Division E: Semi-Final Preview

Welcome to the FlagPlus Football Division E Semi-Finals, or as I like to call it, our version of the Final 4.

 

Sunday night at Lachine, saw the eight remaining teams, battle in the Quarter-Finals, for the right to lock horns tomorrow evening in Brossard. The winners of Tuesday’s games, will have the opportunity to play for the Division E championship this coming Sunday, at the Bell Sports Complex.

 

Just like the Divisional Round, Sunday night’s action gave us some games that came down to the wire, and others that were basically over by halftime.

 

Let’s get to the latter first.

 

The Greendale Human Beings, turned back the clock to the Winter Season, as they looked like a well-oiled machine, in their 53-25 statement victory over the SPARTANS.

 

GHB, Quarterback Danny Aylward, showed why he was voted QB of the Year, as he tore apart the SPARTANS defense with ease, as he went 22 of 26 for 309 yards, and a jaw-dropping 8 TDs. He also showed off his versatility, by adding two INTs on the other side of the ball.

 

His brother, Wide Receiver Brandon Aylward, was just as impressive, as he caught 9 passes for 174 yards, and 6 touchdowns. As you can imagine, all those totals were game highs.

 

Daron Migdesyan, and Greg Kritselas, continued their stellar post-season play, as the duo combined for 12 receptions for 102 yards and a score. GHB, also got a big play from Satchel Carriero, as the second-year player hauled in a 41-yard TD.

 

The SPARTANS, tried their best, but they simply didn’t have any answers on either side of the ball.

 

Going forward, James D’Andrea’s team, can take solace in the fact that they are headed in the right direction. If they can bring back mid-season addition Alex Jubenville, and get what should be a natural progression in skill out of rookies Samuel Bessette, and Sumi Shan, in their respective second seasons, the SPARTANS, will have a good chance at going a little further next year.

 

Prime Time, made their own statement, as they laid the hammer down with a 24-0 over the Hot Boys Hotline.

 

As I said in my Quarter-Final preview, in order for the Hot Boys Hotline to win, they would need to find some offensive production out of a receiver not named Edwouard Valmé. Unfortunately, for HBH, that never happened as the other 5 WRs who caught passes, combined for a grand total of 7 receptions for 37 yards.

 

A lot of the lack of production by the HBH offense, has to do with the stellar performance of the Prime Time defense. Led by Michael Iannella, Brenden Sabloff, Josh Levine, and Vincent Blondin, they limited Quarterback Tom Gatehouse, to season-low 89 yards passing, and held the aforementioned Valmé, to an average (by his standards) 4 catches for 51 yards.

 

Ultimately, the difference between these two teams is talent and depth. Prime Time, simply had too much of both for their opponents to handle.

 

A week after pulling out a thriller against The Pension Plan, the Super Troopers, lost a heartbreaker to Moss City, 26-20.

 

This game looked like it was going to be a shoot-out, as both squads put up 20 points in the first half, at one point they were going score for score.

 

The second half was completely different, as Benjamin De Tilly’s TD for Moss City, would be the only score, and the difference-maker.

 

Two possessions for the Super Troopers, really stand out. The first was a drive that brought the team down inside the Moss City 5-yard line. With four chances in the red-zone, Gabriel Wiseman’s team couldn’t punch it in, and ended up trying over the ball on downs at their opponents’ 2-yard line.

 

The second possesion came at the end of the game, where the Super Troopers once again, found themselves with an opportunity inside the red-zone to even the score.

 

Fast-forwarding to the final play, Wisenan, rolled out to his right to buy time for his receivers to get open, the QB lofted a pass to Snapper Zackary Alberts-Gill, the pass hit off a sea of hands, and then off the big man’s as well, before hitting the floor.

 

At the end of the day, the Super Troopers simply couldn’t capitalize on the many chances they had to tie the game, and take the eventual lead.

 

YAMAJO, is one step closer to championship Sunday, as they beat the Homosapiens 25-19.

 

In the Homosapiens defense, they played the game with only 5 players, as Kevin Foster, and the Hetu-Frankel brothers (Shaden and Tristan) weren’t able to make the game.

 

To the credit, YAMAJO, took advantage of their opponent’s deficit, as Quarterback Terrence Dobson, threw a 40 yard TD to Dvd Joseph, on the very first play of the game.

 

As much as the Homosapiens tried, the speed they were missing due to the absences, came back to bite them. On offense, their possesion receivers in Lonnie Johnson, Jonathan Brown, and G.M. Kolethras, couldn’t stretch the athletic YAMAJO defense.

 

It’s more than a little concerning, that YAMAJO only won the game by a TD, considering that they had 6 on 5 advantage all game. It leads people, including yours truly to think, that the outcome would have been different if the Homosapiens, had their full squad, or at the very least, six players.

 

 

Semi-Final Preview

 

 

Conference A

 

(1) Greendale Human Beings versus (4) YAMAJO

 

Last Meeting: YAMAJO 26-24 (Week 8)

 

In the first meeting between both teams, the YAMAJO offense, got a solid performance out of Alvy Mizelle, and Anton Sakiz, as the duo combined for 7 grabs for 22 yards, and 3 touchdowns.

 

The key to the YAMAJO, victory, besides scoring two extra points to GHB’s zero, was their ability to force Greendale Human Beings’ Quarterback Danny Aylward, into 3 INTs. More importantly, they kept the score low, as they used their speed, length, and athleticism to limit the GHB offense, as other than WR Brandon Aylward, who hauled in 7 passes for 41 yards, and a game-high 3 TDs, none of his other teammates did much damage.

 

For GHB, to get the win, they will need to hope that they have a bit more offense left in the tank after the offensive explosion they dealt Sunday night. To do that, they will need to combat YAMAJO’s speed and aggressiveness on defense, with precise route running, and timing.

 

They will also need better production from their secondary receivers, as Satchel Carriero, Greg Kritselas, Daron Migdesyan, and the injured John Tomaras, caught a combined 6 passes.

 

For YAMAJO to complete the two game sweep, they will need force Danny Aylward, into multiple turnovers again, and take away the running game once more from the QB, as he rushed for 108 yards already this post-season, but only ran for 20 yards in the team’s first meeting.

 

As impressive as YAMAJO has been during their 7-game winning streak, I just don’t think they will be able to slow down the GHB a second time.

 

Prediction: Greendale Human Beings 32-24

 

 

Conference B

 

(2) Moss City versus (5) Prime Time

 

Last Meeting: Moss City 39-30 (Week 6)

 

This was a really exciting game, that featured lots of big plays. Standing on the sidelines, I took away two things from this game. The first was that Moss City Quarterback Andrew Farrier, looks like the real deal, and Prime Time, is different than most first-year teams in FPF that have a bunch of guys, who get by win athleticism. This squad mixes speed, knowledge, and skill, into a chemistry that has seen them perform at a near elite level since their week 6 loss.

 

For Moss City to get the win, they will need to copy the formula they used last time, and that is to get constant pressure on Prime Time QB Stephen Harripersaud, force the rookie to get rid of the ball quickly, and stop him from buying time with rollout plays.

 

The defense which intercepted Harripersaud, 3 times, will also need to jump the short routes that the QB likes to throw.

 

In the first meeting, Moss City Wide Receiver Bruno Provencher, had a monster of a game with 7 catches for 115 yards, and a game-high 3 touchdowns, and 2 INTs on the other side of the ball. At certain points in the game, the third-year player looked unstoppable, as his key catches down the stretch, helped seal the win.

 

The team will need a repeat performance out of him, as well as Benjamin De Tilly, and Victor Rifiorati, who combined for 6 catches for 84 yards and 3 TDs.

 

Whether it is Shyanne Stewart, Michael Iannella, Meïssa N’Garane, Brenden Sabloff, Vincent Blondin, or Josh Levine, for Prime Time, to emerge victorious, they will need continue doing what has got them to this point this post-season, and that is spreading the ball around to different receivers, and make opposing defenses have to pick their poison.

 

More importantly, after turning over the ball 3 times, QB Stephen Harripersaud, will have to protect the ball.

 

On defense, either Vincent Blondin, or Nick Grenon, will have to generate a consistent pass rush on Andree Farrier. When given time, the rookie, will carve up a defense. The Prime Time Defensive Backs, will need to hold their coverage, to give their Rusher time to get after Farrier.

 

These are arguably the two hottest teams in Div. E. I think this will be a fantastic game. Talking to Stephen Harripersaud, on the field after the Week 6 affair, he said that he wanted to see Moss City again. He will get the chance tonight.

 

Watching the Super Troopers/Moss City game Sunday night, I noticed that MC had a little bit of trouble moving the ball against the Super Troopers, when they got physical. Prime Time is the more aggressive team between the two.

 

I also think that despite having ball-hawks in Benoit Vanier, Antoine Hamasaki-Bélanger, Youcef Kaced, and the aforementioned Bruno Provencher, among others, I don’t think Moss City, will be able to contain the Prime Time offense a second time.

 

Prediction: Prime Time 30-28

 

That’s it for this article, I will be back Sunday with my championship preview.

 

Good luck to all 4 teams playing tonight, I’ll see you guys in Brossard.

 

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