Final Push Before Real Season Begins

After 8 long weeks, we are finally here, the final week of the regular season. The playoffs, or the real season as I like to call it, is set to kick off next week Saturday February 20th.

Before we get to next week’s Semi-Finals however, we have to finish off the regular season first. This past week saw another slate of entertaining games that had a direct impact on the post-season.

In the first game of the afternoon, we had the Longhorns taking on the Hurricanes. The matchup marked the first time that these two teams hooked up since the Week 4 three-team trade that saw the Horns’ acquire Juwan Edghill from the Canes’.

Despite me picking the Longhorns due to the fact that they had a motivated Edghill, and because of the new wrinkles that have been added to their offense since his arrival, the Hurricanes couldn’t have scripted a better beginning to the game.  After losing the coin toss, the Canes’ started on defense, but it didn’t matter as their aggressive defense, which leads the league in interceptions, added one on the first drive, as Gianni Frassetti picked off Conor Tomalty and ran the ball back to the house for the always exciting pick-6.

Things got worse on the next drive for the Longhorns as dynamic Wide Receiver Khalil Spielman was injured in a mid-field collision with teammate Nathaniel Peters while both were running crossing routes. Spielman was very slow to get up, but he would eventually return to the game after missing a few series.

After the Canes’ scored another touchdown to extend their lead to 14-0, the Longhorns finally got on the board with a TD of their courtesy of the aforementioned Edghill who snagged a ball out of mid-air at the front right pylon of the endzone while jumping over two defenders.

The TD built a lot of momentum for the Horns’, as on their next time out on D, with their opponents’ driving, Edghill picked off a pass by Hurricanes’ QB Ryan Garber in the endzone that was intended for Frassetti, but was tipped by Nathaniel Peters. Unfortunately for the team in orange and black, Peters was flagged for Pass Interference on the play. The Canes’ would make them pay a few plays later, as WR Adam Mahrouse would score on a 1 yard slant.

The teams woud go on to trade scores before the end of the first half, which saw the Canes’ leading 27-12.

Looking to add a little juice to the offense, Longhorns’ Head Coach Dave Allen made a switch at Quarterback, as he moved Edghill to QB, and put Conor Tomalty at WR. The move really paid off for the team, as the speedy and elusive Edghill used his legs to not only make plays, but to keep them alive as he bought time for his receivers to find openings in the Canes’ zone-based defenses. Tomalty on the other hand, seemed to be relieved, no longer having to deal with the pressures of being a signal caller, and just went out and played football. He used his massive reach and height advantage to catch passes, including a few over shorter defenders.

Despite the spark the offense was given, their defense wasn’t able to follow suit, as the Longhorns went on to lose the game 46-24.

If these two teams meet up again in the playoffs, you would have to wonder what would happen if the Horns’ got off to a better start, and stuck with Edghill at QB and Tomalty at WR the entire game.

 

The next game up was the Buckeyes versus the Wolverines. Coming into the contest, both teams split the season series with the Buckeyes winning 24-12 in Week 3, and the Wolverines winning 20-19 in Week 5.  

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, there would be no repeat upset, as the Wolverines used a Denver Broncos-like defensive effort to knock off their opponents, as they got a staggering 5 interceptions (2 from both Camdyn Jeremiah and Mason Fleming, and 1 from Amari Swayers). To make matters worse, Flemming ran both his picks back to the house, and so did Jeremiah with one of his.

Jeremiah would get the award for player of the game for his team, as he added 2 more TDs on offense, as he had a game-high 5 catches for 46 yards.

For the Buckeyes, they rolled with the elusive Jaden Frenette at QB. Frenette, who is the team’s best defender (he recorded a pick-6 for his team’s only points of the afternoon.), and second leading receiver, brought some versatility to the position. He made a lot of plays with his legs, as he shook would-be tacklers time after time. With his arm, he was able to find WR Maya Di Fazio who had a monster game with 2 catches for 34 yards.

The only negative with Frenette’s game was the several flag guarding calls he received, a lot of which came off of his spin moves. For the QB and his team, it was an experiment that seemed to work for the most part. Frenette has a big arm, and the ability to make plays with his feet. If he is coached up on how not to flag guard when evading the rush, he should be a real weapon at the position the more reps he receives, especially with an offense that has play makers like Di Fazio, Max Arnovitz, Malcolm De Pooter, and Joshua Riddoch.

Final score Wolverines 30-6.

 

The final game on Saturday was between the Longhorns and the Crimson Tide.

The Tide’ wasted little time jumping out to an early lead as Wide Receiver Reece Woods who had been in a slump- by his standards- recently, scored a 25-yard TD on the first drive of the game.

The Longhorns continued their bad start, and the missteps from their game earlier in the afternoon with the Hurricanes, as they gave up another pick on their first offensive series curtesy off Diego Castro picking off a Conor Tomalty pass over the middle. That INT lead to a 6-yard TD by the Tide’s Avery Lalla a few plays later. Due to two successful 2-point conversions, the Tide was up 16-0 before the game was even 10 minutes old.

The Longhorns weren’t done yet however, as the lightning-quick Shaylynn Bentley blew by her defender and was wide open for a bomb by Edghill who was wisely inserted back at QB.

After a Longhorns’ stop on defense, they got two huge plays from QB turned WR Conor Tomalty. First, was a 37-yard catch near the right sideline that put his team in the redzone. One play later, he would score on a 3-yard TD catch near the back of the endzone.

The Tide’ would answer back right away, curtesy of a 31-yard catch and run by Malik James with 5 plays left in the half that put his team in premium scoring position. The Longhorns’ D however. determined to keep the game a one-score affair, stood tall, as they put up a wall in front of their opponents that resulted in the Tide’ turning the ball over on downs via 3 incomplete passes and a sack by Bentley.

The Horns’ came out firing in the second half as they grabbed their first lead of the game due to an 11-yard TD by their reliable snapper Joshua Peters. 18-16 Longhorns. The score was set up by a Pass Interference call on Malik James who got his hands on WR Khalil Spielman who was running a route down the left sideline.

The lead was short-lived as James redeemed himself for the penalty on the previous defensive drive, by hauling in a 40-yard TD that he appeared to tip to himself while running full speed down the middle of the field on a seam route. 22-18 Crimson Tide.

The Longhorns would answer back once with a 31-catch by Tomalty that set up a 9 yard TD catch by the severely underrated Jacob Watson. 24-22 Horns’.

Much to my surprise, and as well as more than a few people in attendance, the Tide’ didn’t go for the big score next time out, they smartly chose to march their way up the field instead, by working the underneath routes. QB Lalla hit several WRs with passes including Alexi Dubois, Jayden Hogan, Dalton Paradis, and Jose Castro. The ploy worked, as the Tide ended up in the redzone. Just as they appeared ready to score however, Lalla was intercepted by Edghill.

Taking a page out oof the Horns’ playbook with their defensive stand at the end of the first half, the Tide did the same to their opponents. After 2 HUGE sacks by the Jose Castro, Edghill threw a questionable pass that was picked by none other than Lalla who caught the ball off of a James tip.

2 plays later, with time running down, and facing a 3rd and long, Lalla took off for a 21-yard run. He appeared at first glance to get into the endzone, but the play was called dead at the 1-yard line after Head Official Leo Gervais, said that the pivot was de-flagged outside the endzone. Tide Head Coach Brad Evans was livid about the call, and start jawing at Gervais and the other official. Despite being given multiple warnings, Evans kept on, and was assessed an Objectionable Conduct penalty (O.C). Instead of having 4th and goal from the 1, his team now had it from the 16-yard line.

On the final play of the game, Lalla looked to rocket a pass into the back of the endzone to an open WR, but Nathaniel Peters jumped in front of the pass and intercepted the ball to end the game. Longhorns win 24-22.

Game of the year candidate.

 

High Five

Maya Di Fazio (Buckeyes)

The family member of FPF Hall of Famer Gino Di Fazio, Maya had a her breakout game of the year vs the Wolverines, as she led her team in receiving with 2 catches for 34 yards, but she also played great on defense with a game-high 5 tackles to go along with an INT, and 2 passes defended. Great job!

Conor Tomalty (Longhorns)

The switch to Wide Receiver should be permanent, as it looks like he has a real feel for the position. In two games seeing on Saturday seeing his most time of the year at the position, he put up 5 catches for 103 yards and 2 TDs. Pretty impressive.

Shaylynn Bentley (Lognhorns)

Speaking of monster performances, Bentley, had an amazing Saturday. In two games, the two-way threat had 1 catch for 40 yards and a TD, to go along with an outstanding performance on D that included 2 tackles, 1 pass defended, and an awesome 4 sacks. Her team needs to get the ball in her hands on O more often.

Ryan Garber (Hurricanes)

Garber usually tears teams apart with his arm, but he showed off his underrated mobility much to the surprise of his teammates, and even himself. After breaking off a career-high 34-yard run in the second half, the nimble pivot added another 45 yards and a TD for good measure.

Camdyn Jeremiah (Wolverines)

He was all over the field for his team Saturday afternoon. It seemed like he had magnets in his gloves, because wherever the ball went, he seemed to follow. The youngster had 5 grabs for 46 yards and 2 TDs, to go along with 2 INTs, (1 which he ran back to the house), and 4 tackles. WOW!

 

Matchups

Gianni Frasetti (Hurricanes) vs the Longhorns’ Defense

Last Saturday, Frasetti went off on the Longhorn’s D. He not only led his team offensively with 4 catches for 32 yards and 2 TDs, but he also led his squad in defensive scoring with a pick-6 as well. It’ll be interesting to see how Horns’ Head Coach Dave Allen elects to play Frasetti on both sides of the ball this week.

 

Tigers’ Defense vs Wolverines’ Defense

The two best defenses in the Junior division hook up on last time on the final day of the regular season. Playmakers and ball-hawks on both sides of the ball means this should be a struggle for both quarterbacks, and more importantly, be a great game.

 

Picks

Wolverines (Jr.) vs Tigers (Jr.) – Wolverines

While the Tigers remain the class of the junior division, the Wolverines have looked better and better each week. One of the main reasons for that is their aggressive defense led by playmakers like Camdyn Jeremiah, Mason Fleming, David Bensemana, Joshua Taylor, Brayden Bevan, and Hayden Label-Latter, have been coming up with huge stops.

The last time these two teams hooked up, the Tigers narrowly escapes with a hard-fought 20-15 victory. I think the Wolverines finally solve the riddle and knock off their 1st place opponents.

 

Hurricanes (Jr.) vs Longhorns (Jr.) – Hurricanes

These two teams lock up again for the second week in a row. Despite the 46-24 win by the Hurricanes, there were times in the game, where the Longhorns had them on the ropes. The Horns’ inability to execute, along with newly minted QB Juwan Edghill’s choice to constantly roll out and throw to his right, even when the defense knows he is going to do it, and more importantly ignoring his open WRs on the left side, doomed them at the end.  Hopefully, he and his team learned something from last week’s affair.

 

Buckeyes (Jr.) vs Wolverines (Jr.) – Wolverines

As I mentioned earlier, despite their struggles on offense last week, the Buckeyes got some solid contributions from Maya Di Fazio and Jaden Frenette. If those two can have another big game tomorrow, and the team gets another solid performance from reliable and speedy snapper Max Arnovitz, the Edghill brothers Jaeden and Jaxson, along with and an emerging Malcolm De Potter, I think they will give the Wolverines a run for their money.

While the new rushing rules have seemed to hurt the Wolverines production a little bit on offense, I think they will still continue their hot play, and generate enough points to get the victory here.

 

That’s it for this week. I will see you guys on the sideline this Saturday.

If you loved the article, hated it, or simply felt I left something out, don’t be shy. You can shoot me a tweet at @BADNEWS51.