win over the All-Stars, that also gave them the regular season series sweep of their opponents, Khantraband has jumped up from third to second place in the Power Rankings. A chance to vault themselves to the top spot is up for the taking this Sunday night in Lachine, when they go head-to-head against Braves, in what should be the game of the week. Last Week: 3rd

3. All-Stars (4-4) – A tough loss to Khantraband drops them one spot back in the rankings. For the All-Stars to get back on track, they will need to knock off a Chernobyl – 21 squad that is looking to snap a mini losing streak of their own. Last Week: 2nd

4. Chernobyl – 21 (3-6) – Despite being led by Nicola Centomo at Quarterback, getting strong receiving games from Matt Bond and Jean-François Marquis, and not having to face Braves QB Jonathan Maheu for nearly the entire first half (he entered the game seven plays before the break) Chernobyl – 21, couldn’t take advantage and fell (37-34). Although they are already guaranteed a playoff spot, the potential to climb the standings and right the ship before the post-season begins should be two important goals for this team. Last Week: 4th

Division B

1. Urgence Médic (6-2) – I spoke to Sean Avraam last night and said he would be at tomorrow’s contest for Here For The Beers versus Urgence Médic. The presence of the Hall OF Famer would be a boost for an offense that looked completely overwhelmed in the (45-13) loss, that was essentially over before halftime thanks to a suffocating Urgence Médic defense led by Emile Beaudoin and Julien Bellavance. Last Week: 1st

2. KGP (4-4) – Winners of three in a row, a fourth straight victory tonight against BYOB in Laval, would wrap up the second seed in Division B, as it would put them four points up on Get Off Our D, who they split their two regular season meetings with one game apiece. It will be interesting to see if KGP goes with Phil Cutler at Quarterback, or Liam Mahoney. Last Week: 2nd

3. Get Off Our D (3-4) – After getting blown out by nearly 20 points by the Junkyard Dogs just two weeks ago by a score of (46-27) Get Off Our D, responded with a blowout victory of their own (39-18) over BYOB. Next up is a rematch with JYD, in a showdown with enormous playoff implications.

 If Get Off Our D gets the victory, it would not only give them a little bit more breathing room from the teams behind them in the standings, but if KGP losses to BYOB as well, it would see GOOD knock KGP out of the second place in Division B, as Get Off Our D, has the points advantage in head-to-head matchups, having beat KGP by 13 points versus losing to them by only six. Last Week: 3rd

4. Junkyard Dogs (2-6) – One week after getting a huge win over Get Off Our D (46-27), the Junkyard Dogs, almost made it two big victories in a role, as they fell by one (31-30) to second place KGP.

Luckily for JYD, they have a chance to complete the regular season sweep against Get Off Our D this Sunday in Laval. Coming out on top would go a long way towards having Jason Rossie’s team solidify their spot in the playoffs, especially as they close out the regular season with a tough matchup against Khantraband next week. Last Week: 5th

5. Here For The Beers (2-5) – As I mentioned last week, they got ran off the field by Urgence Médic, last Friday in Laval. Well, seven days later and we got ourselves a rematch. This time however, Here For The Beers will have Quarterback Sean Avraam behind Snapper. If the team is planning to turn around what has been an extremely disappointing season so far given the talent they have, now would be a good time, as big games also remain against BYOB and Get Off Our D. Last Week: 4th

6. BYOB (2-5) – Still looking for their first win since Week 3, the only saving grace BYOB has besides being tied for points with the fourth and fifth place teams in Here For The Beers and the Junkyard Dogs respectively, is that they play the former next week, in a game that will in all likelihood will determine the final playoff spot in Division B. Last Week: 6th

I meant to include this during the last two weeks, but I was a little pressed for time, so here it goes. I am happy the Canadian Football League is back. Yes, it is not the NFL, but the CFL is still good football. It also provides us with entertainment and gives us a glimpse of some of the best homegrown talent. Just as important, it allows us to have a distraction from the mundane.

From guys like Cory Watson, Anthony Thompson, Kevin Challenger, Tanner Marsh, and a host of other players both past and present, the ties between the CFL and FPF runs deep.    

While it does not have the glitz, glamour, and money of the NFL, or a Commissioner who for the most part appears like he knows what he is doing like Roger Goddell (I am not a fan of his, and I think he is extremely arrogant and a hypocrite, but he would have never allowed the league to shut down for a year, and left the players in the dark for as long as Randy Ambrosie reportedly did) at the end of the day, it is still football, and because of that it will have my attention. I am pretty sure I am not the only one who feels that way.

Picks (Favorites in bold)

KGP vs BYOB – KGP

Urgence Médic vs Here For The Beers – Here For The Beers (Upset Special #1)

Junkyard Dogs vs Get Off Our D – Junkyard Dogs (Upset Special #2)

Braves vs Khantraband – Khantranband (Upset Special #3)

Chernobyl – 21 vs All-Stars – All-Stars

Last Week: (2-2)

Upset Special: (5-3)

Regular Season: (23-10)

That is it for this week. Good luck to everybody in their games tonight and this weekend.

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