Division C: Wild Card Preview

The regular season is now behind us, and the FlagPlus Football playoffs are finally here. Welcome to the Wild Card Round.

The top 12 teams in Div. C have a bye, so that means seeds 13 through 20 will battle it out for the opportunity to take part in the Divisional Round which is set tot take place next Sunday.   

Congrats to all the teams that have made it to this point. To Team Ethnik, Nighthawks, Trapstars, Team Ruthless, and WAREOUSE, thanks for coming this year. It was my pleasure to watch you guys play. Hopefully you all will use this as a learning experience and come back stronger and hungrier next year.

Matchups

(13) Les Renard Vifs versus (20) The Commission

Previous Meeting: N/A

This is an interesting matchup as it is a game filled with the most current and former tackle football players in Division C, and quite possibly all of FPF. It also is a contest between two teams who had big expectations but have underachieved this season.   

Les Renard Vifs come into the post-season on a two-game losing streak, as the fell to both the West Island Boys and Trinity on back-to-back nights on July eighth and ninth.

After playing the regular season with a rotating roster of subs, The Commission, finally had their full team on the field last Sunday in a must-win game versus Mengoose. No stranger to a close contests, TC, pulled out the victory on the last play of the game.

Both teams have playmakers, championship game experience and passion for the greatest sport in the world.

This game will come down to turnovers. Both Quarterbacks in Stephen Casey and Jacob Salvail can scramble, make big throws, and lead their respective offenses, but they also average more than one interception a game. Whichever QB protects the ball better will win.

Prediction: N/A

(14) Trinity versus (19) Killer Rays

Previous Meeting: N/A

In last week’s article I talked about what the Killer Rays needed to do to qualify for the playoffs, as they were sitting in twenty second place, and had to beat both Team Ethnik and the Nighthawks to make it. Mission accomplished, as Quarterback Tylar Bianchi put his team’s season on his shoulders, as he threw and ran for a combined 12 touchdowns over the two games.

The touchdown total is impressive, but the veteran saved his biggest play for last as he went from goat to hero at the drop of a hat. One play after being intercepted by the Nighthawk’s Reginald Prophete, Bianchi picked off opposing Quarterback Yvan Salomon with a minute to five plays, and then iced the game by picking up a first down on a five-yard pass to Receiver Donovan Hinds on third and one. Credit to the Killer Rays on pulling off the tough task of winning back-to-back games and making it to the party.

To knock off Trinity, the Killer Rays will need to beat their man-to-man defense. That will start with the duo of Tyler Gurberg and Aidan Lariviere, who will need to create separation and force Trinity to shift to a zone defense.

On the other side of the ball, the Killer Rays will need to bring the defense that they have displayed over their last three games, as the unit has allowed 22 total points in the second half of those contests. This unit will be key as they might be facing versatile backup QB Luis Begin, who has been starting at the position the last two weeks as the team’s regular starter in Jean-Félix Marquis, appears to have suffered a lower body injury in Week 7 versus Never Overtime. Rusher Jared Arany will have to take away the running lanes from the mobile thrower.

Trinity comes into the game as one of the hottest teams in the division, as they have won two straight, and four of their last five overall. Despite the loss of Marquis, the offense hasn’t missed a beat with Begin, as the unit has averaged 34 points a game.

The key to keeping up that pace is to keep the defense guessing by spreading the ball around to their playmakers in Marc-Antoine Viens, Alex Samson, Vincent Marquis, Hugo Quintin, Raphael Bernier, and red-zone threat Stephane Turmel.

On defense, Trinity must make sure they eliminate the deep ball offense that the Killer Rays love to rely on. The key to doing this will be to use the physical advantage they have over their opponents.

Both teams are hot right now. I was going back and forth on this one, but I think the presence of Arany who averages over a sack a game (nine in seven contests) will limit the impact of either Begin or Marquis. I also going with the upset.

Prediction: Killer Rays (24-22)

(15) Pacemakers versus (18) Never Overtime

Previous Meeting: N/A

Ice Cube once said it was all good just a week ago. Well for Never Overtime, it was two weeks ago, after they scored solid victories over WAREHOUSE and Trinity. Since then, the good time have ended, as the team has lost two straight, falling to The Penetrators and Les Petites Carottes. The main issue for the team in both losses was their offense, as the unit failed to surpass 20 points in either game.

To beat the Pacemakers, Never Overtime must find their offense. This starts with Quarterback Ryan Kharouf getting others involved. I have talked repeatedly the last few weeks about the excellence of Receivers Mack Dessources and Rhami Aboud. The duo combined for five touchdowns and 238 yards on 20 targets during the team’s current slide. The problem is that the rest of the receiving options in Jeremy Martinet, Karim Madji, Max Philogene, Samuel Joly, and Sacha Saint-Amand have garnered just nine targets for 102 yards and no trips to the endzone. That will have to change against the Pacemakers.

On defense, the unit has played solid football. They will have to keep it up as they are taking an explosive and tough group of Receivers led by Chris Brockwell, Devin Daoust, Shane Williams, and Emerson Peterkin.

The Pacemakers come into the game playing some impressive football over the last four weeks, as they have gone (3-1), with big wins over The Penetrators, Trapstars, as well as the Nighthawks to wrap up the regular season.

To win the game, the Pacemakers must rely on their veteran savvy as they have multiple players in Williams, Brockwell, Yavar Ashrafi, Wade Williams, Justin Anania, Emerson Peterkin, and Quarterback Jason Rossie with championship experience. The veteran QB must also avoid interceptions, that have occasionally plagued him in the post-season. The same is true for Ryan Kharouf, as he has thrown an INT in all but one game this year.

From a fan standpoint, I am interested in the matchup between Martinet and Peterkin. Both players are great Receivers as well as defenders who use a lethal combination of size and speed to create plays, and they have Moss’ed numerous of players throughout their respective FPF careers. I hope we get to see them lined up against each other multiple times on Monday night.

The Pacemakers have the better roster, and are a deeper team, I think they get the win.

Prediction: Pacemakers (30-28)

(16) Air Laval versus (17) Bleue Dry

Previous Meeting: Air Laval (50-34) Week 7

In the first meeting between both teams, Air Laval rode a strong defense that scored two tuchdowns and a jaw-dropping five touchdown effort by Jean-Philippe Noth to the 26-point victory.

The unit once again must force Quarterback Frederic Juneau into tough low-efficient throws. In the previous meeting, the QB had his lowest completion percentage 41.7%, QB Rating 69.4, and total completions with 10.

To complete the sweep, and end Bleue Dry’s season, Air Laval must bring the same effort, as they scored on every possession, and limited their opponents to two touchdowns in the first half.

For Bleue Dry to get revenge and keep their season alive, they will need to three things. First, they must get off to a better star offensively. In Week 7, their first four possession ended in a punt, pick six, touchdown, and pick six. At the end of the first half they trailed (30-14) and that was only because their defense recorded a defensive TD of their own as Eric Namts intercepted Quarterback Emile Taillefer and ran it back to the house.

The second thing Bleue Dry must do is have a repeat performance of the second half of the contest, as they found their footing offensively, and went score for score with Air Laval. Both teams produced 20 points. Having their offense stay on the field and being productive would also give their defense a rest.

The defense will need to be rested, as the third thing they must do to win is slow down the Air Laval offense that has averages 34 points a game and dropped 50 on Bleue Dry without the services of their best player in three-time All-Star Gabriel-Charles Dabe Champagne.

Even if Dabe Champagne doesn’t play (he has only played one game in the second half of the season) Air Laval is still the better team, and they have been more consistent offensively.

Prediction: Air Laval (44-31)

Picks

The Commission vs Les Renard Vifs – N/A

Pacemakers vs Never Overtime – Pacemakers (My pick for Game of the Week)

Killer Rays vs Trinity – Killer Rays (Upset Special)

Bleue Dry vs Air Laval – Air Laval

Last Week: (5-6) Ouch

Regular System: (65-36-2)

Upset Special: (7-12)

That is it for this week. The playoffs are here! This is what we play for! Good luck to everyone in their games Monday night!

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.