Categories: Division 4

Fourth-and-Goal (Div 4) – Playoffs Week 2

So it seems that we’ve gone from the Sweet Sixteen to the Elite Eight. Just like last year, we’re seeing a phenomenon where the majority of the teams that had a week off for being a top seed end up being eliminated by the lower seeds. Is it a case of the top seeds being out of practice? Or is it testament to the elevated competition that the playoffs bring? Let’s see if I can keep my prediction numbers up, having really stepped up my game since the playoffs started. 

 

 

Les Buddays vs. Backyard Bullies

 

Les Buddays:

 

After a barn-burner last week, the Buddays’ defense showed exactly what they’re capable of. Despite an offense that couldn’t quite punch in the backbreaker, the Buddays defenders made sure that the Mustangs were unable to take the lead. Shutting down Simon Vallée and the Mustangs’ receivers in the redzone is testament to how the Buddays can hold their own. Les Buddays can also walk away from last week being the only top seed in Conference B remaining.

 

Backyard Bullies:

 

I really don’t know what to say about the Bullies. It’s twice that I pick against them in the playoffs, and twice that they win. Averaging 5-plus touchdowns a playoff game, Rich Humes is making the early-season missteps seem like a long time ago. It’s easy to dismiss the Bullies’ defense due to the lack of statistics that they produce. Yet, a closer look would make light of the fact that they’ve held their last few opponents to a below-50% completion ratio. Food for thought.

 

Matchups to look for:

– Julien Paiement vs. Rich Humes

– Alex Gauthier vs. Vinny Gualano

– The Bullies’ DBs vs. Leandre Ethier

 

The rundown:

 

Of the four games this week, this is the one that I’m really not sure about. Everything leads me to believe that this is going to be a low scoring game, but of course I could be wrong. Everything about this matchup screams primetime: the division’s best rusher against the division’s most efficient running quarterback. In all honesty, it’s going to come down to which quarterback can outlast the other and not get rattled. Rich Humes is going to have to play up to his competition, and Leandre Ethier is going to have to avoid getting rattled by the opposition and breaking down. Definitely a matchup that’ll come down to the very last play.

 

Prediction: Backyard Bullies

 

 

Toute Garnie vs. #NoRegard

 

Toute Garnie:

 

Toute Garnie put on a show against the Knights, thoroughly controlling the pace of the game. Timothy Godber put up a monster 4 TDs, putting him 2nd in the playoffs for TDs behind a receiver who has played double the games. Shoshan knew which defenders to key in on and who to avoid during last week’s game, and made sure that the entire offense got their numbers for the week. After eliminating the Knights, they come into this week’s matchup confident and ready to rumble.

 

#NoRegard:

 

In a 4 versus 5 seed matchup where they were the favorites to win, and they only narrowly stopped a 4th and goal on the 1 yard line to win the game. Alex Holowach went 5-0, and hit his favorite receivers early and often. #NoRegard were also efficient on extra point conversions, which is definitely a difference-maker in playoff games. After such a close game against the Sea Assassins, #NoRegard are going to have to be as efficient as possible on both sides of the ball.

 

Matchups to look for:

– Alex Holowach vs. Tim Godber

– Chris Niphakis vs. the #NoRegard DBs

– Deemy Feelgood vs. Edward Shoshan

 

The rundown:

 

We’ve seen a quiet #NoRegard team as of late, but they square off this week against Toute Garnie who are the kings of staying quiet and letting their play do the talking. It’s going to be interesting to see which team’s deep ball will come up big on this one, or whether the opposing defenses will shut them down completely. It’ll be important to see how the speed of #NoRegard (Mayers, Moses and Moses) measures up against the sheer size of Toute Garnie (Vanagas, Godber and Niphakis)This game is going to be all about adjustment, and I see Toute Garnie taking this one. When in doubt, go with the experience.

 

Prediction: Toute Garnie

 

 

Spartans vs. The Family

 

Spartans:

 

Churning out a close one, the Spartans took the game from the Ball Busters. Not only did Nicholas Gendron-Vallée throw two touchdowns, he managed to make us all forget about his interceptions by running in a touchdown and running one back on defense as well. Marching up the field, the Spartans looked like a well-oiled machine for the duration of the game. However, it’s still evident that the game was an effort to take hold of, and this might be dangerous considering their opposition this week.

 

The Family:

 

The Family struck first against the Gators and then never let up. It’s one thing mentioning just how capable Maxime Forget is as a quarterback, and it’s quite another to see him go to work. Having his best game of the season, Forget carved up the Gators defense and went 6-0 with a QB rating of 145. Once the Gators started mounting a comeback, it was The Family’s defense who took the spotlight and made sure to put the game on their backs and not let the first half have been in vein.

 

Matchups to look for:

– Nicholas Gendron-Vallée vs. Marc-André L’Abbée

– J-S Ouellet vs. Julien Bellavance

– The Family’s offence vs. the Spartans’ defense

 

The rundown:

 

I’m of the opinion that The Family are much better than their record indicates. So, despite their seeding in this matchup, I still consider them the favorite. They’ve got chemistry, size and speed. Nicholas Gendron-Vallée is going to need to buy as much time with his feet as possible, and make sure that his receivers can break coverage. While both teams are Division 5 alums, I don’t think that the Spartans have come quite as far since their jump compared to The Family. Also, with the injury of Alex David during last week’s game, there’s the chance he might not be in shape to play.

 

Prediction: The Family

 

 

The Incredibles vs. Park-X Streets

 

The Incredibles:

 

Having faced a team of only five players, of course The Incredibles came out having won soundly. However, this may be trouble for the future because I don’t know if they were tested adequately enough or if they’ll seem out of practice come this week. They’re the top dogs of the division, and have been putting up the numbers accordingly.

 

Park-X Streets:

 

Once PXS know that they’ve won, it’s astounding to see just how lackluster they become. Having scorekept the game against La Sauce, I can tell you that 4/5 of Billy Seretis’ incompletions came in the second half, a stat that I find very interesting. Like I said, PXS are not a scary team to look at, but it’s amazing just how well they can pull off their style of play. Will we see their offense or defense come and step up this week?

 

Matchups to look for:

– Jacob Peterson vs. Jonathan Makris

– Billy Seretis vs. Kevin Libman and David Stein

– Park-X Streets vs. the referees

 

The rundown:

 

The only matchup of the four in which the two teams have already faced each other. Knowing that PXS like to chop away short, I’m wondering just how big the Seretis vs. Libman & Stein matchup will be. Obviously, after the way that the last game ended, both teams are going to be fired up and especially into this week’s game. It’s going to be rough, and it’s going to be a good one. However, I think that The Incredibles’ streak won’t be ending just yet.

 

Prediction: The Incredibles

 

See you all tonight; good luck!