Division C: Conference Finals

Welcome to the FlagPlus Football Division C Semi-Finals Preview.

Well this is it, with the Divisional, and Quarter-Final round now in the books, we are down to our final four teams, in the battle for the Div. C championship.

Before I go any further, let me just say that I HATE calling this the Semi-Finals. In the NFL, it is the Conference Final, and in the CFL, it is called the East and West Final because they are conferences themselves.

Since FPF, resembles the NFL, more than our country’s version of the greatest game on earth (4 downs, needing two feet inbounds to get a catch, and the usually Winter Season use of the Wild Card Round), and because we have Conference A, and Conference B, I think we need to stick with the American playoff format.

The FPF version of the Final Four, will be exciting, as you will see the top two teams in Conference A, and Conference B, do battle tonight, for the right to meet in the Finals, this Sunday in Brossard. No upsets, no flukes, no case of a team advancing due to injuries, or a forfeit. These are simply the squads with the best records in Division C. What more could you ask for?

 

Conference Final Preview

 

Conference A

 

 

(1) The Alpha-T’s versus (2) Junkyard Dogs

 

Previous Meeting: The Alpha-T’s (31-26) Week 4

 

This game was a tale of two halves, as The Alpha-T’s, dominated the first, while the Junkyard Dogs, took control of the second.

After jumping out to a (12-7) lead, TAT’s, was able to increase their lead to (19-7), via an interception returned to the house by Julien Bellavance.

Looking to end the half on a high-note, Junkyard Dogs Quarterback Jason Rossie, marched his team all the down into the redzone, but they couldn’t punch it in on the final play.

In the second-half, both teams played the time of possesion game, as each squad engineered long scoring drives.

Due to starting with the ball in the second stanza, the Junkyard Dogs, got one every possesion, on which they scored on, to bring them to within 5 points of TAT’s, at the end of the contest. Unfortunately for JYD, it was too late, as time ran out on their comeback.

For JYD, the loss is the only blemish on their record this season. While for TAT’s it is another in a long line of close victories, that the team has seemingly pulled out with their backs against the wall.

 

To get to this point, The Alpha-T’s beat the Backyard Bullies (34-26), while the Junkyard Dogs, beat the Mountain Lions (32-21).

To complete the sweep of JYD, The Alpha-T’s, must come out offensively, the same way they did in the first meeting, as Quarterback Jesse Dupuis, spread around the ball to different receivers, and kept the JYD defense guessing. The 4-time All-Star was solid, as he threw nearly as many incompletions (6), as TD passes (4), and his offense scored on every possesion.

On defense, the TAT’s usual aggressiveness paid off, as they not only got the aforementioned pick off of Rossie, but they also got into the passing lane and got their hands on a few passes by the QB.

To win the rematch, JYD, must first and foremost get off to a better start than they did in Week 4. Scoring only 7 points, and throwing a turnover, is far from what it will take, to beat a team as good as The Alpha-T’s. JYD, has the slight speed advantage over their opponents, and they will need to use it.

Secondly, the team will need to repeat their second-half performance from the first meeting, in which they held TAT’s to a season-low 12 points.

Thirdly, and most importantly, JYD, must play a complete, and mistake-free game. Not taking anything away from The Alpha-T’s, but too many times this year, teams against TAT’s, have played either half a game, or they have made multiple errors, that have helped cost them the contest.

 

The Rossie pick-6, and the JYD offense’s inability to score in the redzone at the end of the first-half, are prime examples of that.

Simply put, while playing a perfect game is too much to ask for, near perfection is needed, to beat a team as good, and as locked in chemistry-wise, as the Alpha-T’s.

With 188 allowed by JYD, and 184 given up by TAT’s, this is a matchup of the two top defenses in Div. C. Needless, to say, I expect this to be a dog fight.

There are a ton of big matchups in this game that we could see on the field tonight. Alexis Gaumont vs Rory Semerjian, Anthony Lapointe vs Alexandre Noel, Julien Bellavance vs Joseph Sifakis, Jonathan Williams vs Mathieu Houle, and of course Jason Rossie vs Jesse Dupuis.

That doesn’t even take into account Rob White, Elliot Lambert, Hinsley Adams, and Marc-Antoine Vallée, all of who have been crucial, and huge parts to their teams success this season.

As I said at the top, these are two very good teams, and I expect a great game, that just like in Week 4, will go down to the wire yet again.

 

Prediction: The Alpha-T’s (My pick for Game of the Week)

 

Last week versus the Backyard Bullies, The Alpha-T’s caught a break, as the Bullies, were without their starting QB, in Div. C Quarterback of the Year Rich Humes. Tonight, they won’t be as lucky, as the Junkyard Dogs, should have a full roster.

Last time out, I picked the Junkyard Dogs. The Alpha-T’s offense is a step above their opponents, and for as good as the JYD defense has been this season, the TAT’s D, was just a little bit better. Lesson learned.

 

 

Conference B

 

 

(1) The Commission versus (2) Jagerbomb

 

Previous Meeting: The Commission (33-22) Week 6

 

Despite the final score saying otherwise, this game was all The Commission, as the team used their speed, and depth to overwhelm their opponents the entire contest.

On offense, TC Quarterback Jean-Félix Marquis, spread the ball around effectively, as all of his receivers caught at least three passes each, headlined by Julian McLaren-Thompson, who turned 6 receptions, into 3 touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, the Rusher combination of McLaren-Thompson, and Zackary Alberts-Gill, harassed Jagerbomb QB Simon Duchesne, all game, as they combined for 3 sacks, held the ten-year veteran to a season-low 10 completions, and for the only time this year, shut-out the team’s high-powered offense in the first half.

The Commission, also did a good job of eliminating the deep ball from the Jagerbomb passing game, as Felix Fontaine-Larouche, and Jean-Felix Daloze, were shutdown.

The only mistake TC made in the game, was taking their foot off the pedal, as they got careless, and gave up two deep second-half TDs to the versatile Cédric Nuckle.

To get to this point, The Commission, knocked off Keyport Lock (31-12), while Jagerbomb, beat TOPSZN, (36-33).

To advance to their second straight Spring Season Finals, The Commission, will have to use the same aggressive and attacking defense that they used in the first meeting, to frustrate Jagerbomb QB Simon Duchesne.

At one point Jagerbomb, had a first and goal from inside the TC 5-yard line, after a couple of sacks, and a penalty, it was 4th and goal from near mid-field.

TC, relegated Duchesne, into check down passes, and sideline hooks virtually all game, as they took away the deep ball.

Besides playing a full game as mentioned earlier, The Commission must also avoid the second-half lull that their offense seemed to get into shortly after halftime, which resulted in two punts, and a turnover on downs. Quarterback Jean-Félix Marquis, must keep the chains moving, and his receivers focused.

For Jagerbomb, to pull off the upset, they, must firstly, score in the first-half. If they have a repeat of last time, this game will be over in a hurry.

The team must also pick up where they left off in the second half of their Week 6 meeting, where they capitalized on TC errors, and out-scored their opponents (22-13).

Both teams have playmakers on both sides of the ball, so this should be a good game. I also fully expect Jagerbomb, to come out sharp, and have a much better performance than in the first meeting.

 

Prediction: N/A

 

This is a chance to go to the big dance. Both teams will locked in, and ready to go. May the best team win.

 

Picks

 

Last Week: 3-1

 

Playoffs: 11-1

 

That’s it for the Conference Finals, I will be back this weekend with an extensive Finals preview.

 

Good luck to everybody in their games tonight!

 

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