Divisional Round Preview

After 11 long weeks, a ton of snow, frozen domes, and some spectacular football, we are finally here, the FlagPlus Football playoffs, or as I like to call it, the “Real Season”.

 

Out of the twenty-two teams that signed up to compete in Division 4A, and 4B, this season, only sixteen are left on either side, each with their own goal and dream of being crowned champion, on April 7th, at the Bell Sports Complex.

 

No matter how good you are, or you think your team is, I can tell you from first-hand experience, that winning a championship is hard. Regular season success and records should be thrown out the window, as teams and players, bring their games to another level come playoff time.

 

Before I go any further, on behalf of FPF, let me thank LOB, Les Montagnards, Gotham, Siths, Show Me Your TDs, and the Backyard Bullies, in Division 4A, and The Manglers, Vikings, 39 cent wings, LV, Mean Machine, Grinders, Grabuge, and noname© (WOW) in Division 4B, for coming out to play this year. The season obviously didn’t go how you guys intended it, but hopefully you guys can use it as a learning experience, and come back even better in the Spring Season.

 

With that said, let’s get on to the Divisional Round Preview.

 

Conference A

 

(1) The Commission versus (8) Broccasion

Previous Meeting: N/A

This is a matchup of two veteran teams, who have numerous players with championship experience.

After making a switch at Quarterback from Alessandro Barazzoni, to Chris Olson in Week 4, The Commission, have been an unstoppable juggernaut, as they have rolled off seven straight wins, and have blown out many of the top teams within the conference.

Led by receivers AJ Gomes, and Domenico Benevento, their offense, which has averaged 33 points a game over the last month, has the ability to beat opponents with the deep ball, as well as the short game.

On the other side of the ball, The Commission, have been just as impressive, as they have given up an average of 20 points a contest over their last four games. Led by Eddy Lee, the versatile Julian McLaren-Thompson, and the 4A Defensive Player of the Year in Gomes, this unit can match speed for speed, and talent versus talent, with anybody.

Broccasion, comes into the post-season, losers of three straight games. Their latest loss, came at the hands of Mutation, (39-31), last Sunday in Lachine.

After finishing the regular season in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in Conference A, with Les Montagnards, and the Siths, Broccasion, was able to qualify for the playoffs, due to allowing the least amount of points scored (309), and a superior +/- (-41), then the two other squads.
Despite backing into the post-season, Broccasion, is still a dangerous team, that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In Quarterback Kristian Cerantola, they have a dual threat QB, with a powerful arm, that is fully capable of making big plays, and extending them with his legs.

Their dynamic receiving duo of Justin Cerantola, and Joey Taylor, have combined for 22 touchdowns, and they have helped their offense score at least 30 points a game, in four straight games.

This game will come down to two variables, matchups, and depth. For Broccasion, the latter will be tested, as they only have six players eligible for the post-season, compared to eight for The Commission.

For the former, going back to their championship run last spring, The Commission, are experts at creating miss-matches when they are on offense, and taking away, or at the very least limiting the opposition’s top receivers.

Prediction: N/A

 

 

(2) Mutation versus (7) Up & Coming

Previous meeting: 39-39 Tie (Week 10)

The regular season matchup between both teams was an instant classic, as both sides traded big play after big play. I fully expect nothing less this time around as well.

The key for both teams, will be getting stops on defense.

For Up & Coming to do that, they will need to take away the deep ball, and big-play ability of Wide Receicer Vincent Marquis, who torched them to the tune of 5 receptions, for 116 yards, and a season-high 4 touchdowns. They must also force Mutation, to become reliant on check-down passes to Stephane Turmel, Alexandre Samson, and Marc-André Desaulniers.

To get off the field defensively, Mutation, will need to find a way to once again shut down the duo of Jeremy Anderson, and Jordan Moses, as the game-breakers, and FPF veterans, combined for just 4 catches, for 74 yards, and 1 touchdown.

Wide Receiver Kalvin Trench, who shredded the Mutation defense, by recording 5 grabs, for 108 yards, and 2 TDs in the Week 10 affair, is ineligible for the playoffs after only suiting up for 3 games for Up & Coming, 3 short of the eligibility minimum.

Therein, lies the biggest problem for Up & Coming. As good as Moses and Anderson are (they combined for 69 catches, 924 yards, and 25 TDs this season) no one else on the offense has put up attention-grabbing numbers. Whether it is a lack of passes thrown their way, drops, or defenses choosing to take the other pass-catchers out of the game, the team’s other receivers haven’t carried their weight.

I am a firm believer in the saying, better late than never, so if the group of Andrew Denis Lynch, Brandon Keiller, Joey Notaro, and Raffi Di Tella, are going to step it up, now is the time.

Having played both teams this season, I feel that Mutation is the better team, because they have the advantage in the two most important positions, Quarterback, and Rusher. While Travis Moses, and Jean-Felix Marquis, are both solid QBs (they each threw for at least 40 TDs) Marquis’ ability as a runner (he averaged 10.4 yards per rush on 26 attempts) gives him the slight edge.

At Rusher, while Up & Coming’s Joey Notaro, had a respectable 8 sacks in the regular season, including 1 on Marquis, Mutation’s Philippe Aussant, who finished with 13, has recorded 8 in the last three weeks alone, which includes the three he had on Moses in Week 10.

Add all of that, to the fact that Up & Coming, will be without the aforementioned Trench, and I am going with Mutation.

Prediction: Mutation (33-27).

 

 

(3) 69ers versus (6) The Alpha-T’s

Previous Meeting: The Alpha-T’s 32-25 (Week 10)

After dominating last spring, but then being relatively quiet, this season, The Alpha-T’s Alexis Gaumont, turned back the clock and had a monster performance, with 7 receptions, for a game-high 165 yards, and 3 touchdowns, and was the main reason his team got the victory.

For as up and down as The Alpha-T’s season has been, this is still a talented team. To be successful again, they will need their best players in Bryan Mongeau, Mathieu Houle, Marc-Antoine Vallée, and Gaumont, to step up once again, especially in the redzone, where Houle, and Vallée, have a size and reach advantage, over the much smaller 69er Defensive Backs.

This game will come down to the Quarterback battle, in Jesse Dupuis versus the 4A QB of the Year, in Shea Harbour.

While Harbour, has put up impressive numbers this year, he and the 69ers, have been anything but recently, as they’ve backed into the playoffs, losers of two straight.

The QB, and his team, will need to shake off the malaise, and take advantage of the miss-matches his receivers Darcy Cloherty, and Dean Demetriou, can create offensively, against a slower Alpha-T’s defense, if they want to survive.

Dupuis, hasn’t been at his best either recently, throwing an interception in four straight games, including a total of 8 in that span.

Always a problem for defenses as a dual-threat passer, Dupuis, will need to be effective in both areas tonight, if his team wants to advance.
The 69ers inability to win either one of their final two regular season games, eliminated any chance of them finishing second in Conference A, and put them in the tough situation they are in right now, of having to face a team, who if you ignore the seedings, are just as good as they are. For a team that many thought would win 4A, or at the very least, would make the Finals, they are a squad that has generally disappointed, going (3-4) against playoff teams.

Despite both teams being the epitome of inconsistency, I honestly think this will be a great game, due to the fact that both teams have a lot of experience, and they obviously realize what is at stake.

The last meeting was close, I expect nothing less this time around, with the same result.

Prediction: The Alpha-T’s (30-28) Upset Special.

 

 

(4) Warhawks versus (5) TOPSZN

Previous Meeting: N/A

This game will feature a match-up of two dual-threat Quarterbacks, in Fred Mallette (Warhawks), and Jarryd Taylor (TOPSZN). Both players have combined for a total of 91 touchdowns through the air and on ground this year.

Taylor, and Malette, are most effective, when they extending plays with their legs, and buying time for their receivers to get open.

Besides the QB match-up, the other big one, will be Khalil Kerr, Matthew Canuel, and Ted Greffin of TOPSZN, versus Laurent Ladouceur, Olivier Choquette, and Raphaël Ducas-Lapalme of the Warhawks. All six players, are dynamic, and explosive playmakers.

On offense, Kerr, Greffin, Ladouceur, and Ducas-Lapalme, can score from anywhere on the field, while Canuel, and Choquette, have the ability to shut opposing receivers down.

Whichever trio wins the game within the game, should get the victory tonight.

With the exception of their (41-6) blowout win over Les Montagnards to end the regular season, the Warhawks, come into the playoffs losing three games in a row. In that process, the team has given up 34 points a game, while only scoring 23 on offense.

TOPSZN, who finished with (5-4-1) record, comes into the game, undefeated in 3 out of their last 4 contests. While on the surface that’s great, if you look a little further, you will see that throughout the season, the they have only beaten two teams with a winning record (69ers and Mutation) all year. Besides their Week 9 (27-27) tie versus Up & Coming, TOPSZN’s three other wins came against Les Montagnards, Gotham, and the Siths, who combined to finish with an (8-22) record, and all finished in the top 4 worst defenses in Division 4A. Not exactly a sparkling resume.

If the Warhawks, are able to get back to playing good football, and TOPSZN, are able to just focus on playing ball, I expect this game to be a shootout. With that said, I am going to go with the Warhawks.

Prediction: Warhawks (42-36) My Pick for Conference A Game of the Week.

 

 

Conference B

 

 

(1) Mountain Lions versus (8) Top Secret

Previous Meeting: Mountain Lions 25-6 (Week 8)

 

The Mountain Lions, come into the game winners of 4 out of their last 5 games. One of those wins came against Top Secret, and as you can see by the score in the last meeting, the first encounter was a blowout win for the Lions.

AJ Rashkovan, dominated the evening, as he finished with 5 sacks for the Lions, and in the process, showed why he is the best Rusher in Division 4A.

Also having a dominant performance, was the big man Kevin Smuda, who had 4 catches for 48 yards (both game-highs), and a touchdown, to go along with an interception that he ran back to the house on defense.

For Top Secret, it was a flat-out miserable performance. If they want to have any hope of pulling off the upset, they will need to produce more than the 6 points, and 84 yards of offense they put out in Week 8.

To do so, the team will need Quarterback Zacharie Quiviger, to step up his game, and get the ball off quickly, and into the hands of his play-makers.

Despite having solid, and underrated playmakers, in Nicolas Saro, Alexis Labonté, and Cédric Nuckle, over the past three games, Quiviger, has only averaged one touchdown pass a game. They will need a lot more points than that, if they want to knock off a solid defense, led by All-Stars Andrew Langburt, and the aforementioned Rashkovan.

While I expect the game to be a little closer this time around, I still don’t see Top Secret pulling off the Loyola-Chicago-like upset.

Prediction: Mountain Lions (26-14)

 

 

(2) B.D Bandits versus (7) Friends In Low Places

Previous Meeting: B.D Bandits 39-30 (Week 7)

As the score would indicate, this game was a shoot-out.

There were a lot of big names in the game, but none were bigger than Steve Sanner, who recorded 6 catches, for a game-high 109 yards, and 3 TDs, as well as an interception on defense.

One of the keys for the game will be the Bandits’ ability to keep Friends In Low Places’ Quarterback Danny D’Amour, in the pocket. Although he ran only one time for 1 yard bin Week 7, the 5-time All-Star, has proven time and time again, that he is arguably the most dangerous runner in all of FPF.

The task will fall on Zack Brzezinski, who led his team with 4 sacks. While that stat isn’t overly impressive, and even though he wasn’t able to bring down D’Armour for a loss in their last meeting, the fact that the QB who averages 8 yards a carry, was shutdown, speaks volumes.

 

Perhaps the biggest matchup of all, will be between Jared Buck (FILP), and the aforementioned Steve Sanner (B.D Bandits).

Sanner, has been a household name, and one of the best receivers in FPF for years, throughout multiple divisions. This season was no different, as he had a team-high 38 receptions, for 431 yards, and 13 TDs.

Buck, who started his FPF career as a Quarterback in Division 6 with The Spanish Inquisition, has transformed himself into one of the best receivers in the division. He has 38 catches, for 618 yards, and 12 TDs. The last two categories place him third overall in in 4A.

Round one of the matchup went to Sanner, and his team. Whichever WR wins the re-match, he and his squad, will likely take Round two.

Friends In Low Places, are arguably playing their best football of the season, having beaten heavyweights in Mountain Lions, and Jagerbomb, over the last two weeks, just to qualify for the playoffs. Let’s see if they can keep the train rolling in this do-or-die affair.

The B.D Bandits, have been even better however, as after a (1-2) start, they have knocked off 7 opponents in a row.
This should be another fantastic game, I give the slight edge to the B.D Bandits.

Prediction: B.D Bandits (32-28)

 

 

(3) Jagerbomb versus (6) The Tide

Previous Meeting: Jagerbomb 40-18 (Week 11)

Well that was fast. One week after these teams did battle, they are set to square off again tonight in Lachine.

As the highest scoring team in Conference B, Jagerbomb, seemingly scored at will on The Tide. Quarterback Simon Duchesne, had a good outing, as he went 14 of 23 for 236 yards, and 6 touchdowns.

The main beneficiary of Duchesne’s performance, was FPF veteran, and family member Yannick Doston, who had a career-night with 6 catches for 107 yards, and 2 TDs.

Jagerbomb’s Jean-Felix Daloze, was a direct example of efficient and effective, as he registered 4 receptions for 64 yards and a game-high 4 TDs.

The team’s defense, was equally as dominant, as they held The Tide to 6 second half points. Contributing to their success, was Felix Fontaine-Larouche, Simon Lahaie, and Jeremie Lavoie-Patry. The trio combined for 3 interceptions, 2 sacks, and 4 pass defenses.

For The Tide to have any chance of getting victory, they will need to do two things.

First they will need to eliminate the turnovers, as the three they committed last week, killed any chance they had at making a comeback.

Secondly, Quarterback Chris Pinsonneault, will have to throw the ball to somebody else besides Snapper Doug McKernan. Last week, the FPF vet, caught a team-high 7 passes for 99 yards. The next closest receiver had two catches. While the vet is a reliable target, and faster than he appears, he isn’t going to blow the top off of a defense, and expose the one weak link of the Jagerbomb defense.

In the QB’s defense, the team was missing their second leading receiver in Sami Beg. As a duo, he and McKernan, have teamed up for 866 yards, and 21 TDs. Those numbers are great, but it highlights the fact that no one else really gets the ball.

Out of the six eligible playoff players who caught a pass this year, not named Beg, or McKernan, none of them have recorded more than 17 receptions this season, which is mind-boggling, considering this team has Brent Callender, Jeremy Pelletier, and Andrew Ledoux at their disposal.

While the presence of Beg, will help The Tide, I don’t think they have the talent to keep up the pace offensively with Jagerbomb, nor will they able to create enough stops, due to them not having a dominant Rusher, and a lack of ball-hawks on defense.

Prediction: Jagerbomb (28-12).

 

 

(4) Keyport Lock versus (5) Jaguars

Previous Meeting: Jaguars 40-36 (Week 3)

The first meeting feels like a century ago, but it was at the end of January, and the Jaguars escaped Stade Hébert, with a 4-point victory. The conversion monster strikes again.

As the final score would indicate, the contest featured stellar play by both offenses.

For the Jaguars, Quarterback Jimmy-Lee Janvier, had his best outing of the season, as went 15 of 20 for 243 yards, 6 touchdowns, and an interception. Six of his TD passes went to five different receivers.

One of those receivers, was Dynell Pierre, who had a team-high 4 grabs for 80 yards, and two TDs.

Keyport Lock, was impressive as well. Wide Receiver Kevin Boustany, out-preformed everybody on either side of the field, as he had a game, and season-high 12 catches, for 114 yards, and 3 touchdowns, to go along with a sack, and an interception on defense.

The team, also got a good outing from 5-time All-Star Jad Aridi, as he contributed 7 receptions for 49 yards, and a trip to the endzone.

The thing I like about this Jags offense, and what I think makes them so effective, is that they make you pick your poison. If you look to slow down Pierre, they can hit you with Patrice Lindor. If you want to limit the ever-dangerous Woodly Stephan Appolon, they will attack you with either Aurel Desrosiers, Bachir Capro, or Jean-Jacques Janvier, all of who are capable in their own right.

On the other side of the ball, they have a ton of speed as well. While they sometimes get burned by taking a few too many risks, they also make teams pay for their mistakes, as Pierre, and Jean-Jacques Janvier (can I call you Triple J?) did three times to Keyport Lock QB Jeff Rosenblatt.

In the end, despite forcing three turnovers, the Jaguars only won by four points. There is no guarantee that they will force that many again, nor is it a sure thing that Keyport Lock, will fail to convert on more conversion attempts than the Jags did.

More importantly, Jeff Rosenblatt’s team, has championship experience, as he, Jad Aridi, and Boustany have all won one before. The Jaguars, on the other hand, don’t have any winning tradition to fall back on.

Nevertheless, the Jags, already proved they can beat them once, I need an upset special, and more importantly, I think they can do it again.

Prediction: Jaguars (28-26) Upset Special and My Pick for Conference B Game of the Week.

 

 

4B

 

Conference A

 

(1) A-Squad versus (8) Tone It Down

Previous Meeting: A-Squad 30-28 (Week 3)

With the exception of their (21-0) loss to Truth Squad all the way back in Week 4, the closest the A-Squad, has come to defeat, was at the hands of Tone It Down.

In that contest, both teams traded scores on offense, and stops on defense.

The difference-maker for A-Squad, as it has been for the majority of games this season, was the performance of team MVP, Yacoub Telemaque. In the contest, the 11-season vet, threw for five touchdowns, and added three sacks on defense.

Junior Luke, also had a solid game for A-Squad, as he recorded 5 catches, for 25 yards, and 2 TDs.

Coming up big for Tone It Down, was Wide Receiver Kevin Selman, who had a game-high 5 receptions for 60 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Rusher Steve Hoather, who had 3 sacks.

For Tone It Down, to advance, Hoather will need to get after Telemaque all game long, and keep him from extending plays with his legs.

On offense, they will need to come up with precise, and well-timed plays, that could offset the aggressive ball-hawking A-Squad defense, led by Rick Cummins.

Taking nothing away from Tone It Down, the first meeting was early in the season, while both teams were still molding themselves, and trying to establish an identity.

In the regular season, Tone It Down, went (0-4) against teams with a non-losing record. I think the streak continues in the post-season.

Prediction: A-Squad (38-18).

 

 

(2) Martine et le Flag versus (7) Team Ethnik

Previous Meeting: N/A

Martine et le Flag, come into tonight, winners of two straight games, and came within a play of beating both Past Our Prime, and A-Squad, in Week 8 and 9 respectively.

Led by the trio of Samuel Bédard, William Marchand, and Div. 4B Two-Way Player of the Year Guillaume Ranger, over the past 4 games, Martine et le Flag, has averaged 36 points a game, all against playoff teams.

For Team Ethnik, the key to victory, will be to obviously slow down their opponent’s high-scoring offense. To do that, they will need a big game from their defense, most notably Afdaal Martin, Henry Dam, Angelo Garofalo, and the always reliable Georges Élie-Voyer.

Unfortunately, for the defense, they have forced a division-low (among playoff teams) 8 turnovers all season long. It’s a little too late in the year to suddenly turn into a ball-hawking defense.

On the flip side, their Quarterback François Martin, finished tied for the lead among all 4B passers (Malik Salim of 39 cent wings) with 19 interceptions.

The turnover game, especially in the post-season, is huge. I don’t think Team Ethnik will be able to recover from it.

Prediction: Martine et le Flag (35-13).

 

(3) Past Our Prime versus (6) Be Ready

Previous Meeting: N/A

Why they made be called Past Our Prime, this veteran team, can still get up and down the field, and score points with ease.

Led by Quarterback Craig O’Brien, who threw 35 touchdown passes in only seven games, the POP offense, has averaged 38 points a contest, over the last month and a half of the season.

While Be Ready, has some household FPF names in the Daoust clan, the reality is this squad has beat one team with a winning record (Norfolk In Chance) all season.

It will be interesting to see who the team decides to go with at Quarterback this evening. Their regular starter, David Daoust, has been effective at times this season, but his tendency to throw interceptions, he has twelve in eight starts, can really hurt his team.

The team’s other option, is Dilan Daoust. In his lone start in Week 10 versus Martine et le Flag, he threw for 6 touchdowns, and nearly 250 yards (248).

We would have a better answer to the question, had The Manglers, not forfeited their Week 11 game against Be Ready, last Saturday.

The one saving grace for Be Ready, is their defense, which has forced 25 turnovers this year. They will need will need to fore at least a few tonight, if they want to stop the Past Our Prime receivers, led by Angelo Kalaidopoulos, Ryan Payne, and Tanner Burrell, as the trio has combined for 111 catches, 1,227 yards, and 30 touchdowns.

Past Our Prime, comes into tonight playing their best ball of the season, and riding a 6-game winning streak. I don’t see their season ending tonight.

Prediction: Past Our Prime (32-19).

 

 

(4) Norfolk In Chance versus (5) Le Red Tiger

Previous Meeting: Norfolk In Chance 34-6 (Week 3)

As you can see, the previous meeting was a blowout. The score at the end of the first half was (20-0) for Norfolk In Chance, and they never looked back.

Having a solid game NIC, was the combination of Quarterback Rocco Christiano, and Wide Receiver Andrew Carruthers, as they hooked up four times, for 51 yards, and three touchdowns. Chistiano, would throw five on the evening.

Also coming up big for the team, was Chris Williams, who had an offensive touchdown, to go along with an interception.

For Le Red Tiger, the only positive to come out of that game, was the performance of Gabriel Samné, who led his team with 4 grabs, for 42 yards, a touchdown, and an interception on the other side of the ball.

While the loss was embarrassing, it seemed to be a turning point for Le Red Tiger, as they would go on to win 5 of their next 7 games, including 3 straight to close out the regular season. In the process, their offense would average 31 points a game.

A key to the turnaround, has been the play of Quarterback Anthony Beauchamp-Frezza, who has thrown 27 touchdown passes since the loss. The total would have been higher, if he didn’t miss the regular season finale versus the 39 cent wings.

To avoid the same result as last time, and keep up their solid play going, Le Red Tiger, and their Quarterback, will need more than just one player to show up in their rematch.

Unforfortunately, for Le Red Tiger, they will have to play without Gabriel Samné, who is not playoff eligible, after playing only 5 games.
The team will need to lean on leading receiver Charles Robidoux-Bouchard, who had 12 touchdowns during the record season, but was held without a catch in the first meeting.

Getting contributions from Jean-Philippe Noth, and Evann Poulin, as well as Beauchamp-Frezza, and Robidoux-Bouchard, on the other side ball would be huge, as they will have to do a better job of containing not just Williams, and Carruthers, but Sydney Gage, Akeem Hoyte-Charles, and Jason Edwards.

Over their last 5 games, Norfolk In Chance, haven’t looked all that impressive. Their wins over 39 cent wings, LV, and noname©, don’t hold as much weight as their losses to the Vikings and Martine et le Flag.

Le Red Tiger, have been playing their best football of the season, as they have won 4 out of their last 5 games. I think they will continue their winning ways tonight.

Prediction: Le Red Tiger (26-24) Upset Special and My Pick for Conference A Game of the Week.

 

 

Conference B

 

 

(1) Blue Chips versus (8) Lobster Dinner

Previous Meeting: Blue Chips 46-6 (Week 8)

The first meeting between both teams was ugly, as Blue Chips, dominated a clearly over-matched Lobster Dinner.

Blue Chips’ Quarterback Jordan Mitchell, shredded the Lobster Dinner defense for 7 touchdowns, 70 yards rushing, and a game-high 6 tackles
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back, Marcus Mitchell, had a strong game as well, with 3 touchdowns on offense, and an interception on defense.

If Lobster Dinner, wants to have any chance at being competitive in this game, let alone pulling off the colossal upset, they will have to pressure Jordan Mitchell, and get him to hold on to the ball forever, which leads him to backpedal 10-15 yards, and chuck up 50-50 balls. Just as, if not even more important, they need to stop him from killing them with the run.

The back-end coverage of Lobster Dinner, headlined by the underrated Meïssa N’Garane, as well as Francis Maheu, will have to stick to their receivers like glue.

On offense, Jonathan Brown, who missed the first meeting, will presumably be back behind the Snapper. His presence will be a huge lift, as his chemistry, and production with receivers Matt Leblanc, Jean-François Trudeau, as well as Maheu, and N’Garane, is huge.

Despite their zero in the loss column, and gaudy offensive numbers, Blue Chips, haven’t been on the top of their game in recently, as they have two ties in their last three games. For a team that many, including yours truly, predicted would win it all, that is not the way you want to into the post-season.

Nevertheless, the Blue Chips, are too talented of a team to get tripped up this early in the playoffs.

Prediction: Blue Chips (36-20).

 

 

(2) All Hooks versus (7) Small Giants

Previous Meeting: All Hooks 32-31 (Week 9)

This first game was a close, and exciting affair, that came down to the wire, with All Hooks escaping with the 1-point victory. Three weeks later, both teams get to do it all over again.

Besides the obvious conversions, the first game came down to big plays by both sides.

This felt like a Julio Jones versus Alshon Jeffrey showdown, as John Madimenos (Small Giants), and Jeremy White (All Hooks), had huge games, combining for 16 catches, 119 yards, and a jaw-dropping 6 touchdowns.

The Quarterback battle was entertaining as well, with Justin Lerner of the Small Giants, throwing for 4 TDs, and running for another, while All Hooks’ Charles-Olivier Lavigne, passed for three of his own, while scrambling for one as well.

The only real mistake made in the game, was by Lerner who threw an interception. The error was huge, as it was returned for a touchdown by Jean-Christophe Ferland.

For all intent and purposes, I have felt all year, that there are two ways you could view the Small Giants. They are either a team who plays up and down to their competition, or they are a squad who simply beats weaker teams.

With their (28-25) win over Truth Squad, to finish the regular season, and solidify their playoff spot last Sunday, it appears that the former applies to the Small Giants, more than the latter. Either way, that is still a dangerous game to play, especially in the post-season.

With players like Lerner, Emmanuel Sarikakis, Madimenos, Greg Kritselas, and All-Star Daron Migdesyan, among others, it is clear that the Small Giants, have the talent to go head-to-head with anybody. When they play mistake-free football they are hard to beat. I think today is one of those days.

Prediction: Small Giants (27-25) Upset Special and My choice for Game of the Week.

 

(3) Truth Squad versus (6) Sphinx

Previous Meeting: N/A

An upper echelon team, who might feel that they don’t get as much respect as they deserve, the Truth Squad, has a chance to make a statement, as they take on a veteran-laden Sphinx team.

What is there not to like about Truth Squad? They have the reigning Quarterback of the Year in Alexandre Benoit, and they have won seven of their last eight games.

The Benoit-led offense, has a lot of big-play targets, in William Gagnon, Andrew Philipeaux, Rémi Mailhot, and Tristan Toussaint among others. During their seven game win streak, which ended last week via a (28-25) loss to the Small Giants, the Truth Squad offense, averaged 38 points a game.

The team’s defense has been even more jaw-dropping this season, as they have pitched a Division 4B best, three shutouts.

The Sphinx have been around forever, with the same core of Etienne Cloutier, Julien Laporte, All-Star Mathieu Fafard, et al.

Despite the chemistry, the question remains, which Sphinx team will show up tonight at Loyola? Will it be the squad who beat Les Studs, All Hooks, and battled to a hard-fought tie with Game Changers, or will it be the one who lost Team Ethnik, and Lobster Dinner, while also getting blown out by Norfolk In Chance, and the Grinders? If the latter shows up, the game will be over by halftime.

As I said at the top, Truth Squad, is an upper echelon team, and one that I believe is capable of a long playoff run. Whichever Sphinx team shows up tonight, it won’t be enough to knock off the favourites.

Prediction: Truth Squad (42-14).

 

(4) Game Changers versus (5) Les Studs

Previous Meeting: N/A

Out of all the Division 4B playoff games tonight, I am most excited about this one, and annoyed at the same time, because I will be playing while the game is on.

This battle will feature a ton of playmakers, from reigning Receiver of the Year in Félix Laflamme, to Samuel Caron, William Nkaye, Maxime Hurtubise, to Jordan Panetta, Anton Sakiz, Nick Gauthier, Alvy Mizelle, and Louis-Philippe Paquette, both teams have guys that can takeover games.

Despite all their game-changing talent (see what I did there?) the Game Changers, have been anything but on offense over the last 3 weeks, as their offense has failed to score over 20 points. More alarmingly, last week was the sixth time it happened this season.

To beat Les Studs, who come into the game averaging 34 points a game, Game Changers, will need to keep pace. Just as important, they will need to find a way to slow down Laflamme, Nkaye, Hurtubise, and the underrated Mathieu Blier. Without a legitimate Rusher, I don’t see how GC, will get it done defensively.

Prediction: Les Studs (40-28)

 

 

That’s it for the Divisional Round Preview. Congrats to everybody that made the playoffs, and good luck to everybody tonight.

 

Just a quick reminder, the 4A and 4B Individual Awards, and All-Star selections, were named this week. Congrats to the players that made one, and/or both lists.

 

I’ll see you guys next week, with a quick recap of tonight’s games, and a Quarter-Final preview.

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt like I left something out, feel free to reach out to me at me on Twitter @BADNEWSB51 or by e-mail at [email protected]