Categories: Division C

Division C: We’re back with a few new twists

Welcome to the first Division C article of the FlagPlus Football Spring Season. It’s been a while since I have written for a division that I am currently playing in, as the last few seasons I wrote Div. A/1 and B/2, and most recently Div. 6.

As a writer, I take this job seriously, as it is my responsibility to not only keep you all informed of what’s going on in the division, but to also make it fun, engaging, creative, and informative. I will try my best each week to incorporate all those aspects.

Five Groups and 25 teams. That is a lot to cover, but I did 30 this past Winter Season, so at least I get a bit of a brake there. In all honesty, I will not be breaking down every single game each article. I find that boring, too time consuming, and again, twenty-five squads is a little much.

Now that all of that is out of the way, change is in the air here at FPF. We saw the much-overdue implementation of overtime added to regular season games in the winter season, along with a new 15-point mercy rule. This Spring Season, there have been changes both on and off the field.

One of those on field changes is the new 5 versus 5 format that was made popular in the Olympics and other international play, has finally made its way to FPF. More space to operate, means a jump in scoring is a likely outcome this season, which should lead to even more excitement.

Some things have also remained the same, as I see a lot of familiar faces and friends on various teams spread out through Div. C. This season sees the likes of Win Diesel, Team Ethnik, Big Fat Bats, Friends with Danny, Les Renards Vifs, Team Ruthless, Nighthawks, Rico Ryders, Les Petites Carottes, Never Overtime, and West Island Boys among others, make the jump from a lower division, while veteran teams like Trinity, Killer Rays, Trapstars, Jagerbomb, Bleue Dry, Backfield Penetrators, Mengoose, and The Commission to name a few, return looking for championship glory.

When taking at some of the team’s names, more than a few stand out. I agreed to write for Division C less than a week ago. As I started going through the teams and rosters to see who I recognized, I knew right away without looking at the roster that Will Power’s was on Fins Up. He’s a diehard Dolphins fan, so it just made sense.  

I have seen different variations of the name Idaho Udapimps in various divisions over the years. Maybe it’s just me, but wouldn’t Udaho Wedapimp make more sense?

The Renard Vifs translates to vivid fox. The strong image or intense/bright color of something makes sense if you think hard enough, but why a fox? Next time I see them play I will ask them.

Les Petites Carottes is both funny and unique. As a bonus, they will never have to worry about having to wear a pini, as their color design is mostly orange. On the field, this team has been one of the up-and-coming squads in FPF’s lower divisions. They are coming off a heart-breaking loss in the Division 5A Finals just two weeks ago. Let’s see if they can use that big game experience to help them get over the hump this time around. The only question that needs to be answered, is are they making too big of a jump going form Div. 5A to Div. C? We will find out soon enough.

The same question can be asked of the Rico Ryders, who actually lost to Les Petites Carottes in the Semi-Finals three weeks ago. They bring back relatively the same squad that is led by veteran leaders and playmakers in Justin Lerner and Daron Migdesyan. The duo along with Greg Kritselas, played with 4th & Shlong last year in Div. C. This year’s version of the team lost a couple of key members in AJ Zeppelli and Michael Cappareli to the Big Fat Bats. They were deeper last spring, but they failed to make the playoffs. The team is coming off a blowout (24-6) win over Mengoose, so maybe less is more.

I am more of a Sleeman, Asahi, and Coors man. I think Blue Dry is a horrible beer, but that’s just me. Naming your flag football after them is comical. Last year as Les Blues Branleurs, they finished with a (2-8) record. Let’s hope the squad delivers an easier to swallow product on the field, than what they offer in good tasting beers.

WAREHOUSE is a new-ish team, as they are a bunch of rookies led by FPF vets in Sanders Armand, Deion Thompson, and second-year Quarterback Olivier St-Onge, who threw 35 touchdown passes in the 2023 Winter Season for the Baby Rays. Can this team who is coming off a tough (24-19) win over Team Ruthless, find their rhythm and get their first-year players ready to make an impact sooner than later?

Speaking of Team Ruthless, they don’t have just a few rookies. The entire team consists of first-year players. They had a decent showing in their aforementioned loss to WAREHOUSE, but can they deliver when the take on a veteran team in The Commission tomorrow night in Brossard.? We will find out.

After going by the name Junkyard Dogs for a decade, Jason Rossie, Chris Brockwell, and company, are now called Pacemakers. With veterans like Scott Bins, Yavar Ashrafi, and Devin Daoust, along with early FPF legends in both Shane and Wade Williams from the league’s first dynasty in the Hurricanes, this team has the perfect name in the pacemakers. Even better, they have some younger playmakers in Champlain Cavaliers duo-threat QB Emerson Peterkin as well as Lou-Félix Roy-Lachapelle. Those two might cause opposing defenses to need pacemakers.

The combo of veteran experience and youthful legs is always a good way to build a team. Let’s see where it takes them.

After being way in over their heads playing in Tier 1 in the FPF Cup, Never Overtime has moved down to Division C. They have some playmakers on their roster in Rhami Aboud and Mack Dessources. If their Quarterback Ryan Kharouf can avoid the turnovers that plagued him and the offense in the FPF Cup, this team could make a deep playoff run. Will this team decline playing in overtime the entire year?

Win Diesel is another one of those new teams to Div. C. They are coming off a last play soul-snatching championship loss to the Parlay Tilters in Division 5A, as they came literally a yard away from winning the championship, as their best player Marcus Lynch was tackled at the 1-yard line ala Mike Jones on Kevin Dyson in the Rams versus Titans Super Bowl. The play from three weeks ago was actually worse, as Lynch simply stopped backing up into the endzone thinking he had crossed the goal line. His backside did, but the ball unfortunately did not. The loss was equally devastating, as it was their last game in the division, and the defeat ended their undefeated season, and a second straight championship bid, as they had won the Tier 4 Cup this past fall.

The team brings back reigning Division 5 QB of the Year in Will Sebag, who tossed 45 touchdown passes. The young passer is a duo-threat QB who has good size, a strong arm, and throws an accurate ball. Most importantly, he has learned how to be somewhat of a leader, as he yells less frequently at his Receivers when they drop a pass. Let see how he and his team do with a division jump, and if their Sebag can keep his cool when the going gets tough.

The West Island Boys as a gang probably doesn’t strike fear in the hearts of many, but as a flag football team, they can play, and after racking wins and some hardware in lower divisions, they finally make the jump to Division C. They have a burgeoning star in Quarterback Zack Stacey, underrated explosive playmakers in the duo of Nicholas Di Maulo and Skylar Bayliff, as well as one of the greatest Rushers our league has ever seen in Julian McLaren-Thompson. This team has deep playoff experience. I don’t see any reason why that would end this season.

If Week 1 is any indication, this should be a fun season full of great football and tons of jaw-dropping plays. New teams, old ones, and newly formed ones, after a 168-hour break between the Winter and Spring Season, FPF is back, and the excitement along with a ton of change is in the air. Let’s sit back and enjoy the ride.

Picks

WAREHOUSE vs The Penetrators – The Penetrators

Les Petites Carottes vs Pacemakers – Les Petites Carrottes

Trinity vs Trapstars – Trinity (Upset Special #1)

Team Ruthless vs The Commission – N/A

Friends With Danny vs Win Diesel – Friends with Danny

Les Renards Vifs vs Never Overtime – Les Renards Vifs

Idaho Udapimps vs The Commission – N/A

Mengoose vs Fins Up – Fins Up

Trinity vs Win Diesel – Win Diesel (Upset Special #2)

Idaho Udapimps vs WAREHOUSE – Idaho Udapimps

Backfield Penetration vs Les Renards Vifs – Les Renard Vifs (My pick for Game of the Week)

Friends with Danny vs Air Laval – Friends with Danny

Big Fat Bats vs Fins Up – Fins Up

Team Ethnik vs Jagerbomb – Jagerbomb

Last Week: N/A

That is it for this week. I am excited for the brand-new season, and a great spring and summer of football. This should be fun!

Good luck to everyone in their games tomorrow 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 on the FPF Facebook page.